16 January 2011

16 January 2011

Seerah of Muhammed*

*: May the Peace, Blessings & Mercy of Allah be upon him

TMQ: Translation to the nearest meaning of the Qur’an

The Jews of Medina plot against the Prophet*

We have already spoken about the treaty that the Prophet* signed with the Jews of Medina. He was very careful to abide by it to the letter and the Muslims did not show the least violation of any of its provisions. The Jews of Medina, however, enjoyed their status of being the controlling group in Medina ans profited from the in-fighting among the Arabs, and were linked to treachery, betrayal and covenant-breaching to maintain their dominance. Hence, they started a process of intrigues and troublemaking with the aim of producing schism in the growing solid Muslim ranks.

In Medina there was a considerable number of Jews. They were wealthy, controlled the trade, and commanded great influence. The Prophet* followed the policy of 'live and let live'. He accordingly entered into a treaty with the Jews. According to the terms of the treaty the Jews were to enjoy religious freedom and there was to be no interference in religious affairs. The Muslims and the Jews were to be on friendly terms, and were to help each other in the promotion of objects of mutual interest. It was stipulated that Muslims and the Jews would help each other in case of an attack by an enemy. No party was to give protection to the Quraish, and in case the Quraish invaded Medina, both the Muslims and the Jews were to join hands in the defence of the city.

The Jews of Medina knew that in their holy books there were references to the advent of a prophet in Arabia. They were however under the impression that the prophet would rise from their midst. When the Prophet* rose from the ranks of the Quraish in Mecca, the Jews recognized in him all the signs of prophethood foretold in their sacred books. When the  Prophet* came to Medina the Jews thought that he would be subservient to them and would acknowledge their supremacy. When the Prophet* followed an independent policy, the Jews followed the policy of betrayal and embarked on a campaign of ridicule.

As Muslims, we should not be racist or prejudiced against other people based on race, colour or ethnicity. Muslims are not anti-semitic, and infact, the arabs are cousins of the Jewish nation. Muslims should not think of themselves as superior due to their ethnicity or birth but due to their piety. It may not be politically correct to talk about Jews and how the Prophet* dealt with them but these are historical facts and the coming study circles will highlight these. The Prophet* started out treating the Jews of Medina as near-equal citizens of the state but they chose to break that agreement and worked against the Prophet* by word and deed.

Shas bin Qais and dividing the Muslims

Shas bin Qais, an elderly Jew, passed by a group of Muslims from Aws and Khazraj. He perceived a prevalent spirit of reconciliation and an atmosphere of rapport and friendship enveloping the whole group; an unusual scene categorically in conflict with the animosity and hatred that characterized their pre-Islam behaviour. He, therefore, sent a youth of his to sit among them, remind them of Bu‘ath war between them and recite some of their verses which they used to compose satirizing each other; all of this with the intention of sowing the seeds of discord and disagreement and undermining the new Islamically-orientated inter-tribal relations. The youth did in fact succeed and the two parties at no time recalled the old days and pre-Islam tribal fanaticism sprang to the front to bring about a state of war. They were reaching for their weapons and appointed a time to meet.

The Prophet* heard about this and immediately, at the head of some Emigrants, set out to see to the situation. He began to rebuke them but in the manner of the great instructor and the tolerant spirit of the understanding guide: “O, Muslims! Do you still advance pre- Islamic arguments after I have been sent to you (as a Messenger). Remember that it is not rightful for you to turn backward after Allah has guided you to the Straight Path, delivered you from disbelief and created amity between you.” The Muslims readily realized that it was a Satanic whim and a plot hatched by the enemies. They directly embraced each other and went back home quite satisfied and in full obedience to the Messenger of Allah*.

Such were the practices of the Jews of Medina: trouble-making, dissension-sowing, falsehood-fabrication, faking belief in the day, and practising disbelief at night. In everyday life, they used to tighten the ropes of financial dealings on the Muslims. If they happened to owe a Muslim something, they would shirk their obligations on grounds that he had converted into a new religion and they would allege the basis of agreement was no longer valid. If it was the other way, they would never cease to harass him day and night to pay back the debt, all of which in a desperate attempt to demolish the great edifice of the new religion that was rapidly gaining ground and speedily towering up skyward.

Abu Bakr and Finhas the Rabbi

One day Abu Bakr came across Finhas, one of the Jewish rabbis. Abu Bakr invited him to Islam, but Finhas ridiculed the offer. The Prophet* had enjoined on the Muslims to spend in the way of Allah, and according to the Quran this was to be a loan against God repayable manifold the original amount. The Muslims were forbidden to charge interest. According to the religion of the Jews, interest was permissible. In this context Finhas argued: "We are rich, but your Allah is poor for He asks loan of us. Had He been independent of us He would not have given us interest, which He has denied to you."

Abu Bakr felt outraged at this blasphemy. In a fit of anger Abu Bakr slapped him in the face and said: "Were it not for the treaty between the Muslims and the Jews, I would have cut off your head, you enemy of Allah." Finhas went to the Prophet* and complained that Abu Bakr had struck him on the face. When put to explanation, Abu Bakr said, "This enemy of Allah spoke blasphemy. He alleged that Allah was poor and they were rich. At such insolence against Allah I could not control myself, and I hit him."

Finhas denied the charge levelled against him by Abu Bakr. A revelation, however, confirmed what Abu Bakr had alleged. According to the revelation it was said that Allah had heard the speech of those who had said that Allah was poor and they were rich. About Abu Bakr's anger, the following verses were revealed:

"And you will certainly hear from those Who received the Book before you and from the polytheists much that is wrong, But if you preserve and fear God, That is the steadfastness of things.

Indeed, Allâh has heard the statement of those (Jews) who say: "Truly, Allah is poor and we are rich!" We shall record what they have said and their killing of the Prophets unjustly, and We shall say: "Taste you the torment of the burning (Fire)."

This is because of that (evil) which your hands have sent before you. And certainly, Allah is never unjust to (His) slaves.

Hadith

Number16 of Nawawi's 40 Hadith:

Abu Hurairah reported that a man said to the Prophet*: "Advise me! "The Prophet said, "Do not become angry and furious." The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet said in each case, "Do not become angry and furious." [Bukhari]

Some scholars say that the Prophet* knew that the man who asked him used to get angry often and that is why the Prophet* gave him that particular advice. This view may lead to narrowing down and limiting the benefit of the hadith, whereas it is very comprehensive, far-reaching and applicable to all Muslims because everyone is subject to anger. There are other Qur'anic verses and hadith that emphasize the need to avoid getting angry. Allah mentions the qualities of the muttaqin:

“Those who spend (in Allah’s cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress their anger, and who pardon men, verily, Allah loves the al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” [3:133-134]

In another hadith, Abu Hurairah related that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said: "A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the person who contains himself when he is angry."

And from the du'a (supplications) of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam: "I ask you O Allah, for truthful speech during times of pleasure and anger" [Nasaai and Ahmad]

Definition of anger or temper:

The feeling one has toward something or someone that hurts, opposes, offends, or annoys, strong displeasure. (Example: In a moment of anger I hit my brother.)

Islamic definition: It is a destructive fire! Prophetic hadith: “Anger is a burning coal ...”

Man in weak

Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: "Man was created weak." During the moment of weakness, we succumb to the designs of our enemy, that is, the devil, who "will attack us from front, from behind, from the side," in order to divert us from God consciousness and return to our animistic nature. Thus anger by itself is not unnatural; it is the expression of anger which is done wrongfully, can lead to problems. The difference between the wild beasts and wild humans is the difference of free will.

When a lion or a wolf is angry, he does not think. When a man becomes angry as a result of provocation, he has a choice to control his anger or to respond to it as he has learned from the Qur'an and from Prophet Mohammad's* teachings, or forget all that and become a wild animal. Thus anger takes place when we are not in control of ourselves, but the devil is controlling us. Anger in itself is a natural feeling, Allah has put such feeling inside us to react against what's harming us, for instance to protect our lives, our properties, and our families. Yet we shouldn't over do that. Meaning it is ok to feel angry, but it is dangerous and forbidden by Allah to surrender to your anger and follow it to as far as it takes you (for it might drive you to killing somebody).

Controlling our Anger

Some of the ways in which we can control our anger – as discussed in the study circle, suggestions from the children:

- sit down if standing, or lie down

- listen to calming music

- use stress-relieving balls or toys, or squeeze a lemon

- perform wudu, or drink water

- talk to someone else

- take deep breaths, or hold it for 30 seconds

- walk away, leave the room, go to a quiet room, or scream in another room

- think before you speak, or stop shouting

- count or read alphabet, eg., from 50 – 1, or backwards

- write an angry letter

- be patient

- take frustration out on a pillow

- smile

- pinch your hand

The Prophet in Ta’if

The best example of this was when the Prophet* went to a Ta'if. This was at the time when the followers of Islam were at their weakest and the Prophet* himself had suffered the loss of both his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib. He went to this town in the hope that they would listen to what he had to say. Instead he was insulted and chased out of the town by the children who threw stones at him till the blood flowed from his body to his feet making his sandals sticky with his own blood. The Prophet was so depressed that he prayed to Allah, who then sent down the Angel of the mountains who asked for the Prophet's permission to fold the mountains together and crush to death all those that lived there. But what was the prophet's reply? "Yes, kill them all as they did not listen to me"? No, off course not! His answer was "No, I hope Allah will bring from them people who will worship Allah alone, associating none with Him." This was the example of the Prophet, even though he felt bitterness and was very angry with them, he had the discipline and control to not let his emotions control his actions and he forgave them realizing that they were merely misguided.

Righteous anger

We need to mention that not all anger is sinful. Anger that inspires a person to avenge his own personal feelings is indeed blameworthy. However, anger can also be felt for the sake of Allah and for His religion. This is the anger that a Muslim should feel when his religion is attacked, his beliefs blasphemed, and the honour and lives of the people are transgressed against. However, this anger, if it is truly and sincerely for Allah's sake, will only inspire us to noble deeds and to personal sacrifice, and never to base, unjust, or ignoble actions.

The Companions relate that the Prophet* would never became angry for anything. However, if the sanctity of Allah was profaned, then nothing could assuage his anger. The Prophet* never acted angrily for personal reasons. He never once so much as raised his voice to his servants or his family. Anas relates that he worked as the Prophet's servant for ten years, and not once did the Prophet* so much as say “uff ” to him, or ask him when he did something “Why did you do that?” or ask him when he neglected something: “Why didn't you do that?” The Companions relate: “The Prophet* exhibited more shyness than a maiden in seclusion. If he saw something that he disliked, we would see it in his face.” [Bukhari]

Caliph Ali was once fighting in a war imposed on Muslims, and the chief of the Unbelievers confronted him. During the fight, the Ali was able to overcome him, who fell down on the ground and Ali was about to kill him. This person, knowing his fate now, had no choice so he spit on the face of Ali. Ali immediately got up and left him alone. The man came running to him and asked, "You had a chance to kill me since I am a Polytheist; how come you didn't use your sword?" Ali said, "I have no personal animosity toward you. I was fighting you because of your disbeliever, on behalf of God. If I had killed you after you spat on my face, then it would have become my personal revenge which I do not wish to take." That Unbeliever chief became a Muslim immediately and testified that 'There is no god but Allah, and that Prophet Mohammad is the Messenger of Allah'.

However, if we want to get angry for the sake of Allah, then we need to be careful that we:

- are really not getting angry for ourselves or for our own interests.

- need to do it in the right way, like not committing wrong actions or saying vulgar words while getting angry.

- can achieve the benefit as intended by the shari’ah.

Top Tips from the Prophet* to control our anger

From Hadith Qudsi: ‘O son of Adam, when you get angry remember me’

The Prophet* says about anger:  “Anger is the effect of shaytaan and shaytaan was created from fire. And water extinguishes fire." It is narrated in Bukhari that two people were arguing in the presence of Rasulullah*. One of the two became so angry that his face went red and his veins swelled.  Rasulullah* lifted his face towards that person and said to him that I know a sentence if you were to say it your anger will go away. The sentence is: “I Seek Allah's Protection From The Cursed Devil" (Autho’billah Min-ee-Shaithaa Nirra-Jeem) [Known as ta'awuz]

The Prophet* said: “If a man gets angry and says, ‘I seek refuge with Allah,’ his anger will go away.”

The Prophet* said: “The strong man is not the one who can throw another down. The strong man is the one who can keep hold of himself when he is angry.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet* advised us not to speak when we are angry. He said: “If one of you gets angry, he should be quiet.” [Ahmad ]

The Prophet* gave us other practical advice. He said: “If one of you gets angry and he is standing, then he should sit down until his anger subsides. If it does not, then he should lie down.” [ Sunan Abi Dawud ]

The narrator of this hadeeth is Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), and there is a story connected to his telling of it: he was taking his camels to drink at a trough that he owned, when some other people came along and said (to one another), “Who can compete with Abu Dharr (in bringing animals to drink) and make his hair stand on end?” A man said, “I can,” so he brought his animals and competed with Abu Dharr, with the result that the trough was broken. (i.e., Abu Dharr was expecting help in watering his camels, but instead the man misbehaved and caused the trough to be broken). Abu Dharr was standing, so he sat down, then he laid down. Someone asked him, “O Abu Dharr, why did you sit down then lie down?” He said: “The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: . . .” and quoted the hadeeth.

He also said: “Anger is from Satan, and Satan was created from fire. Fire is but extinguished by water, so if one of you gets angry, he should perform wudu'.” [Abu Dawud and Ahmad]

When you're angry, think of Allah. Think of Allah's anger and punishment. Is Allah's wrath less than your wrath? And what happens when He expresses His wrath? We humans who seek forgiveness from Allah must forgive others first. When one forgives someone else, it establishes peace and tranquility in one's heart.

In another hadith, the Prophet* said: “If one of you becomes angry then he should be silent.” This is an important advice because during anger, most of our actions and speech may not be correct.

Narrated 'Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakra: Abu Bakr wrote to his son who was in Sijistan: Do not judge between two persons when you are angry, for I heard the Prophet* saying: "A judge should not judge between two persons while he is in an angry mood." [Al-Bukhari]

The Prophet* said: “Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Resurrection

Another great reward is described in the Prophet’s* words: “Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allah will call him before all of mankind on the Day of Resurrection, and will let him choose of the Hoor al-‘Ayn whoever he wants.”

The Prophet* is our leader and has set the highest example in this matter, as is recorded in a number of ahadith. One of the most famous was reported by Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “I was walking with the Messenger of Allah (saws), and he was wearing a Najraanee cloak with a rough collar. A Bedouin came and seized him roughly by the edge of his cloak, and I saw the marks left on his neck by the collar. Then the Bedouin ordered him to give him some of the wealth of Allaah that he had. The Prophet* turned to him and smiled, then ordered that he should be given something.”

It is mentioned in the Qur’an: “spend (in Allah's Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, [they] repress anger, and [they] pardon men; verily, Allah loves al-muhsinoon (the good-doers).” [3:134], and (interpretation of the meaning) “. . . when they are angry, they forgive.” [42:47]

Du'a’ is always the weapon of the believer. One of the du‘aa’s of the Prophet* was: “O Allah, by Your knowledge of the Unseen and Your power over Your creation, keep me alive for as long as You know life is good for me, and cause me to die when You know death is good for me. O Allah, I ask You to make me fear You in secret and in public, and I ask You to make me speak the truth in times of contentment and of anger. I ask You not to let me be extravagant in poverty or in prosperity. I ask You for continuous blessings, and for contentment that does not end. I ask You to let me accept Your decree, and for a good life after death. I ask You for the joy of seeing Your face and for the longing to meet You, without going through diseases and misguiding fitnah (trials). O Allah, adorn us with the adornment of faith and make us among those who are guided. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.”

News Topic

There was no time to discuss any news topic this week

Homework from 16 January 2011:

1. Research the story of how some Jews of Medina reacted to the Prophet* entering Medina - the story is narrated by Saffiya (later wife of the Prophet*)?

2. What do you understand from the next (number 17) of Nawawi's 40 Hadith: Abu Ya'la Shaddad ibn Aus, reported that the Messenger of Allah*, said: "Verily, Allah has enjoined excellence (ihsan) with regard to everything. So, when you kill, kill in a good way; when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way; so everyone of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably." [Muslim]

3. News Topics from this week: Any interesting news articles from the week that relate to Islam or the Muslims? Bring a clipping or print out if you can...