THE BEQUEST OF GUIDANCE ( )

Transcription

1 ijk THE BEQUEST OF GUIDANCE ( ) [MY GIFT TO GRADE 8 VOLUME 1: NOVEMBER 2005 / SHAWWAAL 1426] - Prepared by Aboo Shaybah This booklet was prepared for my grade 8 students as a gift after Eed al-fitr during term 1 of the school year. During homeroom sessions at the beginning of the school day we read from it, and also made additions and corrections. 0

2 CONTENTS YOU PEOPLE DO ACTIONS 2 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 5 BEFORE ANOTHER 5 OCCUR 3 ABOO THARR AND HIS EMBRACING ISLAAM 4 SOORAH AL-FAATIHAH 9 ADMIRABLE QUALITIES 11 THREE PEOPLE IN THE CAVE 13 ADVICE OF UTBAH IBN GHAZWAAN 15 THE PROPHET AYYOOB 16 ABOO HURAYRAH 20 ALLAAH WISHED TO TEST THREE PEOPLE 21 WHAT IS TAFSEER? 23 THE BOY, THE KING, AND THE MAGICIAN 24 MU AAWIYAH IBN AL-HAKAM AS-SULAMEE 27 THE FOOTSTEPS OF BILAAL IN JANNAH 29 BEFORE SLEEPING 30 LIST OF SOURCES 31 1

3 YOU PEOPLE DO ACTIONS 1 Aboo al-waleed narrated to us saying, Mahdee narrated to us, from Ghaylaan, from Anas (radiyallaahu anhu) who said: Indeed, you people do deeds which seem tinier than a hair in your eyes. Yet, during the lifetime of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), we certainly considered them among al-moobiqaat. Aboo Abdullaah said: by that, he means al-muhlikaat (i.e. sins that will destroy you). In class, we defined some words in the narration. We also defined the word hadeeth and we spoke about what makes up a hadeeth as well as types of narrations. Answer the following. What are the two parts of a hadeeth? What can a hadeeth consist of? 1) 2) 3) 4) Who was Anas and who was his mother? Aboo Abdullaah (the father of Abdullaah) is the kunyah of al-bukhaaree. What is a kunyah? A lesson we derived from this narration is that sins and the things which are haraam should not be treated lightly. They are serious things and they are acts which Allaah may punish some for committing. 1 This is a narration that can be found in Saheeh al-bukhaaree 2

4 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 5 BEFORE ANOTHER 5 OCCUR 2 Take advantage of five things before another five occur: Your youth before you become elderly, Your health before you become ill, Your wealth before you become poor, Your free time before you become busy, And your life before your death.. 2 This is a hadeeth that can be found in the Mustadrak of al-haakim as well as Shu ab al-eemaan of al-bayhaqee. 3

5 ABOO THARR AND HIS EMBRACING ISLAAM 3 'Abdullaah ibn Saamit reported that Aboo Tharr said: We set out from our tribe Ghifaar who look upon the prohibited months as permissible. I, my brother Unays, and our mother stayed with our maternal uncle who treated us well. The men of his tribe became jealous and said, When you are away from your house, Unays commits adultery with your wife. Our maternal uncle came and he accused us of the sin which was conveyed to him, so I said, You have undone the good you did to us. We cannot stay with you after this. We came to our camels and loaded our luggage. Our maternal uncle began to weep, covering himself with a piece of cloth. We proceeded on until we encamped by the side of Makkah. Unays made munaafarah 4 using the camels we had and an equal number above that. They both went to a soothsayer (kaahin) and he chose Unays as the winner. Thus, Unays came with our camels and an equal number along with them. He (Aboo Tharr) said My nephew, I used to observe prayer three years before my meeting with Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). I (Abdullaah ibn Saamit) said: To whom did you pray? He replied To Allaah. I then asked To which direction did you turn your face? He answered I used to turn my face as Allaah directed me to turn my face. I used to observe the night prayer at the time of the end of night and I fell down in prostration like a mantle until the sun rose over me. (Aboo Tharr continued narrating the story) Unays said: I have some work in Makkah, so you better stay here (i.e. where they encamped outside Makkah). Unays went to Makkah and returned to me late. I said What did you do? He said, I met a person in Makkah who is on your religion and he claims that Allaah has sent him as a Messenger. I said: What do the people say about him? He (Unays) said: They say that he is a poet, a soothsayer, a magician. (Aboo Tharr continued) Unays, who was himself one of the poets, said I have heard the words of soothsayers, but his speech in no way resembles those words. I also compared his words to the verses of poets, but such words cannot be uttered by any poet. I swear by Allaah, he is certainly truthful and they are surely liars. Then I (Aboo Tharr) said, You stay here, until I go so that I may see him. He (Aboo Tharr) said: I came to Makkah, I selected an insignificant person from amongst them and said to him, Where is he whom you call as-saabi? 5 3 The following are two long narrations. Both of them can be found in Saheeh Muslim, while the second one can be found in both Saheeh al-bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. 4 Munaafarah means that there are two parties who mutually brag and boast over each other. In addition to this, each side puts down a wager for the contest and a judge is appointed. Whoever is chosen by the judge to be the winner will take the wagers, both his and that of the other person. It should be noted that this prideful bragging and boasting was done in rhyme patterns and poetry, and the winner selected would be the more mighty, forceful, and eloquent of the two in verbally defeating his opponent. [Note the parallel between this practice of jaahiliyyah and what we see in modern day entertainment, specifically street and hip hop culture.] 5 The word saabi was used by the mushrikoon to insult the muslims. It is a word that occurs in the Qur aan and its basic meaning is the one who does not really have any religion. Thus, the kuffaar would insult the muslims using this word as if to imply that the muslims had gone off the true religion, or that they didn t have a real religion. 4

6 He pointed out towards me saying He is Saabi. Thereupon the people of the valley attacked me with blows until I fell down unconscious. I stood up after having regained my consciousness and I thought I was a red idol. I came to the Zamzam well, washed the blood from me, and drank water from the well. O son of my brother (i.e. he s talking to Abdullaah ibn Saamit), I stayed there for thirty nights and days and there was no food for me but the water of Zamzam, and I became so bulky that there appeared wrinkles upon my stomach, and I never felt hunger. During that time, the people of Makkah slept in the moonlit night and there was no one there making tawaaf around the house (the Ka bah) except for two women who had been invoking the name of Isaaf, and Naa'ilah (two idols). They passed me while in their circuit and I said, Marry one with the other, but they did not dissuade from their invoking. They passed me again and I said to them, Put a piece of wood (in the idols' private parts). I said this to them in such plain language since I could not express it in metaphorical terms. These women went away supplicating against me and saying, If only there had been one amongst our people (he would have taught a lesson to you for the obscene words used for our idols). These women met Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and Aboo Bakr who had also been coming down the hill. He asked them What has happened to you? They said Saabi is over there and he has hidden himself between the Ka'bah and its curtain. He asked What did he say to you? They responded He uttered such words that fill the mouth (i.e. they are words so obscene that we cannot express them). Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) came and he kissed the Black Stone and made tawaaf around the House along with his Companion and then observed prayer. When he had finished his prayer, Aboo Tharr said: I was the first to greet him with the greeting of Islaam. I said O Allaah's Messenger! May there be peace upon you (assalaamu alayka yaa rasool allaah). He replied saying May it be upon you too as well as the mercy of Allaah (wa alayka wa rahmatullaah). He then said Who are you? I said, From the tribe of Ghifaar. He leaned his hand and placed his finger on his forehead and I said to myself: Perhaps he has not liked it that I belong to the tribe of Ghifaar. I attempted to catch hold of his hand but his friend, who knew about him more than I, dissuaded me from doing so. He (the Prophet) then lifted his head and said How long have you been here? I told him I have been here for the last thirty nights and days. He asked Who has been feeding you? I said There has been no food for me but the water of Zamzam. I have grown so bulky that there appear wrinkles upon my stomach and I do not feel any hunger. He said It is blessed water and it also serves as nourishment. Afterwards, Aboo Bakr said O Allaah's Messenger, let me serve as a host to him for tonight. Then, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) proceeded forth and so did Aboo Bakr and I went along with them. 5

7 Aboo Bakr opened the door and then he brought for us the raisins of Taa if and that was the first food which I ate there. I stayed there as long as I had to stay, and then I came to the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and he said I have been shown the land abounding in trees and I do not think it can be anything other than Yathrib. You are a preacher to your people on my behalf. I hope Allaah would benefit them through you and He would reward you. I came to Unays and he said What have you done? I said I have embraced Islaam and taken the shahaadah (bore witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah). He replied: I have no aversion for your religion and I also embrace Islaam and bear witness (that none is worthy of worship except Allaah and also to the prophethood of Muhammad). Both of us then went to our mother and she said: I have no aversion for your religion and I also embrace Islaam and bear witness (i.e. take the shahaadah). We then loaded our camels and came to our tribe Ghifaar. Half of the tribe embraced Islaam and their chief was Aimaa ibn Rahadah al-ghifaaree. Half of the tribe said: We will embrace Islaam when the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) comes to Madeenah. Hence, when Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayihi wa sallam) came to Madeenah, the remaining half also embraced Islaam. Then the tribe Aslam came to the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and said, O Messenger of Allaah! We also embrace Islaam like our brothers who have embraced Islaam. Upon that, they also embraced Islaam. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, May Allaah forgive the tribe of Ghifaar, and may Allaah save the tribe of Aslam (from evil or destruction). [That ends the narration of Abdullaah ibn as-saamit. Now we look at another narration which comes from Abdullaah ibn Abbaas below.] Abdullaah ibn Abbaas reported that when Aboo Tharr heard of the advent of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) in Makkah he said, My brother, ride in this valley and bring information for me about the person who claims that there comes to him information from the Heavens. Listen to his words and then come to me. So he rode on until he came to Makkah and he heard the words of the Messenger, and then came back to Aboo Tharr and said, I have seen him exhorting people to develop good morals and his expressions can in no way be termed as poetry. He (Aboo Tharr) replied, You have not satisfied me with what I wanted. Therefore, he took up provisions for the journey and a small water-skin containing water and set forth until he came to Makkah. He went to the mosque looking for Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) whom he did not know, and he did not wish to ask anyone about him. A portion of the night had passed when Alee saw him realized he was a stranger. Aboo Tharr followed him to his house, but neither of them asked the other anything. When it was morning, 6

8 he then brought the water-skin and his provisions to the mosque and spent the day there until it was night, but he did not see the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). He then returned to his sleeping place. Alee passed him again and said, This man has not been able to find his destination yet. Alee let him stand and he took him to his house, but neither of them asked the other anything. On the third day he did the same and he stayed with Alee again. Alee then asked him, Won t you tell me what has brought you here? He replied I will tell you provided you promise me and give me your word that you will direct me. When Alee did that, Aboo Tharr informed him of his purpose. Alee said, Verily, he is truthful and he is the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). When morning comes, follow me and if I perceive any danger threatening you, I will give you a hint by pretending that I am pouring out water. If I move on, you then follow me and enter the place I enter. Aboo Tharr agreed and followed Alee until he entered the place of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and Aboo Tharr entered along with him. He then listened to the speech of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and embraced Islaam on that very spot. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) told him, Go back to your people and inform them (about this religion) until you receive further orders from me. Thereupon he said, By Him in Whose Hand is my life! I shall publicly proclaim my acceptance of Islaam amongst them (i.e. the kuffar). So he set forth until he came to the mosque and then spoke at the top of his voice saying, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. The people then attacked him and knocked him down. Al- Abbaas came and threw himself over him (to protect him) and said, Woe to you! Don't you know that he is from Ghifaar and your trading route to Shaam passes through the settlements of this tribe?!. Thus, he saved him from them. The next day, Aboo Tharr did the same and the people beat him again and al- Abbaas threw himself over him to save him as before. 7

9 LESSONS FROM THE NARRATIONS ABOUT ABOO THARR In class we had mentioned a few things including - The danger of envying others (hasad) and wanting bad for them - Watching what you say, because once a word leaves your mouth you can never eat it back - The munaafarah issue, how it was from jaahiliyyah, and how it relates to music nowadays - The strength and diligence of Aboo Tharr on his deen and in learning, since he learned much in a short time. So much so that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) himself chose Aboo Tharr to go back to his tribe and teach them about Islaam. - Aboo Tharr was one of those people upon the pure nature each person is created upon (i.e. the fitrah), since he prayed to Allaah even before he met the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). - The abhorrence Aboo Tharr had towards shirk (now you need to come up with other lessons to be drawn) 8

10 SOORAH AL-FAATIHAH 6 Aboo Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: If anyone observes prayer in which he does not recite Ummul-Qur'aan, it is deficient and incomplete. [he said this three times]. Aboo Hurayrah was asked, (What about) At times when we are behind the Imaam?. He said, Read it inwardly to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) say : : : : [ : : : [ :» ] : [ : [ : [ ] ] ]. ] «: Allaah, the Exalted, said I have divided the prayer (as-salaah) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for. When he recites (All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.) [ ] Allaah says, My servant has praised Me. When he recites (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) [ ] Allaah says, My servant has glorified Me. When he recites (The Owner of the Day of Recompense.) [ ] Allaah says, My servant has glorified Me, or My servant has related all matters to Me. 6 Taken from a hadeeth that can be found in Saheeh Muslim. 9

11 When he recites (You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.) [ ] Allaah says, This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought. When he recites, [ - ] (Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not the way of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray) Allaah says, This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for. A couple of points to note: - In the hadeeth, the word as-salaah was used to refer to Soorah al-faatihah. - This is a type of hadeeth which is called a hadeeth Qudsee. It is at a level which is between the Qur aan and the Prophetic hadeeth. The Qur aan is ascribed to Allaah in both wording and meaning. The Prophetic hadeeth is ascribed to the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) in both wording and meaning. The hadeeth qudsee is ascribed to Allaah only in meaning, not wording. 10

12 ADMIRABLE QUALITIES 7 Wahb ibn Munabbih said, "Whenever you want to do some actions of obedience to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, then diligently strive to be sincere to Him, as well as being upon correct knowledge. Actions cannot be accepted from someone who does not have the necessary sincerity. Furthermore, sincerity towards Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, cannot possibly be complete without obedience to Allaah. It is just like the delicious fruit whose scent is pleasant and its taste is delectable. The similitude of obedience to Allaah is just the same with sincerity as its fragrance and actions being its taste. Adorn your obedience to Allaah with knowledge, patience and comprehension. Distinguish yourself by rejecting the qualities of the foolish, and subject yourselves to the traits of the scholars instead. Inculcate the actions of those who are gentle and patient, and turn away from the shameless deeds of those who are worthless. Make it a duty upon yourself to follow the conduct of those who have knowledge, and withdraw from the ways of corrupt individuals. Whatever you have that is not needed, then use it to assist those worse off than you. If the one worse off lacks something, then aid and assist him in attaining that particular thing. The wise individual most certainly collects whatever extra he has and then gives it to whoever is worse off than him and he then looks into what might still be lacking in that person and he rectifies those things, fending them off until he has succeeded. If one has sound understanding, he would tolerate the one who had poor understanding if he felt that person wanted his companionship and assistance. If he has wealth, he would give it to those who have none. If he wished for reconciliation, he would ask Allaah to pardon the guilty sinner if he hoped that person would repent. If he strove to have excellence, he would be good and charitable towards the one who behaved in an evil manner towards him, and he would be rewarded on account of that. He should not be deceived by mere speech unless it is accompanied by action, and he should not wish for the fruits of obeying Allaah, while not having acted accordingly. If he obeyed Allaah in a specific instance, he should praise Allaah and ask for that which he did not act upon. Whenever he learns of some wisdom, he is not satisfied with himself until he learns what he has not yet implemented. Whenever he remembers his mistakes and sins, he hides them from the people, and he asks for pardon from Allaah, the One Who has the power to forgive those sins. He does not seek assistance against anything through lies, for indeed dishonesty in speech is like a rotting piece of wood, which looks good on the outside but is rotting inside. Consequently, someone may think that it can be used to carry things, until it is eventually broken by what it is carrying and the one who was fooled by it is killed. 7 These pieces of advice were given by Wahb ibn Munabbih. He was a taabi ee, meaning that he was from the generation after the companions. This has been extracted and adapted from the book Min Wasaayaa as-salaf. 11

13 Such is the case of deceitful speech. One who engages in it remains deceived by it and thinks it will help him in obtaining his need. Thus, he likes using it more and more until that becomes known from him. His deception becomes clear to any intelligent person and the scholars discover that which they had not realized before. So when they become clearly aware of this from him, they deny his reports and reject his testimony. They doubt his truthfulness, despise his kind, and hate sitting with him. They withhold their secret thoughts from him, conceal their speech from him, do not entrust him with anything. They remove their affair from him and assess him accordingly to their religion and way of life. They do not allow him to attend any of their gatherings, nor trust him with any of their secrets, and they do not appoint him as a judge concerning anything that happens between them." 12

14 THREE PEOPLE IN THE CAVE 8 Abdullaah ibn Umar (radiyallaahu anhumaa) has related that he heard the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) recount the following: Three persons of a people before you were on a journey when they were overtaken by a storm. Thus, they took shelter in a cave. A rock slipped down from the mountain and blocked the exit from the cave. One of them said: The only way for deliverance left is to beseech Allaah in the name of some virtuous deed of yours. Thereupon, one of them supplicated, O Allaah, my parents were very old. I used to offer them their nightly drink of milk before my children and the other members of the family. One day I went far away in search of green trees and could return only after my parents had gone to sleep. When I had milked the animals and brought their nightly drink to them, they were fast asleep, but I did not like to disturb them, nor would I give any part of the milk to my children and other members of the family till after my parents had had their drink. Thus, with the vessel in hand, I awaited their awakening till the flush of dawn, while the children cried out of hunger at my feet. When they woke up, they had their drink. O Allaah, if I did this thing seeking only your pleasure, then relieve us of the distress wrought upon us by this rock. The rock then moved a little but not enough to let them pass out. Then the second man supplicated, O Allaah, I had a cousin whom I loved more passionately than any man loves a woman. I tried to seduce her but she refused me. This was until a season of great hardship due to famine. She approached me for help and I gave her one hundred and twenty deenaars on condition that she would yield herself to me. She agreed, and when we got together and I was at the point of having relations with her, she pleaded: 'Have taqwaa of Allaah, and do not break the seal unlawfully'. Upon that, I moved away from her, despite the fact that I desired her most passionately and I let her keep the money I had given her. O Allaah, if I did this thing seeking only your pleasure, then move the distress in which we find ourselves. Again, the rock moved a little but not enough to let them pass through. Then the third supplicated: O Allaah, I hired some workers and paid them their wages. However, one of them departed leaving behind what was due to him. I invested his wages and the business prospered greatly. After a time the worker came back and said, O servant of Allaah! Hand over to me my wages. I said to him, All that you see is yours; camels, cattle, goats and servants. He said, Do not mock me, O servant of Allaah! I assured him saying, I am not joking. So he took all of it sparing nothing. O Allaah, if I did this seeking only your pleasure, then relieve us of our distress. The rock then moved away, and all the three came out of the cave walking freely. 8 Taken from a hadeeth that can be found in both Saheeh al-bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. 13

15 14 LESSONS FROM THE THREE PEOPLE IN THE CAVE

16 ADVICE OF UTBAH IBN GHAZWAAN 9 During a speech he delivered, 'Utbah ibn Ghazwaan said: The world has indeed announced its end and is rapidly departing onwards. Nothing is left of it except a portion similar to the remains of a drink at the bottom of the container from which it is being consumed. You are definitely heading for a land that has no end. Therefore, my noble brothers, go forth with the good of what you have done. We have most definitely been informed that a stone dropped from the edge of jahannam and it had been falling in it for seventy years, still not reaching its lowest depths. By Allaah, that place will surely be filled. Is that not most astonishing? We have been told that the expanse of the doors to jannah is equal to the distance covered by traveling for forty years. Even so, there will surely be a day when an overflowing crowd will be at each door. With all certainty, I have seen myself as the seventh of the seven who were around the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). At the time, the only food we ate was the leaves of trees, such that the corners of our mouths became covered with sores. I picked up my cloak and then tore it, in order to split it between myself and Sa d ibn Maalik. Hence, I put on half of it and Sa'd put on the other half. Yet today, each one of us has become a leader of a vast city. I seek refuge in Allaah from considering myself to be great, while Allaah considers me to be insignificant. 9 This is part of a speech given by the companion Utbah ibn Ghazwaan. He was a companion, meaning that he met the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), accepted Islaam and believed in the Prophet, and also died as a muslim. This speech has been extracted and adapted from the book Min Wasaayaa as-salaf. 15

17 THE PROPHET AYYOOB 10 Allaah the Almighty praised His worshiper Ayyoob in the Qur'aan: «Truly! We found him patient. How excellent a slave! Verily, he turned (to Us) in repentance often!» 11 Ayyoob (PBUH) was repentant, remembering Allaah with thankfulness, patience, and steadfastness. This was the cause of his rescue and the secret behind Allaah's praising him. A group of angels were discussing Allaah's other human creatures, and how those who were humble earned Allaah's pleasure, while those who were arrogant incurred His displeasure. One of the angels remarked: "The best creature on earth today is Ayyoob, a man of noble character who displays great patience and always remembers his Generous Lord. He is an excellent model for the worshipers of Allaah. In return, his Lord has blessed him with a long life and plenty of riches, yet he is never haughty or selfish. His family, his servants, as well as the needy and the poor share in his good fortune; he feeds and clothes the poor and buys slaves to set them free. He makes those who receive his charity feel as if they are favoring him, so kind and gentle is he." Iblees, overhearing all this, became annoyed. He planned to tempt Ayyoob to corruption and disbelief, so he hastened to him. He tried to distract Ayyoob from his prayers by whispering to him about the good things in life, but Ayyoob was a true believer and would not let evil thoughts tempt him. This disturbed Iblees more and thus he began to hate Ayyoob even more. Iblees complained to Allaah about Ayoob. He said that although he was continuously glorifying Allaah, he was not doing so out of his sincerity but to satisfy Allaah so that his wealth should not be taken away. It was all a show, all out of greed. "If You remove his wealth then You will find that his tongue will no longer mention Your name and his praying will stop." Allaah told Iblees that Ayoob was one of His most sincere devotees. Ayyoob did not worship Him because of the favors. Rather, his worship stemmed from his heart and had nothing to do with material things. But to prove to Iblees the depth of Ayyoob's sincerity and patience, Allaah allowed him to do whatever he and his helpers wished with Ayyoob's wealth. Iblees was very happy. He gathered his helpers and set about destroying Ayyoob's cattle, servants, and farms until he was left with no possessions. Rubbing his hands in glee, Iblees appeared before Job in the guise of a wise old man and said to him: "All your wealth is lost. Some people say that it is because you gave too much charity and that you are wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allaah. Others say that Allaah has brought this upon you in order to please your enemies. If Allaah had the capacity to prevent harm, then He would have protected your wealth." 10 This has been extracted and adapted from Stories of the Prophets, the translation of a book by the tremendous scholar named ibn Katheer :44 16

18 True to his belief, Ayyoob replied: "What Allaah has taken away from me belongs to Him. I was only its trustee for a while. He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills." With these words, Ayyoob again prostrated to his Lord. When Iblees saw this, he felt frustrated, so he again addressed Allaah: "I have stripped Ayyoob of all his possessions, but he still remains grateful to You. However, he is only hiding his disappointment, for he places great store by his many children. The real test of a parent is through his children. You will then see how Ayyoob will reject You." Allaah granted Iblees authority, but warned him that it would not reduce Ayyoob's faith in his Lord nor would it decrease his patience. Iblees again gathered his helpers and set about his evil deeds. He shook the foundation of the house in which Ayyoob's children were living and sent the building crashing, killing all of them. Then he went to Ayyoob disguised as a man who had come to sympathize with him. In a comforting tone he said to Ayyoob: "The circumstances under which your children died were sad. Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly for all your prayers." Having said this, Iblees waited anxiously, hoping Ayyoob was now ready to reject Allaah. But again Ayyoob disappointed him by replying: "Allaah sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes pleased and sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial or harmful to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my Creator." Then Ayyoob prostrated to his Lord. At this Iblees was extremely vexed. Iblees again called on Allaah. "O my Lord, Ayyoob's wealth is gone, his children are dead, but he is still healthy in body, and as long as he enjoys good health he will continue to worship You in the hope of regaining his wealth and producing more children. Grant me authority over his body so that I may weaken it. He will surely neglect worshiping You and will thus become disobedient." Allaah wanted to teach Iblees a lesson that Ayyoob was a devoted servant of his Lord, so He granted Iblees his third request but placed a condition: "I give you authority over his body but not over his soul, intellect, or heart, for in these places reside the knowledge of Me and My religion." Armed with this new authority, Iblees began to take revenge on Ayyoob's body and filled it with disease until it was reduced to mere skin and bone and he suffered severe pain. But through all the suffering Ayyoob remained strong in his faith, patiently bearing all the hardships without complaining. Allaah's righteous servant did not despair or turn to others for help but remained hopeful of Allaah's mercy. Even close relatives and friends deserted him. Only his kind, loving wife stayed with him. In his hour of need, she showered her kindness on him and cared for him. She remained his sole companion and comforter through the many years of his suffering. It has been narrated that Ayyoob was a man having much wealth of all kinds: animals, workers and attendants, sheep, vast lands of Haraan and many children. All those favors were taken from him and he was physically afflicted as well. Not a single organ was healthy except his heart and 17

19 tongue, with both of which he glorified Allaah, the Almighty all the time day and night. His disease lasted for a long time until his visitors felt disgusted with him. His friends kept away from him, and people abstained from visiting him. No one felt sympathy for him except his wife. She took good care of him, knowing his former charity and pity for her. Therefore, Iblees became desperate. He consulted his helpers, but they could not advise him. They asked, "How is it that your cleverness cannot work against Ayyoob, yet you succeeded in misleading Aadam, the father of man, out of Paradise?" Iblees went to Ayyoob's wife in the form of a man. "Where is your husband?" he asked her. She pointed to an almost lifeless form crumpled on the bed and said: "There he is, suspended between life and death." Iblees reminded her of the days when Ayyoob had good health, wealth and children. Suddenly, the painful memory of years of hardship overcame her, and she burst into tears. She said to Ayyoob, "How long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to remain without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don't you call upon Allaah to remove this suffering?" Ayyoob sighed, and in a soft voice replied, "Iblees must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me, how long did I enjoy good health and riches?" She replied, "For eighty years." Then Ayyoob asked, "How long have I been suffering like this?" She said, "For seven years." Ayyoob then told her, "In that case I am ashamed to call on my Lord to remove the hardship, for I have not suffered longer than the years of good health and plenty. It seems your faith has weakened and you are dissatisfied with the fate of Allaah. If I ever regain health, I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this day onward, I forbid myself to eat or drink anything from your hand. Leave me alone and let my Lord do with me as He pleases." Crying bitterly and with a heavy heart, she had no choice but to leave him and seek shelter elsewhere. In this helpless state, Ayyoob turned to Allaah, not to complain but to seek His mercy: «"Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy." So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost), and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us."» :

20 Allaah, the Almghty, also instructed: «And remember Our slave Ayyoob, when he invoked his Lord saying: "Verily! Shaytaan has touched me with distress (by losing my health) and torment (by losing my wealth)!" Allaah said to him: "Strike the ground with your foot. This is a spring of water to wash in, cool and a (refreshing) drink." And We gave him (back) his family, and along with them the like thereof, as a Mercy from Us, and a reminder for those who understand.» 13 Ayyoob obeyed, and almost immediately his good health was restored. Meanwhile, his faithful wife could no longer bear to be parted from her husband and returned to him to beg his forgiveness, desiring to serve him. On entering her house, she was amazed at the sudden change: Ayyoob was again healthy! She embraced him and thanked Allaah for His mercy. Ayyoob was now worried, for he had taken an oath to punish her with a hundred strokes if he regained health, but he had no desire to hurt her. He knew if he did not fulfill the oath, he would be guilty of breaking a promise to Allaah. Therefore, in His wisdom and mercy, Allaah came to the assistance of His faithful servant, and advised him: «And take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith (your wife), and break not your oath." Truly! We found him patient. How excellent a slave! Verily, he turned (to Us) in repentance often!"» : : 44 19

21 The situation between him and his mother ABOO HURAYRAH 15 Aboo Hurayrah said: My mother was a mushrikah and I called her to Islaam. I spoke to her one day and she said to me something about Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) which I hated. I went to Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) weeping and said, O Messenger of Allaah! I invited my mother to Islaam but she did not accept my call. I invited her today but she said to me something which I did not like. Supplicate to Allaah that He may set the mother of Aboo Hurayrah aright. Upon that, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, O Allaah, set the mother of Aboo Hurayrah on the right path. I came out quite pleased with the supplication of Allaah s Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and when I came near the door of our house it was closed from inside. My mother heard the noise of my footsteps and she said, Aboo Hurayrah, wait in your place. I heard the noise of falling of water. She took a bath, put on a shirt, quickly covered her head with a headdress, opened the door and then said, O Aboo Hurayrah, I bear witness to the fact that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. Aboo Hurayrah continued, I went back to Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) while shedding the tears of joy. I said, O Messenger of Allaah! Be glad, for Allaah has responded to your supplication and He has set the mother of Aboo Hurayrah upon the right path. He (the Prophet) praised Allaah, and extolled Him and uttered good words. I said, O Messenger of Allaah, supplicate to Allaah so that He may instill love in the hearts of the believers for my mother and I, and that He let our hearts be filled with love for them. Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, O Allah! Place love for these two servants of yours in the hearts of Your believing worshippers. And also fill their two hearts with love for Your believing worshippers. Abu Hurayrah said, This supplication was so well granted by Allaah that no believer was ever born who heard of me and who saw me except that he loved me. How he managed to narrate the greatest number of hadeeth Al-A'raj reported that he heard Aboo Hurayrah as saying, You are under the impression that Aboo Hurayrah transmits a multitude of narrations from the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). Allaah is the Great Reckoner! I was a poor man and I served Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) making do with meager provision. On the contrary, the muhaajiroon were occupied with transactions in the market, and the ansaar had been engaged looking after their properties. In addition, Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) once said, He who spreads the cloth would not forget anything that he would hear from me. Therefore, I spread my cloth until he narrated something. I then pressed it against myself, and I never forgot anything that I heard from him. 15 Taken from the narrations about him in Saheeh Muslim. 20

22 ALLAAH WISHED TO TEST THREE PEOPLE 16 Aboo Hurayrah (radiyallaahu anhu) relates that he heard the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) say: There were three persons from the Banee Israa eel. One was a leper, the other was bald headed and the third was a blind person. Allaah wished to test them, so He sent to them an angel. The angel came to the leper and asked him, what thing do you like best? He replied: A fine colour, good skin, and to be rid of what makes me loathsome to people. The angel ran his hand over his body, his disease vanished, and was given a fine colour. The angel further asked him, which property do you like best? He responded: Camels or cows. (Note: one of the subnarrators is uncertain). The man was accordingly given a she-camel ten months pregnant; and the angel said: May Allaah bless it for you. Then the angel went to the bald-headed man and asked him, what thing do you like best?. The man replied: Beautiful hair and to be rid of what makes me loathsome to people. The angel ran his hand over him and his disease vanished, and was granted beautiful hair. Then the angel asked him which property do you like best? The man said: cattle. Hence he was given a pregnant heifer, and the angel then said: May Allaah bless it for you. Then the angel came to the man who was blind, and asked him: what thing do you like best?. He replied: I wish that Allaah restore my sight to me so that I may see people. The angel ran his hand over him and Allaah restored his sight. Then the angel asked him: which property do you like best?. The man said: sheep. Thus, he was given a pregnant ewe. In due course, these animals gave birth, eventually producing flocks and herds so that one man had a valley full of camels, the other had a valley full of cattle and bulls, and the third had a valley full of sheep. Later on, the angel came in the form of a leper, to the one who had previously been a leper and said to him: I am a poor and needy person, having exhausted all my provisions during the course of my journey. I now have no means left to reach my destination except by Allaah and then by you. I beg you, by the One who has bestowed upon you such fine colour, beautiful skin and property, to furnish me with a camel which would enable me to complete my journey. The man replied: I have many obligations to fulfil. The angel said: I think I recognize you. Were you not once an impoverished leper, who was shunned by people, and Allaah enriched you? The man said: I have inherited this property from my ancestors. The angel said: If you are speaking a lie, may Allaah return you to your former condition. Then he came in the form of a bald man to the one who had been bald, and said the same as he had done previously. He received a similar reply. Thus, he said: If you are speaking a lie, may Allaah return you to your former condition. 16 Taken from a hadeeth that can be found in both Saheeh al-bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. 21

23 Then the angel went in the form of a blind man to the one who had previously been blind and said to him: I am a poor traveler. All my provisions have been exhausted during the course of my journey I now have no means left to reach my destination except by Allaah and then by you. I beg you, by the One who restored to you your eyesight, to furnish me with a sheep which would enable me to complete my journey. The man said: Indeed, I was blind and Allaah restored my eyesight. Therefore, you may take whatever you wish and leave whatever you wish. I swear by Allaah, I shall not refuse you anything you may wish to take for the sake of Allaah, the Most Mighty and Majestic. The angel said. Keep what you have. You have all been put to a test, and Allaah is certainly pleased with you and angry with both of your companions. LESSONS FROM THIS NARRATION 22

24 WHAT IS TAFSEER? Literally, the word tafseer means explanation and clarification. Essentially, it has to do with explaining or uncovering the meaning of specific speech or wordings. In its technical sense, tafseer is the explanation of the Speech of Allaah, in order for certain things to take place. The Speech of Allaah, namely the Qur aan, is explained so that: The intended meaning is comprehended Allaah is obeyed in His commands and prohibitions Guidance and direction can be drawn from it Lessons are taken from the narratives contained The reader is affected by its admonitions The basic method of performing tafseer would be the following: Look to the Qur aan to explain itself One part of the Qur aan explains another part. A verse in one place might explain a verse somewhere else. However, if you are unable to find this then Look to the explanation of the Sunnah Look to the speech and explanations of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) to explain the meanings of the verses of the Qur aan. If you can t find this then Look to the words of the Companions (Sahaabah) They witnessed revelation and learned at the hands of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). If you still cannot find the meaning then Look to the words of the Successors (Taabi oon) They were the students of the companions. If they all agreed upon a particular meaning, then it can be taken. However, if they had divergent views, then none can be given preference over another. In such case where there are divergent views, one can then Look to the explanation in the language of the Qur aan This is the Arabic language which may shed light on what was intended. 23

25 THE BOY, THE KING AND THE MAGICIAN 17 EXPLANATION ABOUT AS-HAAB AL-UKHDOOD MENTIONED IN SOORAH AL-BUROOJ Suhayb ar-roomee (radiyallaahu anhu) relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Among the ancient peoples there was a king who had a magician (saahir). When the latter grew old, he said to the king. Since I am getting old, please depute a young man whom I could teach magic. Accordingly, the king sent a young man to him to be taught the art of magic. Along the young man's way to the magician lived a monk (raahib) with whom the boy used to sit and listen to his talk. He was so pleased with the discourse of the monk that every time he went to the magician, he would sit with the monk on the way. This would make him late. The magician would therefore, beat him, and the young man complained about that to the monk who told him: When you are afraid of the magician say to him My people detained me. Whenever you fear some questioning from the people of your house, say to them I am late on account of the magician. This strategy continued for some time until one day when the young man saw that a huge beast had blocked the passage of the people. The young man said to himself. Now I can ascertain whether the magician is better or the monk. So he took up a stone and said: O Allaah! If the practice of the monk is more to your liking than the practice of the magician, then slay this beast, so that the people can pass. He then hurled the stone at the beast and killed it, thus enabling the people to pass. The young man told the monk of this, who then said to him: O my son! Today you have taken a lead over me and I think that now you have arrived at a stage when you might be harmed. Should that happen, do not disclose my whereabouts. The young man started curing people suffering from blindness from birth, leprosy and other diseases. This news reached a royal courtier who had become blind. He went to the young man bearing many presents and said, All this will be yours if you will cure me. The young man said to him, I do not cure anyone. It is Allaah alone who grants cure. If you have eemaan in Allaah, I will supplicate to Allaah and He will grant you health. As such, he declared his faith in Allaah who restored his sight as a result. Thereafter, He went to the royal court and sat there as usual. The king asked him who has restored your sight? The man answered, my Lord. The king inquired; Do you have a Lord besides me? He replied, Allaah is your Lord as well as my Lord. The king ordered the courtier to be arrested and tortured until he disclosed information of the young man. Hence, the young man was brought before the monarch who said to him, My son, have you become so adept in magic that you can cure people suffering from blindness, leprosy and other ailments?! The boy said, I do not cure anyone. It is Allaah who heals. Then he was also arrested and tortured till he disclosed information of the monk. 17 Taken from a hadeeth that can be found in Saheeh Muslim. 24

26 The monk was summoned and told, Renounce your deen!, but he refused. The king sent for a saw which was placed in the middle of the monk's head and he was cut down in two. Thereafter, the King's courtier was sent for and was told, Renounce your deen!. He also declined. As a result, the saw was placed in the middle of his and he was cut down in two. Then the young man was brought forward and it was said to him, Renounce your deen, but he also declined to do so. The king, entrusting the young man to his men, instructed them, Take him to such and such mountain and when yon reach the top, and if he still refuses to renounce his deen, throw him down from the top. They took him and ascended the mountain. There he (the young man) supplicated, O Allaah! Save me from them in whatever manner You deem fit. Accordingly, the mountain shook and the king's men fell off. The young man came back walking to the king who asked, What has happened to your companions? He answered: Allaah has saved me from them. He was then handed over to another group of men who were told, Take him in a small boat to the sea and in case he refuses to abandon his deen, then hurl him into the sea. As such, they took him along with them, and he said, O Allaah! Deliver me from these persons in whatever manner You may wish! The boat sank with its load, the king's men were drowned, and the young man again walked back to the king who asked him, What have your companions done? He answered, Allaah has rescued me from them. He (the boy) added, You will not be able to kill me unless you do what I tell you, and the king inquired, What is that? The young man answered, Assemble the people in an open space and hang me from the trunk of a palm-tree. Then take an arrow from my quiver, place it in the middle of a bow, and say In the name of Allaah, the Lord of this young man and then shoot the arrow at me. If you do this you will be able to kill me. The king proceeded accordingly. The people were made to assemble in an open space, the young man was hanged from the trunk of a palm-tree, the king took an arrow from his quiver, placed it in the middle of a bow and said, In the name of Allaah, the Lord of this young man, and he shot it. The arrow struck the young man in the temple. He raised his hand to his temple and died. Seeing this, the people said We declare our faith in the Lord of this young man. The king was informed, Look! What you have apprehended has now happened! The people have declared their faith in the Lord of this boy. The king ordered trenches to be excavated on both sides of the roads and for fire to be lit in them. He then announced that any person refusing to forsake his faith be thrown into the fire-lit trenches, or it be said to him Jump in. This went on until a woman came forward with an infant of hers and she hesitated to be thrown in the fire whereupon the infant said. O Mother! Be steadfast, for you are upon the truth. 25