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33- BOOK ON WILLS (8 topics)
TOPIC 1-About a will for one-third
(2123)-Sa’d ibn Abu Waqas (RA) narrated that I fell ill during the year of the conquest of Makkah and found myself on the point of death. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to me and inquired about my health. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have abundant wealth and no one but my one daughter will inherit me. So, I bequeath all my wealth.” He said, “No.” So, I said, “Two-thirds”, but he said,” No” I said, “A half “, but he again said, “No.” I said “Then, one-third.” He agreed, ‘One-third, but one-third is much. Indeed, if you leave your heirs rich, it is better than to leave them poor, begging from people. You will not spend anything without being rewarded for it, even the morsel you raise to the mouth of your wife.’ I said, “O Messenger of Allah, will I have to stay behind from my Hijrah.” He said, “You will never remain behind after me, if you do deeds seeking pleasure of Allah, your rank will be raised. Perhaps you survive me and some people benefit from you while some suffer loss. O Allah! Complete the Hijrah of my Sahabah. And do not cause them to turn back on their heels.” But the unfortunate Sa’d ibn Khawlah! Allah’s Messenger grieved for him, he died at Makkah. [Ah 1546, Bukhari 56, M 1628, AD 2864, Ibn Majah 2708, N 3626]
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After the FARAIDH, we have the booklet of wills. A person is allowed to make a will for those who would not inherit him; it would remain upto the one third of his property only and it is better to make a will much lesser than that. Will made for the heirs would not be applicable as their shares are fixed by the Holy Book Quran. A person might make a will for SADAQAH on the third of his property so that it becomes compensation to his deficit in the FARDH he had not fulfilled. Will must be for the good things and the will made for some evil would not be applicable. This Hadith tells to make WASIYAT (will) up-to one third only and not more and even that is too much. SA’D ibn ABU-WAQAS, whose KUNIYAH was ABU-ISHAQ, fought at BADR (where he lost his younger brother UMAYR who was martyred) and UHUD besides the Prophet (PBUH) and was one of the early Muslims at Makkah. He was the one for whom the Prophet (PBUH) said at battle of UHUD to go on shooting arrows at the enemy. He died at 55 Hijri and was buried at JANNAH-AL-BAQI’ graveyard that is at Madina near the resting place of the Prophet PBUH. He was worried that he was dying at Makkah coming to it at HAJJ (this event of his illness was at the time of HAJJ with the Prophet PBUH as clarified by ULAMA though the narrator has said ‘at the conquest of Makkah’) and he had done his Hijrah to Madinah long way back. The Prophet (PBUH) told him that insha Allah he would live on and Muslims in general would benefit from him. SA’D Ibn ABU-WAQAS was the conqueror of Persia and extended diplomatic ties with China later in his life.
TOPIC 2-Negligence in drawing will
(2124)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed the man and the woman perform deeds in obedience to Allah for sixty years. Then death is nearer to them and they err in making the will so that the fire necessarily becomes their destination.” Then Abu Huraira recited to the sub narrator this verse---After (paying) bequest – (to) - that is a mighty triumph (4,11-13)--- [AD 2867, Ibn Majah 2704]
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TOPIC 3-About encouragement to draw a will
(2125)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “It does not behoove a Muslim to let two nights go by without drawing a will while he has something for which he should make a bequest, but he should have it written down by him.” [Bukhari 2738]
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When a Muslim comes at the age of 60, he must have his will written as the average age of Muslims told by the Prophet PBUH is between 60 & 70. The person must make two good men from among the Muslims as witnesses over the will he makes and it should be in written form without putting any adverse effect to the heirs as he might give the third of his property without any valid reason to someone though he does have the right to it; that injustice might cause him to ask for the punishment of fire.
TOPIC 4-About the Prophet not having drawn a will
(2126)-Talhah ibn Musarrif narrated I asked Ibn Abu Awfa whether Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) had drawn a will. He said, “No.” I asked, “How then is a will drafted? And how did he command people (to this)?” He said, “He gave instruction to abide by Allah’s Book.” [Bukhari 2740, Muslim 1634]
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The Prophet (PBUH) did not make any written will and the point to note is that whatever the Prophet (PBUH) left was SADAQAH so there was no need for a will. However, he told people to follow the Holy Book Quran and that gives clear instruction on the shares of heirs asking to care that the person near to death should not harm his heirs by giving his will to the third without valid reason. Before the application of the will, the debts that deceased had upon him, must be paid in full by the property he had left.
TOPIC 5-About making no will for an heir
(2127)-Sayyidina Abu Umamah Bahili narrated I heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say during the sermon of the Farewell pilgrimage that Allah, the Blessed and the Exalted, has assigned every owner of right, his right. There is no will for an heir. The child belongs to the bed, and for the adulterer are stones and his reckoning is with Allah, the Exalted. For him who traces himself to anyone other than his father or connects himself to another than his master, then on him is the curse of Allah stamped up-to the Day of resurrection. No woman may spend from the home of her husband, save with his permission. Someone asked “O Messenger of Allah, not even food?” He said, “That is the most excellent of our properties.” He also said, “That which is borrowed has to be repaid, and the thing taken just for time being has to be returned, and the debt must be discharged, and the guarantor is responsible.” [AD 2870, Ibn Majah 2713]
(2128)-Sayyidina Amr ibn Kharijah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) sat on his she-camel and addressed the people. He (Amr) was standing under its neck and it was pouring out its cud, its saliva dropping on his shoulders. He heard him say, “Indeed, Allah, the Majestic and Glorious, gave every owner of right his due (right). There is no will for the heir. The child belongs to the (owner of the) bed and, for the adulterer are stones.” [Nasai 3643, Ibn Majah 2712, Ahmed 1768]
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The Holy Book Quran has specified the shares of heirs of the deceased and he is not liable to make any will for those specified. The other guidance given here is that an offspring by adultery would be taken as the son or the daughter of the husband of the woman who involved herself in this filthy sin (adultery is one of the KABA’ER) and both the adulterers (if the man was married too) had to face RAJM (that is they were pelted by stones till death) at those times. A person should not name as his father other than his true father and a woman should not spend anything from her husband’s property unless she is allowed by him to do so.
TOPIC 6-About debt preceding the will
(2129)-Sayyidina Ali (RA) said that the Prophet commanded that a debt should be paid before executing the will while you recite (in the Qur’an) the WASIYAH (will) before the debt. [Ibn e Majah 2101, 2715]
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TOPIC 7-Giving Sadaqah or emancipating slave at death
(2130)-Abu Habibah Tayi narrated that my brother willed for me a portion of his wealth so when I met Abu Darda, I told him that my brother had willed for me a portion of his wealth. Then I asked him, ‘Where do you think I should spend it; on the poor or the needy or the warriors in the path of Allah?’ He said, ‘If I were in your place then I would have spent it on the warriors. I heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say that the example of one who frees a slave at the time of death is like one who gives when he is satiated’. [Ahmed 21778, Abu Dawud 3968, Nasai 3616]
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Debt would be paid before the execution of the will. By the narration of Abu Habibah Tayi, it is clear that it is better to help those who work for the spread of the word of Allah; and especially to help those who combat such enemy who have become danger to the Islamic way of life, in the battle-field; the better SADAQAH is of the person who provides some of his assets at the time when he is at the better health and when he also has the leaning to keep that at hand.
TOPIC 8-No caption
(2131)-Urwah reported on the authority of Sayyidah Ayesha (RA) that Sayyidah Barirah (RA) came to her to seek help in buying her freedom, for she had been unable to pay anything of the agreed amount (as a Mukatab). Sayyidah Ayesha said to her, “Go to your owners. If they are agreeable to my paying for your freedom on your behalf and also have the right to inherit from you, I will do so.” So, she mentioned that to her people but they refused saying that when she pays for your freedom, she hopes for reward (from Allah) and let us have the right to inherit from you then it is acceptable to us.” Sayyidah Ayesha (RA) mentioned that to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). He said to her “Buy her and set her free. The right to inherit belongs to one who emancipates.” He then stood up (among the people) and said, “What is the matter with the people; they put forward conditions not found in Allah’s Book. If anyone places conditions that are not in Allah’s Book then they are invalid, even if he makes the conditions a hundred times.” [Ah 24576, Bukhari 2561, M 1504, AD 3929, Ibn Majah 2521, N 4664]
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We have studied WALA at the last of the Booklet on FARAIDH (Inheritance) that applies in the way that if one sets free a slave (male or female), the inheritance of that freed slave would be for the one, at his or her death, when he has no heir. Here, we find that BARIRAH was a MUKATAB (means the slave-woman who had asked her female owners to set her free against some amount of money that she would pay them and they had accepted this offer). She was unable to pay the amount and asked for BIBI AYESHA’s assistance and she complied on the condition that her property at her death would be hers. BARIRAH’s owners were not ready to accept this condition for they wanted to get the inheritance in the event of BARIRAH’s death them-selves; the Prophet (PBUH) told AYESHA to go ahead without worrying about what BARIRAH’s owners intend as she would be liable to get the WALA (inheritance by BARIRAH) as she actually is providing her the liberty that she wants.
34- BOOK ON WALA & GIFTS (6 topics)
TOPIC 1-About Wala belonging to one who sets free
(2132)-It is reported from Sayyidina Aisha (RA) that she intended to purchase Barirah but her masters laid the condition that they would retain inheritance from her. The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized that this right belonged to one who pays the price or is guardian of the blessing. [Ahmed 25590]
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TOPIC 2-Proscription to sell or gift Wala
(2133)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger disallowed them to sell, or make a gift of, Wala. [Bukhari 2535]
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This Booklet deals with gifts and respectable Tirmidhi has brought the Hadith about WALA at the beginning to connect it with the last Topic of the booklet of Wills. The term WALA is used here as the inheritance to be gained from the slave when he dies (whom the person has freed). There is a second type of WALA too (but that is not addressed here in this Hadith) and that is inheritance by the pact to a person who has no heir but according to three IMAMS except for ABU-HANIFA, it is not allowed to make such pact at the first place; and if made, it would not be applicable, such inheritance being the right of the State Treasury. The Hadith conveys that WALA (that is to be gained by the freed slave on his death) is not transferable but it is fixed for the person who has freed the slave; however, this matter is not relevant nowadays.
TOPIC 3-About describing anyone else as father or emancipator
(2134)-Ibrahim Tamimi reported on the authority of his father that Sayyidina Ali (RA) delivered to them a sermon saying, “If anyone thinks that we have anything else that we read besides Allah’s Book and this Sahifah (a scripture), in which is mentioned blood wit of camels and wounds, then he is a liar. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said that Madinah is sacred between (the places) Ayr and Thawr. Hence, if anyone innovates here a bid’ah or gives protection to an innovator then on him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and the people, all together. Allah will not accept from him, on the Day of Resurrection, any worship whether obligatory or supererogatory. And if anyone relates himself to other than his father, or cites as his emancipator other than the real one then on him is the curse of Allah, the angels and the people all together and no obligatory or supererogatory worship will be accepted from him. And, the protection given by the Muslims is the same (in status) even if the lowest of them offers it (i.e. all would have to respect it).” [Bukhari 1870, Muslim 1370]
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ALI ibn Abi Talib was the first cousin of the Prophet (PBUH) and he was also his son in law. But his best merit was that he was one of those who accepted Islam in the very beginning of the invitation that the Prophet gave. There were people who assigned some extraordinary traits to him or thought that the Prophet told him secrets that he did not tell anyone. This narration that is narrated by ALI himself clarifies that he was not taught anyting specific by the Prophet (and this would have put an insult to the Prophet PBUH who was made Prophet by Allah to present all good verses of the Holy Book Quran and all the good SUNNAH to all people without choosing some of them as specific). He clarified that I have the Quran and a scripture wherein the commands of DIYAT (blood-money) are written as specified by the Prophet and these commands like the Holy Book Quran are for all to know and take into practice; nothing specific. Madinah is also HARAM (sacred) like Makkah and its respect is necessary for the Muslim. Ayr and Thaur both are mountains that were present at different ends of the city then and actually, Madinah is addressed by their mention here. BID’AH means anything new that is against SUNNAH (the guidance of the Prophet PBUH) and to introduce something that is BID’AH anywhere anytime is a big sin yet introduction of something against SUNNAH at Madinah (or Makkah) is highly blameworthy. There also is the guidance that a person must not introduce himself as the son of somebody else than his true father; also when a Muslim, even if he is an ordinary Muslim, provides protection to a man of the enemy (that has not killed a Muslim or has not committed any heinous crime), his protection is worthy of acceptance by the Muslim State that certainly would give that word the most high respect.
TOPIC 4-About one who refuses to own his child
(2135)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that a man of Banu Fazarah came to the Prophet (PBUH) and complained, “O Messenger of Allah, my wife has given birth to a boy with a black complexion.” The Prophet asked him, “Do you have camels?” He said, “Yes.” The Prophet asked, “What is their colour? “ He said, “Red.” The Prophet asked, “Is there a leaf-coloured one among them?” He said, “Yes, there is a leafy one among them.” He asked, “From where has it come?” The man offered, “Perhaps a vein resembled.” He meant that an earlier one in its intimates may have had this colour. The Prophet explained, “Thus, here too, is a resemblance to a vein (of an ancestor).” [Bukhari 7314, M 1500]
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This Hadith clarifies that a person must not have irrational doubts about his wife and must not be uselessly suspicious about her. If some matter does arise that seems to point at her unworthiness, it might be just an error in his thinking (unless totally verified); the benefit of doubt would go to her and he must then, not keep any adverse thought about her.
TOPIC 5-About Physiognomy
(2136)-Sayyidina Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) came to me one day with smiling, happy face. He said, “Do you see that a MUJAZZAZ (an adept in understanding Physical Features) observed the feet of Zayd ibn Harithah and Usamah ibn Zayd and informed that these are feet belonging to a common string.” [Bukhari 3731, Muslim 1459]
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Usamah ibn Zaid (whom the Prophet PBUH liked very much) was the son of Zaid ibn Harithah (the only Sahaabi who is mentioned by name in the Holy Book Quran in AHZAAB, the 33rd Surah) but their facial features had differences and there were few persons who raised doubts about this. Once when they were sleeping near with their heads covered, an adept in QIYAFAH (understanding of Physical Features) passed by and gave the remark that these feet belong to a common string meaning these both are very closely related at which the Prophet (PBUH) was very pleased. This Hadith tells us that when there is a problem to get to the identity of the father of a person, the verdict of an adept in understanding the physical features is acceptable. Today we have DNA test but I don’t know if Islam does take it as worthy of acceptance at issues of concern though that is said to be accurate; note that when we talk about Islam, it needs the awareness of the fact that it is based on the KITAB (the Holy Book Quran) & the SUNNAH (the guidance of the Prophet PBUH) and there must be some reasoning by that to accept the DNA test except where it is cited only as MUBAH; there is such negligence for Islamic Commands in the Medical field especially in the matters of HEJAB that even its simple good provisions seem to ask for caution. This Hadith might also be stated as to provide some margin to study the character traits of persons by astrology (and even by numerology and tarot-cards) just as some person takes-up the skilled study of Psychology to understand the character traits; however, trying to study the future by any of such ways (except by the interpretation of dreams by expertise) is not appreciable by Islam. This Hadith also tells us that it’s a pleasure to all true Muslims if an insult to someone is eliminated in the society; the true Muslim must always care to establish and restore the respect of every Muslim without becoming the commentator that passes adverse remarks to them (that is forbidden in Surah AHZAAB too for which this Hadith becomes an explanation).
TOPIC 6-About the Prophet’s encouragement to exchange gifts
(2137)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, ‘Give presents to each other for, a gift removes ill-will from the heart. And a woman must not look down upon the gift of her neighbour (even) if it is a piece of a sheep’s foot-end.’ [Bukhari 2566, Muslim 1030, Ahmed 9261]
(2138)-Sayyidina ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, ‘The example of one who gives a gift and takes it back afterwards is like the dog that eats voraciously till it vomits and then returns to eat from what it had vomited.’ [Bukhari 1489, Muslim 1621]
(2139)-It is reported Marfu by Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) and Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “It is not lawful for a man who presents a gift to take it back, except a father (who can take it back) after giving to his son. And the example of one who presents a gift and afterwards demands it back is like the dog that eats excessively till it spews it out and then returns to it to consume from it.” [Abu Dawud 3539]
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These Ahadith are explicit for exchanging gifts and also clarify about the filth of taking it back, once given. Three of the IMAMS except ABU-HANIFA clearly state due to this Hadith that it is HARAAM to take back the given (except for the father as mentioned in the Hadith). ABU-HANIFA also agrees in general that it is not allowed when the gift is to someone in the close relation; but though he takes the asking back of it from others as an extremely immoral act yet not HARAAM. The example of the dog here is due to the fact that it is one of the greediest animals and very selfish caring about its own apettite without the slightest regards for any other; even if it keeps quiet on something taken from it for which it knows well that he had no right, it would grab the opportunity whenever that presents to get that thing back without any care to scruples.
35-BOOK ON DECREE & PREDESTINATION (19 topics)
TOPIC 1-About arguing on the subject of predestination
(2140)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira narrated, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to us while we were debating about Divine decree. He became angry and his face turned so red as if pomegranate seed had been cracked open on his face. He asked us, “Is this what, you are commanded to do? (Or, is this with which I was sent to you?) Indeed, those before you perished only because they debated on this subject. I call upon you to assure me that you will not debate on it ever.”
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From here, we have the Booklet on Predestination (that fortune and fate all is written for everyone). To understand this booklet in a better way, I would present the matter as clarified by IBN-ABBAS (RA), the first cousin of the Pophet (PBUH) and highly knowledgeable in TAFSIR (the understanding of the Holy Book Quran). Note well that TAQDIR (the Predestination) is actually the Will of Allah so whatever he intends is TAQDIR. The Holy Book Quran says in Surah RA’AD, the thirteenth Surah, “And certainly We sent apostles before you and gave them wives and children, and it is not for an apostle to bring a sign except by Allah's permission; for every term there is a Book. Allah makes to pass away and establishes what He pleases, and with Him is the basis of the Book (UMMUL-KITAB). And We will either let you see part of what We threaten them with or cause you to die, for only the delivery of the message is on you, while calling to account is on Us” (Surah RAAD:38,39,40). Note that TAQDIR (Fortune & Fate; Predestination) has two kinds i.e. MUALLAQ (literally hanging; means the matter yet in consideration) and MUBRAM (the Fixed). The MUALLAQ is the one which is written in a book and true dreams might tell something about future from it yet it is changeable by good deeds and more than that by DUA (Prayers to Allah). Here in Surah RA’AD, we are told that everything is predestined by the words “for every term, there is a Book”. The term here means especially the time when Wrath of Allah would get the wrong ones but it also implies that even good things manifest them at appointed times, for individual and for collective. Now after that we are informed that by our deeds and our DUA, Allah eliminates what He wills from that Book and establishes what He intends to keep; so He accepts (or rejects) our deeds for the change (or to keep it intact) and certainly He knows totally well at all times what would change and what would not. Now what would happen after the change or without the change, that is MUBRAM and that is in the UMMUL-KITAB (basis of the Book or the Command) that is with Allah only and the matters that He has told us from MUBRAM would certainly happen as the Arrival of QAYAMAT (the last day of the world), HASHR (the first day of AKHIRAT amounting to 1000 years when accounting for all the individuals would take place) and AKHIRAT (all of the true life after this life). This MUBRAM-TAQDIR nobody knows, even not the angels, and as such it is said to be the Secret of Allah. We have no right to question TAQDIR as we might change it (that means MUALLAQ) and we certainly have no right to question Allah’s Will that is certain (MUBRAM) to take place. This is how this matter remains and that is why Allah does not even answer the unbelievers when they say in response to a call to feed the needy that why must we feed those whom Allah would feed better (see Surah YASIN, the 36th Surah, verse 47). The Hadith here disallows debate about TAQDIR as those who would say that everything is predestined are certainly right in a way and still wrong in the other. And those who would say against that, the same statement holds quite well for them too; note that two factions came at fore at this matter in the early centuries after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger; one is named as QADRIAH (who believed that the man has total free-will and nothing is predestined) and the other is named as JABRIYAH (who believed that everything is predestined and the man has no free-will); these both have been taken at fault by the ULAMA. To Believe in TAQDIR is necessary by the Islamic Teachings without asking for detail and without asking for debate.
TOPIC 2-The debate between Adam and Musa (AS)
(2141)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet narrated, Adam and Musa disputed with one another. Musa said, “O Adam! You are the one whom Allah created with His own hand. He blew into you His spirit, but you misled the people and drove them out of Paradise.” So, Adam said to him, “You are Musa! Allah chose you for direct conversation with Him. You blame me for something that I did which Allah had recorded against me even before He had created the heavens and earth.” So, Adam out-debated Musa. [Ahmed 7638, Bukhari 3409, Muslim 2652]
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It is disallowed to put TAQDIR as the reason for some wrong done as we have just studied but the matter reported here did not take place at this world but it took place in AALAM-ARWAH and so the comment to this narration becomes difficult. Note that Allah pardoned Adam (Salam on him) and Eve (Salam on her) on the grave error of taking the prohibited fruit and the Command of Allah that He had given them to descend to Earth as punishment changed status to an examination to all persons; now JANNAH (the Paradise) would not be gifted but the Man would have to prove by his True Belief and the righteous deeds according to it that he is worthy of it; even now the blessing from Allah is necessary for receiving the guidance to the True Belief and the righteous deeds. There is a concept in the Islamic Teachings named as “ISMAT-ANBIA” (Protection of the Messengers) that means the Messengers would not commit sins. In the case of Adam (Salam on him), I would only comment that every sin is an error but every error is not a sin; it is better to designate the eating of the prohibited fruit by both Adam & Eve as an extreme grave error but to refrain from going beyond that.
TOPIC 3-About good fortune and bad
(2142)-Sayyidina Umar (RA) asked, “O Messenger of Allah! These deeds that we do are they abrupt and instant or pre-determined which we have accomplished?” He said, “They are pre-determined and accomplished already, O Ibn Khattab. To everyone that for which he was created has been made easy. Thus, they who are auspicious are prompted to do auspicious deeds and the unfortunate do deeds of this nature (evil deeds).” [Ahmed 5140]
(2143)-Sayyidina Ali (RA) reported that while they were with Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) he was scratching earth (as though in deep thought). Suddenly he raised his head to the heaven and said, “There is none among you about whom it is not determined.” Waki (the narrator, reported some other words to the same effect that the Prophet) said, “It is recorded that his seat is in the fire or his seat is in Paradise.” They asked, “Shall we not place trust in Allah, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Do your deeds. To everyone is made easy that for which he is created.” [Bukhari 6605, Muslim 2647]
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These Ahadith indicate the necessity of activity. Belief in predestination does not mean that there remains no incentive for good deeds. Everyone finds easy for which he is born and takes himself to the same destination by his doing that is written for him. Belief must be on TAQDIR and AMAL (the activity) must be such that denotes the free-will, doing whatever is good; this is not at disparity but as we find ourselves capable to do good deeds according to Islam, we must do them by our free-will; we are not allowed to question TAQDIR so after believing it, we would take-up only the good activities by our efforts; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 4-About deeds depending on their conclusion
(2144)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) the truthful and accepted as the Truth, said to them, “Each one of you stays in his mother’s womb for forty days as a sperm. Then he turns into a clot for as many days, and then a lump of flesh. Then Allah sends to him an angel who blows into him the soul and is commanded with four words. He records his sustenance, his life term, his deeds and whether he will be miserable or fortunate. By Him besides Whom there is no god, a person among you perform deeds of the people of Paradise till only a cubit separates him from it when what is decreed overtakes him and he does deeds of the denizens of the fire and will enter it. And a person among you does deeds deserving the fire till there is not but a cubit between him and it when he does deeds of those worthy of Paradise and will enter it.” [Bukhari 6594, Muslim 2643]
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In this Hadith, we are told that everyone remains in a form where he is not recognized as a human child for forty days (sperm means this crude form here) but after that time some human shape takes place in him and after two terms more of forty days the child is blessed with life; four necessary things are written for him then & there (this is some intangible writing on the physique copied from the Book of Destiny; TAQDIR MUALLAQ). Allah says in the Holy Book Quran about His Own-Self that “for Him is to create and for Him is to command”. The Hadith also indicates that a person must never become proud on his SALAH, SAUM etc. as he must always remember that it is the acceptance of Allah that is necessary for the Belief he has and for the good deeds he is doing. The result would occur on the status of Belief at the last of life and that is why ULAMA forbade naming an unbeliever as deprived of guidance as nobody knows the future that is about the status of his belief at his death. However, if the clarification about his belief is necessary then it is allowed to say in plain words up-to necessity without much detail about it.
TOPIC 5-About every child’s birth on the Natural Tendency
(2145)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Every child is born on FITHRAT (the religion of Islam). Then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a polytheist.” Someone said, “O Messenger of Allah, (what about) those who die before (their parents convert them)?” He said, “Allah knows best what they would have done (if they had survived).” [Bukhari 1358, Muslim 2658]
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This Hadith indicates a very interesting fact. Note that the Holy Book Quran tells us that Allah took an oath from all Human Beings to recognize Him as their Only True Lord and that they all must obey His Word only (see Surah 07, verse 172). This is the only aim of life and all the creation except for Human Beings and Jinn are at His worship all the time without any free-will. But these two are MUKALLAF (they have the free-will) by which they have to obey the Word of Allah. We all have the recognition of this oath somewhere in our make-up and that is the standard that values us by keeping our belief and our deeds in view. That is why nobody takes telling lies, using authority to do injustice, making fun of good people or immorality in general as a plus point; in fact when such injustice or shameful attitude does take place, he tries to defend himself rightly or wrongly. Here, the Hadith guides the attention towards this fact that everyone has this recognition of the standard but due to the misleading parents or guardians, the child takes an attitude of indifference to this; this also guides us Muslims to say the Truth plainly as it is, so that it awakens the inside voice of all those who come in touch with it; they might come towards it. TABLIGH of the Truth (spread of the Truth) in today’s world is many times more necessary than challenging the enemy at the battle-field; but if the enemy initiates a war or retaliates to some injustice done to it with injustice greater than that, then we Muslims need to answer accordingly. The Hadith also tells about the children that die before their age for the judgment of the Truth; Allah knows better about them what they would have done if they had lived; most probably these children would be pardoned in AKHIRAT and Allah knows better.
TOPIC 6-About supplication averting decree
(2146)-Sayyidina Salman (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Nothing averts the decree except supplication and nothing but piety prolongs life.” [Ahmed 22476]
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TOPIC 7-Hearts of people are between two fingers of Ar-Rahman
(2147)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) often said, “O Turner of hearts, keep my heart steadfast on Your religion. So, Anas (RA) asked, “We have believed in you and what you have brought. Are you apprehensive about us?” He said, “Yes hearts are, surely between two of the fingers of Allah. He may turn them as He wills.” [Ahmed 12108]
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Hadith at Topic-6 tells that TAQDIR MUALLAQ changes by supplication and by good deeds. The Hadith at Topic-7 guides again that a person must never think that he is one of the best among men and he must understand well that Allah only is fully in control of all matters that take place and He changes matters for anyone He intends. Every Muslim must care not to become proud of his achievements in virtues; he must always remain grateful to Allah as Allah truly provided ease for him to achieve the betterment that he had intended; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 8-Allah has written a book; of Paradise and of Hell
(2148)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to us and he had in his hand two books. He asked, “Can you surmise what these two books are?” We said, ‘No, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH) unless you inform us’. He said, “About the one that is in my right hand, it is the book from the Lord of the worlds. In it are names of the people of Paradise and the names of their ancestors and of their tribes. Then they are added up in the end. So, there will never be an increase in them, nor a decrease from them ever.” As for the one in his left hand, he said, “This is the book from the Lord of the worlds. In it are names of the people of the fire and the names of their tribes. In the end, they are summed up. There never will be an increase in their numbers and there never will be a decrease in them.” His companions said, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH) then what the point in deeds is, if the affair is already over for them?” He said, “Advance at a moderate pace and get closer, for the deeds of the people of Paradise are sealed for them though they may have done whatever deed before that. And for the people of Hell, the deeds of the people of Hell are sealed for them no matter what deed they may have done earlier.” Then Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) gestured with both hands and threw both of them the books away, saying, “Your Lord is over with the creatures, a section in Paradise and a section in Hell.” [Ahmed 6574]
(2149)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If Allah decides to do good to a slave, he involves him in deeds.” He was asked, “How does he involve them in deeds, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “He makes it easy for him to do righteous (deeds) before death.” [Ahmed 13407]
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H-2148 in this Topic inform very clearly about Predestination and the Books mentioned here were intangible that SAHABA (the companions of the Prophet PBUH there) felt as if they were in the Prophet’s hands. Although he told here that there would be no increase or decrease in these ever yet it was an expression provided to note the importance of TAQDIR and it is a point to note that this was TAQDIR-MUALLAQ that was written there in those books; as such, it was changeable by the True Belief and the righteous deeds as is clear by other Ahadith too, that provide the guidance towards the change in TAQDIR. Note also that when a Muslim person goes on doing good deeds, he finds total ease in doing those good deeds with time; this ease comes from Allah (and it is named as TAUFIQ).
TOPIC 9-About rejection of ADWA & SAFAR & HAMMAH
(2150)-Sayyidina Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) stood up between them and said, “There is no infection.” A villager said, “O Messenger of Allah! When a camel with a problem of itch mixes with other camels, they all are infected with itchiness.” He asked, “Then who brought itch to the first camel. Neither is there infection (infectious diseases) nor Safar. Allah created all souls and wrote down their life and their provision and their hardships.” [Ahmed 4198]
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This Hadith points out an interesting fact that what we take at the face value is not the whole truth. We know well that there are infectious diseases and this was known at the Prophet’s time too; what he meant by this Hadith is that everything has been created by Allah and He has set properties to everything. Whatever we take as contagious is not because these diseases are able to affect anyone who comes in contact with the afflicted person (by the intention of the afflicted person) but actually it is Allah’s will that affects the other one. The other way to express this is that though many of us do talk about diseases being infectious, but they often forget to mention the power of the immune system given by Allah (who has made that too with those infectious diseases) to the one coming in contact with the afflicted person. This immune system is totally powerful normally to retaliate to any adverse body that enters the physique and that is especially so if that person has confidence, rather belief, that he would not be affected. That is why UMAR (RA) took a leper by hand and ate foods with him using one utensil between them for the foods as we have studied in the Booklet of Foods; this presence of immune system indicates that it is the will of Allah only that decides the occurrence of the infection to the person that comes in contact with the afflicted person; Al-Hamdu Lillah. However, note that there are Ahadith that even point out to remain cautious with such diseases; there is one Sahih Hadith asking to keep away from a leper as one keeps away from a lion; and this tells that if a person does not have enough confidence on his defense, he must not put himself to test by intimacy to a person having an infectious disease. Another thing in this Hadith is about SAFAR that is the second Hijri month. As three months prior to it (i.e. 11th, 12th & 1st) were such that no war was allowed in them, SAFAR was taken as a month of low category coming after such grand months then, in which wars became allowed again. This concept was corrected by the words ‘there is no Safar’ and there is an addition in words, as narrated by Abu Hurayrah, not presented here that ‘there is no HAMMAH’; this term means the concept that was prevalent then that when an owl sits on someone’s house, it comes to ruins. The Prophet (PBUH) corrected this notion by saying ‘there is no HAMMAH’.
TOPIC 10-Belief in decree, good fortune and bad
(2151)-Sayyidina Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘A man does not believe unless he believes in fate good and bad and till he knows that what confronts him could not have escaped and what escapes him could not have confronted him.”
(2152)-Sayyidina Ali narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “No one is a Believer unless he believes in four things,
(1) He testifies that there is no god but Allah and that I am Allah’s Messenger and He sent me with the truth. (2) He believes in death (being certain; does pious deeds before that). (3) He believes in resurrection after death, (4) He believes in predestination.” [Ahmed 758, Ibn Majah 81]
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We have seen in Ahadith in our study that to believe in the predestination is necessary though that changes by our good deeds due to being MUALLAQ yet that change also would be TAQDIR; the resultant being MUBRAM. It is interesting to note that in the second Hadith of the Topic, to believe in death is also in the count and this in actual is a guidance not to forget that like everyone, you also would die some day and you must be prepared for it now; immorality mostly finds way in the character of the man when he has an attitude of indifference towards death.
TOPIC 11-One dies where it is predetermined
(2153)-Sayyidina Matar ibn Ukamis reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If Allah has decreed that one should die in a (particular) land then He creates for him a need there.” [Ahmed 22043]
(2154)-Ahmad ibn Mani and Ali ibn Hujr also reported a hadith with the same meaning. They said, Ismail ibn Ibrahim reported from Ayyub, from Abu Malih, from Abu Azzah, he said that Allah's Messenger said; “If Allah has decreed that one should die in a (particular) land then He creates for him a need there.”
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TOPIC 12-Ruqyah & Medicine not able to avert destiny
(2155)-Abu Khizamah reported on the authority of his father that a man came to the Prophet and submitted, “About the ruqyah that we blow (over the patient), the medicine that we take and the preventive measures that we adopt do they avert destiny in any way whatsoever?” He said, “They are part of Allah’s decree.” [Ahmed 3437]
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This Hadith is explicit on the two kinds; MUALLAQ and MUBRAM. The man asked the Prophet (PBUH) and obviously he was asking about the MUALLAQ which is in closeness to us and directly related to us. The Prophet (PBUH) very wisely guided that whatever activities are done and whatever comes as a result to those activities, all is actually inside the term TAQDIR; here by the mention of the result, he was mentioning the MUBRAM.
TOPIC 13-About Qadariyah
(2156)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Two groups of my Ummah have no share in Islam, the Murjiyah and the Qadariyah.” [Ibn Majah 62]
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MURJIYAH is the other name of JABRIYAH and as I have written in the note for the first Topic of this Booklet of Predestination, these JABRIYAH believed that the man has no free-will. At the opposite side were QADARIYAH who believed that the man has complete free-will and there is nothing that is named as predestination. The truth as we have studied is that the man has the free-will yet bound to predestination.
TOPIC 14-No Caption
(2157)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Shikkhir reported from the Prophet PBUH that he said, the children of Adam are created in this picture that by both his sides are ninety-nine extreme wants. If these miss him, he gets entangled in old age till he dies of it.”
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The Hadith here observes the economic activity of the man in the world that his extreme wants make him act with such exertion that brings him near to death. If death is not caused by such exertion, the old age does get him without fail as everyone would die by this reason or that.
TOPIC 15-About being pleased with Divine Decree
(2158)-Sayyidina Sa’d reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The well-being of the son of Adam lies in his being pleased with what Allah has decreed for him. And the wretchedness of the son of Adam lies in his neglect of istikharah (seeking goodness in a matter) from Allah and of his wretchedness is his displeasure with what Allah has decreed for him.” [Ahmed 1444]
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The Hadith here does not ask for a lapse in the good activity rather it guides towards being pleased with whatever worldly position and possessions he has, if that are enough for his sustenance and for all such persons that are dependent on him. Keep the success at AKHIRAT in view and work for it hard; as for the worldly life, be pleased with the necessities living ordinary; this is the teaching of Islam to get to the high spiritual status. ISTIKHARA means to ask Allah for betterment in any matter (though mostly it is erroneously taken to mean asking for guidance if the matter would turn out good in the future or not) and as such it is DUA to Allah. There is another thing that is called ISTISHARA that means to take advice for any matter from the pious well-wishers; if the practicing Muslim decides important matters by ISTISHARA and then makes ISTIKHARA for it, that means he asks Allah to put good worth in that decision, nothing would go wrong for the person in it, if Allah accepts his ISTIKHARA.
TOPIC 16-No Caption
(2159)-Nafi reported that a man came to Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) and conveyed Salaam (greeting) of a certain person. He said, “I have learnt that he has introduced a form of religion. If he has done that then do not convey my Salaam to him, for I had heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say that in this Ummah, there will be swallowing up (by earth), metamorphosing or raining of stones of the adherents of QADR.” [Ibn Majah 4061, Abu Dawud 4613]
(2160)-Qutaybah reported from Rishdayn ibn Sa’d, from Abu Sakhr Humayd ibn Ziyad, from Nafi from Ibn Umar, from the Prophet (PBUH), “My Ummah will face swallowing up and metamorphoses of the rejecters of destiny.”
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Both the Ahadith at this topic inform that those who reject predestination going in the path of QADRIYAH, they would be put to great trials even in this world just to show them that their power is nothing in front of the Power of Allah. Here the word “metamorphose” means such wrath of Allah that would fall on the wrong people that their appearance would change totally (these might be through Fires of Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Deadly Winds, Psunami etc.) and it’s notable that living with such a change, would not come to this Ummah insha Allah due to DUA made against it by the Prophet (PBUH). The will of Allah has the reign on the earth as it has the reign on the whole universe; this would manifest at fore for everyone to see by the efforts of Believers when He intends for that and nobody must dare to challenge Him.
TOPIC 17-No Caption
(2161)-Sayyidina Aisha (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There are six whom I curse, Allah curses them and every Prophet (has cursed them); one who makes additions to Allah’s Book, one who rejects Divine decree, one who is ruthless in authority exalting thereby whom Allah has debased and debasing thereby whom Allah has raised in honour, one who declares lawful what Allah has forbidden, one who regards it lawful to do to my family what Allah has disallowed, and one who forsakes my SUNNAH.”
(2162)-Abdul Wahid ibn Sulaym narrated that I came to Makkah and met Ata ibn Abu Rabah. I said to him, “O Abu Muhammad (this is Kuniyah of Ata i.e. the name by which he was known), the people of Busrah give (adverse) comments on predestination.” He said, “O son, do you recite the Qur’an’? I said, “Yes!” He said, “Recite Surah az-Zukhruf.” So I recited---Ha Mim, By the Book (that) is manifest. Surely We have made it an Arabic Qur’an that you may understand. And surely this is in the source Book with Us, it is sublime, full of wisdom (43,1-4)---He asked, “Do you realize what the Umm ul Kitab (source Book) is?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He explained, “It is the Book that Allah wrote down even before He created the heaven and before He created the earth. In it is written that Pharaoh is surely among the occupants of the fire and also ---'Perished are the hands of Abu Lahab, and perished is he' (111,1). Ata went on to say, “I had met Walid ibn Ubadah ibn Samit, a Companion of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and I asked him, “What was your father’s will at the time of death?” He said, “He summoned me and said, O son! Fear Allah and know that you cannot fear Allah till you believe in Allah and believe in predestination both good and evil, but if you die on anything other than this then you will enter Hell. I heard Allah’s Messenger say that the first thing Allah created was the pen and He commanded it, ‘Write’. It asked, ‘What shall I write’. Allah said, ‘Write down the decree what was and what will be till eternity’.”
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The Topic here tells again the importance of belief in the predestination and also tells about the evil of such persons who use their authority in negative ways trying to put insult on the pious & righteous people and giving a say to those who are evil in character. Their identity is that they do not care for what Allah has commanded in the Quran or the guidance that the Prophet (PBUH) has provided in its explanation. In the second Hadith we find the mention of UMMUL-KITAB (the Source Book) again with the reference to Surah Zukhruf. This UMMUL-KITAB only Allah knows and the MUBRAM is written in this. The Holy Book Quran is there in total that Allah has provided to us all; all that is told in the Holy Book Quran would surely take place; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 18-No Caption
(2163)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) reported having heard from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) who said, “Allah decreed the destinies before He created the heavens and earth by fifty thousand years.” [Ahmed 6590, Muslim 2653]
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TOPIC 19-No Caption
(2164)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Quraysh polytheists came to Allah’s Messenger disputing about destiny. So this verse was revealed---On the day when they shall be dragged on their faces into the fire, taste now the touch of Hell. Surely We have created everything in a measure (54, 48-49)--- [Muslim 2656, Ibn Majah 83, Ahmed 10168]
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The Hadith in the topic-19 tells us that the mentioned verses of the Holy Book Quran are totally explicit for this booklet as many others. Note that in the last of this booklet too, we get the same message as we did get at the beginning that we are not allowed to talk on TAQDIR (predestination) as the person would err at this issue whatever stance he takes as in one meaning it is changeable and in the other, totally certain. As the sight of human eyes has its limit; as the hearing of ears has its limit; the human mind does understand but in limit and is unable to come to the Truth without the guidance from Allah. May Allah guide every good person towards the Greatest Truth in the whole universe i.e. Islam, the Word of the true Lord Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
36- BOOK ON FITAN (TRIAL-79 topics)
TOPIC 1-Blood of Muslim is forbidden except for three crimes
(2165)-Abu Umamah ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf reported that Sayyidina Uthman ibn Affan (who was locked up in his home for fear of those who wrought mischief) climbed up the roof top one day. He asked the besiegers, ‘I adjure you by Allah, do you know that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The blood of a Muslim is forbidden except for one of three crimes. Adultery committed by a married person, apostatizing after joining Islam, slaying someone without just cause; he is killed for these things.” By Allah, I have not committed adultery either in jahilyah or after Islam. I have not apostatized since having sworn allegiance to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). And, I have not slain any soul who Allah has made sacred. Then why do you slay me?’ [Muslim 1672]
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From here, the Booklet on FITAN starts that tells about those events that would take place before the last day (QAYAMAT) of the world, mostly those that would happen very near to it and to bring it after the booklet of predestination indicates that there would come such times that Believers would be extremely troubled by things adverse to the Islamic way of life. Note that QAYAMAT means the last day of the world yet it is often used to denote the first day of AKHIRAT too; this first day of AKHIRAT is called HASHR; in that case mostly it is used with a prefix YAUM (Day) saying YAUM UL-QAYAMAT meaning HASHR. FITAN means TRIALS and here, it denotes those events that would become trials to worry the Believers, most of them taking place just before QAYAMAT and these events might tempt even Believers in the Truth to commit ZULM (acts of cruelty) and FAHSHAA (very shameful acts). The door of FITAN opened with the martyrdom of UMAR (RA), the second Caliph. After him, UTHMAN (RA), the third Caliph, was martyred and this Hadith gives the account of one of his last statements that he gave to those assembled at his house with the intention to kill him (and they did succeed in that); then after some period of time, ALI (RA), the fourth Caliph, was martyred too. The wars that took place between Ali (RA) & Ayesha (RA) and then between Ali (RA) & Mu’aviah are very sad incidents; these adverse incidents that arose by differences among SAHABA (the companions of the Prophet PBUH; and these differences were spread intentionally by some ill-wishers of Islam) opened the door for terrible FITAN at that time. Due to this adverse situation, evil persons like YAZID Ibn MU’AVIAH, IBNE-ZIYAD, HAJJAJ Ibn YOUSUF, MARWAN Ibn HAKAM and other such persons came to power (who were responsible for the murder of many good MUSLIMS that were among SAHABA and they used to curse ALI, and his sons HASAN-RA and HUSSAIN-RA, the righteous grandsons of the Prophet PBUH); may Allah put His wrath on all these evil persons. Although they were not able to change Islamic Commands in theory or practice due to the presence of many righteous SAHABA around yet they did introduce an attitude of indifference to many of the Islamic Commands in the general public (though they always had a façade as the worthy persons for the administration). Due to them, the love of worldly matters took grounds in the general public too though even at such times of trouble, it was considered very filthy for a man to get involved in shameful filthy acts generally and looseness in a woman was even worse. The Hadith narrated by UTHMAN (RA) here tells us three valid reasons to take the life of a person that generally a person who kills an innocent person is liable to be punished by the capital punishment; a person who abandons the Islamic Faith converting to some other belief is also liable to be punished by death; a person who commits adultery and he is married is also liable to be punished by death. There has been a lot of scream unjustifiably against the last two reasons for the capital punishment in these recent times; I, MSD, have provided some detail about the punishment to MURTAD (the person who abandons the Islamic Faith) and about the punishment of RAJM to those married persons who commit adultery at the note on H-1407 and at the note on H-1436, 1437, 1438, 1439, 1440 respectively; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 2-Blood, Property and Honour are sacred
(2166)-Sayyidina Amr ibn Ahwas reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) saying to the people on the day of the Farewell Pilgrimage, “What day is it today?” They said, “The day of the great pilgrimage.” He said, “So, indeed your blood your properties and your honour are sacred to each other of you as the sanctity of this your day in this your city. Know! A soul does not wrong but himself (for, he will bear responsibility for it himself). Know! A wrongdoer must not wrong his child, nor does a child wrong his parent. And, indeed the devil has despaired of ever being worshipped in this, your town, but there will be obedience to him in what you consider little deeds that you perform, and he will be pleased over that.” [Ibn Majah 3055]
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HAJJ; visiting the Holy Kaa’bah at Makkah in specific days and performing specific rituals at specific places near to Makkah there; is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is also called “HAJJ AKBAR” (the greater pilgirimage) while UMRAH, that is performed with minimum of specific rituals at MAKKAH and and no particular time is specified for it, is called “HAJJ ASGHAR” (the lesser pilgrimage). The Farewell Pilgrimage is the HAJJ that the Prophet (PBUH) performed with SAHABA and that was the only HAJJ he performed after it became obligatory for those Muslims who are able to afford. In this he addressed people and gave instructions regarding humanity and asked for EHSAAN (good attitude) in all matters. Here he asked to care for each other and gave instructions to care about all the weak ones especially about the women. He told addressing all there and addressing all the UMMAH (the Musims as a whole) that you should care not to ask for worldly possessions and not to take any sin as a petty matter persisting on it; you should care for AKHIRAT only as the satan depends to mislead you by your attachment to worldly pleasures. I, MSD, pray that Allah, our Only True Lord, save all the good people from the evil of temptations from satan, the devil.
TOPIC 3-It is not lawful for a Muslim to alarm a Muslim
(2167)-Abdullah ibn Sa’ib ibn Yazid reported on the authority of his father, from his grandfather that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Let not one of you take the staff of his brother in jest to alarm him. So, if anyone has taken his brother’s staff, he must return it to him.” [Abu Dawud 5003]
(2168)-Sa’ib ibn Yazid (RA) narrated, “My father performed Hajj with the Prophet (PBUH) the farewell Hajj, and I was seven years old.”
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We have studied that the Prophet (PBUH) never made fun of anyone in jest and never made such jokes that asked to hurt anyone. The Hadith here guides not to make such jokes that impress Muslims negatively but the term “staff” might not mean just a staff. Here staff seems to be an indication of some authority that a person has in his own sphere so in this sense, it would mean not to challenge any Muslim in his authority if he is doing fine for himself and others as that would not be a joke but a serious matter causing FITNAH in the society.
TOPIC 4-Forbiddance to point out a weapon to a Muslim brother
(2169)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If anyone points out to his brother with his weapon then the angels curse him.” [Ahmed 26354]
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TOPIC 5-Prohibition to give or take an unsheathed sword
(2170)-Sayyidina Jabir (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger forbade handing over and receiving a drawn sword. [Ahmed 14205]
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Both the Ahadith at Topic 4 & 5 guide to be cautious in handling weapons as they might hurt others unintentionally. These Ahadith also have the message not to go at war with each other and not to ask to go at war with each other respectively as the Prophet (PBUH) was concerned about it as other Ahadith also tell clearly.
TOPIC 6-One who prays FAJR Salah goes into Allah’s protection
(2171)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who offered the Salah of FAJR (dawn prayer) is under Allah’s protection. So, let it not be that Allah should take you to task concerning this responsibility (if you violate it).” [Ahmed 114]
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TOPIC 7-About sticking to the Jama’ah (community)
(2172)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) narrated that Sayyidina Umar (RA) delivered a sermon to us at Jabiyah. He said, “O people, I stand among you in place of Allah’s Messenger (as his deputy). He had said, ‘I enjoin on you obedience to my companions, then those who succeed them and then those who succeed them (that is, the tabi’een and the followers of tabi’een). After that falsehood would expose itself till a man would take an oath without being asked to (swear) and a witness will offer testimony without anyone asking him to. Beware! No man stays in solitude with a woman but the devil is the third of them. And, you are bound to the community. He, to whom his piety is pleasing and his impiety is displeasing, is a Believer’.”
(2173)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed, Allah will not gather my Ummah (or he said the Ummah of Muhammad) on the misled path. And the hand of Allah is on the Jama’ah and he who breaks from it is plunged into the Fire.”
(2174)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Allah’s hand is with the Jama’ah.”
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To pray all the prayers is important yet the prayers at FAJR (prayers before the rise of the Sun) is the most important one as that is the time of change in duty for the angels here on Earth and it is the beginning of a new day. It is said in the Holy Book Quran---Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and the morning recitation (QURAN-ALFAJR); surely the morning recitation is witnessed--- Verse-78 in Surah Bani-Israel, the 17th Surah). To remain attached to the pious people is the need at the times of FITAN as its not easy to break the routine of the good practice for great number of people united on righteousness while a good man who defends alone is targeted by the satan through his evil followers in men easily, unless the man is highly powerful spiritually. The Hadith narrated by Umar (RA) prohibits remaining in some work alone with a woman and it is much necessary for women to take care in this matter yet even men have to fulfill this command keeping to righteousness. When piety pleases and impiety displeases, this is the worthy sign for belief in Islam.
TOPIC 8-About punishment if evil is not stopped or prevented
(2175)-Sayyidina Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) said, “O people you recite on the verse ---O you who believe! Guard your own souls. He who has gone astray cannot harm you, if you are rightly guided (5,105). And I heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, ‘Indeed, when people see the oppressor, but do not stop him commit oppression, then Allah will punish them through him’.”
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TOPIC 9-About enjoing right and forbidding wrong
(2176)-Sayyidina Hudhaifa ibn Yaman (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “By Him Who has my soul in His hand, you will keep enjoining that which is right, and forbidding that which is evil or, it will be very quick that Allah will send on you a punishment. You will pray, but you will not be heard.” [Abu Dawud 4338, Ibn Majah 4005]
(2177)-Sayyidina Hudhaifa ibn Yaman reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “By Him Who has my soul in His hand, the Last Hour will not come before you kill your imam, kill each other with your swords and the worst of you inherit your world (becoming your leaders).”[Ibn Majah 4043]
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Ahadith at Topics 8 & 9 inform that it is totally necessary to go on with TABLIGH (conveying the Truth as it is) without caring whether it affects people positively or not as putting the result is for Allah. We all Muslims have to do this work jointly now as after Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, there is no prophet to come and this task is FARDH-KIFAYAH. In the Holy Book Quran it is said to the Believers in the fifth Surah i.e. MAE’DAH to guard their own souls but it does not mean just to care about the Belief and good deeds for the self alone; it means to go on with TABLIGH because that is FARDH too (and if not done, it would cause FITNAH to come to every individual at the Environment); with TABLIGH, practicing Islam for the sake of saving the own self is quite fine; at the HASHR (the first day of AKHIRAT; the day of Accounts) everyone would answer individually about his belief and all his deeds.
TOPIC 10-No Caption
(2178)-Sayyidina Umm Salamah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) mentioned the army that would be swallowed up. Sayyidah Umm Salamah (RA) said, “Perhaps some of them would-be helpless.” He said, “They will be taken up against their intentions.” [Ahmed 26549, Muslim 2882]
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This Hadith clarifies well that even those who are good practicing Muslims and had been forced to fight some people (that would be Muslims too) against their intentions, would receive the same wrath of Allah that would be put to all though in AKHIRAT, they would be awakened on their own belief and deeds. This guides again totally well that TABLIGH is utmost necessary and without it good deeds are not enough to save good people in this world, the place of examination, from the general wrath that comes to a place; it is the wrath that is specific to the wrongful persons yet it enfolds all of the persons that come at its way.
TOPIC 11-Degrees of effort to wipe off evil
(2179)-Tariq ibn Shihab reported that the first man to deliver the sermon before the Salah was Marwan. A man stood up and said to Marwan, “You have contravened the SUNNAH.” He replied, “O so-and-so, what you search for is abandoned.” Abu Sa’eed (RA) said, “As for him, indeed, he did what was due of him. I had heard Allah’s Messenger say, ‘If anyone sees a wrong, he must prevent it with his hand. If he is not able to prevent the wrong by his hand then he must prevent it with his tongue; and if he is unable then with his heart; and that is the weakest (degree of) faith.” [Muslim 49]
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Like the other rulers that were coming to lead at those times, MARWAN Ibn HAKAM was also interested in his authority. Note that many Muslim rulers even today are afflicted with this mania to remain in power in the following of these people who ruled then, by hook or by crook; to them violation of Islamic Commands is no problem but they would see insha Allah that even in this world, all wrong activities do lead to the wrath of Allah. The Hadith here guides the Muslims to challenge the wrong things done to the best of their ability. The best level to do this is to challenge it headstrong and fight against it (JIHAD) if possible. Then comes the level of challenge to prevent the wrong by the tongue (TABLIGH) and the third level is to at least consider the wrong as wrong and pray to Allah to put His wrath on the evil ones even in this world for the ease of the Believers. The Hadith at Topic-12 ahead, also clarifies that negligence to TABLIGH brings wrath of Allah on everyone as we have read before too.
TOPIC 12-More about it
(2180)-Sayyidina Numan ibn Bashir (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The example of those who abide by the limits of Allah and those who do not observe them is like that of a people who cast lots to sail on a ship. Some of them take the upper deck and some the lower deck. Those in the sea in the lower deck would ascend (to the upper) to get water and (in the process) would drop water on those in the upper deck. So these people who were in the upper deck said, ‘We will not allow you to climb up for you hurt us.” So, those in the lower deck responded, “Well we shall bore a hole in the lower portion and fetch water from here.” Thus, if they hold their hands and prevent them then all of them will be saved, but if they leave them to themselves then all of them would drown.” [Bukhari 2493, Muslim 1599]
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TOPIC 13-Most excellent is to face injustice with truth
(2181)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “Indeed, the mightiest of Jihad is a just word before a tyrant king.” [AD 4344, Ibn Majah 4011]
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TOPIC 14-Three prayers of the Prophet (PBUH) for his Ummah
(2182)-Abdullah ibn Khabbab ibn Aratt reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) offered a Salah and made it lengthy. They said, “O Messenger of Allah, you prayed a prayer such as you had never prayed before.” He said, ‘Certainly, this was a Salah of hope and of fear. I asked Allah for three things and He granted me two and denied me one (of them). I asked Him not to let (all) my Ummah perish through famine, and He granted me this (prayer). And, I asked Him not to set up over them an enemy alien to them, and He granted me this (prayer). And, I asked Him not to let some of them taste war with some others of them, but He denied it to me.” [Ah 21109, N 1637]
(2183)-Sayyidina Thawban reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed, Allah drew together the earth for me and I could see its east and its west. And, indeed the countries of my Ummah will spread out to wherever it was drawn together for me. And I was given two treasures red and white (gold and silver). And I asked my Lord for my Ummah that they should not perish through common famine and that no one enemy outside their own numbers must overpower them and destroy all of them. And my Lord said, ‘O Muhammad when I decree something then it is not revoked and I have given you for your Ummah that a general famine would not destroy them and I will not empower over them an enemy outside their own selves lest he annihilate them even though people unite against them from every region of earth; it will be that some of them will destroy some others, and some of them will take some others of them as captives.’ [Ahmed 22458, Muslim 2889, Abu Dawud 4252]
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Hope & Fear are two things that if go wrong for a person, that person is sure to face some kind of psychological problems. These both must truly be guided towards Allah; hope in actual must be to Him (all others being sources that He uses to provide anything) and fear in actual must be from Him (all others being sources that He uses to afflict in any way). Ahadith here foretell that Muslims would gain power and conquer many lands of the known world then (and that happened exactly as he told the Muslims) and it foretells that two adverse things would not happen to Muslims i.e. they would not perish completely by matters named as natural disasters (especially famine and these all are caused by the Will of Allah) and no enemy would be able to hold control over them to make them totally subject to its way of life annihilating them totally taking them into their fold (and that also we Muslims have seen clearly). The third thing that was not granted to the Muslim UMMAH (Muslims collectively) was that no conflicts take place between them. We Muslims have had many deadly wars between us Muslims in the ancient times and even in the recent times but the imperialism that came to suppress the Muslims in the recent past had to run away in a century or so due to this DUA (request to Allah) that was granted. Now that imperialism is trying to control Muslims using people from among us as it has seen that direct access is not possible; it is more than clear that as the wrong ones could not fight the Prophet PBUH centuries ago, they would still not be able to fight Muslims insha Allah, once the Muslims make their ties strong to the Holy Book Quran and the SUNNAH of the Prophet PBUH; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 15-About one who is present during the trial
(2184)-Sayyidah Umm Malik Bahziyah is reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) mentioned FITNAH (trial) and said it was approaching (them). She said, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) who would be the best of men during it?” He said, “A man who is among his animals and gives their rights (Zakah) and worships his Lord. And, a man who holds his horse stirring fear in the enemy and they frighten him (too).”
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This narration is complementary to H-1666, narrated by ABU-SAEED KHUDRI (RA) and tells about the righteous person in the times of a general trial. The point to note is that such a person does not go with the general trend in the times of FITNAH; either he fights for the Truth; either he leaves all things and remains attentive to Allah by fulfilling His commands at solitude so that he saves his belief. There, the sequence is reversed to the sequence narrated here but as here only the mention of better ones was needed without care to sequence, the sequence at H-1666 is valid.
TOPIC 16-No Caption
(2185)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will be a FITNAH (commotion) that will exhaust the Arabs. Those killed during this commotion will go to the fire. During this, the tongue will be more severe than the sword.” [Abu Dawud 426, Ibn Majah 3967]
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TOPIC 17-About withdrawal of trust or trustworthiness (faith)
(2186)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) related to us two Ahadith one of which I have seen take place and I await the other to happen. He said to us, “Trust (the ability to recognize the True Faith) came down deep into the roots of men’s hearts. Then the Qur’an descended, so they learnt from the Qur’an and they learnt from the SUNNAH (understanding the True Faith by the given ability).” After that he told us about the withdrawal of this recognition about Faith. He said, “A man will sleep and faith would be withdrawn from his heart leaving its mark like a speckle. He will sleep again and faith will be withdrawn leaving a mark as if a live coal dropped on the foot causing a water blister with nothing in it.” Then, he picked up a pebble and dropped it on his foot. He said, “People will make business transactions with each other but there would hardly remain one that honours his commitment, so much so that it would be said that among such-and-such tribe there is a man worth trusting, and a man would (wrongly) be praised as wise, very good and firm, though he will not have in his heart even so much faith as a grain of mustard seed.” Hudhayfah (RA) told ahead about his own self that indeed I had gone through the times when I bought and sold without hesitation. If a Muslim had to pay, he paid me due to his true Belief. If a Jew or a Christian had to pay, he paid me due to (the respect of) his chiefs. But, now-a-days, I do not deal with anyone except so-and-so and so-and-so with whom I do make transactions. [Bukhari 6497, Muslim 143]
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The Hadith here tells that a time would come when even many Muslims would not care about fulfilling Islamic Commands and trustworthy people would become scarce; many persons would wrongly be respected due to their good way of talking but they would not be true Believers. HUDHAYFAH (RA) indicated by telling about his practice in business that even at this time, it has become difficult to find good people to do business with, yet it is noteworthy that the time foretold in this Hadith was not actually the time of HUDHAYFAH as it was much better due to the presence of SAHABA then; it might be any of times much after it or even this one in which we live.
TOPIC 18-You too would follow the example of earlier people
(2187)-Sayyidina Abu Waqid Laythi reported that when the Prophet (PBUH) went out for the Battle of Hunayn, he passed by a tree belonging to the polytheists. It was known as “Dhaat Anwat” and they used to hang down their weapons over it. The Sahabah said, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) make for us a ‘Dhaat Anwat’ as they have.” He said, “Glory to Allah! This is as what the people of Musa (Salam on him) said to make for them a god as there is a god for them (persons they met in the way while going away from Egypt). By Him who has my soul in His hand, you will perpetrate the practices of the people gone before you.” [Ahmed 21956]
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Bani Israel had passed by a people who were worshipping some bullock and they had asked MUSA-AS to make a god for them as this. Note that the SAHABA were fully aware that nothing could represent Allah in such physical form as the Holy Book Quran says clearly that “Nothing is like Him” (Verse 11 of ASH-SHURA, the 42nd Surah). The only reason for this request was to take a tree or any physical item to put their weapons for display too like the unbelievers so that they know that Muslims are not weak to fight them. The reason to compare this speech to the Bani-Israel was that they presented this request when they saw an activity taken-up by the unbelievers as the Bani Israel presented their request when they saw the worship of the bullock at the way; so the comparison is in the appearance only. However, there is no comparison in belief as the persons in the Bani Israel, who took the worship of the golden bullock that SAAMIRI the magician made for them, were wrong in belief; here the SAHABA were not wrong in Belief but their only mistake was that they put their request to combat the unbelievers in the same manner when they saw that tree DHAAT-ANWAT; wrong timing. Note that to use gadgets in the way everybody uses them is not blameworthy but the activities that unbelievers consider as rituals to their erroneous belief or respect them as the representation to their way of life, such activities are wrong for Muslims to take into their practice; the tree DHAAT-ANWAT had become attached to such activity of the unbelievers so the Prophet PBUH guided SAHABA to refrain from such request.
TOPIC 19-About speech of Beasts
(2188)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘By Him Who has my life in His grasp, the Last Hour will not come before the beasts speak to men and before the tip of his whip and the thong of his sandal speak to man and his thigh informs him what his family members have been doing since he had left them.” [Ahmed 11792]
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In the vers-82 of Surah NAML, the 27th Surah, it is said that “And when the time for the fulfilment of Our Word against them will come, We shall bring forth for them a beast from the earth who will speak to them because people did not believe in Our Signs.” The speech of beasts seems an indication to this verse and sometimes it happens in talking about something that we use plural though in actual the subject is singular; that is more probable when the Prophet (PBUH) was indicating future events near QAYAMAT as he wanted to convey that even such a beast would come forth then, that would speak to men. We are told in other Ahadith that this amazing beast would come forth at Makkah near QAYAMAT. Note that Muslims do not take this beast as an indication of Antichrist that we call DAJJAL (the greatest imposter) but we take this mentioned beast in literal sense. About other things that are narrated here in the Hadith about the speech of lifeless things, this plainly seems to me an indication of the scientific gadgets that give us messages about all our surroundings and inform us about our family members wherever we are. The whip, sandal or the cloth at thigh might be an indication that we would be able to put these wonder gadgets anywhere (especially at thigh). Please note that the Prophet (PBUH) needed to convey about signs and future events near QAYAMAT in terms that could be understood better in those ancient times. We live in strange times and I, MSD, do feel that such Ahadith point out much of today’s matters as no doubt this time is much near to QAYAMAT.
TOPIC 20-About splitting of the Moon
(2189)-Sayyidina lbn Umar (RA) said that in the times of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) the moon split and he said, “Be witnesses!” [Muslim 2800]
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ULAMA generally agree that the Moon physically split into two and this happened before HIJRAH (migration to Madinah) when the Prophet (PBUH) was at MINA. Note that it was the full moon then and that rises just near or after the sunset and people used to retire from activity early in those days so many people did not witness this incident that must have continued only for a very few moments, the parts joining together again without any lapse in time then (and it seems that both parts did not go away far from each other as is wrongly assumed but it might have been some great wobble in the Moon that put the parts a bit apart or it seemed that way as seen from the Earth for just a while). The Holy Book Quran informs in the 54th Surah i.e. Surah QAMAR (meaning the Moon) in the very beginning, “Near came the Hour and the Moon split” and this verse is taken to indicate this very incident so this also is one of the signs of QAYAMAT.
TOPIC 21-About swallowing up by the Earth
(2190)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah ibn Usayd (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) observed us from his room while we were discussing the Hour. He said, “The hour will not come till you witness ten signs. (They are) (1) Rising of the sun from the west, (2) Yajuj and Majuj, (3) The beast, (4) Earth sinking in the east, (5) sinking in the west, (6) sinking in the Arabian peninsula and (7) The fire that will emanate from the depths of Aden and drive men or assemble them and spend the night with them wherever they do and wait over them where they have a nap (in the afternoon). [Muslim 2901]
(2191)-Sayyidah Safiyah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “People will not cease to attack this House till an army, when it is at the land of Bayda, is swallowed up with the first of it and the last of it, neither will the middle of it be spared.” She asked, “And (what about those) who disapprove of this attack?” He said, “Allah will resurrect them according to what is in their minds.” (That is, their fate depends on their own belief and deeds but in the world they will all perish.) [Ibn Majah 4064]
(2192)-Sayyidah Aisha (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Towards the concluding period of this Ummah, there will be (punishment through) sinking of the earth, metamorphosis and rain of stones from the sky.” She asked, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) will we perish while among us are the righteous?” He said, ‘Yes when evil is rampant (and overpowering).’
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Note that the Ahadith narrated by Bibi Ayesha (RA) and Bibi Safiyah (RA); and these both were the respectable wives of the Prophet PBUH; tell us that when disasters come to people, they swallow up the good people too with the bad ones though in the AKHIRAT, they would rise up on their own Belief & deeds. HUDHAYFAH Ibn USAYD (RA) was one of those SAHABA who was present in BAYET RIDHWAN, the oath taken for death by the Prophet PBUH; he has narrated by another chain all these ten signs that include also the Smoke, the Descent of Jesus Christ and DAJJAL that are not mentioned here; the Smoke is said to be a fog that would cover the skies for many days very near to QAYAMAT (as commented by IBNE-ABBAS RA) and further detail is not much available for it while some ULAMA maintain that it has happened at the times of the Prophet PBUH when the unbelievers of the QURAYSH faced such famine that they used to see smoke at surroundings (as commented by IBNE-MASUD RA); so it might well have taken place as that certainly is a possibility; Surah DUKHAN (that means Smoke) points out this sign of QAYAMAT. This Hadith enfolds ten of the most important signs of it and the timing is unknown; so the point to note is that some of these might show up even a few centuries before it and the first notable sign of it was the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the Last Messenger of Allah to all peoples of the world (see Topic-39 of this booklet of FITAN); as one day of Allah normally equals 1000 years by our calculation, noting the timing is a difficult matter here. I, MSD, would comment on the Arrival of Jesus Christ to the world again ahead at this booklet insha Allah and on DAJJAL too; the comment on the Rising of the Sun from the place of its setting comes at the Topic-22 just ahead while the comment on the beast just passed at the Topic-19 that we have studied; so this leaves us with comments to YAJUJ-MAJUJ, three Land-Slides and the Fire; the signs related to Jesus Christ, DAJJAL, Rising of the Sun from where it came and the Beast; these four have yet to come to manifestation in the future insha-Allah. Note that about 1100 years before the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, there was a man named Cyrus (DHUL QARNAIN) who ruled Persia; in the last year of his life, he had reached a mountainous region that is named DURBUND (The Closed Door) now in the Caucasian area (KAFQAZ or KOH-QAAF in Urdu), a part between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. He went on at the west of this area inside, where he came to the opening between two huge mountains; this is called the pass of DARYAL where he found some primitive people who complained, getting their message through somehow (as Surah KAHF tells us that they did not even come near to understanding anything that might be due to their very strange language that only they spoke & understood), that they are much troubled by YAJUJ & MAJUJ (Gog & Magog; these are among the descendants of Japeth one of the sons of Noah) who live beyond the opening in those mountains and attack them and loot them all the time. DHUL-QARNAIN assured them somehow that he would take care of their safety as was his obligation being their administrator and told them to help in making a wall between the mountains to fill the gap that would render YAJUJ & MAJUJ incapable of attacking them. He made a very strong wall with blocks of Iron putting molten copper over it at the opening between the two mountains that YAJUJ & MAJUJ could neither climb nor damage, so as to restrict them to the other side with mountains that surrounded the area much with Caspian Sea blocking the eastern route and the Black Sea blocking the western side; this wall was known as the Wall at KOH-QAAF and he had observed then that near to QAYAMAT, it would come level to the ground. As the wall is not at the place now so YAJUJ & MAJUJ have got the freedom though we know that they were still bound at times of the Prophet (PBUH). I have commented on Surah KAHF where I have clarified that they spread at the side of Europe (and afterwards at the United States too by Spain from 1492 AD onwards) and they are mixed with the Western people as of now, with their substantial population at the United States. As for the three great landslides (the three sinkings of the Earth) at different places, many ULAMA comment that these have taken place and that was in 208 Hijri (823 AD) when 13 towns at the west of Arabia were totally wiped off, in 346 Hijri (957 AD) when 150 towns in the area that is in Iraq nowadays were totally wiped off and in 834 Hijri (1431 AD) at Grenada in Spain when thousands of houses went into the ground. As for the Fire, ULAMA have told almost unanimously that it was the liquid-fire (LAVA) boiling heavily for more than 50 days and burnt all that came in its way coming out from Eden in Yemen and making way ahead in 1258 AD; the day it began is recorded by the Muslim historians as the first Friday of June 1258; this was the year when forces of descendants of Chenghez Khan had already destroyed Baghdad; strange that Iraq has seen deadly feuds from the times when ALI (RA) and afterwards his son HUSSAIN (RA) were killed unjustifiably there within the first century of HIJRAH.
TOPIC 22-Where does the Sun go
(2193)-Sayyidina Abu Dharr (RA) narrated that I went into the mosque after sunset. The Prophet (PBUH) was already seated there. He asked me, “O Abu Dharr, do you know where this (sun) goes?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It goes to seek permission to make prostration and it is given permission. And very like that it would be told, ‘Rise from where you have come’ so it would rise from its west.” And he recited---'That is determined for it'--- and this is the recital of Abdullah ibn Mas’ud. [Bukhari 3199, Muslim 159]
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Note that the Rising of the Sun from the MAGHRIB (West; Its place of setting) would mean that the planet Earth loses the direction of its spin and spins the other way losing the centrifugal force by which it answers the centripetal force of the Sun. This is not possible by the natural laws set by Allah so this would certainly mean something else than the literal meaning by dictionary. I deduce this to be an indication that Islam would spread all over the world taking the words ‘rise from where you have come’ as meaning ‘rise as from where you have come’ and wherever the Sun rises, it would be rising on the land of Islam as the sunset for one country is the sunrise for another. As for the asking of permission to rise from its west, that simply means that it is rising and setting all the time by the Command of Allah only and note that the wording of Hadith has words “very like that” (and it could mean that the command given even at the last of the world would be the same yet with the difference that now Islam has a say totally at the world manifestly, and of-course the obedience from the Sun to Allah would be the same). The wording “its west”is also noteworthy; every eastern point of the Sun is its western point too relative to the countries it rises on and sets on respectively. The only thing that might fall against this comment is that what is ordinary how could be the sign of QAYAMAT. But as commented, note that the Hadith here declares that Islam would spread all over the world or at least it would be valued all over the world; as such, it certainly is the sign of QAYAMAT. It is told in Ahadith that after the arrival of this sign, repentance from wrongs would not be accepted as it would be one of the very last signs of QAYAMAT; the notable point is that when Islam achieves the manifest power, then how the repentance of the opposing persons, is acceptable; that is an official word though for AKHIRAT, Allah knows better. Please note that generally the ULAMA take this rising of the Sun from its western point in the literal meaning but as Islam is practical, clear and simple, so with all respect for ULAMA, I have differed here. The verse that is mentioned at the narration, is from Surah YAA-SIN, the 36th Surah that says, ‘And the sun runs on to a term determined for it; that is the ordinance of the Mighty the Knowing (i.e. Allah)’. This also makes the comment worthy of consideration as the Holy Book Quran means that the Sun is going to the time and the place where everything would come into manifestation in accordance with the Word of Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 23-Concerning emergence of Yajuj and Majuj
(2194)-Sayyidah Zaynab bint Jahsh (RA) narrated Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) got up from sleep once and his face had turned red. He was reciting, 'There is no god but Allah’. He repeated it three times. “There is trouble for the Arabs from this mischief which is near. As wall of Yajuj and Majuj has been opened this much”, indicating with his fingers a round circle. Sayyidah Zaynab (RA) said, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), will we perish while we would have righteous people among us?” He said, “Yes if evil overwhelms.” [Bukhari 3346, Muslim 2880]
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This Hadith tells very clearly that YAJUJ & MAJUJ were still behind the wall totally bound to certain area up-to the period of the Prophet PBUH. They had been there for about 1100 years then and it seems that they were bound there for some more centuries too after that. There was an indication given that their release is near as the dream that the Prophet (PBUH) had seen told him that an opening that seemed like a hole in their wall had taken place. Other Ahadith tell us that these people would try to control all resources of the earth and would give the impression of being invincible but when at the peak of their power they would challenge the True Lord Allah (not necessarily by words but by giving the impression that they manage to do as they will) they would be destroyed by deadly diseases never heard of specially tumors that would attack mostly the throat area. The Hadith also point out that they would challenge the Muslims too and Muslims must & would avoid them insha Allah taking shelter away from them (and that would surely be a psychological pressure to them as people did keep away from them for centuries and this attitude of avoidance might create horrific memories for them even without their knowledge why this is happening as the past memories to a nation is like the childhood memories to a man) and huge number of them would die of the epidemic put on them; they would come to loose the status of the worldly power they had managed, that was being used to suppress the weak.
TOPIC 24-About the Mariqah (Khawarij)
(2195)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will rise in the final period a people, young of age but poor of intelligence. They will recite the Qur’an but it will not get past their throats. They will mention from the sayings of the best of creation (the Prophet PBUH) but will come out of religion as an arrow comes out of the game.” [Ibn Majah 168]
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The final period means here the final period of KHILAFAT-RASHIDA (that means administration considering the rulership as association to the Prophet PBUH) that ended with Ali (RA) with some period of rulership of HASAN (RA) after him. In the last period of the KHILAFAT of Ali (RA) such people arose that were mostly young as they were born after the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH) and they revolted against Ali (RA) by abusing him on the wars that took place between SAHABA (Jaml and Siffin; both of which took place due to misunderstanding on both sides and in both of which Ali-RA had to fight defensively against the forces gathered by Bibi Ayesha-RA and against the forces of Mu’aviah respectively). These KHWARIJ were so strict that in the name of Islamic Teachings, they used to call all those that got involved in any big sin as out of the fold of Islam and were known by the name of KHWARIJ (runners away) because they ran away from the obedience of the KHILAFAT of Ali-RA. This Hadith tells us that the righteous person must know not only what to do (i.e. knowledge) but also know how to do it (i.e. wisdom) as only the good intention is not enough to guide the people to it as that would only cause even the righteous person to err gravely in matters of religious nature. Today when there is no lack of the Islamic knowledge, only due to the lack of wisdom, we Muslims do not have any place where Islam is fully in manifestation though many of its commands do appear at different places. Its total manifestation would take place when there is total attention towards Allah by taking Him as the Only Creator of all the creatures and the Only True Lord with all Power; with that belief, the Man keeps away from all injustice and the Woman keeps away from all types of shameful things totally; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 25-About ATHARAH (to favor)
(2196)-Sayyidina Usayd ibn Hudayr (RA) reported that an Ansar submitted, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) you availed of the services of ‘that’ man but did not ask for me to serve you.” So, he said, “You people will see Atharah after me, so be patient till you meet me at the pond (Kawthar that comes from Paradise).” [Bukhari 3792, Muslim 1845, Nasai 5398]
(2197)-Sayyidina Abdullah reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “You will see, after me, the Atharah and such things as you would dislike.” They said, “Then, what do you command us (to do)?” He said, “Give them their rights (and obey them without rebelling against their rule), and ask Allah for that which is yours.” [Bukhari 3603, Muslim 1843, Ahmed 4166]
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It is wrong to favor someone for a post just because he is a relative or just because he is a rich person or just because he has got a say in quite a number of people or for any other such reason where not his quality in the Islamic sense but his present worldly status is kept in view. However, if the man is totally capable of the job and he happens to be a relative too, or has already some status worthy of consideration, that needs not affect his selection. In the Holy Book Quran, there is mention of two qualities to consider for giving a task to a person and those are QAVI (able to do the task) and AMIN (trustworthy) as a person capable to do the work would use his ability to the best being trustworthy for the job assigned to him performing it with a high quality (see verse 39 of the 27th Surah i.e. NAML, and verse 26 of the 28th Surah i.e. QASAS). H-2196 here tells that the Prophet PBUH told the man that there is no chance that I might do injustice by favor to anyone and certainly I would choose someone for a post on merits only yet after I pass away, there would come a time soon when you would see favors and at that time you would have to wait patiently as everyone would die; but keep to your Belief and go on collecting good deeds without worry to get worldly benefits. History tells us that the favor of Mu’aviah to his son Yazid (may Allah put His curse on him always), only after some fifty years or so of the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH), that gave him the administration proved a fatal error and such events took place in his small period of rule by his evil blunders (killing of HUSSAIN-RA and attack on the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah killing thousands of SAHABA) that even after centuries gone, the bad effects of which are still felt in Muslims all over the world. May Allah end these bad effects and guide Muslims to glory.
TOPIC 26-About events that the Prophet (PBUH) told Sahaba
(2198)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) offered the Salah of ASR with us one day. Then, he got up and addressed us, leaving out nothing that would happen till the Last Hour and informed us of all that. So who remembered did remember it and who forgot did forget it. Of what he said is, “The world is green and sweet and Allah has made you Khalifah here. He will see how you work. Beware! Preserve yourself from the world and preserve yourself from women. Beware! Let not awe of the people prevent one who has knowledge from speaking the truth.” The sub-narrator said that Abu Sa’eed (RA) wept and said, “By Allah, we saw something and were awe-stricken.” The Prophet (PBUH) also said, “Beware! The standard (i.e. flag) will be set up on the Day of Resurrection for the betrayer according to the degree of his betrayal. And no betrayal is greater then the betrayal of the general Imam. His standard (i.e. flag) will be posted on his back.” Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed reported that of what they remembered that day is the Prophet (PBUH) saying, “Beware! The children of Adam are created on different stages. Among them is the one who is born a Believer, lives a Believer and dies a Believer. Among them is the one who is born an infidel, lives as an infidel and dies an infidel. Among them is the one who is born a Believer, lives a Believer but dies an infidel. And among them is he who is born an infidel, lives as an infidel but dies a Believer. Beware! And among them is one who is slow to get angry but quick to cool down and among them is one who is quick to get angry and also quick to cool down; both nearly equal. And of them is one who is quick to get angry, but slow to cool down. Beware! The best of them is the slow to get angry and quick to cool down and the worst of them is the quick to get angry and slow to cool down. Beware! Among them is the one who is a good pay master and mild in demanding repayment. And among them is he who is hard at repayment and mild in demanding repayment. And among them is he who is good at repaymant and harsh in demanding repayment. That is the equilibrium (meaning both nearly equal). Beware! Among them the bad one is he who is a bad paymaster and a harsh collector (of debts). Beware! And the best of them is the good paymaster and mild in demanding repayment and the worst of them is he who is bad at repayment and harsh in demanding. Beware! Anger is a firebrand in the heart of the son of Adam. Do you not see the redness of his eyes and the swollen vein on his neck. One who feels something of that let him cling down to earth, close to it.” The narrator said that they looked at the sun to see if it was there or had set down. The Prophet (PBUH) then said, “Beware! The world’s life will not last but only as much as is past, except like this day of yours compared to what has gone by of it.” [Ibn Majah 4000]
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In this Hadith, the way to living is narrated and praise is shown for such person who lives a Believer (from his birth if he is born a Musim or from the time he comes to Islam by conversion) and dies a Believer; he is the best of men. Also the Muslim person who is quick to gain senses after becoming angry is praiseworthy and so is the Muslim person who gives his debts and collects his debts with softness as much as possible. Note that to keep away from the desires of worldly pleasures include keeping away from the unrelated women that are allowed to take into marriage; the person must care about rights of his wives only, asking for mercy and blessings from Allah.
TOPIC 27-About the People of Syria
(2199)-Sayyidina Qurrah reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “When people of Syria become bad, there remains no good in you. There continues to be a section of my Ummah who are helped always; they will suffer no harm if anyone lets them down, till the Hour comes.” Muhammad ibn Isma’il (Bukhari) said that Ali ibn Madini explained that they were scholars of hadith. [Ahmed 20383, Ibn Majah 6]
(2199A)-Bahz ibn Hakim reported from his father on the authority of his grandfather who reported that I asked, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), where do you command me (to stay)?” He said, ‘There’. And he pointed towards Syria with his hand.
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There is a narration that informs that the Hour (QAYAMAT) would come when the name of Allah would not be taken any more; ULAMA mostly have taken the stance that the righteous people would stay till near the QAYAMAT then all of them would be given a soft death by the wind and so the hour would come upon the worst of people. However, that narration might be taken in a different way than usually taken and the words recorded in this Hadith that no one would be able to put a section of my Ummah (means Muslims collectively) to any harm till QAYAMAT, opens the way to take the option that there would certainly be Muslims around (and they might even be in huge number though they would slack in asking for Allah’s Mercy & Blessings at that time) when QAYAMAT takes place.
TOPIC 28-Do not return to disbelief, some killing others
(2200)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Do not return to disbelief, some of you striking the neck of some others after me.” [Bukhari 1739]
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TOPIC 29-Trial when sitting one is better than standing one
(2201)-Busr ibn Sa’eed reported on the authorityof Sayyidina Sa’d ibn Waqqas (RA) that at the fitnah of times of Sayyidina Uthman ibn Affan (RA), he said that I bore testimony that Allah’s Messenger said concerning trial, “There will come a trial when the sitter during it will be better than one who is standing. He who keeps standing will be better than he who walks while the walker will be better than the runner.” Someone asked, “What should I do if anyone intrudes into my home and raises his hand over me to kill me?” He said, “Be like the son of Adam.” (Habil was killed at the hands of his brother while he refrained from fighting him). [Muslim 2887, Ahmed 20434]
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It is obvious from many Ahadith that the Prophet (PBUH) was worried that after him there would come wars between his followers as this was a warrior nation that he had taught high morals; he knew well that those who had not been much in his care might cause high trouble. UTHMAN ibn AFFAN (RA; the third Caliph), was killed in cold blood unjustifiably by the mob (that were Muslims), when he was reciting the Quran; this accelerated the events related to FITNAH that was already looming up in the UMMAH. The noble teaching of the Prophet PBUH to avoid killing of each other, helped the Muslims generally to keep the Islamic teachings intact; this even made them spread Islam by amazing zeal all over the known world till the end of KHILAFAT of UTHMAN (RA).
TOPIC 30-About a fitnah like a dark night
(2202)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Set about doing (good) deeds before trials engulf you like a portion of a dark night (when) a man commences his morning as a believer but becomes a disbeliever by evening, or is a believer in the evening and morning finds him a disbeliever and there would even be such a man who would sell his religion against a little of this world.” [Ahmed 8036, Muslim 118]
(2203)-Sayyidah Umm Salamah (RA) reported that one night the Prophet (PBUH) woke up and said, “Subhan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)! How many trials descended tonight! And how many treasures came down tonight! Who will wake up the ladies of the chamber (the chaste wives of the Prophet PBUH)? Most of the dressed in this world will be bare in the hereafter.” [Bukhari 115, Ahmed 26607]
(2204)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “As the Hour approaches, there will be trials like a portion of a dark night. A man who wakes up in it as a believer turns a disbeliever in the evening. Or he is believer in the evening but wakes up a disbeliever in the morning. People will sell their religion for a little of this world.”
(2205)-Hasan said in explanation of this hadith (i.e. a man begins his morning a believer and turns a disbeliever in the evening, or begins his evening as a believer and turns a disbeliever in the morning). He said that morning would find him holding the blood, honour and property of his brother sacred (and disallawed to him) but by evening he will regard them as lawful to him. And evening will find him holding his brother’s blood, honour and property as sacred (and forbidden to him) but by morning he regards them as lawful to him.
(2206)-Sayyidina Wail ibn Hujr (RA) narrated I heard a man ask Allah’s Messenger ‘If such rulers govern us who deny us our rights but demand their own rights, what should we do?’ He said, “Listen and obey, for on them is what they carry and on you is what you carry (their deeds are with them and yours are with you)”. [Muslim 1846]
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These Ahadith here give the same message that wars among Muslims are to come soon in which it is better for true Muslims to save their Belief and deeds taking care for the individual safety; in that time many Muslims would become so much oblivious to the sanctity of life of other Muslims, though all Muslims are brothers, that they would shed blood of each other without care. This time is termed like the darkness of night because as a person is not able to see things around at such time so even good Muslims would find it very difficult to see what is the right course of action to take at this moment of time.
TOPIC 31-About killing (and commotion)
(2207)-Sayyidina Abu Musa (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘A time will come after you when knowledge will be removed and harj will be rampant.” The companions asked what harj was and he said, ‘Killing!’ [Bukhari 7064)
(2208)-Sayyidina Ma’qil ibn Yasari reported the Prophet (PBUH) as saying, ‘Worship during harj will be like making hijrah to me.” (Harj is turmoil i.e. killing, and hijrah is migration). [Muslim 2348]
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TOPIC 32-About taking a sword carved out of wood
(2209)-Sayyidina Thawban (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “When the sword is placed in my ummah, it will not be with-drawn from them till the Last Hour” [Ahmed 22515]
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Killing of innocent people is a sign of QAYAMAT and there is a narration that tells about this time that the one killing someone would not know why one is killing that victim and that victim would not know why he is being killed; such is the FITNAH of that time and most probably this has been foretold for this time that we are living in. The Hadith at Topic-32 tells clearly that once Muslims get used to wars, they would need to fight; either the enemy either their own-selves until the advent of the MAHDI (the guided one) near QAYAMAT when it is said that wars would cease to exist when after some great war (or even without it), people would come to Islam generally.
TOPIC 33-Taking up a sword of wood
(2210)-Sayyidah Udaysah bint Uhban ibn Sayfi (RA) narrated Sayyidina Ali ibn Abu Talib (RA) came to my father and asked him to enlist with him. My father said to him, “My friend and your cousin (i.e. the Prophet PBUH) took a promise from me that when people dispute with each other, I should make for myself a sword of wood. So, I have taken it up and if you like I will come out with you.” So Ali left him alone. [Ibn Majah 3960]
Note that the Prophet PBUH taught SAHABA emphatically in different ways not to fight each other and it clearly shows how worried he was about the coming civil wars among them. Making a sword of wood here means to refrain from such wars that would take place between Muslims when it would be extremely difficult to judge for the ordinary Muslim whom to favor; he should better avoid all sides and refrain from wars.
TOPIC 34-About the signs of the Last Hour
(2211)-Sayyidina Abu Musa (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “During the commotion, break your bows. Cut your bowstrings during it and bind yourself to the inside of your houses during it, and be like the son of Adam.” [Ahmed 19751]
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TOPIC 35-More about the signs of the Last Hour
(2212)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik reported having heard a hadith from Allah’s Messenger which he said, “I would narrate to you. No one will narrate it after me as having heard from Allah’s Messenger.” The Prophet PBUH told us that of the signs of the last Hour is that knowledge will be taken away, ignorance will be apparent, adultery will be widespread, wine will be consumed, women will outnumber (men) and men will be few so that for every fifty women there will be one male as (their) overseer. [Bukhari 80, Muslim 2671]
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TOPIC 36-More on it
(2213)-Zubayr ibn Adi narrated that we went to Anas ibn Malik (RA) and complained to him of what we faced at the hands of Hajjaj. He said, “There is not a year but the one following it is worse than it till you meet your Lord. I heard this from your Prophet (PBUH).” [Bukhari 7068]
(2214)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The Hour will not come as Long as there is on earth the sound of ‘Allah, Allah’.”
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About the taking away of knowledge, note that it means that many ULAMA would be killed without any rhyme or reason except for the dislike of the killers, most of whom talk about tolerance and harmony in living. People would be knowledgeable in worldly matters yet mostly unaware of the knowledge that could provide them salvation at AKHIRAT; a great number of people would incline towards wine & women (many of whom would themselves assume a derogatory status due to women being huge in number, mostly deprived of basic needs of life). The Hadith that tells about each coming year being worse than before has the wording “till you meet your Lord” so it is limited to the era of SAHABA and it seems that it actually commenced from that time when UTHMAN (RA) was killed at home; and it stayed till the time when the last group of SAHABA passed away; ANAS, the narrator of this Hadith, was included in these last ones to depart from the world as he died between 91 to 94 AH. The most cruel of men Hajjaj ibn Yousuf (may Allah put His curse on him) died within a year or two of the demise of ANAS (RA). As for the Hadith that tells that the Hour would not come till the name of Allah is recited, it means that uptil the time people repent for their wrong-doings asking Allah for His Mercy & Blessings, the Hour would not take place.
TOPIC 37-More on the Topic
(2216)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah ibn Yaman (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Hour will not come till the stupid son of the stupid becomes the most fortunate of all men.” [Ahmed 22363]
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TOPIC 38-About metamorphosis and swallowing
(2217)-Sayyidina Ali ibn Abu Talib (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “When my ummah perform fifteen particular things, trials will come down on them.” He was asked, “What are they, O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH)? He said, “When booty is wealth, and trust is booty, and Zakah is tax, and a husband obeys his wife and disobeys his mother, and he is faithful to his friend but unfaithful to his father, and voices are raised in the mosques, and leaders of men are the most wicked of them, and a man is honoured for fear of his evil, and wine is drunk, and silk is worn, and singing girls and stringed instruments are taken up, and the last of this ummah curses the first of them. So at that time await a red violent wind, or sinking down of the earth or metamorphosis.”
(2218)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, When the fa’i (war booty gained without fighting) is taken as wealth, trust as a booty, Zakah as a tax, knowledge is imparted for purposes other than religion, a man obeys his wife but is disloyal to his mother, he draws, near his friend but keeps away from his father, voices are raised in mosques, chiefs of the tribes are the most sinful of them, a leader of the people is the lowest of them, a man is honoured because of fear of mischief from him, singing girls and musical instruments become common, wine is drunk, the last of this ummah curse the first of them, then await at such time, a violent red wind, earthquakes, being swallowed up by earth, transfiguration, pelting of stones from heaven and signs following each other as though beads of a rosary fall in succession when the thread has broken.”
(2219)-Sayyidina Imran ibn Husayn (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘This ummah will face being swallowed up, metamorphosis and pelting rain.” A man among the Muslims submitted, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), and when will that be?” He said, “When singing girls and musical instruments show themselves up and wine is drunk.”
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The first couple of Ahadith at this topic tell us that near QAYAMAT even good people would disregard their duties and would take-up the pleasures of worldly life. Many of persons even among Muslims would not care much about the welfare of parents and they would seek to keep status in the sight of other people rather than fulfillment of rights of the near ones. And there would be attention towards loose women and wine; there would also be fear of every such person who has an official post in the administration as strength would not be means to defend the weak but it would be means to suppress the weak; at such times, Allah would put His wrath by all such things that are termed as natural disasters and they would come in sequence one after another. As for the hearing of songs as is related in the H-2219, it is notable that if the male singer sings a song that is soft in nature, when alone or in gathering, its wording should be right that does not challenge any teaching of Islam and musical instruments should be just few (preferably only two and not more than three) while he should not be professional that implies that singing or playing music should not be his source of earnings (but all related to music just take it as pastime) then it is tolerable in the Islamic Environment; disks with the computer format for such songs are fine yet the extremely few women here that might sing with all the conditions therein, should avoid singing at the gathering of men and at the video performance totally. Please note this well that Islam does not appreciate making of the music into some kind of an industry to affect the Society but has the leniency to tolerate it for those who have an aesthetic sense, just as relaxation with necessary conditions in effect. Summing-up the matter; it must not be professional, it must not have words challenging Islam, it must not manifest with number of instruments, it must not rouse sentiments by rapidity (but must be soft in nature) and it must not present at mixed gathering (though men might perform a show with the mentioned conditions without any dancing where few women are present yet that must be with care to necessary reservation by the women there) so it would not be like the current noisy shows of professional singers & musicians that simply have no care to Islam. There would be no Film Industry in the Islamic Environment yet TV would be available to all that might have few channels, each assigned to its own task; one of them might be reserved for the presentation of songs that fulfill the conditions within certain moral limits. If the Government at the lands where Muslims mostly reside does not see to its responsibility about conditions to music, each of the Muslims as an individual must try his best to see by his own for the limits of the music in the present situation if he really does have an aesthetic sense.
TOPIC 39-Advent of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Last Hour
(2220)-Sayyidina Mustawrid ibn Shaddad Fihri reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “I have been sent in the very Hour, so I precede it just as this precedes this”; he said it showing his fore finger and his middle finger.
(2221)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I have been sent and the Last Hour like these two” and Abu Dawud indicated the forefinger and the middle finger. [Bukhari 6504]
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This Hadith clarifies well that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), being the Last Messenger of Allah, was the first big sign of QAYAMAT. The two fingers were kept apart to show that there is still some time to it yet not much. Narrations point out well that the time from the Prophet (PBUH) to QAYAMAT is like the time from ASR (the time when afternoon breaks) to MAGHRIB (sunset) in the day by ratio.
TOPIC 40-About battle with the Turks
(2222)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The Last Hour will not come till you fight a people wearing shoes (or sandals) made of hair. And the Hour will not come till you fight a people whose faces are flat like shields.” [Bukhari 2929]
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Both sentences in the Hadith tell about Mongols that fought at the command of Chenghez Khan who destroyed a vast area that was under the Muslim Rule; his forces reaching Baghdad in 656 HIJRI (1258 AD) much after his death; it was also the year of the great fire that came out of Yemen. Their shoes had hair all over them and their faces were flat and rough with yellowish skin. Mongols are referred to as TURKS here as these MONGOLS were recognized as TURKS in those days. They mercilessly persecuted the AMEER of Muslims (the Caliph MUSTA’SAM- Bi-Allah) and killed huge number of Muslims as the history has recorded; they abolished much of the scholarly treasure of Muslims too by destroying thousands of written works. But the history has also recorded an amazing turn in favor of Muslims that they got their areas and their status of the manifest glory back when the descendants of Chenghez Khan accepted Islam; one of our famous poets of Urdu has said on this in a verse “it is clear from the story of TATARI (Mongols) that KA’BAH does get its guards even from the idol-worshippers (as they convert to Islam)”. Note that Muslims had faced many challenges from the enemy after the Prophet (PBUH) but three of them are highly noteworthy; one of these challenges, was just after his passing away that they faced from the Roman Empire and from Persia as their power that they had just achieved by unity was extremely threatening to them; at that time, Muslims were able to conquer much of area by JIHAD that was under CAESER of Rome and KHOSROE of Persia due to their physical power by unity and due to their spiritual power that Islam had provided them; second was when Muslims were challenged by Chengez Khan and his forces who destroyed their political power and put a heavy blow to them at that time; that was at height in 1258 AD but as they did not have the moral teachings to guide them for an inner satisfaction so TABLIGH of Islam provided an opportunity to them; at that time, by the blessing of Allah on them and on all Muslims in general, they converted to Islam; Muslims were spiritually very much alive then, though they had lost physical power due to the lack of unity by useless talks on petty religious matters; third is the present time when since a couple of centuries Muslims have been facing the challenge that is still in progress from the West (that manifested even by imperialism for a century or so); the West had challenged Muslims centuries back too by Crusades yet it never became deadly threatening to Muslims; Sultan Salahud-Din terminated that challenge well in due time; Al-Hamd Lillah. Though Muslims are bearing this current challenge by the West for such a period of time, yet it seems that the West is not ready to draw itself back from presenting its way of life as the final development of human-kind; it seems to have decided to go only for the win against the Muslims whatever it takes. It is yet to be seen what happens of the third deadly challenge that Muslims face at the current time when they are dispersed politically and that also with much lack of practice upon Islam; however even now, there still are uncountable Muslims who repent on sins and ask forgiveness from Allah and His blessing. All these three high challenges that Muslims had faced were foretold in Ahadith; the first is mentioned at H-2223 that is just ahead; the second is mentioned at this Hadith (H-2222) that we are studying now; the third is mentioned at H-2190 & H-2194 (see the notes on them) that denotes the advent of YAJUJ & MAJUJ that in particular is the trouble to Arabs and in general to all Muslims; YAJUJ & MAJUJ would favor the rise of a Yahudi person that would be DAJJAL who would challenge Islam; Ahadith point out that many of these people, would die a cruel death by tumors that would not be manageable in any way.
TOPIC 41-About there being no Khosroes after Khosroe is gone
(2223)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “When Khosroe is killed, there will be no Khosroe after him. When the Caesar is killed, there will be no Caesar after him. By Him in Whose hand is my soul, you will give away their treasures in the way of Allah.” [Bukhari 3027]
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Note that the Prophet (PBUH) told the companions that you would soon conquer the lands of Rome (whose ruler was named as Caesar) and Persia (whose ruler was named as Khosroe), the two high political powers of the time. This was told when the Prophet (PBUH) and the companions were digging the Ditch (Trench) to safeguard Madinah and their own selves as the Quraish of Makkah and thousands of people of many tribes were advancing towards Madinah to finish the Muslims for once and for all. Never has a man born before this great man Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, who had even thought of giving such tidings and that also in such situation. Not only did Muslims defend Madinah well at the time (the infidels had to return due to their bad planning as they were taken by surprise at the presence of the Ditch; also the wind uprooted their camps while angels were helping Muslims by the command of Allah that caused them to withdraw their forces; Muslims also used the strategy of creating mistrust among them and their allies among Jews of Banu Quraizah) but the Muslims also conquered vast areas of the Roman Empire and all of Persia within a few years of the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH); that is history now and there had never been a Caesar or a Khosroe after the conquests that the Muslims made then; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 42-The Hour will not come before the Fire from the Hijaz
(2224)-Saaum ibn Abdullah reported on the Authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will emerge a fire from Hadramawt (or from the surrounding of the sea of Hadramawt) before the Last Hour. It will gather mankind.” The Sahabah asked, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)! What do you then command us?” He said, “You must go to Syria.” [Ahmed 5376]
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As we have studied, this fire broke out very near to the time of attack of Mongol Forces on Iraq; Syria was a safe area at the time. The start of the fire as written by Muslim Historians was at Friday, the 7th day of June 1258 AD and it blazed for more than 50 days. Gathering of mankind is an indication of the gathering of persons at authority to learn mutually how to deal with this disaster. Ahadith certainly have a specific style of putting matters at fore and that is why they need study about their presentation of different matters; this study needs to learn even the psychology of the ordinary man to whom the Prophet PBUH presented these statements.
TOPIC 43-The Hour will not come before liars appear
(2225)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Hour will not come till the liars and dajjals, nearly thirty all of them, make their appearance each pretending that he is Allah’s messenger.” [Bukhari 3609]
(2226)-Sayyidina Thawban reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Hour will not come till tribes of my ummah join the polytheists and worship idols. And, in my ummah there will be thirty liars each of them assuming that he is a Prophet (PBUH) while I am the seal (or last) of the Prophet (PBUH). There is no Prophet (PBUH) after me.”
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Just as Ahadith inform, many liars and dajjals (the imposters other than the big Dajjal defective in the eye that has yet to come) have come claiming they are messengers of Allah while the Holy Book Quran clearly tells that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the Last Messenger (see the 33rd Surah i.e. AHZAAB; verse 40 and there are many other verses too at many other Surah for this) and the Prophet (PBUH) has himself clarified this that he is the Last Messenger of Allah; there is no prophet, no messenger after him. In the sub-continent i.e. the undivided India before Pakistan took shape, we had one of these dajjals at a place called QADIAN who claimed to be a messenger and made other such claims that certainly denote that he was totally disturbed mentally; they are taken to be out of the fold of Islam by all Muslims all over the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah. All such people who claim to be prophets or messengers are certainly out of the fold of Islam and their believers are too; by the blessing of Allah, all righteous Muslims believe that Muhammad (PBUH) was the Last Prophet and the Last Messenger of Allah.
TOPIC 44-About the liar from Thaqif and Mubir
(2227)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will arise among the Banu Thaqif a Liar and a Mubir (i.e. one who is destructive).” It is said that Liar was Mukhtar bin Abu Ubaid and Mubir was Hajjaj bin Yousuf.
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Mukhtar ibn Abu Ubaid rose to fame by posing himself as highly committed to Islam and fought wars blowing the bugle that he has the greatest of respect for the family members of the Prophet (PBUH). After consolidation of his fame and authority among a number of people, he claimed to be a prophet and so it became clear that he was one of dajjals (imposters, liars) mentioned in the previous Hadith. MUBIR means the blood-shedder and Hajjaj ibn Yousuf was one of the cruelest men ever born killing around one hundred thousand men in whom there were thousands of SAHABA too just for the sake of the consolidation of the political position of his own and his band of rogues. These both Mukhtar and Hajjaj, who attacked Muslims spiritually and physically respectively at great deadly level, belonged to the tribe of Banu Thaqif.
TOPIC 45-About the third generation
(2228)-Sayyidina Imran ibn Husayn reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say, “The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them. Then, there will come after them people who would seek to be fat, and love corpulence; they will offer testimony before they are asked to give it.” [Bukhari 3650]
(2229)-Sayyidina lmran ibn Husayn (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The best of my ummah is the generation to which I have been sent, then they who will follow them.” The narrator said that I do not remember if he mentioned the third (generation) or not. “After that”, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Such people will come who will voluntarily give testimony; they will commit treachery and will not be trustworthy. They will be corpulent, generally.” [Bukhari 2651]
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This Hadith tells the merit of SAHABA (Companions of the Prophet PBUH) and also of TABI’EEN (companions of SAHABA and their followers). These two were generally the best among the UMMAH and though trials came very fast on them after the demise of UTHMAN-RA; each year being worse than before in regards to the rulers they had (with the exception of ALI-RA & of his son HASAN-RA) till the demise of all SAHABA; yet they remained firm upon Islam and preserved the Holy Book Quran and the Islamic Practical Values as denoted by the authentic Ahadith well. The Hadith informed that after them, the number of trustworthy people would decrease drastically due to the seeking of worldly pleasures that would cause corpulence; so it happened.
TOPIC 46-About the Caliphs
(2230)-Sayyidina Jabir ibn Samurah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will be, after me, twelve amirs.” The narrator reported that he said more but he could not grasp it, so he asked one who was next to him and he disclosed that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Every-one from Quraysh.” [Bukhari 7222]
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TOPIC 47-More on it
(2231)-Ziyad ibn Kusayb Adawi narrated that I was sitting with Abu Bakrah (RA) at the foot of the pulpit of Ibn Aamir while he was delivering a sermon. He was wearing a thin dress. Abu Bilal remarked, “Look at our amir wearing garments of the sinners.” So Abu Bakrah asked me to keep quiet and said that he had heard Allah’s Messenger say, “He who offends Allah’s king on earth, Allah humiliates him.”
(2232)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) reported that Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab was asked, “It would have been better if you had appointed a Khalifah.” He said, “If I appoint one then indeed Abu Bakr had appointed one. And if I do not then Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) had not appointed a Khalifah.” The hadith has a lengthy narration. [Bukhari 7218]
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There have been different ways in which H-2230 has been interpreted yet the best one seems that upto twelve AMIRS (“I” to be read as double “E”), the people would be united at one AMIR; after that there would be division among Muslims and each faction would have its own AMIR. Jabir (RA) had asked his father (RA) who was seated besides him the clarification he needed. For Ahadith at Topic-47, it is notale that TABLIGH (guidance to the righteousness) is necessary but it is better to advise such person who himself has a status to guide people, in privacy. As I, MSD, have remarked that most of these AMIRS became inclined to worldly pleasures though generally they did try to fulfill the basic commands of Islam like the five-times Prayers, Fasting in Ramdhan, Zakat, Hajj etc. and Allah knows better about the status of their Belief and deeds. Ibn Aamir was not the Khalifah but he was an AMIR appointed by the HIGH AMIR who acted as an administrator according to his instructions, in Madinah.
TOPIC 48-About the Caliphate
(2233)-Sayyidina Safinah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Khilafah (Caliphate) will last among my ummah for thirty years. Then there will be kingdom after that.” Thereafter, Safinah said, “Count the khilafah of Abu Bakr (RA).” Then he said, “And of Umar (RA) and Uthman (RA), and count the Khilafah of Ali (RA). We will find the total to be thirty years.” Saeed said that he told him that the Banu-Umayyah imagined that the Khilafah rested with them. He said that the Banu-Zarqa (sons of Zarqa) are lying. Rather they are kings, the worst of kings. [Ahmed 21978]
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This Hadith tells explicitly that from Mu’aviah, the rule had converted to become a kingdom though the term AMIR was still used for them. It is interesting to note that in H-2231 that we have just studied, Abu Bakra termed the ruler as a king though he did say king of Allah yet it shows that it was clear to SAHABA that the rulers have now taken much of the living in the style of the king though they were still committed to Islamic rituals for the fear of people or just due to the reason that they would fulfill those Islamic rituals fully well that do not challenge their claim to administration. Note that upto the time when Mu’aviah achieved the control on administration from the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH), it comes to thirty years in total. Zarqa was a famous figure in the ancestors of Banu Umayyah so they were sometimes called Banu Zarqa (sons of Zarqa) by relation to her though it was exceptional as it was not the normal practice of Arabs to name someone by a woman in ancestors.
TOPIC 49-About Khilafah to be with Quraysh till the last Hour
(2234)-Abdullah ibn Abu Hudhayl narrated that some persons of the (tribe of) Rabiah were sitting with Amr ibn Aas when a man of the (tribe of) Bakr ibn Wail said, “The Quraysh must refrain themselves, or Allah will hand over this affair to the Arabs collectively, apart from them.” So, Amr ibn Aas said, “You lie; I had heard Allah’s Messenger say that the Quraysh are rulers of men, in good or bad, till the Last Day.”
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TOPIC 50-No Caption
(2235)-Umar ibn Hakam reported having heard Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) narrate the words of Allah’s Messenger. He said, “The night and day will not pass away before a man, the freed-man of Jahjah will take over authority (rule).” Other Ahadith disclose that the Jahjah will be a tribe of Qahtan and that person will rule after Imam Mahdi and he will be among righteous rulers. [Muslim 2911]
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In the Holy Quran, when Ibrahim (Salam on him) asked Allah to put blessing on his descendants choosing them for rulership, Allah replied that I would do so but I would not give the true authority to those who are unjust. This is the verse 124 of the second Surah i.e. BAQARAH that reads, “And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam (guide; head) of men. Ibrahim said: And of my descendants? He replied: My covenant does not include the unjust.” So this clarifies that the man from Bakr ibn Wail was right in essence as reported in H-2234 and the stance of Amr ibn Aas does not hold for every situation. The Hadith should be taken with an addition of the suffix ‘if the Quraish remain adherent to Islamic Commands’ as that clarifies the issue. For H-2235, we have the clarification too inside, that this righteous man of the tribe JAHJAH (who also would have the same name); the sound of the name seems very near to YAHYA; would rule after the rule of MAHDI (the guided one) near QAYAMAT.
TOPIC 51-About misled Rulers
(2236)-Sayyidina Thawban (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I fear for the misled rulers over my ummah.” He also said, “A section of my ummah will never cease to be on the right. They will prevail and they will not be harmed by those who desert them till the command of Allah comes.” [Muslim 1920]
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This information has been given before too in the Hadith 2199 and this tells that there would be Muslims around even at the time when Trumpet of Qayamat would be blown by respectable ISRAFIL, the angel appointed for this task.
TOPIC 52-About Mahdi
(2237)-Sayyidina Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The world will not end before a man of my house rules over the Arabs. His name will be the same as mine.” [Ahmed 3573]
(2238)-Sayyidina Abdullah (RA) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “A man of my house, his name being as my name, will follow (to rule over the world).”
(2238A)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported (that the Prophet (PBUH) said), “Even if the world has nothing but one day (before it ends), Allah will lengthen that day so that he may rule.”
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MAHDI (the guided one) would be a Muslim who would rise to power even against the wish of the political powers of his time; he would not be tyrannical but a man of decent face and good manners with the heart for the unpriviliged, an exception to rulers that rise to power generally nowadays. The information that his name would be the same as mine is taken literally by ULAMA yet there is margin of taking this to mean that his fame would be as mine. Note that the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, was the first big sign of QAYAMAT as he told us himself so there is nothing to suggest us that these signs are limited to small period of time as we take the meaning of time. The Great Fire of Yemen, Fight with Turks (Mongols), Appearance of the Liar and the Blood-Shedder, Three Deadly Earthquakes, Opening of Yajuj & Majuj and many other signs have already passed away that we read as history. However, the signs that are yet to come are the Guided-One termed as MAHDI and the one-eyed imposter who is termed as DAJJAL. We have also read about the beast (H-2188) and about the rising of the Sun from its West (H-2193); the coming of Jesus Christ (the symbol of love) is also awaited and the deadly war (in which each of the three i.e. Muslims, Christians and Jews await the total extinction of the other two). I would try to clarify about the descent of Jesus Christ and about DAJJAL (in Topic-54 and Topic-57 respectively insha Allah) with the remark that though I am liable to err yet I would write my comments insha Allah without any inclination towards any sort of wishful thinking.
TOPIC 53-No caption
(2239)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) narrated that we were apprehensive lest innovations begin after our Prophet (PBUH). So we asked the Prophet (PBUH). He said, “There will be in my ummah a Mahdi who will live five, seven or nine (that is the period of his rule).” The narrator Zayd was unsure of the figure. They asked what was it and he said, “Years.” The Prophet (PBUH) then said, “A man will come to him and say, ‘O Mahdi, give me, give me!’ So, he will pour out for him in his garment as much as he is able to carry.” [Ibn Majah 4083]
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TOPIC 54-About the descent of Eesa ibn Maryam (AS)
(2240)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “By Him in Whose hand is my soul, Ibn Maryam will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the swine and abolish the jizyah, and wealth will flow to such abundance that no one will take it.” [Ahmed 10944, Bukhari 2222, Muslim 155, Ibn Majah 4078]
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Jesus Christ is called ISA (salaam on him) in Arabic and by this name we Muslims call him. Allah tells us in the Holy Book Quran in the fourth Surah about him that “they (Jews) did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. Nay! Allah took ISA up towards Him and Allah is Mighty and Wise. And there is not one of the followers of the Book but most certainly believes in him (ISA) before his (own) death, and on the day of resurrection he (ISA) shall be a witness against them” (Surah NISA-157 to 159). Jesus Christ was the Messenger of Allah who was born to Marium (Mary) without any father. That is why she is the only woman named in the Holy Book Quran so that Jesus Christ could be called “ISA ibn MARIUM” according to customs of Arabia. Allah has told in the Holy Book Quran that to create Jesus was like creating Adam to Him; literally too, there is harmony among them as his name appears 25 tmes in the Quran and the name of Adam also appears the same number of time there; the birth of Jesus was an amazing incident (and he talked when he was just an infant) and like his birth, his departure from the world was amazing too as he was taken to heavens alive with his physique; that is how we all Muslims believe. But going ahead, due to the Hadith in this topic and other narrations that tell about his arrival to the world again, ULAMA have generally taken this to mean that he would descend from heavens and would kill the imposter DAJJAL who would be demonstrating feats by some worldly means that would seem like amazing feats that Jesus Christ used to present by the permission of Allah when he was here in the world; so Muslims await the descent of ISA (Salaam on him), to challenge the imposter and end up the mess he would create, in the following of ULAMA generally. I, MSD, regret to write (as I respect ULAMA) that the arrival of Jesus (AS) for the second time at this world does not seem possible to me as that is against the natural laws of life on which Allah has established this world and the Universe; the Prophet (PBUH) would not have meant it literally except by some other meaning. The Holy Book Quran and the authentic Ahadith clarify that the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH was the Last Messenger as we have studied; no Messenger is coming after him in any status whatsoever. I am fully aware that Allah showed His Authority at times directly to clarify that these laws do not bind Allah’s Power yet those incidents happened instantly and left an option (though in actual unworthy of consideration) to crude minds of the unfaithful to take them in some physical way. This difference is big certainly as it shows that Allah does not intend disclosing the Truth explicitly that He has put in GHAYB (the unseen) as that would render the examination at the worldly life inadequate. Although there are many verses to bring the point home yet I would point out just for the sake of reasoning the verses 118, 119 at Surah BAQARAH and also its verse 210 telling clearly that Allah and angels would come at fore only at the time of judgment. Very few of ULAMA have indicated this that there is no option for the descent of ISA to earth (and they were recognized as out of ULAMA once they presented their deviating viewpoint in this issue) but they have not degraded the Hadith in any manner. However those that are not among ULAMA, have tried to reason even adversely against the Ahadith that present his arrival again to the world. Note that we Muslims have to respect all authentic Ahadith most highly as the SUNNAH that we come to understand by them, is the source of getting to Islamic Commands; please note that generally, ULAMA of the past and of the present strictly adhere to this notion in the literal sense so whoever does believe in the coming again of ISA as Muslims generally do, he has taken up well established notion and has not believed anything against Islam. With that, note also that I do not take the dissenting viewpoint in this issue as against the Islamic teachings, if that is based on reasoning by Islam, as it is not among the Basics of Islam. The last RUKU of Surah MAE’DAH is important to note here that by the serial number, is the fifth Suran yet by descent, it is among the very last ones if not the last one itself; it narrates that Allah would address Jesus at AKHIRAT when he would ask him if he had asked people to any wrong (worship of his own-self and his mother). The verses tell us that he would deny this in clear terms and say that surely Allah would know if he had done such wrongful act; the point to note here is that he would not put this argument in favor of his own self at such crucial moment of time that when he was with them the second time, he did ask them to refrain from their wrong belief. This total omission of a so-called incident clarifies well that there is never going to be such an incident here. I, MSD, would comment on Ahaith about the descent of ISA at the note ahead at Topic-62, insha Allah.
TOPIC 55-About the dajjal
(2241)-Sayyidina Abu Ubaydah ibn Jarrah (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “There has not been a Prophet (PBUH) after Nuh who has not warned his people of dajjal. And I warn you of him.” And he described him for them, saying, “Perhaps of those who see me or hear my words, some might encounter him.” They submitted, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), how will (the condition of) our hearts be on that day?” He said, “Like this (as today) or better” [Ahmed 1693].
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TOPIC 56-About description of the dajjal
(2242)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that once, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) stood among the people and glorified Allah as He is worthy of it. Then he mentioned the dajjal, saying, “Indeed, I do warn you of him, and there has not been a Prophet (PBUH) who has not warned his people (of him). And indeed, Nuh warned his people, but I will speak a word on it which no Prophet (PBUH) has spoken to his people. You know that he is blind in one eye while your Lord is not one-eyed.” Zuhri said that Umar ibn Thabit Ansari informed him on the authority of some Sahabah that the Prophet (PBUH) warned the people that day of the mischief of dajjal and said, “You know that none of you will ever see his Lord till he dies. And written between dajjal’s eyes is KAFIR (infidel). Those who will detest his conduct will (be able to) read it.” [Bukhari 1304]
(2243)-Sayyidina lbn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said that the Jews will fight you and the Muslims will gain control over them so much so that a stone will disclose, ‘O Muslim! This is a Jew behind me, so kill him.’ [Bukhari 2925, Muslim 2921]
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TOPIC 57-Where from will the dajjal emerge
(2244)-Sayyidina Abu Bakr reported from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) “The dajjal will emerge from a land of the east called Khurasan. There will he people with him, their faces flat like shields.’ [Ibn Majah 4072]
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Ahadith telling us about DAJJAL (the Imposter and he is called the Antichrist in the West) clearly denote that this would be some specific man from Jews who would rise to power near QAYAMAT; in spite of his ugly face that would match his ugly character, he would attract people to him and many women would particularly find some attraction towards this filthy character. The mention of KHURASAN here is to point-out that he would gain prominence due to the support of the people that have come from somewhere near to that place; this is reference to YAJUJ-MAJUJ as their ancestors belonged to that area at the utmost North of KHURASAN and they had flat faces like shields; they would assist DAJJAL to rise in the world-politics in all ways possible. He would be blind in one eye that would be ugly in looks and even the other one, by which he would be able to see, would be horrible. Ahadith sometimes point out the evil system of life too that he would present while mentioning him. As the Prophet Muhammad PBUH (the last Messenger of Allah), has informed clearly at different occasions that though the Hour (QAYAMAT) is near (as he is the first sign for it) yet he does not know the exact time of it; he would only indicate its signs. This information opens the option for interpretation of few Ahadith at this matter though the interpreters must necessarily be those who are well-versed in the basics of Islam and their interpretation must strictly be for one or two signs of the Hour only as the Prophet PBUH had specified his slight reservation on this issue only. We know that he thought IBNE SAYYAAD, a Jew child at his times, might be that one-eyed DAJJAL yet the child became a Muslim afterwards so it was an IJTEHADI mistake (that does not adversely affect the liabilities of the Prophethood). Note that the translation of the Holy Book Quran is never taken to be the Quran itself while a good translation of Ahadith might be termed as Ahadith if that is done with care. The notable point is that the DAJJALI system of life would ask attention to caring about the laws by which Allah has created everything as the Natural Laws but it would strictly avoid the mention of Allah, the True Creator; it would ask attention to caring about worldly life only but it would strictly avoid the mention of AKHIRAT; it would ask the attention to caring about the physical health only but it would strictly avoid the mention of the spiritual health. This is DAJJALI-FITNAH (trial from DAJJAL) and the stage is totally set today for such a filthy person to rise. This imposter would show by the scientific advancement in medicine & surgery not necessarily by doing them personally, that a man near to death without any hope of life would come to life even with his heart out of his body and a man afflicted with leprosy (and with other deadly infectious diseases) would heal fittingly; even the barren land would provide the amazing amount of harvest by modern methods. He would put this advancement in the science and technology at fore as challenge to Allah; with this, he would misguide all that the belief in Allah and the coming true life is obsolete. But these things have an obvious source behind them while Jesus Christ showed his amazing feats as Miracles performed by the permission of Allah. This difference between Miracles and scientific achievements without care for morality would be clear to every good Muslim as the characters of those who go by DAJJAL’s way, would tell clearly that all these people are far away from the good morals. This DAJJALI system is at the front for all persons to see as of now though it is yet to be seen how this filthy person DAJJAL rises as of now. The stone calling out to indicate a Jew in shelter might mean that even those who protect Jews would back-out of providing such protection but it might even have the literal meaning though it would be an isolated incident then.
TOPIC 58-Signs of the dajjal’s coming
(2245)-Sayyidina Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘The mighty bloodshed, the conquest of Constantinople and the emergence of the dajjal will take place within seven years.” [Abu Dawud 4295, Ibn Majah 4092]
(2246)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that the conquest of Constantinople will be the forerunner of the last Hour. [Ahmed 17646, Muslim 2937, Abu Dawud 4321, Ibn Majah 4075]
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Ahadith in the Topic seem to indicate that Constantinople (QUSTUNTUNIA as it is called in Urdu or ISTANBUL nowadays) would come to Islamic Trends near QAYAMAT with peaceful means (as reported in other Ahadith on this topic). It is already in the Muslim Rule as Turkey is the land of Muslims. The respect that Turkey has shown to Islamic Values in recent years after their suppression for many years there is certainly praiseworthy and insha Allah this respect would increase with time. As for the mighty bloodshed it is the deadly war, the warning of which is given to Jews, Christians and Muslims. But keeping in view the guidance at Surah KAHF, this war would not take place if peoples of the world come to the belief that only Allah has true authority over all things, otherwise it would certainly occur; that would be heavy blow not only to human beings but even to Humanity.
TOPIC 59-Dajjal and Yajuj Majuj
(2247)-Sayyidina Nawwas narrated, “Allah's Messenger (PBUH) mentioned Dajjal one day. He exposed his baseness and emphasized his mischief till we thought he was behind the palm trees. We then dispersed from Allah's Messenger (PBUH) only to return shortly. He recognized our state of mind and said, 'How is it with you?' We said, 'O Messenger of Allah! You mentioned Dajjal and made it soft as well as emphatic so that we imagined he was behind some palms (they meant that they have understood he is sure to come)’. He said, “More fearful to me than the Dajjal (are some other things), for if he emerges while I am among you then I will contend with him on your behalf. And if he comes and I am not among you then let everyone of you contend with him on his behalf, and Allah is the One to protect them from the mischief of Dajjal. Dajjal will be a youth with curly hair and one eye. He will resemble Abd Uzza bin Qatan (a man of pre-Islamic era). So those of you who see him, should recite the initial verses of Surah al- Kahf. He will come out from what is between Syria and Iraq and with corrupt ones right and left. O slaves of Allah, be steadfast.' We said, 'O Merssenger of Allah, how long will he tarry on earth?' He said, 'Forty days, a day like a year, a day like a month, a day like a week and the rest of his days like your days.' We submitted, 'O Messenger of Allah, will a day's prayer suffice us in the day that would be like a year?' He said, 'No but make an estimate for it.' We submitted, 'O Messenger of Allah, what will be his speed of movement on earth?’ He said, “Like rain which is driven forward by the wind. He will come to a people and invite them but they will reject him and return him his words on his face. So, he will turn away from them and their properties will follow him and they will become bereft of everyting on their hands. He will then come upon another people whom he will invite and they will respond to him and confirm him, so he will command the sky to pour rain. It will pour rain. He will command the earth to grow and it will produce crops. Their pasturing animals will come to them with their humps high, their udders full of milk. He will come upon the waste land and command it to bring forth its treasures. So, they will come out of it and go after him like swarms of bees. He will then summon a young man his youth showing on him with fulness. He will strike him with the sword and cut him into two pieces, then he will summon him and he will come revived with a shining, laughing face. While he is like that, Eesa ibn Maryam will descend in the east of Damascus at the white minaret, donned in two Saffron coloured garments, his hands on the wings of two angels. If he lowers his head, it will drip and when he raises it, those drops will fall down like shining pearls (this is a description of his extreme radiance) and no one (who disbelieves) will feel his breath but will die. And, the limit of the reach of his breath will be his sight. He will then seek the dajjal and catch up with him at the gate of Ludd, and he will kill him. Then he will stay on earth as long as Allah wills. Allah will reveal to him, ‘Collect my slaves at Tur, for I have sent there such of My slaves whom no one can fight’. Allah will then send Yajuj and Majuj. They will come as Allah has said, ---And they sally forth from every mound (21, 96)--- The first of them will pass the lake Tibriyah (Tiberias) and drink all its contents. Then the last of them will pass and remark, ‘Indeed, there was once, in here water!’ They will travel till they end up at the mountain of Bayt al Maqdas (Jerusalem). They will recall, ‘We have killed all who were on earth. So, come let us kill those who are in heaven’. They will shoot their arrows into the sky and Allah will return to them their arrows reddened as with blood. (Meanwhile) Eesa ibn Maryam (AS) and his companions will surround them and the head of an ox will seem better to each of them than a hundred dinars are to one of you today. So, Eesa ibn Maryam will turn to Allah with his companions. So, Allah will send down upon them insects on their necks, and by morning all of them would have perished as though they were one person. Eesa and his companions would descend but not find space of even a span without being filled with their fat, odour and blood. So, Eesa and his companions would again turn to Allah Who will send birds on them. Their necks will be like camels necks and they will carry the corpses away to mahbul. Thereafter, Muslims will kindle fire with their arrows, bows and quivers for seven years. Allah will send down on them rain which no mudhouse or tent will keep out but the earth will be washed and it will shine like glass. Then the earth will be commanded to grow its fruit and other produce and bring back its blessings. A whole group will eat from the pomegrenate and they will shelter themselves under its peel. There will be tremendous blessing in milk so that a whole group of men will be satiated with the milk of one she-camel, a whole tribe with the milk of a cow and a whole family with the milk of a shegoat. While they are thus living, Allah will send a wind that will take away the soul of every believer, but there will remain the evil people who will have sexual intercourse on the roads just as asses have. The Hour will come upon them.”
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TOPIC 60-About the dajjal’s description
(2248)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about the dajjal. He said, “Know that your Lord is not one eyed; know that the dajjal is blind in the right eye as though it were a swollen grape.” [Muslim 169]
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Surah KAHAF is medicine to DAJJALI FITNAH (trials from DAJJAL) as it guides attention towards the true authority of Allah; towards the futility of the worldly life and the worthiness of AKHIRAT; towards baseness of caring totally about physical health and asks to keep spiritual purity by good words that praise Allah, the True Lord. The Hadith at topic-59 again clarifies that the Prophet (PBUH) did not know the exact time for coming of DAJJAL as the Prophet (PBUH) said that if he comes in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH), the Prophet would fight him then & there (this also clarifies that it is not necessary that Jesus Christ-AS slay DAJJAL). However, it gives a description of DAJJAL and of the power he would have to trouble the good people yet these true adherents to Islam would not only challenge him but eliminate his impression totally insha Allah. The increase in length in days is difficult to interpret and ULAMA have taken it literally yet that does not much feasible; but, in the physical sense if the Sun is occulted for days and even more than a month by some reason (and that meaning is much possible here as the Hadith tells here to keep the calculation of days by speculation at such occasion for prayers) or in the psychological sense if the trouble seems to make the days very long, the words in Ahadith are clear then; the former meaning seems better. The cutting of a man into two pieces is a clear indication of surgical processes and the fast movement of DAJJAL seems clearly to be so due to the fast modern means of conveyance that we find at the current world; by keeping all Ahadith related to the narration of the events near QAYAMAT, it seems totally clear that we are most certainly livng in this very time that is near QAYAMAT; see also the note at TOPIC-57.
TOPIC 61-DAJJAL cannot enter Madinah
(2249)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “DAJJAL will head for Madinah, but will find that the angels have surrounded it. So, plague and DAJJAL will not enter Madinah, Insha Allah.” [Bukhari 7134, Ahmed 12246]
(2250)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Faith came from Yaman while disbelief came from the direction of east. The shepherds posses stranquility and humility while the keepers of camels and horses are arrogant and ostentatious. When DAJJAL will reach the Uhud Mountain, on its other side, the angels will turn him about towards the direction of Syria. And, there he will perish.” [Bukhari 3499, Muslim 52]
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TOPIC 62-EESA ibn MARIUM (AS) will slay DAJJAL
(2251)-Sayyidina Mujamma ibn Jariyah Ansari (RA) reported having heard Allah’s Messenger say, “IBN MARYAM will kill DAJJAL at the gate of Ludd (Lod).” [Ahmed 15466]
(2252)-Qatadah reported having heard Sayyidina Anas (RA) narrate that Allah’s Messenger said, “There has not been a Prophet (PBUH) who has not warned his people of the one-eyed, the Liar. Know it that he will be one-eyed while your Lord is not one-eyed. It will be inscribed between his eyes KA-FA-RA (Kafir i.e. infidel). [Bukhari 7131, Muslim 2933]
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This topic clearly informs about the place where DAJJAL would be slayed and that is at the airport of LOD at Israel; the land of Syria (Israel included) is informed to be his place of death. As for the arrival of EESA ibn MARYAM for the second time (I, MSD, refrain deliberately from calling this matter as the Second Coming as this term clearly has a specific significance in the Christian Belief), I have already clarified at the TOPIC-54 that this is not possible by the Islamic reasoning; we have to keep some options in view here in our study. The first is that in this matter, we might consider the option that the Prophet (PBUH) has said this in the capacity of BASHAR (a man) and it is allowed to differ to him if he has said something in that capacity yet he has not mentioned that at this matter and we have no way to know this for certain now; this makes it a difficult option to take while at such times, Allah did provide for that mistake to come at fore so that people know clearly that the matter is not binding; it might ask consideration in the present situation with regards to the last RUKU of Surah MAE’DAH that descended in the very last of the Prophet’s worldly life on him. The second is that if there seems any margin to take the information in Ahadith about the second arrival of EESA (Salam on him) to the worldly life in other than literal sense then that is worthy of consideration; but seeing the words where the clear indication to Jesus Christ (Salam on him) is pointed out, this is not feasible. The third option is to take the Ahadith in literal sense and that is how ULAMA take it and generally Muslims also do in their following so this is a valid stance without any adversity to Islamic Teachings; I do not find this appropriate as I have written without challenging anyone with the Islamic reasoning for my stance too; this issue remained at theory before these current times yet it does need attention now to decide its worthiness in practice. The fourth option that ironically has never been considered is that the Prophet (PBUH) was pointing out that Jesus Christ (Salam on him) would be a sign of QAYAMAT not because of his second arrival to the world but in some other way; this is most feasible in my opinion and the term used i.e. “his NUZUL (Descent)” might be an indication that he would certainly become a major sign near QAYAMAT; actually the elimination of DAJJAL would remind all the people that would be living at that time, about the miracles of Jesus Christ (Salam on him), the great man and the Messenger of Allah. Ahadith tell that he would challenge DAJJAL face to face but this challenge might somehow trigger the good memories of the life of Jesus Christ; the interpretation of Ahadith in this way does ask to omit detail about wars that Jesus would take on him after his descent. The Holy Book Quran has two verses that are directly related to the fact that Jesus Christ (Salam on him) would be one of major signs for QAYAMAT in some way and those are in Surah NISA (the fourth Surah; see the note at H-2240) and Surah ZUKHRUF (the forty-third Surah). Surah ZUKHRUF mentions, “And most surely he (ISA) is knowledge of the hour, therefore have no doubt about it and follow me; this is the right path” (Surah ZUKHRUF-61). In both these verses, Allah tells us in the Holy Book Quran that Jesus Christ is the sign of QAYAMAT in some way; so the verses of the Holy Book Quran and Ahadith are very clear that Jesus Christ is certainly one of the major signs of QAYAMAT not because he is coming to the worldly life again but in some way (that only Allah knows better and we would only know it as it comes to pass). The better thing to do in this matter is to see how events shape out with tolerance to each others’ views as surely this time is crucial; the very last of major signs are sure to come at any time now, QAYAMAT being totally near for sure; and Allah knows better.
TOPIC 63-About Ibn Sayyaad
(2253)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (RA) narrated lbn Sayyaad performed Hajj or Umrah with me. (During the journey), people overtook us and the two of us were left behind (to ourselves). When I was alone with him, I sensed a fear. I was terrified because people used to say things about him. When I stopped (at a place), I said to him, “Put down your provision by this tree,” He spied some sheep so took a bowl to them and brought their milk saying to me, “Drink O Abu Sa’eed.” I disliked drinking anything from his hands because of what people said about him. So, I said to him, “This is a hot day and I do not like milk in the heat.” He said, “O Abu Sa’eed, I have resolved to take a rope and tie it to the tree and strangulate my neck because of what people say about me. You see that if my condition is concealed from others, it is not concealed from you. You know better than other people the hadith of Allah’s Messenger ‘O company of the Ansar, he (dajjal) is a disbeliever and I, the Messenger (PBUH; also) say that he is childless’, but I have left behind my son in Madinah. Did he not say that the (dajjal) cannot enter Makkah, but am I not one of the people of Madinah? And I am going to Makkah with you.” He did not cease to speak in this fashion till I thought that people might be lying about him. He then said, “O Abu Sa’eed! Indeed, I will inform you of news, true news. By Allah, I know him and I know his father and where he is on earth now.” So, I said, “May evil befall you all day!” [Muslim 2927]
(2254)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger met Ibn Sayyaad on some roads of Madinah. He stopped him. Ibn Sayyaad was a Jew child who had long hair plaited on the head. Sayyidina Abu Bakr (RA) and Umar (RA) were with the Prophet (PBUH) who said to him, “Testify that I am Allah’s Messenger.” He said, “Do you testify that I am Allah’s Messenger?” So, he said, ‘I believe in Allah, His Books, His Messenger and the Last Day.’ Then the Prophet (PBUH) asked him, “What do you see?” He said, “I see a throne above water.” The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “You see the throne of Iblis above the ocean.” He again asked him what he saw and Ibn Sayyad said, “I see one true and two false, or two true and one false.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “This has become confusion for him.” And then he left him alone. [Bukhari 3055, Muslim 2925]
(2255)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah reported that for thirty years the dajjal’s parents will have no children. Then a child will be born to them with one eye. He will be more harmful than beneficial. His eyes will sleep, but his heart will not sleep. Allah’s Messenger then described to them the dajjals parents, saying, “His father would be tall and lean with a nose pointed like a hen’s beak. His mother will be a large woman with long arms.” Abu Bakrah said that he heard of the birth of a Jew child, so he and Zubayr ibn Awwam (RA) went to see him. They found his parents as described by Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). They said, “We waited for a child for thirty years. Then, a child blind in one eye was born to us, more harmful than of benefit. His eyes sleep, but not his heart.” Then they went out from them. Their sight fell on the child lying in a thick sheet of cloth in the sun. He was murmuring something. He asked them, “What did you say?” We asked, “Did you hear us?” He said, “Yes, My eyes sleep but my heart keeps awake.” [Ahmed 20440]
(2256)-Sayyidina lbn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger and some of his Sahabah, Umar (RA) among them, passed by Ibn Sayyaad. He was playing with some children near the fort of Banu Maghalah. He was a child and did not perceive that the Prophet (PBUH) come until he touched him on his back with his hand and said, “Do you bear witness that I am Allah’s Messenger?” Ibn Sayyaad looked at him and said, ‘I bear witness that you are the Messenger for the unlettered.” Then he said to the Prophet (PBUH), “Do you bear witness that I am Allah’s Messenger?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “I believe in Allah and His Messenger.” He then asked, “What do you get (of news)?” Ibn Sayyad said, “I get true and false (information).” So the Prophet (PBUH) said, “It is confused over you.” He then said, “I think of something for you, (tell about it)” and he thought for him the verse ---When the heaven shall bring a manifest smoke (44, 10). So, Ibn Sayyad said, “It is smoke.” Allah’s Messenger said, “Off you go! You cannot go beyond that.” Umar (RA) said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Allow me to strike off his neck’. But, Allah’s Messenger said, “If he is that, you will have no power over him. But if he is not then there is no good in killing him.” Abdur Razzaq clarified that here “that” meant dajjal. [Ahmed 6368]
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Ahadith at this topic clarify that the Prophet (PBUH) thought IBN SAYYAAD, a child born to Jews at Madinah, as the same person that many prophets had warned against i.e. the one-eyed DAJJAL. However, he clarified that he was not sure about this by saying ‘if he is that, you will have no power over him’ (see the last of Hadith 2256) yet there were SAHABA who took this boy to be DAJJAL even long after the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH). IBN SAYYAAD died in Madinah an uneventful death before his old age and as such he was not the one-eyed DAJJAL that is still awaited. Amazingly, this child was one-eyed and did have some adverse spiritual power as he told the Prophet (PBUH) when the Prophet met him as he grew up that the Prophet had thought something about smoke and the Prophet had really thought about it i.e. the verse 10 about “Smoke” in the Surah by the same name “the Smoke” that is the forty-fourth Surah of the Holy Book Quran. Most probably he was affected by the mental condition that is named as Schizophrenia in the modern terminology in which the affected person even hears voices as if inside his mind and sometimes, even hallucinates. This incident of meeting of the Prophet (PBUH) with this boy is interesting in this respect that the Prophet (PBUH) clarified that whatever adverse spiritual power he had, led him just to confusion. This remark tells explicitly that the WAHI (Guidance from Allah) never puts any Prophet in any confusion who receives it and in fact it clarifies matters; as such WAHI is righteousness in comparison to the schizophrenic mania that is only confusion that sometimes provides the right guidance but mostly satanic messages as the boy readily accepted; he had the experience that he gets both the true and the false information; he also saw satanic throne on the waters as the Prophet (PBUH) clarified.
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(2257)-Sayyidina Jabir (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There is not on earth a soul living today and having gone through a hundred years.” [Muslim 2538]
(2258)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger led us in the Salah of ISHA towards the end of his life. When he had finished, he stood up and said, “Do you see this night of yours? After a hundred years from it, there will not remain anyone of those on the face of the earth today.” Ibn Umar (RA) said that the people misinterpreted Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) words about not remaining for a hundred years though he only said, “There will not remain anyone of those today on the face of the earth after a qarn” (which is a hundred years or a generation). [Bukhari 116, Muslim 2537, Abu Dawud 4348]
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TOPIC 65-It is disallowed to revile the wind
(2259)-Sayyidina Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Do not revile the wind. When you experience that which you dislike then say, 'O Allah, we ask you for the good of this wind and the good of what is in it and the good with which it is commanded. And we seek refuge in You from the evil of this wind and the evil of what it is commanded'.” [Muslim 942]
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Ahadith in the topic-64 are not related to QAYAMAT as the Prophet (PBUH) had mentioned that he did not know its timing. The narrations here point out that those living now even if they are children (exceptions aside), would have departed from the world in just hundred years and for such a short period of life, how much the people do. It guides to remember death and remain attentive towards Allah as that only is the aim of life and no other. H-2259 points out that though it is allowed to say something adverse about a person through whom trials come yet Muslims must not abuse those things that are commanded directly by Allah to put some trial; that would be saying something adverse about Allah and that is disallowed.
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(2260)-Sayyidah Fatimah bint Qays (RA) narrated that once the Prophet (PBUH) went up the pulpit and laughed; (a high smile rather); and said that Tamim Dari had related to me an account which pleased me and I love to recount it to you. Some people of Palestine boarded a ship and sailed in the ocean. The waves menaced it till they took them to an island of the several in the ocean. There they encountered a beast with so much hair on it (that it covered all its body). They said, “What are you?” It said, “I am JASSASAH.” They said, “Tell us something.” It said, “I will neither tell you anything nor ask you about anything. But, approach the farthest village. There, someone will inform you and ask you.” So, they went to the edge of the village and found a man fettered by a chain. He asked them, “Tell me about the spring of Zughar.” They told him that it was full with water bubbling out. He asked them about Buhairah and they told him that it was also full with water bubbling out. He asked them about the palm trees of Baisan that is between Jordan and Palestine if it is fruit-bearing. They said, “Yes.” He asked whether the Prophet (PBUH) was sent and they affirmed that he was. He asked, “How do the people respond to him?” They said, “With speed.” He jerked himself with great force till he almost freed himself. They asked, “Who are you?” He said, “I am DAJJAL.” And he will go to all cities except Taybah that is Madinah. [Muslim 2942]
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This narration tells about a group of people from Palestine who were on voyage on a ship that was accidentally led to the place where there were many islands; seems a place in the Atlantic Ocean that might be near the weird triangle though that indeed is far away from Palestine. There they met two men; first was like some hairy beast because his hair covered all his body and he was named JASSASAH (that means a female spy); this wild man did not converse to them much giving them indication to find another wild man at the other corner of the place with whom they could converse better. Now that indicated man was chained though the narration does not clarify by whom, why and since when yet he posed some questions that were addressed to confirm if the water-sources of Syria (Jordan & Palestine included) are bringing forth good water for drinking & cultivation and the lands there were bringing forth good harvest & fruits to eat. Getting answers in affirmative, he directly asked if the Prophet has come. It seems that the abundance of good food and water at Syria was a sign to him for the arrival of the Prophet (PBUH). As for his being DAJJAL, it is clear that he was not that one-eyed one that is still awaited as now centuries have passed to this incident. However, he was one of the 30 other DAJJALS than the one-eyed evil character that have risen at different times and at different places, who might have been waiting to challenge the Prophet (PBUH) at his advent; again it is clear by the study of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, that he never got the chance to fulfill his evil desire. The Prophet (PBUH) did take him to be DAJJAL of lesser level and so he narrated the event at the pulpit.
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(2261)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “It does not behove a Muslim to humiliate himself.” Someone asked, “How can one humiliate himself?” He said, “He involves himself in a difficulty out of which he cannot extract himself.” [Ibn Majah 4016]
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TOPIC 68-A believer does not humiliate his own self
(2262)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed.” Someone asked, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) I do help the oppressed. But how can I help the oppressor?” He said, “Prevent him from being oppressive. That is your help to him.” [Bukhari 2443]
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Both the Ahadith clearly ask Muslims to help each other in times of need and they also ask Muslims not to put themselves in such a position on purpose where they need help, specially where a person might become an oppressor or an oppressed. However, if such a situation does arise, Muslims must provide assistance to the oppressor (especially if he is one of close relatives) by stopping him from committing injustice and to the oppressed by standing by him in the times of need and helping him financially, morally and in all ways possible.
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(2263)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who stays in the desert is harsh; he who pursues game is neglectful; he who frequents the gates of the monarchs gets into trials.” [Abu Dawud 2859, Nasai 4320]
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The narration clarifies that a person must not remain out of touch with the current affairs in the ordinary business of life, as that makes for harshness in the personality. Note that to stay away from the worldly matters in the times of trial is not addressed here as we have studied (in Hadith 2184) that at such times, a person must not go by the trend but he would challenge this style to correct peoples’ attitudes or would keep away from all such people intentionally going away to some far-off place to at least save his own-self at these times. However, he must not become totally oblivious of the surroundings even then, and must remain somewhat aware of the current affairs around. Also, a person must not become obsessed with an activity related to animals especially hunting them, as obsession in that activity asks to neglect the respect of the honor of lives of people too with time; a person must not become near to such monarchs (and in today’s terminology such officials) who care but little about good morals as that would amount to negligence of his own honor so he should avoid their closeness strictly.
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(2264)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “You are those who will be helped, who will be bestowed wealth, and who will be granted victories. So, those of you who are among them must fear Allah, and enjoin piety and forbid evil. And he who ascribes lies to me must take his place in the fire.” [Ahmed 380]
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(2265)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah (RA) reported that Sayyidina Umar (RA) asked, “Which of you remembers the sayings of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about fitnah?” So he, Hudhayfah, said, “I do.” He then narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The fitnah (trial) for a man rests in his family, wealth, children and neighbours (concerning rights attached to them which he might violate and become sinful). They are atoned by Salah, Saum, Sadaqah, enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil.” Umar (RA) said, “This is not what I asked. I asked about the trial and commotion that will rise like waves of the ocean.” He said, “O Amir-ul-Mumineen (Commander of the faithful), there is between you and it a closed door.” Umar asked, “Will it he opened or broken?” He said, “It will be broken.” So, he said, “In that case, it will not be closed till the Last Hour.” Abu Wail said in the hadith of Hammad that he said to Masruq, “Ask Hudhayfah, what is the door?” He said, “That is Umar himself.” [Bukhari 525, M 144]
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This narration reports both individual and collective trials of Muslims; the individual trial relates to all times at all places while the specific collective trial mentioned here relates to the period that would end with the demise of last of SAHABA. The individual trial takes place through the rights that a person would give to his near ones; and he would take care about the Commands of Allah for his assets too. However, UMAR (RA) being the Caliph was interested in the collective FITNAH and for that trial, HUDHAYFAH (RA) clarified that Umar need not worry as in his presence, those would not show up as he was like a closed door for that. He clarified that this door would be broken that indicated that Umar would be slayed; Umar confirmed and mentioned that afterwards that FITNAH would go on up-to a long time in the future; the FITNAH of political differences (that led also to differences in issues of religious nature with time) among Muslims did take place after he was killed yet UTHMAN (RA) did manage to slow down its pace to affect Muslims; with his murder too, that pace did accelerate. Although not mentioned, yet this information here about both individual and collective trials was told by the Prophet (PBUH) as other Ahadith clarify; both HUDHAYFAH and UMAR knew about this well.
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(2266)-Sayyidina Ka’b ibn Ujrah narrated Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to us and we were nine people made up of five and four either of the two numbers representing Arabs and non-Arabs. He said, “Hear it! Have you heard that there will be rulers after me? If anyone goes to them and despite their falsehood vouches for their truth and despite their tyranny helps them over their oppression then he is not mine and I am not his and he will not make it to my pond. And as for him, who does not go to them and does not aid them in their oppression and does not vouch their lies to be true, he is mine and I belong to him and he will come to me at the pond.” [Nasai 4219]
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(2267)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A time will come on the people when the patient among them on his religion (meaning the one fulfilling Islamic obligations) will be like one who holds burning coal.”
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How plainly these words at H-2267 tell about the present era, the times of extreme FITNAH. Note that Islamic Commands are related to all fields of life and it is an integrated system of life though not totalitarian; at the Islamic Environment, the electronic media must indicate any high wrongful activity that has been commited, faster than immediately for its elimination at the private level without being unjust on its part or without being promoter to vulgar filthy views; this service of the electronic media to the people is commendable when it is aware of its responsibility fittingly; tolerance to different views when they all are at least at the status of MUBAH, must prevail at the Islamic Environment. Note that Islam does not favor Secularism in any way as it claims to be the complete system of life that has its own way to deal the political, the economic, the judicial and all of the social aspect of the human-life; it also does not appreciate the thought that the Man is but an animal as that challenges his true good self inside (FITHRAT); all its integrated practice remains always in accordance with this inner voice of the human beings; that is why it is not totalitarian as it satiates the inner self of the Man. The delicate difference of Islam to the totalitarianism is not easy for such person that is not well-acquainted with Islamic Teachings, to detect and as such, only the manifestation of it in practice would clarify that difference. It is becoming difficult day by day to live by Islamic Commands as there is not much care about the implementation of these commands collectively at the level of the Government (even where Muslims are at the majority) specially those that ask for justice; many ordinary persons have to show ignorance on purpose at the violation of these commands at times due to lack of authority to correct the situation even though they understand that this violation is highly immoral. I, MSD, pray that may Allah give rise in authority to such good persons that might change the world for the better by their true care about humanity.
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(2268)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “When men of my ummah walk with conceit and children of kings serve them, the kings of Persia and Rome, then worse of them will rule over the best of them.”
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(2269)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah (RA) narrated that Allah protected me with something that I heard from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) when Chosroe was ruined. He asked, “Who has succeeded him?” They said, ‘His daughter’. So, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “People will not prosper when their affairs are dictated by a woman.” Sayyidina Abu Bakrah said, “When Aisha (RA) came to Busrah, I remembered the saying of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and thus Allah saved me with this.” [Bukhari 4425]
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Due to the command of HEJAB, women are disallowed to come at authority; though a woman would have limited authority even to the working as a member of the parliament but that would not manifest by high profile or high activity. Due to neglect of this command, Muslims have suffered a lot and have gone through much trying times. The only thing that would better the situation is total adherence to Islamic Commands insha Allah as is becoming clear day by day; Al-Hamdu Lillah. Note for this narration (2269) that Ayesha (RA) had challenged the authority of Ali (RA) on the grounds that he was not arresting the killers of UTHMAN (RA) that he must do without seeing to any other matter; ALI (RA) asked to have patience so that he might consolidate his authority among Muslims to reasonable extent; he would see to that need then; the battle of JAML that resulted by this difference is one of the most sad incidents of that time. ABU-BAKRAH (RA) did well to keep totally afar of this challenge of AYESHA (RA) to ALI (RA) according to the guidance of this Hadith and thus he saved himself from the bad effect of that FITNAH.
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(2270)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) stood by certain people who were seated. He said, “Shall I inform you of the best of you and the worst of you?” They observed silence. So he repeated his words three times, and a man said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah; inform us of the best of us and the worst of us.” He said, “The best of you is he from whom his good is expected and from his evil, protection is expected. And the worst of you is he from whom his good is not expected and from his evil, no protection is expected.” [Ahmed 3808]
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(2271)-Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Shall I not inform you of the best of your rulers and the worst of them? The best of them are they whom you love and they love you and you pray for them and they pray for you. And the worst of them are they whom you despise and they despise you and you curse them and they curse you.”
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(2272)-Umm Salamah (or Abu Salamah) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “There will come over you rulers whom you like and whom you dislike. So, he who dislikes their evil will be absolved, and he who hates them will be safe, but he who is pleased and obeys (will be destroyed).” So, it was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah (PBUH); shall we not fight them?’ He said, “No, as long as they offer Salah.” [Muslim 1854]
(2273)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) has said that when your rulers are the best of you and your rich the most generous of you and your affairs are decided on mutual consultation among you then the surface of earth is better for you than its belly. But, when your rulers are the worst of you and your rich are the most niggardly of you and your affairs are in the hands of your women then the belly of the earth is better for you than its surface.
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Ahadith at Topics 76, 77 and 78 tell us that injustice to fellow-beings is higly blameworthy. It is necessary for the ruler at authority to be totally committed to the welfare of his people and try to care about the comfort of the needy even at the expense of the luxuries of the privileged. He must not be given to pleasures of the worldly life but he must care; and guide towards care; for AKHIRAT as much as possible. The Prophet (PBUH) prohibited revolt against the unjust rulers when they care about SALAH even superficially as that might lead them to ask Allah for pardon and if that does not happen, at least there is high probability of good people coming to authority after them as the Islamic Principles remain unchallenged due to the fear of the good people that these wrong ones have, if they touch them adversely. Rebellion to them, might claim many of lives at both sides that might cause havoc hard to compensate for many years to come; tell the Truth as it is and hope for the best is the straight attitude to take in these times of FITNAH. The last Hadith clarifies that living the life when rulers are good Muslims, is the best of living while at the time when rulers are totally neglectful of their obligations about the care of the people (about the foods they need & about the true guidance), life is not worth living; this means that the people should try to change the situation collectively with peaceful means without getting deterred by any setback that they encounter in the process.
TOPIC 79-No Caption
(2274)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘You are in an era when if one of you neglects even one-tenth of what he is commanded, he will perish. But, a time will come when if anyone does only one-tenth of what he is commanded, he will be safe.’
(2275)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger stood on the pulpit and said, “Here is the land of mischief and trials” and he pointed to the east, “from where rises the horn of the devil.” Or he said, “The horn of the sun.” [Ahmed 5109, Bukhari 3279, Muslim 6648]
(2276)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will emerge from Khurasan black flags. No one will be able to check them till they are posted at Eeliya.” (That is Baytal Maqdas).
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It was expected from SAHABA that they would fulfill not only all necessary commands of Islam but also those commands that are by designation, SUNNAT-GHAIR MUKKADAH or among the MUSTAHIBAAT; they would avoid all that is HARAAM and all that is MAKRUH TEHRIMI. However, after them, if a Muslim person fulfils the necessary Islamic commands only and avoids all HARAAM and all that is MAKRUH TAHRIMI, he certainly is worthy Muslim. The land of trials according to the indication of the Prophet (PBUH) is in the East from Madinah though it is better not to be specific on this. Note that KHURASAN is the area at upper Pakistan & Afghanistan; there live those Muslims who are called PATHAN; they are warriors by nature and prefer the life of the martial character; if once aroused to fight by anyone who challenges them hotly without much reason, they might go to heights in fighting a deadly war for years onwards remembering to avenge their relatives that fall at the field during the combat; they do have the gut to protect the places that Islam values once they set their-selves to it; Al-Hamdu Lillah. At the last here, I would point out that if peoples of the world do not tolerate each other with respect, the world would surely go towards an amazingly deadly war as is written. We might stop it even now with the power of tolerance in true sense as we certainly are human-beings, not wild animals. The ancient books tell about this great deadly war and even Ahadith point out that this would take place at the site of Syria; that includes Jordan, Palestine and other adjacent areas (see Ahadith at topic 58 & 59 of this booklet of FITAN); it surely is MUALLAQ and we should try to develop at-least that minimum sense of Humanity that could stop this MUALLAQ to become MUBRAM; it would be done collectively by all peoples of the world. We might still turn this situation to the favor of Humanity but the only hope for that is SURAH-KAHAF that tells us in the very beginning that if all do recognize the authority of Allah, all problems of Human Beings would vanish certainly. Ahadith have indicated that whoever reads (that means understands, believes and practices) the initial verses of Surah KAHAF, he would save himself from the FITNAH of DAJJAL (see Topic-59 of this Booklet); please read my comments on Surah KAHAF that is available at the net.
37- BOOK ON DREAMS & VISION (10 topics)
TOPIC 1-Believer’s dream is the 46th portion of Prophethood
(2277)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “As the time draws near, the dream of a believer will not be false and the truest dream will be of one who is truest in speech. And, the dream of the Muslim is a portion of the forty-six portions of Prophet-Hood. And dreams are of three kinds, good dreams are glad tidings from Allah, bad dreams are from the devil and there are dreams about what man experiences with him-self. So, when one of you sees a dream that he does not like then he must stand up and spit (out to a side) and he must not mention it to the people.” He also said, “I love to see a chain in my dream because the noblest fetters are to be steadfast in religion and I hate the fetters in the neck.” [Bukhari 7017, Muslim 2263]
(2278)-Sayyidina Ubadah ibn Samit (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A believer’s dream is a portion of the forty-six portion of Prophet-Hood.” [Bukhari 6983, Muslim 2264]
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From here, we have the booklet containing narrations about Dreams. Although much commendable work has been done in the West on the interpretation of Dreams yet Muslims have always been a notch ahead as ULAMA always gave their special attention to this topic. Muhammad IBN-SIRIN, who was one of the sound narrators in Ahadith (and here in JAME’ TIRMIDHI too, he participates in many chains of narrations), was adept in interpretation of Dreams and his Arabic book “the meanings of Dreams” is still the masterpiece on the subject. Please note that Muslims had always been very good at different aspects of Medicine, Astronomy and Spiritual Study (the matter of Psychology nowadays) but that was uptil some two & half centuries ago from now (2011). According to the standard of those days, Muslims used to dominate the sphere of Knowledge when the challenge of Western Imperialism brought a halt to their progress in the achievement of knowledge that was already at decline. We Muslims are still much better to provide the limits that good morals do impose at these three matters but as there seems no interest in the recognition of such limits, so we mostly do refrain from their mention. It is surprising that the West does not recognize the merit of Muslims’ works though only by the knowledge gained through the Muslim Spain initially, the West was able to come to the era of Renaissance around 500 years ago. However, this statement is not to get any attention towards our worth for it is no problem to us if the West does not intend to recognize that; I present it just as a fact that history does record well. As true dreams might tell something about the near future to the dreamer by the will of Allah, so Ahadith mention them as the 46th part of the Prophethood; in actual, the Prophethood is not divisible so this does not mean in any way that it is partially some kind of prophethood. The chains at the feet mean that the person would be steadfast on the Islamic way of life he believes in to get JANNAH (Paradise) and fetters at the neck mean that he has picked up the load of sins going towards JAHANNUM (Hell).
TOPIC 2-Prophet Hood is over but glad tidings continue
(2279)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Indeed, the arrival of Messengers and Prophets have ceased. So, there is no Messenger after me and no Prophet.” That seemed hard on the people so he added, “But the MUBASHIRAAT (glad tidings) remain.” Sahabah said, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH); what are the Mubashiraat (glad tidings)?” He said, “Dreams of a Muslim and they are a portion of the portions of Prophet-Hood.” [Ahmed 13825]
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TOPIC 3-For them are glad tidings in this life
(2280)-Ata ibn Yasar narrated that a man from Egypt asked Sayyidina Abu Darda (RA) about those words of Allah the Majestic, the Glorious,---For them are glad tidings in the life of this world (10, 64)--- He said, “No one besides you and one other man has asked me to explain this verse since I had asked Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about it. When I had asked him, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) also disclosed that no one has asked him besides me since the verse was revealed. It means good dreams that a Muslim sees or that are shown to him.” [Ahmed 22751]
(2281)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘The truest of dreams are those seen little before dawn’. [Ahmed 11650]
(2282)-Sayyidina Ubadah ibn Samit (RA) reported that he asked Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about Allah’s words, ---'For them are glad tidings in the life of this world' (10, 64). He said, “This is a good dream that a Muslim sees or is shown.” [Ahmed 22750]
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Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last Messenger of Allah and only dreams of a pious person would tell something in some limit about future now. The Holy Book Quran remarks in the 64th verse of Surah Younus the 10th Surah that “they (the friends of Allah) shall have good news in this world's life and in the hereafter; there is no changing the words of Allah; that is the mighty achievement.” The good news for the hereafter (AKHIRAT) is the achievement of JANNAH (Paradise) but even in this world, the friends of Allah are given glad tidings by dreams so that they understand that Allah is caring for them and keep steadfast on the Truth without any worry of any trouble that might come their way. The truest dreams are those that are seen just at FAJR near to the dawn and according to IBN SIREEN, if these are related to the future then they happen in the near future; the rule given is that the dream about the future would come at fore as soon as it is near to the dawn i.e the nearer the sooner.
TOPIC 4-No Caption
(2283)-Sayyidina Abdullah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who sees me in a dream has indeed seen me, for the devil does not take up my appearance.” [Ibn Majah 3900, Ahmed 3798]
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To see the Prophet (PBUH) in a dream means clearly that the dreamer has seen the Prophet (PBUH) certainly. However there is an exception if a righteous person sees the Prophet (PBUH) in a way he did not use to live; laughing a lot or in an unclean dress or abusing someone; then this means that though the dreamer might be a good person yet he is doing something against the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) on purpose due to some reason of his own; he must better his ways as soon as possible and he has not seen the Prophet (PBUH) but the adversity that he has committed towards himself, is shown to him in the dream.
TOPIC 5-On seeing that which a person dislikes
(2284)-Sayyidina Abu Qatadah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The RU’YA (good dream) is from Allah while the HULM (bad dream) is from the devil. Thus if one of you sees something that he dislikes then let him spit three times to his left and seek refuge in Allah from the evil of this dream. Then it will not harm him.” [Bukhari 3392 Muslim 2261]
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This is a wonderful way to clear all evil of the dream that if a persons sees a bad dream he should spit at the left side three times as he wakes up (he might just blow at the air three times turning the head to the left and that would suffice). To ask Allah for refuge means that he should read something from the Holy Book Quran with intention of seeking refuge; Surah FATIHA, the first Surah, and Surah FALAQ & Surah NAAS, the last two Surah, are recommendable at this occasion. The Holy Book Quran informs us that the good deeds wipe off the bad deeds; so all petty adversities finish-off as the Muslim person prays and seeks refuge in Allah’s mercy. He must not narrate the dream that seems bad, to anyone and if intends to sleep more, he must change his posture.
TOPIC 6-About interpreting dreams
(2285)-Sayyidina Abu Razin Uqayli (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, the dream of the believer is a part of the forty parts of Prophet Hood. It is at the feet of a bird as long as he does not speak about it. When be speaks about it, it settles.” The narrator thought that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Talk not about it except to an intelligent person or to a friend.” [Ahmed 16205]
(2286)-Sayyidina Abu Razin Uqayli (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “A Muslim’s dream is a part of the forty six parts of Prophet Hood. It is on the foot of a bird as long as he does not relate it. But when he relates it, it settles.”
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We have just studied that a part of Prophethood does not mean that it is actually any part of it but it expresses the fact that as a Prophet of Allah tells about the future by the will of Allah, so the dream of a truthful person also tells about it though at much lesser degree by the will of Allah. The dreamer must only narrate his dream that seems good to his well-wisher, knowledgable in interpretation of dreams, and not to all. When the dream is told and interpreted, it affects in some spiritual way so taking some care is necessary. IBN SIREEN was told about a man who had seen at the dream that he had a foot at one area and the other foot at some other; that dreamer told this dream to some person that was ignorant of interpreting dreams, who told him that this means a cruel death and then the dreamer died after some time. IBN SIREEN became sad at this and informed that this dream meant that this man would have had a good name far & wide if only he had lived; the foot of bird indicates that the dreamer must hold tight to the dream and not let the people know about it in general; he should tell it to the understanding well-wisher who might guide him well.
TOPIC 7-Interpreting a dream; what is liked and what is disliked
(2287)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Dreams are of three kinds, true dreams, dreams following a person’s personal experience and sad dreams which are from the devil. If anyone sees what he dislikes then he must stand up and offer Salah.” He also said, “I like to see a chain but I dislike being fettered in the neck. The chain is symbolic of steadfastness on religion.” He also said, “If anyone sees me then I am really seen and the devil cannot imitate me.” He also said, “Do not relate the dream save to a learned or to a well-wisher.” [Muslim 2266]
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This Hadith is summary to Ahadith we have just studied and it tells that SALAH would eliminate the bad effect of a negative dream. It is the way to seek refuge in Allah’s mercy and “The Good Deeds wipe off the Bad Deeds” (verse 114 of Surah HUD, the eleventh Surah), especially means that SALAH wipes off the petty bad deeds. This verse was related on the occasion when one among SAHABA had kissed and fondled an unrelated woman (though without the sexual act) and had notified the act himself to the Prophet (PBUH); he had asked his comment and his verdict against the deed committed (see Hadith 3123 for reference). Certainly, attention towards Allah eliminates all wrongs in a man; and even in a woman for that matter. All the adverse effect of a negative dream; in fact of all negative things; would totally fade away by seeking refuge in Allah’s mercy; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 8-About one who lies when narrating his dream
(2288)-It is reported on the authority of Sayyidina Ali (RA) and the narrator thought that he reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that if anyone lies while describing his dream, then he will be charged on the Day of Resurrection to tie a knot to a seed of barley.” [Ahmed 568]
(2289)-Qutaybah reported a similar hadith from Abu Awanah, from Abdul-Ala, from Abu Abdul Rahman Sulami, from the Prophet (PBUH).
(2290)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that he Prophet (PBUH) said, “If anyone tells a false dream then on the day of Resurrection, he would be asked to tie a knot between two seeds of barley and he will never be able to tie them together.” [Bukhari 7042]
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The narrations here tell how wrong it is to make a dream just by self and tell it for fun or for any other reason whatsoever. The punishment is severe as it is not possible to tie a knot between such small items like seeds of barley and they are inflexible too. The Hadith clearly indicates not to say lies in telling the dreams; if that lie denotes some adverse incident, it might even affect adversely in the worldly life; the avoidance of such wrong is most necessary.
TOPIC 9-Prophet's (PBUH) dream of milk and shirts
(2291)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “While I was asleep, a bowl of milk was brought to me. I drank from it andthen gave the rest of it to Umar ibn Khattab.” Sahabah (RA) asked, “What is your interpretation of it, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)?” He said, “Knowledge.” [Bukhari 82]
(2292)-Abu Umamah ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf reported from some Sahabah that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “While I was asleep, I saw people being presented to me. They had on them shirts some of whose went up to their chests, some others lower down (up to their navel or knees). Umar (RA) was presented to me and on him was a shirt trailing (on the ground).” They asked him, “How do you interpret it, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH).” He said “Religion.” [Bukhari 23 Muslim 2390]
(2293)-Abd ibn Humayd reported from Yaqub ibn Ibrahim ibn Sa’d, who from his father, who from Salih ibn Kaysan, from Zuhri, from Abu Umamah, from Abu Sa’eed Khudri from the Prophet (PBUH) a hadith of the same meaning.
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The Prophet (PBUH) was wonderful interpreter of dreams and he often used to hear dreams of SAHABA and tell them their meanings after the Prayers of FAJR. Milk, honey and clean pure water are items of the Paradise and as such they denote good attributes of the person when drunk or eaten pure; here the Milk that was left over from the Prophet (PBUH) denoted the true knowledge that had the good quality to guide the dreamer, and through him to guide others around, towards righteousness. A clean white (or green) dress seen in the dream, denotes efforts in Islamic tasks; its length showing the height achieved in them.
TOPIC 10-About the Prophet's (PBUH) vision of scale and bucket
(2294)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah reported that one day the Prophet (PBUH) asked, “Which of you has seen a dream?” A man said, “I saw as though a scale descended from the heaven. You and Abu Bakr were weighed and you outweighed Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr and Umar (RA) were weighed and Abu Bakr was heavier. Umar (RA) and Uthman were weighed and Umar (RA) outweighed. Then the scale was raised up.” They discerned grief on the face of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). [Abu Dawud 46341]
(2295)-Sayyidah Aisha (RA) narrated that someone asked Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about WARAQAH. So Khadijah told him, “He had confirmed you and he died before you declared (your mission).” So, Allah’s Messenger said, “He was shown to me in my dream. He had on him a white dress. If he were of the people of the fire then he would be wearing garments other than that.”
(2296)-Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) reported about the Prophet's (PBUH) dream of Abu Bakr (RA) and Umar (RA). He said, “I saw people gathered (at a well). Abu Bakr (RA) drew a bucket or two (from the well) and he had some weakness. Allah will forgive him. Then Umar (RA) stood up and pulled it and it had turned into a large bucket. I have not seen a strong man do as he did till the people were well replenished, and they went down to their resting places. [Bukhari 7020]
(2297)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) narrated a dream of the Prophet (PBUH). He said, “I saw a black woman with unkempt hair. She went out of Madinah till she stopped at Mahya’ah which is Juhfah. I interpret it as a pestilence will transfer to Juhfah.” [Bukhari 7038]
(2298)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “In the concluding era, the believer’s dream will not be false. The truest dream will be of one who is truest in speech. And dreams are of three kinds; the good dream is from Allah a good tiding, the dream of what man has experienced personally and the dream that grieves is from the devil. If one of you sees a dream that grieves him, let him not relate it to anyone and let him get up and offer Salah.” Abu Huraira (RA) also said, “The chain pleases me but the fetters in the neck are repulsive while the chain suggests steadfastness in religion.” He reported also that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “A believer’s dream is a portion of the forty-six portions of Prophet-Hood.” [Muslim 2263]
(2299)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I saw in my dream as though I had two golden bracelets in my hand. This worried me. Then it was revealed to me that I should blow on them. So, I did that and they both flew away. Then I interpreted that as two liars that will emerge after me, one of whom will be called Muslamah, the man of Yamamah and (the other) Ansa, the man of Sana.” [Bukhari 3621]
(2300)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas said that Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) used to narrate that a man came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said, “I saw (in my dream) last night a small cloud from which clarified butter and honey poured down. And I saw people take them in their hands and drink them, some drinking more and some less. And I saw a rope suspended from the heaven down to earth and I saw you, O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH). You grasped it and climbed up. Then a man, after you, grasped it and climbed up. Then another man held it, after him, and climbed up. Then a man held it but it snapped off. However, it was joined-up again and he climbed up.” Abu Bakr (RA) said, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) my parents be ransomed to you, in the name of Allah, do let me interpret it.” He said, “(Go ahead) interpret it.” So, he said, “As for the small cloud, it is the cloud of Islam. As for the dripping clarified butter and honey, it is the Qur’an’s softness and sweetness and drinking much and less are those who learn it much and less. As for the rope suspended from the heaven to earth, it is the Truth which you are on. You grasped it and climbed up to Allah. Then a man after you held it and climbed up. Then another man held it and climbed up. Then another held it but it snapped off and was rejoined, and he climbed up. O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), do tell me if I was correct or mistaken.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “You were right in part and mistaken in part.” He said, “I adjure you, O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) may my parents be ransomed to you do inform me where is it that I erred’. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Do not adjure me.” [Bukhari 7046, M 2269]
(2301)-Sayyidina Samurah ibn Jundub narrated that after the Prophet (PBUH) used to finish the Salah of FAJR with us, he would turn to face the congregation and ask, “Has anyone of you seen tonight a dream?” [Bukhari 845, M 2275, Ahmed 20115]
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Here at this topic, we find a number of Ahadith and the first and third both tell that after the Prophet (PBUH) Abu-Bakr (RA) would become the Caliph (but for a small period i.e. nearly two & a half) and then Umar (RA; for 10 years and a half) and in the era of Umar the administration would expand, many lands coming to the fold of Islam. The scale was the ability to decide everything by Islamic Justice and that was taken back at the time of Uthman (RA), the third Caliph, when he was killed unjustifiably in a mutiny. WARAQAH ibn NAUFAL was a practicing Christian and KHADIJAH (RA; the first wife of the Prophet PBUH) brought the Prophet to him when he received the first WAHI (message from Allah) at the cave of HIRA at Makkah; WARAQAH was Khadijah’s first cousin and the Prophet (PBUH) was extremely worried at that time. He heard the Prophet (PBUH) with patience and told him that an angel has come to you that is the same one who had brought WAHI to the Messengers of Allah before you. He even foretold that the Prophet’s nation would make him migrate away from Makkah and vouched that if he lives, he would help the Prophet (PBUH). WARAQAH died soon after this meeting and the Prophet clarified that he was among the good people on the basis of his dream as the white dress is the dress of JANNAH (Paradise). Note that the dreams of Messengers are always totally true and it is necessary to take them up into activity while dreams of others do not have this status; a person must omit action on basis of dreams if he so wills but with total attention towards Allah. The black woman with unkempt hair denote diseases that went away to Juhfah, a place far from Madinah, and the point to note is that Madinah used to be a place of many diseases before the HIJRAT of the Prophet (PBUH) and Muhajreen (RA; migrating SAHABA from Makkah); after their arrival all the diseases ended from there totally. Hadith 2299 tell about two liars that would show up after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) both claiming to be prophets of Allah. They were killed after the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH) and could not create the FITNAH they intended. The dream about the cloud was correctly interpreted by Abu-Bakr (RA) except for one thing that the rope was the position of authority (Caliphate) that had care about the commands of Allah with which the third Caliph, Uthman (RA), had some problem but he did manage though after him the rope was never as strong in impression as before. I pray that may Allah provide us all the wisdom that enables us to transform the environment in which we live in, to the Islamic Environment with care for all righteousness; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
38- BOOK ON WITNESSES (4 topics)
TOPIC 1-About testimony of the best witness
(2302)-Sayyidina Zayd ibn Kalid Juhanni (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Shall I not inform you of the best of witnesses? They offer testimony before they are asked.” [Ahmed 17044 Muslim 1719 Abu Dawud 3569 Ibn Majah 2364]
(2303)-Ahmad ibn Hasan reported from Abdullah ibn Maslamah who reported from Malik the same hadith.
(2304)-Sayyidina Zayd ibn Kalid Juhanni reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “The best of witnesses is he who gives testimony before being called upon to give it.” [Ahmed 17061]
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TOPIC 2-About one whose testimony is not valid
(2305)-Sayyidiah Aisha (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The testimony is not admissible of a deceitful man or woman, of one who has received punishment of flogging, the hadd, of an enemy who harbours hatred for his brother, of one who has been proved to have lied (officially), of a servant for his masters, or of one accused of slandering relationship.” [Ibn Majah 2366]
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These are narrations that are related to the presentation of testimonies and about witnesses. The valid testimony relates to the person, who is Muslim, adult, sane, just and who is neither under pressure nor a convict who had received official punishment in some severe crime; whether a cruelty or a shameful act. Also, he must not be harboring enemity towards the one against whom he is giving testimony and he also must not be sympathetic to the one. MALIK and SHAFA’I say that if a person is convicted of some crime but he repents and becomes a good person visibly, his testimony is valid if he fulfils other conditions. Ahadith at topic-45 in booklet of FITAN and at topic-4 ahead in this booklet of Witnesses seem to tell that it is not right to give testimony before call while the Ahadith at the first topic here seems to fall against this; but there is difference at both situations. If a person knows something that he must disclose to save someone from trouble but that troubled person does not know about it, it is better that he informs him about his knowledge so that he benefits from that knowledge and might save himself from troubles ahead. However, a person should not present himself for testimony at normal situations unless he is asked for it.
TOPIC 3-False Testimony
(2306)-Sayyidina Ayman ibn Khuraym reported that the Prophet (PBUH) stood up to deliver a sermon. He said, “O people! False testimony is made the same as ascribing partner to Allah. He recited, 'So shun the abomination of the idols, and shun the speaking of falsehood’.” (22, 30) [Ahmed 17615]
(2307)-Aiman ibn Khuraym narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) offered the Salah of FAJR. Thereafter, he stood up and said, “A false testimony is placed in the same bracket as ascribing a partner to Allah.” He said this three times and the recited the verse---'Shun the speaking of falsehood' (22, 30) --- to the end. [Abu Dawud 3599]
(2308)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Shall I not inform you of the greatest of the grave sins?” They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH).” He said, “To associate partner with Allah, to disobey (and displease) parents, and to give false testimony; to speak lies.” And he did not cease to say that till they said, “Would have been better if he had stopped.” [Bukhari 6273]
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TOPIC 4-No caption
(2309)-Sayyidina Imran ibn Husayn reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “The best of people are my generation, then those that succeed them, then those who will succeed them then those who will succeed them (he said it three times). Then a people will come after them who will like elderliness and love it. They will offer testimony before being asked for it.” [Ahmed 19841]
(2310)-This is stated too in the hadith narrated by Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab, “My times are the best of all. Then falsehood would be apparent to the extent that people would volunteer to bear testimony without being invited, they will take an oath without being asked to.”
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The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized the evil of giving false testimony by saying it again & again that SAHABA were disturbed as the person gets so when he is told something by his teacher again & again with emphasis worrying if the teacher is angry on him. It certainly is a very big sin to give false testimony as that is speaking lies on purpose; the person, who continues speaking lies without putting an end to them, comes to such stage where he speaks that greatest lie from which all persons must keep away; that is to take someone equal to Allah in authority. May Allah save all persons from committing this greatest sin; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
39-BOOK ON ZUHD (PIETY - 66 topics)
TOPIC 1-Health and Leisure are blessings
(2311)-Sayyidina ibn e Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There are two blessings for which many people lack respect; those are health and leisure” [Ahmed 3207, Bukhari 6412, Ibn e Majah 4170]
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From here, we have the Booklet of ZUHD (Piety; asking only for necessities in the worldly life). ZUHD is also defined as to praise Allah on all good things with which He has blessed and to be patient on trials that He brings in the life to check the commitment of the person to Islam; in this meaning every Muslim would practice ZUHD though the levels would vary. Note that Islam tells that AKHIRAT is the actual life and so Muslims must put all efforts at this life towards getting comforts there by keeping attention towards Allah only; He only is the True Lord. Here the Prophet (PBUH) has guided towards a very important matter that the Muslim person must value the time that he gets free to act as he wills when he is in good health. Mostly that time is wasted though it is the best time to do something that might please Allah so much that He eliminates all wrongs of the Muslim person and assigns JANNAH for him; we all have to answer for our Belief and deeds individually at HASHR (the first day of AKHIRAT equal to one thousand years by our count). The pious men do guide that you must value the health for Islam before any affliction that comes your way; and you must value the life for Islam before the death that comes your way.
TOPIC 2-Guarding from the forbidden
(2312)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) asked, “Who will learn from these words (that I would tell now) and act upon them, or teach to one who will act upon them?” I said, “I will, O Messenger of Allah” So, he took me by hand and counting to five he said, “ Guard against the things that are forbidden and you will be the most devout of men, and be pleased with what Allah has allotted you and you will be the richest of men, and be kind to your neighbour and you will be a believer, and love for people what you love for yourself and you will be a (true) Muslim and do not laugh much for much laughter causes the heart to die” [ Ibn e Majah 4193]
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This narration guides to keep Islamic teachings all the time in view and at every place; there is a beautiful message in it that with lesser amount of work you would achieve high returns if you persist on. There is call towards ZUHD asking to remain happy on necessities only of the worldly life as that would cause you to enjoy the blessing from Allah in the life much better; provide the Muslim brothers what you find pleasant to your own-self as you would abandon all the worldly things ultimately; the last advise is not to laugh much because when you come to this stage of sobriety and give respect to others, you would get the most high respect from all persons that would be most praiseworthy.
TOPIC 3-Hasten to do pious deeds
(2313)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Hasten your (good) deeds before seven things; poverty that makes indifferent (to the true aim of life of worshipping only Allah); wealth that makes one discourteous; disease that incapacitates; old age that makes infirm; death that is approaching fast; arrival of Dajjal that is worst of the awaited; QAYAMAT that is the hour calamitous and bitter.”
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What a wonderful guidance! Even good things might cause inattentiveness to Allah and even troublesome things might do so. The Muslim person must avail the span of life he has, to have the True Belief and to have good deeds according to that; even if he has the ability not to be deterred by good things of life, he must not become unmindful of any affliction or adversity that might cause him to lessen his good activities. May Allah provide all persons that incline towards virtues, the True Belief and keep them able to do good things that please Him; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 4-About remembering death
(2314)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Remember often the demolisher of the taste; that is death”
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TOPIC 5-The terrible nature of the grave
(2315)-Abdullah ibn Bujayr (RA) reported on the authority of Hani, the freed-man of Sayyidina Uthman (RA) that whenever Uthman stood by a grave, he wept so much that his beard would get wet. So, it was said to him that the Paradise and the Fire are also mentioned but you do not weep yet you weep here? He informed us that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) has said, ‘The grave is the first stop of the several stops before the hereafter, and deliverance from it means that after it, is an easy sailing, but if one does not get deliverance from it then the following stages are more severe than it.’ The Prophet (PBUH) has also said that I have not seen a sight more frightening than the sight of the grave. [Ibn e Majah 4267]
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Pleasure or agony starts at the grave and that is why it is said that the grave is either a part of JANNAH (Paradise) or a part of JAHANNUM (Hell). Note here that when grave is mentioned as a place of pleasure or agony, it actually means the time after the death of a person where he does have connection to his physique in some way; it is after the end of this worldly time of life up-to when Allah wills; everyone that had ever lived at the world, would then be collected at HASHR. This concept does also tell that those who lived and died early have to face their doings early yet the verdict is always on the practice; when that comes to fore so accordingly does the verdict yet Allah knows better this period of pleasure or agony for every dead person; that might vary for each in quality & quantity. ULAMA have clarified this concept well and there are many good works done in this respect yet the clearest evidence is of course the Holy Book Quran that says, “And the most evil punishment overtook Pharaoh’s people; the fire; they shall be brought before it (every) morning and evening and on the day when the hour shall come to pass; (it would be commanded) Make Pharaho’s people enter the severest chastisement” (the fortieth Surah i.e Surah MOMEN-46) and in the sixth Surah where the scene of the death of unjust persons is narrated, it is said, “And if you had seen when the unjust shall be in the agonies of death and the angels shall spread forth their hands; Give up your souls; today shall you be recompensed with an ignominious punishment because you spoke against Allah other than the truth and (because) you showed pride against His revealed verses” (Surah ANAAM-93). Surah TAUBAH, the ninth Surah, also has a verse on this and it reads, “And from among those who are round about you of the dwellers of the desert, there are hypocrites, and from among the people of Madinah (also); they are stubborn in hypocrisy; you do not know them; We know them; We will punish them twice (i.e punishment at the worldly life and at the life ahead before HASHR) then shall they be turned back to a grievous chastisement (in AKHIRAT)” (Surah TAUBAH-101). This does happen yet how this happens is a question on which comment is not feasible due to the limitation in our understanding in this matter; where Ahadith point out that the grave becomes vast to provide ease to a person or becomes extremely narrow to his distress, there they actually mean that the person does feel the pleasure or the agony at this period.
TOPIC 6-If anyone longs to meet Allah, He longs to meet him too
(2316)-Sayyidina Ubadah ibn Samit (RA) reported that the Prophet said, “If anyone loves to meet Allah, Allah also loves to meet him. And if anyone dislikes meeting Allah then Allah also dislikes meeting him.”
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TOPIC 7-About the Prophet’s warning his people
(2317)-Sayyidina Aisha (RA) narrated when this verse ---And warn your clan, the nearest kin (26, 214)--- was revealed, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “O (my aunt) Saifyah, daughter of Abdul-Muttalib, O Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad (PBUH), O children of (my grandfather) Abdul Muttalib, I can not help you before Allah in the least. (However), you may ask me for whatever you like of my wealth.” [Ahmed 2592, Muslim 205, Nasai 3647]
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It is said that charity begins at home and this is true by Islamic Teachings yet just like the matter of charity, TABLIGH (call towards Right preventing wrongs) also begins at home. This verse that is mentioned here is one of the earliest that was revealed. The Prophet (PBUH) is the blessing of Allah to all mankind (as told in the Holy Book Quran) so the TABLIGH of Islam went far & wide even in his presence at the world, especially in the last of his worldly life; it spread even faster to all corners of the known world of that time just after he passed away. Note that the Prophet (PBUH) opened his wealth for all his close relatives to use and that was a great sacrifice; but he clarified that if they do not take up the guidance of Islam, that asks them to worship Allah only and leave totally the worship of idols, he would not be able to save them from the fire of hell.
TOPIC 8-About virtues of weeping because of fear of Allah
(2318)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “No man who weeps by fear of Allah will go to the Fire till the milk returns to the udder. And dust in the path of Allah and smoke of hell cannot come together” [Tirmidhi 1639, Nasai 3107, Ibn e Majah 2774, Ahmed 10565]
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It is important to note that all the big decisions that have taken place in the history of mankind have been written by the blood of the strong or by the tears of the weak when they were in the making. They might have been written in books with the water of silver as history yet in their making, blood & tears were the ink. Whenever these flowed in the cause of Islam, Allah did provide the decision in favor of the rise of Muslims. In a Hadith, the blood and the tears that flow in the path of Allah, both are said to be barriers against the fire of hell and in this complementary Hadith, the words “dust in the path of Allah” clearly mean to fight and shed blood in the cause of Islam.
TOPIC 9-The Prophet said, “If you were to know what I know”
(2319)-Sayyidina Abu Dharr (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I see what you do not see and I hear what you do not hear. The heaven laments and it has a right to lament. There is no space in it even as much as what your fingers occupy but an angel has placed his forehead on it for prostration to Allah. By Allah, if you know what I know, you would laugh little and weep much and would not enjoy women on beds but would have gone out to the plains calling to Allah in prayer” Abu Dharr (RA) said, “I wished I were a tree and chopped to pieces”. [Ibn e Majah 4190, Ahmed 21572]
(2320)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If you know that which I know then you would certainly laugh little and weep much”. [Bukhari 6485, Ahmed 9583]
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Difficult Ahadith to comment upon yet it is obvious that what we do not know was not asked of the Prophet (PBUH) to tell us; it was not in obligations of the Prophethood. Perhaps this is an indication of the amazing sight that the Prophet (PBUH) had seen at MIRAJ (ascension to heavens) when he saw JANNAH (Paradise) and even JAHANNUM (Hell); he wanted to express how amazingly wonderful the former is and how very dreadful the latter is. But, it is most obvious here that the Prophet PBUH wanted SAHABA to care for the safety from JAHANNUM much more than to ask for JANNAH; his words are explicit on this.
TOPIC 10-One who makes people laugh
(2321)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed a man speaks some words seeing no harm in them but Allah will cast him in fire down with depth seventy years deep” [Ibn e Majah 3970, Bukhari 6477, Ah 7219]
(2322)-Bahz ibn Hakim reported on the authority of his father from his grandfather that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Woe to him who recounts a tale to make people laugh speaking lies. Woe to him! Woe to him!” [Ahmed 20066, Abu Dawud 4990]
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It is necessary to take care of the tongue and there is another Hadith that tell us that whoever gives me the guarantee of two things; one between his jaws and the other between his legs; I would give him the guarantee of JANNAH (see Hadith 2416). We have studied that the Prophet (PBUH) never made fun of anyone even in jest and never jested by speaking lies. Jokes when they are made with care to morals and with respect to honesty, are quite well yet caution for making-up things is utmost necessary; poets and story-writers should take care much in all their works (not abandoning them totally) yet they must clarify well that whatever they have written in fiction is on the basis of observation of true life; they must not make fun of anyone in any manner at their works with care that to have fun is one thing and to make fun of someone is another that is disallowed.
TOPIC 11-He who shuns the meaningless excels in Islam
(2323)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik narrated that one of the companions died, so another gave tidings of Paradise (for him). Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “How do you know; he might have spoken the meaningless or may have been niggardly when spending was not harmful.”
(2324)-Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Of the excellence of a man’s Islam is that he shuns the meaningless.” [Ibn e Majah 3976]
(2325)-Qutaybah also reported from MALIK from Zuhri and he from Ali ibn Husayn that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “It is enough for a man to be an excellent Muslim that he gives up the meaningless.” [Ahmed 1732]
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Ahadith clarify that spending the precious time of life in useless things is higly erroneous and the person who understands this would become a good Muslim. This is because the recognition of the value of time would lead him to utilizing it in the way of Allah as every Muslim knows well that the life is to achieve the pleasure of Allah and there is no other aim of life. The Muslim person must spend some of his assets too besides his time on the needy and this is easier when there is no harm to him by their spending when they are intangible as the spread of knowledge or/and recommendation for the rightful needy person to some job that he might manage well; whoever does not even do this that does not harm him in any manner while it provides the betterment to his fellow-being, he surely is blameworthy.
TOPIC 12-Excellence of little speech
(2326)-Bilal Ibn Harith Muazani (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed one of you speaks a word pleasing to Allah and he cannot imagine (how high) a rank it attains. Allah records for him thereby His pleasure till the day He meets Him. And, one of you speaks a word that angers Allah, and he cannot imagine where it will carry, Allah records against Him His anger till the day He meets him” [Ibn e Majah 3969]
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Many Ahadith ask for some caution in speech as the tongue might become extremely troublesome if a person loses control over it. If you ponder what single thing might be the best thing and might even be the worst, you would find it to be the tongue. Note that Hadith does not imply that if a person has done some wrong unintentionally, he is doomed to punishment but it means that words asking for anger of Allah are most dangerous; if the Muslim person is pious and has uttered something wrong in carelessness, Allah would certainly provide such person some chance to compensate and he must avail of it with repentance. This also means that he must go on evaluating himself time & again by giving total respect to Islam.
TOPIC 13-Worthlessness of the world in Allah’s sight
(2327)-Sayyidina Sahi Ibn Sa’d (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “ If in Allah’s sight, the world had so much worth as wing of mosquito then a infidel would never have drunk even a drop of water.” [Ibn e Majah 4110]
(2328)-Sayyidina Mustawrid ibn Shaddad (RA) reported that he was among the unit that accompanied Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) who stopped at a dead lamb. He said, “Do you see how its owners have abandoned it as worthless?” They said, “ O Messenger (PBUH) of Allah, they threw it away because it (truly) is worthless” He said , “The world is worthless in Allah’s sight more than this lamb to its owner.” [Ibn e Majah 4111, Ahmed 18035]
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TOPIC 14-Surely the world is accursed
(2329)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The world is accursed, and accursed is whatever it contains except mention of Allah and of that which is dear to Him and the scholar or the student.” [Ibn e Majah 4112]
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TOPIC 15-More on it (the world in relation to the Hereafter)
(2330)-Sayyidina Mustawrid (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The world in relation to the hereafter is not but like the example of one of you putting his finger in the sea. Then let him see with what it returns.” [Ahmed 18030, Muslim 2858, Ibn e Majah 4108]
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Ahadith at these topics 13, 14, 15 tell us how insignificant this world is to Allah; He has created this world for an examination (and not punishment) and so He gives all the good things of life here to everyone, more or less, without any discrimination; at AKHIRAT, every good thing would only result by good efforts done here in the worldly life with True Belief; this means that those who go to JAHANNUM (Hell) due to their wrong belief, they would be given only bitter filth to eat and drink as the Holy Quran has pointed out. The last Hadith here means that the world is even not that much to Allah as water that the finger tip brings out from the sea as even the sea as whole is nothing to Him; it is nothing from nothing. Allah only is the Creator and the True Lord; everything else is His creation that He made with the word “KUN” (be) and that happened.
TOPIC 16-World is prison for Believer but Paradise for infidel
(2331)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The world is a prison for a believer and Paradise for an infidel.” [Muslim 2956, Ahmed 8296]
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This Hadith presents a fact in plain words that as a person feels limited in a prison so a good Muslim feels some bondage at the worldly life where he fulfills all duties that Islam has assigned to him; he has good hopes to receive JANNAH for which he goes on exerting him, with total patience at all that comes his way. But an infidel does not care about others truly by heart and wants his own pleasure whatever it brings to others as he has no hopes beyond this life; he seeks for pleasures at the worldly life whatever possible without care to the good morality. So the difference between them is that a true Muslim cares not only about the law of Allah strictly but also tries to live upon EHSAAN where possible with the guidance of the Prophet (PBUH) for the pleasure of Allah; an infidel is bound only by the law of the place made without care to Allah, where he tries to find such flaw that might enable him to get worldly benefits with total selfishness.
TOPIC 17-The similitude of the world is like four individuals
(2332)-Sayyidina Abu Kabshah Anmari (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I swear about three things and I narrate to you a hadith, so keep it in memory. A man’s property does not diminish because of Sadaqah (that he pays) and when a man is wronged and he endures it patiently, Allah increases him in honour and when a man opens a door to begging, Allah opens for him a door to poverty (or he said words to that effect). And I narrate to you a hadith so keep it in memory. The world comprises of four kinds of people,
(1)-a man on whom Allah has bestowed wealth and knowledge and in (using) them, he fears his Lord and joins ties of relationship and gives the right of Allah; this man is in the most excellent category.
(2)-a man on whom Allah has bestowed knowledge, but does not bestow wealth and he is true in his intentions saying, ‘If I had wealth then I would act as so-and-so (as the first category)’; this being his intention, their reward is equal.
(3)-a man on whom Allah has bestowed wealth, but does not bestow knowledge, and he tramples with his wealth ignorantly, not fearing his Lord, not joining ties of relationship and not giving rights of Allah; this one is in the worst of categories.
(4)-a man whom Allah has given neither wealth nor knowledge and he says, ‘If I had wealth I would do as so-and-so does (as the third category)’; this being his intention, their burden is alike.’ [Abu Dawud 1645, Muslim 4228, Ahmed 18053]
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When the Muslim person keeps three things in memory about his wealth and all worldly assets, Allah makes sources for him to live in ease without much effort for worldly necessities. Such is the good Muslim person who gives SADAQAH (charity to the needy) from his wealth if he has it; if some of his property is taken away by fraud, he bears that loss and leaves the matter to Allah to punish the wrong-doers; if he falls from the status of having wealth to the status of facing poverty, he does not beg but keeps his self-respect intact by living at necessities; Allah cares about such a person and makes ease in the fulfillment of his needs well even with his small effort with total honor. The Hadith also tells about four different types of people with respect to their attitude towards wealth & knowledge. The first two are the best of people while the third one is the worst and the fourth is on the verge of right and wrong. If this fourth one does get wealth, he is doomed to destruction if he goes on with his intention and if he does not, he might save himself from the fire of hell so even if ignorance is not bliss in true sense yet deprivation of some good things might be that for some of the people living around. Note that there are Ahadith that point out that the true intention for good works does increase plus points at a person’s Paper of Deeds that he would get at AKHIRAT while even the true intention for bad works does not increase his negative points at the Paper unless he does practically as he intends when he gets to the status of fulfillment of that bad intention; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 18-Grieving for the world and love for it
(2333)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Anyone who faces poverty and he approaches people (for redress) then his poverty is not removed. And if anyone is faced with poverty and he turns to Allah with it then Allah will provide him sustenance sooner or later.” [Ah 4219]
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TOPIC 19-What suffices a man of his wealth?
(2334)-Abu Wail reported that Mu’aviah visited Abu Hashim ibn Utbah when he was sick and asked him, “O uncle, why do you weep? Is it pain that frightens you and greed for the world (that makes you weep)?” He said, “Nothing of the sort. But, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) had taken from me a promise which I have not fulfilled. He had told me that of property, a servant should suffice you and a riding beast for Jihad. But I find with me today that I have accumulated plenty.” [N 5386, Ibn e Majah 4103]
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TOPIC 20-More on it
(2335)-Sayyidina Abdullah (ibn Mas’ud; RA) reported the saying of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) “Do not build estate because that would make you long for the world.” [Ahmed 3579]
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These Ahadith at Topic-18, 19 & 20 give the message that the world is not worth the efforts many people generally make for it. Living with necessities in the world and asking for success in AKHIRAT by commitment to good deeds with true Belief, is how Islam teaches. The Muslim person must make high efforts for the coming life as a Hadith points out that the worldly life is the land for cultivation for getting the harvest at AKHIRAT. The Hadith at topic-20 is extremely wonderful that clarifies that the righteous Muslim must avoid such things that ask him to attach himself to the world as such attachments tend to decrease the attachment towards AKHIRAT.
TOPIC 21-Long life for a Believer
(2336)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Busr (RA) narrated that a villager asked the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah, who is the best of men?” He said, “He whose life is prolonged and whose deeds are good.” [Ahmed 1796]
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TOPIC 22-Which of the men is best and which of them is worst
(2337)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah (RA) reported that a man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who is the best of men?” He said, “He who has long life and performs good deeds.” He asked, “And, which of them is worst?” He said, “He who has a long life and whose deeds are evil.” [Ahmed 20437]
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These Ahadith tell that the actual work for a Muslim to do is to collect good deeds as much as possible. If a Muslim person has total recognition of this and lives a long life where he does all the good things he should, such a person becomes the light of guidance to all the people around. However, if a person is evil by his deeds and lives a long life, he certainly is the worst among men because he has not recognized his true obligations and has lived his life as an unworthy fool.
TOPIC 23-Ages of individuals of Ummah are from 60 to 70
(2338)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The ages of my Ummah will be from sixty years to seventy.”
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It is an interesting fact to note that the average of ages among Muslims does seem between 60 & 70. Even the Prophet (PBUH) most probably, passed away at the age of 60 years by the solar years (it was at June 632 AD) while by the lunar years, he was coming to 62 years of age in that very Rabi-ul-Awwal (the third month of the Lunar Calendar; it is shorter than the solar year by some 11 days). Abu Bakr (RA) & Umar (RA) also passed away in their early sixties; also, many of righteous Muslims of the past did pass away at this period of life. Here we find an indication to the moral teaching that it is better to care for the quality of life in the spiritual sense rather than the quantity of life.
TOPIC 24-Closing up of hours
(2339)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Hour will not come till time draws near and a year becomes like a month, a month like a week, a week like a day and a day like an hour and on hour like a burning piece of wood.”
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TOPIC 25-Closing up of hours
(2340)-Sayyidina ibn Umar (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) held me by a part of my body and said, “Be in this world as though you are a stranger or one crossing through the road and count yourself among the occupiers of the grave.” After this, Ibn Umar said to Mujahid, ‘When it is morning, you should not trust yourself to make it to evening; and when it is evening you should not expect to make it to the morning. Seize opportunity of your good health before you fall ill and of your life before your death. For, you could not say what would be your name tomorrow.’ [Ahmed 4764, Bukhari 6416]
(2341)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said “This is the son of Adam and this is his life span,” and he put his hand on his neck. Then, He stretched it saying. “And his tall hopes. And his tall hopes. And his tall hopes.” [Ahmed 12240, Bukhari 6418, Ibn e Majah 4232]
(2342)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) passed by us while we were repairing our hut. He said, “What is this?” We said, “It has gone down and we are repairing it.” He said, “I do not see the command (of death) except that it is quicker than that.” [AD 5236, Ibn e Majah 4160]
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The Muslim person must care to live with the attention that very soon, he would be among the dead persons; in other words, Ahadith ask us to care most highly for AKHIRAT only while we live-on this worldly life. Ahadith clarify in the most explicit manner that a Muslim person must not make extensive hopes about the world and it is another way to give the same guidance that passed previously not to become attached to the worldly life with the omission of care to AKHIRAT. The last Hadith plainly guides here to take care that this worldly life would end soon, so do not obsess yourself in it in such ways that you become ignorant to your true aim of getting the pleasure of Allah by your good Belief and deeds according to it. It is the same message yet with more emphasis as to repair the dwelling place is for necessity; the Hadith suggests that even at such necessity, the Muslim person needs to take care that it only remains upto the extreme necessity. The Hadith at topic-24 is interesting and the like of this was mentioned in a Hadith that we have studied before too at the booklet of FITAN (H-2247) though with difference in words. But this Hadith here could mean that the time would seem to pass very fast or it could be relative in nature that some activities that take a year to perform now and some that take months or days now would only need hours to perform (this meaning to this Hadith seems most valid); the life would be running fast. In this sense, it is not like the one we have read at booklet of Fitan that has the physical implication if the Sun is occulted for some of time; as such, this Hadith here is unique; and Allah knows better.
TOPIC 26-Wealth is trial of this ummah
(2343)-Sayyidina Ka’b ibn Iyadh reported that he heard the Prophet (PBUH) say, “There is a trial for every ummah, and the trial of my ummah is wealth and property.” [Ahmed 17478]
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TOPIC 27-With two valleys full of wealth, he would seek third
(2344)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If the son of Aadam had one valley full of gold then he would crave for a second. Nothing can fill his stomach but dust. And Allah relents to one who repents.” [Ahmed 12717, Bukhari 6439, Muslim 1048]
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TOPIC 28-The heart of an old man is young in love of two things
(2345)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The heart of an old man is young in the love of two things; (love of) life and abundance of wealth.” [Bukhari 6420, Muslim 1046, Ahmed 8087]
(2346)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The son of Aadam grows old but two things grow young in him greed for long life and greed for wealth.” [Muslim 1047, Ibn e Majah 4234, Ahmed 12143]
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Ahadith at topics 26, 27 and 28 give the same information that if a person nourishes the desire to accumulate wealth, he would not be satisfied with any amount of wealth but this greed would lead him to neglect his fundamental obligation that is related to AKHIRAT. Thus desire for wealth, without reason (as after the fulfillment of the worldly necessities, it is not an asset but a liability), becomes a great trial for a Muslim person who should take care to Allah’s commands in all whatever he has at his control and in all what he does. Attachment to wealth leads to attachment to the worldly life with the negligence of AKHIRAT; that is not commendable by Islamic Teachings. H-2344 is explicit on the fact that the greedy person is never able to control his greed until he dies and the dust of grave fills his stomach. Then only he would realize what a bad mistake he had committed in his worldly life that he ran behind an illusion as he had left the wealth behind for others; and it truly was never his own; his belief and deeds have come with him to which he gave only the minimum care. The Hadith asks to repent on this erroneous attention towards the wealth so as to get the good attention from Allah; He would see to his necessities and even to his comforts as He deems fit; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 29-Asceticism in the world
(2347)-Sayyidina Abu Dharr (RA) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “Asceticism in this world is not to forbid the lawful to oneself or to waste property. But, asceticism in this world is that you rely more on what is in Allah’s hand than on what is in your hand and that you long for reward against hardship to such an extent that you wish that it would beset you continuously.” [Ibn e Majah 4100]
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TOPIC 30-Rights of Son of Adam
(2348)-Sayyidina Uthman ibn Affan (RA) reported that the Prophet said, “There are no rights for the son of Aadam except these particular ones; a house to live in, garments to cover his private parts and vessels to hold bread and water.”
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Allah has brought the Man to life and He has taken the responsibility to care for his necessities as He has told us in the Quran; those are the basic necessities that are named in H-2348 and the Muslim person is not permitted to ask more as his claim to Allah; he should take whatever Allah provides him with both his hands for that is His blessing and he should give the fellow-beings the benefit of it. H-2347 tells that patience at hardships bring rewards but please note that the Hadith means that the adversity that falls on a person by TAQDIR (Fate) does have rewards yet to ask for adversities is not appreciable; as it tells about the wish for adversities so that seems the reason that this Hadith is among the weak narrations; it does need caution for its acceptance at practice.
TOPIC 31-Ibn Aadam cries, “My property, my property”
(2349)-Mutarrif narrated that my father went to the Prophet (PBUH) and he was reciting, “your rivalry for amassing riches distracts you” (102, 1). He said, “The son of Aadam says, ‘My property! My property!’ but is there anything for you from your wealth except that which you gave in charity and advanced (to Allah for yourself), or consumed and finished, or put on and wore off?” [Ahmed 16427, Muslim 2958]
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The name of Mutarrif’s father (RA) is Abdullah and the recited verse of Surah TAKATHUR has the message that the Ahadith we have just studied have been giving about the unworthiness of the worldly life except for care about righteousness in belief and deeds. Here whatever the person has, those all things are for his examination and not because that the person gets totally involved in the worldly life by the wealth he gets here; to seek competition at the worldly matters is not feasible as the Muslim person must compete only to get ahead in matters that would be of use in AKHIRAT. Surah BAQARAH, the second Surah, guides to get ahead in good deeds (verse 148) and Surah AAL-e-IMRAN, the third Surah, also tells to take up righteousness to get Mercy of Allah and to get JANNAH (Paradise). There are many other verses too as the message of the Holy Book Quran and the authentic SUNNAH is to keep the world at “Necessity” and to give AKHIRAT the status of “The True Destination”; they tell us to keep to righteousness in Belief and to collect all good deeds by efforts according to that righteous Belief; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 32-Being content with essential & spending excess
(2350)-Sayyidina Abu Umamah reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “If you, O son of Aadam, spend the excess (in good cause), that is good for you. But, if you retain it then it is bad for you. There is no blame on spending over the necessities. And, begin (charity) with those whom you support. And, the upper hand is better than the lower.” [Muslim 1036, Ahmed 22328]
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The message continues “live at necessities in the world”; the Hadith tells us to give a special attention to needs of those that are dependant on us for their basic worldly needs; charity begins at home. Certainly, the upper hand that provides not only for needs of the self but for needs of others too that are under his care (and even for needs of those that are needy), is much better than the lower one that is of the incapable person who might ask his needs from persons not sincere to him; he must ask Allah to make such sources for him that he does receive his necessities at the world with total ease; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 33-On trust in Allah
(2351)-Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab reported that Allah’s Messenger said “If you trust in Allah observing a true trust in Him, then indeed, He will give you a provision as He provides the birds that emerge hungry in the morning and return with a full belly in the evening.” [Ahmed 205, Muslim 4164]
(2352)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that there were two brothers at the time of the Prophet, one of whom used to keep company of the Prophet (PBUH) while the other pursued his occupation (and earned a living). He (the bread-earner) complained about his brother to the Prophet (PBUH) whereupon he said, “Perhaps you are given provision on his account.”
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In the current times, we have extended our needs so much that some of us consider even some items that are comforts rather luxuries, as necessities of life. The privileged among us consider modern vehicles, sophisticated technical items at homes, expensive satellite items and this and that as total necessities because someone at the next door or someone among close relatives, has displayed the latest models of these and has asked for trouble. First of all, we all have to decide that to what extent these things are necessities; note that even in necessities, there must remain utmost care to keep them upto necessities. A simple vehicle might do well for conveyance and few simple technical items that we use in routine like refrigerators, fans & lights, air-conditioners, heaters, irons, washing machines, cooking appliances, professional items that technical workers use etc. according to needs are quite fine with care to Islam yet to ask for the most expensive among these things is not feasible. As for satellite items, it is better to avoid them as much as possible except in IZHTIRAR (utmost necessity); it would be much better if that could be brought into usage without satellites even if this restriction asks for some limits in respect to the area of usage. If we could have lived as birds we would have also got our needs as easily as they get it; there is ample for needs of everyone at its natural habitat without costing any other anything; the competition for the worldly issues is futile. H-2352 guides attention towards the fact that a person who is responsible for someone’s financial care might be getting the whole of his finance by the fortune of that dependant one. One of these two brothers worked as a farmer while the other just learned about Islam and did nothing to earn his bread. Note that this dependant one had rights over the person providing his needs for him as he was his very close relative (brother, in fact) and so his hand is not the lower hand; the person who asks someone for his needs upon whom he has no rights, is the person with the lower hand.
TOPIC 34-One for whom the world is expanded
(2353)-Ubaydullah ibn Mihsan Khatami reported from his father who was among Sahaba that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “He who wakes up in the morning peaceful among his people, healthy in body, his provision for the day with him, then it is as though the world is brought together for him.” [Ibn e Majah 4141]
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TOPIC 35-Being contended with what is enough subsistence
(2354)-Sayyidina Abu Umamah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The most enviable of my friends to me is the believer with a light property, much devoted to Salah, excellent in worship of his Lord, obeying Him in private, obscure among people, not pointed out with fingers, and his provision is enough and he is content over that.” Then, he snapped his fingers and said, “His time comes soon, there being few women to mourn him and his legacy is little.” From the same sanad from the Prophet is the hadith that he said, “My Lord offered me to make the valley Atha of Makkah full of gold for me. I said, O Lord, but I wish to be satiated one day and hungry the next day (or, he said three days, or something like that). When I am hungry, let me beseech You and remember You and when I am satiated, let me thank you and praise you.” [Ibn e Majah 4117, Ahmed 22252]
(2355)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “He has succeeded who has submitted to Islam, given enough provision with which Allah has made him content.” [Ahmed 6583, Muslim 1054, Ibn e Majah 4138]
(2356)-Sayyidinah Fadalah ibn Ubayd (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “Blessed is he who is guided to Islam and his sustenance is enough and he shows contentment.” [Ahmed 2399]
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Ahadith point out the person here who does not have much worldly property yet in terms of AKHIRAT (the Hereafter), he has everything as he worships Allah highly and even performs MUSTAHAB acts but without letting them known; people do not consider him something of high grade but in Allah’s view, he has a high standing and even at his death, he does not have much of property. These all Ahadith point out that whoever is a good Muslim doing his best for AKHIRAT and he is content with whatever he gets at the world, Allah makes sources for him to get everything that he needs with total ease. The notable point here is that the Prophet (PBUH) lived at poverty by choice but there is difference between poverty and deprivation. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last messenger of Allah, did not spend a life of deprivation as Allah looked after his needs and he was highly careful to fulfill his obligations towards his household well by the blessing of Allah; yet he never intended to become wealthy and always remained content with necessities of life. There are three positions with respect to wealth that are all right in the Islamic Environment; the best is the status of the person who lives at poverty but fulfills his obligations though he does not have much to save (the Prophet PBUH lived at this status by choice); the second to best is the status of the person who does save good amounts even after spending on his necessities and obligations yet this saving does not put him into the wealthy persons of the society; the third status is of the person who has property, possessions and plenty of wealth and he is taken to be one of the wealthiest persons of the society. However, no one of this last category must be much far away from the the upper margin of the second one in the society; this the good sense of justice that prevails at the Islamic Environment would decide rather than the law of the land. By this detail, it comes at fore that at this manner of living, there would be no person who would be deprived of his basic necessities and at the other side, there would be no person who would consider that he would shape things as he wills due to the huge amounts of wealth he has in spare. Both of these persons lose self-respect and so they do not care about the self-respect of others around; certainly, the Islamic Environment asks simplicity and it does not ask any complexity.
TOPIC 36-Merits of poverty
(2357)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Muhghaffal reported that a man said to the Prophet (PBUH) “O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I love you.” He said, “Think over what you say” and he said again, “By Allah, I do love you.” He said that three times. So the Prophet said, “If you love me then be prepared for poverty as your armour, for poverty comes running to one who loves me more swiftly than the flood that flows down to its outlet.”
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The Prophet (PBUH) had taken-up poverty by choice. We have seen a Hadith just now at the previous topic that tells us that he could have got a whole place filled with gold yet he did not go for it. It is better to say that ‘I truly respect the Prophet (PBUH)’ and that implies also the necessary love of this great man who also is the last Messenger of Allah. But to say specifically the words that ‘I love him to height’ means by the Islamic terms that he has chosen the status of poverty for himself and he is ready to take matters at EHSAAN besides the fulfillment of FARDH, WAJIB & SUNNAH-MUAKKADAH without any complaint whatsoever; such person must necessarily remain content with whatever he gets that fulfils his worldly necessities without any complaint whatsoever.
TOPIC 37-Poor Muhajirs will go to Paradise before Rich ones
(2358)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The poor of Muhajirs will enter Paradise preceding their rich by five hundred years.” [Ibn e Majah 4123]
(2359)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) prayed, “O Allah, cause me to live among the poor and to die among them, and on the day of resurrection, gather me among the group of the poor.” Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) asked, “Why, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “They will enter Paradise, preceding their rich by forty years. O Ayshah, do not turn away the poor even if you give her half a date. O Ayshah, love the poor and draw them near, Allah will draw you near on the day of resurrection.”
(2360)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The poor will enter Paradise preceding the rich by five hundred years (which is) half of that day.” [Ibn e Majah 4122, Ahmed 9830]
(2361)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The poor of the Muslims will enter Paradise before their rich half a day ahead and that is five hundred years.” [Ahmed 10659]
(2362)-Sayyidina Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The poor of Muslims will enter Paradise preceding their rich by forty years.” [Ahmed 14483]
(2363)-Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) never had barley bread to his content for two successive days till he died. [Muslim 2970]
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The Muslim person who lived in poverty but he fulfilled his obligations well, at HASHR (the first day of AKHIRAT that is of 1000 years by our count), he would enter half a day before the rich Muslims who also had fulfilled their obligations well; the difference to note is that the poor had lesser obligations because of their humble status at the worldly life so they got their good result in much lesser time. This half a day amounts to five hundred years by our count and Ahadith that report about forty years might mean the boundaries at both sides as some ULAMA have remarked that their beginning of entrance to the Paradise would take place before five hundred years of the entrance of good rich people there and the last of these good poor ones, would get entrance forty years before them, depending on the quality among their-selves yet all would get entrance to JANNAH (Paradise) before the rich. The last Hadith in the topic here tells us that the Prophet (PBUH) did not take barley bread for two consecutive days though he could have managed that being at authority in Madinah; this was by choice and he expected the same sacrifice of worldly things from his wives, living on basic necessities to get high status at AKHIRAT.
TOPIC 38-The living of the Prophet (PBUH) and his family
(2364)-Masruq narrated that I visited Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) and she ordered food to be served to me. She said, “Never do I eat to a full stomach but feel like crying and I do cry.” I asked her, “Why?” She said, “I recall the condition in which Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) departed from this world. By Allah, he never had bread and meat to a full belly twice a day.” [Muslim 2974]
(2365)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and his family never had wheat bread for three consecutive days to a full stomach till he died. [Muslim 2976, Ibn e Majah3343]
(2366)-Sayyidina Abu Umamah (RA) reported that in the house of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) there never was more barley bread than necessary.
(2367)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) passed many nights together on an empty stomach and his family did not find food for the evening meal. Most of their diet consisted of barley bread. [Ibn e Majah 3347]
(2368)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) prayed, “O Allah, let the provision of the family of Muhammad be enough for subsistence.” [Bukhari 6460, Muslim 1055, Ibn e Majah 4139, Ahmed 10241]
(2369)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) never stored anything for the next day.
(2370)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) never ate on a table and he never ate thin bread till he died. [Bukhari 6450, Ibn e Majah3293]
(2371)-Sayyidina Sahl ibn Sa’d was asked whether Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) ever ate white flour and he said “Allah’s Messenger did not see white flour till he met Allah.” He was asked “Did you have a sieve in the Prophet’s times?” He said, “We did not have a sieve (in his times).” He was asked. “Then how did you sift barley flour?” He said, “We used to blow so what had to blow off, blew away and we poured water on the rest and kneaded the mixture.” [Bukhari 5413, Ibn e Majah 3335]
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All the Ahadith here in this topic indicate one thing most explicitly that the Prophet (PBUH) took food only according to necessity and expected the same from his wives. He never ate food in the manner of privileged people of the time and remained very simple in all his attitudes (see H-1795). In foods, the Prophet (PBUH) used to take the needed only, without care to its taste but for subsistence only; we have studied this attitude at the booklet of foods too. He did not store food items for the next day as he knew that he would fulfill his obligations even without any such storage. Living ordinary was one of his most particular attributes that affected Muslims in highly positive manner; they spread the impression of Islam in few years only at that time all over the known world; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 39-The living of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH)
(2372)-Sayyidina Sa’d ibn Abu Waqqas (RA) said, “I was the first person to shed blood in the path of Allah and I was the first person to shoot an arrow in the path of Allah. Indeed. I remember well that I participated in battles with a group of the companions of Muhammad (PBUH) and we did not eat but leaves of trees and bean so that we passed stool like the droppings of sheep and camels. Then the people of Banu Asad censure me about religion and if that is the case, I am a loser and my deeds are wasted.”
(2373)-Sayyidina Sa’d ibn Malik (RA) narrated, “I was the first man among the Arabs who threw an arrow in Allah’s path. Indeed, I recall that we participated in battles with Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and we had no food except Aublah (bean) and Samar (acacia) so that our stool was like droppings of sheep. With that the Banu Asad ridiculed me on this religion so in that case I lost and my deeds were wasted.” [Ah 1498, Bukhari 3728, M 2966]
(2374)-Muhammad ibn Sirin narrated that we were with Abu Hurayrah and he had two pieces of cloth, red in colour. He cleaned his nose with one of them and said, “O how good, Abu Hurayrah uses this cloth today to clean his nose. I remember the time when I had fallen down due to hunger between the pulpit of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and the apartment of Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) where unconsciousness had overtaken me. Those who passed by put their feet on my neck that I had gone mad though I was not mad, only hunger had overtaken me.” [Ahmed 23993]
(2375)-Sayyidina Fadalah ibn Ubayd (RA) reported that when Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) led the Salah, some men of the Ashab-us-Suffah fell down out of hunger. The villagers would remark “They are insane.” So, when the prayer was over, Allah’s Messenger turned to them and said, “If you were to know how much blessing Allah would bestow on you because of this poverty and hunger, you would prefer greater degree of poverty and hunger.” Fadalah said, “That day, I was with Allah’s Messenger”
(2376)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that once the Prophet (PBUH) came out of his house at an hour he never came out and no one would come to meet him (at that hour). Abu Bakr (RA) came to him (unexpectedly) and he asked, “What is with you, O Abu Bakr?” He said, “I came out to meet Allah’s Messenger and observe his face and to offer my salutation to him.” Hardly had any time passed when Umar (RA) came, and he asked, “What is it with you, O Umar?” He said, “Hunger, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “And I too found something of that (on me).” So, they set out to the house of Abul Haytham ibn Tayyihan Ansari. He possessed a lot of palm trees and sheep, but he had no servant. They did not find him. They asked his wife “Where is your life partner?” She said, “He has gone to fetch us sweet water.” Not much time had gone by when he came with a water skin of sweet water. He put it down and embraced Prophet and said, “My parents be ransomed to you.” Then he went with them to his garden and spread for them a mat. He went to a palm tree and returned with a bunch of dates which he placed down. The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Why did you not pick out (only) fresh dates for us?” He said, “O Messenger of Allah, I thought that you might choose for yourself fresh and the dried.” They ate and drank from that water. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “By Him Who has my life in His hand! You will be asked on the day of Resurrection about these blessings; the cool shade, the fresh dates and cool water.” Abul-Haytham engaged himself to prepare a meal for them. The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Do not slaughter a milk-yielding animal.” So, he slaughtered a young sheep and brought (the cooked food) to them. They ate. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him, “Do you have a servant?” He said, “No.” He said, “When captives are brought to us, you come.” (Soon) two captives were brought to the Prophet (PBUH) and there was not a third with them, and Abu Haytham also came to him. The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Chose one of them.” He said, “O Prophet of Allah, you select for me.” The Prophet said, “The one who is consulted is trusted. Take this one, for I have seen him offer Salah. And, he instructed him to be kind to him in treatment. Abul-Haytham went to his wife and conveyed to her the instruction of the Prophet. So, his wife said to him, “You will not be able to abide by the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) except that you set him free.” He said, “He is free.” So, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Surely Allah does not send a Prophet or a Khalifah except that he has two kinds of attendants; one who enjoins that which is pious and forbids that which is evil, and the other who tries to make him wicked. And he who is protected from the evil attendant has been saved, indeed.” [Bukhari 7198, Ah 11342]
(2377)-Salih ibn Abdullah reported a hadith like it from Abu Awanah from Abdul Malik ibn Umayr, from Abu Salamah but did not mention Abu Hurayrah (RA). This hadith is lengthier than the hadith of Abu Awanah, and also complete. Shayban was trustworthy. This hadith is reported from Abu Hurayrah from other sanad too. It is also reported from lbn Abbas (RA).
(2378)-Sayyidina Abu Talhah (RA) narrated that we complained to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about our hunger raising (garment) from our stomach, each of us showed the stone he had tied to it. He showed that he had two stones (tied to his stomach).
(2379)-Simak in Harb reported baving heard Nu’man ibn Bashir (PBUH) say, “Do you have to eat and drink what you like? I had seen your Prophet (PBUH) and he did not find even bad dates with which to fill his belly”
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Ahadith at this topic show how highly impressed were the SAHABA (RA; Companions of the Prophet PBUH) by the living ways of the Prophet (PBUH) as they used to take up the sacrifice of worldly things as an ordinary attitude to living normal; if they benefited from some of things (that were MUBAH) that they used to shun at his presence, they remembered that time and praised Allah for His blessing on them. Sa’ad ibn Malik (Sa’ad ibn Abi-Waqqas) told about his merits because the tribe of Banu Asad had complained against him to Umar (RA) that he did not say his SALAH correctly. He had accepted Islam at the early years when the Prophet (PBUH) called towards Islam at Makkah and at that time he was of seventeen years of age. He fought wars for Islam as their commander at expeditions sent by Umar (RA) and had significant victories recorded in his account for Muslims. Abu-Hurayrah was one of Ashaab-e-Suffah, the very poor persons who used to live in the Mosque of the Prophet (MASJID-NABWI) and learned the Islamic issues from him. SAHABA used to give them something to eat and they used to live on that but sometimes there was such a shortage of provisions that some of them used to fall at the floor due to hunger. There was a custom at those days that people used to trample on such persons; walking on their necks if possible; who had epilepsy (that is called madness here) and so there were persons who did trample these few that used to fall due to hunger; they were spread at the floor and SAHABA thought that they are affected with epilepsy. The Prophet (PBUH) seeing that both of his companions face hunger (and he needed to eat too yet he had high control over him), he took them to one of his prosperous SAHABA and they took some edibles there. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him to take care that he does not slaughter a milk-yielding animal; this shows that even in taking meat in diet, it is necessary to see that the animal is saved as much trouble as possible. The devolopment of sacrifice shows at men and women of those times that the wife of Abul-Haytham interpreted the words of the Prophet PBUH to mean liberation of the slave and he accepted that interpretation instantly. About the two attendants that are mentioned here, the Prophet (PBUH) had clarified at other occasions that he had been given control over the evil attendant and so that evil one is unable to distract him from the Truth. The last Hadith tells that the Prophet (PBUH) was not interested in taste and kept away from eating to full. The words “did not find even bad dates” does not mean that he was deprived of them but that means he ate only when he had the extreme need for it. Here we find a Hadith i.e. 2378 in which it is mentioned that the Prophet (PBUH) showed two stones at his stomach and that was custom then that a person who was affected with hunger, tied a stone to his stomach somehow to compensate for its emptiness as that proved better for the natural posture of the body. Please note that this Hadith is among the weak narrations so we might omit the words narrated here. But, it might be an event at the battle of AHZAAB (trench) when the Prophet (PBUH) is said to have tied a stone or two at the stomach due to stand side by side with Muslims in general as edibles were much scarce at that time and they had to bear hunger. The Prophet (PBUH) stood by Muslims, working with them to break stones to construct the ditch with them; he never asked exception to this construction though SAHABA respected him very highly by their-selves; he lived ordinary with no protocol as that only was his style of living.
TOPIC 40-Richness is contentment of heart
(2380)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Richness does not lie in abundant wealth and property, but richness is the richness at heart (contentment of heart).” [Ah 7320, Bukhari 6446, M 1051, Ibn e Majah 4137]
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This wonderful Hadith might become a matter of study in Psychology. If a person having moderate resources considers whatever is with him is enough for his good living and lives on within those without any complaint, then he certainly is like a king who lives with all ease at life. His attitude of living on his own resources with patience makes him truly rich; in contrast, such among the rich persons who complains of shortage of funds for this and for that, he truly is a poor man; the Hadith tells that the true Belief with assets for necessity at hand, is the most superb thing for the Muslim person as it diminishes his liabilities.
TOPIC 41-Taking wealth rightfully
(2381)-Abu Walid reported that he heard Sayyidah Hawlah bint Qays (RA) wife of Sayyidina Hamzah ibn Abdul Muttalib say that she heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “Surely, this wealth is green and sweet. He, who gets it rightfully, there is blessing in it for him. And there is many an encroacher in it desiring for himself from the wealth of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) but there is nothing for him on the Day of Resurrection but the Fire.” [Ahmed 27386, Bukhari 3118]
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TOPIC 42-About the slave of the dinar and the slave of dirham
(2382)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah is reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Cursed is the slave of the dinar. Cursed is the slave of the dirham.”
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H-2381 tells that the lawful property of the practicing Muslim person, is blessing to him; the person who usurps someone’s property unlawfully, would go to the fire of hell in AKHIRAT as this is one of the greatest sins. Even in the world those who seize possessions of others unjustly, fall into such adversities that lots of money goes in useless expenses that were unexpected; this is the curse that falls by the wrong-doing in this matter. H-2382 points out that whoever is obsessed with collection of money never caring whether he gets it rightly or wrongly with the thought that this only is the true success, he is cursed. To earn the necessary amount of wealth for living is just one of matters of the worldly life; it is not the whole of life. Such person forgets that the true success is at AKHIRAT which he would only get by the true Belief and righteous deeds according to it. The competition in worldly matters is idiocy (that becomes a curse with time) while competition in matters of AKHIRAT is commendable; that truly is the great blessing from Allah. A person is allowed to accumulate wealth that is just enough to provide him safety to fulfill his obligations yet he must not become totally obsessed with material gains putting whole of his precious time to earning of such gains; that certainly is idiocy.
TOPIC 43-Two hungry wolves sent to the herd of sheep
(2383)-Ibn Ka’b ibn MALIK Ansari (RA) reported from his father that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Two hungry wolves sent to sheep do not cause more destruction than a man’s greed for property and honour causes to his religion.” [Ahmed 15784]
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TOPIC 44-The world is not more then a rider resting in shade
(2384)-Sayyidina Abdullah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) slept on a reed mat. He got up and its marks were impressed on his body. We said, “O Messenger of Allah, if (you need) we could fetch for you a bed!” He said, “What have I to do with the world? I am not in this world but like a rider who shades himself under a tree only to move onward and leave it.” [Ibn e Majah4109, Ahmed 3709]
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TOPIC 45-A man is on the religion of his friend
(2385)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A man is on the religion of his friend, so let each of you observe whom he befriends.” [Ah 8034, AD 833]
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H-2383 tells the evil of greed for accumulating wealth & property; it also tells that to ask for honor among people is not praiseworthy; honor means name and fame here and as two wolves destroy number of sheep, these two things destroy many good deeds of a person and even cause much negative effect to his true belief if he is a Muslim. Other Ahadith point out that a person must live as a traveler in this world as it is the path towards the destination but not the destination itself. As a traveler takes the journey just as a matter of few days or weeks so he tries to do well with whatever he gets for his necessities and does not care much about perfection or beauty; the man must live the same way without care for worldly possessions much. He must see what friends he makes as virtuous friends would lead him to height in righteousness as they understand the true aim of life; the unscrupulous friends would only lead him astray.
TOPIC 46-About the son of Aadam, his family and property
(2386)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Three things follow the deceased; two of them return while one remains. His family, his wealth and his deeds follow him. His family and his wealth returns while his deeds remain behind.” [Ah 12081, Bukhari 6514, N 1933]
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TOPIC 47-Eating too much
(2387)-Sayyidina Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say, “A man does not fill a vessel worse than his belly. Enough for the son of Adam are a few morsels to keep his back straight. But, if it is unavoidable then let him apportion one-third for his food, one-third for his drink and one-third for his breath.” [Ahmed 17186, Ibn e Majah3349]
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It is the same message that a person must not care about the worldly life much and he must not eat much. He must care less about taste and more about sustenance necessary for survival; he must only take the HALAAL. Note that Adam (AS) & HAWA (Eve; AS) lost JANNAH due to the eating of something that was prohibited. The point made here is that a person must not eat to the full but leave space (see the topic 20 & 21 at the booklet of food); that is easy to calculate by the enquiry if he could eat all that again that he took-in just now; his answer in affirmative denotes the space. ULAMA that have a leaning towards the practice of DHIKR (recitation of the name of Allah over & over for considerable time) to get spiritual satisfaction, give the guidance to eat less and to sleep less as these work for the spiritual betterment (some of them even guide to speak less); the attention must remain totally towards Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 48-About show-off and fame
(2388)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (R.A) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If anyone is pious just to display his piety, Allah would display it and if he causes it just to be heard, Allah would cause him to be heard.” He also reported that the Prophet said, “If anyone is not merciful to people then Allah is not merciful to him.” [Ahmed 11357]
(2389)-Shufayya Asbahi narrated that I entered Madinah and came upon a man around whom people had gathered. I asked, “Who is he?” They said, “Abu Hurayrah (RA)” So, I went near him till I sat down opposite him while he was narrating Hadith to the people. When he paused and was alone, I said to him, “I ask you by Truth i.e. by Allah, narrate to me a Hadith that you may have heard from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH), understood it and remembered it.” He said, “I will do that; narrate to you a Hadith that Allah’s Messenger narrated to me and I understood it and remembered it.” Then he shrieked and fell unconscious and revived after a while and repeated, “Surely, I will narrate to you a hadith that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) narrated to me in this house, there being no one else with us, only I and he.” Then, Abu Hurayrah shrieked loudly and fell unconscious. He recovered shortly, wiped his face and said, “I will do it. Surely I will narrate to you a hadith that Allah’s Messenger narrated to me. We were in this house, there being no one else with us, besides me and him.” Then he shrieked again loudly and fell unconscious and, as he was falling down on his face, I supported him for a long time. Then he regained consciousness and said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) narrated to me that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah the Exalted, would come down to the worshippers to judge between them and all the ummahs (peoples to whom different Prophets were sent) would kneel down. Among the first of those who are summoned would be a man who had memorised the Qur’an, a man who was slain in Allah’s path and a man who had much wealth. Allah would say to the reciter of Quran, ‘Did I not teach you what I had revealed to My Messenger?’ He would answer, ‘Certainly, O my Lord.’ Allah would ask, ‘So what did you do with what you had learnt?’ He would say, ‘I stood up with it in the night and during day in prayer.’ Allah would say to him, ‘You lie’ and the angels would say, ‘You have lied’. Allah would say to him, ‘Rather, you hoped to be cited as a reciter and that has been done’. The man of wealth would be presented next and Allah would say ‘Did I not give you plenty so that you may not depend on anyone?’ He would confirm, ‘Certainly, O my Lord’. Allah would ask, ‘Then what did you do with that which I gave you?’ He would answer, ‘I joined ties of relationship and gave SADAQAH’. Allah would say to him, ‘You lie’ and the angels would also say to him, ‘You have lied’. Allah would say, ‘Rather, you hoped to be referred to as a philanthropist and that has been done’. Then the one who was slain in Allah’s path would be presented and Allah would ask, ‘Why were you killed?’ He would say, ‘You commanded (us) to wage Jihad in Your path, so I fought till I was killed’. Allah would say to him ‘You lie’ and the angels would say to him, ‘You have lied’. And Allah would say, ‘Rather, you hoped to be called brave and that was done’. After that, Allah’s Messenger patted me on my knee and said, ‘O Abu Hurayrah! They are the first three of Allah’s creatures with whom the fire will be kindled on the Day of Resurrection’. Walid Abu Uthman Mada’ini said that Uqbah ibn Muslim informed me that Shufayya was the very one who had come to Mu’aviah (who was the Caliph of Muslims at the time) and informed him with that. Also Abu Uthman reported from Ata ibn Abu Hakim, the executioner in Mu’aviah’s court that a man came to him and narrated it from Abu Hurayrah. Mu’aviah said, “If that is how these would be treated then how will it be with the rest of men?” Then Mu’aviah wept and he wept profusely till the others around imagined that he would die. They said, “This man has come to us with evil in mind.” Then Mu’aviah recovered and wiped his face and said, “Allah has spoken the truth and His Messenger.” Then he recited the verse that ‘who desires the life of this world and its adornment; we shall pay them in full for their deeds therein, and they shall not be made to suffer (any) loss in it. Those are for whom is nothing in the Hereafter except the Fire. All that they contrive here would be in vain, and void would be that they used to do (the 11th Surah, 15-16)’.
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Hadith 2389 is the clarification for the Hadith 2388 in this topic and also for the Hadith 2390 that is coming ahead here and the bottom-line here is that if a good deed is done without the true belief in Allah; in fact it is done just to show-off and to have name in people without intending to get the pleasure of Allah; such would not be accepted at AKHIRAT. It is a point to note that good deeds without the true belief are not acceptable as first the correctness of the belief (that Allah is the Only True Authority and He would see the account of each & everyone on the Day of Judgment that would take place, as He has informed through His Messengers) is necessary then only the good deeds done according to it, are acceptable. The person who intends to show-off so as to make a good name in people, adversely affects the belief in such manner that after such intention, his good deeds become useless in AKHIRAT though in the worldly life, he might get as he intends. In comments to the verse 15 & 16 of Surah HOUD, the eleventh Surah (and in accordance with this Hadith), ULAMA tell us that those who do good deeds with a wrong belief do get returns in the world but there is nothing for them in AKHIRAT, the true life.
TOPIC 49-No Caption
(2390)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘Seek refuge in Allah from JUBB al-HAZN.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is Jubb al-Hazn?” He said “It is a valley in Hell from which (the rest of) Hell seeks refuge a hundred times each day.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, who will enter it?” He said, “The reciters (of the Quran) who display their deeds.” [Ibn e Majah 2561]
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TOPIC 50-Secret deeds
(2391)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that a man said to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) “O Messenger of Allah, a man performs a deed and keeps it a secret. But when it becomes known, it pleases him.” He said, “He has two rewards, reward for the secret and reward for it being known.” [Ibn e Majah 4226]
(2392)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that a man came to Allah’s Messegner (PBUH) and asked “When will the Hour come?” The Prophet stood up for Salah and when he had finished the Salah, he asked, “Where is he who asked about the Hour?” The man said, “Yes! O Messenger of Allah.” He asked. “What have you prepared for it?” He said, “I have not prepared for it with lenghty Salah or fasting, but that I love Allah and His Messenger (PBUH).” So, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A man is with whom he loves and you will be with him whom you love.” The narrator said, “And I did not see the happiness of the Muslims after Islam like their happiness at this (disclosure).” [Ahmed 12011]
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TOPIC 51-Man will be with one whom he loves
(2393)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “A man will be with one whom he loves. And for him is what he earns.” [Ahmed 12625]
(2394)-Sayyidina Safwan ibn Assal narrated that a villager who had a loud voice came and said,”O Muhammad, a man loves a people but his deeds are not identical to theirs.” Allah’s Messenger said, “A man is with one whom he loves.” [Ah 11813]
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When the Muslim does a good deed for the pleasure of Allah and he never intends to get the appreciation of the world but that he does get without intention to it, he is not liable of blame whatsoever; he would certainly get his reward in AKHIRAT. ULAMA point out that it is better to perform the FARDH, and the WAJIB, and the SUNNAH MUAKKADAH openly for that would be done by all Muslims though for other good works, the good Muslim person must keep secrecy as much as possible; he might disclose his optional SADAQAH (Charity other than ZAKAT) if the privileged persons around, are not caring for their needy fellow beings in the society so that they come to it. The Hadith that points out that a person is with the one whom he loves, is one of the recognized Ahadith even among the ordinary students of Ahadith; the man who asked was a rough AARAABI (dweller of a village of those times) with high voice and unrefined manners; sometimes the people get something good from where it is least expected and SAHABA were very pleased to hear the answer of the Prophet (PBUH). This means that if a Muslim person is lesser in status at AKHIRAT though he has achieved JANNAH, he would be elevated to the higher status of the one at JANNAH whom he loves that has achieved that higher status; it also denotes the other way round that he actually might be able to elevate someone he loves in the status at JANNAH; Al-Hamdu Lillah. Note that it is necessary to prepare for AKHIRAT rather than trying to know its timing. Note well that the chanting about the love for the Prophet (PBUH) itself is not enough to save a person from agonies of the fire of Hell as he has to show the true Belief and good deeds as the Prophet (PBUH) has guided by Islam; if that is not the case then the safety at AKHIRAT is an incorrect notion (like the notion of SHAFA’AT that many such people take to mean that the Prophet PBUH would take out every Muslim sinner from the Hell just by the Prophet’s own will while in actual it means that he would be allowed to take sinners in good Muslims out of Hell by the command of Allah, for whom Allah intends). Those who claim to love the Prophet (PBUH) most highly, they must try to become exceptionally good Muslims; they must take upon them to live in poverty for the whole life by choice living at necessities. Those who took love for Messengers of Allah as enough to save them at AKHIRAT without any care to have true belief in Allah, they have come to living in such manner that denotes little care for their religious obligations if any; this also denotes that they did not have the true love for Messengers as their so-called love for Messengers has only led them to injustice & shameful attitudes.
TOPIC 52-Having good hopes from Allah the Exalted
(2395)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s Messenger said, that Allah, the Exalted, says, “I am as My slave thinks of Me. And I am with him when he calls Me. [Bukhari 7405, M 2675]
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The Hadith here tells us how important it is to remember Allah and that we remember that Allah is merciful and very kind. When we Mulsims say the name of Allah, we remember His Mercy and His Kindness; that even is in the meaning of words Al-Hamdu Lillah (all praise is for Allah). The Holy Book Quran says in the second Surah, “When My slaves ask you about Me so I am nearby; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls Me so they must answer My call and must believe in Me so that they remain at righteousness” (Surah BAQARAH-186).
TOPIC 53-About piety and sin
(2396)-Sayyidina Nawwas ibn Sam’an (RA) reported that a man asked Allah’s Messenger about piety and sin. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Piety is good character while sin is what pinches you in your heart and you dislike that people should know about it.” [Ahmed 17650, Bukhari 295, Muslim 3553]
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When a person lives the life at righteousness with total attention towards Allah, a time comes when he does feel the guilt at any wrong he might commit. Islam is an integrated system of life and taking of its few important commands, leads to the practice of other of its good commands too, without any burden on self; it is according to the voice inside and not a system imposed from outside. Once, all Muslims truly accept the authority of Allah, then Islam eliminates injustice by asking the Muslim man to formulate the law of the land according to commands of Allah (i.e. ADL); and it eliminates shameful filthy things that might ask the Muslim women adversely to show up their beauty; they take up the attitude of reservation with care that their attraction does not affect the man negatively by the set-up of good traditions (i.e. by EHSAAN). SAHABA became well-versed in Fundamentals of Islam by teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) and as such if anything unclear pinched at their hearts, they did understand that this is not in accordance with the good Teachings of Islam; note that Muslims that live at some authority that is uncaring to Islam, they must live at such environment under protest only as Islam certainly is the complete code of life.
TOPIC 54-About love for the sake of Allah
(2397)-Sayyidina Mu’az ibn Jabal (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say that Allah, the Glorious the Majestic, said, “Those who love each other for My Glory will have pulpits of light that Prophets and martyrs would cherish.” [Ahmed 22141]
(2398)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There are seven whom Allah will provide shade under His shadow on the day when there will be no shade except His shade. (They are) a just Imam; a young man who grew up in worship of Allah; a man whose heart is attached to the mosque when he comes out of it till he returns to it; (each one of) the two men who love one another for the sake of Allah and they meet for that and separate on that; a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes become moist; a man whom a woman of wealth and beauty invites (to sin), but he says, ‘I fear Allah, the Majestic the Glorious’; and a man who gives charity and keeps it a secret so that his left hand does not know what his right has spent (on it).” [Ahmed 9671, Bukhari 660, Muslim 1031]
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H-2397 indicates those who care about Allah’s commands that they keep good relations with all that care about Islam; even the Prophets would appreciate their good status at AKHIRAT. H-2398 in actual means that all good Muslims would get the shade provided by Allah in AKHIRAT as all of good Muslims do find a place here in the seven somewhere but the point to note is that here the Prophet (PBUH) intended to guide towards the merits of high control over adverse temptations. The just Imam (head of matters) controls the temptation to show his authority just for the sake of display how powerful he is; the young person controls the temptation that asks him the attachment to worldly games at his youth yet he lives-on with the remembrance of Allah; the pious MUSALLI controls the temptation to visit places of attraction except for the Mosque to which he remains attached; each of the two business-men meets the other with care to keep their financial transaction fair with disregard to the temptation to get profits unfairly; the repentant man cries on his wrongs committed on temptations from satan remembering Allah truly in silence asking for His Mercy and His Kindness (perhaps the best one among those that are mentioned here as he fights all his adverse temptations collectively then & there); the young youthful man whom a beautiful rich woman call towards the wrong and he declines her offer by fighting out the temptation towards her; the prudent man who shuns the temptation to save his money and gives amounts in charity at the right place with as much secrecy as possible; these all good Muslims are highly praiseworthy as they have good control over adverse temptations; these temptations do not distract them from the righteousness that they had accepted to live upon. Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 55-If one loves another, he must tell him about
(2399)-Sayyidina Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If one of you loves his brother, let the one inform him about it.” [Ah 21570, Bukhari 542, AD 5I24]
(2400)-Sayyidina Yazid ibn Nu’amah Dabiy reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said “When a man makes someone his brother, he must ask him his name and the name of his father and to whom he belongs, for this strengthens mutual love.”
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TOPIC 56-About praise and those who praise
(2401)-Abu Ma’mar reported that a man stood up and began to praise one of the amirs. So Miqdad ibn Aswad (RA) poured dust on his face saying, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) commanded us that we should pour dust on the face of those who praise.” [Ah 23885, Bukhari 339, M 3002, AD 4804, Ibn e Majah 3742]
(2402)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) commanded us to the pour dust in the mouths of those who praise.”
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H-2400 asks to apply the psychology to good relations with others; if someone gives attention to issues of other persons sincerely, they do value his friendship and care for him better; MIQDAD ibn ASWAD was among the Ashaab of BADR (those who participated in the battle of BADR; the first war that took place in the month of RAMADHAN). The Hadith narrated by him was at the occasion when someone was praising UTHMAN (RA) at his face and was exaggerating that praise. There are two ways this Hadith has been interpreted; one in its actual words that dust must be poured on such exaggerating persons and the other by a humiliating attitude; this second meaning is preferable to most ULAMA of the current times and by this meaning it seems that MIQDAD (RA) stood up with some difficulty (as he has been reported as heavy person) and said whatever he understood better to humiliate the speaker who was praising UTHMAN (RA) with much exaggeration.
TOPIC 57-Companionship of a Believer
(2403)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say; “Do not take as a companion anyone but a Believer and let no one but a God-fearing eat your food.” [Ahmed 11336, Abu Dawud 4832)
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TOPIC 58-Patience in the face of affliction
(2404)-Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “When Allah decides to do good to His slave, he hastens for him punishment in this world. And when He decides to do evil to his slave, He holds back from him (punishment for) his sins till He takes retribution from him on the Day of Resurrection.” And, through this isnad, it is reported from the Prophet. He said, “A mighty reward is associated with a large affliction. Indeed, when Allah loves a people, He afflicts them in trial. Thus, he who is pleased, for him is (His) pleasure, and as for him who is angry, for him is displeasure.”
(2405)-Abu Wail narrated, Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) said, “I never saw hunger on anyone more severe than on Allah’s Messenger (PBUH).” [Ahmed 25453, Bukhari 5646, Muslim 2570]
(2406)-Mus’ab ibn Sa’d reported on the authority of his father i.e. Sa’d (RA) that he asked, “O Messenger of Allah, which people will face trials most?” He said, “Prophets, then those who are more like Prophets, and then those who are much alike to those who are like Prophets. A man is tried according to his religion. If he is firm on his religion then the trial is severe and if he is soft in observing his religion then he is tried according to his religion.Then, the trial does not remove from the slave till he walks over earth having no sin on him.” [Ibn e Majah 4023]
(2407)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said that trials do not cease to afflict the believing men and the believing women in their person, their children and their property till they meet Allah and on them is no sin. [Ahmed 8918]
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TOPIC 59-About losing eyesight
(2408)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said that Allah said, “If I take away the two eyes of My slave in the world then the reward for him with me cannot be but Paradise.” [Bukhari 5653]
(2409)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) traced this hadith to the Prophet (PBUH) that Allah, the Majestic and Glorious, said, “When I take away the eye-sight of a slave and he shows patience and looks forward to reward then I shall not be pleased for him with anything less than Paradise.” [Ahmed 7600]
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H-2403 asks the Muslim person to take intimacy to the good people only as he would keep them to virtues and they would keep him to virtues certainly (see also H-2385); other Ahadith here tell us that whatever afflicts Muslim person, that trial becomes reparation for anything adverse that he had committed and this betterment towards purity continues until he becomes totally clean of sins. Afflictions might be trials (for Muslims attentive towards Allah) or they might be punishment (for such persons who are not attentive to Allah). The difference shows in the attitude of both; the former is calm and still remains thankful to Allah with satisfaction inside while the latter complains even more and his despair inside shows clearly. This Hadith might lead to deduction that good men would have lesser trials than those who have done number of sins but this is not the case. Note that when good persons get trials, their position is raised higher in AKHIRAT due to those trials and as such, Prophets are raised higher that would show at AKHIRAT due to the very hard trials they faced at the world as they had no sins to their accounts needing reparation. Ahadith at Topic-59 are an extension to the previous topic; they denote that when a person is afflicted with blindness (especially when he is blind by birth) and still that person works hard in the way of Allah as much as he is capable of, keeping to the True Belief without any complaint, he would be rewarded most highly in AKHIRAT.
TOPIC 60-The Resurrection and remorse for shortfall of piety
(2410)-Sayyidina Jabir reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “On the day of Resurrection, when those who were afflicted with trial are given the reward, those who were safe would wish that their skins had been cut off with scissors in the world.”
(2411)-Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “There is no one who dies but reproaches himself.” The Sahaba asked, “And, what is his regret, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “If he was righteous he will regret why he did not increase (his righteousness) and if he was evil then he will regret why he did not pull himself out (of it).” [Nasai 1814]
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Hadith 2410 is a weak narration and the point to note here is that Muslims are not allowed to ask for pains to increase rewards; so please note well that this narration does not mean to ask for troubles at the worldly life in any way. The Hadith ahead tells that the worldly life actually is the time to work for the righteousness as at its end there would only be regret for those who did not comply with the commands of Allah as they should have. Certainly, the time of life at the world is very precious in this meaning that we are given this one life only to prove that we are truly capable to live in JANNAH as after the exit of Adam & Eve (Salam on both) from it, we would only get it by the True Belief we keep about Allah (that He only is the Creator of all creation and He only is the True Authority) when we do have our deeds too according to His Commands; certainly, there is no second chance. This is the true success as the Holy Book Quran says in the third Surah, “Every soul is (to have) taste of death and you would be paid your rewards at the day of Resurrection so whoever is saved from the fire and is entered into JANNAH (Paradise) he has truly triumphed and what is the worldly life but a provision of vanities” (AAL-e-IMRAN-185).
TOPIC 61-Double-dealing in religion and the retribution
(2412)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “In the final of times, there will appear men who would cheat in the world with religion. They will wear for people (to be seen by them) dress of hide of sheep, their tongues will be sweeter than sugar and their hearts will be like hearts of wolves. Allah will say, ‘Do they show arrogance to Me (or are they daring against Me)? I swear by Myself that I will send to them a trial whereby the most forbearing among them would be amazed’.”
(2413)-Ibn Umar (RA) reported the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) that Allah the Exalted says, “Surely I have created creatures whose tongues are sweeter than honey but hearts more bitterly than aloe. I swear by Myself, I will involve them in a trial whereby the forbearing among them would be bewildered. So, are they arrogant before Me (or daring against Me)?”
(2414)-Sayyidina Uqbah ibn Aamir (RA) reported having asked, “O Messenger of Allah how to get salvation?” He said, “Control your tongue, make your place at your home and weep over your sins.” [Ahmed 22298]
(2415)-Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) reported in a Marfu’ form, “When morning dawns on the son of Aadam, all his limbs humble themselves before his tongue and implore (it), ‘Fear Allah for we depend on you. If you stay straight, we are straight, but if you are crooked then we are crooked’.” [Ahmed 11908]
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Ahadith at this topic convey to us that at the time near QAYAMAT, many persons would try to twist the Islamic teachings by their power of speech and writing. They would look trustworthy at face yet they would be as dangerous as wolves inside as they would try to change the belief of good persons. Allah would punish them even in this world in some amazing manner and at AKHIRAT they would be punished even more severely. At such Fitnah, it is much better to keep control over the tongue and not to speak un-necessarily; in fact, the good Muslim person must try to limit roaming about and stay at home as much as possible. There are two liquids that come from the inside of the man that might wash all his sins well; one is the blood that he flows in the way of Allah and the second is tears that come out of his eyes when he remembers his wrongs and asks Allah for His Mercy.
TOPIC 62-Guarding the tongue
(2416)-Sayyidina Sahl ibn Sa’d (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If anyone guarantees me about what is between his jaws and what is between his legs then I guarantee him Paradise.” [Ahmed 22886, Bukhari 6474]
(2417)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) ,”He whom Allah has protected from the mischief of that which is between his jaws and that what is between his legs will enter Paradise.”
(2418)-Sayyidina Sufyan ibn Abdullah Thaqafi (RA) narrated, I said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me something to which I may hold fast.” He said, ‘Say, ‘My Lord is Allah’ and stick to it.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what do you apprehend most from me?” He held his tongue and then (leaving it) said, “This!” [Ahmed 15418, Muslim 38, Ibn e Majah 3972]
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TOPIC 63-Much conversation is bad except remembering Allah
(2419)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Do not engage in much conversation without mention of Allah because that hardens heart and who is hard-hearted, he is the furthest from Allah.”
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TOPIC 64-Speech of the son of Aadam that is against him
(2420)-Sayyidina Umm Habibah (RA) the wife of the Prophet (PBUH) reported that Prophet said, “Every speech of the son of Aadam is against him, not for him, except heightening the reputable and forbidding the evil and remembering Allah.”
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Ahadith at topic 62, 63 & 64 inform clearly about the need to control the tongue and about speaking only where necessary. In any conversation or writing, it is most crucial for the Muslim person that he mentions Allah and remembers His commands as that shows the care he has for those commands in his life. Ahadith point out that the best thing is to recognize that Allah is the Only True Lord; this recognition must show in the practical life of the man. It is said in the Holy Book Quran in the 46th Surah, “Surely those who say, Our Lord is Allah, then they continue on the right way, they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve”(Surah AHQAAF-13). H-2416 here, also guides that the Muslim person must take care about the organ between the legs that means he must keep away from adultery and certainly, he must ask Allah for much high safety against all shameful acts.
TOPIC 65-Giving rights of self, the Lord, guests and family
(2421)-Sayyidina Abu Juhayfah narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) established fraternal ties between Salman and Abu-Darda. Once, Salman visited Abu Darda and observed Umm Darda in a hackneyed condition, so he asked, “What is wrong with you? You seem worn-out?” She said, “Abu Darda has no worldly ambition.” When Abu Darda came, he served the meal to Salman and said, “I will not eat till you eat.” So, he ate. When it was night, Abu Darda stood up in prayer but Salman said to him, “Sleep,” so he slept, but soon got up to pray. Salman said to him, “Sleep”, so he slept. When it was morning, Salman said to him. “Stand up, now.” So, he stood up and they offered Salah and he said, “Indeed, your soul has a right over you, your Lord has a right over you, your guest has a right over you. So give every owner his right.” They came to the Prophet and he related what had transpired to him and he said, “Salman has spoken the truth.” [Bukhari 1968]
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The Hadith tells that piety does not mean to shun all matters that seem worldly to the Muslim person; Islamic Teachings clarify that he has to take the world according to necessity so as to fulfill his obligations, living ordinary. But, it is necessary to see the margin where the necessity starts and the margin where it ends. When the Prophet (PBUH) came to Madinah, he made brotherly ties among one of Makkah (MHUHAJIR) and one of Madinah (ANSAAR) so that the MUHAJIR might feel at ease at Madinah. We have read about the brotherly ties between Abdur-Rahman ibn Auf & Sa’ad ibn Rabi (see H-1940) and as Salman Farsi was the brother to Abu-Darda, he tried to tell him the truth about piety; that was confirmed by the Prophet (PBUH). This event occurred before the command of HEJAB so Salman Farsi saw that Umm-Darda was in hackneyed condition; after the command of HEJAB came, it disallowed to view NA-MEHRUM (unrelated woman whom he is allowed to marry if she is or would have been unmarried); but necessary conversation is still allowed with the NA-MEHRUM women with the required reservation on her part.
TOPIC 66-One who seeks pleasure of people in Allah’s wrath
(2422)-Abdul-Wahhab ibn Ward reported from a man of Madinah who said, “Mu’aviah wrote to Ayshah (RA) ‘Write to me a letter giving me instructions, but do not make it too much over me’. So, she wrote to him, ‘Salam-Alayk; To proceed, I had heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “He who seeks Allah’s pleasure in people’s anger, Allah suffices him against people’s confrontaion. But, as for him who seeks the pleasure of the people in Allah’s wrath, Allah entrusts him to the people”; And Salam-Alayk’.
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This Hadith advises well to Muslim leaders; Sayyedah Ayesha, the beloved wife of the Prophet (PBUH), placed it timely to Mu’aviah who was then at the head of administration of Muslims. This folly of caring about the pleasure of the people against the pleasure of Allah is severe mistake and even democracy that is taken to be the best political way today to elect representatives at assemblies, must take care that nothing against Islam is formulated as ruling at the law in the Islamic Society (it is good that Pakistan has the provision at its law that “the Law of the country shall be based on Quran and Sunnah and neither any law shall be enacted nor any Administrative injunction shall be laid down that is repugnant to the Holy Book Quran and the Sunnah” and it also has “any interpretation of the constitution that is against the Quran & the SUNNAH shall not be valid”). It is highly important that people have the freedom of speech (with care that they do not violate the basic human-rights of others) and though that attitude is taken as democratic yet it is within the Islamic manner of living; we all must appreciate it. Note that if we implement three things at democracy to restrict it as we find it today, we would be able to incorporate it in the Islamic Society; one is that “there is no obedience to any person where there is disobedience to Allah”; second is that “there is no competition in assigning of the official status to candidates at the Islamic Society and the elections even take place in such manner that Muslims do not challenge each other for the membership of assemblies here”; third is that “there is no high documentation at different issues of life at the Islamic Society”. The KITAB and SUNNAH (i.e. the Holy Book Quran and the teachings of the Prophet PBUH) provide the reasoning well to these three statements; note well that the basis for the choice of candidate for the job is his competency and honesty; then only, he would do his job well without any injustice where he sees financial benefits (read also my writing “The Islamic Guidelines”). See also any good TAFSIR (commentary on the Holy Book Quran) for verse-39 of 27th Surah i.e. NAML where the Quran says, “One audacious among the jinn said: I will bring it to you before you rise up from your place; and most surely I am competent and honest upon it” and for verse-26 of 28th Surah i.e. QASAS where the Quran says, “Said one of the ladies, O my father! Employ him, surely the best of those that you can employ is the competent, the honest one”. When Muslims generally care about the avoidance of injustice and shameful attitudes then with these three statements that I, MSD, have mentioned, the environment would transform very soon to the Islamic Environment insha-Allah.
(CONTINUED at TIRMIDHI-10)
Presentation by MUHAMMAD SALEEM DADA
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Al-Hamdu Lillah
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http://www.m-saleemdada.com/
33- BOOK ON WILLS (8 topics)
TOPIC 1-About a will for one-third
(2123)-Sa’d ibn Abu Waqas (RA) narrated that I fell ill during the year of the conquest of Makkah and found myself on the point of death. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to me and inquired about my health. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have abundant wealth and no one but my one daughter will inherit me. So, I bequeath all my wealth.” He said, “No.” So, I said, “Two-thirds”, but he said,” No” I said, “A half “, but he again said, “No.” I said “Then, one-third.” He agreed, ‘One-third, but one-third is much. Indeed, if you leave your heirs rich, it is better than to leave them poor, begging from people. You will not spend anything without being rewarded for it, even the morsel you raise to the mouth of your wife.’ I said, “O Messenger of Allah, will I have to stay behind from my Hijrah.” He said, “You will never remain behind after me, if you do deeds seeking pleasure of Allah, your rank will be raised. Perhaps you survive me and some people benefit from you while some suffer loss. O Allah! Complete the Hijrah of my Sahabah. And do not cause them to turn back on their heels.” But the unfortunate Sa’d ibn Khawlah! Allah’s Messenger grieved for him, he died at Makkah. [Ah 1546, Bukhari 56, M 1628, AD 2864, Ibn Majah 2708, N 3626]
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After the FARAIDH, we have the booklet of wills. A person is allowed to make a will for those who would not inherit him; it would remain upto the one third of his property only and it is better to make a will much lesser than that. Will made for the heirs would not be applicable as their shares are fixed by the Holy Book Quran. A person might make a will for SADAQAH on the third of his property so that it becomes compensation to his deficit in the FARDH he had not fulfilled. Will must be for the good things and the will made for some evil would not be applicable. This Hadith tells to make WASIYAT (will) up-to one third only and not more and even that is too much. SA’D ibn ABU-WAQAS, whose KUNIYAH was ABU-ISHAQ, fought at BADR (where he lost his younger brother UMAYR who was martyred) and UHUD besides the Prophet (PBUH) and was one of the early Muslims at Makkah. He was the one for whom the Prophet (PBUH) said at battle of UHUD to go on shooting arrows at the enemy. He died at 55 Hijri and was buried at JANNAH-AL-BAQI’ graveyard that is at Madina near the resting place of the Prophet PBUH. He was worried that he was dying at Makkah coming to it at HAJJ (this event of his illness was at the time of HAJJ with the Prophet PBUH as clarified by ULAMA though the narrator has said ‘at the conquest of Makkah’) and he had done his Hijrah to Madinah long way back. The Prophet (PBUH) told him that insha Allah he would live on and Muslims in general would benefit from him. SA’D Ibn ABU-WAQAS was the conqueror of Persia and extended diplomatic ties with China later in his life.
TOPIC 2-Negligence in drawing will
(2124)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed the man and the woman perform deeds in obedience to Allah for sixty years. Then death is nearer to them and they err in making the will so that the fire necessarily becomes their destination.” Then Abu Huraira recited to the sub narrator this verse---After (paying) bequest – (to) - that is a mighty triumph (4,11-13)--- [AD 2867, Ibn Majah 2704]
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TOPIC 3-About encouragement to draw a will
(2125)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “It does not behoove a Muslim to let two nights go by without drawing a will while he has something for which he should make a bequest, but he should have it written down by him.” [Bukhari 2738]
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When a Muslim comes at the age of 60, he must have his will written as the average age of Muslims told by the Prophet PBUH is between 60 & 70. The person must make two good men from among the Muslims as witnesses over the will he makes and it should be in written form without putting any adverse effect to the heirs as he might give the third of his property without any valid reason to someone though he does have the right to it; that injustice might cause him to ask for the punishment of fire.
TOPIC 4-About the Prophet not having drawn a will
(2126)-Talhah ibn Musarrif narrated I asked Ibn Abu Awfa whether Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) had drawn a will. He said, “No.” I asked, “How then is a will drafted? And how did he command people (to this)?” He said, “He gave instruction to abide by Allah’s Book.” [Bukhari 2740, Muslim 1634]
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The Prophet (PBUH) did not make any written will and the point to note is that whatever the Prophet (PBUH) left was SADAQAH so there was no need for a will. However, he told people to follow the Holy Book Quran and that gives clear instruction on the shares of heirs asking to care that the person near to death should not harm his heirs by giving his will to the third without valid reason. Before the application of the will, the debts that deceased had upon him, must be paid in full by the property he had left.
TOPIC 5-About making no will for an heir
(2127)-Sayyidina Abu Umamah Bahili narrated I heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say during the sermon of the Farewell pilgrimage that Allah, the Blessed and the Exalted, has assigned every owner of right, his right. There is no will for an heir. The child belongs to the bed, and for the adulterer are stones and his reckoning is with Allah, the Exalted. For him who traces himself to anyone other than his father or connects himself to another than his master, then on him is the curse of Allah stamped up-to the Day of resurrection. No woman may spend from the home of her husband, save with his permission. Someone asked “O Messenger of Allah, not even food?” He said, “That is the most excellent of our properties.” He also said, “That which is borrowed has to be repaid, and the thing taken just for time being has to be returned, and the debt must be discharged, and the guarantor is responsible.” [AD 2870, Ibn Majah 2713]
(2128)-Sayyidina Amr ibn Kharijah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) sat on his she-camel and addressed the people. He (Amr) was standing under its neck and it was pouring out its cud, its saliva dropping on his shoulders. He heard him say, “Indeed, Allah, the Majestic and Glorious, gave every owner of right his due (right). There is no will for the heir. The child belongs to the (owner of the) bed and, for the adulterer are stones.” [Nasai 3643, Ibn Majah 2712, Ahmed 1768]
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The Holy Book Quran has specified the shares of heirs of the deceased and he is not liable to make any will for those specified. The other guidance given here is that an offspring by adultery would be taken as the son or the daughter of the husband of the woman who involved herself in this filthy sin (adultery is one of the KABA’ER) and both the adulterers (if the man was married too) had to face RAJM (that is they were pelted by stones till death) at those times. A person should not name as his father other than his true father and a woman should not spend anything from her husband’s property unless she is allowed by him to do so.
TOPIC 6-About debt preceding the will
(2129)-Sayyidina Ali (RA) said that the Prophet commanded that a debt should be paid before executing the will while you recite (in the Qur’an) the WASIYAH (will) before the debt. [Ibn e Majah 2101, 2715]
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TOPIC 7-Giving Sadaqah or emancipating slave at death
(2130)-Abu Habibah Tayi narrated that my brother willed for me a portion of his wealth so when I met Abu Darda, I told him that my brother had willed for me a portion of his wealth. Then I asked him, ‘Where do you think I should spend it; on the poor or the needy or the warriors in the path of Allah?’ He said, ‘If I were in your place then I would have spent it on the warriors. I heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say that the example of one who frees a slave at the time of death is like one who gives when he is satiated’. [Ahmed 21778, Abu Dawud 3968, Nasai 3616]
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Debt would be paid before the execution of the will. By the narration of Abu Habibah Tayi, it is clear that it is better to help those who work for the spread of the word of Allah; and especially to help those who combat such enemy who have become danger to the Islamic way of life, in the battle-field; the better SADAQAH is of the person who provides some of his assets at the time when he is at the better health and when he also has the leaning to keep that at hand.
TOPIC 8-No caption
(2131)-Urwah reported on the authority of Sayyidah Ayesha (RA) that Sayyidah Barirah (RA) came to her to seek help in buying her freedom, for she had been unable to pay anything of the agreed amount (as a Mukatab). Sayyidah Ayesha said to her, “Go to your owners. If they are agreeable to my paying for your freedom on your behalf and also have the right to inherit from you, I will do so.” So, she mentioned that to her people but they refused saying that when she pays for your freedom, she hopes for reward (from Allah) and let us have the right to inherit from you then it is acceptable to us.” Sayyidah Ayesha (RA) mentioned that to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). He said to her “Buy her and set her free. The right to inherit belongs to one who emancipates.” He then stood up (among the people) and said, “What is the matter with the people; they put forward conditions not found in Allah’s Book. If anyone places conditions that are not in Allah’s Book then they are invalid, even if he makes the conditions a hundred times.” [Ah 24576, Bukhari 2561, M 1504, AD 3929, Ibn Majah 2521, N 4664]
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We have studied WALA at the last of the Booklet on FARAIDH (Inheritance) that applies in the way that if one sets free a slave (male or female), the inheritance of that freed slave would be for the one, at his or her death, when he has no heir. Here, we find that BARIRAH was a MUKATAB (means the slave-woman who had asked her female owners to set her free against some amount of money that she would pay them and they had accepted this offer). She was unable to pay the amount and asked for BIBI AYESHA’s assistance and she complied on the condition that her property at her death would be hers. BARIRAH’s owners were not ready to accept this condition for they wanted to get the inheritance in the event of BARIRAH’s death them-selves; the Prophet (PBUH) told AYESHA to go ahead without worrying about what BARIRAH’s owners intend as she would be liable to get the WALA (inheritance by BARIRAH) as she actually is providing her the liberty that she wants.
34- BOOK ON WALA & GIFTS (6 topics)
TOPIC 1-About Wala belonging to one who sets free
(2132)-It is reported from Sayyidina Aisha (RA) that she intended to purchase Barirah but her masters laid the condition that they would retain inheritance from her. The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized that this right belonged to one who pays the price or is guardian of the blessing. [Ahmed 25590]
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TOPIC 2-Proscription to sell or gift Wala
(2133)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger disallowed them to sell, or make a gift of, Wala. [Bukhari 2535]
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This Booklet deals with gifts and respectable Tirmidhi has brought the Hadith about WALA at the beginning to connect it with the last Topic of the booklet of Wills. The term WALA is used here as the inheritance to be gained from the slave when he dies (whom the person has freed). There is a second type of WALA too (but that is not addressed here in this Hadith) and that is inheritance by the pact to a person who has no heir but according to three IMAMS except for ABU-HANIFA, it is not allowed to make such pact at the first place; and if made, it would not be applicable, such inheritance being the right of the State Treasury. The Hadith conveys that WALA (that is to be gained by the freed slave on his death) is not transferable but it is fixed for the person who has freed the slave; however, this matter is not relevant nowadays.
TOPIC 3-About describing anyone else as father or emancipator
(2134)-Ibrahim Tamimi reported on the authority of his father that Sayyidina Ali (RA) delivered to them a sermon saying, “If anyone thinks that we have anything else that we read besides Allah’s Book and this Sahifah (a scripture), in which is mentioned blood wit of camels and wounds, then he is a liar. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said that Madinah is sacred between (the places) Ayr and Thawr. Hence, if anyone innovates here a bid’ah or gives protection to an innovator then on him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and the people, all together. Allah will not accept from him, on the Day of Resurrection, any worship whether obligatory or supererogatory. And if anyone relates himself to other than his father, or cites as his emancipator other than the real one then on him is the curse of Allah, the angels and the people all together and no obligatory or supererogatory worship will be accepted from him. And, the protection given by the Muslims is the same (in status) even if the lowest of them offers it (i.e. all would have to respect it).” [Bukhari 1870, Muslim 1370]
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ALI ibn Abi Talib was the first cousin of the Prophet (PBUH) and he was also his son in law. But his best merit was that he was one of those who accepted Islam in the very beginning of the invitation that the Prophet gave. There were people who assigned some extraordinary traits to him or thought that the Prophet told him secrets that he did not tell anyone. This narration that is narrated by ALI himself clarifies that he was not taught anyting specific by the Prophet (and this would have put an insult to the Prophet PBUH who was made Prophet by Allah to present all good verses of the Holy Book Quran and all the good SUNNAH to all people without choosing some of them as specific). He clarified that I have the Quran and a scripture wherein the commands of DIYAT (blood-money) are written as specified by the Prophet and these commands like the Holy Book Quran are for all to know and take into practice; nothing specific. Madinah is also HARAM (sacred) like Makkah and its respect is necessary for the Muslim. Ayr and Thaur both are mountains that were present at different ends of the city then and actually, Madinah is addressed by their mention here. BID’AH means anything new that is against SUNNAH (the guidance of the Prophet PBUH) and to introduce something that is BID’AH anywhere anytime is a big sin yet introduction of something against SUNNAH at Madinah (or Makkah) is highly blameworthy. There also is the guidance that a person must not introduce himself as the son of somebody else than his true father; also when a Muslim, even if he is an ordinary Muslim, provides protection to a man of the enemy (that has not killed a Muslim or has not committed any heinous crime), his protection is worthy of acceptance by the Muslim State that certainly would give that word the most high respect.
TOPIC 4-About one who refuses to own his child
(2135)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that a man of Banu Fazarah came to the Prophet (PBUH) and complained, “O Messenger of Allah, my wife has given birth to a boy with a black complexion.” The Prophet asked him, “Do you have camels?” He said, “Yes.” The Prophet asked, “What is their colour? “ He said, “Red.” The Prophet asked, “Is there a leaf-coloured one among them?” He said, “Yes, there is a leafy one among them.” He asked, “From where has it come?” The man offered, “Perhaps a vein resembled.” He meant that an earlier one in its intimates may have had this colour. The Prophet explained, “Thus, here too, is a resemblance to a vein (of an ancestor).” [Bukhari 7314, M 1500]
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This Hadith clarifies that a person must not have irrational doubts about his wife and must not be uselessly suspicious about her. If some matter does arise that seems to point at her unworthiness, it might be just an error in his thinking (unless totally verified); the benefit of doubt would go to her and he must then, not keep any adverse thought about her.
TOPIC 5-About Physiognomy
(2136)-Sayyidina Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) came to me one day with smiling, happy face. He said, “Do you see that a MUJAZZAZ (an adept in understanding Physical Features) observed the feet of Zayd ibn Harithah and Usamah ibn Zayd and informed that these are feet belonging to a common string.” [Bukhari 3731, Muslim 1459]
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Usamah ibn Zaid (whom the Prophet PBUH liked very much) was the son of Zaid ibn Harithah (the only Sahaabi who is mentioned by name in the Holy Book Quran in AHZAAB, the 33rd Surah) but their facial features had differences and there were few persons who raised doubts about this. Once when they were sleeping near with their heads covered, an adept in QIYAFAH (understanding of Physical Features) passed by and gave the remark that these feet belong to a common string meaning these both are very closely related at which the Prophet (PBUH) was very pleased. This Hadith tells us that when there is a problem to get to the identity of the father of a person, the verdict of an adept in understanding the physical features is acceptable. Today we have DNA test but I don’t know if Islam does take it as worthy of acceptance at issues of concern though that is said to be accurate; note that when we talk about Islam, it needs the awareness of the fact that it is based on the KITAB (the Holy Book Quran) & the SUNNAH (the guidance of the Prophet PBUH) and there must be some reasoning by that to accept the DNA test except where it is cited only as MUBAH; there is such negligence for Islamic Commands in the Medical field especially in the matters of HEJAB that even its simple good provisions seem to ask for caution. This Hadith might also be stated as to provide some margin to study the character traits of persons by astrology (and even by numerology and tarot-cards) just as some person takes-up the skilled study of Psychology to understand the character traits; however, trying to study the future by any of such ways (except by the interpretation of dreams by expertise) is not appreciable by Islam. This Hadith also tells us that it’s a pleasure to all true Muslims if an insult to someone is eliminated in the society; the true Muslim must always care to establish and restore the respect of every Muslim without becoming the commentator that passes adverse remarks to them (that is forbidden in Surah AHZAAB too for which this Hadith becomes an explanation).
TOPIC 6-About the Prophet’s encouragement to exchange gifts
(2137)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, ‘Give presents to each other for, a gift removes ill-will from the heart. And a woman must not look down upon the gift of her neighbour (even) if it is a piece of a sheep’s foot-end.’ [Bukhari 2566, Muslim 1030, Ahmed 9261]
(2138)-Sayyidina ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, ‘The example of one who gives a gift and takes it back afterwards is like the dog that eats voraciously till it vomits and then returns to eat from what it had vomited.’ [Bukhari 1489, Muslim 1621]
(2139)-It is reported Marfu by Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) and Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “It is not lawful for a man who presents a gift to take it back, except a father (who can take it back) after giving to his son. And the example of one who presents a gift and afterwards demands it back is like the dog that eats excessively till it spews it out and then returns to it to consume from it.” [Abu Dawud 3539]
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These Ahadith are explicit for exchanging gifts and also clarify about the filth of taking it back, once given. Three of the IMAMS except ABU-HANIFA clearly state due to this Hadith that it is HARAAM to take back the given (except for the father as mentioned in the Hadith). ABU-HANIFA also agrees in general that it is not allowed when the gift is to someone in the close relation; but though he takes the asking back of it from others as an extremely immoral act yet not HARAAM. The example of the dog here is due to the fact that it is one of the greediest animals and very selfish caring about its own apettite without the slightest regards for any other; even if it keeps quiet on something taken from it for which it knows well that he had no right, it would grab the opportunity whenever that presents to get that thing back without any care to scruples.
35-BOOK ON DECREE & PREDESTINATION (19 topics)
TOPIC 1-About arguing on the subject of predestination
(2140)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira narrated, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to us while we were debating about Divine decree. He became angry and his face turned so red as if pomegranate seed had been cracked open on his face. He asked us, “Is this what, you are commanded to do? (Or, is this with which I was sent to you?) Indeed, those before you perished only because they debated on this subject. I call upon you to assure me that you will not debate on it ever.”
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From here, we have the Booklet on Predestination (that fortune and fate all is written for everyone). To understand this booklet in a better way, I would present the matter as clarified by IBN-ABBAS (RA), the first cousin of the Pophet (PBUH) and highly knowledgeable in TAFSIR (the understanding of the Holy Book Quran). Note well that TAQDIR (the Predestination) is actually the Will of Allah so whatever he intends is TAQDIR. The Holy Book Quran says in Surah RA’AD, the thirteenth Surah, “And certainly We sent apostles before you and gave them wives and children, and it is not for an apostle to bring a sign except by Allah's permission; for every term there is a Book. Allah makes to pass away and establishes what He pleases, and with Him is the basis of the Book (UMMUL-KITAB). And We will either let you see part of what We threaten them with or cause you to die, for only the delivery of the message is on you, while calling to account is on Us” (Surah RAAD:38,39,40). Note that TAQDIR (Fortune & Fate; Predestination) has two kinds i.e. MUALLAQ (literally hanging; means the matter yet in consideration) and MUBRAM (the Fixed). The MUALLAQ is the one which is written in a book and true dreams might tell something about future from it yet it is changeable by good deeds and more than that by DUA (Prayers to Allah). Here in Surah RA’AD, we are told that everything is predestined by the words “for every term, there is a Book”. The term here means especially the time when Wrath of Allah would get the wrong ones but it also implies that even good things manifest them at appointed times, for individual and for collective. Now after that we are informed that by our deeds and our DUA, Allah eliminates what He wills from that Book and establishes what He intends to keep; so He accepts (or rejects) our deeds for the change (or to keep it intact) and certainly He knows totally well at all times what would change and what would not. Now what would happen after the change or without the change, that is MUBRAM and that is in the UMMUL-KITAB (basis of the Book or the Command) that is with Allah only and the matters that He has told us from MUBRAM would certainly happen as the Arrival of QAYAMAT (the last day of the world), HASHR (the first day of AKHIRAT amounting to 1000 years when accounting for all the individuals would take place) and AKHIRAT (all of the true life after this life). This MUBRAM-TAQDIR nobody knows, even not the angels, and as such it is said to be the Secret of Allah. We have no right to question TAQDIR as we might change it (that means MUALLAQ) and we certainly have no right to question Allah’s Will that is certain (MUBRAM) to take place. This is how this matter remains and that is why Allah does not even answer the unbelievers when they say in response to a call to feed the needy that why must we feed those whom Allah would feed better (see Surah YASIN, the 36th Surah, verse 47). The Hadith here disallows debate about TAQDIR as those who would say that everything is predestined are certainly right in a way and still wrong in the other. And those who would say against that, the same statement holds quite well for them too; note that two factions came at fore at this matter in the early centuries after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger; one is named as QADRIAH (who believed that the man has total free-will and nothing is predestined) and the other is named as JABRIYAH (who believed that everything is predestined and the man has no free-will); these both have been taken at fault by the ULAMA. To Believe in TAQDIR is necessary by the Islamic Teachings without asking for detail and without asking for debate.
TOPIC 2-The debate between Adam and Musa (AS)
(2141)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet narrated, Adam and Musa disputed with one another. Musa said, “O Adam! You are the one whom Allah created with His own hand. He blew into you His spirit, but you misled the people and drove them out of Paradise.” So, Adam said to him, “You are Musa! Allah chose you for direct conversation with Him. You blame me for something that I did which Allah had recorded against me even before He had created the heavens and earth.” So, Adam out-debated Musa. [Ahmed 7638, Bukhari 3409, Muslim 2652]
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It is disallowed to put TAQDIR as the reason for some wrong done as we have just studied but the matter reported here did not take place at this world but it took place in AALAM-ARWAH and so the comment to this narration becomes difficult. Note that Allah pardoned Adam (Salam on him) and Eve (Salam on her) on the grave error of taking the prohibited fruit and the Command of Allah that He had given them to descend to Earth as punishment changed status to an examination to all persons; now JANNAH (the Paradise) would not be gifted but the Man would have to prove by his True Belief and the righteous deeds according to it that he is worthy of it; even now the blessing from Allah is necessary for receiving the guidance to the True Belief and the righteous deeds. There is a concept in the Islamic Teachings named as “ISMAT-ANBIA” (Protection of the Messengers) that means the Messengers would not commit sins. In the case of Adam (Salam on him), I would only comment that every sin is an error but every error is not a sin; it is better to designate the eating of the prohibited fruit by both Adam & Eve as an extreme grave error but to refrain from going beyond that.
TOPIC 3-About good fortune and bad
(2142)-Sayyidina Umar (RA) asked, “O Messenger of Allah! These deeds that we do are they abrupt and instant or pre-determined which we have accomplished?” He said, “They are pre-determined and accomplished already, O Ibn Khattab. To everyone that for which he was created has been made easy. Thus, they who are auspicious are prompted to do auspicious deeds and the unfortunate do deeds of this nature (evil deeds).” [Ahmed 5140]
(2143)-Sayyidina Ali (RA) reported that while they were with Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) he was scratching earth (as though in deep thought). Suddenly he raised his head to the heaven and said, “There is none among you about whom it is not determined.” Waki (the narrator, reported some other words to the same effect that the Prophet) said, “It is recorded that his seat is in the fire or his seat is in Paradise.” They asked, “Shall we not place trust in Allah, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Do your deeds. To everyone is made easy that for which he is created.” [Bukhari 6605, Muslim 2647]
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These Ahadith indicate the necessity of activity. Belief in predestination does not mean that there remains no incentive for good deeds. Everyone finds easy for which he is born and takes himself to the same destination by his doing that is written for him. Belief must be on TAQDIR and AMAL (the activity) must be such that denotes the free-will, doing whatever is good; this is not at disparity but as we find ourselves capable to do good deeds according to Islam, we must do them by our free-will; we are not allowed to question TAQDIR so after believing it, we would take-up only the good activities by our efforts; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 4-About deeds depending on their conclusion
(2144)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) the truthful and accepted as the Truth, said to them, “Each one of you stays in his mother’s womb for forty days as a sperm. Then he turns into a clot for as many days, and then a lump of flesh. Then Allah sends to him an angel who blows into him the soul and is commanded with four words. He records his sustenance, his life term, his deeds and whether he will be miserable or fortunate. By Him besides Whom there is no god, a person among you perform deeds of the people of Paradise till only a cubit separates him from it when what is decreed overtakes him and he does deeds of the denizens of the fire and will enter it. And a person among you does deeds deserving the fire till there is not but a cubit between him and it when he does deeds of those worthy of Paradise and will enter it.” [Bukhari 6594, Muslim 2643]
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In this Hadith, we are told that everyone remains in a form where he is not recognized as a human child for forty days (sperm means this crude form here) but after that time some human shape takes place in him and after two terms more of forty days the child is blessed with life; four necessary things are written for him then & there (this is some intangible writing on the physique copied from the Book of Destiny; TAQDIR MUALLAQ). Allah says in the Holy Book Quran about His Own-Self that “for Him is to create and for Him is to command”. The Hadith also indicates that a person must never become proud on his SALAH, SAUM etc. as he must always remember that it is the acceptance of Allah that is necessary for the Belief he has and for the good deeds he is doing. The result would occur on the status of Belief at the last of life and that is why ULAMA forbade naming an unbeliever as deprived of guidance as nobody knows the future that is about the status of his belief at his death. However, if the clarification about his belief is necessary then it is allowed to say in plain words up-to necessity without much detail about it.
TOPIC 5-About every child’s birth on the Natural Tendency
(2145)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Every child is born on FITHRAT (the religion of Islam). Then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a polytheist.” Someone said, “O Messenger of Allah, (what about) those who die before (their parents convert them)?” He said, “Allah knows best what they would have done (if they had survived).” [Bukhari 1358, Muslim 2658]
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This Hadith indicates a very interesting fact. Note that the Holy Book Quran tells us that Allah took an oath from all Human Beings to recognize Him as their Only True Lord and that they all must obey His Word only (see Surah 07, verse 172). This is the only aim of life and all the creation except for Human Beings and Jinn are at His worship all the time without any free-will. But these two are MUKALLAF (they have the free-will) by which they have to obey the Word of Allah. We all have the recognition of this oath somewhere in our make-up and that is the standard that values us by keeping our belief and our deeds in view. That is why nobody takes telling lies, using authority to do injustice, making fun of good people or immorality in general as a plus point; in fact when such injustice or shameful attitude does take place, he tries to defend himself rightly or wrongly. Here, the Hadith guides the attention towards this fact that everyone has this recognition of the standard but due to the misleading parents or guardians, the child takes an attitude of indifference to this; this also guides us Muslims to say the Truth plainly as it is, so that it awakens the inside voice of all those who come in touch with it; they might come towards it. TABLIGH of the Truth (spread of the Truth) in today’s world is many times more necessary than challenging the enemy at the battle-field; but if the enemy initiates a war or retaliates to some injustice done to it with injustice greater than that, then we Muslims need to answer accordingly. The Hadith also tells about the children that die before their age for the judgment of the Truth; Allah knows better about them what they would have done if they had lived; most probably these children would be pardoned in AKHIRAT and Allah knows better.
TOPIC 6-About supplication averting decree
(2146)-Sayyidina Salman (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Nothing averts the decree except supplication and nothing but piety prolongs life.” [Ahmed 22476]
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TOPIC 7-Hearts of people are between two fingers of Ar-Rahman
(2147)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) often said, “O Turner of hearts, keep my heart steadfast on Your religion. So, Anas (RA) asked, “We have believed in you and what you have brought. Are you apprehensive about us?” He said, “Yes hearts are, surely between two of the fingers of Allah. He may turn them as He wills.” [Ahmed 12108]
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Hadith at Topic-6 tells that TAQDIR MUALLAQ changes by supplication and by good deeds. The Hadith at Topic-7 guides again that a person must never think that he is one of the best among men and he must understand well that Allah only is fully in control of all matters that take place and He changes matters for anyone He intends. Every Muslim must care not to become proud of his achievements in virtues; he must always remain grateful to Allah as Allah truly provided ease for him to achieve the betterment that he had intended; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 8-Allah has written a book; of Paradise and of Hell
(2148)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to us and he had in his hand two books. He asked, “Can you surmise what these two books are?” We said, ‘No, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH) unless you inform us’. He said, “About the one that is in my right hand, it is the book from the Lord of the worlds. In it are names of the people of Paradise and the names of their ancestors and of their tribes. Then they are added up in the end. So, there will never be an increase in them, nor a decrease from them ever.” As for the one in his left hand, he said, “This is the book from the Lord of the worlds. In it are names of the people of the fire and the names of their tribes. In the end, they are summed up. There never will be an increase in their numbers and there never will be a decrease in them.” His companions said, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH) then what the point in deeds is, if the affair is already over for them?” He said, “Advance at a moderate pace and get closer, for the deeds of the people of Paradise are sealed for them though they may have done whatever deed before that. And for the people of Hell, the deeds of the people of Hell are sealed for them no matter what deed they may have done earlier.” Then Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) gestured with both hands and threw both of them the books away, saying, “Your Lord is over with the creatures, a section in Paradise and a section in Hell.” [Ahmed 6574]
(2149)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If Allah decides to do good to a slave, he involves him in deeds.” He was asked, “How does he involve them in deeds, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “He makes it easy for him to do righteous (deeds) before death.” [Ahmed 13407]
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H-2148 in this Topic inform very clearly about Predestination and the Books mentioned here were intangible that SAHABA (the companions of the Prophet PBUH there) felt as if they were in the Prophet’s hands. Although he told here that there would be no increase or decrease in these ever yet it was an expression provided to note the importance of TAQDIR and it is a point to note that this was TAQDIR-MUALLAQ that was written there in those books; as such, it was changeable by the True Belief and the righteous deeds as is clear by other Ahadith too, that provide the guidance towards the change in TAQDIR. Note also that when a Muslim person goes on doing good deeds, he finds total ease in doing those good deeds with time; this ease comes from Allah (and it is named as TAUFIQ).
TOPIC 9-About rejection of ADWA & SAFAR & HAMMAH
(2150)-Sayyidina Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) stood up between them and said, “There is no infection.” A villager said, “O Messenger of Allah! When a camel with a problem of itch mixes with other camels, they all are infected with itchiness.” He asked, “Then who brought itch to the first camel. Neither is there infection (infectious diseases) nor Safar. Allah created all souls and wrote down their life and their provision and their hardships.” [Ahmed 4198]
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This Hadith points out an interesting fact that what we take at the face value is not the whole truth. We know well that there are infectious diseases and this was known at the Prophet’s time too; what he meant by this Hadith is that everything has been created by Allah and He has set properties to everything. Whatever we take as contagious is not because these diseases are able to affect anyone who comes in contact with the afflicted person (by the intention of the afflicted person) but actually it is Allah’s will that affects the other one. The other way to express this is that though many of us do talk about diseases being infectious, but they often forget to mention the power of the immune system given by Allah (who has made that too with those infectious diseases) to the one coming in contact with the afflicted person. This immune system is totally powerful normally to retaliate to any adverse body that enters the physique and that is especially so if that person has confidence, rather belief, that he would not be affected. That is why UMAR (RA) took a leper by hand and ate foods with him using one utensil between them for the foods as we have studied in the Booklet of Foods; this presence of immune system indicates that it is the will of Allah only that decides the occurrence of the infection to the person that comes in contact with the afflicted person; Al-Hamdu Lillah. However, note that there are Ahadith that even point out to remain cautious with such diseases; there is one Sahih Hadith asking to keep away from a leper as one keeps away from a lion; and this tells that if a person does not have enough confidence on his defense, he must not put himself to test by intimacy to a person having an infectious disease. Another thing in this Hadith is about SAFAR that is the second Hijri month. As three months prior to it (i.e. 11th, 12th & 1st) were such that no war was allowed in them, SAFAR was taken as a month of low category coming after such grand months then, in which wars became allowed again. This concept was corrected by the words ‘there is no Safar’ and there is an addition in words, as narrated by Abu Hurayrah, not presented here that ‘there is no HAMMAH’; this term means the concept that was prevalent then that when an owl sits on someone’s house, it comes to ruins. The Prophet (PBUH) corrected this notion by saying ‘there is no HAMMAH’.
TOPIC 10-Belief in decree, good fortune and bad
(2151)-Sayyidina Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘A man does not believe unless he believes in fate good and bad and till he knows that what confronts him could not have escaped and what escapes him could not have confronted him.”
(2152)-Sayyidina Ali narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “No one is a Believer unless he believes in four things,
(1) He testifies that there is no god but Allah and that I am Allah’s Messenger and He sent me with the truth. (2) He believes in death (being certain; does pious deeds before that). (3) He believes in resurrection after death, (4) He believes in predestination.” [Ahmed 758, Ibn Majah 81]
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We have seen in Ahadith in our study that to believe in the predestination is necessary though that changes by our good deeds due to being MUALLAQ yet that change also would be TAQDIR; the resultant being MUBRAM. It is interesting to note that in the second Hadith of the Topic, to believe in death is also in the count and this in actual is a guidance not to forget that like everyone, you also would die some day and you must be prepared for it now; immorality mostly finds way in the character of the man when he has an attitude of indifference towards death.
TOPIC 11-One dies where it is predetermined
(2153)-Sayyidina Matar ibn Ukamis reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If Allah has decreed that one should die in a (particular) land then He creates for him a need there.” [Ahmed 22043]
(2154)-Ahmad ibn Mani and Ali ibn Hujr also reported a hadith with the same meaning. They said, Ismail ibn Ibrahim reported from Ayyub, from Abu Malih, from Abu Azzah, he said that Allah's Messenger said; “If Allah has decreed that one should die in a (particular) land then He creates for him a need there.”
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TOPIC 12-Ruqyah & Medicine not able to avert destiny
(2155)-Abu Khizamah reported on the authority of his father that a man came to the Prophet and submitted, “About the ruqyah that we blow (over the patient), the medicine that we take and the preventive measures that we adopt do they avert destiny in any way whatsoever?” He said, “They are part of Allah’s decree.” [Ahmed 3437]
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This Hadith is explicit on the two kinds; MUALLAQ and MUBRAM. The man asked the Prophet (PBUH) and obviously he was asking about the MUALLAQ which is in closeness to us and directly related to us. The Prophet (PBUH) very wisely guided that whatever activities are done and whatever comes as a result to those activities, all is actually inside the term TAQDIR; here by the mention of the result, he was mentioning the MUBRAM.
TOPIC 13-About Qadariyah
(2156)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Two groups of my Ummah have no share in Islam, the Murjiyah and the Qadariyah.” [Ibn Majah 62]
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MURJIYAH is the other name of JABRIYAH and as I have written in the note for the first Topic of this Booklet of Predestination, these JABRIYAH believed that the man has no free-will. At the opposite side were QADARIYAH who believed that the man has complete free-will and there is nothing that is named as predestination. The truth as we have studied is that the man has the free-will yet bound to predestination.
TOPIC 14-No Caption
(2157)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Shikkhir reported from the Prophet PBUH that he said, the children of Adam are created in this picture that by both his sides are ninety-nine extreme wants. If these miss him, he gets entangled in old age till he dies of it.”
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The Hadith here observes the economic activity of the man in the world that his extreme wants make him act with such exertion that brings him near to death. If death is not caused by such exertion, the old age does get him without fail as everyone would die by this reason or that.
TOPIC 15-About being pleased with Divine Decree
(2158)-Sayyidina Sa’d reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The well-being of the son of Adam lies in his being pleased with what Allah has decreed for him. And the wretchedness of the son of Adam lies in his neglect of istikharah (seeking goodness in a matter) from Allah and of his wretchedness is his displeasure with what Allah has decreed for him.” [Ahmed 1444]
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The Hadith here does not ask for a lapse in the good activity rather it guides towards being pleased with whatever worldly position and possessions he has, if that are enough for his sustenance and for all such persons that are dependent on him. Keep the success at AKHIRAT in view and work for it hard; as for the worldly life, be pleased with the necessities living ordinary; this is the teaching of Islam to get to the high spiritual status. ISTIKHARA means to ask Allah for betterment in any matter (though mostly it is erroneously taken to mean asking for guidance if the matter would turn out good in the future or not) and as such it is DUA to Allah. There is another thing that is called ISTISHARA that means to take advice for any matter from the pious well-wishers; if the practicing Muslim decides important matters by ISTISHARA and then makes ISTIKHARA for it, that means he asks Allah to put good worth in that decision, nothing would go wrong for the person in it, if Allah accepts his ISTIKHARA.
TOPIC 16-No Caption
(2159)-Nafi reported that a man came to Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) and conveyed Salaam (greeting) of a certain person. He said, “I have learnt that he has introduced a form of religion. If he has done that then do not convey my Salaam to him, for I had heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say that in this Ummah, there will be swallowing up (by earth), metamorphosing or raining of stones of the adherents of QADR.” [Ibn Majah 4061, Abu Dawud 4613]
(2160)-Qutaybah reported from Rishdayn ibn Sa’d, from Abu Sakhr Humayd ibn Ziyad, from Nafi from Ibn Umar, from the Prophet (PBUH), “My Ummah will face swallowing up and metamorphoses of the rejecters of destiny.”
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Both the Ahadith at this topic inform that those who reject predestination going in the path of QADRIYAH, they would be put to great trials even in this world just to show them that their power is nothing in front of the Power of Allah. Here the word “metamorphose” means such wrath of Allah that would fall on the wrong people that their appearance would change totally (these might be through Fires of Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Deadly Winds, Psunami etc.) and it’s notable that living with such a change, would not come to this Ummah insha Allah due to DUA made against it by the Prophet (PBUH). The will of Allah has the reign on the earth as it has the reign on the whole universe; this would manifest at fore for everyone to see by the efforts of Believers when He intends for that and nobody must dare to challenge Him.
TOPIC 17-No Caption
(2161)-Sayyidina Aisha (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There are six whom I curse, Allah curses them and every Prophet (has cursed them); one who makes additions to Allah’s Book, one who rejects Divine decree, one who is ruthless in authority exalting thereby whom Allah has debased and debasing thereby whom Allah has raised in honour, one who declares lawful what Allah has forbidden, one who regards it lawful to do to my family what Allah has disallowed, and one who forsakes my SUNNAH.”
(2162)-Abdul Wahid ibn Sulaym narrated that I came to Makkah and met Ata ibn Abu Rabah. I said to him, “O Abu Muhammad (this is Kuniyah of Ata i.e. the name by which he was known), the people of Busrah give (adverse) comments on predestination.” He said, “O son, do you recite the Qur’an’? I said, “Yes!” He said, “Recite Surah az-Zukhruf.” So I recited---Ha Mim, By the Book (that) is manifest. Surely We have made it an Arabic Qur’an that you may understand. And surely this is in the source Book with Us, it is sublime, full of wisdom (43,1-4)---He asked, “Do you realize what the Umm ul Kitab (source Book) is?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He explained, “It is the Book that Allah wrote down even before He created the heaven and before He created the earth. In it is written that Pharaoh is surely among the occupants of the fire and also ---'Perished are the hands of Abu Lahab, and perished is he' (111,1). Ata went on to say, “I had met Walid ibn Ubadah ibn Samit, a Companion of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and I asked him, “What was your father’s will at the time of death?” He said, “He summoned me and said, O son! Fear Allah and know that you cannot fear Allah till you believe in Allah and believe in predestination both good and evil, but if you die on anything other than this then you will enter Hell. I heard Allah’s Messenger say that the first thing Allah created was the pen and He commanded it, ‘Write’. It asked, ‘What shall I write’. Allah said, ‘Write down the decree what was and what will be till eternity’.”
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The Topic here tells again the importance of belief in the predestination and also tells about the evil of such persons who use their authority in negative ways trying to put insult on the pious & righteous people and giving a say to those who are evil in character. Their identity is that they do not care for what Allah has commanded in the Quran or the guidance that the Prophet (PBUH) has provided in its explanation. In the second Hadith we find the mention of UMMUL-KITAB (the Source Book) again with the reference to Surah Zukhruf. This UMMUL-KITAB only Allah knows and the MUBRAM is written in this. The Holy Book Quran is there in total that Allah has provided to us all; all that is told in the Holy Book Quran would surely take place; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 18-No Caption
(2163)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) reported having heard from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) who said, “Allah decreed the destinies before He created the heavens and earth by fifty thousand years.” [Ahmed 6590, Muslim 2653]
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TOPIC 19-No Caption
(2164)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Quraysh polytheists came to Allah’s Messenger disputing about destiny. So this verse was revealed---On the day when they shall be dragged on their faces into the fire, taste now the touch of Hell. Surely We have created everything in a measure (54, 48-49)--- [Muslim 2656, Ibn Majah 83, Ahmed 10168]
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The Hadith in the topic-19 tells us that the mentioned verses of the Holy Book Quran are totally explicit for this booklet as many others. Note that in the last of this booklet too, we get the same message as we did get at the beginning that we are not allowed to talk on TAQDIR (predestination) as the person would err at this issue whatever stance he takes as in one meaning it is changeable and in the other, totally certain. As the sight of human eyes has its limit; as the hearing of ears has its limit; the human mind does understand but in limit and is unable to come to the Truth without the guidance from Allah. May Allah guide every good person towards the Greatest Truth in the whole universe i.e. Islam, the Word of the true Lord Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
36- BOOK ON FITAN (TRIAL-79 topics)
TOPIC 1-Blood of Muslim is forbidden except for three crimes
(2165)-Abu Umamah ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf reported that Sayyidina Uthman ibn Affan (who was locked up in his home for fear of those who wrought mischief) climbed up the roof top one day. He asked the besiegers, ‘I adjure you by Allah, do you know that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The blood of a Muslim is forbidden except for one of three crimes. Adultery committed by a married person, apostatizing after joining Islam, slaying someone without just cause; he is killed for these things.” By Allah, I have not committed adultery either in jahilyah or after Islam. I have not apostatized since having sworn allegiance to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). And, I have not slain any soul who Allah has made sacred. Then why do you slay me?’ [Muslim 1672]
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From here, the Booklet on FITAN starts that tells about those events that would take place before the last day (QAYAMAT) of the world, mostly those that would happen very near to it and to bring it after the booklet of predestination indicates that there would come such times that Believers would be extremely troubled by things adverse to the Islamic way of life. Note that QAYAMAT means the last day of the world yet it is often used to denote the first day of AKHIRAT too; this first day of AKHIRAT is called HASHR; in that case mostly it is used with a prefix YAUM (Day) saying YAUM UL-QAYAMAT meaning HASHR. FITAN means TRIALS and here, it denotes those events that would become trials to worry the Believers, most of them taking place just before QAYAMAT and these events might tempt even Believers in the Truth to commit ZULM (acts of cruelty) and FAHSHAA (very shameful acts). The door of FITAN opened with the martyrdom of UMAR (RA), the second Caliph. After him, UTHMAN (RA), the third Caliph, was martyred and this Hadith gives the account of one of his last statements that he gave to those assembled at his house with the intention to kill him (and they did succeed in that); then after some period of time, ALI (RA), the fourth Caliph, was martyred too. The wars that took place between Ali (RA) & Ayesha (RA) and then between Ali (RA) & Mu’aviah are very sad incidents; these adverse incidents that arose by differences among SAHABA (the companions of the Prophet PBUH; and these differences were spread intentionally by some ill-wishers of Islam) opened the door for terrible FITAN at that time. Due to this adverse situation, evil persons like YAZID Ibn MU’AVIAH, IBNE-ZIYAD, HAJJAJ Ibn YOUSUF, MARWAN Ibn HAKAM and other such persons came to power (who were responsible for the murder of many good MUSLIMS that were among SAHABA and they used to curse ALI, and his sons HASAN-RA and HUSSAIN-RA, the righteous grandsons of the Prophet PBUH); may Allah put His wrath on all these evil persons. Although they were not able to change Islamic Commands in theory or practice due to the presence of many righteous SAHABA around yet they did introduce an attitude of indifference to many of the Islamic Commands in the general public (though they always had a façade as the worthy persons for the administration). Due to them, the love of worldly matters took grounds in the general public too though even at such times of trouble, it was considered very filthy for a man to get involved in shameful filthy acts generally and looseness in a woman was even worse. The Hadith narrated by UTHMAN (RA) here tells us three valid reasons to take the life of a person that generally a person who kills an innocent person is liable to be punished by the capital punishment; a person who abandons the Islamic Faith converting to some other belief is also liable to be punished by death; a person who commits adultery and he is married is also liable to be punished by death. There has been a lot of scream unjustifiably against the last two reasons for the capital punishment in these recent times; I, MSD, have provided some detail about the punishment to MURTAD (the person who abandons the Islamic Faith) and about the punishment of RAJM to those married persons who commit adultery at the note on H-1407 and at the note on H-1436, 1437, 1438, 1439, 1440 respectively; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 2-Blood, Property and Honour are sacred
(2166)-Sayyidina Amr ibn Ahwas reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) saying to the people on the day of the Farewell Pilgrimage, “What day is it today?” They said, “The day of the great pilgrimage.” He said, “So, indeed your blood your properties and your honour are sacred to each other of you as the sanctity of this your day in this your city. Know! A soul does not wrong but himself (for, he will bear responsibility for it himself). Know! A wrongdoer must not wrong his child, nor does a child wrong his parent. And, indeed the devil has despaired of ever being worshipped in this, your town, but there will be obedience to him in what you consider little deeds that you perform, and he will be pleased over that.” [Ibn Majah 3055]
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HAJJ; visiting the Holy Kaa’bah at Makkah in specific days and performing specific rituals at specific places near to Makkah there; is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is also called “HAJJ AKBAR” (the greater pilgirimage) while UMRAH, that is performed with minimum of specific rituals at MAKKAH and and no particular time is specified for it, is called “HAJJ ASGHAR” (the lesser pilgrimage). The Farewell Pilgrimage is the HAJJ that the Prophet (PBUH) performed with SAHABA and that was the only HAJJ he performed after it became obligatory for those Muslims who are able to afford. In this he addressed people and gave instructions regarding humanity and asked for EHSAAN (good attitude) in all matters. Here he asked to care for each other and gave instructions to care about all the weak ones especially about the women. He told addressing all there and addressing all the UMMAH (the Musims as a whole) that you should care not to ask for worldly possessions and not to take any sin as a petty matter persisting on it; you should care for AKHIRAT only as the satan depends to mislead you by your attachment to worldly pleasures. I, MSD, pray that Allah, our Only True Lord, save all the good people from the evil of temptations from satan, the devil.
TOPIC 3-It is not lawful for a Muslim to alarm a Muslim
(2167)-Abdullah ibn Sa’ib ibn Yazid reported on the authority of his father, from his grandfather that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Let not one of you take the staff of his brother in jest to alarm him. So, if anyone has taken his brother’s staff, he must return it to him.” [Abu Dawud 5003]
(2168)-Sa’ib ibn Yazid (RA) narrated, “My father performed Hajj with the Prophet (PBUH) the farewell Hajj, and I was seven years old.”
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We have studied that the Prophet (PBUH) never made fun of anyone in jest and never made such jokes that asked to hurt anyone. The Hadith here guides not to make such jokes that impress Muslims negatively but the term “staff” might not mean just a staff. Here staff seems to be an indication of some authority that a person has in his own sphere so in this sense, it would mean not to challenge any Muslim in his authority if he is doing fine for himself and others as that would not be a joke but a serious matter causing FITNAH in the society.
TOPIC 4-Forbiddance to point out a weapon to a Muslim brother
(2169)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If anyone points out to his brother with his weapon then the angels curse him.” [Ahmed 26354]
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TOPIC 5-Prohibition to give or take an unsheathed sword
(2170)-Sayyidina Jabir (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger forbade handing over and receiving a drawn sword. [Ahmed 14205]
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Both the Ahadith at Topic 4 & 5 guide to be cautious in handling weapons as they might hurt others unintentionally. These Ahadith also have the message not to go at war with each other and not to ask to go at war with each other respectively as the Prophet (PBUH) was concerned about it as other Ahadith also tell clearly.
TOPIC 6-One who prays FAJR Salah goes into Allah’s protection
(2171)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who offered the Salah of FAJR (dawn prayer) is under Allah’s protection. So, let it not be that Allah should take you to task concerning this responsibility (if you violate it).” [Ahmed 114]
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TOPIC 7-About sticking to the Jama’ah (community)
(2172)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) narrated that Sayyidina Umar (RA) delivered a sermon to us at Jabiyah. He said, “O people, I stand among you in place of Allah’s Messenger (as his deputy). He had said, ‘I enjoin on you obedience to my companions, then those who succeed them and then those who succeed them (that is, the tabi’een and the followers of tabi’een). After that falsehood would expose itself till a man would take an oath without being asked to (swear) and a witness will offer testimony without anyone asking him to. Beware! No man stays in solitude with a woman but the devil is the third of them. And, you are bound to the community. He, to whom his piety is pleasing and his impiety is displeasing, is a Believer’.”
(2173)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed, Allah will not gather my Ummah (or he said the Ummah of Muhammad) on the misled path. And the hand of Allah is on the Jama’ah and he who breaks from it is plunged into the Fire.”
(2174)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Allah’s hand is with the Jama’ah.”
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To pray all the prayers is important yet the prayers at FAJR (prayers before the rise of the Sun) is the most important one as that is the time of change in duty for the angels here on Earth and it is the beginning of a new day. It is said in the Holy Book Quran---Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and the morning recitation (QURAN-ALFAJR); surely the morning recitation is witnessed--- Verse-78 in Surah Bani-Israel, the 17th Surah). To remain attached to the pious people is the need at the times of FITAN as its not easy to break the routine of the good practice for great number of people united on righteousness while a good man who defends alone is targeted by the satan through his evil followers in men easily, unless the man is highly powerful spiritually. The Hadith narrated by Umar (RA) prohibits remaining in some work alone with a woman and it is much necessary for women to take care in this matter yet even men have to fulfill this command keeping to righteousness. When piety pleases and impiety displeases, this is the worthy sign for belief in Islam.
TOPIC 8-About punishment if evil is not stopped or prevented
(2175)-Sayyidina Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) said, “O people you recite on the verse ---O you who believe! Guard your own souls. He who has gone astray cannot harm you, if you are rightly guided (5,105). And I heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, ‘Indeed, when people see the oppressor, but do not stop him commit oppression, then Allah will punish them through him’.”
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TOPIC 9-About enjoing right and forbidding wrong
(2176)-Sayyidina Hudhaifa ibn Yaman (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “By Him Who has my soul in His hand, you will keep enjoining that which is right, and forbidding that which is evil or, it will be very quick that Allah will send on you a punishment. You will pray, but you will not be heard.” [Abu Dawud 4338, Ibn Majah 4005]
(2177)-Sayyidina Hudhaifa ibn Yaman reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “By Him Who has my soul in His hand, the Last Hour will not come before you kill your imam, kill each other with your swords and the worst of you inherit your world (becoming your leaders).”[Ibn Majah 4043]
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Ahadith at Topics 8 & 9 inform that it is totally necessary to go on with TABLIGH (conveying the Truth as it is) without caring whether it affects people positively or not as putting the result is for Allah. We all Muslims have to do this work jointly now as after Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, there is no prophet to come and this task is FARDH-KIFAYAH. In the Holy Book Quran it is said to the Believers in the fifth Surah i.e. MAE’DAH to guard their own souls but it does not mean just to care about the Belief and good deeds for the self alone; it means to go on with TABLIGH because that is FARDH too (and if not done, it would cause FITNAH to come to every individual at the Environment); with TABLIGH, practicing Islam for the sake of saving the own self is quite fine; at the HASHR (the first day of AKHIRAT; the day of Accounts) everyone would answer individually about his belief and all his deeds.
TOPIC 10-No Caption
(2178)-Sayyidina Umm Salamah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) mentioned the army that would be swallowed up. Sayyidah Umm Salamah (RA) said, “Perhaps some of them would-be helpless.” He said, “They will be taken up against their intentions.” [Ahmed 26549, Muslim 2882]
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This Hadith clarifies well that even those who are good practicing Muslims and had been forced to fight some people (that would be Muslims too) against their intentions, would receive the same wrath of Allah that would be put to all though in AKHIRAT, they would be awakened on their own belief and deeds. This guides again totally well that TABLIGH is utmost necessary and without it good deeds are not enough to save good people in this world, the place of examination, from the general wrath that comes to a place; it is the wrath that is specific to the wrongful persons yet it enfolds all of the persons that come at its way.
TOPIC 11-Degrees of effort to wipe off evil
(2179)-Tariq ibn Shihab reported that the first man to deliver the sermon before the Salah was Marwan. A man stood up and said to Marwan, “You have contravened the SUNNAH.” He replied, “O so-and-so, what you search for is abandoned.” Abu Sa’eed (RA) said, “As for him, indeed, he did what was due of him. I had heard Allah’s Messenger say, ‘If anyone sees a wrong, he must prevent it with his hand. If he is not able to prevent the wrong by his hand then he must prevent it with his tongue; and if he is unable then with his heart; and that is the weakest (degree of) faith.” [Muslim 49]
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Like the other rulers that were coming to lead at those times, MARWAN Ibn HAKAM was also interested in his authority. Note that many Muslim rulers even today are afflicted with this mania to remain in power in the following of these people who ruled then, by hook or by crook; to them violation of Islamic Commands is no problem but they would see insha Allah that even in this world, all wrong activities do lead to the wrath of Allah. The Hadith here guides the Muslims to challenge the wrong things done to the best of their ability. The best level to do this is to challenge it headstrong and fight against it (JIHAD) if possible. Then comes the level of challenge to prevent the wrong by the tongue (TABLIGH) and the third level is to at least consider the wrong as wrong and pray to Allah to put His wrath on the evil ones even in this world for the ease of the Believers. The Hadith at Topic-12 ahead, also clarifies that negligence to TABLIGH brings wrath of Allah on everyone as we have read before too.
TOPIC 12-More about it
(2180)-Sayyidina Numan ibn Bashir (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The example of those who abide by the limits of Allah and those who do not observe them is like that of a people who cast lots to sail on a ship. Some of them take the upper deck and some the lower deck. Those in the sea in the lower deck would ascend (to the upper) to get water and (in the process) would drop water on those in the upper deck. So these people who were in the upper deck said, ‘We will not allow you to climb up for you hurt us.” So, those in the lower deck responded, “Well we shall bore a hole in the lower portion and fetch water from here.” Thus, if they hold their hands and prevent them then all of them will be saved, but if they leave them to themselves then all of them would drown.” [Bukhari 2493, Muslim 1599]
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TOPIC 13-Most excellent is to face injustice with truth
(2181)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “Indeed, the mightiest of Jihad is a just word before a tyrant king.” [AD 4344, Ibn Majah 4011]
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TOPIC 14-Three prayers of the Prophet (PBUH) for his Ummah
(2182)-Abdullah ibn Khabbab ibn Aratt reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) offered a Salah and made it lengthy. They said, “O Messenger of Allah, you prayed a prayer such as you had never prayed before.” He said, ‘Certainly, this was a Salah of hope and of fear. I asked Allah for three things and He granted me two and denied me one (of them). I asked Him not to let (all) my Ummah perish through famine, and He granted me this (prayer). And, I asked Him not to set up over them an enemy alien to them, and He granted me this (prayer). And, I asked Him not to let some of them taste war with some others of them, but He denied it to me.” [Ah 21109, N 1637]
(2183)-Sayyidina Thawban reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed, Allah drew together the earth for me and I could see its east and its west. And, indeed the countries of my Ummah will spread out to wherever it was drawn together for me. And I was given two treasures red and white (gold and silver). And I asked my Lord for my Ummah that they should not perish through common famine and that no one enemy outside their own numbers must overpower them and destroy all of them. And my Lord said, ‘O Muhammad when I decree something then it is not revoked and I have given you for your Ummah that a general famine would not destroy them and I will not empower over them an enemy outside their own selves lest he annihilate them even though people unite against them from every region of earth; it will be that some of them will destroy some others, and some of them will take some others of them as captives.’ [Ahmed 22458, Muslim 2889, Abu Dawud 4252]
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Hope & Fear are two things that if go wrong for a person, that person is sure to face some kind of psychological problems. These both must truly be guided towards Allah; hope in actual must be to Him (all others being sources that He uses to provide anything) and fear in actual must be from Him (all others being sources that He uses to afflict in any way). Ahadith here foretell that Muslims would gain power and conquer many lands of the known world then (and that happened exactly as he told the Muslims) and it foretells that two adverse things would not happen to Muslims i.e. they would not perish completely by matters named as natural disasters (especially famine and these all are caused by the Will of Allah) and no enemy would be able to hold control over them to make them totally subject to its way of life annihilating them totally taking them into their fold (and that also we Muslims have seen clearly). The third thing that was not granted to the Muslim UMMAH (Muslims collectively) was that no conflicts take place between them. We Muslims have had many deadly wars between us Muslims in the ancient times and even in the recent times but the imperialism that came to suppress the Muslims in the recent past had to run away in a century or so due to this DUA (request to Allah) that was granted. Now that imperialism is trying to control Muslims using people from among us as it has seen that direct access is not possible; it is more than clear that as the wrong ones could not fight the Prophet PBUH centuries ago, they would still not be able to fight Muslims insha Allah, once the Muslims make their ties strong to the Holy Book Quran and the SUNNAH of the Prophet PBUH; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 15-About one who is present during the trial
(2184)-Sayyidah Umm Malik Bahziyah is reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) mentioned FITNAH (trial) and said it was approaching (them). She said, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) who would be the best of men during it?” He said, “A man who is among his animals and gives their rights (Zakah) and worships his Lord. And, a man who holds his horse stirring fear in the enemy and they frighten him (too).”
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This narration is complementary to H-1666, narrated by ABU-SAEED KHUDRI (RA) and tells about the righteous person in the times of a general trial. The point to note is that such a person does not go with the general trend in the times of FITNAH; either he fights for the Truth; either he leaves all things and remains attentive to Allah by fulfilling His commands at solitude so that he saves his belief. There, the sequence is reversed to the sequence narrated here but as here only the mention of better ones was needed without care to sequence, the sequence at H-1666 is valid.
TOPIC 16-No Caption
(2185)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will be a FITNAH (commotion) that will exhaust the Arabs. Those killed during this commotion will go to the fire. During this, the tongue will be more severe than the sword.” [Abu Dawud 426, Ibn Majah 3967]
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TOPIC 17-About withdrawal of trust or trustworthiness (faith)
(2186)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) related to us two Ahadith one of which I have seen take place and I await the other to happen. He said to us, “Trust (the ability to recognize the True Faith) came down deep into the roots of men’s hearts. Then the Qur’an descended, so they learnt from the Qur’an and they learnt from the SUNNAH (understanding the True Faith by the given ability).” After that he told us about the withdrawal of this recognition about Faith. He said, “A man will sleep and faith would be withdrawn from his heart leaving its mark like a speckle. He will sleep again and faith will be withdrawn leaving a mark as if a live coal dropped on the foot causing a water blister with nothing in it.” Then, he picked up a pebble and dropped it on his foot. He said, “People will make business transactions with each other but there would hardly remain one that honours his commitment, so much so that it would be said that among such-and-such tribe there is a man worth trusting, and a man would (wrongly) be praised as wise, very good and firm, though he will not have in his heart even so much faith as a grain of mustard seed.” Hudhayfah (RA) told ahead about his own self that indeed I had gone through the times when I bought and sold without hesitation. If a Muslim had to pay, he paid me due to his true Belief. If a Jew or a Christian had to pay, he paid me due to (the respect of) his chiefs. But, now-a-days, I do not deal with anyone except so-and-so and so-and-so with whom I do make transactions. [Bukhari 6497, Muslim 143]
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The Hadith here tells that a time would come when even many Muslims would not care about fulfilling Islamic Commands and trustworthy people would become scarce; many persons would wrongly be respected due to their good way of talking but they would not be true Believers. HUDHAYFAH (RA) indicated by telling about his practice in business that even at this time, it has become difficult to find good people to do business with, yet it is noteworthy that the time foretold in this Hadith was not actually the time of HUDHAYFAH as it was much better due to the presence of SAHABA then; it might be any of times much after it or even this one in which we live.
TOPIC 18-You too would follow the example of earlier people
(2187)-Sayyidina Abu Waqid Laythi reported that when the Prophet (PBUH) went out for the Battle of Hunayn, he passed by a tree belonging to the polytheists. It was known as “Dhaat Anwat” and they used to hang down their weapons over it. The Sahabah said, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) make for us a ‘Dhaat Anwat’ as they have.” He said, “Glory to Allah! This is as what the people of Musa (Salam on him) said to make for them a god as there is a god for them (persons they met in the way while going away from Egypt). By Him who has my soul in His hand, you will perpetrate the practices of the people gone before you.” [Ahmed 21956]
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Bani Israel had passed by a people who were worshipping some bullock and they had asked MUSA-AS to make a god for them as this. Note that the SAHABA were fully aware that nothing could represent Allah in such physical form as the Holy Book Quran says clearly that “Nothing is like Him” (Verse 11 of ASH-SHURA, the 42nd Surah). The only reason for this request was to take a tree or any physical item to put their weapons for display too like the unbelievers so that they know that Muslims are not weak to fight them. The reason to compare this speech to the Bani-Israel was that they presented this request when they saw an activity taken-up by the unbelievers as the Bani Israel presented their request when they saw the worship of the bullock at the way; so the comparison is in the appearance only. However, there is no comparison in belief as the persons in the Bani Israel, who took the worship of the golden bullock that SAAMIRI the magician made for them, were wrong in belief; here the SAHABA were not wrong in Belief but their only mistake was that they put their request to combat the unbelievers in the same manner when they saw that tree DHAAT-ANWAT; wrong timing. Note that to use gadgets in the way everybody uses them is not blameworthy but the activities that unbelievers consider as rituals to their erroneous belief or respect them as the representation to their way of life, such activities are wrong for Muslims to take into their practice; the tree DHAAT-ANWAT had become attached to such activity of the unbelievers so the Prophet PBUH guided SAHABA to refrain from such request.
TOPIC 19-About speech of Beasts
(2188)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘By Him Who has my life in His grasp, the Last Hour will not come before the beasts speak to men and before the tip of his whip and the thong of his sandal speak to man and his thigh informs him what his family members have been doing since he had left them.” [Ahmed 11792]
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In the vers-82 of Surah NAML, the 27th Surah, it is said that “And when the time for the fulfilment of Our Word against them will come, We shall bring forth for them a beast from the earth who will speak to them because people did not believe in Our Signs.” The speech of beasts seems an indication to this verse and sometimes it happens in talking about something that we use plural though in actual the subject is singular; that is more probable when the Prophet (PBUH) was indicating future events near QAYAMAT as he wanted to convey that even such a beast would come forth then, that would speak to men. We are told in other Ahadith that this amazing beast would come forth at Makkah near QAYAMAT. Note that Muslims do not take this beast as an indication of Antichrist that we call DAJJAL (the greatest imposter) but we take this mentioned beast in literal sense. About other things that are narrated here in the Hadith about the speech of lifeless things, this plainly seems to me an indication of the scientific gadgets that give us messages about all our surroundings and inform us about our family members wherever we are. The whip, sandal or the cloth at thigh might be an indication that we would be able to put these wonder gadgets anywhere (especially at thigh). Please note that the Prophet (PBUH) needed to convey about signs and future events near QAYAMAT in terms that could be understood better in those ancient times. We live in strange times and I, MSD, do feel that such Ahadith point out much of today’s matters as no doubt this time is much near to QAYAMAT.
TOPIC 20-About splitting of the Moon
(2189)-Sayyidina lbn Umar (RA) said that in the times of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) the moon split and he said, “Be witnesses!” [Muslim 2800]
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ULAMA generally agree that the Moon physically split into two and this happened before HIJRAH (migration to Madinah) when the Prophet (PBUH) was at MINA. Note that it was the full moon then and that rises just near or after the sunset and people used to retire from activity early in those days so many people did not witness this incident that must have continued only for a very few moments, the parts joining together again without any lapse in time then (and it seems that both parts did not go away far from each other as is wrongly assumed but it might have been some great wobble in the Moon that put the parts a bit apart or it seemed that way as seen from the Earth for just a while). The Holy Book Quran informs in the 54th Surah i.e. Surah QAMAR (meaning the Moon) in the very beginning, “Near came the Hour and the Moon split” and this verse is taken to indicate this very incident so this also is one of the signs of QAYAMAT.
TOPIC 21-About swallowing up by the Earth
(2190)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah ibn Usayd (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) observed us from his room while we were discussing the Hour. He said, “The hour will not come till you witness ten signs. (They are) (1) Rising of the sun from the west, (2) Yajuj and Majuj, (3) The beast, (4) Earth sinking in the east, (5) sinking in the west, (6) sinking in the Arabian peninsula and (7) The fire that will emanate from the depths of Aden and drive men or assemble them and spend the night with them wherever they do and wait over them where they have a nap (in the afternoon). [Muslim 2901]
(2191)-Sayyidah Safiyah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “People will not cease to attack this House till an army, when it is at the land of Bayda, is swallowed up with the first of it and the last of it, neither will the middle of it be spared.” She asked, “And (what about those) who disapprove of this attack?” He said, “Allah will resurrect them according to what is in their minds.” (That is, their fate depends on their own belief and deeds but in the world they will all perish.) [Ibn Majah 4064]
(2192)-Sayyidah Aisha (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Towards the concluding period of this Ummah, there will be (punishment through) sinking of the earth, metamorphosis and rain of stones from the sky.” She asked, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) will we perish while among us are the righteous?” He said, ‘Yes when evil is rampant (and overpowering).’
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Note that the Ahadith narrated by Bibi Ayesha (RA) and Bibi Safiyah (RA); and these both were the respectable wives of the Prophet PBUH; tell us that when disasters come to people, they swallow up the good people too with the bad ones though in the AKHIRAT, they would rise up on their own Belief & deeds. HUDHAYFAH Ibn USAYD (RA) was one of those SAHABA who was present in BAYET RIDHWAN, the oath taken for death by the Prophet PBUH; he has narrated by another chain all these ten signs that include also the Smoke, the Descent of Jesus Christ and DAJJAL that are not mentioned here; the Smoke is said to be a fog that would cover the skies for many days very near to QAYAMAT (as commented by IBNE-ABBAS RA) and further detail is not much available for it while some ULAMA maintain that it has happened at the times of the Prophet PBUH when the unbelievers of the QURAYSH faced such famine that they used to see smoke at surroundings (as commented by IBNE-MASUD RA); so it might well have taken place as that certainly is a possibility; Surah DUKHAN (that means Smoke) points out this sign of QAYAMAT. This Hadith enfolds ten of the most important signs of it and the timing is unknown; so the point to note is that some of these might show up even a few centuries before it and the first notable sign of it was the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the Last Messenger of Allah to all peoples of the world (see Topic-39 of this booklet of FITAN); as one day of Allah normally equals 1000 years by our calculation, noting the timing is a difficult matter here. I, MSD, would comment on the Arrival of Jesus Christ to the world again ahead at this booklet insha Allah and on DAJJAL too; the comment on the Rising of the Sun from the place of its setting comes at the Topic-22 just ahead while the comment on the beast just passed at the Topic-19 that we have studied; so this leaves us with comments to YAJUJ-MAJUJ, three Land-Slides and the Fire; the signs related to Jesus Christ, DAJJAL, Rising of the Sun from where it came and the Beast; these four have yet to come to manifestation in the future insha-Allah. Note that about 1100 years before the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, there was a man named Cyrus (DHUL QARNAIN) who ruled Persia; in the last year of his life, he had reached a mountainous region that is named DURBUND (The Closed Door) now in the Caucasian area (KAFQAZ or KOH-QAAF in Urdu), a part between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. He went on at the west of this area inside, where he came to the opening between two huge mountains; this is called the pass of DARYAL where he found some primitive people who complained, getting their message through somehow (as Surah KAHF tells us that they did not even come near to understanding anything that might be due to their very strange language that only they spoke & understood), that they are much troubled by YAJUJ & MAJUJ (Gog & Magog; these are among the descendants of Japeth one of the sons of Noah) who live beyond the opening in those mountains and attack them and loot them all the time. DHUL-QARNAIN assured them somehow that he would take care of their safety as was his obligation being their administrator and told them to help in making a wall between the mountains to fill the gap that would render YAJUJ & MAJUJ incapable of attacking them. He made a very strong wall with blocks of Iron putting molten copper over it at the opening between the two mountains that YAJUJ & MAJUJ could neither climb nor damage, so as to restrict them to the other side with mountains that surrounded the area much with Caspian Sea blocking the eastern route and the Black Sea blocking the western side; this wall was known as the Wall at KOH-QAAF and he had observed then that near to QAYAMAT, it would come level to the ground. As the wall is not at the place now so YAJUJ & MAJUJ have got the freedom though we know that they were still bound at times of the Prophet (PBUH). I have commented on Surah KAHF where I have clarified that they spread at the side of Europe (and afterwards at the United States too by Spain from 1492 AD onwards) and they are mixed with the Western people as of now, with their substantial population at the United States. As for the three great landslides (the three sinkings of the Earth) at different places, many ULAMA comment that these have taken place and that was in 208 Hijri (823 AD) when 13 towns at the west of Arabia were totally wiped off, in 346 Hijri (957 AD) when 150 towns in the area that is in Iraq nowadays were totally wiped off and in 834 Hijri (1431 AD) at Grenada in Spain when thousands of houses went into the ground. As for the Fire, ULAMA have told almost unanimously that it was the liquid-fire (LAVA) boiling heavily for more than 50 days and burnt all that came in its way coming out from Eden in Yemen and making way ahead in 1258 AD; the day it began is recorded by the Muslim historians as the first Friday of June 1258; this was the year when forces of descendants of Chenghez Khan had already destroyed Baghdad; strange that Iraq has seen deadly feuds from the times when ALI (RA) and afterwards his son HUSSAIN (RA) were killed unjustifiably there within the first century of HIJRAH.
TOPIC 22-Where does the Sun go
(2193)-Sayyidina Abu Dharr (RA) narrated that I went into the mosque after sunset. The Prophet (PBUH) was already seated there. He asked me, “O Abu Dharr, do you know where this (sun) goes?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It goes to seek permission to make prostration and it is given permission. And very like that it would be told, ‘Rise from where you have come’ so it would rise from its west.” And he recited---'That is determined for it'--- and this is the recital of Abdullah ibn Mas’ud. [Bukhari 3199, Muslim 159]
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Note that the Rising of the Sun from the MAGHRIB (West; Its place of setting) would mean that the planet Earth loses the direction of its spin and spins the other way losing the centrifugal force by which it answers the centripetal force of the Sun. This is not possible by the natural laws set by Allah so this would certainly mean something else than the literal meaning by dictionary. I deduce this to be an indication that Islam would spread all over the world taking the words ‘rise from where you have come’ as meaning ‘rise as from where you have come’ and wherever the Sun rises, it would be rising on the land of Islam as the sunset for one country is the sunrise for another. As for the asking of permission to rise from its west, that simply means that it is rising and setting all the time by the Command of Allah only and note that the wording of Hadith has words “very like that” (and it could mean that the command given even at the last of the world would be the same yet with the difference that now Islam has a say totally at the world manifestly, and of-course the obedience from the Sun to Allah would be the same). The wording “its west”is also noteworthy; every eastern point of the Sun is its western point too relative to the countries it rises on and sets on respectively. The only thing that might fall against this comment is that what is ordinary how could be the sign of QAYAMAT. But as commented, note that the Hadith here declares that Islam would spread all over the world or at least it would be valued all over the world; as such, it certainly is the sign of QAYAMAT. It is told in Ahadith that after the arrival of this sign, repentance from wrongs would not be accepted as it would be one of the very last signs of QAYAMAT; the notable point is that when Islam achieves the manifest power, then how the repentance of the opposing persons, is acceptable; that is an official word though for AKHIRAT, Allah knows better. Please note that generally the ULAMA take this rising of the Sun from its western point in the literal meaning but as Islam is practical, clear and simple, so with all respect for ULAMA, I have differed here. The verse that is mentioned at the narration, is from Surah YAA-SIN, the 36th Surah that says, ‘And the sun runs on to a term determined for it; that is the ordinance of the Mighty the Knowing (i.e. Allah)’. This also makes the comment worthy of consideration as the Holy Book Quran means that the Sun is going to the time and the place where everything would come into manifestation in accordance with the Word of Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 23-Concerning emergence of Yajuj and Majuj
(2194)-Sayyidah Zaynab bint Jahsh (RA) narrated Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) got up from sleep once and his face had turned red. He was reciting, 'There is no god but Allah’. He repeated it three times. “There is trouble for the Arabs from this mischief which is near. As wall of Yajuj and Majuj has been opened this much”, indicating with his fingers a round circle. Sayyidah Zaynab (RA) said, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), will we perish while we would have righteous people among us?” He said, “Yes if evil overwhelms.” [Bukhari 3346, Muslim 2880]
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This Hadith tells very clearly that YAJUJ & MAJUJ were still behind the wall totally bound to certain area up-to the period of the Prophet PBUH. They had been there for about 1100 years then and it seems that they were bound there for some more centuries too after that. There was an indication given that their release is near as the dream that the Prophet (PBUH) had seen told him that an opening that seemed like a hole in their wall had taken place. Other Ahadith tell us that these people would try to control all resources of the earth and would give the impression of being invincible but when at the peak of their power they would challenge the True Lord Allah (not necessarily by words but by giving the impression that they manage to do as they will) they would be destroyed by deadly diseases never heard of specially tumors that would attack mostly the throat area. The Hadith also point out that they would challenge the Muslims too and Muslims must & would avoid them insha Allah taking shelter away from them (and that would surely be a psychological pressure to them as people did keep away from them for centuries and this attitude of avoidance might create horrific memories for them even without their knowledge why this is happening as the past memories to a nation is like the childhood memories to a man) and huge number of them would die of the epidemic put on them; they would come to loose the status of the worldly power they had managed, that was being used to suppress the weak.
TOPIC 24-About the Mariqah (Khawarij)
(2195)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will rise in the final period a people, young of age but poor of intelligence. They will recite the Qur’an but it will not get past their throats. They will mention from the sayings of the best of creation (the Prophet PBUH) but will come out of religion as an arrow comes out of the game.” [Ibn Majah 168]
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The final period means here the final period of KHILAFAT-RASHIDA (that means administration considering the rulership as association to the Prophet PBUH) that ended with Ali (RA) with some period of rulership of HASAN (RA) after him. In the last period of the KHILAFAT of Ali (RA) such people arose that were mostly young as they were born after the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH) and they revolted against Ali (RA) by abusing him on the wars that took place between SAHABA (Jaml and Siffin; both of which took place due to misunderstanding on both sides and in both of which Ali-RA had to fight defensively against the forces gathered by Bibi Ayesha-RA and against the forces of Mu’aviah respectively). These KHWARIJ were so strict that in the name of Islamic Teachings, they used to call all those that got involved in any big sin as out of the fold of Islam and were known by the name of KHWARIJ (runners away) because they ran away from the obedience of the KHILAFAT of Ali-RA. This Hadith tells us that the righteous person must know not only what to do (i.e. knowledge) but also know how to do it (i.e. wisdom) as only the good intention is not enough to guide the people to it as that would only cause even the righteous person to err gravely in matters of religious nature. Today when there is no lack of the Islamic knowledge, only due to the lack of wisdom, we Muslims do not have any place where Islam is fully in manifestation though many of its commands do appear at different places. Its total manifestation would take place when there is total attention towards Allah by taking Him as the Only Creator of all the creatures and the Only True Lord with all Power; with that belief, the Man keeps away from all injustice and the Woman keeps away from all types of shameful things totally; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 25-About ATHARAH (to favor)
(2196)-Sayyidina Usayd ibn Hudayr (RA) reported that an Ansar submitted, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) you availed of the services of ‘that’ man but did not ask for me to serve you.” So, he said, “You people will see Atharah after me, so be patient till you meet me at the pond (Kawthar that comes from Paradise).” [Bukhari 3792, Muslim 1845, Nasai 5398]
(2197)-Sayyidina Abdullah reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “You will see, after me, the Atharah and such things as you would dislike.” They said, “Then, what do you command us (to do)?” He said, “Give them their rights (and obey them without rebelling against their rule), and ask Allah for that which is yours.” [Bukhari 3603, Muslim 1843, Ahmed 4166]
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It is wrong to favor someone for a post just because he is a relative or just because he is a rich person or just because he has got a say in quite a number of people or for any other such reason where not his quality in the Islamic sense but his present worldly status is kept in view. However, if the man is totally capable of the job and he happens to be a relative too, or has already some status worthy of consideration, that needs not affect his selection. In the Holy Book Quran, there is mention of two qualities to consider for giving a task to a person and those are QAVI (able to do the task) and AMIN (trustworthy) as a person capable to do the work would use his ability to the best being trustworthy for the job assigned to him performing it with a high quality (see verse 39 of the 27th Surah i.e. NAML, and verse 26 of the 28th Surah i.e. QASAS). H-2196 here tells that the Prophet PBUH told the man that there is no chance that I might do injustice by favor to anyone and certainly I would choose someone for a post on merits only yet after I pass away, there would come a time soon when you would see favors and at that time you would have to wait patiently as everyone would die; but keep to your Belief and go on collecting good deeds without worry to get worldly benefits. History tells us that the favor of Mu’aviah to his son Yazid (may Allah put His curse on him always), only after some fifty years or so of the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH), that gave him the administration proved a fatal error and such events took place in his small period of rule by his evil blunders (killing of HUSSAIN-RA and attack on the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah killing thousands of SAHABA) that even after centuries gone, the bad effects of which are still felt in Muslims all over the world. May Allah end these bad effects and guide Muslims to glory.
TOPIC 26-About events that the Prophet (PBUH) told Sahaba
(2198)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) offered the Salah of ASR with us one day. Then, he got up and addressed us, leaving out nothing that would happen till the Last Hour and informed us of all that. So who remembered did remember it and who forgot did forget it. Of what he said is, “The world is green and sweet and Allah has made you Khalifah here. He will see how you work. Beware! Preserve yourself from the world and preserve yourself from women. Beware! Let not awe of the people prevent one who has knowledge from speaking the truth.” The sub-narrator said that Abu Sa’eed (RA) wept and said, “By Allah, we saw something and were awe-stricken.” The Prophet (PBUH) also said, “Beware! The standard (i.e. flag) will be set up on the Day of Resurrection for the betrayer according to the degree of his betrayal. And no betrayal is greater then the betrayal of the general Imam. His standard (i.e. flag) will be posted on his back.” Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed reported that of what they remembered that day is the Prophet (PBUH) saying, “Beware! The children of Adam are created on different stages. Among them is the one who is born a Believer, lives a Believer and dies a Believer. Among them is the one who is born an infidel, lives as an infidel and dies an infidel. Among them is the one who is born a Believer, lives a Believer but dies an infidel. And among them is he who is born an infidel, lives as an infidel but dies a Believer. Beware! And among them is one who is slow to get angry but quick to cool down and among them is one who is quick to get angry and also quick to cool down; both nearly equal. And of them is one who is quick to get angry, but slow to cool down. Beware! The best of them is the slow to get angry and quick to cool down and the worst of them is the quick to get angry and slow to cool down. Beware! Among them is the one who is a good pay master and mild in demanding repayment. And among them is he who is hard at repayment and mild in demanding repayment. And among them is he who is good at repaymant and harsh in demanding repayment. That is the equilibrium (meaning both nearly equal). Beware! Among them the bad one is he who is a bad paymaster and a harsh collector (of debts). Beware! And the best of them is the good paymaster and mild in demanding repayment and the worst of them is he who is bad at repayment and harsh in demanding. Beware! Anger is a firebrand in the heart of the son of Adam. Do you not see the redness of his eyes and the swollen vein on his neck. One who feels something of that let him cling down to earth, close to it.” The narrator said that they looked at the sun to see if it was there or had set down. The Prophet (PBUH) then said, “Beware! The world’s life will not last but only as much as is past, except like this day of yours compared to what has gone by of it.” [Ibn Majah 4000]
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In this Hadith, the way to living is narrated and praise is shown for such person who lives a Believer (from his birth if he is born a Musim or from the time he comes to Islam by conversion) and dies a Believer; he is the best of men. Also the Muslim person who is quick to gain senses after becoming angry is praiseworthy and so is the Muslim person who gives his debts and collects his debts with softness as much as possible. Note that to keep away from the desires of worldly pleasures include keeping away from the unrelated women that are allowed to take into marriage; the person must care about rights of his wives only, asking for mercy and blessings from Allah.
TOPIC 27-About the People of Syria
(2199)-Sayyidina Qurrah reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “When people of Syria become bad, there remains no good in you. There continues to be a section of my Ummah who are helped always; they will suffer no harm if anyone lets them down, till the Hour comes.” Muhammad ibn Isma’il (Bukhari) said that Ali ibn Madini explained that they were scholars of hadith. [Ahmed 20383, Ibn Majah 6]
(2199A)-Bahz ibn Hakim reported from his father on the authority of his grandfather who reported that I asked, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), where do you command me (to stay)?” He said, ‘There’. And he pointed towards Syria with his hand.
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There is a narration that informs that the Hour (QAYAMAT) would come when the name of Allah would not be taken any more; ULAMA mostly have taken the stance that the righteous people would stay till near the QAYAMAT then all of them would be given a soft death by the wind and so the hour would come upon the worst of people. However, that narration might be taken in a different way than usually taken and the words recorded in this Hadith that no one would be able to put a section of my Ummah (means Muslims collectively) to any harm till QAYAMAT, opens the way to take the option that there would certainly be Muslims around (and they might even be in huge number though they would slack in asking for Allah’s Mercy & Blessings at that time) when QAYAMAT takes place.
TOPIC 28-Do not return to disbelief, some killing others
(2200)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Do not return to disbelief, some of you striking the neck of some others after me.” [Bukhari 1739]
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TOPIC 29-Trial when sitting one is better than standing one
(2201)-Busr ibn Sa’eed reported on the authorityof Sayyidina Sa’d ibn Waqqas (RA) that at the fitnah of times of Sayyidina Uthman ibn Affan (RA), he said that I bore testimony that Allah’s Messenger said concerning trial, “There will come a trial when the sitter during it will be better than one who is standing. He who keeps standing will be better than he who walks while the walker will be better than the runner.” Someone asked, “What should I do if anyone intrudes into my home and raises his hand over me to kill me?” He said, “Be like the son of Adam.” (Habil was killed at the hands of his brother while he refrained from fighting him). [Muslim 2887, Ahmed 20434]
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It is obvious from many Ahadith that the Prophet (PBUH) was worried that after him there would come wars between his followers as this was a warrior nation that he had taught high morals; he knew well that those who had not been much in his care might cause high trouble. UTHMAN ibn AFFAN (RA; the third Caliph), was killed in cold blood unjustifiably by the mob (that were Muslims), when he was reciting the Quran; this accelerated the events related to FITNAH that was already looming up in the UMMAH. The noble teaching of the Prophet PBUH to avoid killing of each other, helped the Muslims generally to keep the Islamic teachings intact; this even made them spread Islam by amazing zeal all over the known world till the end of KHILAFAT of UTHMAN (RA).
TOPIC 30-About a fitnah like a dark night
(2202)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Set about doing (good) deeds before trials engulf you like a portion of a dark night (when) a man commences his morning as a believer but becomes a disbeliever by evening, or is a believer in the evening and morning finds him a disbeliever and there would even be such a man who would sell his religion against a little of this world.” [Ahmed 8036, Muslim 118]
(2203)-Sayyidah Umm Salamah (RA) reported that one night the Prophet (PBUH) woke up and said, “Subhan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)! How many trials descended tonight! And how many treasures came down tonight! Who will wake up the ladies of the chamber (the chaste wives of the Prophet PBUH)? Most of the dressed in this world will be bare in the hereafter.” [Bukhari 115, Ahmed 26607]
(2204)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “As the Hour approaches, there will be trials like a portion of a dark night. A man who wakes up in it as a believer turns a disbeliever in the evening. Or he is believer in the evening but wakes up a disbeliever in the morning. People will sell their religion for a little of this world.”
(2205)-Hasan said in explanation of this hadith (i.e. a man begins his morning a believer and turns a disbeliever in the evening, or begins his evening as a believer and turns a disbeliever in the morning). He said that morning would find him holding the blood, honour and property of his brother sacred (and disallawed to him) but by evening he will regard them as lawful to him. And evening will find him holding his brother’s blood, honour and property as sacred (and forbidden to him) but by morning he regards them as lawful to him.
(2206)-Sayyidina Wail ibn Hujr (RA) narrated I heard a man ask Allah’s Messenger ‘If such rulers govern us who deny us our rights but demand their own rights, what should we do?’ He said, “Listen and obey, for on them is what they carry and on you is what you carry (their deeds are with them and yours are with you)”. [Muslim 1846]
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These Ahadith here give the same message that wars among Muslims are to come soon in which it is better for true Muslims to save their Belief and deeds taking care for the individual safety; in that time many Muslims would become so much oblivious to the sanctity of life of other Muslims, though all Muslims are brothers, that they would shed blood of each other without care. This time is termed like the darkness of night because as a person is not able to see things around at such time so even good Muslims would find it very difficult to see what is the right course of action to take at this moment of time.
TOPIC 31-About killing (and commotion)
(2207)-Sayyidina Abu Musa (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘A time will come after you when knowledge will be removed and harj will be rampant.” The companions asked what harj was and he said, ‘Killing!’ [Bukhari 7064)
(2208)-Sayyidina Ma’qil ibn Yasari reported the Prophet (PBUH) as saying, ‘Worship during harj will be like making hijrah to me.” (Harj is turmoil i.e. killing, and hijrah is migration). [Muslim 2348]
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TOPIC 32-About taking a sword carved out of wood
(2209)-Sayyidina Thawban (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “When the sword is placed in my ummah, it will not be with-drawn from them till the Last Hour” [Ahmed 22515]
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Killing of innocent people is a sign of QAYAMAT and there is a narration that tells about this time that the one killing someone would not know why one is killing that victim and that victim would not know why he is being killed; such is the FITNAH of that time and most probably this has been foretold for this time that we are living in. The Hadith at Topic-32 tells clearly that once Muslims get used to wars, they would need to fight; either the enemy either their own-selves until the advent of the MAHDI (the guided one) near QAYAMAT when it is said that wars would cease to exist when after some great war (or even without it), people would come to Islam generally.
TOPIC 33-Taking up a sword of wood
(2210)-Sayyidah Udaysah bint Uhban ibn Sayfi (RA) narrated Sayyidina Ali ibn Abu Talib (RA) came to my father and asked him to enlist with him. My father said to him, “My friend and your cousin (i.e. the Prophet PBUH) took a promise from me that when people dispute with each other, I should make for myself a sword of wood. So, I have taken it up and if you like I will come out with you.” So Ali left him alone. [Ibn Majah 3960]
Note that the Prophet PBUH taught SAHABA emphatically in different ways not to fight each other and it clearly shows how worried he was about the coming civil wars among them. Making a sword of wood here means to refrain from such wars that would take place between Muslims when it would be extremely difficult to judge for the ordinary Muslim whom to favor; he should better avoid all sides and refrain from wars.
TOPIC 34-About the signs of the Last Hour
(2211)-Sayyidina Abu Musa (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “During the commotion, break your bows. Cut your bowstrings during it and bind yourself to the inside of your houses during it, and be like the son of Adam.” [Ahmed 19751]
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TOPIC 35-More about the signs of the Last Hour
(2212)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik reported having heard a hadith from Allah’s Messenger which he said, “I would narrate to you. No one will narrate it after me as having heard from Allah’s Messenger.” The Prophet PBUH told us that of the signs of the last Hour is that knowledge will be taken away, ignorance will be apparent, adultery will be widespread, wine will be consumed, women will outnumber (men) and men will be few so that for every fifty women there will be one male as (their) overseer. [Bukhari 80, Muslim 2671]
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TOPIC 36-More on it
(2213)-Zubayr ibn Adi narrated that we went to Anas ibn Malik (RA) and complained to him of what we faced at the hands of Hajjaj. He said, “There is not a year but the one following it is worse than it till you meet your Lord. I heard this from your Prophet (PBUH).” [Bukhari 7068]
(2214)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The Hour will not come as Long as there is on earth the sound of ‘Allah, Allah’.”
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About the taking away of knowledge, note that it means that many ULAMA would be killed without any rhyme or reason except for the dislike of the killers, most of whom talk about tolerance and harmony in living. People would be knowledgeable in worldly matters yet mostly unaware of the knowledge that could provide them salvation at AKHIRAT; a great number of people would incline towards wine & women (many of whom would themselves assume a derogatory status due to women being huge in number, mostly deprived of basic needs of life). The Hadith that tells about each coming year being worse than before has the wording “till you meet your Lord” so it is limited to the era of SAHABA and it seems that it actually commenced from that time when UTHMAN (RA) was killed at home; and it stayed till the time when the last group of SAHABA passed away; ANAS, the narrator of this Hadith, was included in these last ones to depart from the world as he died between 91 to 94 AH. The most cruel of men Hajjaj ibn Yousuf (may Allah put His curse on him) died within a year or two of the demise of ANAS (RA). As for the Hadith that tells that the Hour would not come till the name of Allah is recited, it means that uptil the time people repent for their wrong-doings asking Allah for His Mercy & Blessings, the Hour would not take place.
TOPIC 37-More on the Topic
(2216)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah ibn Yaman (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Hour will not come till the stupid son of the stupid becomes the most fortunate of all men.” [Ahmed 22363]
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TOPIC 38-About metamorphosis and swallowing
(2217)-Sayyidina Ali ibn Abu Talib (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “When my ummah perform fifteen particular things, trials will come down on them.” He was asked, “What are they, O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH)? He said, “When booty is wealth, and trust is booty, and Zakah is tax, and a husband obeys his wife and disobeys his mother, and he is faithful to his friend but unfaithful to his father, and voices are raised in the mosques, and leaders of men are the most wicked of them, and a man is honoured for fear of his evil, and wine is drunk, and silk is worn, and singing girls and stringed instruments are taken up, and the last of this ummah curses the first of them. So at that time await a red violent wind, or sinking down of the earth or metamorphosis.”
(2218)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, When the fa’i (war booty gained without fighting) is taken as wealth, trust as a booty, Zakah as a tax, knowledge is imparted for purposes other than religion, a man obeys his wife but is disloyal to his mother, he draws, near his friend but keeps away from his father, voices are raised in mosques, chiefs of the tribes are the most sinful of them, a leader of the people is the lowest of them, a man is honoured because of fear of mischief from him, singing girls and musical instruments become common, wine is drunk, the last of this ummah curse the first of them, then await at such time, a violent red wind, earthquakes, being swallowed up by earth, transfiguration, pelting of stones from heaven and signs following each other as though beads of a rosary fall in succession when the thread has broken.”
(2219)-Sayyidina Imran ibn Husayn (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘This ummah will face being swallowed up, metamorphosis and pelting rain.” A man among the Muslims submitted, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), and when will that be?” He said, “When singing girls and musical instruments show themselves up and wine is drunk.”
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The first couple of Ahadith at this topic tell us that near QAYAMAT even good people would disregard their duties and would take-up the pleasures of worldly life. Many of persons even among Muslims would not care much about the welfare of parents and they would seek to keep status in the sight of other people rather than fulfillment of rights of the near ones. And there would be attention towards loose women and wine; there would also be fear of every such person who has an official post in the administration as strength would not be means to defend the weak but it would be means to suppress the weak; at such times, Allah would put His wrath by all such things that are termed as natural disasters and they would come in sequence one after another. As for the hearing of songs as is related in the H-2219, it is notable that if the male singer sings a song that is soft in nature, when alone or in gathering, its wording should be right that does not challenge any teaching of Islam and musical instruments should be just few (preferably only two and not more than three) while he should not be professional that implies that singing or playing music should not be his source of earnings (but all related to music just take it as pastime) then it is tolerable in the Islamic Environment; disks with the computer format for such songs are fine yet the extremely few women here that might sing with all the conditions therein, should avoid singing at the gathering of men and at the video performance totally. Please note this well that Islam does not appreciate making of the music into some kind of an industry to affect the Society but has the leniency to tolerate it for those who have an aesthetic sense, just as relaxation with necessary conditions in effect. Summing-up the matter; it must not be professional, it must not have words challenging Islam, it must not manifest with number of instruments, it must not rouse sentiments by rapidity (but must be soft in nature) and it must not present at mixed gathering (though men might perform a show with the mentioned conditions without any dancing where few women are present yet that must be with care to necessary reservation by the women there) so it would not be like the current noisy shows of professional singers & musicians that simply have no care to Islam. There would be no Film Industry in the Islamic Environment yet TV would be available to all that might have few channels, each assigned to its own task; one of them might be reserved for the presentation of songs that fulfill the conditions within certain moral limits. If the Government at the lands where Muslims mostly reside does not see to its responsibility about conditions to music, each of the Muslims as an individual must try his best to see by his own for the limits of the music in the present situation if he really does have an aesthetic sense.
TOPIC 39-Advent of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Last Hour
(2220)-Sayyidina Mustawrid ibn Shaddad Fihri reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “I have been sent in the very Hour, so I precede it just as this precedes this”; he said it showing his fore finger and his middle finger.
(2221)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I have been sent and the Last Hour like these two” and Abu Dawud indicated the forefinger and the middle finger. [Bukhari 6504]
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This Hadith clarifies well that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), being the Last Messenger of Allah, was the first big sign of QAYAMAT. The two fingers were kept apart to show that there is still some time to it yet not much. Narrations point out well that the time from the Prophet (PBUH) to QAYAMAT is like the time from ASR (the time when afternoon breaks) to MAGHRIB (sunset) in the day by ratio.
TOPIC 40-About battle with the Turks
(2222)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The Last Hour will not come till you fight a people wearing shoes (or sandals) made of hair. And the Hour will not come till you fight a people whose faces are flat like shields.” [Bukhari 2929]
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Both sentences in the Hadith tell about Mongols that fought at the command of Chenghez Khan who destroyed a vast area that was under the Muslim Rule; his forces reaching Baghdad in 656 HIJRI (1258 AD) much after his death; it was also the year of the great fire that came out of Yemen. Their shoes had hair all over them and their faces were flat and rough with yellowish skin. Mongols are referred to as TURKS here as these MONGOLS were recognized as TURKS in those days. They mercilessly persecuted the AMEER of Muslims (the Caliph MUSTA’SAM- Bi-Allah) and killed huge number of Muslims as the history has recorded; they abolished much of the scholarly treasure of Muslims too by destroying thousands of written works. But the history has also recorded an amazing turn in favor of Muslims that they got their areas and their status of the manifest glory back when the descendants of Chenghez Khan accepted Islam; one of our famous poets of Urdu has said on this in a verse “it is clear from the story of TATARI (Mongols) that KA’BAH does get its guards even from the idol-worshippers (as they convert to Islam)”. Note that Muslims had faced many challenges from the enemy after the Prophet (PBUH) but three of them are highly noteworthy; one of these challenges, was just after his passing away that they faced from the Roman Empire and from Persia as their power that they had just achieved by unity was extremely threatening to them; at that time, Muslims were able to conquer much of area by JIHAD that was under CAESER of Rome and KHOSROE of Persia due to their physical power by unity and due to their spiritual power that Islam had provided them; second was when Muslims were challenged by Chengez Khan and his forces who destroyed their political power and put a heavy blow to them at that time; that was at height in 1258 AD but as they did not have the moral teachings to guide them for an inner satisfaction so TABLIGH of Islam provided an opportunity to them; at that time, by the blessing of Allah on them and on all Muslims in general, they converted to Islam; Muslims were spiritually very much alive then, though they had lost physical power due to the lack of unity by useless talks on petty religious matters; third is the present time when since a couple of centuries Muslims have been facing the challenge that is still in progress from the West (that manifested even by imperialism for a century or so); the West had challenged Muslims centuries back too by Crusades yet it never became deadly threatening to Muslims; Sultan Salahud-Din terminated that challenge well in due time; Al-Hamd Lillah. Though Muslims are bearing this current challenge by the West for such a period of time, yet it seems that the West is not ready to draw itself back from presenting its way of life as the final development of human-kind; it seems to have decided to go only for the win against the Muslims whatever it takes. It is yet to be seen what happens of the third deadly challenge that Muslims face at the current time when they are dispersed politically and that also with much lack of practice upon Islam; however even now, there still are uncountable Muslims who repent on sins and ask forgiveness from Allah and His blessing. All these three high challenges that Muslims had faced were foretold in Ahadith; the first is mentioned at H-2223 that is just ahead; the second is mentioned at this Hadith (H-2222) that we are studying now; the third is mentioned at H-2190 & H-2194 (see the notes on them) that denotes the advent of YAJUJ & MAJUJ that in particular is the trouble to Arabs and in general to all Muslims; YAJUJ & MAJUJ would favor the rise of a Yahudi person that would be DAJJAL who would challenge Islam; Ahadith point out that many of these people, would die a cruel death by tumors that would not be manageable in any way.
TOPIC 41-About there being no Khosroes after Khosroe is gone
(2223)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “When Khosroe is killed, there will be no Khosroe after him. When the Caesar is killed, there will be no Caesar after him. By Him in Whose hand is my soul, you will give away their treasures in the way of Allah.” [Bukhari 3027]
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Note that the Prophet (PBUH) told the companions that you would soon conquer the lands of Rome (whose ruler was named as Caesar) and Persia (whose ruler was named as Khosroe), the two high political powers of the time. This was told when the Prophet (PBUH) and the companions were digging the Ditch (Trench) to safeguard Madinah and their own selves as the Quraish of Makkah and thousands of people of many tribes were advancing towards Madinah to finish the Muslims for once and for all. Never has a man born before this great man Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, who had even thought of giving such tidings and that also in such situation. Not only did Muslims defend Madinah well at the time (the infidels had to return due to their bad planning as they were taken by surprise at the presence of the Ditch; also the wind uprooted their camps while angels were helping Muslims by the command of Allah that caused them to withdraw their forces; Muslims also used the strategy of creating mistrust among them and their allies among Jews of Banu Quraizah) but the Muslims also conquered vast areas of the Roman Empire and all of Persia within a few years of the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH); that is history now and there had never been a Caesar or a Khosroe after the conquests that the Muslims made then; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 42-The Hour will not come before the Fire from the Hijaz
(2224)-Saaum ibn Abdullah reported on the Authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will emerge a fire from Hadramawt (or from the surrounding of the sea of Hadramawt) before the Last Hour. It will gather mankind.” The Sahabah asked, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)! What do you then command us?” He said, “You must go to Syria.” [Ahmed 5376]
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As we have studied, this fire broke out very near to the time of attack of Mongol Forces on Iraq; Syria was a safe area at the time. The start of the fire as written by Muslim Historians was at Friday, the 7th day of June 1258 AD and it blazed for more than 50 days. Gathering of mankind is an indication of the gathering of persons at authority to learn mutually how to deal with this disaster. Ahadith certainly have a specific style of putting matters at fore and that is why they need study about their presentation of different matters; this study needs to learn even the psychology of the ordinary man to whom the Prophet PBUH presented these statements.
TOPIC 43-The Hour will not come before liars appear
(2225)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Hour will not come till the liars and dajjals, nearly thirty all of them, make their appearance each pretending that he is Allah’s messenger.” [Bukhari 3609]
(2226)-Sayyidina Thawban reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Hour will not come till tribes of my ummah join the polytheists and worship idols. And, in my ummah there will be thirty liars each of them assuming that he is a Prophet (PBUH) while I am the seal (or last) of the Prophet (PBUH). There is no Prophet (PBUH) after me.”
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Just as Ahadith inform, many liars and dajjals (the imposters other than the big Dajjal defective in the eye that has yet to come) have come claiming they are messengers of Allah while the Holy Book Quran clearly tells that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the Last Messenger (see the 33rd Surah i.e. AHZAAB; verse 40 and there are many other verses too at many other Surah for this) and the Prophet (PBUH) has himself clarified this that he is the Last Messenger of Allah; there is no prophet, no messenger after him. In the sub-continent i.e. the undivided India before Pakistan took shape, we had one of these dajjals at a place called QADIAN who claimed to be a messenger and made other such claims that certainly denote that he was totally disturbed mentally; they are taken to be out of the fold of Islam by all Muslims all over the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah. All such people who claim to be prophets or messengers are certainly out of the fold of Islam and their believers are too; by the blessing of Allah, all righteous Muslims believe that Muhammad (PBUH) was the Last Prophet and the Last Messenger of Allah.
TOPIC 44-About the liar from Thaqif and Mubir
(2227)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will arise among the Banu Thaqif a Liar and a Mubir (i.e. one who is destructive).” It is said that Liar was Mukhtar bin Abu Ubaid and Mubir was Hajjaj bin Yousuf.
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Mukhtar ibn Abu Ubaid rose to fame by posing himself as highly committed to Islam and fought wars blowing the bugle that he has the greatest of respect for the family members of the Prophet (PBUH). After consolidation of his fame and authority among a number of people, he claimed to be a prophet and so it became clear that he was one of dajjals (imposters, liars) mentioned in the previous Hadith. MUBIR means the blood-shedder and Hajjaj ibn Yousuf was one of the cruelest men ever born killing around one hundred thousand men in whom there were thousands of SAHABA too just for the sake of the consolidation of the political position of his own and his band of rogues. These both Mukhtar and Hajjaj, who attacked Muslims spiritually and physically respectively at great deadly level, belonged to the tribe of Banu Thaqif.
TOPIC 45-About the third generation
(2228)-Sayyidina Imran ibn Husayn reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say, “The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them. Then, there will come after them people who would seek to be fat, and love corpulence; they will offer testimony before they are asked to give it.” [Bukhari 3650]
(2229)-Sayyidina lmran ibn Husayn (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The best of my ummah is the generation to which I have been sent, then they who will follow them.” The narrator said that I do not remember if he mentioned the third (generation) or not. “After that”, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Such people will come who will voluntarily give testimony; they will commit treachery and will not be trustworthy. They will be corpulent, generally.” [Bukhari 2651]
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This Hadith tells the merit of SAHABA (Companions of the Prophet PBUH) and also of TABI’EEN (companions of SAHABA and their followers). These two were generally the best among the UMMAH and though trials came very fast on them after the demise of UTHMAN-RA; each year being worse than before in regards to the rulers they had (with the exception of ALI-RA & of his son HASAN-RA) till the demise of all SAHABA; yet they remained firm upon Islam and preserved the Holy Book Quran and the Islamic Practical Values as denoted by the authentic Ahadith well. The Hadith informed that after them, the number of trustworthy people would decrease drastically due to the seeking of worldly pleasures that would cause corpulence; so it happened.
TOPIC 46-About the Caliphs
(2230)-Sayyidina Jabir ibn Samurah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will be, after me, twelve amirs.” The narrator reported that he said more but he could not grasp it, so he asked one who was next to him and he disclosed that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Every-one from Quraysh.” [Bukhari 7222]
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TOPIC 47-More on it
(2231)-Ziyad ibn Kusayb Adawi narrated that I was sitting with Abu Bakrah (RA) at the foot of the pulpit of Ibn Aamir while he was delivering a sermon. He was wearing a thin dress. Abu Bilal remarked, “Look at our amir wearing garments of the sinners.” So Abu Bakrah asked me to keep quiet and said that he had heard Allah’s Messenger say, “He who offends Allah’s king on earth, Allah humiliates him.”
(2232)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) reported that Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab was asked, “It would have been better if you had appointed a Khalifah.” He said, “If I appoint one then indeed Abu Bakr had appointed one. And if I do not then Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) had not appointed a Khalifah.” The hadith has a lengthy narration. [Bukhari 7218]
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There have been different ways in which H-2230 has been interpreted yet the best one seems that upto twelve AMIRS (“I” to be read as double “E”), the people would be united at one AMIR; after that there would be division among Muslims and each faction would have its own AMIR. Jabir (RA) had asked his father (RA) who was seated besides him the clarification he needed. For Ahadith at Topic-47, it is notale that TABLIGH (guidance to the righteousness) is necessary but it is better to advise such person who himself has a status to guide people, in privacy. As I, MSD, have remarked that most of these AMIRS became inclined to worldly pleasures though generally they did try to fulfill the basic commands of Islam like the five-times Prayers, Fasting in Ramdhan, Zakat, Hajj etc. and Allah knows better about the status of their Belief and deeds. Ibn Aamir was not the Khalifah but he was an AMIR appointed by the HIGH AMIR who acted as an administrator according to his instructions, in Madinah.
TOPIC 48-About the Caliphate
(2233)-Sayyidina Safinah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Khilafah (Caliphate) will last among my ummah for thirty years. Then there will be kingdom after that.” Thereafter, Safinah said, “Count the khilafah of Abu Bakr (RA).” Then he said, “And of Umar (RA) and Uthman (RA), and count the Khilafah of Ali (RA). We will find the total to be thirty years.” Saeed said that he told him that the Banu-Umayyah imagined that the Khilafah rested with them. He said that the Banu-Zarqa (sons of Zarqa) are lying. Rather they are kings, the worst of kings. [Ahmed 21978]
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This Hadith tells explicitly that from Mu’aviah, the rule had converted to become a kingdom though the term AMIR was still used for them. It is interesting to note that in H-2231 that we have just studied, Abu Bakra termed the ruler as a king though he did say king of Allah yet it shows that it was clear to SAHABA that the rulers have now taken much of the living in the style of the king though they were still committed to Islamic rituals for the fear of people or just due to the reason that they would fulfill those Islamic rituals fully well that do not challenge their claim to administration. Note that upto the time when Mu’aviah achieved the control on administration from the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH), it comes to thirty years in total. Zarqa was a famous figure in the ancestors of Banu Umayyah so they were sometimes called Banu Zarqa (sons of Zarqa) by relation to her though it was exceptional as it was not the normal practice of Arabs to name someone by a woman in ancestors.
TOPIC 49-About Khilafah to be with Quraysh till the last Hour
(2234)-Abdullah ibn Abu Hudhayl narrated that some persons of the (tribe of) Rabiah were sitting with Amr ibn Aas when a man of the (tribe of) Bakr ibn Wail said, “The Quraysh must refrain themselves, or Allah will hand over this affair to the Arabs collectively, apart from them.” So, Amr ibn Aas said, “You lie; I had heard Allah’s Messenger say that the Quraysh are rulers of men, in good or bad, till the Last Day.”
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TOPIC 50-No Caption
(2235)-Umar ibn Hakam reported having heard Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) narrate the words of Allah’s Messenger. He said, “The night and day will not pass away before a man, the freed-man of Jahjah will take over authority (rule).” Other Ahadith disclose that the Jahjah will be a tribe of Qahtan and that person will rule after Imam Mahdi and he will be among righteous rulers. [Muslim 2911]
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In the Holy Quran, when Ibrahim (Salam on him) asked Allah to put blessing on his descendants choosing them for rulership, Allah replied that I would do so but I would not give the true authority to those who are unjust. This is the verse 124 of the second Surah i.e. BAQARAH that reads, “And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam (guide; head) of men. Ibrahim said: And of my descendants? He replied: My covenant does not include the unjust.” So this clarifies that the man from Bakr ibn Wail was right in essence as reported in H-2234 and the stance of Amr ibn Aas does not hold for every situation. The Hadith should be taken with an addition of the suffix ‘if the Quraish remain adherent to Islamic Commands’ as that clarifies the issue. For H-2235, we have the clarification too inside, that this righteous man of the tribe JAHJAH (who also would have the same name); the sound of the name seems very near to YAHYA; would rule after the rule of MAHDI (the guided one) near QAYAMAT.
TOPIC 51-About misled Rulers
(2236)-Sayyidina Thawban (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I fear for the misled rulers over my ummah.” He also said, “A section of my ummah will never cease to be on the right. They will prevail and they will not be harmed by those who desert them till the command of Allah comes.” [Muslim 1920]
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This information has been given before too in the Hadith 2199 and this tells that there would be Muslims around even at the time when Trumpet of Qayamat would be blown by respectable ISRAFIL, the angel appointed for this task.
TOPIC 52-About Mahdi
(2237)-Sayyidina Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The world will not end before a man of my house rules over the Arabs. His name will be the same as mine.” [Ahmed 3573]
(2238)-Sayyidina Abdullah (RA) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “A man of my house, his name being as my name, will follow (to rule over the world).”
(2238A)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported (that the Prophet (PBUH) said), “Even if the world has nothing but one day (before it ends), Allah will lengthen that day so that he may rule.”
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MAHDI (the guided one) would be a Muslim who would rise to power even against the wish of the political powers of his time; he would not be tyrannical but a man of decent face and good manners with the heart for the unpriviliged, an exception to rulers that rise to power generally nowadays. The information that his name would be the same as mine is taken literally by ULAMA yet there is margin of taking this to mean that his fame would be as mine. Note that the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, was the first big sign of QAYAMAT as he told us himself so there is nothing to suggest us that these signs are limited to small period of time as we take the meaning of time. The Great Fire of Yemen, Fight with Turks (Mongols), Appearance of the Liar and the Blood-Shedder, Three Deadly Earthquakes, Opening of Yajuj & Majuj and many other signs have already passed away that we read as history. However, the signs that are yet to come are the Guided-One termed as MAHDI and the one-eyed imposter who is termed as DAJJAL. We have also read about the beast (H-2188) and about the rising of the Sun from its West (H-2193); the coming of Jesus Christ (the symbol of love) is also awaited and the deadly war (in which each of the three i.e. Muslims, Christians and Jews await the total extinction of the other two). I would try to clarify about the descent of Jesus Christ and about DAJJAL (in Topic-54 and Topic-57 respectively insha Allah) with the remark that though I am liable to err yet I would write my comments insha Allah without any inclination towards any sort of wishful thinking.
TOPIC 53-No caption
(2239)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) narrated that we were apprehensive lest innovations begin after our Prophet (PBUH). So we asked the Prophet (PBUH). He said, “There will be in my ummah a Mahdi who will live five, seven or nine (that is the period of his rule).” The narrator Zayd was unsure of the figure. They asked what was it and he said, “Years.” The Prophet (PBUH) then said, “A man will come to him and say, ‘O Mahdi, give me, give me!’ So, he will pour out for him in his garment as much as he is able to carry.” [Ibn Majah 4083]
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TOPIC 54-About the descent of Eesa ibn Maryam (AS)
(2240)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “By Him in Whose hand is my soul, Ibn Maryam will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the swine and abolish the jizyah, and wealth will flow to such abundance that no one will take it.” [Ahmed 10944, Bukhari 2222, Muslim 155, Ibn Majah 4078]
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Jesus Christ is called ISA (salaam on him) in Arabic and by this name we Muslims call him. Allah tells us in the Holy Book Quran in the fourth Surah about him that “they (Jews) did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. Nay! Allah took ISA up towards Him and Allah is Mighty and Wise. And there is not one of the followers of the Book but most certainly believes in him (ISA) before his (own) death, and on the day of resurrection he (ISA) shall be a witness against them” (Surah NISA-157 to 159). Jesus Christ was the Messenger of Allah who was born to Marium (Mary) without any father. That is why she is the only woman named in the Holy Book Quran so that Jesus Christ could be called “ISA ibn MARIUM” according to customs of Arabia. Allah has told in the Holy Book Quran that to create Jesus was like creating Adam to Him; literally too, there is harmony among them as his name appears 25 tmes in the Quran and the name of Adam also appears the same number of time there; the birth of Jesus was an amazing incident (and he talked when he was just an infant) and like his birth, his departure from the world was amazing too as he was taken to heavens alive with his physique; that is how we all Muslims believe. But going ahead, due to the Hadith in this topic and other narrations that tell about his arrival to the world again, ULAMA have generally taken this to mean that he would descend from heavens and would kill the imposter DAJJAL who would be demonstrating feats by some worldly means that would seem like amazing feats that Jesus Christ used to present by the permission of Allah when he was here in the world; so Muslims await the descent of ISA (Salaam on him), to challenge the imposter and end up the mess he would create, in the following of ULAMA generally. I, MSD, regret to write (as I respect ULAMA) that the arrival of Jesus (AS) for the second time at this world does not seem possible to me as that is against the natural laws of life on which Allah has established this world and the Universe; the Prophet (PBUH) would not have meant it literally except by some other meaning. The Holy Book Quran and the authentic Ahadith clarify that the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH was the Last Messenger as we have studied; no Messenger is coming after him in any status whatsoever. I am fully aware that Allah showed His Authority at times directly to clarify that these laws do not bind Allah’s Power yet those incidents happened instantly and left an option (though in actual unworthy of consideration) to crude minds of the unfaithful to take them in some physical way. This difference is big certainly as it shows that Allah does not intend disclosing the Truth explicitly that He has put in GHAYB (the unseen) as that would render the examination at the worldly life inadequate. Although there are many verses to bring the point home yet I would point out just for the sake of reasoning the verses 118, 119 at Surah BAQARAH and also its verse 210 telling clearly that Allah and angels would come at fore only at the time of judgment. Very few of ULAMA have indicated this that there is no option for the descent of ISA to earth (and they were recognized as out of ULAMA once they presented their deviating viewpoint in this issue) but they have not degraded the Hadith in any manner. However those that are not among ULAMA, have tried to reason even adversely against the Ahadith that present his arrival again to the world. Note that we Muslims have to respect all authentic Ahadith most highly as the SUNNAH that we come to understand by them, is the source of getting to Islamic Commands; please note that generally, ULAMA of the past and of the present strictly adhere to this notion in the literal sense so whoever does believe in the coming again of ISA as Muslims generally do, he has taken up well established notion and has not believed anything against Islam. With that, note also that I do not take the dissenting viewpoint in this issue as against the Islamic teachings, if that is based on reasoning by Islam, as it is not among the Basics of Islam. The last RUKU of Surah MAE’DAH is important to note here that by the serial number, is the fifth Suran yet by descent, it is among the very last ones if not the last one itself; it narrates that Allah would address Jesus at AKHIRAT when he would ask him if he had asked people to any wrong (worship of his own-self and his mother). The verses tell us that he would deny this in clear terms and say that surely Allah would know if he had done such wrongful act; the point to note here is that he would not put this argument in favor of his own self at such crucial moment of time that when he was with them the second time, he did ask them to refrain from their wrong belief. This total omission of a so-called incident clarifies well that there is never going to be such an incident here. I, MSD, would comment on Ahaith about the descent of ISA at the note ahead at Topic-62, insha Allah.
TOPIC 55-About the dajjal
(2241)-Sayyidina Abu Ubaydah ibn Jarrah (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “There has not been a Prophet (PBUH) after Nuh who has not warned his people of dajjal. And I warn you of him.” And he described him for them, saying, “Perhaps of those who see me or hear my words, some might encounter him.” They submitted, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), how will (the condition of) our hearts be on that day?” He said, “Like this (as today) or better” [Ahmed 1693].
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TOPIC 56-About description of the dajjal
(2242)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that once, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) stood among the people and glorified Allah as He is worthy of it. Then he mentioned the dajjal, saying, “Indeed, I do warn you of him, and there has not been a Prophet (PBUH) who has not warned his people (of him). And indeed, Nuh warned his people, but I will speak a word on it which no Prophet (PBUH) has spoken to his people. You know that he is blind in one eye while your Lord is not one-eyed.” Zuhri said that Umar ibn Thabit Ansari informed him on the authority of some Sahabah that the Prophet (PBUH) warned the people that day of the mischief of dajjal and said, “You know that none of you will ever see his Lord till he dies. And written between dajjal’s eyes is KAFIR (infidel). Those who will detest his conduct will (be able to) read it.” [Bukhari 1304]
(2243)-Sayyidina lbn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said that the Jews will fight you and the Muslims will gain control over them so much so that a stone will disclose, ‘O Muslim! This is a Jew behind me, so kill him.’ [Bukhari 2925, Muslim 2921]
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TOPIC 57-Where from will the dajjal emerge
(2244)-Sayyidina Abu Bakr reported from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) “The dajjal will emerge from a land of the east called Khurasan. There will he people with him, their faces flat like shields.’ [Ibn Majah 4072]
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Ahadith telling us about DAJJAL (the Imposter and he is called the Antichrist in the West) clearly denote that this would be some specific man from Jews who would rise to power near QAYAMAT; in spite of his ugly face that would match his ugly character, he would attract people to him and many women would particularly find some attraction towards this filthy character. The mention of KHURASAN here is to point-out that he would gain prominence due to the support of the people that have come from somewhere near to that place; this is reference to YAJUJ-MAJUJ as their ancestors belonged to that area at the utmost North of KHURASAN and they had flat faces like shields; they would assist DAJJAL to rise in the world-politics in all ways possible. He would be blind in one eye that would be ugly in looks and even the other one, by which he would be able to see, would be horrible. Ahadith sometimes point out the evil system of life too that he would present while mentioning him. As the Prophet Muhammad PBUH (the last Messenger of Allah), has informed clearly at different occasions that though the Hour (QAYAMAT) is near (as he is the first sign for it) yet he does not know the exact time of it; he would only indicate its signs. This information opens the option for interpretation of few Ahadith at this matter though the interpreters must necessarily be those who are well-versed in the basics of Islam and their interpretation must strictly be for one or two signs of the Hour only as the Prophet PBUH had specified his slight reservation on this issue only. We know that he thought IBNE SAYYAAD, a Jew child at his times, might be that one-eyed DAJJAL yet the child became a Muslim afterwards so it was an IJTEHADI mistake (that does not adversely affect the liabilities of the Prophethood). Note that the translation of the Holy Book Quran is never taken to be the Quran itself while a good translation of Ahadith might be termed as Ahadith if that is done with care. The notable point is that the DAJJALI system of life would ask attention to caring about the laws by which Allah has created everything as the Natural Laws but it would strictly avoid the mention of Allah, the True Creator; it would ask attention to caring about worldly life only but it would strictly avoid the mention of AKHIRAT; it would ask the attention to caring about the physical health only but it would strictly avoid the mention of the spiritual health. This is DAJJALI-FITNAH (trial from DAJJAL) and the stage is totally set today for such a filthy person to rise. This imposter would show by the scientific advancement in medicine & surgery not necessarily by doing them personally, that a man near to death without any hope of life would come to life even with his heart out of his body and a man afflicted with leprosy (and with other deadly infectious diseases) would heal fittingly; even the barren land would provide the amazing amount of harvest by modern methods. He would put this advancement in the science and technology at fore as challenge to Allah; with this, he would misguide all that the belief in Allah and the coming true life is obsolete. But these things have an obvious source behind them while Jesus Christ showed his amazing feats as Miracles performed by the permission of Allah. This difference between Miracles and scientific achievements without care for morality would be clear to every good Muslim as the characters of those who go by DAJJAL’s way, would tell clearly that all these people are far away from the good morals. This DAJJALI system is at the front for all persons to see as of now though it is yet to be seen how this filthy person DAJJAL rises as of now. The stone calling out to indicate a Jew in shelter might mean that even those who protect Jews would back-out of providing such protection but it might even have the literal meaning though it would be an isolated incident then.
TOPIC 58-Signs of the dajjal’s coming
(2245)-Sayyidina Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘The mighty bloodshed, the conquest of Constantinople and the emergence of the dajjal will take place within seven years.” [Abu Dawud 4295, Ibn Majah 4092]
(2246)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that the conquest of Constantinople will be the forerunner of the last Hour. [Ahmed 17646, Muslim 2937, Abu Dawud 4321, Ibn Majah 4075]
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Ahadith in the Topic seem to indicate that Constantinople (QUSTUNTUNIA as it is called in Urdu or ISTANBUL nowadays) would come to Islamic Trends near QAYAMAT with peaceful means (as reported in other Ahadith on this topic). It is already in the Muslim Rule as Turkey is the land of Muslims. The respect that Turkey has shown to Islamic Values in recent years after their suppression for many years there is certainly praiseworthy and insha Allah this respect would increase with time. As for the mighty bloodshed it is the deadly war, the warning of which is given to Jews, Christians and Muslims. But keeping in view the guidance at Surah KAHF, this war would not take place if peoples of the world come to the belief that only Allah has true authority over all things, otherwise it would certainly occur; that would be heavy blow not only to human beings but even to Humanity.
TOPIC 59-Dajjal and Yajuj Majuj
(2247)-Sayyidina Nawwas narrated, “Allah's Messenger (PBUH) mentioned Dajjal one day. He exposed his baseness and emphasized his mischief till we thought he was behind the palm trees. We then dispersed from Allah's Messenger (PBUH) only to return shortly. He recognized our state of mind and said, 'How is it with you?' We said, 'O Messenger of Allah! You mentioned Dajjal and made it soft as well as emphatic so that we imagined he was behind some palms (they meant that they have understood he is sure to come)’. He said, “More fearful to me than the Dajjal (are some other things), for if he emerges while I am among you then I will contend with him on your behalf. And if he comes and I am not among you then let everyone of you contend with him on his behalf, and Allah is the One to protect them from the mischief of Dajjal. Dajjal will be a youth with curly hair and one eye. He will resemble Abd Uzza bin Qatan (a man of pre-Islamic era). So those of you who see him, should recite the initial verses of Surah al- Kahf. He will come out from what is between Syria and Iraq and with corrupt ones right and left. O slaves of Allah, be steadfast.' We said, 'O Merssenger of Allah, how long will he tarry on earth?' He said, 'Forty days, a day like a year, a day like a month, a day like a week and the rest of his days like your days.' We submitted, 'O Messenger of Allah, will a day's prayer suffice us in the day that would be like a year?' He said, 'No but make an estimate for it.' We submitted, 'O Messenger of Allah, what will be his speed of movement on earth?’ He said, “Like rain which is driven forward by the wind. He will come to a people and invite them but they will reject him and return him his words on his face. So, he will turn away from them and their properties will follow him and they will become bereft of everyting on their hands. He will then come upon another people whom he will invite and they will respond to him and confirm him, so he will command the sky to pour rain. It will pour rain. He will command the earth to grow and it will produce crops. Their pasturing animals will come to them with their humps high, their udders full of milk. He will come upon the waste land and command it to bring forth its treasures. So, they will come out of it and go after him like swarms of bees. He will then summon a young man his youth showing on him with fulness. He will strike him with the sword and cut him into two pieces, then he will summon him and he will come revived with a shining, laughing face. While he is like that, Eesa ibn Maryam will descend in the east of Damascus at the white minaret, donned in two Saffron coloured garments, his hands on the wings of two angels. If he lowers his head, it will drip and when he raises it, those drops will fall down like shining pearls (this is a description of his extreme radiance) and no one (who disbelieves) will feel his breath but will die. And, the limit of the reach of his breath will be his sight. He will then seek the dajjal and catch up with him at the gate of Ludd, and he will kill him. Then he will stay on earth as long as Allah wills. Allah will reveal to him, ‘Collect my slaves at Tur, for I have sent there such of My slaves whom no one can fight’. Allah will then send Yajuj and Majuj. They will come as Allah has said, ---And they sally forth from every mound (21, 96)--- The first of them will pass the lake Tibriyah (Tiberias) and drink all its contents. Then the last of them will pass and remark, ‘Indeed, there was once, in here water!’ They will travel till they end up at the mountain of Bayt al Maqdas (Jerusalem). They will recall, ‘We have killed all who were on earth. So, come let us kill those who are in heaven’. They will shoot their arrows into the sky and Allah will return to them their arrows reddened as with blood. (Meanwhile) Eesa ibn Maryam (AS) and his companions will surround them and the head of an ox will seem better to each of them than a hundred dinars are to one of you today. So, Eesa ibn Maryam will turn to Allah with his companions. So, Allah will send down upon them insects on their necks, and by morning all of them would have perished as though they were one person. Eesa and his companions would descend but not find space of even a span without being filled with their fat, odour and blood. So, Eesa and his companions would again turn to Allah Who will send birds on them. Their necks will be like camels necks and they will carry the corpses away to mahbul. Thereafter, Muslims will kindle fire with their arrows, bows and quivers for seven years. Allah will send down on them rain which no mudhouse or tent will keep out but the earth will be washed and it will shine like glass. Then the earth will be commanded to grow its fruit and other produce and bring back its blessings. A whole group will eat from the pomegrenate and they will shelter themselves under its peel. There will be tremendous blessing in milk so that a whole group of men will be satiated with the milk of one she-camel, a whole tribe with the milk of a cow and a whole family with the milk of a shegoat. While they are thus living, Allah will send a wind that will take away the soul of every believer, but there will remain the evil people who will have sexual intercourse on the roads just as asses have. The Hour will come upon them.”
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TOPIC 60-About the dajjal’s description
(2248)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about the dajjal. He said, “Know that your Lord is not one eyed; know that the dajjal is blind in the right eye as though it were a swollen grape.” [Muslim 169]
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Surah KAHAF is medicine to DAJJALI FITNAH (trials from DAJJAL) as it guides attention towards the true authority of Allah; towards the futility of the worldly life and the worthiness of AKHIRAT; towards baseness of caring totally about physical health and asks to keep spiritual purity by good words that praise Allah, the True Lord. The Hadith at topic-59 again clarifies that the Prophet (PBUH) did not know the exact time for coming of DAJJAL as the Prophet (PBUH) said that if he comes in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH), the Prophet would fight him then & there (this also clarifies that it is not necessary that Jesus Christ-AS slay DAJJAL). However, it gives a description of DAJJAL and of the power he would have to trouble the good people yet these true adherents to Islam would not only challenge him but eliminate his impression totally insha Allah. The increase in length in days is difficult to interpret and ULAMA have taken it literally yet that does not much feasible; but, in the physical sense if the Sun is occulted for days and even more than a month by some reason (and that meaning is much possible here as the Hadith tells here to keep the calculation of days by speculation at such occasion for prayers) or in the psychological sense if the trouble seems to make the days very long, the words in Ahadith are clear then; the former meaning seems better. The cutting of a man into two pieces is a clear indication of surgical processes and the fast movement of DAJJAL seems clearly to be so due to the fast modern means of conveyance that we find at the current world; by keeping all Ahadith related to the narration of the events near QAYAMAT, it seems totally clear that we are most certainly livng in this very time that is near QAYAMAT; see also the note at TOPIC-57.
TOPIC 61-DAJJAL cannot enter Madinah
(2249)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “DAJJAL will head for Madinah, but will find that the angels have surrounded it. So, plague and DAJJAL will not enter Madinah, Insha Allah.” [Bukhari 7134, Ahmed 12246]
(2250)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Faith came from Yaman while disbelief came from the direction of east. The shepherds posses stranquility and humility while the keepers of camels and horses are arrogant and ostentatious. When DAJJAL will reach the Uhud Mountain, on its other side, the angels will turn him about towards the direction of Syria. And, there he will perish.” [Bukhari 3499, Muslim 52]
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TOPIC 62-EESA ibn MARIUM (AS) will slay DAJJAL
(2251)-Sayyidina Mujamma ibn Jariyah Ansari (RA) reported having heard Allah’s Messenger say, “IBN MARYAM will kill DAJJAL at the gate of Ludd (Lod).” [Ahmed 15466]
(2252)-Qatadah reported having heard Sayyidina Anas (RA) narrate that Allah’s Messenger said, “There has not been a Prophet (PBUH) who has not warned his people of the one-eyed, the Liar. Know it that he will be one-eyed while your Lord is not one-eyed. It will be inscribed between his eyes KA-FA-RA (Kafir i.e. infidel). [Bukhari 7131, Muslim 2933]
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This topic clearly informs about the place where DAJJAL would be slayed and that is at the airport of LOD at Israel; the land of Syria (Israel included) is informed to be his place of death. As for the arrival of EESA ibn MARYAM for the second time (I, MSD, refrain deliberately from calling this matter as the Second Coming as this term clearly has a specific significance in the Christian Belief), I have already clarified at the TOPIC-54 that this is not possible by the Islamic reasoning; we have to keep some options in view here in our study. The first is that in this matter, we might consider the option that the Prophet (PBUH) has said this in the capacity of BASHAR (a man) and it is allowed to differ to him if he has said something in that capacity yet he has not mentioned that at this matter and we have no way to know this for certain now; this makes it a difficult option to take while at such times, Allah did provide for that mistake to come at fore so that people know clearly that the matter is not binding; it might ask consideration in the present situation with regards to the last RUKU of Surah MAE’DAH that descended in the very last of the Prophet’s worldly life on him. The second is that if there seems any margin to take the information in Ahadith about the second arrival of EESA (Salam on him) to the worldly life in other than literal sense then that is worthy of consideration; but seeing the words where the clear indication to Jesus Christ (Salam on him) is pointed out, this is not feasible. The third option is to take the Ahadith in literal sense and that is how ULAMA take it and generally Muslims also do in their following so this is a valid stance without any adversity to Islamic Teachings; I do not find this appropriate as I have written without challenging anyone with the Islamic reasoning for my stance too; this issue remained at theory before these current times yet it does need attention now to decide its worthiness in practice. The fourth option that ironically has never been considered is that the Prophet (PBUH) was pointing out that Jesus Christ (Salam on him) would be a sign of QAYAMAT not because of his second arrival to the world but in some other way; this is most feasible in my opinion and the term used i.e. “his NUZUL (Descent)” might be an indication that he would certainly become a major sign near QAYAMAT; actually the elimination of DAJJAL would remind all the people that would be living at that time, about the miracles of Jesus Christ (Salam on him), the great man and the Messenger of Allah. Ahadith tell that he would challenge DAJJAL face to face but this challenge might somehow trigger the good memories of the life of Jesus Christ; the interpretation of Ahadith in this way does ask to omit detail about wars that Jesus would take on him after his descent. The Holy Book Quran has two verses that are directly related to the fact that Jesus Christ (Salam on him) would be one of major signs for QAYAMAT in some way and those are in Surah NISA (the fourth Surah; see the note at H-2240) and Surah ZUKHRUF (the forty-third Surah). Surah ZUKHRUF mentions, “And most surely he (ISA) is knowledge of the hour, therefore have no doubt about it and follow me; this is the right path” (Surah ZUKHRUF-61). In both these verses, Allah tells us in the Holy Book Quran that Jesus Christ is the sign of QAYAMAT in some way; so the verses of the Holy Book Quran and Ahadith are very clear that Jesus Christ is certainly one of the major signs of QAYAMAT not because he is coming to the worldly life again but in some way (that only Allah knows better and we would only know it as it comes to pass). The better thing to do in this matter is to see how events shape out with tolerance to each others’ views as surely this time is crucial; the very last of major signs are sure to come at any time now, QAYAMAT being totally near for sure; and Allah knows better.
TOPIC 63-About Ibn Sayyaad
(2253)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (RA) narrated lbn Sayyaad performed Hajj or Umrah with me. (During the journey), people overtook us and the two of us were left behind (to ourselves). When I was alone with him, I sensed a fear. I was terrified because people used to say things about him. When I stopped (at a place), I said to him, “Put down your provision by this tree,” He spied some sheep so took a bowl to them and brought their milk saying to me, “Drink O Abu Sa’eed.” I disliked drinking anything from his hands because of what people said about him. So, I said to him, “This is a hot day and I do not like milk in the heat.” He said, “O Abu Sa’eed, I have resolved to take a rope and tie it to the tree and strangulate my neck because of what people say about me. You see that if my condition is concealed from others, it is not concealed from you. You know better than other people the hadith of Allah’s Messenger ‘O company of the Ansar, he (dajjal) is a disbeliever and I, the Messenger (PBUH; also) say that he is childless’, but I have left behind my son in Madinah. Did he not say that the (dajjal) cannot enter Makkah, but am I not one of the people of Madinah? And I am going to Makkah with you.” He did not cease to speak in this fashion till I thought that people might be lying about him. He then said, “O Abu Sa’eed! Indeed, I will inform you of news, true news. By Allah, I know him and I know his father and where he is on earth now.” So, I said, “May evil befall you all day!” [Muslim 2927]
(2254)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger met Ibn Sayyaad on some roads of Madinah. He stopped him. Ibn Sayyaad was a Jew child who had long hair plaited on the head. Sayyidina Abu Bakr (RA) and Umar (RA) were with the Prophet (PBUH) who said to him, “Testify that I am Allah’s Messenger.” He said, “Do you testify that I am Allah’s Messenger?” So, he said, ‘I believe in Allah, His Books, His Messenger and the Last Day.’ Then the Prophet (PBUH) asked him, “What do you see?” He said, “I see a throne above water.” The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “You see the throne of Iblis above the ocean.” He again asked him what he saw and Ibn Sayyad said, “I see one true and two false, or two true and one false.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “This has become confusion for him.” And then he left him alone. [Bukhari 3055, Muslim 2925]
(2255)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah reported that for thirty years the dajjal’s parents will have no children. Then a child will be born to them with one eye. He will be more harmful than beneficial. His eyes will sleep, but his heart will not sleep. Allah’s Messenger then described to them the dajjals parents, saying, “His father would be tall and lean with a nose pointed like a hen’s beak. His mother will be a large woman with long arms.” Abu Bakrah said that he heard of the birth of a Jew child, so he and Zubayr ibn Awwam (RA) went to see him. They found his parents as described by Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). They said, “We waited for a child for thirty years. Then, a child blind in one eye was born to us, more harmful than of benefit. His eyes sleep, but not his heart.” Then they went out from them. Their sight fell on the child lying in a thick sheet of cloth in the sun. He was murmuring something. He asked them, “What did you say?” We asked, “Did you hear us?” He said, “Yes, My eyes sleep but my heart keeps awake.” [Ahmed 20440]
(2256)-Sayyidina lbn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger and some of his Sahabah, Umar (RA) among them, passed by Ibn Sayyaad. He was playing with some children near the fort of Banu Maghalah. He was a child and did not perceive that the Prophet (PBUH) come until he touched him on his back with his hand and said, “Do you bear witness that I am Allah’s Messenger?” Ibn Sayyaad looked at him and said, ‘I bear witness that you are the Messenger for the unlettered.” Then he said to the Prophet (PBUH), “Do you bear witness that I am Allah’s Messenger?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “I believe in Allah and His Messenger.” He then asked, “What do you get (of news)?” Ibn Sayyad said, “I get true and false (information).” So the Prophet (PBUH) said, “It is confused over you.” He then said, “I think of something for you, (tell about it)” and he thought for him the verse ---When the heaven shall bring a manifest smoke (44, 10). So, Ibn Sayyad said, “It is smoke.” Allah’s Messenger said, “Off you go! You cannot go beyond that.” Umar (RA) said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Allow me to strike off his neck’. But, Allah’s Messenger said, “If he is that, you will have no power over him. But if he is not then there is no good in killing him.” Abdur Razzaq clarified that here “that” meant dajjal. [Ahmed 6368]
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Ahadith at this topic clarify that the Prophet (PBUH) thought IBN SAYYAAD, a child born to Jews at Madinah, as the same person that many prophets had warned against i.e. the one-eyed DAJJAL. However, he clarified that he was not sure about this by saying ‘if he is that, you will have no power over him’ (see the last of Hadith 2256) yet there were SAHABA who took this boy to be DAJJAL even long after the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH). IBN SAYYAAD died in Madinah an uneventful death before his old age and as such he was not the one-eyed DAJJAL that is still awaited. Amazingly, this child was one-eyed and did have some adverse spiritual power as he told the Prophet (PBUH) when the Prophet met him as he grew up that the Prophet had thought something about smoke and the Prophet had really thought about it i.e. the verse 10 about “Smoke” in the Surah by the same name “the Smoke” that is the forty-fourth Surah of the Holy Book Quran. Most probably he was affected by the mental condition that is named as Schizophrenia in the modern terminology in which the affected person even hears voices as if inside his mind and sometimes, even hallucinates. This incident of meeting of the Prophet (PBUH) with this boy is interesting in this respect that the Prophet (PBUH) clarified that whatever adverse spiritual power he had, led him just to confusion. This remark tells explicitly that the WAHI (Guidance from Allah) never puts any Prophet in any confusion who receives it and in fact it clarifies matters; as such WAHI is righteousness in comparison to the schizophrenic mania that is only confusion that sometimes provides the right guidance but mostly satanic messages as the boy readily accepted; he had the experience that he gets both the true and the false information; he also saw satanic throne on the waters as the Prophet (PBUH) clarified.
TOPIC 64-No Caption
(2257)-Sayyidina Jabir (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There is not on earth a soul living today and having gone through a hundred years.” [Muslim 2538]
(2258)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger led us in the Salah of ISHA towards the end of his life. When he had finished, he stood up and said, “Do you see this night of yours? After a hundred years from it, there will not remain anyone of those on the face of the earth today.” Ibn Umar (RA) said that the people misinterpreted Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) words about not remaining for a hundred years though he only said, “There will not remain anyone of those today on the face of the earth after a qarn” (which is a hundred years or a generation). [Bukhari 116, Muslim 2537, Abu Dawud 4348]
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TOPIC 65-It is disallowed to revile the wind
(2259)-Sayyidina Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Do not revile the wind. When you experience that which you dislike then say, 'O Allah, we ask you for the good of this wind and the good of what is in it and the good with which it is commanded. And we seek refuge in You from the evil of this wind and the evil of what it is commanded'.” [Muslim 942]
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Ahadith in the topic-64 are not related to QAYAMAT as the Prophet (PBUH) had mentioned that he did not know its timing. The narrations here point out that those living now even if they are children (exceptions aside), would have departed from the world in just hundred years and for such a short period of life, how much the people do. It guides to remember death and remain attentive towards Allah as that only is the aim of life and no other. H-2259 points out that though it is allowed to say something adverse about a person through whom trials come yet Muslims must not abuse those things that are commanded directly by Allah to put some trial; that would be saying something adverse about Allah and that is disallowed.
TOPIC 66-No caption
(2260)-Sayyidah Fatimah bint Qays (RA) narrated that once the Prophet (PBUH) went up the pulpit and laughed; (a high smile rather); and said that Tamim Dari had related to me an account which pleased me and I love to recount it to you. Some people of Palestine boarded a ship and sailed in the ocean. The waves menaced it till they took them to an island of the several in the ocean. There they encountered a beast with so much hair on it (that it covered all its body). They said, “What are you?” It said, “I am JASSASAH.” They said, “Tell us something.” It said, “I will neither tell you anything nor ask you about anything. But, approach the farthest village. There, someone will inform you and ask you.” So, they went to the edge of the village and found a man fettered by a chain. He asked them, “Tell me about the spring of Zughar.” They told him that it was full with water bubbling out. He asked them about Buhairah and they told him that it was also full with water bubbling out. He asked them about the palm trees of Baisan that is between Jordan and Palestine if it is fruit-bearing. They said, “Yes.” He asked whether the Prophet (PBUH) was sent and they affirmed that he was. He asked, “How do the people respond to him?” They said, “With speed.” He jerked himself with great force till he almost freed himself. They asked, “Who are you?” He said, “I am DAJJAL.” And he will go to all cities except Taybah that is Madinah. [Muslim 2942]
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This narration tells about a group of people from Palestine who were on voyage on a ship that was accidentally led to the place where there were many islands; seems a place in the Atlantic Ocean that might be near the weird triangle though that indeed is far away from Palestine. There they met two men; first was like some hairy beast because his hair covered all his body and he was named JASSASAH (that means a female spy); this wild man did not converse to them much giving them indication to find another wild man at the other corner of the place with whom they could converse better. Now that indicated man was chained though the narration does not clarify by whom, why and since when yet he posed some questions that were addressed to confirm if the water-sources of Syria (Jordan & Palestine included) are bringing forth good water for drinking & cultivation and the lands there were bringing forth good harvest & fruits to eat. Getting answers in affirmative, he directly asked if the Prophet has come. It seems that the abundance of good food and water at Syria was a sign to him for the arrival of the Prophet (PBUH). As for his being DAJJAL, it is clear that he was not that one-eyed one that is still awaited as now centuries have passed to this incident. However, he was one of the 30 other DAJJALS than the one-eyed evil character that have risen at different times and at different places, who might have been waiting to challenge the Prophet (PBUH) at his advent; again it is clear by the study of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Messenger of Allah, that he never got the chance to fulfill his evil desire. The Prophet (PBUH) did take him to be DAJJAL of lesser level and so he narrated the event at the pulpit.
TOPIC 67-No Caption
(2261)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “It does not behove a Muslim to humiliate himself.” Someone asked, “How can one humiliate himself?” He said, “He involves himself in a difficulty out of which he cannot extract himself.” [Ibn Majah 4016]
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TOPIC 68-A believer does not humiliate his own self
(2262)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed.” Someone asked, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) I do help the oppressed. But how can I help the oppressor?” He said, “Prevent him from being oppressive. That is your help to him.” [Bukhari 2443]
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Both the Ahadith clearly ask Muslims to help each other in times of need and they also ask Muslims not to put themselves in such a position on purpose where they need help, specially where a person might become an oppressor or an oppressed. However, if such a situation does arise, Muslims must provide assistance to the oppressor (especially if he is one of close relatives) by stopping him from committing injustice and to the oppressed by standing by him in the times of need and helping him financially, morally and in all ways possible.
TOPIC 69-No Caption
(2263)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who stays in the desert is harsh; he who pursues game is neglectful; he who frequents the gates of the monarchs gets into trials.” [Abu Dawud 2859, Nasai 4320]
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The narration clarifies that a person must not remain out of touch with the current affairs in the ordinary business of life, as that makes for harshness in the personality. Note that to stay away from the worldly matters in the times of trial is not addressed here as we have studied (in Hadith 2184) that at such times, a person must not go by the trend but he would challenge this style to correct peoples’ attitudes or would keep away from all such people intentionally going away to some far-off place to at least save his own-self at these times. However, he must not become totally oblivious of the surroundings even then, and must remain somewhat aware of the current affairs around. Also, a person must not become obsessed with an activity related to animals especially hunting them, as obsession in that activity asks to neglect the respect of the honor of lives of people too with time; a person must not become near to such monarchs (and in today’s terminology such officials) who care but little about good morals as that would amount to negligence of his own honor so he should avoid their closeness strictly.
TOPIC 70-No Caption
(2264)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “You are those who will be helped, who will be bestowed wealth, and who will be granted victories. So, those of you who are among them must fear Allah, and enjoin piety and forbid evil. And he who ascribes lies to me must take his place in the fire.” [Ahmed 380]
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TOPIC 71-No Caption
(2265)-Sayyidina Hudhayfah (RA) reported that Sayyidina Umar (RA) asked, “Which of you remembers the sayings of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about fitnah?” So he, Hudhayfah, said, “I do.” He then narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The fitnah (trial) for a man rests in his family, wealth, children and neighbours (concerning rights attached to them which he might violate and become sinful). They are atoned by Salah, Saum, Sadaqah, enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil.” Umar (RA) said, “This is not what I asked. I asked about the trial and commotion that will rise like waves of the ocean.” He said, “O Amir-ul-Mumineen (Commander of the faithful), there is between you and it a closed door.” Umar asked, “Will it he opened or broken?” He said, “It will be broken.” So, he said, “In that case, it will not be closed till the Last Hour.” Abu Wail said in the hadith of Hammad that he said to Masruq, “Ask Hudhayfah, what is the door?” He said, “That is Umar himself.” [Bukhari 525, M 144]
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This narration reports both individual and collective trials of Muslims; the individual trial relates to all times at all places while the specific collective trial mentioned here relates to the period that would end with the demise of last of SAHABA. The individual trial takes place through the rights that a person would give to his near ones; and he would take care about the Commands of Allah for his assets too. However, UMAR (RA) being the Caliph was interested in the collective FITNAH and for that trial, HUDHAYFAH (RA) clarified that Umar need not worry as in his presence, those would not show up as he was like a closed door for that. He clarified that this door would be broken that indicated that Umar would be slayed; Umar confirmed and mentioned that afterwards that FITNAH would go on up-to a long time in the future; the FITNAH of political differences (that led also to differences in issues of religious nature with time) among Muslims did take place after he was killed yet UTHMAN (RA) did manage to slow down its pace to affect Muslims; with his murder too, that pace did accelerate. Although not mentioned, yet this information here about both individual and collective trials was told by the Prophet (PBUH) as other Ahadith clarify; both HUDHAYFAH and UMAR knew about this well.
TOPIC 72-No Caption
(2266)-Sayyidina Ka’b ibn Ujrah narrated Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to us and we were nine people made up of five and four either of the two numbers representing Arabs and non-Arabs. He said, “Hear it! Have you heard that there will be rulers after me? If anyone goes to them and despite their falsehood vouches for their truth and despite their tyranny helps them over their oppression then he is not mine and I am not his and he will not make it to my pond. And as for him, who does not go to them and does not aid them in their oppression and does not vouch their lies to be true, he is mine and I belong to him and he will come to me at the pond.” [Nasai 4219]
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TOPIC 73-No Caption
(2267)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A time will come on the people when the patient among them on his religion (meaning the one fulfilling Islamic obligations) will be like one who holds burning coal.”
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How plainly these words at H-2267 tell about the present era, the times of extreme FITNAH. Note that Islamic Commands are related to all fields of life and it is an integrated system of life though not totalitarian; at the Islamic Environment, the electronic media must indicate any high wrongful activity that has been commited, faster than immediately for its elimination at the private level without being unjust on its part or without being promoter to vulgar filthy views; this service of the electronic media to the people is commendable when it is aware of its responsibility fittingly; tolerance to different views when they all are at least at the status of MUBAH, must prevail at the Islamic Environment. Note that Islam does not favor Secularism in any way as it claims to be the complete system of life that has its own way to deal the political, the economic, the judicial and all of the social aspect of the human-life; it also does not appreciate the thought that the Man is but an animal as that challenges his true good self inside (FITHRAT); all its integrated practice remains always in accordance with this inner voice of the human beings; that is why it is not totalitarian as it satiates the inner self of the Man. The delicate difference of Islam to the totalitarianism is not easy for such person that is not well-acquainted with Islamic Teachings, to detect and as such, only the manifestation of it in practice would clarify that difference. It is becoming difficult day by day to live by Islamic Commands as there is not much care about the implementation of these commands collectively at the level of the Government (even where Muslims are at the majority) specially those that ask for justice; many ordinary persons have to show ignorance on purpose at the violation of these commands at times due to lack of authority to correct the situation even though they understand that this violation is highly immoral. I, MSD, pray that may Allah give rise in authority to such good persons that might change the world for the better by their true care about humanity.
TOPIC 74-No Caption
(2268)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “When men of my ummah walk with conceit and children of kings serve them, the kings of Persia and Rome, then worse of them will rule over the best of them.”
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TOPIC 75-No Caption
(2269)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah (RA) narrated that Allah protected me with something that I heard from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) when Chosroe was ruined. He asked, “Who has succeeded him?” They said, ‘His daughter’. So, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “People will not prosper when their affairs are dictated by a woman.” Sayyidina Abu Bakrah said, “When Aisha (RA) came to Busrah, I remembered the saying of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and thus Allah saved me with this.” [Bukhari 4425]
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Due to the command of HEJAB, women are disallowed to come at authority; though a woman would have limited authority even to the working as a member of the parliament but that would not manifest by high profile or high activity. Due to neglect of this command, Muslims have suffered a lot and have gone through much trying times. The only thing that would better the situation is total adherence to Islamic Commands insha Allah as is becoming clear day by day; Al-Hamdu Lillah. Note for this narration (2269) that Ayesha (RA) had challenged the authority of Ali (RA) on the grounds that he was not arresting the killers of UTHMAN (RA) that he must do without seeing to any other matter; ALI (RA) asked to have patience so that he might consolidate his authority among Muslims to reasonable extent; he would see to that need then; the battle of JAML that resulted by this difference is one of the most sad incidents of that time. ABU-BAKRAH (RA) did well to keep totally afar of this challenge of AYESHA (RA) to ALI (RA) according to the guidance of this Hadith and thus he saved himself from the bad effect of that FITNAH.
TOPIC 76-No Caption
(2270)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) stood by certain people who were seated. He said, “Shall I inform you of the best of you and the worst of you?” They observed silence. So he repeated his words three times, and a man said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah; inform us of the best of us and the worst of us.” He said, “The best of you is he from whom his good is expected and from his evil, protection is expected. And the worst of you is he from whom his good is not expected and from his evil, no protection is expected.” [Ahmed 3808]
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TOPIC 77-No Caption
(2271)-Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Shall I not inform you of the best of your rulers and the worst of them? The best of them are they whom you love and they love you and you pray for them and they pray for you. And the worst of them are they whom you despise and they despise you and you curse them and they curse you.”
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TOPIC 78-No Caption
(2272)-Umm Salamah (or Abu Salamah) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “There will come over you rulers whom you like and whom you dislike. So, he who dislikes their evil will be absolved, and he who hates them will be safe, but he who is pleased and obeys (will be destroyed).” So, it was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah (PBUH); shall we not fight them?’ He said, “No, as long as they offer Salah.” [Muslim 1854]
(2273)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) has said that when your rulers are the best of you and your rich the most generous of you and your affairs are decided on mutual consultation among you then the surface of earth is better for you than its belly. But, when your rulers are the worst of you and your rich are the most niggardly of you and your affairs are in the hands of your women then the belly of the earth is better for you than its surface.
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Ahadith at Topics 76, 77 and 78 tell us that injustice to fellow-beings is higly blameworthy. It is necessary for the ruler at authority to be totally committed to the welfare of his people and try to care about the comfort of the needy even at the expense of the luxuries of the privileged. He must not be given to pleasures of the worldly life but he must care; and guide towards care; for AKHIRAT as much as possible. The Prophet (PBUH) prohibited revolt against the unjust rulers when they care about SALAH even superficially as that might lead them to ask Allah for pardon and if that does not happen, at least there is high probability of good people coming to authority after them as the Islamic Principles remain unchallenged due to the fear of the good people that these wrong ones have, if they touch them adversely. Rebellion to them, might claim many of lives at both sides that might cause havoc hard to compensate for many years to come; tell the Truth as it is and hope for the best is the straight attitude to take in these times of FITNAH. The last Hadith clarifies that living the life when rulers are good Muslims, is the best of living while at the time when rulers are totally neglectful of their obligations about the care of the people (about the foods they need & about the true guidance), life is not worth living; this means that the people should try to change the situation collectively with peaceful means without getting deterred by any setback that they encounter in the process.
TOPIC 79-No Caption
(2274)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘You are in an era when if one of you neglects even one-tenth of what he is commanded, he will perish. But, a time will come when if anyone does only one-tenth of what he is commanded, he will be safe.’
(2275)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger stood on the pulpit and said, “Here is the land of mischief and trials” and he pointed to the east, “from where rises the horn of the devil.” Or he said, “The horn of the sun.” [Ahmed 5109, Bukhari 3279, Muslim 6648]
(2276)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There will emerge from Khurasan black flags. No one will be able to check them till they are posted at Eeliya.” (That is Baytal Maqdas).
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It was expected from SAHABA that they would fulfill not only all necessary commands of Islam but also those commands that are by designation, SUNNAT-GHAIR MUKKADAH or among the MUSTAHIBAAT; they would avoid all that is HARAAM and all that is MAKRUH TEHRIMI. However, after them, if a Muslim person fulfils the necessary Islamic commands only and avoids all HARAAM and all that is MAKRUH TAHRIMI, he certainly is worthy Muslim. The land of trials according to the indication of the Prophet (PBUH) is in the East from Madinah though it is better not to be specific on this. Note that KHURASAN is the area at upper Pakistan & Afghanistan; there live those Muslims who are called PATHAN; they are warriors by nature and prefer the life of the martial character; if once aroused to fight by anyone who challenges them hotly without much reason, they might go to heights in fighting a deadly war for years onwards remembering to avenge their relatives that fall at the field during the combat; they do have the gut to protect the places that Islam values once they set their-selves to it; Al-Hamdu Lillah. At the last here, I would point out that if peoples of the world do not tolerate each other with respect, the world would surely go towards an amazingly deadly war as is written. We might stop it even now with the power of tolerance in true sense as we certainly are human-beings, not wild animals. The ancient books tell about this great deadly war and even Ahadith point out that this would take place at the site of Syria; that includes Jordan, Palestine and other adjacent areas (see Ahadith at topic 58 & 59 of this booklet of FITAN); it surely is MUALLAQ and we should try to develop at-least that minimum sense of Humanity that could stop this MUALLAQ to become MUBRAM; it would be done collectively by all peoples of the world. We might still turn this situation to the favor of Humanity but the only hope for that is SURAH-KAHAF that tells us in the very beginning that if all do recognize the authority of Allah, all problems of Human Beings would vanish certainly. Ahadith have indicated that whoever reads (that means understands, believes and practices) the initial verses of Surah KAHAF, he would save himself from the FITNAH of DAJJAL (see Topic-59 of this Booklet); please read my comments on Surah KAHAF that is available at the net.
37- BOOK ON DREAMS & VISION (10 topics)
TOPIC 1-Believer’s dream is the 46th portion of Prophethood
(2277)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “As the time draws near, the dream of a believer will not be false and the truest dream will be of one who is truest in speech. And, the dream of the Muslim is a portion of the forty-six portions of Prophet-Hood. And dreams are of three kinds, good dreams are glad tidings from Allah, bad dreams are from the devil and there are dreams about what man experiences with him-self. So, when one of you sees a dream that he does not like then he must stand up and spit (out to a side) and he must not mention it to the people.” He also said, “I love to see a chain in my dream because the noblest fetters are to be steadfast in religion and I hate the fetters in the neck.” [Bukhari 7017, Muslim 2263]
(2278)-Sayyidina Ubadah ibn Samit (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A believer’s dream is a portion of the forty-six portion of Prophet-Hood.” [Bukhari 6983, Muslim 2264]
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From here, we have the booklet containing narrations about Dreams. Although much commendable work has been done in the West on the interpretation of Dreams yet Muslims have always been a notch ahead as ULAMA always gave their special attention to this topic. Muhammad IBN-SIRIN, who was one of the sound narrators in Ahadith (and here in JAME’ TIRMIDHI too, he participates in many chains of narrations), was adept in interpretation of Dreams and his Arabic book “the meanings of Dreams” is still the masterpiece on the subject. Please note that Muslims had always been very good at different aspects of Medicine, Astronomy and Spiritual Study (the matter of Psychology nowadays) but that was uptil some two & half centuries ago from now (2011). According to the standard of those days, Muslims used to dominate the sphere of Knowledge when the challenge of Western Imperialism brought a halt to their progress in the achievement of knowledge that was already at decline. We Muslims are still much better to provide the limits that good morals do impose at these three matters but as there seems no interest in the recognition of such limits, so we mostly do refrain from their mention. It is surprising that the West does not recognize the merit of Muslims’ works though only by the knowledge gained through the Muslim Spain initially, the West was able to come to the era of Renaissance around 500 years ago. However, this statement is not to get any attention towards our worth for it is no problem to us if the West does not intend to recognize that; I present it just as a fact that history does record well. As true dreams might tell something about the near future to the dreamer by the will of Allah, so Ahadith mention them as the 46th part of the Prophethood; in actual, the Prophethood is not divisible so this does not mean in any way that it is partially some kind of prophethood. The chains at the feet mean that the person would be steadfast on the Islamic way of life he believes in to get JANNAH (Paradise) and fetters at the neck mean that he has picked up the load of sins going towards JAHANNUM (Hell).
TOPIC 2-Prophet Hood is over but glad tidings continue
(2279)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Indeed, the arrival of Messengers and Prophets have ceased. So, there is no Messenger after me and no Prophet.” That seemed hard on the people so he added, “But the MUBASHIRAAT (glad tidings) remain.” Sahabah said, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH); what are the Mubashiraat (glad tidings)?” He said, “Dreams of a Muslim and they are a portion of the portions of Prophet-Hood.” [Ahmed 13825]
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TOPIC 3-For them are glad tidings in this life
(2280)-Ata ibn Yasar narrated that a man from Egypt asked Sayyidina Abu Darda (RA) about those words of Allah the Majestic, the Glorious,---For them are glad tidings in the life of this world (10, 64)--- He said, “No one besides you and one other man has asked me to explain this verse since I had asked Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about it. When I had asked him, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) also disclosed that no one has asked him besides me since the verse was revealed. It means good dreams that a Muslim sees or that are shown to him.” [Ahmed 22751]
(2281)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘The truest of dreams are those seen little before dawn’. [Ahmed 11650]
(2282)-Sayyidina Ubadah ibn Samit (RA) reported that he asked Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about Allah’s words, ---'For them are glad tidings in the life of this world' (10, 64). He said, “This is a good dream that a Muslim sees or is shown.” [Ahmed 22750]
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Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last Messenger of Allah and only dreams of a pious person would tell something in some limit about future now. The Holy Book Quran remarks in the 64th verse of Surah Younus the 10th Surah that “they (the friends of Allah) shall have good news in this world's life and in the hereafter; there is no changing the words of Allah; that is the mighty achievement.” The good news for the hereafter (AKHIRAT) is the achievement of JANNAH (Paradise) but even in this world, the friends of Allah are given glad tidings by dreams so that they understand that Allah is caring for them and keep steadfast on the Truth without any worry of any trouble that might come their way. The truest dreams are those that are seen just at FAJR near to the dawn and according to IBN SIREEN, if these are related to the future then they happen in the near future; the rule given is that the dream about the future would come at fore as soon as it is near to the dawn i.e the nearer the sooner.
TOPIC 4-No Caption
(2283)-Sayyidina Abdullah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who sees me in a dream has indeed seen me, for the devil does not take up my appearance.” [Ibn Majah 3900, Ahmed 3798]
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To see the Prophet (PBUH) in a dream means clearly that the dreamer has seen the Prophet (PBUH) certainly. However there is an exception if a righteous person sees the Prophet (PBUH) in a way he did not use to live; laughing a lot or in an unclean dress or abusing someone; then this means that though the dreamer might be a good person yet he is doing something against the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) on purpose due to some reason of his own; he must better his ways as soon as possible and he has not seen the Prophet (PBUH) but the adversity that he has committed towards himself, is shown to him in the dream.
TOPIC 5-On seeing that which a person dislikes
(2284)-Sayyidina Abu Qatadah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The RU’YA (good dream) is from Allah while the HULM (bad dream) is from the devil. Thus if one of you sees something that he dislikes then let him spit three times to his left and seek refuge in Allah from the evil of this dream. Then it will not harm him.” [Bukhari 3392 Muslim 2261]
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This is a wonderful way to clear all evil of the dream that if a persons sees a bad dream he should spit at the left side three times as he wakes up (he might just blow at the air three times turning the head to the left and that would suffice). To ask Allah for refuge means that he should read something from the Holy Book Quran with intention of seeking refuge; Surah FATIHA, the first Surah, and Surah FALAQ & Surah NAAS, the last two Surah, are recommendable at this occasion. The Holy Book Quran informs us that the good deeds wipe off the bad deeds; so all petty adversities finish-off as the Muslim person prays and seeks refuge in Allah’s mercy. He must not narrate the dream that seems bad, to anyone and if intends to sleep more, he must change his posture.
TOPIC 6-About interpreting dreams
(2285)-Sayyidina Abu Razin Uqayli (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, the dream of the believer is a part of the forty parts of Prophet Hood. It is at the feet of a bird as long as he does not speak about it. When be speaks about it, it settles.” The narrator thought that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Talk not about it except to an intelligent person or to a friend.” [Ahmed 16205]
(2286)-Sayyidina Abu Razin Uqayli (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “A Muslim’s dream is a part of the forty six parts of Prophet Hood. It is on the foot of a bird as long as he does not relate it. But when he relates it, it settles.”
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We have just studied that a part of Prophethood does not mean that it is actually any part of it but it expresses the fact that as a Prophet of Allah tells about the future by the will of Allah, so the dream of a truthful person also tells about it though at much lesser degree by the will of Allah. The dreamer must only narrate his dream that seems good to his well-wisher, knowledgable in interpretation of dreams, and not to all. When the dream is told and interpreted, it affects in some spiritual way so taking some care is necessary. IBN SIREEN was told about a man who had seen at the dream that he had a foot at one area and the other foot at some other; that dreamer told this dream to some person that was ignorant of interpreting dreams, who told him that this means a cruel death and then the dreamer died after some time. IBN SIREEN became sad at this and informed that this dream meant that this man would have had a good name far & wide if only he had lived; the foot of bird indicates that the dreamer must hold tight to the dream and not let the people know about it in general; he should tell it to the understanding well-wisher who might guide him well.
TOPIC 7-Interpreting a dream; what is liked and what is disliked
(2287)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Dreams are of three kinds, true dreams, dreams following a person’s personal experience and sad dreams which are from the devil. If anyone sees what he dislikes then he must stand up and offer Salah.” He also said, “I like to see a chain but I dislike being fettered in the neck. The chain is symbolic of steadfastness on religion.” He also said, “If anyone sees me then I am really seen and the devil cannot imitate me.” He also said, “Do not relate the dream save to a learned or to a well-wisher.” [Muslim 2266]
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This Hadith is summary to Ahadith we have just studied and it tells that SALAH would eliminate the bad effect of a negative dream. It is the way to seek refuge in Allah’s mercy and “The Good Deeds wipe off the Bad Deeds” (verse 114 of Surah HUD, the eleventh Surah), especially means that SALAH wipes off the petty bad deeds. This verse was related on the occasion when one among SAHABA had kissed and fondled an unrelated woman (though without the sexual act) and had notified the act himself to the Prophet (PBUH); he had asked his comment and his verdict against the deed committed (see Hadith 3123 for reference). Certainly, attention towards Allah eliminates all wrongs in a man; and even in a woman for that matter. All the adverse effect of a negative dream; in fact of all negative things; would totally fade away by seeking refuge in Allah’s mercy; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 8-About one who lies when narrating his dream
(2288)-It is reported on the authority of Sayyidina Ali (RA) and the narrator thought that he reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that if anyone lies while describing his dream, then he will be charged on the Day of Resurrection to tie a knot to a seed of barley.” [Ahmed 568]
(2289)-Qutaybah reported a similar hadith from Abu Awanah, from Abdul-Ala, from Abu Abdul Rahman Sulami, from the Prophet (PBUH).
(2290)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that he Prophet (PBUH) said, “If anyone tells a false dream then on the day of Resurrection, he would be asked to tie a knot between two seeds of barley and he will never be able to tie them together.” [Bukhari 7042]
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The narrations here tell how wrong it is to make a dream just by self and tell it for fun or for any other reason whatsoever. The punishment is severe as it is not possible to tie a knot between such small items like seeds of barley and they are inflexible too. The Hadith clearly indicates not to say lies in telling the dreams; if that lie denotes some adverse incident, it might even affect adversely in the worldly life; the avoidance of such wrong is most necessary.
TOPIC 9-Prophet's (PBUH) dream of milk and shirts
(2291)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “While I was asleep, a bowl of milk was brought to me. I drank from it andthen gave the rest of it to Umar ibn Khattab.” Sahabah (RA) asked, “What is your interpretation of it, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)?” He said, “Knowledge.” [Bukhari 82]
(2292)-Abu Umamah ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf reported from some Sahabah that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “While I was asleep, I saw people being presented to me. They had on them shirts some of whose went up to their chests, some others lower down (up to their navel or knees). Umar (RA) was presented to me and on him was a shirt trailing (on the ground).” They asked him, “How do you interpret it, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH).” He said “Religion.” [Bukhari 23 Muslim 2390]
(2293)-Abd ibn Humayd reported from Yaqub ibn Ibrahim ibn Sa’d, who from his father, who from Salih ibn Kaysan, from Zuhri, from Abu Umamah, from Abu Sa’eed Khudri from the Prophet (PBUH) a hadith of the same meaning.
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The Prophet (PBUH) was wonderful interpreter of dreams and he often used to hear dreams of SAHABA and tell them their meanings after the Prayers of FAJR. Milk, honey and clean pure water are items of the Paradise and as such they denote good attributes of the person when drunk or eaten pure; here the Milk that was left over from the Prophet (PBUH) denoted the true knowledge that had the good quality to guide the dreamer, and through him to guide others around, towards righteousness. A clean white (or green) dress seen in the dream, denotes efforts in Islamic tasks; its length showing the height achieved in them.
TOPIC 10-About the Prophet's (PBUH) vision of scale and bucket
(2294)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah reported that one day the Prophet (PBUH) asked, “Which of you has seen a dream?” A man said, “I saw as though a scale descended from the heaven. You and Abu Bakr were weighed and you outweighed Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr and Umar (RA) were weighed and Abu Bakr was heavier. Umar (RA) and Uthman were weighed and Umar (RA) outweighed. Then the scale was raised up.” They discerned grief on the face of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). [Abu Dawud 46341]
(2295)-Sayyidah Aisha (RA) narrated that someone asked Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about WARAQAH. So Khadijah told him, “He had confirmed you and he died before you declared (your mission).” So, Allah’s Messenger said, “He was shown to me in my dream. He had on him a white dress. If he were of the people of the fire then he would be wearing garments other than that.”
(2296)-Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) reported about the Prophet's (PBUH) dream of Abu Bakr (RA) and Umar (RA). He said, “I saw people gathered (at a well). Abu Bakr (RA) drew a bucket or two (from the well) and he had some weakness. Allah will forgive him. Then Umar (RA) stood up and pulled it and it had turned into a large bucket. I have not seen a strong man do as he did till the people were well replenished, and they went down to their resting places. [Bukhari 7020]
(2297)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) narrated a dream of the Prophet (PBUH). He said, “I saw a black woman with unkempt hair. She went out of Madinah till she stopped at Mahya’ah which is Juhfah. I interpret it as a pestilence will transfer to Juhfah.” [Bukhari 7038]
(2298)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “In the concluding era, the believer’s dream will not be false. The truest dream will be of one who is truest in speech. And dreams are of three kinds; the good dream is from Allah a good tiding, the dream of what man has experienced personally and the dream that grieves is from the devil. If one of you sees a dream that grieves him, let him not relate it to anyone and let him get up and offer Salah.” Abu Huraira (RA) also said, “The chain pleases me but the fetters in the neck are repulsive while the chain suggests steadfastness in religion.” He reported also that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “A believer’s dream is a portion of the forty-six portions of Prophet-Hood.” [Muslim 2263]
(2299)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I saw in my dream as though I had two golden bracelets in my hand. This worried me. Then it was revealed to me that I should blow on them. So, I did that and they both flew away. Then I interpreted that as two liars that will emerge after me, one of whom will be called Muslamah, the man of Yamamah and (the other) Ansa, the man of Sana.” [Bukhari 3621]
(2300)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas said that Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) used to narrate that a man came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said, “I saw (in my dream) last night a small cloud from which clarified butter and honey poured down. And I saw people take them in their hands and drink them, some drinking more and some less. And I saw a rope suspended from the heaven down to earth and I saw you, O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH). You grasped it and climbed up. Then a man, after you, grasped it and climbed up. Then another man held it, after him, and climbed up. Then a man held it but it snapped off. However, it was joined-up again and he climbed up.” Abu Bakr (RA) said, “O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) my parents be ransomed to you, in the name of Allah, do let me interpret it.” He said, “(Go ahead) interpret it.” So, he said, “As for the small cloud, it is the cloud of Islam. As for the dripping clarified butter and honey, it is the Qur’an’s softness and sweetness and drinking much and less are those who learn it much and less. As for the rope suspended from the heaven to earth, it is the Truth which you are on. You grasped it and climbed up to Allah. Then a man after you held it and climbed up. Then another man held it and climbed up. Then another held it but it snapped off and was rejoined, and he climbed up. O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), do tell me if I was correct or mistaken.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “You were right in part and mistaken in part.” He said, “I adjure you, O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) may my parents be ransomed to you do inform me where is it that I erred’. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Do not adjure me.” [Bukhari 7046, M 2269]
(2301)-Sayyidina Samurah ibn Jundub narrated that after the Prophet (PBUH) used to finish the Salah of FAJR with us, he would turn to face the congregation and ask, “Has anyone of you seen tonight a dream?” [Bukhari 845, M 2275, Ahmed 20115]
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Here at this topic, we find a number of Ahadith and the first and third both tell that after the Prophet (PBUH) Abu-Bakr (RA) would become the Caliph (but for a small period i.e. nearly two & a half) and then Umar (RA; for 10 years and a half) and in the era of Umar the administration would expand, many lands coming to the fold of Islam. The scale was the ability to decide everything by Islamic Justice and that was taken back at the time of Uthman (RA), the third Caliph, when he was killed unjustifiably in a mutiny. WARAQAH ibn NAUFAL was a practicing Christian and KHADIJAH (RA; the first wife of the Prophet PBUH) brought the Prophet to him when he received the first WAHI (message from Allah) at the cave of HIRA at Makkah; WARAQAH was Khadijah’s first cousin and the Prophet (PBUH) was extremely worried at that time. He heard the Prophet (PBUH) with patience and told him that an angel has come to you that is the same one who had brought WAHI to the Messengers of Allah before you. He even foretold that the Prophet’s nation would make him migrate away from Makkah and vouched that if he lives, he would help the Prophet (PBUH). WARAQAH died soon after this meeting and the Prophet clarified that he was among the good people on the basis of his dream as the white dress is the dress of JANNAH (Paradise). Note that the dreams of Messengers are always totally true and it is necessary to take them up into activity while dreams of others do not have this status; a person must omit action on basis of dreams if he so wills but with total attention towards Allah. The black woman with unkempt hair denote diseases that went away to Juhfah, a place far from Madinah, and the point to note is that Madinah used to be a place of many diseases before the HIJRAT of the Prophet (PBUH) and Muhajreen (RA; migrating SAHABA from Makkah); after their arrival all the diseases ended from there totally. Hadith 2299 tell about two liars that would show up after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) both claiming to be prophets of Allah. They were killed after the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH) and could not create the FITNAH they intended. The dream about the cloud was correctly interpreted by Abu-Bakr (RA) except for one thing that the rope was the position of authority (Caliphate) that had care about the commands of Allah with which the third Caliph, Uthman (RA), had some problem but he did manage though after him the rope was never as strong in impression as before. I pray that may Allah provide us all the wisdom that enables us to transform the environment in which we live in, to the Islamic Environment with care for all righteousness; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
38- BOOK ON WITNESSES (4 topics)
TOPIC 1-About testimony of the best witness
(2302)-Sayyidina Zayd ibn Kalid Juhanni (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Shall I not inform you of the best of witnesses? They offer testimony before they are asked.” [Ahmed 17044 Muslim 1719 Abu Dawud 3569 Ibn Majah 2364]
(2303)-Ahmad ibn Hasan reported from Abdullah ibn Maslamah who reported from Malik the same hadith.
(2304)-Sayyidina Zayd ibn Kalid Juhanni reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “The best of witnesses is he who gives testimony before being called upon to give it.” [Ahmed 17061]
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TOPIC 2-About one whose testimony is not valid
(2305)-Sayyidiah Aisha (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The testimony is not admissible of a deceitful man or woman, of one who has received punishment of flogging, the hadd, of an enemy who harbours hatred for his brother, of one who has been proved to have lied (officially), of a servant for his masters, or of one accused of slandering relationship.” [Ibn Majah 2366]
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These are narrations that are related to the presentation of testimonies and about witnesses. The valid testimony relates to the person, who is Muslim, adult, sane, just and who is neither under pressure nor a convict who had received official punishment in some severe crime; whether a cruelty or a shameful act. Also, he must not be harboring enemity towards the one against whom he is giving testimony and he also must not be sympathetic to the one. MALIK and SHAFA’I say that if a person is convicted of some crime but he repents and becomes a good person visibly, his testimony is valid if he fulfils other conditions. Ahadith at topic-45 in booklet of FITAN and at topic-4 ahead in this booklet of Witnesses seem to tell that it is not right to give testimony before call while the Ahadith at the first topic here seems to fall against this; but there is difference at both situations. If a person knows something that he must disclose to save someone from trouble but that troubled person does not know about it, it is better that he informs him about his knowledge so that he benefits from that knowledge and might save himself from troubles ahead. However, a person should not present himself for testimony at normal situations unless he is asked for it.
TOPIC 3-False Testimony
(2306)-Sayyidina Ayman ibn Khuraym reported that the Prophet (PBUH) stood up to deliver a sermon. He said, “O people! False testimony is made the same as ascribing partner to Allah. He recited, 'So shun the abomination of the idols, and shun the speaking of falsehood’.” (22, 30) [Ahmed 17615]
(2307)-Aiman ibn Khuraym narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) offered the Salah of FAJR. Thereafter, he stood up and said, “A false testimony is placed in the same bracket as ascribing a partner to Allah.” He said this three times and the recited the verse---'Shun the speaking of falsehood' (22, 30) --- to the end. [Abu Dawud 3599]
(2308)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Shall I not inform you of the greatest of the grave sins?” They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah, (PBUH).” He said, “To associate partner with Allah, to disobey (and displease) parents, and to give false testimony; to speak lies.” And he did not cease to say that till they said, “Would have been better if he had stopped.” [Bukhari 6273]
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TOPIC 4-No caption
(2309)-Sayyidina Imran ibn Husayn reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “The best of people are my generation, then those that succeed them, then those who will succeed them then those who will succeed them (he said it three times). Then a people will come after them who will like elderliness and love it. They will offer testimony before being asked for it.” [Ahmed 19841]
(2310)-This is stated too in the hadith narrated by Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab, “My times are the best of all. Then falsehood would be apparent to the extent that people would volunteer to bear testimony without being invited, they will take an oath without being asked to.”
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The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized the evil of giving false testimony by saying it again & again that SAHABA were disturbed as the person gets so when he is told something by his teacher again & again with emphasis worrying if the teacher is angry on him. It certainly is a very big sin to give false testimony as that is speaking lies on purpose; the person, who continues speaking lies without putting an end to them, comes to such stage where he speaks that greatest lie from which all persons must keep away; that is to take someone equal to Allah in authority. May Allah save all persons from committing this greatest sin; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
39-BOOK ON ZUHD (PIETY - 66 topics)
TOPIC 1-Health and Leisure are blessings
(2311)-Sayyidina ibn e Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There are two blessings for which many people lack respect; those are health and leisure” [Ahmed 3207, Bukhari 6412, Ibn e Majah 4170]
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From here, we have the Booklet of ZUHD (Piety; asking only for necessities in the worldly life). ZUHD is also defined as to praise Allah on all good things with which He has blessed and to be patient on trials that He brings in the life to check the commitment of the person to Islam; in this meaning every Muslim would practice ZUHD though the levels would vary. Note that Islam tells that AKHIRAT is the actual life and so Muslims must put all efforts at this life towards getting comforts there by keeping attention towards Allah only; He only is the True Lord. Here the Prophet (PBUH) has guided towards a very important matter that the Muslim person must value the time that he gets free to act as he wills when he is in good health. Mostly that time is wasted though it is the best time to do something that might please Allah so much that He eliminates all wrongs of the Muslim person and assigns JANNAH for him; we all have to answer for our Belief and deeds individually at HASHR (the first day of AKHIRAT equal to one thousand years by our count). The pious men do guide that you must value the health for Islam before any affliction that comes your way; and you must value the life for Islam before the death that comes your way.
TOPIC 2-Guarding from the forbidden
(2312)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) asked, “Who will learn from these words (that I would tell now) and act upon them, or teach to one who will act upon them?” I said, “I will, O Messenger of Allah” So, he took me by hand and counting to five he said, “ Guard against the things that are forbidden and you will be the most devout of men, and be pleased with what Allah has allotted you and you will be the richest of men, and be kind to your neighbour and you will be a believer, and love for people what you love for yourself and you will be a (true) Muslim and do not laugh much for much laughter causes the heart to die” [ Ibn e Majah 4193]
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This narration guides to keep Islamic teachings all the time in view and at every place; there is a beautiful message in it that with lesser amount of work you would achieve high returns if you persist on. There is call towards ZUHD asking to remain happy on necessities only of the worldly life as that would cause you to enjoy the blessing from Allah in the life much better; provide the Muslim brothers what you find pleasant to your own-self as you would abandon all the worldly things ultimately; the last advise is not to laugh much because when you come to this stage of sobriety and give respect to others, you would get the most high respect from all persons that would be most praiseworthy.
TOPIC 3-Hasten to do pious deeds
(2313)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Hasten your (good) deeds before seven things; poverty that makes indifferent (to the true aim of life of worshipping only Allah); wealth that makes one discourteous; disease that incapacitates; old age that makes infirm; death that is approaching fast; arrival of Dajjal that is worst of the awaited; QAYAMAT that is the hour calamitous and bitter.”
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What a wonderful guidance! Even good things might cause inattentiveness to Allah and even troublesome things might do so. The Muslim person must avail the span of life he has, to have the True Belief and to have good deeds according to that; even if he has the ability not to be deterred by good things of life, he must not become unmindful of any affliction or adversity that might cause him to lessen his good activities. May Allah provide all persons that incline towards virtues, the True Belief and keep them able to do good things that please Him; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 4-About remembering death
(2314)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Remember often the demolisher of the taste; that is death”
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TOPIC 5-The terrible nature of the grave
(2315)-Abdullah ibn Bujayr (RA) reported on the authority of Hani, the freed-man of Sayyidina Uthman (RA) that whenever Uthman stood by a grave, he wept so much that his beard would get wet. So, it was said to him that the Paradise and the Fire are also mentioned but you do not weep yet you weep here? He informed us that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) has said, ‘The grave is the first stop of the several stops before the hereafter, and deliverance from it means that after it, is an easy sailing, but if one does not get deliverance from it then the following stages are more severe than it.’ The Prophet (PBUH) has also said that I have not seen a sight more frightening than the sight of the grave. [Ibn e Majah 4267]
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Pleasure or agony starts at the grave and that is why it is said that the grave is either a part of JANNAH (Paradise) or a part of JAHANNUM (Hell). Note here that when grave is mentioned as a place of pleasure or agony, it actually means the time after the death of a person where he does have connection to his physique in some way; it is after the end of this worldly time of life up-to when Allah wills; everyone that had ever lived at the world, would then be collected at HASHR. This concept does also tell that those who lived and died early have to face their doings early yet the verdict is always on the practice; when that comes to fore so accordingly does the verdict yet Allah knows better this period of pleasure or agony for every dead person; that might vary for each in quality & quantity. ULAMA have clarified this concept well and there are many good works done in this respect yet the clearest evidence is of course the Holy Book Quran that says, “And the most evil punishment overtook Pharaoh’s people; the fire; they shall be brought before it (every) morning and evening and on the day when the hour shall come to pass; (it would be commanded) Make Pharaho’s people enter the severest chastisement” (the fortieth Surah i.e Surah MOMEN-46) and in the sixth Surah where the scene of the death of unjust persons is narrated, it is said, “And if you had seen when the unjust shall be in the agonies of death and the angels shall spread forth their hands; Give up your souls; today shall you be recompensed with an ignominious punishment because you spoke against Allah other than the truth and (because) you showed pride against His revealed verses” (Surah ANAAM-93). Surah TAUBAH, the ninth Surah, also has a verse on this and it reads, “And from among those who are round about you of the dwellers of the desert, there are hypocrites, and from among the people of Madinah (also); they are stubborn in hypocrisy; you do not know them; We know them; We will punish them twice (i.e punishment at the worldly life and at the life ahead before HASHR) then shall they be turned back to a grievous chastisement (in AKHIRAT)” (Surah TAUBAH-101). This does happen yet how this happens is a question on which comment is not feasible due to the limitation in our understanding in this matter; where Ahadith point out that the grave becomes vast to provide ease to a person or becomes extremely narrow to his distress, there they actually mean that the person does feel the pleasure or the agony at this period.
TOPIC 6-If anyone longs to meet Allah, He longs to meet him too
(2316)-Sayyidina Ubadah ibn Samit (RA) reported that the Prophet said, “If anyone loves to meet Allah, Allah also loves to meet him. And if anyone dislikes meeting Allah then Allah also dislikes meeting him.”
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TOPIC 7-About the Prophet’s warning his people
(2317)-Sayyidina Aisha (RA) narrated when this verse ---And warn your clan, the nearest kin (26, 214)--- was revealed, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “O (my aunt) Saifyah, daughter of Abdul-Muttalib, O Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad (PBUH), O children of (my grandfather) Abdul Muttalib, I can not help you before Allah in the least. (However), you may ask me for whatever you like of my wealth.” [Ahmed 2592, Muslim 205, Nasai 3647]
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It is said that charity begins at home and this is true by Islamic Teachings yet just like the matter of charity, TABLIGH (call towards Right preventing wrongs) also begins at home. This verse that is mentioned here is one of the earliest that was revealed. The Prophet (PBUH) is the blessing of Allah to all mankind (as told in the Holy Book Quran) so the TABLIGH of Islam went far & wide even in his presence at the world, especially in the last of his worldly life; it spread even faster to all corners of the known world of that time just after he passed away. Note that the Prophet (PBUH) opened his wealth for all his close relatives to use and that was a great sacrifice; but he clarified that if they do not take up the guidance of Islam, that asks them to worship Allah only and leave totally the worship of idols, he would not be able to save them from the fire of hell.
TOPIC 8-About virtues of weeping because of fear of Allah
(2318)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “No man who weeps by fear of Allah will go to the Fire till the milk returns to the udder. And dust in the path of Allah and smoke of hell cannot come together” [Tirmidhi 1639, Nasai 3107, Ibn e Majah 2774, Ahmed 10565]
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It is important to note that all the big decisions that have taken place in the history of mankind have been written by the blood of the strong or by the tears of the weak when they were in the making. They might have been written in books with the water of silver as history yet in their making, blood & tears were the ink. Whenever these flowed in the cause of Islam, Allah did provide the decision in favor of the rise of Muslims. In a Hadith, the blood and the tears that flow in the path of Allah, both are said to be barriers against the fire of hell and in this complementary Hadith, the words “dust in the path of Allah” clearly mean to fight and shed blood in the cause of Islam.
TOPIC 9-The Prophet said, “If you were to know what I know”
(2319)-Sayyidina Abu Dharr (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I see what you do not see and I hear what you do not hear. The heaven laments and it has a right to lament. There is no space in it even as much as what your fingers occupy but an angel has placed his forehead on it for prostration to Allah. By Allah, if you know what I know, you would laugh little and weep much and would not enjoy women on beds but would have gone out to the plains calling to Allah in prayer” Abu Dharr (RA) said, “I wished I were a tree and chopped to pieces”. [Ibn e Majah 4190, Ahmed 21572]
(2320)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If you know that which I know then you would certainly laugh little and weep much”. [Bukhari 6485, Ahmed 9583]
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Difficult Ahadith to comment upon yet it is obvious that what we do not know was not asked of the Prophet (PBUH) to tell us; it was not in obligations of the Prophethood. Perhaps this is an indication of the amazing sight that the Prophet (PBUH) had seen at MIRAJ (ascension to heavens) when he saw JANNAH (Paradise) and even JAHANNUM (Hell); he wanted to express how amazingly wonderful the former is and how very dreadful the latter is. But, it is most obvious here that the Prophet PBUH wanted SAHABA to care for the safety from JAHANNUM much more than to ask for JANNAH; his words are explicit on this.
TOPIC 10-One who makes people laugh
(2321)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed a man speaks some words seeing no harm in them but Allah will cast him in fire down with depth seventy years deep” [Ibn e Majah 3970, Bukhari 6477, Ah 7219]
(2322)-Bahz ibn Hakim reported on the authority of his father from his grandfather that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Woe to him who recounts a tale to make people laugh speaking lies. Woe to him! Woe to him!” [Ahmed 20066, Abu Dawud 4990]
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It is necessary to take care of the tongue and there is another Hadith that tell us that whoever gives me the guarantee of two things; one between his jaws and the other between his legs; I would give him the guarantee of JANNAH (see Hadith 2416). We have studied that the Prophet (PBUH) never made fun of anyone even in jest and never jested by speaking lies. Jokes when they are made with care to morals and with respect to honesty, are quite well yet caution for making-up things is utmost necessary; poets and story-writers should take care much in all their works (not abandoning them totally) yet they must clarify well that whatever they have written in fiction is on the basis of observation of true life; they must not make fun of anyone in any manner at their works with care that to have fun is one thing and to make fun of someone is another that is disallowed.
TOPIC 11-He who shuns the meaningless excels in Islam
(2323)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik narrated that one of the companions died, so another gave tidings of Paradise (for him). Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “How do you know; he might have spoken the meaningless or may have been niggardly when spending was not harmful.”
(2324)-Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Of the excellence of a man’s Islam is that he shuns the meaningless.” [Ibn e Majah 3976]
(2325)-Qutaybah also reported from MALIK from Zuhri and he from Ali ibn Husayn that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “It is enough for a man to be an excellent Muslim that he gives up the meaningless.” [Ahmed 1732]
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Ahadith clarify that spending the precious time of life in useless things is higly erroneous and the person who understands this would become a good Muslim. This is because the recognition of the value of time would lead him to utilizing it in the way of Allah as every Muslim knows well that the life is to achieve the pleasure of Allah and there is no other aim of life. The Muslim person must spend some of his assets too besides his time on the needy and this is easier when there is no harm to him by their spending when they are intangible as the spread of knowledge or/and recommendation for the rightful needy person to some job that he might manage well; whoever does not even do this that does not harm him in any manner while it provides the betterment to his fellow-being, he surely is blameworthy.
TOPIC 12-Excellence of little speech
(2326)-Bilal Ibn Harith Muazani (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed one of you speaks a word pleasing to Allah and he cannot imagine (how high) a rank it attains. Allah records for him thereby His pleasure till the day He meets Him. And, one of you speaks a word that angers Allah, and he cannot imagine where it will carry, Allah records against Him His anger till the day He meets him” [Ibn e Majah 3969]
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Many Ahadith ask for some caution in speech as the tongue might become extremely troublesome if a person loses control over it. If you ponder what single thing might be the best thing and might even be the worst, you would find it to be the tongue. Note that Hadith does not imply that if a person has done some wrong unintentionally, he is doomed to punishment but it means that words asking for anger of Allah are most dangerous; if the Muslim person is pious and has uttered something wrong in carelessness, Allah would certainly provide such person some chance to compensate and he must avail of it with repentance. This also means that he must go on evaluating himself time & again by giving total respect to Islam.
TOPIC 13-Worthlessness of the world in Allah’s sight
(2327)-Sayyidina Sahi Ibn Sa’d (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “ If in Allah’s sight, the world had so much worth as wing of mosquito then a infidel would never have drunk even a drop of water.” [Ibn e Majah 4110]
(2328)-Sayyidina Mustawrid ibn Shaddad (RA) reported that he was among the unit that accompanied Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) who stopped at a dead lamb. He said, “Do you see how its owners have abandoned it as worthless?” They said, “ O Messenger (PBUH) of Allah, they threw it away because it (truly) is worthless” He said , “The world is worthless in Allah’s sight more than this lamb to its owner.” [Ibn e Majah 4111, Ahmed 18035]
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TOPIC 14-Surely the world is accursed
(2329)-Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The world is accursed, and accursed is whatever it contains except mention of Allah and of that which is dear to Him and the scholar or the student.” [Ibn e Majah 4112]
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TOPIC 15-More on it (the world in relation to the Hereafter)
(2330)-Sayyidina Mustawrid (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The world in relation to the hereafter is not but like the example of one of you putting his finger in the sea. Then let him see with what it returns.” [Ahmed 18030, Muslim 2858, Ibn e Majah 4108]
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Ahadith at these topics 13, 14, 15 tell us how insignificant this world is to Allah; He has created this world for an examination (and not punishment) and so He gives all the good things of life here to everyone, more or less, without any discrimination; at AKHIRAT, every good thing would only result by good efforts done here in the worldly life with True Belief; this means that those who go to JAHANNUM (Hell) due to their wrong belief, they would be given only bitter filth to eat and drink as the Holy Quran has pointed out. The last Hadith here means that the world is even not that much to Allah as water that the finger tip brings out from the sea as even the sea as whole is nothing to Him; it is nothing from nothing. Allah only is the Creator and the True Lord; everything else is His creation that He made with the word “KUN” (be) and that happened.
TOPIC 16-World is prison for Believer but Paradise for infidel
(2331)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The world is a prison for a believer and Paradise for an infidel.” [Muslim 2956, Ahmed 8296]
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This Hadith presents a fact in plain words that as a person feels limited in a prison so a good Muslim feels some bondage at the worldly life where he fulfills all duties that Islam has assigned to him; he has good hopes to receive JANNAH for which he goes on exerting him, with total patience at all that comes his way. But an infidel does not care about others truly by heart and wants his own pleasure whatever it brings to others as he has no hopes beyond this life; he seeks for pleasures at the worldly life whatever possible without care to the good morality. So the difference between them is that a true Muslim cares not only about the law of Allah strictly but also tries to live upon EHSAAN where possible with the guidance of the Prophet (PBUH) for the pleasure of Allah; an infidel is bound only by the law of the place made without care to Allah, where he tries to find such flaw that might enable him to get worldly benefits with total selfishness.
TOPIC 17-The similitude of the world is like four individuals
(2332)-Sayyidina Abu Kabshah Anmari (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “I swear about three things and I narrate to you a hadith, so keep it in memory. A man’s property does not diminish because of Sadaqah (that he pays) and when a man is wronged and he endures it patiently, Allah increases him in honour and when a man opens a door to begging, Allah opens for him a door to poverty (or he said words to that effect). And I narrate to you a hadith so keep it in memory. The world comprises of four kinds of people,
(1)-a man on whom Allah has bestowed wealth and knowledge and in (using) them, he fears his Lord and joins ties of relationship and gives the right of Allah; this man is in the most excellent category.
(2)-a man on whom Allah has bestowed knowledge, but does not bestow wealth and he is true in his intentions saying, ‘If I had wealth then I would act as so-and-so (as the first category)’; this being his intention, their reward is equal.
(3)-a man on whom Allah has bestowed wealth, but does not bestow knowledge, and he tramples with his wealth ignorantly, not fearing his Lord, not joining ties of relationship and not giving rights of Allah; this one is in the worst of categories.
(4)-a man whom Allah has given neither wealth nor knowledge and he says, ‘If I had wealth I would do as so-and-so does (as the third category)’; this being his intention, their burden is alike.’ [Abu Dawud 1645, Muslim 4228, Ahmed 18053]
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When the Muslim person keeps three things in memory about his wealth and all worldly assets, Allah makes sources for him to live in ease without much effort for worldly necessities. Such is the good Muslim person who gives SADAQAH (charity to the needy) from his wealth if he has it; if some of his property is taken away by fraud, he bears that loss and leaves the matter to Allah to punish the wrong-doers; if he falls from the status of having wealth to the status of facing poverty, he does not beg but keeps his self-respect intact by living at necessities; Allah cares about such a person and makes ease in the fulfillment of his needs well even with his small effort with total honor. The Hadith also tells about four different types of people with respect to their attitude towards wealth & knowledge. The first two are the best of people while the third one is the worst and the fourth is on the verge of right and wrong. If this fourth one does get wealth, he is doomed to destruction if he goes on with his intention and if he does not, he might save himself from the fire of hell so even if ignorance is not bliss in true sense yet deprivation of some good things might be that for some of the people living around. Note that there are Ahadith that point out that the true intention for good works does increase plus points at a person’s Paper of Deeds that he would get at AKHIRAT while even the true intention for bad works does not increase his negative points at the Paper unless he does practically as he intends when he gets to the status of fulfillment of that bad intention; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 18-Grieving for the world and love for it
(2333)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Anyone who faces poverty and he approaches people (for redress) then his poverty is not removed. And if anyone is faced with poverty and he turns to Allah with it then Allah will provide him sustenance sooner or later.” [Ah 4219]
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TOPIC 19-What suffices a man of his wealth?
(2334)-Abu Wail reported that Mu’aviah visited Abu Hashim ibn Utbah when he was sick and asked him, “O uncle, why do you weep? Is it pain that frightens you and greed for the world (that makes you weep)?” He said, “Nothing of the sort. But, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) had taken from me a promise which I have not fulfilled. He had told me that of property, a servant should suffice you and a riding beast for Jihad. But I find with me today that I have accumulated plenty.” [N 5386, Ibn e Majah 4103]
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TOPIC 20-More on it
(2335)-Sayyidina Abdullah (ibn Mas’ud; RA) reported the saying of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) “Do not build estate because that would make you long for the world.” [Ahmed 3579]
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These Ahadith at Topic-18, 19 & 20 give the message that the world is not worth the efforts many people generally make for it. Living with necessities in the world and asking for success in AKHIRAT by commitment to good deeds with true Belief, is how Islam teaches. The Muslim person must make high efforts for the coming life as a Hadith points out that the worldly life is the land for cultivation for getting the harvest at AKHIRAT. The Hadith at topic-20 is extremely wonderful that clarifies that the righteous Muslim must avoid such things that ask him to attach himself to the world as such attachments tend to decrease the attachment towards AKHIRAT.
TOPIC 21-Long life for a Believer
(2336)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Busr (RA) narrated that a villager asked the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah, who is the best of men?” He said, “He whose life is prolonged and whose deeds are good.” [Ahmed 1796]
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TOPIC 22-Which of the men is best and which of them is worst
(2337)-Sayyidina Abu Bakrah (RA) reported that a man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who is the best of men?” He said, “He who has long life and performs good deeds.” He asked, “And, which of them is worst?” He said, “He who has a long life and whose deeds are evil.” [Ahmed 20437]
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These Ahadith tell that the actual work for a Muslim to do is to collect good deeds as much as possible. If a Muslim person has total recognition of this and lives a long life where he does all the good things he should, such a person becomes the light of guidance to all the people around. However, if a person is evil by his deeds and lives a long life, he certainly is the worst among men because he has not recognized his true obligations and has lived his life as an unworthy fool.
TOPIC 23-Ages of individuals of Ummah are from 60 to 70
(2338)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The ages of my Ummah will be from sixty years to seventy.”
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It is an interesting fact to note that the average of ages among Muslims does seem between 60 & 70. Even the Prophet (PBUH) most probably, passed away at the age of 60 years by the solar years (it was at June 632 AD) while by the lunar years, he was coming to 62 years of age in that very Rabi-ul-Awwal (the third month of the Lunar Calendar; it is shorter than the solar year by some 11 days). Abu Bakr (RA) & Umar (RA) also passed away in their early sixties; also, many of righteous Muslims of the past did pass away at this period of life. Here we find an indication to the moral teaching that it is better to care for the quality of life in the spiritual sense rather than the quantity of life.
TOPIC 24-Closing up of hours
(2339)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The Hour will not come till time draws near and a year becomes like a month, a month like a week, a week like a day and a day like an hour and on hour like a burning piece of wood.”
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TOPIC 25-Closing up of hours
(2340)-Sayyidina ibn Umar (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) held me by a part of my body and said, “Be in this world as though you are a stranger or one crossing through the road and count yourself among the occupiers of the grave.” After this, Ibn Umar said to Mujahid, ‘When it is morning, you should not trust yourself to make it to evening; and when it is evening you should not expect to make it to the morning. Seize opportunity of your good health before you fall ill and of your life before your death. For, you could not say what would be your name tomorrow.’ [Ahmed 4764, Bukhari 6416]
(2341)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said “This is the son of Adam and this is his life span,” and he put his hand on his neck. Then, He stretched it saying. “And his tall hopes. And his tall hopes. And his tall hopes.” [Ahmed 12240, Bukhari 6418, Ibn e Majah 4232]
(2342)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) passed by us while we were repairing our hut. He said, “What is this?” We said, “It has gone down and we are repairing it.” He said, “I do not see the command (of death) except that it is quicker than that.” [AD 5236, Ibn e Majah 4160]
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The Muslim person must care to live with the attention that very soon, he would be among the dead persons; in other words, Ahadith ask us to care most highly for AKHIRAT only while we live-on this worldly life. Ahadith clarify in the most explicit manner that a Muslim person must not make extensive hopes about the world and it is another way to give the same guidance that passed previously not to become attached to the worldly life with the omission of care to AKHIRAT. The last Hadith plainly guides here to take care that this worldly life would end soon, so do not obsess yourself in it in such ways that you become ignorant to your true aim of getting the pleasure of Allah by your good Belief and deeds according to it. It is the same message yet with more emphasis as to repair the dwelling place is for necessity; the Hadith suggests that even at such necessity, the Muslim person needs to take care that it only remains upto the extreme necessity. The Hadith at topic-24 is interesting and the like of this was mentioned in a Hadith that we have studied before too at the booklet of FITAN (H-2247) though with difference in words. But this Hadith here could mean that the time would seem to pass very fast or it could be relative in nature that some activities that take a year to perform now and some that take months or days now would only need hours to perform (this meaning to this Hadith seems most valid); the life would be running fast. In this sense, it is not like the one we have read at booklet of Fitan that has the physical implication if the Sun is occulted for some of time; as such, this Hadith here is unique; and Allah knows better.
TOPIC 26-Wealth is trial of this ummah
(2343)-Sayyidina Ka’b ibn Iyadh reported that he heard the Prophet (PBUH) say, “There is a trial for every ummah, and the trial of my ummah is wealth and property.” [Ahmed 17478]
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TOPIC 27-With two valleys full of wealth, he would seek third
(2344)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If the son of Aadam had one valley full of gold then he would crave for a second. Nothing can fill his stomach but dust. And Allah relents to one who repents.” [Ahmed 12717, Bukhari 6439, Muslim 1048]
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TOPIC 28-The heart of an old man is young in love of two things
(2345)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The heart of an old man is young in the love of two things; (love of) life and abundance of wealth.” [Bukhari 6420, Muslim 1046, Ahmed 8087]
(2346)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The son of Aadam grows old but two things grow young in him greed for long life and greed for wealth.” [Muslim 1047, Ibn e Majah 4234, Ahmed 12143]
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Ahadith at topics 26, 27 and 28 give the same information that if a person nourishes the desire to accumulate wealth, he would not be satisfied with any amount of wealth but this greed would lead him to neglect his fundamental obligation that is related to AKHIRAT. Thus desire for wealth, without reason (as after the fulfillment of the worldly necessities, it is not an asset but a liability), becomes a great trial for a Muslim person who should take care to Allah’s commands in all whatever he has at his control and in all what he does. Attachment to wealth leads to attachment to the worldly life with the negligence of AKHIRAT; that is not commendable by Islamic Teachings. H-2344 is explicit on the fact that the greedy person is never able to control his greed until he dies and the dust of grave fills his stomach. Then only he would realize what a bad mistake he had committed in his worldly life that he ran behind an illusion as he had left the wealth behind for others; and it truly was never his own; his belief and deeds have come with him to which he gave only the minimum care. The Hadith asks to repent on this erroneous attention towards the wealth so as to get the good attention from Allah; He would see to his necessities and even to his comforts as He deems fit; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 29-Asceticism in the world
(2347)-Sayyidina Abu Dharr (RA) reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “Asceticism in this world is not to forbid the lawful to oneself or to waste property. But, asceticism in this world is that you rely more on what is in Allah’s hand than on what is in your hand and that you long for reward against hardship to such an extent that you wish that it would beset you continuously.” [Ibn e Majah 4100]
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TOPIC 30-Rights of Son of Adam
(2348)-Sayyidina Uthman ibn Affan (RA) reported that the Prophet said, “There are no rights for the son of Aadam except these particular ones; a house to live in, garments to cover his private parts and vessels to hold bread and water.”
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Allah has brought the Man to life and He has taken the responsibility to care for his necessities as He has told us in the Quran; those are the basic necessities that are named in H-2348 and the Muslim person is not permitted to ask more as his claim to Allah; he should take whatever Allah provides him with both his hands for that is His blessing and he should give the fellow-beings the benefit of it. H-2347 tells that patience at hardships bring rewards but please note that the Hadith means that the adversity that falls on a person by TAQDIR (Fate) does have rewards yet to ask for adversities is not appreciable; as it tells about the wish for adversities so that seems the reason that this Hadith is among the weak narrations; it does need caution for its acceptance at practice.
TOPIC 31-Ibn Aadam cries, “My property, my property”
(2349)-Mutarrif narrated that my father went to the Prophet (PBUH) and he was reciting, “your rivalry for amassing riches distracts you” (102, 1). He said, “The son of Aadam says, ‘My property! My property!’ but is there anything for you from your wealth except that which you gave in charity and advanced (to Allah for yourself), or consumed and finished, or put on and wore off?” [Ahmed 16427, Muslim 2958]
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The name of Mutarrif’s father (RA) is Abdullah and the recited verse of Surah TAKATHUR has the message that the Ahadith we have just studied have been giving about the unworthiness of the worldly life except for care about righteousness in belief and deeds. Here whatever the person has, those all things are for his examination and not because that the person gets totally involved in the worldly life by the wealth he gets here; to seek competition at the worldly matters is not feasible as the Muslim person must compete only to get ahead in matters that would be of use in AKHIRAT. Surah BAQARAH, the second Surah, guides to get ahead in good deeds (verse 148) and Surah AAL-e-IMRAN, the third Surah, also tells to take up righteousness to get Mercy of Allah and to get JANNAH (Paradise). There are many other verses too as the message of the Holy Book Quran and the authentic SUNNAH is to keep the world at “Necessity” and to give AKHIRAT the status of “The True Destination”; they tell us to keep to righteousness in Belief and to collect all good deeds by efforts according to that righteous Belief; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 32-Being content with essential & spending excess
(2350)-Sayyidina Abu Umamah reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “If you, O son of Aadam, spend the excess (in good cause), that is good for you. But, if you retain it then it is bad for you. There is no blame on spending over the necessities. And, begin (charity) with those whom you support. And, the upper hand is better than the lower.” [Muslim 1036, Ahmed 22328]
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The message continues “live at necessities in the world”; the Hadith tells us to give a special attention to needs of those that are dependant on us for their basic worldly needs; charity begins at home. Certainly, the upper hand that provides not only for needs of the self but for needs of others too that are under his care (and even for needs of those that are needy), is much better than the lower one that is of the incapable person who might ask his needs from persons not sincere to him; he must ask Allah to make such sources for him that he does receive his necessities at the world with total ease; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 33-On trust in Allah
(2351)-Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab reported that Allah’s Messenger said “If you trust in Allah observing a true trust in Him, then indeed, He will give you a provision as He provides the birds that emerge hungry in the morning and return with a full belly in the evening.” [Ahmed 205, Muslim 4164]
(2352)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that there were two brothers at the time of the Prophet, one of whom used to keep company of the Prophet (PBUH) while the other pursued his occupation (and earned a living). He (the bread-earner) complained about his brother to the Prophet (PBUH) whereupon he said, “Perhaps you are given provision on his account.”
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In the current times, we have extended our needs so much that some of us consider even some items that are comforts rather luxuries, as necessities of life. The privileged among us consider modern vehicles, sophisticated technical items at homes, expensive satellite items and this and that as total necessities because someone at the next door or someone among close relatives, has displayed the latest models of these and has asked for trouble. First of all, we all have to decide that to what extent these things are necessities; note that even in necessities, there must remain utmost care to keep them upto necessities. A simple vehicle might do well for conveyance and few simple technical items that we use in routine like refrigerators, fans & lights, air-conditioners, heaters, irons, washing machines, cooking appliances, professional items that technical workers use etc. according to needs are quite fine with care to Islam yet to ask for the most expensive among these things is not feasible. As for satellite items, it is better to avoid them as much as possible except in IZHTIRAR (utmost necessity); it would be much better if that could be brought into usage without satellites even if this restriction asks for some limits in respect to the area of usage. If we could have lived as birds we would have also got our needs as easily as they get it; there is ample for needs of everyone at its natural habitat without costing any other anything; the competition for the worldly issues is futile. H-2352 guides attention towards the fact that a person who is responsible for someone’s financial care might be getting the whole of his finance by the fortune of that dependant one. One of these two brothers worked as a farmer while the other just learned about Islam and did nothing to earn his bread. Note that this dependant one had rights over the person providing his needs for him as he was his very close relative (brother, in fact) and so his hand is not the lower hand; the person who asks someone for his needs upon whom he has no rights, is the person with the lower hand.
TOPIC 34-One for whom the world is expanded
(2353)-Ubaydullah ibn Mihsan Khatami reported from his father who was among Sahaba that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “He who wakes up in the morning peaceful among his people, healthy in body, his provision for the day with him, then it is as though the world is brought together for him.” [Ibn e Majah 4141]
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TOPIC 35-Being contended with what is enough subsistence
(2354)-Sayyidina Abu Umamah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The most enviable of my friends to me is the believer with a light property, much devoted to Salah, excellent in worship of his Lord, obeying Him in private, obscure among people, not pointed out with fingers, and his provision is enough and he is content over that.” Then, he snapped his fingers and said, “His time comes soon, there being few women to mourn him and his legacy is little.” From the same sanad from the Prophet is the hadith that he said, “My Lord offered me to make the valley Atha of Makkah full of gold for me. I said, O Lord, but I wish to be satiated one day and hungry the next day (or, he said three days, or something like that). When I am hungry, let me beseech You and remember You and when I am satiated, let me thank you and praise you.” [Ibn e Majah 4117, Ahmed 22252]
(2355)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “He has succeeded who has submitted to Islam, given enough provision with which Allah has made him content.” [Ahmed 6583, Muslim 1054, Ibn e Majah 4138]
(2356)-Sayyidinah Fadalah ibn Ubayd (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “Blessed is he who is guided to Islam and his sustenance is enough and he shows contentment.” [Ahmed 2399]
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Ahadith point out the person here who does not have much worldly property yet in terms of AKHIRAT (the Hereafter), he has everything as he worships Allah highly and even performs MUSTAHAB acts but without letting them known; people do not consider him something of high grade but in Allah’s view, he has a high standing and even at his death, he does not have much of property. These all Ahadith point out that whoever is a good Muslim doing his best for AKHIRAT and he is content with whatever he gets at the world, Allah makes sources for him to get everything that he needs with total ease. The notable point here is that the Prophet (PBUH) lived at poverty by choice but there is difference between poverty and deprivation. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last messenger of Allah, did not spend a life of deprivation as Allah looked after his needs and he was highly careful to fulfill his obligations towards his household well by the blessing of Allah; yet he never intended to become wealthy and always remained content with necessities of life. There are three positions with respect to wealth that are all right in the Islamic Environment; the best is the status of the person who lives at poverty but fulfills his obligations though he does not have much to save (the Prophet PBUH lived at this status by choice); the second to best is the status of the person who does save good amounts even after spending on his necessities and obligations yet this saving does not put him into the wealthy persons of the society; the third status is of the person who has property, possessions and plenty of wealth and he is taken to be one of the wealthiest persons of the society. However, no one of this last category must be much far away from the the upper margin of the second one in the society; this the good sense of justice that prevails at the Islamic Environment would decide rather than the law of the land. By this detail, it comes at fore that at this manner of living, there would be no person who would be deprived of his basic necessities and at the other side, there would be no person who would consider that he would shape things as he wills due to the huge amounts of wealth he has in spare. Both of these persons lose self-respect and so they do not care about the self-respect of others around; certainly, the Islamic Environment asks simplicity and it does not ask any complexity.
TOPIC 36-Merits of poverty
(2357)-Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Muhghaffal reported that a man said to the Prophet (PBUH) “O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I love you.” He said, “Think over what you say” and he said again, “By Allah, I do love you.” He said that three times. So the Prophet said, “If you love me then be prepared for poverty as your armour, for poverty comes running to one who loves me more swiftly than the flood that flows down to its outlet.”
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The Prophet (PBUH) had taken-up poverty by choice. We have seen a Hadith just now at the previous topic that tells us that he could have got a whole place filled with gold yet he did not go for it. It is better to say that ‘I truly respect the Prophet (PBUH)’ and that implies also the necessary love of this great man who also is the last Messenger of Allah. But to say specifically the words that ‘I love him to height’ means by the Islamic terms that he has chosen the status of poverty for himself and he is ready to take matters at EHSAAN besides the fulfillment of FARDH, WAJIB & SUNNAH-MUAKKADAH without any complaint whatsoever; such person must necessarily remain content with whatever he gets that fulfils his worldly necessities without any complaint whatsoever.
TOPIC 37-Poor Muhajirs will go to Paradise before Rich ones
(2358)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The poor of Muhajirs will enter Paradise preceding their rich by five hundred years.” [Ibn e Majah 4123]
(2359)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) prayed, “O Allah, cause me to live among the poor and to die among them, and on the day of resurrection, gather me among the group of the poor.” Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) asked, “Why, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “They will enter Paradise, preceding their rich by forty years. O Ayshah, do not turn away the poor even if you give her half a date. O Ayshah, love the poor and draw them near, Allah will draw you near on the day of resurrection.”
(2360)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The poor will enter Paradise preceding the rich by five hundred years (which is) half of that day.” [Ibn e Majah 4122, Ahmed 9830]
(2361)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The poor of the Muslims will enter Paradise before their rich half a day ahead and that is five hundred years.” [Ahmed 10659]
(2362)-Sayyidina Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “The poor of Muslims will enter Paradise preceding their rich by forty years.” [Ahmed 14483]
(2363)-Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) never had barley bread to his content for two successive days till he died. [Muslim 2970]
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The Muslim person who lived in poverty but he fulfilled his obligations well, at HASHR (the first day of AKHIRAT that is of 1000 years by our count), he would enter half a day before the rich Muslims who also had fulfilled their obligations well; the difference to note is that the poor had lesser obligations because of their humble status at the worldly life so they got their good result in much lesser time. This half a day amounts to five hundred years by our count and Ahadith that report about forty years might mean the boundaries at both sides as some ULAMA have remarked that their beginning of entrance to the Paradise would take place before five hundred years of the entrance of good rich people there and the last of these good poor ones, would get entrance forty years before them, depending on the quality among their-selves yet all would get entrance to JANNAH (Paradise) before the rich. The last Hadith in the topic here tells us that the Prophet (PBUH) did not take barley bread for two consecutive days though he could have managed that being at authority in Madinah; this was by choice and he expected the same sacrifice of worldly things from his wives, living on basic necessities to get high status at AKHIRAT.
TOPIC 38-The living of the Prophet (PBUH) and his family
(2364)-Masruq narrated that I visited Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) and she ordered food to be served to me. She said, “Never do I eat to a full stomach but feel like crying and I do cry.” I asked her, “Why?” She said, “I recall the condition in which Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) departed from this world. By Allah, he never had bread and meat to a full belly twice a day.” [Muslim 2974]
(2365)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and his family never had wheat bread for three consecutive days to a full stomach till he died. [Muslim 2976, Ibn e Majah3343]
(2366)-Sayyidina Abu Umamah (RA) reported that in the house of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) there never was more barley bread than necessary.
(2367)-Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) passed many nights together on an empty stomach and his family did not find food for the evening meal. Most of their diet consisted of barley bread. [Ibn e Majah 3347]
(2368)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) prayed, “O Allah, let the provision of the family of Muhammad be enough for subsistence.” [Bukhari 6460, Muslim 1055, Ibn e Majah 4139, Ahmed 10241]
(2369)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) never stored anything for the next day.
(2370)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) never ate on a table and he never ate thin bread till he died. [Bukhari 6450, Ibn e Majah3293]
(2371)-Sayyidina Sahl ibn Sa’d was asked whether Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) ever ate white flour and he said “Allah’s Messenger did not see white flour till he met Allah.” He was asked “Did you have a sieve in the Prophet’s times?” He said, “We did not have a sieve (in his times).” He was asked. “Then how did you sift barley flour?” He said, “We used to blow so what had to blow off, blew away and we poured water on the rest and kneaded the mixture.” [Bukhari 5413, Ibn e Majah 3335]
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All the Ahadith here in this topic indicate one thing most explicitly that the Prophet (PBUH) took food only according to necessity and expected the same from his wives. He never ate food in the manner of privileged people of the time and remained very simple in all his attitudes (see H-1795). In foods, the Prophet (PBUH) used to take the needed only, without care to its taste but for subsistence only; we have studied this attitude at the booklet of foods too. He did not store food items for the next day as he knew that he would fulfill his obligations even without any such storage. Living ordinary was one of his most particular attributes that affected Muslims in highly positive manner; they spread the impression of Islam in few years only at that time all over the known world; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 39-The living of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH)
(2372)-Sayyidina Sa’d ibn Abu Waqqas (RA) said, “I was the first person to shed blood in the path of Allah and I was the first person to shoot an arrow in the path of Allah. Indeed. I remember well that I participated in battles with a group of the companions of Muhammad (PBUH) and we did not eat but leaves of trees and bean so that we passed stool like the droppings of sheep and camels. Then the people of Banu Asad censure me about religion and if that is the case, I am a loser and my deeds are wasted.”
(2373)-Sayyidina Sa’d ibn Malik (RA) narrated, “I was the first man among the Arabs who threw an arrow in Allah’s path. Indeed, I recall that we participated in battles with Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and we had no food except Aublah (bean) and Samar (acacia) so that our stool was like droppings of sheep. With that the Banu Asad ridiculed me on this religion so in that case I lost and my deeds were wasted.” [Ah 1498, Bukhari 3728, M 2966]
(2374)-Muhammad ibn Sirin narrated that we were with Abu Hurayrah and he had two pieces of cloth, red in colour. He cleaned his nose with one of them and said, “O how good, Abu Hurayrah uses this cloth today to clean his nose. I remember the time when I had fallen down due to hunger between the pulpit of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and the apartment of Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) where unconsciousness had overtaken me. Those who passed by put their feet on my neck that I had gone mad though I was not mad, only hunger had overtaken me.” [Ahmed 23993]
(2375)-Sayyidina Fadalah ibn Ubayd (RA) reported that when Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) led the Salah, some men of the Ashab-us-Suffah fell down out of hunger. The villagers would remark “They are insane.” So, when the prayer was over, Allah’s Messenger turned to them and said, “If you were to know how much blessing Allah would bestow on you because of this poverty and hunger, you would prefer greater degree of poverty and hunger.” Fadalah said, “That day, I was with Allah’s Messenger”
(2376)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that once the Prophet (PBUH) came out of his house at an hour he never came out and no one would come to meet him (at that hour). Abu Bakr (RA) came to him (unexpectedly) and he asked, “What is with you, O Abu Bakr?” He said, “I came out to meet Allah’s Messenger and observe his face and to offer my salutation to him.” Hardly had any time passed when Umar (RA) came, and he asked, “What is it with you, O Umar?” He said, “Hunger, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “And I too found something of that (on me).” So, they set out to the house of Abul Haytham ibn Tayyihan Ansari. He possessed a lot of palm trees and sheep, but he had no servant. They did not find him. They asked his wife “Where is your life partner?” She said, “He has gone to fetch us sweet water.” Not much time had gone by when he came with a water skin of sweet water. He put it down and embraced Prophet and said, “My parents be ransomed to you.” Then he went with them to his garden and spread for them a mat. He went to a palm tree and returned with a bunch of dates which he placed down. The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Why did you not pick out (only) fresh dates for us?” He said, “O Messenger of Allah, I thought that you might choose for yourself fresh and the dried.” They ate and drank from that water. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “By Him Who has my life in His hand! You will be asked on the day of Resurrection about these blessings; the cool shade, the fresh dates and cool water.” Abul-Haytham engaged himself to prepare a meal for them. The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Do not slaughter a milk-yielding animal.” So, he slaughtered a young sheep and brought (the cooked food) to them. They ate. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him, “Do you have a servant?” He said, “No.” He said, “When captives are brought to us, you come.” (Soon) two captives were brought to the Prophet (PBUH) and there was not a third with them, and Abu Haytham also came to him. The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Chose one of them.” He said, “O Prophet of Allah, you select for me.” The Prophet said, “The one who is consulted is trusted. Take this one, for I have seen him offer Salah. And, he instructed him to be kind to him in treatment. Abul-Haytham went to his wife and conveyed to her the instruction of the Prophet. So, his wife said to him, “You will not be able to abide by the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) except that you set him free.” He said, “He is free.” So, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Surely Allah does not send a Prophet or a Khalifah except that he has two kinds of attendants; one who enjoins that which is pious and forbids that which is evil, and the other who tries to make him wicked. And he who is protected from the evil attendant has been saved, indeed.” [Bukhari 7198, Ah 11342]
(2377)-Salih ibn Abdullah reported a hadith like it from Abu Awanah from Abdul Malik ibn Umayr, from Abu Salamah but did not mention Abu Hurayrah (RA). This hadith is lengthier than the hadith of Abu Awanah, and also complete. Shayban was trustworthy. This hadith is reported from Abu Hurayrah from other sanad too. It is also reported from lbn Abbas (RA).
(2378)-Sayyidina Abu Talhah (RA) narrated that we complained to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about our hunger raising (garment) from our stomach, each of us showed the stone he had tied to it. He showed that he had two stones (tied to his stomach).
(2379)-Simak in Harb reported baving heard Nu’man ibn Bashir (PBUH) say, “Do you have to eat and drink what you like? I had seen your Prophet (PBUH) and he did not find even bad dates with which to fill his belly”
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Ahadith at this topic show how highly impressed were the SAHABA (RA; Companions of the Prophet PBUH) by the living ways of the Prophet (PBUH) as they used to take up the sacrifice of worldly things as an ordinary attitude to living normal; if they benefited from some of things (that were MUBAH) that they used to shun at his presence, they remembered that time and praised Allah for His blessing on them. Sa’ad ibn Malik (Sa’ad ibn Abi-Waqqas) told about his merits because the tribe of Banu Asad had complained against him to Umar (RA) that he did not say his SALAH correctly. He had accepted Islam at the early years when the Prophet (PBUH) called towards Islam at Makkah and at that time he was of seventeen years of age. He fought wars for Islam as their commander at expeditions sent by Umar (RA) and had significant victories recorded in his account for Muslims. Abu-Hurayrah was one of Ashaab-e-Suffah, the very poor persons who used to live in the Mosque of the Prophet (MASJID-NABWI) and learned the Islamic issues from him. SAHABA used to give them something to eat and they used to live on that but sometimes there was such a shortage of provisions that some of them used to fall at the floor due to hunger. There was a custom at those days that people used to trample on such persons; walking on their necks if possible; who had epilepsy (that is called madness here) and so there were persons who did trample these few that used to fall due to hunger; they were spread at the floor and SAHABA thought that they are affected with epilepsy. The Prophet (PBUH) seeing that both of his companions face hunger (and he needed to eat too yet he had high control over him), he took them to one of his prosperous SAHABA and they took some edibles there. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him to take care that he does not slaughter a milk-yielding animal; this shows that even in taking meat in diet, it is necessary to see that the animal is saved as much trouble as possible. The devolopment of sacrifice shows at men and women of those times that the wife of Abul-Haytham interpreted the words of the Prophet PBUH to mean liberation of the slave and he accepted that interpretation instantly. About the two attendants that are mentioned here, the Prophet (PBUH) had clarified at other occasions that he had been given control over the evil attendant and so that evil one is unable to distract him from the Truth. The last Hadith tells that the Prophet (PBUH) was not interested in taste and kept away from eating to full. The words “did not find even bad dates” does not mean that he was deprived of them but that means he ate only when he had the extreme need for it. Here we find a Hadith i.e. 2378 in which it is mentioned that the Prophet (PBUH) showed two stones at his stomach and that was custom then that a person who was affected with hunger, tied a stone to his stomach somehow to compensate for its emptiness as that proved better for the natural posture of the body. Please note that this Hadith is among the weak narrations so we might omit the words narrated here. But, it might be an event at the battle of AHZAAB (trench) when the Prophet (PBUH) is said to have tied a stone or two at the stomach due to stand side by side with Muslims in general as edibles were much scarce at that time and they had to bear hunger. The Prophet (PBUH) stood by Muslims, working with them to break stones to construct the ditch with them; he never asked exception to this construction though SAHABA respected him very highly by their-selves; he lived ordinary with no protocol as that only was his style of living.
TOPIC 40-Richness is contentment of heart
(2380)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Richness does not lie in abundant wealth and property, but richness is the richness at heart (contentment of heart).” [Ah 7320, Bukhari 6446, M 1051, Ibn e Majah 4137]
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This wonderful Hadith might become a matter of study in Psychology. If a person having moderate resources considers whatever is with him is enough for his good living and lives on within those without any complaint, then he certainly is like a king who lives with all ease at life. His attitude of living on his own resources with patience makes him truly rich; in contrast, such among the rich persons who complains of shortage of funds for this and for that, he truly is a poor man; the Hadith tells that the true Belief with assets for necessity at hand, is the most superb thing for the Muslim person as it diminishes his liabilities.
TOPIC 41-Taking wealth rightfully
(2381)-Abu Walid reported that he heard Sayyidah Hawlah bint Qays (RA) wife of Sayyidina Hamzah ibn Abdul Muttalib say that she heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “Surely, this wealth is green and sweet. He, who gets it rightfully, there is blessing in it for him. And there is many an encroacher in it desiring for himself from the wealth of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) but there is nothing for him on the Day of Resurrection but the Fire.” [Ahmed 27386, Bukhari 3118]
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TOPIC 42-About the slave of the dinar and the slave of dirham
(2382)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah is reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “Cursed is the slave of the dinar. Cursed is the slave of the dirham.”
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H-2381 tells that the lawful property of the practicing Muslim person, is blessing to him; the person who usurps someone’s property unlawfully, would go to the fire of hell in AKHIRAT as this is one of the greatest sins. Even in the world those who seize possessions of others unjustly, fall into such adversities that lots of money goes in useless expenses that were unexpected; this is the curse that falls by the wrong-doing in this matter. H-2382 points out that whoever is obsessed with collection of money never caring whether he gets it rightly or wrongly with the thought that this only is the true success, he is cursed. To earn the necessary amount of wealth for living is just one of matters of the worldly life; it is not the whole of life. Such person forgets that the true success is at AKHIRAT which he would only get by the true Belief and righteous deeds according to it. The competition in worldly matters is idiocy (that becomes a curse with time) while competition in matters of AKHIRAT is commendable; that truly is the great blessing from Allah. A person is allowed to accumulate wealth that is just enough to provide him safety to fulfill his obligations yet he must not become totally obsessed with material gains putting whole of his precious time to earning of such gains; that certainly is idiocy.
TOPIC 43-Two hungry wolves sent to the herd of sheep
(2383)-Ibn Ka’b ibn MALIK Ansari (RA) reported from his father that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Two hungry wolves sent to sheep do not cause more destruction than a man’s greed for property and honour causes to his religion.” [Ahmed 15784]
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TOPIC 44-The world is not more then a rider resting in shade
(2384)-Sayyidina Abdullah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) slept on a reed mat. He got up and its marks were impressed on his body. We said, “O Messenger of Allah, if (you need) we could fetch for you a bed!” He said, “What have I to do with the world? I am not in this world but like a rider who shades himself under a tree only to move onward and leave it.” [Ibn e Majah4109, Ahmed 3709]
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TOPIC 45-A man is on the religion of his friend
(2385)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A man is on the religion of his friend, so let each of you observe whom he befriends.” [Ah 8034, AD 833]
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H-2383 tells the evil of greed for accumulating wealth & property; it also tells that to ask for honor among people is not praiseworthy; honor means name and fame here and as two wolves destroy number of sheep, these two things destroy many good deeds of a person and even cause much negative effect to his true belief if he is a Muslim. Other Ahadith point out that a person must live as a traveler in this world as it is the path towards the destination but not the destination itself. As a traveler takes the journey just as a matter of few days or weeks so he tries to do well with whatever he gets for his necessities and does not care much about perfection or beauty; the man must live the same way without care for worldly possessions much. He must see what friends he makes as virtuous friends would lead him to height in righteousness as they understand the true aim of life; the unscrupulous friends would only lead him astray.
TOPIC 46-About the son of Aadam, his family and property
(2386)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Three things follow the deceased; two of them return while one remains. His family, his wealth and his deeds follow him. His family and his wealth returns while his deeds remain behind.” [Ah 12081, Bukhari 6514, N 1933]
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TOPIC 47-Eating too much
(2387)-Sayyidina Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say, “A man does not fill a vessel worse than his belly. Enough for the son of Adam are a few morsels to keep his back straight. But, if it is unavoidable then let him apportion one-third for his food, one-third for his drink and one-third for his breath.” [Ahmed 17186, Ibn e Majah3349]
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It is the same message that a person must not care about the worldly life much and he must not eat much. He must care less about taste and more about sustenance necessary for survival; he must only take the HALAAL. Note that Adam (AS) & HAWA (Eve; AS) lost JANNAH due to the eating of something that was prohibited. The point made here is that a person must not eat to the full but leave space (see the topic 20 & 21 at the booklet of food); that is easy to calculate by the enquiry if he could eat all that again that he took-in just now; his answer in affirmative denotes the space. ULAMA that have a leaning towards the practice of DHIKR (recitation of the name of Allah over & over for considerable time) to get spiritual satisfaction, give the guidance to eat less and to sleep less as these work for the spiritual betterment (some of them even guide to speak less); the attention must remain totally towards Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 48-About show-off and fame
(2388)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (R.A) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If anyone is pious just to display his piety, Allah would display it and if he causes it just to be heard, Allah would cause him to be heard.” He also reported that the Prophet said, “If anyone is not merciful to people then Allah is not merciful to him.” [Ahmed 11357]
(2389)-Shufayya Asbahi narrated that I entered Madinah and came upon a man around whom people had gathered. I asked, “Who is he?” They said, “Abu Hurayrah (RA)” So, I went near him till I sat down opposite him while he was narrating Hadith to the people. When he paused and was alone, I said to him, “I ask you by Truth i.e. by Allah, narrate to me a Hadith that you may have heard from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH), understood it and remembered it.” He said, “I will do that; narrate to you a Hadith that Allah’s Messenger narrated to me and I understood it and remembered it.” Then he shrieked and fell unconscious and revived after a while and repeated, “Surely, I will narrate to you a hadith that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) narrated to me in this house, there being no one else with us, only I and he.” Then, Abu Hurayrah shrieked loudly and fell unconscious. He recovered shortly, wiped his face and said, “I will do it. Surely I will narrate to you a hadith that Allah’s Messenger narrated to me. We were in this house, there being no one else with us, besides me and him.” Then he shrieked again loudly and fell unconscious and, as he was falling down on his face, I supported him for a long time. Then he regained consciousness and said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) narrated to me that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah the Exalted, would come down to the worshippers to judge between them and all the ummahs (peoples to whom different Prophets were sent) would kneel down. Among the first of those who are summoned would be a man who had memorised the Qur’an, a man who was slain in Allah’s path and a man who had much wealth. Allah would say to the reciter of Quran, ‘Did I not teach you what I had revealed to My Messenger?’ He would answer, ‘Certainly, O my Lord.’ Allah would ask, ‘So what did you do with what you had learnt?’ He would say, ‘I stood up with it in the night and during day in prayer.’ Allah would say to him, ‘You lie’ and the angels would say, ‘You have lied’. Allah would say to him, ‘Rather, you hoped to be cited as a reciter and that has been done’. The man of wealth would be presented next and Allah would say ‘Did I not give you plenty so that you may not depend on anyone?’ He would confirm, ‘Certainly, O my Lord’. Allah would ask, ‘Then what did you do with that which I gave you?’ He would answer, ‘I joined ties of relationship and gave SADAQAH’. Allah would say to him, ‘You lie’ and the angels would also say to him, ‘You have lied’. Allah would say, ‘Rather, you hoped to be referred to as a philanthropist and that has been done’. Then the one who was slain in Allah’s path would be presented and Allah would ask, ‘Why were you killed?’ He would say, ‘You commanded (us) to wage Jihad in Your path, so I fought till I was killed’. Allah would say to him ‘You lie’ and the angels would say to him, ‘You have lied’. And Allah would say, ‘Rather, you hoped to be called brave and that was done’. After that, Allah’s Messenger patted me on my knee and said, ‘O Abu Hurayrah! They are the first three of Allah’s creatures with whom the fire will be kindled on the Day of Resurrection’. Walid Abu Uthman Mada’ini said that Uqbah ibn Muslim informed me that Shufayya was the very one who had come to Mu’aviah (who was the Caliph of Muslims at the time) and informed him with that. Also Abu Uthman reported from Ata ibn Abu Hakim, the executioner in Mu’aviah’s court that a man came to him and narrated it from Abu Hurayrah. Mu’aviah said, “If that is how these would be treated then how will it be with the rest of men?” Then Mu’aviah wept and he wept profusely till the others around imagined that he would die. They said, “This man has come to us with evil in mind.” Then Mu’aviah recovered and wiped his face and said, “Allah has spoken the truth and His Messenger.” Then he recited the verse that ‘who desires the life of this world and its adornment; we shall pay them in full for their deeds therein, and they shall not be made to suffer (any) loss in it. Those are for whom is nothing in the Hereafter except the Fire. All that they contrive here would be in vain, and void would be that they used to do (the 11th Surah, 15-16)’.
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Hadith 2389 is the clarification for the Hadith 2388 in this topic and also for the Hadith 2390 that is coming ahead here and the bottom-line here is that if a good deed is done without the true belief in Allah; in fact it is done just to show-off and to have name in people without intending to get the pleasure of Allah; such would not be accepted at AKHIRAT. It is a point to note that good deeds without the true belief are not acceptable as first the correctness of the belief (that Allah is the Only True Authority and He would see the account of each & everyone on the Day of Judgment that would take place, as He has informed through His Messengers) is necessary then only the good deeds done according to it, are acceptable. The person who intends to show-off so as to make a good name in people, adversely affects the belief in such manner that after such intention, his good deeds become useless in AKHIRAT though in the worldly life, he might get as he intends. In comments to the verse 15 & 16 of Surah HOUD, the eleventh Surah (and in accordance with this Hadith), ULAMA tell us that those who do good deeds with a wrong belief do get returns in the world but there is nothing for them in AKHIRAT, the true life.
TOPIC 49-No Caption
(2390)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, ‘Seek refuge in Allah from JUBB al-HAZN.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is Jubb al-Hazn?” He said “It is a valley in Hell from which (the rest of) Hell seeks refuge a hundred times each day.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, who will enter it?” He said, “The reciters (of the Quran) who display their deeds.” [Ibn e Majah 2561]
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TOPIC 50-Secret deeds
(2391)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that a man said to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) “O Messenger of Allah, a man performs a deed and keeps it a secret. But when it becomes known, it pleases him.” He said, “He has two rewards, reward for the secret and reward for it being known.” [Ibn e Majah 4226]
(2392)-Sayyidina Anas (RA) reported that a man came to Allah’s Messegner (PBUH) and asked “When will the Hour come?” The Prophet stood up for Salah and when he had finished the Salah, he asked, “Where is he who asked about the Hour?” The man said, “Yes! O Messenger of Allah.” He asked. “What have you prepared for it?” He said, “I have not prepared for it with lenghty Salah or fasting, but that I love Allah and His Messenger (PBUH).” So, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A man is with whom he loves and you will be with him whom you love.” The narrator said, “And I did not see the happiness of the Muslims after Islam like their happiness at this (disclosure).” [Ahmed 12011]
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TOPIC 51-Man will be with one whom he loves
(2393)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “A man will be with one whom he loves. And for him is what he earns.” [Ahmed 12625]
(2394)-Sayyidina Safwan ibn Assal narrated that a villager who had a loud voice came and said,”O Muhammad, a man loves a people but his deeds are not identical to theirs.” Allah’s Messenger said, “A man is with one whom he loves.” [Ah 11813]
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When the Muslim does a good deed for the pleasure of Allah and he never intends to get the appreciation of the world but that he does get without intention to it, he is not liable of blame whatsoever; he would certainly get his reward in AKHIRAT. ULAMA point out that it is better to perform the FARDH, and the WAJIB, and the SUNNAH MUAKKADAH openly for that would be done by all Muslims though for other good works, the good Muslim person must keep secrecy as much as possible; he might disclose his optional SADAQAH (Charity other than ZAKAT) if the privileged persons around, are not caring for their needy fellow beings in the society so that they come to it. The Hadith that points out that a person is with the one whom he loves, is one of the recognized Ahadith even among the ordinary students of Ahadith; the man who asked was a rough AARAABI (dweller of a village of those times) with high voice and unrefined manners; sometimes the people get something good from where it is least expected and SAHABA were very pleased to hear the answer of the Prophet (PBUH). This means that if a Muslim person is lesser in status at AKHIRAT though he has achieved JANNAH, he would be elevated to the higher status of the one at JANNAH whom he loves that has achieved that higher status; it also denotes the other way round that he actually might be able to elevate someone he loves in the status at JANNAH; Al-Hamdu Lillah. Note that it is necessary to prepare for AKHIRAT rather than trying to know its timing. Note well that the chanting about the love for the Prophet (PBUH) itself is not enough to save a person from agonies of the fire of Hell as he has to show the true Belief and good deeds as the Prophet (PBUH) has guided by Islam; if that is not the case then the safety at AKHIRAT is an incorrect notion (like the notion of SHAFA’AT that many such people take to mean that the Prophet PBUH would take out every Muslim sinner from the Hell just by the Prophet’s own will while in actual it means that he would be allowed to take sinners in good Muslims out of Hell by the command of Allah, for whom Allah intends). Those who claim to love the Prophet (PBUH) most highly, they must try to become exceptionally good Muslims; they must take upon them to live in poverty for the whole life by choice living at necessities. Those who took love for Messengers of Allah as enough to save them at AKHIRAT without any care to have true belief in Allah, they have come to living in such manner that denotes little care for their religious obligations if any; this also denotes that they did not have the true love for Messengers as their so-called love for Messengers has only led them to injustice & shameful attitudes.
TOPIC 52-Having good hopes from Allah the Exalted
(2395)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s Messenger said, that Allah, the Exalted, says, “I am as My slave thinks of Me. And I am with him when he calls Me. [Bukhari 7405, M 2675]
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The Hadith here tells us how important it is to remember Allah and that we remember that Allah is merciful and very kind. When we Mulsims say the name of Allah, we remember His Mercy and His Kindness; that even is in the meaning of words Al-Hamdu Lillah (all praise is for Allah). The Holy Book Quran says in the second Surah, “When My slaves ask you about Me so I am nearby; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls Me so they must answer My call and must believe in Me so that they remain at righteousness” (Surah BAQARAH-186).
TOPIC 53-About piety and sin
(2396)-Sayyidina Nawwas ibn Sam’an (RA) reported that a man asked Allah’s Messenger about piety and sin. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Piety is good character while sin is what pinches you in your heart and you dislike that people should know about it.” [Ahmed 17650, Bukhari 295, Muslim 3553]
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When a person lives the life at righteousness with total attention towards Allah, a time comes when he does feel the guilt at any wrong he might commit. Islam is an integrated system of life and taking of its few important commands, leads to the practice of other of its good commands too, without any burden on self; it is according to the voice inside and not a system imposed from outside. Once, all Muslims truly accept the authority of Allah, then Islam eliminates injustice by asking the Muslim man to formulate the law of the land according to commands of Allah (i.e. ADL); and it eliminates shameful filthy things that might ask the Muslim women adversely to show up their beauty; they take up the attitude of reservation with care that their attraction does not affect the man negatively by the set-up of good traditions (i.e. by EHSAAN). SAHABA became well-versed in Fundamentals of Islam by teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) and as such if anything unclear pinched at their hearts, they did understand that this is not in accordance with the good Teachings of Islam; note that Muslims that live at some authority that is uncaring to Islam, they must live at such environment under protest only as Islam certainly is the complete code of life.
TOPIC 54-About love for the sake of Allah
(2397)-Sayyidina Mu’az ibn Jabal (RA) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say that Allah, the Glorious the Majestic, said, “Those who love each other for My Glory will have pulpits of light that Prophets and martyrs would cherish.” [Ahmed 22141]
(2398)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “There are seven whom Allah will provide shade under His shadow on the day when there will be no shade except His shade. (They are) a just Imam; a young man who grew up in worship of Allah; a man whose heart is attached to the mosque when he comes out of it till he returns to it; (each one of) the two men who love one another for the sake of Allah and they meet for that and separate on that; a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes become moist; a man whom a woman of wealth and beauty invites (to sin), but he says, ‘I fear Allah, the Majestic the Glorious’; and a man who gives charity and keeps it a secret so that his left hand does not know what his right has spent (on it).” [Ahmed 9671, Bukhari 660, Muslim 1031]
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H-2397 indicates those who care about Allah’s commands that they keep good relations with all that care about Islam; even the Prophets would appreciate their good status at AKHIRAT. H-2398 in actual means that all good Muslims would get the shade provided by Allah in AKHIRAT as all of good Muslims do find a place here in the seven somewhere but the point to note is that here the Prophet (PBUH) intended to guide towards the merits of high control over adverse temptations. The just Imam (head of matters) controls the temptation to show his authority just for the sake of display how powerful he is; the young person controls the temptation that asks him the attachment to worldly games at his youth yet he lives-on with the remembrance of Allah; the pious MUSALLI controls the temptation to visit places of attraction except for the Mosque to which he remains attached; each of the two business-men meets the other with care to keep their financial transaction fair with disregard to the temptation to get profits unfairly; the repentant man cries on his wrongs committed on temptations from satan remembering Allah truly in silence asking for His Mercy and His Kindness (perhaps the best one among those that are mentioned here as he fights all his adverse temptations collectively then & there); the young youthful man whom a beautiful rich woman call towards the wrong and he declines her offer by fighting out the temptation towards her; the prudent man who shuns the temptation to save his money and gives amounts in charity at the right place with as much secrecy as possible; these all good Muslims are highly praiseworthy as they have good control over adverse temptations; these temptations do not distract them from the righteousness that they had accepted to live upon. Al-Hamdu Lillah.
TOPIC 55-If one loves another, he must tell him about
(2399)-Sayyidina Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If one of you loves his brother, let the one inform him about it.” [Ah 21570, Bukhari 542, AD 5I24]
(2400)-Sayyidina Yazid ibn Nu’amah Dabiy reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said “When a man makes someone his brother, he must ask him his name and the name of his father and to whom he belongs, for this strengthens mutual love.”
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TOPIC 56-About praise and those who praise
(2401)-Abu Ma’mar reported that a man stood up and began to praise one of the amirs. So Miqdad ibn Aswad (RA) poured dust on his face saying, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) commanded us that we should pour dust on the face of those who praise.” [Ah 23885, Bukhari 339, M 3002, AD 4804, Ibn e Majah 3742]
(2402)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) commanded us to the pour dust in the mouths of those who praise.”
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H-2400 asks to apply the psychology to good relations with others; if someone gives attention to issues of other persons sincerely, they do value his friendship and care for him better; MIQDAD ibn ASWAD was among the Ashaab of BADR (those who participated in the battle of BADR; the first war that took place in the month of RAMADHAN). The Hadith narrated by him was at the occasion when someone was praising UTHMAN (RA) at his face and was exaggerating that praise. There are two ways this Hadith has been interpreted; one in its actual words that dust must be poured on such exaggerating persons and the other by a humiliating attitude; this second meaning is preferable to most ULAMA of the current times and by this meaning it seems that MIQDAD (RA) stood up with some difficulty (as he has been reported as heavy person) and said whatever he understood better to humiliate the speaker who was praising UTHMAN (RA) with much exaggeration.
TOPIC 57-Companionship of a Believer
(2403)-Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say; “Do not take as a companion anyone but a Believer and let no one but a God-fearing eat your food.” [Ahmed 11336, Abu Dawud 4832)
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TOPIC 58-Patience in the face of affliction
(2404)-Anas (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “When Allah decides to do good to His slave, he hastens for him punishment in this world. And when He decides to do evil to his slave, He holds back from him (punishment for) his sins till He takes retribution from him on the Day of Resurrection.” And, through this isnad, it is reported from the Prophet. He said, “A mighty reward is associated with a large affliction. Indeed, when Allah loves a people, He afflicts them in trial. Thus, he who is pleased, for him is (His) pleasure, and as for him who is angry, for him is displeasure.”
(2405)-Abu Wail narrated, Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) said, “I never saw hunger on anyone more severe than on Allah’s Messenger (PBUH).” [Ahmed 25453, Bukhari 5646, Muslim 2570]
(2406)-Mus’ab ibn Sa’d reported on the authority of his father i.e. Sa’d (RA) that he asked, “O Messenger of Allah, which people will face trials most?” He said, “Prophets, then those who are more like Prophets, and then those who are much alike to those who are like Prophets. A man is tried according to his religion. If he is firm on his religion then the trial is severe and if he is soft in observing his religion then he is tried according to his religion.Then, the trial does not remove from the slave till he walks over earth having no sin on him.” [Ibn e Majah 4023]
(2407)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said that trials do not cease to afflict the believing men and the believing women in their person, their children and their property till they meet Allah and on them is no sin. [Ahmed 8918]
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TOPIC 59-About losing eyesight
(2408)-Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said that Allah said, “If I take away the two eyes of My slave in the world then the reward for him with me cannot be but Paradise.” [Bukhari 5653]
(2409)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) traced this hadith to the Prophet (PBUH) that Allah, the Majestic and Glorious, said, “When I take away the eye-sight of a slave and he shows patience and looks forward to reward then I shall not be pleased for him with anything less than Paradise.” [Ahmed 7600]
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H-2403 asks the Muslim person to take intimacy to the good people only as he would keep them to virtues and they would keep him to virtues certainly (see also H-2385); other Ahadith here tell us that whatever afflicts Muslim person, that trial becomes reparation for anything adverse that he had committed and this betterment towards purity continues until he becomes totally clean of sins. Afflictions might be trials (for Muslims attentive towards Allah) or they might be punishment (for such persons who are not attentive to Allah). The difference shows in the attitude of both; the former is calm and still remains thankful to Allah with satisfaction inside while the latter complains even more and his despair inside shows clearly. This Hadith might lead to deduction that good men would have lesser trials than those who have done number of sins but this is not the case. Note that when good persons get trials, their position is raised higher in AKHIRAT due to those trials and as such, Prophets are raised higher that would show at AKHIRAT due to the very hard trials they faced at the world as they had no sins to their accounts needing reparation. Ahadith at Topic-59 are an extension to the previous topic; they denote that when a person is afflicted with blindness (especially when he is blind by birth) and still that person works hard in the way of Allah as much as he is capable of, keeping to the True Belief without any complaint, he would be rewarded most highly in AKHIRAT.
TOPIC 60-The Resurrection and remorse for shortfall of piety
(2410)-Sayyidina Jabir reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “On the day of Resurrection, when those who were afflicted with trial are given the reward, those who were safe would wish that their skins had been cut off with scissors in the world.”
(2411)-Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said, “There is no one who dies but reproaches himself.” The Sahaba asked, “And, what is his regret, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “If he was righteous he will regret why he did not increase (his righteousness) and if he was evil then he will regret why he did not pull himself out (of it).” [Nasai 1814]
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Hadith 2410 is a weak narration and the point to note here is that Muslims are not allowed to ask for pains to increase rewards; so please note well that this narration does not mean to ask for troubles at the worldly life in any way. The Hadith ahead tells that the worldly life actually is the time to work for the righteousness as at its end there would only be regret for those who did not comply with the commands of Allah as they should have. Certainly, the time of life at the world is very precious in this meaning that we are given this one life only to prove that we are truly capable to live in JANNAH as after the exit of Adam & Eve (Salam on both) from it, we would only get it by the True Belief we keep about Allah (that He only is the Creator of all creation and He only is the True Authority) when we do have our deeds too according to His Commands; certainly, there is no second chance. This is the true success as the Holy Book Quran says in the third Surah, “Every soul is (to have) taste of death and you would be paid your rewards at the day of Resurrection so whoever is saved from the fire and is entered into JANNAH (Paradise) he has truly triumphed and what is the worldly life but a provision of vanities” (AAL-e-IMRAN-185).
TOPIC 61-Double-dealing in religion and the retribution
(2412)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “In the final of times, there will appear men who would cheat in the world with religion. They will wear for people (to be seen by them) dress of hide of sheep, their tongues will be sweeter than sugar and their hearts will be like hearts of wolves. Allah will say, ‘Do they show arrogance to Me (or are they daring against Me)? I swear by Myself that I will send to them a trial whereby the most forbearing among them would be amazed’.”
(2413)-Ibn Umar (RA) reported the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) that Allah the Exalted says, “Surely I have created creatures whose tongues are sweeter than honey but hearts more bitterly than aloe. I swear by Myself, I will involve them in a trial whereby the forbearing among them would be bewildered. So, are they arrogant before Me (or daring against Me)?”
(2414)-Sayyidina Uqbah ibn Aamir (RA) reported having asked, “O Messenger of Allah how to get salvation?” He said, “Control your tongue, make your place at your home and weep over your sins.” [Ahmed 22298]
(2415)-Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) reported in a Marfu’ form, “When morning dawns on the son of Aadam, all his limbs humble themselves before his tongue and implore (it), ‘Fear Allah for we depend on you. If you stay straight, we are straight, but if you are crooked then we are crooked’.” [Ahmed 11908]
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Ahadith at this topic convey to us that at the time near QAYAMAT, many persons would try to twist the Islamic teachings by their power of speech and writing. They would look trustworthy at face yet they would be as dangerous as wolves inside as they would try to change the belief of good persons. Allah would punish them even in this world in some amazing manner and at AKHIRAT they would be punished even more severely. At such Fitnah, it is much better to keep control over the tongue and not to speak un-necessarily; in fact, the good Muslim person must try to limit roaming about and stay at home as much as possible. There are two liquids that come from the inside of the man that might wash all his sins well; one is the blood that he flows in the way of Allah and the second is tears that come out of his eyes when he remembers his wrongs and asks Allah for His Mercy.
TOPIC 62-Guarding the tongue
(2416)-Sayyidina Sahl ibn Sa’d (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “If anyone guarantees me about what is between his jaws and what is between his legs then I guarantee him Paradise.” [Ahmed 22886, Bukhari 6474]
(2417)-Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) ,”He whom Allah has protected from the mischief of that which is between his jaws and that what is between his legs will enter Paradise.”
(2418)-Sayyidina Sufyan ibn Abdullah Thaqafi (RA) narrated, I said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me something to which I may hold fast.” He said, ‘Say, ‘My Lord is Allah’ and stick to it.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what do you apprehend most from me?” He held his tongue and then (leaving it) said, “This!” [Ahmed 15418, Muslim 38, Ibn e Majah 3972]
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TOPIC 63-Much conversation is bad except remembering Allah
(2419)-Sayyidina Ibn Umar reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Do not engage in much conversation without mention of Allah because that hardens heart and who is hard-hearted, he is the furthest from Allah.”
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TOPIC 64-Speech of the son of Aadam that is against him
(2420)-Sayyidina Umm Habibah (RA) the wife of the Prophet (PBUH) reported that Prophet said, “Every speech of the son of Aadam is against him, not for him, except heightening the reputable and forbidding the evil and remembering Allah.”
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Ahadith at topic 62, 63 & 64 inform clearly about the need to control the tongue and about speaking only where necessary. In any conversation or writing, it is most crucial for the Muslim person that he mentions Allah and remembers His commands as that shows the care he has for those commands in his life. Ahadith point out that the best thing is to recognize that Allah is the Only True Lord; this recognition must show in the practical life of the man. It is said in the Holy Book Quran in the 46th Surah, “Surely those who say, Our Lord is Allah, then they continue on the right way, they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve”(Surah AHQAAF-13). H-2416 here, also guides that the Muslim person must take care about the organ between the legs that means he must keep away from adultery and certainly, he must ask Allah for much high safety against all shameful acts.
TOPIC 65-Giving rights of self, the Lord, guests and family
(2421)-Sayyidina Abu Juhayfah narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) established fraternal ties between Salman and Abu-Darda. Once, Salman visited Abu Darda and observed Umm Darda in a hackneyed condition, so he asked, “What is wrong with you? You seem worn-out?” She said, “Abu Darda has no worldly ambition.” When Abu Darda came, he served the meal to Salman and said, “I will not eat till you eat.” So, he ate. When it was night, Abu Darda stood up in prayer but Salman said to him, “Sleep,” so he slept, but soon got up to pray. Salman said to him, “Sleep”, so he slept. When it was morning, Salman said to him. “Stand up, now.” So, he stood up and they offered Salah and he said, “Indeed, your soul has a right over you, your Lord has a right over you, your guest has a right over you. So give every owner his right.” They came to the Prophet and he related what had transpired to him and he said, “Salman has spoken the truth.” [Bukhari 1968]
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The Hadith tells that piety does not mean to shun all matters that seem worldly to the Muslim person; Islamic Teachings clarify that he has to take the world according to necessity so as to fulfill his obligations, living ordinary. But, it is necessary to see the margin where the necessity starts and the margin where it ends. When the Prophet (PBUH) came to Madinah, he made brotherly ties among one of Makkah (MHUHAJIR) and one of Madinah (ANSAAR) so that the MUHAJIR might feel at ease at Madinah. We have read about the brotherly ties between Abdur-Rahman ibn Auf & Sa’ad ibn Rabi (see H-1940) and as Salman Farsi was the brother to Abu-Darda, he tried to tell him the truth about piety; that was confirmed by the Prophet (PBUH). This event occurred before the command of HEJAB so Salman Farsi saw that Umm-Darda was in hackneyed condition; after the command of HEJAB came, it disallowed to view NA-MEHRUM (unrelated woman whom he is allowed to marry if she is or would have been unmarried); but necessary conversation is still allowed with the NA-MEHRUM women with the required reservation on her part.
TOPIC 66-One who seeks pleasure of people in Allah’s wrath
(2422)-Abdul-Wahhab ibn Ward reported from a man of Madinah who said, “Mu’aviah wrote to Ayshah (RA) ‘Write to me a letter giving me instructions, but do not make it too much over me’. So, she wrote to him, ‘Salam-Alayk; To proceed, I had heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say, “He who seeks Allah’s pleasure in people’s anger, Allah suffices him against people’s confrontaion. But, as for him who seeks the pleasure of the people in Allah’s wrath, Allah entrusts him to the people”; And Salam-Alayk’.
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This Hadith advises well to Muslim leaders; Sayyedah Ayesha, the beloved wife of the Prophet (PBUH), placed it timely to Mu’aviah who was then at the head of administration of Muslims. This folly of caring about the pleasure of the people against the pleasure of Allah is severe mistake and even democracy that is taken to be the best political way today to elect representatives at assemblies, must take care that nothing against Islam is formulated as ruling at the law in the Islamic Society (it is good that Pakistan has the provision at its law that “the Law of the country shall be based on Quran and Sunnah and neither any law shall be enacted nor any Administrative injunction shall be laid down that is repugnant to the Holy Book Quran and the Sunnah” and it also has “any interpretation of the constitution that is against the Quran & the SUNNAH shall not be valid”). It is highly important that people have the freedom of speech (with care that they do not violate the basic human-rights of others) and though that attitude is taken as democratic yet it is within the Islamic manner of living; we all must appreciate it. Note that if we implement three things at democracy to restrict it as we find it today, we would be able to incorporate it in the Islamic Society; one is that “there is no obedience to any person where there is disobedience to Allah”; second is that “there is no competition in assigning of the official status to candidates at the Islamic Society and the elections even take place in such manner that Muslims do not challenge each other for the membership of assemblies here”; third is that “there is no high documentation at different issues of life at the Islamic Society”. The KITAB and SUNNAH (i.e. the Holy Book Quran and the teachings of the Prophet PBUH) provide the reasoning well to these three statements; note well that the basis for the choice of candidate for the job is his competency and honesty; then only, he would do his job well without any injustice where he sees financial benefits (read also my writing “The Islamic Guidelines”). See also any good TAFSIR (commentary on the Holy Book Quran) for verse-39 of 27th Surah i.e. NAML where the Quran says, “One audacious among the jinn said: I will bring it to you before you rise up from your place; and most surely I am competent and honest upon it” and for verse-26 of 28th Surah i.e. QASAS where the Quran says, “Said one of the ladies, O my father! Employ him, surely the best of those that you can employ is the competent, the honest one”. When Muslims generally care about the avoidance of injustice and shameful attitudes then with these three statements that I, MSD, have mentioned, the environment would transform very soon to the Islamic Environment insha-Allah.
(CONTINUED at TIRMIDHI-10)
Presentation by MUHAMMAD SALEEM DADA
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Al-Hamdu Lillah