Ramadan 2009
Expected first day of fasting
22nd/23rd August -
Kaab bin Ujra relates, "Rasulullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, "Come near to the mimbar". And we came near to the mimbar. When he ascended the First step of the mimbar he said "Aameen". When he ascended the second step of the mimbar he said, "Aameen". When he ascended the third step he said, "Aameen".
When he descended we said, "0 Rasul of Allah, we have heard from you today something which we never heard before". He said, When I ascended the first step) Jibra-eel A.S. appeared before me and said, "Woe to him who found the blessed month of Ramadhaan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness", Upon that I said, "Aameen". When I ascended the second step, he said "Woe to him before whom thy name is mentioned and then does not read Durood (salaat alan Nabi) on you". I replied "Aameen". When I ascended the third step he said, "Woe unto the person in whose presence both parents or one of them attain old age, and (through failure to serve them) is not allowed to enter Jannah" I said "Aameen"
Abu Hurayrah relates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, "My Ummah were given five things for Ramadhaan which were not given to anyone except them. For them, the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more sweeter to Allah than the fragrant smell of musk. On their behalf the fish in the sea seek forgiveness for the fasting persons until they break their fast. Allah prepares and decorates a special garden in Jannah everyday and then says (to it), "The time is near when faithful servants shall cast aside the great trials of the world and come to you". In this month (for them) evil-minded Shaytaan is chained so as not to reach unto those evils to which they normally reach during other months besides Ramadhaan. On the last night of Ramadhaan they are forgiven".
The Sahaabah R.A. thereupon enquired, "0 Messenger of Allah, is that last night Laylatul Qadr? Rasulullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) replied, "No. But it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having completed his service". Reported by Ahmad.
Salmaan (RA) reports, "On the last day of Sha-baan Rasulullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) addressed us and said, '0 people there comes over you now a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than a thousand months. It is a month in which Allah has made Fasting compulsory by day. And has made sunnah the Taraaweeh by night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a fardh in any other time. And whoever performs a fardh, shall be blessed with the reward of seventy faraa-idh in any other time.
This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is Jannah ( paradise. It is the month of sympathy with one's fellowmen. It is the month wherein a true believer's rizq is increased. Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast at sunset, for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell}, and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who Fasted (who he fed) without that persons reward being decreased in the least."
Thereupon we said, "0 messenger of Allah, not all of us possess the means whereby we can give a fasting person to break his fast." Rasulullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) replied, "Allah grants the same reward to the one who gives a fasting person to break the fast a mere date, or a drink of water, or a sip of milk."
"This is a month, the first of which brings Allah's mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahan-nam."
"Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants (bonds-men) in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of Jahannam."
"And in this month four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Lord, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot do. Those which shall be to please your Lord, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no deity to worship except Allah (i.e. recite the Kalimah Tayyibah Laa llaaha illallaah) and make much Istighfaar beg Allah's forgiveness with Astagirfirul-laah)." And as for those without which you cannot do, you should beg of Allah, entrance into paradise and ask refuge in Him from Jahannam." "And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from My fountain, such a drink where after that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters Jannah.
Ubaadah bin Saamit (Radhiallaahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) said one day when Ramadhaan had drawn near; "The month of Ramadhan, the month of blessings has come to you, wherein Allah turns towards you and sends down to you His special Mercy, forgives your faults, accepts prayers, appreciates your competition for the greatest, good and boasts to the angels about you. So, show to Allah your righteousness; for verily, the most pitiable and unfortunate one is he who is deprived of Allah's Mercy in this month.
In this Hadith, we read about the spirit of competition among the believers, each one trying to do more good deeds than the other. In our own home, I am greatly pleased on seeing how even the womenfolk vie with each other, the one trying to recite more of the Qur'aan than the others, so that, in spite of domestic responsibilities, fifteen to twenty 'juz' (Parts) of the Qur'aan are read by each one daily. I mention this only out of a sense of gratitude to Allah, mentioning His favour, and not to boast of it. May Allah accept their deeds and ours, and increase us all in good deeds.
Verses of Qur'an
2:183:
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint
2:184. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will, it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.
Welcoming Ramadhan
Ramadhan is a very important part of every Muslim’s life. Ramadhan is the month of giving and mercy, and during this month Allah blesses the believers with forgiveness and great reward.
This is a time to stop and contemplate, to look inwards and out, it is a time to set our goals. We should ask ourselves what we want to achieve this month, - something we will carry into our futures..
Quran - Surah Al Bakarah Ayah 187
Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast Till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh there to. Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint.
QURAN - Surah AL-QADR Ayah 3
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
QURAN - Surah Al Bakarah Ayah 184
Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.
QURAN - Surah Al Bakarah Ayah 185
Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur-an, as a guide to mankind, also Clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.
QURAN - Surah Al Ahzab Ayah 35
For Muslim men and women for believing men and women for devout men and women for true men and women for men and women who are patient and constant for men and women who humble themselves for men and women who give in charity for men and women who fast (and deny themselves) for men and women who guard their chastity and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.
Ramadhan is a very special time for worship, both collectively as well as individually. While study circles, congregational prayers and other activities are carried out collectively there are also many opportunities for individual worship.
Dhikr (or Zhikr) is the remembrance and glorification of Allah in order to become closer to Him. Dhikr is practiced around the globe by Muslims who glorify and praise Allah. Dhikr can be done either silently in your heart, or audibly with a group of people, asking for forgiveness or praising the greatness of Allah.
If we look at our everyday lives we all, in some way or another, participate in Dhikr. Whether it is through a conscious effort after salah, or just at times of distress or happiness – we all feel the need to remember Allah. Dhikr is a form of worship that carries much reward.
n 'Durr Manthur' it is reported from Aa'isha (Radhiallahu anha) that, when Ramadhan appeared, the colour of Rasulullah's face used to change. He then used to increase his "Salaat", become even more humble in his "Duaas" and exhibit even more fear of Allah. According to another report, he hardly ever lay down in bed until Ramadhan came to an end. Further, it is stated that the angels carrying the Throne are commanded in Ramadhan to leave aside everything else and recite "Aameen" to the "Duaas" of those who fast. Numerous are the Ahaadith stating that the fasting person's 'Du'aas' are answered. When Allah has so promised. and his truthful 'Nabi' (Sallallaaho alaihe wasallam) has informed us, there should be no doubt whatsoever about the truth of these reports. Yet it is strange that, in spite of this, we still find such people who apparently do not get what they pray for. They ask and do not receive; but this does not mean that their prayers have been rejected. One should at this point understand the significance of a 'Dua' being answered.
Abu Hurairah reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said:
“Allah, the Exalted and Glorious stated: I am near to the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his (remembrance), and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by a cubit, and if he draws near Me by a cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two arms. And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.” (Hadith from Sahih Muslim & Bukhari)
Abu Saeed Khudri (Radhiallahu anh) relates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: "During each day and night of Ramadhan, Allah sets free a great number of souls from Hell. And for every Muslim, during each day and night, at least one prayer is certainly accepted."
COMMENTARY
Apart from this Hadith, there are many others stating that the 'Du'aa' of a fasting person is accepted (Mustajaab). In one Hadith, we read that the 'Du'aa'is accepted at the time of 'Iftaar', but we are generally so absorbed in eating that we neglect this opportunity. The well-known 'Duaa' at 'Iftaar' is: "O Allah for You have I fasted, in You do I believe, and on You do I rely, and now I break this fast with food coming from you."
Abdullah bin Amr (Radhiallahu anhu) used to make the following 'Duaa' at 'Iftaar': O Allah I beg You, through Your infinite Mercy, which surrounds all things, to forgive me.'
In some books we read that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to say: "O You who are Great in Bounties, forgive me."
Many other prayers have been indicated for 'Iftaar', but no special 'Dua' is fixed. This time (at iftaar) is one when 'Duaa' is accepted; submit before Allah all your needs.
Supplication (dua) is not only the continuous outpouring of a person’s heart before their Lord, but it is also an expression of their sense of nearness to Allah. We acknowledge the might and power of Allah as well as the grace and blessings we are given. If we could conceive how much a person supplicates, what he supplicates for, and the way that he supplicates, then we could start to understand how much love they have for Allah in their soul.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Life of a Muslim
Did you know that almost all of the Sahaba were converts to Islam? Every last one of them has a unique story and quite a few have suspense-filled adventures on their way to the truth.
11days left until 1st Ramadan (Fasting Begins) (Aug 22)!
40 days left until Eid-al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) (Sep 20)!
"Righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets."
-- Qur'an 2:177
"Islam" means "peace through the submission to God".
"Muslim" means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God".
Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over 1.5 billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic traditions.
There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Poor-due "tax" - 2.5% of one's savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of God.
"Allah" is an Arabic word that means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.
Allah is not the God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods. Spanish people refer to God as "Dios" and French people refer to God as "Dieu", yet they are all the same God. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians refer to God as "Allah". And the word Allah in Arabic appears on the walls of many Arab churches.
The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad, "My mercy prevails over my wrath." Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.
Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different peoples at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were "muslims" because they submitted their wills to God.
Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur'an.
The Holy Qur'an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions.
The Holy Qur'an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.
Actual seventh century Qur'ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.
If all Qur'ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims, called Hafiz (or "preservers") have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end, every word and syllable. Also, chapters from the Qur'an are precisely recited from memory by every Muslim in each of the five daily prayers.
Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.
Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word (Islamic teachings) and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (the Holy Qur'an 2:256 and 10:99).
Terrorism, unjustified violence and the killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to a society, whether its people are Muslim or not. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be, among other things, a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger. Tyrant rulers and those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam are simply not following Islam. These people are individuals with their own views and political agendas.
The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to submit their will to the will of God. Some Muslims may say they are going for "jihad" when fighting in a war to defend themselves or their fellow Muslims, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. But there are many other forms of jihad which are more relevant to the everyday life of a Muslim such as the struggles against laziness, arrogance, stinginess, or the struggle against a tyrant ruler or against the temptation of Satan, or against one's own ego, etc.
Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following Islam. Among the many teachings of Prophet Muhammad that protected the rights and dignity of women is his saying, "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." (Tirmidhi)
Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, to financial support, to an education, to an inheritance, to being treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc., etc.
Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God's decree to dress modestly. From a practical standpoint, it serves to identify one as attempting to follow God in daily life and, therefore, protects women from unwanted advances from men. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history. Prominent examples are traditional Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.
Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas "forced" marriages, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.
All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from virtually every country in the world. Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims with over 120 million.
In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.
According to recent statistics, the world population is estimated to be 6.5 billion people. And, do you know how many muslims live around the world? The world Muslim population is around 1.5 billion people. So, nearly one in five people in the world today claim the faith of Islam.
11days left until 1st Ramadan (Fasting Begins) (Aug 22)!
40 days left until Eid-al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) (Sep 20)!
"Righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets."
-- Qur'an 2:177
"Islam" means "peace through the submission to God".
"Muslim" means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God".
Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over 1.5 billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic traditions.
There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Poor-due "tax" - 2.5% of one's savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of God.
"Allah" is an Arabic word that means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.
Allah is not the God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods. Spanish people refer to God as "Dios" and French people refer to God as "Dieu", yet they are all the same God. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians refer to God as "Allah". And the word Allah in Arabic appears on the walls of many Arab churches.
The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad, "My mercy prevails over my wrath." Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.
Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different peoples at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were "muslims" because they submitted their wills to God.
Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur'an.
The Holy Qur'an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions.
The Holy Qur'an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.
Actual seventh century Qur'ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.
If all Qur'ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims, called Hafiz (or "preservers") have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end, every word and syllable. Also, chapters from the Qur'an are precisely recited from memory by every Muslim in each of the five daily prayers.
Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.
Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word (Islamic teachings) and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (the Holy Qur'an 2:256 and 10:99).
Terrorism, unjustified violence and the killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to a society, whether its people are Muslim or not. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be, among other things, a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger. Tyrant rulers and those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam are simply not following Islam. These people are individuals with their own views and political agendas.
The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to submit their will to the will of God. Some Muslims may say they are going for "jihad" when fighting in a war to defend themselves or their fellow Muslims, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. But there are many other forms of jihad which are more relevant to the everyday life of a Muslim such as the struggles against laziness, arrogance, stinginess, or the struggle against a tyrant ruler or against the temptation of Satan, or against one's own ego, etc.
Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following Islam. Among the many teachings of Prophet Muhammad that protected the rights and dignity of women is his saying, "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." (Tirmidhi)
Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, to financial support, to an education, to an inheritance, to being treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc., etc.
Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God's decree to dress modestly. From a practical standpoint, it serves to identify one as attempting to follow God in daily life and, therefore, protects women from unwanted advances from men. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history. Prominent examples are traditional Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.
Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas "forced" marriages, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.
All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from virtually every country in the world. Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims with over 120 million.
In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.
According to recent statistics, the world population is estimated to be 6.5 billion people. And, do you know how many muslims live around the world? The world Muslim population is around 1.5 billion people. So, nearly one in five people in the world today claim the faith of Islam.
Friday, 7 August 2009
Muslim women=Nusaybah bint Ka'b,orUmm 'Umarah
.................Umm `Imarah.....orUmm 'Umarah.(R.A)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"O Allah! Make this family my friends in Paradise."
A Narrator of Hadith
The scholarly aspect of Umm `Imarah 's(R.A) life also had its place and importance. She was a narrator of Hadith with excellent memory. Some of her narrations contained Islamic jurisprudence.
For example, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah reported in their Sunan on the authority of Umm `Imarah(R.A) that the Messenger of Allah, visited her and she presented some food to him. The Prophet told her, "Eat" She said: "I am fasting." The Prophet then said: "If food is eaten in the house of a fasting person, the angels will invoke blessing on him."
Al-Waqidi reported that Umm Imarah(R.A) said: "Men were shaking the hands of the Messenger of Allah, in the night of (the pledge of) `Aqabah while Al-`Abbas (his uncle) was holding the Prophet's(S.A.W) hand. When it was only me and Umm Manee`, my husband, Ghuzayyah ibn `Amr, said: “O Messenger of Allah, these are two women who came with us to pledge their allegiance to you.” The Prophet said: “I have accepted their pledge to what I accepted your pledge to, for I do not shake women's hands. ’”
At-Tirmidhinarrated that she came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: "I see that everything is directed to men, and that women are not mentioned at all" so, the verse(For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women…) (Al-Ahzab 33:35) was revealed.
She used to perform the prayers in the Mosque and attend religious lessons. May Allah be pleased with her and please her. May He make her a model to be emulated by our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.
Umm 'Umarah(R.A) was also an Ansariyyah. She was from the famous Banu Najjar tribe. Her two sons had been martyred and her brother 'Abdullah bin Ka'b(R.A) was a Companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Battle of Badr. She was renowned for her courageous exploits in the battlefields. She was a faithful and loyal wife, and a loving mother, and had remarkable patience and forbearance. Also she was very learned in the Quran and Hadith.
Nusaybah's(R.A) life and example as a Muslimah, wife and mother can be surpassed only by a few other women in the history of Islam.
Fortunate Ansar.
The fortunate Ansar in Al-Madinah who converted to Islam by the teachings of Mus'ab bin 'Umair(R.A) went to a particular mountain pass to pledge allegiance to Allah and His Messenger for the second time. There were about seventy-two men and two women. One of the women was Umm 'Umarah(R.A) and the other was Umm Muni' Asma' bint 'Amr bin 'Adi(R.A). The former narrates that her husband, Ghazyah bin 'Amr, told the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that these two women also wanted to swear allegiance on his palm. He said it was all right, but for these women too the terms would be the same as for the men. He said that the only difference would be that he took the men's palms in his palm, but he did not shake hands with women. This incident of the swearing of allegiance is called Bay'atul-'Aqabah Ath-Thaniyah (second oath) in Islamic history. When Umm 'Imarah(R.A) returned to Al-Madinah after taking this oath of allegiance, she devoted herself to the education and training of women in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
Umm 'Umarah(R.A) was married the first time to Zaid bin 'Asim Al-Mazni. and she bore two sons by him named Abdullah and Habib(R.A) both of whom were among the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). A boy Tamim, and a girl Khawlah, were born from her second marriage which was to Ghazyah bin 'Amr Mazni.
NuSaybah(R.A), known as Umm Imarah(R.A), was a rare kind of Muslim. A pious and noble woman, Umm Imarah(R.A) was also a daring courageous fighter in the cause of Allah(SWT), and she proved more than once to be truthful to her pledge.
Hearing that the Makkan pagans were preparing for a great battle to take revenge for their heavy losses during the battle of Badr, and that they were moving towards Uhud, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, mobilized the Muslim men in Madinah. Umm Imarah(R.A) went out with her husband and her two sons, Abdullah and Habib(R.A), to join the fighters. In the beginning she brought water to the wounded and tended to their needs, but as the battle raged, and the Muslims were being defeated,
(the archers disobeyed the command of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and this turned the victory into defeat, as the Quran described it.)
"Behold! You were climbing up the high ground, without even casting a side glance at anyone, and the Messenger in your rear was calling you back..." [Noble Quran 3:153]
Shield the Messenger of Allah.
She saw that some were fleeing the enemy leaving the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam without protection.
Umm Imarah(R.A) tied her belt around her waist so that she would not trip, brandishing a sword at times and throwing arrows at others, she cut through the ranks of the enemy and took sides with the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam. She fought fiercely that day, striking fatal blows to her opponents until she suffered many wounds, one of them left a deep gash in her shoulder, which took a whole year to heal. She herself related some of what had happened during that battle. "I realized that people fled leaving the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, exposed," she said, "So less than ten men remained to protect him, while the others were passing by, defeated. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, saw me without a shield and saw a man leaving the battlefield carrying his shield, he said, 'Surrender your shield to the one who is fighting.’ He surrendered it and I picked it up and used it to shield the Messenger of Allah. But those who gave us the hardest time were the horsemen, if they were on foot like us; we would have defeated them, insha'Allah. A cavalier came towards me, but he was unable to strike at me because I protected myself with the shield. As he was turning back I dealt a blow to his horse's hamstring and he fell on his back. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, cried out, 'O son of Umm Imarah(R.A), your mother, your mother!' So he helped me kill the horseman."
Her own son related later more of her heroic behavior during the battle. He said, "I was wounded during the battle of Uhud, and the blood would not stop. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, 'Bandage your wound.' My mother was busy fighting the enemy, but when she heard the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, she came toward me carrying bandages tied to her side, she bandaged my wound while the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, was standing by. She then told me, 'Get up my son, and fight’ The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, 'Who can endure what you are enduring, Um Imarah'.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled when he saw the heroism and courage of both mother and son, and said,
'From where can anyone get courage like you, O Umm 'Imarah?
A short time later, the man who hit me was coming our way, so the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, 'Here is the man who hit your son, O Um Imarah.' She went up to him and hit him in the leg; she left him kneeling on the ground. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, smiled at what she has done so broadly that his molar teeth were showing and said, 'You avenged yourself, Um Imarah(R.A).' Then more men came and struck the man and killed him. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said to her, 'Praise is due to Allah Who gave you victory over your enemy and satisfied you by showing you his death'."
Abdullah bin Umm 'Imarah(R.A) relates how during the battle of Uhud the enemy made a forceful thrust against them. The Mujahidin scattered before them and he and his mother moved close to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to defend him from all quarters. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) it called out to him to attack the enemy. He threw a stone at the disbeliever; it hit the eye of the horse he was riding. The horse fell to the ground somersaulting. He threw another heavy stone and the enemy died. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) looked pleased, and then he noticed that Umm 'Imarah(R.A) was bleeding from the shoulder; he asked 'Abdullah(R.A) to bandage his mother's wound and said that they were a truly great family. He invoked Allah's blessings on them, and prayed that they should be his friends in Paradise as well.
Both Umm 'Imarah(R.A) and 'Abdullah(R.A) were overjoyed when they heard these auspicious words from the lips of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). At the same time they were inspired to greater heights of heroism and returned to the attack with renewed vigour.
A few months later when the call was announced to prepare for the battle of Hamra-ul-Asad, Umm Imarah(R.A) got ready but she was not able to continue in her way because her wound got worse and she was bleeding profusely.
The battle of Uhud was not the only occasion when Umm Imarah(R.A) showed her bravery. She was among those who gave the pledge of ar-Ridhwan, to fight until martyrdom. She also witnessed the battle of Hunayn.
Ready again:
When the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam passed away, some of the Arab tribes apostatized, at their head was Musaylimah The Liar. Khalifah Abu Bakr(R.A) rallied the Muslims to fight the renegades. Umm Imarah(R.A) asked permission from Abu Bakr(R.A) to join the army, accompanied by her two sons. "We knew your bravery during the war," he said, "Come on in the name of Allah."
lost an arm.
This battle was a great test for Umm Imarah(R.A). The fight was hard and the two parties adamantly set to win it. She held her grounds, always advancing. Now she heard that her son Habib(R.A) fell prisoner to Musaylimah the liar. He asked him, "Do you testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?" When he said that he did, he went on, "And do you testify that I am the messenger of Allah?" he answered, "I do not hear." So Musaylimah began to cut him to pieces, organ by organ until he died. He asked him the same questions over and over, but he could not get a different answer. Umm Imarah(R.A) went to al-Yamamah with the Muslims and took part in the war against Musaylimah. She was eager to see the end of Musaylimah, and it was the will of Allah that he be slain by her other son Abdullah, and another companion. Um Imarah(R.A) returned from the war having suffered twelve wounds inflicted by spear and sword, and having lost an arm, and her beloved son.
Ayah was revealed.
Once Umm 'Imarah(R.A) told the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that in the Noble Quran only men were mentioned and women were often deprived of any importance. Then this Ayah was revealed.
"Verily, the Muslims men and women, the believers men and women, the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful, the men and the women who are patient, the men and the women who are humble, the men and the women who give Sadaqat (i.e. Zakah and alms), the men and the women who observe fast, the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues, Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)." [Noble Quran 33:35]
Umm 'Imarah(R.A) held a very special place among the women Companions. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw the valour and sacrificing spirit of the whole family - husband, wife, and sons - in the most intense part of the battle of Uhud he prayed that Allah might have Mercy on that family.
Umm 'Imarah(R.A) requested him to pray that they should have the good fortune to be with him in Paradise. It was then that he prayed that they should be his friends in Paradise.
The Companions, men and women, are exemplars of faith. The earliest Muslims suffered terrible torments at the hands of the Quraysh, the ruling tribe of Makkah. Those who emigrated from Makkah left behind their homes and families, even all their worldly possessions, to follow the call of Islam.
Who Were His Friends?
Many of them were fearless. Nusaybah bint Ka‘b(R.A), protected the Prophet in the Battle of Uhud when most of his followers had fled the field. Many others fought fearlessly in the battles to defend their faith.
"Allah will be pleased with them and they with Him." [Noble Quran 98:8].
You should be his friend in Paradise.You have the good fortune to be with him in Paradise.
And I pray we all should be with them in Paradise.
From where can anyone get courage like you, Umm Imarah, very special place among the women Companions.
In Sifat As-Safwah [2/63] it was said about her that ‘Umar Bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated from the Prophet, salAllahu alayhi wa Sallam, that he said, “I did not look left or right on the day of Uhud except that I saw her fighting in front of me.
Nusaybah lived through the rule of Abu Bakr Al Siddique, and Omar Bin Al Khattab. She was revered by both who continuously praised her struggle and courage. It is said that once Omar received a gift from some foreign place. It consisted mainly of a piece of cloth made from the finest silk. Some people who were present suggested that he send it either to his daughter of to his daughter in law. Omar rejected both suggestions. He said that there is a woman who deserves that cloth more than all, and sent it to Nusaybah. Again, her end is shrouded with ambiguity. All we know is that this great woman died in the 13 Hijri year, and was buried in Al Baqi’e, in Makkah Al Mokarrameh.
This is the courageous Mujahidah, Umm ‘Umarah(R.A). And truly! Who could endure what Umm ‘Umarah(R.A) could endure? The men cannot sustain her steadfastness and her patience with the Messenger of Allah, so how about the women? But as long as she is your example, O honorable sister, in her courage and sacrifice and boldness and steadfastness and patience upon this path, then you will be successful, by the Permission of Allah
Umm Imarah, Nusaybah bint Ka'b(R.A), was a woman who was true to her words, a woman who occupies a special place in the history of Islam.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"O Allah! Make this family my friends in Paradise."
A Narrator of Hadith
The scholarly aspect of Umm `Imarah 's(R.A) life also had its place and importance. She was a narrator of Hadith with excellent memory. Some of her narrations contained Islamic jurisprudence.
For example, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah reported in their Sunan on the authority of Umm `Imarah(R.A) that the Messenger of Allah, visited her and she presented some food to him. The Prophet told her, "Eat" She said: "I am fasting." The Prophet then said: "If food is eaten in the house of a fasting person, the angels will invoke blessing on him."
Al-Waqidi reported that Umm Imarah(R.A) said: "Men were shaking the hands of the Messenger of Allah, in the night of (the pledge of) `Aqabah while Al-`Abbas (his uncle) was holding the Prophet's(S.A.W) hand. When it was only me and Umm Manee`, my husband, Ghuzayyah ibn `Amr, said: “O Messenger of Allah, these are two women who came with us to pledge their allegiance to you.” The Prophet said: “I have accepted their pledge to what I accepted your pledge to, for I do not shake women's hands. ’”
At-Tirmidhinarrated that she came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: "I see that everything is directed to men, and that women are not mentioned at all" so, the verse(For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women…) (Al-Ahzab 33:35) was revealed.
She used to perform the prayers in the Mosque and attend religious lessons. May Allah be pleased with her and please her. May He make her a model to be emulated by our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.
Umm 'Umarah(R.A) was also an Ansariyyah. She was from the famous Banu Najjar tribe. Her two sons had been martyred and her brother 'Abdullah bin Ka'b(R.A) was a Companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Battle of Badr. She was renowned for her courageous exploits in the battlefields. She was a faithful and loyal wife, and a loving mother, and had remarkable patience and forbearance. Also she was very learned in the Quran and Hadith.
Nusaybah's(R.A) life and example as a Muslimah, wife and mother can be surpassed only by a few other women in the history of Islam.
Fortunate Ansar.
The fortunate Ansar in Al-Madinah who converted to Islam by the teachings of Mus'ab bin 'Umair(R.A) went to a particular mountain pass to pledge allegiance to Allah and His Messenger for the second time. There were about seventy-two men and two women. One of the women was Umm 'Umarah(R.A) and the other was Umm Muni' Asma' bint 'Amr bin 'Adi(R.A). The former narrates that her husband, Ghazyah bin 'Amr, told the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that these two women also wanted to swear allegiance on his palm. He said it was all right, but for these women too the terms would be the same as for the men. He said that the only difference would be that he took the men's palms in his palm, but he did not shake hands with women. This incident of the swearing of allegiance is called Bay'atul-'Aqabah Ath-Thaniyah (second oath) in Islamic history. When Umm 'Imarah(R.A) returned to Al-Madinah after taking this oath of allegiance, she devoted herself to the education and training of women in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
Umm 'Umarah(R.A) was married the first time to Zaid bin 'Asim Al-Mazni. and she bore two sons by him named Abdullah and Habib(R.A) both of whom were among the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). A boy Tamim, and a girl Khawlah, were born from her second marriage which was to Ghazyah bin 'Amr Mazni.
NuSaybah(R.A), known as Umm Imarah(R.A), was a rare kind of Muslim. A pious and noble woman, Umm Imarah(R.A) was also a daring courageous fighter in the cause of Allah(SWT), and she proved more than once to be truthful to her pledge.
Hearing that the Makkan pagans were preparing for a great battle to take revenge for their heavy losses during the battle of Badr, and that they were moving towards Uhud, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, mobilized the Muslim men in Madinah. Umm Imarah(R.A) went out with her husband and her two sons, Abdullah and Habib(R.A), to join the fighters. In the beginning she brought water to the wounded and tended to their needs, but as the battle raged, and the Muslims were being defeated,
(the archers disobeyed the command of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and this turned the victory into defeat, as the Quran described it.)
"Behold! You were climbing up the high ground, without even casting a side glance at anyone, and the Messenger in your rear was calling you back..." [Noble Quran 3:153]
Shield the Messenger of Allah.
She saw that some were fleeing the enemy leaving the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam without protection.
Umm Imarah(R.A) tied her belt around her waist so that she would not trip, brandishing a sword at times and throwing arrows at others, she cut through the ranks of the enemy and took sides with the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam. She fought fiercely that day, striking fatal blows to her opponents until she suffered many wounds, one of them left a deep gash in her shoulder, which took a whole year to heal. She herself related some of what had happened during that battle. "I realized that people fled leaving the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, exposed," she said, "So less than ten men remained to protect him, while the others were passing by, defeated. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, saw me without a shield and saw a man leaving the battlefield carrying his shield, he said, 'Surrender your shield to the one who is fighting.’ He surrendered it and I picked it up and used it to shield the Messenger of Allah. But those who gave us the hardest time were the horsemen, if they were on foot like us; we would have defeated them, insha'Allah. A cavalier came towards me, but he was unable to strike at me because I protected myself with the shield. As he was turning back I dealt a blow to his horse's hamstring and he fell on his back. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, cried out, 'O son of Umm Imarah(R.A), your mother, your mother!' So he helped me kill the horseman."
Her own son related later more of her heroic behavior during the battle. He said, "I was wounded during the battle of Uhud, and the blood would not stop. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, 'Bandage your wound.' My mother was busy fighting the enemy, but when she heard the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, she came toward me carrying bandages tied to her side, she bandaged my wound while the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, was standing by. She then told me, 'Get up my son, and fight’ The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, 'Who can endure what you are enduring, Um Imarah'.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled when he saw the heroism and courage of both mother and son, and said,
'From where can anyone get courage like you, O Umm 'Imarah?
A short time later, the man who hit me was coming our way, so the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, 'Here is the man who hit your son, O Um Imarah.' She went up to him and hit him in the leg; she left him kneeling on the ground. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, smiled at what she has done so broadly that his molar teeth were showing and said, 'You avenged yourself, Um Imarah(R.A).' Then more men came and struck the man and killed him. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said to her, 'Praise is due to Allah Who gave you victory over your enemy and satisfied you by showing you his death'."
Abdullah bin Umm 'Imarah(R.A) relates how during the battle of Uhud the enemy made a forceful thrust against them. The Mujahidin scattered before them and he and his mother moved close to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to defend him from all quarters. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) it called out to him to attack the enemy. He threw a stone at the disbeliever; it hit the eye of the horse he was riding. The horse fell to the ground somersaulting. He threw another heavy stone and the enemy died. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) looked pleased, and then he noticed that Umm 'Imarah(R.A) was bleeding from the shoulder; he asked 'Abdullah(R.A) to bandage his mother's wound and said that they were a truly great family. He invoked Allah's blessings on them, and prayed that they should be his friends in Paradise as well.
Both Umm 'Imarah(R.A) and 'Abdullah(R.A) were overjoyed when they heard these auspicious words from the lips of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). At the same time they were inspired to greater heights of heroism and returned to the attack with renewed vigour.
A few months later when the call was announced to prepare for the battle of Hamra-ul-Asad, Umm Imarah(R.A) got ready but she was not able to continue in her way because her wound got worse and she was bleeding profusely.
The battle of Uhud was not the only occasion when Umm Imarah(R.A) showed her bravery. She was among those who gave the pledge of ar-Ridhwan, to fight until martyrdom. She also witnessed the battle of Hunayn.
Ready again:
When the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam passed away, some of the Arab tribes apostatized, at their head was Musaylimah The Liar. Khalifah Abu Bakr(R.A) rallied the Muslims to fight the renegades. Umm Imarah(R.A) asked permission from Abu Bakr(R.A) to join the army, accompanied by her two sons. "We knew your bravery during the war," he said, "Come on in the name of Allah."
lost an arm.
This battle was a great test for Umm Imarah(R.A). The fight was hard and the two parties adamantly set to win it. She held her grounds, always advancing. Now she heard that her son Habib(R.A) fell prisoner to Musaylimah the liar. He asked him, "Do you testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?" When he said that he did, he went on, "And do you testify that I am the messenger of Allah?" he answered, "I do not hear." So Musaylimah began to cut him to pieces, organ by organ until he died. He asked him the same questions over and over, but he could not get a different answer. Umm Imarah(R.A) went to al-Yamamah with the Muslims and took part in the war against Musaylimah. She was eager to see the end of Musaylimah, and it was the will of Allah that he be slain by her other son Abdullah, and another companion. Um Imarah(R.A) returned from the war having suffered twelve wounds inflicted by spear and sword, and having lost an arm, and her beloved son.
Ayah was revealed.
Once Umm 'Imarah(R.A) told the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that in the Noble Quran only men were mentioned and women were often deprived of any importance. Then this Ayah was revealed.
"Verily, the Muslims men and women, the believers men and women, the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful, the men and the women who are patient, the men and the women who are humble, the men and the women who give Sadaqat (i.e. Zakah and alms), the men and the women who observe fast, the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues, Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)." [Noble Quran 33:35]
Umm 'Imarah(R.A) held a very special place among the women Companions. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw the valour and sacrificing spirit of the whole family - husband, wife, and sons - in the most intense part of the battle of Uhud he prayed that Allah might have Mercy on that family.
Umm 'Imarah(R.A) requested him to pray that they should have the good fortune to be with him in Paradise. It was then that he prayed that they should be his friends in Paradise.
The Companions, men and women, are exemplars of faith. The earliest Muslims suffered terrible torments at the hands of the Quraysh, the ruling tribe of Makkah. Those who emigrated from Makkah left behind their homes and families, even all their worldly possessions, to follow the call of Islam.
Who Were His Friends?
Many of them were fearless. Nusaybah bint Ka‘b(R.A), protected the Prophet in the Battle of Uhud when most of his followers had fled the field. Many others fought fearlessly in the battles to defend their faith.
"Allah will be pleased with them and they with Him." [Noble Quran 98:8].
You should be his friend in Paradise.You have the good fortune to be with him in Paradise.
And I pray we all should be with them in Paradise.
From where can anyone get courage like you, Umm Imarah, very special place among the women Companions.
In Sifat As-Safwah [2/63] it was said about her that ‘Umar Bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated from the Prophet, salAllahu alayhi wa Sallam, that he said, “I did not look left or right on the day of Uhud except that I saw her fighting in front of me.
Nusaybah lived through the rule of Abu Bakr Al Siddique, and Omar Bin Al Khattab. She was revered by both who continuously praised her struggle and courage. It is said that once Omar received a gift from some foreign place. It consisted mainly of a piece of cloth made from the finest silk. Some people who were present suggested that he send it either to his daughter of to his daughter in law. Omar rejected both suggestions. He said that there is a woman who deserves that cloth more than all, and sent it to Nusaybah. Again, her end is shrouded with ambiguity. All we know is that this great woman died in the 13 Hijri year, and was buried in Al Baqi’e, in Makkah Al Mokarrameh.
This is the courageous Mujahidah, Umm ‘Umarah(R.A). And truly! Who could endure what Umm ‘Umarah(R.A) could endure? The men cannot sustain her steadfastness and her patience with the Messenger of Allah, so how about the women? But as long as she is your example, O honorable sister, in her courage and sacrifice and boldness and steadfastness and patience upon this path, then you will be successful, by the Permission of Allah
Umm Imarah, Nusaybah bint Ka'b(R.A), was a woman who was true to her words, a woman who occupies a special place in the history of Islam.
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Bilal is an inmate of Paradise
............Sayyidul Muazzineed (leader of the Muazzins)................
In the history of Islam, there are heroes of faith, men and women whose lives inspire us to be better people, better Muslims. Many of them were Companions of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and they experienced the growth of Islam right from the beginning. Many of them suffered hardships and great persecution for the sake of Islam, the Message of Allah.
Their impeccable characters and their closeness to Allah and His Prophet drew many people to Islam. One of the greatest of these, one of the most humble, and one who endured horrific torture in order to become Muslim was Bilal ibn Rabah. Born in Makkah, the freed Ethiopian slave after accepting Islam was inseparable from the Messenger himself. He became the Prophet's first muezzin (caller to the five daily Prayers).
The Prophet (Peace be upon him), Attributes and Manners
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) combined both perfection of creation and perfection of manners.
This impression on people can be deduced by the bliss that overwhelmed their hearts and filled them with dignity. Men’s dignity, devotion and estimation of the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) were unique and matchless. No other man in the whole world has been so honoured and beloved. Those who knew him well, were fascinated and enchanted by him. They were ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of saving a nail of his from hurt or injury. Being privileged by lots of prerogatives of perfection that no one else had been endowed with, his Companions found that he was peerless and so they loved him.Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) was one of them.
1.Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) was one of the first eight persons who responded to the call of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
2.Hazrat Bilal(R.A) became the first mu’azzin of Islam, an office he held till the Holy Prophet (PBUH) left this world.
3.Fajir prayers: “The prayer is better than sleep”. Who added this line? you know it was Hmmm should I tell you,
read and find out.
4.He was also in charge of the house hold of the Prophet (S.A.W.).
5.Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was the special companion of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).
6. During journeys and battles, he used to pitch the tent of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and he alone got the honour of riding the camel of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The prayer-call, proclaimed today in the entire Muslim world, comprises the same words which were first recited by Hazrat Bilal bin Rabah Habshi(R.A.), a staunch devotee of Islam and the most trusted companion of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him).
7.......Bilal is an inmate of Paradise..... Who Said This? Do You know?
8.Who was his teacher in Islam.
Born 43 or 53 years before Hijra, from an Abyssinian mother and an Arab father, Hazrat Bilal was slim and tall . Some historians say he was born in Mecca, but some are of the opinion that he was born in Sarat — a town near Yemen and Abyssinia. He is, generally, known as "BILAL HABASHI", but actually his features were not identical with those of the. Habashi or Zangi, His complexion was black but his hair was not curly, it was thick. Actually, his complexion was dark-brown. His body was tall and slim and his chest prominent. His cheeks were thin but his nose was not snub. Thus, as the historians opine, he was not a pure Abyssinian. His father was an Arab hut his mother was an Abyssinian. His fathers name was Rabah and his mother was called Hamama, It is likely that Hamama was a slave girl from Mecca or Sarat, Sarat is a town between Yemen and Abyssinia, Some of the historians claim that he was born at Mecca, but the majority of the historians opine that Bilal was born in Sarat, And the latter view seem to be acceptable for there could be a mixed race in Sarat.. He was taken as a slave from the beginning according to the prevailing conditions in Mecca.
Along with Hazrat Khadija.(R.A), Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique(R.A), Hazrat Ali(R.A.), Hazrat Ammar(R.A.) and his mother Sumiyya(R.A.), Hazrat Shuaib(R.A.) and Hazrat Miqdad(R.A.), Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) was one of the first eight persons who responded to the call of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Embracing the new faith, he enraged his master Umaiyya bin Khalaf. To force Bilal(R.A.) to give up his new faith, the master subjected the devotee to severe torture.
Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was harassed and beaten the day long and during the night He was tied in chains and lashed. On the next day, he was again made to lie on the hot desert sands which cause even greater injuries to the body of Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu), who was loved by Allah Ta'aala.
Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) used to be beaten by many people. When one would get tired, another would take his place. Sometimes it was Abu Jhal's turn and sometimes Umayyah bin Khalaf and others. Each of them would beat him until they got tired but no mercy was spared for the slave whom they so brutally injured and whose status in Jannat was to surpass that of many Arabs.
According to historical records, Bilals(R.A.) master often tied him and threw him down and flung a stone and cow hide over him and said, "Your gods are Lat and Uzza so testify your faith in them." But he continued to say "Ahad, Ahad." The infidels tied a rope round his neck and allowed the street urchins to drag him to and from between the two hills of Mecca. Even, under this severe torment, Bilals(R.A.) tongue repeated only one word "Ahad, Ahad." Thereupon, the infidels gave him a severe beating and stretched him on the burning Sand.A heavy stone was placed over his body, still he uttered nothing save the word "Ahad, Ahad.".
Allah had endowed Bilal(R.A.) with righteous nature and he remained true to it in his whole life. It is, therefore, held that he readily responded to the call of Allahs Messenger (S.A.W.) when he came out with the Message of Oneness or Unity of Allah. It is an established fact that Bilal (R.A..) had not embraced Islam with any worldly motive or securing relief from the torments of slave life On the contrary by accepting Islam, he had invited upon himself torment of double even treble intensity. He had only one purpose in view and that was to win the favor of Allah. Allah had illuminated his heart with the light of faith. Hence he endured all kinds of atrocities with remarkable patience and fortitude. It was in accord with his nature to accept the Truth unreservedly. As soon as he heard the clarion call for the acceptance of faith in One Allah and the equality of all human beings issued by the noblest personality of the most respectable family, Banu Hashim, he at once made an affirmative response. His heart was as clean as Mirror, it was filled with the sentiments of affection, sincerity, obedience and devotion. The thought crossed his mind like a flash of lightning that the person who wanted to liquidate class differences in order to put the master and slave equal, was a man who belongs to the noblest class in Mecca. Yet he was a staunch champion of the equality of all human being, could not be but the Truthful Messenger and the Prophet of the Creator. He must have thought that it was impossible for a person, who enjoyed exceeding popularity in the whole of Mecca and commanded deep respect from the rank and file of Mecca, to risk to the loss of his popularity and reputation unless this person was the Messenger of the Lord who makes no discrimination between the high and the low, the rich and The poor, The Arab and the non-Arab.
One day while Bilaal(R.A.) was being tortured in this way by Umayyah bin Khalaf and his friends, Abu Bakr (R.A.) passed that way. He asked Umayyah bin Khalaf, 'Do you not fear Allah? How long will you carry out this practice on this poor person?" Umayyah bin Khalaf retorted that, 'since you have instigated him (by teaching Islam to him, so you free him." Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) answered, "Yes, I will free him. I have a black slave who is even stronger than him and who is in your religion. Will you accept this slave in exchange for him?" Umayyah bin Khalaf accepted the offer. Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) exchanged the slaves and thus bought Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and freed him . Besides Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) he bought other slaves who were being beaten and harassed for accepting Islam and freed them also.
After his release, he came to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to serve him as his personal server. Instead of taking him as a servant, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) paid close attention to his education and spiritual training.(His teacher Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) remember I asked you who his teacher was.Hmmm now you know It is reported in the Traditions that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) paid close attention to the education and training of Bilal (R.A.). Once the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said, "O Bilal, The best deed that a believer can perform is to struggle for the cause of Allah. The Prophet (S.A.W.)also taught him concerning humility " 0 Bilal always live in humility and with contentment and die with those who feel contented."
Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) proved himself a true follower of Islam and a faithful devotee of the Prophet( S.A.W.).
When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) granted permission to his companions to migrate, Bilal,(R.A.) along with the other companions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), migrated to Medina. In Medina Bilal lived in the same house with Abu Bakr Siddiq and Aamir bin-Fahria. In Medina when the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) established the bond of brotherhood between the Muhajireen (Migrants) and Ansar (Helpers), Bilal and Abu Rouwaiha (R.A..) were brothers unto each other. This clarifies that Abu Rouwaiha (R.A.) was not the blood brother of Bilal (R.A..).
After the Hijra when Masjid Nabvi was completed, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) thought of calling the Muslims for prayers in congregation. He asked the Sahaba to think of a way to call the Muslims together for prayers. Several suggestions came forth such as the beating of drums; the ringing of the bell like the Christians did in their church; burning a fire like Zoroastrians; and blowing of the horn like the Jews. When all the suggestions could not get the approval of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the meeting ended without a decision.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(R.A), a companion of the Prophet, went home groping for a solution and slept. He had a dream in which he saw a person in a green apparel who told him how to call the Muslims for prayer. He climbed on the top of the mosque and recited the words, those that we hear today. After saying the call he sat down for a while and then rose to say Iqama which comprised the same words.
On waking up, Abdullah bin Zaid rushed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and told him about his dream. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) asked him to go to Bilal(R.A.) and make him learn these words by heart. Thereafter, Hazrat Umar(R.A.) came and narrated a similar dream to the Holy Prophet (PBUH). After having the approval of the Prophet(S.A.W)., the Adhan was called out aloud for the first time from the Prophet’s mosque. As his powerful and melodious voice resounded through the city of Medina, Hazrat Bilal (R.A.) became the first mu’azzin of Islam, an office he held till the Holy Prophet (PBUH) left this world.
What a beautiful voice Bilal has. The Prophet carries this voice, which makes one tremble with humility, with him throughout his life. Journeys and expeditions are kneaded with this voice. One morning the Prophet awakes to this voice: "Prayer is better than sleep." He tells Bilal, "What wonderful words. They should be recited each morning in the adhan!" From that morning on, sleep and prayer are in the two pans of the scale. When prayer weighs heavier, the veil of darkness disperses. And after each adhan Bilal calls out towards the Prophet's window: "O Messenger of Allah! Prayer!" Then, going to the masjid, he makes qamet; stars stand in line behind the sun.
Later, Hazrat Bilal added the following words in the call for the Fajir prayers: “The prayer is better than sleep”. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) approved the addition and till today the same prayer-call is going on even after 14 centuries. (Now you know)
Hazrat Bilal was entrusted the duty of the recital of Azaan by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in preference to all other Sahabas. It was simply because he had a beautiful voice. His recital of the prayer-call produced a typical effect on the hearts and minds of the Muslims. In spiritual ecstasy, they would rush to the mosque. Also, he received the honour of calling the devotees to prayer when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) made a victorious entry into the city of Mecca and ordered Bilal to ascend the roof of the Holy Ka’bah to recite the prayer-call.
Once the Holy Prophet (PBUH) asked Hazrat Bilal what extraordinary deeds he did after accepting Islam because the Holy Prophet (PBUH) heard the sound of his slippers ahead of him when the sight of Paradise was presented before him during a divine revelation. He made no mention of the piety, struggle, hardships or tortures he endured for the cause of Islam but humbly replied: “O my beloved Prophet, I have performed no extraordinary deeds as a Muslim.”
Upon further insistence by the Prophet, he told that the only thing he could recall was that, after each wadhu (ablution), he offered two nawafils. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) appreciated this act of Hazrat Bila
Unbounded love for Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)
Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was the special companion of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). It is for this reason he also endured difficulties. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that undoubtedly, the fear he had for Allah was greater than anyone else. On one occasion thirty nights and days passed with him and Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) having had only that amount to eat which could be concealed under the armpits (side) of Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu).
He was also in charge of the house hold of the Prophet (S.A.W.).
Hazrat Bilal (R.A.) became the first Muazzin in Islam. The powerful and melodious voice of Hazrat Bilal (R.A.), issuing from his strong lungs, resounded through the city of Madinah. The word of the Azaan: 'Allah is great! There is no God but Allah, Muhammed is the Rasul Of Allah ! Come to Salvation!' The words of the Azaan echoed in all the dwellings, and this caused every citizen to inhale with delight the refreshing scent of prayer.
Hazrat Bilal performed duties of an attendant upon the Holy Prophet (PBUH), but the Prophet never treated him as a slave. He was entrusted with the management of the Bait-al-Mal (State Treasury) by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) because of his integrity and complete honesty. He was also in charge of the household of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). During journeys and battles, he used to pitch the tent of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and he alone got the honour of riding the camel of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
As in Mecca, so in Medina, Bilal (R.A.)could not endure separation from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).He always accompanied the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) in all the Holy wars that look place during the Holy Prophet lifetime.The Prophet (S.A.W.),off and on gave him instructions concerning distribution of the surplus wealth with him i.e. the Prophet (S.A.W.) He would say, "Bilal, a quantity of wealth has accumulated with me I do not wish to keep it, so take it and give it away to the needy so that my heart may he alleviated from its burden " Actually the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) intended to teach Bilal by example how a man should cultivate the virtue of contentment in life and abstain from wealth. Bilal(R.A.) observed with great attention all the instructions and precedent of the Holy Prophet(S.A.W.) and proved to he a true follower and a devotee of the Prophet (S.A.W.) till the end of his life. He was in constant attendance on the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) day and night, because he derived delight from the sight, love and kindness. He performed the duties of an attendant upon the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) in all circumstances, during journeys and stay in camp, in war and peace, but was never treated like a servant by the Prophet (S.A.W.), Bilal(R.A) expressed deep devotion for his master and leader, He could not bear even the slightest discomfort of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and was alive ready to respond to his masters call. Throughout the battles he kept running between the Prophets camp and the battlefield, bearing communications , orders and instructions from the Prophet (S.A.W.).to the troops when the Prophet (S.A.W.) made a victorious entry into the city of Mecca and the Prophet(S.A.W.) entered Holy Kaba, there were three men. accompanying him and one of them was Bilal (R.A.A.), the other two were Usman-bin-Talha , the key-bearer of Kaba and Usman bin Zaid (R.A.A.). Bilal performed the duty of reciting the call to prayer.
Bilal (R.A.) continued to the post of Muazzin of the Prophets Masjid till the( Nabi) Prophet (S.A.W.) left this world for his heavenly abode He was preferred over all the Mauzzins during the Prophets lifetime, the cause of this preference being his precedence in embracing Islam, his rich and melodious voice and his excellent utterance. When he recited the call of prayer and wished to inform the Prophet (S.A.W.) that the time for leading prayer had come, he would stand by the door of the Prophets room and would shout "Hasten to the prayer, Hasten to well-being. O Messenger of Allah, prayer." Hearing his these words the Prophet would come for leading the prayers. Bilal (R.A.) would say Iqama before the prayers commenced. While going to Salat-el-Eid or Salat-Istisqa (prayer for rain), Bilal(R.A.) used to walk ahead of the Prophet(S.A.W.) holding a spear and would pitch it on the ground one or two yards away from the place where the Prophet (S.A.W.) wished to lead the congregation of the prayer. The spear was one of those three, sent by the King of Abyssinia in homage to the Prophet(S.A.W.), The Prophet (S.A.W.), gifted one of the three spears to Umar (R.A..) and kept the third one with himself, Thus Bila(R.A.)l had the honor of keeping the Prophets spear throughout his lifetime.
Traditions relate that Bilals(R.A.) marriage had been arranged by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) himself, It is stated that the sons of Abul Bukair one day came to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and said, "0 Messenger of Allah, find a match for our sister. "The Holy Prophet observe, "Why do you not marry her to Bilal(R.A) Hearing this they went back, but after a few days they came again and repeated the same request, and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) gave the same reply. Thus after a few days they came third time with the same request. This time also the Prophet (S.A.W.) giving the same reply added, "Bilal is an inmate of Paradise; you should marry your sister to him." So, having heard the Prophets advice, they married their sister to Bilal. Bilal (R.A..) took more wives after this marriage. According to Qatadah he had married a lady of the tribe of Banu Zuhra. It is also recorded that one of his wives was Hin-ul-Khulania who belonged to Yemen. Bilal(R.A.) has no issue from any of his.
Once Bilal(R.A) related to his wife a Tradition of the Holy Prophet(S.A.W.) but his wife expressed some doubts about the authenticity of his report. Bilal (R.A) in a mood of anger went to the Prophet (S.A.W.) and recounted his dispute with his wife, The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) went with him to his house and observed to his wife, "You should take Bilals words for any Tradition of mine, and do not give him cause for anger
Even at the time of his departure from this world, Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) was close to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and was one of those who performed his burial rites. After the burial, he sprinkled water from a skin bag over the holy grave.
Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) mentioned regarding this true Deen-Religion that four people have exceeded in taking it forward. From amongst the Arabs, I have exceeded in it, and Shuiab (Radiahallahu Anhu) from Rome, Salman (Radiahallahu Anhu) from Persia, and Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) from Abyssinia.
At one time Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) at the time of Fajr, " Oh Bilaal, Show me one action that you have done after accepting Islaam, whose virtue is above all other actions, because I have heard your footsteps in Jannat. Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) explains that I have not done any action whose virtue is more than the others. But verily this is true, that during the day or night, whenever I made Wudhu , I made it my duty to read some Nafl Salaats , and from amongst the Salaats I read , I verily read Thahiyatul Whudu."(Salaat after Wudhu). When Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) heard this, he said that it was because of this action that he had attained such status.
In another narration which Hadhrat Jaabir (R.A.) narrates , Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said," When I entered Jannat, I heard the sound of footsteps. I enquired from Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) as to who was this person? He answered that it was Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu). Whenever Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) remembered this event of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) having heard his footsteps in Jannat, he used to cry with happiness.
Hadhrat Umar (Radiahallahu Anhu) used to mention that Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radiahallahu Anhu) is our leader who bought our leader Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) and freed him. In "Hulayati-awliya" Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) mentions that he is Sayyidul Muazzineen (leader of the Muazzins).
In the second year after Hijrat the announcing of the time of Salaat (Azaan) began and Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) was appointed Muazzin and always remained the Muazzin of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) both in his presence and also during travel.
And Bilal chants the adhan. The moment he says, "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar," all the rocks on the earth fall into place. When he recites "Ashadu an la ilahe illallah," all the weak become strong. When he says, "Allah is the greatest," "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah," it falls on the souls of slaves like a lighting flash of freedom. Just as Bilal says, "I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah,"Abu Bakr, Umar,and all of Madena rushes out of there houses and runs to the Prophet Mosque.
After the Holy Prophet (PBUH) left the world, Hazrat Bilal (R.A) excused himself from the duty of mu’azzin. The reason was that as soon as he would utter the words: “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”, he would miss the presence of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) so much that he would burst into uncontrollable tears. Despite being over 60 years of age, he left the peaceful environment of Medina because the absence of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) oppressed him. His request to go to Syria with the soldiers (mujahidin) was reluctantly accepted by Caliph Abu Bakr(R.A.). In Syria, he participated in many battles.
Bilal joins the victorious armies during the reigns of Abu Bakr and Umar. In the 16th year of the Hegira when he entered Jerusalem with Umar, he chanted the adhan at the caliph's insistence. Together with hundreds of companions which include prominent persons like Abu Ubayda ibn Jarrah and Muaz ibn Jabal, they tearfully remember the Master of the Universe together with the adhan. Bilal again promises himself not to recite the adhan again. But when the Prophet asks him in his dream, "Aren't you going to visit me," he goes to Medina which he has avoided for years. There he sees Hasan and Hussain, the favorites of the Ahl-i Bayt. Is it possible to offend them! Bilal chants the adhan from the Masjid Nabawi for the first time since the Prophet's death. The people of Medina who hear the witnessing excitedly dash out of their houses. Thinking that the Prophet has arisen from his blessed grave and has joined them, they fill the masjid. And that day they cry as they have never cried before. How greatly they missed him. How sweet is death for this reason! Before he dies, Bilal says to his wife, "How wonderful! Tomorrow I am going to meet with the beloveds, Muhammad and his friends!" He heard such a statement from the Prophet that for years he had been dreaming of the grave: "Last night I heard the sound of your footsteps in front of me in heaven!
On his death-bed, when his wife bitterly cried, he comforted her with these words: “Why do you cry? Tomorrow I shall see the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and my other companions after such a long separation.
Bilal had suffered for Islam in his body. He was humble and gentle, faithful and loyal. He was strong and yet when he called the Muslims to Prayer, they could weep out of joy, so sweet was the sound.
Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Last Sermon included:
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.”
"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." (Surah 49:13).
Bilal's story is proof of what Muhammad (S.A.W)always taught: It is not social status or rank or education that makes one person better than another; it is piety. Those close to Allah are truly the best of people.
In the history of Islam, there are heroes of faith, men and women whose lives inspire us to be better people, better Muslims. Many of them were Companions of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and they experienced the growth of Islam right from the beginning. Many of them suffered hardships and great persecution for the sake of Islam, the Message of Allah.
Their impeccable characters and their closeness to Allah and His Prophet drew many people to Islam. One of the greatest of these, one of the most humble, and one who endured horrific torture in order to become Muslim was Bilal ibn Rabah. Born in Makkah, the freed Ethiopian slave after accepting Islam was inseparable from the Messenger himself. He became the Prophet's first muezzin (caller to the five daily Prayers).
The Prophet (Peace be upon him), Attributes and Manners
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) combined both perfection of creation and perfection of manners.
This impression on people can be deduced by the bliss that overwhelmed their hearts and filled them with dignity. Men’s dignity, devotion and estimation of the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) were unique and matchless. No other man in the whole world has been so honoured and beloved. Those who knew him well, were fascinated and enchanted by him. They were ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of saving a nail of his from hurt or injury. Being privileged by lots of prerogatives of perfection that no one else had been endowed with, his Companions found that he was peerless and so they loved him.Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) was one of them.
1.Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) was one of the first eight persons who responded to the call of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
2.Hazrat Bilal(R.A) became the first mu’azzin of Islam, an office he held till the Holy Prophet (PBUH) left this world.
3.Fajir prayers: “The prayer is better than sleep”. Who added this line? you know it was Hmmm should I tell you,
read and find out.
4.He was also in charge of the house hold of the Prophet (S.A.W.).
5.Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was the special companion of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).
6. During journeys and battles, he used to pitch the tent of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and he alone got the honour of riding the camel of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The prayer-call, proclaimed today in the entire Muslim world, comprises the same words which were first recited by Hazrat Bilal bin Rabah Habshi(R.A.), a staunch devotee of Islam and the most trusted companion of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him).
7.......Bilal is an inmate of Paradise..... Who Said This? Do You know?
8.Who was his teacher in Islam.
Born 43 or 53 years before Hijra, from an Abyssinian mother and an Arab father, Hazrat Bilal was slim and tall . Some historians say he was born in Mecca, but some are of the opinion that he was born in Sarat — a town near Yemen and Abyssinia. He is, generally, known as "BILAL HABASHI", but actually his features were not identical with those of the. Habashi or Zangi, His complexion was black but his hair was not curly, it was thick. Actually, his complexion was dark-brown. His body was tall and slim and his chest prominent. His cheeks were thin but his nose was not snub. Thus, as the historians opine, he was not a pure Abyssinian. His father was an Arab hut his mother was an Abyssinian. His fathers name was Rabah and his mother was called Hamama, It is likely that Hamama was a slave girl from Mecca or Sarat, Sarat is a town between Yemen and Abyssinia, Some of the historians claim that he was born at Mecca, but the majority of the historians opine that Bilal was born in Sarat, And the latter view seem to be acceptable for there could be a mixed race in Sarat.. He was taken as a slave from the beginning according to the prevailing conditions in Mecca.
Along with Hazrat Khadija.(R.A), Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique(R.A), Hazrat Ali(R.A.), Hazrat Ammar(R.A.) and his mother Sumiyya(R.A.), Hazrat Shuaib(R.A.) and Hazrat Miqdad(R.A.), Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) was one of the first eight persons who responded to the call of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Embracing the new faith, he enraged his master Umaiyya bin Khalaf. To force Bilal(R.A.) to give up his new faith, the master subjected the devotee to severe torture.
Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was harassed and beaten the day long and during the night He was tied in chains and lashed. On the next day, he was again made to lie on the hot desert sands which cause even greater injuries to the body of Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu), who was loved by Allah Ta'aala.
Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) used to be beaten by many people. When one would get tired, another would take his place. Sometimes it was Abu Jhal's turn and sometimes Umayyah bin Khalaf and others. Each of them would beat him until they got tired but no mercy was spared for the slave whom they so brutally injured and whose status in Jannat was to surpass that of many Arabs.
According to historical records, Bilals(R.A.) master often tied him and threw him down and flung a stone and cow hide over him and said, "Your gods are Lat and Uzza so testify your faith in them." But he continued to say "Ahad, Ahad." The infidels tied a rope round his neck and allowed the street urchins to drag him to and from between the two hills of Mecca. Even, under this severe torment, Bilals(R.A.) tongue repeated only one word "Ahad, Ahad." Thereupon, the infidels gave him a severe beating and stretched him on the burning Sand.A heavy stone was placed over his body, still he uttered nothing save the word "Ahad, Ahad.".
Allah had endowed Bilal(R.A.) with righteous nature and he remained true to it in his whole life. It is, therefore, held that he readily responded to the call of Allahs Messenger (S.A.W.) when he came out with the Message of Oneness or Unity of Allah. It is an established fact that Bilal (R.A..) had not embraced Islam with any worldly motive or securing relief from the torments of slave life On the contrary by accepting Islam, he had invited upon himself torment of double even treble intensity. He had only one purpose in view and that was to win the favor of Allah. Allah had illuminated his heart with the light of faith. Hence he endured all kinds of atrocities with remarkable patience and fortitude. It was in accord with his nature to accept the Truth unreservedly. As soon as he heard the clarion call for the acceptance of faith in One Allah and the equality of all human beings issued by the noblest personality of the most respectable family, Banu Hashim, he at once made an affirmative response. His heart was as clean as Mirror, it was filled with the sentiments of affection, sincerity, obedience and devotion. The thought crossed his mind like a flash of lightning that the person who wanted to liquidate class differences in order to put the master and slave equal, was a man who belongs to the noblest class in Mecca. Yet he was a staunch champion of the equality of all human being, could not be but the Truthful Messenger and the Prophet of the Creator. He must have thought that it was impossible for a person, who enjoyed exceeding popularity in the whole of Mecca and commanded deep respect from the rank and file of Mecca, to risk to the loss of his popularity and reputation unless this person was the Messenger of the Lord who makes no discrimination between the high and the low, the rich and The poor, The Arab and the non-Arab.
One day while Bilaal(R.A.) was being tortured in this way by Umayyah bin Khalaf and his friends, Abu Bakr (R.A.) passed that way. He asked Umayyah bin Khalaf, 'Do you not fear Allah? How long will you carry out this practice on this poor person?" Umayyah bin Khalaf retorted that, 'since you have instigated him (by teaching Islam to him, so you free him." Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) answered, "Yes, I will free him. I have a black slave who is even stronger than him and who is in your religion. Will you accept this slave in exchange for him?" Umayyah bin Khalaf accepted the offer. Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) exchanged the slaves and thus bought Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and freed him . Besides Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) he bought other slaves who were being beaten and harassed for accepting Islam and freed them also.
After his release, he came to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to serve him as his personal server. Instead of taking him as a servant, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) paid close attention to his education and spiritual training.(His teacher Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) remember I asked you who his teacher was.Hmmm now you know It is reported in the Traditions that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) paid close attention to the education and training of Bilal (R.A.). Once the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said, "O Bilal, The best deed that a believer can perform is to struggle for the cause of Allah. The Prophet (S.A.W.)also taught him concerning humility " 0 Bilal always live in humility and with contentment and die with those who feel contented."
Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) proved himself a true follower of Islam and a faithful devotee of the Prophet( S.A.W.).
When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) granted permission to his companions to migrate, Bilal,(R.A.) along with the other companions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), migrated to Medina. In Medina Bilal lived in the same house with Abu Bakr Siddiq and Aamir bin-Fahria. In Medina when the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) established the bond of brotherhood between the Muhajireen (Migrants) and Ansar (Helpers), Bilal and Abu Rouwaiha (R.A..) were brothers unto each other. This clarifies that Abu Rouwaiha (R.A.) was not the blood brother of Bilal (R.A..).
After the Hijra when Masjid Nabvi was completed, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) thought of calling the Muslims for prayers in congregation. He asked the Sahaba to think of a way to call the Muslims together for prayers. Several suggestions came forth such as the beating of drums; the ringing of the bell like the Christians did in their church; burning a fire like Zoroastrians; and blowing of the horn like the Jews. When all the suggestions could not get the approval of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the meeting ended without a decision.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(R.A), a companion of the Prophet, went home groping for a solution and slept. He had a dream in which he saw a person in a green apparel who told him how to call the Muslims for prayer. He climbed on the top of the mosque and recited the words, those that we hear today. After saying the call he sat down for a while and then rose to say Iqama which comprised the same words.
On waking up, Abdullah bin Zaid rushed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and told him about his dream. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) asked him to go to Bilal(R.A.) and make him learn these words by heart. Thereafter, Hazrat Umar(R.A.) came and narrated a similar dream to the Holy Prophet (PBUH). After having the approval of the Prophet(S.A.W)., the Adhan was called out aloud for the first time from the Prophet’s mosque. As his powerful and melodious voice resounded through the city of Medina, Hazrat Bilal (R.A.) became the first mu’azzin of Islam, an office he held till the Holy Prophet (PBUH) left this world.
What a beautiful voice Bilal has. The Prophet carries this voice, which makes one tremble with humility, with him throughout his life. Journeys and expeditions are kneaded with this voice. One morning the Prophet awakes to this voice: "Prayer is better than sleep." He tells Bilal, "What wonderful words. They should be recited each morning in the adhan!" From that morning on, sleep and prayer are in the two pans of the scale. When prayer weighs heavier, the veil of darkness disperses. And after each adhan Bilal calls out towards the Prophet's window: "O Messenger of Allah! Prayer!" Then, going to the masjid, he makes qamet; stars stand in line behind the sun.
Later, Hazrat Bilal added the following words in the call for the Fajir prayers: “The prayer is better than sleep”. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) approved the addition and till today the same prayer-call is going on even after 14 centuries. (Now you know)
Hazrat Bilal was entrusted the duty of the recital of Azaan by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in preference to all other Sahabas. It was simply because he had a beautiful voice. His recital of the prayer-call produced a typical effect on the hearts and minds of the Muslims. In spiritual ecstasy, they would rush to the mosque. Also, he received the honour of calling the devotees to prayer when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) made a victorious entry into the city of Mecca and ordered Bilal to ascend the roof of the Holy Ka’bah to recite the prayer-call.
Once the Holy Prophet (PBUH) asked Hazrat Bilal what extraordinary deeds he did after accepting Islam because the Holy Prophet (PBUH) heard the sound of his slippers ahead of him when the sight of Paradise was presented before him during a divine revelation. He made no mention of the piety, struggle, hardships or tortures he endured for the cause of Islam but humbly replied: “O my beloved Prophet, I have performed no extraordinary deeds as a Muslim.”
Upon further insistence by the Prophet, he told that the only thing he could recall was that, after each wadhu (ablution), he offered two nawafils. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) appreciated this act of Hazrat Bila
Unbounded love for Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)
Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was the special companion of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). It is for this reason he also endured difficulties. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that undoubtedly, the fear he had for Allah was greater than anyone else. On one occasion thirty nights and days passed with him and Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) having had only that amount to eat which could be concealed under the armpits (side) of Bilaal (Radhiallaahu Anhu).
He was also in charge of the house hold of the Prophet (S.A.W.).
Hazrat Bilal (R.A.) became the first Muazzin in Islam. The powerful and melodious voice of Hazrat Bilal (R.A.), issuing from his strong lungs, resounded through the city of Madinah. The word of the Azaan: 'Allah is great! There is no God but Allah, Muhammed is the Rasul Of Allah ! Come to Salvation!' The words of the Azaan echoed in all the dwellings, and this caused every citizen to inhale with delight the refreshing scent of prayer.
Hazrat Bilal performed duties of an attendant upon the Holy Prophet (PBUH), but the Prophet never treated him as a slave. He was entrusted with the management of the Bait-al-Mal (State Treasury) by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) because of his integrity and complete honesty. He was also in charge of the household of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). During journeys and battles, he used to pitch the tent of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and he alone got the honour of riding the camel of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
As in Mecca, so in Medina, Bilal (R.A.)could not endure separation from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).He always accompanied the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) in all the Holy wars that look place during the Holy Prophet lifetime.The Prophet (S.A.W.),off and on gave him instructions concerning distribution of the surplus wealth with him i.e. the Prophet (S.A.W.) He would say, "Bilal, a quantity of wealth has accumulated with me I do not wish to keep it, so take it and give it away to the needy so that my heart may he alleviated from its burden " Actually the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) intended to teach Bilal by example how a man should cultivate the virtue of contentment in life and abstain from wealth. Bilal(R.A.) observed with great attention all the instructions and precedent of the Holy Prophet(S.A.W.) and proved to he a true follower and a devotee of the Prophet (S.A.W.) till the end of his life. He was in constant attendance on the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) day and night, because he derived delight from the sight, love and kindness. He performed the duties of an attendant upon the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) in all circumstances, during journeys and stay in camp, in war and peace, but was never treated like a servant by the Prophet (S.A.W.), Bilal(R.A) expressed deep devotion for his master and leader, He could not bear even the slightest discomfort of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and was alive ready to respond to his masters call. Throughout the battles he kept running between the Prophets camp and the battlefield, bearing communications , orders and instructions from the Prophet (S.A.W.).to the troops when the Prophet (S.A.W.) made a victorious entry into the city of Mecca and the Prophet(S.A.W.) entered Holy Kaba, there were three men. accompanying him and one of them was Bilal (R.A.A.), the other two were Usman-bin-Talha , the key-bearer of Kaba and Usman bin Zaid (R.A.A.). Bilal performed the duty of reciting the call to prayer.
Bilal (R.A.) continued to the post of Muazzin of the Prophets Masjid till the( Nabi) Prophet (S.A.W.) left this world for his heavenly abode He was preferred over all the Mauzzins during the Prophets lifetime, the cause of this preference being his precedence in embracing Islam, his rich and melodious voice and his excellent utterance. When he recited the call of prayer and wished to inform the Prophet (S.A.W.) that the time for leading prayer had come, he would stand by the door of the Prophets room and would shout "Hasten to the prayer, Hasten to well-being. O Messenger of Allah, prayer." Hearing his these words the Prophet would come for leading the prayers. Bilal (R.A.) would say Iqama before the prayers commenced. While going to Salat-el-Eid or Salat-Istisqa (prayer for rain), Bilal(R.A.) used to walk ahead of the Prophet(S.A.W.) holding a spear and would pitch it on the ground one or two yards away from the place where the Prophet (S.A.W.) wished to lead the congregation of the prayer. The spear was one of those three, sent by the King of Abyssinia in homage to the Prophet(S.A.W.), The Prophet (S.A.W.), gifted one of the three spears to Umar (R.A..) and kept the third one with himself, Thus Bila(R.A.)l had the honor of keeping the Prophets spear throughout his lifetime.
Traditions relate that Bilals(R.A.) marriage had been arranged by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) himself, It is stated that the sons of Abul Bukair one day came to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and said, "0 Messenger of Allah, find a match for our sister. "The Holy Prophet observe, "Why do you not marry her to Bilal(R.A) Hearing this they went back, but after a few days they came again and repeated the same request, and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) gave the same reply. Thus after a few days they came third time with the same request. This time also the Prophet (S.A.W.) giving the same reply added, "Bilal is an inmate of Paradise; you should marry your sister to him." So, having heard the Prophets advice, they married their sister to Bilal. Bilal (R.A..) took more wives after this marriage. According to Qatadah he had married a lady of the tribe of Banu Zuhra. It is also recorded that one of his wives was Hin-ul-Khulania who belonged to Yemen. Bilal(R.A.) has no issue from any of his.
Once Bilal(R.A) related to his wife a Tradition of the Holy Prophet(S.A.W.) but his wife expressed some doubts about the authenticity of his report. Bilal (R.A) in a mood of anger went to the Prophet (S.A.W.) and recounted his dispute with his wife, The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) went with him to his house and observed to his wife, "You should take Bilals words for any Tradition of mine, and do not give him cause for anger
Even at the time of his departure from this world, Hazrat Bilal(R.A.) was close to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and was one of those who performed his burial rites. After the burial, he sprinkled water from a skin bag over the holy grave.
Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) mentioned regarding this true Deen-Religion that four people have exceeded in taking it forward. From amongst the Arabs, I have exceeded in it, and Shuiab (Radiahallahu Anhu) from Rome, Salman (Radiahallahu Anhu) from Persia, and Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) from Abyssinia.
At one time Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) at the time of Fajr, " Oh Bilaal, Show me one action that you have done after accepting Islaam, whose virtue is above all other actions, because I have heard your footsteps in Jannat. Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) explains that I have not done any action whose virtue is more than the others. But verily this is true, that during the day or night, whenever I made Wudhu , I made it my duty to read some Nafl Salaats , and from amongst the Salaats I read , I verily read Thahiyatul Whudu."(Salaat after Wudhu). When Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) heard this, he said that it was because of this action that he had attained such status.
In another narration which Hadhrat Jaabir (R.A.) narrates , Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said," When I entered Jannat, I heard the sound of footsteps. I enquired from Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) as to who was this person? He answered that it was Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu). Whenever Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) remembered this event of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) having heard his footsteps in Jannat, he used to cry with happiness.
Hadhrat Umar (Radiahallahu Anhu) used to mention that Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radiahallahu Anhu) is our leader who bought our leader Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) and freed him. In "Hulayati-awliya" Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) mentions that he is Sayyidul Muazzineen (leader of the Muazzins).
In the second year after Hijrat the announcing of the time of Salaat (Azaan) began and Hadhrat Bilaal (Radiahallahu Anhu) was appointed Muazzin and always remained the Muazzin of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) both in his presence and also during travel.
And Bilal chants the adhan. The moment he says, "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar," all the rocks on the earth fall into place. When he recites "Ashadu an la ilahe illallah," all the weak become strong. When he says, "Allah is the greatest," "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah," it falls on the souls of slaves like a lighting flash of freedom. Just as Bilal says, "I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah,"Abu Bakr, Umar,and all of Madena rushes out of there houses and runs to the Prophet Mosque.
After the Holy Prophet (PBUH) left the world, Hazrat Bilal (R.A) excused himself from the duty of mu’azzin. The reason was that as soon as he would utter the words: “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”, he would miss the presence of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) so much that he would burst into uncontrollable tears. Despite being over 60 years of age, he left the peaceful environment of Medina because the absence of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) oppressed him. His request to go to Syria with the soldiers (mujahidin) was reluctantly accepted by Caliph Abu Bakr(R.A.). In Syria, he participated in many battles.
Bilal joins the victorious armies during the reigns of Abu Bakr and Umar. In the 16th year of the Hegira when he entered Jerusalem with Umar, he chanted the adhan at the caliph's insistence. Together with hundreds of companions which include prominent persons like Abu Ubayda ibn Jarrah and Muaz ibn Jabal, they tearfully remember the Master of the Universe together with the adhan. Bilal again promises himself not to recite the adhan again. But when the Prophet asks him in his dream, "Aren't you going to visit me," he goes to Medina which he has avoided for years. There he sees Hasan and Hussain, the favorites of the Ahl-i Bayt. Is it possible to offend them! Bilal chants the adhan from the Masjid Nabawi for the first time since the Prophet's death. The people of Medina who hear the witnessing excitedly dash out of their houses. Thinking that the Prophet has arisen from his blessed grave and has joined them, they fill the masjid. And that day they cry as they have never cried before. How greatly they missed him. How sweet is death for this reason! Before he dies, Bilal says to his wife, "How wonderful! Tomorrow I am going to meet with the beloveds, Muhammad and his friends!" He heard such a statement from the Prophet that for years he had been dreaming of the grave: "Last night I heard the sound of your footsteps in front of me in heaven!
On his death-bed, when his wife bitterly cried, he comforted her with these words: “Why do you cry? Tomorrow I shall see the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and my other companions after such a long separation.
Bilal had suffered for Islam in his body. He was humble and gentle, faithful and loyal. He was strong and yet when he called the Muslims to Prayer, they could weep out of joy, so sweet was the sound.
Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Last Sermon included:
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.”
"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." (Surah 49:13).
Bilal's story is proof of what Muhammad (S.A.W)always taught: It is not social status or rank or education that makes one person better than another; it is piety. Those close to Allah are truly the best of people.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has granted intellect to human beings. The intellect entails responsibility. The more intellect a person has the more he/she is responsible. When the intellect is missing, the responsibility is also not there. Little children are not held responsible, because their intellect has not yet developed. The insane are not responsible, because they have lost the intellectual capacity. However, part of our being human is also that we make mistakes. Sometime we make mistakes without deliberation and intention. But sometime we knowingly and deliberately sin and do wrong to others. It is said, “to err is human and to forgive is divine.” Both parts of this statement are very true. As human beings we are responsible, but we do also make mistakes and we are constantly in need of forgiveness. Islam speaks about two aspects of forgiveness: a) Allah’s forgiveness; b) Human forgiveness. We need both, because we do wrong in our relations to Allah as well as in our relations to each other.
A. Allah’s Forgiveness:
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is the most Forgiving. There are many names of Allah given in the Qur’an. Some of these names are related to His mercy and forgiveness. Let me mention some of these names:
- Al-Ghafoor: The most Forgiving. This name occurs in the Qur’an more than seventy times. There are other names from the same root, such as Ghafir and Ghaffar. The meaning of the “ghafara” is to cover, to hide and from it comes the meaning “to excuse”, “to pardon”, “to remit” and “to forgive”. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala does all these things. In the Qur’an, it is mentioned that Allah does not forgive the Shirk (without repentance) but He may forgive every other sin for whomsoever He wills. (al-Nisa’ 4:116) We must turn to Allah to seek His forgiveness.
- Al-’Afuw: This has another aspect of forgiveness. This name occurs in the Qur’an five times. Literally the word ‘Afw means “to release” “to heal”, “to restore”, “to remit”. Thus in relation to Allah it means “to release us from the burden of punishment due to our sins and mistakes”, “to forgiveness; forgiveness;after we have dishonored ourselves by committing sins and making mistakes.” Sometimes in the Qur’an both names: ‘Afuw and Ghafoor come together.
- Al-Tawwab: The Acceptor of repentance. This name of Allah is mentioned in the Qur’an about 11 times. Allah accepts the repentance of those who sincerely repent and turn to him. The word “tawwab” gives the sense of “oft-returning” which means that Allah again and again accepts the repentance. We make sins and mistakes then we repent, He accepts our repentance. Then again we commit sins and make mistakes and when we repent, He again very kindly accept us and gives us another chance.
- Al-Haleem: The Clement. This name is mentioned fifteen times in the Qur’an. This means that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is not quick to judgment. He gives time. He forebears and is patient to see His servant to return to Him.
- Al-Rahman and al-Rahim: The most Merciful and Compassionate. These names are the most frequent in the Qur’an. Al-Rahman is mentioned 57 times and al-Raheem is mentioned 115 times. Al-Rahman indicates that Allah’s mercy is abundant and plenty and al-Raheem indicates that this is always the case with Allah. He is full of love and mercy and He is ever Merciful.
The Qur’an teaches that Allah is a Judge and He also punishes, but Allah is not bound to punish. The justice of Allah, according to Qur’an is that Allah does not and will not inflict undue punishment on any person. He will not ignore the good of any person. But if He wishes to forgive any sinner, He has full freedom to do that. His mercy is unlimited and His love is infinite.
There are many verses in the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet -peace be upon him- on the love, mercy and forgiveness of Allah. In one of the prayers that the Prophet taught, he said, “O Allah, You are most Forgiving One, You love to forgive, so forgive me.”(reported by al-Trimidhi and Ibn Majah). We need Allah’s mercy and forgiveness all the time. It is wrong to assume at any time that one will find eternal salvation without the forgiveness of Allah.
B. Human Forgiveness in Islam:
Just as it is important to believe in the mercy and forgiveness of Allah, it is also necessary to base human relations on forgiveness. We cannot expect Allah’s forgiveness unless we also forgive those who do wrong to us. Forgiving each other, even forgiving one’s enemies is one of the most important Islamic teaching. In the Qur’an Allah has described the Believers as “those who avoid major sins and acts of indecencies and when they are angry they forgive.” (al-Shura 42:37) Later in the same Surah Allah says, “The reward of the evil is the evil thereof, but whosoever forgives and makes amends, his reward is upon Allah.” (al-Shura 42:40) In another place the Qur’an says, “If you punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, indeed it is better for the patient. Endure you patiently. Your patience is not except through the help of Allah… (al-Nahl 16:126-127)
In one Hadith the Prophet -peace be upon him- said that Allah has commanded him about nine things. One of them he mentioned was “that I forgive those who do wrong to me.”
The Prophet -peace be upon him- was the most forgiving person. He was ever ready to forgive his enemies. When he went to Ta’if to preach the message of Allah, its people mistreated him. They abused him and hit him with stones.
He left the city humiliated and wounded. When he took shelter under a tree, the angel of Allah visited him and told him that Allah sent him to destroy the people of Ta’if because of their sin of mistreating their Prophet. The Prophet -peace be upon him- prayed to Allah to save the people of Taif, because what they did was out of their ignorance. He said, “O Allah, guide these people, because they did not know what they were doing.” When he entered the city of Makkah after the victory, the Prophet -peace be upon him- had in front of him some of his staunchest enemies. Those who fought him for many years, persecuted his followers and killed many of them. Now he had full power to do whatever he wanted to punish them for their crimes. It is reported that the Prophet -peace be upon him- asked them, “What do you think I shall do to you now?” They pleaded for mercy. The Prophet -peace be upon him- said, “Today I shall say to you what Joseph (referring to Prophet Yusuf -peace be upon him- as mentioned in the Qur’an, Yusuf 12:92) said to his brothers, ‘No blame on you today. Go, you are all free.” Soon they all came and accepted Islam at his hands. He forgave even Hind who had caused the murder of his uncle Hamza -may Allah be pleased with him. After killing him she had his body mutilated and chewed his liver. When she accepted Islam, the Prophet even forgave her.
A very striking example of forgiveness we find in the Qur’an in reference to the most unfortunate event of “Slander of Sayyidah A’isha’”. Some hypocrites of Madinah accused her. They tried to put dirt on her noble character. One of the slanderers turned out to be Mistah, the cousin of ‘Aisha’s father Abu Bakr’s. Abu Bakr -may Allah be pleased with him- used to give financial help to this young man. After he slandered his daughter, Abu Bakr vowed not to help him any more. But Allah reminded Abu Bakr and through him all the Believers, “Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want and those who migrated in the path of Allah. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Indeed Allah is oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.” (Al-Nur 24:22) Abu Bakr -may Allah be pleased with him- came out of his home and said, “Yes, indeed, I want Allah’s forgiveness. He not only continued to help him but he gave him more. Islam emphasizes justice and punishment of the wrong doers, but it equally strongly emphasizes mercy, kindness and love. Justice, law and order are necessary for the maintenance of a social order, but there is also a need for forgiveness to heal the wounds and to restore good relations between the people. We must keep in mind that as much as we need Allah’s forgiveness for our own sins and mistakes, we must also practice forgiveness towards those who do wrong to us.
He who forgiveth, and is reconciled unto his enemy, shall receive his reward from God; for he loveth not the unjust doers.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Those who acquire knowledge
057.003 He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Immanent: and He has full knowledge of all things.
It is a known fact that every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to God and sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case with Allah. Allah is the personal name of the One true God. Nothing else can be called Allah. The term has no plural or gender. This shows its uniqueness when compared with the word god which can be made plural, gods, or feminine, goddess. It is interesting to notice that Allah is the personal name of God in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and a sister language of Arabic..
When there was nothing, Allah T'ala was, and when there will be nothing, He will be. He is the most Manifest of all the manifest, for whatever manifests itself in the world, does only by His attributes and His works and His light. And He is the Most Hidden of all the hidden, for not only do the senses fail to percieve Him but the intellect and thought and imagination also cannot attain to His essence and reality.
The best commentary in this regard are the words of a supplication of the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings). which Imam Ahmad, Muslim, Tirmidhi, and Baihaqi have related on the authority of Hadrat Abu Hurairah, and Hafiz Abu Ya'la Mosuli in his Musnad on the authority of Hadrat 'A'ishah:
"Antal Awwal, fa-laisa qablaka shai'in; wa Antal Akhir fa-laisa ba 'daka shai 'in; wa Antal Zahir, fa-laisa fauqaka shai in; wa Antal Batin, fa laisa dunaka shai'in. " "You alone are the First; none is before You; You alone are the Last: none is after You; You alone are the Exalted none is above You; You alone are the Hidden: none is more hidden than You. "
Here, the question arises: How does this accord with the immortality and eternal life of the dwellers of Paradise and Hell mentioned in the Qur'an when Allah alone is the Last and Eternal? Its answer has been provided by the Qur'an itself: "Everything is perishable except Allah Himself." (AI-Qasas: 88). In other words no creature is immortal in its personal capacity; if a thing exists or continues to exist, it does so because Allah keeps it so, and can exist only by His letting it exist; otherwise in its own capacity everything is perishable except Allah. Immortality in Heaven and Hell will not be bestowed upon somebody because he is immortal by himself, but because AIIah will grant him eternal life. The same is true of the angels: they are not immortal by themselves. When Allah willed they came into existence, and will continue to exist only as long as He wills.
Virtues of Knowledge which is Learnt and Taught for the sake of Allah
Allah, the Exalted, says:
"And say: `My Rubb! Increase me in knowledge.'' (20:114)
"Are those who know equal to those who know not?''' (39:9)
"Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge.'' (58:11)
"It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.'' (35:28)
1378. Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me are like abundant rain which fell on a land. A fertile part of it absorbed the water and brought forth profuse herbage and pasture; and solid ground patches which retained the water by which Allah has benefited people, who drank from it, irrigated their crops and sowed their seeds; and another sandy plane which could neither retain the water nor produce herbage. Such is the similitude of the person who becomes well-versed in the religion of Allah and receives benefit from the Message entrusted to me by Allah, so he himself has learned and taught it to others; such is also the similitude of the person who has stubbornly and ignorantly rejected Allah's Guidance with which I have been sent.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
We learn from this Hadith that there are three categories of people. First, those who acquire knowledge of the Qur'an and Hadith, act upon it and also impart it to others. Such people benefit from this knowledge themselves and extend this benefit to others also. By virtue of this quality they are the best of all. Second, those people who acquire knowledge and impart it to others, but do not fulfill the requirements of that knowledge. Such people are inferior in rank to the people of the first category and can be taken to task for their omissions. Third, those who shun the knowledge of the Qur'an and Hadith. Neither they study and hear the two themselves for their own benefit, nor do they acquire knowledge to impart it to others for their benefit. This is the worst category of people. Every Muslim should try to be in the first category of the people.
1390. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who is asked about knowledge (of religion) and conceals it, will be bridled with a bridle of fire on the Day of Resurrection.''
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary: We learn from this Hadith that to withhold guidance in the matter of religion from anybody who seeks it, is a grave sin which is threatened with Hell. Unfortunately, the religious scholars who are shackled in religious prejudices and terribly lack interest in juristic matters have developed a habit of concealing religious knowledge from people. In fact, this grave sin has become so alarming that any further delay to eradicate it will prove ruinous for us. May Allah grant us true guidanc
1392. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying: "Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people, but He takes it away by taking away (the lives of) the religious scholars till none of the scholars stays alive. Then the people will take ignorant ones as their leaders, who, when asked to deliver religious verdicts, will issue them without knowledge, the result being that they will go astray and will lead others astray.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: It is a sign of the nearness of the Day of Judgement that the world will be deprived of genuine religious scholars, and illiterate people will become leaders who will have neither the knowledge of the Qur'an nor that of the Hadith. Despite their ignorance of the Qur'an and the Hadith, they will be called Mujtahid (jurist entitled to independent reasoning) and Imam (leader) and will mislead people with their legal opinions and self-created problems. Besides urging us to acquire religious knowledge with a view to producing more scholars in the society, this Hadith also warns us against the ignorant self-styled `Ulama'. It also warns us against entrusting religious leadership to them.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Muhammad (PBUH)
Youth
In his youth he believed firmly in the Oneness of Allah (God)(SWT). He lived a very simple life and hated vanity and pride. He was compassionate to the poor, widows and orphans and shared their sufferings by helping them. He avoided all vices, which were commonly practiced among young people such as gambling, drinking wine, vulgarity and others. He was well-known as As-Sadiq (the truthful) and Al-Amin (the trustworthy). He was always trusted as a mediator between two conflicting parties in his homeland, Makkah
1) Muhammad (PBUH) as a Husband:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported, the prophet (PBUH) said "among the believers who show most perfect faith are those who have best disposition and are kindest to their wives"………..narrated by Al-Tirmithi
From Muhammad's Life:
Amro (may Allah be pleased with him ) reported that the prophet (PBUH) was asked about the person he loves most. He replied that it is Aisha. The man said "from men?". He replied "her father".
2) Muhammad (PBUH) as a Father:
From Muhammad's Sayings :
Abu-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came telling him that he has a wife and that his mother orders him to divorce her, and asked him what should he do? He replied that he had heard the prophet (PBUH) saying that the parents represent the middle door to paradise, so you are free to keep this opportunity or lose it…….narrated by Al-Tirmithi
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) entered his house while his son Ibarhim was in his last breathes. The eyes of Allah's messenger started shedding tears. Abu-Rahman ibn Auf said "O Allah's Apostle, even you are weeping!" He said "O Ibn Auf, this is mercy". Then he wept more & said "the eyes are shedding tears and the heart grieves and we shall not say except what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim, indeed we are grieved by being separated from you"……Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that while Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was in his last breathes he was distressed. Fatima (may Allah bless her) said "O father, how distressed you are!". He (PBUH) said "your father will suffer no distress after today". When he passed away she said "O father who has answered Allah's call. O father who will dwell in paradise. O father we announce your death to Gabriel". When he (PBUH) was buried she said "how could you possibly pour dust on Allah's messenger"……Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
3) Muhammad (PBUH) as a Grandfather:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Amr ibn Shoeib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) said "Those who do not show mercy to our young ones & do not realize the rights of our elders do not belong to us".
From Muhammad's Life:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) was kissing Al-Hasan ibn ali while Al-Akra' ibn Habes was with him. Al-Akra' said "I have 10 children whom I have never kissed". Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said "He who does not show mercy, gets no mercy"……….Agreed Upon.
4) Muhammad (PBUH) with Children:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Aisha(r.a) reported that a poor woman with her 2 daughters came visiting her. Aisha(r.a) gave them 3 dates. The mother gave each of her daughters a date & while she was about to eat hers one of her daughters asked her for another, so she divided hers in 2 halves and gave her half and ate the other. Aisha said I admired her attitude and narrated what she did to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) who said "Allah (the Almighty) has grated her paradise or she was spared going to hell as a result of this"……….Narrated by Muslim.
Reported by Abu-Kutada Al Harith, may Allah be pleased with him, that the prophet PBUH said: “When I get up for prayer I want to take my time in it, but when I hear a child crying I hurry up in my prayer in the fear of disturbing his mother (who is praying behind me)”. Narrated by Buckhari.
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he used to greet the children as he used to see Allah's Messenger (PBUH) doing the same………..Agreed Upon.
Anas also reported that the young girls in Madinah used to take Allah's Messenger (PBUH) by hand wherever they want………….Narrated by Al-Bukhari
5) Muhammad (PBUH) with Women:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the prophet (PBUH) said: "among the believers who show most perfect faith are those who have best disposition and are kindest to their wives"………..narrated by Al-Tirmidhi
From Muhammad's Sayings :
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) said: " A believing man should not hate his believing wife, if he dislikes one of her traits, he will be pleased with another"……….Narrated by Muslim.
Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger said: "The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit from the world is the pious woman"………Narrated by Muslim.
From Muhammad's Life:
Al-Aswad ibn Yazid said "I asked Aisha (ra) about what Allah's Messenger (PBUH) used to do at home?" she said "He (PBUH) was always serving his family till prayer time comes then he goes to the prayer"………….Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
A man from Bani Sawa' asked Aisha about the behavior of Allah's Messenger (PBUH). She replied "don’t you read the Quran describing him that he has the most noble manners. She said "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was with his companions, so I made him some food & also Hafsa did the same but she preceded me. So, I told my servant to go & break hafsa's platter. She went on and sis what I told her in the presence of Allah's Messenger (PBUH). The food was scattered on the ground and he (PBUH) gathered it and ate it with his companions. He then took my platter and ordered my servant to give it to Hafsa saying "A platter in place of yours and the food is for you to eat". Aisha commented that despite of her act, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) never showed her that he was angry from her……….Sunan Ibn Majah.
6) Muhammad (PBUH) with his Relatives:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him )reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged then he should keep good relations with his kinship"……………Agreed Upon.
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas b. Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Abu Talha was the one among the Ansar of Medina who possessed the largest property and among his property he valued most his garden known as Bairaha' which was opposite the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) often visited it and he drank of its sweet water. When this verse was revealed:" You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love" (Al-Imran. 92), Abu Talha got up and, going to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him), said: Allah says in His Book:" You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love," and the dearest of my property is Bairaha' so I give it as Sadaqa to Allah from Whom I hope for reward. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Bravo, that is profit earning property. I have heard what you have said, but I think you should spend it on your nearest relatives. So Abu Talha distributed it among the neatest relatives and his cousins on his father's side…….Agreed Upon.
7) Muhammad (PBUH) as a Visitor:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the prophet (PBUH) said: A person visited his brother in another town and Allah deputed an Angel to wait for him on his way and when he came to him he said: Where do you intend to go? He said: I intend to go to my brother in this town. He said: Have you done any favor to him (the repayment of which you intend to get)? He said: No, except this that I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. Thereupon he said: I am a messenger to you from, Allah: (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake)…….Narrated by Muslim
From Muhammad's Life:
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (PBUH) said to Gabriel "What prevents you from visiting us more often?" In reply to this the following verse was revealed "And we (angels) descend not except by the Command of your Lord (O Muhammad). To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us, and what is between those two; and your Lord is never forgetful -"……….Surat Mariam (64)……Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
8-With the Orphans:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Sahl Ibn Sa'ad (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "I and the person, who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in paradise like this" putting his index and middle finger together………Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
From Muhammad's Life :
Abu Hurraira (may Allah be pleased with him )reported that a man came to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) complaining of having a hard heart, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) replied "if you want your heart to be softened then donate food to the needy and rub over an orphan's head"……….Musnad Ahmed.
9-With the Needy:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "The worst food is that of a banquet to which the needy are not invited and those who are not in need are invited. ………Narrated by Muslim.
In another version of the same Hadith that is mentioned in both Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "The worst food is that of a banquet to which the rich are invited and the poor are not".
Abu Darda' Oeimer (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "Take care of the weak, because the weak are the reason behind your being granted victory and wealth"………Narrated by Abu Dawood.
From Muhammad's Life :
Abu Hubaira ibn Amro Al-Muzni (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Abu Sufian came across a crowd which included Salman, Soheib and Belal. They told him "The swords of Allah did not take enough of Allah's enemy (meaning abu sufian). Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said "Do you dare saying that to the Sheikh of Quraish and their master?"…..Then came Allah's Messenger (PBUH) and said to Abu Bakr "Abu Bakr you might have annoyed them, if you did so, then you would be annoying Allah ". Abu Bakr came to them saying "O brothers, have I annoyed you?"…..they replied "No, May Allah forgive you brother"………..Narrated by Muslim
10-With his Neighbors
From Muhammad's Sayings:
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!" It was said, "Who is that, O Allah's Apostle?" He said, "That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil doing".........Agreed Upon
In another version narrated by Muslim, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "he whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil doings will not be admitted to heaven".
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "Anybody who believes in Allah and the Judgment Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the judgment Day should entertain his guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the judgment Day should talk what is good or keep quiet"……….Agreed Upon.
From Muhammad's Life:
Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "O Aba Dhar, if you cook soup, make a lot of it and give your neighbors"…….narrated by Muslim
In another version Abu Dhar said "My intimate friend (PBUH) advised me "if you cooked soup then make more of it and give your neighbors some of it"
Abdu Allah ibn Omar(may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said: "The best of friends are those who are most beneficial to their friends. The best of neighbors are those who are most beneficial to their neighbors"……….Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi.
11-With the Parents:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
A man came asking Allah's Messenger (PBUH) "O Allah's Apostle, who is the person most deserving of my friendly companionship?" He (PBUH) replied "Your Mother", the man said "then who?' He (PBUH) replied "Your mother", the man said "then who?", He (PBUH) replied "Your mother"……the man said "then who?"…….. He (PBUH) replied "Your father"
In another version: A man came asking Allah's Messenger (PBUH) about the person who is most deserving of my friendly, careful companionship. The Prophet (PBUH) said "Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father then your closer kinship".
Asma'a bint Abu Bakr Al-Siddik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that she asked Allah's Apostle (PBUH) whether or not she should keep good relations with her mother who was still polytheist at the time. He replied "Yes keep good relations with her"…………..Agreed Upon.
From Muhammad's Life :
It was narrated that Abu Hurraira said to some companions of Allah's Messenger (PBUH) "By Allah, any believer who will ever hear about me will love me"…..a companion asked him "How you know that Abu Hurraira?" He replied "My mother was a polytheist and I was calling her to Islam and she was always refusing. Once I called her to Islam again and she said very bad words about Allah's Messenger (PBUH). I came crying to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him what happened between me and my mother and asked him to pray to Allah to guide my mother to Islam. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said" O Allah, guide Abu Hurraira's mother to the right path".
I ran to my mother to bring to her the good news of the prophet's (PBUH) prayer for her. When I came to her door, I heard the sound of water and her footsteps. She said "Abu Hurraira, stay where you are". Then she came opening the door with her clothes on saying:" I testify that there's no god but Allah, and that Mohamed is his messenger".
Abu Hurraira said I went running with joy to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) and said "O Allah's Messenger cheer up for Allah has answered your prayer and has guided my mother to the right path". I then asked Allah's Apostle (PBUH) to pray for Allah (the Almighty) to make all the believers love me and my mother and to make us love them. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "O Allah, please let the believers love Abu Hurraira and his mother and make them love all believers"…….from that time, Abu Hurriara said that whenever any believer hears or seas me or my mother he loves us………Musnad Ahmed (Part 2/page319).
In his youth he believed firmly in the Oneness of Allah (God)(SWT). He lived a very simple life and hated vanity and pride. He was compassionate to the poor, widows and orphans and shared their sufferings by helping them. He avoided all vices, which were commonly practiced among young people such as gambling, drinking wine, vulgarity and others. He was well-known as As-Sadiq (the truthful) and Al-Amin (the trustworthy). He was always trusted as a mediator between two conflicting parties in his homeland, Makkah
1) Muhammad (PBUH) as a Husband:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported, the prophet (PBUH) said "among the believers who show most perfect faith are those who have best disposition and are kindest to their wives"………..narrated by Al-Tirmithi
From Muhammad's Life:
Amro (may Allah be pleased with him ) reported that the prophet (PBUH) was asked about the person he loves most. He replied that it is Aisha. The man said "from men?". He replied "her father".
2) Muhammad (PBUH) as a Father:
From Muhammad's Sayings :
Abu-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came telling him that he has a wife and that his mother orders him to divorce her, and asked him what should he do? He replied that he had heard the prophet (PBUH) saying that the parents represent the middle door to paradise, so you are free to keep this opportunity or lose it…….narrated by Al-Tirmithi
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) entered his house while his son Ibarhim was in his last breathes. The eyes of Allah's messenger started shedding tears. Abu-Rahman ibn Auf said "O Allah's Apostle, even you are weeping!" He said "O Ibn Auf, this is mercy". Then he wept more & said "the eyes are shedding tears and the heart grieves and we shall not say except what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim, indeed we are grieved by being separated from you"……Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that while Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was in his last breathes he was distressed. Fatima (may Allah bless her) said "O father, how distressed you are!". He (PBUH) said "your father will suffer no distress after today". When he passed away she said "O father who has answered Allah's call. O father who will dwell in paradise. O father we announce your death to Gabriel". When he (PBUH) was buried she said "how could you possibly pour dust on Allah's messenger"……Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
3) Muhammad (PBUH) as a Grandfather:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Amr ibn Shoeib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) said "Those who do not show mercy to our young ones & do not realize the rights of our elders do not belong to us".
From Muhammad's Life:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) was kissing Al-Hasan ibn ali while Al-Akra' ibn Habes was with him. Al-Akra' said "I have 10 children whom I have never kissed". Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said "He who does not show mercy, gets no mercy"……….Agreed Upon.
4) Muhammad (PBUH) with Children:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Aisha(r.a) reported that a poor woman with her 2 daughters came visiting her. Aisha(r.a) gave them 3 dates. The mother gave each of her daughters a date & while she was about to eat hers one of her daughters asked her for another, so she divided hers in 2 halves and gave her half and ate the other. Aisha said I admired her attitude and narrated what she did to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) who said "Allah (the Almighty) has grated her paradise or she was spared going to hell as a result of this"……….Narrated by Muslim.
Reported by Abu-Kutada Al Harith, may Allah be pleased with him, that the prophet PBUH said: “When I get up for prayer I want to take my time in it, but when I hear a child crying I hurry up in my prayer in the fear of disturbing his mother (who is praying behind me)”. Narrated by Buckhari.
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he used to greet the children as he used to see Allah's Messenger (PBUH) doing the same………..Agreed Upon.
Anas also reported that the young girls in Madinah used to take Allah's Messenger (PBUH) by hand wherever they want………….Narrated by Al-Bukhari
5) Muhammad (PBUH) with Women:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the prophet (PBUH) said: "among the believers who show most perfect faith are those who have best disposition and are kindest to their wives"………..narrated by Al-Tirmidhi
From Muhammad's Sayings :
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) said: " A believing man should not hate his believing wife, if he dislikes one of her traits, he will be pleased with another"……….Narrated by Muslim.
Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger said: "The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit from the world is the pious woman"………Narrated by Muslim.
From Muhammad's Life:
Al-Aswad ibn Yazid said "I asked Aisha (ra) about what Allah's Messenger (PBUH) used to do at home?" she said "He (PBUH) was always serving his family till prayer time comes then he goes to the prayer"………….Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
A man from Bani Sawa' asked Aisha about the behavior of Allah's Messenger (PBUH). She replied "don’t you read the Quran describing him that he has the most noble manners. She said "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was with his companions, so I made him some food & also Hafsa did the same but she preceded me. So, I told my servant to go & break hafsa's platter. She went on and sis what I told her in the presence of Allah's Messenger (PBUH). The food was scattered on the ground and he (PBUH) gathered it and ate it with his companions. He then took my platter and ordered my servant to give it to Hafsa saying "A platter in place of yours and the food is for you to eat". Aisha commented that despite of her act, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) never showed her that he was angry from her……….Sunan Ibn Majah.
6) Muhammad (PBUH) with his Relatives:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him )reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged then he should keep good relations with his kinship"……………Agreed Upon.
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas b. Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Abu Talha was the one among the Ansar of Medina who possessed the largest property and among his property he valued most his garden known as Bairaha' which was opposite the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) often visited it and he drank of its sweet water. When this verse was revealed:" You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love" (Al-Imran. 92), Abu Talha got up and, going to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him), said: Allah says in His Book:" You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love," and the dearest of my property is Bairaha' so I give it as Sadaqa to Allah from Whom I hope for reward. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Bravo, that is profit earning property. I have heard what you have said, but I think you should spend it on your nearest relatives. So Abu Talha distributed it among the neatest relatives and his cousins on his father's side…….Agreed Upon.
7) Muhammad (PBUH) as a Visitor:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the prophet (PBUH) said: A person visited his brother in another town and Allah deputed an Angel to wait for him on his way and when he came to him he said: Where do you intend to go? He said: I intend to go to my brother in this town. He said: Have you done any favor to him (the repayment of which you intend to get)? He said: No, except this that I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. Thereupon he said: I am a messenger to you from, Allah: (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake)…….Narrated by Muslim
From Muhammad's Life:
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (PBUH) said to Gabriel "What prevents you from visiting us more often?" In reply to this the following verse was revealed "And we (angels) descend not except by the Command of your Lord (O Muhammad). To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us, and what is between those two; and your Lord is never forgetful -"……….Surat Mariam (64)……Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
8-With the Orphans:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Sahl Ibn Sa'ad (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "I and the person, who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in paradise like this" putting his index and middle finger together………Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
From Muhammad's Life :
Abu Hurraira (may Allah be pleased with him )reported that a man came to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) complaining of having a hard heart, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) replied "if you want your heart to be softened then donate food to the needy and rub over an orphan's head"……….Musnad Ahmed.
9-With the Needy:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "The worst food is that of a banquet to which the needy are not invited and those who are not in need are invited. ………Narrated by Muslim.
In another version of the same Hadith that is mentioned in both Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "The worst food is that of a banquet to which the rich are invited and the poor are not".
Abu Darda' Oeimer (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "Take care of the weak, because the weak are the reason behind your being granted victory and wealth"………Narrated by Abu Dawood.
From Muhammad's Life :
Abu Hubaira ibn Amro Al-Muzni (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Abu Sufian came across a crowd which included Salman, Soheib and Belal. They told him "The swords of Allah did not take enough of Allah's enemy (meaning abu sufian). Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said "Do you dare saying that to the Sheikh of Quraish and their master?"…..Then came Allah's Messenger (PBUH) and said to Abu Bakr "Abu Bakr you might have annoyed them, if you did so, then you would be annoying Allah ". Abu Bakr came to them saying "O brothers, have I annoyed you?"…..they replied "No, May Allah forgive you brother"………..Narrated by Muslim
10-With his Neighbors
From Muhammad's Sayings:
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!" It was said, "Who is that, O Allah's Apostle?" He said, "That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil doing".........Agreed Upon
In another version narrated by Muslim, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "he whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil doings will not be admitted to heaven".
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "Anybody who believes in Allah and the Judgment Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the judgment Day should entertain his guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the judgment Day should talk what is good or keep quiet"……….Agreed Upon.
From Muhammad's Life:
Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "O Aba Dhar, if you cook soup, make a lot of it and give your neighbors"…….narrated by Muslim
In another version Abu Dhar said "My intimate friend (PBUH) advised me "if you cooked soup then make more of it and give your neighbors some of it"
Abdu Allah ibn Omar(may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said: "The best of friends are those who are most beneficial to their friends. The best of neighbors are those who are most beneficial to their neighbors"……….Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi.
11-With the Parents:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
A man came asking Allah's Messenger (PBUH) "O Allah's Apostle, who is the person most deserving of my friendly companionship?" He (PBUH) replied "Your Mother", the man said "then who?' He (PBUH) replied "Your mother", the man said "then who?", He (PBUH) replied "Your mother"……the man said "then who?"…….. He (PBUH) replied "Your father"
In another version: A man came asking Allah's Messenger (PBUH) about the person who is most deserving of my friendly, careful companionship. The Prophet (PBUH) said "Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father then your closer kinship".
Asma'a bint Abu Bakr Al-Siddik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that she asked Allah's Apostle (PBUH) whether or not she should keep good relations with her mother who was still polytheist at the time. He replied "Yes keep good relations with her"…………..Agreed Upon.
From Muhammad's Life :
It was narrated that Abu Hurraira said to some companions of Allah's Messenger (PBUH) "By Allah, any believer who will ever hear about me will love me"…..a companion asked him "How you know that Abu Hurraira?" He replied "My mother was a polytheist and I was calling her to Islam and she was always refusing. Once I called her to Islam again and she said very bad words about Allah's Messenger (PBUH). I came crying to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him what happened between me and my mother and asked him to pray to Allah to guide my mother to Islam. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said" O Allah, guide Abu Hurraira's mother to the right path".
I ran to my mother to bring to her the good news of the prophet's (PBUH) prayer for her. When I came to her door, I heard the sound of water and her footsteps. She said "Abu Hurraira, stay where you are". Then she came opening the door with her clothes on saying:" I testify that there's no god but Allah, and that Mohamed is his messenger".
Abu Hurraira said I went running with joy to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) and said "O Allah's Messenger cheer up for Allah has answered your prayer and has guided my mother to the right path". I then asked Allah's Apostle (PBUH) to pray for Allah (the Almighty) to make all the believers love me and my mother and to make us love them. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "O Allah, please let the believers love Abu Hurraira and his mother and make them love all believers"…….from that time, Abu Hurriara said that whenever any believer hears or seas me or my mother he loves us………Musnad Ahmed (Part 2/page319).
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