“I am convinced about the veracity of my opinions, but I do consider it likely that they may turn out to be incorrect. Likewise,
I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine,
but I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct.” — Imam Shafi
What is fitrah?
“Every child is created in the state of fitrah, it is the parents, culture, and society that make him a Christian, a Jew, or a fire-worshipper.”
only a God-centred religion is real and in harmony with man's nature. But this truth does not occur to him until the hour of crisis and peril
is upon him. A man may have any religion, or any material props he chooses, but, in moments of real crisis, it is to God that he calls out for help.
Such an experience, which we all go through at one time or another in our lives, is a clear indication that the God-centred religion is the
only true one. As such, it should pervade man's entire existence. Any religion other than this will fail him in his hour of need,
in the Hereafter, just as ordinary, everyday means of support so often do in moments of crisis in this world.
Man makes his own destiny: awaiting him the final judgement to be rewarded or punished.
In Islam’s view, God created two distinct species: namely, humankind and the jinn. The former was created from clay and the latter from fire.
The descent of Adam and Eve due to their eating from the forbidden tree as a consequence of Satan’s deception- a story already occurring
in the Judeo-Christian tradition- is related in the Qur’an. However, the Christian doctrine of original sin is not affirmed, as God accepted the
repentance of Adam and Eve and made mankind His vicegerents on earth. To quote from the Qur`an:
“When your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am setting on earth a vice-regent,’ they said, ‘Will you place therein one who will act corruptly in it and shed
blood, while we extol Your praise and sanctify You?” (2:30)
Thus, the angels protested to God against man’s creation, but lost in a competition of knowledge against Adam, who was taught the names of
all things. The Qur`an declares man to be the finest of all creatures and he willingly bore the trust which the heavens and the earth refused to bear.
All of creation was subjected to man, who by virtue of the rational faculty with which he was endowed, was enjoined to, and entrusted with,
the development of civilization. In such endeavor he may be, either righteous or corrupt, a monotheist or an unbeliever.
As the Qur`an affirms, there is no compulsion in faith and religion; in other words, faith belongs to the domain of individual freedom and choice.
Moreover, life and existence were not created in vain, but were brought into being so that God is obeyed and worshipped.
Thus, Islam is profoundly teleological while affirming theodicy in creation.
It must be noted that Islam views human nature as fallible and faltering- that man is oppressive and prone to ignorance- despite his lofty station
in the universe. By contrast to angels who are instinctively obedient to God, man is inclined to error. Pride is the cardinal sin of man- a sin which
detracts man from submission to a unique God, and which makes him ascribe partners to Him. In Islam, the most heinous of transgressions is
shirk or polytheism.
Knowledge, it must be mentioned, is essential for man shouldering the responsibility of vice-regency on earth.
To reiterate a point earlier made, the Qur`an emphasizes knowledge of the physical universe as a means to fulfilling the purpose of God in
creation, namely, worshipping and obeying the Creator. The following two quotations from the Qur`an are illustrative:
“Have they not seen that We lead the water to the parched land, so that We bring forth crops from which their cattle and themselves can eat?
Do they not perceive?” (32:27)
“It is He who has spread out the earth, and He placed in it mountains and rivers, and of every fruit He has made parts therein.
He covers the night with the day. Surely in that are signs for a people who ponder. And in the earth are tracts neighboring one another,
and gardens of grapes, and plantations, and palm-trees of one root and of different roots, watered by the same water.
And We distinguish in produce some of them above others. Surely in that are signs for a people who comprehend”. (13:3,4)
man comes into the world with a pure and wholesome nature. Whereas sin and corruption in human being are merely accidental
and violation of his original nature. The role of prophets and the scriptures is just to help human nature to flow in its true channel and to
guide human nature to its ultimate goal of eternal felicity. This Qur’anic theory of human nature also implies the fact that if man consciously
decides to submit himself to the will of Allah, he experiences no conflict in his personality. (10:62) while, on the other hand, if he misuses
his freedom of choice by denying God and not submitting to His will, would be in a state of inner conflict and his personality gets disintegrated.
Man has been given the freedom of choice to do good or evil. This freewill gives him independence of intention, choice and action in various situations of moral conflict. Man is the only creature in this universe who has been given choice and discretion which accompany him through his life span. (The Qur’an, 15:36)
Man has also been granted potentialities to acquire knowledge of how everything else in the universe functions as well as the knowledge required for his felicity. (al-Qur’an, 2:33). This knowledge along with the faculty of reason and intellect, are man’s primary guide that distinguishes him from other animals and help him recognize the path of his ultimate felicity.
According to the Qur'an, Allah "created man from a clot of blood" at the same time he created the jinn from fire. {1} Humans are the greatest of all creatures, created with free will for the purpose of obeying and serving God.
The Qur'an includes a version of the biblical story of the fall of Adam (Qur'an 7), but it does not conclude from it the doctrine of original sin as some Christian theologians have. In the Quranic version of the story, Adam and Eve begged Allah(God's) forgiveness (7:23) and he punished them with a mortal life on earth but added, "from it [earth] you will be taken out at last" (7:25). Since Allah forgave the sins of the first pair, Muslims believe, all are born in Al-Fitra, a natural state of submission to Allah. {2} True repentance from sin returns a person to this original sinless state.
According to Muslim theology, mankind's chief failing is pride and rebellion. In their pride, humans attempt to partner themselves with God and thereby damage the unity of God. Thus pride is Islam's cardinal sin. The cardinal virtue, then, is submission, or islam.
Thus Man is naturally equiped with the impulse of the mind distinguishing between right and wrong and good and evil. It is for man to decide to choose between the two.
.................May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Every one of you is a guardian
Why I’m Blogging about children rights in Islam.
Let’s get some education on children’s right and what we can do to help them
"Your riches and your children may be but a trial: whereas Allah, with Him is the highest Reward." (64:15)
"Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 38
Abdullah ibn Umar t reported that he heard the Prophet Muhammad saying: "Every one of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian of his family and is responsible for it; a lady is a guardian of her husband’s house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it. A man is a guardian of his father’s property and is responsible for it so all of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and things under your care)." (Bukhari 3/592)
Community Treats its Children
“Respect for human rights begins with the way that a community treats its children,”
Child abuse weakens a child’s ability to study, and makes them nervous as they lose their sense of security. Many abused children go on to commit crimes and end up in prison.
“If a child loses the feeling of security, he or she will not be able to face the difficulties of life. Those children may become criminals in the future and harm both the community and themselves.”
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) in this context, said: “When a believer dies, his work ceases to be except in three areas: a perpetual Sadaqah (charity), some useful knowledge he leaves and a righteous son praying for him.” (Sahih Muslim)
However, some parents have paid no heed to their children’s rights and shirked away their obligations to them. Consequently the latter have got lost and begun to grope in darkness. Their parents have been too busy in worldly affairs promoting their financial situation and hoarding wealth to enquire about the company in which their children are involved or to guide them to good and make them shun evil, although they are more eligible for parental care, love and attention. Duties of father are not confined to catering for his child’s physical well-being, nutritious needs and clothing only; he is rather demanded to care about the spiritual side of his child’s character, feeding his heart with knowledge and faith and enveloping his soul with a clad of piety and the fear of Allah.
“The family is the most important unit for forming the community by bringing up the next generation. “So if there are problems in the home, children will be affected and the whole community will suffer.”
Islam concerned itself with human rights a long time ago. “Islam asks parents to provide the child with a suitable environment. Islam does not omit any single point related to children’s rights.”
“Human beings like to have children, because they think that childbirth is the immortality of life. To love new life is instinctive for every human being. Giving birth to children is the symbol of loving immortality.”
Islam teaches us that if a person brings a child up well, Allah swt (God) will forgive that person their sins when that person dies; and the child’s prayers will help the dead person’s soul. International concern about human rights in general and children’s rights in particular, has prompted researchers and professionals to look into the roots of human rights. Human rights might be a new buzz phrase, but Islam set out principles for human rights long ago,
The convention for children’s rights is based on four essential concepts; protection from harm, personal development, proper care, and freedom of opinion in society. “We must pay more attention to the best interests of the child. All these principles were mentioned in Qur’an, which cares about the rights of the child even before he or she is born,”
Children’s rights cannot be separated from human rights. “Children are the future. Taking care of the coming generation by protecting their dignity and providing them their needs is the most important thing for bringing up citizens best equipped to serve the country.”
Islam concerns itself with children and determines their rights. “A child has the right to take his father’s name as a sign that he is legitimate. In this way, his father recognizes him before the community.” when the child is in the womb, the mother may not hurt him by taking medicine that would harm him or to abort him. Pregnant women are exempted from certain practices, such as fasting so as not to harm the fetus.
"Islam cares about childhood. It pays particular attention to children's rights and to the proper manner to raise them, so that they will be equipped to face the difficulties of life,"
"(Each one) of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find half date, then (by saying) a pleasant word (to your brethren)." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 394.
Malik bin Huwairth t narrated: "I came to the Prophet Muhammad with some men from my tribe and stayed with him for twenty nights. He was kind and merciful to us. When he realized our longing for our families, he said to us: "Go back and stay with your families and teach them the religion. And offer the prayer and one of you should pronounce the Adhan for the prayer when its time is due. And the oldest one amongst you should lead the prayer." (Bukhari 1/601)
Authentic Hadith clearly show how the Prophet commands us Muslims to be responsible to our respective families. The best way to perform our duty to our children is to teach them Islam. Allah tells us that our children, just like our wealth and possessions, are but a trial from Him. Allah the Most High says:
"Your riches and your children may be but a trial: whereas Allah, with Him is the highest Reward." (64:15)
Since our children are but a trial and that the highest reward is with Allah the Almighty, it is then our responsibility to guide our children to Islam. It is only through Islam that they can become righteous and be of service to Allah I. We pass Allah’s trial once our children worship and please our Creator. The best thing that we can give to our children is knowledge of Islam. It is the best education and the best means to fight ignorance and drive away evil.
May Allah guide us to the right path, the path of those on whom Allah has bestowed His grace - AMEEN.
Durood (Blessings) and Salaam (Peace) on Muhammad, his Family, and his Companions.
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .AmeeP.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Friday, 21 January 2011
Surah Al Kahf has many virtues.- Quran
Surat Al-Kahf (The Cave) -
Meaning of the name The Cave
Statistics
Classification Meccan
Sura number 18
Number of verses 110
Juz' number 15 to 16
Hizb number 30 to 31
Number of Sajdahs none
Previous Sura Al-Isra
Next Sura Maryam
Ever wondered why Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) asked us to recite Surat Al-Kahf every Friday?
Let’s find out today, InshaAllah...
Surah Al Kahf was revealed to Mohammad (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) after the Jews, told the mushriks to ask the Prophets three things:
Many prophetic hadiths connect Surat al-Kahf with the End Times. Some of them are as follows:
He who among you will survive to see him (the Dajjal) should recite over him the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf. (Sahih Muslim)
Related by Abu Umaamah al-Bahili: Whoever enters his (the Dajjal) Hell, let him seek refuge with Allah and recite the opening verse of Surat al-Kahf, and it will become cool and peaceful for him, as the fire became cool and peaceful for Abraham. (Ibn Kathir)
One reason why the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) recommended reading Surat al-Kahf is that it contains very important signs pointing to the End Times. Surat al-Kahf contains the signs required for the believers' defense and fight against the Dajjal and the irreligious movements bringing so much evil to humanity, which he wants to spread around the world, as well as many lessons from which the Muslims can learn. Our Prophet's (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) recommendation to memorize and read this Sura
1. Who were the Sleepers of the cave and what was their story?
2. Who was Dhul Qarnain?
3. What he (Muhammad Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam)) knows about the Ruh?
The prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) told them that he would tell them in the morning, hoping that he would get revelation from Gabriel, however he did not. After fifteen days the mushriks returned, thinking they triumphed over the Prophet. He (Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) began to feel sad but the next day Gabriel revealed to him (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam), Surah Al Kahf, which contained the answers of their (the mushriks) question.
The Surah can be divided into about seven sections and contains four main stories. They are as follows:
..........The Sleepers of the Cave.........
This is about a number of youths who because of their belief in Allah (sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) were driven out of their homes, and ended up in a cave. Here Allah (swt) made them sleep for a number of years (309 lunar years which is 300 solar years).They then awoke, when asked how long they had slept for they estimated a day or half a day. One of the youths went to the town to get some food. He disguised himself thinking that the people would recognize him and harm him. But when he got there he found himself amongst a different people. The people of the town were amazed at his strange clothes and old coins. They went to the cave and saw the youth. After leaving it is reported that the youth went back to sleep and Allah (swt) caused them to die. Allah (swt) knows best.
The Christian version of this story is known as ‘The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus’, however the Qur’an mentions not the number of those who were in the cave, rather Allah (swt) says:
(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: “My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case).” Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers. [18:22]
If the number of those in the cave had any importance or significance, surely Allah would have told us, we are told not to waste our time discussing such matters. The importance of the story is not how many men were in the cave, but the message that it carries.
The location of the cave is also not mentioned, except that Allah (swt) says:
Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave… [18:17]
Some scholars have said that the location of the cave is ‘Arajeeb’ in Jordan, according to the description given in the above verse. But again, the location of the cave is not mentioned in the Qur’an and therefore bears no significance.
* The Owners of the Two Gardens
This is a story about two men, one of whom had been given two gardens by Allah. He began to boast, forgetting to thank Allah (swt) for the bounties bestowed upon him. The second man warned him and told him to be thankful to Allah (swt) but he refused and so Allah (swt) destroyed his garden.
This story gives an example of the tests of wealth. Its shows that wealth is a temporary thing in this life, and just as Allah (swt) can give, He can also take it away at any moment He likes. The man had thought himself superior in terms of wealth; however this it is not the level of wealth that Allah (swt) will judge us by, but by our level of Taqwa and Iman.
* Al Khidr
The full story of Al Khidr is mentioned in the following hadith:
Ubayy Ibn Ka`b told us that the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) said: Once Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked who the most learned man amongst the people was. He said: “I.” Allah admonished him as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So, Allah said to him: “Yes, at the junction of the two seas there is a slave of mine who is more learned than you.” Moses said: “O my Lord! How can I meet him?” Allah said: “Take a fish and put it in a large basket and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish.”
Moses took a fish and put it in a basket and proceeded along with his (servant) boy, Joshua (Yusha Ibn Nun), till they reached the rock where they laid their heads (i.e. lay down). Moses slept, and the fish, moving out of the basket, fell into the sea. It took its way into the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. Allah stopped the flow of water over the fish and it became like an arch (the Prophet pointed out this arch with his hands). They traveled the rest of the night, and the next day Moses said to his boy (servant): “Give us our food, for indeed, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey of ours.” Moses did not feel tired till he crossed that place which Allah had ordered him to seek after. His boy (servant) said to him: “Do you know that when we were sitting near that rock, I forgot the fish, and none but Satan caused me to forget to tell (you) about it, and it took its course into the sea in an amazing way?” So there was a path for the fish and that astonished them. Moses said: ‘That was what we were seeking after.”
So both of them (Musa and the boy) retraced their footsteps till they reached the rock. There they saw a man lying covered with a garment. Moses greeted him, and he replied saying: “How do people greet each other in your land?” Moses said: “I am Moses.”
The man asked: “Moses of Bani Israel?” Moses said: “Yes, I have come to you so that you may teach me from those things which Allah has taught you.” He said: “O Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know.” Moses asked: “May I follow you?” He said: “But you will not be able to remain patient with me, for how can you be patient about things which you will not be able to understand?” Moses said: “You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient and I will not disobey you in aught.”
So both of them (Musa and AL-Khidr) went out walking along the sea-shore. A boat passed by them, and they asked the crew of the boat to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khidr, so they took them on board without fare. When they were on board the boat, a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice into the sea. Al-Khidr said to Moses: “O Moses! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allah’s knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak.” Then suddenly Al-Khidr took an adze and pulled up a plank, and Moses did not notice it till he had pulled up a plank with the adze. Moses said to him: “What have you done? They took us on board charging us nothing; yet you have intentionally made a hole in their boat so as to drown its passengers. Verily, you have done a dreadful thing.” Al-Khidr replied: “Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me?” Moses replied: “Do not blame me for what I have forgotten, and do not be hard upon me for my fault.” So the first excuse of Moses was that he had forgotten.
When they had left the sea, they passed by a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khidr took hold of the boy’s head and plucked it with his hand like this. (Sufyan, the sub-narrator gestured with his fingertips as if he were plucking some fruit.) Moses said to him: “Have you killed an innocent person who has not killed any person? You have really done a horrible thing.” Al-Khidr said: “Did I not tell you that you could not remain patient with me?” Moses said: “If I ask you about anything after this, don’t accompany me. You have received an excuse from me.”
Then both of them went on till they came to some people of a village, and they asked its inhabitants for food but they refused to entertain them as guests. Then they saw therein a wall which was just going to collapse and Al Khidr repaired it just by touching it with his hands. Moses said: “These are the people, whom we have called on, but they neither gave us food, nor entertained us as guests, yet you have repaired their wall. If you had wished, you could have taken wages for it.”
Al-Khidr said: “This is the parting between you and me, and I shall tell you the explanation of those things on which you could not remain patient.” [Sahih Bukhari]
The explanations of these events are in the Qur’an:
“As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was a king after them who seized every ship by force.
“And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief. So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy.
“And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the town; and there was under it a treasure belonging to them; and their father was a righteous man, and your Lord intended that they should attain their age of full strength and take out their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of those (things) over which you could not hold patience. [18:79-82]
Some scholars believe that the story is set around the Sinai peninsular, where Musa and the Israelites are said to have stayed.
According to hadith literature the slave boy, is called Yusha` bin Nun who became the leader of the Israelites after Musa (as)
Al Khidr is the name given to the man in the story. This is reported in Sahih Al Bukhari, in which the Prophet (saw) said that he (the man) was named Al Khidr (which means green), because he sat on a patch of withered vegetation and it turned green. It is debated whether he is a prophet or angel. According to ibn Kathir, those who say he was a Prophet of Allah (swt) base it upon the following ayah:
So they found one of our servants, on whom we had bestowed Mercy from ourselves and whom we had taught knowledge from our own Presence. [18:65]
* Dhul Qarnain
Dhul Qarnain was a righteous king, who traveled, west and east. The Qur’an describes three of his journeys, the last being the most significant. He traveled to a place between two mountains where he met a tribe of people. They asked him to erect a wall between them and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj who caused mischief in the land. Dhul Qarnain agreed to do so.
Dhul Qarnain translates to the ‘Two Horned King’. The Qur’an gives no information about who he was; however popular opinion identifies him as Alexander the Great. Others opinion is that he was an ancient Persian king, while some say he was a Himyarite king. This is refuted by many Muslims scholars who say he was a king, who lived at the time of Ibrahim (as)
The Qur’an relates to us of 3 journeys that he takes, one to a western land:
“…Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water…” [18:86]
Here he found a nation of people, Allah (swt) gave him the choice to punish them or treat them kindly. Dhul Qarnain chose to punish those who persisted in kufr and treat the believers well
His second journey is to an eastern land:
“…Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom we had provided no covering protection against the sun.”[18:90]
Where he found a people, who Allah had not provided with shade, i.e. they had no buildings or trees to keep them shade.
And lastly he travels to a land between two mountains:
“…Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains… [18:93]
Here, he met a people who asked him to build a barrier between them and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj.
Ya’juj and Ma’juj are from the progeny of Adam, i.e. they are human beings. Folklore has spread, claiming they are not human, or different from humans in some way. For example they are describes to have two large ears, one is used as a bed and the other as a duvet to cover themselves with. However this is false, as it is reported in a Sahih hadith that they are the descendants of Yafith the son of Nuh (as).
Ya’juj and Ma’juj compromise nine tenths of mankind. This is according to the following hadith:
“Allah divided mankind into ten parts. Nine tenths constitute Ya’juj and Ma’juj while the remaining one tenth constitutes the rest of mankind.”
The whereabouts of the wall constructed by Dhul Qarnain is unknown. There have been many speculations. Some say it is the great wall of China, some say it is in Russia, however, Allah knows best where the wall is and when the Hour (the day of judgment) draws near, by Allah’s will the wall will be destroyed and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj will be set loose to cause havoc on the earth, destroying everything that they come across.
Virtues of Surah Al Kahf
Surah Al Kahf has many virtues. It is a Sunnah to recite this Surah every Friday. As well as this, it is reported in hadith, that whoever memorizes the beginning of this Surah will be protected from the Dajjal;
Whoever memorizes ten Ayat from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal. [Muslim,]
May Allah allow us all to commit it to memory? It is such a beautiful Surah!
And the first ten verses - we should each memorize them inshaa Allah!
The entire Surah is quite easy to memorize especially if you have the translation with you - do it word for word and there is a lot of repetition.
The first ten verses though are a must:
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Meaning of the name The Cave
Statistics
Classification Meccan
Sura number 18
Number of verses 110
Juz' number 15 to 16
Hizb number 30 to 31
Number of Sajdahs none
Previous Sura Al-Isra
Next Sura Maryam
Ever wondered why Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) asked us to recite Surat Al-Kahf every Friday?
Let’s find out today, InshaAllah...
Surah Al Kahf was revealed to Mohammad (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) after the Jews, told the mushriks to ask the Prophets three things:
Many prophetic hadiths connect Surat al-Kahf with the End Times. Some of them are as follows:
He who among you will survive to see him (the Dajjal) should recite over him the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf. (Sahih Muslim)
Related by Abu Umaamah al-Bahili: Whoever enters his (the Dajjal) Hell, let him seek refuge with Allah and recite the opening verse of Surat al-Kahf, and it will become cool and peaceful for him, as the fire became cool and peaceful for Abraham. (Ibn Kathir)
One reason why the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) recommended reading Surat al-Kahf is that it contains very important signs pointing to the End Times. Surat al-Kahf contains the signs required for the believers' defense and fight against the Dajjal and the irreligious movements bringing so much evil to humanity, which he wants to spread around the world, as well as many lessons from which the Muslims can learn. Our Prophet's (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) recommendation to memorize and read this Sura
1. Who were the Sleepers of the cave and what was their story?
2. Who was Dhul Qarnain?
3. What he (Muhammad Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam)) knows about the Ruh?
The prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) told them that he would tell them in the morning, hoping that he would get revelation from Gabriel, however he did not. After fifteen days the mushriks returned, thinking they triumphed over the Prophet. He (Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) began to feel sad but the next day Gabriel revealed to him (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam), Surah Al Kahf, which contained the answers of their (the mushriks) question.
The Surah can be divided into about seven sections and contains four main stories. They are as follows:
..........The Sleepers of the Cave.........
This is about a number of youths who because of their belief in Allah (sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) were driven out of their homes, and ended up in a cave. Here Allah (swt) made them sleep for a number of years (309 lunar years which is 300 solar years).They then awoke, when asked how long they had slept for they estimated a day or half a day. One of the youths went to the town to get some food. He disguised himself thinking that the people would recognize him and harm him. But when he got there he found himself amongst a different people. The people of the town were amazed at his strange clothes and old coins. They went to the cave and saw the youth. After leaving it is reported that the youth went back to sleep and Allah (swt) caused them to die. Allah (swt) knows best.
The Christian version of this story is known as ‘The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus’, however the Qur’an mentions not the number of those who were in the cave, rather Allah (swt) says:
(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: “My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case).” Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers. [18:22]
If the number of those in the cave had any importance or significance, surely Allah would have told us, we are told not to waste our time discussing such matters. The importance of the story is not how many men were in the cave, but the message that it carries.
The location of the cave is also not mentioned, except that Allah (swt) says:
Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave… [18:17]
Some scholars have said that the location of the cave is ‘Arajeeb’ in Jordan, according to the description given in the above verse. But again, the location of the cave is not mentioned in the Qur’an and therefore bears no significance.
* The Owners of the Two Gardens
This is a story about two men, one of whom had been given two gardens by Allah. He began to boast, forgetting to thank Allah (swt) for the bounties bestowed upon him. The second man warned him and told him to be thankful to Allah (swt) but he refused and so Allah (swt) destroyed his garden.
This story gives an example of the tests of wealth. Its shows that wealth is a temporary thing in this life, and just as Allah (swt) can give, He can also take it away at any moment He likes. The man had thought himself superior in terms of wealth; however this it is not the level of wealth that Allah (swt) will judge us by, but by our level of Taqwa and Iman.
* Al Khidr
The full story of Al Khidr is mentioned in the following hadith:
Ubayy Ibn Ka`b told us that the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) said: Once Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked who the most learned man amongst the people was. He said: “I.” Allah admonished him as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So, Allah said to him: “Yes, at the junction of the two seas there is a slave of mine who is more learned than you.” Moses said: “O my Lord! How can I meet him?” Allah said: “Take a fish and put it in a large basket and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish.”
Moses took a fish and put it in a basket and proceeded along with his (servant) boy, Joshua (Yusha Ibn Nun), till they reached the rock where they laid their heads (i.e. lay down). Moses slept, and the fish, moving out of the basket, fell into the sea. It took its way into the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. Allah stopped the flow of water over the fish and it became like an arch (the Prophet pointed out this arch with his hands). They traveled the rest of the night, and the next day Moses said to his boy (servant): “Give us our food, for indeed, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey of ours.” Moses did not feel tired till he crossed that place which Allah had ordered him to seek after. His boy (servant) said to him: “Do you know that when we were sitting near that rock, I forgot the fish, and none but Satan caused me to forget to tell (you) about it, and it took its course into the sea in an amazing way?” So there was a path for the fish and that astonished them. Moses said: ‘That was what we were seeking after.”
So both of them (Musa and the boy) retraced their footsteps till they reached the rock. There they saw a man lying covered with a garment. Moses greeted him, and he replied saying: “How do people greet each other in your land?” Moses said: “I am Moses.”
The man asked: “Moses of Bani Israel?” Moses said: “Yes, I have come to you so that you may teach me from those things which Allah has taught you.” He said: “O Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know.” Moses asked: “May I follow you?” He said: “But you will not be able to remain patient with me, for how can you be patient about things which you will not be able to understand?” Moses said: “You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient and I will not disobey you in aught.”
So both of them (Musa and AL-Khidr) went out walking along the sea-shore. A boat passed by them, and they asked the crew of the boat to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khidr, so they took them on board without fare. When they were on board the boat, a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice into the sea. Al-Khidr said to Moses: “O Moses! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allah’s knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak.” Then suddenly Al-Khidr took an adze and pulled up a plank, and Moses did not notice it till he had pulled up a plank with the adze. Moses said to him: “What have you done? They took us on board charging us nothing; yet you have intentionally made a hole in their boat so as to drown its passengers. Verily, you have done a dreadful thing.” Al-Khidr replied: “Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me?” Moses replied: “Do not blame me for what I have forgotten, and do not be hard upon me for my fault.” So the first excuse of Moses was that he had forgotten.
When they had left the sea, they passed by a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khidr took hold of the boy’s head and plucked it with his hand like this. (Sufyan, the sub-narrator gestured with his fingertips as if he were plucking some fruit.) Moses said to him: “Have you killed an innocent person who has not killed any person? You have really done a horrible thing.” Al-Khidr said: “Did I not tell you that you could not remain patient with me?” Moses said: “If I ask you about anything after this, don’t accompany me. You have received an excuse from me.”
Then both of them went on till they came to some people of a village, and they asked its inhabitants for food but they refused to entertain them as guests. Then they saw therein a wall which was just going to collapse and Al Khidr repaired it just by touching it with his hands. Moses said: “These are the people, whom we have called on, but they neither gave us food, nor entertained us as guests, yet you have repaired their wall. If you had wished, you could have taken wages for it.”
Al-Khidr said: “This is the parting between you and me, and I shall tell you the explanation of those things on which you could not remain patient.” [Sahih Bukhari]
The explanations of these events are in the Qur’an:
“As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was a king after them who seized every ship by force.
“And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief. So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy.
“And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the town; and there was under it a treasure belonging to them; and their father was a righteous man, and your Lord intended that they should attain their age of full strength and take out their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of those (things) over which you could not hold patience. [18:79-82]
Some scholars believe that the story is set around the Sinai peninsular, where Musa and the Israelites are said to have stayed.
According to hadith literature the slave boy, is called Yusha` bin Nun who became the leader of the Israelites after Musa (as)
Al Khidr is the name given to the man in the story. This is reported in Sahih Al Bukhari, in which the Prophet (saw) said that he (the man) was named Al Khidr (which means green), because he sat on a patch of withered vegetation and it turned green. It is debated whether he is a prophet or angel. According to ibn Kathir, those who say he was a Prophet of Allah (swt) base it upon the following ayah:
So they found one of our servants, on whom we had bestowed Mercy from ourselves and whom we had taught knowledge from our own Presence. [18:65]
* Dhul Qarnain
Dhul Qarnain was a righteous king, who traveled, west and east. The Qur’an describes three of his journeys, the last being the most significant. He traveled to a place between two mountains where he met a tribe of people. They asked him to erect a wall between them and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj who caused mischief in the land. Dhul Qarnain agreed to do so.
Dhul Qarnain translates to the ‘Two Horned King’. The Qur’an gives no information about who he was; however popular opinion identifies him as Alexander the Great. Others opinion is that he was an ancient Persian king, while some say he was a Himyarite king. This is refuted by many Muslims scholars who say he was a king, who lived at the time of Ibrahim (as)
The Qur’an relates to us of 3 journeys that he takes, one to a western land:
“…Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water…” [18:86]
Here he found a nation of people, Allah (swt) gave him the choice to punish them or treat them kindly. Dhul Qarnain chose to punish those who persisted in kufr and treat the believers well
His second journey is to an eastern land:
“…Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom we had provided no covering protection against the sun.”[18:90]
Where he found a people, who Allah had not provided with shade, i.e. they had no buildings or trees to keep them shade.
And lastly he travels to a land between two mountains:
“…Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains… [18:93]
Here, he met a people who asked him to build a barrier between them and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj.
Ya’juj and Ma’juj are from the progeny of Adam, i.e. they are human beings. Folklore has spread, claiming they are not human, or different from humans in some way. For example they are describes to have two large ears, one is used as a bed and the other as a duvet to cover themselves with. However this is false, as it is reported in a Sahih hadith that they are the descendants of Yafith the son of Nuh (as).
Ya’juj and Ma’juj compromise nine tenths of mankind. This is according to the following hadith:
“Allah divided mankind into ten parts. Nine tenths constitute Ya’juj and Ma’juj while the remaining one tenth constitutes the rest of mankind.”
The whereabouts of the wall constructed by Dhul Qarnain is unknown. There have been many speculations. Some say it is the great wall of China, some say it is in Russia, however, Allah knows best where the wall is and when the Hour (the day of judgment) draws near, by Allah’s will the wall will be destroyed and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj will be set loose to cause havoc on the earth, destroying everything that they come across.
Virtues of Surah Al Kahf
Surah Al Kahf has many virtues. It is a Sunnah to recite this Surah every Friday. As well as this, it is reported in hadith, that whoever memorizes the beginning of this Surah will be protected from the Dajjal;
Whoever memorizes ten Ayat from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal. [Muslim,]
May Allah allow us all to commit it to memory? It is such a beautiful Surah!
And the first ten verses - we should each memorize them inshaa Allah!
The entire Surah is quite easy to memorize especially if you have the translation with you - do it word for word and there is a lot of repetition.
The first ten verses though are a must:
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Tell them and show them you love them,(MOM, and DAD),
What is the Best Gift we can give to our Parents? (MOM and DAD),
Don't forget, YOU are because of them. Before you claim your Inheritance, try and check the list of your duties towards them.
Humanity and ethics demand that we safeguard these two jewels (our mother and father) - by exhibiting goodness towards them while they are alive, and by means of charity and goodly remembrance after their death.
Becoming the person and even better than that, what they have expected of you when you were born.
Be a loving and caring son/daughter... when we were young they knew what we need..... Now it’s their time to enjoy life... and we should know what they need and when..!!!
Our physical presence with them' i.e. spend time with them!
Tell them and show them you love them - we don’t have them forever and do ask all the questions now that it is too late to ask when they are gone.
Unconditional! Love care, respect and consideration. Try to adjust to your parents/elders as far as possible, rather than make them adjust to you or your life style.
.
It is never late. Try to change yourself first.
Make their old age and retirement very special, happy and peaceful.
We all accept the fact that we love our parents, but at the same time we are so busy in our day to day life that we hardy bother to spend some time with them.
Parents never demand anything from us, they only give, give and give... Now it’s our chance to make them happy.
We should sit side by them and share our thoughts and feelings, we should listen to them what they want to say. We should try to understand their silence; we should try to read their eyes. We should ask them to give suggestions for our problems, instead of saying that..."you'll not understand" or "you can't do anything".....
Let us all try to make them happy, let us set an example for our coming Generations........
.........................................................................................................................................................
Beautiful letter written by a father to his son! This applies to daughters too. Use this in your teachings to your children.
Following is a letter to his son from a renowned Hong Kong TV broadcaster cum Child Psychologist. The words are actually applicable to all of us, young or old, children or parents.
I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons
1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable; nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.
2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.
3. What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.
Remember the following as you go through life
1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.
2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/whom you love most.
3. Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.
4. Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness. Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.
5. a lot of successful people did not receive a good education that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!
6. I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, either would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.
7. You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.
8. I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!
9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.
At different stages of our lives we can gift them differently by being more than what they expected of us and at every step acknowledging their worth because ultimately our existence in this world is owed to them. Beginning with! obeying them. Keeping them happy, doing well at school, helping in need, sharing ... doing well in life and letting them know that its because of u and your blessings that i m here today ... I love u n i care for u. Lending hand at old age ---------biggest gift for parents.
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Don't forget, YOU are because of them. Before you claim your Inheritance, try and check the list of your duties towards them.
Humanity and ethics demand that we safeguard these two jewels (our mother and father) - by exhibiting goodness towards them while they are alive, and by means of charity and goodly remembrance after their death.
Becoming the person and even better than that, what they have expected of you when you were born.
Be a loving and caring son/daughter... when we were young they knew what we need..... Now it’s their time to enjoy life... and we should know what they need and when..!!!
Our physical presence with them' i.e. spend time with them!
Tell them and show them you love them - we don’t have them forever and do ask all the questions now that it is too late to ask when they are gone.
Unconditional! Love care, respect and consideration. Try to adjust to your parents/elders as far as possible, rather than make them adjust to you or your life style.
.
It is never late. Try to change yourself first.
Make their old age and retirement very special, happy and peaceful.
We all accept the fact that we love our parents, but at the same time we are so busy in our day to day life that we hardy bother to spend some time with them.
Parents never demand anything from us, they only give, give and give... Now it’s our chance to make them happy.
We should sit side by them and share our thoughts and feelings, we should listen to them what they want to say. We should try to understand their silence; we should try to read their eyes. We should ask them to give suggestions for our problems, instead of saying that..."you'll not understand" or "you can't do anything".....
Let us all try to make them happy, let us set an example for our coming Generations........
.........................................................................................................................................................
Beautiful letter written by a father to his son! This applies to daughters too. Use this in your teachings to your children.
Following is a letter to his son from a renowned Hong Kong TV broadcaster cum Child Psychologist. The words are actually applicable to all of us, young or old, children or parents.
I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons
1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable; nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.
2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.
3. What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.
Remember the following as you go through life
1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.
2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/whom you love most.
3. Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.
4. Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness. Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.
5. a lot of successful people did not receive a good education that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!
6. I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, either would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.
7. You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.
8. I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!
9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.
At different stages of our lives we can gift them differently by being more than what they expected of us and at every step acknowledging their worth because ultimately our existence in this world is owed to them. Beginning with! obeying them. Keeping them happy, doing well at school, helping in need, sharing ... doing well in life and letting them know that its because of u and your blessings that i m here today ... I love u n i care for u. Lending hand at old age ---------biggest gift for parents.
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Sunday, 16 January 2011
When They Sacrificed Everything for You, (Part 2
When They Sacrificed Everything for You, (Part 2)
Still blogging on muslim parents .(MUM and DAD)
Help me to be a better parent.
Forbid that I should ever punish my parents, for my selfish satisfaction.
May I grant them all their wishes that are reasonable and have the courage?
Always to withhold a privilege which I know will do them harm. Make me so fair and just, so considerate and companionable to my parents, that they will have a genuine esteem for me.
Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children
When was the last time you told your parents how sorry you are for the troubles you have caused in the past?
When was the last time you told your parents how grateful you are just for being their children?
When was the last time you looked at your parents and said in your heart, "Thank Allah (God) for these people"?
Oh! People, much can be said about the verses in the Qur’an and the hadith of the Prophet Salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam about treating the parents. But I want to mention an aspect that perhaps some of us have not appreciated. It is a psychological aspect, it is an aspect that I only came to realize when I became a parent, and so I primarily talk to those who are not yet parent, or are still new parents: you will not understand the love that a parent has for a child until you yourself have you own child.
You will NEVER understand that it means to love somebody until you become a parent. You will never understand it. You never ever have a relationship; have a feeling for any human being, like you do for your son or daughter.
No matter who that person is – many of you who are still young, you have this idealistic concept of loving the opposite gender and getting married to them – ask anybody who’s gone beyond that stage. Ask anybody who knows that truth – that type of love, it is a selfish love. Why is it a selfish love? Because you want something back in return. It is a love of give and take – it is a love of fights along with good, there’s good and there’s bad. Your most painful moments and your sweetest moment will be with your partner. This is a part of life.
For! “LOVE” of your own “Parents”? This is unselfish love, unrestricted.
You want to give up everything you have to bring a smile on that child’s face. You go to work, and you are motivated in your work to bring home some food to your children, to give an income to them – you will give up your life’s savings for their education. THAT is what you call love!
No human being feels that type of love for another, except a parent for the child. And when you think about it, and when you experience parenthood, you understand the POWER of Allah’s creation, for verily; I swear by Allah, if the parents did not have this love for this child, no child could live on the face of this earth.
A child is given to you. A child will be handed over to you, and you will be told, this is your baby, this is your child, you are responsible for it, you have to take care of it. This child will take up most of your time, most of your energy, most of your wealth, your living will becomes dependant upon this child, and your entire life will change because of this child. The amount of sacrifice you must do cannot be measure in words, cannot be measured in figures, and cannot be measured in quantities. Those who have children and are growing up with them, they know what I’m talking about – and yet you have not experienced everything, because your children are still growing up with you.
Your parents have done that for you. Your parents have done that for you, and you don’t even realize it, because when you become an adult, you “know it all,” you’re the one who thinks they know better than their parents, you’re the one who wants to leave the nest and become independent. And you don’t realize that a mother’s love, a father’s love – once you leave that nest, it will never by the same. Once that parent goes away as well, you will never have that opportunity again.
Oh Muslims, this is the beauty of the cycle of life – that Allah ‘azza wa jel blesses all of us with parents. And then He blesses some of us with children, and those children grow up, and some of us are still alive. Some of us have our parents alive when we grow up – that’s why Allah says in the Qur’an: “If one or both of them are alive, take care of them” [17:23], because some of us don’t have that luxury.
One of the companions, famous companions, his mother passed away, and he was crying… greatly. So some of the other sahabas tried to console him, and they said: it’s alright, she is in Jannah inshaa’ Allah, she’s forgiven. They tried to console him. And he said, “Do you think I’m crying because she died? Of course I’m sad because she died, that’s not why I’m crying.”
Notice how the sahabas view things and how we view them. He said: “I am crying because my door to Jannah has been shut! And I don’t know if I got in or not.” She was my door to Jannah! That’s why I’m crying. My door to Jannah has been shut. I don’t know – was I a good enough son?! I don’t know – did I do what I needed to do?! There’s no other way for me except through her.
And he quoted, or he paraphrased an authentic hadith of the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam when he said that the parent is the LARGEST door to paradise; the parents is the middle door to paradise, the parent is the MAIN door to paradise. It’s an authentic hadith.
So the Sahabi understood this. The death of a parent was not just a personal loss. It was a religious and spiritual loss as well: I don’t know whether I made it in or not…
A man came to Ibn Abbas, and he said: I have done this and I have done that, I have done this and I have done that. He listed a whole long list of sins, and he had just repented and come back to Islam. He said, “What can I do now?” Ibn Abbas said, “Are one of your parents alive?” He said, “Yes, my mother is alive.” Ibn Abbas said: “Go stick to her – go at her feet” – go service here – go give everything you have to her – “because I know of no other deed that forgives the amounts of sins that serving your parents does.” No deed can take that place of cleansing an entire life of evil, cleansing an entire lifetime of disease, than being good to your parents. Go to her, and give you entire body and soul to her – bring to her that happiness and joy, and that’s your only hope that I can see for you.
And he’s basing this as well on many hadith of the Prophet Salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam.
A man came to the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam, and he said, “Ya Rasool Allah” – this hadith is in Bukhari – “Ya Rasool Allah, I have come from Yemen” – the furthest corners of Arabia, nothing further than Yemen – “I have come from Yemen, in order to be with you!” He has now become a Sahabi – he has elevated his rank in history by visiting the Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam! “…in order to be with you, and do jihad behind you. And in order to do so, I had to leave my parents crying at my loss and departure.”
He’s trying to boast, he’s trying to brag, he’s trying to show his status: I want to do this, and I even left my parents crying, in order to come here.
The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam asked him: “Do you want Jannah?” Meaning: is that your goal? You want the pleasure of Allah? He said: “Yes.” The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam said: “In that case, go back to them now, GO BACK TO THEM and make them laugh, just like you left them cry.”
Meaning: you want Jannah and you have done this? You want Jannah and your own parents are not happy with you? You will not be able to earn Jannah in any other way! Brothers and sisters, this man left everything to come to the Prophet of Allah salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam, he left everything to do jihad behind the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam, and the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam is saying, you want Jannah? Go back to your parents, and be with them! Make them laugh like you have made them cry!
Do you understand the rights of the parents? Do you understand the Prophet of Allah is saying: do you really want Jannah and you’re coming to me? You’re coming to me to do jihad with me, and your own parents need you? He told that man to go back to his parents, and make them laugh like he had made them cry.
Oh Muslims, the status of parents is something that transcends even religion. Generally speaking; generally speaking, if a man or a woman is abusive to Islam, cursing Allah and His Messenger, we leave him alone – we don’t associate with him. There’s only one exception, and that exception is the parent. That exception is the parent.
Allah ‘azza WA jel says: even if your parents try to force you to idolatry,
وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ عَلى أَن تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ
They’re forcing you – they’re physically trying to shove you down in front of an idol – emotional blackmail, spiritual blackmail, whatever they’re doing – they’re doing jihad against you, to do shirk… Allah says:
فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا
“Don’t listen to them.” You can’t contravene the first principal which is la illah illaa Allah, BUT:
وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا
- “In this world” – leave their affair to Allah, “in this world, you must be good to them” (31:15) -
“Ma’roof”: be kind and just to them.
EVEN parents who are idol worshippers, who are mushriks, trying to force you to leave Islam, you still don’t have the right to be rude to them. If you can’t be rude to someone like that, then brothers and sisters, let us look at our own lives. When have we been rude to our mothers and fathers? When they show us love?
Oh brothers – especially the younger amongst you – Oh brothers, listen to me, and listen well:
The love that your mother and father have for you is a love you will never understand until you become a parent and are at that age. And the feeling that you have of being stifled with rules and regulations – that feeling is a feeling that you will miss – you will miss when you leave your parents’ nest. And you will be even stricter with your children when your time comes.
Don’t fool yourselves. You don’t understand the meaning of your parents’ love for you. Every rule and regulation they put upon you is because of their love for you – they want what is best for you. Every sing rule and regulation that they have upon you – every requirement, every desire – it is a desire for you, and not against you. You won’t realize it now. These are only going to be words to you. But when you have your own child, and you have raised that child in front of your eyes, and the child becomes a young man or a young woman, you will be even stricter upon that child than your parents were with you. Why? “Because you are living in this society”. You know what it means to be in this world. You know the ins and outs. Therefore, you’re going to be even more protective than your parents were.
Realize this, and pay heed to it. And understand that they only do this out of love for you.
And understand another part, which is ever more profound. And many of you will not fully comprehend it until the age comes. And that is: no matter what you think of your parents, in terms of their knowledge of this world, in terms of their knowledge of American culture, or their knowledge of civilization – no matter how you look down at them because of whatever they have or haven’t done – they have one thing that you don’t have. And that is experience – wisdom – age. Experience and wisdom is not taught in a book. You don’t learn it by studying. It comes by living through life.
And you as a 16/18 year old kid – you don’t know what experience is; you don’t know what wisdom is. Your mother and father have gone through life; they know what it means to live. Even if they speak with a different accent, even if they do things that to you look backwards, they are more knowledgeable than you of the mechanisms of human life. They understand emotions better than you. They know what it means to live amongst humans, because they have done it, and you haven’t -
And a time will come – trust you me – a time will come when you will regret that you didn’t take their advice more.
Right now, for many of you who are young, you trivialize their advice. You think, my parents don’t know anything. As a 16/18 year old, you know everything, and they, at 50, 60, they know nothing. A time will come when you would wish that your parents were still alive, so you can call them up and get their advice. A time will come when you will realize: my parents did indeed know this best.
And this is something that, you should pray to Allah that that time comes when you are still alive. Because it is possible – it is the Sunnah of Allah that children grow up, and their parents die before them – this is the Sunnah of Allah, the general rule.
We should strive our best to make sure, that when our parents die, whenever that happens – and we ask Allah to give all of us a long life, we should try and strive, that when they leave this world, they leave this world pleased with us, content with us, happy with us, knowing that we have done everything we can for them.
Because it is possible a parent will die… and you haven’t done your job – you haven’t done justice. And when that happens, you can never return the clock. You can never bring them back. And you will live the rest of your life in regret and remorse, now that this door of Jannah has been shut, and you don’t know whether you have entered it or not.
بارك الله لي و لكم في القرآن العظيم، و نفعني و إياكم بما فيه من الآيات و الذكر الحكيم. أقول ما تسمعون، و أستغفر الله العظيم لي و لكم و لسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب، فاستغفروه، إنه هو الغفور الرحيم… [Istighfar)...
When was the last time you looked at your parents and said in your heart, "Thank Allah (God) for these people"?
When was the last time you hugged your parents and said, "Thank you for the love and care you've given me, I love you so much"?
It is easy to love a parent who is kind, considerate, thoughtful and respectful. As a matter of fact, you may find that you want to be around them and really enjoy helping them or just hanging out. When the parent is mean, disrespectful of your time, tells lies on you to others so that you look bad and puts you down, it's not so easy to do these things out of love. You now do out of obligation and guilt. You can't wait to leave their home. That's bad.
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I repeat this... We should strive our best to make sure, that when our parents die, whenever that happens – and we ask Allah to give all of us a long life, we should try and strive, that when they leave this world, they leave this world pleased with us, content with us, happy with us, knowing that we have done everything we can for them.
Because it is possible a parent will die… and you haven’t done your job – you haven’t done justice. And when that happens, you can never return the clock. You can never bring them back. And you will live the rest of your life in regret and remorse, now that this door of Jannah has been shut, and you don’t know whether you have entered it or not.
Remember, your parents did all this for you, long before you could say a word. They did it, not because they had to, but because they loved you and they will keep doing it again and again, always and forever.
For them, loving you is like breathing, how can they stop?
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
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Saturday, 15 January 2011
When They Sacrificed Everything for You;
Your rewards are not with your parents (What I'm Blogging about mother and father)
Humanity and ethics demand that we safeguard these two jewels (our mother and father) - by exhibiting goodness towards them while they are alive, and by means of charity and goodly remembrance after their death.
Today we live in a 'global village', where it takes seconds for news to reach from one end of the world to the other end. Yet how sad that people doesn't care and don't ask about their parents or relatives. So close yet so far. What is then the point of this 'global village'? This is a sin that Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not forgive. So teach your children this message, not just through words but through your own actions. Teach them the value of parents through your actions.
Our lives are an extension of our parent's lives while our children's lives are a continuation of ours. Our good behavior towards our parents and our exhibition of kindness towards them shall cause our children to grow up as grateful and righteous individuals. They shall behave with us just as we have behaved with our own parents.
Just as it is beyond our means to fulfill the rights of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) and to thank Him for all His bounties in their entirety, similarly we can never thank our parents sufficiently for their efforts. The only thing that we can do is to acknowledge our inability and submit ourselves, in humility and reverence, before these two angels. However, comprehension of their status in the eyes of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) paves the way to fulfill some of their numerous rights.
Many are the khutba that we have heard about the rights and status of parents in Islam. Many are the ayat and hadith that outline this very, very important relationship. How often have we heard them? But have we truly acted upon them? Have we truly understood the role of parents and the status that Allah ‘azza wa jel has given them? And it is not just in our religion, it is not just with the coming of the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu alayhi Wasallam, no! Allah says in the Qur’an:
Here is a point to ponder over: We do not find in Noble Qur'an and Hadith so much emphasis on looking after the children as is the case with the rights of the parents. Why?
The Sharia (Islamic law) has put a new challenge to those who think. Find out how logical this attitude is. The fact is that the parent's heart is the fountain-head of the love for the child; this affection becomes the life-blood of the parents. Noble Qur'an has alluded to this instinctive parental love in several places.
Abdullah ibn Umar R.A. was doing Tawaaf around the ka’ba as an elderly person, many years after the death of the Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam. And he saw a man doing Tawaaf around the Ka’ba who had a very old lady on his back. He was doing Tawaaf carrying this lady on his back. And when the man saw ibn Umar, he rushed up to him, recognizing who he is, and he said, “Oh ibn Umar,” oh son of Umar ibn al-Khattab, “Oh ibn Umar, this lady on my back is my mother.” This lady is my mother. “And she had a desire to go do Hajj. And I live in such and such a province,” and he mentioned a far province in the Muslim lands, “And I could not afford a mount.” I could not afford an animal, I could not afford do bring her in any other means except by carrying her on my back, walking from such and such a village. “Oh ibn Umar, have I done my duty as a son?” Is the scale now equivalent? Have all of the good deeds that the mother did, have I now recompensed her the way that she deserves?
Ibn Umar responded: “You have done nothing in return.” You’re proud and boastful about this? You have done nothing; your deeds are not worth anything in the scale! You’re comparing a scale of what your mother has done to what you have done back to her?! He says, “You have done nothing in return. But you have done well, and Allah will reward you.”
The man said, “Oh ibn Umar, I have traveled from such and such a province,” what do you mean I’ve done nothing? “I have traveled from the furthest lands, carrying my mother on my back – and you say I have done nothing?” Ibn Umar said – and listen to this psychologist, listen to the profundity of the response that he gave to this man, listen to it and understand it and apply it in your daily lives – he said: “You have done nothing because: when she sacrificed everything for you; when she did everything that she did for you – she gave up her time, her pleasures, her health – she gave up everything she had to raise you as you are – she did it out of a pure love and joy – wanting to see you flourish, waiting so you grow up and you live a full healthy life – she did it for your life – and now that you do it in return, you are waiting for her death – doing it as a pity – doing as an equivalent, doing it in return for the favors – you’re not doing it to see her flourish and live. You’re doing it as a sense of guilt, trying to pay back what she’s done, and waiting for her death, so she is literally off your back.”
The psychology of what she did and versus what you are doing is completely separate! How can you compare the two? And how true, how profound is the statement of ibn Umar! When the child is raised by the parents, when the mother and father give everything that they have: their money, and their health, their wealth, their beings, everything. When they give to this child, what is the motivation of the parent? The parent wants to see this child flourish and live! They will literally give their lives for this child to live.
But when the child becomes old, and the child is entrusted to take care of his or her parents, the same emotions are not felt. The same patience is not there, the same love and tenderness, completely absent. And [for] this one reason, ibn Umar said: you cannot compare the two.
When Allah took a meethaaq from the children of Israeel – from the most ancient civilizations -
- “Worship none but Allah, and show ihsan to your parents…” (2:83) -
From the earliest civilizations, Allah ‘azza wa jel took a meethaaq – do you know what a meethaaq is? It’s a covenant of the highest order! It’s a treaty that should never ever be gone against and contravened. It is a treaty between Allah and man. That is what meethaaq is. And what are the conditions of this meethaaq? Allah mentions many in the Qur’an – but the first two in every single series of verses that talks about it, the first two: worship Allah; number two: be good to your parents.
“Your Lord has decreed” – such is the decree of Allah, such is the commandment of Allah, pay attention and heed – “Your Lord has decreed: that no one shall be worshipped except for Allah, and that you be good to your parents.” – (17:23)
This is the decree of Allah – the eternal decree of Allah: be good go your parents.
What does it mean, be good? Allah mentions the word ihsan. Ihsan is the highest level of good. There is no level; there is no word in the Arabic language that gives the meaning of ihsan. And the famous linguist of the Arabic language by the name of al-Raaghib al-Asfahaani, very famous ‘alim of the Arabic language, he said that ihsan is a state. It is not an action – it is not a deed, it is a state of mind, it is a frame of relationship, in which you give the most that you can, and you expect the least in return. You give your utmost being, this is what ihsan is. You do everything you possibly, physically, spiritually, emotionally, can. What do you want back from the party? The least amount: nothing. You do it out of ihsan. That is what ihsan is.
Your rewards are not with your parents; your parents are not going to give you anything back – no. You do what you do, you give them the most – and you expect the least back. And had there been a word higher that ihsan, Allah would have used it.
Notice in these series of verses – verses that you have all heard, all read, numerous times: “Your Lord has decreed that you shall worship none but Him and that you have ihsan to your parents” (17:23). “If either of them or both of them,” Allah says, “If either of them or both of them reach old age,” and you are in charge of them – it is a blessing that they are old and you are alive, it is a blessing – many have been deprived of this blessing – if either or both of them have reached this age where you’re in charge of them – what does Allah say? You all know:
“Don’t say uf…” (17:23) -
What is the meaning of “uf”? Uf – two letter word; smallest letter, smallest word in the Arabic language that as a meaning: uf. Uf means: you are irritated. It’s the equivalent of “tsking” in English, or saying “ouch” when you’re hurt. The smallest indication, the slightest indication, that you are irritated is said by uf. The scholars of Tafseer say: had there been a word that was less trivial, Allah would have used it here.
So the first verse uses ihsan, the second versus uses “uf.” Ihsan is the Peak; uf, the lowest, but of what?” Of what”? Profound, brothers and sisters, think about this: Allah ‘azza WA jel said: “Don’t say uf to them” – meaning, don’t show and express your frustration and anger.
If Allah ‘azza WA jel had said to us, don’t become irritated, don’t be angry, don’t be frustrated, Allah ‘azza wa jel would have commanded us with something we could not bear. It is human nature to get frustrated, especially at elderly parents. It is human nature to get angry, it is human nature to get irritated. Allah knows this. So Allah did not oblige us that we don’t get angry, we don’t get frustrated, we don’t get irritated – no. He obliged us with something that is well within our capabilities. Don’t say, don’t express, don’t show, and don’t outwardly give the impression that you’re irritated. Feel what you like in your heart, control it, be a man – control it:
“…and don’t speak to them in a harsh manner…” (17:23) -
An old man was sitting in the courtyard of his house along with his son who had received a high education. Suddenly a crow perched on a wall of the house. The father asked the son: What is this? The son replied: It is a crow. After a little while the father again asked the son: What is this? The son said: It is a crow.
After a few minutes the father asked his son the third time: What is this? The son said: Father, I have just now told you that this is a crow. After a little while the old father again asked his son the fourth time: what is this? By this time some statement of irritation was felt in the son's tone when he rebuffed his father: Father! It is a crow, a crow. A little after the father again asked his son: What is this? This time the son replied to his father with a vein of temper. Father: You are always repeating the same question; although I have told you so many times that it is a crow. Are you not able to understand this?
The father went to his room and came back with an old diary. Opening a page he asked his son to read what was written. What the son read were the following words written in the diary:
'Today my little son was sitting with me in the courtyard, when a crow came there. My son asked me twenty-five times what it was and I told him twenty-five times that it was a crow and I did not at all feel irritated. I rather felt affection for my innocent child.'
The father then explained to his son the difference between a father's and a son's attitude. While you were a little child you asked me this question twenty-five times and I felt no irritation in replying to the question twenty-five times and when today I asked you the same question only five times, you felt irritated, annoyed and impatient with me.
Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) mentions in Noble Qur'an:
"And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word. And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: O my Lord! Have compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little." Noble Qur'an (17:23-24)
Notice, Allah ‘azza wa jel has created us, He knows how difficult it is, not just to take care of children, especially to take care of parents. He knows how difficult it is. So Allah ‘azza WA jel put upon us a condition and a rule that is well within our limits: feel what you like; don’t express it, don’t make it outward, don’t show it to them.
“…say to them beautiful, generous speech…” (17:23) -
Say to them sweet things. Kareem: be generous in your speech to them. “And if they ask you,” Allah goes on in Surat al-Isra, “If they ask you for more that you can give” – if they ask you for things you don’t have, Allah ‘azza wa jel says,
“…give them optimistic phrases…” (17:28)
“Inshaa’ Allah, I’ll try,” “inshaa’ Allah, we’ll do that,” give them hope, give them encouragement. Allah ‘azza wa jel is saying, even if they want more that you can give – don’t get irritated, don’t get angry – give them good speech, give them optimism, fill them and their hearts with joy, just like they had done for you when you were a child.
And make du’aa for them, “Oh Allah, have mercy on them as they raised me…” (17:24) -
… Because they have raised me, due to the face they raised me, just as they raised me; all of these meanings are encompassed in “KUM”. Beautiful speech here, we cannot go into too much detail, beautiful speech of Allah that Allah ‘azza wa jel is giving so many profound meanings: because they have raised me, just as they have raised me, due to the fact that they have raised me, oh Allah have mercy on them, because of what they have done for me.
Let us pray to God that He guide us to be respectful, kind, and obedient to our parents, and that we continue to show them humility regardless of the power, position, wealth, and influence we may possess. Let us also pray that we be patient, kind, thoughtful, and friendly with our children, as we guide them through their lives, and that we discharge our responsibilities towards them as required by our religion, so that God may be pleased with us, and may He Bless and reward us, both in this world and in the Hereafter; Ameen.
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Sunday, 9 January 2011
MUSAB ibn UMAYR- He wore the most expensive clothes. He was wealthy.
Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised us: "When my Companions are mentioned then withhold”. And he also said, "Do not abuse my Companions, for if any of you were to spend gold equal to (mountain of) Uhud in charity, it would not equal a handful of one of them or even half of that" [al-Bukhari, Muslim]. And he said, "Whoever abuses my Companions, upon them is the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people"
Muslim scholars have also been very strict in regard to the issue of speaking and thinking mistrustfully of the Sa’haba. Imam Malik said that someone who finds in himself an ill-feeling or anger "ghaiDH" about the Companions is a Kafir because Allah (swt.) says "li-yagheeDHa bihim ul kuffar" that He may enrage the disbelievers with them, i.e. the Sa’haba [48:29].
Allah described them: "Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah and showed not their backs to the disbelievers, of them some have fulfilled their obligations and some of them are still waiting, but they never changed (i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allah) in the least." [33:23] Hujjat ul Islam, Sufyan ibn `Uyainah said: "He who speaks a single word against the Companions of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) then he is an innovator." And Imam Ahmad said: "If you see anyone speaking ill of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, doubt his Islam." And Adh-Dhahabee said, "Anyone who criticizes them or insults them has gone out of this religion and has sere gated himself from the Muslim Ummah. He has disbelieved in what Allah the Most High says concerning them in His Book and what Allah's Messenger has said concerning their noble qualities and their merits... It is incumbent upon the Muslims to love Allah; to love His Messenger, to love what the Prophet brought as guidance and as his practice; to love his descendants, his Companions, his wives, his children, his servants, and to love those who love them and hate those who hate them, as this is the meaning of loving for Allah's sake and hating for Allah's sake, and that is the most excellent kind of faith." In al-Kaba'ir (The Greatest Sins), we find that adh-Dhahabee also said, "The one who loves the Prophet loves and respects each and all of his Companions. To hate any of them is to hate the Prophet." Al-Fudayl ibn `Iyad spoke similarly when he said, "Indeed, I love those whom Allah loves. They are those from whom the Companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him) are safe. I hate those whom Allah hates. They are the people of the deviant sects and innovation."
It is only when hearts are enlightened by the light of the true faith that they begin to bear all the hardships of life and sacrifice all the allurements of this transitory life and begin to find sweetness in pains and hardships. Here is the story of an early companion of the prophet the reflects all these meanings
Musab ibn Umayr
Musab ibn Umayr, was born to a very rich family and brought in the lab of affluence, He wore the most expensive clothes. He was a handsome guy; all the people there admired him for his intelligence and keen mind. Although still young, he had the privilege of attending Quraish meetings and gatherings. He was thus in a position to know the issues which concerned the Makkan’s and what their attitudes and strategies were.
On the advent of Prophet Muhammad, rumors went every where .This prophet provoked the idolaters. Prophet Muhammad used to warn people asking them to leave the idols and worship Allah (God). In the beginning, very a few accepted and the majority rejected and even those idolaters put to torture whoever think to believe ,He warned the Quraish of terrible chastisement if they did not turn to the worship and obedience of God and he spoke of Divine rewards for the righteous. The whole of Makkah buzzed with talk of these claims.
So many machinations were weaved against the prophet, the prophet was ridiculed and when this failed they began to persuade him of leaving the call to Allah in exchange for authority, money and whatever he wished. The prophet scotched all their attempts by saying to his uncle that he wouldn't leave his call to Allah even if they put the sun on his right hand and the moon on his left hand. So, they embarked on a campaign of harassment and persecution.
Musab, the intelligent man, thought "what did the man have for which he refused all the wealth offered to him?”
Whatever on earth could make the man bear toils and pains?
It was a decisive point in his life, a swift turning point and whatever you could say when he made his way to the place where the prophet and his companions worshipped Allah. What brought him to this place? The man has a heart that has been in search for the truth. So many people indulge themselves in the allurement of this ephemeral life without racking their minds to think about the vociferous call of their nature. Unmindful of the risks of the road, he went where the prophet and his companion recited the Holy Quran
Let the history, the best witness, tells us.
So face to face, stood the searcher for the truth before the man who was entitled by the heaven to carry the truth, the hands stretched to touch each other, it wasn't the hand of Musab that was touched, and it was his heart. So face to face. He stood before people, already put to torture, already left everything only to quench the thirst for the Absolute Truth. On listening to the Holy verses of the Quran, all the chemistry and physics in the man's body changed at once.
On accepting Islam Musab had one major concern, it is his mother... She was a woman of extraordinary power. She had a dominant personality and could easily arouse fear and terror. When Musab became a Muslim, the only power on earth he might have feared was his mother. All the powerful nobles of Makkah and their attachment to pagan customs and traditions were of little consequence to him. Having his mother as an opponent, however, could not be taken lightly.
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He continued to frequent the House of al-Arqam, the first Islamic university where the first Moslems used to frequent secretly to learn the new religion. Nothing in the world even his companionship and sitting to mother could bring Musab serene and tranquility as sitting to the prophet.
It was difficult during those days to keep anything secret in Makkah for long. The eyes and ears of the Quraish were on every road. Behind every footstep imprinted in the soft and burning sand was a Quraish informer. Before long, Musab was seen as he quietly entered the House of al-Arqam, by someone called Uthman ibn Talha.
As winds in a storm, the devastating news of Musab's acceptance of Islam spread among the Quraish and eventually reached his mother.
His mother was shocked at this news and his clan's wrath went beyond every limit.
He kept himself steady before them but even recited some verses of the holy Quran for nothing but to guide them to the light they had never seen before, they were verses that cleaned the hearts that once in the quagmire of infidelity. Yet out arrogance and stubbornness they refused to accept the light and so began another stage in the man's life.
As Musab's mother listened to her son on whom she had lavished so much care and affection, she became increasingly incensed. She felt like silencing him with one terrible blow. But the hand which shot out like an arrow staggered and faltered before the light which radiated from Musab's serene face. Perhaps, it was her mother's love which restrained her from actually beating him, but still she felt she had to do something to avenge the gods which her son had forsaken. The solution she decided upon was far worse for Musab than a few blows could ever have been. She had Musab taken to a far corner of the house. There he was firmly bound and tethered. He had become a prisoner in his own home.
For a long time, Musab remained tied and confined under the watchful eyes of guards whom his mother had placed over him to prevent him from any further contact with Muhammad and his faith. Despite his ordeal, Musab did not waver.
What could imprisonment bring to him , nothing could now harm him , the good food that he used to eat was substituted with another , the servants who used to be at his disposal became his masters in the prison ,the man who used to ride his horse and swagger in the streets no longer able to walk in his suffocating cell . What could they do him; his paradise is in his heart.
His real freedom was in his heart, He remained steady but he missed his companions, his missed doing the prayer. So, on hearing that some Moslem received order from the prophet to emigrate where they could worship Allah (God) freely and to where they could survive torture and death, he decided to escape. Eventually he heard that a group of Muslims were preparing secretly to migrate to Abyssinia to seek refuge and relief.
They spent some years there worshipping Allah (God), but nothing sadden their hearts but the worry about their prophet, how much they aspired to his companionship but they had to wait as death and torture are lying in ambush there in Makkah .So when a report reached Abyssinia that the conditions of the Muslims in Makkah had improved, Musab was among the first to return to Makkah. The report was in fact false and Musab once again left for Abyssinia
With all this bad treatment, he remained loyal to his mother. Why not, he learnt well the lesson of maintaining good relations with his relatives even if they were unkind to him, he knows well the holy verse "And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear The command), Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal. But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love): In the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did.
When Musab returned to Makkah again, his mother made a last attempt to gain control of him and threatened to have him tied up again and confined. Musab swore that if she were to do that, he would kill everyone who helped her. She knew very well that he would carry out this threat for she saw the iron determination he had.
Separation was inevitable. When the moment came, it was sad for both mother and son but it revealed a strong Persistence in kufr on the part of the mother and an even greater persistence in iman on the part of the son. As she threw him out of her house and cut him off from all the material comforts she used to lavish on him, she said:” Go to your own business. I am not prepared to be a mother to you."
How much sadness is that he felt on leaving her without converting her, it was not important for him the comfort he used to , he knew well that nothing awaiting but hunger and poverty.
Musab went up close to her and said: "Mother, I advise you sincerely. I am concerned about you; do testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger."
But the woman followed the dark path; Musab thus left her home and the luxury and comforts he used to enjoy. The elegant, well-dressed youth would henceforth be seen only in the coarsest of attire. He now had more important concerns. He was determined to use his talents and energies in acquiring knowledge and in serving God and His Prophet.
One day, several years later, Musab came upon a gathering of Muslims sitting around the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace. They bowed their heads and lowered their gaze when they saw Musab, and some were even moved to tears. This was because his jalbab was old and in tatters and they were immediately taken back to the days before his acceptance of Islam when he was a model of sartorial elegance. The Prophet looked at Musab, smiled gracefully and said: "I have seen this Musab with his parents in Makkah. They lavished care and attention on him and gave him all comforts. There was no Quraish youth like him. Then he left all that seeking the pleasure of God and devoting himself to the service of His Prophet.
After about ten years of inviting people to Islam, most of Makkah still remained hostile. The noble Prophet then went to Taif seeking new adherents to the faith. He was repulsed and chased out of the city. The future of Islam looked bleak.
It was just after this that the Prophet chose Musab to be his "ambassador" to Yathrib to teach a small group of believers who had come to pledge allegiance to Islam and prepare Madinah for the day of the great Hijrah. It was his intelligence and ability to recite Quran beautifully and movingly that qualified him to this mission. Moreover and even more , his deep desire to take the lost people to their Creator , nothing could ail his soul more than sighting many people , all the humanity , worshipping and ascribing others with God, it was his infinite love to his Lord that moved him ....why not ...he saw the generous prophet standing in streets of Makkah ,when he was let down by the people , calling people ...saying in a moving voice so filled with tear " who can carry me ( on his camel) to the tribes of so and so , who can carry me to the tribes of so and so ( naming each tribes )
Musab understood his mission well. He knew that he was on a sacred mission to invite people toAllah (God) and the straight path of Islam and to prepare what was to be the territorial base for the young and struggling Muslim community.
He entered Madinah as a guest of Sad ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went to people, to their homes and their gatherings, telling them about the Prophet, explaining Islam to them and reciting the Quran. Through the grace of God, many accepted Islam. This was especially pleasing to Musab but profoundly alarming to many leaders of Yathrib society.
In his call to Allah, he applied the Holy Quran when calling people to Islam " Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from his path, and who receive guidance.
The following situation will show us the effect of applying this verse in calling to Allah; Once Musab and Sad were sitting near a well in an orchard of the Zafar clan. With them were a number of new Muslims and others who were interested in Islam. A powerful notable of the city, Usayd ibn Khudayr, came up brandishing a spear. He was livid with rage. Sad ibn Zurarah saw him and told Musab: "This is a chieftain of his people. May God place truth in his heart?" "If he sits down, I will speak to him," replied Musab,
Like the media in the west, the idolaters sent rumors everywhere concerning Islam, The angry Usayd, being affected so much by these rumors, shouted abuse and threatened Musab and his host. "Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive." Musab smiled a warm and friendly smile and said to Usayd: "Won't you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it and if you dislike it we would stop telling you what you dislike and leave."
"That's reasonable," said Usayd and, sticking his spear in the ground, sat down. Musab was not compelling him to do anything. He was not denouncing him. He was merely inviting him to listen. If! He was satisfied then well and good. If not, then Musab would leave his district and his clan without any fuss and go to another district.
Musab began telling him about Islam and recited the Quran to him. Even before Usayd spoke, it was clear from his face, now radiant and expectant, that faith had entered his heart. Here the Holy Quran verses found their way to the man's heart , sometimes these words works miracles in the heart that used to be deaf , sometimes they works miracles at hearts of stones , but what we are sure of is that it is only when you are unbiased that these words can affect , the worst thing is to listen to the Holy Quran words with arrogance , as nothing brings God's wrath as arrogance, it was the first sin committed when Satan , out of arrogance , refused to obey God when He ordered him to prostrate himself to Adam. Now let's see the reaction of the man that was only few minutes unbeliever.
He said: "How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?"
"Have a bath; purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (Shahadah), and perform Salat. Usayd left the gathering and was absent for only a short while. He returned and testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. He then prayed two rakaats and said:
"After me, there is a man who if he follows you, every one of his people will follow him. I shall send him to you now. He is 'Sad ibn Muadh."
Sad ibn Muadh came and listened to Musab. He was convinced and satisfied and declared his submission to God. He was followed by another important Yathrib, Sad ibn Ubaydah. Before long, the people of Yathrib were all in a flurry, asking one another.
"If Usayd ibn Khudayr, Sad ibn Muadh and Sad ibn Ubaydah have accepted the new religion, how can we not follow? Let's go to Musab and believe with him. They say that truth emanates from his lips."
To those who commit follies against Islam thinking that they represent Islam we say, learn and teach this lesson. How many people followed Islam because Musab carried out the Holy Quran methodology in calling to Allah?
The first ambassador of the Prophet, peace be on him, was thus supremely successful. The Prophet had chosen well. Men and women, the young and the old, the powerful and the weak accepted Islam at his hands. The course of Yathrib history had been changed forever. The way was being prepared for the great Hijrah. Yathrib was soon to become the center and the base for the Islamic state.
Islam built inside the human psyche what can not be imagined, it creates a kind of brotherhood completely different from that we know. The following momentous situation will show us how Musab understood the meaning of brotherhood in Allah.
After the battle of Bader was over, the Quraish prisoners of war were brought to the Prophet who assigned them to the custody of individual Muslims. "Treat them well," he instructed.
Among the prisoners was Abu Aziz ibn Umayr, the brother of Musab. Abu Aziz related what happened: "I was among a group of Ansar...Whenever they had lunch or dinner they would give me bread and dates to eat in obedience to the Prophet's instructions to them to treat us well.
"My brother, Musab ibn Umayr, passed by me and said to the man from the Ansar who was holding me prisoner:
'Tie him firmly... His mother is a woman of great wealth and maybe she would ransom him for you.'" Abu Aziz could not believe his ears. Astonished, he turned to Musab and asked: "My brother, is this your instruction concerning me?" "He is my brother, not you," replied Musab thus affirming that in the battle between iman and kufr, the bonds of faith were stronger than the ties of kinship.
At the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet called upon Musab, now well-known as Musab al-Khayr (the Good), to carry the Muslim standard. At the beginning of the battle, the Muslims seemed to be gaining the upper hand. A group of Muslims then went against the orders of the Prophet and deserted their positions. The mushrikeen forces rallied again and launched a counterattack. Their main objective, as they cut through the Muslim forces, was to get to the noble Prophet.
Musab realized the great danger facing the Prophet. He raised the standard high and shouted the Takbir. With the standard in one hand and his sword in the other, he plunged into the Quraish forces. The odds were against him. A Quraish horseman moved in close and severed his right hand. Musab was heard to repeat the words:
"Muhammad is only a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him," showing that however great his attachment was to the Prophet himself, his struggle above all was for the sake of God and for making His word supreme. His left hand was then severed also and as he held the standard between the stumps of his arms, to console himself he repeated: "Muhammad is only a Messenger of God. Messengers have passed away before him." Musab was then hit by a spear. He fell and the standard fell. The words he repeated, every time he was struck were later revealed to the Prophet and completed, and became part of the Quran.
After the battle, the Prophet and his companions went through the battlefield, bidding farewell to the martyrs. When they came to Musab's body, tears flowed. Habbah related that they could not find any cloth with which to shroud Musab's body, except his own garment. When they covered his head with it, his legs showed and when his legs were covered, his head was exposed and the Prophet instructed:
"Place the garment over his head and cover his feet and legs with the leaves of the idhkhir (rue) plant."
The Prophet felt deep pain and sorrow at the number of his companions who were killed at the Battle of Uhud. These included his uncle Hamza, whose body was horribly mutilated. But it was over the body of Musab that the Prophet stood, with great emotion. He remembered Musab as he first saw him in Makkah, stylish and elegant, and then looked at the short burdah which was now the only garment he possessed and he recited the verse of the Quran:
"Among the believers are men who have been true to what they have pledged to God."
The Prophet then cast his tender eyes over the battle field on which lay the dead companions of Musab and said: "The Messenger of God testifies that you are martyrs in the sight of God on the day of Qiyamah."
Then turning to the living companions around him he said: "O People! Visit them; send peace on them for, by Him in whose hand is my soul, any Muslim who sends peace on them until the day of Qiyamah, they would return the salutation of peace."
The Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and Abu Bakr ( Radiyallaahu Anhu) did not do it”.
Here is about Umar (ra) Narrated Abu Wail (( Radiyallaahu Anhu): I sat with Shaibi in this Mosque (Al-Masjid-Al-Haram), and he said, “Umar (( Radiyallaahu Anhu) once sat beside me here as you are now sitting, and said, “I feel like distributing all the gold and silver that are in it (i.e., the Ka’ba) among the Muslims”.
I said, “You cannot do that”.
‘Umar (ra) said, “Why?”
I said, “Your two (previous) companions (the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and Abu Bakr ( Radiyallaahu Anhu) did not do it”.
‘Umar (( Radiyallaahu Anhu) said, “They are the two persons whom one must follow.”
(See Hadith No. 664, Vol. 2)
Companions of the Prophet – Sahih Bukhari: Volume 9, Book 92, Number 380
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Narrated Abu Huraira (Radiyallaahu Anhu – may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Amongst the people preceding you there used to be ‘Muhaddithun’ (i.e. persons who can guess things that come true later on, as if those persons have been inspired by a divine power), and if there are any such persons amongst my followers, it is ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (Radiyallaahu Anhu – may Allah be pleased with him).”
Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions – Sahih Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 56, Number 675
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Muslim scholars have also been very strict in regard to the issue of speaking and thinking mistrustfully of the Sa’haba. Imam Malik said that someone who finds in himself an ill-feeling or anger "ghaiDH" about the Companions is a Kafir because Allah (swt.) says "li-yagheeDHa bihim ul kuffar" that He may enrage the disbelievers with them, i.e. the Sa’haba [48:29].
Allah described them: "Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah and showed not their backs to the disbelievers, of them some have fulfilled their obligations and some of them are still waiting, but they never changed (i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allah) in the least." [33:23] Hujjat ul Islam, Sufyan ibn `Uyainah said: "He who speaks a single word against the Companions of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) then he is an innovator." And Imam Ahmad said: "If you see anyone speaking ill of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, doubt his Islam." And Adh-Dhahabee said, "Anyone who criticizes them or insults them has gone out of this religion and has sere gated himself from the Muslim Ummah. He has disbelieved in what Allah the Most High says concerning them in His Book and what Allah's Messenger has said concerning their noble qualities and their merits... It is incumbent upon the Muslims to love Allah; to love His Messenger, to love what the Prophet brought as guidance and as his practice; to love his descendants, his Companions, his wives, his children, his servants, and to love those who love them and hate those who hate them, as this is the meaning of loving for Allah's sake and hating for Allah's sake, and that is the most excellent kind of faith." In al-Kaba'ir (The Greatest Sins), we find that adh-Dhahabee also said, "The one who loves the Prophet loves and respects each and all of his Companions. To hate any of them is to hate the Prophet." Al-Fudayl ibn `Iyad spoke similarly when he said, "Indeed, I love those whom Allah loves. They are those from whom the Companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him) are safe. I hate those whom Allah hates. They are the people of the deviant sects and innovation."
It is only when hearts are enlightened by the light of the true faith that they begin to bear all the hardships of life and sacrifice all the allurements of this transitory life and begin to find sweetness in pains and hardships. Here is the story of an early companion of the prophet the reflects all these meanings
Musab ibn Umayr
Musab ibn Umayr, was born to a very rich family and brought in the lab of affluence, He wore the most expensive clothes. He was a handsome guy; all the people there admired him for his intelligence and keen mind. Although still young, he had the privilege of attending Quraish meetings and gatherings. He was thus in a position to know the issues which concerned the Makkan’s and what their attitudes and strategies were.
On the advent of Prophet Muhammad, rumors went every where .This prophet provoked the idolaters. Prophet Muhammad used to warn people asking them to leave the idols and worship Allah (God). In the beginning, very a few accepted and the majority rejected and even those idolaters put to torture whoever think to believe ,He warned the Quraish of terrible chastisement if they did not turn to the worship and obedience of God and he spoke of Divine rewards for the righteous. The whole of Makkah buzzed with talk of these claims.
So many machinations were weaved against the prophet, the prophet was ridiculed and when this failed they began to persuade him of leaving the call to Allah in exchange for authority, money and whatever he wished. The prophet scotched all their attempts by saying to his uncle that he wouldn't leave his call to Allah even if they put the sun on his right hand and the moon on his left hand. So, they embarked on a campaign of harassment and persecution.
Musab, the intelligent man, thought "what did the man have for which he refused all the wealth offered to him?”
Whatever on earth could make the man bear toils and pains?
It was a decisive point in his life, a swift turning point and whatever you could say when he made his way to the place where the prophet and his companions worshipped Allah. What brought him to this place? The man has a heart that has been in search for the truth. So many people indulge themselves in the allurement of this ephemeral life without racking their minds to think about the vociferous call of their nature. Unmindful of the risks of the road, he went where the prophet and his companion recited the Holy Quran
Let the history, the best witness, tells us.
So face to face, stood the searcher for the truth before the man who was entitled by the heaven to carry the truth, the hands stretched to touch each other, it wasn't the hand of Musab that was touched, and it was his heart. So face to face. He stood before people, already put to torture, already left everything only to quench the thirst for the Absolute Truth. On listening to the Holy verses of the Quran, all the chemistry and physics in the man's body changed at once.
On accepting Islam Musab had one major concern, it is his mother... She was a woman of extraordinary power. She had a dominant personality and could easily arouse fear and terror. When Musab became a Muslim, the only power on earth he might have feared was his mother. All the powerful nobles of Makkah and their attachment to pagan customs and traditions were of little consequence to him. Having his mother as an opponent, however, could not be taken lightly.
,
He continued to frequent the House of al-Arqam, the first Islamic university where the first Moslems used to frequent secretly to learn the new religion. Nothing in the world even his companionship and sitting to mother could bring Musab serene and tranquility as sitting to the prophet.
It was difficult during those days to keep anything secret in Makkah for long. The eyes and ears of the Quraish were on every road. Behind every footstep imprinted in the soft and burning sand was a Quraish informer. Before long, Musab was seen as he quietly entered the House of al-Arqam, by someone called Uthman ibn Talha.
As winds in a storm, the devastating news of Musab's acceptance of Islam spread among the Quraish and eventually reached his mother.
His mother was shocked at this news and his clan's wrath went beyond every limit.
He kept himself steady before them but even recited some verses of the holy Quran for nothing but to guide them to the light they had never seen before, they were verses that cleaned the hearts that once in the quagmire of infidelity. Yet out arrogance and stubbornness they refused to accept the light and so began another stage in the man's life.
As Musab's mother listened to her son on whom she had lavished so much care and affection, she became increasingly incensed. She felt like silencing him with one terrible blow. But the hand which shot out like an arrow staggered and faltered before the light which radiated from Musab's serene face. Perhaps, it was her mother's love which restrained her from actually beating him, but still she felt she had to do something to avenge the gods which her son had forsaken. The solution she decided upon was far worse for Musab than a few blows could ever have been. She had Musab taken to a far corner of the house. There he was firmly bound and tethered. He had become a prisoner in his own home.
For a long time, Musab remained tied and confined under the watchful eyes of guards whom his mother had placed over him to prevent him from any further contact with Muhammad and his faith. Despite his ordeal, Musab did not waver.
What could imprisonment bring to him , nothing could now harm him , the good food that he used to eat was substituted with another , the servants who used to be at his disposal became his masters in the prison ,the man who used to ride his horse and swagger in the streets no longer able to walk in his suffocating cell . What could they do him; his paradise is in his heart.
His real freedom was in his heart, He remained steady but he missed his companions, his missed doing the prayer. So, on hearing that some Moslem received order from the prophet to emigrate where they could worship Allah (God) freely and to where they could survive torture and death, he decided to escape. Eventually he heard that a group of Muslims were preparing secretly to migrate to Abyssinia to seek refuge and relief.
They spent some years there worshipping Allah (God), but nothing sadden their hearts but the worry about their prophet, how much they aspired to his companionship but they had to wait as death and torture are lying in ambush there in Makkah .So when a report reached Abyssinia that the conditions of the Muslims in Makkah had improved, Musab was among the first to return to Makkah. The report was in fact false and Musab once again left for Abyssinia
With all this bad treatment, he remained loyal to his mother. Why not, he learnt well the lesson of maintaining good relations with his relatives even if they were unkind to him, he knows well the holy verse "And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear The command), Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal. But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love): In the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did.
When Musab returned to Makkah again, his mother made a last attempt to gain control of him and threatened to have him tied up again and confined. Musab swore that if she were to do that, he would kill everyone who helped her. She knew very well that he would carry out this threat for she saw the iron determination he had.
Separation was inevitable. When the moment came, it was sad for both mother and son but it revealed a strong Persistence in kufr on the part of the mother and an even greater persistence in iman on the part of the son. As she threw him out of her house and cut him off from all the material comforts she used to lavish on him, she said:” Go to your own business. I am not prepared to be a mother to you."
How much sadness is that he felt on leaving her without converting her, it was not important for him the comfort he used to , he knew well that nothing awaiting but hunger and poverty.
Musab went up close to her and said: "Mother, I advise you sincerely. I am concerned about you; do testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger."
But the woman followed the dark path; Musab thus left her home and the luxury and comforts he used to enjoy. The elegant, well-dressed youth would henceforth be seen only in the coarsest of attire. He now had more important concerns. He was determined to use his talents and energies in acquiring knowledge and in serving God and His Prophet.
One day, several years later, Musab came upon a gathering of Muslims sitting around the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace. They bowed their heads and lowered their gaze when they saw Musab, and some were even moved to tears. This was because his jalbab was old and in tatters and they were immediately taken back to the days before his acceptance of Islam when he was a model of sartorial elegance. The Prophet looked at Musab, smiled gracefully and said: "I have seen this Musab with his parents in Makkah. They lavished care and attention on him and gave him all comforts. There was no Quraish youth like him. Then he left all that seeking the pleasure of God and devoting himself to the service of His Prophet.
After about ten years of inviting people to Islam, most of Makkah still remained hostile. The noble Prophet then went to Taif seeking new adherents to the faith. He was repulsed and chased out of the city. The future of Islam looked bleak.
It was just after this that the Prophet chose Musab to be his "ambassador" to Yathrib to teach a small group of believers who had come to pledge allegiance to Islam and prepare Madinah for the day of the great Hijrah. It was his intelligence and ability to recite Quran beautifully and movingly that qualified him to this mission. Moreover and even more , his deep desire to take the lost people to their Creator , nothing could ail his soul more than sighting many people , all the humanity , worshipping and ascribing others with God, it was his infinite love to his Lord that moved him ....why not ...he saw the generous prophet standing in streets of Makkah ,when he was let down by the people , calling people ...saying in a moving voice so filled with tear " who can carry me ( on his camel) to the tribes of so and so , who can carry me to the tribes of so and so ( naming each tribes )
Musab understood his mission well. He knew that he was on a sacred mission to invite people toAllah (God) and the straight path of Islam and to prepare what was to be the territorial base for the young and struggling Muslim community.
He entered Madinah as a guest of Sad ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went to people, to their homes and their gatherings, telling them about the Prophet, explaining Islam to them and reciting the Quran. Through the grace of God, many accepted Islam. This was especially pleasing to Musab but profoundly alarming to many leaders of Yathrib society.
In his call to Allah, he applied the Holy Quran when calling people to Islam " Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from his path, and who receive guidance.
The following situation will show us the effect of applying this verse in calling to Allah; Once Musab and Sad were sitting near a well in an orchard of the Zafar clan. With them were a number of new Muslims and others who were interested in Islam. A powerful notable of the city, Usayd ibn Khudayr, came up brandishing a spear. He was livid with rage. Sad ibn Zurarah saw him and told Musab: "This is a chieftain of his people. May God place truth in his heart?" "If he sits down, I will speak to him," replied Musab,
Like the media in the west, the idolaters sent rumors everywhere concerning Islam, The angry Usayd, being affected so much by these rumors, shouted abuse and threatened Musab and his host. "Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive." Musab smiled a warm and friendly smile and said to Usayd: "Won't you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it and if you dislike it we would stop telling you what you dislike and leave."
"That's reasonable," said Usayd and, sticking his spear in the ground, sat down. Musab was not compelling him to do anything. He was not denouncing him. He was merely inviting him to listen. If! He was satisfied then well and good. If not, then Musab would leave his district and his clan without any fuss and go to another district.
Musab began telling him about Islam and recited the Quran to him. Even before Usayd spoke, it was clear from his face, now radiant and expectant, that faith had entered his heart. Here the Holy Quran verses found their way to the man's heart , sometimes these words works miracles in the heart that used to be deaf , sometimes they works miracles at hearts of stones , but what we are sure of is that it is only when you are unbiased that these words can affect , the worst thing is to listen to the Holy Quran words with arrogance , as nothing brings God's wrath as arrogance, it was the first sin committed when Satan , out of arrogance , refused to obey God when He ordered him to prostrate himself to Adam. Now let's see the reaction of the man that was only few minutes unbeliever.
He said: "How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?"
"Have a bath; purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (Shahadah), and perform Salat. Usayd left the gathering and was absent for only a short while. He returned and testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. He then prayed two rakaats and said:
"After me, there is a man who if he follows you, every one of his people will follow him. I shall send him to you now. He is 'Sad ibn Muadh."
Sad ibn Muadh came and listened to Musab. He was convinced and satisfied and declared his submission to God. He was followed by another important Yathrib, Sad ibn Ubaydah. Before long, the people of Yathrib were all in a flurry, asking one another.
"If Usayd ibn Khudayr, Sad ibn Muadh and Sad ibn Ubaydah have accepted the new religion, how can we not follow? Let's go to Musab and believe with him. They say that truth emanates from his lips."
To those who commit follies against Islam thinking that they represent Islam we say, learn and teach this lesson. How many people followed Islam because Musab carried out the Holy Quran methodology in calling to Allah?
The first ambassador of the Prophet, peace be on him, was thus supremely successful. The Prophet had chosen well. Men and women, the young and the old, the powerful and the weak accepted Islam at his hands. The course of Yathrib history had been changed forever. The way was being prepared for the great Hijrah. Yathrib was soon to become the center and the base for the Islamic state.
Islam built inside the human psyche what can not be imagined, it creates a kind of brotherhood completely different from that we know. The following momentous situation will show us how Musab understood the meaning of brotherhood in Allah.
After the battle of Bader was over, the Quraish prisoners of war were brought to the Prophet who assigned them to the custody of individual Muslims. "Treat them well," he instructed.
Among the prisoners was Abu Aziz ibn Umayr, the brother of Musab. Abu Aziz related what happened: "I was among a group of Ansar...Whenever they had lunch or dinner they would give me bread and dates to eat in obedience to the Prophet's instructions to them to treat us well.
"My brother, Musab ibn Umayr, passed by me and said to the man from the Ansar who was holding me prisoner:
'Tie him firmly... His mother is a woman of great wealth and maybe she would ransom him for you.'" Abu Aziz could not believe his ears. Astonished, he turned to Musab and asked: "My brother, is this your instruction concerning me?" "He is my brother, not you," replied Musab thus affirming that in the battle between iman and kufr, the bonds of faith were stronger than the ties of kinship.
At the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet called upon Musab, now well-known as Musab al-Khayr (the Good), to carry the Muslim standard. At the beginning of the battle, the Muslims seemed to be gaining the upper hand. A group of Muslims then went against the orders of the Prophet and deserted their positions. The mushrikeen forces rallied again and launched a counterattack. Their main objective, as they cut through the Muslim forces, was to get to the noble Prophet.
Musab realized the great danger facing the Prophet. He raised the standard high and shouted the Takbir. With the standard in one hand and his sword in the other, he plunged into the Quraish forces. The odds were against him. A Quraish horseman moved in close and severed his right hand. Musab was heard to repeat the words:
"Muhammad is only a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him," showing that however great his attachment was to the Prophet himself, his struggle above all was for the sake of God and for making His word supreme. His left hand was then severed also and as he held the standard between the stumps of his arms, to console himself he repeated: "Muhammad is only a Messenger of God. Messengers have passed away before him." Musab was then hit by a spear. He fell and the standard fell. The words he repeated, every time he was struck were later revealed to the Prophet and completed, and became part of the Quran.
After the battle, the Prophet and his companions went through the battlefield, bidding farewell to the martyrs. When they came to Musab's body, tears flowed. Habbah related that they could not find any cloth with which to shroud Musab's body, except his own garment. When they covered his head with it, his legs showed and when his legs were covered, his head was exposed and the Prophet instructed:
"Place the garment over his head and cover his feet and legs with the leaves of the idhkhir (rue) plant."
The Prophet felt deep pain and sorrow at the number of his companions who were killed at the Battle of Uhud. These included his uncle Hamza, whose body was horribly mutilated. But it was over the body of Musab that the Prophet stood, with great emotion. He remembered Musab as he first saw him in Makkah, stylish and elegant, and then looked at the short burdah which was now the only garment he possessed and he recited the verse of the Quran:
"Among the believers are men who have been true to what they have pledged to God."
The Prophet then cast his tender eyes over the battle field on which lay the dead companions of Musab and said: "The Messenger of God testifies that you are martyrs in the sight of God on the day of Qiyamah."
Then turning to the living companions around him he said: "O People! Visit them; send peace on them for, by Him in whose hand is my soul, any Muslim who sends peace on them until the day of Qiyamah, they would return the salutation of peace."
The Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and Abu Bakr ( Radiyallaahu Anhu) did not do it”.
Here is about Umar (ra) Narrated Abu Wail (( Radiyallaahu Anhu): I sat with Shaibi in this Mosque (Al-Masjid-Al-Haram), and he said, “Umar (( Radiyallaahu Anhu) once sat beside me here as you are now sitting, and said, “I feel like distributing all the gold and silver that are in it (i.e., the Ka’ba) among the Muslims”.
I said, “You cannot do that”.
‘Umar (ra) said, “Why?”
I said, “Your two (previous) companions (the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and Abu Bakr ( Radiyallaahu Anhu) did not do it”.
‘Umar (( Radiyallaahu Anhu) said, “They are the two persons whom one must follow.”
(See Hadith No. 664, Vol. 2)
Companions of the Prophet – Sahih Bukhari: Volume 9, Book 92, Number 380
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Narrated Abu Huraira (Radiyallaahu Anhu – may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Amongst the people preceding you there used to be ‘Muhaddithun’ (i.e. persons who can guess things that come true later on, as if those persons have been inspired by a divine power), and if there are any such persons amongst my followers, it is ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (Radiyallaahu Anhu – may Allah be pleased with him).”
Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions – Sahih Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 56, Number 675
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