Month: August 2023

Commentary ~ Allah’s complete Justice and Mercy

by

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

It is related that a woman went to the Prophet Dawud (PBUH) and said, “O Prophet of Allah, is your Lord an oppressor or is He just?” The Prophet replied, “Woe unto you, O woman, He is the All-Just, Who never oppresses. What is your story?”

She explained that she was a widow with three daughters and that she provided for them by what she would spin with her hands. She explained, “Yesterday, I tied what I had spun into a red cloth to sell in the marketplace so as to provide for my children. As I was walking, a bird came and snatched the cloth from me and flew away, leaving me with nothing to sell for the provision of my children.”

As the woman was speaking to Dawud (PBUH), someone came knocking on his door. He gave permission for them to enter and learned that they were ten businessmen bringing with them one hundred dinars each. They said, “O Prophet of Allah, give this wealth to the one that is deserving.” Dawud asked them what had brought them to him with their wealth.

They explained, “O Prophet of Allah, we were on a boat, the wind was very violent, and we were about to drown when a bird came and dropped a red cloth upon us. In this cloth was some yarn and with this we were able to block the hole in the ship until the winds subsided and we vowed that each one of us would give one hundred dinars in charity. So give that amount to whomever you please.” Dawud turned to the woman and said, “Your Lord does business for you in the land and in the sea, yet you ask whether He oppresses!” He gave the 1000 dinars and said: “Spend this on your children.”

PBUH: Peace be upon him

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 68

Hadith ~ Half of a date

by

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

Adi bin Hatim (MAPH) reported: I heard the Prophet (SAWS) saying: “Protect yourself from (Hell) Fire, by giving of half of a date (in charity)”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

In another narration Adi bin Hatim (MAPH) reported the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) as saying: “Allah will surely speak with everyone of you without an interpreter. He (the man) will look at his right side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before, and he will look to his left side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before. Then he will look in front of him and will find nothing but Hell-fire facing him. So protect (yourselves) from (Hell) Fire, by giving in charity even half a date; and if he does not find it, then with a kind word”.

Commentary: This Hadith brings into prominence the following three points:

1. The horror of the Day of Resurrection when one will have to stand before Allah to account for all his actions which will then be lying at both his hands.

2. Everyone should spend according to his capacity in the way of Allah in the form of Sadaqah and alms. In this way, good manners like polite conversation, etc., can also become a means of his salvation.

3. One’s actions alone would help him on the Day of Resurrection.

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection
MAPH: May Allah be pleased with him

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 13, Page 49, No 139

Ayaat 1-3 ~ At-Talaq

by

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

1. O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period [1] and keep count of the waiting period,1 and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands’] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allah. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter [2].

2. And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out [3]

3. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.

Sura 65. At-Talaq

[1]: Perhaps the husband who has divorced his wife may change his mind and restore the marriage before the end of her waiting period (after the first or second count of revocable divorce).

[2]: A husband may separate from his wife after each of the first two counts of divorce or at the end of her waiting period with dignity. If he chooses to stay with her after the first two counts of divorce then divorces her a third time, the marriage is terminated at the end of her third waiting period. The wife will have to marry and divorce another man before she can be remarried to her ex-husband (see 2:230). However, a woman marrying someone with the intention of getting divorced, in order to return to her first husband, is forbidden.

[3]: i.e., relief from distress.

Commentary ~ We will not listen and we will not obey

by

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

When Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) was Caliph, the Caliphate received some pieces of cloth from one of the Islamic states. Umar distributed these pieces of cloths evenly; he gave everyone one piece of cloth. One day when Umar stood to give a khutba (lecture), he had two pieces of those cloths on. Umar then spoke and said, “Listen and obey everybody!” Salman Farsi (May Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said, “We will not listen and we will not obey.” Umar bin Khattab asked, “How come?” Salman Farsi said, “Because you have given each one of us, one piece of cloth, and we see that you are wearing two pieces of cloth.” Umar bin Khattab did not respond, but signalled his son Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to stand up and respond to what Salman is saying. Abdullah bin Umar stood up and said, “My father is a very tall man, very well built, with wide shoulders. One piece of cloth would not be enough for him, so I gave him mine.” Salman Farsi said, “Now we will listen and obey.” This was the standard of justice that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) had. The leadership was held to account and the people would not accept any injustice from their leaders. They knew that on the Day of Judgement, being a follower of a corrupt leadership will not be an excuse. Allah Alim.

And, when they will dispute in the Fire, the weak will say to those who were arrogant; “Verily! We followed you, can you then take from us some portion of the Fire?” Those who were arrogant will say: “We are all (together) in this (Fire)! Verily Allâh has judged between (His) slaves!” (Koran 40.47-48)

Source: Did not find the exact source of this commentary. Transcribed from an audio lecture and from memory. The exact wording used by the Companions may not be exact. May Allah forgive any errors. Amin.

Hadith ~ Irrigate the garden

by

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

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said, “While a man was walking through a barren land, he heard a voice coming out of a cloud saying: ‘Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.’ Thereupon the cloud drifted in a certain direction and discharged its water over a rocky plain. The streamlets flowed into a channel. This man followed the channel until it reached a garden and he saw the owner of the garden standing in its center, working with his spade spreading the water (changing the course of the water). He asked him: “O slave of Allah, what is your name?” He told his name, which was the same that he heard from the cloud. The owner of the garden then asked him: “O slave of Allah, why did you ask my name?” He replied: “I heard a voice from a cloud which poured down this water saying: ‘Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.’ I would like to know what do you do with it.” He said: “Now that you asked me, I will tell you. I estimate the produce of the garden and distribute one-third of it in charity, I spend one-third on myself and my family and invest one third back into the garden.” [Muslim]

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 60, Page 182, No 562

Ayaat 33-34 ~ Luqman

by

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

33. O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].

34. Indeed, Allah [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

Sura 31. Luqman

Commentary ~ Take account of yourselves

by

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

Umar Ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account. Weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you and beautify yourselves (with good deeds) for the great display (on the Day of Judgment).”

The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it] and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that [evil] was a great distance. And Allah warns you of Himself, and Allah is Kind to [His] servants.” (Koran 3:30)

So whoever does an atom’s weight (Or “the weight of a small ant.”) of good will see it, And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it. (Koran 99:7-8)

But does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered And that within the breasts is obtained, Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is [fully] Acquainted. (Koran 100:9-11)

Hadith ~ Every Muslim has to give charity

by

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

Narrated Abu-Musa (May Allah be satisfied with him): ‘The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “Every Muslim has to give charity. The people asked: “O Allah’s Prophet! If someone has nothing to give, what should he do?” He said: “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked: “If he cannot do even that?” He replied: “He should help the one needing help.” Then the people asked: “If he cannot do that?” He replied: “Then he should perform all that is good (i.e. enjoin what is just (Islamic Monotheism, and all that Islam has ordained)) and keep away from all that is evil (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and all that Islam has forbidden) and these will be regarded as charitable deeds.” (Bukhari)

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous) (Abridged)
By Imam An Nawawi Vol. (1)
Publisher: Dar Al-Manarah
ISBN: 977.6005.23.3
Chapter 13, Page 220, Number 104

Ayaat 80-84 ~ Al-A’raf (The Heights)

by

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

80. And [We had sent] Lot when he said to his people, “Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds [i.e., peoples]?[1]

81. Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.”

82. But the answer of his people was only that they said, “Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure.”

83. So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers].

84. And We rained upon them a rain [of stones]. Then see how was the end of the criminals.

Sura 7. Al-A’raf (The Heights)

[1]: such as none preceding you has committed: To learn more about the Prophet Lut (Lot) (peace be upon him) and the sins that his nation committed (i.e. homosexuality, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, sodomy, etc.) there is an excellent series on the lives of the Prophets here and a 2nd series specifically on the characteristics of perished nations here.

Commentary ~ Allah tests for four reasons

by

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

A question that troubles the minds of those whose faith is not yet firmly rooted in their hearts, concerns the bad events and tragedies that affect the people both good and evil. What’s more, we often see afflictions that touch the good people and spare the bad people. The good suffer from fear and want, while the bad, despite their repeated crimes and their denial of Allah, seem to revel with impunity in happiness, abundance and security. (…)

Allah tests those He loves for one of these four reasons:

  1. To get that person to think of Him, for the one who turns away from the remembrance of Allah is forgotten by Allah and distanced from His grace.
  2. To purify ones sins so that on Judgement Day that person’s judgement is of the lightest.
  3. To raise that person’s degrees and levels in Paradise.
  4. To test the unjust as the one who shows animosity to those beloved by Allah, Allah has promised to break them as stated in the words of the famous Hadith.

Whoever Allah wants to lose irretrievably, Allah lets that person run blindly in his misguidance and the Chaitan embellishes his evil deeds, dangles false hope and deceives concerning the Mercy of Allah.

Allah extends the rope more and more so as to enter this person into His harsh punishment when and where that person least expects it and then to throw that person violently into Hellfire with no hope of exit.

When they asked the Prophet (peace and salvation of Allah upon him) who were the most tested (afflicted) people on earth, he said: “The Prophets and the Saints, then the test decreases with the degree of the purity of man”.

Author: Dr. Salaheddine Keshrid

Hadith ~ Is not from me

by

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

Narrated Anas ibn Malek (may Allah be pleased with him): ‘A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet (SAWS) to ask what acts of worship he performs. When they were informed about this, they considered their worship to be insufficient and said: “How far we are from the Prophet (SAWS) and his past and future sins have been forgiven.” Then one of them said: “I will forever offer prayer the whole night through.” The other said: “I will observe fasting for a whole year and I will not break my fasting.” The third said: “I will keep away from women and will never marry.” Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) came to them and said: “Are you the people who said such and such? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you. Yet I observe fasting and break fasting. I offer prayer and I also sleep, and I marry women. So he who does not follow my Sunna (legal ways) in religion is not from me (i.e. he is not one of my followers)” (Bukhari)

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous) (Abridged)
By Imam An Nawawi Vol. (2)
Publisher: Dar Al-Manarah
ISBN: 977.6005.23.3
Chapter 14, Page 228, Number 107

Ayaat 20-23 ~ Al-Hadid (Iron)

by

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

20. Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children – like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

21. Race [i.e., compete] toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

22. No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register (i.e., the Preserved Slate (al-Lawú al-Maúf´th)) before We bring it into being – indeed that, for Allah, is easy –

23. In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful –

Sura 57. Al-Hadid (Iron)

Commentary ~ Shake the trunk of the palm-tree

by

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

So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. (Koran 19.22)

When Saidna Maryam (PBUH) was pregnant and felt that her delivery was approaching she went towards Bethlehem (a remote place). It seems that she had kept her pregnancy concealed. Nobody knew about it. She was able to hide her pregnancy throughout. She left out of Jerusalem and went towards Bethlehem. She fell down under a palm tree. Allah, the Exalted, says:

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree… (Koran 19.23)

I want you to imagine now that you are over there. Imagine the situation. Maryam (PBUH) has been hiding this pregnancy for 9 months. That is difficult in itself. And now she is leaving out of her town, alone and with no help. She is feeling the pain of childbirth and it drives her and she falls down under a palm tree. It was so difficult on her that she said:

…She cried (in her anguish): “Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten. (Koran 19.23)

Saidna Maryam (PBUH) was chaste and righteous. Now she is going to deliver a child and she has never been married. She knows the tongues of the people. She knows the harm they will cause her and her family. The righteous family of Al-Imran. It became so difficult on her that she wished she never had lived before this. And she wished that no one has known her and that she was forgotten and that she didn’t exist. In that moment of difficulty, Allah, the Exalted, provided her with Sakina. When things got to the level where it is unbearable for her anymore than Allah, the Exalted, brought her comfort and Mercy. Allah says:

But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): “Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; (Koran 19.24)

The scholars say the voice is either Jibreel (PBUH) or Issa (Jesus) (PBUH). The voice says: La tahzani! (do not grieve), your Lord has provided a water stream under you.

“And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. (Koran 19.25)

Shake the trunk of the date-palm towards you and it will let fresh ripe dates fall upon you. So Allah provided her with water and Allah provided her with dates. It is a miracle from Allah that Allah provided her with this. A water stream was suddenly flowing under her. She can reach it with her hands and then Allah, the Exalted, said to shake the palm tree and fresh ripe dates will fall unto you.

Now we learn from this some very important lessons.

Maryam (PBUH) just delivered a child, is helpless, alone. And she is told by Issa (PBUH) or Jibreel (PBUH) to shake, not the branch of the palm tree, but to shake what? The trunk, the base of the palm tree. And all of you know palm trees and how solid they are. If a group of men surrounded it and tried to shake it at the base it is impossible. So what is the point in Allah telling Maryam (PBUH) to shake the base of a palm tree? She’s not going to be able to shake it. She’s not going to be able to move it even a fraction of an inch. So why is Allah telling her to shake it? Make an effort. She has to do her part. Allah could have made the dates fall on her without her shaking it. Because it is not the shaking of a palm tree that will make the fruit fall down. It is a miracle from Allah. If you put your hands on a palm tree, don’t expect any dates to fall on you. It is a miracle from Allah. Allah, the Exalted, could have made the dates fall down without her intervention. But Allah wants her to do her part. And that is a very very important lesson. If we want the victory of Allah, we have to do our part. You have to take the first step. Allah says in the Hadith Qudsi “If you walk towards Me. I will run towards you”. But you have to take the first step. And Allah says the ones who seek guidance, who look for it, Allah will give it to them. If you seek guidance Allah will give it to you. If you wait there expecting things to come to you without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward the person for their laziness, procrastination and passiveness. Allah wants us to do our part.

So Maryam (PBUH) put her hand on the palm tree and these fresh ripe dates fell on her. We also learn from this in conjunction with the Sounna of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) that that is the best food for the women who just delivered a baby. Dates are the best food for a woman who just delivered a child and this is also confirmed in the Sounna of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS). They used to give the women who just delivered dates to eat. Allah provided her with water and provided her with dates.

“So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye… (Koran 19.26)

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection
PBUH: Peace be upon him/her

Source:
Audio lecture “Lives of the Prophets”.
The full audio series may be downloaded here.