Monday 21 February 2011

The Messenger of Allah's (s.a.w.) Advice to the Person who Complained About the Ill Treatment he received from his Relatives

Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) reports that a man once came to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) complaining, "I have relatives who sever ties with me when I foster them, who behave ill towards me when I am good to them and who behave foolishly with me when I behave tolerantly with them." Rasulullaah's (s.a.w.) advice to him was, "If you are as you claim, then it is as if you are filling their mouth with burning ashes (they are harming themselves by behaving as they do). As long as you behave as you are doing, there shall remain with you an assistant (angel) from Allaah." (1)

Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Amr (r.a.) narrates that a man came to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) saying, "0 Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) I have relatives who severe ties with me when I attempt to foster them, who oppress me when I forgive them and who are bad to me when I am good to them. Should I do to them as they do to me?" Rasulullaah's (s.a.w.) response was, "In that case, you would all be partners (in evil). You should rather adopt the better stance and continue bonding ties because as long as you behave as you are doing, there shall remain with you an assistant (angel) from Allaah." (2)
 
(1) Muslim (Vol.2 Pg.315). Bukhaari has also reported the narration in his Adab (Pg.11).
(2) Ahmad. Haythami (Vol.8 Pg.154) has commented on the chain of narrators.

(From 'Hayatus Sahabah' by Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Khandhlawi)

Friday 18 February 2011

Mind your eyes!

Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abu Hudhayl reports that Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood (r.a.) once visited a sick person along with several other men. There happened to be a lady in the house and when one of the men started looking at her, Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood (r.a.) remarked,

 "It would be better for you if your eye had to burst!"

 Bukhaari in his Adab (Pg.78)
(From 'Hayatus Sahabah' by Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Khandhlawi)

Sunday 13 February 2011

Bravery of the Female Companions

Umme Sulaim (r.a.)

 Umme Sulaim (r.a.) was the mother of Hadhrat Anas (r.a.). After the death of her husband, she remained a widow for some time with a view to devoting herself to the proper upbringing of her son. She was then married to Hadhrat Abu Talhah (r.a.) and got a son named Abu Umair from him. The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to go to her house and play with the child.

One day, Abu Umair was ill and Hadhrat Abu Talhah (r.a.) was fasting. While Hadhrat Abu Talhah (r.a.) was out on his job, the child died. She washed and enshrouded the dead body and laid it on the cot. She then herself took a bath changed her clothes and made her toilet. When the husband returned home and had his Iftar he asked her: "How is the child?"

'She replied: "He is now in peace." He was satisfied. The couple shared the bed for the night. When they got up in the morning, they had the following conversation:

Hadhrat Umme Sulaim (r.a.): "I have a question to ask you."

Hadhrat Abu Talhah (r.a.): "What is that?"

Hadhrat Umme Sulaim (r.a.): "Suppose a person is entrusted with something. Should he deliver up on demand that which is entrusted to him or not?"

Hadhrat Abu Talhah (r.a.): "He must deliver up. He has no right to hold it back".

Hadhrat Umme Sulaim (r.a.): "Abu Umair was entrusted to us by Allah. He has taken him back."

Hadhrat Abu Talhah (r.a.) was filled with grief. He simply said: "But why did you not inform me before?"

He went to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and narrated the story to him. He prayed for him and said: "Allah is likely to bless your sharing the bed with your wife last night."

One of the Sahabah says: "I lived to see the effect of the Prophet's blessing. As a result of his union with his wife on that night, Hadhrat Abu Talhah (r.a.) got a son named Abdullah. This Abdullah had nine sons, all of whom were Qaris."

It needs much courage and patience to do what Hadhrat Umme Sulaim (r.a.) did at the death of her son. She did not like her husband to know about the death of the child while he was fasting and while he needed food and rest.






Hadhrat Safiyyah (r.a.)

Hadhrat Safiyyah (r.a.) was the aunt of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and a real sister of Hadhrat Hamzah (r.a.). She took part in the battle of Uhud. When the Muslims were defeated and some of them began to flee from the battle, she would smite their faces with her spear and excite them to go back and fight.

In the war of the Khandaq (Trench), the Prophet (s.a.w.) had collected all the Muslim women in a fortress and had deputed Hadhrat Hassaan bin Thabit (r.a.) to look after them. The Jews surrounded the place and sent one of them to find out if there were any men with the ladies. Hadhrat Safiyyah (r.a.) happened to see the Jew approaching the fort. She said to Hadhrat Hassaan (r.a.): "There is a Jew coming to spy on us. You go out and kill him."

Hadhrat Hassaan (r.a.) did not make bold to do the job. Safiyyah (r.a.) got hold of a tent peg and went outside the fortress and gave a blow on the head of the Jew that killed him on the spot. She came back and said to Hassaan:

"The man is dead. I have not removed the clothes and arms from his body for reasons of modesty. Now you go and remove everything from his body. Also bring his head after severing it from the body."

Hadhrat Hassaan (r.a.) was too weakhearted to do that even. She herself went again and brought his head, and threw it over the wall amidst the Jews. When they saw this, they said:

"We were wondering how Muhammad (s.a.w.) could keep the womenfolk alone in this fort. Surely, there are men inside to guard the ladies."

Safiyyah died in 20 A.H. at the age of seventy three. The war of the Trench was fought in 5 A.H. She was, therefore, 58 then.


(From the book 'Stories of Sahaba' by Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kaandhlawi)


Saturday 12 February 2011

The Encouragment that Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) Gave to Spend in the path of Allaah

 Hadhrat Jareer (r.a.) reports that they were once with Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) one morning when some people belonging to the Mudar tribe arrived. They were barefoot and practically naked. All they had were striped shawls or cloaks and their swords hanging from their necks. The expression on Rasulullaah's face actually changed when he saw their poverty. He then went into his room and when he emerged, he gave instructions to Hadhrat Bilaal (r.a.), who duly called out the Adhaan and then the Iqaamah. After Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) led the salaah, he addressed the people with the following verses of the Qur'aan:

"O mankind! Fear your Rabb who created you from a single soul (from Aadam), created its spouse (Hawwa) from it, and spread great numbers of men and women from the two (from Aadam and Hawwa). Fear that Allaah in Whom (in Whose name) you ask (things and take promises) from each other and (fear breaking) family ties, Verily Allaah is Watchful over you,"  {Surah Nisaa, verse 1}

"Fear Allaah and let every soul see (consider) what (good deeds) it has sent ahead for tomorrow (to be rewarded on the Day of Qiyaamah)." {Surah Hashar, verse 18}

Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) then continued to say, "A man should therefore contribute something from his Dinaars, from his Dirhams, from his clothing, from his Saa of barley, from his Saa of dates." Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) continued until he said, "Even if it be a piece of a date (Everyone ought to give something regardless of how little it is),"

An Ansaari Sahabi (r.a.) then brought a bag (of food that was so full) that he could not even carry it. Hadhrat Jaabir (r.a.) says, "The others soon followed suit until I saw two heaps of food and clothing and I saw the face of Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) gleam as if it were a piece of gold. Rasulullaah  (s.a.w.) then said, 'Whoever starts a good practice in Islaam will receive the reward for it in addition to the rewards of all those who do the same after him, without any of their rewards being diminished in the least. On the contrary, whoever starts an evil practice in Islaam will be burdened with the sin of it in addition to the sins of all those who do the same after him, without the burden of any of their sins being lightened in the least." (1)
(I) Muslim, Nasa'ee and others. as quoted in Targheeb wat Tarheeb (VoL I Pg.53)

(From 'Hayatus Sahabah' by Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Khandhlawi)

Recommended Reads

Asalaamu Alaikum

Would just like to recommed 'Fiqhul Imaam, Revised and Extended Edition' by Abdur-Rahman Ibn Yusuf, Prudence Publications.

'A Treatise on the concept of Taqleed and the Hanafi endeavour to establish the Prophetic statement:
"Perform Salaah in the manner you have observed from me." (Bukhari)

Masha'Allah this book is very interesting and gives evidences from the Hadith on the following issues:

-Reciting Behind the Imaam
-The Distance to be Kept Between the Feet in Qiyaam
-The Issue of Aameen - Explained
-Raising the Hands in Prayer
-Tawarruk or Iftirash?
-The Sunnah Rak'ats of Fajr
-The Watr Salaah
-Salaah After Asr
-Tahiyyatul Masjid During Kutbah
-Combining Two Prayers
-The Rak'ats of Taraweeh