My Kingdom Is Not Worth a Drink of Water

اضيف 02:56, 2008/11/20

My Kingdom Is Not Worth a Drink of Water

It has been reported that a Religious Scholar was attending the counsel of the Abasi Khalifa, Haroon El-Rasheed.  Haroon El-Rasheed said to him: “Give me good advise”.

The Scholar said: “Leader of the Believers, if you are travelling in a barren desert, and you ran out of water, what will you pay for a drink of water?”. 

Haroon El-Rasheed said: “Any thing, even my whole kingdom”.

Then the Scholar said: “Leader of the Believers, what if Allah held it inside you and you could not void it (could not urinate), what will you pay to void it?”

Haroon El-Rasheed said: “Any thing, even my whole kingdom”.

The Scholar did not speak.

Haroon El-Rasheed said: “Do you mean that my kingdom is not worth a drink a water Allah may give me to drink or relieves me from?” and he wept.

So, all our wealth, possessions and power is not worth any of Allah’s Bounties upon us like a drink of water, or any of Allah’s Mercies like passing of water (urine).

Dr.Ahmed Saafan

The Life of Prophet Mohamed ppuh 11

اضيف 04:29, 2008/11/18

The Life of Prophet Mohamed ppuh 11

Omar Ibn El-Khatab embraces Islam:

Omar went out one day carrying his sword and looking for Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to do him harm.  He learned that he was with a group of his companions in a house by the Safa, and of the people there was Hamza and Ali Ibn Abi Taleb.

Omar was a very harsh man with the Muslims, persecuting and hurting them, although on some occasions he did show softness and compassion to them.  Of these occasions was when a Muslim woman by the name of Om Abd Allah was preparing for migration to Abyssinia (the second wave) when Omar Ibn El-Khatab passed her by, and said: You are going off them Om Abd Allah?  She said: Yes.  We will go out into Allah’s land until Allah makes a way out for us, for you have hurt and oppressed us.  Omar said: May Allah be with you, and he said it softly.

This was the first time he showed softness to the Muslims.

On his way to where Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him was, he met a man of his tribe Bani Adi, called Naem Ibn Abd Allah, who was a Muslim but kept his Islam secret fearing his people.  He asked Omar where he was going, and Omar told him that he was going to kill Mohamed.  Naem reminded Omar that Mohamed’s family would kill him if he does, and that he ought to see to his family first, informing him that Omar’s sister Fatima and her husband Saed Ibn Zyd who was also his cousin were Muslim.

Omar then changed direction and headed for his sister’s house.  At the time they had Khabab Ibn Al-Aret teaching them the Quran, and they had a sheath with Sorah Taha or part of it written.  When they saw Omar coming, they hide Khabab in one of the rooms, and Fatema hide the sheath under her thigh.  However, Omar already heard them reading the Quran, and he asked about it, but they denied.  He told them that he heard that they embraced Islam, and went for Fatima’s husband hitting him.  When Fatima tried to save her husband from Omar’s hands, Omar Hit her and cut her head open. 

When Omar saw the blood on his sister’s head and face, he regretted what he did and calmed down.  He asked to have a look at the Quran Sheath, but his sister told him that as a disbeliever he is impure and he has to bath before touching the Quran.  Omar bathed and read from the beginning of Sorat Taha, which moved him and he said: “How good these words are and how noble”.   Khebab heard him from his hiding and came out to say to Omar that he heard the day before Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him say: “Allah, support Islam with one of the two, Abi Al-Hakam Ibn Hesham or Omar Ibn El-Khatab”.  Omar asked them to take him to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, and they took him to the house by Safa.

When Allah’s messenger’s companions saw Omar going to them carrying his sword, Hamza said: Let him come in, if he wants something good, we will do it for him and but if he tries an thing bad, we will kill him with his own sword.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him let Omar in, and then he took hold of his cloth and pulled him hard and said: “What is the matter with you Omar, will you not stop until something terrible happens to you?”

Omar said: “Allah’s messenger, I came to believe in Allah and His messenger and what came from Allah”.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him glorified God saying Allah Akbar, from which every one in the house knew that Omar embraced Islam.

Omar asked as to the person who spreads the news fastest in Qurish?  He was told he was Jameel Ibn Moamar.  Omar went to him and told him about his Islam, and Immediately Jameel got up and went around shouting the news, and Omar walked behind him.  It was not long before Omar was attacked, and he went on fighting his attackers all day.

Omar embracing Islam was a step forwards for the Muslims, particularly after Hamza embraced Islam, Allah’s messenger’s uncle; for Hamza and Omar were two strong men, feared by their people, and they were a great support for the Muslims.

Allah’s messenger ppuh write to Nagashi:

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him sent a message to the Nagashi of Abyssinia concerning the Muslims in his land.  The message was carried by Amro Ibn Omiya and it said: “In the name of Allah the Most Merciful, the Compassionate.  From Mohamed Allah’s slave and messenger to the Nagashi Al-As-ham, the king of Abyssinia.  Peace upon you.  I thank and praise Allah, the King, the Holly, the Faithful, the Overseeing, and I give testimony that Jesus is Allah’s spirit and word sent to Mariam the virgin, the pure, the kind and the chaste, which caused her to conceive Jesus, who was created from His spirit, and blow into him as He created Adam with his hands and blow into him.  I ask you to come to Allah, one with no partners, and to obey him always, and to follow me and believe in me and what came to me, for I am Allah’s messenger.  I sent my cousin Jafar with a number of the Muslims to you.  When they come, let them live there and do not be arrogant and overpowering.  I call you and your soldiers to Allah, the most Exalted, the Majestic.  I delivered (the message) and advised you, so accept my advice, and peace is upon those who follow the right guidance”.

Nagashi’s Reply:

The Nagashi wrote to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him saying: “In the name of Allah the Most Merciful the Compassionate.  To Mohamed Allah’s messenger from the Nagashi Al-AsHab Ibn El-Abgar; Peace upon you Allah’s prophet and Allah’s Mercy and Blessings.  There is no god other than Allah who guided me to Islam.  I received your letter Allah’s messenger and what you mentioned about Jesus, by the Lord of the heavens and earth Jesus is no more than what you said.  We recognized what you sent to us and let your cousin and his companions settle here.  I testify that you are Allah’s messenger, with the truth and to be believed.  I give you allegiance and give your cousin whom I embraced Islam before him, and to Allah the lord of all the worlds.  Allah’s messenger, I sent you Arbaha Ibn Al-AsHam, for I only have power over myself.  If you wish me to come to you Allah’s messenger, I will, for I testify that what you say is the truth”.

Sorat Al-Masad:  

One day, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him went out until he reached the top of the Safa and shouted out for people.  When people gathered around him, he said: What do you think if I told you about horsemen coming from around this mountain, would you believe me?  They said: Yes, you did not lie to us before.  He said: Then I am warning you before severe punishment.  His uncle Abu Lahab said:  You may perish, is this is what you gathered us for?  Allah the Highest then sent down Sorat Al-Masad saying: “PERISH WILL THE HANDS OF ABI LAHAB AND PERISH WILL HE * HIS MONEY AND WHAT HE EARNED WILL NOT SAVE HIM * HE WILL BURN IN A FIRE WITH FLAMES * AND HIS WIFE WILL CARRY THE FIRE-WOOD * AROUND HER NECK IS A ROBE OF LOOFA”. 

Om Jameel, Abu Lahab’s wife thought that this was a sort of offensive poetry insulting her when she heard these Ayahs. 

Sorat Al-Kafroon:

The disbelievers in Makah offered Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him that they worship Allah for a month or a year then he worships the idles for similar period etc.  Allah the Highest sent down this Sorah telling the believers and disbelievers that the believers do not worship idles for a year, month or a minute.  This was Sorat Al-Kafroon saying: SAY: YOU DISBELIEVERS * I DO NOT WORSHIP WHAT YOU WORSHIP * AND YOU DO NOT WORSHIP WHAT I WORSHIP * AND I AM NOT WORSHIPPING WHAT YOU WORSHIP * AND YOU ARE NOT WORSHIPPING WHAT I WORSHIP * YOU HAVE YOUR RELIGION AND I HAVE MINE”.

The Muslims in Abyssinia received false news about the Makans becoming all Muslims.  That news were because of the fact that one day Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him sate by the Kabba and started to recite the Quran, Sorat Al-Najm loudly, and people Muslims and disbelievers sate listening to him.  When he reached the end of the Sorah, which had a prostration, he prostrated, and so did every one else believers and disbelievers, except for an old disbeliever.

It is possible that someone carried this news prematurely to the Muslims in Abyssinia thinking that all of Makah embraced Islam.  This lead to some of the Muslims going back to Makah to find the situation to be still the same and the majority of the Makans are worshipping idles still.

Othman Ibn Mazoon; was one of the men to have returned to Makah.  He feared to enter Makah without any protection.  He sought the protection of Al-Waleed Ibn El-Mogera who gave him his protection.  Othman lived for few days under the protection of the Waleed, however he felt bad that the Muslims are suffering and tortured, which he enjoys safety being in the protection of a disbeliever.  He considered this weakness in his faith, therefore he publically gave up this protection.

Al-Waleed Ibn Al-Mogera: was the chief man in Makah.  He said how would the Quran be sent down to an ordinary man and not the chief or Makah or Taef, meaning that if Allah the Highest was to communicate with someone there, Allah should have communicated with a chief.  Allah the Highest sent down sent down the following Quran: “AND THEY SAID: IF THIS QURAN WAS SENT DOWN ON ONE OF THE GREAT MEN OF THE TWO VILLAGE * DO THEY SHARE YOUR LORD’S MERCY OUT, WE GAVE EACH HIS SHARE IN THE LOWER LIFE, AND RAISED SOME OF THEM DEGREES ABOVE THE OTHERS, AND SOME OF THEM TAKE THE OTHERS IN JEST, BUT THE MERCY OF YOUR LORD IS BETTER THAN ALL THEY MAY GATHER”. (S:43 A:31-32)

Oqbah Ibn Abi Maet sat with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him listening to the Quran.  A man of the disbelievers new and said to Oqbah, that he will never speak to him unless he spites in Allah’s messenger’s face.  Oqbah went and spate in Allah’s messenger’s face.  Allah the Highest sent Quran down about this in Sorat Forqan: “THE DAY WHEN THE UNJUST WILL BITE HIS HAND AND SAY: I WISH I WENT DOWN THE SAME PATH AS THE MESSENGER * I WISH I NEVER TOOK SO AND SO FOR INTIMATE FRIEND * HE MISGUIDED AWAY FROM THE ZEKR (QURAN) WHEN IT CAME TO ME, BUT THE DEVIL ALWAYS LETS MAN DOWN”.  (S:25 A:27-29)

Obi Ibn Khalaf went one day to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him with very old brittle bone and said: Mohamed, you claim that Allah will resurrect this after it became old and brittle?  Then he crushed the bone with his hand and blow it up at the face of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.  Allah the Highest sent down Quran of Sorat Yaseen answering him: “HE GAVE US AN EXAMPLE, WHILE FORGETTING HIS OWN CREATION SAYING: WHO WILL RESURRECT THE BONE AFTER IT BECAME OLD AND BRITTLE * SAY: HE WHO CREATED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE WILL RESURRECT IT, FOR HE HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ALL CREATION * WHO MADE FIRE FOR YOU FROM THE GREEN TREES YOU USE FOR FUEL * IS HE WHO CREATED THE HEAVENS AND EARTH NOT ABLE TO CREATE OTHERS LIKE THEM? YES INDEED, FOR HE IS THE ALL KNOWING CREATOR * BUT WHENEVER HE WILLS SOMETHING TO BE HE SAYS: BE. AND IT WILL BE * THEREFORE GLORY IS TO HE WHO HAS IN HIS HAND ALL KINGDOMS, AND TO HIM YOU WILL RETURN”.  (S:36 A:78-83)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him was talking with Al-Waleed Ibn El-Mogerah telling his about Islam, hoping that he will embrace Islam, when Ibn Om Maktoom went to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him asking him to teach him some Quran.  Ibn Om Maktoom was a blind man.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him frowned and looked away no more, which the blind man did not see, but Allah the Highest did, and He sent to His messenger prayer and peace upon him Quran to tell him that he should not have done, and that the blind man was more worthy of his time: “HE FROWNED AND TURNED AWAY * WHEN THE BLIND MAN WENT TO HIM * AND HOW DO YOU KNOW HE MIGHT WISH TO PURIFY HIMSELF * OR REMEMBER SOMETHING AND IT WILL BENEFIT HIM * ……………” (S:80)

This gentle reminder from Allah the Highest to His messenger is also in the best form.  It is written in the best and most honoured book and carried by the chief angel.  Reciting its words is worshipping which Allah the Highest rewards us for each and every letter.  This shows us the High status which Allah the Highest held for His messenger prayer and peace upon him.

These were some of the situations which took place in Makah before the Migration of the Muslims to Medina, and which Allah the Highest sent Quran about.

Dr Ahmed Saafan

Life of Prophet Mohamed 10

اضيف 03:11, 2008/11/12

Life of Prophet Mohamed 10

When the persecution of the Muslims in Makah became too much, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said to his companions: “You may go to the land of Habasha (Abyssinia) for there is a king who is not unjust to any one, may Allah makes there your relief from what you are going through”

A number of Allah’s messenger companions who were able to migrate, did migrate escaping with their Faith, of them:

-         Othman Ibn Afan and his wife Roqayah, the daughter of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.

-         Abu Hozifa Ibn Otba Ibn Rabae and his wife Sahla bent Sohil Ibn Amro, who gave birth to a boy they called him Mohamed while in Abyssinia.

-         Al-Zobir Ibn El-Awam

-         Abd El-Rahman Ibn Awf.

-         Abu Salama and his wife Om Salama.

-         Othman Ibn Mazoon.

-         Amer Ibn Rabae and his wife Lila.

-         Abi Sabra Ibn Abi Dirham.

-         Sohil Ibn Bidaa.

This was the first wave of migrants, who were followed by:

-         Jafar Ibn Abi Taleb and his wife Asmaa Bent Omis

-         Amro Ibn Saeed Ibn El-Ase and his wife Fatema.

-         Khalid Ibn Saed Ibn El-Ase and his wife Amena.

-         And others.  The total number was 82 men with their wives and children.

The Muslims lived in Habasha (Abyssinia) securely under the protection of the king there titled Nagashi.  They practiced their religion safely, not being hurt or insulted by any one. 

The people of Qurish decided to send two of their most cunning men, Amro Ibn El-Ase and Abd Allah Ibn Abi Rabae to ask the Nagashi to send them back to Makah.  Abd Allah and Amro went to the Nagashi and took with them presents to him and his bishops, and plenty of leather which the Nagashi likes very much, and they took presents to the bishops first.

They spoke to the Nagashi about the Muslims and described them as fools, who migrated to his land and yet did not embrace his religion, Christianity.  They asked the Nagashi to send them back to Makah with them, and the bishops supported this idea.

The Nagashi was very angry, and he refused to surrender to them the people who sought refuge with him and in his land, without listening to them first, so that he may pass a fair judgement.

When Allah’s messenger’s companions there heard of that they met and discussed the situation.  They decided to answer the questions from the Quran and Sunah only, and they choose Jafar Ibn Abi Taleb to be their speaking person.

The Nagashi asked them in the presence of his bishops: “What is this religion which caused you to leave your people’s religion for and in the mean time you did not embrace my religion or any other known religion?”  Jafar said: “O king, we were living in ignorance, worship idles, eat dead animals and do all sins, break up with family relations, and be bad to our neighbours, the strong unfair to the weak, until Allah sent us a messenger from us, we know his origin and decent and also his character, honesty and truthfulness.  He called us to worship Allah only and stop worshipping idles, and commanded us to be truthful, fulfilling our trust, being good to our blood relations and neighbours, and to stop all sins and killing and giving false testimony, and wrongly taking the orphan’s money, and speaking ill of women, and commanded us to worship Allah with not partners besides him, and to pray, give charity and to fast (and mentioned the Islamic principles) we believed in him, and we followed what he had for us from Allah, so we worshiped Allah Alone with no partners, and we forbad to ourselves what we were forbidden and allowed ourselves what we were allowed.  Then our people attacked us, tortured and persecuted us to force us to return to the worship of idles instead of Allah the Highest, and to permit ourselves the evil things.  When we were overpowered and made life very hard for us, we left our homes to you’re your country, and we choose you above others, and we hoped for your protection and not to suffer injustice in your land O King”.  The Nagashi said: “Do you have anything of what he brought you from Allah?”  Jafar said: “Yes”, and he recited to from the beginning of Sorah Mariam.  By Allah, the Nagashi wept until his beard became wet, and so did the bishops.  Then the Nagashi said: “Indeed, this and what Jesus brought come out of the same light.  You may go, by Allah I will never give you to them or hurt you”

Then Amro had another plot, he said to the Nagashi that they say that Jesus the son of Mary was a slave”.  The Nagashi called them again and asked them what they say about Jesus the son of Mary?  Jafar said: “We say about him what our prophet prayer and peace upon him and that he is Allah’s slave and messenger and his spirit and word he sent to Mariam the virgin the chaste”.

The Nagashi picked up a little stick from the earth and said: “Jesus is no more that what may say about this stick (meaning is no more than what he said”.  Then he told the Muslims that they may live safely in his land, and should any one insult them, he will make them suffer, he said it three times.

The Nagashi gave Amro and Abd Allah their presents back and told his bishops to do the same.  He said: “Give them their presents back, I do not need it.  Allah did not accept bribery in my case when he gave me my kingdom back so that will accept bribe as far as he is concerned and he did not do what people say about me, so that I do what people say about him”

How the Nagashi became king:

Going back in time a little, the Nagashi’s father was a Nagashi (Meaning king) of Abyssinia, and he had one boy while his brother had 12 boys, they decided to kill the king, following which they feared the revenge of his son when he gets older, yet his uncle refused to kill his nephew and he sold his as a slave.

The slave merchant took him in a ship, but soon there was a storm with thunder and lightening, and his uncle was struck by lightening which killed him.  Out of his 12 children, they could not find one who was good enough to be king; therefore, they looked for the previous Nagashi’s son to make king.  They looked out for him and eventually found him with the slaves’ merchant, and they took him from the merchant without paying his price. 

Time went by and the slave’s merchant found him and went to claim his price of 600 silver coins.  The Nagashi gave his courtiers the choice or either paying the merchant 600 silver coins or he will have to go with him, so they paid the money and the Nagashi was eventually free.

While the Muslims were still living in Abyssinia, a man challenged the Nagashi’s right to the throne.  The Muslims were very worried in case this man became Nagashi (king) and he might not treat them well. The Nagashi marched with his army to meet the army of his challenger on the other side of the Nile.  Al-Zobir swam across the Nile to the other side to follow the battle and to let the Muslims know its outcome.  Victory was to the side of Nagashi, and Al-Zobir swam across to give the Muslims the good news.  The Muslims live in Abyssinia in safety until they returned to join the rest of the Muslims and this was after their migration to Medina.

The Nagashi becoming Muslim:

The Nagashi of Abyssinia embraced Islam and believed in Mohamed prayer and peace upon him being a prophet and messenger of Allah.  People around him felt it, and they met and decided to go against him because of him leaving their faith, and also for believing that Jesus the son of Mary is Allah’s slave and messenger.  The Nagashi knew about this and that they plan to meet with him.

The Nagashi sent to the Muslims to let them know what is happening, and he prepared ships to take them away, as he felt that those going against him might hurt the Muslims if they win the day. He wrote on a patch “There is no God other than Allah and Mohamed is his slave and messenger, and Jesus the son of Mary is his slave and messenger and spirit from Him, he sent to Mary” and he put this patch inside his cloth.  When he met those going against him, and they said that Jesus is the son of God, he put is hand on the patch in his clothe, and said that Jesus in no more than that (meaning what is in the patch). 

The Nagashi died on the ninth year after migration to Medina, and Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him know about it at the time it happened.  He told the Muslims about the death of the Nagashi and he led the Salah Al-Janaza on him.

It is also reported that one of the Nagashi’s sons was taken and sold as a slave and his name was Abi Nizr, and a slave merchant in Makah had him.  When Ali Ibn Abi Taleb saw him and knew who he was, he bought him and let him go free because of what his father the Nagashi did for the Muslims.  After the Nagashi’s death, people had a dispute concerning who should follow him on the throne.  When they know of the presence of his son with the Muslims and he was in Medina then, they sent to him to come to be made a king.  He refused, and said: “I was not to seek the throne after having Allah’s bounty of Islam”.

Dr. Ahmed Saafan

The Life of Prophet Mohamed ppuh – 9

اضيف 02:38, 2008/11/9

The Life of Prophet Mohamed ppuh – 9

The disbelievers in Makah demanded from Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to show them some extraordinary things as a condition for their belief, such as:

-         To move the mountains away from Makah.

-         To make the land around them flat and suitable for cultivation, so that they may grow food.

-         To let there be rivers around them as in other countries.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “But I bring you what Allah sent me with, and I have delivered the message Allah has sent me with, if you accept it, this will be your good share of this life and the Hereafter, and if you reject, I will be patient and persevere with Allah’s command, until Allah rules out between us”. 

-         Then they asked him to let their punishment be sooner as a sign that he is truthful, or to let them see stairs rising in the heavens and him climbing up the stairs.  Then to bring back a written copy of the Quran, and to come accompanied by four Angels.

Imam Ahmed related: “The people of Qurish said to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him: ‘Ask your Lord to let the Hill of Safa turn into gold and we will believe for you’ He said: ‘Will you?’  They said:’ yes’.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him then asked his Lord.  Gabriel peace upon him came and said to him: “Your Lord is sending his greetings and say: “I you desire, I will turn the Safa into gold, but if any one does not believe after this, I will punish his with such punishment that no one else has even been punished with, or if you desire, I will open the gates for Mercy and Pardoning?” He prayer and peace upon him said: “But Mercy and Pardoning”.

And Ahmed And Nesae reported that Abd Allah Ibn Abas said: “The people of Makah asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to turn Safa into gold, and to turn the mountains away so that they may cultivate the land, and the answer was: “If you will give them more time, and if you will we will give them what they asked for, but if they disbelieve then, they will perish as other nations before them were destroyed?”  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: ‘I will give them more time”.  Allah the Highest then sent down the following Quran: “AND WHAT STOPPED US SENDING THE SIGNS IS THAT THE EARLIER PEOPLE REJECTED THEM, AND WE HAVE GIVEN THEMOD THE FEMALE CAMEL TO BE SEEN CLEARLY, BUT THEY DID IT WRONG, FOR WE SEND THE SIGNS ONLY TO STRIKE FEAR”.  (S: 17 A: 59)

It was also reported that the disbelievers in Makah also sent two of their nobles to meet the Rabbis of the Jews in Yathrib (Medina) to ask them about Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.  They told them to ask him about three things, only known to a prophet: young men who were in the early times and what happened to them and a man who wondered throughout the Earth, east and west, and to ask him about the soul”

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him promised to answer them next day, but he did not say Allah willing.  He did not have any revelations to answer them with for 15 days, then Allah the Highest sent: “AND DO NOT SAY ABOUT ANY THING THAT I WILL DO THIS TOMORROW * ONLY IF ALLAH IS WILLING, AND REMEMBER YOUR LORD IF YOU FORGET AND SAY: ‘MY LORD MAY GUIDE ME TO A BETTER GUIDANCE THAN THAT”.  (S: 18 A: 23, 24)

Allah the Highest also sent His messenger prayer and peace upon him Quran answering their questions; first the young men of the early times, saying: “OR DID YOU THINK THAT THOSE OF THE CAVE AND THE TABLET IN WHICH THEIR NAMES AND DESCENT IS WRITTEN ARE OF OUR AMAZING SIGNS * AS THE YOUNG MEN SOUGHT SHELTER IN THE CAVE AND SAID: ‘OUR LORD, GIVE US MERCY FROM YOU AND GUIDE US TO THE RIGHT WAY IN WHAT WE ARE DOING * ……………….”  (S: 18 A: from 9)

And then about the man who wondered through the Earth and east and west: “AND THEY ASK YOU ABOUT THE ONE WITH TWO HORNS, SAY: I WILL RECITE SOMETHING ABOUT HIM * …..” (S: 18 A: from 83)

And about the soul, Allah the Highest said: “AND THEY ASK YOU ABOUT THE SOUL, SAY: THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOUL IS WITH MY LORD, AND YOU WERE GIVEN ONLY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE”.  (S: 17 A: 85)

It is reported in both Bukhari and Muslim that the Jews of Medina asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him these questions when he migrated to Medina.  Although he gave them the right answers, yet only a few of them believed. 

The Torture of the Muslims

The disbeliever’s resistance of the spread of Islam took a new turning when they started to torture the Muslim.  Each tribe started torturing the slaves and the week of their Muslims.  They were imprisoned, flogged and left without food or water, and at times left in the extreme heat of the desert without water.  I will mention some examples:

Belal Ibn Rabah: 

Belal was a slave owned by some people from Bani Jamh, and his mother’s name was Hamamah.  Belal was very pure hearted and sincere in his faith.  Omyah Ibn Khalaf used to take his to the desert when it is very hot and place a large stone on his chest and order his to disbelieve and to leave the faith of Mohamed and worship Al-Lat and Oza, but Belal will only say: “Ahad, Ahad”  (Meaning Allah is one and only)

One day Abu Bakr saw his being tortured, he took him from Omyah in exchange for another slave, then Abu Bakr let him free.

Abu Bakr bought with his money a number of slaves, men and women who were Muslims and sat them free, of them; Belal, Emarah, Om Amees, who was blinded but Allah restored her eyesight.  Also bout a woman slave called Nahdiah and her daughter.  He also bought a woman slave from Bani Moamel, whom Omar used to flog her before he became Muslim.

Abu Bakr’s father Abu Kohafa used to advise him to buy the strongest men slaves, who would be able to help and protect them, however, Abu Bakr was seeking to please Allah the Highest and to his reward, therefore he bought those who suffer.  Allah the Highest sent down Quran about him saying: “AS FOR HIM WHO GIVE AND IS PIOUS * AND BELIEVE IN WHAT IS RIGHTEOUS * WE WILL EASE HIS WAY TO WHAT ID GOOD * ……….”  (S:92 A:5,6)

Abu Jahl was the worst in torturing the Muslims and persecuting them.  If the Muslim was strong and his family protected him him, he would verbally abuse them; otherwise, he would hit and flog.

Bano Makhzoom used to take Amar Ibn Yasser and his father and his mother Somayah, they were all Muslims, and they would take them out in the midday heat and torture them.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him passed by them once and said: “Be patient and persevere family of Yasser, for your place is the Paradise”

On another occasion he said: “Good news Yasser’s family, your place is the Paradise”.

Abu Jahl killed Somayah with a spear penetrating her from the front.

The Muslims who were tortured less used to be unable to just site up due to pain, or thirst and hunger.

The Disbelievers hear the Quran and Prostrate

On another occasion, Otba Ibn Rabae went to speak to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and repeated their offer to make him their king, and the wealthiest man etc.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him listened then started to recite Sorat Foselat saying: “IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE.  IT IS SENT DOWN FROM THE MOST MERCIFUL THE COMPASSIONATE * A BOOK AND its AYAHS ARE CLEAR AND IN ARABIC ………..”

Otba went on listening, put his hands on the floor behind him and rested his weight on his arms listening, until Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him finished reciting then he went back to his companions.  He told them that these words were neither poetry nor what they used to hear from the temples priests.  He advise them to leave him alone and not to harm him, then should he become stronger and prevails, they should follow him then, if he does not, then they have been saved the trouble.  They did not like what he said.

One night, Abu Sofian and Abu Jahl and Al-Akhnas went out each from their own houses, alone and unknown to each other, and they sat near Allah’s messenger’s house to listen to him reciting the Quran while praying.  In the morning, they saw each other and they blamed each other and promised each other not to repeat this.  The same thing happened next night and the third night.  Al-Akhnas went to Abu Sofian to ask him about what he heard, and Abu Sofian said that he heard and understood what he heard, but did not elaborate any further.  Then he went to Abu Jahl and asked him the same question, and he had the same answer.

Abu Sofian and Abu Jahl mocked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him saying that didn’t Allah have found better than Mohamed to make a prophet, which upset Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.  Allah the Highest then sent him a Quran saying: “AND WHEN THEY SEE YOU THEY MOCK YOU (SAYING): IS THIS WHOM ALLAH SENT TO BE A MESSENGER * HE ALMOST LEAD US AWAY FROM OUR GODS, IF WE DID NOT PERSEVERE WITH THEM, BUT THEY WILL KNOW WHEN THEY SEE THE PUNISHMENT WHO IS THE MOST MISGUIDED”  (S:25 A:41-42)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him used to raise his voice reciting the Quran when he led his companions in Salah.  He was trying to let the disbelievers hear.  However, when they heard the Quran they used to swear at and insult the Quran.  Allah the Highest then sent him further instructions regarding reciting the Quran.  “SAY: CALL UPON ALLAH OR CALL UPON THE MERCIFUL, WHOEVER YOU MAY CALL FOR HE HAS THE GOOD NAMES, AND DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE RECITING THE QURAN AND DO NOT WHISPER IT AND SEEK SOMETHING IN BETWEEN” (S: 17 A: 110)

Abd Allah Ibn Masoud Reciting the Quran Loud:

The first of Allah’s messenger’s companions to have recited the Quran out loud was Abd Allah Ibn Masoud.  He went out to the Kabba, and when he reached Maqam Ibrahim he started reciting Sorat Al-Rahman “THE MERCIFUL * HE TAUGHT THE QURAN, HE CREATED MAN * TAUGHT HIM TO SPEAK * …………….”  When they heard him, they went on beaten him up, and he continued to recite the Quran, until he could not any more, then he stopped.  He was then the only one to have recited the Quran out loud in public after Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.

When The People of Makah Prostrated:

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him sat by the Kabba one day and started to recite Sorah Al-Najm.  Every one around, believers or disbelievers sat and listened and they were taken by the Sorah.

When Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him reached the end of the Sorah which had a prostration (Sajda), he prostrated and every one else believers and disbelievers prostrated.  Some of the Muslims thought that this was a sign that they all embraced Islam, but it was not, Even though even the disbelievers were so moved by this Sorah.

Dr Ahmed Saafan

Prophet Mohamed Life 8

اضيف 06:42, 2008/11/5

Prophet Mohamed Life 8

Early Muslims

Ali Ibn Abi Taleb:

Makah suffered a dry year before Islam, during which there was little water and food.  Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah went to his uncle Al-Abas Ibn Abd El-Motaleb to Abu Taleb Mohamed’s uncle and Abases brother.  He said to him that Abu Taleb has many children, so if each on of us takes a child to look after and bring up, they will ease his load a little.  They went to Abu Taleb and Mohamed took his son Ali, and Al-Abas took Jafar.  Ali was about 8 years old at the time.

Ali Ibn Abi Taleb was brought up in the house of his cousin Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah.  Then when Mohamed prayer and peace upon him received the message and started prophet hood, Ali saw him praying with Khadija, and he asked them what they were doing?  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him told his that this is Allah’s religion and invited him to become a Muslim.  Ali wanted to consult with his father Abu Taleb first, but Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him asked him not to tell anyone.  But then, Ali believed and Abu Taleb knew about Islam and Ali becoming a Muslim, and he commanded his son to stay a Muslim and to follow Mohamed prayer and peace upon him, and at the time Ali was under the age of puberty.

Zyd Ibn El-Haretha:

Zyd was a boy of the prophet’s household before Islam since before Islam.  He was snatched as a child and sold as a slave.  He ended with Khadija’s sister, who gave him as a gift to Khadija.  When she found that her husband, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him liked him and his intelligence, she gave him the boy.  This was before Allah’s messenger’s prophecy.

Zyd lived in Allah’s messenger household treated as a son, meanwhile his father was looking everywhere for him.  His father, Al-Hareth was still looking for him and he had information that Zyd was in Makah, and he went there and found him to be with Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah.  Zyd’s father, Al-Hareth went to the Kabba and called out to the people there that his son is a slave with Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah, and to help him to buy his to set him free (he was afraid that the price will be put up high for him)

Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah (before the prophecy) came with Zyd and he told Al-Hareth that he will give Zyd the choice of going with his father or with him.   Zyd in front of every one choose to stay with Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah because of what he felt towards him and what he felt in his house hold.  Then and before the crowd, Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah set Zyd free and said that he was taking him for a son, inheriting each other (this was before the prohibition).  Then Zyd continued living in Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah and Khadija Bent Khowayled as a son.

When Allah the Highest started the prophecy of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him and he was with them, he believed and embraced Islam.

Abu Bakr: 

Abu Bakr was a merchant and a well liked man, known for good manners, helping people and being a good company.  He was also very knowledgeable of the families of Qurish, their origins and descent.  He also knew Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him very well.  Abu Bakr was his nick name but his real name was Ateeq and his father Abu Quhafa.

After receiving revelations, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him told him about what happened and invited him to Islam.  Abu Bakr believed, without any hesitation, or thinking twice.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “I never called anyone to Islam who would not hesitate or pause to thing, except Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Quhafa, he did not turn away or hesitate”. 

Abu Bakr was the one of the best telling others about Islam, and he was the first adult man to believe, many people embraced Islam through him, of them:

Othman Ibn Afan

Al-Zobir Ibn Al-Awam.

Abd El-Rahman Ibn Aouf

Saad Ibn Abi Waqas

Talha Ibn Obid Allah

Abu Salama – Abd Allah Ibn Abd El-Asad.

Al-Arqam Ibn Abi Al-Arqam

Othman Ibn Mazoon

Saed Ibn Zyd

Khabab Ibn Al-Aret

Omir Ibn Abi Waqas, Saad’s brother.

Abd Allah Ibn Masoud

Masoud Ibn El-Qari

Then Allah the Highest commanded his prophet and messenger to speak to and warn his close kin saying: “AND WARN YOUR CLOSE KIN * AND BE KIND TO THE BELIEVERS WHO FOLLOW YOU * BUT IF THEY DISOBEY YOU, SAY I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING”.  (S: 42 A: 214-216)

This was a direct command from Allah the Highest to His messenger prayer and peace upon him, and it had to be obeyed.  He started to with his close kin beyond his immediate family.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him commanded Ali Ibn Abi Taleb to slaughter a sheep and make food and drink for people, and then he invited his uncles and cousins. He did the same next day, and then next day again.  On the third day he spoke to them about Islam and what it is about, and that it is good for the good of our life and Hereafter. 

It was narrated that Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “O Fatema the daughter of Mohamed, O Safia the daughter of Abd El-Motaleb, I can not help you with Allah, but you can ask me for what you want of my money”.  (Muslim)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him was worried that he might be killed if he speaks to people openly about Islam, and the message will not be delivered then.  Allah the Highest sent down a Quran reassuring his messenger prayer and peace upon him saying: “O MESSENGER, DELIVER WHAT WAS SENT DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR LORD, AND IF YOU DO NOT, THEN YOU DID NOT DELIVER HIS MESSAGE, AND ALLAH WILL PROTECT YOU FROM PEOPLE, VERILY ALLAH DOES NOT GUIDE THE DISBELIEVING PEOPLE”.  (S: 5 A: 67)

He was reassured then prayer and peace upon him and went one delivering Allah’s message to people.

Abu Jahl tries to kill Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him:

One day, Abu Jahl – his name was Al-Hakam Ibn Hesham- told his idle worshipping companions in Makah that he intends to strike Allah’s messenger’s head with a big stone while he is prostrating in his Salah at the sacred mosque, and they gave him their word that they will not stop him.

Next day, Abu Jahl took a large stone and sate waiting for Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to come to pray at the sacred Mosque.  He came and prayed, and when he prostrated, Abu Jahl carried the stone and went towards him until he was near, then he turned back looking pale and frightened, with his hands frozen on the stone which he then dropped.  Some men from Qurish went to him and said: “What happened to you Aba Al-Hakam?

He said: “I went to do what I told you about yesterday, but when I approached, large male camel stood in my way, I have never seen another of that size and teeth, and he was about to eat me”.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said about this: “This was Gabriel, and if he came nearer, he would have taken him”. 

This was an example of Allah’s protection to his messenger prayer and peace upon him.

Abu Jahl and the man from Irash:

A man from Irash in Babylon went to Makah with camels to sell.  Abu Jahl bought them of him, but he did not pay the man his money.  The Man from Irash went to the sacred mosque and called out to every one that Abu Jahl bought his camels and would not pay him and to help him to get his money from Abu Jahl.

Some men looking for a laugh told him that the best man to get him his money is a man called Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah and they pointed him prayer and peace upon him to the man, knowing about the animosity between Abu Jahl and Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.

The man from Irash went to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and told of about his problem with Abu Jahl, he got up with him going to Abu Jahl’s house, and a man from Qurish followed them.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him knocked the Abu Jahl’s door, and Abu Jahl came over looking pale.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him told Abu Jahl: “Give this man his money”, Abu Jahl said: “Do not leave I will get him his money”.  He went in, brought the money and gave it to the man from Irash.

The man from Irash went back to the sacred mosque and thanked those who advised him to speak to Mohamed prayer and peace upon him, which surprised them.  When they saw Abu Jahl later, they asked him what happened, and he told them that when he heard the knock on the door he felt frightened, then when he opened the door found a large male camel with large teeth, and had he refused, the camel would have devoured him.

This does not mean that Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him did not suffer any hurt physical and morale from the disbelievers.  He was attacked, insulted and threatened, even while praying, on a number of occasions. I will mention some of them.

One day, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him was praying in the Sacred Mosque and there were the remains of a slaughtered animal lying not very far.  A man called Oqba Ibn Abi Maeet carried the remains and throws it on his back while he was prostrating.  He remained in this position until his daughter Fatema took it of his back.  This time he was angry and turned to that group of men saying: “Allah I ask you to take those people of Qurish, Allah I ask you to take Otba Ibn Rabae, Shayba Ibn Rabae, Abu Jahl Ibn Hesham, Oqba Ibn Abi Maet, and Omiya Ibn Khalaf”.  They were killed inn the battle of Badr, and buried in a mass grave there.  (Bukhari & Muslim)

Bukhari reported that Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him was praying by the Kabba, when Oqba Ibn Abi Maet came the put some cloth around Allah’s messenger neck to strangle him, and he did not let go until Abu Bakr rushed to Allah’s messenger’s aid and let him loose, and said a verse in the Quran : “DO YOU KILL A MAN JUST BECAUSE HE SAID: MY LORD IS ALLAH, AND HE CAME TO YOU WITH THE CLEAR SIGNS, AND IF HE IS A LIAR, THEN HE WILL TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HIS LYING, BUT IF HE IS TRUTHFUL, SOME OF WHAT HE PROMISES YOU WILL AFFECT YOU, AND ALLAH DOES NOT GUIDE THOSE WHO ARE EXCESSIVE AND LIARS”.  (S: 40 A: 28)

On another occasion, while the noble men of Qurish, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him came to do the Tawaf.  Every time he walks past them, they say insults and unpleasant words.  On the third time he said to them: “Listen people of Qurish, by He who has my soul in his hand, I come to you with the slaughter”.