Month: April 2012

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

During the reign of the just Khalifah Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RadiAllahu Anhu), one of the many battles that ensued was the wars against the Persian Empire.

One of the great military commanders and heroes of the Muslim armies, Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas (RadiAllahu Anhu), sent one of his messengers to meet with Roostum, the leader of the Persian army. That man was Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu).

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) was a very poor man, who came riding to see Roostum on a short legged, hairy horse. His sword was wrapped in an old piece of cloth, as he could not even afford a proper sheath for it. In fact his whole attire was very modest, humble and inexpensive.

The Persians, having received word that a representative of the Muslim general was coming to meet them, prepared for this meeting as they would according to their custom. Rich and luxurious carpets were laid out. Heavily embellished cushions and rugs were spread, rich brocades and robes. Royal guards stood to attention in the court of Roostum, along with his advisors and delegates. It was indeed the proper preparation for such a high level meeting as was customary for the Romans and the Persians.

What they envisioned from the representative of the Muslims was that he would come in a similar fashion. What actually happened was not what the Persians expected.

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) comes straight into the hall, without permission, onto the rugs and carpets while still mounted on his horse. The delegates cry out and try to stop him, but he ignores them and carries on. He then dismounts, with his weapons at which point the Persian guards try to stop him. They tell him that he is not to enter with his weapons. So he replies to them:

“Well, you are the ones who invited me. So you either let me in, with my arms, or I am going to leave.”

The guards are told by Roostum to allow him to enter, so Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) strides forward, with his weapon blades poking holes into the rugs as he walks over them, leaving gashes and marks upon them.

Roostum asked, “Why have you (The Muslims) come here (Persia)?”

This poor Bedouin Muslim replied with the following, timeless and enthralling words:

“Allah the Most Glorious the Most High has sent us, to deliver you, from worshipping the creation, to worshipping the Creator of the creation; and deliver you from the constriction of this world, to the vastness of this world and the Afterlife; and from the oppression of religions to the justice of Islam.”

The effect of his words, on the laymen people surrounding Roostum, was deep and profound.

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) was saying that we (The Muslims) have come to remove your people from being the slaves of each other to being the slaves of the Lord of the Universe and all Creation. To remove you from servitude of this human king (you are all sitting on the floor and he is sitting on a throne), to serving the One whose Throne extends across the Heavens and the Earth.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

It has been related that one of the sons of ‘Amr bin Al-‘As (May Allah be satisfied with him), the governor of Egypt, struck a young Christian Egyptian with his whip. This young Egyptian complained to the Leader of the Believers, ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (May Allah be satisfied with him), who in turn wrote to the governor and asked his immediate presence along with his son. ‘Umar also invited the young man who had been stricken. When they all gathered in Umar’s chamber where he issued rulings, Amr’s son admitted that he had wronged the young man. The Leader of the Believers handed his whip to the Christian boy and said to him, “Strike this son of the most noble!” The boy raised his whip and struck the son of the governor. ‘Umar said, “Strike Amr’s forehead as well.” The boy responded, “O Leader of the Believers, I have already stricken the one that struck me.” ‘Umar said, “By Allah, had you stricken him, I would not have prevented you, for this son of ‘Amr only hit you under the authority of his father.” Turning to ‘Amr, ‘Umar related a renowned saying to him: “When have you taken people for slaves, when their mothers have borne them as ones that are free?”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 52

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

One of our pious predecessors, Thabit bin Nu’man, was hungry and tired as he was passing through a garden that bordered a river. He was so hungry that he could hear his stomach growling, and so his eyes became fixated on the fruits he saw on the various trees of the garden. In a fit of desperation, he forgot himself and extended his hand to an apple that was within reach. He ate half of it and then drank water from the river. But then he became overcome by guilt, despite the fact that he had only eaten because of dire need. He said to himself, “Woe unto me! How can I eat someone else’s fruits without his permission? I make it binding upon myself to not leave this place until I find the owner of this garden and ask him to forgive me for having eaten one of his apples.” After a brief search, he found the owner’s house. He knocked on the door, and the owner of the garden came out and asked him what he wanted.

Thabit bin Nu’man said, “I entered your garden that borders the river, and I took this apple and ate half of it. Then I remembered that it does not belong to me, and so I ask you now to excuse me for having eaten it and to forgive me for my mistake.” The man said, “On one condition only will I forgive you for your mistake.” Thabit bin Nu’man asked, “And what is that condition?” He said, “That you marry my daughter.” Thabit said, “I will marry her.” The man said, “But heed you this: indeed my daughter is blind, she does not see; mute, she does not speak; deaf, she does not hear.” Thabit began to ponder over his situation; a difficult predicament indeed did he find himself to be in now; what should he do? Not get out of it, thought Thabit, for he realized that to be tested by such a woman, to take care of her, and to serve her, are all better than to eat from the foul matter of the Hellfire as a reward for the apple that he ate. And after all, the days of this world are few and limited.

And so he accepted the condition to marry the girl, seeking his reward from Allah, Lord of all that exists. He was nonetheless somewhat anxious in the days prior to the marriage. He thought, “How can I have relations with a woman who neither speaks nor sees nor hears?” So miserable did he become that he almost wished for the earth to swallow him up before the appointed date. Yet despite such apprehensions, he placed his complete trust upon Allah, and he said, “There is neither nor power except with Allah. Indeed to Allah do we belong, and to Him do we return.” On the day of his marriage, he saw her for the first time. She stood up before him and said, “Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.” When he saw her grace and beauty, he was reminded of what he would see when he would imagine the fair maidens of Paradise. After a brief pause, he said, “What is this? She indeed speaks, hears, and sees.” He then told her what her father had said earlier. She said, “My father has spoken the truth. He said I was a mute because I do not speak any forbidden word, and I have never spoken to a man who is not lawful to me. And I am indeed deaf in the sense that I have never sat in a gathering in which there is backbiting, slander, or false and vain speech. And I am blind in the sense that I have never looked upon a man who is not permissible for me.”

Noble reader, reflect on and learn a lesson from the story of this pious man and this pious woman and of how Allah brought them together. The fruit of this noble marriage was the birth of a child who grew up to fill the earth with knowledge; yes, their son was Imam Abu Hanifah An-Nu’man, may Allah have mercy on him.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 261