16 December 2012
Study Circle holiday for 2 weeks, to return (InshaAllah) on Sunday 6 January 2013
The Prophet*’s Final Days, Death and Burial
Survey on what to do after the Seerah:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R7LJWBJ
Please complete the Online Survey:
We are about to finish the Seerah of the Prophet*, InshaAllah. What we would like to know is what topic people wanted to study after this on a regular basis in Future Circles. Please vote for which things you would like to discuss during the Circle. Or give your own suggestions. This shouldn't take more than 2 minutes (InshaAllah)
Q: What topic would you like to study after the Seerah is finished?
- Lives of the first 4 Khulafah (Caliph - Islamic Leaders) = Abu Bakr, Umer, Uthman and Ali
- Lives of the Prophets (Adam to Isa/Jesus)
- Other (please specify)
Summary
The Prophet*’s Final Days, Death and Burial:
The Prophet* gives final advice to Ummah, including:
- not making his tomb a place of worship
- being good to the Ansar (Helpers)
- no Jews or Christians should remain in Arabia
- Delegations and ambassadors be respected
- Sending out Ussama's army
- Treating the wives and slaves well
The Prophet* ordered Abu Bakr to lead the prayers
The wives of the Prophet* kept his counsel
Before death the Prophet* gave away all his wealth
The final day he briefly appears better and smiles at the Muslims who are praying
Abbas predicts his death but Ali refuses to ask for leadership
The Prophet* predicts Fatimah will die, and kisses Al-Hasan and Al-Husain
The Jewish poison from Khaibar now takes effect
The Prophet* uses miswak just before dying
In Ayesha's lap the Prophet breathes his last saying "The most exalted Companionship on high"
Umer finds is hard to believe the death
Abu Bakr reminds all that the Prophet was mortal
The Muslims agree to appoint Abu Bakr as Khalifah
Ali and the family prepare the Prophet*s body for burial and wash over his clothes
The Prophet* is buried where he died on 12 Rabi' Awwal (6 June, 632)
Thank you, Oh Allah, for helping us share in getting to know the greatest man who ever lived. Ameen
Seerah of Muhammed*
*: May the peace blessings and Mercy of Allah be upon him
TMQ: Translation to the nearest meaning of the Qur’an
The Prophet*’s Final Days: The Prophet* Gives the Ummah final advice
Five days before death On Wednesday, five days before he died the Prophet’s temperature rose so high signalling the severeness of his disease. He fainted and suffered from pain. "Pour out on me seven Qirab (water skin pots) of various water wells so that I may go out to meet people and talk to them." So they seated him in a container (usually used for washing) and poured out water on him till he said: "That is enough. That is enough." Then he felt well enough to enter the Mosque. He entered it band-headed, sat on the pulpit and made a speech to the people who were gathering together around him. He said: "The curse of Allah falls upon the Jews and Christians for they have made their Prophets’ tombs places of worship." Then he said: "Do not make my tomb a worshipped idol."
Then he offered himself and invited the people to repay any injuries he might have inflicted on them, saying: "He whom I have ever lashed his back, I offer him my back so that he may avenge himself on me. He whom I have ever blasphemed his honour, here I am offering my honour so that he may avenge himself." Then he descended, and performed the noon prayer. Again he returned to the pulpit and sat on it. He resumed his first speech about enmity and some other things. A man then said: "You owe me three Dirhams." The Prophet* asked Fadl to pay him.”
He went on saying: "I admonish you to be good to Al-Ansar (the Helpers). They are my family and with them I found shelter. They have acquitted themselves credibly of the responsibility that fell upon them and now there remains what you have to do. You should fully acknowledge and appreciate the favour that they have shown, and should overlook their faults." In another version: "The number of believers would increase, but the number of Helpers would decrease to the extent that they would be among men as salt in the food. So he who from among you occupies a position of responsibility and is powerful enough to do harm or good to the people, he should fully acknowledge and appreciate the favour that these benefactors have shown and overlook their faults."
Four days before his death – More Advice
On Thursday, four days before his* death he said to people — though he was suffering from a severe pain: "Come here. I will cause you to write something so that you will never fall into error." Upon this Umer bin Al- Khattab said: "The Prophet* of Allah* is suffering from acute pain and you have the Qur’an with you; the Book of Allah is sufficient unto you." Others however wanted the writing to be made. When Muhammad* heard them debating over it, he ordered them to go away and leave him alone. That day he recommended three things:
1. Jews, Christians and polytheists should be expelled out of Arabia.
2. He recommended that delegations should be honoured and entertained, in a way similar to the one he used to do.
3. As for the third — the narrator said that he had forgotten it. It could have been adherence to the Holy Book and the Sunnah. It was likely to be the accomplishment and the mobilization of Ussama’s army, or it could have been performance of prayers and being attentive to slaves.
In spite of the strain of disease and suffering from pain, the Prophet* used to lead all the prayers till that Thursday — four days before he died. On that day he led the sunset prayer and recited: "By the winds (or angels or the Messengers of Allah) sent forth one after another." [TMQ 77:1]
In the evening he grew so sick that he could not overcome the strain of disease or go out to enter the Mosque. Ayesha said: The Prophet* asked: "Have the people performed the prayer?" "No. They haven’t. They are waiting for you." "Put some water in the washing pot," he said. We did what he ordered. So he washed and wanted to stand up, but he fainted. When he came round he asked again "Have the people prayed?" Then the same sequence of events took place again and again for the second and the third times from the time he washed to the time he fainted after his attempts to stand up. So he said to his wives: "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." But Ayesha feared that it would greatly pain her father to take the place of the Prophet and that people would resent Abu Bakr taking over the Prophet*’s role. "O Messenger of God," she said, "Abu Bakr is a very sensitive man, not strong of voice and much given to weeping when he reciteth the Koran." "Tell him to lead the prayer," said the Prophet, as if she had not spoken. She tried again, this time suggesting that Umer should take his place. "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer," he reiterated. Ayesha had thrown a glance of appeal at Hafsah, who now began to speak, but the Prophet* silenced her with the words: " You (women) are like the women who tried to entice Joseph (Yusuf) into immorality. Convey my request to Abu Bakr to lead the prayer. Let the blamer find fault and let the ambitious aspire. God and the believers will not have it otherwise." He repeated the last sentence three times, and for the rest of his illness Abu Bakr led the prayer. Therefore he sent to Abu Bakr to lead the prayer himself. Abu Bakr then led the prayer during those days. They were seventeen prayers in the lifetime of Muhammad*.
A Day or Two prior to Death
On Saturday or on Sunday, the Prophet* felt that he was well enough to perform the prayer; so he went out leaning on two men in order to perform the noon prayer. Abu Bakr, who was then about to lead the prayer withdrew when he saw him coming; but the Prophet* made him a gesture to stay where he was and said: "Seat me next to him." They seated him on the left hand side of Abu Bakr. The Prophet* led the prayer, and Abu Bakr followed him and raised his voice at every Allahu Akbar’ (i.e. Allah is the Greatest) the Prophet* said, so that the people may hear clearly.
He suffered much pain in his illness, and one day when it was at its worst his wife Safiyyah said to him: "O Prophet* of God, would that I had what thou hast!" whereupon some of the other wives exchanged glances and whispered one to another that this was hypocrisy. The Prophet* saw them and said: "Go rinse your mouths." They asked him why, and he said: "For your maligning of your companion. By God, she speaketh the truth in all sincerity." Umm Ayman was in constant attendance, and she kept her son informed. He had already resolved to advance no further and to remain in his camp at Jurf until God should decide. But one morning the news was such that he came to Medina and went in tears to the Prophet, who was too ill that day to speak, though he was fully conscious. Ussama bent over him and kissed him, and the Prophet* raised his hand, palm upwards, to ask and to receive blessings from Heaven. Then he made a gesture as if to empty the contents of his hand upon Ussama, who returned sadly to his camp.
A Day before his Death
On Sunday, a day before he died, the Prophet* set his slaves free, paid as a charity the seven Dinars he owned and gave his weapons as a present to the Muslims. So when night fell Ayesha had to borrow some oil from her neighbour to light her oil-lantern. Even his armour was mortgaged as a security with a Jew for thirty Sa‘a (a cubic measure) of barley.
The Last Day Alive
The next day was Monday the twelfth of Rabi' Awwal in the eleventh year of Islam, that is, the eighth day of June in the year AD 632. Early that morning the Prophet's fever abated, and although he was exceedingly weak the call to prayer decided him to go to the Mosque. The prayer had already begun when he entered, and the people were almost drawn away from it for joy at the sight of him, but he motioned them to continue. For a moment he stood to watch them and his face shone with gladness as he marked the piety of their demeanour. Then, still radiant, he made his way forward, helped by Fadl and by Thawban, one of his freedmen. "I never saw the Prophet's face more beautiful than it was at that hour," said Anas.
The Muslims were surprised to see the Messenger of Allah* raising the curtain of Ayesha’s room. He looked at them while they were praying aligned properly and smiled cheerfully. Anas said: "The Muslims, who were praying, were so delighted that they were almost too enraptured at their prayers. The Messenger of Allah* made them a gesture to continue their prayer, went into the room and drew down the curtain." The Messenger of Allah* did not live for the next prayer time. Hence, rumours were spreading that the Prophet* was getting better. Great was the rejoicing at this apparent recovery, and not long after the prayer Ussama arrived again from his camp, expecting to find the Prophet* worse and overjoyed to find him better. "Set forth, with the blessings of God," said the Prophet. So Ussama bade him farewell, and rode back to Jurf, where he told his men to make ready for the northward march. Meantime Abu Bakr had taken leave to go as far as Upper Medina. Already before his marriage to Asma', he had long been betrothed to Habibah, the daughter of Kharijah, the Khazrajite with whom he had lodged ten years ago on his arrival in the oasis, and they had recently been married. Habibah still lived with her family at Sunh, where he now went to visit her.
Ali and 'Abbas followed them there, but did not stay long, and when they came out some men who were passing asked Ali how the Prophet* was. "Praise be to God," said Ali, "he is well." But when the questioners had gone on their way 'Abbas took Ali's hand and said: "I swear I recognise death in the face of God's Messenger, even as I have ever been able to recognise it in the faces of our clansmen. So let us go and speak with him. If his authority is to be vested in us, then we shall know it; and if in other than us, then will we ask him to commend us unto the people, that they may treat us well." But 'Ali said: "By God, I will not, for if the authority be withheld from us by him, none after him will ever give it us."
When it was daytime, the Prophet* called Fatimah and told her something in a secret voice that made her cry. Then he whispered to her something else which made her laugh. Ayesha enquired from her after the Prophet’s death, as to this weeping and laughing to which Fatimah replied: "The first time he disclosed to me that he would not recover from his illness and I wept. Then he told me that I would be the first of his family to join him, so I laughed." He gave Fatimah glad tidings that she would become the lady of all women of the world. Fatimah witnessed the great pain that afflicted her father. So she said: "What great pain my father is in!". To these words, the Prophet* remarked: "He will not suffer any more when today is over." He asked that Al-Hasan and Al-Husain be brought to him. He kissed them and recommended that they be looked after. He asked to see his wives. They were brought to him. He preached them and told them to remember Allah. Pain grew so much severe that the trace of poison he had at Khaibar came to light. It was so sore that he said to Ayesha: "I still feel the painful effect of that food I tasted at Khaibar. I feel as if death is approaching." He ordered the people to perform the prayers and be attentive to slaves. He repeated it several times.
The Prophet* breathes his Last
When the pangs of death started, Ayesha leant him against her. She used to say: One of Allah’s bounties upon me is that the Messenger of Allah* died in my house, while I am still alive. He died between my chest and neck while he was leaning against me. Allah has mixed his saliva with mine at his death. For ‘Abdur Rahman — the son of Abu Bakr — came in with a Siwak (i.e. the root of a desert plant used for brushing teeth) in his hand, while I was leaning the Messenger of Allah* against me. I noticed that he was looking at the Siwak, so I asked him — for I knew that he wanted it — "Would you like me to take it for you?" He nodded in agreement. I took it and gave it to him. As it was too hard for him, I asked him "Shall I soften it for you?" He nodded in agreement. So I softened it with my saliva and he passed it (on his teeth). In another version it is said: "So he brushed (Istanna) his teeth as nice as he could." There was a water container (Rakwa) available at his hand with some water in. He put his hand in it and wiped his face with it and said: "There is no god but Allah. Death is full of agonies."
As soon as he had finished his Siwak brushing, he raised his hand or his finger up, looked upwards to the ceiling and moved his lips. So Ayesha listened to him. She heard him say: "With those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace with the Prophets and the Truthful ones (As-Siddeeqeen), the martyrs and the good doers. O Allah, forgive me and have mercy upon me and join me to the Companionship on high." Then at intervals he uttered these words: "The most exalted Companionship on high. To Allah we turn and to Him we turn back for help and last abode." Again she heard him murmur: "The most exalted Companionship on high,” and these were the last words she heard him speak. Gradually his head grew heavier upon her breast, until the other wives began to lament, and Ayesha laid his head on a pillow and joined them in crying. This event took place at high morning time on Monday, the twelfth of Rabi‘ Al-Awwal, in the eleventh year of Al-Hijrah. He was sixty-three years and four days old when he died.
The Companions’ concern over the Prophet’s Death
The great (loss) news was soon known by everybody in Medina. Dark grief spread on all areas and horizons of Medina. Anas said: "I have never witnessed a day better or brighter than that day on which the Messenger of Allah* came to us; and I have never witnessed a more awful or darker day than that one on which the Messenger of Allah* died on." When he died, Fatimah said: "O Father, whom his Lord responded to his supplication! O Father, whose abode is Paradise. O Father, whom I announce his death to Gabriel."
Umer’s Attitude
Umer, who was so stunned that he almost lost consciousness and stood before people addressing them: "Some of the hypocrites claim that the Messenger of Allah* died. The Messenger of Allah* did not die, but went to his Lord in the same way as Moses bin ‘Imran did. He stayed away for forty nights, but finally came back though they said he had been dead. By Allah, the Messenger of Allah* will come back and he will cut off the hands and legs of those who claim his death."
Abu Bakr’s Attitude
Abu Bakr left his house at As-Sunh and came forth to the Mosque on a mare-back. At the Mosque, he dismounted and entered. He talked to nobody but went on till he entered Ayesha’s abode, and went directly to where the Messenger of Allah* was. The Prophet* was covered with a Yemeni mantle. He uncovered his face and tended down, kissed him and cried. Then he said: "I sacrifice my father and mother for your sake. Allah, verily, will not cause you to die twice. You have just experienced the death that Allah had ordained." Then he went out and found Umer talking to people. He said: "Umer, be seated." Umer refused to do so. People parted Umer and came towards Abu Bakr, who started a speech saying: "And now, he who worships Muhammad*. Muhammad is dead now. But he who worships Allah, He is Ever Living and He never dies. Allah says: ‘Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful.’" [TMQ 3:144]
Ibn ‘Abbas said: "By Allah, it sounded as if people had never heard such a Qur’anic verse till Abu Bakr recited it as a reminder. So people started reciting it till there was no man who did not recite it." Ibn Al-Musaiyab said that Umer had said: "By Allah, as soon as I heard Abu Bakr say it, I fell down to the ground. I felt as if my legs had been unable to carry me so I collapsed when I heard him say it. Only then did I realize that Muhammad* had really died."
Selecting the next leader of the Muslim Ummah (Khalifah)
Although it is compulsory to bury the dead body of a Muslim as early as possible – ideally before sunset we notice that the Muslim community (including all the Sahabae) deferred the burial of the Prophet until after they had chosen a successor. Hence, we accept this as Ijma-as-Sahaba that it is choosing a righteous leader of the Muslims is one of the most important actions for the Ummah.
Ali had now withdrawn to his house, and with him were Zubayr and Talhah, The rest of the Emigrants gathered round Abu Bakr and they were joined by Usayd and many of his clan. But most of the Helpers, of Aws as well as Khazraj, had assembled in the hall of the Bani Sa'idah of whom Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah was chief, and word was brought to Abu Bakr and Umer that they were debating there the question as to where the authority should lie, now that the Prophet* was dead. They had gladly accepted his authority; but failing him, many of them were inclined to think that the sons of Qaylah should be ruled by none except a man of Yathrib, and it appeared that they were about to pledge their allegiance to Sa'd. Umer urged Abu Bakr to go with him to the hall, and Abu 'Ubaydah went with them. Sa'd was ill and he was lying in the middle of the hall, wrapped in a cloak. On behalf of him another of the Helpers was about to address the assembly when the three men of Quraysh entered, so he included them in his speech, which began, after praise for God, with the words: "We are the Helpers of God and the fighting force of Islam; and ye O Emigrants, are of us, for a group of your people have settled amongst us." The speaker continued in the same vein, glorifying the Helpers, and while giving the Emigrants a share of that glory, deliberately failing to recognise the unique position that they held in themselves as the first Islamic community. When he had finished Umer was about to speak, but Abu Bakr silenced him and spoke himself, tactfully but firmly, reiterating the praise of the Helpers, but pointing out that the community of Islam was now spread throughout Arabia, and that the Arabs as a whole would not accept the authority of anyone other than a man of Quraysh, for Quraysh held a unique and central position amongst them. In conclusion he took Umer and Abu 'Ubaydah each by a hand and said: "I offer you one of these two men. Pledge your allegiance to whichever of these ye will." Then another of the Helpers rose and suggested that there should be two authorities, and this led to a heated argument, until finally Umer intervened, saying: "O Helpers, know ye not that the Messenger of God ordered Abu Bakr to lead the prayer?" "We know it," they answered, and he said: "Then which of you will willingly take precedence over him?" "God forbid that we should take precedence over him!" they said, whereupon Umer seized the hand of Abu Bakr and pledged allegiance to him, followed by Abu 'Ubaydah and others of the Emigrants who had now joined them. Then all the Helpers who were present likewise pledged their allegiance to Abu Bakr, with the exception of Sa'd.
They spent the whole Monday there till it was night. People were so busy with their arguments that it was late night — just about dawn of Tuesday — yet his blessed body was still lying on his bed covered with an inked-garment. He was locked in the room.
Whatever they had decided in the hall, it would have been unacceptable for anyone to have led the prayers in the Mosque in Medina except Abu Bakr, so long as he was there; and the next day at dawn, before leading the prayer, he sat in the pulpit, and Umer rose and addressed the assembly, bidding them pledge their allegiance to Abu Bakr, whom he described as "the best of you, the Companion of God's Messenger, the second of two when they were both in the cave," A recent Revelation had recalled the privilege of Abu Bakr to have been the Prophet's sole Companion at this crucial moment;' and with one voice the whole congregation swore fealty to him all except 'Ali, who did so later.
Then Abu Bakr gave praise and thanks to God and addressed them, saying: "I have been given the authority over you, and I am not the best of you. If I do well, help me; and if I do wrong, set me right. Sincere regard for truth is loyalty and disregard for truth is treachery. The weak amongst you shall be strong with me until I have secured his rights, if God will; and the strong amongst you shall be weak with me until I have wrested from him the rights of others, if God will. Obey me so long as I obey God and His Messenger. But if I disobey God and his Messenger, ye owe me no obedience. Arise for your prayer, God have mercy upon you!'"
Burial and Farewell Preparations to his Honourable Body
After the prayer the Prophet's household and his family decided that they must prepare him for burial, but they were in disagreement as to how it should be done. Then God cast a sleep upon them all, and in his sleep each man heard a voice say: "Wash the Prophet* with his garment upon him." So they went to Ayesha's apartment, which for the moment she had vacated, and Aws ibn Khawli’a Khazrajite, begged leave to represent the Helpers, saying: "I adjure thee by God, O 'Ali, and by our share in His Messenger," and 'Ali allowed him to enter. 'Abbas and his sons Fadl and Qitham helped 'Ali to turn the body, while Ussama poured water over it, helped by Shuqran, one of the Prophet's freedmen, and 'Ali passed his hand over every part of the long woollen garment. "Dearer than my father and my mother," he said, "how excellent art thou, in life and in death!" Even after one day, the Prophet's body seemed to be sunken merely in sleep, except that there was no breathing and no pulse, no warmth and no suppleness.
The Companions now disagreed as to where he should be buried. It seemed to many that his grave should be near the graves of his three daughters and Ibrahim and the Companions whom he himself had buried and prayed over, in the Baqi al-Gharqad, while others thought he should be buried in the Mosque; but Abu Bakr remembered having heard him say "No Prophet* dieth but is buried where he died," so the grave was dug in the floor of Ayesha's room near the couch where he was lying. So Abu Talhah lifted the bed on which he died, dug underneath and cut the ground to make the tomb.
They shrouded him in three white Sahooli cotton cloth which had neither a headcloth nor a casing and inserted him in.
People entered the room ten by ten. They prayed for the Prophet*. The first to pray for him were people of his clan. Then the Emigrants, then the Helpers. Women prayed for him after men. The young were the last to pray. This process took Tuesday long and Wednesday night (i.e. the night which precedes Wednesday morning). Ayesha said: "We did not know that the Prophet* was being buried till we heard the sound of tools digging the ground at the depth of Wednesday night."
Great was the sorrow in the City of Light, as Medina now is called. The Companions rebuked each other for weeping, but wept themselves. "Not for him do I weep," said Umm Ayman, when questioned about her tears. "Know I not that he hath gone to that which is better for him than this world? But I weep for the tidings of Heaven which have been cut off from us." It was indeed as if a great door had been closed. Yet they remembered that he had said: "What have I to do with this world? I and this world are as a rider and a tree beneath which he takes shelter. Then he goes on his way, and leaves it behind him." He had said this that they, each one of them, might say it of themselves; and if the door had now closed, it would be open or the faithful at death. They still had in their ears the sound of his saying: "I go before you, and I am your witness. Your tryst with me is at the Pool."
Reminder
Quiz January 13th InshaAllah
No other main topic
Children's feedback:
Muslim (Palestinian) and Israeli Conflict
Amirah Foundation Charity Event
News
Another American school shooting
Homework:
REVISE for quiz - Sunday 13 January, I/A
Showing posts with label Abu Bakr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abu Bakr. Show all posts
Monday, 17 December 2012
Monday, 10 December 2012
9 December 2012
Please complete the Survey
2 minute Survey on what to do after the Seerah:
Please visit this Survey Link
or click below:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R7LJWBJ
We are about to finish the Seerah of the Prophet*, InshaAllah. What we would like to know is what topic people wanted to study after this on a regular basis in Future Circles. Please vote for which things you would like to discuss during the Circle. Or give your own suggestions. This shouldn't take more than 2 minutes (InshaAllah)
Q: What topic would you like to study after the Seerah is finished?
- Lives of the first 4 Khulafah (Caliph - Islamic Leaders) = Abu Bakr, Umer, Uthman & Ali
- Lives of the Prophets (Adam to Isa/Jesus)
- Other (please specify)
Summary
The Start of the Prophet’s Final Illness:
The Prophet publically praises Ali as his ‘Mawla’ to quell unrest
The Prophet* sends out Ussama bin Zaid to fight the Romans
The Prophet prays for the Muslims in the Cemetry and Martyrs of Uhud
The Prophet refuses the keys to the eartly treasures
The Start of the Disease - headache, and so he* agrees to stay in the house of Aishah
The Prophet tells the Muslims about his Choice
The Prophet publically supports Abu Bakr
What is Qiyas (Divine Analogy):
Linguistic meaning is estimation, measuring or ascertaining the length, weight, or quality of something
In Shariah: the application to a new case (far'), on which the law is silent, of the ruling (Hukm) of an original case (asl) because of the effective reason ('Illa) which is in common to both
Using a specified reason found in Qur'an or Sunnah, and applying that reason to a new situation that has no clear rule in Qur'an or Sunnah
Examples include repaying your debt to people compared to debt to Allah
The reason (Illah) must come from the Text not the Mind
No Illah exists in the origin of the rules relating to food, clothing, morals and ritual worships (Ibadat)
Seerah of Muhammed*
*: May the peace blessings and Mercy of Allah be upon him
TMQ: Translation to the nearest meaning of the Qur’an
The Start of the Prophet’s Final Illness
The Prophet publically praises Ali as his ‘Mawla’
Having finished the campaign in the Yemen, the troop of three hundred horses that the Prophet had sent out in Ramadan was now approaching Mecca from the south. Ali had ridden on ahead of his men, eager to meet the Prophet as soon as possible and to make with him the Pilgrimage, which he now had done. Amongst the state's fifth of the spoils there was enough linen to clothe the whole army, but Ali had decided that it must be handed over to the Prophet untouched. In his absence, however, the man he had left in charge was persuaded to lend each man a new change of clothes out of the linen. The change was much needed for they had been away from home for nearly three months. When they were not far from entering the city, Ali rode out to meet them and was amazed to see the transformation that had taken place. “I gave them the garments,” said the deputy commander, “that their appearance might be more seemly when they entered in among the people.” The men all knew that everyone in Mecca would now be wearing their finest clothes in honour of the Feast, and they were anxious to look their best. But Ali felt he could not countenance such a liberty and he ordered them to put on their old clothes again and return the new ones to the spoils as these were for Sadaqa only. Great resentment was felt throughout the army on this account, and when the Prophet heard of it he said: "O people, blame not 'Ali, for he is too scrupulous in the path of God to be blamed." But these words were not sufficient, or it may be that they were only heard by a few, and the resentment continued.
On the way back to Medina one of the troops bitterly complained of Ali to the Prophet, whose face changed colour. "Am I not nearer to the believers than their own selves?" he said; and when the man assented, he added: "Whose nearest I am, his nearest Ali is." Later on the journey, when they had halted at Ghadir al-Khumm, he gathered all the people together, and taking 'Ali by the hand he repeated these words, to which he added the prayer: "O God, be the friend (Mawla) of him who is his friend, and the foe of him who is his foe"; and the murmurings against 'Ali were silenced.
The Last Expeditions
The pride of the Byzantine State made it deny Muslims their right to live. The Byzantine arrogance made them even kill those agents of theirs, who embraced Islam. Killing Farwah bin ‘Amr Al-Judhami, who was their agent on Mu’an, was an evidence of their arrogance. Due to that arrogance and presumptuousness of the Byzantines, the Prophet* started to mobilize a great army in Safar in the eleventh year of Al-Hijra and made it under the command of Ussama bin Zaid bin Haritha with orders to have the horses of Muslims tread on the lands bordering Al-Balqa’ and Ad-Darum of Palestine. His aim was to terrorize Byzantines and to implant confidence into the hearts of Arabs who were settled at the borders of the Byzantines. His other purpose was to deliver a message to everybody there, so that no one may dare say that the Church brutality can’t go with impunity; and that Islamization is not synonymous with fear and vulnerability.
The leadership of Ussama was subject to criticism. Because he was still too young, people tarried at joining his expedition. The Prophet* addressed people saying: "No wonder now you contest his leadership, for you have already contested the ex- leadership of his father. Yes, by Allah, his father, who was one of the most beloved people to me, was quite efficient for leadership; and this son of his is one of the most beloved individuals to me after his father."
So people started tending towards Ussama and joined his army. The anxiety-provoking news about the Prophet’s sickness, however, made the expedition tarry again in order to know what Allah had willed as regards His Messenger*. It was Allah’s Will that Ussama’s expedition would be the first one dispatched during the caliphate of Abu Bakr.
The Prophet prays for the Muslims in the Cemetry and Martyrs of Uhud
On one occasion a remark of his when he was with his wives was sufficiently ominous to prompt the question as to which of them would be the first to rejoin him in the next world. He replied: "She of the longest reach will be the soonest of you to join me,"! whereupon they set about measuring their arms, one against another. Presumably, though it is not recorded, Sawdah was the winner of this contest, for she was the tallest of them and in general the largest. Zaynab, on the other hand, was a small woman, with an arm to match. But it was Zaynab who died first of them all, some ten years later. Only then did they realise that by "she of the longest reach" the Prophet had meant the most giving, for Zaynab was exceedingly generous, like her predecessor of the same name who had been called "the mother of the poor".
One night, not long after the Prophet had ordered preparations for the Syrian campaign and before the army had left, he called to a freedman of his in the small hours, Abu Muwayhibah, and said: "I have been commanded to pray forgiveness for the people of the cemetery, so come thou with me." They went out together, and when they reached the Baqeeha the Prophet said: "Peace be on you, O people of the graves. Rejoice in your state, how much better it is than the state of men now living. Dissensions come like waves of darkest night, the one following hard upon the other, each worse than the last." Then he turned to Abu Muwayhibah and said: "I have been offered the keys of the treasuries of this world and immortality therein followed by Paradise, and I have been given the choice between that and meeting my Lord and Paradise." "O dearer than my father and my mother," said Abu Muwayhibah, "take the keys of the treasuries of this world and immortality therein followed by Paradise." But he answered him saying: "I have already chosen the meeting with my Lord and Paradise." Then he prayed for forgiveness for the people of the Baqeeha.
The Start of the Disease
On Monday the twenty-ninth of Safar in the eleventh year of Al- Hijra, he participated in funeral rites in Al-Baqeeha‘. On the way back he had a headache, his temperature rose so high that the heat effect could be felt over his headband. He led the Muslims in prayer for eleven days though he was sick. The total number of his sick days were either thirteen or fourteen.
The Prophet tells the Muslims about his Choice and the Prophet supports Abu Bakr
It was at dawn that day, or perhaps the next day, that his head ached as he had never known it to ache, but he none the less went to the Mosque and after leading the prayer he mounted the pulpit and invoked blessings on the martyrs of Uhud, as if it was said afterwards – he were doing it for the last time. Then he said: "There is a slave amongst the slaves of God unto whom God hath offered the choice between this world and that which is with Him, and the slave hath chosen that which is with God." When he said this Abu Bakr wept, for he knew that the Prophet was speaking of himself and that the choice meant imminent death. The Prophet saw that he had understood, and telling him not to weep, he said: "0 people, the most beneficent of men unto me in his companionship and in that which his hand bestows is Abu Bakr; and if I were to take from all mankind an inseparable friend he would be Abu Bakr -but companionship and brotherhood of faith is ours until God unite us in His Presence." It was on that occasion that he said, looking round at the multiple entrances into the Mosque from the private houses which surrounded it: "Behold these doors that intrude upon the Mosque. Let them be walled up, save only the door of Abu Bakr."!Before leaving the pulpit he said:"I go before you, and I am your witness. Your tryst with me is at the Pool,' which verily I behold from here where now I stand. I fear not for you that ye will set up gods beside God; but I fear for you this world, lest ye seek to rival one another in worldly gains."
The Last Week
From the Mosque he went back to the apartment of Maymunah, whose turn it was to house him. The effort of speech to the congregation had increased his fever; and after an hour or two, wishing to let 'A'ishah know that he was ill, he went briefly to visit her. She also was suffering from a headache, and when he entered her room she moaned: "Oh my head!" "Nay, 'A'ishah," said the Prophet, "it is oh my head!" But he looked at her searchingly, as if to seek some sign of mortal sickness in her face, and finding none he said: "I wished that it might be" -he meant her death " whilst yet I was alive, that I might ask forgiveness for thee and invoke mercy upon thee and shroud thee and pray over thee and bury thee." 'A'ishah could see that he was ill and she was alarmed at the tone of his voice, but she tried to make light of it, and succeeded in bringing a brief smile to his face. Then he repeated: "Nay, but it is oh my head,"; and returned to Maymunah.
He tried to do as he did when he was well, and continued to lead the prayers in the Mosque as usual; but his illness increased, until the hour came when he could pray only in a sitting position, and he told the congregation that they also should pray seated. On his return to the apartment of the wife whose day it was, he asked her "Where am I tomorrow?" and she named the wife to whom he would go. "And where the day after tomorrow?" he asked. Again she answered; but struck by his insistence, and sensing that he was impatient to be with 'A'ishah, she told the other wives, whereupon they all came to him and said: "9 Messenger of God, we have given our days with you unto our sister 'A'ishah."! He accepted their gift, but was now too weak to walk unaided, so 'Abbas and 'Ali helped him to 'A'ishah's apartment.
When his sickness grew severe he asked his wives: "Where shall I stay tomorrow?" "Where shall I stay?" They understood what he wanted. So they allowed him to stay wherever he wished. He moved to ‘Aishah’s room leaning — while he was walking — on Al- Fadl bin Al-‘Abbas and ‘Ali bin Abi Talib. Head banded as he was, he dragged his feet till he came into her abode. It was there that he spent the last week of his life. During that period, ‘Aishah used to recite Al-Mu‘awwidhat (Chapters 113 and 114 of the Qur’an) and other supplications which he had already taught her.
Main Topic (Fiqh):
Fiqh - What is Qiyas (Divine Analogy)
The following is quite technical but needs to be clear as the rules surrounding this are complex. Hence, I’ve copied most of the important bits but in summary: QIYAS is using a specified reason found in Qur'an or Sunnah, and applying that reason to a new situation that has no clear rule in Qur'an or Sunnah
The meaning of Qiyas
The linguistic meaning of Qiyas is means estimation, measuring or ascertaining the length, weight, or quality of something, which is why scales are called miqyas. As a juristic term Qiyas the majority of Ulema have defined Qiyas as, the application to a new case (far'), on which the law is silent, of the ruling (Hukm) of an original case (asl) because of the effective reason ('Illa) which is in common to both.’
The following is an example of Qiyas:
“O you who have attained faith! When the call to prayer is sounded on the day of congregation (Friday), hasten to the remembrance of Allah, and leave all worldly commerce: this is for your own good, if you but knew it. And when the prayer is ended, disperse freely on Earth and seek to obtain Allah’s bounty; but remember Allah often, so that you might attain to a happy state!” (TMQ al-Juma’: 9-10)
The Ayah mentions that, when the call to prayer is given, one should disengage from all worldly commerce. The Ayah doesn’t mention to stop such acts as eating, resting, or anything else other than conducting business. The Ayah mentions that when the prayer is over, disperse and seek Allah’s bounty. This means that there is a reason to leave the commerce, being that if we do not, then we will be preoccupied and will forget the prayer.
The application of Qiyas for this example would be for any other activity besides commerce. This is because the Illah (missing the Juma’ prayer) occurs due to these activities as well. Therefore, working, playing, eating etc. are prohibited in the time of Juma’ because all of these activities prevent Muslims from performing the Juma’ prayer.
Daleel indicating the Authority of Qiyas
The evidence that Qiyas is a source of Shar'iah is that the Illah is based upon or derived from a Shari’ text. These Shari’ texts are the Quran, the Sunnah, or Ijma' as-Sahabah. These three have been proven as definitive sources of Shari’ah upon which no one can disagree upon. Therefore, the evidence that the Illah exists in the text in general is definitive (Qata’i) and this is also the case for Qiyas. When a text mentions a reason for a rule, extending this rule to any other issue having the same reason is considered another application for the text of the Ayah or Hadith.
The Prophet* demonstrated Qiyas and considered it as a Shari’ Daleel. The Sahabah followed him in this regard, and they also considered Qiyas as a Shari’ Daleel to extract rules. The Prophet* said to Mu'adh and Abu Musa al-Ashari when he appointed them as judges in Yemen: “What will you judge with?” They said, “If we do not find the rule in the Book or the Sunnah, we will compare the unknown issue with the known issue, and we will apply it.” (Ihkam of Amidi)
The Prophet* also demonstrated Qiyas in the following Hadith: The Messenger* said to a Sahabiyah when she asked regarding making Hajj on behalf of her father, "If your father owed a debt and you paid it for him, would that suffice?" She said, "Yes." He said, "The same is for the debt of Allah."
In order to instruct the Muslims, the Prophet* showed the Muslims how to compare the debt owed to Allah to that owed to a human being, such that paying it back fulfills the obligation. Thus, the rule confirms the acceptance of the settlement of the debt. On the other hand, the rule of the known Hukm may be one of negation. For example, Umer asked the Prophet* regarding whether or not the kiss of a fasting person would break the fast. The Messenger* said: "What if you rinse your mouth, does that break the fast? He replied No’" (Ahmad)
The Prophet* showed Umer how to perform Qiyas by comparing the kiss of the fasting person to the rinsing of the mouth and showing that neither breaks the fast.
The existence of an Illah constitutes the common matter upon which comparisons take place. The following Hadith is another illustration of the concept of Illah in Qiyas: When the Messenger* was asked about the trading of mature dates with dry dates, he asked: "Do the mature dates become lighter (in weight) if they dry up?" They said, "Yes." He said, "Then, no." (Daraqtuni) Based upon the Illah, the Prophet* demonstrated Qiyas by extending the rule of Riba to trading mature dates with dry dates.
Ibn Abbas narrated, "A woman said, 'O Prophet, my mother died owing a vow to fast; should I fast for her?' He* said: “What if your mother owed a debt and you paid it back for her, would that settle it?’ She said, 'Yes.' He replied, Then, fast for your mother.’” (Muslim)
Also, 'Abdullah ibn Zubair narrated: "A man from Khath'an (a tribe) came to the Prophet* and said, 'My father embraced Islam at an old age, and he cannot ride the camel and at the same time he is obligated to perform Hajj. Should I perform Hajj for him?' The Prophet* said, 'Are you the eldest son?' He said, 'Yes.' The Messenger* replied, 'What if your father owed a debt and you paid it back, would that settle it?' He said, 'Yes.' The Prophet* said, 'Then perform Hajj for him.'" (Ahmad)
In both Ahadith, the Messenger instructed the Muslims how to draw the analogy between the debt of Allah in fasting and Hajj and the debt to a human being. Both of them share the same Illah, which is the existence of a debt that must be paid. As the definition of Qiyas is derived from the Ahadith of the Prophet*, the definition is considered a Hukm Shari’. The rule that is extracted through Qiyas is a Hukm Shari’ that must be followed as any other Hukm Shari’ extracted from other legislative sources. The definitions and general rules which are extracted from the evidences are themselves considered Ahkam Shar'iah.
Qiyas is established upon an Illah, which is the common motive between any two issues. If an Illah exists, then Qiyas can be performed otherwise Qiyas is not possible. According to the strongest opinion the Illah must be stated or derived from a Shari’ text. If this is the case, this Qiyas would be Shari’ because the Illah has been stated by a Shari’ text. According to this view if this Illah has not been stated or derived from a Shari’ text, then the Qiyas cannot be considered valid from a Shari’ perspective nor can it be considered as a valid daleel.
It is documented that the Sahabah used Qiyas in many instances. When Abu Bakr gave inheritance to the maternal grandmother and not the paternal one, some of the Ansar told him: "You have given inheritance to a woman (the maternal grandmother) from a dead person (the grandson) who, if she were the dead person, he would not inherit from her. On the other hand, you left out a woman (the paternal grandmother) who, if she died, this person will inherit from her. So give them the one-sixth of the inheritance."
When Abu Bakr heard this Qiyas, he changed his rule and established the new rule. In another example, Umar doubted applying the death penalty for the group that kills a person. Ali told him: "O Ameer al Mu'mineen. If a group stole, would you cut their hands?" Umar said, "Yes," and Ali replied, "This is the same." Thus, Ali made Qiyas for the death penalty of a group based upon the penalty of theft for a group.
The evidence for Qiyas is the Shari’ah texts which contain Illah. The presence of an Illah entails that we follow the rationale of the text (ma’qool an-nass) of the Kitaab and Sunnah. Since the rationale is not from the mind but the text itself. If the rationale of the text extends to a new matter then we are obliged to extend it, otherwise we would not have followed the text.
The Process of Qiyas
Something is defined as a source in Usul when it serves as a source for new Ahkam (rules). Qiyas is a source because we can extract new Ahkam from it. By extending the original rule to new realities via a shared Illah, leads to new Ahkam for new realities and hence Qiyas is a source. This is one of the ways we can appreciate the capacity of Islam to apply to all times and places as Ahkam can be deduced for new realities and problems.
Qiyas is always built on the following four pillars:
i. Asl (old matter)
ii. Fari’ (new matter)
iii. Hukm (rule)
iv. Illah (effective reason)
For example Allah said: “And make ready against them all you can of power including horses to threaten the enemy of Allah.” (TMQ Al-Anfal: 60)
The Hukm given in the verse is that preparation is an obligation. The old matter is horses. The Illah is to terrify the enemy of Allah. As for the new matter, it is anything that will realise the Illah of the preparation, which is to terrify the enemy. So these days it would be obligatory to have tanks, fighter planes, and aircraft carries since they terrify the enemy. Not only that, the Illah obliges the Islamic State prepare in the following areas:
a) The arms development and war industry must be the strongest of its age if it is to fulfill the Illah of terrifying the enemy.
b) The state cannot depend on others for its sources of power and hence it has to strive to develop its own weapons and armaments.
c) It should have new sophisticated weapons which will strike fear in the hearts of the enemy.
There are specific guidelines and requirements for Qiyas explained in the books of Usul al-Fiqh. One such guideline is that there should be no existing ruling from the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma’ as-Sahabah for the new case.
Example:
Does a woman have to remove the nail polish before performing Wudhu? Some people claim she does not have to remove the nail polish in order to do Wudhu, and they justify it by doing Qiyas on the performance of Masah (wiping over the socks).
Qiyas cannot be performed in this situation because the Ayah regarding Wudhu explicitly orders to wash all parts of the hands, and polish prevents water from reaching the nails. In the case of Masah (wiping over the socks) the text is not presented with an Illah (legal reason) and cannot be extended to other things. Thus, Qiyas can be practiced in this issue.
Some of the other requirements for Qiyas are that the original ruling has to be from Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma’ as-Sahabah, not from another Qiyas. In addition, the texts of the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma’ as-Sahabah must contain the justification for the ruling. We cannot use our Aql (intellect) to come up with the cause (Illah).
Illah from the Text or the Mind?
The strongest position is that the Illah must be from the text. This is because the mind is not capable to determining the reasons for the rules unless they have been revealed by Allah. The Illah is the daleel which allowed the extension of the rule to a new matter. For this rule to be a Hukm Shar’i i.e. a valid ruling of the Shar’iah, it must be taken from the speech (Khitaab) of the Legislator since the definition of Hukm Shar’i is the speech of the Legislator relating to man’s actions. Any rule which is not from the speech of the legislator is rejected because it is not revelation (Wahiy) and we are ordered only to follow the Wahiy in our actions. To extend the rule without a textual Illah would be like extending the prohibition of alcohol to vinegar just because vinegar originates from alcohol. Alcohol is one reality and vinegar is another. One cannot arbitrarily extend the Hukm without the text allowing such an extension. If the text allows it through an Illah, then this is a valid Hukm Shar’i, if not then it is a rational judgment which has no value in the Shar’iah.
This is notwithstanding the fact that man is unable to give judgment on that which he cannot sense. If the Creator did not provide us the reason (Illah) for the legislation of the rule then how can man judge it. Thus, not only is the rational Illah rejected from the viewpoint of Hukm shar’i but it is practically impossible for man to give such a judgment in the first place.
Furthermore, the fact that the mind cannot make analogy without a Shar’i Illah is aptly demonstrated by the reality of the Shari’ah rules themselves. For example, we find similar realities are given different Ahkam while different realities are given the same Hukm. The mind can normally make analogy between similar things but the text contradicts this principle: So in the absence of water, of all things dust are sufficient to make Wudhu even though they are two different things. According to the Shari’ah rules if a baby girl urinates on clothes then the clothes must be washed but if a baby boy does the same then it is sufficient just to sprinkle some water on it. Thus, similarity does not mean the same Hukm just as dissimilarity does not mean a different Hukm. So how can the mind make analogy for the sake of new Ahkam when even the existing Ahkam cannot be rationalised without a Shar’i Illah?
The areas of Ahkam Shari’ah which do not contain Illah
According to the strongest view no Illah exists in the Asl (origin) of the rules relating to:
- food,
- clothing,
- morals and
- ritual worships (Ibadat)
This is due to two reasons:
a) By a scrutiny of the texts we found that they do not contain Illah.
b) These rules are not related to achieving results in this life.
The divine rules related to Ibadat (worships), Mat’umaat (foodstuffs), Malboosaat (clothing) or Akhlaq (morals) cannot be reasoned by Illah. The primary motive for these actions is worship and hence there are no tangible results that we seek since the results are in the Hereafter. They should be taken as they came in the text and should not be based upon an Illah. Thus, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, Zakah, the method of praying (Salah), the number of its rak'at, the rites of pilgrimage (hajj) and the minimum amount of property liable to payment of Zakah (Nisab of Zakah), and the like should be taken, accepted and submitted to as they came in the text (Tawkifiyyah) and no Illah is sought for them. The same applies to the prohibition of eating the meat of a dead animal, pork and the like. Seeking Illah for these rules is wrong and dangerous, because if an Illah was sought the result would be that if the Illah of the rule ceased to exist then the rule would no longer exist. This is because the Illah is connected to the rule in existence and absence.
As an example, if we assumed cleanliness was the Illah for the Wudhu (ablution), and physical exercise as the Illah for prayer, and good digestion as the Illah for fasting etc., then in these situations whenever the Illah doesn't exist, the rule would not exist either, this would lead us to abandoning these shari’ah rules. Another example would be if someone raised a clean pig which they had fed with good food and kept in a hygienic manner, would we then be permitted to eat it? Of course that would not make it permissible. Therefore seeking an Illah is dangerous for the rule and its performance. Thus, it is obligatory to take rules of Ibadat as they are, without seeking an Illah for them.
However in the Furu’ (branches) of worship Illah’s may exist because certain tangible results are sought. For example, Jihad is from the rules of worship (Ibadat) but its performance entails certain tangible results and hence there is a propensity for Illah’s to exist. So preparation for Jihad is a tangible result which is sought and it does contain an Illah which is to terrify the enemy.
The morals (Akhlaq) are values for which rules have been established to illustrate the virtues and noble deeds and their opposite. They also result from Ibadat, as well as being observed in Mu'amalat. This is because Islam aims in its legislation to take man on the road towards perfection, so as to reach the highest achievable level. Therefore man has to work towards acquiring the supreme qualities and to maintain them. The good moral is a value which is intended to be achieved because it is one which Shar’a has stated, and its value is targeted when performing these virtues and acquiring them. Morals are a part of the Islamic Shari’ah, and a part of the commands and prohibitions of Allah, which must be achieved by every Muslim so that his performance of Islam becomes complete, and his undertaking of the commands and prohibitions of Allah is perfected.
A Muslim should not acquire morals for the sake of morals. An action which man performs might be by itself, bad, but he thought it good, so he performed it. The attribute, which he was characterised with, might be by itself bad, but he considers it a good attribute so he acquired it and thus errors would arise because man performed morals for their own sake. For example, someone may seek to be truthful for the sake of it, therefore when he is captured by the enemy he is truthful to them and gives them all the information regarding the position of the Muslim troops and their strategy even though the Prophet* said: “War is deceit” And Islam prohibits giving information to the enemy that would lead to harming the Muslims.
Unless Islam defines the good attributes and the bad attributes and unless the Muslim performs them according to this definition, then his acquiring of these attributes would not be in compliance with the Ahkam Shari’ah. Therefore, the Muslim should not be characterised with truthfulness for the sake of truthfulness, nor should he be characterised with compassion for the sake of compassion, nor should he be characterised with all the morals for their own sake. Rather he should be characterised with them as commands from Allah, because the fundamental fact is that these morals are based on the Islamic Aqeedah. Observing this issue would guarantee the possession of the morals in individuals, thus purifying the soul of any impurity and distancing it from any corrupting factors. Therefore, the best way to protect morals is to confine them to what is stated in the text (Qur'an and Sunnah).
As for not acquiring morals for the sake of benefit, this is because benefit is not intended of the moral and should not be aimed at, lest it corrupts it and makes it revolve around the benefit. Hence, morals are attributes which man must be characterised with, freely and willingly, by the incentive of Taqwa (the fear of Allah). A Muslim does not abide by morals simply because they benefit or harm him in life, but he does so in response to the commands and prohibitions of Allah. This is the understanding, which makes characterisation with good morals constant and does not revolve around benefit. Such morals built on the exchange of benefit would make the individual a hypocrite, revealing certain behaviour while concealing his true nature. For example, may only be nice to another person because he wants him to buy something from him, but if there is someone who he cannot obtain material benefit from then he would not be nice to him.
Therefore, morals are not reasoned, and Illah should never be invented for them. They must be accepted as they came in Shar’a, irrespective of any Illah. It is erroneous and dangerous to seek Illah for morals, so as not to abandon the characterisation with morals when their Illah has ceased.
Types of Ahkam Shariah where an Illah can be found
As for the Mu’amalaat and Uqubat it is possible that the texts regarding them may contain Illah’s because they generally entail tangible results. For example, Allah ordered the Messenger* to distribute the spoils of war amongst the orphans and the poor. This is a tangible result sought by the Hukm which is open to having an Illah. Even though the Hukm is fulfilled for Allah’s sake the result is still tangible which means that there may be a reason why the poor should receive the booty. The reason here of course is stated in the text: “So that the booty does not become a commodity only between the rich among you.” (TMQ Al-Hashr: 7)
Of course many other texts relating to these areas do not include an Illah at all such as: “Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden Riba (interest).” (TMQ Al-Baqara: 275)
The rules and evidences regarding the Muslim woman having to wear Khimar (headscarf) and Jilbab, the allowance for man to marry up to four wives at one time, the prohibition of women being rulers and many other rules have come without Illah, therefore these rules should not be reasoned at all and should be taken as they are.
There are four types of Illah:
• Explicit (Saraahatan)
• Implicit (Dalaalatan)
• Derived (Istinbaatan)
• Those derived through analogy (Qiyasan).
Customs and traditions cannot be an Illah
As for the change of traditions and customs of people, this does not have an effect in changing the rule, for the tradition is not an Illah of the Hukm Shar’ai nor a source for it. The traditions may agree or disagree with the Shar’a; If they disagree with the Shar’a then the Shar’a has come to abrogate and change them, since the function of the Shar’a is to change the corrupted traditions and customs, because they are the factors that cause corruption of the society. Therefore, they are not taken as a source for the Hukm Shar’ai nor an Illah for it. However, if the traditions were in agreement with Shar’a, then the rule is proved by its Shar’ai evidence and by its Shar’ai Illah and not by these traditions, even if these traditions do not contradict the Shar’a. Hence, customs cannot rule over the Shar’a, rather the Shar’a rules over the traditions and customs. Accordingly, the Ahkam Shar'iah have their own evidence which is the text and they have Shar’ai Illah and the traditions and customs are not a part of that at all.
Difference between Manaat al-Hukm (reality of the rule) and Illah
For example, alcohol is Haram, the divine law is the prohibition of alcohol. The investigation that a certain drink is alcohol or not, so as to judge it as Haram or not is an investigation of the Manaat. It is necessary to study whether the drink is alcohol or not in order to state that it is Haram. This investigation of the reality of alcohol is a verification of the Manaat. Another example is the divine law that the Mutlaq (absolute, unrestricted) water is the one which is allowed for Wudhu. So the investigation as to whether the water is unrestricted or restricted in order to judge upon it as allowed for Wudhu, is a verification of the Manaat. Therefore, it is necessary to study the water to determine if it is free or restricted. This study of the reality of the water is simply the verification of the Manaat and nothing to do with the Illah of the Hukm. Similarly, a person who made Hadath (discharged something from back or front) has to make Wudhu for the prayer, therefore the verification that the person is Mohdath (impure) or not Mohdath is a verification of the Manaat.
The investigation of the Illah is related to the understanding of the text from the Ayat or Ahadith and therefore it is the work of a qualified Mujtahid. Whereas the verification of the Manaat such as the verification of whether a liquid is alcohol is the investigation of the reality of a thing that is the subject of the Shari’ah. Accordingly, it is not a condition that the one who verifies the Manaat be a Mujtahid or a Muslim, but it is enough that he or she to be knowledgeable of the matter.
Children’s Feedback
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Dawah – What is it and how to do it (part1)
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Quiz sometime after Christmas (i/A)
Homework
Seerah ~ REVISE FOR THE QUIZ
Belief ~ How do we derive / make laws in Islam ? What is the process of lawmaking?
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We are about to finish the Seerah of the Prophet*, InshaAllah. What we would like to know is what topic people wanted to study after this on a regular basis in Future Circles. Please vote for which things you would like to discuss during the Circle. Or give your own suggestions. This shouldn't take more than 2 minutes (InshaAllah)
Q: What topic would you like to study after the Seerah is finished?
- Lives of the first 4 Khulafah (Caliph - Islamic Leaders) = Abu Bakr, Umer, Uthman & Ali
- Lives of the Prophets (Adam to Isa/Jesus)
- Other (please specify)
Summary
The Start of the Prophet’s Final Illness:
The Prophet publically praises Ali as his ‘Mawla’ to quell unrest
The Prophet* sends out Ussama bin Zaid to fight the Romans
The Prophet prays for the Muslims in the Cemetry and Martyrs of Uhud
The Prophet refuses the keys to the eartly treasures
The Start of the Disease - headache, and so he* agrees to stay in the house of Aishah
The Prophet tells the Muslims about his Choice
The Prophet publically supports Abu Bakr
What is Qiyas (Divine Analogy):
Linguistic meaning is estimation, measuring or ascertaining the length, weight, or quality of something
In Shariah: the application to a new case (far'), on which the law is silent, of the ruling (Hukm) of an original case (asl) because of the effective reason ('Illa) which is in common to both
Using a specified reason found in Qur'an or Sunnah, and applying that reason to a new situation that has no clear rule in Qur'an or Sunnah
Examples include repaying your debt to people compared to debt to Allah
The reason (Illah) must come from the Text not the Mind
No Illah exists in the origin of the rules relating to food, clothing, morals and ritual worships (Ibadat)
Seerah of Muhammed*
*: May the peace blessings and Mercy of Allah be upon him
TMQ: Translation to the nearest meaning of the Qur’an
The Start of the Prophet’s Final Illness
The Prophet publically praises Ali as his ‘Mawla’
Having finished the campaign in the Yemen, the troop of three hundred horses that the Prophet had sent out in Ramadan was now approaching Mecca from the south. Ali had ridden on ahead of his men, eager to meet the Prophet as soon as possible and to make with him the Pilgrimage, which he now had done. Amongst the state's fifth of the spoils there was enough linen to clothe the whole army, but Ali had decided that it must be handed over to the Prophet untouched. In his absence, however, the man he had left in charge was persuaded to lend each man a new change of clothes out of the linen. The change was much needed for they had been away from home for nearly three months. When they were not far from entering the city, Ali rode out to meet them and was amazed to see the transformation that had taken place. “I gave them the garments,” said the deputy commander, “that their appearance might be more seemly when they entered in among the people.” The men all knew that everyone in Mecca would now be wearing their finest clothes in honour of the Feast, and they were anxious to look their best. But Ali felt he could not countenance such a liberty and he ordered them to put on their old clothes again and return the new ones to the spoils as these were for Sadaqa only. Great resentment was felt throughout the army on this account, and when the Prophet heard of it he said: "O people, blame not 'Ali, for he is too scrupulous in the path of God to be blamed." But these words were not sufficient, or it may be that they were only heard by a few, and the resentment continued.
On the way back to Medina one of the troops bitterly complained of Ali to the Prophet, whose face changed colour. "Am I not nearer to the believers than their own selves?" he said; and when the man assented, he added: "Whose nearest I am, his nearest Ali is." Later on the journey, when they had halted at Ghadir al-Khumm, he gathered all the people together, and taking 'Ali by the hand he repeated these words, to which he added the prayer: "O God, be the friend (Mawla) of him who is his friend, and the foe of him who is his foe"; and the murmurings against 'Ali were silenced.
The Last Expeditions
The pride of the Byzantine State made it deny Muslims their right to live. The Byzantine arrogance made them even kill those agents of theirs, who embraced Islam. Killing Farwah bin ‘Amr Al-Judhami, who was their agent on Mu’an, was an evidence of their arrogance. Due to that arrogance and presumptuousness of the Byzantines, the Prophet* started to mobilize a great army in Safar in the eleventh year of Al-Hijra and made it under the command of Ussama bin Zaid bin Haritha with orders to have the horses of Muslims tread on the lands bordering Al-Balqa’ and Ad-Darum of Palestine. His aim was to terrorize Byzantines and to implant confidence into the hearts of Arabs who were settled at the borders of the Byzantines. His other purpose was to deliver a message to everybody there, so that no one may dare say that the Church brutality can’t go with impunity; and that Islamization is not synonymous with fear and vulnerability.
The leadership of Ussama was subject to criticism. Because he was still too young, people tarried at joining his expedition. The Prophet* addressed people saying: "No wonder now you contest his leadership, for you have already contested the ex- leadership of his father. Yes, by Allah, his father, who was one of the most beloved people to me, was quite efficient for leadership; and this son of his is one of the most beloved individuals to me after his father."
So people started tending towards Ussama and joined his army. The anxiety-provoking news about the Prophet’s sickness, however, made the expedition tarry again in order to know what Allah had willed as regards His Messenger*. It was Allah’s Will that Ussama’s expedition would be the first one dispatched during the caliphate of Abu Bakr.
The Prophet prays for the Muslims in the Cemetry and Martyrs of Uhud
On one occasion a remark of his when he was with his wives was sufficiently ominous to prompt the question as to which of them would be the first to rejoin him in the next world. He replied: "She of the longest reach will be the soonest of you to join me,"! whereupon they set about measuring their arms, one against another. Presumably, though it is not recorded, Sawdah was the winner of this contest, for she was the tallest of them and in general the largest. Zaynab, on the other hand, was a small woman, with an arm to match. But it was Zaynab who died first of them all, some ten years later. Only then did they realise that by "she of the longest reach" the Prophet had meant the most giving, for Zaynab was exceedingly generous, like her predecessor of the same name who had been called "the mother of the poor".
One night, not long after the Prophet had ordered preparations for the Syrian campaign and before the army had left, he called to a freedman of his in the small hours, Abu Muwayhibah, and said: "I have been commanded to pray forgiveness for the people of the cemetery, so come thou with me." They went out together, and when they reached the Baqeeha the Prophet said: "Peace be on you, O people of the graves. Rejoice in your state, how much better it is than the state of men now living. Dissensions come like waves of darkest night, the one following hard upon the other, each worse than the last." Then he turned to Abu Muwayhibah and said: "I have been offered the keys of the treasuries of this world and immortality therein followed by Paradise, and I have been given the choice between that and meeting my Lord and Paradise." "O dearer than my father and my mother," said Abu Muwayhibah, "take the keys of the treasuries of this world and immortality therein followed by Paradise." But he answered him saying: "I have already chosen the meeting with my Lord and Paradise." Then he prayed for forgiveness for the people of the Baqeeha.
The Start of the Disease
On Monday the twenty-ninth of Safar in the eleventh year of Al- Hijra, he participated in funeral rites in Al-Baqeeha‘. On the way back he had a headache, his temperature rose so high that the heat effect could be felt over his headband. He led the Muslims in prayer for eleven days though he was sick. The total number of his sick days were either thirteen or fourteen.
The Prophet tells the Muslims about his Choice and the Prophet supports Abu Bakr
It was at dawn that day, or perhaps the next day, that his head ached as he had never known it to ache, but he none the less went to the Mosque and after leading the prayer he mounted the pulpit and invoked blessings on the martyrs of Uhud, as if it was said afterwards – he were doing it for the last time. Then he said: "There is a slave amongst the slaves of God unto whom God hath offered the choice between this world and that which is with Him, and the slave hath chosen that which is with God." When he said this Abu Bakr wept, for he knew that the Prophet was speaking of himself and that the choice meant imminent death. The Prophet saw that he had understood, and telling him not to weep, he said: "0 people, the most beneficent of men unto me in his companionship and in that which his hand bestows is Abu Bakr; and if I were to take from all mankind an inseparable friend he would be Abu Bakr -but companionship and brotherhood of faith is ours until God unite us in His Presence." It was on that occasion that he said, looking round at the multiple entrances into the Mosque from the private houses which surrounded it: "Behold these doors that intrude upon the Mosque. Let them be walled up, save only the door of Abu Bakr."!Before leaving the pulpit he said:"I go before you, and I am your witness. Your tryst with me is at the Pool,' which verily I behold from here where now I stand. I fear not for you that ye will set up gods beside God; but I fear for you this world, lest ye seek to rival one another in worldly gains."
The Last Week
From the Mosque he went back to the apartment of Maymunah, whose turn it was to house him. The effort of speech to the congregation had increased his fever; and after an hour or two, wishing to let 'A'ishah know that he was ill, he went briefly to visit her. She also was suffering from a headache, and when he entered her room she moaned: "Oh my head!" "Nay, 'A'ishah," said the Prophet, "it is oh my head!" But he looked at her searchingly, as if to seek some sign of mortal sickness in her face, and finding none he said: "I wished that it might be" -he meant her death " whilst yet I was alive, that I might ask forgiveness for thee and invoke mercy upon thee and shroud thee and pray over thee and bury thee." 'A'ishah could see that he was ill and she was alarmed at the tone of his voice, but she tried to make light of it, and succeeded in bringing a brief smile to his face. Then he repeated: "Nay, but it is oh my head,"; and returned to Maymunah.
He tried to do as he did when he was well, and continued to lead the prayers in the Mosque as usual; but his illness increased, until the hour came when he could pray only in a sitting position, and he told the congregation that they also should pray seated. On his return to the apartment of the wife whose day it was, he asked her "Where am I tomorrow?" and she named the wife to whom he would go. "And where the day after tomorrow?" he asked. Again she answered; but struck by his insistence, and sensing that he was impatient to be with 'A'ishah, she told the other wives, whereupon they all came to him and said: "9 Messenger of God, we have given our days with you unto our sister 'A'ishah."! He accepted their gift, but was now too weak to walk unaided, so 'Abbas and 'Ali helped him to 'A'ishah's apartment.
When his sickness grew severe he asked his wives: "Where shall I stay tomorrow?" "Where shall I stay?" They understood what he wanted. So they allowed him to stay wherever he wished. He moved to ‘Aishah’s room leaning — while he was walking — on Al- Fadl bin Al-‘Abbas and ‘Ali bin Abi Talib. Head banded as he was, he dragged his feet till he came into her abode. It was there that he spent the last week of his life. During that period, ‘Aishah used to recite Al-Mu‘awwidhat (Chapters 113 and 114 of the Qur’an) and other supplications which he had already taught her.
Main Topic (Fiqh):
Fiqh - What is Qiyas (Divine Analogy)
The following is quite technical but needs to be clear as the rules surrounding this are complex. Hence, I’ve copied most of the important bits but in summary: QIYAS is using a specified reason found in Qur'an or Sunnah, and applying that reason to a new situation that has no clear rule in Qur'an or Sunnah
The meaning of Qiyas
The linguistic meaning of Qiyas is means estimation, measuring or ascertaining the length, weight, or quality of something, which is why scales are called miqyas. As a juristic term Qiyas the majority of Ulema have defined Qiyas as, the application to a new case (far'), on which the law is silent, of the ruling (Hukm) of an original case (asl) because of the effective reason ('Illa) which is in common to both.’
The following is an example of Qiyas:
“O you who have attained faith! When the call to prayer is sounded on the day of congregation (Friday), hasten to the remembrance of Allah, and leave all worldly commerce: this is for your own good, if you but knew it. And when the prayer is ended, disperse freely on Earth and seek to obtain Allah’s bounty; but remember Allah often, so that you might attain to a happy state!” (TMQ al-Juma’: 9-10)
The Ayah mentions that, when the call to prayer is given, one should disengage from all worldly commerce. The Ayah doesn’t mention to stop such acts as eating, resting, or anything else other than conducting business. The Ayah mentions that when the prayer is over, disperse and seek Allah’s bounty. This means that there is a reason to leave the commerce, being that if we do not, then we will be preoccupied and will forget the prayer.
The application of Qiyas for this example would be for any other activity besides commerce. This is because the Illah (missing the Juma’ prayer) occurs due to these activities as well. Therefore, working, playing, eating etc. are prohibited in the time of Juma’ because all of these activities prevent Muslims from performing the Juma’ prayer.
Daleel indicating the Authority of Qiyas
The evidence that Qiyas is a source of Shar'iah is that the Illah is based upon or derived from a Shari’ text. These Shari’ texts are the Quran, the Sunnah, or Ijma' as-Sahabah. These three have been proven as definitive sources of Shari’ah upon which no one can disagree upon. Therefore, the evidence that the Illah exists in the text in general is definitive (Qata’i) and this is also the case for Qiyas. When a text mentions a reason for a rule, extending this rule to any other issue having the same reason is considered another application for the text of the Ayah or Hadith.
The Prophet* demonstrated Qiyas and considered it as a Shari’ Daleel. The Sahabah followed him in this regard, and they also considered Qiyas as a Shari’ Daleel to extract rules. The Prophet* said to Mu'adh and Abu Musa al-Ashari when he appointed them as judges in Yemen: “What will you judge with?” They said, “If we do not find the rule in the Book or the Sunnah, we will compare the unknown issue with the known issue, and we will apply it.” (Ihkam of Amidi)
The Prophet* also demonstrated Qiyas in the following Hadith: The Messenger* said to a Sahabiyah when she asked regarding making Hajj on behalf of her father, "If your father owed a debt and you paid it for him, would that suffice?" She said, "Yes." He said, "The same is for the debt of Allah."
In order to instruct the Muslims, the Prophet* showed the Muslims how to compare the debt owed to Allah to that owed to a human being, such that paying it back fulfills the obligation. Thus, the rule confirms the acceptance of the settlement of the debt. On the other hand, the rule of the known Hukm may be one of negation. For example, Umer asked the Prophet* regarding whether or not the kiss of a fasting person would break the fast. The Messenger* said: "What if you rinse your mouth, does that break the fast? He replied No’" (Ahmad)
The Prophet* showed Umer how to perform Qiyas by comparing the kiss of the fasting person to the rinsing of the mouth and showing that neither breaks the fast.
The existence of an Illah constitutes the common matter upon which comparisons take place. The following Hadith is another illustration of the concept of Illah in Qiyas: When the Messenger* was asked about the trading of mature dates with dry dates, he asked: "Do the mature dates become lighter (in weight) if they dry up?" They said, "Yes." He said, "Then, no." (Daraqtuni) Based upon the Illah, the Prophet* demonstrated Qiyas by extending the rule of Riba to trading mature dates with dry dates.
Ibn Abbas narrated, "A woman said, 'O Prophet, my mother died owing a vow to fast; should I fast for her?' He* said: “What if your mother owed a debt and you paid it back for her, would that settle it?’ She said, 'Yes.' He replied, Then, fast for your mother.’” (Muslim)
Also, 'Abdullah ibn Zubair narrated: "A man from Khath'an (a tribe) came to the Prophet* and said, 'My father embraced Islam at an old age, and he cannot ride the camel and at the same time he is obligated to perform Hajj. Should I perform Hajj for him?' The Prophet* said, 'Are you the eldest son?' He said, 'Yes.' The Messenger* replied, 'What if your father owed a debt and you paid it back, would that settle it?' He said, 'Yes.' The Prophet* said, 'Then perform Hajj for him.'" (Ahmad)
In both Ahadith, the Messenger instructed the Muslims how to draw the analogy between the debt of Allah in fasting and Hajj and the debt to a human being. Both of them share the same Illah, which is the existence of a debt that must be paid. As the definition of Qiyas is derived from the Ahadith of the Prophet*, the definition is considered a Hukm Shari’. The rule that is extracted through Qiyas is a Hukm Shari’ that must be followed as any other Hukm Shari’ extracted from other legislative sources. The definitions and general rules which are extracted from the evidences are themselves considered Ahkam Shar'iah.
Qiyas is established upon an Illah, which is the common motive between any two issues. If an Illah exists, then Qiyas can be performed otherwise Qiyas is not possible. According to the strongest opinion the Illah must be stated or derived from a Shari’ text. If this is the case, this Qiyas would be Shari’ because the Illah has been stated by a Shari’ text. According to this view if this Illah has not been stated or derived from a Shari’ text, then the Qiyas cannot be considered valid from a Shari’ perspective nor can it be considered as a valid daleel.
It is documented that the Sahabah used Qiyas in many instances. When Abu Bakr gave inheritance to the maternal grandmother and not the paternal one, some of the Ansar told him: "You have given inheritance to a woman (the maternal grandmother) from a dead person (the grandson) who, if she were the dead person, he would not inherit from her. On the other hand, you left out a woman (the paternal grandmother) who, if she died, this person will inherit from her. So give them the one-sixth of the inheritance."
When Abu Bakr heard this Qiyas, he changed his rule and established the new rule. In another example, Umar doubted applying the death penalty for the group that kills a person. Ali told him: "O Ameer al Mu'mineen. If a group stole, would you cut their hands?" Umar said, "Yes," and Ali replied, "This is the same." Thus, Ali made Qiyas for the death penalty of a group based upon the penalty of theft for a group.
The evidence for Qiyas is the Shari’ah texts which contain Illah. The presence of an Illah entails that we follow the rationale of the text (ma’qool an-nass) of the Kitaab and Sunnah. Since the rationale is not from the mind but the text itself. If the rationale of the text extends to a new matter then we are obliged to extend it, otherwise we would not have followed the text.
The Process of Qiyas
Something is defined as a source in Usul when it serves as a source for new Ahkam (rules). Qiyas is a source because we can extract new Ahkam from it. By extending the original rule to new realities via a shared Illah, leads to new Ahkam for new realities and hence Qiyas is a source. This is one of the ways we can appreciate the capacity of Islam to apply to all times and places as Ahkam can be deduced for new realities and problems.
Qiyas is always built on the following four pillars:
i. Asl (old matter)
ii. Fari’ (new matter)
iii. Hukm (rule)
iv. Illah (effective reason)
For example Allah said: “And make ready against them all you can of power including horses to threaten the enemy of Allah.” (TMQ Al-Anfal: 60)
The Hukm given in the verse is that preparation is an obligation. The old matter is horses. The Illah is to terrify the enemy of Allah. As for the new matter, it is anything that will realise the Illah of the preparation, which is to terrify the enemy. So these days it would be obligatory to have tanks, fighter planes, and aircraft carries since they terrify the enemy. Not only that, the Illah obliges the Islamic State prepare in the following areas:
a) The arms development and war industry must be the strongest of its age if it is to fulfill the Illah of terrifying the enemy.
b) The state cannot depend on others for its sources of power and hence it has to strive to develop its own weapons and armaments.
c) It should have new sophisticated weapons which will strike fear in the hearts of the enemy.
There are specific guidelines and requirements for Qiyas explained in the books of Usul al-Fiqh. One such guideline is that there should be no existing ruling from the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma’ as-Sahabah for the new case.
Example:
Does a woman have to remove the nail polish before performing Wudhu? Some people claim she does not have to remove the nail polish in order to do Wudhu, and they justify it by doing Qiyas on the performance of Masah (wiping over the socks).
Qiyas cannot be performed in this situation because the Ayah regarding Wudhu explicitly orders to wash all parts of the hands, and polish prevents water from reaching the nails. In the case of Masah (wiping over the socks) the text is not presented with an Illah (legal reason) and cannot be extended to other things. Thus, Qiyas can be practiced in this issue.
Some of the other requirements for Qiyas are that the original ruling has to be from Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma’ as-Sahabah, not from another Qiyas. In addition, the texts of the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma’ as-Sahabah must contain the justification for the ruling. We cannot use our Aql (intellect) to come up with the cause (Illah).
Illah from the Text or the Mind?
The strongest position is that the Illah must be from the text. This is because the mind is not capable to determining the reasons for the rules unless they have been revealed by Allah. The Illah is the daleel which allowed the extension of the rule to a new matter. For this rule to be a Hukm Shar’i i.e. a valid ruling of the Shar’iah, it must be taken from the speech (Khitaab) of the Legislator since the definition of Hukm Shar’i is the speech of the Legislator relating to man’s actions. Any rule which is not from the speech of the legislator is rejected because it is not revelation (Wahiy) and we are ordered only to follow the Wahiy in our actions. To extend the rule without a textual Illah would be like extending the prohibition of alcohol to vinegar just because vinegar originates from alcohol. Alcohol is one reality and vinegar is another. One cannot arbitrarily extend the Hukm without the text allowing such an extension. If the text allows it through an Illah, then this is a valid Hukm Shar’i, if not then it is a rational judgment which has no value in the Shar’iah.
This is notwithstanding the fact that man is unable to give judgment on that which he cannot sense. If the Creator did not provide us the reason (Illah) for the legislation of the rule then how can man judge it. Thus, not only is the rational Illah rejected from the viewpoint of Hukm shar’i but it is practically impossible for man to give such a judgment in the first place.
Furthermore, the fact that the mind cannot make analogy without a Shar’i Illah is aptly demonstrated by the reality of the Shari’ah rules themselves. For example, we find similar realities are given different Ahkam while different realities are given the same Hukm. The mind can normally make analogy between similar things but the text contradicts this principle: So in the absence of water, of all things dust are sufficient to make Wudhu even though they are two different things. According to the Shari’ah rules if a baby girl urinates on clothes then the clothes must be washed but if a baby boy does the same then it is sufficient just to sprinkle some water on it. Thus, similarity does not mean the same Hukm just as dissimilarity does not mean a different Hukm. So how can the mind make analogy for the sake of new Ahkam when even the existing Ahkam cannot be rationalised without a Shar’i Illah?
The areas of Ahkam Shari’ah which do not contain Illah
According to the strongest view no Illah exists in the Asl (origin) of the rules relating to:
- food,
- clothing,
- morals and
- ritual worships (Ibadat)
This is due to two reasons:
a) By a scrutiny of the texts we found that they do not contain Illah.
b) These rules are not related to achieving results in this life.
The divine rules related to Ibadat (worships), Mat’umaat (foodstuffs), Malboosaat (clothing) or Akhlaq (morals) cannot be reasoned by Illah. The primary motive for these actions is worship and hence there are no tangible results that we seek since the results are in the Hereafter. They should be taken as they came in the text and should not be based upon an Illah. Thus, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, Zakah, the method of praying (Salah), the number of its rak'at, the rites of pilgrimage (hajj) and the minimum amount of property liable to payment of Zakah (Nisab of Zakah), and the like should be taken, accepted and submitted to as they came in the text (Tawkifiyyah) and no Illah is sought for them. The same applies to the prohibition of eating the meat of a dead animal, pork and the like. Seeking Illah for these rules is wrong and dangerous, because if an Illah was sought the result would be that if the Illah of the rule ceased to exist then the rule would no longer exist. This is because the Illah is connected to the rule in existence and absence.
As an example, if we assumed cleanliness was the Illah for the Wudhu (ablution), and physical exercise as the Illah for prayer, and good digestion as the Illah for fasting etc., then in these situations whenever the Illah doesn't exist, the rule would not exist either, this would lead us to abandoning these shari’ah rules. Another example would be if someone raised a clean pig which they had fed with good food and kept in a hygienic manner, would we then be permitted to eat it? Of course that would not make it permissible. Therefore seeking an Illah is dangerous for the rule and its performance. Thus, it is obligatory to take rules of Ibadat as they are, without seeking an Illah for them.
However in the Furu’ (branches) of worship Illah’s may exist because certain tangible results are sought. For example, Jihad is from the rules of worship (Ibadat) but its performance entails certain tangible results and hence there is a propensity for Illah’s to exist. So preparation for Jihad is a tangible result which is sought and it does contain an Illah which is to terrify the enemy.
The morals (Akhlaq) are values for which rules have been established to illustrate the virtues and noble deeds and their opposite. They also result from Ibadat, as well as being observed in Mu'amalat. This is because Islam aims in its legislation to take man on the road towards perfection, so as to reach the highest achievable level. Therefore man has to work towards acquiring the supreme qualities and to maintain them. The good moral is a value which is intended to be achieved because it is one which Shar’a has stated, and its value is targeted when performing these virtues and acquiring them. Morals are a part of the Islamic Shari’ah, and a part of the commands and prohibitions of Allah, which must be achieved by every Muslim so that his performance of Islam becomes complete, and his undertaking of the commands and prohibitions of Allah is perfected.
A Muslim should not acquire morals for the sake of morals. An action which man performs might be by itself, bad, but he thought it good, so he performed it. The attribute, which he was characterised with, might be by itself bad, but he considers it a good attribute so he acquired it and thus errors would arise because man performed morals for their own sake. For example, someone may seek to be truthful for the sake of it, therefore when he is captured by the enemy he is truthful to them and gives them all the information regarding the position of the Muslim troops and their strategy even though the Prophet* said: “War is deceit” And Islam prohibits giving information to the enemy that would lead to harming the Muslims.
Unless Islam defines the good attributes and the bad attributes and unless the Muslim performs them according to this definition, then his acquiring of these attributes would not be in compliance with the Ahkam Shari’ah. Therefore, the Muslim should not be characterised with truthfulness for the sake of truthfulness, nor should he be characterised with compassion for the sake of compassion, nor should he be characterised with all the morals for their own sake. Rather he should be characterised with them as commands from Allah, because the fundamental fact is that these morals are based on the Islamic Aqeedah. Observing this issue would guarantee the possession of the morals in individuals, thus purifying the soul of any impurity and distancing it from any corrupting factors. Therefore, the best way to protect morals is to confine them to what is stated in the text (Qur'an and Sunnah).
As for not acquiring morals for the sake of benefit, this is because benefit is not intended of the moral and should not be aimed at, lest it corrupts it and makes it revolve around the benefit. Hence, morals are attributes which man must be characterised with, freely and willingly, by the incentive of Taqwa (the fear of Allah). A Muslim does not abide by morals simply because they benefit or harm him in life, but he does so in response to the commands and prohibitions of Allah. This is the understanding, which makes characterisation with good morals constant and does not revolve around benefit. Such morals built on the exchange of benefit would make the individual a hypocrite, revealing certain behaviour while concealing his true nature. For example, may only be nice to another person because he wants him to buy something from him, but if there is someone who he cannot obtain material benefit from then he would not be nice to him.
Therefore, morals are not reasoned, and Illah should never be invented for them. They must be accepted as they came in Shar’a, irrespective of any Illah. It is erroneous and dangerous to seek Illah for morals, so as not to abandon the characterisation with morals when their Illah has ceased.
Types of Ahkam Shariah where an Illah can be found
As for the Mu’amalaat and Uqubat it is possible that the texts regarding them may contain Illah’s because they generally entail tangible results. For example, Allah ordered the Messenger* to distribute the spoils of war amongst the orphans and the poor. This is a tangible result sought by the Hukm which is open to having an Illah. Even though the Hukm is fulfilled for Allah’s sake the result is still tangible which means that there may be a reason why the poor should receive the booty. The reason here of course is stated in the text: “So that the booty does not become a commodity only between the rich among you.” (TMQ Al-Hashr: 7)
Of course many other texts relating to these areas do not include an Illah at all such as: “Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden Riba (interest).” (TMQ Al-Baqara: 275)
The rules and evidences regarding the Muslim woman having to wear Khimar (headscarf) and Jilbab, the allowance for man to marry up to four wives at one time, the prohibition of women being rulers and many other rules have come without Illah, therefore these rules should not be reasoned at all and should be taken as they are.
There are four types of Illah:
• Explicit (Saraahatan)
• Implicit (Dalaalatan)
• Derived (Istinbaatan)
• Those derived through analogy (Qiyasan).
Customs and traditions cannot be an Illah
As for the change of traditions and customs of people, this does not have an effect in changing the rule, for the tradition is not an Illah of the Hukm Shar’ai nor a source for it. The traditions may agree or disagree with the Shar’a; If they disagree with the Shar’a then the Shar’a has come to abrogate and change them, since the function of the Shar’a is to change the corrupted traditions and customs, because they are the factors that cause corruption of the society. Therefore, they are not taken as a source for the Hukm Shar’ai nor an Illah for it. However, if the traditions were in agreement with Shar’a, then the rule is proved by its Shar’ai evidence and by its Shar’ai Illah and not by these traditions, even if these traditions do not contradict the Shar’a. Hence, customs cannot rule over the Shar’a, rather the Shar’a rules over the traditions and customs. Accordingly, the Ahkam Shar'iah have their own evidence which is the text and they have Shar’ai Illah and the traditions and customs are not a part of that at all.
Difference between Manaat al-Hukm (reality of the rule) and Illah
For example, alcohol is Haram, the divine law is the prohibition of alcohol. The investigation that a certain drink is alcohol or not, so as to judge it as Haram or not is an investigation of the Manaat. It is necessary to study whether the drink is alcohol or not in order to state that it is Haram. This investigation of the reality of alcohol is a verification of the Manaat. Another example is the divine law that the Mutlaq (absolute, unrestricted) water is the one which is allowed for Wudhu. So the investigation as to whether the water is unrestricted or restricted in order to judge upon it as allowed for Wudhu, is a verification of the Manaat. Therefore, it is necessary to study the water to determine if it is free or restricted. This study of the reality of the water is simply the verification of the Manaat and nothing to do with the Illah of the Hukm. Similarly, a person who made Hadath (discharged something from back or front) has to make Wudhu for the prayer, therefore the verification that the person is Mohdath (impure) or not Mohdath is a verification of the Manaat.
The investigation of the Illah is related to the understanding of the text from the Ayat or Ahadith and therefore it is the work of a qualified Mujtahid. Whereas the verification of the Manaat such as the verification of whether a liquid is alcohol is the investigation of the reality of a thing that is the subject of the Shari’ah. Accordingly, it is not a condition that the one who verifies the Manaat be a Mujtahid or a Muslim, but it is enough that he or she to be knowledgeable of the matter.
Children’s Feedback
The importance of water and not wasting it
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Dawah – What is it and how to do it (part1)
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Parents and Children were asked to think about anything they have done over the past week purely for the sake of Allah, with Ihsaan and sincerity. Thus seeking the pleasure of Allah alone. Then put these on a piece of paper and put it in the cardboard Kaaba at the start of the next Study Circle.
Please write them anonymously.
Reminder
Quiz sometime after Christmas (i/A)
Homework
Seerah ~ REVISE FOR THE QUIZ
Belief ~ How do we derive / make laws in Islam ? What is the process of lawmaking?
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
22 April, 2012
Hudaibiyah Treaty broken, Hadith 42 Allah's Mercy
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Rank them according to which topic you would like to really do to the one you are least interested in.
Vote for as many or as few as you like....
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Seerah of Muhammed*
*: May the Peace, Blessings and Mercy of Allah be upon him
TMQ: Translation to the nearest meaning of the Qur’an
*: May the Peace, Blessings and Mercy of Allah be upon him
TMQ: Translation to the nearest meaning of the Qur’an
Banu Bakr and Quraish break the Treaty of Hudaibiyah
In the jays of Jahilliyah, some men from the tribe of Khuza’ah killed men from the tribe of Banu Bakr. The latter tribe sought revenge and the tit-for-tat cycle started. According to the terms of the treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Arab tribes were given the option to join either of the parties, the Muslims or Quraish, with which they desired to enter into treaty alliance. Should any of these tribes suffer aggression, then the party to which it was allied would have the right to retaliate. As a consequence, Banu Bakr joined Quraish, and Khuza’ah joined the Prophet*. Khuza’ah were allies of Abu Talib and were already favouring the Prophet*, although not many of them were Muslims. They thus lived in peace for sometime but ulterior motives stretching back to pre-Islamic period ignited by unabated fire of revenge triggered fresh hostilities. Banu Bakr, without caring a bit for the provisions of the treaty, attacked Banu Khuza’ah in a place called Al-Watir in Sha'ban, 8 A.H. Quraish helped Banu Bakr with men and arms taking advantage of the dark night. Pressed by their enemies, the tribesmen of Khuza’ah sought the Holy Sanctuary, but here too, their lives were not spared, and, contrary to all accepted traditions, Nawfal, the chief of Banu Bakr, chasing them in the sanctified area - where no blood should be shed - massacred his adversaries.
The Bani Ka'b of Khuza’ah immediately sent a deputation to Medina to inform the Prophet* of what had happened and to ask for his help. When the aggrieved party sought justice from their Muslim allies, the Prophet*, as their leader, demanded an immediate redress for not only violating the treaty but also slaying men allied to him in the sanctified area. Three demands were made, the acceptance of any one of them was imperative:
a) to pay blood money for the victims of Khuza’ah,
b) to terminate their alliance with Banu Bakr; or
c) to consider the truce to have been nullified.
The Prophet reassures the Khuza’ah
This behaviour on the part of Quraish was clearly a breach of the treaty of Al-Hudaibiyah and was obviously an act of hostility against the allies of the Muslims, i.e. Banu Khuza’ah.
The Prophet* told them they could rely on him, and sent them back to their territory. He did not refer to and Security Council or Committee but gave an unequivocal response that most modern Muslim leaders wouldn’t even dream of! When they had gone, he went to A'ishah, who could see from his face that he was in great anger. He asked for some water to perform his ablution, and she heard him say as he poured it over himself: "May I not be helped if I help not the sons of Ka'b." On the morning of the third day Amr bin Salim Al-Khuza'i arrived in the company of forty horsemen to brief the Prophet* on the plight of his people and seeking the Muslims' help for retaliation. People of Medina then got to know that Quraish had breached the covenant.
Abu Sufyan humiliates himself in Medina
Quraish immediately realized the grave situation and feared the horrible consequences looming on the horizon. They immediately called for an emergency meeting and decided to delegate their chief Abu Sufyan to Medina for a renewal of the truce. On his way, he met the men of Khuza’ah returning home and he feared he was too late as he knew they had been to Medina by crushing the camel dung to find ground date feed – that only camels in Medina get. His fears were increased by the inscrutable demeanour of the Prophet. "O Muhammad," he said, "I was' absent at the time of the truce of Hudaibiyah, so let us now strengthen the pact and prolong its duration." The Prophet* parried his request with the query: "Has anything happened to break it on your side?" "God forbid!" said Abu Sufyan uneasily. "We likewise," said the Prophet, "are keeping to the truce for the period agreed upon at Hudaibiyah. We will not modify it, neither will we accept another in its place." He was clearly not prepared to say more, so Abu Sufyan went to see his daughter, Umm Habibah, hoping she might agree to intervene on his behalf. They had not met for fifteen years. The best place to sit was the Prophet's rug, but as he was about to take his seat she hastily folded it up from beneath him. "Little daughter," he said, "Do you think this rug too good for me, or am I too good for it?" "It is the Prophet's rug," she said, "and you are an idolater, a man unpurified and unclean." Then she added: "My father, thou art lord of Quraish and their chief. How is it that thou hast failed to enter Islam, and that you worship stones which neither hear nor see?" "Wonder of wonders," he said, "am I to forsake what my fathers worshipped to follow the religion of Muhammad? Evil has befallen you!"
Abu Sufyan tries the Companions
And, feeling that no help was to be expected from her, he went to Abu Bakr and others of the Companions to ask them to intercede on his behalf for a renewal of the pact, for he was now sure, although the Prophet* had not said so, that he considered the pact to have been abrogated by the recent fighting. But it would serve the same purpose as a renewal of the pact, that is, it would prevent bloodshed, if some man of influence would grant a general protection between man and man. Abu Sufyan suggested this alternative to Abu Bakr but he merely answered: "I grant protection only within the scope of protection granted by the Messenger of God."
Umer’s reply was that if he only had an army of ants he would wage war on Abu Sufyan! Finally Abu Sufyan went to the house of Ali, making much of their kinship, for they were both great-grandsons of the two brothers Hashim and Abdu Shams. But Ali said: "Alas for thee, Abu Sufyan! The Messenger of God hath resolved not to grant thy request; and none can speak to him in favour of a thing when he is averse to it." For the Companions knew well that the Revelation had said to the Prophet: Consult them about affairs; and when thou art resolved, then trust in God;' and they had come to know by experience that when the Prophet* had reached the degree of resolution he had clearly reached on this occasion it was useless to seek to deter him
Abu Sufyan now turned to Fatimah, who was present, with Hasan sitting on the floor in front of her. "O daughter of Muhammad," he said, "bid your little son grant protection between man and man, that he may become forever the lord of the Arabs." But Fatimah replied that boys do not grant protection, and Abu Sufyan turned again to Ali in desperation and begged him to suggest some course of action. "I see nothing for it", said Ali, "but that thou thyself shouldst rise and grant protection between man and man. Thou art lord of Kinanah." "Will that help me?" said Abu Sufyan. "By God, I think not so," said Ali, "but I find nothing else for you to do." So Abu Sufyan went to the Mosque and said in a loud voice: "Behold, I grant protection between man and man, and I do not think that Muhammad will fail to uphold me." Then he went to the Prophet* and said: "O Muhammad, I do not think thou wilt disavow my protection." But the Prophet* merely answered: "That is what thou thinkest, O Abu Sufyan;"
Abu Sufyan turned his steps back to Mecca in a state of bitter disappointment and utter horror. There he submitted a report of his meeting with his daughter, Abu Bakr, 'Umer and Ali's reaction and the meaningful silence of the Prophet. The Meccans were dismayed and said that Ali had made a fool of him, but did not expect imminent danger.
Hadith 42 (of Nawawi's Forty Hadith)
Hadith 42: Allah's Mercy
Hadith 42: Allah's Mercy
From Anas who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah*, say: "Allah the Almighty has said: 'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me, and hope in Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds in the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I shall forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with an earthful of sins and were you then to face Me, without having associated anything with Me, I shall grant you an earthful of pardon.'" [Al-Tirmidhi]
There are three means or ways which enable a Muslim to be forgiven by Allah.
1. The first one is al-du'a which means to supplicate Allah.
Allah says in Surah Ghafir Ayah 60: And your Lord said: Call upon me, I will respond to you. The Prophet* said: "Supplication is the essence of worship" [Al-Tirmidhi]. The Prophet* also said: "Supplicate to Allah as if you are certain about His response." Supplication is guaranteed that Allah will attend to or respond to it when certain conditions are fulfilled. At the same time there are other things that a Muslim should avoid doing in order for his supplication to be answered. The conditions of supplication have been discussed in previous hadiths. The most important thing is the full concentration and attention of the heart and to have full hope that Allah will respond to that du'a and not to rush it. Muslims have to practice supplication frequently because it is a continuous process. Among the things that a Muslim asks Allah in his supplication are to forgive his sins, to be saved from the Hell-Fire and to be among those who enter Paradise. Muslims have to make du'a with full hope that there is a response. Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi: "I am as My servant expects of Me." [Muslim]. The Prophet* says in another hadith: "No Muslim who supplicates a supplication, that does not contain any sin or cutting of relations, Allah will grant him one of three things: either Allah will immediately respond to his supplication, or He may keep or store the answer for the Hereafter, or He will turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil or harm." The Companions asked what if they keep requesting Allah. The Prophet* replied: "Then Allah shall give you even both." [Imam Ahmad]. Supplication is the one-on-one quality time people have with their Creator – don’t rush it!
2. The second means that leads us to receive Allah's forgiveness is istighfar (seeking forgiveness)
Even if someone has committed many sins. What is meant by seeking forgiveness is the istighfar that is linked to repentance which in turn also necessitates that the Muslim gives up committing sins and does not persist on doing them. Istighfar is a form of worship. The Muslim has to do and perform a lot of istighfar every day. Allah commanded us to make istighfar and praised those who perform istighfar. Allah says in Surah al-Zumar Ayah 53: O My servants, who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. Verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. There are many forms of istighfar. There is what the Prophet* taught his Companions to say. It is also narrated that the Prophet* used to seek forgiveness from Allah more than seventy times a day, and in some narration more than one hundred times a day. Consequently, Muslims are recommended and required to do istighfar and seek the forgiveness of Allah at least one hundred times a day. The best statement of forgiveness is the statement that is narrated by the Prophet* when he said: "O Allah: You are my Lord. There is no God but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I am following Your covenant and promise to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in You from the evils that I have done. I profess to You Your bounties upon me and I confess my sins. Forgive me for no one forgives sins except You." The Prophet* says: "Whoever says this statement with certainty concerning it in the daytime and dies that day before the evening, he is one of the inhabitants of Paradise; and whoever says this statement with certainty concerning it during the night and dies that night before the morning, he is one of the inhabitants of Paradise." [Al-Bukhari]
As for His statement: "O Son of Aadam, as long as you invoke Me and ask of Me" then this is in agreement with His statement: "I [treat My Slave] in accordance to what he supposes of Me, so let him deem of Me whatever he wishes". And it has been narrated that when a Slave commits a sin and then feels remorse, and says "O My Lord! I have committed a sin, so forgive me, for surely none can forgive sins except you!"; so Allah says "My slave knows that he has a Lord, Who forgives sins and [also] punishes for them. So I testify to you that I have forgiven him". Then [the slave] does the same a second time, and a third, and so Allah replies the same way each time. Then after that He says: "Do as you please, for I have forgiven you!", meaning when he commits a sin and then repents for it.
Know, that for the acceptance of Repentance there are three conditions:
- cessation from the sin,
- remorse for what has preceeded,
- and firm resolve not to return to performing the sin.
And if the sin involved taking the right of another person, then he must hasten to return his right and absolve himself from this transgression. And if the sin was between him and Allah , and a kaffaarah (expiation) is required for this sin, then it is also necessary that he fulfills this kaffaarah, and thus this becomes the fourth condition [for the acceptance of repentance]. And so, even if a person were to commit a sin many times in a single day, and then repent each time with its conditions, Allah would still forgive him. Istighfar is recommended to be practiced by true and close servants of Allah and every Muslim. They are recommended to do so in the morning, preferably after the Fajr prayers, and in the evening until the sunset. This should be part of the supplications that they perform day and night. Allah says in Surah al-Nisa' Ayah 110: And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
3. The third cause or means of seeking Allah's forgiveness is Tawhid.
Tawhid means that a Muslim should worship Allah alone. Allah should be worshiped without associating or ascribing any partners with Him. Allah says in Surah al-Nisa' Ayah 116: Verily! Allah forgives not the setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah has indeed strayed far away. Tawhid, as the scholars say, melts away sins. Through fulfilling all the obligations of Tawhid, Muslims are going to be forgiven and rewarded. In a previous hadith in this collection of Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith, we discussed the importance of the realisation of of the idea of Tawhid where Muslims have to love, fear, and glorify Allah the most. By Tawhid, Muslims seek refuge only in Allah and ask support and help from only Him. All of these great actions of Tawhid, which means that the heart becomes fully devoted to Allah, enable the Muslims to be true believers and Muwahideen. Only then Muslims will become enlightened, inspired, and their iman or faith will be strengthened and their sins will be forgiven. By realising the idea of Tawhid, the Muslim also minimises the chances of committing sins because his heart is fully devoted to Allah. Tawhid is the greatest essence of the Message of every Prophet. All the Prophets, peace be upon them, were sent with the Message of Tawhid - that is Allah is the only One Who deserves to be worshipped and to be totally obeyed. Unfortunately, many Muslims today do not observe the realisation of Tawhid. Many Muslims violate Tawhid, for example, there are some groups of Muslims that supplicate and slaughter for dead Muslims. By doing these acts of shirk (associating someone with Allah), they are violating the most important messages of Islam and that is the realisation of Tawhid. If we want to be good Muslims to Allah, we should follow the way that awliya' Allah (closer servants of Allah) followed. We should follow their ways and practices as mentioned in Hadith 38. They had good morals, they loved Allah, feared Him, had total belief or faith in Allah and his Messengers, and they were obedient to Allah and followed His instructions - this included performing good deeds. This obedience was based on fear of Allah, repenting to Allah and submission to His will. Moreover, they were characterised with devotion, honesty, and sincerity.
The realisation of Tawhid is very important for all Muslims. This is the last portion of the hadith. Moreover, it is the last hadith in Imam Nawawi's collection. This is very significant for us as Muslims since this last portion summarises the most important thing in Islam and that is Tawhid. It is a message from Allah to all Muslims to make sure that their Tawhid is sincere and pure. It is important to realise that they should not ascribe any partners with Allah. By doing so, they are assured that they will receive the forgiveness of Allah even if they have committed other sins. To realise Tawhid Muslims should fulfill all obligations towards Allah by fully submitting to His will, worshiping Him, obeying Him and following His guidance and revelation.
Children's feedback:
Hadith 7: the Prophet* said: "Religion is sincerity". We said: "To whom?" He said: "To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk"
Hadith 23: The Messenger of Allah*, said: "Purification is half of iman (faith). Saying 'Al-Hamdulillah' (Praise be to Allah) fills the scales. Saying 'Subhanallah wa al-Hamdulillahi' (Exhalted be Allah and Praise be to Allah) fills the space between the heavens and the earth. Salah (prayer) is a light. Sadaqah (charity) is a proof. Sabr (patience) is a shining glory. The Qur'an is an argument either for you or against you. Everybody goes out in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves."
There are three means or ways which enable a Muslim to be forgiven by Allah.
1. The first one is al-du'a which means to supplicate Allah.
Allah says in Surah Ghafir Ayah 60: And your Lord said: Call upon me, I will respond to you. The Prophet* said: "Supplication is the essence of worship" [Al-Tirmidhi]. The Prophet* also said: "Supplicate to Allah as if you are certain about His response." Supplication is guaranteed that Allah will attend to or respond to it when certain conditions are fulfilled. At the same time there are other things that a Muslim should avoid doing in order for his supplication to be answered. The conditions of supplication have been discussed in previous hadiths. The most important thing is the full concentration and attention of the heart and to have full hope that Allah will respond to that du'a and not to rush it. Muslims have to practice supplication frequently because it is a continuous process. Among the things that a Muslim asks Allah in his supplication are to forgive his sins, to be saved from the Hell-Fire and to be among those who enter Paradise. Muslims have to make du'a with full hope that there is a response. Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi: "I am as My servant expects of Me." [Muslim]. The Prophet* says in another hadith: "No Muslim who supplicates a supplication, that does not contain any sin or cutting of relations, Allah will grant him one of three things: either Allah will immediately respond to his supplication, or He may keep or store the answer for the Hereafter, or He will turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil or harm." The Companions asked what if they keep requesting Allah. The Prophet* replied: "Then Allah shall give you even both." [Imam Ahmad]. Supplication is the one-on-one quality time people have with their Creator – don’t rush it!
2. The second means that leads us to receive Allah's forgiveness is istighfar (seeking forgiveness)
Even if someone has committed many sins. What is meant by seeking forgiveness is the istighfar that is linked to repentance which in turn also necessitates that the Muslim gives up committing sins and does not persist on doing them. Istighfar is a form of worship. The Muslim has to do and perform a lot of istighfar every day. Allah commanded us to make istighfar and praised those who perform istighfar. Allah says in Surah al-Zumar Ayah 53: O My servants, who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. Verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. There are many forms of istighfar. There is what the Prophet* taught his Companions to say. It is also narrated that the Prophet* used to seek forgiveness from Allah more than seventy times a day, and in some narration more than one hundred times a day. Consequently, Muslims are recommended and required to do istighfar and seek the forgiveness of Allah at least one hundred times a day. The best statement of forgiveness is the statement that is narrated by the Prophet* when he said: "O Allah: You are my Lord. There is no God but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I am following Your covenant and promise to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in You from the evils that I have done. I profess to You Your bounties upon me and I confess my sins. Forgive me for no one forgives sins except You." The Prophet* says: "Whoever says this statement with certainty concerning it in the daytime and dies that day before the evening, he is one of the inhabitants of Paradise; and whoever says this statement with certainty concerning it during the night and dies that night before the morning, he is one of the inhabitants of Paradise." [Al-Bukhari]
As for His statement: "O Son of Aadam, as long as you invoke Me and ask of Me" then this is in agreement with His statement: "I [treat My Slave] in accordance to what he supposes of Me, so let him deem of Me whatever he wishes". And it has been narrated that when a Slave commits a sin and then feels remorse, and says "O My Lord! I have committed a sin, so forgive me, for surely none can forgive sins except you!"; so Allah says "My slave knows that he has a Lord, Who forgives sins and [also] punishes for them. So I testify to you that I have forgiven him". Then [the slave] does the same a second time, and a third, and so Allah replies the same way each time. Then after that He says: "Do as you please, for I have forgiven you!", meaning when he commits a sin and then repents for it.
Know, that for the acceptance of Repentance there are three conditions:
- cessation from the sin,
- remorse for what has preceeded,
- and firm resolve not to return to performing the sin.
And if the sin involved taking the right of another person, then he must hasten to return his right and absolve himself from this transgression. And if the sin was between him and Allah , and a kaffaarah (expiation) is required for this sin, then it is also necessary that he fulfills this kaffaarah, and thus this becomes the fourth condition [for the acceptance of repentance]. And so, even if a person were to commit a sin many times in a single day, and then repent each time with its conditions, Allah would still forgive him. Istighfar is recommended to be practiced by true and close servants of Allah and every Muslim. They are recommended to do so in the morning, preferably after the Fajr prayers, and in the evening until the sunset. This should be part of the supplications that they perform day and night. Allah says in Surah al-Nisa' Ayah 110: And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
3. The third cause or means of seeking Allah's forgiveness is Tawhid.
Tawhid means that a Muslim should worship Allah alone. Allah should be worshiped without associating or ascribing any partners with Him. Allah says in Surah al-Nisa' Ayah 116: Verily! Allah forgives not the setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah has indeed strayed far away. Tawhid, as the scholars say, melts away sins. Through fulfilling all the obligations of Tawhid, Muslims are going to be forgiven and rewarded. In a previous hadith in this collection of Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith, we discussed the importance of the realisation of of the idea of Tawhid where Muslims have to love, fear, and glorify Allah the most. By Tawhid, Muslims seek refuge only in Allah and ask support and help from only Him. All of these great actions of Tawhid, which means that the heart becomes fully devoted to Allah, enable the Muslims to be true believers and Muwahideen. Only then Muslims will become enlightened, inspired, and their iman or faith will be strengthened and their sins will be forgiven. By realising the idea of Tawhid, the Muslim also minimises the chances of committing sins because his heart is fully devoted to Allah. Tawhid is the greatest essence of the Message of every Prophet. All the Prophets, peace be upon them, were sent with the Message of Tawhid - that is Allah is the only One Who deserves to be worshipped and to be totally obeyed. Unfortunately, many Muslims today do not observe the realisation of Tawhid. Many Muslims violate Tawhid, for example, there are some groups of Muslims that supplicate and slaughter for dead Muslims. By doing these acts of shirk (associating someone with Allah), they are violating the most important messages of Islam and that is the realisation of Tawhid. If we want to be good Muslims to Allah, we should follow the way that awliya' Allah (closer servants of Allah) followed. We should follow their ways and practices as mentioned in Hadith 38. They had good morals, they loved Allah, feared Him, had total belief or faith in Allah and his Messengers, and they were obedient to Allah and followed His instructions - this included performing good deeds. This obedience was based on fear of Allah, repenting to Allah and submission to His will. Moreover, they were characterised with devotion, honesty, and sincerity.
The realisation of Tawhid is very important for all Muslims. This is the last portion of the hadith. Moreover, it is the last hadith in Imam Nawawi's collection. This is very significant for us as Muslims since this last portion summarises the most important thing in Islam and that is Tawhid. It is a message from Allah to all Muslims to make sure that their Tawhid is sincere and pure. It is important to realise that they should not ascribe any partners with Allah. By doing so, they are assured that they will receive the forgiveness of Allah even if they have committed other sins. To realise Tawhid Muslims should fulfill all obligations towards Allah by fully submitting to His will, worshiping Him, obeying Him and following His guidance and revelation.
Virtues of Relating 40 (or more) Hadith
Taken From the Introduction to the Collection of
Forty Hadith by Imâm an-Nawawî (d. 676 AH / 1299 CE)
All Praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the
Worlds, the [One Who] Sustains the Heavens and Earths, Director of all that is
created, who sent the Messengers (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon
all of them) to rational beings, to guide them and explain the religious laws
to them with clear proofs and undeniable arguments. I praise Him for all of His
bounties. I ask Him to increase His grace and generosity. I bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, who has no partner, the
One, Who Subdues, the Generous, the Forgiving. I bear witness that our leader
Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, His beloved and dear one, the best of
all creation. He was honoured with the Glorious Qur'aan that has been an
enduring miracle throughout the years. He was also sent with his guiding Sunnah
that shows the way for those who seek guidance. Our leader Muhammad has been
particularized with the characteristic of eloquent and pithy speech, and
simplicity and ease in the religion. May the peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him, the other Prophets and Messengers, all of their families and the rest
of the righteous.
To proceed : We have narrated, through many
chains (isnaad, pl. asaaneed) and various narrations, from Ali ibn Abee Taalib,
Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood, Mu'aadh ibn Jabal, Abu ad-Dardaa, [Abdullaah] ibn 'Umar,
[Abdullaah] ibn 'Abbaas, Anas ibn Maalik, Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa'eed
al-Khudree - May Allah be pleased with all of them - that the Messenger of Allah*
said : "Whoever preserves for my Ummah forty hadith related to the
religion, Allah will then resurrect him in the company of the pious and the
scholars." Another narration states : "Allah will raise him as an
erudite and learned scholar". In the narration from Abu ad-Dardaa, it is
stated : "On the Day of Resurrection, I will be an intercessor and witness
for him". In the narration from Ibn Mas'ood it is stated that the Prophet*
said : "It will be said to him 'Enter Paradise through any door you
wish'".
The scholars (may Allah be pleased with
them) have compiled innumerable works of this nature [ie. collections of forty hadith].
The first one that I know of who compiled such a work was Abdullaah ibn
al-Mubaarak [a taabi'ee, rahimahu Allah]. After him came ibn Aslam at-Toosee, a
pious scholar. Then came al-Hasan ibn Sufyaan an-Nasaa'ee, Abu Bakr
al-Aajurree, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem al-Asfahaanee, ad-Daaraqutnee,
al-Haakim, Abu Nu'aim, Abu Abd-ir-Rahmaan as-Sulamee, Abu Sa'eed al-Maleenee,
Abu 'Uthmaan as-Saaboonee, Abdullaah ibn Muhammad al-Ansaaree, Abu Bakr
al-Baihaqee and countless others both from the earlier and later times. I have
turned to Allah for guidance and prayed to Him while compiling these forty hadith,
following the example of those Imaams and guardians of Islam. The scholars have
agreed that it is permissible to act in accordance with weak hadith that deal
with the virtues of good deeds [ie not weak hadith that deal with rulings -
ahkaam - or acts of worship]. Nonetheless, given that fact, I have not simply
relied upon that [weak] hadith [mentioned above], in compiling this work.
Instead, I am following the statement of the Prophet* found in an authentic hadith
: "Let him who was present among you inform those who are absent".
The Prophet* also said : "May Allah make radiant the man who has heard
what I said, preserved it in his memory and conveyed it in the way that he
heard it".
Scholars have compiled forty hadith on
faith and belief (usool), on practical matters (furoo'), on jihaad, on
austerity (zuhd), on etiquette (adaab), and even on sermons (khutbahs). All of
these [collections] were concerning righteous aims. May Allah be pleased with
those who sought them. However I have found it best to collect together forty hadith
which are more important than all of those. These forty hadith incorporate all
of those separate topics. In fact, each hadith is by itself a great general
precept from the foundations of the Religion. Some scholars state that all of Islam
revolves around these hadith. Some have said, about a particular hadith, that
they are one-half of Islam, one-third of Islam and so forth.
I have committed
myself to including only authentic hadith (saheeh or hasan) in these forty hadith.
The majority of them are from Saheeh al-Bukhaaree or Saheeh Muslim. I have
mentioned them without their chain of narrators in order for it to be easier to
memorize them and thus more [people] will be able to benefit from them, Allah
willing. After the hadith, I included a section on the meanings of the obscure
expressions found in the hadith. Everyone who desires and looks forward to the
Hereafter must be familiar with these hadith because they cover the most
important aspects of the religion and offer direction to all forms of obedience
of Allah. This is clear to anyone who ponders these hadith. I rely only upon Allah
and I entrust my affair only to Him. To Him is all Praise and Grace, from Him
is Guidance and protection from error.Children's feedback:
Hadith 7: the Prophet* said: "Religion is sincerity". We said: "To whom?" He said: "To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk"
Hadith 23: The Messenger of Allah*, said: "Purification is half of iman (faith). Saying 'Al-Hamdulillah' (Praise be to Allah) fills the scales. Saying 'Subhanallah wa al-Hamdulillahi' (Exhalted be Allah and Praise be to Allah) fills the space between the heavens and the earth. Salah (prayer) is a light. Sadaqah (charity) is a proof. Sabr (patience) is a shining glory. The Qur'an is an argument either for you or against you. Everybody goes out in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves."
News Topic:
Decline of seagulls around the British Coast
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