Sunday 26 September 2010

All of Mankind are the Children of Adam and Hawwa (Eve)



People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into nations and tribes so that you should get to know one another.
In God's eyes, the most honoured of you are the ones most aware of Him:
God is all knowing, all aware.

(Holy Qur'an 49:13) translated by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem


Allah the Exalted declares to mankind that He has created them all from a single person, `Adam, and from that person He created his mate, Hawwa' (Eve). From their offspring He made nations, comprised of tribe, which include subtribes of all sizes. It was also said that `nations refers to non-Arabs, while `tribes refers to Arabs. Various statements about this were collected in an individual introduction from the book, Al-Inbah, by Abu `Amr Ibn `Abdul-Barr, and from the book, Al-Qasad wal-Amam fi Ma`rifah Ansab Al-Arab wal-`Ajam. Therefore, all people are the descendants of `Adam and Hawwa' and share this honor equally. The only difference between them is in the religion that revolves around their obedience to Allah the Exalted and their following of His Messenger.

Read more here:
http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=49&tid=49912


For more beautiful Qur'an verses please visit:

Friday 24 September 2010

Recommended Reads

Asalaamu alaikum

At the moment i'm reading online 'Khalid Bin Waleed: The Sword of Allah'

You can download it here:

http://www.imaanstar.com/khalid.php

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Hazrat Ali (r.a.) and 'The Giant' (Amr bin Abdu Wud)

This is an amazing incident from The Battle of the Trench. It is from the book 'The Sword of Allah - Khalid bin Al-Waleed'  by A.I. Akram

...Ikrimah's squadron moved up first and a small group jumped the ditch, the horses landing neatly on the Muslim side. There were seven men in the group, including Ikrimah and an enormous man who urged his enormous horse ahead of the group and began to survey the Muslims, who were surprised by the sudden appearance of the Quraish. The stage was now set for one of the most remarkable duels of history, which, because of its unusual course, is here described in full detail.

 This huge man was of a tremendous height and bulk, and while on his feet would tower above his fellow men. Sitting on his great horse, he looked positively unreal. Big, strong and fearless, he had a fierce countenance-an aspect which thrilled his comrades and dismayed his enemies.

 This was Amr bin Abdu Wud. (We shall call him the Giant!) Horse and rider stood motionless as he let his gaze wander scornfully over the ranks of the Muslims.

 Suddenly the Giant raised his head and roared, "I am Amr bin Abdu Wud. I am the greatest warrior in Arabia. I am invincible. I... I. . ." He certainly had a high opinion of himself. "Is there anyone among you who has the courage to meet me in personal combat?"

 The challenge was received by the Muslims in silence. They looked at one another. They looked at the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). But no one moved, for the Giant was famous for his strength and skill, and though wounded several times, had never yet lost a duel, nor spared an opponent. It was said that he was equal to 500 horsemen; that he could lift a horse bodily and hurl it to the ground; that he could pick up a calf with his left hand and use it as a shield in combat; that he could... The stories were endless. The vivid Arab imagination had created around this formidable warrior a legend of invincibility.

 So the Muslims remained silent, and the Giant laughed with contempt-a laugh in which the Quraish also joined, for they stood quite close to the ditch and could see and hear all that went on.

 "So is there none among you who has the courage of a man? And what of your Islam? And your Prophet?" At this blasphemous taunt, Ali left his position in the front rank of the Muslims, approached the Holy Prophet and sought permission to engage the challenger and silence his insolent tongue once and for all. The Prophet replied, "Sit down. This is Amr!" Ali returned to his position.

 There was another burst of scornful laughter, more taunts, another challenge. Again Ali went up to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) Again the Prophet declined permission. More laughter, more taunts. Again the challenge from Amr, and this time more insulting than before. "Where is your paradise?" He shouted, "Of which you say that those who lose in battle will enter it? Can you not send a man to fight me?"

 When for the third time Ali moved towards the Prophet (s.a.w.), the latter saw in Ali's eyes a look which he knew well; and he knew that Ali could no longer be restrained. He looked at Ali fondly, for Ali was dearer to him than any other man. He took off his turban and wound it around Ali's head. He next took off his sword and girded it at Ali's waist. And he prayed: "O Lord! Help him!"

 This sword which the Prophet (s.a.w.) now gave to Ali had once belonged to an infidel by the name of Munabba bin Hajaj. This man had been killed at the Battle of Badr, and the sword had come to the Muslims as part of the spoils of war. The Prophet had taken the sword for himself. Now in Ali's hand this was to become the most famous sword in Islam, killing more men in fair combat than any sword in history. This was the Zulfiqar.

 Ali hastily collected a small group of Muslims and strode out towards the unbelievers. The group stopped at some distance from the Giant, and Ali stepped forward and got to within duelling distance of the challenger. The Giant knew Ali well. He had been a friend of Ali's father, Abu Talib. He now smiled indulgently at Ali as a man might smile at a boy.

 "O Amr!" called Ali. "It is believed that if any man of the Quraish offers you two proposals, you always accept at least one of them."

"True."

"Then I have two proposals to offer you. The first is: accept Allah and His Messenger and Islam."

"I have no need of them."

"Then dismount from your horse and fight me."

"Why, O son of my brother? I have no desire to kill you."

"But I", replied Ali, "Have a great desire to kill you!"

 The Giant's face flushed with anger. With a cry of rage he sprang off his horse, displaying a degree of agility surprising in so huge a monster. He hamstrung his horse, drew his sword and rushed at Ali. The fight was on.

 Amr struck at Ali many times, but Ali remained unharmed. He would parry the blow with his sword or shield or nimbly step aside to let the Giant's sword whistle past him harmlessly. At last the Giant stood back, panting and baffled. He wondered how this could be. Never before had any man survived so long in personal combat against him. And now this boy was looking at him as if he was playing a game!

 Then things happened so fast that no one could quite follow the sequence-neither the Muslims nor the Quraish nor the Giant himself. Ali dropped his sword and shield to the ground; his body shot through the air like a missile and his hands grasped the Giant's throat; with a wrestler's kick he knocked the Giant off balance, and the Giant came crashing to the ground-all in a matter of seconds. Now the Giant lay on his back with Ali sitting astride his chest. The two armies gasped and murmured, then held their breath.

 The bewilderment on the Giant's face changed to fury. At last he had been thrown, and by this young upstart who was less than half his size! But although he was down, he was not finished. He would still win the battle and re-establish his position as the greatest warrior in Arabia. He would toss this youngster into the air as a leaf is tossed by the wind.

 The Giant's face went purple, the veins stood out on his neck and his huge biceps and forearms trembled as he strained to break Ali's grip. But he could not move it an inch. There was the quality of steel in the muscles of Ali.

 "Know, O Amr", said Ali gently, "that victory and defeat depend upon the will of Allah. Accept Islam! Thus not only will your life be spared, but you will also enjoy the blessings of Allah in this life and the next." Ali drew a sharp dagger from his waistband and held it close to Amr's throat.

 But this was more than the Giant could take. Was he whom Arabia considered her greatest champion to live the rest of his life under the shadow of defeat and disgrace? Was it to be said of him that he saved his life in personal combat by submitting to the conditions of his opponent? No! He, Amr bin Abdu Wud, had lived by the sword. He would perish by the sword. A life spent in violence must end with violence. He gathered the spittle in his mouth and spat into the face of Ali!

 He knew what would happen. He knew that there would be a sharp intake of breath, that Ali's right arm would shoot into the air and then plunge the dagger into his throat. Amr was a brave man and could face death without flinching. He arched his back and raised his chin to offer his throat to Ali, for he knew what was to come. At least he thought he knew!

 But what happened next left him even more bewildered. Ali rose calmly from Amr's chest, wiped his face, and stood a few paces away, gazing solemnly at his adversary. "Know, O Amr, I only kill in the way of Allah and not for any private motive. Since you spat in my face, my killing you now may be from a desire for personal vengeance. So I spare your life. Rise and return to your people!"

 The Giant rose. But there was no question of his returning to his people a loser. He would live a victor, or not at all. Intending to make one last attempt at victory, he picked up his sword and rushed at Ali. Perhaps he would catch Ali unawares.

 Ali had just enough time to pick up his sword and shield and prepare for the fresh assault. The blow which the Giant now delivered in furious desperation was the most savage blow of the encounter. His sword shattered Ali's shield, but in doing so lost its force and impetus, and could then do no more than inflict a shallow cut on Ali's temple. The wound was too slight to worry Ali. Before the Giant could raise his sword again, the Zulfiqar flashed in the sunlight, and it's tip slashed open the Giant's throat. The blood of the Giant gushed forth like a fountain.

 For a moment the Giant stood motionless. Then his body began to sway as if he was drunk. And then he fell on his face with a crash and lay still.

 The earth did not shake with the impact of that colossal body. The earth is too big. But the hill of Sil'a shook with the cry of Allah-o-Akbar that thundered from 2,000 Muslim throats. The triumphant cry echoed through the length and breadth of the valley before it faded away into the stillness of the desert.

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be upon him) love for his wife Khadija (Allah be pleased with her)

The following is adapted from the book 'The Marital Life of Allah's Messenger' By Dr Hafiz Muhammad Thani...

 The Messenger of Allah married Khadija when he was 25 years old. Hazrat Khadija was his first wife. At the time of the marriage she was 40 years old, but yet as long as she was alive the Messenger of Allah did not take a second wife. Except for Hazrat Ibrahim, she gave birth to all of the Prophet's  children.

 The Messenger of Allah loved Hazrat Khadija endlessly. As long as she was alive he did not contract any other marriage. After her demise, whenever an animal was slaughtered in his house he used to send some of the meat to her friends. Hazrat Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) says that although she had not seen Hazrat Khadija, she envied her more than anyone else, because the Messenger of Allah always made mention of her. Once I vexed him in this regard, but he said ''Allah has filled my heart with love for her.'' (Saheeh Muslim, Hadith no. 2432 chapter concerning the virtues of Khadija)

 Once after Hazrat Khadija's demise, her sister Hala came to visit the Holy Prophet and asked for permission to enter. Her voice resembled that of  Hazrat Khadija. When he heard her call he got up to his feet and exclaimed 'This must be Hala'.

Hazrat Aisha in Istee'ab' is mentioned that the Holy Prophet once said: ''When the people denied me she testified; when the people were infidels, she became a believer; when there was no one to help me, she helped and supported me, and she gave birth to my children.'' (Musnad Ahmad 6/117-8)

 When the pagans began to trouble the Messenger of Allah, causing him all kinds of anguish, then it was Hazrat Khadijah who would comfort, console and reassure him. In the 'Istee'ab' is mentioned:

 ''The pain which the pagans rejection and denial caused the Holy Prophet was alleviated when he went to Hazrat Khadija because she used to testify him and whatever had been sent down to him, and she used to ease the grief which the idolaters caused him. Hazrat Khadijah lived for twenty-five years after the marriage with the Holy Prophet. She passed away three years before Hijra, on the 11th of Ramadan in the tenth year after the commencement of her husband's Prophetic mission.
 Her age was 64 years and six months when she had breathed her last. The Messenger of Allah himself stepped down in her grave, thus entrusting his dear wife, his source of infinite solace to the loving care of the Almighty.  (Ibn Saad, Tabaqutul Kubra)


Monday 13 September 2010

Feeling ashamed before Allah (s.w.t.)

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) once asked his Companions:

''Do you feel ashamed before Allah in the fullest sense?'' The Companions replied ''Praise be to Allah, we certainly feel ashamed before Allah.'' The Prophet (s.a.w.) said. ''I do not mean your bashfulness towards Allah in a general sense. I mean your special attention to that. The man who truly feels ashamed before Allah should take care that the forces connected with his brain - his memory, his conscience, his eyes, his nose, his tongue etc- are kept far removed from an evil path. He should take care to protect his stomach from the evil forces connected with it. He should protect himself from haram earnings and haram sexual gratification. Moreover he should protect himself against the charm and glamour of this world, and remain aloof from its luxuries.
 The man who can do these things fully and faithfully is the man who can be said to have felt truly ashamed before Allah.''

(Tirmidhi)

Monday 6 September 2010

Distribution of War-Booty














Narrated Anas (r.a.):

 Some goods came to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.)  from Bahrain. The Prophet ordered the people to spread them in the mosque --it was the biggest amount of goods Allah's Apostle had ever received. He left for prayer and did not even look at it. After finishing the prayer, he sat by those goods and gave from those to everybody he saw. Al-'Abbas came to him and said, "O Allah's Apostle! give me (something) too, because I gave ransom for myself and [my nephew] Aqil"

 Allah's Apostle told him to take. So he stuffed his garment with it and tried to carry it away but he failed to do so. He said, "O Allah's Apostle! Order someone to help me in lifting it." The Prophet refused. He then said to the Prophet: Will you please help me to lift it?" Allah's Apostle refused. Then Al-'Abbas threw some of it and tried to lift it (but failed). He again said, "O Allah's Apostle Order someone to help me to lift it." He refused. Al-'Abbas then said to the Prophet: "Will you please help me to lift it?" He again refused. Then Al-'Abbas threw some of it, and lifted it on his shoulders and went away. Allah's Apostle kept on watching him till he disappeared from his sight and was astonished at his greediness. Allah's Apostle did not get up till the last coin was distributed.

(Bukhari Book #8, Hadith #413)

Laugh Less and Weep Much

Abu Dharr (r.a.) narrated that Allah's messenger (s.a.w.) said:

''Surely I see what you do not see and hear that which you do not hear. The heaven creaks and it has the right to creak. There is not space of four fingers on it but one or the other angel is prostrating there.

 If you were to know what I know then you will laugh less and weep much, and will not go to your wives on their beds, but will lose yourself in the wilderness and beseech Allah weeping much.''

Abu Dharr (r.a.) said ''By Allah how I wish I were a tree that would be chopped.''

(Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, Haakim, Targhib)

       

Anas (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

''I have been permitted to disclose about one of the bearers of the Throne, that the feet of this angel are on the lowest earth while the Throne stands on the top of his head and the distance between the lobe of his ear and his shoulder is what would take a bird seven hundred years to fly (from end to end). And the angel says (Glory be to You as You are Glorious.)   (Tiyalsi, Abu Nu'aym)



      Subhan'Allah !

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Malak ul-Maut (Alayhis Salaam) - The Angel of Death

The Angel of Death is responsible for collecting the souls of mankind at the time of their death.
Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Holy Qur'an:

Say, ''The angel of death, who has been given your charge, shall take your souls, then you shall be returned to your lord.''  (32:11)

Ja'far ibn Muhammad narrated on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.) saw the Angel of Death at the head of an Ansari sahabi (at the time of his death).

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: ''Oh Angel of Death, be mild to my companion. He is a believer.''

Malak ul-Maut said: ''Oh Muhammad! do not worry! I am the friend of every believer. There is not an unbuilt or a built home on land or sea that I do not visit five times a day and watch its inmates carefully. In fact, I know their young and old better than they do. By Allah, O Muhammad! I cannot extract the soul of even a mosquito unless Allah commands me to take away its soul.''

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tabarani 4/261, Al-Jama, Haythami 2/32, Ibn Abu Hatim)

So lets stop and ask ourselves....

                       Are we ready to go with our visitor ?


Are we preparing for our meeting with this angel by doing good deeds? Or are we passing the time away, wasting our time and storing up sins for ourselves? (i'm asking this question to myself) The Angel of Death may take us at any time.


Here is a video which makes this point very well.