The wonders and marvels in the Holy Quran

Marvels and Wonders

A Fascinating Book Containing Quranic Anecdotes and Marvels

Authored by Sheikh-ul-Hadees Hazrat Allamah Maulana Abdul Mustafa A’zami

(1333-1406 AH / 1912-1985 CE)

Presented by Majlis Al-Madina-tul-Ilmiyah -

Department of Referencing (Dawat-e-Islami)

Translated by Majlis Tarajim (Dawat-e-Islami)

in the Holy Quran

القرآن برائب القرآن مع غائعج

C

Marvels and Wonders in the Holy Quran English Translation of Ajayib-ul-Quran ma Gharayib-ul-Quran

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright © 2013 Maktaba-tul-Madinah

No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording

or otherwise, without formal permission of Maktaba-tul-Madinah.

Author: Maulana Abdul Mustafa A’zami Translator: Translation of Majlis Tarajim Edition: First Date of publishing: - ISBN: 978-969-579-554-5 Publisher: Maktaba-tul-Madinah

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Email: [email protected] –[email protected] Phone: 92+21-34921389-93 – 34126999 Fax: 92+21-34125858

iii

Table of Contents

Transliteration Chart ............................................................................ vii

Foreword ................................................................................................ viii

Translator’s Note .................................................................................. ix

Why was it written? And what was written? ..................................... x

Marvels and Wonders in the Holy Quran

1. Heavenly staff .................................................................................. 1

2. A stone that sprint ........................................................................... 8

3. Field of Tayaĥ ................................................................................... 12

4. Glittering hand ................................................................................. 14

5. Mann and Salwā ............................................................................... 15

6. 12,000 Jews turned into apes .......................................................... 16

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 19

7. The most precious cow of the world ............................................. 20

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 23

8. Seventy thousand dead resurrected .............................................. 25

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 28

9. Stayed dead for a hundred years and then came back to life ...... 30

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 36

10. The blissful box ............................................................................. 36

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 39

11. Resurrection of the slaughtered birds .......................................... 41

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 43

12. The kingdom of Ṭālūt .................................................................... 44

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 46


iv

13. How Dāwūd الم ه �لي الس became a king ............................................. 47

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 49

14. Maryam’s arch ................................................................................ 50

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 53

15. Maqām-e-Ibrāĥīm.......................................................................... 54

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 56

16. Four miracles of Ḥaḍrat ‘Īsā الم ه �لي الس ............................................ 57

17. Ḥaḍrat ‘Īsā الم in the heavens ................................................ 61 �ليه الس

18. Christians fled from Mubāĥilaĥ (casting Allah’s curse) ............ 64

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 67

19. Five thousand angels in battlefield ............................................... 70

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 73

20. The first murderer and the first murdered ................................. 74

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 78

21. Crow taught to bury the dead ....................................................... 79

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 80

22. The divine feast .............................................................................. 81

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 83

23. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s proclamation of Tawḥīd (Monotheism) .. 85

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 87

24. Five consecutive punishments upon the followers of Pharaoh 88

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 94

25. She-Camel of Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ي الم ه �ل الس ....................................... 96

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 98

26. Windstorm on people of ‘Ād ........................................................ 100

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 103

27. Inverted city .................................................................................... 104

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 108

Table of Contents

v

28. Calf of Sāmrī ................................................................................... 109

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 112

29. Mountain over heads ..................................................................... 113

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 114

30. Tongue hung over the chest ......................................................... 114

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 118

31. Sayyidunā Yūnus الم ه �لي الس in stomach of fish ............................... 119

32. Testimony by a Four Months Baby .............................................. 125

33. Shirt of Sayyidunā Yūsuf الم ه �لي الس ................................................. 127

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 131

34. Summary of Sūrāĥ Yūsuf .............................................................. 133

35. How Makkaĥ became established? .............................................. 145

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 149

36. Wife of Abū Laĥab could not see Holy Prophet ......................... 150

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 152

37. Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf (companions of cave) ............................................ 152

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 159

38. Brief account of journey of Majma-Al-Bahrain .......................... 160

39. Żul-Qarnaīn and Yājūj Mājūj ....................................................... 166

40. Tree of Maryam and stream of Jibrāīl ............................................. 171

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 172

41. First speech of Sayyidunā Īsā ........................................................ 172

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 173

42. Sayyidunā Idrīs الم ه �لي الس .................................................................. 174

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 176

43. From river waves to mother’s lap ................................................. 177

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 179


vi

44. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s demolishing of idols ................................... 180

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 184

45. Trial of Sayyidunā Ayyūb ي الم ه �ل الس ................................................ 185

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 188

46. Sayyidunā Sulaymān الم ه �لي الس and an ant ...................................... 188

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 190

47. Sayyidunā Sulaymān’s woodpecker.............................................. 192

48. How did the throne of Bilqīs arrive? ............................................ 195

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 197

49. Extraordinary death of Sayyidunā Sulaymān .............................. 198

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 200

50. The bad end of Qārūn ................................................................... 202

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 205

51. Romans will dominate after being dominated ............................ 206

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 207

52. Storm of Ghazwaĥ Aḥzāb ............................................................. 208

Moral lesson.................................................................................... 211

53. Flood of the people of Sabā ........................................................... 212

vii

Transliteration Chart

L/l ل Ř/ř ڑ A/a ء

M/m م Z/z ز A/a ا

N/n ن X/x ژ B/b ب

S/s س P/p پ و

V/v, W/w

Sh/sh ش T/t ت

/ ہ /ۃ Ṣ/ṣ ص Ṫ/ṫ ٹ Ĥ/ĥ ھ

Y/y ى Ḍ/ḍ ض Š/š ث

Y/y ے Ṭ/ṭ ط J/j ج

Ẓ/ẓ A/a ظ Ch چ

U/u ‘ ع Ḥ/ḥ ح

Gh/gh I/i غ Kh/kh خ

Ū/ū و�ہ F/f ف D/d د

Ī/ī ى �ہ Q/q ق Ḋ/ḋ ڈ

K/k ك Ż/ż ذ Ā/ā ا�ہ

G/g گ R/r ر

viii

Foreword ه لـ� لـ ـحمـد وجل ال عز We are striving to reproduce the books of our late

scholars in proper text and context. In this connection, many booklets of Imām-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat Al-shāĥ Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān محن الـر رمحة have been published (with minor editing) and عـليهapplauded by the readers. Baĥār-e-Sharī’at, Volume 1 has also been published.

Now, this book, Ajāyib-ul-Quran ma Gharāyib-ul-Quran [English version: Marvels and Wonders in the Holy Quran] is being presented. It has been authored by His Excellence Shaykh-ul-Ḥadīš ‘Allāmaĥ ‘Abdul Muṣṭafā A’ẓamī محن ر ـ ة ال ليه رمح ـع . The Quranic anecdotes have been described by him in a very interesting manner in this book.

In order to meet the standards of the modern publications, the book has been scrutinized in the light of source books. The references have been updated and translation of verses of the Holy Quran are quoted from Kanz-ul-Īmān, a translation of the Holy Quran by A’lā Ḥaḍrat Aḥmad Raḍā Khān محن ر ـ ة ال ليه رمح ـع .

We invoke in the blessed court of Almighty Allah وجل ز to عbless us with the enthusiasm of striving to reform ourselves as well as the people of the entire world by acting upon the Madanī In’amāt and by travelling in Madanī Qāfilaĥ. May Allah وجل عزbestow all departments of Dawat-e-Islami, including the Department, Al-Madīna-tul-Ilmīyaĥ with blessings and progress.

ا بج

مني

ھ ا

مني

اال

� � ا الن

ص

ل لـ�

ا� عا يه تع

لم � و

س

و

ix

Translator’s Note Dear Islamic brothers! Dawat-e-Islami’s Majlis-e-Tarājim, a department responsible for reproducing the books and booklets of Amīr-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat founder of Dawat-e-Islami Shaykh ‘Allāmaĥ Maulānā Abū Bilal Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri Razavi يـه ـعـالـ ال بـركـاتـهـم into various languages of the world, is دامـتpleased to present the book ‘Ajāyib-ul-Quran ma Gharāyib-ul-Quran’ in English under the title of ‘Marvels and Wonders in the Holy Quran.’

Although any translation is inevitably a form of interpretation, we have tried our level best to convey the thought of the author in its true sense. To facilitate the pronunciation of Arabic letters, a transliteration chart has been added. Terms of Islamic Jurisprudence have not been translated as a caution because in most cases, an English word cannot be a fully juristic substitute.

This translation has been accomplished by the grace of Allah Almighty ل وج ز by the favour of His Noble Prophet ,ع

ـ�ه تـعاىل عـليه والـه وسـلمصـ� الـل and the spiritual support of our great Shaykh, the founder of Dawat-e-Islami, ‘Allāmaĥ Maulānā Abū Bilal Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri Razavi ـعـالـيـه If you find .دامـت بـركـاتـهـم الany shortcoming in this work, it may be a human error on the part of the Translation Majlis, and not the author of the original book. Therefore, if you find any mistake or shortcoming in this book, kindly notify us in writing at the following postal or email address with the intention of earning reward (Šawāb).

x

��ا�� و� ��

� و� ��

Why was it written? And what was written?

In Rabī’-ul-Awwal 1400 AH, some reverend Islamic scholars of Aĥl-e-Sunnat expressed their desire entailing a request that I should write an easy translation of Holy Quran in a simple language. In those days, I was victimized with the fit of paralysis for the first time and therefore, I sought an apology with the plea of my poor decrepit health and exclaimed to them that if they had diverted my attention towards it couple of years ago, then by all means I would have started working on this task; but now at the present when the paralysis and feeble old age has completely shattered my energies—such a huge task is very difficult for me to execute. Afterward, few of my dear acquaintances suggested me that if I could not write the complete translation of the Holy Quran, then following the patterns of ‘Nawādir-ul-Ḥadīš’; it will be very useful academic task to write translation and annotation of some verses of the Holy Quran with contextual explanations.

This task was very easy for me. Therefore, with a strong determinative faith and trust in Allah وجل ز .I started this work ,عI had just managed to write a manuscript of approximately one hundred pages when haphazardly, on 13th December 1981, I was struck with paralysis attack again for the second time while sleeping. This very fit paralyzed my left hand and foot so


xi

relentlessly that it made these limbs motionless. Immediately, with the assistance of two students, I was brought to my house at my village Gĥausī from Brown Sharīf by a jeep. I remained bedridden for a couple of months, but very soon, there was grace and compassion unto me by Almighty Allah وجل that I started عزto feel movement in my hand and foot and after the passage of three months, I was in a position to stand up. I gradually recovered and started going to Masjid for my daily congregational prayers as well as the Friday prayers. Therefore, the manuscript that was left incomplete due to my sickness now has been completed and presented to the readers with the title ‘Ajāyib-ul-Quran’ (Marvels of the Holy Quran).

This collection is comprised of 65 such miraculous and strange anecdotes that are briefly discussed in the Glorious Quran and are chosen from different chapters of the Holy Quran. Furthermore, a detailed description has also been provided relevant to these anecdotes and the lessons that are hidden in it are also presented under the heading of ‘moral lesson’.

I supplicate in the court of Allah وجل that may this nineteenth عزbook of mine also receive the blessings of acceptance like my other books and become beneficial for the humanity. May this effort become useful for the Hereafter, a means of forgiveness for me, my parents, teachers, students, acquaintances and my disciples and may make my maternal grandson Mawlvī Faḍal-ul-Ḥaq a practising Islamic scholar, bless him with good rewards as

he assisted me in editing and publication of this book. (

مني (ا

I have written this book in such physically feeble conditions that it is very hard for me to even walk but ه لـ� ـحمـد لـ my right hand is ال


xii

working and my head and heart are in perfect condition — my treatment is also in progress. The readers and the audience are requested to pray for me that may Allah وجل grant me recovery عزsoon so that I may continue the work of teaching Aḥādīš, writing the religious books and sermons till my final hour.

وما ذلک � اهللا بعر�زو�وحس� و نعم ا�و�يل وا�مداهللا

� خ�خلقہ والہ و صحبہ ا�يعنرب

العلم� و ص� اهللا تعا�

(‘Abdul Muṣṭafā AlAzmī ع� عن�)

C

1

1. Heavenly staff This is the blessed staff of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس which is عـليـهcommonly known as ‘Aṣā-e-Mūsā’. There were many such miracles performed by Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالمعـليـه الـس through it which have frequently been described by the Holy Quran with diverse topics again and again.

The history of this holy staff is very ancient and contains hundreds of such historical events which consist of thousands of signs of advice and moral lessons which are shining like the brilliant stars. Those who possess the spiritual insight can gain the light of guidance through them.

The staff was as tall as Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم ـليـه الـس -i.e. ten arms ,عlength [approx 15ft]. Its head was split into two branches that would emit the light at night similar to a lamp. It was made from the heavenly tree of Salvadora Persica [Pīlū] and Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم س .brought it with him from the Paradise عـليـه الـ

The glory of the blessed staff is discussed by Sayyid ‘Alī Ĥajwaīrī in his couplets:

م

مكرات ال

ب س الن

اال

م لمو� من

اد

او

ص

ع

ال

و

عود

زل ال

ان

ه

ع

م

م ظ المع

� ليمن الن

سم

خت

ة و بمك

مني

ي

ال و

اق تني

اور

و

Translation: Five things descended from the Paradise with Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم Awd (the fragrant wood), the blessed‘ :عـليـه الـسstaff of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم which was made of the prestigious عـليـه الـسwood of Salvadora Persica [Pīlū], the leaves of the fig-tree, the Black Stone (Ḥajar-e-Aswad which is placed in Makkaĥ-e-


2

Mu’aẓẓamaĥ), and the blessed ring of the exalted Prophet Sulaymān ـالم These five things were descended from the .عـليـه الـسParadise. (Tafsīr-al-Ṣāwī, vol. 1, p. 69; Al-Baqaraĥ, verse 60)

After Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم the holy staff was consecutively ,عـليـه الـسpassed on as a prophetic heritage to many distinguished Prophets one after the other. Then finally, it reached Sayyidunā Shu’aīb ـالم who was a Prophet sent to the people of Madyan. When ,عـليـه الـسSayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس ,migrated from Egypt to Madyan عـليـهSayyidunā Shu’aīb ـالم got his daughter, Sayyidatunā Ṣaffūrā عـليـه الـس عنها عاىل ت اهللا ـالم married with Sayyidunā Mūsā ر� س الـ Sayyidunā .عـليـهMūsā ـالم س الـ ـالم served Sayyidunā Shu’aīb عـليـه الـس for ten years عـليـهand would herd the goats of Sayyidunā Shu’aīb ـالم س during عـليـه الـhis stay. At that time, upon receiving the command of Allah وجل ,عزSayyidunā Shu’aīb ـالم س gave the blessed staff to Sayyidunā عـليـه الـMūsā ـالم س .عـليـه الـ

Then when Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ left Madyan for his عـليـهhomeland [Egypt] in the company of his wife and reached in the sacred valley of ‘Tuva’, Almighty Allah وجل blessed him with عزa glimpse of His Divine Light and raised his rank by bestowing him with the Prophethood. The Holy Quran delineates how Almighty Allah وجل ـالم addressed Sayyidunā Mūsā عز س at that عـليـه الـtime in the following words:

يمو�� ﴿

بيمينك

ك بها ﴾۱۷و ما تل

هش

يها وا

ا �ل

و

و�

ت

صاي � ا

�� ع

ال

ق

ري

خرب ا

ن�� و �� فيها ما

� غ

�� ﴿۱۸﴾

‘And what is this in your right hand, O Mūsā?’ He said, ‘This is my staff; I support myself on it, and I knock down leaves for my sheep with it, and there are other uses for me in it.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 16, Sūraĥ Ṭaĥa, Verse 17-18)


3

In the context of ری اخ

ارب

that were done through (other uses) م

the staff; Sayyidunā ‘Allāmaĥ ‘Abū-ul-Barakāt ‘Abdullaĥ bin Aḥmad Nasfī يه عاىل �ل :has stated in its annotation that رمحة اهللا ت

1. Holding it and walking with its support

2. Talking to it for entertainment

3. The staff becoming a tree and providing a shade during the daytime

4. In the night time, the two forked branches of the staff would glow and provided a source of light.

5. Use it as a protection against enemies, wild beasts, snakes and scorpions.

6. At the time of drawing out water from a well, the staff would turn into a rope and its two forked branches would turn into a bucket.

7. As and when required the staff would turn into a tree and began bearing desired fruits.

8. Water emerging out upon embedding the staff into the ground. (Madārik-ul-Tanzīl, vol. 3, p. 251; Part 16, Sūraĥ Ṭaĥa, Verse 18)

Although Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم -used to perform the above عـليـه الـسmentioned tasks with the blessed staff but when Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم went to the court of Pharaoh to guide him towards عـليـه الـسthe right path, wonderful miracles started to occur through the blessed staff. Pharaoh refuted Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم by calling عـليـه الـسhim a magician. The Holy Quran has mentioned three of those miracles time and again, which are as following.


4

Staff became a serpent: The story behind this is that on one occasion, Pharaoh initiated a huge carnival and gathered all of the magicians of his kingdom in order to defeat Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس In the midst of this carnival which was crowded with .عـليـهhundreds and thousands of people, at one side stood a huge number of magicians holding their tools of magic in their hands and on the other side, stood Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س all alone عـليـه الـand determined against all of them. The magicians swore by the grace of Pharaoh and threw their sticks and ropes onto the ground. Suddenly, those sticks and ropes became hissing snakes and started slithering all over the field. The whole crowd lost their senses due to the fear and horror and started running here and there. Pharaoh and all of his magicians swelled with arrogance upon demonstrating their show and began to clap arrogantly in their believed victory. Meanwhile, upon receiving the command of Allah وجل ز ـالم عـليـه Sayyidunā Mūsā ,ع الـس placed his blessed staff among the snakes. The blessed staff turned into a gigantic and horrifying snake that swallowed all of the snakes of the magicians. Upon witnessing this miracle, all of the magicians admitted their defeat and fell prostrate while

proclaiming ‘ �و م

و

ون

ب هر

ا بر ن

i.e. ‘we accept faith in the ’امOne Who is the Rab of Ĥārūn and Mūsā’. Therefore, while mentioning this incident, the Holy Quran says:

�� و ل

ن ت

ا

ا

� ام وا يمو��

ال

�ن ق

�

ن ن

ا

ا

ام

ل

و

� ﴿ من ا

�

ل

ا ﴾۶۵ا

اذ

وا � ف

ق

ل

ا

بل

ال

ق

��

� و عصي

�

حبال

ل

ي

�

ها �

ن

يه من ��ر�� ا

س�� ال

وجس ﴾۶۶﴿ �

ا

سه ف

ف

�� ن

و�� ﴿ م

ة

� ﴾۶۷خيف

نا �

ل

ق

ك

ان

ف

�

�﴿�

��

�

ا�

ت

ن

﴾۶۸ا

ف

ق

ل

ت

ق ما�� يمينك

ل

و ا


5

الس ��

� يف�ر � و �

�

يد

ما صنعوا �

حر اما صنعوا � ان

� ﴿ حيث

�

�� ﴾۶۹ا

ل

ا

ف

او

ال

ا ق

د

�

�

حرة

رون الس

ا برب ه

�ن

﴾۷۰مو�� ﴿ و ا

They said, ‘O Mūsā, either you throw first - or shall we throw first?’ He said, ‘Rather, you may throw’; there upon their cords and their staves, by the strength of their magic, appeared to him as if they were (serpents) moving fast. And Mūsā sensed fear in his heart. We said, ‘Do not fear - it is you who is dominant.’ ‘And cast down which is in your right hand - it will devour all that they have fabricated; what they have made is only a magician’s deceit; and a magician is never successful, wherever he comes.’ Therefore all the magicians were thrown down prostrate - they said, ‘We accept faith in the One Who is the Rab of Ĥārūn and Mūsā.’


Emergence of water upon the stroke of staff: Syria was the native country of Israelites (Banī Isrāīl) - but these people settled in Egypt during the reign of Sayyidunā Yusuf ـالم س الـ and the عـليـهpeople of ‘Amāliqaĥ dominated Syria who were the worst of unbelievers. When Pharaoh perished in the River Nile and Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس was secured from the tyrannies of عـليـهPharaoh, Almighty Allah وجل commanded him to do Jiĥād عزagainst the people of ‘Amāliqaĥ and free Syria from their domination. Therefore, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالمعـليـه س الـ mobilized an army of six hundred thousand Israelites and left for Jiĥād. However, when the Israelites reached within the boundaries of Syria, they became so terrified of the people of ‘Amāliqaĥ that they gave up and turned their faces away from Jiĥād. As a consequence of disobeying the command of Allah ل وج ز the ,عIsraelites were punished in such a way that they went straying and wandering on the plains of Tayaĥ for forty years and could


6

not get out of it. Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالمعـليـه الـس also stayed with them in that field. When those people became restless due to the thirst and hunger in the field where no signs of food and water existed, Allah ل وج ز descended ‘Man-o-Salwā’ for them from عthe skies upon the supplication of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم ـليـه الـس .ع

Mann was a type of sweet confectionary similar to honey and Salwā was roasted quails. After eating, when they became restless due to extreme thirst and started to ask for water, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالمعـليـه س الـ struck a rock with his staff. Immediately, twelve springs emerged from the rock. The twelve tribes of Banī Isrāīl began drinking water from their individual springs, and also served this water to their cattle. It continued for forty years. It was a miracle of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم that occurred with the عـليـه الـسhelp of the blessed staff and stone. The Holy Quran describes this miracle and states:

�جر �

ا�

عصاك�ب ب

نا ا�

ل

ق

ومه ف

� مو�� لق

س�

و اذ اس�

ينا �

ع�ة

�

نتاع

�نهاث

جرت

ف

ان

� � ف

�ب�

�

اس م

ن

ا

ل

�لم �

د

ق

And when Mūsā asked for water for his people, We said, ‘Strike this rock with your staff';’ thereupon twelve springs gushed forth from it; each group recognised its drinking-place.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 60)

Stroke of staff split the Niles: Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم preached عـليـه الـسto Pharaoh for a long time and showed him many signs and miracles. However, he did not accept the truth and grew even further in his mischief and stubbornness. The Israelites did not accept Pharaoh as their Lord; therefore, he tyrannized over the believers to a great extent. During this persecution, a divine revelation was revealed at one upon Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه ع


7

directing him to migrate from Egypt with Banī Isrāīl overnight. Therefore, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم left Egypt overnight in the عـليـه الـسcompany of Israelites.

When Pharaoh came to know about it, he also mobilized his army to arrest the Israelites. When the two armies came close to each other, the Israelites shrieked with the fear of Pharaoh and thought they would now be captured by Pharaoh. The prevailing conditions of the Israelites were very serious because they were confronted by the river with the tidal waves in front of them and the bloodthirsty army of Pharaoh behind them. Under these worrying circumstances, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس was relaxed and was consoling the Israelites. When عـليـهthey approached the river, Allah وجل commanded Sayyidunā عزMūsā ـالم س الـ to strike the river with his staff. Therefore, the عـليـهmoment he struck the river with his blessed staff, the river split into twelve clear roads. The Israelites safely walked over these twelve paths and crossed the river.

When Pharaoh reached the river and saw the twelve roads, he went onto the roads along with his army. However, when he and his army reached the middle of the river, suddenly the huge waves rose and levelled the surface of the roads. Consequently, Pharaoh drowned into the river, along with his army. The Holy Quran mentions the incident in these words:

�ب

� ا

ال

ن ق

�مع

رآء ا�

ا ت

م

ل

ف ون ﴿

ر�

مد

ا ل

� ان � ﴾۶۱مو��

م�� ر�

� � ان

�

�

ال

ق

ان ﴾۶۲سيهدين ﴿�

ف

ق

ل

ف

ان

�ر � ف

�

ال

�ب بعصاك

ن ا�

� ا � مو��

ا�

وحينا

ا

ف

عظ�� ﴿ود ال

الط

فرق �

ل

�۶۳﴾

خ

�

م ا�

نا ث

ف

ل

ز

و ا �ينا مو�� و من ﴾۶۴رين ﴿

�

و ا


8

﴿ �جمع�

ا

عه

﴾۶۵م رين ﴿

خ

�

نا ا�

رق

غ

م ا

ان ﴾۶۶ث

� و ما �

ية

�

�

لك

�� ذ

ان

﴿ ��ن�

ؤ

� م

��

�

�

﴾۶۷ا

And when the two groups saw each other, those with Mūsā said, ‘They have caught us.’ Said Mūsā, ‘Never! Indeed my Rab is with me, He will now show me the way.’ So We sent the divine revelation to Mūsā that, ‘Strike the sea with your staff’; there upon the sea parted; so each part was like a huge mountain. And We brought the others close to that place. And We saved Mūsā and all those with him, then drowned the others. Indeed in this is surely a sign, and most of them were not Muslims. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 19, Sūraĥ Shu’arā, Verse 61-67)

These are the three wonderful miracles that occurred through the sacred staff of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ which have been ,عـليـهmentioned in the Holy Quran frequently in different contexts to provide moral lessons as well as admonition for people.

( لمواا� اع

هللا تع )

2. A stone that sprint It was a square stone measuring one arm-length [approx. 1.5ft] by one arm-length. Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس would always عـليـهcarry it in his bag. Two miracles of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ عـليـه

occurred through this blessed stone which have also been mentioned in the Holy Quran.

The first miracle: The first strange anecdote of this stone which in reality was the miracle of Sayyidunā Mūsā was its long intelligent run. And the discovery of this stone is due to the occurrence of this miracle.


9

The comprehensive anecdote of this incident is that it was the tradition of Banī Isrāīl to bathe nude publically. Although Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس who was also a member of the same عـليـهsociety, was born and raised in the same environment, Allah ل وج ز raised his ranks by blessing him with the dignified status عof Prophethood. Therefore, how could the dignified modesty of Prophethood bear such immodesty and filthy tradition? Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ was very much against and fed up عـليـهwith the immodesty of the Banī Isrāīl. He would either bathe in isolation or by covering his body with a sheet. When Banī Isrāīl saw that he had not yet taken bathe nude, the wicked people accused him by saying that he had a white mark of leprosy on his private parts or had some kind of deformity on his body which he concealed by not getting undressed in public. The wicked people openly announced this accusation so much that there was not a corner to which the rumors about Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم ـليـه الـس ـالم had not reached. He ع س was very عـليـه الـmuch grieved and saddened due to this accusation. But how Allah ل وج ز can bear to see his beloved Kalīm in such state of عgrief and anxiety! And how Allah وجل ز can like to see his عhonourable Prophet being falsely accused! The Most Merciful Rab وجل ـالمعـليـه created such means of freeing Sayyidunā Mūsā عز الـس

from such accusations and declaring the purity of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ that completely repelled the evil plans and عـليـهdoubts of Banī Isrāīl. The evidence of his purity and freedom from accusations was more evident than a shining sun that brightens the entire world.

This took place when Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس went to bathe عـليـهat a hidden spring of water in the midst of the mountains to bathe. After making sure that there is no sign of any human being, he placed his blessed clothes on a stone and proceeded


10

to bathe completely nude. After he finished, he returned to the stone to wear his clothes. He saw that the stone was running away, taking his clothes with it! Upon seeing this, Sayyidunā

Mūsā ـالم الـس ‘ also ran after it, saying عـليـه ثو� ر

ج

، ثو� ح

ر

ج

ح ’ i.e. O

stone, my clothes! O stone, my clothes! The stone kept on running. It ran to the extent that it entered the main avenues of the city and eventually ran into the small alleys of the city. Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس kept on following the stone whilst عـليـهhaving no clothes on. This way, the youth and adults of Banī Isrāīl witnessed with their own eyes that the blessed body of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس .had no deformity from head to toe عـليـهAnd instead, every limb of the blessed body of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس had reached such heights of perfection and beauty عـليـهthat it was impossible to find such example among ordinary

people. Therefore, they all exclaimed: اسابمو� من ب

م

اهللا

i.e. by و

Allah ل وج ز ـالم Mūsā ,ع .is flawless عـليـه الـس

When this stone completely justified the innocence of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه it automatically stopped. He (Sayyidunā Mūsā ,عـالم .straightaway dressed up and put this stone in his bag (عـليـه الـس(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb-ul-Ambīyā, vol. 2, chapter. 30, pp. 442, Ḥadīš 3404;

Tafsīr as-Ṣāwī, vol. 5, p. 1659; Part 22, Sūraĥ Al-Aḥzāb, Verse 69)

Almighty Allah وجل has described this anecdote in Holy Quran عزin the following words:

وا مو��ذ

ذين ا

ال

وا �

�ن

�

� ت

وا �

��

ذين ا

ها ال

يوا � ي�ا

ال

ا ق

�� ه ا��

ا

�

�

ف

� وجيها ا��

ان عند

و � ﴿۶۹﴾


11

O people who believe! Do not be like the people who troubled Mūsā – so Allah freed him from the allegations they had uttered; and Mūsā is honourable in the sight of Allah.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 22, Sūraĥ Al-Aḥzāb, Verse 69)

The second miracle: In the plains of Tayaĥ, it was the same stone that Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالمعـليـه س الـ struck with his blessed staff and consequently, twelve springs of water emerged from it. Banī Isrāīl used this water for forty years. A comprehensive description of this stone has been mentioned in the previous

chapters. In the verse of the Holy Quran � جر�

ا�

بعصاك

�ب

نا ا�ل

ق

’stone‘ ,ف

refers to the same stone.

Remedy of a doubt: The deniers of the miracles judge everything based on their weak intellect. They deny the miracle of emergence of the springs of water from the stone by considering it to be impossible and say that our intellect cannot accept the fact that the twelve springs of water emerged from such a small stone.

Even though, these deniers witness with their own eyes that Allah وجل ز has blessed some stones with the characteristics of عremoving hair, some make vinegar more bitter and sour, some have magnetic power that can attract metal from distance, some make poisonous animals run away, some can work as antidotes for poison of the animals. Certain stones can even provide relief in cardiac palpitations, some do not burn nor heat up, some can even produce flame and there is eruption of volcano from some stones! So when Allah وجل has bestowed stones with such various عزeffects, then why is it so difficult to accept the fact that Allah ل وج ز ـالم blessed the stone of Sayyidunā Mūsā ع س الـ with such عـليـهeffects? Perhaps Allah وجل ز blessed it with the characteristic of عabsorbing water from inside the earth and manifesting it in


12

the shape of springs. Or probably this stone had the effect that the breeze that would come across it would flow constantly in the shape of water. It is not beyond the power of Allah ل وج ز .عAnything could have happened. As by Allah’s decree, anything can take place. Therefore, to believe in this miracle of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ is from the necessities of faith and to deny it is عـليـهprofanity. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

قق

ما �ش

�نها ل

�ر � و ان

ن

�

ا�

ر �نه

ج

ما يتف

�جارة ل

من ا�

رج و ان

�

�

ف

� �ية ا��

ش

من خ

ما يهبط

�نها ل

مآء � و ان

ال

�نه

For there are some rocks that rivers gush forth from them; and some that water flows from them when they split as under; and there are rocks that fall down for the fear of Allah.


Anyways, water coming from the stones is a common observation then why it is difficult for one’s intellect to accept the fact of the springs of water coming from the blessed stone of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س .عـليـه الـ

3. Field of Tayaĥ After Pharaoh drowned into the River Nile and all Banī Isrāīl became Muslim, and when Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س was blessed عـليـه الـwith tranquility and peace of mind, Allah ل وج ز ordered him to عenter the Holy Land (Bayt-ul-Muqaddas) with Banī Isrāīl. At that time, Bayt-ul-Muqaddas was under the domination of the people of ‘Amāliqaĥ who were the worst of unbelievers, very sturdy warriors and very cruel.

Therefore, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ left for Jiĥād against the عـليـهpeople of ‘Amāliqaĥ with six hundred thousand people of Banī


13

Isrāīl but the moment Banī Isrāīl reached in the vicinity of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, they became coward and started exclaiming that there are Jabbārīn (‘Amāliqaĥ) in this city, who are very strong and powerful, therefore, we will not enter the city at all until these people remain inside the city. Banī Isrāīl said to Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم ـالم even up to this extent, ‘O Mūsā عـليـه الـس ,عـليـه الـسyou and your Rab should go and fight with such powerful people; we will stay here.’ Such comments from Banī Isrāīl made Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس very much grieved and he requested to عـليـهAlmighty Allah وجل ز :as ع

﴿ �سق�

ف

وم ال

ق

� ال

بيننا و ب�

رق

اف

�� ف

�� و ا

ف

� ن

ا�

ملك

ا

�

� �

﴾۲۵رب ا�

‘O Rab! I have no control except over myself and my brother, so keep us separated from the disobedient nation.’ (Do not count us among them).

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Sūraĥ Mai’daĥ, Verse 25)

In response of this invocation of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس ,عـليـهAlmighty Allah وجل ز :exposed his wrath and anger and said ع

�

� سنةربع�

ي�� ا

�ل

مة �ر

ها �

ان

رض � ف

�

وم يتيهون �� ا�

ق

� ال

س ��

ا

� ت

�

ف

﴿ �سق�

ف

﴾۲۶ال

‘The (holy) land is therefore forbidden for them for forty years; they will wander in the earth; so do not grieve for these disobedient people.’


As a repercussion, these six hundred thousand Banī Isrāīl wandered in the field for forty years, but could not get out of it. This field is called the ‘field of Tayaĥ’. ‘Mann and Salwā’ was also descended in the same very field for Banī Isrāīl and when Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ,struck his staff over the stone عـليـه


14

twelve springs of water gushed out of it. This anecdote has been narrated in the Holy Quran with different contexts time and again; among which, in Sura Maida, this anecdote has a comparatively full description which undoubtedly is an excellent anecdote that consists of the descriptions of the deviation and disobedience of Banī Isrāīl. But despite all this, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس remained being affectionate towards Banī Isrāīl that عـليـهwhen these people were exhausted due to extreme hunger and thirst in the field of Tayaĥ, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس invoked عـليـهfor them and had the Mann and Salwā descended for them. Afterwards, he also made twelve springs of water emerge by striking his staff on the stone. From this anecdote, we can have an idea of how patient, placid and tolerant Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم .was عـليـه الـس

4. Glittering hand When Allah وجل ـالم sent Sayyidunā Mūsā عز in the court of عـليـه الـسPharaoh for his guidance, Allah وجل blessed Sayyidunā Mūsā عزـالم الـس with two miracles at that time. One of which was ‘the عـليـهsacred staff’ and other being the miracle of ‘the glittering hand’. When Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ used to put his hand in the عـليـهneck of his shirt, upon drawing it out, it began to glow! When he would place his blessed hand again in the neck of his shirt, it would restore its original condition. The Holy Quran has mentioned this prophetic miracle frequently in different chapters. One example of this is mentioned in Sūraĥ Ṭaĥa:

ري ﴿

خ ا

ية

ء ا

� سو

�

آء من غ

رج بيض

�

�

� جناحك

ا�

ك

مم يد

﴾۲۲و اض

�ي�

يتنا ا��

من ا

�يك

ل� ﴿۲۳﴾


15

‘And put your hand inside your armpit - it will come out shining white, not due to any illness - one more sign.’ ‘In order that we may show you our great signs.’


This miracle is known as ‘يدبيضاء’ (the glittering hand) and is a unique and a great miracle. Sayyidunā Ibn-e-‘Abbās اهللا تعاىل عنه ام ر� has narrated that during the day and night, Nūr (light) would radiate from the sacred hand of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ as it عـليـهdoes from the sun. (Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, p. 563; Part 16, Sura Ṭaĥa, Verse 22)

5. Mann and Salwā When Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس was living along with six عـليـهhundred thousand people of Banī Isrāīl in the field of Tayaĥ; Allah وجل .descended two divine feasts for them from the sky عزOne of which was ‘Mann’ and other named ‘Salwā’. Mann was a type of halva (sweet dish) resembling white honey or it may actually have been white honey which descended from the sky every day in the shape of rain. Salwā, on the other hand, were cooked quails that used to descend from the skies with the southerly wind. Whilst stating the blessings bestowed upon the Banī Isrāīl, Allah ل وج ز :has stated in the Glorious Quran ع

�ي

�

و الس

منم ال

يك

نا �ل

زل

ن

و ا

‘And sent down Manna and Salwā on you’ [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 57)

It was commanded by Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس to eat Mann عـليـهand Salwā on a daily basis and not to preserve or keep any for next day at all. But some people having a weak faith became worried that if Mann and Salwā do not descend some day, then


16

we will be left to starve to death in the plains of this field where no signs of food and water exist. Therefore, they began to secretly preserve some of the food for the following day. Due to the consequence of disobeying the command of a Prophet, the food they stored rotted and the blessings of Mann and Salwā stopped. That’s why the Holy Prophet واله اهللا تعاىل �ليه وسلم ص� said that ‘had Banī Isrāīl not existed, neither food would get spoiled nor would meat have rotten’. The decay of food and meat rotting started since then. Otherwise, prior to that, neither food would spoil nor would meat rot. (Tafsīr Ruḥ-ul-Bayān; Part 1, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ,

Verse 57)

6. 12,000 Jews turned into apes It is narrated that seventy thousand men from the people of Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم س الـ used to live in the sea-side village عـليـهof Eīlaĥ, near Uqbaĥ. These people were living a luxurious and prosperous life. Allah وجل tested them by way of prohibiting عزthem from fishing on Saturday (the day of Sabbath) and permitted them to catch fish on all other days of the week. He وجل ز tested عtheir faith by way of making many fish appear during the day of Sabbath and making none appear during other days.

However, upon listening to the whispers of Satan, they began to dig drains from the sea to the land, resulting in the formation of ponds on the dry land. Satan further misguided them by giving them the evil idea that on Sabbath (Saturday), when fish come into the pond through these drains, close the passage of the drains and do not catch fish that day. Instead, capture them with ease the next day. They liked this satanic idea but they did not realise the fact that the day when they captured fish in ponds, that was considered to be their capturing there and


17

then. Therefore, capturing fish turned out to be on the day of Sabbath (Saturday) which Allah وجل .had prohibited for them عز

On this occasion, Jews divided into three group:

i. There were some who restrained themselves from fishing according to the command of Allah وجل and attempted ,عزto tell others to do the same. They showed anger and hatred towards this disobedient act.

ii. Another group disliked and hated this act but remained silent. They did not restrain people from indulging in it. They instead said to those who tried to stop them that why you advice such people that Allah وجل is either about to عزdestroy or going to inflict His severe torment upon them.

iii. There were also some insolent and disobedient people who openly opposed the commandment of Allah وجل by عزfollowing the evil temptation of Satan by fishing on Saturday. They ate as well as sold those fish.

When the disobedient people did not refrain from their evil act despite being forbidden from it, then those who attempted to stop them said that they would no longer keep any ties with them. Therefore, they built a wall to separate themselves from the wrongdoers. The village was divided and separate entrance and exit were made.

Wrathfully, Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم س الـ .cursed the hunters عـليـهConsequently, no one among the disobeyers came outside the next day. Some people climbed up the wall to see them and saw that all of them were deformed into the apes. When people entered by opening the door of wrongdoers, the apes would recognise their relatives, come close to them and sniff their


18

clothes and weep bitterly. But people would not recognise the ones turned into apes. Those who became apes were twelve thousand in number. They lived for three days and could not eat or drink anything in between and all of them died starving out of thirst and hunger. The group of people who restrained from fishing remained safe from annihilation. And the correct saying is that Allah ل وج ز also saved those from this annihilation عwho considered it evil in their hearts and remained silent. (Tafsīr-us-Ṣāwī, Vol 1, p 72; Part 2, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 65)

The Holy Quran describes this anecdote in detail in the following verse of Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ:

بت

م �� الس

وا �نك

تد

ذين اع� ال

�لم�

د

ق

ول

وا قردة

ون

� ك

�

نا ل

ل

ق

ف

�س��

﴾۶۵﴿ خ

And you certainly know of those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of Sabth (Sabbath - Saturday) - We therefore said to them, ‘Become apes, despised!’


This event is also mentioned in detail in Sūraĥ A’rāf. Its translation is as following:

تي�� وا

ت

بت اذ

ون �� الس

يعد

�ر � اذ

�

ال

حا��ة

ت

ان

� ��

رية ال

ق

� عن ال

�

ل

سـ

�ا و

�

� يوم سبت��

� حيتان

� �سبتون � �

� يوم �

��

ب�

� ن

لك

ذ

تي�� ك

ا

ت

وا يف

ان

ون﴿بما �

﴾۱۶۳سق

� و اذ

�

� مهل�

ا � ا��

وم

ون ق

عظ

� لم ت

ن� �

ة

م

ا

ت

ال

ق

م

� ربك

ا�وا معذرة

ال

ا � ق

ديد

ابا ش

ذ

� ع

ب�

و معذ

� و ا

�

عل

ون ﴿ ل

ق

﴾۱۶۴يت


19

روا به�

سوا ما ذ

ا �

م

ل

ء و ف

و

ذين ينهون عن الس

�ينا ال

�

ذين ا

ا ال

ن

ذ

خ

ا

واان

س� بما �

اب� ب��

موا بعذ

ل

ون ﴿ ظ

سق

﴾۱۶۵يف

نه

هوا ع

ا ن

توا عن م

ا ع

م

ل

ف

��

نا ل

ل

وا ق

ون

ك

� ﴿ قردة

س��

﴾۱۶۶خ

And ask them of the township that was by the sea; when they used to exceed in the matter of the Sabbath - when their fish used to come swimming atop the water in front of them on the day of Sabbath and not come on the days it was not Sabbath; this is how We used to test them, due to their disobedience. And when a group among them said, ‘Why do you preach to a people whom Allah is going to destroy or mete out a severe punishment?’ They said, ‘To have an excuse before your Rab, and that perhaps they may fear.’ And when they forgot the advices they had been given, We rescued those who forbade evil, and seized the unjust with a dreadful torment - the recompense of their disobedience. Consequently when they rebelled against the command to refrain, We said to them, ‘Be apes, despised!’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 9, Sūraĥ A’rāf, Verse 163-166)

Moral lesson We learn how dangerous it is to disobey the commands of Allah ل وج and fall into the trap of Satan. Furthermore, we عزlearn how wretched those individuals are who are cursed by a Prophet of Allah. Their signs get wiped away from the face of the earth by getting caught in the punishment of Allah وجل ز ,عthey become fuel of the Hellfire and become despised in both

worlds. (نعوذ باهللا منه)

There are many lessons and advice that every Muslim can derive from this heart-trembling anecdote of the people of Eīlaĥ. May


20

the fear of Allah وجل thrive in the hearts of Muslims after reading عزthis, give them the enthusiasm to stay away from evil temptations and remain steadfast upon the straight path and become successful in both the worlds by attaining honour and respect.

7. The most precious cow of the world This is a very important and a great Quranic anecdote. And it is due to this anecdote that this chapter is named Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ (the chapter of cow).

The story behind this is that there was a very pious person in Banī Isrāīl who had a young son. He only had a single possession, a calf. Just before his death, the pious individual took the calf to the jungle and left it by a bush, saying ‘O Allah ل ) وج ز I leave this calf under Your protection until my son ,(عbecomes an adult’. After this, the pious person died and the calf grew to a cow with the passage of time and his son grew up to a righteous man who was very obedient to his mother. He had divided his night into three parts: he used to sleep in one part, worship in another and serve his mother in another part. Also, he used to travel to the jungle everyday in the morning to fetch wood which he used to sell. He used to do Ṣadaqaĥ (charity) of one third of his earnings, spend one third on his personal needs and give one third to his mother.

One day, the mother said to the son, “O my beloved son! Your father left a calf for you in his inheritance that he had left near such and such bush under the protection of Allah وجل Now go .عزto that bush and supplicate in this way! ‘O Rab of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm, Ismā’īl and Isḥāq! Return me the possession my father gave under your protection!’ She further said that the calf was


21

yellow coloured; and its skin would be glistening in such a way as though as rays of the sun are emitting from it.”

After hearing this, the boy went to the jungle and supplicated by that bush. All of a sudden, the cow came to him running and stood by him. He brought it home. His mother said, ‘My son! Go to the market and sell this cow for three dinars, but do not sell it to any buyer without consulting me.’ In those days, the common price of a cow was three dinars. A buyer came in the market, who in reality was an angel. The angel said, ‘I will pay you more than three dinars on a condition that you sell me the cow without consulting your mother.’ The boy replied that no matter how much more you offer me, I will not sell the cow without consulting my mother. Reaching home, the boy related the whole event to his mother. She said perhaps the buyer was an angel. Therefore, O son, consult with him whether we shall sell the cow or not.

Thus when the boy consulted with that buyer in the market, he replied not to sell the cow at this moment. He further said that in future, the people of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس will buy this عـليـهcow. He further advised to fill the hide of the cow with gold at that time and to demand its value from them. They will pay the price you wish.

Therefore, after a few days, a very rich person from the Banī Isrāīl, named ‘Āmīl, was killed by his two paternal cousins and they threw his body in a desolate place. The morning after, the search for the murderers began. After getting no trace, people went to Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه .and asked for the murderer عHe ـالم ordered them to slaughter a cow and strike the dead عـليـه الـسbody with its tongue or the bone of the tail and the murdered ‘Āmīl will resurrect and tell you the name of his killer.


22

Hearing this, Banī Isrāīl started to question and argued about the age, etc. of the cow. When they finally understood the type of the cow that was required, they then began the search for it. After they reached the cow of the boy, they realised that this was exactly the same cow as they required. Therefore, they filled the hide of the cow with gold, paid its price and slaughtered the cow. After doing so, they hit the corpse with the tongue or bone of the tail and the dead ‘Āmīl came back to life. He said that his killers were the two sons of his uncle who killed him due to the greed of his wealth. After telling this, he died again. Therefore, both of those killers were killed in return and the child of the pious person who was very obedient to his mother became very rich by earning loads of wealth. (Tafsīr-us-Ṣāwī, Vol 1,

p. 75; Part 1, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 71)

Whole of this incident has been described in the holy verses of the Glorious Quran in the following words:

زوا �

ا هن

�ذ

�

ت

ا ا

و

ال

� ق

رة

�وا بق

�

ذ

ن ت

م ا

��

�

� يا

ا��

ان

ومه

مو�� لق

ال

ق

و اذ

﴿ ��هل�

ون من ا�

�

ن ا

� ا

با��

وذ

ع

ا

ال

نا ﴾ ۶۷ق

� ل

يب�

ك

نا ربع ل

وا اد

ال

ق

�ا

ع�اف

� ف

لك

� ذ

ب�

وان

ر � ع

� بك

�

و

ارض

� ف

�

رة

ها بق

ان

ول

يق

ه

ان

ال

ما�� ق

�ون ﴿�

ؤ

ها ﴾۶۸ما ت

ان

ول

يق

ه

ان

ال

ها � ق

ون

نا ما ل

� ل

يب�

ك

نا ربع ل

وا اد

ال

ق

ظرين ﴿

الن

��ها ت

ون

ل

اق�

�آء � ف

ص�

رة

نا۶۹بق

� ل

يب�

ك

نا ربع ل

وا اد

ال

﴾ق

ينا � و �ل

به

ش

ر �

بق

ال

ون ﴿ ما�� ان

مهتد

� ل

آء ا��

ان ش

ا

﴾۷۰ان

ه

ان

ال

ق

� شية�

مة

� مسل

�رث

س�� ا�

� �

و �

رض

�

� ا�

ث�

ت

ول

ل

� ذ

�

رة

ها بق

ان

ول

يق


23

ادوا يا و ما �

�وه

�

ذ

� ف

�ق

با�

ت

ن جئ

ـوا ال

ال

�ن ﴿فيها � ق

ع�

� ﴾ ۷۱٪ف

�

تل

ق

و اذ

تمون ﴿

ك� ت

ن�

ا �

رج م

�

� �

م فيها � و ا��

رءت

اد

سا ف

ف

�بوه ﴾۷۲ن

نا ا�

ل

ق

ف

�ن ﴿ ببعضها �

عق�م ت

�

عل

يته ل

م ا

� � و يريك

مو�

� ال

� ا��

ي�

لك

ذ

﴾۷۳ك

‘And (remember) when Mūsā said to his people, ‘Allah commands you to sacrifice a cow’; they said, ‘Are you making fun of us?’ He answered, ‘Allah forbid that I should be of the ignorant!’ They said, ‘Pray to your Rab that He may describe the cow to us’; said Mūsā, ‘He says that it is a cow neither old nor very young but between the two conditions; so do what you are commanded.’ They said, ‘Pray to your Rab that He may reveal its colour to us’; answered Mūsā, ‘Indeed He says it is a yellow cow, of bright colour, pleasing to the beholders.’ They said, ‘Pray to your Rab that he may clearly describe the cow to us, we are really in a doubt as to which cow it is; and if Allah wills, we will attain guidance.’ Said Mūsā ـالم الـس ,He says‘ ,عـليـه‘She is a cow not made to work, neither ploughing the soil nor watering the fields; flawless and spotless’; they said, ‘You have now conveyed the proper fact’; so they sacrificed it, but seemed not to be sacrificing it (with sincerity). And (remember) when you slew a man and were therefore accusing each other concerning it; and Allah وجل wanted عزto expose what you were hiding. We therefore said, ‘Strike the dead man with a part of the sacrificed cow’; this is how Allah will bring the dead to life, and shows you his signs so that you may understand!’ [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 67-83)

Moral lesson We have come to know many moral lessons and advice from this anecdote as well as certain rulings. A few among these are as following and are worthwhile to be remembered.


24

1. The possessions left over by the esteemed servants of Allah وجل have a lot of blessings in them. You see, the pious عزman only left one calf behind him but Allah وجل put so عزmuch blessings in it that his heirs received abundant wealth due to that calf.

2. The pious man left the calf under the protection of Allah ل وج ز whilst being compassionate towards his child. So we عalso come to know that being compassionate towards children and leaving them some heritage is the practice of the chosen people of Allah وجل .عز

3. Allah وجل ز provides sustenance in abundance from the عunseen to those who are obedient and serve their parents. We can see how Allah وجل blessed an orphan with prosperity عزand wealth due to being obedient to his mother.

4. One of the reasons for calamities to descend is to show a critical attitude towards the commands of Allah وجل Banī .عزIsrāīl were ordered to slaughter a cow. They could have slaughtered any cow and the order would have been fulfilled. However, they began to argue and started raising questions such as what kind of cow? What kind of colour? How old shall it be? As a result, it became very difficult for them as they had to slaughter such a cow that was very unique. That’s why they had to pay such a huge price for it that no other cow has ever been priced as much and there is no hope either for it to ever be.

5. The one who gives his wealth under the protection of Allah وجل ز وجل He ,ع protects it and puts endless blessings عزin it.


25

6. The one who leaves his kinfolk under the custody of Allah ل وج ز وجل He ,ع nourishes them in such a way that is beyond عزone’s expectation.

7. Sayyidunā ‘Alī عـنه تعاىل اهللا said that the one who wears ر�yellow shoes will always remain happy and will have very few sorrows. Because Allah وجل ز said for the yellow calf عthat ‘it excites the ones that look at it’. (Tafsīr Ruḥ-ul-Bayān

Vol 1, p. 160; Part 1, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ , Verse 69)

8. We also come to know about the animals used for ritual sacrifice that the more beautiful, non-defective and precious

an animal is; the better it is. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

8. Seventy thousand dead resurrected This is an amazing anecdote of the people of Sayyidunā Ḥizqīl ـالم الـس which contains many moral lessons and advice. This عـليـهanecdote is mentioned in the second chapter of the Holy Quran, ‘Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ’.

Who was Sayyidunā Ḥizqīl?: He was the third caliph of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس and gained the dignified rank of the عـليـهProphethood. After Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس left this worldly عـليـهlife, Sayyidunā Yushā’ bin Nūn ـالم الـس became his first caliph عـليـهand Allah ل وج blessed him with the Prophethood. After this عزesteemed individual, Sayyidunā Kālib bin Yūḥanā ـالم ـليـه الـس was عthe second caliph and he too received the rank of Prophethood. After him, Sayyidunā Ḥizqīl ـالم الـس became the caliph as عـليـهwell as a Prophet! Sayyidunā Ḥizqīl ـالم س ـليـه الـ was also known عas ‘Ibn-ul-A’joūz’, meaning ‘the son of an old woman’ and was also known as Żulkifl.


26

The reason behind being called Ibn-ul-A’joūz (the son of an old woman) was that he was born at the time when his mother was very old. And the reason behind being called Żulkifl is that he took seventy such Prophets under his protection and saved them from being killed which the Jew nation had agreed to kill upon. Later on, he too was saved from the sword of Jews with the mercy of Allah وجل and stayed alive for years and continued عزguiding his people. (Tafsīr-us-Ṣāwī, vol. 1, p. 206; Part 2, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ,

Verse 243)

The incident of the resurrection of dead: In the historical context of this narration, it is written that a group of people of Banī Isrāīl used to live in the city of Sayyidunā Ḥizqīl ـالم الـس .عـليـهThese people were overpowered with the fear of death due to the spread of plague in the city. All these people left the city and ran to the jungle due to the fear of death and settled there. Allah وجل عزdisliked this act very much. Therefore, Allah وجل sent an angel of عزtorment to the jungle who hid himself in a mountain. With a loud

shriek, he said: ‘موتوا’ i.e. ‘all of you die’. After listening to this frightening scream, they all suddenly died without any disease. They were seventy thousand in number. These dead people were so large in number that no arrangements for their burial could be made. Their dead bodies remained lying in the open field for eight days due to which, their bodies started to rot and a terrible smell started to spread not only within the jungle but in the surroundings as well. Some people felt pity for the dead corpses and erected a wall around them to protect the bodies from wild beasts.

After a few days, Sayyidunā Ḥizqīl ـالم ـليـه الـس passed by the jungle عand saw the dead bodies. Upon seeing the death of seventy thousand people and seeing them without any burial filled his


27

heart with sorrow. He started to shed tears and supplicated to Allah وجل with a sorrowful heart that: ‘Yā Allah! These were عزmy people who made the mistake to flee from the city to the jungle due to the fear of death. These were all inhabitants of my city whom I have deep love for. They were with me through my good and bad times. Alas, my people are destroyed and I am left on my own. Yā Allah! These were the people who used to proclaim Your praises and used to announce Your oneness.’

Whilst making this supplication with full of humbleness, it was revealed upon him that: ‘O Ḥizqīl, say to these scattered bones that: O bones! Allah commands that you be assembled.’ After Sayyidunā Ḥizqīl ـالم الـس said this, a movement took عـليـهplace amongst the bones and every person’s bones gathered and formed skeletons. Then it was revealed that: ‘O Ḥizqīl, say that O bones! It is an order of Allah وجل for you to wear عزflesh. As soon as they heard this, flesh emerged on their skeletons. Then the third time, it was revealed that! ‘O Ḥizqīl, say that: O resurrected ones! All of you stand up by the command of Allah وجل ز ـالم As soon as Sayyidunā Ḥizqīl .ع عـليـه الـسsaid these words, seventy thousand dead bodies stood up in an instant reciting انك

ح

ب

س

ت

اال ان

الا�

دك

م

بح

و �

الل ! Then all of them

went back to their city from the jungle and lived their lives out for the duration of what was destined for them. However, there were still such great signs of death apparent on them that their children would smell of rotten corpses and any clothes they wore turned into a shroud. Their clothes would get dirty the way the shrouds get dirty in the grave. These signs are still apparent today from the remaining lineage of those Jews.

Allah وجل has mentioned this miraculous and marvellous عزanecdote in Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ in the following words:


28

ر ا

م ت

رجوا من ديار�� و ل

ذين خ

� ال

موت � ا�

ر ال

حذ

وف

ل

� ا

� �

� ا��

�

ل

ال

ق

ف

وا � اس و موت

� الن

ل ��

ض

و ف

ذ

� ل

ا��

� � ان

حيا�

م ا

� ث

�

�

ا

�ن

س � ا

الن

رون ﴿

ك

� �ش�۲۴۳﴾

Did you (O dear Prophet Muhammad - peace and blessings be upon him) not see those who left their homes, whereas they numbered in thousands, fearing death? So Allah said to them, ‘Die’; He then brought them back to life; indeed Allah is Most Munificent towards mankind, but most men are ungrateful.


Moral lesson We learn the following Madanī pearls of wisdom from this anecdote:

1. A man cannot prevent the oncoming death by running away. So an endeavour to escape from it is totally useless. The death that Allah وجل has destined for someone will surely عزarrive at its appointed time. It will not arrive a second before or after. Therefore, it is obligatory on the servants of Allah

وجل ع ز to remain patient and thankful to Allah وجل No matter .عزhow many diseases spread or even in the midst of battle, we shall not become impatient and restless. We should have the firm belief that nobody can kill me and I cannot die prior to the destined time. And when the time of my death arrives, no matter what I do, whether I escape somewhere or run away somewhere, I cannot prevent the oncoming of death in any circumstances.


29

2. In this verse of the Holy Quran, there is a special message for the Mujāĥidīn (those who perform Jiĥād) that either avoiding Jiĥād or attempting to escape from the battlefield, will not let them escape death. Therefore, Mujāĥidīn should remain steadfast with patience and determination in the battlefield and should have stern belief that neither I can die before the appointed hour, nor anyone can kill me before that. Individuals with such belief become so brave that they will never be scared or become coward. They will never shake in their steadfastness. It is due to this passion and belief given by Islām that Mujāĥidīn fought alone and stood like mountains against thousands of unbelievers! They were blessed with victory, great reward, dignity and the booty of war at the end of their efforts. They would return home without even having a scratch on their bodies and would wipe off the signs of unbelievers. Dr. Iqbāl, the Poet of East, has elaborated the enthusiasm of a Mujāĥid:

Ṫāl naĥ saktey tĥay agar jang mayn ař jātay tĥay

Pāon shayraūn kay bĥī maīdān say ukĥař jātay tĥay

Ḥaq say sarkash ĥuwā koī to bigař jātay tĥay

Tegh kyā cheez ĥay ĥam top say lař jātay tĥay

Naqsh-e-touĥīd kā ĥar dil peĥ bitĥāyā ĥam nay

Zer-e-khanjar bĥī yeĥ payghām sunāyā ĥam nay

(Kulliyāt Iqbāl, Bang-e-Darā, p. 164)

Joke: It is narrated that when plague spread in Syria, the king of Bannu Umayyaĥ, ‘Abdul Mālik bin Marwān fled from the city with his army and particular servants in the fear of death. He was so scared that he would not even place a foot on the ground and would sleep on the back of the horse. One night when he could not go to sleep, he asked his servant to tell him


30

a story. The wise servant thought it was a good time to advise

the king and told the following story:

A fox used to live in the company of a lion, for the security

and protection of her life. Due to the fear of the lion, no animal

could even look at the fox. The fox was living a very peaceful

and fearless life with the lion. One day, all of a sudden, an eagle

attacked the fox and the fox ran to the lion. The lion got the

fox to sit on his back. The eagle attacked again and flew away

grabbing it in its claws. The fox called out to the lion. The lion

replied, ‘O fox! I can protect you against the beasts of the earth,

but I cannot save you from the fliers of the sky.’ After listening

to this story, the king learnt a great lesson. He understood that his

army can protect him from the enemies on the earth, but the

trials and tests that come from the sky cannot be protected

against, neither by his kingship, nor by his wealth or army.

And only Allah �� can save him from the hardships descending

from the sky.

After hearing this story, his heart became fearless of getting

infected by plague. He then lived a life of gratitude and

satisfaction in his palace. (Tafsīr Rūḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 1, p. 378; Part 2,

Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 244)

9. Stayed dead for a hundred years and then came

back to life

A majority of the annotators of the Holy Quran have a

unanimous opinion that this anecdote is of Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr

bin Sharkhīyā �� , who is a Prophet of Banī Isrāīl.

The details of this anecdote are that when the wrongdoings of

Banī Isrāīl piled up, Allah’s punishment came to them in such


31

a manner that a pagan king named Bakht Naṣr Bāblī attacked Bayt-ul-Muqaddas with a huge army and killed one hundred thousand inhabitants of the city and forced one hundred thousand of them into the land of Syria, scattering them here and there. The pagan king also captured the same amount of people, making all of them his servants. Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم س was also عـليـه اـلamongst these prisoners. Then the pagan king went on to destroy the whole city of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, leaving it desolate.

Who was Bakht Naṣr?: An infant of the people of ‘Amāliqaĥ was found unattended next to their idol ‘Naṣr’. As the name of the father of the child was unknown, that’s why people started calling him with the name of ‘Bakht Naṣr’ (son of Naṣr). The same child was appointed as a governor by a Babylonian king and eventually became a very big king himself. (Tafsīr-e-Jamal,

vol. 1, p. 321; Part 3, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 259)

After a few days, when Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم was somehow عـليـه الـسset free from the imprisonment of Bakht Naṣr, he mounted on a donkey and entered into his city of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas. Upon seeing his city being destroyed and desolated, his heart became full of sorrow. He began to cry. He went in all four corners of the city but could not see any human being. One thing he saw was that the trees full of fruits which were ready to be consumed but there was no one around to pluck the fruit. Upon seeing this, the following statement came out of his blessed tongue out

of sadness: وتهاد م

ع

ب

هذھ اهللا

�

وجل i.e. how would Allah ا� ي ز ع

bring back life in this city after such destruction and desolation?

He went to pluck some fruit and ate them. He drank the juice of grapes by squeezing them, put the leftover fruit in his bag and put the leftover juice in his leather skin bag. Then he tied his donkey with a firm rope and went to sleep under a tree.


32

During the state of sleep, he passed away. And Allah ل وج ز kept عhim away from the eyes of birds, animals, beasts, jinn, humans and nobody could see him. Seventy years later, a king from Persia entered the ruins of this city. He brought so many people here and began to rebuild the city with them along with the few of the remaining Banī Isrāīl, who were living scattered across the land. Those people made the city more beautiful and a joyous place than before by constructing new buildings and planting different kind of gardens.

A hundred years later after the passing of Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم الـس وجل Allah ,عـليـه brought him back to life. He saw his عزdonkey has died, and its bones are scattered around. However, there was no rotting in any of the fruit in his bag or the juice in his leather skin bag. There was not even a change in the colour or smell of the fruits or juice. Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم عـليـه الـس

also noticed the hair of his blessed beard and head were still black and he is still forty years old! He was thinking and pondering in amazement. Meanwhile a divine revelation was revealed upon him. Allah ل وج asked Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr that ‘O عز‘Uzaīr, how many days did you stay here for?’ He replied after thinking for a little while that I went to sleep in the morning and it is the time for Aṣr now or replied that perhaps I slept for a day or a little less. Allah ل وج said: ‘O ‘Uzaīr! No. You عزstayed here for one hundred years. Now to view My absolute power, look at your donkey to how his bones have rotten and scattered away and look at the food you have. It has not been spoiled at all. Allah وجل then said: ‘O ‘Uzaīr! Now see how I عزrevive this donkey from its bones and then place flesh upon it.’ Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم س الـ then saw that instantly the bones عـليـهstarted to move and formed to become joints, the joints connected


33

together to form the skeleton of the donkey. Within a fraction of moment, flesh appeared over the bones; the donkey became alive and started to speak in his language. After seeing this spectacle, Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم س :proclaimed عـليـه الـ

دير ﴿�ء ق

�

ل

� �

��

ا��

ن

م ا

�ل

﴾۲۵۹ا

‘I know well that Allah is Able to do all things.’


After this, Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr returned to the place where he lived a hundred years ago. Nobody could recognize him and he could not recognize anyone either. But he saw an old and disabled woman sitting near the home who had seen Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم الـس in her childhood. He asked this old woman, ‘Is عـليـهthis the house of ‘Uzaīr?’ The old woman replied ‘yes’ but also asked him why he was enquiring about ‘Uzaīr. It has been a hundred years since he was last seen. After saying this, she began to cry. Then Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم س revealed his identity عـليـه الـto her. She replied by saying ‘ ال وجل ل��هـسـبحـن عز , how can you be ‘Uzaīr?’ He said ‘O old lady! Allah ل وج ز kept me dead for 100 عyears, and then revived me. Now I have returned home. The old woman said in reply, Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم س was such a عـليـه الـblessed individual that all of his supplications were granted. If you are Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم then supplicate for my eyesight ,عـليـه الـسto be returned and for my paralysis to be removed. Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم .supplicated for her, and she was granted recovery عـليـه الـسWhen she looked at him with her eyesight returned, she recognized his blessed face and proclaimed that I bear witness that you are Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr. Then she took him to a street of Banī Isrāīl with her. Coincidently, all of them were gathered in


34

a gathering and there was also the presence of the son of Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr who now was 118 years of age. Some of his grandchildren were also there and they too had grown into the old age. The old lady announced and gave the witness in the gathering that ‘O people! No doubt, this is Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr

ـالمعـليـه الـس ’, but nobody accepted this statement.

Meanwhile, the son of Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم الـس said that my عـليـهfather had a black mole in the middle of his shoulders that looked like the moon. Therefore, Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم الـس عـليـهremoved his shirt and showed that the mole was still present! Then people said, ‘Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr had memorized the Tawraĥ. If you are Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr, then recite Tawraĥ by heart.’ He ـالم !recited the whole Tawraĥ without hesitation عـليـه الـس

Bakht Naṣr killed 40,000 religious scholars of Tawraĥ whilst destroying Bayt-ul-Muqaddas and left no written script of the Tawraĥ in the world. Now another question arose that whether the recited script was the original Tawraĥ or not? One person said that I heard from my father that the day they were arrested by Bakht Naṣr, they buried a script of the Tawraĥ in the roots of a grape-tree. If you can find that grape-tree, then I can take out the script of Tawraĥ. Then we will come to know whether the recited script of Tawraĥ by Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم عـليـه الـسis original or not. After a struggle, they found the tree and after digging it, they found the buried Tawraĥ. Amazingly, there was a word to word resemblance between Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr’s recitation and the text! After witnessing this amazing and marvellous event, everyone was astonished and said he is

‘Uzaīr, the son of Allah (اذاهللاع

Therefore, it is since then that .(م

this corrupt belief was spread among Jews around the world


35

that Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم س اذاهللا) is the son of Allah عـليـه الـع

Even .(م

till date, Jews around the world are still steadfast on this corrupt and false belief of Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr being the son of Allah وجل .عز(Tafsīr-e-Jamal ‘Alal-Jalālaīn, vol. 1, p. 322; Part 3, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 259)

Allah وجل ز has described this anecdote in the Holy Quran, in عSūraĥ Baqaraĥ in the following words:

� بع ذه ا��

� ه

� ي�

�

ا

ال

روشها � ق

� ع

��

اوية

�� خ

رية و

� ق

��

�

ذي �

ال

و �

ا

د

و يوما ا

ت

بث

ل

ال

� ق

ت

بث

م ل

ك

ال

� ق

ه

م بعث

�ام ث

ة

� مائ

ا��

ه

مات

ا

موتها � ف

�ابك

و �

عامك

� ط

ر ا�

ظان

�ام ف

ة

مائ

ت

بث

ل

بل

ال

يوم � ق

� بعض

ه

سن

م ي�

ل

و

� حمارك

ر ا�

ظم و ان

ن��ها ث

ن

يف

ام ك

عظ

� ال

ر ا�

ظ

اس و ان

لن

ل

ية

ا

ك

�عل

ل�

دير ﴿�ء ق

�

ل

� �

��

ا��

ن

م ا

�ل

ا

ال

� � ق

� �

ب�

ا ت

م

ل

�ما � ف

سوها �

ك

﴾۲۵۹ن

Or like him who passed by a dwelling and it had fallen flat on its roofs; he said, ‘How will Allah bring it to life, after its death?’; so Allah kept him dead for a hundred years, then brought him back to life; He said, ‘How long have you stayed here?’; he replied, ‘I may have stayed for a day or little less’; He said, ‘In fact, you have spent a hundred years - so look at your food and drink which do not even smell stale; and look at your donkey whose bones even are not intact - in order that We may make you a sign for mankind - and look at the bones how We assemble them and then cover them with flesh’; so when the matter became clear to him, he said, ‘I know well that Allah is Able to do all things.’



36

Moral lesson 1. From these verses of the Holy Quran, it can clearly be

seen that at the same place and environment, the donkey of Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم س الـ had died and his bones had عـليـهdecayed, but there was no change in the fruits, the grapes juice and to the blessed body of Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم .عـليـه الـسEven his blessed hair had not turned white in hundred years. It is proven from this that it is possible for some corpses of dead people to be decayed in the same graveyard and same environment, whereas the bodies of chosen people of Allah وجل remain blessed with peace and protection and عزtheir shrouds do not even get dirty. This has happened on various occasions and this story of Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم عـليـه الـس

is a clear evidence for it. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

2. After seeing the destruction of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, Sayyidunā ‘Uzaīr ـالم س الـ was saddened and said out of عـليـهsadness that how Allah وجل ز will rebuild this city after عsuch destruction and desolation. This proves that loving and having affection towards ones city and country is from the ways of the chosen people of Allah ل وج .عز

10. The blissful box This was a box made of boxwood which was revealed to Sayyidunā Ādam ـالمعـليـه س الـ . This box remained with him until the last days of his worldly life. Later on, it was passed onto his children one after the other as inheritance. It reached Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم س and remained under the custody of his children عـليـه الـin Banī Isrāīl. After this, it reached Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس عـليـهand he ـالم .kept Tawraĥ and his possession in it عـليـه الـس


37

It was an extremely holy box. Whenever Banī Isrāīl would do Jiĥād against the pagans and whenever they would get worried due to the number of enemies being large, they would place the box in front of them. Such blessings used to emanate from it that their worried hearts would gain contentment. When this

box would proceed ahead, the glad-tidings of اهللا ح قريب نصرمن

فت

و

would bestow from the sky and they would become victorious.

Whenever there was any difference of opinion among Banī Isrāīl, the voice of judgment and glad-tiding of the victory was heard from the same box. The Banī Isrāīl used to keep this box with them during their supplications which used to be accepted as a result and due to its blessings; catastrophes and calamities used to be averted. So we come to know that the box was a means of great blessings and a treasure of bounties for Banī Isrāīl.

However, when evil deeds of Banī Isrāīl rose to an extreme level, the wrath of Allah وجل ز was inflicted upon them. The عpeople of the ‘Amāliqaĥ tribe attacked Banī Isrāīl and a massive bloodshed and a huge massacre took place. Many of the Banī Isrāīl were killed, their houses were ruined and the city was destroyed. The ‘Amāliqaĥ tribe also took the sacred box with them and disrespectfully threw it into filth and garbage. However, when the people of the ‘Amāliqaĥ did this, they themselves were punished. Different diseases, calamities and catastrophes took place. Therefore, five cities of the people of ‘Amāliqaĥ were completely destroyed. The pagans realized that their current state was due to their misconduct and disrespect shown towards the sacred box. Therefore, they loaded the box on a cart dragged by buffaloes and drove it towards the town of Banī Isrāīl.

Allah وجل ز appointed five angels to carry this blessed box to عSayyidunā Shamwīl ـالم الـس the Prophet of Banī Isrāīl. This ,عـليـه


38

way, the lost blessing in the shape of the sacred box was returned to Banī Isrāīl. This blessed box reached Sayyidunā Shamwīl ـالم ـليـه الـس ـالم right at the time when he ع الـس appointed عـليـهṬālūt as king. The people of Banī Isrāīl were not accepting the kingship of Ṭālūt and conditioned their acceptance upon receiving the sacred box. Therefore, the box arrived and they agreed upon this decision. (Tafsīr-us-Ṣāwī, vol. 1, p. 209; Ruḥ-ul-Bayān,

vol. 1, p. 385; Part 2, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 248)

What was inside the blissful wooden box?: The holy box contained: the holy staff and shoes of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم ,عـليـه الـسthe turban of Sayyidunā Ĥārūn ـالم س the ring of Sayyidunā ,عـليـه الـSulaymān ـالم س tablets on which Tawrāt was written, some ,عـليـه الـMann and Salwā and finally, some outlines of the appearances of some Prophets! (Tafsīr Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 1, p. 382; Part 2, Sūraĥ

Baqaraĥ, Verse 248)

This event of the sacred box has been described by Allah ل وج ز ع

in the Holy Quran, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ in these words:

و

فيه سكينة

ابوت

م الت

تيكا

ن ي ا

�ه

مل

ية

ا

� ان

�

بي

� ن

�

ل

ال

ق

م و

ك ب

ن ر م

ة

ي ق مو�� و ب

ل

ا

ك ر

ا ت

� � �

ة

ك �

�ل م

� ال

� م �

ن � و ر

ه

ل

ا

م

� �

ية

�

�

لك

�� ذ

� ﴿ ان ان

�ن�

ؤ

� م

ن�

﴾٪ ۲۴۸ك

And their Prophet said to them, ‘Indeed the sign of his kingdom will be the coming of a (wooden) box to you, in which from your Rab is the contentment of hearts and containing some souvenirs (remnants) left behind by the honourable Mūsā and the honourable Ĥārūn (Aaron), borne by the angels; indeed in it is a great sign for you if you are believers.



39

Moral lesson From this we learn various Madanī pearls and can derive certain rulings that shall be remembered:

1. The items and belongings of the chosen servants of Allah ل وج ز ل are very prestigious in the court of Allah ع وج and عزare means of many blessings and bounties being granted. You see, it contained the blessed shoes and staff of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس and a blessed turban of Sayyidunā Ĥārūn عـليـه

ـالم عـليـه س الـ and due to this, the box was granted such status that it was carried by angels on their shoulders, who themselves are made out of the divine light! They presented the box in the court of Sayyidunā Shamwīl ـالم س ـليـه الـ Allah .ع

و ز ل ع ج said this was a sign, as seen in the Holy Quran.

بكم ) ن ر مينة ك

Here we also learn that blessings were (فيه س

granted on the place where the box was laid. The places where items associated with the chosen servants of Allah وجل !are become places of mercy and blessings for believers عز

2. This sacred box has blessings due to the holy staff, footwear and dress being present inside. It is also a place of serenity, a treasure of blessings and all of this is proven by the Holy Quran! Then what about the graves where the holy bodies of the sacred servants of Allah are laid! Will there be no blessings, peace and mercy on these places? Every sane person with spiritual insight will believe that if there is blessing descending on the dress and footwear of the chosen people of Allah ل وج ز then it is without any doubt ,عthat those who wore them are even more blessed and honoured! Of course there will be divine mercy upon the graves of such esteemed people. Any Muslim who visits


40

these places will also receive these benefits and will be under the rain of mercy! Truly, a few drops of that rain will be of a great benefit for him. Whoever stands still in this heavy rain of blessings, his body and clothes will be covered with the divine mercy. Because whoever dives into the river of blessings, his body will be soaked in it, similar to somebody sitting in a perfume shop, his body will naturally become fragrant. So it is proven that visiting the sacred graves of the chosen servants of Allah وجل surely عزremoves one’s difficulties and benefits him in the affairs of this world and of the Hereafter.

3. We have also come to know that all those who show lack of respect and offensive attitudes towards the sacred belongings of the esteemed servants of Allah ل وج ز they ;عwill be punished by Allah ل وج because we learnt that the عزpeople of the ‘Amāliqaĥ tribe showed disrespect to the sacred box, which led to the severe punishment of Allah ل وج ز They had many calamities placed upon them and .عdespite being unbelievers; they admitted that the reason of their condition was their disrespect towards the sacred box. That’s why they loaded it on the vehicle and drove it towards the Banī Isrāīl so they could be saved from the wrath of Allah ل وج ز .ع

4. Banī Isrāīl used to be successful in their campaigns of Jiĥād because of the blessings of the sacred box. We also come to realise that the graves of holy saints are places where the worries and tensions of believers are removed. Furthermore, they will see their dreams being fulfilled by the grace of Allah ل وج ز If bounties and blessings can be attained by .عbeing around the belongings of the chosen servants of


41

Allah وجل then what can be said about being in the physical ,عزpresence of their sacred bodies?

5. Another lesson we learn is that those who disobey Allah وجل and His Prophets are deprived from the blessings which عزwere previously granted to them. In this context, the people of the Banī Isrāīl transgressed and showed no attention to the commands of Allah ل وج ز They indulged in various .عsins and consequently, the sacred box was taken away from them by the pagans of ‘Amāliqaĥ and Banī Isrāīl remained destitute and deprived of the holy box for many

years. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

11. Resurrection of the slaughtered birds Once Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ asked in the reverend court عـليـهof Allah وجل Almighty, ‘O Allah, show me how you will resurrect عزthe dead?’ Allah ل وج ز Almighty said, ‘Ibrāĥīm, don’t you have عfaith in it?’ Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم said, ‘Why not? Although عـليـه الـسI have faith over it but I wish to observe this spectacle with my own eyes so that my heart receives tranquillity.’ Allah وجل then عزsaid, ‘Raise four birds and nourish them well by feeding them plenty, then slaughter them and make minced meat from their flesh and place little portion of it on top of some mountains in your surroundings. Then call upon these birds to you, those birds will come back to life and rush to you and thus you will witness the spectacle of resurrection of dead with your own eyes.’ Therefore Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س :tended four birds عـليـه الـa rooster, a pigeon, a vulture and a peacock. He raised them for a certain period of time whilst nourishing and taming them well. Then he slaughtered them and kept their heads with himself and after mincing their meat, placed little part of it on the


42

surrounding mountains. He then called these birds from distance by their names by exclaiming: O rooster ( يك O ,(ي�ايهاا�

pigeon ( همام

ح

) O vulture ,(ي�ايهاال

) O peacock ,(ي�ايهاال�سر

اؤس !(ي�ايهاالط

The meat from the mountains started soaring up into the air on his call and the meat of each bird, flesh, bones and feathers assembled individually and then all four birds were formed and they each rushed to Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ headless عـليـهand after connecting to their own individual heads, they started picking grains and chirping in their own language. Hence Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس witnessed the spectacle of the عـليـهresurrection of the dead and his heart attained peace and tranquillity.

Allah ل عز وج described this event in Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ of the Holy Quran in the following words:

ر�� ابر�� رب ا

ال

ق

و و اذ

ا

ال

� � ق

مو�

� ال

�

ت

يف

� ك

ب�

ال

من � ق

ؤم ت

ل

و

ذ�

�

ال

�� ق

ل

ق

م�ن

يط

�ن ل

�

م اجعل

ث

يك

ال

��هن

� ف

�

ن الط م

ربعة

ا

سعيا � و

تينك يا

هن

ع

م اد

جزءا ث

نهن جبل �

ل

� �

زيز ��

� ع

ا��

ن

م ا

ا�ل

﴾٪ ۲۶۰حك�� ﴿

And when Ibrāĥīm said, ‘My Rab! Show me how you will give life to the dead’; He said, ‘Are you not certain (of it)?’ Ibrāĥīm said, ‘Surely yes, why not? But because I wish to put my heart at ease’; He said, ‘Therefore take four birds (as pets) and cause them to become familiar to you, then place a part of each of them on separate hills, then call them - they will come running towards you; and know well that Allah is Almighty, Wise.’



43

Moral lesson The above-mentioned Quranic anecdote sheds light on the following Sharī rulings. Read these carefully and gain the light of guidance and show the light of guidance to others too. Calling the dead: Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس had slaughtered عـليـهthe birds, minced their meat and placed it on the mountains.

Then Allah وجل “ ,ordered عز اد عهن ثم ” i.e. call these dead birds.

Therefore, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ called these four birds عـليـهby their names and this point proves that calling dead is not Shirk, because when Allah وجل ordered to call the dead birds عزand when such a prestigious and dignified Prophet called the dead birds, then this can never ever be Shirk at all because Allah وجل will never command any one towards Shirk and nor any عزProphet can ever commit an act of Shirk. Therefore, when calling dead birds is not Shirk, then how can calling the late friends of Allah وجل and martyrs be Shirk? Those people who say that عزcalling to the friends of Allah وجل and martyrs is Shirk, those عزwho falsely allege the people that exclaim the slogan of ‘Yā Ghouš’ as ‘Mushrik’, they should ponder upon by lowering their heads down for a while so that they can see the light of guidance by reflecting upon this Quranic incident and stride on the straight

and true path of Aĥl-e-Sunnat. (

و اهللا

م ال

قف و )

A mystical point: All the four birds that Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس slaughtered are famous for containing certain ill traits عـليـهin each of them - for example the peacock is always proud of its facial beauty, the rooster has an ill trait of over-inclination towards lust, the vulture has the bad habit of greed and the pigeon is over proud on its ability to fly high. Thus slaughtering these four birds gives us an indication towards slaughtering


44

these four evils. When these four birds were slaughtered, it provided Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس a spectacle to observe the عـليـهresurrection of the dead birds and the divine light of tranquillity descended into his heart because of which, he attained the gift of ‘Nafs-e-Muṭmainaĥ’ (the contended self). So the one who desires the flourishing of his heart and desires to attain Nafs-e-Muṭmainaĥ should slaughter the rooster, meaning to kill his lust, should slaughter the peacock, meaning he should slaughter the pride over one’s beauty of face and dress, he should slaughter the vulture, meaning he kills his avidity and greed and he should slaughter the pigeon, meaning killing the pride of him flying high and the pride of his worldly status. If someone succeeds in killing and slaughtering these four ill traits, ـ�هـان ش�آءال عزوجل ل he will observe the revival and flourishing of his heart with his own eyes and will be blessed with the wealth of ‘Nafs-e-Muṭmainaĥ’. لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(Tafsīr Jamal, vol. 1, p. 328; Part 2, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 260) و

12. The kingdom of Ṭālūt Banī Isrāīl had a state-system that used to run in such a way that there would always be a king among them who would run the administrative matters of the country and there would be a Prophet who used to guide people with the law of Sharī’aĥ and religious matters. There was a conventional system in vogue since long in the way that the kingdom was always in the family of Yaĥūd Ibn-e-Ya’qūb ـالم and the honour of Prophethood عـليـه الـسwas always with the family of Lādī bin Ya’qūb ـالم .عـليـه الـس

When Sayyidunā Shamwīl ـالم ,was blessed with Prophethood عـليـه الـسthere was no ruling king at that time and the people of Banī Isrāīl requested him to appoint someone as a king for them. Then following the commandment of Allah وجل ز Sayyidunā ,ع


45

Shamwīl ـالم appointed Ṭālūt as a king who was the strongest عـليـه الـسand the biggest scholar among the Banī Isrāīl but was also very poor and needy. For his living, he either used to tan leather or herd goats. Due to this, Banī Isrāīl raised an objection that Ṭālūt is not from the royal family so how can he be our king. We more deserve than him to become a king as we are from the royal family and Ṭālūt does not possess much wealth either. So how come a poor and a needy person deserves the royal throne? In reply to the objections raised by Banī Isrāīl, Sayyidunā Shamwīl ـالم :delivered the following sermon عـليـه الـس

He said, “Indeed Allah has chosen him above you, and has bestowed him with vast knowledge and physique”; and Allah may bestow His kingdom on whomever He wills; and Allah is Most Capable, All Knowing. And their Prophet said to them, “Indeed the sign of his kingdom will be the coming of a (wooden) box to you, in which from your Rab is the contentment of hearts.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 247-248)

Therefore, after a very short while, four angels came with a box and placed it near Sayyidunā Shamwīl ـالم ,After seeing this .عـليـه الـسthe Banī Isrāīl accepted the kingship of Ṭālūt and after becoming a king, Ṭālūt did not only take control of the government system of the country but also recruited new military personnel’s and went to the holy war against the pagans of the ‘Amāliqaĥ tribe. Allah وجل Almighty while describing this anecdote in the Holy عزQuran has stated:

And their Prophet said to them, ‘Indeed Allah has sent Ṭālūt (Saul) as your king’; they said, ‘Why should he have kingship over us whereas we deserve the kingship more than he, and nor has he been given enough wealth?’ He said, ‘Indeed Allah has chosen him above you,


46

and has bestowed him with vast knowledge and physique’; and Allah may bestow His kingdom on whomever He wills; and Allah is Most Capable, All Knowing. And their Prophet said to them, ‘Indeed the sign of his kingdom will be the coming of a (wooden) box to you, in which from your Rab is the contentment of hearts and containing some souvenirs (remnants) left behind by the honourable Mūsā and the honourable Ĥārūn (Aaron), borne by the angels; indeed in it is a great sign for you if you are believers.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 247-248)

Moral lesson 1. This anecdote sheds light on so many rulings but one clear

lesson that we learn from it is that there are no limits to the favours and the grace of Allah وجل and if He wishes, He عزcan make the most inferior of people to the most affluent within few minutes or even within few seconds. You see Sayyidunā Ṭālūt was a man with an inferior social stratum and was so poor that he used to earn his livelihood either by tanning the leather or by herding the goats, but in an instant, Allah وجل made him a sovereign king and blessed عزhim with a throne and magnificence.

2. From this anecdote and from the text of these verses of the Holy Quran, we come to know that for kingship, it is more important to have the physical energy and the access of knowledge than being wealthy. As without physical capabilities and knowledge, it is difficult and almost impossible to run the administrative matters of a kingdom. Thus we come to know that the status of knowledge is far

greater than the status of wealth. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و


47

13. How Dāwūd ـالم became a king عـليـه الـسWhen Ṭālūt (Saul) became the king, he prepared Banī Isrāīl for Jiĥād and mobilized his army towards the battlefield against a pagan king ‘Jālūt’. Jālūt was a very tall and strong king. The metal hat, that he used to wear, weighed three hundred pounds.

When both armies aligned on the battlefield, Sayyidunā Ṭālūt made an announcement within his army that whoever kills Jālūt, I will marry my princess with him and will also give him half of my kingdom. After listening to this royal offer, Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم who was a young boy then, his face عـليـه الـسhad gone pale due to sickness and his poor economical conditions was such that he used to earn his living by herding goats.

It has been narrated that when Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم left عـليـه الـسhis home to participate in the Jiĥād, a stone called out, ‘O Dāwūd, pick me up as I am the stone of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم ,Then a second stone called him and said, ‘O Dāwūd ’.عـليـه الـسpick me up as I am the stone of Sayyidunā Ĥārūn ـليـه ـالمع س الـ ,’ and then there was a call from a third stone that called, ‘O Dāwūd, pick me up as I am the killer of Jālūt.’ Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـليـه ـالم ع س الـ took all three stones and put them in his bag. When the battle began, Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم س الـ advanced عـليـهfrom his rank holding his catapult and when he saw Jālūt, he loaded the three stones in his catapult and having invoked

ـه بـسم ل اـل catapulted the three stones on Jālūt. These three stones

hit Jālūt on his nose and skull and after crushing his brain; they went through his head and struck thirty other people of the Jālūt army killing each and every one of them. After this, Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم س dragged the dead body of Jālūt and عـليـه الـ


48

put it at the feet of His Highness Sayyidunā Ṭālūt. Sayyidunā

Ṭālūt and Banī Isrāīl became very happy upon this.

On the death of Jālūt, his army fled away from the battlefield

and Sayyidunā Ṭālūt was distinctly victorious and in compliance

to his announcement, Sayyidunā Ṭālūt got his daughter married

to Sayyidunā Dāwūd � �� and made him the king of half of

his kingdom. After forty years, Sayyidunā Ṭālūt died and thus

Sayyidunā Dāwūd � �� became the king of the entire kingdom

and when the demise of Sayyidunā Shamwīl � �� took place,

then Allah �� bestowed Sayyidunā Dāwūd � �� with

Prophethood alongside the kingdom. Before Sayyidunā Dāwūd

� �� , no one had held these two ranks at the same time and

he was the first person who was bestowed with these two

distinctions and he chaired these two designations and

fulfilled the responsibilities for seventy years. After him, his

son Sayyidunā Sulaymān �� was also endowed with this

distinction of being a Prophet as well as a king at one single

time. (Tafsīr Jamal ‘Alī Jalālaīn, vol. 1, p. 308; Part 2, Suraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 251)

A brief description of this anecdote is in Suraĥ Baqaraĥ of the

Holy Quran as:

��

��

� ��

��

��

! �"# �$� % � � & �' ��

�� (

‘And Dāwūd slew Jālūt, and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom,

and taught him all whatever’ He willed.


Source of livelihood for Sayyidunā Dāwūd �� : Despite

being an emperor of a large empire, Sayyidunā Dāwūd � ��


49

used to earn his living by the means of handcraft work throughout his life. Allah وجل blessed him with such a miracle عزthat whenever he touched metal, it used to turn soft and mild like wax. He used to make shields from it and sell them to earn his living. Allah وجل .also taught him the language of birds عز(Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 1, p. 391; Part 2, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 251)

Moral lesson 1. Analogous to the anecdote of Sayyidunā Ṭālūt, we learn

from the blessed life of Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـليـه ـالم ع الـس that whenever Allah وجل ز Almighty bestows His grace and عcompassion, within an instant a grain can become a mountain and a ray can become a sun. Ponder over the fact that Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم الـس ـليـه was a young boy and عa son of a very poor and a needy father but all of a sudden, Allah ل وج Almighty blessed him with such dignity and عزgrandeur that he was crowned king and was married to a princess. Furthermore, he was bestowed with the high rank of being a Prophet that there cannot be a higher rank than this for a human being. Then witness the display of the munificent power of Almighty Allah وجل that He made عزa young and an ill boy like Dāwūd ـالم الـس ـليـه to kill the عresilient and a tyrant king Jālūt and that too by the means of three stones. Although, in reality there was no significance of these three tiny stones in front of Jālūt considering the fact that he was wearing a heavy iron helmet weighing three hundred pounds. However, the reality is that if Almighty Allah ل وج ز wills, He may overpower an ant over عan elephant and if Almighty Allah وجل wills, an elephant عزcannot even harm an ant.


50

2. In the above-quoted anecdote, you have read that Sayyidunā Ṭālūt used to work as a leather tanner or as a shepherd, as Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم الـس used to be a shepherd in the عـليـهearly years of his life. However when he was blessed by Almighty Allah وجل ,with the kingship and Prophethood عزthereafter, he chose to make earning by making shields. It can be deduced that adopting any occupation with an aim to earn a Ḥalāl livelihood whether it may be hide curing, transhumance, blacksmithing or weaving, no profession is a degradation and is neither an abasement for those earning their Ḥalāl income through these professions. Those people who have fabricated disreputable opinions about the mine workers and other such professionals by thinking of them to be of a lower status based on their profession; they are victim of an utter ignorance and illiteracy. Adopting any permissible profession in search of Ḥalāl income is the blessed way of the reverend Prophets, holy saints and pious predecessors. Therefore, we shall never consider any Muslim with an occupation to be inferior or degraded. The reality is that the Muslims of these professions are a thousand times better than those people who live their lives from the earnings earned by the unfair means of deceptions and bribery and then they claim to be noble. But in Sharī’aĥ, who else would be more despicable than a person whose earning is illegitimate and not Ḥalāl

or is of suspected means. ( اهللا

تعا� و

لم

اع )

14. Maryam’s arch Sayyidatunā Maryam عنها تعاىل اهللا was the mother of Sayyidunā ر�‘Īsā المعـ� نبـيـنا و عـليـه لوة والـس الـص . Her father’s name is ‘Imrān and mother’s


51

name is Ḥinaĥ. When Sayyidatunā Maryam عنها تعاىل اهللا was in ر�the womb of her mother, her mother vowed that she would free the child that is going to be born for the service of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas. Therefore, when Sayyidatunā Maryam عنها عاىل ت اهللا ر�was born, her mother took her to Bayt-ul-Muqaddas. Sayyidunā Zakarīyā ـالم الـس who was the maternal uncle (husband of ,عـليـهmother’s sister) of Sayyidatunā Maryam عنها عاىل ت اهللا was the ر�Imām of the entire clergy and the religious scholars of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas of that era. Sayyidunā Zakarīyā ـالم س الـ took عـليـهsurety of Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا تعاىل عنها and took her into his ر�care. Then he ـالم made a separate chamber on the highest عـليـه الـسlevel of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, which was isolated from all other levels and kept Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا تعاىل عنها ,there. Therefore ر�Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا عنهار� عاىل ت began to live there isolated whilst remaining busy in the worship of Almighty Allah وجل .عزSayyidunā Zakarīyā ـالم would pay daily visits in the morning عـليـه الـسand evening to check on her wellbeing and provide her with commodities.

Within the passage of a few days, the following marvel (Karāmat) took place in the chamber of Sayyidatunā Maryam عاىل عنها اهللا ت ـالم When Sayyidunā Zakarīyā .ر� used to visit the عـليـه الـسchamber, he witnessed that fruits of winter were present in summer and the fruits of summer were present in the winter. Sayyidunā Zakarīyā ـالم الـس would inquire in amazement that عـليـه‘O Maryam, where do you get these fruits from?’ Sayyidatunā Maryam عنها عاىل ت اهللا would reply that these fruits are from ر�Almighty Allah وجل and He bestows uncountable sustenance عزto whomsoever He wills.

Sayyidunā Zakarīyā ـالم س الـ was blessed with the rank of عـليـهProphethood by Almighty Allah وجل but he did not have any عز


52

offspring and now had reached old age. For years, his heart was overpowered with the wish for a child and many a times he had supplicated to Almighty Allah وجل with humility for a beautiful عزchild but despite the grace of Allah وجل he had still not yet been عزblessed with any child. When he saw the marvel (Karāmat) of Sayyidatunā Maryam عاىل عنها اهللا ت that unseasonal fruits descend ر�here, at that time, this thought mounted his heart that even though my age has reached to feebleness, the season to yield the fruit of children has gone asunder, but Almighty Allah ل وج ز who blesses unseasonal fruits to Sayyidatunā Maryam ععاىل عنها اهللا ت وجل in the chamber, He ر� ز is capable to bless me with عan out of season fruit in the form of a child. Therefore, he supplicated in the chamber of Sayyidatunā Maryam عاىل عنها اهللا ت ر�and his supplication was accepted. Almighty Allah وجل blessed عزhim with a child in his old age and Almighty Allah وجل named عزthis child ‘Yaḥyā’ who was also blessed with the rank of Prophethood. Almighty Allah وجل has described this anecdote عزin the Holy Quran in these words:

ك � ل

�

ي��يم ا

ال

ا � ق

ق

ها رز

عند

محراب � وجد

ا ال

ري�

يها ز

�ل

ل

ما دخ

ل

�

� حساب ﴿�

آء بغ

ش

من �

ق

� يرز ا��

� � ان

هو من عند ا��

ت

ال

ا � ق

ذ

﴾۳۷ه

�ي�

�

ك � ان

بة ي

ط

ة

ي ر ذ

ك

ن

د

ب �� من ل

رب ه

ال

� ق

ه

ا رب ري

�

د�ا ز

هنالك

آء ﴿

ع

﴾۳۸الد

هنادت

و ف

ة

�ك

�مل

ال

�ك

� يب�

ا��

ن

محراب � ا

� �� ال

ص�

آىفم يو ق

ه

ا ق

�� مصد

� و ب�

ن ا�� لمة م

ب�

ا و

د سي

� ﴿ حصورا و

��

ن الص ا م

بي

﴾۳۹ن

Whenever Zakarīyā visited her at her Place of Prayer, he found new food with her; he said, ‘O Maryam! Where did this come to you from?’ She answered, ‘It is from Allah; indeed Allah gives to


53

whomever He wills, without limit account.’ (Miracles occur through the friends of Allah). It is here that Zakarīyā prayed to his Rab; he said, ‘My Rab! Give me from Yourself a righteous child; indeed You only are the Listener of prayer.’ And the angels called out to him while he was standing, offering prayer at his place of worship, ‘Indeed Allah gives you glad tidings of Yaḥyā, who will confirm a Word (or sign) from Allah, - a leader, always refraining from women, a Prophet from one of Our devoted ones.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 3, Sūraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 37-39)

Moral lesson This anecdote sheds light on many following teachings. Therefore, it is very essential for every Muslim to extract the moral lessons from it.

Sayyidatunā Maryam عاىل عنها اهللا ت is a friend of Allah exhibiting ر�marvels (Karāmat): It can be extracted from the above-quoted anecdote that Sayyidatunā Maryam is bestowed with marvels and the status of Walī (friend of Allah وجل ز as the provisions (عof divine fruits used to descend for her from Almighty Allah وجل عزin her chamber and that too the winter fruits in summer and the summer fruits in winter. This is a very magnificent and obvious marvel and is a true justified proof of her sainthood.

Place of worship is the place of acceptance of invocations: This anecdote proves that the place where the chosen people of Almighty Allah وجل worship, that place becomes so sacred عزthat the blessings of divine mercy of Allah ل وج ز descends there عand the supplications are accepted there; just like the supplication of Sayyidunā Zakarīyā ـالم was accepted in the chamber of عـليـه الـسSayyidatunā Maryam. Whereas, on many previous occasions,


54

he had supplicated frequently in Bayt-ul-Muqaddas but his

wish was not granted.

Supplicating beside graves: If supplications are accepted in

those places where the chosen people of Almighty Allah ��

perform their worship for some days; then definitively

supplications would be accepted by the graves of these chosen

people of Allah �� where their whole blessed bodies are

present for many years. Thus, Imām Shafi’ī �� has said

that whenever I would feel difficulty in finding solution of some

problem, I would visit Baghdad and sit near the sacred grave of

Imām Abū Ḥanīfaĥ �� , would supplicate by making the

holy grave a Wasīlaĥ (intermediary) and my invocations were

granted and my problem would get resolved. (Al- Khayrāt-ul Ḥasan,

p. 230) (For such kind of anecdotes, read our books ‘Auliyā Rijāl-ul-

Ḥadīš-o-Rūḥānī Ḥikāyat.)

15. Maqām-e-Ibrāĥīm

This is a holy stone that has been placed some yards away

from the Holy Ka’baĥ. It is the same stone that Sayyidunā

Ibrāĥīm � �� would step upon to complete the construction

of the walls of the Holy Ka’baĥ when the walls became higher

than his head. It is a miracle of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm � �� that

the very same stone became as soft as wax and the blessed foot-

prints of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm � �� were deeply marked within

it. By the virtue of printed blessed feet of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm

� �� , Almighty Allah �� dignified and blessed this stone to

such an extent that He �� has twice mentioned its significance

in the Holy Quran. Almighty Allah �� has addressed at one

place:


55

��

� ��

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Sūraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 97)

Meaning, in the Holy Ka’baĥ there are many clear signs and one

of these signs is the major sign of Maqām-e-Ibrāĥīm. On another

place in the Holy Quran Almighty Allah �� has described the

dignity of this stone and said:

��

� ! �"�� #%�� ‘And take the place where Ibrāĥīm stood, as your place of Ṣalāĥ’


The blessed footprints of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� have been

present on this sacred stone for a long period of four thousand

years. Throughout these years, this stone has been laid bare

under the open sky. Four thousand rainy seasons have showered

over this stone, thousand of winds and storms have collided with

this stone. Despite heavy rains and conditions of flood which

took place in the sacred vicinity of the Ka’baĥ, the sacred stone

remaining under the flooded waves, millions of people passing

their hands on it, but despite all this, the marks of the sacred

and noble footprints of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� are still

apparent over it which undoubtedly is a great and a magnificent

miracle of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� . This stone is undoubtedly

a very big sign amongst the broad and open signs and verses

of Almighty Allah �� . The presence of this great mark over

the stone provides admonitions for every Muslim that Almighty

Allah �� has commanded all Muslims that after Ṭawāf of

my sacred house (the Holy Ka’baĥ), perform two Rak’at (cycles)

of Ṣalāĥ by this very stone. Although you people may offer


56

Ṣalāĥ for me and prostrate for me but it is my pleasure that at

the time of prostration, your foreheads touch the ground near

this sacred stone that preserves the sacred mark of the footprints

of my glorious friend Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm � �� .

Moral lesson

Dear Islamic brothers! From the above-mentioned dignity and

reverence of the Maqām-e-Ibrāĥīm, we get the lesson that any

place which preserves any monument of the chosen people of

Allah �� is very sacred and honourable to Allah �� .

Furthermore, worship performed near such sacred places is

more loved and reverential to Allah �� .

Now ponder over the fact that Maqām-e-Ibrāĥīm is so sacred

and honoured due to its contextual attachment with the

footprints of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm � �� , then what will be the

status of the nobility and grandeur of the sacred grave of the

Beloved Prophet � �� !�� where there are not only signs

and marks of the Beloved Prophet �� !�� but his whole

blessed body is present there. By the virtue of his blessed

presence, even each and every dust particle of this blessed land

is more brilliant than the sun and the moon. O Muslims! If only

these verses of the Holy Quran would flourish and enlighten

the faith in the eyes of people so they give the due respect to the

blessed grave and be honoured and respected in both worlds.

Thus they may stop falling victim to the satanic temptations, go

astray by disrespecting and practicing offensive conducts towards

the blessed grave and may they not become a victim of the

severe punishment of Hell. And if only the Najdīs and Waĥābīs

learn a lesson from these blessed and reformative verses which

show a disrespectful attitude towards the blissful grave of the


57

Mercy of Both Worlds �� by falsely calling it a

‘heap of dust’, continue their insolence by plotting evil plans of

demolishing the Green Dome and to remove all the holy signs

of the blessed grave.

16. Four miracles of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ��

Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� delivered this sermon to Banī Isrāīl

whilst announcing his Prophethood and miracles which has

been stated in the Holy Quran, Sūraĥ Imrān:

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� 3 �_`a ‘And he will be a Noble Messenger towards the descendants of

Israel saying, ‘I have come to you with a sign from your Rab, for I

mould a birdlike sculpture from clay for you, and I blow into it

and it instantly becomes a (living) bird, by Allah’s command; and I

heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I revive the dead,

by Allah’s command; and I tell you what you eat and what you

store in your houses; undoubtedly in these (miracles) is a great sign

for you, if you are believers.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 3, Sūraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 49)

In this sermon, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� announced four of his

miracles:

1. Making birds with clay and making them fly after blowing

in them


58

2. Curing the innate blind and those suffering from leprosy

3. Resurrecting dead

4. Revealing what people have eaten and what they have hidden in their homes

Now read some details of these miracles.

1. Making birds from clay and making them fly: When Banī Isrāīl demanded the miracle of making a bird of clay and making it fly, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ then made bats عـليـهfrom clay and made them fly. Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم chose عـليـه الـسbat among all of the birds because it is the most complete and the strangest bird among other species of the birds because it has teeth like human beings, laughs like human beings, flies with its arms without wings, gives birth like animals and it also experiences menstrual cycle. It is narrated that as long as Banī Isrāīl used to watch these bats, they would continue to fly and when they disappeared from their sight; they would fall down and die. The reason behind this was that there remains a distinction between the creation of Allah وجل ز and the creation of the bird of a عservant of Allah وجل ز ,Tafsīr Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 2, p. 37; Part 3) .ع

Suraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 49)

2. Curing the innate blinds: It is stated that by the virtue of supplication of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ fifty blind men ,عـليـهand lepers were cured based on the condition that they would embrace faith (Īmān). (Tafsīr-e-Jamal, vol. 1, p. 419; Part 3,


3. Resurrection of dead: It is narrated that Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم :resurrected four deceased people عـليـه الـس


59

1. his friend ‘Āżar

2. a son of an old lady

3. a daughter of a revenue officer

4. Sayyidunā Sām bin Nūḥ � ��

‘Āżar: He was a sincere friend of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� . When

he was about to die, his sister sent a messenger to Sayyidunā

‘Īsā � �� to inform him that his friend is dying. At that time,

Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� was at a distance of three days journey

from his friend. Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� reached after the death

and burial of ‘Āżar. He � �� went to the grave of ‘Āżar and

called upon him. ‘Āżar resurrected and came out of his grave,

lived for many years and even had children.

Son of an old woman: He had died and people were taking him

to bury. Coincedently, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� was passing by

there. He was resurrected due to the supplication of Sayyidunā

‘Īsā �� . He got up, dressed up and brought his death bed

back home. He lived a long life and also had children.

Daughter of ‘Asher: A daughter of a revenue collector had died.

She resurrected after one day of her death due to the supplication

of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� . She lived for many days and also

bore many children.

Sayyidunā Sam bin Nūḥ: When Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� resurrected

the three above-mentioned deceased people, the impish Banī

Isrāīl alleged that these three people were not actually dead

but they were in the fit of unconsciousness and therefore, they

have regained consciousness. Thus, show us the resurrection

of some old dead person. In response to their demand, Sayyidunā

‘Īsā � �� said that four thousand years have passed since


60

the death of Sayyidunā Sām bin Nūḥ ـالم عـليـه الـس ; take me to his grave and I will resurrect him by the command of Allah ل وج ز .عSayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم recited the Ism-e-A’ẓam beside his grave عـليـه الـسand Sayyidunā Sām bin Nūḥ ـالم عـليـه الـس resurrected straightaway. He came out of his grave and inquired worryingly ‘has the Day of Judgment arrived?’ After this, he embraced faith on Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س .and died shortly afterwards عـليـه الـ

Revealing what people have eaten and what they have hidden in their homes: It has been mentioned in Ḥadīš that Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم الـس used to inform the students of his school, who عـليـهwere the children of Banī Isrāīl, about whatever their parents eat and hide in their homes. When the parent inquired from their children that how they come to know about these secrets, children replied that Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ informs us in عـليـهschool. After hearing this, parents restrained their children from going to that school and accused Sayyidunā ‘Īsā الـس ـالمعـليـه of being a magician. When Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ approached عـليـه this community of Banī Isrāīl in the search of those children, they hid their children inside a house and said that the children are not here. Sayyidunā ‘Īsā الـس ـالمعـليـه asked, ‘Who is inside the house?’ These wicked people replied, ‘There are pigs confined inside the house.’ Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم said ‘OK. There must عـليـه الـسbe pigs.’ Therefore, when people opened the door of the house, there were pigs inside it. This news wide spread among Banī Isrāīl and they were stirred with rage and wrath and they conspired to kill Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ ,After seeing this .عـليـهSayyidatunā Maryam عاىل عنها اهللا ت took her son and migrated to ر�Egypt. This is how Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ was protected from عـليـه the wickedness of these wicked people. (Tafsīr Jamal alal Jalālaīn,

p. 419; Part 3, Suraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 49)


61

17. Sayyidunā ‘Īsā يمعل

� ه الس in the heavens

When Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� proclaimed his Prophethood in

front of Jews, they were already well-informed from the Taurāt

that Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� would overrule their religion. For

this reason, Jews became his enemy. When Sayyidunā ‘Īsā

� � �� felt that Jews will remain rigid in their infidelity and

they will kill him, he addressed people and said ن � م� ا�� هللا�� نص�

i.e. who are to be my helpers towards the religion of Almighty

Allah �� . About twelve or nineteen companions replied

ا�� هللا�� ا ب�اهللا�� ن�حن� ��نص� و�� م�ن�� م� د ب�ا�ن��ا م�سل� �شه� �� i.e. we are the helpers of the religion of Almighty Allah �� . We have brought faith unto

Allah �� and you be a witness that we are Muslims.

The remaining Jews remained rigid over their infidelity and

with great emotional aggression; they conspired to kill Sayyidunā

‘Īsā � �� . They sent a person called ‘Ṭaṭyānūs’ to kill Sayyidunā

‘Īsā �� in his house. Meanwhile, Almighty Allah �� sent

Sayyidunā Jibrīl �� with a cloud which raised Sayyidunā

‘Īsā � �� towards the skies. His mother embraced him out

of love and affection. Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � �� said to his mother:

‘O beloved mother, now we will meet on the Day of Judgment’

and the cloud lifted him up to the skies. This incident took

place in Bayt-ul-Muqaddas on the sacred night of Shab-e-Qadr.

According to the point of view of ‘Allāmaĥ Jalāluddīn Suyūṭī

�� , at that time the blessed age of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā � ��

was 33 years and according to ‘Allāmaĥ Zurqānī who is the

annotator of Mawāĥib, at that time the blessed age of Sayyidunā

‘Īsā � �� was 120 years. Imām Jalāluddīn Suyūṭī ��

also came to the same opinion in the latter days of his life.

(Tafsīr Jamal-ul-Jalālaīn, vol. 1, p. 427; Part 3, Suraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 57)


62

When Ṭaṭyānūs did not come out of the house of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ for a long time, Jews invaded the house and عـليـهwitnessed that Almighty Allah وجل ز had transformed Ṭaṭyānūs عinto the appearance of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم الـس Jews killed .عـليـهṬaṭyānūs assuming him to be Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم الـس After .عـليـهthis, when the family members of Ṭaṭyānūs observed him carefully, only his face was identical with that of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā’s while rest of his body was of his own. His family members inquired that if the killed person is ‘Īsā, then where is our Ṭaṭyānūs; and if this is Ṭaṭyānūs, where is ‘Īsā? This issue raised so much that a situation of civil war arose amongst Jews and consequently, they started killing each other and many Jews were killed. Almighty Allah وجل ز has described this عanecdote in the Holy Quran as following:

روا و و

� � و مكر ا��

مكرين ﴿ مك

� ال

�

� خ

� ﴾۵۴٪ا��

� ا� � يعي��

ا��

ال

ق

اذ

و

يك � و متوف

ا�

رافعك

رك �

�وا و مط

�

ذين ك

من ال

بعوك

ذين ات

ال

جاعل

م قيمة � ث

� يوم ال

ا ا�

�و

�

ذين ك

ال

وق

م ف

م بينك

حك

ا

م ف

�جعك

� �

� ا�

ف��

�ن�

ون ﴿ فيه ك

تلف

�

�۵۵﴾

And the unbelievers conspired (to kill ‘Īsā), and Allah covertly planned to destroy them; and Allah is the best of secret planners. Remember when Allah said, ‘O ‘Īsā! I will keep you alive till your full age, and raise you towards Me, and cleanse you of the unbelievers and give your followers dominance over the unbelievers until the Day of Resurrection; then you will all return to Me, so I shall judge between you concerning the matter in which you dispute.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 3, Sūraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 54-55)


63

After Sayyidunā ‘Īsā’s departure towards the heavens, Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا تعاىل عنها .lived for 6 years and then passed away ر�

It is narrated from Bukhārī and Muslim that Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم الـس will descend on earth close to the Day of Judgment عـليـهand will follow the Sharī’aĥ of the Last Prophet Muhammad

واله �ليه عاىل ت اهللا وسلم ص� . He will kill Dajjāl and the pig, destroy the cross and after establishing the writ of justice for seven years, he will pass away and be buried inside Madina-tul-Munawwaraĥ under the Green Dome. (Tafsīr Jamal Alal Jalālaīn, vol. 1, p. 427; Part 3,

Suraĥ Al-e-Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 57)

In refuting the Christians, it has also been revealed in the Holy Quran that:

ا﴿�ه يقين

ت�

يه ﴾ ۱۵۷وماق

� ال

ا��

عه

ف

ر

�﴿ بل

زيزاحك��

� ع

ان ا��

﴾�۱۵۸و�

‘And without doubt, they did not kill him. In fact Allah raised him towards Himself; and Allah is Almighty, Wise.’ [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Sūraĥ Nisā, Verse. 157-158)

In the previous verse to this, it is said:

�

�

ل

ه ب

�ن ش

و�

بوه

وماصل

�ه

ت�

وماق

‘They did not slay him nor did they crucify him, but a look-alike was created for them’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Suraĥ Nisā, Verse 157)

In summary, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س was not killed by Jews but عـليـه الـwas lifted up to the heavens by Almighty Allah وجل Anyone .عزwho believes that Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ was either killed or عـليـهcrucified as Christians do; such person is an unbeliever as the Holy Quran mentions clearly that Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ was عـليـهneither killed nor crucified.


64

18. Christians fled from Mubāĥilaĥ (casting Allah’s curse) A Christian delegation came to Madina from Najrān (Yemen) which consisted of a group of fourteen people and they all were noblemen of Najrān. This delegation was led by three individuals:

1. Abū Ḥārišaĥ bin ‘Alqamaĥ who was the chief pope of Christians;

2. Oĥīb who was the tribal chief;

3. ‘Abdul Masīḥ who was an adjutant to the main chief and was known as ‘Āqib’.

They all dressed up in very pristine and exquisite clothes and entered in the Masjid Nabawī after Aṣr Ṣalāĥ and offered their own prayer facing towards their own Qiblaĥ. Then Abū Ḥārišaĥ and another person came in the blessed court of the Most Dignified Prophet واله �ليه عاىل ت اهللا وسلم ص� who conversed with them in a very graceful manner. The following conversation took place:

Holy Prophet ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص: You people accept Islām and become obedient to Allah وجل ز .ع

Abū Ḥārišaĥ: We have already become obedient to Allah وجل .عز

Holy Prophet ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص: Your statement is not true because you people worship the cross, ascribe a son to Almighty Allah ل وج ز ع

and eat pork.

Abū Ḥārišaĥ: Why do you people abuse our Prophet ‘Īsā ـالم س ?عـليـه اـل

Holy Prophet ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص: What do we say to Prophet ‘Īsā ـالم ?عـليـه الـس


65

Abū Ḥārišaĥ: You people call Prophet ‘Īsā � �� a bondsman

/servant of Allah �� , whereas, he is son of god.

Holy Prophet ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص: Yes! We say that he is the bondsman and a

Prophet of Allah �� and he is Kalimatullaĥ who was born to

Maryam �� without any father but by the command of

Almighty Allah �� .

Abū Ḥārišaĥ: Can anyone be conceived without a father?

When you people believe that no human being is the father of

Prophet ‘Īsā � �� , then you people will have to admit that

god is his father.

Holy Prophet ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص: If someone does not have a father, it does not

necessarily mean that Allah �� is his father. If Allah �� wills,

he can create a human without a father. This is evident from how

Almighty Allah �� created Sayyidunā Ādam � �� without

a father or a mother. So what is so shocking if Allah �� created

Prophet ‘Īsā � �� without a father?

After these prophetical, persuasive and philosophical words from

the Beloved Prophet � �� ! �� " �# $�� %�� , instead of leaving Christianity

and coming into the fold of Islām, these people started to quarrel

and argue with the Holy Prophet � �� ! �� " �# $�� %�� . The argument

and dispute prolonged to such an extent that Almighty Allah

�� revealed this verse of Sūraĥ-Al-e-‘Imrān:

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66

Therefore say to those who dispute with you (O dear Prophet Mohammad) concerning ‘Īsā after the knowledge has come to you, ‘Come! Let us summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves - then pray humbly, thereby casting the curse of Allah وجل ’!upon the liars عز

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 3, Suraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 61)

Abū Ḥārišaĥ accepted this challenge of Mubāĥilaĥ of the Holy Quran and it was decided that this Mubāĥilaĥ will take place in an open field tomorrow morning. But, when Abū Ḥārišaĥ came to Christians, he said, ‘O my tribe! You people have well understood and realised that Muhammad وسلم واله �ليه عاىل ت اهللا is ص�the Last Prophet of Almighty Allah وجل ز and bear in mind that عthe people that hold Mubāĥilaĥ with a true and a real Prophet, its youngsters and the adults get destroyed. Therefore, betterment lies in having a truce with him and returning home and do not hold any Mubāĥilaĥ with him at any cost.’

Therefore, next morning when Abū Ḥārišaĥ came in front of the Great Prophet وسلم واله �ليه عاىل ت اهللا he saw the Holy Prophet ,ص� وسلم يه واله اهللا تعاىل �ل اهللا تعاىل ع carrying Imām Ḥusaīn ص� نه ـر� whilst holding the finger of Imām Ḥasan �عـنه ر عاىل ت اهللا . Sayyidatunā Fāṭimaĥ عنها عاىل ت اهللا عـنه and Sayyidunā ‘Alī ر� تعاىل اهللا were walking behind ر�him and he وسلم واله يه �ل اىل تع اهللا was saying to them that when I ص�supplicate, say ‘

مني

Upon seeing this, Abū Ḥārišaĥ started to .’ا

shiver with fear and said, ‘O group of Christians! I am seeing such faces that if Almighty Allah وجل ز wishes, He can make the عmountains move from their places by the virtue of these faces. Therefore, O my people! Do not engage in Mubāĥilaĥ at all, otherwise you will be destroyed and no single Christian will remain on the face of the earth.’ Then he said, ‘O Abū Qāsim!


67

We will not conduct Mubāĥilaĥ with you and we wish to remain on our own religion. The Merciful Prophet وسلم واله �ليه عاىل ت اهللا said ص�them to embrace Islām so that they may get the rights of a Muslim but the Christians clearly rejected to embrace Islām. Then the Holy Prophet واله �ليه عاىل ت اهللا وسلم ص� said that ‘if so, I have no other option then to have a war against you’. Upon hearing this, the Christians replied that ‘we do not possess the power to have a war against Arabs, therefore, we offer a truce with you entailing a condition that you people do not fight a war against us and leave us persevered on our own religion and we will pay you one thousand clothes every year as a Jizyaĥ (tax). Therefore, this peace treaty was accepted by the Holy Prophet واله �ليه تعاىل اهللا وسلم ص�

on this condition and a manuscript based on peace and harmony was written for those Christians. After this, the Noble Prophet اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلم said that ‘devastation and destruction had reached ص�the people of Najrān but these people saved. Had they had a Mubāĥilaĥ with me, their faces would have been deformed and become monkeys and pigs and such a fire would have blazed in their valley that all of the inhabitants of Najrān including the birds and beasts would have been burnt, blazed and turned into a muck of ashes and all the Christians over the face of the earth would have become extinct within one year. (Tafsīr Ruḥ-ul-Bayān,

vol. 2, p. 44; Part 3, Suraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 61)

Moral lesson From this anecdote, we come to know that doing Mubāĥilaĥ with the Prophets of Almighty Allah وجل .is ruin and devastation عزMoreover, contesting with Prophets, the friends of Allah ل وج عزand other chosen people of Almighty Allah وجل and being open عزto their cursing is destruction and annihilation. In fact, even a slight disrespect and hurting the feelings of the saints of Allah وجل عز


68

can be destructive for a person and can inflict such destruction and annihilation that has no remedial cure.

Ḥaḍrat Khūjandī � �� ر�

ـ�

� and the Basāṭī poet: It is narrated

that once Sayyidunā Kamāluddīn Khūjandī ـع رمح لي ة ه went in the gathering of poets and the Basāṭī poet after seeing him invoked this nonsense couplet in a very disrespectful and ridiculous manner:

وند اے از�جا� از�جا��

Translation From where have you come—

from where have you come—O Rascal?

Sayyidunā Khūjandī ة رمح did not get much angry assuming عـليهthat he (the Basāṭī poet) is saying it due to being intoxicated. He ة عـليه رمح replied with the following couplet:

ازخجند ازخجندم ازخجندم،

Translation I came from Khujand—

I came from Khujand—I came from Khujand.

After this Sayyidunā Khūjandī ة ه رمح لي ـع addressed the gathering and said that he (Basāṭī) is out of senses due to being intoxicated and is babbling whatever comes to his tongue. Do not say anything to him. Hearing this, the despicable Basāṭī poet insulted him saying:

داری بزرگ ر�ش اے�لحدخجندی

گفت تواں � ر�ش دہ بزر� كز�يت


69

Translation: O infidel Khūjandī, you keep a very long beard and

seeing its length; it can be called ten beards. ( م

اذاهللاع )

Listening to these derogatory comments in an ordinary gathering grieved him so much and Sayyidunā Khūjandī رمح لي ـع ة ه invoked curse unto him with wrathful gaze and instantly, the Basāṭī poet died without any illness and fell to the ground and everyone was awe-stricken witness of this scene. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān vol. 2, p. 45;

Part 3, Suraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 63)

‘Abul Ḥasan Ĥamdānī’s chicken: To act against the desires of the saints is also a reason for the great anxiety. Hence it has been stated that once Khuwājaĥ ‘Abul Ḥasan Ĥamdānī paid a visit to Sayyidunā Khuwājaĥ Ja’far Khālidī عاىل �ليه اهللا ت and just رمحةbefore leaving home, ‘Abul Ḥasan Ĥamdānī asked to roast a chicken for him and keep it ready. Sayyidunā Khuwājaĥ Ja’far Khālidī يه �ل عاىل ت اهللا ,ordered him to stay the night at his place رمحةbut the heart of Abul Hassan Ĥamdānī was stranded in the thoughts of the roasted chicken, so he made a reasonable excuse and went home. Due to this, Sayyidunā Khuwājaĥ Ja’far Khālidī felt dejected. This dejection was such that it appeared رمحة اهللا تعاىل �ليهin such a repercussive happening that when Khuwājaĥ ‘Abul Ḥassan Ĥamdānī sat to eat the chicken, due to a little negligence, a dog entered the house, took the roasted chicken, ran away and threw it in a filthy drain.

The next morning when Khuwājaĥ Abul Ḥasan Ĥamdānī came in the court of Sayyidunā Khuwājaĥ Ja’far Khālidī يه �ل عاىل ت اهللا ة ;رمحas soon as he (the latter) saw him (the former), he (the latter) said to him (the former) that ‘the one who does not respect the desires of the noble saints, a dog is appointed over him which harasses him.’ Upon hearing this, Khuwājaĥ ‘Abul Ḥasan


70

Ĥamdānī felt remorse deeply. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 2, p. 46; Part 3,


Every man of Balkh became a liar: Sayyidunā Khuwājaĥ Abū ‘Alī Daqqāq ليه� عاىل ت اهللا ة narrated that when people of Balkh رمحexiled Sayyidunā Khuwājaĥ Mohammad bin Faḍl despite being innocent, he invoked the curse unto the people of the city and said, ‘O my Allah, do not give them the ability to speak the truth.’ As a result, there was no truthful person left in the city for years and every person of the city became a rigid liar. The city was notoriously known as ‘the city of liars’. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān,

vol. 2, p. 46; Part 3, Suraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 63)

Nevertheless, we should never displease saints by any of our actions. Otherwise, the slightest distress may stir the storm of the wrath of Allah وجل which may throw you in the pit of عزdestruction and desolation erasing your identity forever.

Khudā ka Qaĥar ĥay un kī nigāĥ kī gardish

Girā jo un kī naẓar say sanbĥāl naĥi saktā

A slighter movement of their eyes can stir the curse of Allah

The one whom they curse, can never be recovered from the misery

19. Five thousand angels in battlefield Battle of Badr is the most famous battle between Islām and Pagans (Kuffār). This battle took place at Badr, a place between Makkaĥ-tul-Mukarramaĥ and Madinaĥ-tul-Munawwaraĥ on the 17th Ramaḍān 2nd Ĥijrī. In regards to weapons and personnel, the Muslim army was very inferior to their opponents. The number of the Muslim soldiers upholding the noble flag of Prophet Muhammad عاىل �ليه واله اهللا ت وسلم ص� was merely 313 consisting of young and old, Anṣār and Muĥājirīn who were contesting


71

against a massive and a grand army of unbelievers. The state of the shortage of weaponry was such that the Muslim army only had six armours and eight swords whereas the unbelievers’ army was based on an approximate number of one thousand furious and fierce warriors and these warriors were armed with one hundred excellent horses, seven hundred camels and diverse fatal weapons. In front of such a high military power of the unbelievers’ army, a state of unrest and anxiety among the Muslims was a natural element. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad

اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلم ص� spent the whole night in Ṣalāĥ and supplications to Allah وجل :imploring عز

‘O Allah! If these handful of people are killed, then no one will be left on the face of earth to worship you until the Day of Judgment’ (Al-Sīrat-un-Nabawiyyaĥ-lil-ĥashām, p 554, vol. 1)

During the supplication, the sacred shawl fell down from the blissful shoulders of the Prophet Muhammad واله �ليه عاىل ت اهللا وسلم ص� and due to a state of overwhelming emotions, the blessed tears began shedding. When the companion of the cave, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīque اهللا تعاىل عـنه ,saw him in this state of restlessness ر�his heart was at unrest. Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīque اهللا تعاىل نه ـع ر� lifted up the fallen shawl, placed it over the sacred shoulders of Prophet, held the blessed hand and comforted in a very sympathetic tone with great respect and reverence and said to Prophet Muhammad اهللا تع وسلم اىل �ليه واله ص� ‘O Master! Do not worry, surely Almighty Allah وجل ز .will fulfil his promise ع

Our Prophet اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلم ص� stopped supplicating on the request of his true devotee and companion of the cave, Sayyidunā Ṣiddīque Akbar عـنه عاىل اهللا ت :and with confidence prophesied ر�


72

و

�م�

بر ﴿ سيهزم ا�

ون الد ﴾۴۵يول

‘The group will soon be routed, and will turn their backs to flee.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 27, Sūraĥ Qamar, Verse. 45)

In the morning, Holy Prophet واله يه �ل عاىل ت اهللا وسلم ص� delivered such an encouraging and stimulating sermon by reciting the verses of Jiĥād with such effect that it stirred each and every drop of blood of all Mujahedeen and their blood was swaying like an ocean with a full commotion emerging out from the banks. Prophet Muhammad اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلم ص� also expressed his knowledge of unseen and gave the glad-tidings that if you people stay in the battlefield with patience and perseverance; Almighty Allah وجل .will descend the angels’ army from the skies for your support عز

Therefore, an army of five thousands angels descended in the battlefield and instantaneously, the scenario of the battlefield changed. Sayyidunā ‘Alī عـنه تعاىل اهللا was holding the flag of ر�Muĥājirīn and Sayyidunā Sa’d bin ‘Ubādaĥ عـنه تعاىل اهللا was the ر�flag bearer of the Anṣār. Seventy unbelievers were killed and seventy were arrested and the remaining ran off from the battlefield leaving their possessions behind. There were such prominent leaders of Quraīsh killed among unbelievers who were famous and known for their bravery. One by one, all of them died resulting in weakening the Pagan’s army and eventually being destroyed.

Among the Muslims, there were fourteen fortunate and gifted Muslims who embraced the rank of martyrdom and among these martyrs; there were six Muĥājirīn and eight Anṣār. The Muslims also secured a huge amount of war booties that was left behind by the fugitive pagan army.


73

Almighty Allah وجل has mentioned the Battle of Badr and عزarmy of angels in the following words in the Holy Quran

� ب و م ا��

��

ن

د

ق

ل

ر و

� بد

وا ا��

ق

ات

� ف

ة

ذل

� ا

�

ن

م ا

�

عل

رون ﴿ ل

ك

ش

�۱۲۳﴾

ة

�ك�مل

ن ال ف م

ل

ة ا

ث

ل

م بث

ك

م رب�

مد

ن يم ا

فيك

ك

ن يل

� ا

�ن�

مؤ

لل

ول

ق

ت

اذ

﴿ ��ل�

ص��وا و ﴾ ۱۲۴��

� � ان ت

�وا و ب�

ق

ت

م ت

ك

م ربا يمدد�

ذ

ور�� ه

ن ف م م

و�

ت

يا

﴿ �م� ة مسو

�ك

�مل

ن ال ف م

ل

مسة ا

م و ﴾۱۲۵��

�ي ��

� ب�

� ا�

� ا��

ما جع�

م به � و و

�بك

� ق

م�ن

� لتط

�� ا�

�يز عند من ما الن

�

� ال

�ك�� ﴿ ا��

﴾ ۱۲۶ا�

Allah indeed aided you at Badr when you had no means; so fear Allah so that you may be thankful. When you O dear Prophet (Mohammad واله �ليه تعاىل اهللا وسلم ص� ) said to the believers, ‘Is it not sufficient for you that your Rab may support you by sending down three thousand angels?’ Yes, why not? If you patiently endure and remain pious, and the unbelievers attack you suddenly, your Rab will send down five thousand marked angels to help you. And Allah did not bestow this victory except for your happiness, and only that your hearts may attain peace with it; and there is no help except from Allah, the Almighty and the Wise. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Sūraĥ Baqaraĥ, Verse 123-126)

Moral lesson Despite having less soldiers and less armoury, success still kissed the feet of Muslims, leading them to be victorious in the Battle of Badr. From this, we learn the moral lesson that success in not dependent upon excess of the quantity of an army and ammunition, but it depends upon the divine help and support of Almighty Allah ل وج because whenever He عز


74

wills, He helps Muslims by sending an army of angels in the battlefield, and despite being less in the man power and military equipment, they still become victorious and destroy the pagans’ army.

However, for such success and divine support, Allah وجل ز has عplaced two conditions: (i) Patience and (ii) Piety. If Muslims show steadfastness in the battlefield by having a stern faith on the divine support of Allah وجل ز and keep hold of patience عand piety, then victory will kiss their feet on every frontier and unbelievers will surrender and run away from the battlefield or will face their death and enter the infernal fire. One most essential thing in such conditions is that a Muslim should show perseverance as that of a mountain in the battlefield by observing piety and patience and should never pay a heed towards the numeral disadvantages or shortage or excess of war ammunition because there is saying of Almighty Allah وجل :عز

د اهللا اال من عن

ا النصر

م

و

That Allah is the only one to help.

Some poet has very artistically guided us that

Kāfir ĥo to talwār peĥ kartā ĥay bĥarosā

Momin ĥo to bay tayīgh bĥī lařtā ĥay sipāĥī

An unbeliever has a sole belief in the power of sword

A believer has trust in Allah & fights even without sword

20. The first murderer and the first murdered The first who murdered on the earth is Qābil and the first person who got murdered was Ĥābīl. Qābil and Ĥābīl; they both are the sons of Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم الـس The historical .عـليـه


75

perspective of this first murder is that with every pregnancy, Sayyidunā Ḥawwā عنها عاىل ت اهللا bore two children, one being a ر�boy and the other being a girl – the boy of the previous pregnancy was married to the girl of the latter pregnancy. Following this tradition, Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم الـس wished to marry Qābil عـليـهwith Līyūżā who was born with Ĥābīl. But Qābil showed his discontent over the decision because Aqlīmā was prettier and Qābil desired to get her.

Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم عـليـه س الـ tried to explain Qābil that Aqlīmā was born with you, therefore, she is your sister and you cannot get married to her, but Qābil showed stubborn attitude over this issue. Finally Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم س الـ ordered them to عـليـهoffer their sacrifices to Almighty Allah ل وج ز and told them that عthe one whose sacrifice will be accepted will deserve to get Aqlīmā. In those days, the sign of the acceptance of a sacrifice was that a fire from the sky used to come down and eat the sacrifice. Therefore, Qābil offered some grains of wheat and Ĥābīl offered a goat for sacrifice. The fire from the sky ate away the sacrifice of Ĥābīl and left the wheat grains of Qābil. Consequently, there was a growth of malice and greed in the heart of Qābil and he determined to murder Ĥābīl and threatened Ĥābīl that I will kill you! Ĥābīl said to Qābil that acceptance of a sacrifice is from Allah وجل and He accepts the عزsacrifices of only pious people. If you were also pious, then your sacrifice would have been accepted also. Furthermore, Ĥābīl also said to Qābil that if you raise your hand to kill me, I will not raise mine on you because I fear Allah وجل I want my sins .عزas well as yours to be on your account and consequently, you may become amongst the hell dwellers because that is the punishment of unjust people. Finally, Qābil killed his brother


76

Ĥābīl. At the time of murder, Ĥābīl was twenty years old and this incident took place in Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ near the mountain of Šaur or in the valley of the mountain of Ḥirā. Some are of the viewpoint that this took place in Basra near the Masjid A’ẓam on Tuesday. (

لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

It is narrated that when Ĥābīl was killed, there was an earthquake on the earth for seven days. Every creature was plunged into turmoil. Qābil who had a fair complexion and was very handsome before slaying his brother, now turned black and ugly. This incident intensely grieved Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم س ـالم He .عـليـه الـ عـليـه الـسwas so much grief-stricken by the death of his son Ĥābīl that he did not laugh for one hundred years and wrote an elegy in the Suryānī language in the memory of his dead son. It has been translated in Arabic as:

رب قبيح غ

رض م

جه اال

ليها فو

من ع

وبالد

ت ال

تغري

بيح جه الص

وقل �شاشة ال

م و

طع

�ل ذی لون و

تغري

Translation: A change has overwhelmed all of the cities and their inhabitants, the face of the earth has been blurred and cursed, everything having colour or taste has been changed and the charm of the fair colour has vanished away.

Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم الـس expelled Qābil from his court in an عـليـهextreme state of wrath and anger and invoked curse unto him. The accursed soul then carried Aqlīmā with him and went to Yemen and settled in the land of ‘Adan. Iblīs approached him and tempted him that the reason behind the fire eating the sacrifice of Ĥābīl was that he used to worship the fire; therefore, you too should erect a temple for fire and worship it. Therefore, Qābil is the first person who worshiped the fire and is also the


77

first one to transgress and disobey the Almighty Allah ل وج .عزHe was also the first one to kill an innocent person and he is the first criminal who will be thrown into the Hell. It has been mentioned in a blessed Ḥadīš that all the unjust bloodshed that will take place over the surface of the earth, Qābil will be the major stakeholder in that guilt because he was the first one to commence this guilt. The end of Qābil came in such a way that one of his blind children threw a stone that killed him. Thus, the wretched Qābil who even though was the son of a Prophet was damned, cursed and died a death of an unbeliever by the hands of his own son while worshiping the fire in a state of polytheism. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 2, p. 379; Part 6, Suraĥ Al-Mai’daĥ,

Verse 27-30)

Five years after the murder of Ĥābīl, Sayyidunā Shīš ـالم الـس ـليـه عwas born and at that time, Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم الـس was one عـليـهhundred and thirty years old. Sayyidunā Ādam ـالمعـليـه س الـ named his intelligent son as ‘Shīš’. This word is a Suryānī word and its

synonym in Arabic is ‘هبةاهللا’ which means a ‘Gift of Allah’. Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم الـس taught all the fifty holy scriptures عـليـه(Ṣaḥīfay) to his son Shīš ـالم س ـليـه الـ that were revealed to Sayyidunā عĀdam ـالم الـس ـالم He appointed Sayyidunā Shīš .عـليـه الـس as his عـليـهadministrator, vice-regent and caliph. Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم س عـليـه الـsupplicated for the affluence and prosperity to his progeny. Our Beloved Prophet اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلم ص� is among the progeny of Sayyidunā Shīš ـالم س الـ ـليـه Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 2, p. 376; Part 6, Suraĥ) .ع

Al-Mai’daĥ, Verse 30)

This anecdote has been described by the Holy Quran as following:


78

ي�� وات

�ل

اب ل

با

م ن

حدهما و ل

من ا

ل ب

تق

ا ف

ربان

با ق ر

ق

�اذ

�ق

دم با�

� ا

�

ر�

خ

� من ا�

ل

ب

يتق

ق

�

�

ال

�ق

ك

ن

ما تل

ان

ال

ق

ا��

ل

ب

� ﴿يتق

ق�

مت

﴾ ۲۷� من ال

اف

خ ا

�

�ا�

ك

تل

ق

��

يك

دي ال

ا بباسط ين

ا

�� ما

تل

لتق

ك

� يد

ا�

ت

�ن� �سط

ل

﴿ �م�

عل

ال

� رب

۲۸ا��

ت�

ف

مك

�� و اث

باث

ا

بو

ن ت

ا

ريد

ا

�

�ب ﴾ ا�

�

�ن من ا

ج

لك

ار � و ذ

ز� الن ﴿ �لم�

ا الظ

� ۲۹ؤ

�

ت

ع

و

ط

﴾ ف

ف

ن

ت سه

� ق

ت�

ق

خيه ف

ا

ل

ص ا

��ين ﴿ف

�

﴾۳۰ب� من ا�

And recite to them the true tale of the two sons of Ādam; when both of them offered a sacrifice each - hence the sacrifice of one was accepted and not accepted from the other; he (the other) said, ‘I swear I will kill you’; he answered, ‘Allah accepts only from the pious. ‘Indeed, if you do extend your hand against me to kill me, I will not extend my hand against you to kill you; I fear Allah, the Rab of the Creation.’ ‘I only desire that you alone should bear my sin and your own sin - hence you become of the people of hell; and that is the proper punishment of the unjust.’ So his soul incited him to kill his brother - he therefore killed him, and was therefore ruined.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Sūraĥ Mai’daĥ, Verse 27-30)

Moral lesson We get the following moral lessons from this anecdote:

1. The very first murder in the world took place due to a dispute over a woman. Therefore, we shall seek refuge from Almighty Allah وجل to save us from being a victim عزof a contentious relationship with a woman.


79

2. Qābil was incited by the foul passion of jealousy and consequently, killed his brother. This account teaches us that how dangerous jealousy is and how perilous it is for one’s soul. That’s why the Holy Quran orders us to keep seeking refuge from Allah وج ل عز for the envy of an envier. The Holy Quran commands:

٪﴿ و من

ا حسد� حاسد اذ

�۵﴾

And from the evil of the envier when he is envious of me [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūraĥ Falaq, Verse 5)

3. How grave a sin it is to kill an innocent that because of this sin, a son of a Prophet was damned and expelled from the court of Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم Consequently, he died .عـليـه الـسa death of an unbeliever and will remain a stakeholder in every murder until the Day of Judgement. Thus he will perpetually remain confined in the punishment of Hell.

4. We also learn that the innovator of an evil act will get the sin of all those people who act upon that evil until the Day of Judgement.

5. It also teaches us that it is not necessary for a child of pious parents to be pious too. The children of pious people can also be deviant because Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم الـس ـليـه is a عDistinguished Prophet of Allah وجل ,as well as Ṣafīyullāĥ عزbut you have read how notorious was the transgression of Qābil. Everyone should keep supplicating to Allah وجل for عز

pious offspring. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

21. Crow taught to bury the dead When Qābīl killed Ĥābīl, Qābīl was worried that what to do with the corpse of his dead brother as no one had ever died


80

prior to this. Therefore, Qābīl kept on wandering around carrying the corpse of his brother on his back. Then he saw two crows quarrelling and one killing the other. Then the living crow dug a hole with his beak and paws and after placing the dead crow in it, filled it with the soil. From this demonstration, Qābīl came to know that the corpse shall be buried in the ground. Therefore, he dug a grave and buried the corpse of his brother in it. (Madārik-ul-

Tanzīl, vol. 1, p. 486; Part 6, Sūraĥ Maida, Verse 31) The Holy Quran has described this anecdote in the following words:

�يهرض ل�

�

�� ا�

�ث

�

رابا ي

� غ ا��

بعث

خيه � ف

ا

يواري سوءة

يف

ك

ال

ق

صب� ا

�� ف

ا

واري سوءة

ا

�اب ف

�

ا ال

ذ

ه

ل

ون مث

�

ن ا

ا

�زت

�

� ا

��

يويل

� ﴿ �دم�

﴾۳۱من الن

So Allah sent a crow scratching the ground, to show him how to hide his brother’s corpse; he said, ‘Woe to me! I was not even capable enough to be like this crow, so I would hide my brother’s corpse’; and he turned remorseful.


Moral lesson 1. We get a moral lesson from this anecdote that in order to

acquire knowledge; a human being is also reliant on the help of even small creatures like a crow.

2. We have also come to know that whenever someone is confronted by the worldly problems, Almighty Allah ل وج ز ع

is so Gracious and Compassionate unto us that He shows the path that leads us towards the solution of problems


81

through different means, even through birds or animals. (

لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

22. The divine feast The disciples of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم !said, ‘O ‘Īsā bin Maryam عـليـه الـسIs your Rab capable in descending a feast for us from the sky?' Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ ,warned them that if you are believers عـليـهthen you should fear Allah وجل .from demanding such signs عزAfter hearing this, the disciples said that we are not demanding this in order to seek signs but we want to satisfy our hunger and that we come to know about your truth so our hearts gain satisfaction and we become a witness for this so that the Banī Isrāīl may believe our evidence and they attain complete satisfaction. Thus the faith of the believers strengthens even further and non-believers embrace the true faith.

1. Following the request of his disciples, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم وجل supplicated in the court of Allah عـليـه الـس :as عز

“O our Rab! Send down to us a table spread from heaven, so that it may become a day of celebration for us – for our former and latter people - and a sign from You; and give us sustenance - and You are the Best Provider of sustenance.”


In response to the request of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ Almighty ,عـليـه Allah وجل replied that although I will descend a feast but عزafterwards, anyone committing infidelity (Kufr) among the Banī Isrāīl will be punished in such a way that no one else would ever be punished in such way in both worlds. Therefore, following the commandment of Almighty Allah وجل few angels descended ,عز


82

with a feast from the skies consisting of seven fish and seven loaves of bread. (Tafsīr Jalālaīn p. 111; Part 7, Sūraĥ Al-Ma’daĥ, Verse 115)

Sayyidunā Ibn Abbas عـنه عاىل ت اهللا has narrated that the angels ر�brought meat and bread (rauṫī) down from heavens and according to some narrations, it was a massive boneless fried fish, oil was dripping from it, salt was placed near its head and vinegar by its tail, it was surrounded with different types of vegetables and there were five breads. On top of the first bread, there was olive oil, on the second one there was honey, on the third one there was butter, on the fourth one there was cheese, and on the fifth one there were pieces of meat. Upon seeing these on the dinning mat, Sham’ūn, the leader of the disciples of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ asked, ‘O Rūḥullāĥ, is this عـليـهfeast amongst the worldly food or heavenly food?’ He replied, ‘This food is neither heavenly nor worldly. Allah وجل ز has just عcreated it through His supreme power and sent it for you.’ (Tafsīr Jalālaīn, vol. 2, p. 304; Part 7, Sūraĥ Al-Ma’daĥ, Verse 115)

Then Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم الـس ordered Banī Isrāīl to eat the feast عـليـهas per their desires and warned them to avoid any dishonesty in it and directed them not to hoard the food for tomorrow. But Banī Isrāīl breached the trust and hoarded the food for the next day. Due to this disobedience, they became victim of the punishment of Allah ل وج ز in such a way that when they slept عat night, they were all fine but when they woke up in the morning, their faces were deformed and few had turned into pigs and few into monkeys. Then Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه عsupplicated for their death and thus on the third day, all of these people died and it is a mystery as to what happened to their corpses. Whether the earth swallowed them or what did


83

Allah ل وج ز ,do to them? (Tafsīr Jamal ala Jalālaīn, vol. 2, p. 304; Part 7 ع

Sura Al-Mai’daĥ, Verse 115)

Almighty Allah وجل ز has described this strange and great عanecdote in Sūraĥ Mai’daĥ of the Holy Quran. And due to this incident, this Sūraĥ has been named as Sūraĥ Mai’daĥ. Mai’daĥ means ‘a dining mat’.

عي�� اب

ال�ن ق

�

مآء ت

ن الس م

ة

ينا مآىفد

�ل

زل

ن

ا

نا

�م رب�يم ا��

نا ن �

ل

﴿ �زق� � ا��

�

خ

ت

ن

نا و ا

ق

� و ارز

نك �

ية

ا و ا

خرن

لنا و ا

و

�

ا �

� ﴾۱۱۴عيد

ا��

ال

ق

�ن

م � �

يكا �ل

�

� �

��

ا�

به

ذ

ع

ا

�

ا�

م ف

�نك

� بعد

�

ك

ي

به

ذ

ع ا

�

ابا �

ذ

ع

﴿ �م�

عل

ن ال ا م

حد

﴾٪ ۱۱۵ا

‘Īsā son of Maryam said, ‘O Allah, O our Rab! Send down to us a table spread from heaven, so that it may become a day of celebration for us – for our former and latter people - and a sign from You; and give us sustenance - and You are the Best Provider of sustenance.’ Said Allah, ‘Indeed I shall send it down to you; so thereafter whoever disbelieves amongst you - I will surely mete out to him a punishment with which I shall not punish anyone else in the whole world. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 7, Sūraĥ Mai’daĥ, Verse 114-115)

Moral lesson The above-mentioned anecdote gives us many moral as well as admonitory lessons. Two among these are very obvious.

1. You see how perilous it is to oppose Prophets that when Banī Isrāīl opposed and disobeyed their Prophet by being dishonest towards the heavenly feast and by hoarding for the next day. Then the severe torment from Allah ل وج ز عdamned them and consequently, deformed their faces like


84

pigs and monkeys. They were destroyed in such a way that no signs of their graves are even left. All those who breach the trust of Almighty Allah وجل and His Prophets should عزlearn a lesson from the above-mentioned severe punishment

and should repent sincerely. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

2. In the supplication of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم الـس the phrase ,عـليـه‘the day when the divine feast will descend will be a day of Eid for our predecessor and successor’. From this statement, we derive this Madanī pearl that the day when a divine sign of Allah ل وج is revealed, a display of joy, jubilation عزand Eid (celebrating) on that day is a sacred and blissful Sunnaĥ of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س ـليـه الـ .ع

The day and night of the birth of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله سلمو ص� is the day and night of the revealing of a great sign of Almighty Allah وجل ز Therefore, celebrating .عthe day of Eid Mīlād-un-Nabī and calling this day as Eid Mīlād is in accordance to the teachings of the Glorious Quran. Celebration of the joy by holding gatherings at homes, by decorating places, cooking excellent food and eating yourself as well as feeding others; all these are the signs of Eid and are the modes to celebrate this day.

These are the ways and means by which the Aĥl-e-Sunnaĥ celebrates the blissful birth of Prophet Muhammad اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلم ص� and hold celebration on this day of divine mercy and blessings. And the ones who get irritated on this blissful day, confine themselves in their houses, do not illuminate their homes, do not clean their houses, wander here and there wearing dirty clothes with faces made up, and ridicule and allege the celebrators of Eid Mīlād-un-Nabī by calling them Bid’atī (innovator) should


85

be left to suffer at their own ends and Aĥl-e-Sunnaĥ shall rejoice happily, should try to organise numerous gatherings of Mīlād and recite Salāt-‘Alan-Nabi with love and devotion.

Mišl-e-fāras zalzalay ĥo Najad mayn

Żikr-e-āyaĥ-e-wilādat kījiye

Similar to Persia, may earthquakes strike Najad too

Invoke the signs and the verses of the birth celebration of Prophet

(Ḥadāiq-e-Bakhshish, vol. 1, p. 140)

23. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s proclamation of Tawḥīd (Monotheism) The exegetes of the Holy Quran have described that Namrūd bin Kin’ān was a very cruel king. He was the first one to wear a crown; no king had ever worn a crown before him. He used to force people to worship him. There were many astrologers and sorcerers in his court as his favourite courtiers. One night, Namrūd saw a dream that a star appeared in the sky and it has blurred the light of the sun, the moon and all the stars. The presages and astrologers interpreted the dream that a boy would be born who would cause the downfall of your kingdom. It made Namrūd very worried and he ordered, ‘Any baby boy born in my city shall be killed, and men and women shall remain separated.’ Therefore, thousands of infants were killed. Nevertheless, who can alter the divine destiny?

Meanwhile, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس was born. Due to an عـليـهoverwhelming fear of the king, mother of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ concealed her child in a cave that was situated in the عـليـهmountains far away from the city. His mother used to secretly feed Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س in this very cave. Some exegetes عـليـه الـ


86

are of the opinion that Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس remained in عـليـهthis cave for seven years and the others have written that for a period of seventeen years. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 3, p. 59; Part 7, Suraĥ

Al-An’ām, Verse 75)

In that era, people normally used to worship the stars. One night Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ saw either the planet Jupiter عـليـهor Venus and to propagate the message of Tawḥīd (monotheism), he addressed people in a very attractive and well-spoken manner that: ‘O people! Is this planet my god?' When that planet set, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ said, 'I don’t love those عـليـهwho sink down.’ After this, the bright moon appeared. Then he again said: 'Is this my god?' But afterward, when the moon also set, he said, 'If my Rab had not guided me, I would have also been among the transgressors.’ And when he saw the brilliant sun, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ said, ‘It is bigger than the عـليـهothers; is it my god?' However, when the sun also set, he said, ‘O my people! I am fed up of all those things which you associate as a partner to Almighty Allah وجل and I have submitted myself to عزHim Who has created the heavens and the earth. Thus I have become a worshipper and devout to Him only and I am not among those who commit Shirk (polytheism). After hearing this, the people started quarrelling with him. Then Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـال الـس معـليـه said, ‘You people fight with me in the matter of Almighty Allah وجل He is the One Who has guided me and ?عزI am not scared from your fake gods at all. Listen! Without the will of my Rab, you and your gods cannot harm to me. My Rab has knowledge of everything; will you not follow my instructions?’

The Holy Quran has described this anecdote briefly and vividly as:


87

حب ا

�

�

ال

ق

ل

ف

ا

ا

م

ل

� � ف

ا ر�

ذ

ه

ال

با � ق

و�

�

را

يل

يه ال

�ل

ا جن

مل

ف

﴿ �فل�

�

م يهد�� ﴾۷۶ا�

�ن ل

ل

ال

ق

ل

ف

ا

ا

م

ل

� � ف

ا ر�

ذ

ه

ال

ا ق

�� باز�

ق

ال

ا را

م

ل

ف

﴿ ��

آل

وم الض

ق

من ال

ونن

��

� �

� ﴾۷۷ر�

ا ر�

ذ

ه

ال

ق

ة

مس بازغ

الش

ا را

م

ل

ف

ق

ت

ل

ف

ا

ا

م

ل

� � ف

�

�

ا

ا

ذ

ون ﴿ه

�ك

�

ا ت

�

ء �� بري

وم ا�

يق

۷۸ال

هت

� وج

﴾ ا�

﴿ ��ك�

م�

ا من ال

ن

ا

ما

ا و

حنيف

رض

�

موت و ا�

ر الس

ط

ذي ف

﴾۷۹وج�� لل

So when the night became dark upon him he saw a star; he said (to Azar / the people), ‘(You portray that) this is my Rab?’ then when it set he said, ‘I do not like the things that set.’ Then when he saw the moon shining, he said, ‘(You proclaim that) this is my Rab?’; then when it set, he said, ‘If my Rab had not guided me, I too would be one of these astray people.’ (Prophet Ibrāĥīm was rightly guided before this event). Then when he saw the sun shining brightly, he said, ‘(You say that) this is my Rab? This is the biggest of them all!’; then when it set he said, ‘O people! I do not have any relation with whatever you ascribe as partners (to Him).’ ‘I have directed my attention towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, am devoted solely to Him, and am not of the polytheists.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 7, Sūraĥ An’ām, Verse 76-79)

Moral lesson Pay attention towards the manner with which Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم used to propagate; his way of interaction was عـليـه الـسvery argumentative and logically poised with very persuasive words. Neither any harsh words were used nor anyone’s feelings were hurt nor was the aim to hurt someone’s emotions by making him angry. The only aim was to simply convey one’s thesis in a very attractive form in front of the transgressors.


88

Here we also find Madanī pearls of instructions and moral guidance for our rough and tough preachers and Islamic scholars who have an unbridled tongue and hurt the feelings of the other people through their offensive tones. May Allah وجل bless us with عزthe ability to act upon! (

مني

(ا

24. Five consecutive punishments upon the followers of Pharaoh When the blessed staff of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س turned into عـليـه الـa serpent and swallowed the snakes of the magicians, then they (the magicians) fell prostrate and embraced the true faith. But Pharaoh and his followers still did not embrace the true faith. Instead, his disbelief and stubbornness increased even more and he started to strive even harder to hurt the feelings and torture the believers of Banī Isrāīl and Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم .عـليـه الـسPharaoh started to use different means to tyrannize over them. Aggrieved from the cruelties of Pharaoh, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم عـليـه س الـ supplicated in the court of Allah ل وج ز :in this way ع

O my Rab! Pharaoh has has crossed the limits and his followers broke their promises, therefore, make them suffer from such torments that may be a punishment for them which becomes an admonition for my people and future generation. (Ruḥ-ul-

Bayān, vol. 3, p. 220; Part 9, Suraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 133)

After the supplication of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم وجل Allah ,عـليـه الـس عزsent down five consecutive punishments on the followers of Pharaoh. Those five punishments are as following:

1. Storm: All of a sudden, a cloud hovered and the darkness fell everywhere. Then it started to rain so much so that the water entered the houses of the followers of Pharaoh. They


89

were clogged in the water and water mounted up to their necks. Those who sat down drowned and killed. They were not able to move nor do anything else. The waves of the storm destroyed their fields and gardens. They suffered this torment for one week. Though the houses of Banī Isrāīl were adjacent with the houses of the followers of Pharaoh, the water of the flood did not enter the houses of Banī Isrāīl and they were living in their houses with peace and serenity. When Pharaoh’s followers could no longer tolerate the punishment and became helpless, they came to Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالمعـ الـس ليـه and requested him to pray for them so that this calamity is taken away from them. They also said that they will embrace faith and send Banī Isrāīl to him. Thus Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس supplicated and the punishment عـليـهof storm was taken away. The earth yielded such greenery that was never seen before. Crops flourished. Fruits and wheat grew exponentially. After seeing this, the Pharaoh’s followers started saying that this storm was a source of great blessing unto us. Then again they deviated from their committed promise and did not embrace the faith. Once again they started to commit their barbaric and despicable acts.

2. Locusts: The Pharaoh’s followers lived peacefully for one month but when once again, Almighty Allah وجل عز sent his wrath and punishment down upon them in the shape of locusts. Thus swarms of locusts emerged from all nooks and corners which ate all their crops and gardens. They even ate the woods of their houses. The houses of Pharaoh’s followers were full with locusts and it made their life miserable, but the fields and gardens of the believers of Banī Isrāīl were safe from the invasion of these locusts. Upon seeing this, Pharaoh’s followers learnt a great lesson and after getting fed


90

up of this punishment, they again reported Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس and promised him that if he supplicates for the عـليـهremoval of this punishment, we will surely embrace the true faith and will not execute tyrannies and cruelties on Banī Isrāīl. Therefore, on the seventh day, the punishment was removed from them due to the prayer of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س .Again, these people lived peaceably for a month .عـليـه الـOnce again these people broke their promises and did not embrace the true faith. Their practices of disbelief and sins started to increase again. They started torturing Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه and believers and said that the عresidual vegetations are sufficient for us. Therefore, we will not embrace the faith renouncing our religion.

3. Weevil: After one month, another torment was inflicted upon them in the form of weevils. Some interpreters say that these weevils clang onto their cash crops and fruits and ate away all their food reserves. Some interpreters are of the opinion that it was a tiny vermin that eroded the ripen crops and also went under their dresses and started bruising and biting their skins and this incessant stinging to their bodies made them convulsive like a slaughtered rooster. Their conditions worsened so much that these vermin bruised and scratched the hair of heads, beards, moustaches, eyebrows and eyelashes and they had an appearance as that of a small pox victim. These vermin also affected their foods, waters and utensils and due to the presence of these insects, the Pharaoh’s followers were unable to eat and drink and were unable to have even a nap for a moment. This punishment remained for one week and made them very miserable. These people were compelled


91

to howl and once again they reported Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس and requested him to pray for their redemption عـليـهand assured that they will accept the faith. Feeling pity on their state of anxiety and melancholy, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ supplicated for them and consequently, the عـليـهpunishment was shunned away. As per there habit, these insolent followers of Pharaoh once again broke their promise and once again started their acts of persecutions and cruelties with a new vigour and more intensity. After one month, there was another punishment upon them in the form of frogs.

4. Frogs: All of a sudden, there was an abrupt and haphazard breeding of numerous frogs in the houses of the followers of Pharaoh and the conditions of these atrocious and tyrants was as that wheresoever these people would sit, their gatherings were filled with thousands of frogs. If anyone opened his mouth to talk or eat, frogs would jump and go into his mouth. The frogs used to be in their cooking utensils and used to sit over their bodies in hundreds. They were having no relief from these frogs while walking, sitting and sleeping. The followers of Pharaoh started to cry due to this punishment and again in this whining state, they reported Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس and begged him عـليـهto invoke for them and took many oaths and promised him that we will surely embrace the faith and will never trouble the believers in future. Therefore, on the seventh day, due to the supplication of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس ,عـليـهthis punishment was also lifted but these cursed people again engaged themselves in their devilish activities upon getting peace. They once again started persecution of believers and again began to disrespect Sayyidunā Mūsā


92

ـالم الـس Once again they were seized by the wrath of .عـليـهAllah and the torment was inflicted upon them in the form of blood.

5. Blood: All of a sudden, the water of all wells and rivers of Pharaoh’s followers turned into blood and they beseeched Pharaoh about it. The ignorant Pharaoh said that this is sorcery of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ Upon hearing his .عـليـهcomments, his followers said that what kind of sorcery this is that our crockery and kitchenware are filled with the blood and believers have no impact on them. Then Pharaoh ordered them to draw out water with believers from the same bucket – but it was a strange and miraculous expression of the power of Almighty Allah وجل that when عزbelievers drew out water, it was crystal clear, pure and sweet; on the contrary, when the followers of Pharaoh used to draw out water, it was pure blood. When the severe thirst humiliated the followers of Pharaoh, they came to believers and said that we will drink water with you in the same pot and at the same time. But there was a strange and miraculous display of the power of Almighty Allah وجل عزthat in a single pot at the same time, when believers and non-believers used to collectively drink water, at the side of believers, there was a crystal clear water but on the other side of non-believers, the water that used to go in the mouths of Pharaoh’s followers would turned into blood. In state of helplessness, the Pharaoh and his followers quenched their thirst by chewing grass and extracting water from it but even the liquid that was extracted from it would turn into blood when it reached in their mouths. Fed up from these miserable conditions, the followers of Pharaoh again


93

requested Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ for the removal of the عـليـهpunishment from them. Again due to prophetic kindness and compassion, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س اـل .prayed for them عـليـهThus on the seventh day, the torment of this curse of blood was removed from them.

There were five consecutive punishments on the followers of Pharaoh and every punishment was removed on the seventh day. There used to be an interval of one month between two punishments—but the hearts of these tyrants and transgressors were so sternly sealed and they were wretched to such an extent that they would not embrace the faith. They remained stubborn over their disbelief and every time they broke their promises. Finally, there was an ultimate punishment upon them. Pharaoh and his followers were drowned and destroyed in the River Nile. Thus the world was perpetually sanctified from the evil presence of these damned people. No signs of their existence were left on the surface of the earth and furthermore, no sign of their graves was left to exist on the surface of the earth. (Tafsīr-us-

Ṣāwī, vol.2, p. 803; Part 9, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 133)

The Holy Quran has delineated these five punishments in the following words:

يت م ا

ادع و الد

ف

و الض

ل

م

ق

�راد و ال

ان و ا�

وف

ي�� الط

نا �ل

رسل

ا

ف

﴿ ��رم�

وما �

وا ق

ان

�وا و �

�

استك

ت � ف

ل

ص

ف

ي�� ا��جز ۱۳۳م

�ل

�

ا وق

م

﴾ و ل

بما ع

كنا رب

وا يمو�� ادع ل

ال

ا ا��جز ق

ن

ع

ت

ف

ش

�ن ك

� ل

ك

عند

هد

﴿

ا��آءيل ب��

معك

ن

�سل

�

و ل

ك

ل

�

��

نؤ

� ۱۳۴ل

ن�

نا ع

ف

ش

ا �

م

ل

﴾ ف


94

ون ﴿

ث

� ينكا �

اذ

وه

� بلغ

جل �

� ا

� ۱۳۵ا��جز ا�

ن

رق

غ

ا

� ف

منا �ن�

تق

ان

� ﴾ ف

�

﴿ �فل�

نها غ

وا ع

ان

يتنا و �

بوا با

ذ

� ك

�

ن

�� با

﴾�۱۳۶� ال

We therefore sent against them the flood and the locusts and the vermin (or insects) and the frogs and the blood - separate signs; in response they were proud and were guilty people. And whenever the punishment came upon them they said, ‘O Musa! Pray to your Rab for us, by means of His covenant which you have; indeed if you lift the punishment from us we will surely accept faith in you and let the descendants of Israel go with you.’ Consequently whenever We lifted the punishment from them for a term which they must reach, they used to then turn away. We therefore took revenge from them; so We drowned them in the sea for they used to deny Our signs and were ignoring them.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 9, Sūraĥ A’raf, Verse 133-136)

Moral lesson 1. The moral lesson we get from these anecdotes is that how

severe and horrendous sin it is to break promises, deny and disrespect the Prophets of Allah ل وج ز as due to these عreasons, different types of punishments of Allah ل وج ز عdescended upon the followers of Pharaoh to such an extent that they were finally drowned and destroyed into the river and their signs were wiped away from the face of the earth. Therefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim to avoid breaking the promises, disobedience and sins. Otherwise due to the consequences of such ill traits, the wrath of Allah وجل might fall upon us in the shape of severe عزpunishment.


95

2. Undoubtedly, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس was on the عـليـهheights and distinctions of tolerance, patience, compassions and kindness. Despite his enemies breaking promises again and again, he would still feel pity and supplicate for the removal of punishment from them after listening to their pleas. We have come to know from this anecdote that it is essential for the leader of a nation to have the characteristics of patience and forgiveness. All those religious scholars who are successors of the Prophets

ـالمعـليـه الـس , it is utmost essential for them not to fuel the passion of revenge from their opponents and ill wishers but should practice patience and should keep on forgiving their enemies as it is the blessed Sunnaĥ of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـال س معـليـه الـ as well as one of the very special traits of our Beloved Prophet واله �ليه عاىل ت اهللا وسلم ص� . He never took revenge from anyone for the sake of his own blessed self. Instead, he واله يه �ل تعاىل اهللا وسلم ص� would always forgive people. It is a

glittering pearl of advice for us that ‘ ن م ف ع

اع

ك و

ن قطع

م

ل

ص

اليك اء

ن اس

احسن ا� م

,i.e. whoever cuts ties with you ’ظلمك و

bond relations with him and whoever oppresses you, forgive him and whoever misbehaves with you; treat him kindly.

In presenting the same Ḥadīš, Sayyidunā Sheikh Sa’dī رمحة محن عـليه الـر has said:

بدی سهل باشد جرا سن اىل من اسحباگر مردی اح بدی را

It is very easy to take evil revenge of an evil act but if you are man enough, then be kind to the one who has done evil to you.


96

25. She-Camel of Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ي الم ه �ل س ال Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ـالم was sent as a prophet to the people of عـليـه الـسŠamūd. When he delivered them the message of Almighty Allah وجل and called them towards the righteous path, the عزinsolent people demanded a miracle that he should make a pregnant she-camel emerge from the rocks of this mountain which should be very healthy and without any defect. Therefore, Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ـالم س الـ pointed towards the rock and all of a عـليـه sudden, the rock split and a very pretty, healthy and tall she-camel which was pregnant came out of the rock. After emerging from the rock, she also bore a camel calf and started grazing and walking in the plains and pastures with her newborn.

There was only one pond in the valley. The water from the springs of mountains would gather in it. Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ـالم الـس ,said عـليـه‘O people! Look, this she-camel is there by virtue of a miracle. One day, she will drink all of the water of your pond and the other day, you drink the water from this pond.’ The people agreed on these terms. Then Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ـالم delivered عـليـه الـسthe following speech in front of the people of Šamūd:

م �

بك

ن ر م

نة م بي

ك جآءت

د

� ق

�ه

�

� غ

ن ا� م م

� ما ��

وا ا��

بد

وم اع

يق

�رض ا��

ا

��

ل

�

ا

ا ت

روه

ذ

ف

ية

م ا

��

ا��

ة

اق

ذه ن

ء ه

ا �سو

وه

مس

� ت

و �

ل�� ﴿اب ا

ذ

م ع

�

ذ

خ

يا

﴾۷۳ف

‘O my people! Worship Allah - you do not have any deity except Him; indeed a clear proof has come to you from your Rab; this is Allah’s she-camel - a sign for you - so leave her free to feed in Allah’s earth, and do not touch her with evil intentions for a painful punishment will seize you.’ [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 8, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 73)


97

The people of Šamūd bore this difficulty for a couple of days as they could not get the water for one day; as the she-camel would drink all of the water of the pond that day. Therefore, they mutually decided to kill the she-camel.

Qadār bin Sālif: Therefore, among these people, there was a person who had red complexion, brown eyes, short height and was the son of an adulteress. He agreed upon killing the she-camel on the instigation of tribes people - Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ـالم kept عـليـه الـسon restraining him from committing this evil act but he (Qadār bin Sālif) first cut the four feet of the she-camel, then he slaughtered it and started talking to Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ـالم س in عـليـه الـan extremely insolent and offensive manner. Therefore, Almighty Allah ل وج ز :has said in the Holy Quran ع

ت

و ع

ةاق

روا الن

عق

ف

نت

ان ك

ا

ن

عد

تنا بما ت

وا يص�� ائ

ال

�� و ق

� رب�

وا عن ا

﴿ ��سل�

﴾۷۷من ال

So they hamstrung the she-camel and rebelled against the command of their Rab and said, ‘O Ṣāleḥ! Bring upon us what you promise us, if you are a Noble Messenger.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 8, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 77)

Seismic punishment: Due to this major sin, the punishment of Allah وجل ز was inflicted on the people of Šamūd in such a way عthat in the beginning, piercing horrible shriek was let out followed by a strong earthquake that shook the territory upside down and destroyed it. All the buildings wrecked completely and every individual of the people of Šamūd died falling upside down on his knees. The Holy Quran has described this anecdote as:


98

﴿ ��وا �� دار�� جثم�

�

ص

ا

ف

ة

جف

� ا��

ت

ذ

خ

ا

﴾۷۸ف

Therefore the earthquake seized them, so in the morning they remained lying upside down in their homes.


When Sayyidunā Ṣāleḥ ـالم witnessed that the whole village is عـليـه الـسdestroyed and has turned into the debris of bricks and stones due to the tremors of the earthquake and all its inhabitants are dead, it grieved him a lot. He started to hate the people of Šamūd and its desolation to such an extent that he turned his face away from them and went somewhere else by leaving that village. Whilst departing, he addressed the dead bodies as:

�

ر�

ةم رسال

تك

غ

بل

ا

د

ق

وم ل

يق

﴿ �صح�

ون الن

�ب

� �

�ن �

م و �

��

صحت

﴾۷۹و ن

‘O my people! Indeed I did deliver my Rab’s message to you and wished you good, but you do not want well-wishers.’


The synopsis of this anecdote is that the entire town of the people of ‘Ad destroyed and turned into a wasteland. The people were crushed to death such that not even a single person of their lineage exists on the face of the earth.

Moral lesson The moral lesson that we get from this anecdote is that the people that killed the she-camel of a prophet was destroyed by the punishment of Allah وجل in such a way that not even a عز


99

single person among their lineage was left on the face of earth then the people that kill the family of their Prophet, how can they escape from the wrath and punishment of Allah وجل ?عزTherefore, the history reveals that similar was the end of the Kūfī and Syrian Yazīdīs who martyred the Aĥl-e-bayt (the family members of the Prophet اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلم in Karbala, that during (ص�the reign of Mukhtār bin Ubaīd, every single child of the Yazīdīs was killed. After destroying and demolishing their houses, donkey-driven ploughs were ploughed over them and today, not even a single child of the lineage of these Yazīdī exist on the face of the earth.

One hundred and forty thousand Yazīdīs killed: Muḥaddiš Ḥākim has narrated a Ḥadīš that Almighty Allah وجل ز sent a عdivine revelation to the Holy Prophet يه واله وسلم اهللا تعاىل �ل that when ص�the Jew nation killed Sayyidunā Zakarīyā ـالم الـس seventy ,عـليـهthousand Jews were killed in the expiation of his blood; and in the recompense of the killing of your grandson Imām Husain عـنه عاىل ت اهللا one hundred and forty thousand Kūfīs and Syrians ,ر�will be killed. Thus the promise of Almighty Allah ل وج ز was عfulfilled in this way that in the war of Mukhtār bin ‘Ubaīd, seventy thousand Kūfīs and Syrians were killed; and then upon the orders of ‘Abdullāĥ Ṣuffaĥ, the founder of the Abbasside dynasty, seventy thousand Kūfīs and Syrians were killed, thus a total number of one hundred and forty thousand Yazīdī were killed. (Al-Mustadrak, Kitāb-ut-Tafsīr, vol. 3, pp. 7, Ḥadīš 1032)

However, remember that Almighty Allah وجل makes everything عزassociated to His chosen people beloved to Him. Therefore, whether it is the kinfolks of the chosen people of Allah ل وج ز ,عtheir wives, their companions, their acquaintances, or anything associated with these chosen people, any type of disrespect and


100

abusive behavior towards them can cause the stirring of the wrath and punishment of Almighty Allah وجل in one way or عزthe other. Therefore, any such thing that has an affiliation with the beloved people of Allah وجل ز paying utmost respect and ,عhonour to it is compulsory and on the contrary, insolent and offensive attitude towards it brings punishment of Allah ل وج ز .and utter destruction ع

Land of torment is accursed: It has been narrated that during the journey for the holy war of Tabūk, when Prophet Muhammad يه واله وسلم عاىل �ل اهللا ت passed by the ruins of the people of Šamūd, he ص�

واله عاىل �ليه اهللا ت وسلم ص� said, ‘Beware! No one should enter this village nor should anyone drink water from the well of this village. You should pass through the area of the punishment very quickly whilst crying out of fear of Allah وجل and by covering your عزfaces. Otherwise punishment may be inflicted upon you too. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 3, pp. 194; Part 8, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 79)

26. Windstorm on people of ‘Ād The people of ‘Ād lived at a place called ‘Aḥqāf’, which is a vast desert situated between Oman and Hadramites (Hidarmaut). Their tribe is known from the name of their ancestor whose name was ‘Ād bin ‘Aūṣ bin Arum bin Sām bin Nūḥ. People started calling this clan from the name of their ancestor ‘Ād. These people were idol worshippers, very vicious and obstinate transgressors. Almighty Allah وجل ـال عـليـه sent Sayyidunā Ĥūd عز مالـس as a prophet to guide these people but they refuted him due to their arrogance and viciousness and remained stubborn over their infidelity. Sayyidunā Ĥūd ـالم الـس repeatedly admonished عـليـهthese deviant people from the severe punishment of Allah ل وج ز ع


101

but the cruel people said to their prophet very disrespectfully and fearlessly that:

ن اا

ن

عد

تنا بما ت

ا

ا �ف

ن

بآؤ

ا

ان يعبد

ر ما �

ذ

و ن

ه

� وحد

ا��

تنا لنعبد

جئ

ا

﴿ �دق�

من الص

نت

﴾۷۰ك

‘Have you come to us in order that we worship only Allah, and abandon those whom our ancestors worshipped? So bring upon us what you promise us, if you are truthful.’


Finally, the signs of the punishment started appearing. There was no rain for three years. Famine and drought prevailed everywhere. The condition of people had gone so worse that they were dying for a single grain.

It was a common tradition in those days that whenever any anxiety or difficulty was suffered; they used to supplicate in the sacred Ka’baĥ in Holy Makkaĥ and thus the anxieties were eased. Therefore, a group of people went to Makkaĥ. Within this delegation, there was a person called Maršad bin Sa’d who was a believer but kept his faith hidden from the people. When these people started supplicating in Ka’baĥ, the faith and spiritual enthusiasm of Maršad bin Sa’d bubbled over. He said in an emotional outburst to people that ‘O my people! No matter you make millions of supplications, I swear by the name of Almighty Allah ل وج ز that the rain will not fall until you do not believe in عyour Prophet Ĥūd ـالم الـس When Sayyidunā Maršad bin Sa’d ’.عـليـهrevealed his faith, the mischievous people of ‘Ād beat him, separated him and they resumed praying. At that time, Almighty Allah وجل ز sent three clouds: one was white, one was red and عone was black and a voice was heard from the skies that: ‘O


102

people of ‘Ād! You may choose one cloud among these three clouds for you.’ They opted for the black cloud assuming based on their weak intellect that the black cloud will bring about a lot of rain. Therefore, the black cloud started moving towards the village of the people of ‘Ād. The people of ‘Ād became very happy to see the black cloud. Sayyidunā Ĥūd ـالم الـس said: Oh عـليـهmy people! Witness that the punishment of Allah وجل ز is عapproaching you in the form of a cloud. But these transgressors refuted their Prophet م ـال س ـ ال ه ـ ي and said, ‘What type of عـل

punishment and where from?’ They said, ‘ناطر

م

م

.i.e ’هذاغارض

it is a cloud which is coming to provide us rain. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān,

vol. 3, pp. 189; Part 7, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 70)

The cloud was approaching continuously towards the village from the west and all of a sudden, a storm blew up from that cloud. This windstorm was so violent that it would throw away camels along with their riders from one place to another. It became more violent that it started to uproot the trees and threw them away. Upon seeing this, the people of ‘Ād confined them in their stone-carved palaces and made the doors shut. However, the storm was so furious that it did not only uproot the doors but also caused wreckage of the palaces. This windstorm continued for seven nights and eight days and killed each and every individual of the people of ‘Ād. Not even a single child of these people could survive. When the storm ended, the corpses of the people of ‘Ād were lying all over the ground like the date-palm trees fell uprooted. Therefore, Allah وجل :has said عز


103

﴿ � �اتية

��

وا بري� �

ل�

ها

ا �اد ف

م

يال ﴾۶و ا

ل

ي�� سب�

ا �ل

ره

�

�

��

ام � حسوما � ف

ي ا

منية

ث

ل و

�

�

�از

�

� ا

�

ن

ا

� � �

وم فيها ��

ق

ي ال

﴿ اوية

ن� باقية ﴿ ﴾۷خ � م�

ري ل

ت

هل

﴾۸ف

And as for ‘Ād, they were destroyed by a severe thundering windstorm. He forced it upon them with strength, consecutively for seven nights and eight days - so you would see those people overthrown in it, like trunks of date palms fallen down. So do you see any survivor among them?

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 29, Sūraĥ Al-Ḥāqqaĥ, Verse 6-8)

Then with the grace of Allah و جل عز , a flock of black birds appeared. They picked the dead bodies up and threw them into the sea. Sayyidunā Ĥūd ـالم -then left that area and went to Makkaĥ عـليـه الـسtul-Mukarramaĥ with few believers who had embraced the faith. They then remained in the house of Allah (i.e. Makkaĥ) worshipping until the last moments of their life. (Tafsīr al-Ṣāwī,

vol. 2, pp. 686)

Moral lesson The moral lesson that we get from this heart-trembling anecdote of the Holy Quran is that the people of ‘Ād were very powerful and tall. They were also economically well-established because they had cropped fields and lush gardens. These people had made separate palaces for their summer and winter’s living by engraving the mountains. These people, who relied a lot on their enormous number and power, were very proud of their estates and their living in the lap of luxury. But their infidelity, transgression and misdeeds brought Allah’s wrath down upon


104

them such that it was utterly impossible for them to bear the brunt of storm which shook the whole village upside down and destroyed it. Their existence from the face of the earth was wiped out in such a way that no signs of even their graves exist anywhere, so where do weak people like us stand to face the blows of the severe punishment of Allah وجل Therefore, all ?عزthose who have a serious concern for the well-being and survival of them and their progeny must always restrain from the transgression and deviation of the commandments of Allah وجل واله and His Noble Prophet عز �ليه تعاىل اهللا وسلم ص� . They should do their utmost to act upon virtuous deeds. Otherwise, the verses of the Holy Quran are teaching us openly that the outcome of virtuous deeds is flourishing and that of evil deeds is destructive.

One may read in the Holy Quran that ﴿ ة

اطئ�

با�

ت

فك

ت

مؤ

﴾۹و ال meaning,

‘the dwellings that were inverted and thrown, had brought error’ and also read the following verse:

مآء و

ن الس ت م

ي�� بر��نا �ل

�

ف

وا ل

ق

وا و ات

��

ي ا ر�

ق

ال

ل

ه

ا

ن

و ا

ل

سبون ﴿

وا يكان

� بما �

�

ن

ذ

خ

ا

بوا ف

ذ

�ن ك

رض و �

�

﴾۹۶و ا�

‘And had the people of the dwellings believed and been pious, we would have surely opened for them the blessings from the sky and from the earth, but in fact they denied, and We therefore seized them on account of their deeds’.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 9, Sūraĥ A’rāf, Verse 96)

27. Inverted city This is the city of Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم الـس ’known as ‘Sodom عـليـهwhich is a popular city of Syria located in the province ‘Homs’.


105

Sayyidunā Lūṭ bin Ĥārān bin Tārīkh is the nephew of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس These people were the citizens of Babylon, a .عـليـهcity situated in Iraq but when Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم migrated عـليـه الـسto Palestine and Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم الـس settled in Urdan, a city عـليـهof Syria. Allah ل ج و ز ـالم blessed Sayyidunā Lūṭ ع الـس with عـليـهProphethood and sent him to the people of Sodom for their guidance. (Tafseer as-Ṣāwī, vol. 2, pp. 689; Part 7, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 80)

City of Sodom: The towns of the city of Sodom were very populated and full of greenery. Various varieties of fruits, crops and nuts were produced there in a massive quantity. Due to the affluent and prosperous conditions of the city, people from far and wide used to come and stay there as guests. That’s why the people of the city were fed up of the people coming to them. They were finding no way to stop or get rid of these guests. In these conditions, one day the damned Satan appeared in the guise of an old man and said to them, ‘If you want to get rid of such guests, I can tell you a solution. Whenever a guest comes to your town, commit sodomy with him forcefully.’

Therefore first of all, Satan himself entered the town as a guest in the guise of a handsome lad and made those people commit sodomy with him excessively. Thus they learnt this despicable act from Satan. These people gradually became so much addicted to this despicable act that they started to fulfil their sensual desires from men instead of women. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān vol. 3,

pp. 197; Part 8, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 84)

Therefore, Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم الـس delivered a didactic sermon عـليـهto them, warning them to avoid committing this despicable act, and said:


106

﴿ �م�

ل

ع

ن ال حد م

م بها من ا

ك

ما سبق

ة

احش

ف

ون ال

ت

ا

ت

ون ﴾۸۰ا

ت

تا

م ل

ك

ان

ون ﴿��ف

وم م

� ق

�

ن

ا

سآء � بل

ن دون ال� م

هوة

ش

﴾۸۱ا��جال

‘What! You commit the shameful acts which no one in the creation has ever done before you?’ ‘You lustfully go towards men, instead of women! In fact, you have transgressed the limits.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 8, Sūraĥ-Al- A’rāf, Verse 80-81)

After listening to the didactic and reforming sermon of Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم ,what his people said to him bluntly and shamelessly ,عـليـه الـسlisten to it in the words of Holy Quran:

� م رجو�

خ

ا ا

و

ال

ن ق

ا

�

ا�

ومه

ان جواب ق

اس و ما �

ن

� ا

�

م � ان

ريتك

ن ق

رون ﴿�

تط

﴾۸۲ي

And his people had no answer except to say, ‘Turn them out of your dwellings; these are people who wish purity!’


At last, when the transgression and misdeed of the people of Lūṭ became beyond repair; then a punishment of Allah ل وج ز عcaught them. Therefore, Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس descended عـليـهfrom the heavens with few angels. Then these angels went to Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم الـس as guests. These angels were in a guise عـليـهof very handsome and attractive boys. After observing the facial charms and physical beauty of the guests and after thinking about the prevailing evils of his people, Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم عـليـه الـسbecame very worried. After a short while, the evil doers besieged the house of Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم and started to climb the wall عـليـه الـس


107

with the evil intention of fornication. Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم الـس عـليـهstarted convincing them whole-heartedly to restrain from this evil and shameful act but these insolent and transgressed deviants did not restrain from their foul reply and evil plans. Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم س became very saddened and grieved upon his loneliness عـليـه اـلand embarrassing situation in front of his guests.

After witnessing this; Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس said, ‘O Prophet عـليـهof Allah وجل you don’t worry at all. We are the angels sent by ,عزAlmighty Allah ل وج ز who have come with a punishment for عthese evil transgressors. Therefore, leave this town far behind before the advent of the morning along with the believers and your family members. And beware that no one should turn around and look towards this town; otherwise the punishment will also be meted out to them.

Therefore, Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم departed from the town along عـليـه الـسwith the believers and his family members. Then Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم lifted up the five towns of this city over his wings عـليـه الـسand soared up to the skies and after getting some elevation, inverted these towns. Consequently, these towns broke into small pieces due to falling on the ground and it scattered all over the ground. Then there was a rain of stones and there was such a stern stony hailing that all of the people of Sayyidunā Lūṭ

ـالم .died and their corpses also scattered around into pieces عـليـه الـسWhilst the city was in the process of inversion, one of the wives of Sayyidunā Lūṭ ـالم الـس عـليـه whose name was Wa’ila, who was infact a hypocrite and had liking for the evil doers, turned around and looked at it and exclaimed with grief, ‘O my people’. After saying these words, she stood there. Then a stone of the


108

punishment of Allah وجل .also struck her and she also died عزTherefore, Allah وجل :has said in the Holy Quran that عز

��ين ﴿

غ من ال

ت

ان

� �

ه

ت

�ا

� ا�

ا�

�

�

ه

و ا

ه

�ين

�

ا

ا ﴾۸۳ف

رن

مط

را � و ا

ط

ي�� م

�ل

﴿ �مجرم�

ال

ان �اقبة

�

يف

ر ك

ظ

ان

﴾۸۴٪ف

And we rescued him and his family, except his wife - she became of those who stayed behind. And we rained a shower (of stones) upon them; therefore see what sort of fate befell the culprits!

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 8, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 83-84)

The stones that were thrown over the people were the pieces of rocks and the name of every victim was inscribed over the stone by which he was killed. (Tafsīr al-Ṣāwī, vol. 2, pp. 691; Part 8, Sūraĥ Al-

A’rāf, Verse 84)

Moral lesson We come to know from this anecdote that how heinous and severe sin sodomy is that due to this sin, the towns of the people of Lūṭ were inverted and the transgressors were killed with the punishment of stones. Thus they were destroyed and desolated from this world.

It is narrated that once Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس asked the عـليـهaccursed Iblīs that ‘which sin is hated by Allah وجل ?’the most عزHe replied that ‘the sin that Allah وجل hates the most is the sin عزof man committing fornication with man (sodomy) and the woman fulfilling their physical desires by woman’. Moreover, it has also been narrated in one Ḥadīš that a woman rubbing her vagina against another woman’s vagina is fornication for both


109

of them, which is a major sin. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 3, pp. 198; Part 8,

Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 84)

(For a comprehensive discussion on the topic of sodomy, read our book, ‘Jaĥannam kay Khaṭrāt’.)

28. Calf of Sāmrī After the death of Pharaoh, Banī Isrāīl got freedom from his claws and brought faith on Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس Sayyidunā .عـليـهMūsā ـالم الـس وجل was then ordered by Allah عـليـه to do a sitting عز(I’tikāf) on Mount Sinai [Koĥ-e-Ṭūr] for forty nights. After this, he will be blessed with the book, Taurāt. Therefore, in order to fulfil this divine commandment, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس went عـليـهto Mount Sinai and handed over Banī Isrāīl to his brother Sayyidunā Ĥārūn ـالمعـليـه الـس . Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس fasted عـليـهduring the day whilst engaging himself in worship during the whole night for consecutive forty days.

Sāmrī: There was a person in Banī Isrāīl called Sāmrī who was born an illegitimate birth. He was a very deviant and transgressing person. Due to the fear of disgrace and defamation within her community, his mother deserted him in a cave of a mountain just after his birth. Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم س اـل raised him by feeding عـليـهhim milk with his own finger. Therefore, he recognized Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس His full name is ‘Mūsā Sāmrī’ and .عـليـهSayyidunā Mūsā’s name is ‘Mūsā’ too. Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم عـليـه الـسbrought up Mūsā Sāmrī whereas Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس was عـليـهbrought up in the house of Pharaoh. How strange and mysterious the glory of Almighty Allah ل وج ز ـالم is that Mūsā ع الـس ـليـه who عwas brought up in the house of Pharaoh became a Prophet of Allah ل وج ز and Mūsā Sāmrī who was brought up by Sayyidunā ع


110

Jibrāīl ـالم الـس became an unbeliever (Kāfir). He enticed Banī عـليـهIsrāīl to worship the calf. Regarding this, some mystic has rightly said that:

ي

جربباھ

ی ر ا�

فمو�

ل كافر زل

اال

عيدا من

س

لق

خ

لم ي

مرء

اذا ال

ل

رس م

ون

فرع

باھ

ی ر ا�

و�

م

مل و

مؤ ال

خاب

� و

ن ر

م

خاب

فقد

Meaning, when a person has been destined for a wretched fate eternally, he can never attain piety and he remains unlucky and desolated. Even the efforts of those who raise him go futile. You see that Mūsā Sāmrī who was brought up by Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس ـالم turned into a pagan and Sayyidunā Mūsā عـليـه الـس who عـليـهwas brought up by Pharaoh became a Prophet of Almighty Allah وجل .عز

The secret behind this is that Mūsā Sāmrī was destined to be an ill-fated and wretched person by birth so his tending and nursing by Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس did not benefit him and عـليـهhe remained an infidel. On the other hand, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم was destined to be pious and fortunate eternally. That’s عـليـه الـسwhy even the nursing through a pagan like Pharoah did not harm him. (Tafsīr-us-Ṣāwī, vol. 1, pp. 63; Part 1, Sūraĥ Al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 51)

When Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ was staying [doing I’tikāf] on عـليـهMount Sinai, Sāmrī took advantage of his absence and created sedition by asking for gold and silver jewellery from Banī Isrāīl, melting it and making a calf from it. After this, he put the dust of the hoofs of the horse of Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم into the mouth عـليـه الـسof the calf that he had kept safe. Due to this, the calf started to speak. Afterwards, Sāmrī said to Banī Isrāīl, ‘O my people! Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ has gone to the Mount Sinai to see عـليـهthe vision of the Rab Almighty ل وج whereas this calf is your عز


111

Lord. Therefore, you should worship this calf.’ Banī Isrāīl were deviated and misguided from this speech of Sāmrī and except for twelve thousand people; rest of them admitted the calf to be the god after witnessing it speaking. They started prostrating and worshipping it. Therefore, Almighty Allah وجل :has said عز

وار �

� خا �

� جسد

�� وم مو�� من� بعده من حلي

ق

ذ

�

و ا�

And behind Mūsā, his people moulded a calf from their ornaments - a lifeless body making sounds like a cow.


After forty days, when Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس returned to his عـليـهvillage after talking to Allah وجل and bringing the blessed عزTawrāt with him, he was enraged and furious to see the people worshipping the calf. Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم -laid down the Al عـليـه الـسTawrāt on the ground out of anger and started dragging his brother Ĥārūn ـالم by holding him from his beard, snatched عـليـه الـسhis hair and started beating him saying that why he did not restrain them from doing this evil act. Sayyidunā Ĥārūn ـالم عـليـه الـسapologized as mentioned in Holy Quran:

��ن

ت�

ادوا يق

و�� و �

عف

وم استض

ق

ال

ان

م

ابن ا

ال

آء �ق

د

ع

�

�� ا�

مت

ش

� �

�

ف

﴿ �لم�

وم الظ

ق

ال

��

�عل

� �

﴾۱۵۰و �

‘O the son of my mother! The people thought I was weak and would have probably killed me; so do not make my enemies laugh at me and do not count me as amongst the oppressors.’



112

After hearing this apology of Sayyidunā Ĥārūn ـالم the anger ,عـليـه الـسof Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم faded away. After this, he supplicated عـليـه الـسfor his brother Sayyidunā Ĥārūn’s foregiveness and for mercy to be descended upon him. Then, he broke the calf into small pieces, burnt it and dispersed its ash into the river.

Moral lesson From this anecdote, we specially get two admonitory lessons:

1. This anecdote provides guidelines to religious scholars that they should never be negligent in the public affairs. In contrary, they should always be preaching the religious knowledge to the people. You saw that Sāmrī took the advantage of 40 days absence of Sayyidunā Mūsā. He misguided the people away from the right path. Similarly, if the religious scholars of Aĥl-e-Sunnat will remain heedless and negligent in the affairs of their people, then the people with corrupt beliefs will get a chance to misguide people away from the right path.

2. When the effect of the dust of the hoofs of the horse of Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم was such that the moment it was عـليـه الـسplaced inside the mouth of the calf, it started to speak, then we also establish the fact that the dust of the feet of the chosen people of Almighty Allah ل وج ز also has the effects عof blessings and blissfulness. Therefore, it is not a useless action to sprinkle the water in houses that is obtained from washing the dustful feet of the chosen people of Allah ل وج ز ,عas it is the practice of some devoted disciples. On the contrary, we can hope for mercy and blessings to descend due to it and it is also permissible as per the Islamic Sharī’aĥ.

( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و


113

29. Mountain over heads Sayyidunā Musa ـالم الـس read out the rulings of Al-Taurāt to عـليـهBanī Isrāīl and said to act upon them. When Banī Isrāīl heard the rulings of Al-Taurāt, they straight away refused to accept these commandments. As a consequence of their disobedience, the wrath of Allah ل وج ز came upon them in such a way that all عof a sudden, the Mountain Sinai uprooted, flew and suspended in the air over the heads of Banī Isrāīl who were living in a land that was covering an area of three miles in length and three miles in width. When these people of Banī Isrāīl saw that the mountain is hanging over their heads, they all then fell into prostration and started promising that we have accepted all of the rulings of Al-Taurāt and we will also act upon them. But at the time of prostration, they kept their cheek and left eye brow on the ground and were looking with the right eye at the mountain whether it is falling upon them or not. And this is the same reason that even today the Jews prostrate in the similar manner that they keep their left cheek and left eyebrow on the ground. Anyhow, when Banī Isrāīl repented and promised to comply with the rulings and commandments of Al-Taurāt, then the mountain flew back and restored to its original place. The Holy Quran has described this anecdote in few places.

For example, in Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf it is mentioned that:

ب�� واق�

ه

ن

ا ا

و

ن

ظ

و

ة

ل

ظ

ه

ن

ا

� �

�

وق

ف

�بل

نا ا�

تق

ن

م و اذ

ك

ين

ت

ا

وا ما

ذ

خ

ون ﴿ق

ت

م ت

�

عل

روا ما فيه ل

�

اذ

ة و

و

﴾٪ ۱۷۱بق

And when We raised the Mount (Sinai) above them as if it was a canopy, and they thought that it would fall upon them; ‘Accept


114

firmly what We have given you, and remember what is in it, so that you may become pious.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 9, Sūraĥ A’rāf, Verse 171)

Moral lesson This anecdote highlights that adopting strict methods and punitive techniques to make ignorant and transgressor act upon a virtuous deed or to make them accept a righteous saying are from the wisdom and among the blessed Sunnaĥ of Almighty Allah وجل .عز

( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

30. Tongue hung over the chest Bal’am Bin Bā’ūrā: This man was a learned scholar of his era and was a very pious and devout person. He also had the knowledge of Ism-e-A’ẓam. He used to spiritually see the ‘Arsh-e-A’ẓam [the empyrean] whilst sitting at his place. Moreover, he was also a Mustajāb-ul-Da’wāt as his supplications were surely accepted. He also had a huge number of students. It is famous that in his institution [Darsgaĥ], the number of inkpots of his students was twelve thousand.

When Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس mobilized his army of Banī عـليـهIsrāīl to do a Jiĥād against ‘the people of Jabbārīn’, the people of Bal’am bin Bā’ūrā became very panicked and came to him and said that Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم is about to attack with a عـليـه الـسvery huge and a powerful army. They want to evict us from our land and intend to give it to their people, Banī Isrāīl. Therefore, invoke such a supplication against Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ عـليـهthat he returns defeated. Your supplication will definitely be accepted as you are Mustajāb-ul-Da’wāt [the one whose Du’ās are


115

accepted]. After listening to what they said, Bal’am bin Bā’ūrā trembled, cursed them, and said, ‘May heavens have mercy upon me! Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس وجل is a Prophet of Allah عـليـه ز عand his army consists of groups of angels and faithful believers. How can I invoke an evil supplication against them?’ Nevertheless, his people were over insistent, they begged tearfully with throbbing voices and compelled him to such an extent that he ended up saying to them that let me first do an Istikhāraĥ. If I get permission, then I will supplicate against him. However, after the Istikhāraĥ, when he was not permitted to supplicate against Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس he told them in clear words that if I ,عـليـهinvoke curse upon him, then this world and the Hereafter of mine will both be ruined.

After this, his people reported him with numerous priceless gifts and presents and re-insisted him to such an extent that Bal’am Bin Bā’ūrā was enticed due to the greed and lust of money and was trapped in the snare of wealth. Therefore, he sat on his she-donkey and went to supplicate against Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ His donkey would stop going forward again .عـليـهand again and would turn to run back but he kept on riding her forwards by beating her. Then Almighty Allah وجل blessed عزthe donkey with the power of speaking. She said, ‘O Bal’am bin Bā’ūrā! Where are you going and heading towards? See there are angels in front of me who are blocking my way and pushing my face backwards. O Bal’am! May you be ruined! Would you invoke evil words unto a Prophet of Allah ل وج عزand a group of believers?’ Despite listening to the address of his female donkey, Bal’am Bin Bā’ūrā still did not return. Finally, he climbed over a mountain known as ‘Ḥasbān’. He carefully observed the army of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ from height عـليـه


116

and started invoking evil words to Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ عـليـهdue to the enticement and greed of wealth and riches. Glory be to Almighty Allah ل وج ز that when he was supplicating against عSayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس his tongue would start uttering ,عـليـهsupplications against his people. Upon witnessing this, his people interrupted him many a time and reminded him, ‘O Bal’am, you are supplicating in opposite words.’ Then he said to his people, ‘What shall I do? I am intending something else but my tongue is uttering different.’ All of a sudden, it brought Allah’s wrath down upon him in such a way that his tongue stretched and hung over his chest. At that time, Bal’am bin Bā’ūrā said to his people with grief and tears that my life and afterlife both have been ruined. My faith has diminished and I have become a victim of the wrath and punishment of Allah وجل .عزNone of my supplications can be accepted now. However, let me tell you a vile trick. If you act upon it, perhaps the army of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم can then be defeated. Send thousands of عـليـه الـسthe beautiful girls dressed up in elegant attire and adorned with beautiful jewellery to the armies of Banī Isrāīl. Even if one of them commits fornication, then the whole army will be defeated. Therefore, the people laid the trap of the vile trick told by Bal’am Bin Bā’ūrā and sent many young girls after adorning them well with jewellery to the army of Banī Isrāīl. Eventually, a wealthy person of Banī Isrāīl was seduced by the beauty and glamour of a girl and took her to Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس He sought a verdict and asked: ‘O Prophet of Allah .عـليـهوجل is this woman legitimate (Ḥalāl) for me or not?’ Sayyidunā ,عزMūsā ـالم الـس ـليـه said, ‘Beware! She is unlawful for you. Separate عher from you straight away and fear the punishment of Almighty Allah وجل But this wealthy person was so badly trapped in lust ’.عزthat he deviated away from the command of his Prophet and


117

took her in his tent and committed fornication. The evil repercussion of this sin appeared in such a way that all of a sudden, plague spread among the army of Banī Isrāīl and within an hour; seventy thousand people passed away and the whole army dispersed and came back defeated and unsuccessful. This retreat of army grieved Sayyidunā Mūsā’s blessed heart very much. (Tafsīr as-Ṣāwī, vol. 2, pp. 727; Part 9, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 175)

After descending from the mountain, Bal’am Bin Bā’ūrā remained cursed in the court of Almighty Allah وجل ز Until his .عlast breath, his tongue remained hanging over his chest and he died a faithless death of infidelity. The Holy Quran has delineated this incident in the following words:

ان �

ن ف

يط

الش

بعه

ت

ا

�نها ف

�

سل

ا�

يتنا ف

ا

ه

ين

ت

ا

ذي

ال

با

ي�� ن

�ل

ل

و ات

وين ﴿من

غ� ﴾۱۷۵ال

ا�

د

ل

خ

ا

ه

�ن

بها و �

ه

عن

�ف

نا �

و شئ

و ل

ب�

رض و ات

�

ا�

لك

� ذ

هث يل

ه

��

�

و ت

ا

هث

يه يل

�ل

�مل

ب � ان �

ل

ل ا��

مث

� ك

�

�ث

� �

هو�ه

رون ﴿

ك� يتف

�

عل

صص ل

ق

صص ال

اق

يتنا � ف

بوا با

ذ

ذين ك

وم ال

ق

ال

ل

﴾۱۷۶مث

And O Dear Prophet (Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) recite to them the case of the one to whom We showed Our signs, and in response he departed from them completely - so Satan went after him - he therefore became of the astray. And had We willed We could have raised him because of the revelations, but he clung to the earth and followed his own desires; his condition therefore is like that of a dog; if you attack him he hangs out his tongue and if you leave him he hangs out his tongue; this is the state of the people who denied Our signs; therefore preach, so that they may give thought. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 9, Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 175-176)


118

Why was Bal’am Bin Bā’ūrā accursed?: It has been narrated that some Prophets asked Almighty Allah وجل عز that after blessing Bal’am bin Bā’ūrā with so many bounties, why did You hurl him down in condemnation? Almighty Allah وجل replied that he عزwas never thankful towards My bounties. If he had been grateful to me, then I would have never taken his marvels away, would not have accursed him in both worlds, would not have made him among the loss-bearers and would not have made him disappeared in this way. (Tafsīr as-Ṣāwī, vol. 3, pp. 139; Part 8,

Sūraĥ Al-A’rāf, Verse 10)

Moral lesson We get some moral lessons from the chronicle of Bal’am bin Bā’ūrā:

1. All those scholars and politicians should learn a lesson from this who are paid and funded by governments or wealthy people to talk against Sharī’aĥ and intentionally sell their faith. You can see what was the status of Bal’am bin Bā’ūrā and what he became. Why did this happen? The only reason is that he was captivated by the greed of wealth and agreed upon invoking curse intentionally on a Prophet of Allah ل وج ز Consequently, there were repercussions of all .عthis unto him and he was accursed in this world as well as in the Hereafter in such a way that for rest of his life, he had his tongue hanging like a dog and he became a fuel of the blazing fire of Hell in the Hereafter. Therefore, every Muslim and especially Islamic scholars should practice abstinence from the webs of the greed of wealth and should never interfere unjustly into the religious matters while stirred with the lust and greed for wealth. Otherwise, keep


119

in mind that the sword of the wrath of Allah وجل is always عزhanging over you.

2. From this tragedy, even common Muslims should learn a lesson that the army of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه that عcomprised of angels and faithful believers, though there were no apparent signs for their defeat because it was such a divine and spiritualized army of angels who even frightened mountains from the tapping sound of the hoofs of their horses. But just due to the sin of only one unfortunate person, angels separated from the army and a punishment of plague brought such a calamity within the army that the whole army scattered. Thus this victorious army was defeated and retreated.

Therefore, it is essential for Muslims that if they want to be successful and victorious against infidels, they should keep themselves protected from the evil repercussions of sins. Otherwise, the help of angels will end. The fear of the Muslims will shun away from the hearts of infidels and Muslims will not only have to face defeat but their military strategic power will also be destroyed. Consequently, whole of the nation will be ruined and their names will be erased from the book of history like a typo. (نعوذباهللا منه)

31. Sayyidunā Yūnus الم ه �لي الس in stomach of fish Almighty Allah وجل ـالم sent Sayyidunā Yūnus عز as a Prophet عـليـه الـسfor the guidance of the people of the city called ‘Nainawa’.

Nainawa: It was a big city of Mosul. The people of the area were idol-worshippers and were indulged in infidelity and polytheism. Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم س -commanded them to abandon idol عـليـه الـ


120

worshipping and embrace the true faith but these people refuted the Prophet of Allah وجل and denied to embrace the true faith عزdue to their insolence and wickedness. Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم عـليـه الـسwarned them that very soon a punishment will be coming to you. After listening to this warning, the people of the city consulted one another that Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم الـس .has never told a lie عـليـهTherefore, keep an eye on Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم If he stays .عـليـه الـسin this city overnight; then it means there is no danger but if he does not spend the night in the city; then we should believe on the advent of the punishment. At the night time, people saw that Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم الـس has left the city. And indeed in the عـليـهmorning, the signs of punishment appeared because black clouds started emerging from all four corners and darkness fell over the whole city with a smoke from everywhere. Witnessing this, the people of the city realised that the punishment will now definitely be inflicted upon them. Therefore, in the quest of Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم الـس people started searching for him but Sayyidunā ,عـليـهYūnus ـالم could not be found far and wide. Now the people عـليـه الـسof the city became even more endangered and terrified. Therefore all of the people of the city were shaken due to the fear of Allah وجل and they all took their women, children along with their عزcattle, wearing threadbare and torn clothes and went to the jungle crying. They sincerely started to announce having a stern faith on Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم س Husbands separated from wives .عـليـه اـلand mothers separated from their children and all of them engaged in seeking repentance and were weeping bitterly in the court of Allah وجل They started seeking pardon for all the .عزoppression they did on each other and also started seeking pardon from each other for any violation of the mutual rights. In short, all of them repented sincerely and promised Allah وجل that we عزaccept and have a stern belief with the sincerity of our hearts on


121

the message of Allah وجل ـ brought by Sayyidunā Yūnus عز المعـليـه الـس . Almighty Allah وجل did mercy on the sincere repenting of the عزinhabitants of the city and the punishment shunned away. All of a sudden, the hazy clouds and smoke disappeared and all of the people came back to the city and started living with peace and tranquillity.

Almighty Allah وجل described this anecdote in Holy Quran in the عزfollowing words:

ا و��

ا

ا

م

س � ل

وم يو�

� ق

ا�

ها

ايمان

عها

نف

ف

�نت

ا

رية

ق

ت

ان

� �

� �

�

ف

اب

ذ

� عن�

نا ع

ف

ش

� ﴿ك

� ح�

� ا�

�

عن

يا و مت

ن

�يوة الد

�زي �� ا�

﴾۹۸ا�

So if only had there been one town* that believed and its belief would have benefited it - except the people of Yūnus (Jonah)! When they accepted faith, We removed the disgraceful punishment in the life of this world from them, and let them enjoy for a while.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 11, Sūraĥ Yūnus, Verse 98)

It means that it does not benefit the people to embrace faith once punishment from Allah وجل has descended upon her. But عزdespite the clouds of punishment drifting towards the people of Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم الـس the punishment was still removed ,عـليـهfrom them upon embracing the true faith.

Du’a for the redemption of punishment: It is narrated in Tabārānī that when the signs of punishment started appearing on the city of Nainawa and Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم was not عـليـه الـسfound by the people even after the relentless quest; then the people of the city became very worried and reported to the * That was destroyed after being warned.


122

religious scholar of the city who was a faithful believer as well as a spiritual luminary of his time. They all entreated him. He then ordered them to supplicate after reading this litany:

ال

حني ا�

ي

ت

اال ان

ال ا�

ا�

ي

مو� و

ال

�

ي

ا�

و ي

� Therefore, people

supplicated after reciting this litany. Consequently, the punishment was removed. But in the similar context, there is a saying of the famous Muḥaddiš and a marvellous saint Sayyidunā Fuḍayl bin Ayāz محن الـر رمحة that the supplication due to which عـليهthe punishment from the city of Nainawa was shunned away was:

ل اج

و

ظم

اع

ت

ان

لت و

ج

و

ظمتع

ناقد

ان ذنوب

�

الل

ل

ع

ا فاف

بنا م

� اه

ت

� ان

اه

ن

ا نح

بنا م

ل

ع

ال تف

و

However, after the removal of punishment, when Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم arrived near the city, he did not see any effect of عـليـه الـسthe punishment on the city. People asked him to go back to his people. Then he replied, ‘How can I go back to my people? I had left the city after revealing the news of punishment to them but there was no advent of punishment. Now those people will kill me by considering me to be a liar.’ Be filled with anger, Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم .came back from the city and boarded on a boat عـليـه الـسWhen this boat reached the middle of the sea, it stopped. A common belief of the people of that area was that only such boat gets jammed in the midst of the sea which has a fugitive slave boarded. Therefore, all of them drew a lot and the name of Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم came out. Then the people of the boat عـليـه الـسthrew him in the sea and left on their boat. When Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم س اـل fell down into the water, all of a sudden, a fish عـليـهswallowed him and he was confined in the stomach of the fish where there was an utter darkness. But under these circumstances,


123

he started reciting ت من

كن بحنك � ا�

س

ت

ان

اال

ا�

�ال ﴿

لمني

﴾۸۷الظ (Part 17,

Sūraĥ Al-Anbīyaĥ, Verse 87) and due to the blessing of this recitation, Almighty Allah وجل blessed him freedom from this dark cell عزand the fish placed him out of her mouth at the bank of the sea. He had gone very weak at that time. It is the splendour of Almighty Allah وجل that a branch of pumpkin grew there and عزhe ـالم الـس used to take rest under its shade. Afterwards, when عـليـهhe ـالم الـس ـال regained some energy, he عـليـه الـس معـليـه went back to his people and all of the people treated him with utmost love and reverence and embraced faith unto him. (Tafsir As-Ṣāwī, vol. 3, pp.

893; Part 11, Sūraĥ Yunus, Verse 98)

The Holy Quran has mentioned this painful anecdote of Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم :in the following words عـليـه الـس

﴿ ��سل�

من ال

س ل

يو�

حون ﴿ ﴾۱۳۹و ان

مش

ك ال

ل

ف

� ال

بق ا�

ا

� ﴾ ۱۴۰اذ

سا�

ف

﴿ �حض�

مد

ان من ال

�

و هو مل�� ﴿ ﴾ ۱۴۱ف

�وت

ا�

مه

تق

ال

� ﴾۱۴۲ف

�

ف

ه

ن

ا

�

�

﴿ ��

مس�

ان من ال

ون ﴿ ﴾ �۱۴۳

� يوم يبعث

ا�

نه

�� بط

بث

ل

﴾�۱۴۴ل

And indeed Yūnus is one of the Noble Messengers. When he left towards the laden ship, then lots were drawn and he became of those who were pushed into the sea. The fish then swallowed him and he blamed himself (for not waiting for Allah’s command). And were he not one of those who praise, he would have remained in its belly till the day when all will be raised. We then put him ashore on a plain, and he was sick. And We grew a tree of gourd (as a shelter) above him. And We sent him towards a hundred thousand people, in fact more. So they accepted faith - We therefore gave them usage for a while.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 23, Sūraĥ as-Ṣāffāt, Verse 139-148)


124

Moral Lesson 1. From the anecdote of the people of Nainawa, the moral

lesson we get is that whenever any calamity descends upon any nation in the form of a punishment; then the only remedial solution from it is to engage in supplication by repenting. One can then hope that the Most Merciful Allah وجل will shower His mercy upon the anxieties and tensions عزof people and will shun the punishment of calamities away from them.

2. From the heart-trembling trials and tribulations of Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم we get the moral lesson that how Almighty ,عـليـه الـسAllah وجل ز puts his chosen people into trial. But when عthese chosen people do not leave perseverance, observe patience and do not become negligent in the remembrance of Allah وجل ;despite being engulfed in the whirls of troubles عزthen Almighty Allah وجل arranges such means of their عزsalvation from the unseen that are beyond one’s imagination. Just ponder over the fact that when the people of the boat threw Sayyidunā Yūnus ـالم into the sea, what means عـليـه الـسwere left for his life and safety? Then the fish swallowed him. Now who was the saviour of his life? But when he recited Ayāt-e-Karīmaĥ under these circumstances, Almighty Allah وجل kept him alive and safe even inside the stomach عزof the fish. Moreover, Allah Almighty وجل also rescued him عزfrom the stomach of the fish towards a field. Afterwards, Almighty Allah ل ع وج ز bestowed him with good health, peace and tranquillity and took him back to his native land and more than one hundred thousand people were guided to the right path due to his preaching.


125

32. Testimony by a Four Months Baby When the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س put him inside عـليـه الـthe well, a person called Mālik bin Ża’rān, who lived in Madyan, reached this well with a caravan. He lowered down his bucket into the well. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس held the عـليـهbucket in his hands and Mālik bin Ża’rān took him out from the well. Then the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس said to عـليـهthe rescuer that he (Sayyidunā Yūsuf) is their fugitive slave. If you buy him, we will sell him to you on a very cheap price. Therefore the brothers sold Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس for a عـليـهmeagre amount of twenty dirham only and bounded the purchaser with the condition to take him so far away from them that they don’t even get to hear about him. Mālik bin Ża’rān purchased him and moved towards the market of Egypt and announced selling Sayyidunā Yūsuf in the market. In those days, the king of Egypt was Riyān bin Walīd ‘Amlīqī. He had handed over his government and treasury to his prime minister Qaṭfīr Miṣrī. In Egypt, people used to call him with the title of ‘Aziz of Egypt’.

When the Aziz of Egypt came to know that a very handsome slave has been brought in the Egyptian market for sale and people have gathered in the market with huge amount of money in order to buy him; then Aziz of Egypt purchased Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم by paying an amount of gold, silver, musk, and silk equal عـليـه الـسto the weight of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ Aziz of Egypt took .عـليـهSayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس home and said to his wife, Zulaīkhā to عـليـهtreat this slave with great respect and honor. At that time, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس .was thirteen or seventeen years old عـليـهZulaīkhā was allured by the beauty of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالمعـ ليـه الـس .


126

One day, after adorning herself elegantly with jewellery, she shut all the doors and started to seduce Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم عـليـه الـسin isolation. After seeking Allah’s refuge, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم عـليـه الـسsaid that he could never be ungrateful to his master, Aziz of Egypt and could never be dishonest to him by betraying his favours. However, when Zulaīkhā scooted towards him, he ـالم ran عـليـه الـسaway. Zulaīkhā held his shirt from behind which tore. Zulaīkhā chased him up to main door. Coincidently, Aziz of Egypt entered the house right at that time and saw them both running. After seeing her husband, she said that this slave should be punished in such a way that he should be sent to prison or to suffer any other severe punishment shall be inflicted upon him because he had an evil intention towards your wife. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم عـليـه الـسsaid, ‘O Aziz of Egypt, she is telling a lie. She herself tried to seduce me and I ran to escape from her and then she chased me.’ After listening to the accounts of both, he was shocked and said, ‘O Yūsuf ـالم how shall I believe that you are telling the ,عـليـه الـسtruth?’ Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ said, ‘In the house, there is a عـليـهfour months baby lying in the cradle who is the son of the maternal uncle of Zulaīkhā. Ask him what the truth is.’ The Aziz of Egypt said that what intellect does a four months baby possess and how will he speak? Then Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس عـليـهsaid that Almighty Allah ل وج ز by His divine power will bless ,عhim to prove my innocence because I am innocent. Therefore, when Aziz of Egypt asked the baby, the baby replied in a loud and clear voice that:

و

تق

صد

بل ف

من ق

د

ق

�يصه

ان �

� ﴿ان �

ذب�

ان ﴾۲۶هو من ا��

و ان �

﴿ �دق�

و هو من الص

بت

ذ

ك

من دبر ف

د

ق

�يصه

�۲۷﴾


127

Testified; ‘If his shirt is torn from the front, then the woman is truthful and he has spoken incorrectly.’ ‘And if his shirt is torn from behind, then the woman is a liar and he is truthful.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 26, Sūraĥ Yūsuf, Verse 26-27)

After listening to the evidence from the baby, when Aziz of Egypt observed the shirt of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـال معـليـه الـس , it was torn from behind. At that time, whilst declaring the innocence of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم :he said the following ,عـليـه الـس

ظ��

ع

ن�

يد

ك

� ان

ن

يدك

من ك

ه��ي ﴾۲۸﴿ ان

ا � و استغ

ذ

عن ه

رض

ع

ا

يوسف

� ن

� ﴿لذط��

�

نت من ا�

ك ك

﴾۲۹٪بك � ان

‘Indeed this is a deception of women; undoubtedly the deception of women is very great. O Yūsuf! Disregard this - and O woman! Seek forgiveness for your sin; indeed you are of the mistaken.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 12, Sūraĥ Yūsuf, Verse 28-29)

33. Shirt of Sayyidunā Yūsuf الم ه �لي الس

When the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf threw him into the well and told their father Sayyidunā Ya’qūb that a wolf has eaten him, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb went through unimaginable sorrow and grief. In the pain of losing his son, he wept for many days, and due to his weeping in abundance, his eyesight became weak. After years, when the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf went to Egypt for the second time in the time of famine and in order to gather rations, they recognized Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس and asked for his عـليـهforgiveness remorsefully. Whilst forgiving, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س و said, ‘Today there is no rebuke on you. May Allah عـليـه الـ ز ل ع ج forgive you. He is the Most Merciful.’


128

When Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س enquired about his father Sayyidunā عـليـه اـل

Ya’qūb, then the brothers told him that due to the pain of your separation and constant weeping, he has become very frail, and his eyesight has also become very weak. Upon hearing the state of his father from his brothers, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم was very much عـليـه الـسgrieved and saddened. He then said to his brothers:

م

ل�

هو�� با

ت

�ا � و ا

ت بص�

�� يا

� وجه ا

وه ��

ق

ل

ا

ا ف

ذ

مي�� ه

هبوا بق

اذ

﴿ �جمع�

﴾۹۳٪ا

‘Take along this shirt of mine and lay it on my father’s face, his vision will be restored; and bring your entire household to me.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 12, Sūraĥ Yūsuf, Verse 93)

As such, the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf took this shirt and left for Kan’ān from Egypt. Yaĥūdā, one of the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf, said, ‘I will take this shirt to Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس as I was the one who took the bloodstained عـليـهshirt of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س ـالم to Sayyidunā Ya’qūb عـليـه الـ عـليـه الـسafter throwing him into the well. And I saddened him by saying that a wolf has eaten Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس So because I .عـليـهwas responsible for his sadness, therefore today, I will give this shirt to him and make him happy with the good news that Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالمع ـليـه الـس is still alive.’ Therefore, Yaĥūdā took this shirt and ran bareheaded and barefoot for eighty furlongs. For the journey, he had seven breads as food, but due to his happiness and enthusiasm to reach his destination quickly, he could not even eat them. Completing his journey as quickly as he could, he reached the court of his esteemed father.


129

The moment Yaĥūdā left Egypt for Kan’ān with the shirt, in Kan’ān Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم felt the fragrance of Sayyidunā عـليـه الـسYūsuf ـالم س :and said to his grandchildren عـليـه الـ

ون ﴿

د نف

ن ت

ا

�

و �

ل

ري� يوسف

جد

�

� �

﴾۹۴ا�

Said, ‘Indeed I sense the fragrance of Yūsuf, if you do not call me senile.’


His grandchildren replied, ‘By Allah, you are still in your old state of longing. Where is Yūsuf and where is his fragrance? But, when Yaĥūdā reached Kan’ān with the shirt, and the moment he put the shirt on the face of Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالمعـلي الـس ـه , the eyesight of Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس .was restored immediately عـليـهTherefore, Almighty Allah وجل ز :has said in the Holy Quran ع

م �

� �

ل

ق

م ا

ل

ا

ال

�ا � ق

بص�

د

ارت

� وجهه ف

��

�ه

ق

ل

� ا

�ش�

ن جآء ال

ا

ا

م

ل

ف

مون ﴿عل

� ت

� ما �

م من ا��

�ل

ا

�

�۹۶﴾

Then when the bearer of glad tidings came, he laid the shirt on his face, he therefore immediately regained his eyesight*; he said, ‘Was I not telling you? I know the great traits of Allah which you do not know!’


As soon as Yaĥūdā left Egypt for Kan’ān with the shirt of Sayyidunā Yūsuf, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم smelt the fragrance عـليـه الـسof Sayyidunā Yūsuf whilst being in Kan’ān! In this connection,

* This was a miracle that took place by applying Prophet Yusuf’s shirt.


130

Sheikh Saadi has written an inspiring parable which is ة رمح ه �ليvery fascinating and eloquent.

Parable: پرخرد مند! کہ اے عالی گھر یکے پرسید ازاں گم کردہ فرزند

Someone asked Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم س الـ who had lost his ,عـليـهson: O esteemed and wise elder!

زمرصش بوئے پیراھن شمیدی چرادر چاہ کنعانش ندیدی

You smelt the fragrance of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالمعـل يـه الـس from the far and distanced land of Egypt, but when Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم عـليـه الـسwas confined in a well in the land of Kan’ān and was in the close proximity to you, why did you not feel his fragrance? What is the reason behind this? Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم :replied عـليـه الـس

دمے پیدا و دیگر دم نھان است

گھے برپشت پائے خود نہ بینم

بگفتا حال ما برق جھان است

گھے برطارم اعلی نشینم

The state of us friends of Allah وجل is like a lightning thunderbolt عزwhich appears and disappears instantly. Sometimes Allah وجل عزblesses us with His divine light and we sit on the skies, and the whole universe is displayed in front of us. And sometimes we go in an extreme state of enthralling contemplation and are drowned in the depths of His Being and Attributes to such an extent that we become independent from everything else except Allah ل وج ز Such a state overcomes us that we can’t even see .عthe backside of our feet.

This is the reason that from Egypt, I smelt the fragrance of the shirt of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ because at that time, I was in عـليـه the state of Kashf. But I could not feel the fragrance of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس from the well of Kan’ān because at that time, I عـليـه


131

was in the state of extreme meditation and my state was as

though as:

Mayn kis kī lūn khabar, Mujĥay apnī khabar naĥī

Whom shall I take care of whilst I am unaware of myself

Moral lesson

There are two main moral lessons that we derive from this

story:

1. There are many hidden blessings and marvels in the dress

and the clothes of the chosen people of Allah �� . Therefore,

preserving the dress and other souvenirs of the holy saints

as a sacred thing, seeking blessings and bounties by the virtue

of them, as well as using these as a Wasīlaĥ (intermediary)

to Almighty Allah �� is a great and significant means of

attaining blessings and of the acceptance of Du’ās.

2. The state of the friends of Allah �� does not always remain

the same. On the contrary, sometimes, due to Allah ��

placing divine light in their being, they enter in such a

state that at that time, they start observing each and every

particle of the universe. And sometimes, they are engrossed

in the divine light of Allah �� to such an extent that they

are drowned in the meditation of the light and deviate

their attention away from the entire universe. At that time,

they are in such a state that they can’t see anything. And it

happens to such a great extent that they even forget their

own names. These two states of Sufism i.e. Kashfi (intuition)

and Istaghraqi (meditation) are such states that are beyond

the understanding of common people. Only those people


132

who have spiritual connections, the people of knowledge or those who experience these states frequently can understand them. It is true:

لذت مے نہ شناسی بخدا تا نہ چشی

The pre-requisite to acquire such spiritual conditions is that along with Zikr (remembrance of Allah وجل self-evaluation and ,(عزmeditation; we also need to have the inner attention of a perfect Sheikh who cleans and purges the heart. The king of Sufism, Maulānā Rūmī محن ة الـر :has hinted towards this point as عـليه رمح

کتاب و صدورق درنار کنصد روئے دل را جانب دلدار کن

And another mystic has said that:

نہ تواں یافت خدارا’ ھدایہ‘و ’ کنز‘از

سی پارئہ دل خواں کہ کتابے بہ ازیں نیست

This means that only reading ‘Kanz-ul-Daqāiq’ and ‘Ĥadayaĥ’ are not sufficient to seek Allah وجل but read the chapter of your ,عزheart because there is no book better than this. But in this age of materialism, the flag-bearers of Sufism have badly harmed the magnificent and huge palace of Sufism due to them not being practical, and are running their business of Sheikh and disciplehood only on illusions and falseness. They have made it standard that one can only become a Sheikh by wearing multi-colored and stylish clothes, along with carrying a rosary and a staff. At the end of the day, when, how and from where can people understand the true states and blessings of Sufism? That is why, in this relation, mystics say nothing except:

Ḥaqīqat khurāfāt mein kĥo gayī

Ye Ummat riwāyāt mein kĥo gayī

Truth is lost in uselessness

This Ummaĥ is lost in traditions


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34. Summary of Sūrāĥ Yūsuf The anecdote of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس has been titled as عـليـه‘Aḥsan-ul-Qaṣaṣ’ meaning ‘the best of the anecdotes’ among other anecdotes by Almighty Allah وجل The reason for this .عزdistinction is that the holy life of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم in its ,عـليـه الـسhighs and lows, contains pain and happiness, as well as sorrow and tranquillity. Every single event contains many lessons and guidance in its threshold. We are writing the summary of this extraordinary event so that the readers may get moral lessons from it and observe the divine powers of Almighty Allah وجل ز .ع

Sayyidunā Ya’qūb bin Isḥāq bin Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس had twelve عـليـهsons and their names are as following:

1. Yaĥūżā

2. Rūbīl

3. Sham’ūn

4. Lāvī

5. Zabūlūn

6. Yashjar

7. Dān

8. Naftālī

9. Jād

10. Ashīr

11. Yūsuf

12. Binyāmīn

Sayyidunā Binyāmīn was a real brother of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالمعـليـه الـس whereas others were his step-brothers from different

mothers. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم was beloved to his father more عـليـه الـسthan all of his other brothers. The main reason for this distinctive love and affection by Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس to Sayyidunā عـليـهYūsuf ـالم was that a distinguished sign of Prophethood was عـليـه الـسapparent on the forehead of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس That is .عـليـهwhy, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس used to give him great respect عـليـهand extreme love.

At the age of seven, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم saw a dream that عـليـه الـسeleven stars along with a sun and a moon are prostrating him.


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When Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم ,relayed his dream to his father عـليـه الـسSayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس forbade him from telling the dream عـليـهto his brothers by saying, ‘O beloved son, beware! Do not disclose this dream to your brothers. Otherwise, out of jealousy, they will secretly conspire against you.’ However, the prediction of Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم proved to be true and the brothers عـليـه الـسof Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس .started to become jealous of him عـليـهThey became jealous to such extent that through mutual agreement, they planned somehow to take him out of the home and throw him in a well in the jungle. For the fulfilment of their conspiracy, all the brothers gathered and went to Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس and with much insistence; they succeeded to عـليـهget the permission to take Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالمع س الـ ـليـه to the jungle with them for the sake of hunting and excursion. From home, they carried him on their shoulders, but the moment they reached the jungle, they dropped him on the earth due to the heat of animosity. They all severely beat him, then removed his shirt and tied his hands and feet, and dropped him in a dark and deep well. But immediately, Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس عـليـهarrived in the well and saved Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس from عـليـهdrowning by placing him on a stone which was inside the well. He unfastened his hands and feet and consoled him, which removed Sayyidunā Yūsuf’s fear and horror. At the time of leaving house, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس placed a shirt of Sayyidunā عـليـهYūsuf ـالمعـليـه الـس as an amulet around his neck. Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس ـالم put that very shirt on Sayyidunā Yūsuf عـليـه س الـ and عـليـهconsequently, the dark well was illuminated by it.

After dropping him in the well, the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس ـالم soaked the shirt of Sayyidunā Yūsuf عـليـه س الـ with the عـليـهblood of a goat and left for home. From outside the house, they started crying loudly. Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم س came out of the عـليـه الـ


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house in a worry and asked them the reason for their crying, inquiring if someone had harmed their goats. Then Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس ـليـه ’!inquired: ‘Where is my Yūsuf? I can’t see him عThen the brothers replied tearfully that during our play, we ran far away and asked Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس to look after our عـليـهbelongings. Then a wolf came, mauled him and ate him. They showed him his shirt. Although they had placed excessive blood on the shirt but they forgot to tear it. When Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم عـليـه الـسsaw the shirt of his beloved son with tearful eyes, taking the shirt in his hands, he observed that it was in good condition and was not torn from anywhere. Therefore, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم realized عـليـه الـسthe deception and lies of his sons, and said to them that the wolf must have been very clever and intelligent that he mauled and ate my Yūsuf ـالم but did not even scratch his shirt. He clearly told عـليـه الـسthem that this act is all their wickedness. Then with a very grieved heart and with a painful voice he said:

ون ﴿صف

� ما ت

مستعان ��

� ال

� و ا��

� جميل

ص�

﴾۱۸ف


Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس remained in the well for three عـليـهconsecutive days. This well was salty but due to his blissful presence, the water became very tasty and sweet. Coincidently, a caravan was travelling from Madyan to Egypt. When a traveller from this caravan, whose name was Mālik bin Żu’ar Khaża’ī, came there to draw out water, he threw his bucket into the well. That moment, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس held the bucket and clung عـليـهto it. When he Mālik bin Żu’ar pulled the bucket up, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالمعـليـه الـس came out of the well. When he saw the beauty of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم he broke this good news to his friends ,عـليـه الـس

by saying ‘ ل

ا �

ذ �ي ه

م يب� ’. The brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم ,عـليـه الـس

who used to graze their goats daily in the jungle, used to peep and


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watch inside the well daily. When they did not see their brother inside the well, then in his search, they reached the caravan. After seeing him (Sayyidunā Yūsuf), they said that he is their fugitive slave who is completely useless, disobedient and worthy of nothing. If you people buy him, we will sell him very cheaply to you guys. But the condition is that you should sell him in a place so far from here that no news about him reaches here. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس kept silent due to fear of his brothers and did عـليـهnot say a single word. Afterwards, his brothers sold him to Mālik bin Żu’rān for only twenty dirham.

After purchasing Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ Mālik bin Żu’rān ,عـليـهtook him to the bazaar in Egypt, and the king of Egypt bought him for a huge price. After taking him to his royal palace, he said to his queen, Zulaīkhā to keep him in your service with great respect and dignity. Therefore, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم started عـليـه الـسliving in the royal palace of the king of Egypt. Queen Zulaīkhā fell in love with him to the extent that she became entranced by his beauty. Her love for Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ came to عـليـهsuch a point that one day Zulaīkhā, drowned in his love, tried to entice him to fulfil her lustful desires. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس ـليـه عrefused by saying ‘may Allah وجل ز forgive’ and clearly said to عher that he cannot betray his master, the king of Egypt, and cannot be ungrateful of his favours. Upon saying this, he ran away from the house. However, Zulaīkhā ran after him and held him from the back of his robe. Consequently, the back of the robe tore away. While this took place, the king of Egypt arrived in the house and saw them both in this state. Zulaīkhā falsely accused Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم The king of Egypt was startled .عـليـه الـسupon hearing these claims as to who was truthful. Coincidentally, a four month baby was lying in the cradle in the house and he


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presented the evidence, saying that if the shirt is torn from the front, then Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ is guilty; and if it is torn عـليـهfrom the back, then it is the guilt of Zulaīkhā and Yūsuf ـالم is عـليـه الـسinnocent. When the king of Egypt saw the shirt, it was torn from the back. Immediately, the king of Egypt declared Zulaīkhā as guilty and scolded her. He then asked Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س ,not to be grieved and saddened by this incident. However عـليـه اـلupon the advice of Zulaīkhā, the king of Egypt sent Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س into prison. Like this, all of a sudden, Sayyidunā عـليـه الـYūsuf ـالم الـس was transferred from the royal palace of the king عـليـهof Egypt to the prison cell. After reaching jail, Sayyidunā Yūsuf

ـالمعـل س يـه اـل said, ‘Oh Almighty Allah وجل ز The cell of this prison is !عmore beloved to me than the evil that Zulaīkhā was calling me upon.’ He ـالم الـس then remained in the prison for seven years عـليـهor twelve years. During these years, he ـالم الـس kept delivering عـليـهthe message of the oneness of Allah ل وج to the prisoners عزand kept calling them towards righteousness.

It was a strange coincidence that the day when he entered the prison, two servants of the king of Egypt were also imprisoned, one of which was a bartender and the other was a cook. Both of them told their dreams to Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم and he عـليـه الـسinterpreted their dreams. His interpretation proved hundred percent true. Thus, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس became famous عـليـهwith the name of Ma’bar (dream interpreter).

During these days, the great king of Egypt, Riyān bin Walīd saw a dream that seven healthy cows were eaten by seven lean cows and there are seven green shoots of corn and seven dry shoots of corn. The great king inquired the interpretation of the dream from his courtiers. The people replied by saying that this dream is simply the worries of his mind and did not provide


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any interpretation for it. Meanwhile, the bartender of the king, who had returned back after being released from jail sought permission of the king to go into jail for the interpretation of that dream. Therefore, as a messenger of the king, the bartender went to Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ ـليـه in the prison. He asked the عinterpretation of the king’s dream, explaining that in the dream, seven lean cows were eating seven healthy cows and there are seven green and seven dry shoots of corn. In reply, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ told him to cultivate constantly for seven years عـليـهand save the harvested crops from this cultivation in shoots. He ـالم further said that afterwards, a famine will strike and then عـليـه الـسthe land will be affected by the drought for seven years. In the seven years of famine, people will first eat the food they preserved for seven years. Then afterwards, the year of greenery will come.

The messenger (bartender) went back and relayed the interpretation of the dream to the king. Consequently, the king ordered the freedom of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس from the عـليـهprison and gave the instructions to bring him in his court. The messenger reached jail with the good news of release. However, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس said that prior to his release; his عـليـهinnocence and chastity should be proven by Zulaīkhā and other women. Only then I will come out of jail. Therefore, the king investigated this issue, and during the investigation, Zulaīkhā admitted that she herself tried to seduce Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس and that it was her mistake. She also said that Sayyidunā عـليـهYūsuf ـالم is truthful and chaste. After this, the king called عـليـه الـسSayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ in the court and said that you are a عـليـهtrusted and respected member of our court. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم asked for the charge of all administrative and security عـليـه الـسmatters regarding the treasures of the kingdom. He said that he


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would handle the whole system. The king handed over the treasury and security matters to Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س ,and thus عـليـه اـلthe reign of Egypt came in the hands of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم .عـليـه الـس

After taking the control of these treasures in his hands, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس managed the agricultural activities for seven عـليـهyears. He preserved grains in their shoots. As the famine rose to its peak, people from all over the kingdom started coming to Egypt to buy food. As such, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س began selling عـليـه اـلthe grains.

For the same reason, the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم also عـليـه الـسcame to Egypt from Kan’ān. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم recognized عـليـه الـسthese people at first sight but his brothers did not recognize him at all. Sayyidunā Yūsuf لي ـالمعـ ـه الـس gave them grains and said, ‘You have a brother (Binyāmīn). Next time, bring him as well. If you don’t bring him along, then you will not receive any food.’

The brothers said that they would try to persuade his father. Then Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س instructed his servants to put the عـليـه الـcash of these people in their sacks so that after reaching home, when they look at it, I hope they will definitely return back. Therefore, when these people reached their father, they said, ‘Oh father, what will happen now? The king of Egypt has said that unless we do not bring Binyāmīn with us, we will not be given grains. Therefore, send Binyāmīn with us so that we may get his share of grains as well. Be assured that we will protect him.’ Afterwards, when they unfastened their sacks, they were startled to see the cash they paid was in their sacks. Upon seeing this, the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ said to their عـليـهfather, ‘Oh father, what better conduct than this can we expect? See, the king of Egypt has given us full quantity of grains as well as


140

returned our money. Therefore, send our brother (Binyāmīn) with us without any fear.’ Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالمعـ س الـ ليـه said, ‘I had once trusted you in the case of Yūsuf and what did you do? Now how shall I trust you again? I will never send Binyāmīn with you in this manner. But if you take an oath and promise in front of me, only then I will send him with you.’ Upon hearing this, the brothers took an oath and promised. So he (Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم .sent Binyāmīn with them (عـليـه الـس

When these people reached in the court of the king of Egypt; Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس made his brother sit on his throne عـليـهand secretly whispered in his ear, ‘I am your brother ‘Yūsuf’. Therefore, do not worry at all.’ Then he (Sayyidunā Yūsuf) gave grains to all of them and they all took hold of their sacks. When everyone started to leave, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س ـليـه الـ kept Binyāmīn عwith him. Now the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س ـليـه الـ became عextremely worried. They had made a promise with their father that they would protect him even on the cost of their lives but Binyāmīn had been snatched away from their hands. They wondered how to return home now and how they can remain there (in Egypt) as well. Seeing the situation, the eldest brother, ‘Yaĥūdā’ said, ‘O my brothers! Think what promises you made with your father before coming here. You have already made a major mistake with your brother Yūsuf before this. Therefore, until I do not get any instructions from my father, I cannot move from this land. You guys go home and tell father the whole story.’ Therefore, all the brothers went home except Yaĥūdā and told the whole situation to their father. In response, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم said, ‘You guys are making excuses in the matter عـليـه الـسof Binyāmīn as you did in the matter of Yūsuf. However, I will be patient and patience is a very virtuous attribute.’ Then he


141

(Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس turned his face away and began (عـليـهweeping. He exclaimed with grief and wept so severely in the memory of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس -that he was lost in a grief عـليـهstricken state. Due to weeping excessively, his eyes became white. After hearing the name of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس from عـليـهSayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم س الـ the sons and the grandsons of ,عـليـهSayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس said, ‘O father! You will always عـليـهremember Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم even when you will be at the عـليـه الـسbrink of your grave or leaving this world.’ Upon hearing the comments of his sons and grandsons, he (Sayyidunā Ya’qūb

ـالم عـليـه الـس ) said, ‘I disclose the account of my grief and sorrow only to Allah وجل and you don’t know what I know. O my sons! Go عزand search for Yūsuf and his brother Binyāmīn, and do not lose hope from the mercy of Almighty Allah وجل because to lose عزhope from the mercy of Allah وجل ’.is an act of infidels عز

Therefore, the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم again departed عـليـه الـسfor Egypt. Reaching there, they said to the king of Egypt, ‘O king of Egypt! Our family has been struck with a serious infliction and we have brought some defective coins. Could you please give us some grain as charity?’ Upon hearing the account of his home and hearing the word of charity from his brothers, a state of deep sadness came upon Sayyidunā Yūsuf ليـ ـالمعـ الـس ه , and then asked the brothers, ‘Do you remember that how you treated Yūsuf and his brother Binyāmīn?’ Upon hearing this, the brothers curiously asked, ‘Are you definitely Yūsuf?’ In response, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس replied, ‘Yes, I am Yūsuf, and Binyāmīn is my عـليـهbrother. Almighty Allah وجل has bestowed His Gratitude and عزGrace in abundance upon us.’ After hearing this account, the brothers of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم started saying with a deep عـليـه الـسand extreme sense of regret and remorse, ‘Undoubtedly, we are


142

very big transgressors and Allah Almighty وجل has blessed you عزwith great excellence over us.’ After listening to the remorse and shame of his brothers, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـال س اـل معـليـه became full of affection and said, ‘Today I will not condemn any of you. Go, I have forgiven you for everything. May Allah وجل .forgive you all عزNow go back home, take my shirt with you and put it on our father’s face. As a result, his eyesight will restore! Then bring all of the family members with you to Egypt.’

The elder brother Yaĥūdā said, ‘I will carry this shirt to my father, because I was the one who dyed the shirt of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ in the blood of a goat and took it to him (Sayyidunā عـليـهYa’qūb ـالم الـس So the way I saddened him by giving him .(عـليـهthat shirt, today I will please him by taking this shirt to him.’ Yaĥūdā took the shirt and returned home. He placed the shirt on the face of his father and Sayyidunā Ya’qūb’s eyesight was restored. Then, after Taĥajjud, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم prayed عـليـه الـسfor all of his sons and this supplication was accepted. Therefore, a divine revelation descended upon Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم that عـليـه الـسthe mischiefs of his sons were forgiven.

Then, there were preparations for the departure to Egypt. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم had already sent two hundred ridings عـليـه الـسwith his brothers to carry his father and other family members. When Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس ,gathered his family members عـليـهthey were seventy two or seventy three in total. Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم took them with him and left for Egypt. Almighty Allah عـليـه الـسوجل bestowed such blessings in the progeny of Sayyidunā عزYa’qūb ـالم الـس that when the Banī Isrāīl left Egypt at the time عـليـهof Sayyidunā Musa ـالم الـس they were more than six hundred ,عـليـهthousand in number, although the era of Sayyidunā Musa ـالم س عـليـه اـلis only four hundred years later than that when Sayyidunā Ya’qūb


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ـالم ـالم left for Egypt. When Sayyidunā Ya’qūb عـليـه الـس reached عـليـه الـسnear Egypt along with his family, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم س الـ عـليـهwelcomed him with four thousand army men and many Egyptian riders. Egyptian inhabitants stood in rows and waved hundreds of silken, expensive flags, and this procession accompanied the guests as they entered the city. Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم .’was coming with support of the hand of his son ‘Yaĥūdā عـليـه الـسWhen Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس looked at the army men and عـليـهriders, he then inquired, ‘Is it an army of the Egyptian Pharaoh?’ Then Yaĥūdā replied, ‘No, it is your son Yūsuf who has come with his army and riders to welcome you.’ When Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس ـالم saw Sayyidunā Ya’qūb عـليـه الـس in a state of عـليـهsurprise, he said, ‘O Prophet! Raise your gaze towards the skies and see how a huge number of angels are present to participate with you on this joyous occasion. These angels had been crying in your grief for a long time.’ The sounds of the angels’ invocations, the clamour of the horses’ neighing and the beating of drums created a warming atmosphere.

When the father and son came close to each other and Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس ـالم intended to pay Sayyidunā Ya’qūb عـليـه الـس ـليـه the عcompliments of Salām, Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم س said to Sayyidunā عـليـه اـلYūsuf ـالم س Observe a pause and give your esteemed father a‘ ,عـليـه الـchance to convey his heartfelt greeting.’ Thus, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb

ـالم ان ‘ made Salām in these words عـليـه الـسز ح

اال

هب

ذ

ا م

ليك ي

ع

الم ’الس

i.e. O the reliever of all sorrows, peace be unto you. Afterwards, father and son warmly embraced each other, and wept abundantly due to the overwhelming joy. They then went into a welcoming tent that was beautifully decorated and embellished. After staying there for a short while, when they went to the royal palace, Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس helped his esteemed father in making عـليـه


144

him sit onto the royal throne. All eleven brothers and the mother of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس sat around him and all of them عـليـهprostrated simultaneously together in front of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم الـس ـالم At that time, Sayyidunā Yūsuf .عـليـه الـس addressed his عـليـهesteemed father and said:

� حسن �

ا

د

ا � و ق

� حق

ها ر�

جعل

د

� ق

بل

رءياي من ق

ويل

ا

ا ت

ذ

بت ه

ي�ا

رج�� من ا

خ ا

ن اذ

يط

الش

زغ

ن ن

و من� بعد ا

بد

ن ال م م

جن و جآء بك لس

�ك�� ﴿

عل�� ا� هو ال

ه

آء � ان

ما �ش

ل

طيف

� ل

ر�

و�� ان

� اخ

﴾۱۰۰بي�� و ب�

‘O my father! This is the interpretation of my former dream; my Rab has made it true; and indeed He has bestowed favour upon me, when He brought me out of prison and brought you all from the village, after Satan had created a resentment between me and my brothers; indeed my Rab may make easy whatever He wills; undoubtedly He is the All Knowing, the Wise.’


Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم further stated, ‘It means that my eleven عـليـه الـسbrothers are stars, my father is the sun and my mother is the moon. They all are prostrating before me. This was the dream I saw when I was a child, in which the eleven stars, the sun and the moon were prostrating to me. This historical event took place on the day of ‘Āshūrā, the tenth of Muḥarram-ul-Ḥarām.

Demise of Sayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم Historians have stated that :عـليـه الـسSayyidunā Ya’qūb ـالم الـس stayed with his son, Sayyidunā Yūsuf عـليـهـالم الـس in Egypt with prosperity and affluence for twenty four عـليـهyears. When the time of his demise came closer, he mentioned in his will that his body should be taken to Syria and buried in the feet of my father’s grave, Sayyidunā Isḥāq ـالم ,Therefore .عـليـه الـس


145

after his demise, Sayyidunā Ya’qūb’s sacred body was transported from Egypt to Syria in a wooden coffin. Exactly at the same time, his brother ‘Ghaīṣ’ also passed away. The birth of both brothers was also at the same time, and both of them were buried in the same grave. Both brothers lived to an age of one hundred and forty seven years. Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم came back to Egypt عـليـه الـسafter the burial of his father and uncle, and ruled over Egypt for 23 years. After this, he passed away too.

Grave of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم After the demise of Sayyidunā :عـليـه الـسYūsuf ـالم الـس a great dispute arose amongst people about the ,عـليـهplace of his burial. People of every area insisted that he should be buried in their area in order to attain his blessings. At the end, it was unanimously decided that he should be buried in the middle of the River Nile so that the water of the river may touch his sacred grave and consequently, all the people of Egypt may gain his blessings. Subsequently, he was placed in a marble coffin and was buried in the middle of the River Nile. This was until after four hundred years when Sayyidunā Musa ـالم الـس drew out the عـليـهblessed coffin from the river and buried it amid the graves of his (Sayyidunā Yūsuf’s) ancestors, in Syria.

At the time of his demise, the blessed age of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم was 120 years old and his eminent father passed away at عـليـه الـسage of 147 years. His grandfather, Sayyidunā Isḥaq’s blessed age was 180 years, and his great grandfather, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s blessed age was 175 years. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, vol. 4, pp. 324, Part 13,

Sūraĥ Yūsuf, Verse 100)

35. How Makkaĥ became established? Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s son, Sayyidunā Ismā’īl ـالم الـس ـليـه was born عin Syria to Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ عنها تعاىل اهللا Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s .ر�


146

wife, Sayyidatunā Sara عنها عاىل ت اهللا ,did not have any children ر�and due to envy, she asked Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم to separate عـليـه الـسSayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ عاىل عنها ت اهللا and her son, Sayyidunā Ismā’īl ر�

ـالمعـليـه الـس and take them somewhere far away from her. Allah ل وج ز provided a mean for this to take place. Therefore, a divine عrevelation revealed upon Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس to take عـليـهSayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ عنها عاىل ت اهللا ـالم and Sayyidunā Ismā’īl ر� الـس عـليـهand leave them on such a land where there is no sign of water and nothing else except plain fields and dry mountains.

Therefore, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ made a journey along عـليـهwith Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ عنها عاىل ت اهللا and his son Sayyidunā ر�Ismā’īl ـالم and came to the place where the sacred Ka’baĥ is عـليـه الـسsituated today. At that time, there was no population nor was any spring of water and nor was there any sign of water or human being until far and wide. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس عـليـهplaced some dates in a pot and filled a skin sack with water and departed from there. Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ اهللا تعاىل عنها called ر�out, ’O Prophet, where are you going leaving us helpless on our own in this lonely desert where there is neither any helper, nor any condoler?’ Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ عنها عاىل ت اهللا called out ر�many times but he did not reply back. In the end, Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ اهللا تعاىل عنها ر� asked a question and requested him, ‘Are you leaving us out here of your own will or are you fulfilling the command of Almighty Allah وجل :by doing so?’ Then he replied عز‘O Ĥājraĥ! Whatever I have done is the command of Allah وجل عنها After hearing this, Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ ’.عز تعاىل اهللا ,said ر�‘You may leave now. I have a stern belief and complete faith that Almighty Allah وجل ’.will not let me or my son get harmed عز

After this, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm الـس ـالمعـليـه made a long supplication and came back to Syria. After a few days, when the dates and


147

water ran out, severe hunger and thirst came upon Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ عنها عاىل ت اهللا The milk of her chest had also dried out. ر�and her baby started suffering due to hunger and thirst. She ran between the hills of Ṣafā and Marwā seven times in search for water but there was no sign of water anywhere. Moreover, the condition of Sayyidunā Ismā’īl ـالم الـس was such that due to عـليـهsevere thirst, he was weeping severely and tapping his heels on the ground. Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم س الـ struck his foot near عـليـهSayyidunā Ismā’īl’s heels and a spring of water gushed forth from there. This water possessed characteristics like milk and used to work both as food and water. Therefore, by drinking the water of Zamzam, Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ اهللا تعاىل عنها and Sayyidunā ر�Ismā’īl ـالم الـس ـالم survived. Sayyidunā Ismā’īl عـليـه الـس ,grew up عـليـهreached his years of maturity and started hunting. Thus hunting and the water of Zamzam became the means of their living. Then some people of the tribe of Jarĥam came there grazing their goats and after seeing the spring of water, they started living there with the permission of Sayyidatunā Ĥājraĥ. Furthermore, Sayyidunā Ismā’īl ـالم الـس got married to a girl of this tribe and slowly, a عـليـهsettlement was established there.

Subsequently, there was a command of Allah وجل to Sayyidunā عزIbrāĥīm ـالمع الـس ـليـه about the construction of the Holy Ka’baĥ. Therefore, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس constructed the Holy عـليـهKa’baĥ with the help of his son, Sayyidunā Ismā’īl ـالم At that .عـليـه الـسtime, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالمعـليـه الـس invoked a long Du’ā for his children as well as the inhabitants of Makkaĥ. That Du’ā is mentioned in different verses of the Holy Quran. In Sūraĥ Ibrāĥīm, some portion of his Du’ā is mentioned in the following way:


148

نا ليـقيموا � رب

�

ق

ي�� وار ز

ال

هوي

اس ت

ن الن م

ة

�د

ف

ا

اجعل

ف

�ة

�

الص

رون ﴿

ك

� �ش�

عل

��ت ل

ن الث ﴾۳۷م

‘O our Rab! I have settled some of my descendants in a valley having no cultivation, near Your Sacred House - O our Rab! So that they may keep the prayer established, therefore incline some hearts of men towards them, and provide them fruits to eat - perhaps they may be thankful.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 13, Sūraĥ Ibrāĥīm, Verse 37)

This is the beginning of the history of the establishment of Makkaĥ Mukarramaĥ that is proven from the Holy Quran.

Effect of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s Du’ā: In this Du’ā, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم وجل asked for two things from Almighty Allah عـليـه الـس .عزThe first was that the hearts of some people may be attracted towards his offspring, and the second was that these people may have fruits as their food. عزوجل ل��هـسـبحـن ال , these supplications of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس were accepted. Therefore, the hearts عـليـهof the people attracted towards the inhabitants of Makkaĥ in such a way that today, billions of people are anxious to behold the sacred land of Makkaĥ. Throughout every era, Muslims have strived and endured many hardships to go to Makkaĥ through land, sea and air, and will continue to do so until the Day of Judgment.

The abundance of fruit in the food of the people of Makkaĥ is to such an extent that despite there being no growth of fruit in Makkaĥ or in its surroundings, neither there is any cultivation nor any garden in its vicinity, but still people are astonished to see such various varieties of dry fruits and fruits being available


149

in the bazaars of Makkaĥ. Allah Almighty وجل has blessed the عزland of Ṭāif to yield fruits of all types and a variety of fruits and vegetables are transported from there to Makkaĥ. Furthermore, a huge variety of fruits and dry fruits are also imported to Makkaĥ from different European countries, as well as Egypt and Iraq. All this is due to the blessings of the invocations of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس which undoubtedly are amongst عـليـهthe true wonders of the world.

After this, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس invoked the following عـليـهDu’ā for his progeny as well as all the believers.

آء ﴿

دع

ل

بق

نا و ت

�� ربي ر

�ة و من ذ

�

�� مق�� الص

�� ﴾۴۰رب اجعل

نا اغ

رب

�ساب ﴿

وم ا�� يوم يق

�ن�

مؤ

و لل

ي

﴾۴۱٪�� و لوالد

‘O my Rab! Maintain me as one who establishes prayer, and some of my descendants; O our Rab! And accept my prayer.’ ‘O our Rab! And forgive me, and my parents, and all the Muslims on the day when the account will be established.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 13, Sūraĥ Ibrāĥīm, Verse 40-41)

Moral lesson From this anecdote, we specially come to know two things:

1. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س الـ was extremely obedient to عـليـهAlmighty Allah وجل The son that was born to him in his .عزold age after lots of supplications, who was the light of his eyes and tranquillity of his heart, it was natural for him that he could not separate himself from his son. But when Allah ل وج ز commanded: ‘O Ibrāĥīm, take your beloved عson and his mother away from your house and leave them


150

in the valley of Baṭḥā, where there is no leaf to hide under and nor is there any drop of water to quench the thirst, neither there is any helper nor any condoler.’ If it was someone else instead of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس his ,عـليـهheart would have trembled just by imagining this scene. Due to sorrow, his heart would get torn into pieces. But Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم neither grieved after listening عـليـه الـسto this command of Allah وجل nor thought over it even for عزa moment. He did not lose his consciousness due to the grief and sorrow either. On the contrary, in order to fulfil the command of Allah وجل ـالم Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ,عز الـس عـليـهimmediately left from Syria and went to the land of Makkaĥ with his wife and son and returned to Syria after leaving them there. اهللا اكرب! May our lives be sacrificed on such passion of obedience and submission!

2. From the supplications that Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس عـليـهinvoked with immense affection for the prosperity and popularity of his progeny; the lesson that we learn from it is that to love one’s children and to supplicate for them is the sacred way of the respected Prophets. Therefore, for Muslims to act upon these practices is a source for our

reformation and prosperity. لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

و

36. Wife of Abū Laĥab could not see Holy Prophet

When Sūraĥ ‘دا ي

was revealed, Abū Laĥab and his wife ’تبت

‘Um-e-Jamīl’ were condemned in it. As a result, Um-e-Jamīl became furious and lost her self-control. She came to the sacred Ka’baĥ with a huge rock. At that time, the Holy Prophet وسلم واله يه �ل عاىل ت اهللا was reciting the Holy Quran in Ṣalāĥ and ص�


151

Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq اهللا تعاىل عـن ه ر� was sitting nearby. Um-e-Jamīl arrived grumbling and came to Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq

اهللا تعاىل عـنه ر� whilst passing by the Holy Prophet وسلم واله اىل �ليه تع اهللا .ص�She said with a frothing mouth and in extreme anger, ‘Tell me where your Prophet is? I have come to know that he has belittled me and my husband.’ Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq اهللا تعاىل عـنه ر�said, ‘My Prophet وسلم واله �ليه تعاىل اهللا is not a poet who ridicules ص�someone.’ She then fumed with anger, roamed around the Ka’baĥ in search of the Holy Prophet واله �ليه تعاىل اهللا وسلم ص� while chattering and murmuring nonsense. Finally, when she could not see the Holy Prophet يه �ل عاىل ت اهللا وسلم ص� واله , she left from the sacred Ḥaram whilst grumbling. Whilst leaving, she said to Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq عـنه تعاىل اهللا I came here to trample‘ ,ر�the head of your Prophet with this rock, but alas, I could not find him.’ When Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq ه عـن تعاىل اهللا ر�mentioned this incidence to the Holy Prophet يه واله وسلم عاىل �ل اهللا ت ,ص�he said, ‘She passed by me many times, but an angel came between me and her in such a way that despite she staring at me with full wide open eyes, she still could not see me. The following verse of the Holy Quran was revealed in relation to this incidence.

خرة ��ابا

�ون با�

��

� يؤ

ذين �

� ال

و ب�

نا بينك

ن جعل

را

ق

ال

ت

را

ا ق

و اذ

ستورا م ﴿۴۵﴾

And when you read the Quran O dear Prophet (Mohammed - peace and blessings upon him), We created an invisible barrier between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter.

(Kanz-ul-‘Irfān pp. 515; Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)]

(Part 15, Sūraĥ Banī Isrāīl, Verse 45)


152

Moral lesson Umm-e-Jamīl, who had full eyesight, regardless of looking with full wide open eyes, still could not see the Holy Prophet يه واله وسلم اهللا تعاىل �ل despite passing him again and again during her ص�search. Undoubtedly, this is an unusual account and cannot be called anything else other than a miracle of the Holy Prophet وسلم واله يه �ل تعاىل اهللا Such miracles were performed by the Holy .ص�Prophet يه واله وسلم اىل �ل اهللا تع many times and there are many friends ص�of Allah وجل from whom similar marvels also exhibit again and عزagain. Such marvels exhibited by the friends of Allah وجل are عزalso the miracles of the Holy Prophet يه واله وسلم اىل �ل اهللا تع because a ص�marvel (Karāmat) by any friend of Allah وجل is actually a miracle عزof his Prophet.

م ل

س

وارك

ب د و م

حدنا م ي

ل س� ا

ع د و م

حدنا م ي

� سل ع

� ص

الل

37. Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf (companions of cave) After Sayyidunā ‘Īsā’s ascension towards the skies, the condition of Christians worsened miserably. People started worshipping idols and started compelling others to do the same. Especially one of their kings named Decius (Daqīyānūs) was so cruel that if anyone refused to worship idols, he would kill him.

Who were companions of cave?: The companions of the cave were the esteemed people of the city of Ephesus and were the respected courtiers of the king. But these people were true believers and were extremely fed up of idol worshipping. In order to safeguard their faith and after having enough of King Decius’ cruelties, they ran away from his court. They took refuge in a cave in a nearby mountain and went to sleep. They remained


153

in this state of sleep for a period of more than three hundred years. When Decius searched for them and came to know about their presence in the cave, he became extremely furious. He stirred his wrath and rage by passing an order to barricade the cave with a stone wall, so that the captives may die there and the cave turns into a grave for them.

However, the person who was delegated to execute this task by Decius was a very pious and a faithful person. He engraved the names of the companions of the cave, their number, and their whole incident on a slate and after placing it in a copper box; he buried it in the foundation of the wall that he erected. Likewise, he preserved a similar slate to this one in the royal treasury too.

After a few days, the king Decius died and kingdoms kept changing until a very kind-hearted and just king, named ‘Badrus’ sat on the throne of the kingdom. He ruled the country for sixty eight years with a great glory. During his reign, religious sectionalism began and some people started refusing the resurrection after death and the Day of Judgment. Seeing such state of his people caused the king a lot of pain and grief. As such, he confined himself in a house and started praying extremely humbly in the court of Almighty Allah وجل with tearful eyes عزthat: ‘Oh Allah, reveal such a sign that people start believing in the resurrection after death and on the Day of Judgment.’ This invocation of the king was accepted. Coincidently, a shepherd selected the same cave as a shelter for his goats, and brought the wall down. Just after the wall fell down, the people were terrified to such an extent that those who brought the wall down ran from that spot in a state of trembling. The companions of the cave woke up from their sleep by the command of Allah وجل عزand started exchanging greetings (Salām) and engaged talking


154

to each other. They then also offered their Ṣalāĥ. When they felt hungry, they said to one of their companions ‘Yamlīkhā’: ‘Go to the bazaar and get some food. Also, secretly find out what Decius intends to do about us?

After coming out of the cave, Yamlīkhā went to the market. He was astonished to see that Islām was spread everywhere and people were openly reciting the Kalima of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم .عـليـه الـسAfter seeing all this, Yamlīkhā was amazed and exclaimed with astonishment: ‘Oh Allah! What is happening here? In this city, it was a crime to even take the name of Islām. How and from where this revolution has come today?’

Afterwards, he went to a bakery to get food and gave a coin of the time of Decius to the baker. This coin was no longer in use and there was no one alive who could recognize this coin either. The shopkeeper became suspicious, thinking that perhaps the possessor of this coin has discovered some old treasure. Therefore, the shopkeeper handed him over to the authorities. They began interrogating him about the treasure and said, ‘Tell us, where is the treasure?’ Yamlīkhā said: ‘There is no treasure. This is our currency.’ The authorities said, ‘How shall we believe this coin is yours? This coin is three hundred years old and centuries have passed since this coin was in use. This coin is no longer used and you are still young. So tell us clearly so this myth can be solved.’ After hearing this, Yamlīkhā said, ‘You tell me, how is the king Decius?’ The authorities said, ‘Today, there is no king with this name on the face of the earth. Yes, hundreds of years ago there was an evil-hearted and unjust king with this name, who was an idol worshipper.’ Yamlīkhā stated, ‘It is a matter of only yesterday that we fled due to his fear to safeguard our faith and our lives. My companions are in a nearby cave. You


155

people come with me. I will make you meet them.’ Therefore, the authorities and leaders of the city reached near the cave in large numbers. The companions of the cave were waiting for Yamlīkhā. When there was a delay in his return, they presumed that Yamlīkhā may have been arrested. When they heard a loud noise of people coming from the entrance of the cave, they thought that perhaps the army of Decius has arrived for their arrest. Therefore, these people sincerely engaged in the remembrance of Allah ل وج .and repentance عز

The authorities discovered the copper box when they reached the cave. They took the slate out and read its contents. They discovered that the names of the companions of the cave were written on it, and it was also mentioned that they are a group of true believers who have taken refuge in this cave to safeguard their religion due to the fear of Decius. Therefore, upon coming to know about this news, Decius barricaded this cave with a wall to confine them. The author further wrote on the slate that ‘I have mentioned these facts with the intention that whenever the cave may open, people become aware of what the companions of the cave went through’. The authorities were stunned to read the account written on the slate. These people informed their king ‘Badrus’ about the event. Immediately, King Badrus rushed to the cave along with his courtiers and the distinguished people of the city. The companions of the cave came out of the cave, embraced the king and revealed their entire story. King Badrus fell into prostration and thanked Allah وجل ز that his invocation was عaccepted. Almighty Allah وجل has revealed such a sign that has عزstrengthened everybody’s belief about the resurrection after death. The companions of the cave prayed that may Allah وجل protect عزthe king and his kingdom. They further said that ‘now we leave


156

you under the protection of Allah وجل The companions of the.’عزcave said greetings, (ليكم

ع

الم and went back inside the cave (الس

and went to sleep. Allah وجل .gave them death in the same state عزKing Badrus made timber coffins and placed the sacred bodies of the Companions of the Cave inside them. Almighty Allah وجل عزinfused such a dignity in the hearts of the people about the companions of the cave that no one had the courage of going near the cave’s entrance. This is how Almighty Allah وجل preserved عزthe dead bodies of the companions of cave. After this, the king Badrus constructed a mosque on the entrance of the cave, appointed an annual day, and asked people to visit it on that day like an Eid day. (Khāzan, vol. 3, pp. 198-200)

Number of companions of the cave: When there was a conflict of opinion amongst people regarding the number of companions of the cave; then the following verse was revealed:

ت

م بعد�ل

ا

�

�

ر

ل

ق

ليل

� ق

� ا�

م�

ا يعل

�� م

Proclaim, ‘My Rab well knows their number - no one knows them except a few’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 22)

It has been narrated by Sayyidunā Abdullah bin Abbas اهللا تعاىل عنهمار� , ‘I am amongst those few people who know the number of the companions of the cave’, adding that ‘the number of companions is seven and the eighth was their dog’. (Tafsīr as-Ṣāwī, vol. 4, pp. 1191;

Part 15, Sūraĥ Kahf, Verse 22)

Allah وجل has mentioned the account of the companions of the عزcave in the Holy Quran by saying that:


157

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Did you know that the people of the cave and people close to the woods

were Our exceptional signs? When the young men took refuge in the

cave - then said, ‘Our Rab! Give us mercy from yourself, and arrange

guidance for us in our affair.’ We then thumped upon their ears in the

cave for a number of years. (*Put them to sleep.) We then awakened

them to see which of the two groups more accurately tells the period

they had stayed. We shall narrate their account to you accurately; they

were young men who believed in their Rab, and We increased the

guidance for them.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 9-13)

In the next verses, Allah �� has mentioned the full account

of the companions of the cave which we have already mentioned.

Names of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf: There is also a great difference of

opinion in the names of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf. Sayyidunā ‘Alī � � ��

has narrated that the names of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf are Yamlīkhā

,(مرنو�) Marnosh ,(مشلينا) Mashlīnā ,(مكشلينا) Makshlīnā ,(يمليخا)

Dabarnosh (�برنو�), Shāżnosh (�شا�نو) and the seventh was a

shepherd who joined them. Sayyidunā ‘Alī � � �� did not

mention about him. Qaṭmīr (قطمري) was the name of their dog,

while their city was called ‘Ephesus’ and the name of the tyrant


158

king was Decius. (Madārik-il-Tanzīl vol. 3, pp. 206; Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf,

Verse 22)

It has been narrated in Tafsīr-e-Ṣāwī that the names of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf are Maksamlīnā, Yamlīkhā, Tunas, Naīnus, Sārīyunas, Żonawānas and Falastuṭyunas. The latter was a shepherd who joined them on the way and the name of their dog was ‘Qaṭmīr’. (Ṣāwī, vol. 4, pp. 1191, Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, verse 22)

Prominent features of the names of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf: Sayyidunā Ibn-e-‘Abbās عـنه اىل اهللا تع made (تعويز) has stated that an amulet ر�with the names of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf is beneficial for nine things:

1. To call back someone who has fled away and to escape from enemies to save oneself.

2. To extinguish fire, write it on a piece of cloth and place it in the fire.

3. For the children who cry or for the fever that comes after every third day.

4. Fasten it over the right shoulder for a headache.

5. Wear it round the neck for Umm-ul-Ṣubīyān.

6. To have a safe land or sea journey

7. For the protection of wealth

8. To have an increase in wisdom

9. For the salvation of sinners (Ṣāwī, vol. 4, pp. 1191; Part 15,

Sūraĥ Al-Kaĥf, Verse 22)


159

How many days did Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf remain asleep for?: When this

verse of the Holy Quran was revealed �� وا

بث و ل

� ك

ة سن�

مائ

ث

ل

هف�� ث

دادو

و از ﴾۲۵سعا ﴿ا � (Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 25) (i.e. and they stayed in their cave for three hundred years and nine more), the pagans said that we are aware about the Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf’s stay in the cave for three hundred years but we do not know about the nine years period. The Holy Prophet وسل واله تعاىل �ليه اهللا مص� said, ‘You people are counting on the basis of solar years whereas the time mentioned in the Holy Quran is according to the lunar years. At the end of every one hundred solar years, there is an addition of three lunar years.’ (Ṣāwī, vol. 4, pp. 1193; Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 25)

Moral lesson 1. The resurrection after death is a true reality and the anecdote

of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf is a sign and evidence for this which has been mentioned in the Holy Quran.

2. A person who migrates from his native country for the sake of safeguarding his faith and religion, Allah ل وج ز عprovides such means of his safety from the unseen that are beyond the perception of anyone.

3. There are blessings and beneficial blissful effects in the names of the chosen people of Allah وج ز ل ع .

4. Badrus, who was a faithful and a kind-hearted king, appointed a day for an annual commemoration for people to come and visit the cave of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf. From this, we can derive that the sacred custom of celebrating an annual remembrance of the pious saints has been a trend from very ancient times.


160

5. The construction of the Masjid in the vicinity of the holy shrines of the holy saints and performing worship there is also a blissful old tradition because King Badrus constructed a Masjid by the cave of Aṣḥāb-e-Kaĥf which has been

mentioned in the Holy Quran. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

38. Brief account of journey of Majma-Al-Bahrain It has been mentioned in a narration that when Pharaoh drowned in the River Nile along with his army and Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم عـليـه الـسgained stability after settling in Egypt with Banī Isrāīl, then one day, the following discussion took place between Almighty Allah ل وج ز ـالم and Sayyidunā Mūsā ع س :عـليـه الـ

Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم عـليـه الـس : O Allah وجل Who is the most loving !عزbondsman to You among Your people?

Almighty Allah : The one who does My remembrance [Żikr] and never forgets Me.

Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ Who is the best one to dispense a :عـليـهjudgment?

Almighty Allah : The one who dispenses a judgement with fairness and never follows human desires.

Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س Who is the most knowledgeable person :عـليـه اـلamong Your bondsmen?

Almighty Allah : The one who along with his knowledge, always strives to learn knowledge from others; so that he may acquire such a line of knowledge that may guide him towards righteousness or save him from devastation.


161

Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم If there is anyone more knowledgeable :عـليـه الـسthan me among Your bondsmen, then please guide me to him?

Almighty Allah : Khiḍr is of more knowledge than you.

Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س ?Where shall I search for him :عـليـه الـ

Almighty Allah : On the bank of the sea, near the hill.

Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالمعـليـه الـس : How and by what means can I reach there?

Almighty Allah : Travel along with a fish in a basket and the place where that fish gets lost; that is where you will meet Khiḍr. (Madārik-il-Tanzīl, vol. 3, pp. 217, Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 60)

After this Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه embarked on the journey عof ‘Majma’-ul-Baḥrīn’, (a place where two seas meet) in the company of his servant and disciple Yushā bin Nūn bin Afrāim bin Yūsuf ـالم During his journey, when Sayyidunā Mūsā .عـليـه الـسـالم الـس went to a far-off region, then he went asleep at some عـليـهplace. At that very place, the fish in the basket quivered and jumped into the sea. A hole emerged in the area of the water where the fish had fallen into. After waking up, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم continued his journey. When it was the lunch time, he عـليـه الـسـالم asked for the fish from his disciple, Sayyidunā Yushā bin عـليـه الـسNūn ـالمعـليـه الـس . He said very humbly and politely, ‘The place near the hill where you went asleep, the fish jumped into the sea there and I forgot to inform you.’ Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم said, ‘This is عـليـه الـسthe very place we had been searching for.’ However, by following his footsteps, he ـالم س ـليـه الـ reached the place which was revealed عto him as the meeting place with Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم ـليـه الـس .ع

After reaching there, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم saw that there is a عـليـه الـسsaint sitting there who was wrapped up in the clothes. When


162

Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه ,paid compliments of Salam to him عthe saint asked in an astounding tone, ‘Where have people come from on this land who make Salam?’ Then he inquired, ‘Who are you?’ Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم replied, ‘I am Mūsā.’ He further عـليـه الـسinquired, ‘Who Mūsā? Are you Mūsā of Banī Isrāīl?’ Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ـالم replied, ‘Yes.’ Then Sayyidunā Khiḍr عـليـه س الـ عـليـهsaid, ‘O Mūsā, Allah ل وج ز has bestowed me with such type of عknowledge which you do not know and Almighty Allah ل وج ز عhas bestowed you with such a type of knowledge which I do not know. It implicitly meant that I know the mystic knowledge which you do not have the knowledge of, while you are bestowed with ‘Ilm-e-Sharī’aĥ’ which I do not have the knowledge of.’ Then Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس said, ‘O Khiḍr! Do you permit عـليـهme to follow you so that I can also acquire some of the sciences which Allah وجل has blessed you with.’ Then Sayyidunā Khiḍr عزـالم ’.said, ‘You will not be able to observe patience with me عـليـه الـسSayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ ‘ ,said عـليـه ش ـ�ـلآءا�ان وجل هل عز , I will be patient and will not disobey you at all.’ Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم ,said عـليـه الـس‘The condition is that you will not question me about anything until I myself do not inform you.’ After this mutual agreement, Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم س الـ ـالم took Sayyidunā Mūsā عـليـه الـس and عـليـهYushā bin Nūn ـالم الـس with him and started walking alongside عـليـهthe seashore until they came across a boat. The occupants of the boat boarded these three gentlemen on and did not even charge any fare. When these people sat in the boat, Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم took out his axe from his pouch and tore down the boat عـليـه الـسbefore throwing one of its planks in the ocean. Witnessing this scene, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس could not resist and asked the عـليـهfollowing question to Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم :عـليـه الـس


163

�ا ﴿ا ا�

يئ

ش

ت

جئ

د

ق

ها � ل

ل

ه

ا

�ق

تها لت�

رق

خ

﴾۷۱ا

‘Did you make a hole in the boat in order to drown its passengers? You have indeed done an evil thing’


Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم said, ‘Did I not tell you that you will عـليـه الـسnot be able to observe patience with me.’ Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم عـليـه الـسsought an apology and said, ‘I forgot not to question. Therefore, please do not take any notice over it and do not create difficulty in my work.’ Then these esteemed individuals advanced further and Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم س came across a child, who was the عـليـه الـonly son of his parents. Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـال معـليـه الـس strangled him, banged him on the ground and killed him. After witnessing this blood-filled terrifying scene, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس could عـليـهnot bear the patience and said to Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم الـس in a عـليـهfairly strict manner:

را ﴿

كا ن

يئ

ش

ت

جئ

د

ق

س � ل

ف

� ن

�

بغ

ة

�ي

سا ز

ف

ن

ت

تل

ق

﴾۷۴ا

‘Did you slay an innocent soul not in retribution for another? You have indeed done an extremely evil thing’


Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم gave the same reply to Sayyidunā Mūsā عـليـه الـسـالم Did I not tell you that you will not be able to observe‘ ,عـليـه الـسpatience with me at all.’ On this, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س ,said عـليـه الـ‘OK. If I ask you anything else after this, then do not stay with me. No doubt that the chance provided by you to me in this regard exists no more.’


164

After this, they all resumed their journey together. They reached a village and requested for some food from the villagers. But no one among the villagers invited these virtuous individuals for dinner. Then they both came across a damaged wall in the village; and Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم س repaired the wall by reciting the عـليـه الـIsm-e-A’ẓam. Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالمعـل س الـ يـه was already displeased with the bad manners of the people of the village, became angry, could not resist and said:

ت

و شئ ل

ت

ذ

�

�

يه ل

جرا ﴿ �ل

﴾۷۷ا

‘If you wished, you could have taken some wages for it!’


Upon hearing this, Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم س الـ said, ‘From now عـليـهonwards, there is a separation between me and you and the things that happened in front of you which you could not withhold patience with, I will explain you the hidden secrets within them. Listen, the boat that I tore away belonged to some poor people who led their lives from the income of this boat. In some distance ahead, there lived a tyrant king who would snatch the well furnished and good-conditioned boats and would leave the defective ones. So I intentionally took out one of its planks and made it defective, so that it may remain protected from the wrath of the tyrant king. The child who I killed his parents were very pious and virtuous people, but the child himself was an infidel by birth. His parents loved him immensely and used to fulfil his every desire. So I feared that this child might inflict his parents into infidelity. That’s why I killed him and saved his parents from infidelity. Now his parents will observe patience and Almighty Allah ل وج ز will bestow them with a daughter in ع


165

exchange who will get married to a prophet and will also give birth to a prophet who will guide the people. The secret behind repairing the damaged wall was that it was a property of two orphans, beneath which buried their hidden treasure. Their father was a pious and virtuous person. If this wall had collapsed now, the people of the village would have taken their treasure. That’s why your Rab wanted these two orphans to grow up and dig out their treasure. Thus I did not allow this wall to collapse. This is the grace of Almighty Allah وجل unto these children. O عزMūsā ـالم الـس Be ascertained and assured that whatever I did !عـليـهwas not from my own accord, but I did it with the order of Almighty Allah وجل ـالم After this Sayyidunā Mūsā ’.عز س returned عـليـه اـلto his country. (Madārik-il-Tanzīl, vol. 3, pp. 219-221, Part 15-16, Sūraĥ

Kaĥf, Mulakhkhaṣan)

Introduction of Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم س الـ Sayyidunā Khiḍr :عـليـهـالم is called as Abul ‘Abbās. His name is ‘Balyā’ and his father’s عـليـه الـسname is ‘Malkān’. Balyā is a word from the Suryānī language. Its translation in Arabic is ‘Ahmed’. His title is ‘Khiḍr’. This word can be articulated in three ways: Khaḍir, Khaḍr and Khiḍr; and the meaning of the word Khiḍr is ‘a green thing’. Wherever he would sit, green grass would grow due to his blessings, and due to this reason, people started calling him ‘Khiḍr’.

He belongs to a very honourable family lineage and his ancestors were kings. Some mystics have said that any Muslim who remembers his name, his father’s name and the name by which he is known by (his title), ش ـ�ـلآءا�ان وجل هل عز his end will be as a believer. (Ṣāwī, vol. 4,

pp. 1207, Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 65)

Khiḍr, a living friend of Allah: Some people have mentioned Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم الـس as a prophet but the majority of the عـليـه


166

Islamic scholars are of an opinion that he is a Walī (friend) of Allah وجل (Jalālaīn, pp. 249, Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 65) .عز

There is also a unanimous opinion of the majority of the scholars that he ـالم is still alive and will remain alive until the Day of عـليـه الـسJudgment, because he ـالم -has drunk the water of life [Āb-e عـليـه الـسḤayāt]. Numerous friends of Allah وجل ز stay gathered around عhim and attain blessings. In this context, a mystic saint, Sayyid Bakrī �ل اىل تع اهللا يهرمحة has written a eulogy about Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم :called ‘Dard-ul-Saḥr’, in the following words عـليـه الـس

ما� ج

ق نور

ل

لم ي

ی اال ا�

ا�

يف ارس

طاب

الم

ي س ازك

فاته

وقل ي

ك لم ي ق

ح

� و

ليه افع

ب كلما هب الص م�

‘I swear by Your Lord! Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم is alive and the عـليـه الـسone who believes that he is dead will only be the one who has not been able to see his enlightened beauty. So whenever the fragrant breeze may blow, may my Salam be unto him and may the blowing breeze convey my Salam with purity to him.’

Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم has also been privileged to physically عـليـه الـسsee the Most Dignified Prophet اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلم Therefore, he is .ص�also a companion (Ṣaḥābī) of the Holy Prophet وسلم واله �ليه تعاىل اهللا .ص�(Ṣāwī, vol. 3, pp. 1208; Part 15, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 65)

39. Żul-Qarnaīn and Yājūj Mājūj Żul-Qarnaīn’s name is Sikandar [Alexander] and he is the cousin of Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم ـالم Sayyidunā Khiḍr .عـليـه الـس had served عـليـه الـسhim as his minister and flag-bearer in forests. He is from the descendants of Sayyidunā Sām bin Nūḥ ـالم س and is the only son عـليـه اـلof an old woman. He embraced Islām on the hands of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم and remained in his blissful company for a long عـليـه الـس


167

time. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم also bequeathed him with some عـليـه الـسof his testaments. The true opinion is that he is not a prophet but was a devout and a righteous person who was blessed with the status of sainthood.

Why was he called Żul-Qarnaīn?: The Beloved Prophet وسلم واله يه �ل عاىل ت اهللا has narrated that he became famous with the ص�title of Żul-Qarnaīn (the one with two horns) because he did the journey of the two horns of the world meaning, the two corners of the world. Some are of the opinion that during his age, two qaran passed and one qaran is of a hundred years. Some have said that he had two locks (Zulfayn) so he is known as Żul-Qarnaīn and another opinion is that there were two horns on his crown. Some are of the opinion that there was a bulging on the both sides of his head which looked like horns, while some have explained the reason that his parents were very noble and generous people. Therefore, people started calling him Żul-Qarnaīn. (لم

ا� اع

تع

اهللا

Madārik-il-Tanzīl, vol. 3, pp. 222; Part 16, Sūraĥ) (و

Kaĥf, Verse 83)

Almighty Allah وجل blessed him with the kingship of the whole عزworld. There have been four such kings in the world who have had the kingship of the entire world. Two among them were believers and two were non-believers. Among the believers were Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس and Żul-Qarnaīn; whilst among عـليـهthe non-believers were Bakht Naṣr and Namrūd. A fifth king who will rule the entire world will be from this Ummaĥ and his blessed name is Imām Maĥdī ع تعاىل اهللا نه ـر� . (Ṣāwī, vol. 3, pp. 1216, Part 16, Sūraĥ Kaĥf,

Verse 83)

Three journeys of Żul-Qarnaīn: In the Holy Quran, three journeys of Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn have been mentioned which


168

are in Sūraĥ Kaĥf. Let us narrate these three journeys from the Holy Quran that are very strange as well as admonitory.

First journey: Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn had read in old scriptures that a person from the progeny of Sām bin Nūḥ ـالم will drink عـليـه الـسwater from the spring of eternity (Āb-e-Ḥayāt) and death will never come to him. For this very reason, Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn travelled towards the west along with Sayyidunā Khiḍr ـالم عـليـه الـسwho reached the spring of eternity and drank its water, but it was not in the destiny of Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn and he remained deprived of drinking the water. During this journey towards the west, after covering the whole land where any sort of inhabitation existed, he reached such a place where at the time of sunset; it seemed as if the sun was drowning in a black spring, just as those who travel by sea observe the sun drowning into the black water. There he met people who were wearing the animal hides. There was no other dress over their bodies other than that and they had nothing to eat except for the dead animals of the river. These people were called ‘Nāsik’. Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn saw that they had huge armies and these people were very powerful and warriors. Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn surrounded them with his army and made them helpless. Therefore, some among them were honoured with embracing the true faith while others were slain at the hands of the army.

Second journey: Then Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn travelled towards the east. When he reached the place where the sun rises from, he came across such people who had no houses or buildings. Their condition was such that at the time of sunrise, they would hide themselves in the caves and after the sunset, they would come out of the caves and engage in searching for their livelihood. These people were known as ‘Mansik’. Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn also


169

fought a war against these people. Those who embraced the true faith were dealt with great compassion and those who remained stubborn on their infidelity were killed.

Third journey: After this, Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn travelled north and reached ‘Sudan’ (in the midst of two mountains). The inhabitants of this area spoke a very strange language. They could hardly communicate with them through gestures and sign language. These people complained to Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn about tyrannies of the Yājūj Mājūj and sought assistance from him.

Yājūj Mājūj (Gog Magog): This was a rebellious group among the progeny of Yāfš bin Nūḥ ـالم الـس and these people are very عـليـهhuge in number. They are ferociously aggressive, brutal and wild and lived just like animals. During the spring season, these people would come out of their caves, eat away all the crops and vegetables and carry away the dry articles with them. They would eat away humans, wild animals and even snakes, scorpions, chameleons and every small or big animal.

Alexandrian wall (Sad-e-Sikandarī): People requested Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn to save them from the mischief and tyrannies of Yājūj Mājūj (Gog and Magog) and they also proposed to give some riches in exchange for this. But Sayyidunā Żul-Qarnaīn told them, ‘I do not need your wealth. Almighty Allah ل وج ز عhas bestowed me with everything. Just help me by providing physical assistance.’ Therefore, he asked for a foundation to be dug in the middle of the two mountains. When water emerged out, rocks were placed firmly with the help of molten copper; then iron planks were firmly placed over and under those rocks and the interior surface was filled with coal and wood. Then it


170

was all lit with fire. This way, the wall was erected up to the height of the mountains and no space was left between the two mountains. Then melted copper was poured into the wall. All this combined together and made a firm and a very strong wall. (Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, pp 545-547; Part 16, Sūraĥ Kaĥf, Verse 86-98)

In the Sūraĥ Kahf of the Holy Quran, from مس

�ب الش م�

غ

ا بل

� اذ

to ح�

اي��ا�ن

�

م is the mention of the first journey, then from من ا

سبيا ث

ب�

ت

ا

to �

�

سبيا is the mention of the second journey and from اخ

ب�

ت

م ا

ث

to ان و�

د

وع

� حق

ار� is the mention of the third journey.

When will Sad-e-Sikandarī break?: It has been stated in a Ḥadīš that Yājūj Mājūj daily break this wall and due to the continuous hard work, when they reach close to breaking it, then someone among them says that leave it today, we will break the remaining part tomorrow. When these people arrive on the next day, then by the command of Almighty Allah وجل the wall becomes even ,عزstronger than before. When the time of the breakage of this wall will come, someone among them will say ش ـ�ـلآءا�ان وجل هل عز we will break the remaining part tomorrow. Due to the blessings and as a reward of them saying the word ش ـ�ـلآءا�ان عزوجل هل , the wall will break down the next day. This will be the time when the Day of Judgment will be close. After the breakage of the wall, Gog and Magog will rush out and cause torment, upheaval, bloodshed and devastation everywhere. They will gulp down the water of springs and ponds, eat away trees and animals and will spread out everywhere on the earth. However, they will be unable to enter in three cities; Makkaĥ-tul-Mukarramaĥ, Madīnaĥ-tul-Munawwaraĥ and Bayt-ul-Muqaddas. Then by the supplication of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ worms will grow in their necks and they all will ,عـليـهperish. It has been narrated in the Holy Quran:


171

�ن ﴿

س��

ب ي

حد

لن � � م

جوج و �

جوج و ما

يا

��ت

ا ف

� اذ

�﴾۹۶ح�

‘Till the time when Yājūj and Mājūj are released, and they will be flowing down from every height’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 17, Sūraĥ Ambīyā, Verse 96)

40. Tree of Maryam and stream of Jibrāīl Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم اهللا تعاىل عنها was born to Sayyidatunā Maryam عـليـه الـس ر�without a father. When the time of birth arrived, Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا تعاىل عنها went far from people and sat isolated beneath ر�a dry date palm-tree. Under the very same tree, Sayyidunā Īsā ـالم الـس ـال was born. As Sayyidunā Īsā عـليـه الـس معـليـه was born from an unmarried mother, Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا تعاىل عنها was therefore ر�in a state of great worry and much grief and was not returning to her village due to the fear of being sniped by the people. She was sitting in such a deserted place under a dry date palm-tree where there was not anything to drink or eat. Suddenly, Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس descended and made a stream of water flow by casting عـليـهhis heel on the earth. All of a sudden, the dry date palm-tree rejuvenated and yielded fruit. Then Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس عـليـهspoke to Sayyidatunā Maryam in the following manner:

ا ﴿�تك ��ي

ك �

رب

جعل

د�ز�� ق

� �

�

ا

�تها

�ها من �

ناد

يك ﴾۲۴ف

ال

ي ز

و ه

ع ا

��ذ ا ﴿

با جني

يك رط �ل

سقط

ة �

ل

�

ينا � ﴾۲۵ل�

ي ع ر

�� و ق

�� و ا�

�

ف

(The angel) therefore called her from below her, ‘Do not grieve - your Rab has made a river flow below you.’ ‘And shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards you - ripe fresh dates will fall upon you.’ (This was a miracle - the date palm was dry and it was winter season.) ‘Therefore eat and drink and appease your eyes. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 16, Sūraĥ Maryam, Verse 24-26)


172

A dry tree’s yielding of fruit and the sudden emergence of a stream are undoubtedly the marvels of Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا تعاىل عنها .ر�

Moral lesson In the previous pages, you have read that when Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا تعاىل عنها was a young girl and used to pray in the arch of ر�Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, she used to receive unseasonal fruits without any effort. Whereas after the birth of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ ـليـه ,عno doubt she did receive ripened dates, but it was commanded by Almighty Allah وجل to shake the roots of the tree. Then you عزwill obtain the dates.

The lesson we learn here is that until a person is without children, he or she is blessed with provisions even without any efforts and manages to eat and drink from anywhere. But once a person has children, it becomes compulsory upon him to work hard and earn a livelihood. This is evident from Sayyidatunā Maryam اهللا تعاىل عنها ر� that until she was without children, she was blessed with the provision of fruits in her arch of worship. However, when her child Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم الـس was born, then it was commanded عـليـهby Almighty Allah ل وج ز to shake the date palm-tree and make عsome effort and after this, you will be provided with dates.

41. First speech of Sayyidunā Īsā When Sayyidatunā Maryam عنها عاىل ت اهللا returned to her village in ر�Banī Isrāīl with Sayyidunā Īsā ـالم الـس in her lap, people falsely عـليـهaccused her of fornication and they started saying; ‘O Maryam! You have committed a very shameful act. Although there was not any immorality within your parents and neither was your mother a fornicator. So how have you given a birth to a child without a husband?’ When the people crossed the limits of badmouthing


173

her, Sayyidatunā Maryam عنها عاىل ت اهللا remained silent but asked ر�people to interrogate everything from the child. The people said, ‘What, why and how can we converse with this child? He is still a baby in the cradle’. Upon hearing these comments from people, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س started his speech which has been related عـليـه الـby Allah وجل ز :in the Holy Quran in the following way ع

�ت

� � ا

ا��

بد

� ع

ا�

ال

ق ا ﴿

بي

�� ن

ب و جعل

ين ﴾۳۰� ا��ت

ا ا

��

�� م�

جعل

و

� ا ﴿

حي

وة ما دمت

��ة و ا��

�

وص�� بالص

� و ا

نت

�� ۳۱ما �

ا بوالد

بر

﴾و

ا ﴿

قي

ارا ش

�� جب�عل

م �

� يو ﴾۳۲و ل

م ��

ل

و يوم و الس

موت

و يوم ا

ت

م ولد

ا ﴿

حي

بعث ﴾۳۳ا

The child proclaimed, ‘I am Allah’s bondman; He has given me the Book and made me a Herald of the Hidden (a Prophet).’ ‘And He has made me blessed wherever I be; and ordained upon me prayer and charity, as long as I live.’ ‘And has made me good to my mother and not made me forceful, ill-fated.’ ‘And peace is upon me the day I was born, and on the day I shall taste death, and on the day I will be raised alive.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 16, Sūraĥ Maryam, Verse 30-33)

Moral lesson 1. This is a miracle of Sayyidunā Īsā ـالم الـس that just after عـليـه

his birth, he delivered such a comprehensive speech. In this speech, first of all, he ـالم declared himself a bondsman عـليـه الـسof Allah وجل so that no one calls him god or the son of عزgod as people were going to falsely accuse him in the years to come. And this false accusation was in fact an accusation against Almighty Allah وجل Therefore, it was the natural .عز


174

tendency for the rank of his prophethood to firstly dismiss the false accusation that was going to be made on Almighty Allah وجل .before dismissing the accusation on his mother عزAlmighty Allah وجل .is Most Majestic and Magnificent عزWhomsoever He blesses with prophethood, certainly their birth is always clean, pure and sanctified and the majestic signs of their prophethood are made well apparent since their childhood.

2. In this part of Sūraĥ Maryam, Almighty Allah وجل عز has comprehensively mentioned the Mīlād [birth] of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم .and at the end, there is the mention of Salām عـليـه الـسFrom this, we come to know that celebrating the birth of the Holy Prophet اهللا تعاىل �ليه واله وسلمص� and reciting Ṣalat-o-Salām at the end is the sacred practice [Sunnaĥ] of Almighty Allah ل وج ز and this very reverend act is of the Aĥl-us-Sunnaĥ عwal-Jamā’aĥ.

3. We have also come to know from the above-mentioned speech of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم that Ṣalāĥ, Zakāĥ and kind عـليـه الـسconduct towards parents are such obligations that were also obligatory in the Sharī’aĥ of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ـالم س الـ .عـليـه

42. Sayyidunā Idrīs ي الم ه �ل س ال His name is ‘Akhnukh’ and he is the grandfather of Sayyidunā Nūḥ’s father. He is the first Prophet after Sayyidunā Ādam ـالم .عـليـه الـسHis father is Sayyidunā Shīsh bin Ādam ـالم ـليـه الـس He is the first .عperson ever to write with a pen. Sewing clothes and wearing sewed clothes also started by him as prior to this, people would wear animal hides. He ـالم س ,is also the first one in making weapons عـليـه الـweighing scales, looking in to the knowledge of astronomy and


175

mathematics. All these things were initiated by him. Almighty Allah وجل ز ـالم descended thirty scriptures unto him and he ع س الـ عـليـه would frequently give lessons [Dars] from the books of Allah وجل .عزFor this reason, he was known by the title of ‘Idrīs’. It became so renowned that many people are unaware of his real name. The Holy Quran has also mentioned his name as ‘Idrīs’.

Almighty Allah ل وج has lifted him up to the skies. It has been عزmentioned in Bukhārī and Muslim that on Shab-e- Mi’rāj, the Noble Prophet وسلم واله �ليه تعاىل اهللا ـالم saw Sayyidunā Idrīs ص� الـس on عـليـهthe fourth sky. It has been stated by Sayyidunā Ka’ab al-Aḥbār عنه تعاىل اهللا ـالم and others, that once Sayyidunā Idrīs ر� الـس said to عـليـهthe Angel of Death, ‘I want to taste death to see how it is? Take away my soul and show me.’ The Angel of Death followed his command and took away his soul. Instantly, he returned it back to him and Sayyidunā Idrīs ـالم revived back to life. Then عـليـه الـسhe said, ‘Show me the Hell so the fear of Allah وجل increases in عزme.’ Therefore, this command was also fulfilled. After seeing Hell, he asked the guard of Hell, ‘Open the gate, I wish to pass through it.’ Therefore, the command was fulfilled and he passed over it. He asked the Angel of Death to show him the Paradise. So he took him to the Paradise. After getting there, the gates opened and he entered into the Paradise. After waiting for some time, the Angel of Death asked him to come back. But he replied, ‘I will not go anywhere from here. Almighty Allah ل وج ز عhas said موت

س ذا�قة ال

and (i.e. every soul must taste death) كل نف

I have already tasted death and Almighty Allah وجل ز has also عsaid that ها

ارد

كم اال و

ن ان م

i.e. and there is none among you who) و

shall not pass over Hell) and I have passed over it. Now I have reached Paradise and about those who will reach Paradise, Almighty Allah وج ل عز has said

جني

ر

ها بمخ

ا هم من

م

i.e. those who will) و


176

enter Paradise will not be expelled from it). So now why are you asking me to leave from the Paradise? Almighty Allah وجل sent عزa divine revelation to the Angel of Death that ‘Whatever Sayyidunā Idrīs ـالم س الـ has done; he has done it with my عـليـهpermission and has entered the Paradise with my permission. Therefore, leave him. He will live in Paradise.’ Therefore, Sayyidunā Idrīs ـالم الـس .is alive above the skies in the Paradise عـليـه(Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, pp. 556-557; Part 16, Sūraĥ-e-Maryam, verse 56-57)

There is a brief and aesthetic description of Sayyidunā Idrīs ـالم الـس being raised on the skies and of the blessings bestowed عـليـهupon him is mentioned in the Holy Quran, Sura-e-Maryam:

� ا ﴿

بيا ن

يق

ان صد

�

ه

ب ادر�س � ان

ر �� ا��ت

�

ا ﴾۵۶و اذ

ان

م�

ه

عن

رف

و

ا ﴿

﴾۵۷�لية ا

ي ر� من ذ

ب�

ن الن ي�� م

� �ل

عم ا��

ن

ذين ا

ال

�ك

�ول

دم �ا

‘And remember Idrīs in the Book; he was indeed very truthful, a Prophet. And we lifted him to a high position. (Living with soul & body in heaven, after his death) It is these upon whom Allah has bestowed favour among the Prophets, from the descendants of Ādam.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 16, Sūraĥ Maryam, Verse 56-58)

Moral lesson The admonitory lesson that we get from the anecdote of Sayyidunā Idrīs ـالم وجل is that Almighty Allah عـليـه الـس has bestowed عزHis Prophets and Messengers with enormous blessings, graces and bounties. Therefore, it is compulsory and necessary for every Muslim that he should honour, give reverence and be respectful towards all Prophets and Messengers, as it is a necessity and a part of our faith and one shall attain blessings through their


177

excessive remembrance. The frequent mention of these sacred Prophets and Messengers of Allah وجل ز in beautiful words in عthe blessed verses of the Holy Quran and in Ḥadīš is the evidence that showing reverence to them and the remembrance of these sacred people is a source of blessings, mercy and goodness.

لم)ا� اع

تع

اهللا

(و

43. From river waves to mother’s lap The astronomers informed Pharaoh that there will be the birth of such a child from Banī Isrāīl that will be a cause of destruction of your kingdom. Therefore, Pharaoh ordered his army to kill every newborn baby boy in Banī Isrāīl. Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم عـليـه الـسwas born in this age of distress and agony. His mother put her son in a box and after tightly securing it, put it in the River Nile due to the fear of Pharaoh. A stream used to flow from the river and passed beneath the palace of Pharaoh, and that box flowed and went from the river into that stream. Coincidently, Pharaoh and his wife ‘Āsīaĥ’ were sitting in their palace viewing the stream. When they saw the box, they ordered the servants to take it out and bring it in the palace. When the box was opened, an exceptionally beautiful child was discovered in it, whose face was glistening with beauty and elegance, as well as the gleaming charms of Prophethood. Pharaoh and Āsīaĥ dearly loved the child and Āsīaĥ said to Pharaoh:

�ه �

ت�ق

� ت

� �

ك

� و ل

� �

�

ع

ت ر

ق

ا

د ول

ه

�ذ

�

و ن

ا

عنا

نف

ن ي� ا ��

�ون ﴿ ع

�

� �ش

� �

�

﴾۹و

‘This child is the comfort of my eyes and yours; do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us’ [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 20, Sūraĥ Qaṣaṣ, Verse 9)


178

This whole incident has been mentioned in the Glorious Quran, Sūraĥ Ṭaĥa in the following way:

When We inspired in your mother’s heart whatever was to be inspired that, ‘Put him into a chest and cast it into the river, so the river shall deposit it on to a shore - therefore one who is an enemy to Me and you, shall pick him up’; and I bestowed upon you love from Myself; and for you to be brought up in My sight. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)]

As Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس was still an infant, a search began عـليـهfor a woman who could suckle him, but he would not take the milk from anyone. On the other side, the mother of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم was extremely worried thinking where and under عـليـه الـسwhat state my baby would be in. In this state of depression, she sent the sister of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم Maryam to the palace ,عـليـه الـسof Pharaoh in the pursuit of information. When Maryam witnessed that the child is not taking milk from any woman, she said to Pharaoh that I will bring a woman. Perhaps he will start taking the milk from her. Therefore, Maryam brought the mother of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم to the palace of Pharaoh. When she عـليـه الـسheld Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس ,to her chest with extreme love عـليـهaffection and devotion and tried to feed him, he started taking the milk. This way, the mother of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم found عـليـه الـسher lost beloved son. This anecdote has been mentioned in Sūraĥ Qaṣaṣ of the Holy Quran in the following way:

تبدي به ل

ادت

ا � ان �

ر�

م مو�� ف

اد ا

ؤ

ف

ب�

ص

� و ا

نا ��

بط

ن ر

ا

�

و �

ل

﴿ ��ن�

مؤ

�ن من ال

بها لت�

ل

به عن ﴾۱۰ق

ب��ت

يه � ف ص

ته ق

خ

��

ت

ال

و ق

�ون ﴿�

� �ش

� �

�

﴾۱۱جنب و

ل

ه

ت

ال

ق

ف

بل

من ق

��اض�

يه ال

�نا �ل و حر


179

� د�

صحون ﴿ا

� ن

� �

م و �

��

ه

�ن

�

ف

ك

ل بيت ي

ه� ا

�� ﴾۱۲م ��

� ا�

ه

ن

ردد

ف

��

�

�

ا

�ن

�

و

� حق

ا��

د

وع

ن

م ا

�زن و لتعل

� �

ينها و �

ر ع

ق

� ت

ه � م

ا

مون ﴿� يعل

�٪۱۳﴾

‘And in the morning, the heart of Mūsā’s mother became impatient; and she would have almost certainly given away his secret had We not strengthened her heart, so that she may have faith in our promise. And she said to his sister, ‘Go after him’ - she therefore observed him from far, and they were not aware. And We had already forbidden suckle-nurses for him, so she said, ‘Shall I show you a household that will nurse this child of yours, and they are his well-wishers?’ So We returned him to his mother in order to soothe her eyes and not grieve, and to know that Allah’s promise is true – but most people do not know.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 20, Sūraĥ Qaṣaṣ, Verse 10-13)

Name of Sayyidunā Mūsā’s mother: The name of the mother of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم عـليـه الـس is ‘Yuḥānaz’, his father’s name is ‘Imrān’ and his sister’s name is ‘Maryam’. But keep in mind that this Maryam is not the same Maryam as the mother of Sayyidunā ‘Isa ـالم الـس ـالم The mother of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā .عـليـه الـس Maryam’ was‘ ,عـليـهborn many centuries after the sister of Sayyidunā Musa ـالم .عـليـه الـس

Moral lesson 1. The moral lesson that we learn from this anecdote is that

whenever the grace of Almighty Allah ل وج ز descends, He عل وج ز gets such tasks accomplished by enemies that even عfriends cannot accomplish. You can see that Pharaoh was the biggest enemy of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس but he was ,عـليـهbrought up in the very house of Pharaoh.


180

2. We have also come to know that whenever Almighty Allah ل وج ز .protects someone; no one can destroy or harm him عJust ponder over how Almighty Allah وجل ,made a safe عزsound and healthy retrieval of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس to عـليـهhis mother’s lap.

44. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s demolishing of idols In the dispute over idol worshiping, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم عـليـه الـسfirstly proved the truth by argumentation to his people. But the people did not accept the truth. Instead, they said, ‘Tomorrow is our day of Eid and a huge carnival of ours will be held. Come there and witness the joy and pleasure in our religion.’

It was a custom of those people that they would hold an annual carnival. The people would gather in a jungle and would waste the whole day in useless amusements and dissipation. Then in the evening, they would go to temples and worship their idols and would present gifts, confectionary and exquisite foods as a holy feast. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س went towards the carnival on عـليـه الـthe invitation of the people for some distance, but came back home with an excuse of sickness. The people went to the carnival. Then all those who did not participate in the carnival, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم ـليـه الـس :told them in clear words ع

برين ﴿

وا مدول

ن ت

ا

م بعد

نامك

ص

ا

ن

�يد

�

� �

ا��

﴾۵۷و ت

‘And, by oath of Allah, I shall seek to harm your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 17, Sūraĥ Anbiyā, Verse 57)

Subsequently after this, he took an axe and made his way to the temple. He saw many small and big idols and a huge idol was


181

placed in front of the door. After seeing these man-made gods, he became furious due to being stirred with the passion of the oneness of Almighty and broke those idols into pieces with his axe. He spared the biggest idol, placed the axe over its shoulder and left the temple. When the people returned from the carnival, they reached the temple to worship their idols and to eat the feast. But they were stunned to see their gods broken into pieces. All of them suddenly confounded and started shouting.

�لم�

من الظ

ل

ه

ان

تنا

��

ا با

ذ

ه

عل

﴾۵۹﴿من ف

‘Who has done this to our Gods? He is indeed cruel!’


Some people said that they have heard a young man whose name is ‘Ibrāĥīm’ saying bad words against these idols. It was ordered to bring the young man in front of the people. They may testify that he was the one who demolished the idols. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس was summoned and the people asked: ‘O عـليـهIbrāĥīm! Are you the one who treated our gods like this?’ In reply, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم said, ‘The biggest idol would عـليـه الـسhave done it because the axe is on its shoulder. Alternatively, why do you not inquire from your small demolished gods that who broke them into pieces? If these idols can speak, ask them and they themselves will tell you who broke them.’ The people lowered their heads and said, ‘O Ibrāĥīm! What and how can we ask these gods? You are well aware that these idols cannot speak.’ After hearing this, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم said out of عـليـه الـسfury and in an emotional outburst:


182

م ﴿�

�

� ي�

�

ا و

يئ

م ش

عك

� ينف

� ما �

ون من دون ا��

تعبد

ف

ا

ال

م ﴾۶۶ق

�

�

ف ا

�ن ﴿

عق�� ت

�

ف

� � ا

ون من دون ا��

عبد

﴾۶۷و لما ت

He said, ‘What! You worship, instead of Allah, one that neither benefits you nor harms you?’ ‘Disgrace be upon you and all the idols whom you worship instead of Allah; so do you not have sense?’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 17, Sūraĥ Anbiyā, Verse 66-67)

After hearing this truthful exclamation of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم س the people did not give any reply. Instead, they started ,عـليـه الـwailing and calling other idolaters;

﴿ �عل�

� ف

ن�

م ان ك

تك

��

ا ا

��و

وه و ان

ق ﴾۶۸حر

‘Burn him and help your gods, if you want to’


Therefore, the tyrants now ignited a huge fire and the flames of this fire were so high that not even a single bird was able to fly over it. Then they unclothed him and threw him into the fire by means of a catapult, and they assumed in their minds that Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم would have been burnt and turned to ashes. But Almighty عـليـه الـسAllah وجل :ordered the fire عز

نا ينار ل

ق � ابره�� ﴿

�ما ��

سل

و�� بردا و

�۶۹﴾

‘O fire, become cool and peaceful upon Ibrāĥīm’


Therefore, the outcome for this has been described by the Holy Quran in its wrathful manner:


183

��ين ﴿

خ�

� ا�

�

ن

�عل

ا �

يد

رادوا به ك

﴾۷۰و ا

And they wished to cause him harm, so We made them the greatest of losers


Thus the fire extinguished and Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس عـليـهescaped absolutely safe and alive. The tyrants and the persecutors were stunned and humiliated to see this spectacle.

Reliance of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم on Allah : It is عـليـه الـسnarrated that when Nimrod threw Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم الـس عـليـهinto the blazing fire in front of a huge swarm of his people, all the creation of the earth and skies started crying and supplicating in the court of Almighty Allah وجل O Rab! Your Khalīl is being‘ :عزput into fire and there is none except him on the earth to proclaim Your oneness and who is devoted to You. Therefore, give us the permission so we may render our support and assistance to him.’ Almighty Allah وجل replied, ‘Ibrāĥīm is My Khalīl and I عزam his Creator. If Ibrāĥīm calls all of you for support, then you all have My permission to help him. But if he does not seek help from anyone except Me, then all of you listen that I am his Friend, Helper and Protector. Thus leave his matter unto Me.’ After this, the angel of water came to Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم عـليـه الـس and said, ‘If you say, I can extinguish the fire by showering water over it.’ Then came the angel of wind and presented himself and said, ‘If you order, I can blow the fire away with a powerful hurricane.’ Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم ,said to both these angels عـليـه الـس‘I am not in need of you people. My Allah وجل is Sufficient for عزme and He is my only Healer. He will help me whenever and however He wishes.’ (Ṣāwī, vol. 4, pp. 1307, Part 17, Sūraĥ Anbiyā, Verse 68)


184

Which supplication did he invoke before being thrown into fire?: In one of the narrations, it has also been mentioned that when the infidels threw him into the fire, at that time he invoked the following supplication: ك ال شريك لك

مل

لك ال

د و

م

ح

انك لك ال

بح

س

ت

اال ان

ال ا�

and when he was thrown into the flames of the fire, Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم الـس وجل arrived and said: ‘O Khalīl of Allah عـليـه do you ,عزhave any need?’ He replied, ‘I have no need from you,’ then Sayyidunā Jibrāīl ـالم س said, ‘Seek help from Almighty Allah عـليـه الـل وج ز ـالم for your need.’ Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ع الـس replied, ‘My عـليـهAllah وجل is Well-Aware of my condition. Therefore, I do not عزneed to ask Him.’ At that time, the blessed age of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm ـالم .was either sixteen or twenty years عـليـه الـس

How long did he remain in the fire for?: There are three reports about how long he remained in the fire for;

1. Some annotators are of the opinion that he remained in the blazing flames of the fire for seven days.

2. Some have written that he remained for forty days.

3. Some annotators are with the opinion that he remained in

the fire for fifty days. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

(Ṣāwī, vol. 4, pp. 1307; Part 17, Sūraĥ Anbiyā, Verse 68)

Moral lesson From this anecdote, there is a condolence for those people who stand firm like mountains and show perseverance in their determination against the evil powers.

Āj bī ĥo jo Ibrāĥīm kā Īmān paīdā

Āg kar saktī ĥay andāz gulistān paīdā


185

The similar enthusiasm like Ibrāĥīm if may revive today

The blazing fire can turn into flowering garden even today

45. Trial of Sayyidunā Ayyūb ي الم ه �ل س ال

Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم is from the descendants of Sayyidunā عـليـه الـسIsḥāq ـالم الـس and his mother is from the family of Sayyidunā عـليـهLūṭ ـالم الـس وجل Almighty Allah .عـليـه blessed him with a diverse عزrange of blessings including facial beauty, excess of wealth and children, uncountable number of cattle, fields and gardens. These all were under his possession. When Almighty Allah وجل put عزhim under trial and tribulation, his house collapsed and all of his sons became trapped underneath and died. All of the animals that included hundreds of camels and thousands of goats, died. All of the fields and gardens were also ruined. At the end, nothing was left in his possession. Whenever he was informed about this ruin and destruction of all these possessions, he would glorify Allah وجل and extended gratitude by saying, ‘What was mine and عزwhat is mine, the One Whose it was has taken it. For the duration that He bestowed me with it, it was within my possession and He has taken it back when He wished. I am always content in whatever pleases Him.’ After this, he fell sick and huge blisters appeared on his blessed body. Under this state, everyone left him, except for his only wife whose name was ‘Raḥmat bint Afrāim’, who was the granddaughter of Sayyidunā Yūsuf ـالم .عـليـه الـسShe used to serve Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم He remained in this .عـليـه الـسvery state for many years. He remained in severe agony and pain due to the sore blisters and boils.

Benefit: A widespread misconception among people is that Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم الـس اذ اهللا) was عـليـه

ع

.suffering from leprosy (م

Hence, some unauthentic books have also recorded fabricated


186

stories about his leprosy. But remember that these tales are completely incorrect and Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم or any other عـليـه الـسProphet has never been afflicted with the diseases of leprosy or ulcer. In this context, there is a unanimous opinion that it is mandatory that Prophets stay protected from all those diseases that are publically loathsome and detested. This is because it is the primary duty of the Prophets to preach the moral guidance. So it is obvious that when people will detest and go afar from them due to their illnesses, then how will the obligatory noble task of preaching be executed? Conclusively, Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم عـليـه الـسnever at all suffered from leprosy or ulcer but only mere blisters, boils and pimples popped up on his blessed body, due to which he suffered the difficulty and pain for many years but he endured it with great patience and gratefulness. Then with the commandment of Allah وجل :he invoked in the following way ,عز

رحم ا

ت

ن

و ا

�

�� ال�

� مس

�

�ا ﴿ �

حم� ﴾۸۳ا��

‘Hardship has afflicted me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who have mercy’


When Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم الـس remained steadfast in the trial عـليـهof Almighty Allah ل ج و ز and was successful in his test, his عsupplication was accepted. The Most Gracious and Merciful Allah وجل ـالم ordered him, ‘O Ayyūb عز Stamp your foot on !عـليـه الـسthe ground.’ When he struck his foot on the ground, immediately a spring of water gushed forth. It was commanded by Almighty Allah وجل ـالم to Sayyidunā Ayyūb عز .to bathe from this water عـليـه الـسTherefore, he bathed and all the diseases of his body were healed. He then walked forty steps and the command to stamp the foot on the ground was given again. As soon as he stamped his foot on the ground, another spring of water bubbled up and its water


187

was very cold, sweet and exceptionally delicious. When Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم الـس drank this water, his inner self was enlightened عـليـهwith the divine light and he attained an excellent health and esteemed spirituality. Almighty Allah وجل revived all his children عزback to life, blessed his wife with youth again and they had numerous children. After that, he was also granted with his previously ruined riches and cattle, provisions and resources. In fact, he was bestowed with a lot more riches and wealth than what he possessed before.

One day, during the days of his illness, Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم عـليـه الـس called his wife and she came with a great delay, which enraged him. He swore an oath to strike her with a hundred whips. Almighty Allah وجل ـالم said ‘oh Ayyūb عز الـس strike your wife ,عـليـهonce with a grass-made broom and through this, your oath will be fulfilled’. Therefore, Allah وجل has mentioned this anecdote عزin the Holy Quran in the following way:

�اب ﴿

�

بارد و

سل�

ا مغ

ذ

� ه

برجلك

ض

ر�

� و ﴾۴۲ا

�

ل

� و مث

�

ه

ا

�

وهبنا �

باب ﴿ل

�

و�� ا�

ري ��

ا و ذك

ن �

� رحمة

ع�

﴾۴۳م

�ب

ا�

ا ف

ث

ضغ

بيدك

ذ

و خ

اب ﴿

و ا

ه

� ان

عبد

صابرا � نعم ال

ه

ن

ا وجد

� ان

�نث

� �

﴾۴۴به و �

We said to him, ‘Strike the earth with your foot; this cool spring is for bathing and drinking.’ (A spring gushed forth when he struck the earth – this was a miracle.) And We bestowed his household to him and one more similar to it – as a mercy from Us, and as a remembrance for the people of intellect. And We said, ‘Take a broom in your hand and strike her with it, and do not break your vow’; we indeed found him patiently enduring; what an excellent bondman! He is indeed most inclined.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 23, Sūraĥ Ṣuad, Verse 42-44)


188

In conclusion, Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم was thoroughly successful عـليـه الـسin this test. Almighty Allah وجل ز blessed him with all types of عHis bounties in every way and the Holy Quran gave an address of acclamation for Sayyidunā Ayyūb ـالم ـليـه الـس and crowned his عblessed head with the crown of eminence by presenting him with the unparalleled title of ‘Awwāb’.

Moral lesson The moral lesson we get from Sayyidunā Ayyūb’s anecdote of trials is that there are trials from Allah وجل even for the chosen عزdevout bondsmen of Allah وجل and when they are successful in عزtheir trials and succeed in their tribulations, then as a reward, Almighty Allah وجل dignifies their grandeur to such an extent عزthat is beyond one’s imagination. We also get another moral lesson from this anecdote that the fruits of reward that are yielded by practicing patience and being grateful to the will of Allah وجل عزduring the time of tribulations are always extraordinary sweet and enjoying. (

لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

46. Sayyidunā Sulaymān ي الم ه �ل س ال and an ant Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس is the son of Sayyidunā Dāwūd عـليـهـالم He was a successor of his sacred father. Almighty Allah .عـليـه الـسوجل bestowed him with the blessings of the Prophethood and عزthe kingship of the whole world and he remained on the throne for a period of forty years. He ruled over humans, jinns, devils, birds, beasts, insects and everything and everyone. He ـالم الـس عـليـهwas bestowed with the linguistic knowledge of all of them. There were also innovative industries introduced during his reign. Therefore, it has been mentioned in the Holy Quran:


189

يمن داود و سل

وتينا و ورث

� و ا

�

الط

منا �نطق

اس �ل

ها الن

ي ي�ا

ال

ق

﴿ �مب�

ال

ل

ض

ف

و ال

�

ا �

ذ

ه

�ء � ان

�

ل

﴾۱۶من �

And Sulaymān became Dāwūd’s heir; and he said, ‘O people, we have indeed been taught the language of birds, and have been given from all things; this surely is a manifest favour’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 27, Sūraĥ Namal, Verse 16)

Likewise, it has been mentioned at another place in the Glorious Quran:

ر

�ر و

ها ش

و

د

يمن ا��ي� غر �و لسل

قط

� ال

�

� ع

نا �

سل

�ر � و ا

واحها ش

هذق

ا ن

�ن

�

� عن ا

�ن�

زغ

ن ربه � و من ييه باذ

� يد

ب�

عمل

�ن من ي

و من ا�

﴿ �ع�

اب الس

ذ

�اريب ﴾۱۲من ع

آء من �

� ما �ش

�ن �

ان يعم�

و جف

ماثيل

و ت

سيت �

ور ر

د�واب و ق

ا�

�

And We gave the wind in Sulaymān’s control – its morning journey equal to a month’s course and the evening journey equal to a month’s course; and We sprung a stream of molten copper for him; and from the jinns, who worked before him by the command of his Rab; and those among them who turned away from Our command - We shall make them taste the punishment of the blazing fire. They made for him whatever he wished - synagogues and statues, basins like ponds, and large pots built into the ground.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 22, Sūraĥ Sabā, Verse 12-13)

It has been narrated that once Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس عـليـهwas passing with all of his armies that consisted of humans as


190

well as supernatural forces from the valley of ‘Naml’ in Ṭāif or Syria where ants exist in a huge number. The queen of the ants that was a female as well as lame warned all ants and said: O ants! All of you go in your holes otherwise Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم and his army will unknowingly crush you under their عـليـه الـسfeet. Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس heard this speech from a عـليـهdistance of three miles and smiled over it. Therefore, Almighty Allah وجل :said in the Holy Quran عز

� ح م � �

�ا مسكنك

�

ادخ

مل

ها الن

يا

ي�

ةمل

ن

ت

ال

مل � ق

� واد الن

وا ��

ت

ا

ا

� اذ

��

�ون ﴿�

� �ش

� �

� و �

يمن و جنوده

م سل

ك

�طمن

ا ﴾�۱۸

و��

ن ق ا م

اح�

م ض

ت�س

ف

Until when they came to the valley of the ants, a she ant exclaimed, ‘O ants, enter your houses – may not Sulaymān and his armies crush you, unknowingly.’ He therefore smiled beamingly at her speech.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 19, Sūraĥ Naml, Verse 18-19)

Moral lesson From this Quranic anecdote, we have acquired few moral lessons.

1. Listening to the voice of an ant from a distance of three miles is a miracle of Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم and we have also عـليـه الـسcome to know that the hearing and seeing capabilities of Prophets cannot be compared with the capabilities of ordinary human beings. But the true fact is that all the faculties of Prophets are excellently higher than those of the ordinary people.

2. From the speech of the ant, we also come to know that even ants believe that the companions of any Prophet


191

cannot intentionally oppress anyone because the ant said

( ون

ر

ع

هم ال�ش

ـالم meaning, that if Sayyidunā Sulaymān (و عـليـه الـس

and his army crush them under their feet, then it will be done unintentionally. Otherwise, being a companion of a Prophet, they will not intimidate and oppress anyone intentionally. Alas! The ants believe that companions of a Prophet never oppress anyone intentionally, but the group of ‘Rāfiḍī sect’ proved to be even worse than the tiny ants that these tyrants falsely accuse the sacred and reverend companions of Prophet Muhammad وسلم واله �ليه اىل تع اهللا of intentionally ص�casting tyranny over the family of Prophet Muhammad

اهللا تعاىل � ليه واله وسلمص� and Sayyidatunā Fatima اهللا تعاىل عنها ) .ر� م

اذاهللاع )

3. We have also come to know that laughing of the sacred Prophets ـالم is only a mere smile or an inaudible laugh عـليـه الـسas it has been mentioned in Aḥādīš that these prestigious personalitites never cut laughter.

Joke: It is narrated that Sayyidunā Qatādaĥ Muḥaddiš رمحة اهللا تعاىل �ليه who was a scholarly genius and an interdisciplinary erudite scholar. Especially there was no one like him who possessed the knowledge of Ḥadīš and annotation. Once he visited Kufa and a huge throng of people gathered around to see him. During his

speech, many times he asked the audience that ‘( مت

ا شئ م

لو ع

’(س

meaning, ‘ask me whatever you want to ask’. People were so much impressed from his religious knowledge that all of them remained seated stunned and silent. But when he repeatedly insisted, then Sayyidunā Imām Abū Ḥanīfaĥ ة اهللا تعاىل �ليه who was very young at رمحthat time, due to observing decorum, did not say anything himself but asked people to put a question to Sayyidunā Qatādaĥ that in the valley of Naml, the ant whose speech made رمحة اهللا تعاىل �ليه


192

Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم ?smile, was that ant a male or female عـليـه الـسThis question amazed him so much that he could not utter a single word in response. Then people inquired from Sayyidunā Imām Abū Ḥanīfaĥ رمحة اهللا تعاىل �ليه. He replied ‘that ant was a female’. Sayyidunā Qatādaĥ يه ’?asked, ‘What is the proof for it رمحة اهللا تعاىل �لSayyidunā Imām Abū Ḥanīfaĥ ليه� تعاىل اهللا replied that in the رمحة

Holy Quran, feminine gender ( � نم

قالت

has been used for this (و

ant. If the ant had been a male, then the masculine gender

( ل

قال نم

رمحة اهللا تعاىل �ليه would have been used. Sayyidunā Qatādaĥ (و

accepted the proof and was amazed over the wisdom and the in-depth knowledge of the Holy Quran that Sayyidunā Imām Abū Ḥanīfaĥ ليه� تعاىل اهللا possessed and was embarrassed over his رمحةbragging words.

47. Sayyidunā Sulaymān’s woodpecker Although all birds were tamed and obedient to Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس but his woodpecker was very famous for ,عـليـهhis obedience and good service. It was the woodpecker who informed Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس about the queen Bilqīs عـليـهof a country named ‘Sabā’ that she ruled over the empire by sitting on a huge throne. In addition, she possessed everything that a monarch should have. But unfortunately, she and people of her nation worshipped the stars. After hearing this news, Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم س wrote a letter to Bilqīs and the same woodpecker عـليـه اـلdelivered it. Therefore, the Holy Quran mentions that Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم :said عـليـه الـس


193

ر

ظان

� ف

ن�

ع

ول

م ت

ي�� ث

ال

قه

ل

ا

ا ف

ذ

�� ه

ب بكت

ه

ا يرجعون ﴿ ما اذ

﴾۲۸ذ

‘Go with this letter of mine and drop it upon them - then move aside from them and see what they answer in return.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 19, Sūraĥ Naml, Verse 28)

Therefore, the woodpecker took the letter and dropped it in the lap of Bilqīs from the top. At that time, she gathered all the statesmen and aristocrats of her empire around her and after reading the letter, she was horrified and said to the members of her court that:

ا

ؤمل

ها ال

ي ي�ا

�

�� ا�

ل

� ا

ريم ﴿ك ا�

ب ك

� ﴾۲۹ت

�سم ا��

ه

يمن و ان

من سل

ه

ان

ح�� ﴿ حمن ا�� و ﴾۳۰ا��

�ا ��

ع�� ت

�

و�� ا

ت

� ﴿ ا

﴾۳۱٪مسلم�

O chieftains, indeed a noble letter has been dropped upon me. Indeed it is from Sulaymān, and it is with Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful that do not wish eminence above me, and present yourselves humbly to me, with submission.’


After reading out the letter in front of the aristocrats and the ministers of her state, she sought their suggestion in this regard. Boasting upon their physical and military power, the aristocrats suggested declaring a war on Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم عـليـه الـس . Bilqīs, who was a wise and sane woman, vigilantly warned and directed her aristocrats and ministers by saying that war is not viable because it will make cities desolated and the reverend aristocrats and well-esteemed people of cities will become victim of humiliation and notoriety. Therefore, I think it is a prudent proposal to send some gifts and presents entailing a test to verify


194

whether Sulaymān ـالم س اـل is only some sort of worldly king or عـليـهalso a Prophet of Allah وجل وجل As if he is a Prophet of Allah .عز ,عزthen he will never accept my gifts. On the contrary, he will inspire us to follow his religion. And if he is merely a worldly king, then he will turn mild by accepting my gifts. Therefore, through a messenger, Bilqīs sent five hundred slaves, five hundred well-ornamented bondmaids and five hundred golden bricks with them, loads of jewels, perfumes and fragrances and a studded crown along with a letter by her. After seeing all this, the woodpecker departed from there and revealed everything in the court of Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم Therefore, after few .عـليـه الـسdays, when the envoy of Bilqīs arrived in the court of Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم loaded with lots of goods, Sayyidunā Sulaymān عـليـه الـسsaid to the messenger furiously:

��

� خ

�� ا��

ت

ا

�ا

ونن بمال � �

مد

ت

ا

ال

ق

ا

�

� ��

ن

ا

م � بل

�ك

ت

م ا

تك

بهدي

�حون ﴿�

� ﴾۳۶ت

� ��نود �

�

تين

نا

ل

ي�� ف

ال

� ارج�

�

رجن

�

�

� بها و ل

�

ل

قبل

ةذل

ا

نها �

� و

﴾۳۷ص��ون ﴿ �

He said, ‘Are you helping me with wealth? What Allah has bestowed upon me is better than what He has given you; rather it is you who are delighted at your gift. Go back to them – so we shall indeed come upon them with an army they cannot fight, and degrading them shall certainly drive them out from that city, so they will be humiliated.’


Therefore, after his return, when the messenger told the whole incident to Bilqīs, she then presented herself in the court of Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم س الـ After seeing the court of .عـليـه


195

Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم س الـ ,and its mysteries and wonders عـليـهshe was assured that no doubt, Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم is a عـليـه الـسtrue Prophet of Allah وجل and his empire is bestowed unto him عزby Allah وجل When Sayyidunā Sulaymān imparted the message .عزof Islām to her, she embraced Islām very politely and earnestly. After this, Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم married Bilqīs and kept عـليـه الـسher in his palace.

In this perspective, all the noble tasks accomplished by the woodpecker are no doubt among the wonders of the world which undoubtadly are the miracles of Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم س الـ .عـليـه

48. How did the throne of Bilqīs arrive? The royal throne of the queen of Sabā ‘Bilqīs’ was eighty yards in length and forty yards in width. It was gilded with the various kinds of jewels and pearls. When Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس عـليـهdeclined the messenger and the gifts offered by Bilqīs and after commanding her through an epistle to report in his court after embracing Islām, a desire mounted in his heart that before her arrival in his court; her throne should reach here. Therefore, he said to the courtiers in his court:

﴿ �و�� مسلم�

ت

ا

ن ي ا

بل

�شها ق

تي�� ب�

م يا

ك

يا ا

ؤ

مل

ها ال

ي ي�ا

ال

﴾۳۸ق

ن م

�يت ع�

ال

يه ق

� �ل

� و ا�

امك

ق

وم من م

ق

ن ت

ا

بل

به ق

تيك

ا ا

ن

�ن ا

ا�

﴿ �م�

ا

وي

ق

﴾۳۹ل

Said Sulaymān, ‘O court members, which one of you can bring me her throne before they come humbled in my presence?’ An extremely evil jinn said, ‘I will bring it in your presence before you disperse the assembly; and I am indeed strong and trustworthy upon it.’



196

After listening to the address of the jinn, Sayyidunā Sulaymān

� �� said, ‘I wish that the throne reaches in my court even

before that.’ Upon hearing this, Sayyidunā Sulaymān’s minister,

Sayyidunā Āṣif bin Barkhīyā �� , who was blessed with

the knowledge of the Ism-e-A’ẓam and was a marvellous friend

of Allah �� said to Sayyidunā Sulaymān � �� , as it is stated

in the Holy Quran.

� ��

�� ! "#$ �% &' ��( �) * �+

�� ,��

Said one who had knowledge of the Book, ‘I will

bring it in your majesty’s presence before you bat your eyelid’


Therefore, through a spiritual power, Sayyidunā Āṣif bin

Barkhīyār �� pulled this throne from the land of Sabā to

Bayt-ul-Muqaddas in the palace of Sayyidunā Sulaymān � �� .

That throne came through the lower surface of the earth and it

appeared instantly near the chair of Sayyidunā Sulaymān � �� .

After seeing the throne, Sayyidunā Sulaymān said:

��-.� / � �0��

�� - �1 �! �2 � �3�45� 6� ��

�-1� �7 9� : �;

�<� �� => 9�� ? �@ ��A

�� ! �+B

"#� ��C " �D �E

�F 9�� ? �@ � ��

�� 3�4 �C �! �2 G � �HI �(��JKLM ‘This is of the favours of my Rab; so that He may test me whether I

give thanks or am ungrateful; and whoever gives thanks only gives

thanks for his own good; and whoever is ungrateful – then indeed

my Rab is the Independent (not needing anything), the Owner of

All Praise.’ (A miracle which occurred through one of Allah’s friends.)



197

Moral lesson It is proven from this Quranic anecdote that Almighty Allah ل وج ز عbestows His friends with extreme spiritual powers. You can see that Sayyidunā Āṣif bin Barkhīyār عـنه عاىل ت اهللا fetched the ر�throne of Bilqīs from the land of Sabā to the holy court of Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم س الـ ـليـه ,in a wink of an eye and that too عwithout moving a single inch from his place. Similarly, many friends of Allah وجل ز have called many people and animals عfrom far-off areas within an instant. All of this is a demonstration of those spiritual powers that are conferred by Almighty Allah وجل to His friends. Therefore, never consider those blessed people عزto be analogous and identical to you and never underestimate the physical power of their organs to be like of ordinary people’s. Where do ordinary people stand infront of the high status of the friends of Almighty Allah وجل ز To consider the friends of ?عAllah وجل to be same as ordinary people is undoudtadly an utter عزdeviation and transgression.

Sayyidunā Maulānā Rūmī �ل عاىل ت اهللا ة يهرمح has comprehensively delineated this issue in his Mašnawī:

� کم ق بدل زا کس لم زي� سبب گمراہ شد شد آ�حبہ ح جمل� �ا

�ا � او�ء � � � �گ آ�ہ ��

�م د� اس و� � �اہ ��

The whole world became misguided due to very few people being acquainted with the friends of Allah ل وج ز .ع

رداشتد ری با ان�ياء ب لياء راهمچو خود پندا شتد همس او

�ى � � �ا�� ء � ��

��ں � او�ء � ا� � � � اور ا�

People considered the chosen people of Allah وجل ز to be same عas them and considered themselves to be at the same level as Prophets.


198

نتها ر� درمياں � ا � هست ف زع يشحبں ا يس ندا نس�ند ا ا

�ق ��

� � �ام اور او�ء � در�ن � ا� �� ان ��ں � ا� � � � � ��

Those people did not realise due their sheer blindness that there is a massive difference between them and in the friends of Allah وجل .عز

However, a summary of this poem is that the friends of Allah ل وج ز should not be considered as ordinary human beings but عthey shall be given true reverence and respect with the belief that these chosen people have special blessings of Allah وجل on عزthem and these people are not only the kings of the spiritual powers but are the spiritual emperors. These people can shun away many severe agonies and calamities with the command of Allah وجل It is compulsory to show reverence and respect to .عزtheir graves too as the blessings and mercy of Allah وجل keeps عزshowering on the graves of these saints. Moreover, the person who pays a visit to the graves of these holy saints out of love and devotion, he will surely harvest the blessings from these great people. In the current era, the Waĥābīaĥ sect is found to be disrespectful towards the friends of Allah وجل It is my advice to .عزmy Sunni brothers to always keep away from the company of these deviated people. Do not be deceived from their apparent simple clothes, ablution and prayers as their hearts are very dirty and polluted from the inner cores and these people are

deprived from the blessings of the true faith. ( م

اذاهللا من�ع )

49. Extraordinary death of Sayyidunā Sulaymān In Syria, the place where the tent of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم was عـليـه الـسerected, Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم -laid the foundation of Bayt-ul عـليـه الـس


199

Muqaddas on that very place. But before the completion of the building, the worldly life of Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم came to an عـليـه الـسend. Sayyidunā Dāwūd ـالم س الـ bequeathed his son Sayyidunā عـليـهSulaymān ـالم س اـل ,for the completion of the building. Therefore عـليـهSayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس deployed a group of jinns and عـليـهassigned them to complete the construction. This construction work remained in progress for a long time. During this construction period, the final hour of the worldly life of Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس also arrived and the construction remained عـليـهstill underway. So Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس supplicated to عـليـهAlmighty Allah وجل Oh Almighty, don’t let my demise be‘ ,عزrevealed upon jinns so that they remain constructing the building and their claim of being knowledgeable of the unseen may be refuted as well.’ After invoking this supplication, Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم س الـ entered in the arch and as per his normal عـليـهroutine, he stood in worship with the support of his staff and passed away in the same posture. But the jinn laborers presumed that Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم س was standing alive and they عـليـه الـcontinued working. Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم الـس being in such عـليـهposture for a long time was not an amazing fact for jinns as they had seen him praying many times for consecutively one month and sometimes for consective two months.

Ultimately, he remained in this standing posture with the support of his staff for one year after his demise. At last, by the will of Allah وجل his staff was eaten by the termites and his body came ,عزto the ground with the fall of the staff. At that time, it was revealed to jinns and all human beings about his demise. Almighty Allah وجل has mentioned this event in the Holy Quran in the عزfollowing words:


200

سا

��

ل

�

ا

رض ت

�

ا�

ة

� دآب ا�

� موته

��

�

ما دل

موت

يه ال

ينا �ل

ض

ا ق

م

ل

�ف

ه

ت

ب ا

عذوا �� ال

بث

يب ما ل

غ

مون ال

وا يعل

ان

و �

ن ل

ا

�ن

نت ا�

بي

ر ت

ا خ

م

ل

ف

﴿ �مه�

﴾۱۴ال

So when We sent the command of death towards him, no one revealed his death to the jinns except the termite of the earth which ate his staff; and when he came to the ground, the truth about the jinns was exposed - if they had known the hidden, they would not have remained in the disgraceful toil.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 22, Sūraĥ Sabā, Verse 14)

Moral lesson 1. The moral lesson that we get from this Quranic anecdote is

that the holy bodies of Prophets ـالم الـس neither deteriorate عـليـهnor rot after their demise. As you have just read that Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم remained in an erected posture عـليـه الـسfor one whole year after his demise with the support of the staff. No change took place in his blessed body. All of the Prophets ـالم are in the same state in their graves that عـليـه الـسthe soil cannot eat their bodies. Therefore, it has been stated in a Ḥadīš that is narrated by Ibn-e-Mājaĥ.

ا��

ان

ا��

ن��

بياء ف

ن

�

�

جساد ا

ا

ل

ا�

ن ت

رض ا

�

�

� ا

م �� حر

ق

يرز

��

(Sunan Ibn-e-Mājaĥ, Kitāb-ul-Janāiz, Bāb żikr-o-Fātaĥ, vol. 3, pp. 291, Ḥadīš 1637)

No doubt, Allah وجل has made it Ḥarām (strictly prohibited) for عزthe earth to erode the bodies of the Prophets ـالم ,Therefore .عـليـه الـسthe Prophets of Allah are alive and they are provided with sustenance.


201

In the marginalia of Mishkāt Sharīf, it has been stated that it is the dignified status of every Prophet that they are alive in their graves. Almighty Allah وجل confers them with sustenance. This عزḤadīš is Ṣaḥīḥ. Imām Baīĥaqī has said that it is correct and legitimate to believe that Prophets ـالم may visit various places عـليـه الـسat different times. (Mirāt-tul-Mafātīḥ, vol. 3, pp. 291, Ḥadīš 1637)

Based on the same principles, Aĥl-e-Sunnat wal Jama’at believes that respected Prophets ـالمعـليـه الـس are alive in their blessed graves with their physical traits and characteristics. The Waĥābī sect has an ailing belief that these Prophets have physically been deteriorated and earth has eroded their bodies after their apparent deaths. That’s why this deviant, transgressing and disrespectful sect has pointed out the holy graves of the Prophets ـالم الـس as عـليـهmere mounds of dust and debris and is always proactive in trying to demolish and humiliate these holy graves. This is absolutely crossing the limits that despite having lots of anxieties in the Muslim world, the Saudi government never ceases to manipulate her wicked plans to demolish the Gumbad-Ghaḍra (The Grand Green Tomb of the Holy Shrine of Prophet Muhammad

اهللا واله ص� �ليه عاىل وسلم ت ). However, it is a great blessing of Allah وجل عزthat they have not been able to accomplish their plans until now and ـ�هـان ش�آءال عزوجل ل , such evil plan will not be accomplished in future either because:

Jis kā Ḥāmī ĥo Khudā us ko gĥaṫā saktā ĥay kon

Jis kā Ḥāfiz ĥo Khudā us ko miṫā saktā ĥay kon

The one whose supporter is Almighty Allah, no one can lower him

One whose protector is Almighty Allah, no one can destroy him

2. Sayyidunā Sulaymān ـالم عـليـه س الـ led a life span of 53 years. He was crowned as a king at the age of thirteen and ruled


202

for forty years. His holy shrine is in Bayt-ul-Muqaddas.

( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

50. The bad end of Qārūn Qārūn was the son of Yaṣĥur, who was the uncle of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم He was a very handsome man. Impressed with his .عـليـه الـسcharmful and elegant beauty, people used to call him Munawwar. Another faculty that made him prominent among the Banī Isrāīl was that he was a great scholar of Al-Taurāt. He was very meek in temperament and very humble in character. In return, people used to give him lots of dignity and reverence.

But gaining excess of wealth totally changed his attitude and he became a hypocrite like Sāmrī and became a bitter enemy of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس .He also became extremely arrogant .عـليـهWhen the commandment of Zakāĥ revealed, he promised in front of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س اـل that he will pay a 1/1000 share عـليـهas a Zakāĥ of his capital but when he calculated his wealth and possessions, a huge amount was deductible as the Zakāĥ money. Upon seeing all this, greed and malice overpowered him. He did not only become denial of Zakāĥ but also slandered and intrigued against Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم by enticing people of Israel that عـليـه الـسhe is doing all this to snatch your wealth away. To create disgust against Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم he went to such an extent that ,عـليـه الـسhe conspired a heinous and filthy plot and enticed a woman by giving her a lot of wealth to blame Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس of عـليـهfornication. Therefore, right at the time when Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم was delivering his sermon, Qārūn interrupted him and عـليـه الـسsaid that you committed adultery with such and such woman. Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس said that bring that woman in front عـليـه


203

of me. Therefore, that woman was called upon and Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس وجل said ‘O lady, swear by that Allah عـليـه Who split عزthe river for the people of Israel and helped them to cross it with peace and protection and helped them to get rid of Pharaoh. Tell me clearly that what the matter is? She started trembling from the glory and majesty of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم and publically عـليـه الـسconfessed, ‘O Prophet of Allah وجل Qārūn enticed me to put an !عزallegation on you by giving me huge riches.’ At that time, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس prostrated with tearful eyes to thank عـليـهAllah وجل وجل and supplicated to Almighty Allah عز in the state عزof prostration that ‘oh Allah وجل inflict your wrath and anger ,عزupon Qārūn’. Then he ـالم said to the congregation that the عـليـه الـسone who is with Qārūn shall stay with him and the one who is with me should separate away from Qārūn. Therefore, all of the Banī Isrāīl left Qārūn, except two evil persons.

Afterwards, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم ordered the earth that ‘oh عـليـه الـسearth! Seize Qārūn straight away’. Qārūn sank down the earth up to his knees. He ـالم الـس again ordered the same command عـليـهto earth and again Qārūn sank down the earth up to his waist. After witnessing this, Qārūn started crying and shrieking and started begging Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ for the sake of his عـليـهkinship and relationship with Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س الـ But .عـليـهSayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س did not give any response. Finally, he عـليـه الـfully sank down the earth. The two wretched people who stayed with Qārūn started saying to people that Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم عـليـه الـسburied Qārūn in the ground so that he took his house and treasure under his custody. Therefore, Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم س supplicated عـليـه اـلfor the burial of the house as well as the treasure of Qārūn. Consequently, the house of Qārūn that was made of gold and all of his treasure were buried inside the ground.


204

Treasure of Qārūn: Now listen to this narration from the Holy Quran: Almighty Allah وجل has said that We endowed Qārūn عزwith so many treasures that a strong and a vigorous group of people would carry the keys for his treasures with a great difficulty. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

نوز ما

من ا��

ه

ين

ت

ي�� و ا

� �ل

ب�

وم مو�� ف

ان من ق

ارون �

ق

ان

ان

ة �

وق

و�� ال

عصبة ا

بال

ا

تنو

ل

ا��ه

مف

Indeed Qārūn was from the people of Mūsā - he then oppressed them; and we gave him so many treasures that their keys were a heavy burden for a strong group.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 20, Sūraĥ Qaṣaṣ, Verse 76)

Advice of Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم The advice Sayyidunā Mūsā :عـليـه الـسـالم الـس delivered to Qārūn which is mentioned in the Holy عـليـهQuran is as following. He became enemy of Sayyidunā Mūsā

ـالمعـليـه الـس after listening to the very same advice, which was implicitly full of his own benefit. Just ponder upon the advice that how graceful and sincere it was that Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس عـليـهand the whole nation was telling Qārūn that:

� ﴿ اذ

�ح�

�

ال

�ب

� �

� �

ا��

�ح ان

�

� ت

�

ومه

� ق

�

ال

� ﴾۷۶ق

ا��

�ك

ت

ا

�

و ابتغ ف��

يك� ال

حسن ا��

ا

ما

حسن ك

يا و ا

ن

من الد

صيبك

س ن

�

� ت

و �

خرة

�

ار ا�

الد

ساف

بغ ال

� ت

رض �و �

�

د �� ا�

When his people said to him, ‘Do not show off - indeed Allah does not like the boastful and seek the abode of the Hereafter with the


205

wealth that Allah has given you, and do not forget your part in this world, and do favours (to others) the way Allah has favoured you, and do not seek to cause turmoil in the earth.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 20, Sūraĥ Qaṣaṣ, Verse 76-77)

Qārūn rejected this sincere advice out of arrogance of his wealth and came in front of the people being very well dressed up and fully drenched in arrogance and pride. He started to hurt and speak foul about Sayyidunā Mūsā ـالم الـس What was the .عـليـهoutcome of it? Listen to it from the words of the Holy Quran and always fear from being captured in the wrath of Allah وجل .عز .اهللا اكرب

Qārūn sank into ground:

� � من دون ا��

ه

ن��ون

ة ي

� من فئان �

�ا �

� �

رض

�

اره ا�

نا به و بد

سف

�

�

منت��ين ﴿ان من ال

﴾۸۱و ما �

We therefore buried him and his house into the earth; so he had no group to help save him from Allah; nor could he take revenge.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 20, Sūraĥ Qaṣaṣ, Verse 81)

Moral lesson This reprimanding anecdote gives us a moral lesson that if Almighty Allah وجل endows us with wealth and riches; we shall عزconsider it to be obligatory upon us to pay Zakāĥ on our riches. One shall never be arrogant and boast upon the riches and wealth that he possesses because it is Allah ل وج Who blesses عزus with wealth and it is Him Who takes it back instantly whenever He wishes to. Keeping this in mind, one shall always


206

make a habit of keeping good manners and humbleness, shall never try to badmouth or disrespect Prophets, friends of Allah and the pious people because due to the prayers of these accepted people in the court of Allah ل وج such things can occur which ,عز

are beyond one’s comprehension. ( لم

تعا� اع

اهللا

(و

51. Romans will dominate after being dominated A war was underway between the state of Rome and Persia, and as the people of Persia were fire worshippers, that’s why the Arab pagans preferred their domination. On the other hand, the Romans were people of the Book. That’s why Muslims preferred their victory. The military forces of Khusr-o-Parvez, the king of Persia and Caesar, the king of Rome challenged each other near the border of the Syrian state. After a furious fight, the Persians were victorious. It was a bad news for Muslims. Intoxicated with the joy of victory, the pagans started ridiculing Muslims by saying that ‘you are the people of the holy book and so are the Roman Christians, and the Persians are fire worshipers and we are also idol worshippers. Our brothers have dominated your brothers and if there is a battle between us, we will also dominate you in a similar way’. At this occasion, the following verses of the holy Quran were revealed giving the news of the unseen:

ـم

ال ﴿۱﴾ ﴿ وم لبت ا��۲﴾

ب�� سيغ

ل

ن� بعد � � م

رض و �

�

� ا�

�

د

ا

��﴿ � � ﴾۳لبون

� سن�

�� بض

Alif-Lām-Mīm. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings). The Romans have been defeated. In the nearby land and after their defeat they will soon be victorious within a few years time.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 21, Sūraĥ Rum, Verse 1-4)


207

After hearing these verses of the Holy Quran, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq اهللا تعاىل عـنه announced to the pagans of Makkaĥ, ‘I swear on ر�the name of my Almighty, the Romans will dominate the Persians. Therefore, O people of Makkaĥ, do not jubilate upon the current results of the war because there were no apparent signs of Romans becoming victorious in distant years, that’s why ‘Abī bin Khulf stood abreast of Sayyidunā Ṣiddīq-e-Akbar عـنه اىل تع اهللا and a bet ر�was placed among them of one hundred camels.’ This bet was conditioned that within a period of nine years, if the Romans do not dominate the Persians, then Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq عـنه تعاىل اهللا will pay one hundred camels as a ransom amount for ر�the loss of the bet but if the Romans overpower the Persians, then ‘Abī bin Khulf will give one hundred camels. At that time, this was not prohibited in Islām. By the blessings and grace of Almighty Allah وجل the unseen news of the Holy Quran came ,عزtrue only in a period of seven years. In 6 A.H, on the very day of ‘Ḥudaībiyaĥ Treaty’, the Romans conquered the Persians and the Romans tied their horses in ‘Madain’ and relocated to a city in ‘Irāq with the name of ‘Romīaĥ’. Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq ـنه اهللا تعاىل ع received the hundred camels of the bet from the ر�offspring of ‘Abī bin Khulf because ‘Abī bin Khulf was dead at that time. (Madārik-ul-Tanzīl vol. 3, pp 458; Part 21, Sūraĥ Rūm, Verse 3)

The Holy Prophet وسلم واله اهللا تعاىل �ليه ordered Sayyidunā Abū Bakr ص�Ṣiddīq عـنه اىل تع اهللا to give all the camels in charity (Sadaqaĥ) ر�that were received as a bet ransom from the progeny of ‘Abī bin Khulf and not to spend anything on his ownself. ه�� !سـبحـن الـل

Moral lesson In the war between the Rome and Persia, the Romans were defeated to such an extent that their military power was


208

completely demolished, and they had no apparent signs of victory. Nevertheless, they recieved such a victory, within seven years, that was beyond the imagination. Such a news of unseen from Holy Prophet �يه واله ص عاىل �ل وسلم اهللا ت justifies the truthfulness of his Prophethood as well as the significant validity of the Holy Quran being the word of Allah ل وج ز :It is a truth that .ع

Ĥazāraun falsafiyon kī chunā chunī badlī

Khudā kī bāt badalnī na thī na badlī

Philosophies of thousands of philosophers are

proved null and refuted

But the resolutions of Allah were not to be

proven false and neither they did

52. Storm of Ghazwaĥ Aḥzāb Ghazwaĥ Aḥzāb took place in four or five A.H. The second name of this Ghazwaĥ is also ‘Ghazwaĥ Khandaq’ (the holy war of the trench). When the Jews of Banū Nuḍaīr tribe were exiled, in retaliation of this exile, their chiefs went to Makkaĥ and enticed the pagans of Makkaĥ to launch a war against Holy Prophet

واله �ليه تعاىل اهللا وسلم ص� and promised them that they would support you. Therefore, these Jews enticed the pagans of Makkaĥ by bribing them with a huge amount of wealth and a huge number of weapons to launch an attack on Madīnaĥ. Abū Sufyān united and mobilized a lot of tribes of the Jews and pagans of Makkaĥ and invaded Madīnaĥ. A few people of Makkaĥ, from the tribe of Khuzā’aĥ informed the Noble Prophet وا اهللا تعاىل �ليه وسلمص� له about this conspiracy and preparation. Therefore, the Holy Prophet ـالم ordered for digging a trench in the outskirts of Madīnaĥ عـليـه الـسwith a suggestion proposed by Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsī اهللا تعاىل عـنه ر� . The Beloved Prophet وسلم واله �ليه تعاىل اهللا personally participated ص�


209

with other Muslims in digging this trench. The moment Muslims completed the digging of the trench, right at that time; a well-armed group of infidels invaded Holy Madīnaĥ from all three frontiers. The mobilization of the infidels’ army was so severe that it resulted in the atmosphere of Madīnaĥ to become hazy and grimy.

Now listen to the description of this horrendous battle and infidels’ invasion in the Quranic words.

ت غ

بصار و بل

�

ت ا�

اغ

ز

م و اذ

�نك

ل

سف

م و من ا

وقك

ن ف م م

جآءو�

اذ

ا ﴿نون

� الظ

ون با��

ن

ظ

�ناجر و ت

�ب ا�

�

ق

ون ﴾۱۰ال

��

مؤ

ابت�� ال

هنالك

ديد

� ش�ا�

وا ز�

�ل

�

﴾۱۱ا ﴿و ز

When the unbelievers came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes became fixed in stare and the hearts came up to the throats, and you were imagining matters regarding Allah. That proved be the testing ground for the Muslims, and they were subjected to a severe shake.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 21, Sūraĥ Aḥzāb, Verse 10-11)

In this holy war, the hypocrites who apparently stood shoulder to shoulder with Muslims, after seeing the infidels’ army, they became coward and scooted away. Thus, their concealed hypocrisy was revealed. They started seeking lame excuses to quit the war and sought permission to hide in their homes. Nevertheless, the loyal and the faithful Anṣār and Muĥājirīn were fighting in such valor and bravery that even the mountains of Sal’a and Aĥd were stunned spectator of their courage. Their faithful loyalty and their Islamic bravery are depicted in the Holy Quran in the following text:


210

ا

ذ

وا هال

حزاب � ق

�

ون ا�

��

مؤ

ال

ا را

م

ماو ل

�ا ا��

ن

د

وع ﴿ �

سل��

�

ا و

ايمان

�

� ا�

اد�

� � و ما ز

� و رسو�

ا��

ق

� و صد

﴾۲۲و رسو�

And when the Muslims saw the armies, they said, ‘This is what Allah and His Noble Messenger promised us, and Allah and His Noble Messenger have spoken the truth’; and it did not increase anything for them but faith and acceptance of Allah’s will.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 21, Sūraĥ Aḥzāb, Verse 22)

When pagans saw the trench surrounding Madīnaĥ as an unsurpassable hurdle in their way, they were astounded. They hysterically exclaimed that ‘this is such a novel strategy that the people of Arab were unaware of until now’. However, pagans started arrowing and stoning Muslims from the edge of the trench. At some places, some of the pagans managed to cross the trench and a stiff battle took place between the both sides. Although Muslims were worried due to this siege by the infields, but there was not even a slightest bit of change in their determination and courage. They were confidently fighting the war in their fortified trenches. All of a sudden, the help of Allah وجل ز came in the shape of an abrupt, bleak and furious عstorm which blew from the east. In reality, it was the wrath and a concrete exposure of the curse and anger of Allah ل وج ز on عpagans. Their cauldrons and cooking pots on the stoves were thrown away, their tents collapsed, an utter darkness fell everywhere and a surge of extreme coldness made pagans stumble. Then Almighty Allah وجل sent an army of angels and their عزhorror was so stern that the hearts of pagans started quivering. They were depressed, horror-stricken and hysterically haunted with fear to such an extent that they had no remedy other than a retreat.


211

Therefore, the chieftain of the infidels' army, Abū Sufyān with stumbled body made a frenzied announcement within his army that the entire ration has finished. The weather is also severely inclement, and Jews have also left us alone. Therefore, under these circumstances, the siege of Madīnaĥ is useless. After saying this, he blew the kettledrum of departure and scooted away from the battlefield by leaving behind lots of possessions. Other tribes also dispersed and ran away. After a passage of fifteen or twenty four days, the hazy atmosphere of Madīnaĥ cleared up from the dust created by the pagans. (Madārij-un-Nubūvat

(Persian), vol. 2, p. 172-173)

It is the very same storm of Ghazwaĥ Aḥzāb which has been mentioned by Allah وجل :in the Holy Quran in the following way عز

� ا��

روا نعمة

�

وا اذ

��

ذين ا

ها ال

ي ي�ا

روها �م ت

جنودا ل

�ا و

ي�� ر�

نا �ل

رسل

ا

م جنود ف

ك

جآءت

م اذ

يك

�ل

O people who believe! Remember the favour of Allah upon you when some armies came against you, so We sent against them a windstorm and the armies you could not see.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 21, Sūraĥ Aḥzāb, Verse 9)

Moral lesson From this anecdote, we get the moral lesson that whenever Muslims are batteling against infidels in the battlefield, they should not be in a state of fluster at all and should continue the battle with perseverance and firm believe that the unseen help of Allah ل وج will definitely descend for them. But the عزcondition is the purity of intention, perseverance, and an


212

unceasing striding with patience. Therefore, in the battles of Badr, Uḥud and Aḥzāb, which were contested between Muslims and pagans, this reality was evident that even though, there were apparently hardships and difficulties for Muslims, but when Muslims showed perseverance, then there was help of the unseen from Almighty Allah ل وج ز that even within a wink عof an eye, the state of the battlefield was completely changed and Muslims were blessed with victory and infidels, despite being huge in numbers and having huge dignity and grandeur, were defeated and scooted away from the battlefield.

53. Flood of the people of Sabā ‘Sabā’ is an Arab tribe known from their ancestor Sabā bin Yashjab bin Ya’rib bin Qaḥṭān. This tribe’s village was situated six-mile away from the city of Sana’a, in Yemen. The climate and the atmosphere of this village was so pure and clean that there was neither a single mosquito nor a fly, neither a flea nor a bed bug, neither a snake nor a scorpion. Moreover, the weather was very moderate, neither cold nor hot. Its gardens bore excessive fruits. When anybody passed with a large basket on his head, his basket used to get filled with dainties of fruits without an effort of plucking. In short, these people were living an independent and prosperous life with peace and tranquillity. But due to an excess of the blessings and prosperity, these people turned insolent and transgressor. Allah وجل consecutively sent thirteen Prophets عزone after the other who reminded them about the blessings of Allah وجل and admonished them from the curse, wrath and عزpunishment of Allah وجل But these transgressors refuted these .عزprestigious Prophets of Allah وجل ,and the chief of the people عز‘Ḥammād’ was so insolent and arrogant that when his child


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died, he spitted facing towards the sky and proclaimed his infidelity (Kufr). He openly started arousing people into infidelity and anybody who refused him, he would kill him. In a very rude and malevolent way, he used to say to Prophets to ask Allah to snatch His blessings away from us. When the sins and disobedience of the people exceeded, then Allah وجل castigated عزthem with flood. This flood demolished and ruined all their gardens, estates and riches and the whole village was buried in the mounds of sand. This is how these people were ruined, and their devastation became an example for the Arabian Peninsula. Fine and tasty fruits were replaced with wild herbs, bush, and furious horrendous forests and these people became desperate for delicious fruits.


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How did the flood emerge?

On the outskirts of the town of the nation of Saba and in the midst of mountains, queen Bilqīs constructed a dam in such a manner that three large ponds of water were formed on top of each other. By the command of Allah �� , a mouse burrowed a hole in the wall of this dam and it gradually became a huge opening, and consequently the wall of the dam collapsed. All of a sudden, a powerful flood emerged. The people of this town were completely oblivious of this hole and opening and were peacefully living in their homes while all of a sudden, the furious waves of the flood destroyed their town. There was a mass ruin, wreckage and desolation everywhere. Almighty Allah �� has described the incident of the people of Saba and the great flood in the Holy Quran in the following words:

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Indeed for (the tribe of) Saba was a sign in their dwelling-place - two gardens on the right and the left; ‘Eat the sustenance provided by your Rab and be grateful to Him’; a pure land and an Oft Forgiving Rab! In response they turned away - We therefore sent upon them a tremendous flood, and in exchange of their two gardens gave them

The Miracles and Marvels in Holy Quran

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two gardens bearing bitter fruit, and tamarisk, and some berries. We gave them this reward – the recompense of their ingratitude; and whom do We punish, except the ungrateful?

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 22, Sūraĥ Saba, Verses 15-17)

Moral lesson

All this ruin and wreckage of the people of Saba tribe was due to their insolence and ungratefulness towards the bounties and blessings of Allah �� . When their misdeeds and disrespectful attitude towards the Prophets of Allah �� increased, then the wrath and anger of Rab of the universe, ‘Jabbār’ came in the form of a flood and destroyed them all. The truth is that the result of righteousness is prosperity, while the consequences of evil deeds are destruction and desolation.

Therefore, it is mandatory for every nation who is blessed with the bounties and blessings of Allah �� to observe gratitude and should always avoid evil deeds and insolence. Otherwise, there is a potential danger of the punishment of Allah �� to be inflicted upon them. Because the nation that makes disobedience and misdeeds the practice of their lives, they are always ruined and wrecked by the punishment of Allah �� and their communities are also made completely barren.

54. The Three Preachers of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā يمعل

� ه الس

Anṭākīyaĥ was a prosperous city of Syria. The surrounding boundaries of the city were made with firm and strong walls and


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the entire city was surrounded with the five mountains. The population of the city had covered an area of twelve miles. Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� sent two of his preachers from his companions (the ‘Ḥawārīn’) for spreading the faith in this city. Their names were Ṣādiq and Maṣdooq. When they both reached the city, they met an old shepherd, whose name was Ḥabīb Najār. After an exchange of greetings of Salām, Ḥabīb Najār asked: “Who are you people, where have you come from and why have you come?” In reply, they both stated: “We are preachers sent by Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� to persuade the people of this town, so they may only worship one God. In response, Ḥabīb Najār asked them: “Do you have any sign of your truthfulness?” They both replied: “Yes we do. By the command of Allah �� , we heal the patients, the born blind and the leprous!” This was a marvel of these two preachers and a miracle of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� . After hearing all this, Ḥabīb Najār said: “One of my sons has been ill for a long time. Will you cure him?” Both of them replied yes, and further said: ‘Bring your son to us.’ Therefore, the two preachers stroked their hands on the sick child’s body and immediately, he recovered and stood up! This news spread in the city like a thunderbolt and many patients gathered there and they all were cured of their illnesses.

The king of this city was an idol worshipper named ‘Anṭākīyaĥ’. He became extremely angry and furious when he heard the message of monotheism from them two. He arrested both of the preachers, whipped them hundred times each and put them into prison. After this, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� sent the chief of his


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companions, Sayyidunā Sham’ūn �� to the city of Anṭākīyaĥ. Somehow, he managed to reach the court of the king, and said to the king: “You have whipped and imprisoned two of our men. You should have at least let them complete what they were saying.” The king summoned these two prisoners and began speaking to them. The preachers said to him: “We have only come here to tell you to abandon the worship of idols and worship only Allah �� Who has created you as well as your idols.” When the king demanded a sign from them, these two men stroked the body of a man who was born blind. This man did not even have eyes in his head, but upon the touch of the preachers, two eye sockets were formed on his forehead! Furthermore, these two blessed preachers made two balls of soil and placed them in the newly formed eye sockets of the blind man. After this, they supplicated and these two balls of soil enlightened by becoming eyes, through which the blind man could now see. A born blind man had become one with eyesight! After this marvellous spectacle, Sayyidunā Sham’ūn �� said to the king, “O king, do your idols possess such power?” The king replied, ‘No.’ Then Sayyidunā Sham’ūn � ��

�� said, ‘Why don’t you then worship the one who has such powers that He blesses the blind with eyesight?

Upon hearing this, the king said, “Can your Lord resurrect the deceased? If He can, then He should resurrect the son of one of my farmers, who is lying dead for many days. I still have not buried him yet because I am waiting for his father.” The king led these three people to the body of the deceased boy. When these three people supplicated, then by the command of Allah �� , the


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corpse came back to life and proclaimed loudly, “I was an idol worshipper and after my death, I was thrown into the valleys of Hell. So I warn you of the punishment of Allah �� and call you to accept faith in Allah �� . I call you to recite the ‘Kalimaĥ’ of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� , accept the message of these three preachers and treat them kindly. This is because these three people are the companions and messengers of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� .”

After seeing this spectacle and hearing the speech of the deceased person, everyone was stunned and amazed. Meanwhile, Ḥabīb Najār also came running, and he too made a persuasive speech to convince the king as well as the people of the city to accept the truthfulness of the preachers. Consequently, the king along with his courtiers embraced the true faith and all became true believers. But a few cursed people, who had lost their sanity and wisdom in the love of idols, did not accept the true faith and instead, they killed Ḥabīb Najār. Punishment came upon these cursed individuals, and due to this severe punishment, they were all destroyed. (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, vol. 5, pp. 1708-1710; Part 22, Suraĥ Yāsīn, verse 13)

The Holy Quran has narrated this anecdote in these words:

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/ ��* #� �P�#�� #� � �* � p=�� ? #X#7�� @D And relate to them the signs of the people of the city - when two emissaries came to them. When we had sent two towards them and they denied them both, so we fortified them with a third, and they all said, ‘Indeed we have been sent to you.’ They said, ‘You are nothing but mortals like us; the Most Gracious has not sent down anything - you are nothing but liars.’ They answered, ‘Our Lord knows that surely, without doubt, we have been sent towards you.’ ‘And our duty is nothing but to plainly convey (the message).’ They (the people of the city) said, ‘We think you are ominous; indeed, if you do not desist, we shall surely stone you to death, and you will surely face a grievous torture at our hands.’ They said, ‘Your evil omens are with you! What! You get annoyed for being advised? In fact you are a people who transgress the limits!’ And from the outermost part of the city came a man running; he said, ‘O my people! Obey those who have been sent.’ ‘Obey those who do not ask any fee from you, and they are on guidance.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 22, Sūraĥ Yāsīn, Verse 13-21)

Moral lesson

After observing the hardships, prisons, difficulties and threats faced by the three preachers and companions of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ��


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i.e. Ṣādiq, Maṣdooq and Sham’ūn in the path of spreading the true faith, we learn a moral lesson that, the preachers sometimes come across many afflictions and hardships. However, when a person sticks to this path of goodness by observing patience and contentment, then Allah �� provides him with the means of success from the unseen. No doubt, He �� is the true guide and

the manipulator of hearts (قلوبب ال

�� Allah .(مقل �� changes the

hearts of deniers in an instant, removes misguidance from their hearts, and blesses them with the light of guidance.

55. A blossoming garden ravaged in minutes

This incident took place a few days after the ascension of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā �� towards the heavens. In Yemen, near the city of Ṣan’ā, there was a garden named as ‘Zardān’, which was two miles away from the city. This garden was the property of a very pious and a generous man. It was a common custom to him that at the time of fruit picking, he used to call the needy and poor people. He would then announce that any fruit that falls down on the ground due to the air blowing, or the one that falls outside the collection sheet, you may take all of them. In this way, a huge amount of fruit of this garden was distributed among the poor and needy people.

When the owner of the garden died, his three sons became the owners of his garden. But they were very miser. They decided amongst themselves that if they called the poor and needy, then a huge quantity of fruit will be taken by them, and the three sons


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and their family would have less sustenance. Therefore, these three brothers swore an oath and decided to pick all the fruits before the sunrise so that the poor and needy would not be aware of it. Nevertheless, the adversity of their ill intention resulted in such a way that Allah �� sent a sudden fire to the garden during the night time, which burnt the whole garden to ashes. The three sons did not have any idea of what had happened. According to their plan, they went very quietly to pick the fruit of the garden in the last part of the night. On their way, they were cautiously whispering to each other, so that their secretive activity was kept hidden from the poor and needy. When these people reached the garden, they were stunned to witness the burnt trees.

Meanwhile, one of them spoke: “We have lost our way and have entered in someone else’s garden.” However, among these three brothers, the one who was comparatively pious said: “We have not lost our way but Almighty Allah �� has deprived us from these fruits. Therefore, pray to Allah �� ”. Subsequently, all of them

started reciting this ( �+, �-�7� � �� #c ��t �� 8 � �!� �� #F/��D ) i.e. all the dignity rests

for our Rab; of course we are callous and oppressed that we deprived the needy and deserving people from their share.” Then, the three brothers started condemning each other and finally said:

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‘Hopefully, our Rab will give us a better replacement than this – we now incline towards our Rab’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 29, Sūraĥ al-Qalam, Verse 32)


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Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāĥ Bin Mas’ūd �� has said, “When these people sincerely repented over their sins, then Allah �� accepted their repentance and blessed them with an alternate garden that started yielding more luscious fruits. This garden was known as ‘Ḥaywān’. Its grapes were so big that one bunch of grapes would be carried by a mule. It is stated by Abū Khālid Yamānī that: “I personally visited and observed that garden and saw that a bunch of grapes was equal to the height of a Ḥabashī (Ethiopian) man. (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, Vol. 6, pp 2216, Suraĥ al-Qalam, Part 29, verse 32)

Moral lesson

We learn from this story that generosity and good intention have positive effects, which increase the wealth and assets. However, miserliness and bad intention results in the destruction and ruin of wealth. It can also be learnt that by repenting sincerely from sins, Allah �� restores the ruined blessings to an even greater and grander extent. It is true that

شاء ذلك يؤتيه من ي عظيم طفضل ا$#فضل ال

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56. A strange case in the court of Sayyidunā Dāwūd ◌ Sayyidunā Dāwūd � �� had ninety-nine wives. After this, he sent a message of marriage to another woman who had already been proposed by another Muslim. But after hearing the message of Sayyidunā Dāwūd �� , how was it possible for the patrons of the woman to give any heed towards the proposal of anyone


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else. Thus, the marriage took place. Such a marriage was neither contrary to the religious practice nor was it against the traditions of society in those days. However, the dignity of Prophets is always high and supreme. Such a wedding was not appropriate for the dignity and status of Sayyidunā Dāwūd �� . Therefore, it was a divine consent of Almighty Allah �� that Sayyidunā Dāwūd �� should be made aware and informed of this.

As such, the means of this informing began with the arrival of two angels in the holy court of Sayyidunā Dāwūd �� . One of the angels took the role of respondent and the other took the role of a plaintiff. Instead of entering through the door, they entered the Masjid by climbing over the wall. Sayyidunā Dāwūd �� became slightly worried when he observed them climbing the wall. In response, the angels said: “Do not be afraid. We are two parties and one has oppressed the other. Therefore, make the right decision in our case and guide us towards the right path. Our case is this that my brother owns ninety-nine female sheep and I have only one sheep. He is asking me to give him the only sheep that I own and is pressurising me. After hearing this case, Sayyidunā Dāwūd � �� immediately declared: “Of course, this is an oppression that he wants your sheep to mix into his herd, and there is no doubt that in these situations which involve a joint partnership, partners often oppress one another, apart from those who have faith and commit righteous actions. But these kinds of people are very few.” After declaring the verdict of the case, he realised and understood that in fact, this case was presented for his own testing. Therefore, he instantly bowed in Sajdaĥ


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(prostration) and sought pardon from Almighty Allah �� and Allah �� pardoned him. Therefore, the Holy Quran states:

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We therefore forgave him this; and indeed for him in Our presence are, surely, proximity and an excellent abode. “O Dāwūd! We have indeed appointed you as a Viceroy in the earth, therefore judge between mankind with the truth, and do not follow desire for it will lead you astray from Allah’s path.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 23, Sūraĥ Saad, Verse 25-26)

Moral lesson

The dignity and the status with which the Prophets of Allah �� are blessed with is extremely high and supreme. For this reason, they are informed by Allah �� on even small issues. Such holy individuals are so obedient and humble in the court of Allah �� that they start seeking pardon and prostrate to Allah �� straight away, even after the smallest issues. It is a

well-known saying: برار س ي حسنات ا2 ب مقر

ي ئات ال (The righteous deeds

of pious hold the rank of a mistake of the chosen people of Allah �� ). And why shall it not be:

Jin ke rutbay ĥayn siwā

Un ko siwā mushkil ĥay


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57. The penalty for forgetting $# شاءا ان وجل عز

Sayyidunā Sulaymān �� had ninety-nine wives. Once he said: “During all night, I will visit all of my wives and each and every of them will give birth to a baby boy. All of my sons will then do Jihad [fight in the path of Allah �� ] by sitting on horses. However, at the time of saying this, he did not say �! �"��#��$% ��& �� . Perhaps at that time, he was somewhat busy and he did not remember to say �! �"��#��$% ��& �� . Forgetting the words of �! �"��#��$% ��& ��

had such a result that only one woman became pregnant, and even she gave birth to a physically premature foetus. In this context, the Merciful Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, said, ‘Had Sayyidunā Sulaymān �� uttered the word �! �"��#��$% ��& �� , then all his wives would have given baby boys and all of them would stride on Jihad in the path of Allah �� .’ (Bukhārī Sharīf, Kitāb-ul-Jiĥād, Bāb-mān Ṭalab-ul-Walad-lil-Jiĥād, vol. 4, pp. 22, Ḥadīš 2819)

Allah �� has very briefly related this event in the Holy Quran in the following words.

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And We indeed tested Sulaymān, and placed a dead body on his throne – he therefore inclined towards His Rab. He said, ‘My Rab! Forgive me and bestow upon me a kingdom, which shall not befit anyone after me; indeed only You are the Great Bestower.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 23, Sūraĥ Yāsīn, Verses 34-35)


227

Moral lesson

Through this Quranic narration, we learn that it is mandatory for every Muslim to say �! �"��#��$% ��& �� whenever he wishes to do anything in future. By virtue of these holy words, there is great hope that

his task will be successfully accomplished. Forgetting ��$%#�! �"��& � �� can result in loss and failure. Consider the fact that Sayyidunā Sulaymān �� , is a beloved Nabī of Almighty Allah �� as well as an unmatched king. He unconsciously did not utter the

words of ��$%#�! �"��& � �� and although his aim, which was in fact a form of highly ranked worship, was not fulfilled. He was remorseful and saddened by this, and turned towards Allah �� and supplicated for his forgiveness. Then what will be the refuge for the sinful people like us? That if we abandon to say the word

�"�� !#��$% ��& �� , then how will we succeed in achieving our aims and goals? Therefore, we should keep in mind to say �! �"��#��$% ��& �� . Because in the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah �� has firmly commanded our Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� to say this before proceeding to do any action.

Therefore, Almighty Allah �� commanded His Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, in this way:

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And never say about anything that, ‘I will do this tomorrow.’ Except ‘If Allah wills’; and remember your Rab when you forget’.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 15, Sūraĥ al-Kaĥf, Verses 14-23)


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58. Brutalities of the people of Al-Ukhdūd

There are some differences of opinions among the narrators about the companions of Al-Ukhdūd that who these people were and what their incident was. In this regard, Sayyidunā Ṣuĥayb �� has narrated that there was a king in a previous Ummaĥ who used to make a false claim of being God. A magician was very influential in his court and was very close to him as well. One day, the magician said to the king: “I have reached the old age. Therefore, send a boy to me so I may transfer the art of black magic to him.”

Therefore, in response to the suggestion of the magician, the king sent a clever boy to him. The boy started visiting the magician every day. On the way, lived an honest priest. One day, the boy sat in the company of the priest and was greatly inspired by the priest’s speech. As such, whilst visiting the magician, the boy also started sitting in the company of the priest everyday. One day, the boy saw a large and monstrous animal that was blocking the path of people. Upon seeing this, the boy said to himself that it will be revealed today that who is greater, the magician or the priest. Therefore, the boy picked up a stone and prayed to Almighty Allah �� by saying that: “O Allah �� ! If this religion is more beloved and accepted in your court than the magician, then let this animal get killed with this stone!” After supplicating in this manner, the boy killed the animal with that stone. As such, a huge and monstrous animal was killed by a small stone and the path became open for people.


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The boy revealed this whole incident to the priest and in response, the priest replied: “O boy, you have been elevated and exalted in the holy court of Almighty Allah �� . So very soon, you will now be trialled and tested. For this reason, do not tell anyone about me and persevere patience at the time of hardship. After this incident, this boy was blessed with such marvels that due to his prayers, lepers and those born blind were cured. Slowly and gradually, the popularity of the boy was widespread, even to the court of the king. However, a very close courtier of the king, who had become blind, came to this boy with lots of presents, and requested the boy to pray for the restoration of his eyesight. The boy said to him that “If you embrace the true faith on Almighty Allah �� , then I will supplicate for you.” As such, he embraced faith, and the boy made supplication for him. Instantly, his eyesight was restored. After this, when the courtier returned to the court of the king, he was asked by the king as to how his vision returned.

The courtier then said: “My Rab �� blessed me with the eyesight.”Upon hearing this, the king furiously said, “Do you have any other Rab except me?” Then he replied, ‘Yes.’ Allah Almighty �� is mine and your Sustainer.” The king began to torture him in different ways to find out who had told him all this. As such, he gave the name of the boy. Then the king proceeded to imprison the boy and tortured him to such an extent that the boy revealed the name of the priest. The king arrested the priest and asked him to leave his faith, but the priest categorically said: “I will follow this faith until my final breath”.


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On hearing this, the king was enraged to such an extent, that he severed the head of the priest by running a saw through it. Later on, he also drove the saw through the head of his beloved courtier. Afterwards, he handed over the boy to his soldiers and ordered them to carry this boy onto the top of a mountain and hurl him down from there. After climbing the mountain, the boy supplicated and consequently, an earthquake took place. The tremors of the earthquake killed all of the soldiers, but the boy was in complete safety. Once again, he stood against the king. Again stirred with anger and rage, the king ordered that the boy to be carried in a boat and taken to the ocean. When reaching the deep seas, the order was to throw the boy into the ocean. Following the command of the king, the sentries of the king took him to the sea. However, once again the boy supplicated and the boat capsized and all of the sentries drowned, but the boy remained safe and sound and stood once again in front of the king. The king was stunned to see him. The boy said to the king, ‘If you want to martyr me, then there is only one way. This is through hanging me by placing a

noose around my neck. Then fire an arrow on me by reciting ? ا$#

م

غ� Therefore, according to this explanation, the king ’.رب ال

martyred the boy with an arrow.

After witnessing all this, a congregation of thousands of people started proclaiming that we believe in Rab of this boy. The king turned hysterical due to anger, ordered for a trench to be dug and ignited a fire within it. When the flames of the blazing fire rose extensively, then he started throwing the believers into this fire.


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Thus, seventy-seven believers were burnt in this fire. In the end, one woman among the believers arrived holding her child in her hands. When the king intended to put her in the fire, she became a bit worried. Then her infant child said: “O my mother! Be patient, you are on the path of righteousness.” After hearing the child’s voice, her faith became strengthened, and she further became satisfied. Then the tyrant king threw the woman, who believed in Allah �� , into the fire, along with her child.

The king and his accomplices were sitting on chairs by the edge of the trench and were watching the believers as they burnt in the trench and were laughing and celebrating on their success. All of a sudden, the wrath of Allah �� grasped the tyrants. How it happened was that the flames of the fire within the trench rose to such an extent that it blanketed the king and his accomplices. All of them burnt instantly and became a pile of ashes. Allah �� saved rest of the believers from the tyranny of the disbeliever and tyrant king. (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, vol. 6, pp. 2339-2340; Suraĥ al-Burūj, Part 30, Verses 4-7)

Allah �� has described this incident in the Holy Quran in these words:

�J �P#V #mno�� ¡* #�M#Z[� / %x � �

�� D �º��O �¡0#V �0�� / %A O ��D #� � ��4�7 �E �¡0 #�#V / %W � �*D #� ® �E � �� " #$ ��1�� +, � ��» #-��8 �¡0 #� #> /¼ %eD

Accursed be the people of the ditch! The people of the fuelled blazing fire. When they were sitting at its edge. And they themselves are witnesses to what they were doing to the Muslims!

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Sūraĥ al-Burūj, Verse 4-7)


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Moral lesson

1. Through this anecdote, we learn the lesson that there are usually trials and tests from Almighty Allah �� . The success for believers lies in observing contentment and patience at the time of those tests and trials.

2. We have also learnt that the sign of the true faith is that a believer never panics or goes into dilemma due to any difficulty or hardship faced in the way of Allah �� . However, whether the believer is under a garland of flowers or under a sword, drowning in water or burning in flames, in every situation, the believer remains as steadfast as a mountain on his true faith. These people see the blissful ends of their lives as believers. This is such a grand blessing that the one, who acquires it, actually acquires the excellence of a good destiny. As a reward, he attains such closeness in the court of Almighty Allah �� and Rasūlallāĥ '�� (�� * �� + �, that the angels of the heavens recite the praises of their high ranks.

59. Four admonitory women

Waĥilaĥ: She was the wife of Sayyidunā Nūḥ �� . She was honoured to be the wife of a true Prophet �� and she remained in his blessed company for many years. However, it is her bad fate that is worth taking a lesson from. She was not destined to embrace the true faith and to be among believers, and instead, due to the animosity, offensiveness and disrespectfulness towards Sayyidunā Nūḥ, she died as a non-believer and was made to enter the Hell.


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She was always busy in propagating false conspiracies against Sayyidunā Nūḥ �� among her people by saying that he is insane and crazy. Therefore, do not listen to him.

Wayīlaĥ: She was the wife of Sayyidunā Lūṭ �� . She was also blessed to be married to a highly ranked Prophet and spent many years in his company. However, she was hurled down by her bad fate to such an extent that it never let her embrace the true faith with a truthful heart. For her whole life, she remained a hypocrite and kept hiding her hypocrisy.

When the punishment of Allah �� came upon the people of Lūṭ �� , and the rain of stones started descending, at that time, Sayyidunā Lūṭ �� gathered his household and the believers and left the boundaries of the town. ‘Wayīlaĥ’ was also with him. Sayyidunā Lūṭ �� had already warned them not to look back towards the town, otherwise they will also suffer the punishment of Allah �� . Therefore, none of the companions of Sayyidunā Lūṭ �� looked back and all of them remained safe from the punishment of Allah. But as Wayīlaĥ was a hypocrite, she looked behind towards the town and disobeyed the command of Sayyidunā Lūṭ �� .When she witnessed the whole city being upside down and thrown around, she started screaming “Oh my

people!” ( ◌ هاقوماي ). The very moment these words left her tongue,

suddenly a stone of punishment hit her. She also died and was made to enter Hell.

Āsiyaĥ: Āsiyaĥ, daughter of Mazāḥim ��-�� was the wife of Pharaoh. Although Pharaoh was the worst enemy of Sayyidunā


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Mūsā �� , but when Sayyidatunā Āsiyaĥ ��-�� observed

magicians being dominated by Sayyidunā Mūsā �� , then instantly the light of faith illuminated in her heart and she embraced the true faith. When the tyrant Pharaoh came to know of this, he tormented her with severe punishments. After extreme persistence and cruelty, he persecuted her by attaching her hands and feet with metal nails to four implanted poles in such a way that she could not even move. Then after cutting-off her food and water, he placed a heavy stone on her chest and laid her in the sweltering heat of the open sun. However, despite such difficulties and extremities, she remained persevered and steadfast in her faith, sought refuge from Pharaoh’s infidelity from Almighty Allah �� and continued invoking for paradise. In this very state, she came to a blissful end and she entered in to Heaven. It is narrated by Ibn-e-Kīsān that she was taken up to Heaven alive.

Maryam: Maryam, daughter of Imrān ��-�� is the mother of Sayyidunā Īsā �� . Because Sayyidunā Īsā �� was born from her womb without a father, that’s why she was severely persecuted through accusations and taunting by the people. However, she observed patience and was excelled to such glorified ranks and honours that Almighty Allah �� has mentioned her praises and commendation many times in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran has elaborated these four women in the Suraĥ Taḥrīm. Its translation is as follow:

Allah illustrates the example of the disbelievers - the wife of Nooh

and the wife of Lut; they were bonded in marriage to two of Our


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bondmen deserving Our proximity – they then betrayed them so

they did not benefit them the least against Allah and it was

declared, “Both of you women enter the fire, along with others who

enter. And Allah illustrates an example of the Muslims - the wife of

Firaun; when she prayed, “My Rab! Build a house for me near You,

in Paradise, and deliver me from Firaun and his works, and rescue

me from the unjust people. And the example of Maryam the

daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity - We therefore

breathed into her a Spirit from Ourselves – and she testified for the

Words of her Rab and His Books, and was among the obedient. (Suraĥ Taḥrīm, Part 28, Verses 10-12)

Moral lesson

Though Waĥilaĥ and Wayīlaĥ were both wives of the Prophets �� , but due to being enticed by hypocrisy and infidelity, they became the recipients of Hell. On the contrary, the wife of such a rude pagan like Pharaoh, Sayyidatunā Āsiyaĥ ��-�� earned heaven due to her complete faith. When the truth was revealed to her, she then embraced faith in such a way that she discarded all the luxuries and joys, and despite the inconceivable agonies and pains, she remained steadfast in her faith. Without doubt, these anecdotes are admonitory.

60. Three fasts of Sayyidatunā Fāṭimaĥ ��-�� Once, Sayyidunā Ḥasan and Sayyidunā Ḥusain ��.�-�� fell ill in their childhood, hence Sayyidunā ‘Alī �� , Sayyidatunā Fāṭimaĥ ��-�� and Sayyidatunā Fizzāĥ ��-�� vowed to


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observe three fasts for the recovery of their unwell Princes. Allah �� blessed both Princes with recovery. When the time for the fulfilment of observing the vowed fasts arrived, then all of them intended to observe fast. Sayyidunā ‘Alī �� brought three ‘Sā’’ (one Sā’ is an amount of weight approximately equal to 3.5 kilograms) of barley from a Jew. One Sā’ of barley was cooked every day. But when the time of Iftār approached, the loaves made of barley were brought before the three fasting people. Then one day a needy, the second day an orphan and the third day a prisoner arrived at the door and requested for the loaves. In response, the loaves were given to the beggars all three days and they opened their fasts only with water and observed the fast of the next day. Sayyidatunā Fizzāĥ ��-�� was the housemaid of Sayyidatunā Bibī Fāṭimaĥ ��-�� . (Taqṣīr Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, pp. 1043, Sūraĥ al-Daĥr, Part 29, Verses 8-9)

In the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah �� has described this anecdote of His Beloved Prophet’s beloved daughter in the following words:

�* ��0 #-��#� �S�� ® �E ° �� #~ � p 4�� * ½p¾¿ �P�� * �p�, �F�� /�D � �-��t �� ? #� #-��#t �°� �0�� ¦�§¨�

Z� [ #�� =#t ? #� �� pGÀ � �� * Z� [ p "

#Á #>� /�D

And out of His love, they give food to the needy, the orphan and the prisoner. They say to them, ‘We give you food, only for the sake of Allah - we do not seek any reward or thanks from you.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 29, Sūraĥ al-Daĥr, Verse 8-9)


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Moral lesson

� �/� �0� 1� �(��#&� �� ! This anecdote wonderfully provides an evidence of the deep-rooted, integral and unmatchable generosity of the family of the Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, �� '�� (�� . Observing and breaking fasts only with water for three consecutive days and remaining hungry whilst donating the loaves of bread to the

beggars is not something ordinary. #$ا ب ك ا , someone has

wonderfully expressed the same thought by saying that:

Bĥūkay reĥte tĥey khud aur auron ko kĥilā dete tĥey

Kese Sābir tĥey Muhammad � k gĥarāne wāle

They personally remained hungry but used to feed others

How patient were the household of the Prophet �

61. Heaven of Shaddād

You have already read in the previous chapter, “Windstorm on people of ‘Ād”, about the lineal order of “Ād” and that the family order begins from the chief descendant of the tribe of “Ād”, ‘Uwaiṣ bin Aram bin Sām bin Nūḥ. Shaddād is among the children of “Ād” and he was a king of great magnificence and prestige. During his reign, he united all the kings under his flag and made them his subservient and obedient. He had heard about heaven from many prophets. Stirred with his rebelliousness, he wished to build a heaven in this world. With this intention, he built a mega city whose palaces were made with silver and golden bricks. Pillars of rubies and emeralds were erected in these


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buildings and identical floors were paved in rooms. Sharp pearls replaced the stones of this magnificent city, flowing streams of jewels were instigated in the vicinity of every palace and various types of trees were planted for adornment and shade. In summary, this rebel gathered all the assets and every type of article of comfort and luxury of heaven according to his imagination in this city. When this city was completed, King Shaddād embarked towards the city along with his court’s monarchs. When he approached nearby, a terrifying sound echoed from the skies, by which Allah �� killed Shaddād along with his peers, and he could not even see his own self-made heaven.

During the reign of Sayyidunā Amīr Mu’āwiyaĥ �� , ‘Abdullāĥ bin Qilābaĥ reached this city through the desert of Adan while searching for his lost camel. He witnessed all the decors and luxuries of this city but did not find any dweller in it. He took some pearls from there and departed. When this news reached Sayyidunā Amīr Mu’āwiyaĥ �� , he then called ‘Abdullāĥ bin Qilābaĥ and inquired everything from him about this occurrence. He revealed everything that he witnessed. Afterwards, Sayyidunā Amīr Mu’āwiyaĥ �� called Sayyidunā Ka’ab-e-Aḥbār �� and asked him, ‘Does any such city exist in the world?’ He replied in affirmation and informed that its mention has also been made in the Holy Quran. ‘This city was built by Shaddād bin Ād but they all perished by the punishment of Almighty Allah �� and not even one person from these people remained. He further revealed that during your


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reign, a Muslim who will have blue eyes, a short height and a mole on his eyebrow will enter this city while searching for his camel.’ Meanwhile, ‘Abdullāĥ bin Qilābaĥ arrived. After seeing him, Sayyidunā Ka’ab-e-Aḥbār said, ‘by Allah, the person who will see the heaven made by Shaddād; is this very person. (Taqṣīr Khazāin-ul-’Irfān, pp 1069-1070, Sūraĥ al-Fajr, Part 30, verse 8)

The Holy Quran portrays the people of ‘Ād and other impudent people in the following verses:

?� �� =�} �Â4 �± �J ��C �d#�8 � �¡� ��8 /%Ã%WD �S � �� º��O �¡� �- �� /%Ã%eD H �Ä�� ?� � ¢�7Å#Æ � ��#7f ��

�¡Z� q �� /%Ã%�D �* �¡0 #-�K �!� �w�� 0#8� �� =Ç �� ¡� �0��8 /%Ã%� �*D ��0 �.=�C ] �O �¡��}*�Z[� È /@�D �!� �w

��

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��C � ��4�C �¡� ��1�� È /@�D � �m ��C ��4�7 �E �d#�8 � �Ê0 �F �3� �w �. %Ë /@rD

Did you not see how did your Rab deal with (the tribe of) ‘Ād? (And) the tall giants of Arm? Like whom no one else was born in the cities. And the tribe of Thamud, who hewed rocks in the valley. And with Firaun, who used to crucify. Those who rebelled in the cities, and who then spread a lot of turmoil in them. Therefore your Rab struck them hard with the means of punishment.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūraĥ Fajr, Verses 6-13)

Moral lesson

Almighty Allah �� extremely dislikes transgression and arrogance of people. Therefore, it is the custom of Allah �� that every arrogant and transgressed nation that tried to spread


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insolence, oppression and chaos in the world through their transgressions and cruelties, the wrath of Almighty Allah �� was revealed unto them in the form of a punishment of some sort which ruined and destroyed them. Shaddād and the people of ‘Ād became recipients of the rage of Allah �� due to their insolence and arrogance. When their oppressions and tyrannies exceeded to such an extent that every particle of the world bubbled up due to their sins and misdeeds, and people were hailed by their misdeeds and sins, then Allah �� destroyed all these tyrant oppressors and erased them from the pages of history like an incorrect word. Therefore, we should gain an admonitory guidance from their peaks, failures and their subsequent destructions from the punishments of Allah �� . Because the sole aim of quoting such anecdotes of destructions of these nations by the Holy Quran is that the believers of the Holy Quran listen to these incidents, take heed, remain horrified and shivering due to the fear of Allah �� . It is mandatory for Muslims to recite the Holy Quran abundantly, read its translation and take heed from the destruction of these nations. One shall always keep seeking pardon and repentance from Almighty Allah �� and shall always protect himself from all sorts of wrong beliefs and misdeeds. One shall continue striving for virtuous deeds and shall not boast upon by being arrogant and transgressor over the possession of wealth and riches. On the contrary, one shall always observe modesty and humbleness whilst maintaining the fear of Allah �� and wherever possible, one shall stay persistent in the performance of good deeds.


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62. Aṣḥāb-ul-Fīl (people of the elephant) and the flock

of the swallows [Abābīl]

Abraĥa was the King of Yemen and Ḥabshaĥ and he had erected a church in the city of ‘Ṣan’ā’. He had a desire that the performers of Hajj, instead of going to Makkaĥ-tul-Mukarramaĥ should visit the city of Ṣan’ā; circumambulate [perform Tawaf] around this church and the congregation of Hajj should take place here. When this matter passed the people of ‘Arab, especially the tribe of Quraīsh, they found it very distressing. Therefore, a person from the Quraīsh tribe of Banū Kinānaĥ became excessively raged and travelled to Ṣan’ā. In retaliation, he entered the church of Abraĥa and urinated and excreted there. He contaminated the church’s walls and floors with the excretion. King Abraĥa became extremely infuriated over this action and he swore an oath to demolish the Ka’baĥ. With this intention, Abraĥa mobilized an army and departed. This army consisted of many elephants and their leader was a gigantic elephant whose name was Maḥmūd. Abraĥa attacked Makkaĥ-tul-Mukarramaĥ and captivated all the animals of the people of Makkaĥ, among which also included the camels of Abdul Muṭṭalib. The same very Abdul Muṭṭalib who is the grandfather of the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,, the trustee of the Ka’baĥ and the leader of the people of Makkaĥ. He was a man of strong build and was a sublime and awe-inspiring person. He went to Abraĥa who treated him with great respect and inquired from him the purpose of his visit. In response, he asked for his camels to be returned. Hearing this, Abraĥa said, ‘I am very surprised. As I have mobilized a huge army to demolish


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your Ka’baĥ which is a very sanctified and sacred place for you and your ancestors. But you did not say anything with regard to it and are only asking for your camels.’ Abdul Muṭṭalib replied, ‘I am the owner of my camels only, so I am asking for the camels. The One Who is the Owner of Ka’baĥ, He Himself will protect it. I do not have any worry for it. His camels were returned by Abraĥa. Then he said to the people of Quraīsh that ‘mount on the crest of mountains and hill tops to take refuge’. Therefore, they acted upon his suggestion. After this, Abdul Muṭṭalib held the door of the Holy Ka’baĥ and desperately wept and invoked for the protection of the Ka’baĥ in the court of Allah �� . Then he too joined his people after completing his supplication. In the early hours of morning, Abraĥa gathered his army and ordered an assault on the sanctified Ka’baĥ. He stood the elephants in order to move. However, the leader of the elephants Maḥmūd, who was the largest of all, did not move towards the Ka’baĥ. He moved towards wherever he was directed, but when they tried directing him towards the blessed Ka’baĥ, he would sit down. In the meanwhile, Almighty Allah �� sent a flock of birds from the sea, each one holding three pebbles, two in their paws and one in their beak. The flock of swallows [Abābīl] hailed down the stones with such intensity that the army of Abraĥa lost their consciousness and started fleeing. Although the pebbles were very small in size, in essence, they were the stones of the wrath of Allah �� . When the swallows [Abābīl] dropped these pebbles, they pierced the elephant riders by going through their metal helmets, through their heads, then through their bodies before tearing through the


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bodies of their elephants and dropping on the ground. The name of every person was inscribed on the pebble by which he was killed. In this way, the whole army of Abraĥa was destroyed and the sacred Ka’baĥ remained protected. After the advent of this incident, the people of Arab named that particular year as ‘Ām-ul-Fīl’ [the year of elephant]. The blessed birth of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, took place fifty days after this incident. (Taqṣīr Khazāin-ul-’Irfān, pp. 1083; Sūraĥ al-Fīl, Part 30)

Narrating this incident, Almighty Allah �� revealed a Suraĥ of the Holy Quran by the name of Suraĥ Fīl, hence;

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#� ��4 �± / �J4�7©�}�D � �*

�J4�8��8�� p�, �5 ��4

�7 �E �J �F ��/rD /È �J4��Q �Ì ! �� 6 � � �Í�n �R ��4 ��=�}xD �Â�� ± #��7 ��Q�Î

/Ï �'0#c

��AD

O dear Prophet, did you not see how did your Rab deal with the people of the elephant? Did He not put their scheme into ruin? And send flocks of birds upon them, which hit them with stones of baked clay, So He made them like the leftover devoured leaves of farms?

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūraĥ Fīl, Verse 1-5)

Moral lesson

We have come to know from this anecdote that similar to the Holy Quran, the responsibility of safeguarding the sacred Ka’baĥ has also been taken by Almighty Allah �� Himself.


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Therefore, no pagan force can destroy the Holy Quran, nor can it demolish the Ka’baĥ because Almighty Allah �� is the Preserver and Defender of them both.

63. Prediction of the conquest of Makkaĥ

At the time of his migration, in the darkness of the night, the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, bade farewell to his beloved motherland in a state of utmost distress whilst in the company of his loyal and faithful friend, Sayyidunā Ṣiddīq-e-Akbar �� . He departed from Makkaĥ laying a wistful glance on the Ka’baĥ, saying the following words before setting off for Madina: ‘O Makkaĥ! I swear by Allah! In my affectionate sight, you are the dearest to me out of all cities of the world. If my tribe had not exiled me, I would have never left you.’

At that time, it was beyond imagination that the one who is departing farewell in such a condition of dejection, will honourably return back to the city of Makkaĥ after only eight years with dignity and rank of a great conqueror and will enter the holy house of Allah �� , elevating its grandeur with the elegance and eminence of his prostrations.

However, what took place was that the people of Makkaĥ broke the ‘Treaty of Ḥudaybiyaĥ’. They betrayed the peace treaty and committed a breach of promise. They relentlessly killed the people of Banū-Khuza’aĥ’s tribe which allied with the Final Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,. These innocent people of Banū-Khuza’aĥ were unable to face this brutal attack of the people of Makkaĥ, so


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they fled to the sacred Ka’baĥ. But these ferocious people obliterated the honour of the house of Allah �� and caused the cruel bloodshed of Banū-Khuza’aĥ in the Holy Ka’baĥ too. In this attack, twenty-three people of the Banū-Khuza’aĥ were killed. In this way; the people of Makkaĥ broke the ‘Treaty of Ḥudaybiyaĥ’ and this was the preface of the conquest of Makkaĥ.

Therefore, on 10th of Ramadan of 8 A.H, the Noble Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, mobilized the blessed army of ten thousand and moved towards Makkaĥ. While departing Madina, the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, and all the blessed companions were in the state of fast, but when He '�� (�� * �� + �, reached the place called ‘Kadīd’, he asked for water and openly drank it sitting on his horse whilst showing this to the entire army. Subsequently, everyone was ordered to break the fast. Thus the Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,

himself and his companions postponed fasting due to the journey and Jihad. (Bukhārī Sharīf, Kitāb-ul-Maghāzī, Bāb Ghazwaĥ-tul-Fatḥ fī

Ramazān, Vol. 5, pp. 146, Ḥadīš 4276)

The progeny of the founder of Ka’baĥ, the Holy Prophet �� + �,

'�� (�� * splendidly entered the city of Makkaĥ in a state of dignity and triumph. He then ordered that his flag should be

hoisted at the place of Ḥujūn ( ة ن ج ل ع م ال ) and laid instructions for

Khalid bin Walīd �� to enter with his army from the upper side of Makkaĥ, from the area of ‘Kuddā’. (Bukhārī Sharīf, Kitāb-ul-Maghāzī, Vol. 5, pp. 147, Ḥadīš 4280)

Just after landing on the holy land of Makkaĥ, the first command that the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, made was the following


246

announcement. Its every word was saturated with numerous blessings: ‘The one who surrenders his weapon, safety is for him. The one who shuts his door, safety is for him. The one who enters the Ka’baĥ, safety is for him.’

On this occasion, Sayyidunā Abbas �� suggested; ‘O Prophet of Allah, Abū Sufyān is one self-proud person. Please pass some distinctive words for him that may cater his pride. In response, the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, stated that ‘the one who enters the house of Abū Sufyān, safety is for him’.

When the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, entered Makkaĥ as a conqueror, he was riding upon his she-camel ‘Qaṣwā’ and he was wearing a black coloured Imama (turban). And it is stated in Bukhārī that there was a helmet on his blessed head. Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Siddique �� was beside him on one side and Sayyidunā Usaīd bin Ḥuḍaīr �� was on the other side. He

� ��* �� + �,'�� (�� was surrounded by a huge passionate army who were well-equipped with arms and in the midst of this was the

Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,. Despite the splendour and awe of this penetrating gathering, the captivating state of humbleness of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, was such that he was reciting Suraĥ al-Fatḥ whilst riding upon his she-camel, with his blessed head bowed in such a way that it frequently came in contact with the packsaddle of his she-camel. This fascinating state of his was to demonstrate his gratitude, humbleness and obedience in the glorified court of Allah �� . (Zarqānī, Vol. 2, pp. 320-321)


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Entry in Baītullaĥ (House of Allah)

Then he �,'�� (�� * �� + proceeded to Baītullaĥ, riding on his she-camel and making Sayyidunā ‘Usāmaĥ bin Zayd �� sit behind him. Sayyidunā Bilal �� and the key holder of the Ka’baĥ, Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān bin Ṭalḥa �� were also accompanying the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,. He made his she-camel sit in Masjid al-Ḥaram, performed Tawaf of the Ka’baĥ and kissed the Ḥajar al-Aswad. (Bukhārī Sharīf, Kitāb-ul-Maghāzī, Bāb

Dakhul al-Nabī �, vol. 5, pp. 148-149, Ḥadīš 4289)

At that time, 360 idols were displayed in a row inside the Ka’baĥ. The Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, stood up himself and started demolishing the idols with the edge of the stick he

was holding, whilst reciting the verse of the Quran �¢ � �� * # �¢�n£� �Gk ��

9 #J �5� ��, meaning, ‘the truth has arrived and the falsehood has

vanished; indeed falsehood had to vanish. (Bukhārī Sharīf, Kitāb-ul-Maghāzī, vol. 5, pp 148, Ḥadīš 4287)

Then, all those idols that were placed inside the Ka’baĥ, the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, ordered for them to be removed. When the Ka’baĥ was eventually purified from all of the idols, then he '�� (�� * �� + �, went inside the Ka’baĥ with Sayyidunā ‘Usāmaĥ bin Zayd �� , Sayyidunā Bilal �� and Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān bin Ṭalḥa �� and recited the Tākbeer in all corners and also offered two Rak’at of Salah. (Bukhārī, vol. 1, pp. 218; Bukhārī, vol. 2, pp. 614)


248

When he '�� (�� * �� + �, came out of the Ka’baĥ, he called Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān bin Ṭalḥa �� and handed over the key

of the Ka’baĥ to him and said ة تال ة اخال ه خذو ظالم ك امن ه نع ي 2

م ا2 ,

meaning, now take this key and it will remain with you all forever. Only he who is an utter oppressor will snatch this key from you. (Zarqānī, Vol. 2, pp. 239)

The court of the Merciful Prophet � for everyone

After this, the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, conducted the first congregation in the house of Allah �� , which not only contained a great number of Muslim soldiers, but many ordinary and prominent figures of infidels and pagans also attended it. In this gathering, the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, delivered a sermon and then addressed the people of Makkaĥ and said ‘do you know how I am going to treat you today?’ Due to this alarming and fearful question, all the attendees became confounded and began to tremble in fear. But after observing the prophetic (lenient) way of the Merciful Prophet �� + �,

'�� (�� *, they collectively said اخ م وابن اخ ي ر ك

م ي ر ك , meaning, ‘you

are a kind brother and the son of a kind father’. After hearing this, the Conqueror of Makkaĥ � ��* �� + �,'�� (�� replied in his

compassionate manner;

يك ب عل ي ث ت 2لقاء ط بوا انتم اله فاذ وم م ال i.e. there

is no charge unto you all, go; you all are free. (Sharḥ-ul-Zarqānī, Bāb-e-Ghazwaĥ-tul-Fatḥ-ul-A’ẓam, vol. 3, pp 449; Sunan Kubra, vol. 9, pp. 200, Ḥadīš 18276)


249

Such an unexpected and sudden merciful reply caused the eyes of

the criminals to well up in shame. The slogans of ال

ا$# 2

ممد رسو ا2 ا$#

ل

from the tongues of infidels caused a blissful shower of divine light all over the Ka’baĥ. Such an amazing revolution took place in the sights of oppressors that the whole environment changed, and all of a sudden, it seemed as:

Jaĥān tārīk tha ẓulmat kadaĥ tĥā sakht kālā tĥā

Koī parday se kia nikla, gĥar gĥar ujala tĥā

The darkness of despondency was when prevailing intense and leech Nevertheless, an exceptional crack of divine light,

illuminated the entire niche

History of conquest of Makkaĥ

Many differences of opinion exist with regard to the date of the conquest of Makkaĥ. According to Imām Baīĥaqī, it occurred on the 13th of Ramadan, Imām Muslim has reported it as the 16th of Ramadan and Imām Ahmad has stated it as the 18th of Ramadan. However, Muhammad bin Ishaq has written with the source of many learned scholars that the conquest of Makkaĥ took place on

the 20th of Ramadan, 8 A.H. ( وا$#fاعلم تعا ) (Sharh-uz-Zarqani, vol. 3,

pp. 396-397)

The predictions and glad tidings of the conquest of Makkaĥ are mentioned in few verses of the Holy Quran. Among these are also in Suraĥ Naṣr where Almighty Allah has said:


250

�¦�§¨� #gÐ�t �Gk �� O �� * / #ÑP�1��@D �* �¦

�§¨� �!� �¡ �� "#$ #M�� ¤� �� µ�� / � p�� 0C��D

� �t �� %Ò #Óa�b� �PF� �* �d��8 � ��-�n �R Ô ��Õ ��C/Ï �p8� � �0�} �� :°rD

When the help and victory of Allah come, and you see people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, then proclaim the Purity of your Rab while praising Him, and seek forgiveness from

Him; indeed He is the Most Acceptor of Repentance. [Kanz-ul-Īmān

(Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūraĥ Naṣr, Verses 1-3)

Moral lesson

The moral lesson we gain from the conquest of Makkaĥ is that the display of forgiveness, mercy and kindness expressed by the Noble Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, at that occasion cannot not be found in the history of any conqueror of the world.

If we consider this issue deeply, we will find that there were so many tyrants of the Quraīsh present there who had frequently

pelted stones at the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,. Among them were also those ferocious tyrants who had attempted to martyr the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, many times and those merciless and relentless oppressors were also present there who had martyred the blessed teeth and smeared the enlightened face of the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, with his holy blood. Those dissolute infidels were also there who had disheartened the Merciful Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, through their slandering and abusive language. Also stood were those wild and diabolical


251

characters that had choked the blessed throat of the Holy Prophet ��+ �, '�� (�� * �� by tying it with a long shawl. Among these people were also those embodiments of tyrannies who had struck the Princess of the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,, Sayyidatunā Zaīnab ��-�� with spear, causing her to fall down from her camel and to have a miscarriage. Those cruel and brutal habitants were also there due to whom, many aggressive attacks and oppressive raids had caused recurrent upheaval in the city of Madina. Those ruthless tyrants were also present that had killed the beloved uncle of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,, Sayyidunā Ḥamzaĥ �� . Those that had cut off his nose and ears, extracted his eyes and chewed on his liver were also a part of the congregation. Those heartless and merciless people were there too who had tortured the self-devoted

ardent followers of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,, Sayyidunā Bilal, Sayyidunā Ṣuĥayb, Sayyidunā Ammār, Sayyidunā Khabbāb, Sayyidunā Khubaīb, Sayyidunā Zayd bin Dashnaĥ '�-�� by tying them with ropes, cracking them with whips, forcing them to lay on sweltering sand, some were made to sleep on blazing coals and others were hung and martyred. Now all these violent oppressors were shame stricken and their hair stood on end due to fear and their innerselves were shivering with the consequence of their ill deeds. The intensity and vigour and the amount of tyrannies that they had inflicted on the innocent Muslims had amounted to mountains. Today they were standing as criminals helplessly trembling in front of ten thousand Muĥājirīn and Anṣār. They were contemplating in their hearts that perhaps today


252

we will be fed to dogs and our flesh will be fed to crows and vultures. The furiously angry army of the Anṣār and Muĥājirīn will assassinate our children, destroy our coming generations and ravage our dwellings and towns. However, the Gracious and Merciful Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, announced this substantial pardoning by saying, ‘Revenge, what for? Retribution, what for? Today there is no accusation unto you.

Oh skies, speak! Oh earth, inform us! Oh moon and sun, you tell us! Have you ever seen or heard of such a kind-hearted king and conqueror who has ever come on the face of this earth? Listen carefully! You will definitely have no answer except that there has been no such conqueror and neither will ever be. Because, the Honourable Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, is incomparable, unique, and unparalleled in his every attribute.

Oh Muslims, these are the blessed virtues and glorious manners of our Noble Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,. Therefore, it is necessary for us Muslims to act upon these sacred attributes and good manners of the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, by removing the fury of revenge and vengeance from our hearts. Instead, we shall make an effort to express forbearance and forgiveness towards our enemies. This is because it is the Sunnaĥ of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, as well as moral guidance for the Ummaĥ from the Great Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� . You would

have read this Ḥadīš in previous pages that ن ك واعف من قطع ل ص عم

ك ظلم fك من اساء واحسن ا ; meaning, mend relations with those who

try to break off ties with you, forgive those who oppress you and


253

show kindness and behave good towards those who misbehave with you. The Holy Quran also mentions of very glorified and raised ranks and distinctions for those who opt for forbearance and forgiveness for their enemies. Almighty Allah has stated:

�* ,�C� �� + �!�. �¤� �� 9%

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Sūraĥ al-‘Imrān, Verse 134)

Meaning, those who forgive the mistakes of people are among the beloved of Allah and are those of high degrees. May Allah �� bless every Muslim with the ability to follow the character and the blessed manners of the Most Dignified Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,.

( ي م ا )

64. Cure of sorcery

It is narrated that a Jew called Labīd bin A’ṣam and his daughters performed sorcery on the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,. The effects of it appeared on the blessed body of Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, but it could not affect his heart, intellect or beliefs. After a few days, Sayyidunā Jibrīl �� came in the blessed court of the Holy prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, and said that a Jew has done sorcery on you and the items used for sorcery is hidden under a stone in so and so well. The Holy Prophet �� + �,

'�� (�� * sent Sayyidunā ‘Alī �� to the well. When he drew out the water of the well and lifted up the stone, he found beneath it a bag made of date palm tree leaves. Within this bag, there were


254

some of the comb-entangled blessed hairs of the Noble Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,, some broken teeth of the comb, a rope of the bow of an arrow which had eleven knots in it and there were eleven needles pierced into a wax-made puppet. All these objects were found beneath the stone which were presented before the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,.

After this incidence, the two Sūraĥs of the Holy Quran, ( �� J#V #O0 #.

�8 �¢�7�1�� 3 �= ) and ( J#V �� #O0 #. �8 �¤� �� 3 �= ) were revealed. Both of these

Sūraĥs contain eleven verses each. By reciting each verse, one knot would untie and when eleven verses were recited, all of the knots were untied and the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, was fully recovered. (Taqṣīr Khazāin-ul-’Irfān, pp 1098) All items that were used for doing magic were buried down the earth.

Moral lesson

All those amulets and spells which do not contain any words of Kufr and Shirk are permissible. Similarly, making some knots and reciting some verses of the Holy Quran and sacred names of Almighty Allah �� and then blowing on it is also permissible. A huge number of companions [Ṣaḥābaĥ] and Tābi’īn are of the same opinion as well. Moreover, it is also narrated in a Ḥadīš by Sayyidatunā ‘Ayesha ��-�� that when any member of prophet’s family fell ill, the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, used to recite these two Sūraĥs and then blow on the sick. (Tafṣīr Khazāin-ul-’Irfān, pp 763, Part 30, al-Falaq, Verse 4)


255

It is also mentioned in a Ḥadīš of Muslim and Bukhārī that when Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, used to go to bed at night, he '�� (�� * �� + �, used to blow on his both blessed hands and used to rub his hands on his blessed body from head to toe up to the access of his blessed hands. He '�� (�� * �� + �, would repeat this action three times. (Tafṣīr Khazāin-ul-’Irfān, pp 763, Part 30, Sūraĥ-al-Naas, Verse 6)

The summary of this whole discussion is that ( �¢�7�1�� 3 �=�8

#O0 #.�� J#V)

and ( �¤� �� 3 �=�8 #O0 #.�� J#V) are such two Sūraĥs of the Holy Quran that

are the tested and assured treatments of all acts of sorcery, diseases prompted due to black magic or due to the influence of an evil eye. Write down these verses, make an amulet and wear it around the neck. Blow on a sick person after repetitive recitation of these verses and blow on food, water and medicine that a patient is using. All diseases especially the sorcery and black magic will be vanished and the patient will be fully

recovered, ��$%#�! �"��&� �� . Likewise, there are also special attributes of all other Sūraĥs of the Holy Quran which have been mentioned in detail in our book, ‘Jannatī Zaīwar’ and we have also authorized every practical Sunni Muslim to have practical execution of these mentioned Awrād [incantations]. Therefore Sunni Muslims should get benefits from these Quranic Awrād and should also share these benefits with other Muslims. It is

mentioned in a Ḥadīš that ( الاس نفع ي من الاس ي خ ) meaning, the best

person is the one who benefits people. (Kashf-ul-Khafā-o-Muzil-lil-

Ilbas, Vol. 1, pp 348, Ḥadīš 1252) ( وا$# fم تعا

اعل )


256

Sūraĥ Falaq

J#V #O0 #.�� 3 �=�8 �¢�7�1�� / %@D ! �� g

�Ö �� ¢�7 �M / %�D �* ! �� g�Ö �¢ �F��× ��O �� V �* �m / %rD �* ! ��

� �g�Ö �µf �1 � � �� #�� / %xD �* ! �� g

�Ö �� F� �~ ��O �� ~ /ÏAD

Proclaim (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), ‘I take refuge of the One Who creates the daybreak.’ ‘From the evil of His entire creation’ ‘And from the evil of the matter that darkens when it sets.’ ‘And from the evil of the witches who blow into knots.’ ‘And from the evil of the envier when he is envious of me’.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūraĥ Falaq, Verses 1-5)

Sūraĥ Naas

#O0 #.�� J#V / �¤� �� 3 �=�8@D / �¤� �� d�7��D / �¤� �� ;< ��rD ! �� %Ø �¤� �0F �0�� g�Ö

/È �¤� �� Å£�xD #¤ �0F �0#� ] �w

�� / �¤� �� * #� #Ù �� AD /Ï �¤� �� * �� Q£� �! ��WD

Proclaim (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), ‘I take refuge of the One Who is Rab of all mankind.’ ‘The King of all mankind.’ ‘The God of all mankind.’ ‘From the evil of the one who instils evil thoughts in the hearts – and stays hidden.’ ‘Those who instil evil thoughts into the hearts of men.’ ‘Among the jinns and men.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūraĥ Naas, Verses 1-6)

65. A supplication told by Sayyidunā Khiḍr

Allama Muhammad bin Sammāk �� * �� 2� �3 �� was a great scholar of Ḥadīš and a great friend of Allah �� possessing lots of


257

marvels [Karāmat). Once he fell seriously ill and a few of his disciples took his urine sample to show it to a Christian doctor. On the way, they met a beautifully dressed saint and fragrance was emanating from him. The dignified saint inquired, ‘Where are you people going?’ They replied that Muhammad bin Sammāk �� * �� 2� �3 �� has fallen seriously ill and we have taken this urine sample of his and are taking it to so and so doctor.

After hearing their words, he said, � �/� �0�1� �(��#&� �� for a friend of Allah �� , you are going to seek help from an enemy of Allah �� ? Throw away this urine sample and return back and tell Muhammad bin Sammāk �� * �� 2� �3 �� to recite these verses by placing his hand on the aching limb and blow on it:

�* ��¢�n£��8 #° � � t�� * �' � � t �

�¢�n£��8 9%

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 15, Sūraĥ Banī Isrāiīl, Verse 105)

After saying this, the saint disappeared and people went back to Sammāk �� * �� 2� �3 �� and revealed him the whole incident. So he read those two verses by placing his hand on the place of pain and all of a sudden, he was cured. Afterwards, Muhammad bin Sammāk

� �3 �� * �� 2 asked people whether they have the knowledge about the identity of the person who told them these words? People replied ‘no’ and said that ‘we did not recognize him’. Then Muhammad bin Sammāk �� * �� 2� �3 �� said ‘that saint was Sayyidunā Khiḍr �� .’ (Tafsīr Madārik al-Tanzīl, Vol. 3, pp 195; Part

15, Suraĥ Banī Isrāiīl, Verse 105)


258

Such a small extract from the verse of the Holy Quran is an authentic and proven remedy for every illness. It shuns out the illness if it is recited on an ailing part of the body by placing hand over it. But the pre-requisite condition is that the person who is reciting should be practical in following the Sharī’aĥ, should be honest and should be steadfast on earning through Ḥalāl means. Undoubtedly, for the remedy of ailments, this

verse is among the wonders of the Holy Quran. ( وا$# fم تعا

اعل )

تعا وصل ا$#f

o خي

د و هق خل مم

عي اج بهوصح ل ا

The importance and manners of the recitation of the

Glorious Quran

ب هري عن أ رة رض ا$#

fعـن تعا

ا$# :ه قال

رسول

قال صل ا$#

fتعا

علي م ل ه وا

القر :وسل

آن نزل

o و خ

ل وحراا وم :جه سة أ

كم ح�

م ومتش .ثال ابه وأ

وا ال

`حل

فأ

وحرموا ال

ل رام وعملو �

كم مح ا بال

منو وا

ا بال شاب

و واع ه مت م تب .ثال ا بال

(Mishkāt-ul-Maṣābīḥ, Kitāb-ul-Īmān, Vol. 1, pp. 99, Ḥadīš 182)

It has been narrated by Sayyidunā Abū Hurairaĥ �� that the Holy Prophet said that Quran was revealed on five perspectives:

1. Ḥalāl (legitimate) 4. Metaphoric and


259

2. Ḥarām (illegitimate)

3. Commandment

5. Allusions

So you people should consider the Ḥalāl [legitimate] as Ḥalāl and Ḥarām [illegitimate] as Ḥarām, follow the commandments of the Quran [Muḥkam] and believe in metaphorical explanations [Mutashābaĥāt] and be reprimanded from the allusions and anecdotes of the previous Ummaĥs.

To be well aware on the abovementioned five perspectives of the Holy Quran, it is mandatory that one recites the Holy Quran with deep understanding again and again. That’s why the recitation of the Glorious Quran contains such abundant rewards that ten virtues are earned by reciting just one word. For example, if

someone only recites ‘( م and if the reciter’s recitation is (ال

accepted, then thirty virtues will be attained because the reciter has recited three words of the Holy Quran.

Few manners of recitation

1. After doing Miswāk Sharīf and proper Wuḍū, one should sit

down facing Qiblaĥ. After reciting ( اعـوذ طم ي الرج طن ي الش من با$# بـسم طم ي الرح الرحن ا$# ), one should comprehend deeply on the

words and meanings of the words of Holy Quran and shall engage himself in the recitation of the Holy Quran by observing immense concentration along with extreme humbleness, meekness and fear of Allah �� . He shall neither recite it very loudly, nor in a very low voice but recite it in a moderate voice.


260

2. It is better to recite the holy Quran by looking at it because it is also an act of worship to look at the Holy Quran. Moreover, there is also double the reward in the execution of multiple worships. It is stated in a Ḥadīš that the person who recited the Holy Quran by looking at it, two thousands virtues will be written in his account and the one who recited orally will get one thousands virtues written in his account. (Kanz-ul-Iman, Vol. 1, pp 260, Ḥadīš 2301)

3. One shall not complete the recitation of the Holy Quran within three days, but shall try to complete it in at least three, seven or forty days so that the meanings and contexts of the recited verses can be understood properly.

4. One shall recite the Holy Quran slowly and calmly, recite it properly by following the phonetics and intonation patterns of the Arabic language. Almighty Allah �� has said:

¼ Zp q4�}=� } ��=#�� J��} � �*/xD

‘And recite the Qur’an slowly in stages’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 29, Sūraĥ al-Muzzammil, Verse 4)

There are many advantages of reciting the Holy Quran in this manner. First of all, it justifies the dignity of the Holy Quran; and secondly, the main objective of the recitation of the Holy Quran is to ponder upon the marvels and wonders of the Holy Quran and comprehend and understand the meanings of the verses of the Holy Quran, which is almost impossible to achieve without reciting it in this manner.


261

5. One shall keep an eye on the meaning of every word during the recitation, shall try to understand the warnings and glad tidings, shall try to imagine himself as the addressee in every address, shall consider himself as the one being commanded of doing good and forbidding evil in the verses and shall consider himself being warned in the warnings mentioned in the stories and narrations of the Holy Quran. While reciting the Holy Quran, one shall also make a firm intention of acting upon the orders and directives and refraining from the actions that are forbidden.

6. During the recitation, whenever there is a mention of heaven or blessings of Allah �� , or whenever there is a mention of peace and protection of faith or whenever there is a mention of a desired thing; one shall stop and supplicate. Moreover, wherever there is a mention of hell and its punishments or any such fearful thing, one shall stop and seek refuge from Almighty Allah �� from such things and shall try to burst

out with tears from the fear of Allah �� . If he cannot cry, he shall at least try to make a face similar to crying.

7. Have a frequent recitation of the Holy Quran at the hours of night because it is the time when mind is in peace and heart is in the state of tranquillity. The best time for the recitation of the Holy Quran is the last ten days of Ramadan and the first ten days of Zul-Ḥajja. After these mentioned days, there is preference for the recitation on Friday, then Monday and then on Thursday. The best time for the recitation in the


262

hours of night is the time between Maghrib and Isha, after that the time after half night has passed. During the day time, the morning time is the best time for the recitation of the Holy Quran.

8. One shall recite the Holy Quran with good melodious articulation by observing the principles of the Arabic intonation such as pauses, stresses, etc. However, keep in mind that for the purpose of melodious articulation, musical tunes and their accents shall not be imitated at all.

9. During the recitation, keep in mind the dignity and reverence of the Holy Quran and keep the context of the following verse in mind:

� � � t�� 0� � :° �P�� J �� ® �E ��= #�� w � 9 �¦

�§¨� �� 4¶ �M ! �� pE �� P#�� p� �>� �M

Had We sent down this Quran upon a mountain, you would have then surely seen it bowed down, blown to bits by the fear of Allah.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 28, Sūraĥ al-Hasher, Verse 21)

Recite the Holy Quran with utmost fear of Allah �� and with extreme humbleness.

10. All those verses that suit the personal context of the reciter should be frequently recited and the reciter shall assume to be at such a stage that he is reciting these verses in front of Allah �� in his blessed court. When he reaches such stage, then he shall assume as if Almighty Allah �� is addressing


263

to him. The excellence and heights of good recitation lies in the philosophy that ‘when the reciter starts experiencing the attributes of Allah �� in His book [Holy Quran].’ But this esteemed status is only for Ṣiddīqīn [highest level of Aūliya] and not everyone can attain such status.

11. It is better to recite in a medium voice in loneliness. But if there is a danger of ostentation, disturbance of other people offering Salah or if there are some people indulged in chatting and the assumption is that they will not listen to the recitation of the Holy Quran, then under these circumstances, it is better to do a silent recitation. For such instances, it has been narrated in Ahadiš that ‘a hidden virtuous deed is seventy times more rewarding than an apparent virtuous deed.’

However, it is very essential to observe the manners while reciting the Holy Quran so that the countless blessings of this world and the Hereafter may be attained. And one shall not at all be careless of the manners because such carelessness is a cause of a huge deprivation of religious blessings.

هم # اج الل

ي من ناعل د قي الص

و2

ت

من ناعل

مي غافلي ال

ا سيد باه

سلي مر ال

صل ا$#fي تعا

و ه عل

o

ج هب صح و ل ا

عي أ

264

Marvels of the Holy

Quran

Part - II

265

%

و م مبسم�

مصل اي� مدا و

Preface by the author

With the blessings of Allah �� , after the publication of ‘Wonders in the Holy Quran’ [‘Ajāib-ul-Quran] which is an excellent anthology of sixty-five topics consisting of the wonders mentioned in the Holy Quran; now once again a new collection of seventy topics consisting of more strange and thrilling anecdotes have been added in this edition. Furthermore, the relevant verses of the holy Quran in the context of these anecdotes along with their translation, annotation, contextual perspectives, theoretical references and moral lessons have been added here and is presented to the readers with the name of ‘Marvels in the Holy Quran’ (Gharāyib-ul-Quran).

Wonders in the Holy Quran and Marvels in the Holy Quran—both of these books on the theme of Quranic subjects are the fruition of my rigorous efforts that I have put in practice during the days of my illness. May the Benevolent and Merciful Allah �� bless my publications with the status of acceptance! Moreover, may Allah �� make it a source of my forgiveness and rewards for the Hereafter as well as for my parents, teachers, students and disciples. May Allah �� bless my beloved grandson Maulana


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Faīz-ul-Ḥaq by enriching him in his good deeds as well as the prosperity and understanding of knowledge in this world and in the Hereafter, as he supported me throughout in the editing and

publication of this book. ي م ا

I humbly request the readers to keep praying for my full recovery so that after being fully recovered, I continue the noble act of preaching Ahadith and the writing of religious books.

ا$# ل صلكيونعم الو وحسبهزويبعر ا$# o كوما ذلfتعا o بيه ممد ح

وال اجعي

Abdul Muṣṭafā ‘Āẓmī Gĥausī, 23rd Ramadan, 1402 A.H

267

%

مصل و ممدا و

اي� مبسم�

1. Creation of Sayyidunā Ādam

Sayyidunā Ādam �� neither has a mother nor a father and instead, Almighty Allah �� created him from soil. Therefore, it is narrated that when Almighty Allah �� intended to create him, then He �� ordered Sayyidunā ‘Izrāīl �� to bring a handful of soil from the earth. In order to fulfil the commandment of Allah �� , when Sayyidunā ‘Izrāīl �� landed on earth and picked up a handful of soil, then all the soil of the upper surface of the earth squeezed into his fist as a stratum which consisted sixty different colors and types. In this collected soil, there was black and white, red and yellow coloured soil possessing the characteristics of being soft and hard, sweet and bitter, salty and odourless along with possessing other types of characteristics. (Tażkiraĥ al-Anbiyā, pp 48)

Then it was commanded to knead this soil with different waters. Therefore, after a long time, it became a sticky soil. Then it was knead again for a long period of time and it wore a form of a foul smelling mortar like mud. Then when it dried out, it turned into a hard and solid soil. Then the statue of Ādam �� was made out of this soil and was placed on the gates of the heavens. The angels would get astonished by looking at it because prior to this, angels had never seen a creation with such an appearance. Then Almighty Allah ��


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commanded soul to enter in that statue. Therefore, when the soul entered in his body and reached his nostrils, then he sneezed and when the soul reached up to the tongue, he recited

( $# د م ال ) and Almighty Allah said ( حك ا$# ر ي ) meaning, may

Allah �� bless you! O father of Muhammad (Ādam), I have made you to do my Ḥamd (praise me). Then gradually, the soul reached in his whole body and he stood upon alive. (Tafsīr Khāzin, Vol. 1, pp 43; Part 1, Suraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 30)

It is stated in the Ḥadīš of Tirmiżī and Abū Dāwūd that the soil from which the statue of Sayyidunā Ādam �� was made was a combination of different colors and types. Therefore, the progeny of Sayyidunā Ādam �� ended up with being of different colors and behaviours. (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, vol. 1, pp 49; Part 1, Suraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 30)

The patronymic name of Sayyidunā Ādam �� is Abū Muhammad or Abū-ul-Bashīr and his epithet is ‘Khalīfa-tul-Allāĥ’. He is the first Nabī of Almighty Allah �� . He lived for nine hundred and sixty years. At the time of his worldly demise, the number of his progeny had reached to one hundred thousand who had populated the earth by establishing diverse industries and erecting various buildings. (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, Vol. 1, pp 48; Part 1, Suraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 30)

This subject has been frequently mentioned in the Holy Quran that Ādam �� was created from soil. Therefore, Almighty Allah �� has said in Sūraĥ Al-e-Imrān:

9 �S�¡� �J�f �-�± �¦

�§¨� �� . H�4 �. �J�f�� :°��7 �M :;� < �'��V ��?#K �3� �=#} ! �� / #�"#Á �4�C ! #±A�D

The example of Īsā with Allah is like that of Ādam; He created him (Ādam) from clay and then said to him, ‘Be’ - and it there upon


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happens! [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 3, Sūraĥ Al-e-

Imrān, Verse 59)

In another verse, it has been stated:

/ �3 ��Z�� [ �+, �5 ! ��

#� ��7 �M ��t ��@@D

‘We have indeed created them from sticky clay’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 23, Sūraĥ Ṣāffāt, Verse 11)

At some place, it is mentioned:

�* � �� 7 �M �� ¹�Z[� ! �� '� ��7 �Ù ! �� - �~ ��0 # �� /�WD

‘Indeed We created man from sounding clay made out of black smelly mud’

Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 14, Sūraĥ Ḥajr, Verse 26)

Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā رض ا$#fهاعن تعا

When Almighty Allah �� ordered Sayyidunā Ādam ��

to live in the Paradise, he started feeling a bit discontented due to loneliness. Then Almighty Allah �� made sleep overcome Sayyidunā Ādam �� and he fell a deep sleep. Then while he was sleeping, Almighty Allah �� created Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā ��-�� from the left rib of Sayyidunā Ādam �� .

When Sayyidunā Ādam �� woke up from his sleep, he was amazed and astonished to see a beautiful and attractive woman sitting beside him. Sayyidunā Ādam �� asked her: ‘Who are you and whom have you come here for? In response, Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā ��-�� replied that ‘I am your wife and Almighty Allah �� has created me so that you attain love,


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tranquillity and satisfaction of heart through me and I attain love, tranquillity and satisfaction of heart through you. Furthermore, the purpose of my creation is that both of us live happily together and spend our lives with love and compassion and keep thanking Allah for his blessings.’ (Tafsīr Ruḥ-ul-Ma’ānī,

Vol. 1, pp 316; Part 1, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 35)

Almighty Allah �� has addressed about Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā �� -�� at few places in the Holy Quran - for example:

� �* �¢�7 �M � �� * �� * � �u�8 � �- #� �� Zp [� �� p�, �f �± � �* pGk ��¹ �%

‘And from it created its spouse and from them both has spread the multitude of men and women’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Sūraĥ Nisa, Verse 1)

Moral lesson

The anecdote of the creation of Sayyidunā Ādam and Ḥawwā �� .�-� � �� is among those wonders of the Holy Quran that

conceals many hidden pearls of guidance and admonitions. A few of them are mentioned below:

Almighty Allah �� created Sayyidunā Ādam �� from soil and created Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā ��-�� from the rib of Sayyidunā Ādam �� . This saying of the Holy Quran reveals the fact that Allah �� created humanity in four different manners:

First: From mutual male and female copulation. As is the conventional birth process of normal human beings. Therefore, it has been announced in the Holy Quran in clear words that:


271

9 �Ú��¶�� 1�

#�t ! �� ¹ �Z[� � � ��7 �M ��t ��

‘Indeed We have created man from mixed semen’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 29, Sūraĥ Daĥr, Verse 2)

Second: The second manner is that from a single man, Almighty Allah �� created a human being which is in the form of Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā ��-�� . She was created from the left rib of Sayyidunā Ādam �� .

Third: The third manner is that Almighty Allah �� created a human being from a single woman which is in the form of Sayyidunā Īsā �� , who without any father, was born from the womb of Sayyidatunā Maryam �� .�-� � �� , virgin, virtuous and pious.

Fourth: Almighty Allah �� also created one human being without a man and a woman which is in the shape of Sayyidunā Ādam �� . He �� created Ādam �� from soil.

These deductions and explanations guide us to the following perspectives:

1. Almighty Allah �� is such Powerful, Sovereign and Independent that He �� is not bound to create human beings with only one specific procedure and method. On the contrary, He �� possesses such extreme powers that He �� can create human beings however He wishes to. Therefore, He �� created human beings with all four aforesaid procedures which is a demonstration of the extreme powers and wisdoms that He �� possesses. All


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these creations are the major signs of his grandeur and dignity.

�( � �0� 1 �� / �#& �� ! Words cannot describe the dignities and grandeurs of Almighty Allah �� . The Creator of the universes, Who created the throne and heavens, earth and skies and the tablets of destiny [Lauḥ-o-Qalam] from a single

verbal command of ( كن), then what is the value of the creation of the human being in front of the absolute powers and wisdoms of Almighty Allah �� ? But, there is no doubt that the creation of human is such an excellent artefact of Almighty Allah �� that it is impossible to find such example in the entire universe. Because the creation of human is a complete reflection of all the creations of the entire universe.

بكا ا$# ! What an excellent saying of Sayyidunā ‘Alī �� :

ع يانطو ك ي وف م ال

ال

ب ك ا2

ي صغ جرم ك سب ان ات

Translation: O human being! Why do you assume that you are a small body? In fact, the state of your dignity and grandeur is such that the whole world is compressed inside you.

2. Some man could possibly assume that had the group of men not existed, then women would not be able to give birth to any human on their own and similarly, women could possibly assume that had we women not existed, then men alone would not be able to bear any human. Likewise, it was also possible that men and women could have boasted upon the fact that had we men and women not existed, then it was impossible for any human being to be born. So to shun away all such crude assumptions, Almighty Allah �� created


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humanity with all four methods and proved it that look, I am such Potentate and Sovereign that I created Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā ��-�� from only a man, meaning from the rib of Sayyidunā Ādam �� .

Therefore, O women, do not assume that had there been no womanhood, then no human being would be born. Similarly, Allah �� has warned men by creating Sayyidunā Īsā � �� without a father and from the womb of only a woman that oh men! Do not boast upon the fact that had you not existed, then there would not be consequent creation of humanity. Have a look that I created Sayyidunā Īsā �� only from the womb of a woman without any man. And by creating Sayyidunā Ādam �� from soil and without any man and woman has simply made men and women to hold their tongues, and they have been warned that ‘O men and women! Never let this thought prompt in your heart that had we both not existed, there would not be any human creation. Have a look that Sayyidunā Ādam �� neither has a father, nor

a mother. Instead, I created him from soil. �( � �0�1 �� / �#& �� , verily it is truth that Almighty Allah �� has said:

�� #¦�§¨ #¢�� M ��J#� �GH �I � �* �0 # #� �~� �0�� # � �� /@WD

‘Allah is the Creator of all things, and He Alone is the Dominant over all’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 13, Sūraĥ al-Ra’d, Verse 16)

He creates and gives birth to whomever, however and whenever He wishes to. There is no one to interfere in His will and wish and no one has any permission to criticize His plans. His actions


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and wills are not bound and dependent upon any means or specific procedures. He is

¼ / #�� =#� � �-�� '� ��C@WD

‘Always doing whatever He wills’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūraĥ al-Burūj, Verse 16)

Meaning that He �� does whatsoever He �� determines to

do. The state of His greatness is فعل ي ما ا$# ي و شاء ي يدر ي ما فعل ا$#

meaning, whatever He �� plans and intends for, He �� gets it done. Neither can anyone interfere Him from the execution of His determination and nor can anyone dare to

criticise His determination. ( وا$#fاعلم تعا )

2. The caliphate of Ādam

The title of Sayyidunā Ādam �� is ‘Khalīfa-tul-Allāĥ’ (the caliph of Allah). When Almighty Allah �� decided to bestow caliphate upon Sayyidunā Ādam �� , a very astonishing, thought-provoking and heedful dialogue took place between Allah �� and His angels. This dialogue has been mentioned below:

Allah �� : O angels! I am going to create my caliph who will be my representative on the earth and will implement my commands.

Angels: O Allah �� ! Will you appoint such a person as your caliph and representative on earth who will cause contention, turmoil, bloodshed and massacre? O our Allah �� ! We angels deserve more to be your caliphates because we will


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neither cause chaos on the earth nor will we cause bloodshed and brawling. Along with your praise and grandeur, we will proclaim and preach your greatness and dignity. Every moment and instant, our tongues keep on praising and venerating you. Therefore, bless someone amongst us with the crown of your caliphate and this distinctive title of ‘Khalīfa-tul-Allāĥ (Allah’s caliphate).

Allah �� : O angels! The wisdoms and advisability in

appointing Ādam ( �� ) as my caliphate is beyond your inference. Only I know them. You group of angels are not aware of these wisdoms and expediencies.

Although angels observed silence after hearing these words from Almighty Allah �� , but they assumed in their hearts that no matter who may be appointed as the caliphate of Almighty Allah �� , he will not surpass us in rank. Because the status we angels possess, no one else among the creations can attain this status. Therefore, the dignity and reverence will rest upon the angels only.

After this, Almighty Allah �� created Sayyidunā Ādam

�� and blessed him with the knowledge of all small and big things. After this, the following dialogue took place between Almighty Allah �� and the angels:

Allah �� : O angels! If you are true in your claim that no

other creation can be superior than you, tell me the names of all those things that I have presented in front of you.

Angels: O Allah �� , you are free and sanctified from all

defects and faults. The amount of knowledge we have is only what You have blessed us with. Apart from that, we do not


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have knowledge of any other thing. We have a stern belief that the Creator and the Sustainer of all wisdoms, sanity and knowledge is only You.

After this, Almighty Allah �� addressed Sayyidunā Ādam

�� and said: O Ādam �� , tell the names of all objects to these angels. Then Sayyidunā Ādam �� told the names

of all those objects along with the hidden wisdoms in them. Thus, on hearing this account, angels were stunned and surprised.

Allah �� : O angels! Did I not tell you that I have the

knowledge of all hidden things of the heavens and earth? I also know what you used to proclaim openly that Ādam �� will cause brawls and chaos. Moreover, I am also aware of the thoughts that you have been hiding in your hearts that no one superior than you in all creations will ever be created.

Afterwards, to announce and make angels admit the excellence and grandeur of Sayyidunā Ādam �� , Almighty Allah ��

ordered all the angels to prostrate to Sayyidunā Ādam �� . Therefore, in the obedience of this commandment of Almighty Allah �� , all angels prostrated to Sayyidunā Ādam �� . But Satan refused to prostrate out of arrogance and became infidel and was expelled from the court of Almighty Allah �� after being accursed.

The Holy Quran has related this whole incidence in its own miraculous narrative style in the following way:

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And (remember) when your Rab said to the angels, ‘I am about to place My Caliph in the earth’; they said, ‘Will You place (as a caliph) one who will spread turmoil in it and shed blood? Whereas we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your Sanctity’; He said, ‘I know what you do not.’ And Allah the Supreme taught Ādam all the names (of things), then presented them to the angels, saying, ‘Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful.’ They said, ‘Purity is to You! We do not have any knowledge except what You have taught us! Indeed You only are the All Knowing, the Wise.’ He said ‘O Ādam! Inform them the names’; and when Ādam had informed them their names, He said, ‘Did I not tell you that I know all the secrets of the heavens and the earth? And I know all what you disclose and all what you hide?’ And (remember) when We ordered the angels to prostrate before Ādam, so they all prostrated, except

Iblīs (Satan-devil); he refused and was proud - and became a

disbeliever . [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Sūraĥ al-

Baqaraĥ, Verses 30-34)


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Moral lesson

From the above-quoted verses, we can derive the following moral lessons.

1. The dignity and grandeur of Allah is #�� =#� � �-�� '� ��C /@WD . Meaning

that He �� does whatsoever He �� determines to do. Neither can anyone interrupt him from the execution of His determination, nor can anyone argue on His �� actions. Despite all this, Almighty Allah �� held a counselling with the group of angels regarding the creation and caliphate of Sayyidunā Ādam �� . We get a moral

lesson from this anecdote that when Almighty Allah �� , Who is the Most Powerful and with supreme authority and is not Compelled by anyone, counsels with His angels, then ordinary people who have very minimum knowledge and authority; should consult with their sincere and loyal friends who possess wisdom whenever they plan to execute any task, as it is the Sunnaĥ and a blessed tradition of Almighty Allah �� .

2. Angels said about Ādam �� that he is a rioter and will spread bloodshed. Therefore, instead of blessing him with the ultimate caliphate, it is better to bless us with this esteemed status because we have made the code of our lives to obey, invoke praises and proclaim the dignity of Almighty Allah �� . Thus, we deserve to attain the caliphate more than Sayyidunā Ādam �� .

Angels established their hypothesis on the plea of their mutual logic of Ijtiĥād that Allah �� will bless the caliph with three traits: (i) power of lust, (ii) power of anger, and (iii) power of intellect


279

And due to the lust for sex and anger, there will be various kinds of sedition, contentions, bloodshed and plundering. That’s why angels said in the court of Almighty Allah �� that You will bless the dignity of Your caliphate to such a person who will cause diverse seditions and brawls and will hail a storm of bloodshed and massacre on the earth. It is better that You appoint Your caliphate among us as we pray, glorify and recite Your praises and proclaim Your purity and dignity. Almighty Allah �� made them quite by saying that only I know the hidden expediencies and wisdoms behind making him as My caliph. You angels do not have the knowledge of these hidden wisdoms and expediencies.

What were those concealed wisdom and expediencies? A complete knowledge of all this rests to Him only Who is the Knower of all secrets, Allah �� , but one of the apparent wisdoms and expediencies can also be that angels did not consider Sayyidunā Ādam �� suitable for being a caliphate of Almighty Allah �� on the basis of their observation of the power of lust for sex and anger being the major causes for bloodshed and massacre. However, the angels did not realise the third trait; the power of intellect that was potentially present in Sayyidunā Ādam �� along with the other forces of sex and wrath. The excellence of the power of intellect is such that if it dominates the power of lust and anger, then it makes them her submissive and obedient slaves and consequently, the forces of sex and wrath, instead of promoting brawls and bloodshed, strive to promote reformation, welfare of the society and becomes a mean of success. Angels missed this clause. That’s why, Almighty Allah �� replied that ‘what I know is unknown to you’. After hearing this, the angels became quite.


280

From this, we derive the moral lesson that because human beings are not totally aware about the wisdoms and hidden resolutions of the decisions of Almighty Allah �� , therefore, it is mandatory for the bondsmen of Allah �� to keep their tongues under their control from criticising or passing any negative comments on any act done by Almighty Allah �� . They shall admit having scarce knowledge and understanding and shall believe and proclaim that whatever and however Almighty Allah �� has done something, only that is a true and the best fact. Only Almighty Allah �� knows the wisdoms and the hidden secrets of his actions which we the ordinary people are unaware of.

3. Almighty Allah �� blessed Sayyidunā Ādam �� with the knowledge of all objects and their efficacies through a revelation within an instant. It can be deduced that knowledge is not bound to only be attained through books. On the contrary, the person who is blessed by Allah �� attains knowledge through revelation within few instances from Allah �� without the need of any book or lessons. His heart becomes deep rooted with knowledge and wisdom without acquiring knowledge through the traditional means. Therefore, it is proven with authentic references from the lives of various friends of Allah [Auliyā] that they never set foot in any Madrasa, neither they sat in front of a teacher, and nor did they touch any book; but with the blessings of Allah �� and due to the inner insight of a true Sheikh, they earned the heights of scholarships in all branches of knowledge through the sources of inspiration and revelation within few instances. Their academic expertise reached such a high and


281

esteemed status that the prominent scholars who were known for being experts in their relevant educational fields seemed to be merely a student in front of them.

4. From these anecdotes, we come to know that being the caliphate of Allah �� does not depend on prayers and abundance of worship, but it depends on the abundance of knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, despite abundant worship and invoking constant prayers, angels �� '�-� � � �� were still not blessed with the title of ‘Khalīfa-tul-Allāĥ’ (Allah’s Caliphate), and Sayyidunā Ādam �� was blessed with the esteemed status of being the Caliphate of Allah �� due to the possession of the inspirational knowledge. The blessed verses of the Holy Quran are evident witness on the merit of Sayyidunā Ādam �� .

5. We have also come to know that the abundance of knowledge is superior over the abundance of worship. The status of an ‘Ālim (religious scholar) is a lot higher than the status of an ‘Ābid (devout worshiper). Therefore, for the reason of an exposure of potential distinctions, excellence and the intellectual grandeur with which Sayyidunā Ādam �� was bestowed by Almighty Allah �� and for an acknowledgment of this grandeur and dignity from angels, Almighty Allah �� ordered angels to prostrate to Sayyidunā Ādam �� . In obedience to the commandment of Allah �� , all of the angels prostrated to Sayyidunā Ādam �� and were rewarded with the closeness of Almighty Allah �� and being beloved to Allah �� . On the contrary, Satan who refused to prostrate to Sayyidunā Ādam �� due to arrogance, was eternally accursed in the court of Allah �� and


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consequently, he fell in such a deep ditch of misguidance, damnation and humiliation that he will not be able to come out of it until the day of judgement. Moreover, he became deserving of being accursed in both worlds, became a victim of the wrath of Allah �� and the punishment of hell became his eternal destiny.

6. We also come to know that the current method of examining and evaluating which are in place nowadays to judge the efficiency or deficiency of someone’s knowledge is an old Sunnaĥ of Almighty Allah �� . Almighty Allah �� tested angels and Sayyidunā Ādam �� for the purpose of an exposure of the knowledge of angels to be shown as inferior to the knowledge of Sayyidunā Ādam �� . The angels failed in this test and Sayyidunā Ādam succeeded.

7. Satan disparaged Sayyidunā Ādam �� by calling him a statue made of soil and expressed his arrogance by considering himself to be superior by calling himself a creation of fire and refused to prostrate to Sayyidunā Ādam �� . The reason behind his denial was his arrogance. The moral lesson that we derive is that pride is such a destructive thing that due to it, very high status and prestigious ones have to face damnation and being accursed, and in some cases, it leads towards unbelief (Kufr). Moreover, when arrogance is combined with offensive and abusive attitude towards the chosen people of Almighty Allah �� and one might be stirred with the evil passion to insult the chosen people of Almighty Allah �� , the consequent damnation and curse that inflicts upon due to such malevolent attitudes is beyond imagination. There are no doubts left for such a person to


283

be the accursed Iblīs. Here is an admonitory lesson for all those who insult and disrespect the blessed chosen people of Almighty Allah �� and demonstrate pride over their worship. If they do not deserve to be called the Iblīs of the current era, then what else do they deserve to be called?

( وا$# fاعلم تعا )

3. A catalogue of the knowledge of Sayyidunā Ādam

How much knowledge of various disciplines Allah �� blessed Sayyidunā Ādam with? Through revelation, with in an instant, Allah �� blessed the sacred heart of Sayyidunā Ādam �� with the knowledge and wisdom of how many and which things? It was the same very knowledge which became the source of dignity and distinction of Sayyidunā Ādam �� to attain such a high and esteemed status that it became the reason for the blessed angels to prostrate to Sayyidunā Ādam �� . For the catalogue of these various branches of knowledge, please read the versatile annotation Ruḥ-ul-Bayān that was written by Allama Sheikh Ismail Ḥaqqī �/� �3 ��4� � �2� �3�� who was known as the Quṭb of his era. The translation of the mentioned knowledge of Sayyidunā Ādam �� is below mentioned. He has said:

Almighty Allah �� taught Sayyidunā Ādam �� the names of all things in all languages, names of all angels and the names of all progeny of Sayyidunā Ādam �� , names of all animals, names of all plants and stones, names of all objects and their industries, names of all cities and towns, names of all birds and trees and all the beings that will be born until the Day of Judgment, names of all animates and beings, names of all foods and drinks, names of all blessings of heavens, names of all objects and even the names of a bowl and a cup. It


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is mentioned in Hadis Sharīf that Almighty Allah �� taught

him seven hundred thousand languages. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, Vol 1, pp. 100; Part 1, Al-Baqarah, Verse, 31)

The Holy Quran has mentioned the above-mentioned catalogue of knowledge within only one sentence, in its own miraculous, condensed and a brief manner. Therefore, Almighty Allah �� says:

� ��7#� �G

�� (Þ�Z[� �S�¡� ?

� �7 �E �*

And Almighty Allah taught Ādam the names of all objects

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 31)

Moral lesson

After observing the great catalogue of the treasure of knowledge with which Sayyidunā Ādam �� was blessed; try to imagine the heights and grandeurs of the knowledge of Prophet Muhammad �� + �, �� * �� '�� (�� .

I say, by Allah �� , the knowledge of Sayyidunā Ādam �� doesn’t even hold as much significance in front of the knowledge of Prophet Muhammad �� * �� + �, '�� (�� as a drop of water does in front of an ocean or a dust particle does in front

of the entire earth. ( بكا ا$# ) How can the knowledge of Ādam �� be compared with the knowledge of the best of the creations, Prophet Muhammad �� + �, �� * �� '�� (�� !

Farsh tā ‘arsh sab āīnaĥ, zamair ḥāzir

Bas qasam kĥāye Ummī tayrī dānāī kī

هم # صل الل

o د سيدنا مم

oل و

د سيدنا ا بارك مم م و

وسل


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4. What was the status of Satan and what he became

Iblīs who is also known as Satan, was not an angel but a Jin who was created from fire. He used to remain in the company of angels and held a very prestigious and high status in the court of Almighty Allah �� . It is stated by Sayyidunā Ka’ab Aḥbār �� that Satan served as a treasurer of heavens for forty thousand years and remained in the company of angels for eighty thousands years. He kept on delivering sermons to angels for twenty thousand years and remained the chief of Muqarabeen for thirty thousand years. Furthermore, he was designated as the chief of Roohaniyyeen for one thousand years and Circumrotated (Tawaf) ‘Arsh for fourteen thousand years. He was known as Ābid on the first sky, Zaĥid on the second sky, ‘Ārif on the third sky, Walī on the forth sky, Taqī on the fifth sky, Khāzin on the sixth sky and ‘Azāzīl on the seventh sky. And on the Preserved Tablet (Loḥ-e-Mahfuz), his name was written as Iblīs and he was heedless and unaware of his final destiny and bad end. (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, Vol. 1, pp 51; Part 1, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 34; Tafsīr Jaml, Vol. 1, pp 60)

However, when Almighty Allah �� ordered to prostate to Sayyidunā Ādam �� , Satan refused and arrogantly expressed his own superiority over Sayyidunā Ādam �� . In the pretext and punishment of this very guilt, he was condemned and accursed in the both worlds by Allah �� and his followers will be punished in the fire of hell. Therefore, it is stated in the Holy Quran that:

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Said Allah, ‘What prevented you, that you did not prostrate when I commanded you?’ Answered Iblīs, ‘I am better than him; You created me from fire whereas You created him from clay.’ Said Allah, ‘Therefore go down from here - it does not befit you to stay here and be proud - exit, you are of the degraded.’ He said, ‘Give me respite till the day when people will be resurrected.’ Said Allah, ‘You are given respite.’ He said, ‘Hence I swear by the fact that you sent me astray, I will certainly lay in wait for them on Your Straight Path.’ ‘Then I will certainly approach them - from their front and from behind them and from their right and from their left; and You will find most of them not thankful.’ He said, ‘Exit from here, rejected, outcast; indeed whoever among them follows your

bidding, I will fill hell with all of you’. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of

Quran)] (Part 8, Sūraĥ al-A’rāf, Verses 12-18)

Moral lesson

In this strange incident of the Holy Quran, there are wonderful and ample lustrous rays of lessons and admonitions for us. That’s why, Almighty Allah �� has related this incident at seven places in the Holy Quran with different words and various styles. This heart-trembling incident has been


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mentioned in Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Sūraĥ al-A’rāf, Sūraĥ al-Ḥajar, Sūraĥ al-Banī Isrāīl, Sūraĥ al-Kaĥf, Sūraĥ al-Ṭaĥa and Sūraĥ Ṣuad from which, we can derive the following Madanī pearls of moral lesson:

1. A major moral lesson for us is that we shall never boast upon, be proud of and be arrogant on our righteous deeds and worships. A sinful person shall never lose the hope of forgiveness as the ends and final destinies are unknown to common people. Salvation and final success actually depends upon the ends. If a high devout has a bad end, he will be among the dwellers of the hellfire and if a notorious and a grave sinner dies with a good end, he will go to the heaven. You see how big a devout Satan was and how much closeness and proximity he had in the court of Allah �� . Furthermore, how esteemed and elevated ranks and designations he was blessed with but what was his end? All his worships were wasted and destroyed. He was condemned and accursed in both worlds and became deserving of the hellfire due to arrogantly boasting upon his worships and elevated ranks. But he was absolutely

oblivious of his final destiny and end. ( وا$# fاعلم تعا )

It is narrated in a Hadith that a person keeps committing the actions of helldwellers whereas he is among the dwellers of Paradise and on the other hand, a person keeps committing the actions of the dwellers of Paradise whereas he is among the dwellers of hell.

وات انما بال

عمال

يما2

Translation: Actions are dependent upon the ends.


288

(Mishkat al-Masabih, Kitab al-Iman, Bab al-Iman bil Qadr, Al-fasal al-

awwal, pp. 20)

May the Gracious Allah Almighty bless every Muslim with a

good and righteous end and keep us safe from an evil end! ي آم

( وا$# fاعلم تعا )

2. We also come to know that whether someone is an ‘ālim (scholar) or a totally illiterate, either a devout or a sinner, every single person shall be vigilant and shall strive to remain safe from the vile temptations and the deceptions of Satan for his entire life. Because Satan has announced by taking an oath in the court of Allah �� that he will derail and deviate Allah’s people from the right path by tempting them from left and right and back and forth; and that he will restrain a lot of people from being thankful to Allah �� ◌ .

3. Satan has announced to raid human beings and misguide them with whispers from left and right and back and forth and from all four directions. We come to know that the Satan will never attack and infuse whispers in human beings from the top and bottom. Therefore, if anyone observes any light or astonishing thing above or below him, then he should realise that it is not a satanic trick. On the contrary, assuming it a goodness, he should incline towards it and be optimistic for a goodness from Almighty Allah �� . ( وا$#

fاعلم تعا )

5. Curse of plague on Banī Isrāīl

In the ‘field of Tayya’, when Bani Isrāīl expressed a desire that they would eat vegetables and grains grown from the earth,


289

then Sayyidunā Mūsā �� advised them that why were they wishing for cheap and inferior vegetables and grains while leaving the tasty and delicious sustenance like ‘Manna-o-Salwā’? However, when Bani Isrāīl persisted and showed a stubborn attitude over their desire, Almighty Allah �� ordered them to leave the field of ‘Tayya’ and enter the city of ‘Bayt-ul-Muqaddas’ and freely eat the foods of their choice without any restrictions. However, a compulsory condition imposed on them that they must enter through the door of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas with utmost respect and reverence by bowing their heads down. Moreover, while entering, keep reciting the following supplication: O Allah! Forgive our sins. And I will forgive your sins.

However, Banī Isrāīl, who were ever mischievous and insolent and had a habit of disobeying the commandments of Allah �� , at the time when they reached near Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, a mischief stirred their minds and these disobedient people entered in a crawling postures while dragging their buttocks on the ground instead of entering with their heads bowed

down. Furthermore, instead of praying ( ه ط ح ) for their

forgiveness, they were uttering ( ةشعر ف ةحب ) (one grain in one

hair) and entered the Bayt-ul-Muqaddas by cutting jokes and making fun of it. Due to this disobedience and ridiculing the commandment of Allah �� , the wrath and anger of Allah �� descended upon them in the form of a punishment. All of a sudden, plague spread among them and seventy thousand Israelites died within an hour swerving with the pain like a fish out of water.

Plague: It is a very fatal and epidemic disease. Doctors call it plague. Due to this disease, certain lumps grow in neck, armpits


290

and in the joints of thighs. Due to these lumps, there is a consequent severe pain and an unbearable swelling. The person gets inflicted with high fever; his eyes turn red and start burning like a flame. Due to the intensity and anxiety of the pain, the patient restlessly dies very swiftly. Usually the affected area where this disease spreads, there is a high death toll. Consequently, an atmosphere of horror and terror prevails everywhere.

Almighty Allah �� says in the Holy Quran while relating this incident of Bani Isrāīl that:

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And when We said, ‘Enter this town and eat freely from what is in it, and enter the gate whilst prostrating, and say, ‘May our sins be forgiven’ - We will forgive you your sins; and We will soon increase the reward for the righteous.’ But the unjust changed the word that had been ordered for another one, so We sent down a punishment on them from the skies, the recompense of their

disobedience. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Sūraĥ al-

Baqaraĥ, Verse 58-59)

Moral lesson

From this incident, we come to know that disobedience and mockery of the commandments of Allah �� is a cause of a


291

horrible end. Although the punishment of the hereafter remains as it is but the wrath of Allah �� also descends in a form of punishment in this world too that because of it, people get destroyed, their houses become desolated and their

dwellings get ruined. #$ه منمعاذ ا

An advantage: ‘Plague’ was a punishment for Bani Isrāīl but fortunately, it is a mercy for the Ummaĥ of the Holy Prophet

�� * �� + �, '�� (�� , because it is narrated in a Ḥadīš that ‘the one who dies of plague is like a martyr.’ (Tafsir Sawi, vol. 1, pp. 68; Part 1, Al-Baqarah, Verse, 59)

The ruling is that a town that is affected by plague shall not be visited and if plague spreads in one’s own town, then he shall not leave that town but should remain in the town with a stern reliance on Allah �� whilst observing patience. If he dies of this disease, then he will be a martyr. Moreover, it is such a severe sin to escape from the plague affected town that is similar to escaping from the battlefield of ‘Jihad’. Therefore, one shall never escape and shall patiently stay in his town as Almighty Allah �� has promised for a great reward for such a

person. ( وا$# fاعلم تعا )

6. Ṣafā and Marwaĥ

These are two small hills, situated very close by the Ḥarām-e-Ka’baĥ-e-Mukarramaĥ. Nowadays, due to high buildings, high roads, a ceiling that is constructed in between the two hills and due to a huge demographic change caused by construction; these hills have very nominal presence.

On these very two hills, Sayyidatunā Ĥājaraĥ �� -�� desired and searched for water while climbing and running between


292

one hill to another when Sayyidunā Ism’aīl �� was an infant and became restless due to thirst. By the virtues of these facts, both of these hills are considered to be very prestigious since the old age. Pilgrims used to climb up these hills, do a Ṭawāf with great respect and enthusiasm, and supplicate there.

In the era of ignorance, two wretched people, a man called ‘Asāf’ and a woman called ‘Nāilaĥ’ committed adultery inside the Ka’baĥ. The wrath of Almighty Allah �� captured them in such a way that their faces were deformed and they turned into idols in the form of statues of a man and a woman. Later on, the idol worshipers of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance took these statues out of the Ka’baĥ and placed them on the hills of Ṣafā and Marwaĥ, and started worshipping these idols.

However, when Islam spread in Arab, Muslims considered it to be a sin to visit these hills due to the presence of the idols of ‘Asāf and Nāilaĥ’. At that time, Allah Almighty �� revealed this commandment in the Holy Quran that there is no harm and sin in visiting these hills as well as performing a ‘Ṭawāf’. On the contrary, it is compulsory to perform the Ṭawāf of Ṣafā and Marwaĥ while performing Hajj and ‘Umraĥ. (Tafsir Sawi, vol. 1, pp. 132; Part 2, Al-Baqarah, Verse, 158)

On the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Noble Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� demolished and destroyed these two idols and

restored the reverence and prestige that these mountains possessed before. Furthermore, the Tawaf of these two hills during Hajj and ‘Umraĥ was made compulsory. Therefore, it is stated in the Holy Quran that:


293

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Undoubtedly Ṣafā and Marwaĥ* are among the symbols of Allah; so there is no sin on him, for whoever performs the Hajj (pilgrimage) of this House (of Allah) or the ‘Umraĥ (lesser pilgrimage), to go back and forth between them; and whoever does good of his own accord, then (know that) indeed Allah is Most Appreciative (rewards virtue), the All-Knowing. *(These are 2 hillocks near the

Holy Ka’baĥ.) [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Sūraĥ al-

Baqaraĥ, Verse 158)

Moral lesson

Sayyidatunā Ĥājaraĥ ��-�� searched for water while running on these two hills of Ṣafā and Marwaĥ. She was a wife of a Prophet, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� and a mother of a Prophet, Sayyidunā Ismail �� . Due to her holy feet touching these hills; these hills were blessed and honoured to such an extent that they earned an esteemed status of being a monument of Sayyidatunā Ĥājaraĥ ��-�� and these two hills became a respected and acknowledged place of reverence for the people performing ‘Ṭawāf’ during Hajj and ‘Umraĥ.

We get the moral lesson from this discussion that if any place attains a special identity due to the beloved people of Allah �� , then such place become immensely reverend and sacred. Furthermore, such places become extremely sacred and holy for Muslims. Otherwise, there are many small hills and high mountains situated in the holy land of Makkah. But the dignity and grandeur that Ṣafā and Marwaĥ possess, no other mountain


294

possesses that grandeur and dignity. The reason behind this high status is nothing else except that these hills are a monument of a striving effort of a friend of Allah �� .

Based on the same principle, we should understand and realise the grandeur and status possessed by Gumbad-e-Khazrā, the shrines of the friends of Allah �� , the reverend places where these blessed people used to perform their worships and other holy and sacred places. All these places are highly respectfully dignified as they have affiliation and attachment with the special people honoured by the Allah Almighty �� . To respect and glorify such places is a mean of attaining the pleasure of Allah �� and a disrespectful and offensive attitude towards these holy places is implicitly an invitation to the wrath of Allah �� .

Therefore, all those people who keep on planning to demolish Gumbad-e-Khazrā and show offensive and disrespectful attitudes towards the holy shrines of the friends of Allah �� , should take a heed and lesson from the shining light of these facts, should abjure and repent from their wretched and evil plans, and should become steadfast on the true path of righteousness. For the sake of the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,, may Allah �� bless us with the light of guidance and guide us on the path of

righteousness. ( ي ام )

7. Seventy people resurrected after their demise

When Sayyidunā Mūsā �� went to the Mount Sinai [Koĥ-e-Ṭūr] for forty days, the hypocrite ‘Sāmrī’ then made a statue of calf with melted silver and golden jewellery and thrust the dust in the mouth of that calf which he acquired from under the hoofs of the horse of Sayyidunā Jibrīl �� . Due to this, the


295

statue of the calf became alive and started to speak. After this, Sāmrī addressed the public and said ‘O people of Isrāīl, Sayyidunā Mūsā �� has gone to mount Sinai to talk to God but God himself has come to us. Then he pointed towards the calf and falsely claimed that ‘it is God’. Sāmrī made such a misleading speech that Bani Isrāīl believed in calf being God and they started worshipping the calf. When Sayyidunā Mūsā �� came back from the Mount Sinai and witnessed Bani Isrāīl worshipping the calf, he became extremely angry; and out of wrath and enragement, demolished and destroyed the calf into pieces. Then the following commandment of Allah �� was revealed that all those who did not worship the calf, should kill those who worshipped the calf. Therefore, seventy thousand calf worshippers were killed. After this, the following command was revealed that Mūsā should choose seventy people and take them on Mount Sinai, seek pardon on behalf of the calf worshipers by supplicating that may the sins of calf worshippers be forgiven. Therefore, Sayyidunā Mūsā �� chose seventy righteous people and took them to the Mount Sinai. When these people started prayers on the Mount Sinai and sought pardon while repenting, then a voice from Almighty Allah �� came:

‘O people of Isrāīl, I am the Only one. There is none except Me for you to worship. I am the One who freed and saved you from the tyranny of Pharaoh. Therefore, you people should only worship Me and do not worship anyone other than Me.

After listening to this address from Almighty Allah �� , these seventy men said collectively that ‘O Mūsā! We will not believe at all in what you say until and unless we do not see Almighty Allah �� in front of us. These seventy men insisted and


296

became stubborn upon their plea and said to Sayyidunā Mūsā �� that let us behold the vision of Allah �� . Otherwise we will not accept at all that Almighty Allah �� has said this. Sayyidunā Mūsā �� explained and tried to convince them a lot but these insolent and digressed people remained insistent and stubborn upon their demand. Their stubbornness and insolence increased to such an extent that Almighty Allah �� expressed His anger and wrath in such a way that an angel came and yelled such a frightening scream that their hearts tore apart and due to the fear and horror, these seventy men died. Then Sayyidunā Mūsā �� had some conversation with Almighty Allah �� and supplicated for their resurrection. Thus, these people were resurrected. (Tafsir Ṣāwī, vol. 1, pp 64-65;

Part 1, Al-Baqarah, Verses 55-56)

�� #? #�} �w �M��C p6 �=ö �� ¦�§¨� ] �=�t H

�Ä �~ �d�� ! ��»#�t !� � H÷0 #-� y#z7#V O �� * �* #��

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#� f ��8 � �?#KAWD And when you said ‘O Mūsā! We will not believe you till we clearly see Allah’; so the thunder seized you while you were watching. Then We brought you back to life after your death, so that you

may be grateful. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Sūraĥ

al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 55-56)

Moral lesson

1. From this incident, the moral lesson we get is that it is very dangerous and heinous to remain stubborn upon one’s own point of view against the saying of a prophet. Then, the resurrection of these seventy men is a demonstration and display of the power of Almighty


297

Allah �� so that people believe in the fact that Almighty Allah �� will resurrect all the dead people on the Day of Judgment.

2. We have also come to know from this incident that it was a law in the Sharī’aĥ of Sayyidunā Mūsā �� that anyone who committed the sin of polytheism (Shirk) was to be killed. Then if the righteous people of the nation apologized and sought repentance on their behalf, only then the repentance of these sinners was accepted. However, as the Sharī’aĥ of our Prophet Muhammad �� * �� + �, '�� (�� is a lenient Sharī’aĥ; therefore, in order for the repentance to be accepted in this divine law, it is sufficient for the one committing the sin of unbelief and polytheism to seek pardon with a sincere and remorseful heart in the court of Allah

�� having a firm determination not to commit this sin ever again. Upon this, Almighty Allah �� will accept the repentance and will forgive the sin. Now, for acceptance of the repentance, sinners do not need to be killed.

�( � �0� 1 �� / � & �#� �� ! All this is by the virtue of Prophet Muhammad �� * �� + �, '�� (�� as he is extremely compassionate, merciful and

kind towards his Ummaĥ. Subsequently, due to Prophet �� + �,

�� * '�� (�� , Almighty Allah �� is also extremely Kind and Merciful upon the Ummaĥ of His beloved.

هم # صل الل

o د سيدنا مم

oل و

د سيدنا ا بارك مم م و

وسل

8. A historical debate

This is a debate between Namrūd and Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� which has been mentioned in the Holy Quran.


298

Who was Namrūd?

Namrūd was a king with utmost arrogance and pride. He was the first one to place the royal crown of kingship on his head and claimed to be god. He was born an illegitimate birth due to the fornication committed by his mother. His mother assumed that if there was no inheritor of the kingdom, then the kingship will end. However, this illegitimate child grew up and had a very fortunate fate and became a very prominent king. It is famous that there have been only four people who have been given the kingship of the entire world. Among these four people, two were believers and two were unbelievers. Sayyidunā Sulaymān and Sayyidunā Żulqarnaīn �� .�-� � �� were among the believers while Namrūd and Bakht Nasr were among the unbeliever. Namrūd took all the commodities (sustenance) under his custody and passed the legislation in his kingdom that he would provide sustenance to only those people who would accept him as a god.

Once Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� went in his court to obtain grains. The vicious and atrocious Namrūd said, “First accept me as your god. Only then I will give you grains.” In front of all those present in his court, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� openly announced, “You are a liar and I worship the only one with whom no partners can be associated.” Upon hearing this, Namrūd lost control due to anger and rage and made Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� leave his court, and did not give him even �� a single grain.

Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� and few of his devoted Muslim followers became restless due to extreme hunger. Due to the intensity of hunger, they became worried and were on their last breath. At that time, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� took a


299

sack out and went to a mound of sand and brought back the sack full with sand. He �� then invoked to Almighty Allah �� and consequently, the sand turned into flour. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� fed this flour to his followers and he also ate.

The enmity of Namrūd increased to such an extent that he put Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� into fire. But the fire became garden for him and he safely came out of the fire. As soon as Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� came out of the fire, he openly announced Namrūd to be a liar and started preaching the oneness of Almighty Allah �� openly. Due to Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm’s preaching of the oneness of Allah �� , Namrūd got sternly fed up. Consequently, One day, he called Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� in his court and the following dialogue took place in between them in a form of a debate. (Tafsir Ṣāwī, Vol. 1, pp 219-220; Part 3, Suraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 258)

Namrūd: O Ibrāĥīm! Tell me who your Rab is towards Whose worship you are calling people?

Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm : O Namrūd! My Rab is the One

Who gives life and death to people.

Namrūd: I can also do this. Hence in order to prove his point, he called two prisoners from the prison into his court. One had been sentenced to death and the other had already been released from the prison. Namrūd freed the one who was sentenced to be hanged and hanged the one who was innocent. Then he said that ‘you see, I have given life to dead and death to alive.’


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From this nonsensical display of Namrūd, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� concluded that Namrūd was an extremely foolish and

idiotic person who had interpreted life and death as what he has displayed. Hence, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� presented an extra-ordinarily clear and logical argument and said:

Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm : O Namrūd! My Rab is the One Who brings out the sun from the east. If you are god, then bring out the sun from the west for one day.

After listening to this argument by Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� , Namrūd became silent and stunned and could not say anything. Thus this debate ended and Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm � �� walked

out of his court victorious. After this, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� started preaching the monotheism with a

new vigour and more openly. The Holy Quran has described the incident of this debate in the following words:

?� �� =�} �� ] �w�� Úk �~ ��=8 �� °��8 � �� #°ø}� #¦�§¨� �d7 #-�� l% O �� '��V #�=8 ��

� ä �

] �w�� Hù#� �* #µ4 �-#� {% �'��V ��t�� Hú#� �* #µ4 ��#� 9% �'��V #�=8 �� C �¦�§¨� �� N

��

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] �� S0�� +, �-�7�ì�� /�A� D

Did you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) not see him who argued with Ibrahim (Abraham) concerning his Rab, as Allah had given him the kingdom? When Ibrahim said, ‘My Rab is He Who gives life and causes death’, he answered, ‘I give life and cause death’; Ibrahim said, ‘So indeed it is Allah Who brings the sun from the East - you bring it from the West!’ - The unbeliever


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was therefore baffled; and Allah does not guide the unjust. [Kanz-ul-

Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 3, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 258)

Moral lesson

We derive few moral lessons from this anecdote which are as following:

1. Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� showed perseverance like a mountain for the proclamation of the oneness of Allah �� . Neither did he ever get frightened of the huge number of

Namrūd’s army; nor did he ever get awe-stricken due to the oppressions and repressions of Namrūd. Instead, when the tyrant Namrūd put Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� in the blazing flames of fire, even then there wasn’t even a slightest bit of difference in the determination and perseverance of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� in remaining steadfast on the proclamation of the message of monotheism. Then the heartless Namrūd stopped the provisions of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� . Even this could not affect the perseverance and steadfastness of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� to the slightest bit.

Namrūd then challenged Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� for a debate, and called him in the royal court to inspire him ��

�� by showing his royal grandeur and dignity. However, Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� accepted the challenge of debate without any fear and presented such a strong and evident argument in the court of Namrūd that he was awe-stricken and became silent after not having any answer to it. The truth in the following verse prevailed in the full crowded court of Namrūd that:


302

�Gk �� # �¢�n£� �* �¢ � �� #J �5� �� 9% � �� J �5� �� pV0 # �� /�@D

And proclaim, ‘The truth has arrived and falsehood has vanished;

indeed falsehood had to vanish.’ [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of

Quran)] (Part 15, Bani Israil, Verse 81)

Finally, the flag of truthfulness of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� was hoisted and Namrūd was destroyed through a tiny and insignificant creature like mosquito. The true Islamic scholars should extract the moral lesson from the blessed character of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� that when facing the people of ill-faith; we should show perseverance and remain steadfast until the last breath without having any fear and without getting worried about the difficulties. They should have a stern believe that the divine help from Allah �� will definitely descend and at the end, we will prevail against the false believers; and such people with ill-faith will undoubtedly perish by being demolished and destroyed.

2. We should also have a stern belief that Almighty Allah �� will provide us, his worshippers, the sustenance from an unseen source. Because when the tyrant Namrūd had stopped the provision of food for Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� , and he �� could not get even a single grain in the whole country, then Almighty Allah �� turned sand and soil into flour. Thus, the truthfulness of the following belief of Islam shone and prevailed that:

� �� ¦�§¨� �0 # #�� *#O �6 � �0#�� #+, �P �-�� /A�D ‘Indeed it is Allah, Who is the Greatest Sustainer, the Strong


303

and the Able’ [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 27, Sūraĥ al-

Żāriyāt, Verse 58)

However, the practical approach of the blessed character of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� is a paragon for the true Islamic scholars. The truth is that the followers of the footsteps of Sayyidunā Ibrāĥīm �� will definitely prevail. This is such a shining truth that is more shining and obvious than the radiant

sun. � �/��0�1� �(��#&� �� , how true the following couplet is that:

Āj bĥī ĥo jo Ibrāĥīm ka Īmān pedā

Āg kar saktī ĥe andāz-e-gulistān pedā

If the faith like Ibrāĥīm may be in vogue today The fire can change into a luxurious flowery garden even today

9. Animosity will always remain among human beings

Sayyidunā Ādam �� and Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā � �� -�� used to live a peaceful and prosperous life in heaven. Almighty Allah �� had told them that they can eat any fruit of heaven as they wished without any due restriction. However, they were forbidden to eat the fruit of one tree and to go near it. It was either a wheat or grapes tree. Hence, both of them restrained from this tree for a long time. Their enemy, Iblīs remained proactive in the search of an occasion. Finally, one day he succeeded in putting whispers and temptations in their hearts. He took an oath and said that I am your well-wisher and the

tree from which Allah �� has forbidden you is (…… جر ةالش ) meaning, the one who eats the fruit of this tree will never be taken out of the heaven. At first, Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā �� -�� became the victim of this satanic whisper, and later, she also convinced Sayyidunā Ādam �� to agree with her. Hence, he unintentionally ate the fruit of that tree.


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From his inferential, Sayyidunā Ādam �� assumed that the

restriction in ( Z� [ ��8 �=�� } �Ó �w �6 �= �Í ��¶�� ) was “Naĥī Tanzīĥī” (a general

restriction). Moreover, in a real fact, this restriction was by no means a “Naĥī Taḥrīmī” (a compulsory restriction). Otherwise Sayyidunā Ādam �� , being a Prophet would have never eaten the fruit from the forbidden tree as a Prophet is always protected from committing sins. Nevertheless, in this case, Sayyidunā Ādam �� became a victim of an inferential mistake, which is not considered as a sin. (Tafsīr Khazāin-ul-’Irfān, pp 1094; Part 1, Sūraĥ-al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 36)

However, as Sayyidunā Ādam �� was a chosen person of Almighty Allah �� and held a seminal status in the court of Almighty Allah �� , hence he �� was held responsible in the pretext of this general mistake too. Straight away, the heavenly cloths were removed from their bodies and both of them started hiding their “Sitr” (private body parts) from the leaves of the heavenly trees. Then Almighty Allah �� commanded them to leave the heaven and descend on the earth. At that time, Almighty Allah �� said two very special things to Sayyidunā Ādam �� . One was that among his progeny, some will be the enemy of others and this animosity will remain forever. The second was that both of them will have to stay on earth for rest of their lives, and then they will surely return to Allah �� . While mentioning this anecdote in the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah �� says:

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305

“So the devil de-stabilised them in it and removed them from where they were – and We said, ‘Go down, one of you is an enemy to the other; and for a fixed time you shall stay on earth and feed in it.” [Kanz-ul-Īmān

(Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 36)

Moral lesson

From this saying of Almighty Allah �� , we can understand that the contentions and hostilities which exist among people due to various reasons will never end. Despite making unceasing efforts to put an end to these contentions and hostilities among people, these contentions and hostilities will never end as it is the saying of Almighty Allah �� . Sometimes one country will be the enemy of another country, sometimes hostility will exist between a labourer and a capitalist, occasionally the hostility between the rich and poor will intensify. At times, hostilities based on religion or language will be in vogue. From time to time, the hostilities of inter-cultural disharmonies will occur and sometimes the hostilities among the believers and unbelievers will show its colours.

In other words, the contentions and hostilities among human beings will always remain. Therefore, people don’t need to be depressed and worried due to these hostilities. Nor is there any benefit in getting worried about the solutions to these contentions and hostilities.

As the animosity between darkness and the light, water and fire, hot and cold can never end, likewise the animosity between human beings can never end. This is because Almighty Allah �� had already said before the descending of Sayyidunā Ādam

�� and Sayyidatunā Ḥawwā to the earth that

( عدو� لعض م ك بعض ) meaning, one human being will be the enemy


306

of another human being. Therefore, these hostilities are natural phenomena that are due to the commandment of Allah �� . So

who can wipe these hostilities away from this world? ( وا$# fاعلم تعا )

10. How was the repentance of Sayyidunā Ādam

accepted?

After being sent down to the earth from the heavens, Sayyidunā Ādam �� did not lift his head towards the sky for three hundred years due to being remorseful and kept weeping. It is narrated that if one was to collect the tears of the whole mankind, it would still not be equal to the tears of Sayyidunā Dāwūd �� that were shed due to the fear of Almighty Allah �� . And if one was to collect the tears of the whole mankind and Sayyidunā Dāwūd �� ; the tears of Sayyidunā Ādam �� would still be more than the tears of all these people. (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, Vol. 1, pp 55; Part 1, Suraĥ al-Baqaraĥ,

Verse 37)

According to some narrations, he �� read the following and made the supplication:

ك سبحان # ك اسم ك وتبار ك وبحمد م ه الل

fك جد وتعا

ال

2

مت انت ا2

◌ هان ل فاغفر نفس ظل

فرالنوب غ ي 2

انت ا2

Meaning, O Allah! With your dignity, I also state your sanctity. Your name is blissful and Your dignity is too high and there is no one except for You to be worshipped. I forced tyranny unto my own self and You pardon me as there is no one except for You who can forgive sins. (Tafsīr Jaml ‘Alī al-

Jalālayn, Vol. 1, pp 63; Part 1, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 37)


307

It is stated in another narration, it is stated that he �� recited the following supplication:

�* þ � � ��#1t�� -�7 �� 8 � � �� a�b�� } ?

� � � �� !�t"#Á � � � � � - �~=� } �* � � � �/ �!� �g ��Å

£� �!�rD

O our Rab! We did tyranny with ourselves and if You will not forgive and pardon us then we will be among the losers.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 8, Sūraĥ al-A’rāf, Verse 23;

Tafsīr Jalālayn, pp 131)

However, Ḥākim, Ṭabarānī, Abū Na’īm and Bayĥaqī have marfooan narrated on the authority of Sayyidunā ‘Alī �� that when Sayyidunā Ādam �� became victim to the displeasure of Allah �� , he was stunned with the thought of his repentance. All of a sudden, in this state of anxiety, he remembered that at the time of my birth, when I lifted my head,

I saw

2 ال

ا2 د ا$# رسو مم

ا$# ل written on the heavens. At that time, I

had realised that in the court of Almighty Allah �� , no one has been granted such exalted status as Prophet Muhammad

��+ �, �� * �� '�� (�� . Almighty Allah �� has written his name on the ‘Arsh with His own blessed name. Therefore, in his

supplication, as well as reciting, ناانفسنا ظلمنا رب he also recited

تغفرل ان ممد بق اسئلك And in the narration of Ibn-e-Munzer, the

following words were also recited:

# م ه الل

د ه با ك اسئل ان و ك عبد مم

ئت ي خط تغفرل ان يك عل ه رامت ك

Meaning: O Allah! By virtue of the excellence and the dignity of Your Chosen Prophet Muhammad ��+ �, �� * �� '�� (�� and by virtue of the dignity that he holds in Your court, I supplicate that You forgive my sin. As soon as this supplication was


308

made, Almighty Allah �� forgave him and accepted his repentance. (Tafsīr Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, pp 1094-1095) (Part 1, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 37)

Allah �� has stated in the Holy Quran:

�à�� 7 �P�C #S �¡� ! �� °��8

� � �µ-�7�� 3� �P�C �°4�7 �E :°��t ��9% �0 # #3� ��0 ��P�� #y� �~�� /reD Then Ādam learnt from his Rab certain words (of revelation), therefore Allah accepted his repentance; indeed He only is the

Most Acceptor of Repentance, the Most Merciful. Kanz-ul-Īmān

(Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 37)

Moral lesson

From this anecdote, few lessons have been highlighted which are as follows:

1. From this anecdote, we come to know that when supplicating, it is permissible to use the reference of the people who are accepted in the court of Almighty Allah �� . Also, this (manner of supplicating) is a Sunnaĥ of Sayyidunā Ādam �� .

2. The repentance of Sayyidunā Ādam �� was accepted on the 10th of Muḥarram. At the time of being asked to leave from the heaven, alongside other blessings, he was also made to forget the Arabic language. Instead of this, Suryānī language was brought onto his tongue. However, after the acceptance of his repentance, he was also blessed with the Arabic language again. (Tafsīr Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, pp 1095; Part 1, Sūraĥ al-Baqaraĥ, Verse 37)


309

3. As Sayyidunā Ādam �� became a victim of an inferential mistake which is not considered to be a sin, whoever calls Sayyidunā Ādam �� to be a sinner or a tyrant; on the basis of insulting a prophet, he would become a disbeliever. Almighty Allah �� is the Owner and Most Powerful. He may say whatever He likes to His special chosen Prophet, Sayyidunā Ādam �� . In this, lies his (Ādam’s) respect and reverence. What right does anyone else hold to utter accusative and disrespective words and uses the saying of Almighty Allah �� in the Holy Quran to be the proof against him �� . Almighty Allah �� has ordered us to show respect and reverence to Prophets �� '�-�� and to obey them. Hence, it is compulsory upon us to show utmost respect and reverence to Sayyidunā Ādam �� and all other Prophets

�� . We shall never at all utter such words which even hold a shadow of doubt of decreasing the respect and

reverence of Prophets �� . ( وا$# fاعلم تعا )

11. Disciples (Ḥawārī) of Sayyidunā Īsā

Who were the twelve “Ḥawārī” (disciples) of Sayyidunā Īsā �� who brought faith upon Sayyidunā Īsā �� , proclaimed their faith (Islam) and were always there to provide physical, monetary and all sorts of help and assistance wholeheartedly to Sayyidunā Īsā �� ? Why did they attain the title of “Ḥawārī” and with what semantic interpretations, they were titled with this name?

With regards to this, the author of Tafsīr-e-Jaml has stated that ‘the word “Ḥawārī” has been derived from the word “Ḥūr”; which mean whiteness. As the dresses of these people were extremely


310

white and clean, and their hearts and intentions held a seminal status in purity; so based on these factors, people started calling them “Ḥawārī”. According to some commentators, in order to earn pure sustenance, these people adopted the profession of being launderette and used to wash cloths. That’s why these people were called “Ḥawārī”. Also according to another narration, it is said that all these people belonged to a royal family and used to wear very clean and white cloths. Hence, people started calling them “Ḥawārī”.

Sayyidunā Īsā �� had a bowl in which he �� used to eat. This bowl would never be empty of food. Someone informed the king about this. Hence he called Sayyidunā Īsā �� in his court and asked, ‘who are you?’ Sayyidunā Īsā �� replied ‘I am Īsā, son of Maryam, a bondman and a Prophet of Allah �� ’. The king became inspired by the personality and miracles of Sayyidunā Īsā �� and embraced faith upon him. He left the throne of the kingdom and along with his entire relatives; he started to live at the service of Sayyidunā Īsā �� . Since this royal family was a white-collar family, hence they became famous with the title of “Ḥawārī”

In another saying, it is said that this was a group of white-collar fishermen, who used to catch fish. Sayyidunā Īsā �� went to these people and said “you people catch fish. If you people show your consent to follow me, you will start hunting humans and bless them with an eternal life”. At the time when these people demanded a miracle from Sayyidunā Īsā �� , a fisherman called “Sham’ūn” had already thrown his net in the river. Despite the whole night passing by, not even a single fish was caught in the net. So Sayyidunā Īsā �� said


311

‘throw the net in the river now’. Therefore, as soon as he threw the net in the river, instantly so many fish got trapped in the net that the people in the boat could not lift the net. Therefore, with the help of two boats, the net was lifted and both of the boats got filled up with fish. After seeing this miracle, people on both boats who were twelve in number, recited the “Kalima” and embraced Islam. These people were titled as the “Ḥawārī”.

Some religious scholars are of the opinion that twelve people brought faith upon Sayyidunā Īsā �� . Due to their firm believe and righteous intentions, these people were blessed with marvel (Karāmat) that whenever they felt hungry, they used to say: O Rūḥullāĥ, we are hungry. So Sayyidunā Īsā �� would tap the earth with his hand and two rotis (loaves) would come out of the earth and reach their hands. When these people would call upon due to thirst, Sayyidunā Īsā �� would tap the earth and extremely sweet and cold water was provided to these people. This is how these people used to eat and drink.

One day, these people asked Sayyidunā Īsā �� that ‘Oh Rūḥullāĥ! Who is the best amongst us believers?’ He �� replied, ‘the one who earns sustenance using the earnings of his hands’. Upon hearing this, with an intention to earn pure earning, these twelve people adopted the occupation of laundrette. As these people used to make cloths white after washing, therefore these people were called with the title of ‘Ḥawārī’.

There is another opinion that the mother of Sayyidunā Īsā �� took her son as a servant to a dyer. One day, the dyer marked few cloths and gave Īsā �� few cloths to colour and went


312

out somewhere himself. Sayyidunā Sayyidunā Īsā �� put all of the cloths in the pot containing one single colour. The dyer said with a great anxiety that ‘you have dyed all of the cloths with the same colour, although I had marked different colours for different cloths and asked you to dye them accordingly.’ Then Sayyidunā Īsā �� said; ‘O cloths, by the command of Allah! Be of the colours as per as his (dyer’s) wish’. Therefore, from the same pot, red, green, yellow and whichever colour the dyer wanted for whichever cloth, they were coming out accordingly. After witnessing this miracle of Sayyidunā Īsā �� , all those present who were white-collar people and were twelve in number, all embraced the true faith. These people became known as the “Ḥawārī”.

Sayyidunā Imām Qafāl �� * �� 2� �3�� has stated that it is possible that among these twelve “Hawārīs”, some might be kings, some might be fishermen, some might be launderettes and some might be dyers. As all these people were sincere devotees of Sayyidunā Īsā �� and their hearts and intentions were pure; that’s why these twelve individuals with pious and pure souls were blessed with the dignified title of “Ḥawārī”. This is because the word “Ḥawārī” means “a sincere friend”. (Tafsīr Jamal al al-Jalalin, Vol. 1, pp 423-424; Part 3, Suraĥ Al-‘Imrān, Verse 52)

However, whilst mentioning about Hawārīs in the Glorious Quran, Almighty Allah has stated:

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So when Īsā sensed their disbelief he said, ‘who will be my aides towards (in the cause of) Allah ?’ The disciples said, ‘We are the


313

aides of Allah’s religion; we believe in Allah, and you bear witness

that we are Muslims.’ [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 3,

Sūraĥ Al-e-‘Imrān, Verse 52)

At another place in the Holy Quran, Allah �� has stated:

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And when I inspired into the hearts of the disciples that, ‘Believe in me and in My Noble Messenger’; they said, ‘We accept faith, and be witness that we are Muslims.’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 7, Sūraĥ Maida, Verse 111)

Moral lesson

Although the number of “Hawārīs” (disciples) of Sayyidunā Īsā �� was only twelve, but the way they remained steadfast by showing their assistance, determination and bravery against Jews; it contains ample lessons for every Muslim to remain steadfast in the matters of religion.

Almighty Allah �� grants every Prophet with these kind of sincere friends and devotees. Therefore, on the day of Ghazva-e-Khandaq (the battle of trench), the Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� said that ‘every prophet has had “Hawārīs” and my “Ḥawārī” is Zubair. (Mishka-tul-Maṣābīḥ, Kitāb-ul-Fatan, Manāqib-ul-‘Asharaĥ, pp 565)

Sayyidunā Qatādaĥ has said that ‘twelve blessed companions from the Quraīsh are the “Hawārīs” of the Holy Prophet

�� * �� + �, '�� (�� . Their blessed names are as follows:

(1) Sayyidunā Abū Bakr (2) Sayyidunā ‘Umar


314

(3) Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān (4) Sayyidunā ‘Alī

(5) Sayyidunā Ḥamzaĥ (6) Sayyidunā Ja’far

(7) Sayyidunā Abū Ubaydaĥ bin Al-Jarraĥ

(8) Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān bin Maẓ’ūn

(9) Sayyidunā Abdul Raḥmān bin ‘Awf

(10) Sayyidunā Sa’d bin Abī Waqqās

(11) Sayyidunā Ṭalḥa bin ‘Ubaīdullāĥ

(12) Sayyidunā Zubair bin Al-‘Awwām

This is because at every occasion, these sincere devotees have set unimaginable and unparalleled examples of assistance and support to the Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� .

Name on the door of Hell

Sayyidunā Abū Sa’īd �� narrated that the Beloved of Allah �� has said:

ك من تر

تب اسم ة متعمدا ص� ك

o ار ف ههاخل د ي يمن باب ال

Meaning ‘the one who intentionally misses even one Ṣalāĥ, his name is written on the door of Hell, through which he

will enter Hell. (Ḥilya-tul-Auliyā, Vol. 7, pp. 299, Ḥadīš 10590;

Faīzān-e-Sunnat. Vol. 1 pp. 1282)


315

12. Those who did Jihad with apostates

Few people during the blessed life of Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� and many after his blessed demise were going to apostate from Islam. The survival of Islam was going to be under a serious threat from them. Nevertheless, the Holy Quran predicted the happening of this unseen many years ago, and had informed beforehand that at this terrible and horrific time, Allah �� will bring up such a nation who will protect Islam. They will possess such six characteristics that will be the source of all excellences and virtues of this world and the hereafter and these very six characteristics will be the signs and symbols to identify these protectors of Islam. Those six characteristics are as follows:

1. They will be the beloveds of Allah ��

2. They will love Allah ��

3. They will be extremely kind to believers

4. They will be extremely tough for non-believers

5. They will struggle (do Jihad) in the path of Allah

6. They will not fear the denouncing of any denouncer

The author of “Tafsīr-e-Jamāl” has written in reference to “Kashāf” that after embracing Islam, eleven tribes from Arab deviated and became apostate one after another. Three tribes deviated during the presence of the Holy Prophet �� , seven became apostate during the caliphate of Amīr-ul-Muminīn Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq �� and one tribe deviated after Sayyidunā Umer Farooq �� became the caliph. However, these eleven tribes could not do any harm to


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Islam despite their unceasing efforts. Instead, due to the courageous Jihad done by the Islamic warriors, these entire apostates were destroyed and perished forever. The Islamic flag kept on hoisting higher and higher. Moreover, the promise of the Holy Quran and the news of the unseen proved to be absolutely true.

Three apostates during the time of the Holy Prophet

1. The tribe of “Banī Madlaj”, whose chieftain was “Aswad ‘Ansī”, who was famous with the title of “Żulḥimār”. The Holy Prophet �� + �, �� * '�� (�� sent a message to Sayyidunā Mu’āż bin Jabal �� and to the chiefs of the Yemen to do a Jihad against apostates. Therefore, Aswad ‘Ansī was killed by Fīroz Dīlmī and his (Aswad ‘Ansī’s) followers dispersed. The Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� was given this good news on his sick bed that Aswad ‘Ansī has been killed. The very next day, the Holy Prophet �� + �,

�� * '�� (�� departed from this temporary world.

2. Tribe of “Banū Ḥanīfaĥ”, whose chieftain was “Maslīmaĥ Kazzāb”. Sayyidunā Abū Bakr �� performed Jihad with him. After the fight, Maslīmaĥ Kazzāb was killed by Sayyidunā Waḥshī �� . As for his followers, some were killed and others reverted back to Islam.

3. The tribe of “Banū Asad”, whose leader was “Ṭalḥa bin Khuwailīd”. The Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� sent Sayyidunā Khalid bin Walīd �� to contest against him. After the battle, Ṭalḥa bin Khuwailīd was defeated and he fled to Syria. However, he reverted back to Islam, and remained steadfast on Islam until his last breath. Some of his army was killed and some repented and reverted back to Islam.


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Seven apostate tribes during the caliphate of Sayyidunā

Ṣiddīq-e-Akbar

1. The “Tribe of Fazāraĥ” whose chief was ‘Uyaīnaĥ Bin Ḥassan Fazārī

2. The “Tribe of Ghaṭfān” whose chief was Qurraĥ bin Salamaĥ Qushayrī

3. The “Tribe of Banū Salīm” whose chieftain was Fajjāĥ bin Yālīl

4. The “Tribe of Banī Yarbū’” whose leader was “Mālik bin Buraīdaĥ”

5. The “Tribe of Banū Tamīm” whose leader was a woman called Sajjāḥ’ bint Manẓar. She later married Maslīmaĥ Kazzāb

6. The “Tribe of Kindaĥ” who were the followers of Ash’aš bin Qays

7. The “Tribe of Banū Bakr” who were the followers of “Khaṭmī bin Yazīd”

Sayyidunā Ṣiddīq-e-Akbar �� fought intensely brutal wars against these seven apostate tribes for months. As a result, some of these were killed and others repented and reverted back to Islam.

The apostate tribe during the caliphate of Sayyidunā

‘Umar-e-Fārūq

During the caliphate of Sayyidunā ‘Umar-e-Fārūq �� , only one tribe deviated from Islam and became apostate. This


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was the “Tribe of Ghasān”, whose leadership was in the hands of Jablaĥ bin Aīĥam. However, under the flag of Sayyidunā ‘Umar-e-Fārūq �� , the holy companions did Jihad against this tribe and completely destroyed them. Thereafter, no tribe had the courage to become apostate.

As a result of this, the brawls and seditions caused by these eleven tribes were removed forever due to the Jihad of Islamic warriors. (Tafsīr Jaml Jalālaīn, Vol. 2, pp 239; Part 6, Sūraĥ Al-Maida,

Verse 54)

The ones who fought against these apostate groups and completely destroyed these transgressors were the holy companions; about whom the Glorious Quran had revealed the news of unseen many years ago by saying that:

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“O people who believe! Whoever among you reneges from his religion, so Allah will soon bring people who are His beloved ones and Allah is their beloved, lenient with the Muslims and stern towards disbelievers - they will strive in Allah’s cause, and not fear the criticism of any accuser; this is Allah’s munificence, He may give to whomever He wills; and Allah is the Most Capable, the All Knowing”.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Sūraĥ al-Maida, Verse 54)


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Moral lesson

From these verses, following beacons of light of guidance emerge:

No harm can be caused to Islam by the seditions and unrests created by the apostate groups because Almighty Allah �� will bring forth such a group against the apostate groups in every era, which will root out all the seditions and unrests created by apostates and will keep hoisting the flag of Islam high. Moreover, these people will possess six qualities.

Based on these blessed verses of the Holy Quran, it is proven that the holy companions �� "��6 �7 ��4 � �'�-� �� , who eliminated the unrests created by the eleven apostate groups and elevated the flag of Islam higher and higher, were blessed with the possession of the following six great traits.

1. Holy companions are the beloved people of Allah �� .

2. They are very tough against non-believers.

3. They hold Allah �� beloved to them.

4. They are kind hearted for Muslims.

5. They are the fighter in the path of Allah �� .

6. In regards to the matters of Allah �� , they do not fear or worry about anyone who denounces them.

Then at the end of the verse, Almighty Allah �� has confirmed His kindness and rewards for these people by elevating their dignities and grandeurs by saying; this all is the grace of Allah �� . His mercy and grace is very vast and only Allah �� knows the best, as to who among them deserves His grace.


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� �/��0�1� �(��#&� �� ! What can be said about the elevated glories and grandeurs of the Holy companions! The Holy Prophet �� + �,

�� * '�� (�� announced the grace and perfections of his companions and Allah �� addressed the comprehensive qualities of these people in the Holy Quran.

13. Disappointment of pagans

After the migration, eventhough Islam kept on growing very fast and Muslims were victorious against infidels on every front; and pagans remained unsuccessful in their conspiracies; however, in spite of all this, infidels always remained busy in plotting against Islam hoping that one day, Islam will definitely be wiped off and idol worshiping will prevail once again in ‘Arab. Based on these frail hopes, infidels remained busy plotting conspiracies against Islam and kept on promoting new sedition.

However, on 10 A.H, when disbelievers saw a huge gathering of Muslims at the occasion of “Hūjja-tul-Widā’” in the plains of Arafaĥ; and they witnessed the enthusiasm of those thousands of Muslims for Islam, their passion and unconditional believe and love for the Prophet, their courage and frail hopes disappeared and they completely became hopeless of the destruction and devastation of Islam.

Hence, to reflect upon this incident, the following verses especially revealed in the plains of Arafaĥ after the time of ‘Aṣr:

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This day, the unbelievers are in despair concerning your religion, so do not fear them and fear Me; this day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Sūraĥ al-Maida, Verse 3)

It is narrated that a Jew said to Amīr-ul-Muminīn Sayyidunā ‘Umar-e-Fārūq �� that there is such a verse in your Book that if it was revealed upon us, we would have made that day the “day of Eid”. Sayyidunā ‘Umar �� asked ‘which verse?’ Then the Jew replied:

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Upon hearing this, Sayyidunā ‘Umar �� said that we are well-aware of the day, place and time when this verse was revealed. That day was the day of Friday, it was the plains of Arafaĥ and the Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� was delivering sermon (Khuṭbaĥ) after ‘Aṣr Ṣalaĥ, when this verse was revealed.

By this, Sayyidunā ‘Umar �� meant that the day this verse was revealed, we had two Eids. One it was the day of Arafaĥ, which is also a day of Eid for us. Secondly, it was the day of Friday and that too is a day of Eid for us. Hence, there is no need for us to celebrate Eid separately. (Tafsir Jaml, vol. 2,

pp. 180; Part 6, Al-Maida, Verse 3)

There is also another narration that after the revelation of this verse, Amīr-ul-Muminīn Sayyidunā ‘Umar-e-Fārūq �� started crying. The Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� enquired; O Umar �� , why are you crying? Sayyidunā Umar ��

�� replied: O Prophet of Allah �� , our religion is progressing


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day by day. Now that our religion is complete; it is a general law that “there is an anticlimax to every climax”. In other words, after reaching the heights of excellence, things gradually start to decline. Furthermore, from this verse, there is also an indication of the demise of the Beloved Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� . Because, The Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� came to this world to complete the religion. So now the religion has been complete; it is obvious that the Holy Prophet �� * �� + �, '�� (�� will not prefer to stay in this world. (Tafsīr Jaml Jalālaīn, Vol. 2, pp. 180; Part 6, Suraĥ

al-Maida, Verse 3)

Moral lesson

1. Almighty Allah �� has ascertained through this verse that the struggles and efforts of infidels cannot destroy Islam. Because, disappointment has overcome the hopes of infidels, as their dream of destroying Islam will now never become a reality.

2. This verse has announced that the religion of Islam has become complete. Now if someone claims that such and such matters in Islam are left incomplete, or there is a need of an amendment or addition; then such person is a big liar. In reality, he is an unbeliever who has denied the Holy Quran and has fallen out of the folds of Islam. Certainly, without any shadow of doubt, the religion Islam is complete and to believe in this is from the necessities of Islam.

14. Islam and the life of Sādĥū (mendicant)

The exegetes of the Holy Quran have said that one day, the Honourable Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, delivered a sermon and


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described the miseries of the Day of Judgment in such a way that the audience became awe-struck and began to weep heavily. The hearts of the people were trembled and they were struck with such fear and horror that ten prestigious companions assembled at the house of Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān bin Maẓ’ūn Jamḥī �� . Among those gathered were Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Siddique, Sayyidunā ‘Alī, Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāĥ bin Mas’ūd, Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāĥ bin Umar, Sayyidunā Abū zar Ghafārī, Sayyidunā Salīm, Sayyidunā Miqdād, Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsī, Sayyidunā Ma’qil bin Muqrin and Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān bin Maẓ’ūn �-�� 8�9� ' . These esteemed individuals counselled and decided that from now onwards, we will live as mendicants, we will wear plastic-made thick clothing, we will fast in the day and worship the whole night, we will not sleep on beds, we will stay detached from our women, we will not eat any meat, fats, butter and any oily food, neither will we use any perfume and we will go around rambling the earth like mendicants.

When Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, was informed about this plan of the holy companions, he '�� (�� * �� + �, asked Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān bin Maẓ’ūn �� that ‘I have come to know of such and such information. You inform me, what is the matter?’ Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān bin Maẓ’ūn �� presented himself in the court of the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, along with other companions and said ‘O Prophet of Allah, the information you have received is absolutely true. The purpose behind this plan is none other than earning virtues and good deeds. After hearing this, the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, expressed anger and said: ‘The religion that I have brought does not have such commandments. Listen! Your bodies also have


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rights upon you. Therefore, observe fasts for some days and eat and drink for some days. Awake in some part of the night and worship Allah �� and take rest in other parts of the night. Witness that I, being the Prophet, observe fasts on some days and on other days, I do not. I eat meat, fats and butter as well. I also wear good clothes and keep relations with my wives too. I use fragrance as well. This is my Sunnaĥ and whichever Muslim deviates from my Sunnaĥ will not be on my path and will not be among my followers.’

After this, the Prophet of Mankind '�� (�� * �� + �, assembled a huge gathering of the holy companions and delivered a very affective speech in which he �� + �,'�� (�� * stated in bold words that; ‘Listen! I do not order you to become mendicants and live a monastic way of life. It is not in my religion by any means to stop eating meat and other pleasant foods, leaving your women and to completely cut off connections with all other worldly matters and to stay in a cot-house or in the cave of a mountain rambling on the earth. Listen! My Ummah’s travel is Jihad. For that reason, instead of rambling on the earth, take part in Jihad, worship Allah �� whilst adhering to Ṣalāĥ, Fast, Hajj and Zakāĥ and do not put your lives into hardships. Because the people of the previous nations who lived as mendicants putting their lives into hardships, Allah �� descended very tough commandments for them afflicting them with adversity. These people could not fulfil these tough commands and the ultimate consequence was that they deviated from the commands of Allah �� and hence, these people were destroyed.’ (Tafsīr Jaml Jalālaīn, Vol. 2, pp 267; Part 7,

Sūraĥ al-Maida, Verse 86)


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It was after this sermon of the Merciful Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, that the following blessed verses of Suraĥ Maida were revealed:

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O people who believe! Do not forbid the pure things, which Allah has made lawful for you, and do not cross the limits; indeed Allah dislikes the transgressors. Eat of the sustenance which Allah has given you, the

lawful and the pure - and fear Allah in Whom you believe. [Kanz-ul-

Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Sūraĥ Maida, Verse 86-88)

Moral lesson

We get a moral lesson from these verses that Islam does not allow us to live our lives as mendicants. Forbidding oneself from fine foods and good clothes, cutting oneself from one’s spouse and children, sitting in a cottage and rambling in forests or in deserted areas is not by any means according to the Islamic teachings. Make a deep understanding of this yourself that all those mendicant type old men who live this kind of life, sitting in cottages or open fields making advert of their monastery and false piety whilst entrapping the ignorant people into their falsehood, listen and observe this matter with open ears and eyes that such mendicant like attitude is not an Islamic way of life. On the contrary, the original and true Islam is that which is according to the sanctified customs and Sunnahs of the Honourable Messenger '�� (�� * �� + �,.


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Therefore, the person who is leading a life holding firm to the Sunnaĥs is in reality leading an Islamic life and same is the way of the simple lives of the respected Sūfīyaĥ.

Understand this fact that any mode of life which is followed by deviating away from the Sunnaĥ of the Beloved Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,. is neither an Islamic way of life nor is it a dervish mode of life of the respected Sūfīyaĥ. Thus, nowadays, those old men who have adopted such monastic and mendicant ways of life, through these practices, they do not even have a distant connection with Islam or sainthood. Muslims should be watchful of this and should be ascertained that all such people have laid their attractive snares to trap the innocent and faithful Muslims and through this excuse, they attain their personal benefits. To reveal the essential reality and announce the truth is mandatory onto us Islamic scholars, which we are abiding by.

Either accept it or reject it, It is up to you

About Good or bad, we will keep on coaching you

15. Two major enemies and one minor enemy

The Holy Quran has frequently highlighted the issue and announced that every non-believer is the enemy of Muslims. A certain poison is instilled in their hearts and minds against Muslims and their hearts are always blazing like a furnace due to the malice and spite against Muslims. However, the question is that who is the biggest and the fiercest enemy of Muslims among the three renowned sects: (1) the Jews, (2) the Mushrikin, (polytheists) or (3) the Christians? And which sect is comparatively mild in their hostility against Muslims? The


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following verse of Suraĥ Maidah was revealed as an answer to these questions. Therefore, whilst having a firm belief on this verse of the Holy Quran, we should identify our major and minor enemies and should remain attentive of them. Allah �� has said;

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You will certainly find the Jews and the polytheists as the greatest enemies of the Muslims; and you will find the closest in friendship to the Muslims those who said, ‘We are Christians’; that is because scholars and monks are among them, and they are not proud.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Sūraĥ Maida, Verse 82)

Moral lesson

In the light of this verse, scroll over the pages of history and be further satisfied upon your faith that the severe hostilities that the Jews and the Mushriki have displayed against Muslims, Christians have comparatively imposed a lot less hostilities upon Muslims. The heights of oppressions and cruelties that the Jews and Mushrikin have imposed upon Muslims, the Christians have not oppressed the Muslims to this degree. Therefore, Muslims shall assume the Jews and Mushrikin as their worst enemies and shall never trust them at all and shall always remain vigilant from worst of these enemies. They should also maintain the same belief about Christians that they are also enemies of Muslims. However they have some tenderness in their hearts for Muslims. For this reason, they are enemies of a comparatively lesser degree than the Jews and Mushrikin.


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This is the summary and meaning of this blessed verse which is an optimum beacon of light for the sake of the Muslims

identifying their most major and minor enemies. #$وا fاعلم تعا

16. Killers of prophets

The Holy Quran has frequently announced the atrocities and chaos of the Jews in various chapters and has repeatedly mentioned that these tyrants have not even spared their prophets and messengers from killing them. Hence, it has been stated:

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Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah, and wrongfully martyr the Prophets, and slay people who enjoin justice - so give them the

glad tidings of a painful punishment. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of

Quran)] (Part 3, Sūraĥ al-‘Imrān, Verse 21)

It is narrated by Abū Ubaydaĥ bin al-Jarraĥ �� that the Respected Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, has stated that Jews killed forty-five prophets and one hundred and seventy pious people in one day who used to persuade them toward righteousness. (Tarīkh Ibn-e-Kašīr, Vol. 2, pp 55) Thus, the martyrdoms of Yaḥyā �� and Zakariyyā �� are among the atrocities of this event.

Martyrdom of Sayyidunā Yaḥyā

Ibn-e-Asākir has written the incident of the martyrdom of Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� in his book ‘Al-Mustaqṣī fī Faḍāil-ul-Aqṣā’ in the following way; The King of Damascus ‘Ḥadād bin Ḥarar’ had given his wife three Talāqs (divorces). But later


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on, he wished to return to his wife without carrying out a Ḥilalaĥ (second marriage). When he sought a verdict (Fatwa) from Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� , he �� replied that his wife is Ḥarām (forbidden) for him. His wife found this matter very indigestible and she wished to kill Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� . Hence, she compelled the King and gained permission to kill Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� . She got him assassinated whilst in a state of Sajda (prostration) when he �� was offering Salah in the ‘Masjid Jabrūn’ and she asked for the blessed head to be brought in a salver before her. However, even in this state, the decapitated head continued to say ‘you are not Ḥalāl (permissible) for the king without performing Ḥilalaĥ’. In the same state, the punishment of Allah �� descended upon her, causing her to sink into the earth along with the blessed head of Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� . (Al-Bidāyaĥ-o-wal-Niĥāyaĥ, vol. 2, pp. 55)

Murder of Sayyidunā Zakarīyā

When the Jews killed Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� , then these tyrants turned their attention towards his father Sayyidunā Zakarīyā �� to martyr him as well. However, when Sayyidunā Zakarīyā �� saw this, he fled away from them and hid himself in a split of a tree. The Jews began to cut this tree with a hacksaw. When the hacksaw reached Sayyidunā Zakarīyā �� , Allah said that ‘Oh Zakarīyā, beware! If you make any sort of outcry, then We will overturn the entire earth and if you observe patience, then We will descend Our punishment on these Jews.’ Consequently, Sayyidunā Zakarīyā �� observed patience and the tyrant Jews cut him into two pieces as well along with the tree. (Tarīkh Ibn-e-Kašīr, Vol. 2, pp 55)

There is a difference of opinion as to what place the incident of the martyrdom of Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� occurred. The first


330

statement is that this incident took place in Jabrūn Masjid. But Sayyidunā Sufyān Šaurī �� * �� 2� �3�� has quoted this statement with the reference of Shimr bin ‘Aṭiyaĥ that Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� was martyred in Bait-ul-Muqaddas, in between the Ĥaīkul-e-Sulaymānī (the Soloman Temple) and Qurbān Gāĥ (the altar), the place where Jews had killed seventy Prophets before him. (Tarīkh Ibn-e-Kašīr, Vol. 2, pp 55)

Anyways, everyone agree on the point that Jews martyred Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� . When the condition of his martyrdom became known to Sayyidunā Īsā �� , he then openly started preaching the message of the truth. Then finally, Jews planned to kill Sayyidunā Īsā �� too. In fact, one Jew even entered his house with the intention of killing him. But Allah Almighty �� sent a cloud and lifted Sayyidunā Īsā �� towards the heavens. The comprehensive detail about this incident is mentioned in our book ‘Ajaib-ul-Quran’ [Wonders of the Holy Quran].

Moral lesson

If the events of the martyrdom of Sayyidunā Yaḥyā and Sayyidunā Zakarīyā �� .�-� � �� are analyzed in reality, then there are diverse pearls of guidance that can be attained and some significant points are very noteworthy:

1. No one in this world would be more stonehearted and misfortunate then these Jews who would irrationally kill so many Honourable Prophets �� . Notwithstanding, these elite, esteemed and sanctified personalities would neither irritate anyone nor would they take another’s wealth and riches. On the contrary,


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they would reform people without any remuneration, and enlighten them with prosperity and moral happiness. In this context, the blessed companion, Sayyidunā Abū Ubaydaĥ �� inquired from the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, that who will be deserving of the largest and severest punishment on the Day of Judgment? The Beloved Prophet �� + �,'�� (�� * �� replied:

معروف امر اومن اي� نب قتل رجل من عن ه ون بال

ر ك ال

Translation: The one who kills a prophet or any such person who persuades towards righteousness and forbids from evil. (Tafsīr Ibn-e-Kašīr, Vol. 2, pp 22; Part 3, Sūraĥ al-‘Imrān, Verse 21)

Nonetheless, the way these tyrant Jews exhibited their cruelties due to their wretchedness to the prophets of Allah �� , and the way they callously shed the blood of these holy individuals, such example of brutality cannot be found in any other nation. For this reason, Allah �� caused their damnation in both worlds through His wrath and rage. Thus, it is necessary for every Muslim to maintain hatred and enmity for these accursed people.

2. As the people of Bani Isrāīl were divided into different tribes, that’s why various prophets and messengers of Allah �� continued to be sent to them in the same era. The foundation of preaching for all these prophets remained the book of Sayyidunā Mūsā �� , Al-Tawrāt and the status of all these prophets remained as a deputy to Sayyidunā Mūsā �� .


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3. Islamic scholars should courageously preach the truth until the last breath of their life whilst maintaining perseverance on it, and in the matter of revealing the truth; they should not even care about their lives. As you have read that even after the beheading of Sayyidunā Yaḥyā �� , the same words continued to be heard from the decapitated head that; ‘after three divorces, the husband of a woman cannot marry her

again without a Ḥilalaĥ’. #$وا fاعلم تعا

17. A conspiracy of hypocrites

We have already written a complete and comprehensive description of the events of the Battle of Uḥud in our book, ‘Sīrat-e-Mustafa '�� (�� * �� + �,’. However, here we will only be mentioning the dangerous conspiracy that a group of cursed hypocrites conspired against the Holy Prophet � � � �� * �� + �,'�� (�� on the day of the battle of Uḥud. The Holy Quran has brought light to this extremely admonitory and lesson-bearing event.

When the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, left Madina for the battle, at that time, an army of one thousand people was under his flag of Prophethood. In this army, three hundred hypocrites were also present, who were led by ‘Abdullāĥ bin Abī. These hypocrites had already formulated a conspiracy with the Kuffār of Makkaĥ and planned that they will attempt to discourage the sincere Muslims. Their plan initially involved leaving for the battle with the Muslim army, and then leaving them and returning back to Madina. Therefore, the chief of these hypocrites made a lame excuse, and separated himself and his followers from the Muslim army. His excuse involved him saying


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that Muhammad ('�� (�� * �� + �,) did not accept the proposal of their so-called expertise, which was to fight a defensive war in Madina. The excuse they made was to say that the Holy Prophet ('�� (�� * �� + �,) accepted the proposal of young people and departed from Madina, and they questioned why their lives should be put into danger when their proposal was not listened to. However, with the blessings of Allah �� , the wicked aim of these hypocrites was not fulfilled. This was because the sincere Muslims did not feel any impact of their departure. However, within two Muslim tribes, the ‘Banū Salamaĥ’ and ‘Banū Ḥārišaĥ’, there was some sense of disillusionment and fear. But by observing the bravery and enthusiasm of the sincere Muslims for Jihad, their bravery also came to the fore. With perseverance and passion, these individuals fought with pagans, and kept fighting under the flag of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, until the end. In description of this event, the Holy Quran mentions:

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And remember, O dear, when you came forth from your house in the morning, appointing the believers on positions of battle; and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. When two groups among you almost decided to show cowardice - and Allah is their Protector;

and in Allah only should the believers trust. [Kanz-ul-Īmān

(Translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Sūraĥ al-‘Imrān, Verses 121-122)

Nevertheless, in the Battle of Uḥud, this heinous conspiracy and

the terrible strategy of hypocrites completely failed. ��& � �� :� �. �0�� although seventy Muslims were blessed with martyrdom, but in


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the end, victory kissed the blessed feet of Holy Prophet �� + �,

'�� (�� *. Hypocrites left the battlefield with no success and returned to their homes, while the flag of Islam remained hoisted high.

Moral lesson

From this event, we learn that if believers show perseverance and do Jihad with sincere intentions, become united on the battlefield against unbelievers, have strong determination and courage, then Allah �� will destroy all the plans and conspiracies of unbelievers and hypocrites. However, it is an obvious reality that:

Barā-e-fataḥ peĥlī sharṭ ĥe sābit qadam reĥnā

Jamā’at ko baĥam rakĥnā, jamā’at ka baĥam reĥnā

The foremost essence of success lies in perseverance Second is to be united and to keep united your group

18. Sayyidunā Ilyas

He is the caliph and deputy of Sayyidunā Ḥazqīl �� . Many historians have a unanimous opinion that he is from the progeny of Sayyidunā Ĥārūn �� . Moreover, his family lineage is as follows: Ilyas bin Yāsīn bin Fakhās bin ‘Īzār bin Ĥārūn �� . Regarding his Prophethood, it is a collective opinion of the historians that he was sent for the guidance of the Syrian people, and the famous city of ‘Ba’albak’ was centre of his Prophethood and teachings.

In those days, a king named Arjab ruled the city of Ba’albak, and had forced the whole nation to worship idols. The biggest idol of this nation was Ba’al, which was made of gold. It was


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twenty yards tall and had four faces. Four hundred servants used to serve this idol and were regarded as sons by the whole nation. The voice of Satan used to come out from this idol which would order the people to perform idol worship and polytheism. In this environment, Sayyidunā Ilyas �� started preaching Tauheed (monotheism) and the worship of Allah �� to these people. However, these people did not embrace faith unto him. On the contrary, ‘Arjab’ the king of the city, became an enemy of the life of Sayyidunā Ilyas ��

�� and planned to assassinate him. Therefore, Sayyidunā Ilyas �� migrated from the city, and hid in caves and on mountain peaks. He stayed in this terrified state for seven years, and lived on wild grass, wild flowers and fruit. The king had appointed many spies to arrest Sayyidunā Ilyas �� . When he had reached the peak of these difficulties, he then supplicated in this manner: ‘O Allah! Free me from these tyrants and bestow peace upon me’. Subsequently, there was a divine revelation that informed him that on so-and-so day travel to so-and-so place, and any ride that you find there, sit on it without any fear. Therefore, he ( �� ) reached the mentioned place on the mentioned day and found a red horse standing there. He mounted the horse, and it began to move. As this happened, he heard his cousin, Sayyidunā Al-Yasī’ �� calling him and asking him ‘what shall I do now?’ Sayyidunā Ilyas �� laid his blanket onto him. This was a sign that I have appointed you as my deputy for the guidance of Bani Isrāīl. After this, Allah �� took Sayyidunā Ilyas �� away from the sight of common people and removed his dependency over eating and drinking. Then Allah �� included him within the group of angels. Furthermore, Sayyidunā Al-Yasī’ �� began guiding people with great


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courage and determination. Therefore, Allah �� supported him on each and every step. The people of Bani Isrāīl embraced faith unto him and remained steadfast upon their faith until the demise of Sayyidunā Al-Yasī’ �� .

The miracles of Sayyidunā Ilyas

Allah �� blessed him control over all mountains and animals, and blessed him with the power and energy of seventy Prophets. Allah �� made him equal to Sayyidunā Mūsā �� in power, wrath and rage. It is stated in other narrations that Sayyidunā Ilyas and Sayyidunā Khiḍr observe fasts of every year in Bait-ul-Muqaddas, as well as travel to Makkaĥ every year for Hajj. In the remaining days of the year, Sayyidunā Ilyas �� patrols jungles and plains; whereas Sayyidunā Khiḍr �� visits rivers and oceans. These both holy individuals will die in the last era, when the Holy Quran will be lifted from the world.

There is a Hadis narrated from Sayyidunā Anas �� that: Once we were along with the Holy Prophet �� + �,'�� (�� * �� during a Jihad and on the way, a voice was heard saying: O Allah! Make me from the Ummaĥ of Muhammad '�� (�� * �� + �,, which is indeed a blessed Ummaĥ and whose Du’ās are accepted! Then Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, said to me: “O Anas! Find out about this voice.” Therefore I entered the mountain and all of a sudden, I saw a man who was dressed in extremely white clothes with a long beard. When he saw me, he inquired: Are you a companion of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,?” I replied by saying yes. Then he said: “Go and say my Salām to Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, and further say that your brother Ilyas �� wishes to meet you.” As such, I came back and narrated the entire incident to the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, and he '�� (�� * �� + �, took me along


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with him and left to meet Sayyidunā Ilyas �� . When Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, reached close to Sayyidunā Ilyas, I then moved back. Both of these blessed personalities conversed for a long time, and an eating mat descended from the skies. The Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, called me and I dined with these two blessed individuals. When we had finished our meal, then a cloud appeared from the skies and lifted Sayyidunā Ilyas �� towards the sky, and I kept on looking at his white clothes. (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, Vol 5, page 1749; Part 23, Suraĥ as Ṣāffāt, Verse 124)

Sayyidunā Ilyās and the Quran

In the Holy Quran, Sayyidunā Ilyas �� has been mentioned in two places: Suraĥ An’ām and Suraĥ as-Ṣāffāt. In Suraĥ An’ām, he has only been mentioned in the list of Prophets �� . In Suraĥ as-Ṣāffāt, the announcement of his Prophethood and guidance of his people is mentioned briefly. Therefore, it is stated in Sūraĥ An’ām:

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And of his descendants, Dāwūd and Sulaymān and Ayyūb and Yusuf and Mūsā and Ĥārūn; and this is the way we reward the virtuous. And (We guided) Zakriyaĥ and Yaḥyā and Īsā and Elias; all these are worthy of our proximity. And Ismaīl and Yasa’a and Yūnus and Lūṭ; and to each one during their times, we gave

excellence over all others. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part

7, Sūraĥ al-An’ām, Verses 84-86)


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And in Suraĥ e As-Ṣāffāt, it has been mentioned that:

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And indeed Ilyas is one of the Noble Messengers. When he said to his people, ‘Do you not fear? What! You worship Baal (an idol) and leave the Best Creator, Allah Who is your Rab and Rab of your forefathers? In response they denied him, so they will surely be brought forth as captives, except for the chosen bondmen of Allah. And we kept his praise among the latter generations. Peace be upon Ilyas! This is how We reward the virtuous. He is indeed one of Our

high ranking, firmly believing bondmen. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation

of Quran)] (Part 23, Sūraĥ al-Ṣāffāt, Verses 123-132)

Even though the story of Sayyidunā Ilyas and his people is mentioned very briefly in the Holy Quran, we learn that the mentality of Jews was so badly warped that there was no evil deed that they did not have an urge to perform. Although many Prophets were sent for their guidance, even then they couldn’t leave the worship of idols, stars and those other than Allah �� . Moreover, these people were notoriously deceptive, used to break their promises and were involved in bribery. It was their favourite hobby to oppress and kill the Holy Prophets of Allah. However, through the narrations of these oppressors, on one hand, their cursed deviation and criminal behaviour is


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highlighted and on the other hand, we also learn a valuable lesson that the chain of Prophethood has now been sealed forever, therefore it is utmost necessary for us to remain steadfast on the final message of Allah �� , which is Islam. We must firmly oppose the oppressive behaviours of Jews and should follow the shining examples and blessed lifestyles of the sacred Prophets of Allah by observing patience on the hardships and difficulties caused by disbelievers.

19. Rainfall of the battle of Badr

We have mentioned the holy war of Badr in our book, ‘Sīrat-e-Mustafa’ in a great detail. Here, we will show a glimpse of the divine intervention which came down in the shape of rain and changed the entire scenario of the battlefield.

What took place was that the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, went to Badr in the company of his 313 companions. After approaching close to Badr, they camped at ‘Urwaĥ-tul-Dunyā’, which was facing towards Madinah. When Mushrikin (polytheists) mobilized their army and reached Badr, they camped at ‘Urwaĥ-tul-Qaṣwā, which was towards the Makkah side and further distant from Madinah. The battlefield was mapped out in such a way that Muslims and pagans were face to face. However, the condition of the battlefield for Muslims was such that the ground underneath was extremely sandy. The feet of people and the hooves of horses were both sinking into the sand, and it was extremely difficult to walk and manoeuvre over there. The battlefield for the Mushrikin (polytheists) was plain and like a concrete floor. In summary, the enemy was more than three times in number, as well as being fully equipped with weapons. Their means of communication with one another was


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also satisfactory for them. Moreover, the surrounding of their battlefield was also excellent according to their needs. Other than these facilities, all wells of water were also under their custody. For this reason, Muslims encountered much difficulty obtaining water. From where will drinking water come? How will they feed the livestock? How to perform Wuḍu and Ghusl? Therefore, the blessed companions �"��6 �7 ��4 � �'�-� �� were very distressed and worried. At that time, Satan put an evil temptation in the hearts of Muslims by saying: “Oh Muslims, you think that you are truthful in your belief. Amongst you is also the Prophet of Allah and you are the people of Allah. And the state is such that unbelievers have the control over water and you are offering your Ṣalāĥ without Wuḍu and Ghusl. You and your animals are becoming restless due to thirst!”

At this occasion, all of a sudden, the help of Allah �� came down in the form of a heavy rain which made the sandy surface on the side of Muslims an even and a hard concrete surface. Due to the slopes in the land, ditches shaped like pools were filled with water. The land on the side of enemy turned into a muddy quicksand and it became difficult for them to walk and manoeuvre on it. Due to the build-up of water, Muslims were no longer worried and in need of the wells. The hearts of Muslims were cleared from satanic whispers and they became satisfied.

In the Holy Quran, Allah �� has described this unusual rain in these words that:

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And sent down water from the sky upon you to purify you with it, and to remove the impurity of Satan from you, and to give your hearts fortitude and firmly establish your feet with it.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 9, Sūraĥ Anfāl, Verse 11)

In this verse, Allah �� has stated four advantages of this sudden rainfall in Badr:

1. So all those who were without Wuḍu and Ghusl, could perform Wudu and Ghusl to attain purity and cleanliness

2. So that the satanic whispers were removed from the hearts of Muslims

3. So that the hearts of Muslims may be encouraged towards the fact that they are on the right path and Allah �� will definitely help them

4. Also, another advantage was that the sandy battlefield becomes suitable for movement. Overall, this rainfall became a mean of a blessing for Muslims and a mean of a curse for pagans.

Moral lesson

In the battle of Badr, Muslims faced such difficulties that the human wisdom, based on the reasoning could have decided nothing else other than to avoid this battle. However, the Muslims, who were strong in their faith, followed the pleasure of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, and presented themselves with utmost passion and will to sacrifice themselves in the fight of truth against falsehood. Despite not being fully equipped, they proceeded with steadfastness and high ambitions. Consequently, to what great extent Allah ��


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helped them! Observe the great blessings of Allah and see in how many ways, He aided Muslims in this battle.

1. In the eyes of Muslims, the number of enemies seemed less than what it originally was, so they may not become over-awed. In the eyes of unbelievers, the Muslims appeared tiny in number so that their hearts would not turn away from the battle between the truth and falsehood. (Anfāl)

2. At one time, the number of Muslims seemed double in the eyes of unbelievers so that the unbelievers may get defeated by Muslims. (Al-‘Imrān)

3. At first, 1000 angels were sent to help Muslims. Then this number of angels was increased to 3000 and finally, the number of angels was increased to 5000. (Al-‘Imrān)

4. Exactly at the time of the battle, a state of drowsiness and sleep was placed upon Muslims. They woke up after a few minutes, which gave them a new freshness and a new spirit. (Anfāl)

5. The rainfall from the skies made the sandy ground hard and firm for Muslims and the battlefield for the unbelievers became a muddy and slippery quicksand. (Anfāl)

6. The outcome of this was that in a very short span of time, many famous wrestlers, warriors and riders of unbelievers were killed. Therefore, seventy pagans were killed and seventy were arrested and kept hostage. The pagan army escaped from the battlefield, leaving all of their belongings behind and all their belongings were taken by the Muslims as war booty. (Anfāl)


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Although the Muslims were victorious due to the above-mentioned aid and blessings of Allah �� , but still fourteen Mujahedeen of Islam attained the rank of martyrdom. (Zarqānī, Vol 2, pp 270)

This event warns us that if Muslims show perseverance and courage while having a stern believe in Allah �� , then despite being low in number and without sufficient means, surely the assistance from Allah �� will descend and Muslims will attain victory. This is such a custom of Allah’s blessing in which there

will ( ��$%#�! �"��& � �� ) be no change until the Day of Judgment. The only condition for this assistance is that Muslims should not deviate and no change should occur in their Islamic character and traits. Otherwise, the laws of Allah �� have never changed and neither will them ever. He has promised that:

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‘So you will never find the traditions of Allah changing’

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 22, Sūraĥ Fitr, Verse 43)

وا$# fاعلم تعا

20. The battle of Ḥunayn

After the conquest of Makkaĥ, the influence of the Arab pagans had almost diminished, and people were frequently entering into Islam in groups. After observing all this, a meeting was held between the chiefs of the two tribes of ‘Ĥāwāzin’ and ‘Šaqīf’. They counselled among each other that Muhammad '�� (�� * �� + �, is satisfied after dominating over his tribe (the Quraīsh). Therefore, it is our turn now. So, why not


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we proceed in attacking the Muslims and demolish them. Therefore, both the tribes of ‘Ĥāwāzin’ and ‘Šaqīf’ appointed Mālik bin ‘Awf Naḍrī as their king and started preparing for the war against Muslims. After acquiring this information, on the 10th Shawwāl 8 A.H, February 630 A.D, ten thousand Muĥājirīn and Anṣār, two thousand new Muslims of Makkaĥ and eighty such pagans who had not embraced Islam but became friends of Muslims with their own will, gathered together. With this army of around twelve thousand men, the Holy Prophet �� * �� + �,

'�� (�� came to the place called Ḥunayn. When the time came to be in the line of battle with the enemy, then the Holy Prophet

�� * �� + �,'�� (�� handed over the flag of Muĥājirīn to Sayyidunā ‘Alī �� . Amongst the Anṣār, Sayyidunā Ḥabāb bin Manẓar �� was made the flag-bearer of the tribe of Banī Khazraj and Sayyidunā Usaīd bin Ḥāzīr ��

�� was appointed as the flag-bearer of the tribe of Aus. The Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, personally equipped himself with weapons on his blessed body and a double iron shield. Upon his blessed head, he placed an iron helmet and mounted upon his mule, and led the Muslim army.

Some pride stirred in the hearts of Muslims by seeing the large number of participants in their army. This came to such an extent that some people said that “nobody can defeat us

today” without saying ( ��$%#�! �"��& � �� ). Allah �� did not like this pride in the hearts of Muslims, which was due to the advantage in number and dependence upon the strength of their army. As such, Allah �� gave a lesson to Muslims in such a way that when the war began, all of a sudden, the waiting groups of enemies who were hiding in the valleys of the surrounding mountains for guerrilla warfare, began


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launching arrows with intensity. Muslims were panicked due to this rain of arrows. Due to this attack, the formation of the Muslim army was broken and within a short span of time, they were scattered from their original positions. Except for the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,, a few Muĥājirīn and Anṣār, all the people fled from the battlefield.

In these dangerous circumstances and in such critical time, the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �, kept advancing and was loudly reciting these poetic verses.

ا�� ا�� ا�� ا�� با��

I am a prophet and it is not a lie. I am son of Abdul Muṭṭalib

Finally, on the command of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,, Sayyidunā Abbas �� loudly called out to the Muslims that had fled and challenged them by saying ��ب ��ۃ ا��ان)��"�!� ا�� ر �� ا). Upon hearing this call and challenge of Sayyidunā Abbas �� , all faithful Muslims returned to the battlefield and gathered under the flag of the Holy Prophet '�� (�� * �� + �,. They fought with such courage, determination and will of sacrificing their lives that they instantly changed the scenario of the battlefield. The result of this was that Muslims became victorious after the defeat. The flag of Islam was hoisted high. Thousands of unbelievers were arrested and many were killed. An abundance of war booty came into the custody of Muslims. Thus, that was the end of the strength and influence of the Arab pagans.

In the war of Hunayn, the result of pride of Muslims due to their numerical advantage, the state of defeat and then finally victory, is all stated by Allah �� in the Holy Quran in the following words:


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�� *#a�b �± 9% �* �d��O #GÀ � �� !��a�bXY� /�WD Indeed Allah helped you on many occasions - and on the day of Ḥunayn - when you prided in your multitude, so it did not benefit you at all, and the earth despite being vast became restricted for you - then you turned back and returned. Then Allah sent down His calm upon His Noble Messenger and upon the Muslims, and sent down armies you did not see, and punished the disbelievers; and

such is the reward of the deniers. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of

Quran)] (Part 10, Sūraĥ al-Tawbaĥ, Verse 25)

This event of the battle of Ḥunayn proves that Muslims do not attain victory in the battlefield due to the excess in numbers or war ammunitions, but victory and help actually depends on the blessings of Allah �� . If Allah �� bestows his great blessings, then even the smallest of armies can overcome the largest of armies and attain victory. If His blessings are not bestowed, then even the largest of armies get dominated and defeated by the smallest of armies. Therefore, it is mandatory for Muslims to never believe in the excess of number of their army. Instead, they should always rely on the kindness and mercy of

Allah �� وا$# .��fاعلم تعا

The wonders and marvels in the Holy Quran

Spiritual

Transcript of The wonders and marvels in the Holy Quran