Month: October 2020

Story No. 132 – Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his six true friends

Companions

In the third year after Hijrah (Migration), some members of the Ozal and Qareh tribes who resided near Makkah and apparently had the same origin with the Quraish tribe went to the honorable Prophet Muhammad (saw) and said, “Some members of our tribes have chosen Islam as their religion. Please send some Muslims to our tribes to teach us the meaning of religion, Noble Qur’an, Islamic principles and laws.”

 

Having heard this, the glorious Prophet Muhammad (saw) chose six of his Sahabah (Companions) to go with them. The leadership of those six was on the shoulders of Marand ibn Abi Marthad or Asem ibn Sabet.

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) messengers set off with that group and left Medina. They continued their way till they arrived in the domicile of the Hozail tribe and they alighted there. Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) friends, were resting when suddenly a gang of people from the Hozail tribe attacked them with their swords.

 

Getting aware of the situation, the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) friends immediately went to their weapons and got ready to defend themselves.

 

The attackers swore that they would not intend to kill them but to hand them to the people of Quraish in Makkah in return for some money. They offered them a deal. Three of them including Asem ibn Sabet replied, “We never accept the meanness of dealing with Mushrikeen (polytheists).” They fought and were killed.

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his six true friendsThe other three, Zaid ibn Dasaneh, Khabib ibn Oday and Abdullah ibn Tareq did accept and yielded.

 

The people of Hozail bound them with rope tightly and set off for Makkah. Abdullah ibn Tareq, getting near to Makkah, loosened the rope on his hands and reached his sword but the enemy did not waste any time and killed him.

 

Zaid ibn Dasaneh and Khabib ibn Oday, at the end of the trip, were sold in exchange for two captives of Hozail in Makkah.

 

Safvan ibn Umayyah Quraishi bought Zaid ibn Dasaneh. Safvan’s father was killed in the battle of Badr or Ohud so he intended to take his revenge on Zaid ibn Dasaneh and kill him.

 

Zaid ibn Dasaneh was taken out of Makkah. The people of Quraish gathered to see the scene. Zaid ibn Dasaneh came in with steady steps and there was no sign of fear on his face.

 

Abu Sufyan was watching the scene. He thought that it was the best time to make Zaid ibn Dasaneh insult the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) because it was the last moments of his life. Abu Sufyan went to Zaid ibn Dasaneh and said, “Do you not wish now that Muhammad was in your place and we would cut his neck while you would go to your wife and children comfortably?”

 

Zaid ibn Dasaneh replied, “I swear by Allah (SWT) that I do not like to see a thorn in the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) foot while I am resting at my house beside my wife and children.”

 

Abu Sufyan glared at him with his mouth open in surprise and then he turned his head back to the people of Quraish and said, “I swear by God I have not seen somebody’s friends love that person as much as Muhammad’s friends love him.”

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) friends loved him so much that they even could not see his foot injured with a thorn.

 

Having seen this love, Abu Sufyan, one of the arch enemies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), confessed that he had not seen somebody to be loved as much as Muhammad.

 

After a while, it was time for Khabib ibn Oday to be hanged so he was taken out of Makkah. Khabib ibn Oday asked them to let him say his Salaat (prayer). They let him and he said his prayer very humbly but quickly.

 

Then he turned to the people and said, “I swear by Allah (SWT) that if you did not accuse me of being frightened of death, I would say my prayer more.”

 

They bound him to the gallows tree. Then Khabib ibn Oday’s voice was heard while he was praying to Allah (SWT) in such a spiritual way that many people were influenced by it and some threw themselves on the ground.

 

What Khabib ibn Oday saying was is, “We performed the mission given to us by Your Messenger (saw), please let him know about what happened to us this morning. O Allah (SWT)! See these cruel people, destroy them all and do not let even one of them live.”

 

By Martyred, Morteza Motahhari in Attraction and Repulsion of Imam Ali (as)

Story No. 131 – Thawban, the Companion of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Companions

Thawban was one of the freed slaves of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). He was always with the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) at home or in journey. After the passing away of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) he stayed for some years in Syria and later for some time in Egypt. He was present at the time of the victory on Egypt. Thawban died at the age of 51 years.

 

It is found in Rewayat (narration) that he adored the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) so much that for a single moment he could not bear his absence. One day Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) saw him in a very sad mood. He appeared to be weak. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked him, “O’ Thawban! What has happened to you? Thawban replied: “O Messenger of Allah! I am not ill nor have any pain, but, I am worried about your proximity which I will be missing in the Paradise. As you will be in a higher station and I am in a lower position. I will not be able to see you over there.”

 

At the same moment an Ayat (verse of Noble Qur’an) was revealed. “And whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger, and then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!” Noble Qur’an (4:69) [Bihar al-Anwar vol.2 pg.68)]

 

O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, I love you:

 

Aishah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, I love you more than I love myself, and I love you more than I love my family, and I love you more than I love my children. When I am at home and I think of you, I am unable to contain myself until I can come to you and look at you. When I think about my death and your death, I know that when you enter Paradise, you will be raised to where the Prophets are. But, if I enter Paradise, I am afraid: will I be able to see you?”

 

So, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not answer him at all until Jibril revealed to him: “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace – of the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!” [an-Nisa, 4:69]

 

[Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Sahihah; #2933]

Story No. 130 – Tears of Rasulullah (saw): How much do you Love Rasulullah (saw)?

Prophet and Imams

 

Tears of Rasulullah (saw): How much do you Love Rasulullah (saw)? Suddenly, there was a person said Salaam. “May I come in?” he asked the permission to enter.

 

But Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) did not allow him to enter the room. “I’m sorry, my father is ill,” said Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) turned back and closed the door.

 

Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) went back to her father who had opened his eyes and asked Fatimah, “Who was he, my daughter?”

 

“I don’t know, my father. It’s the first time I’m seeing him,” Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) said gently.

 

Then, Rasulullah (saw) looked at his daughter with trembled look, as if he wanted to reminisce about every part of her daughter’s face. “Know one thing! He is who erases the temporary pleasure; he is who separates the companionship in the world. He is the angel of death (Ezraeel),” said Rasulullah (saw).

 

Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) bore the bomb of her cry. Then, Rasulullah (saw) ask his daughter to allow the angel of death (Ezraeel) to enter.

 

The angel of death (Ezraeel) came toward him; But Rasulullah (saw) asked why Jibril (Gabriel) did not come along with him. Then, Jibril was called. Jibril was ready in the sky to welcome the soul of Habibullah and the leader of the earth.

 

“O Jibril, explain me about my rights in front of ALLAH (SWT)?” Rasulullah (saw) asked with a weak voice.

 

“The doors of sky has opened, the angels are waiting for your soul. Paradise opens widely waiting for you,” Jibril said. But, in fact, those all did not make Rasulullah (saw) relieve, his eyes were still full of worry.

 

“You are not happy to hear this news?” asked Jibril.

 

“Tell me about the destiny of my people in future?”

 

“Don’t worry, O Rasulullah. I heard ALLAH (SWT) told me: I make Paradise Haram (forbidden) for every one, except the people of Muhammad,” Jibril said.

 

It became closer and closer, the time for the angel of death (Ezraeel) to do his work. Slowly, Rasulullah’s soul was pulled. It was seemed that the body of Rasulullah (saw) was full of sweat; the nerves of his neck became tight.

 

“Jibril, how painful this Sakaratul Maut is?” Rasulullah (saw) uttered a groan slowly. Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) closed her eyes, Imam Ali (as) sat beside her, bow deeply and Jibril turned his face back.

 

“Am I repugnant to you that you turn your face back O Jibril?” Rasulullah (saw) asked to the deliverer of Wahi. “Who is the one who could see the Habibullah in his Sakaratul Maut,” Jibril said.

 

Not for a while, Rasulullah uttered a groan because of unbearable pain.

 

“O ALLAH (SWT), how greatest is this Sakaratul Maut. Give me all these pains, don’t to my people.” The body of Rasulullah (saw) became cold, his feet and chest did not move anymore. His lips vibrated as if he wanted to say something, Imam Ali (as) took his ear close to Rasulullah. “Uushiikum bis salati, wa maa malakat aimanuku” – “take care of the Salaat and take care of the weak people among you.”

 

“Outside the room, there were cries shouted each other, Sahabah (Companions) held each other. Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) closed her face with her hands and, again, Imam Ali (as) took his ear close to Rasulullah’s mouth which became bluish.

 

“Ummatii, Ummatii, Ummatii” – “My people, my people, my people.” And the life of the noble prophet ended.

 

Could we love each other like our prophet Muhammad (saw)?

 

Allahuma salli ala Muhammadin wa aale Muhammad (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants)

 

How deep is Rasulullah’s love to us? Indeed Rasulullah (saw) really deserves best of our LOVE than everything in this world as shown in the following narration.

Story No. 129 – Some of the rights of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) are as follows

Prophet and Imams

We Muslims believe in what Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said and practiced.

 

“O People, I leave among you two precious and weighty trusts, one being the Book of Allah and the other my Progeny (Ahlul Bayt). These two legacies will never be separated from each other, and if you lay firm hold of them you will never go astray.” (Hadith-E-Saqlain)

 

Because whatever Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said is from Allah (SWT): “Nor does he speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed.” (Noble Qur’an, 53:3-4)

 

Last Prophet (Seal of the Prophets)2. We Muslims obey Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) in what has been commanded and forsake what he has forbidden or discouraged.

 

“And whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it).” (Noble Qur’an, 59:7)

 

On the authority of Abu Sa’id bin al-Mu’alla it is reported in Sahih Bukhari that while he was praying in mosque, Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) called him. He did not, however, instantly respond. When he finished the prayer, he approached him, pleading that he was praying. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) told him: Do you not know that Allah (SWT) has directed: “O you who believe! Answer Allah and (His) Messenger when he calls you.” (Noble Qur’an, 8:24)

 

Hanzalah was a young man who had not yet completed twenty-four years of his age. The night preceding the day on which the battle of Uhud took place was his wedding night. When he heard the call to Jihad he was perplexed. He found no alternative but to seek permission from Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) to spend that night in Madinah and reach the battlefield on the following day (Noble Qur’an 24:62). Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) granted him permission for one night to consummate the nuptial rites. In the morning he reached the battlefield even before taking ceremonial bath lest he might be late in answering Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) call. In the same state Hanzalah joined the army, fought bravely and attained martyrdom. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “I have seen that the angels were washing Hanzalah.” That is why he is called ‘Ghasilul Malaikah’ (i.e. one who was washed by the angels).

 

Obedience to Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) is obligatory The above reports about two Companions that Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) directed them to discontinue the prayer for answering his call, and about Hanzalah who joined his call for Jihad without any delay, prove that Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) is to be obeyed unconditionally. It is clear from the above-quoted Qur’anic verse and Hadith reports that Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) call should be answered instantly.

 

We Muslims worship Allah (SWT) according to the Shar’iah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), not by whims and Bid’ah (innovations).

 

We Muslims judge ourselves by the Shar’iah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), and not by any other law.

 

We Muslims love Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) more than our parents, Children, all of mankind, indeed our very selves.

 

Therefore, love for Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) should be more than one’s love for himself, his children, family, worldly possessions and everything. Obedience to Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) is obligatory. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) has stressed the importance of obeying and following his Sunnah (Ahlul Bayt) with his saying: “None of you will reach belief till I become dearer to him than his children, parents and all humans.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “There is no obedience to any creation in which the disobedience of the Creator is involved.”

 

Say: “Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds: No partner hath He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who bow to His will.” (Noble Qur’an, 6:162-163)

Story No. 128 – Rights of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) on his followers (Rights of Rasoolullah)

Prophet and Imams

All Muslims of the world, no matter what their sects are, hold in common that Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) was the last Prophet (Seal of the Prophets), and in fact, Muslims believe in divine prophecy having ended with him, just as they believe in the Oneness of Allah (Tauheed). Allah (SWT) says:

 

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.” (Noble Qur’an, 33:40)

 

Rights of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) are the most important, after the rights of Allah (SWT). There is no human who has more rights than Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). Allah (SWT) says:

 

“Surely We have sent you (O Muhammad) as a witness and as a bearer of good news and as a warner, That you may believe in Allah and His Messenger and may aid him and revere him; and (that) you may declare His glory, morning and evening.” (Noble Qur’an, 48:8-9)

 

“And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) but to all the men as a bearer of good news and as a warner, but most men do not know.” (Noble Qur’an, 34:28)

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) has many rights. Respect and appreciation for him should be practised in the best manner. Respecting Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) includes respect of and adherence to his Sunnah (Ahlul Bayt). Due rights should be given to Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) without exaggeration. When one reads how the sincere companions (Sahabah) used to love and respect Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), one knows the importance of this matter. When Quraish sent Orwa ibn Masud to negotiate with Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) in Hudaybiyah area, he was greatly impressed by how the companions treated Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). He said, “I have visited the kings of Persia, Rome and Abyssinia, but I have not seen any leader more revered and respected by his people than Muhammad. If he ordered them to do anything, they do it without delay. If he performs Wudu (washing up for prayer) they all seek the remainder of the water he used. They never look at him in the eye, out of respect.” This is how Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) was treated by his sincere companions. He was Allah’s Last Messenger who possessed great qualities and the best of conduct ever. Allah (SWT) says:

 

“Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much.” (Noble Qur’an, 33:21)

 

“And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.” (Noble Qur’an, 68:4)

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the finest example of a perfect man in every sense of the term. He was a paragon of virtue and is the best exemplar for the human race. The Almighty Allah (SWT) distinguished him from all and sundry by instilling in his sublime personality such fine qualities as modesty, truthfulness, kindness, patience, loyalty, honesty, courage, bravery, generosity, magnanimity, wisdom and the like. By studying his lofty character and the amazingly simple life he (saw) led with his household, companions, wives and others. We are able to learn valuable lessons from his conduct and accordingly mould our own life-style.

 

Our society could never be an Islamic one unless we sincerely tread the footsteps of Almighty Allah’s final Messenger to mankind, Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), heed his sayings, observe his glorious actions and attitudes, and most important of all follow them, as the faithful among his sincere companions (Sahabah) followed and believed as shown in the following story:

 

One day Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) while entering the city of Madinah, saw a Jewish Man, just few steps ahead of him, taking his very good breed of Horse towards market to sell. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) liked the Horse. So he negotiated with the Jewish Man and bought it at an agreed price. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) did not have money on him at the time so he asked the Jewish Man to follow him up to his house and he would pay him his due. The Jewish Man agreed.

 

Rights of Rasoolullah on his followersAs they were going, another man approached and asked the Jewish Man if he was selling his Horse and for how much. He said that he had already sold the Horse to Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) for such and such amount. This man offered him better price and he agreed to sell the Horse to him.

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said to the Jewish Man that since he had already sold the Horse to him, it was wrong to break the agreement just like that. The Jewish Man denied making any agreement. Whilst all this was going on, the passers by stopped and wondered as to what was going on. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) explained exactly what happened.

 

Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah (SWT), do you have any witnesses to support your claim?

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) replied: No. We have no witnesses as there was no one present when the agreement was made.

 

Companions said: Sorry, we don’t think we can help you. How can we be sure who is telling the truth and who is lying?

 

In the meanwhile, a very close and sincere companion of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), Huzaima ibn Sabit (ra) happened to pass by and saw Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) surrounded by the people. On inquiring about it, came to know what happened.

 

Huzaima ibn Sabit (ra) said: Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) is telling the truth and the Jewish Man is lying.

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked: But you were not present when the agreement was made. So how can you judge without being there?

 

Huzaima ibn Sabit (ra) replied: O Messenger of Almighty Allah (SWT), you said that there is God and we believed you, even though we haven’t seen Him. You told us that Noble Qur’an was the word of Almighty Allah (SWT) and we believed you. You told us about Angels, Heaven and Hell and we believed you, even though we haven’t seen all these things. Then how is it possible that you would lie about such petty thing?

 

Messenger of Almighty Allah (SWT)The moral of the story is that there were some companions who walked, sat and ate with Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), but did not grasp his inner personality and at the same time there were also some other companions of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) who understood him physically as well as spiritually. Hence we should also follow our Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) with complete belief as Huzaima ibn Sabit (ra) but not as other companions.

 

The rights of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) include believing him in matters of religion and the past, present and future happenings he told us about. Adherence and submission to his orders are some of his rights. When a Muslim believes in Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and wants to follow his religion, he must do so believing that Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) way is the best way. Believing in Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) includes the affirmation that his religion is the best religion. Allah (SWT) has confirmed all these rights in the following verses of Noble Qur’an, what translated means:

 

“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you love Allah then you follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Say: “Obey Allah and His Messenger”: But if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith.” (Noble Qur’an, 3:31-32)

 

“But no, by your Lord, they can have no (real) faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (Noble Qur’an, 4:65)

 

“Whoever obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys Allah, and whoever turns back, so We have not sent you as a keeper over them.” (Noble Qur’an, 4:80)

 

“And let those beware who go against his order lest a trial afflict them or there befall them a painful chastisement.” (Noble Qur’an, 24:63)

 

“It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: If any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.” (Noble Qur’an, 33:36)

Story No. 127 – Why should one love Allah (SWT)?

Islamic Stories

 

Why should one love Allah (SWT)? According to Islam, one (1) reason for loving God, as said before lies in the fact that God is the most precious, absolute perfection and eternal beauty, that a man can ever conceive and therefore, man out of his nature that aspires to values, beauty and perfection loves God.

 

The second (2) reason for loving God, men by nature love whoever does good to them, and they appreciate such favor and benevolence, as Imam Ali (as), said: “Generosity and magnanimity enslave men.”

 

Now, as God is the source of all being, of all generosity and benevolence, man, by virtue of his nature, loves God. Prophet Muhammad (saw), said: “Love Allah (SWT) because He has done good to you and He has bestowed favors upon you.”

 

A believer who has started his spiritual journey towards God first comes to recognize God’s blessings upon him in providing him with lots of supports and helps that enabled him to act. Having continued his journey and been equipped with a mystical view of the world, he will realize that every good thing, indeed, comes from God himself. We read in the Noble Qur’an: “Whatever benefit comes to you (O man!), it is from God, and whatever misfortune befalls you, it is from yourself” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:79)

 

Aside from the fact that one who loves God is loved by Him (5:54), a real love for God prompts one to perform the best of deeds. Reason and nature dictate that if someone really loves God, he would act in a manner that is pleasing to God. In this regard, the Noble Qur’an says:

 

Say: “If you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins,” and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (Surah Al-E-Imran, 3:31)

 

This ayah indicates the interrelation between love, as an inner state, and emulating Prophet Muhammad (saw), which is an outward action. Moreover, it implies that no one may neglect his religious obligations under the pretext of love for God. Love for Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Story No. 126 – Do You Want Allah (SWT) to Love You? Then develop the following qualities!)

Islamic Stories

Allah loves Muhsineen (Good Doers) [2:195, 3:134, 3:148, 5:13, 5:93]
Allah loves Tawwabeen (Those who turn to rightfulness) [2:222]
Allah loves Mutahhareen (Those who keep their bodies free from filth) [2:222, 9:108]
Allah loves Muttaqeen (Those who guard themselves against evil) [3:76, 9:4, 9:7]
Allah loves Sabireen (Being Patient) [3:146]
Allah loves Mutawakkileen (Those who put their trust in Allah) [3:159]
Allah loves Muqsiteen (Those who act equitably and justly) [5:42, 49:9, 60:8]

It is noteworthy that although one of the things attributed to Allah (SWT) in Islam is the wrath (Ghadab), its application is much more limited compared to His mercifulness and love for His creatures. Indeed, His wrath is only for those who deliberately disbelieve or commit evil actions. Remember Allah (SWT) is also just. Hence evildoers and sinners must have their share of punishment and the virtuous, His bounties and favors.

Wrath or anger is also out of His love and mercy. If His love or mercy did not exist He would not care at all. It is like a father who becomes angry with his son when he does something wrong, because he has care and concern for his son and his entire family, because he wants his son to correct his behaviour and set a lesson for other children not to copy that wrong act.

A rational and intelligent love is the one that involves the good and interest of whole mankind and not a limited number of people. One can do many things to bring good to individuals or groups which bring evil to society or mankind as a whole. For example, if a Judge releases a guilty criminal he might have done something good to that person, but a great harm has been inflicted upon the society and the ideal of justice. One should not let his affections hide the truth. If our beloved child needs injection or operation we should not let our love and passions for him to prevent us from doing so. This is exactly how wrath (Ghadab) of Allah (SWT) acts out of care and concern.

Story No. 125 – Love is the Sole Purpose of our Creation (Love in Islam)

Islamic Stories

 

Love is the Sole Purpose of our Creation There is a famous divine saying (Hadith Qudsi) which can probably be found in all books written about the goal of creation in Islam. According to this Hadith Qudsi, Allah (SWT) says: “I was a hidden treasure; I loved to be known. Hence I created the world so that I would be known.”

 

Allah (SWT) has created the world out of love. Thus, a question arises: why did Allah (SWT) love to be known? Certainly, Allah (SWT) has no desire for fame. The purpose behind His love to be known is understandable by considering the fact that Allah (SWT) who is the Wise, the Compassionate and the Merciful creates the universe and particularly human beings to give them the maximum grace and perfection that they have the capacity for receiving. Of course, the perfection of any kind of being is decided by the degree of its similarity or closeness to Allah (SWT), and the most important factors in this are love of Allah (SWT), and prior to that knowledge of Allah (SWT), since there can be no love without knowing the beloved.

 

It is narrated in another Hadith Qudsi that when God loves someone, He becomes his ears, his eyes, his tongue, and his hands: “When I love him, then I shall be his ears with which he listens, his eyes with which he sees, his tongue with which he speaks, and his hands with which he holds; if he calls Me, I shall answer him, and if he asks Me, I shall give him.”

 

Similarly the way man has physical needs in life which he strives and struggles to fulfill, the soul too has needs that must be satisfied. These spiritual needs and urges have been placed by the hands of the creator in the depths of the creation’s soul. Man has a natural inclination to find love and love in any form towards any object has no valid reality except when it is for the sake of Allah (SWT). All love directly or indirectly in some way, shape, or form is a man’s hope to be in reach of the ultimate perfection, which can be nobody but Allah (SWT) – the Almighty.

 

God’s love for the world in general and human beings in particular is unanimously believed and emphasized by all Muslims. Indeed, one of the God’s names is al-Wadud, He who loves. Some non Muslims allege that God in Islam is very strict and cruel God who demands to be obeyed fully. He is not loving and kind. Nothing can be farther from truth than this allegation. It is enough to know that, with the exception of one, each of the 114 chapters of the Noble Qur’an begins with the verse: “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.”

 

In one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) we are told that, “God is more loving and kinder than a mother to her dear child.”

 

A young man came before Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) with a carpet and said, “O prophet of Allah! I passed through a jungle and heard the voices of young birds; and I took and put them into my carpet; and their mother came fluttering around my head, and I uncovered the young, and the mother fell down upon them, then I wrapped them up in my carpet; and there are the young which I have.”

 

Then Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Put them down.” And when he did so, their mother joined them: and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Do you wonder at the affection of the mother towards her young? I swear by Him who hath sent me, verily God is more loving to His creatures than the mother to these young birds. Return them to the place from which you took them, and let their mother be with them.

Story No. 124 – Love for Allah (SWT), Love for God is the foundation of Islamic belief

Islamic Stories

Love for God is the foundation of Islamic beliefThe Noble Qur’an says: “The believers are stronger in their love for Allah.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:165)

 

According to Islamic teaching, the minimum expectation from believers is that God should have the first place in their heart, in the sense that no other love may override one’s love for God; God should be the highest and foremost object of love. The Noble Qur’an says:

 

Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and the slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command: and Allah does not guide the transgressing people. (Surah Al-Tawba, 9:24)

 

This verse clearly indicates that one’s love for God has to be superior to one’s love for everything else that one may come to love in one’s life. This superiority shows itself when the love for God and for His religion comes in conflict with one’s love for one’s personal belongings. In this case, a believer should be able to sacrifice his personal favourite things for the sake of God. For example, if God asks us to give our lives to protect innocent lives or our territorial integrity or the like, we should not let our love for this world or any other distraction i.e. family, wealth, power, etc. prevent us from striving in His way. And nothing should come into conflict with our love for God. The Noble Qur’an says:

 

Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body. (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:4)

 

Imam Ali (as) would always spend time with his children. Once he was sitting in his house with his young children. Sayyida Zainab (sa) then asked, “Dear, father, do you love me?” Imam Ali (as) said, “Yes, of course, my children are like a part of my heart”. On hearing this, she said, “You also love Allah (SWT). How can two loves be in one heart of a true believer, the love of Allah (SWT) and that of children?”

 

Imam Ali (as) smiled and replied, “Love Allah (SWT) and for the sake of His love, you love His creatures; children and fellow beings too. I love you for the sake of Allah (SWT).”

 

Hence love for God is the foundation of Islamic belief, the foundation on which man is to establish the principles of his faith (Iman). Hence with one heart one cannot choose two beloveds.

 

Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) said once, “The heart is the sanctuary of God, therefore do not settle therein anything but God.”

 

Hadith Qudsi says, “Neither [the vastness of] My earth, nor [that of] My heaven can contain Me. Indeed it is the heart of the man of faith which can contain Me.”

 

Urdu Couplet says: Kaba Kitna Khush Kismat Hai, Ke Yeh Allah (SWT) Ka Ghar Hai, Lekin Is Mein Allah Nahi Rehta, Momin Kaba Se Bhi Ziada Khush Kismat Hai, Jis Ke Dil Mein Allah (SWT) Rehta Hai.

 

The history of Islam is full of memories of those who embodied a sincere and overwhelming love for God and His religion. One of those who full-heatedly devoted himself to Islam was Bilal al-Habashi, a black slave. The pagans of Quraysh in Makkah subjected him to torture asking him to mention names of their idols express his belief in them and disbelieve in Islam. They tormented him under the burning Sun by laying him on scorching sand and putting heavy rocks on his chest. Abu Bakr, a rich companion (Sahabi) of Prophet Muhammad (saw), was passing by when he heard the cry of Bilal. He went close and advised him to hide his belief, but Bilal was not prepared to do so; since “love was ever rebellious becomes deadly.”

 

Another example love for Islam is Imam Hussayn ibn Ali (sa), who said: “Oh God, I have left the world in Your love. Am ready to make my children orphans in Your love. My heart could not divert towards anybody but You. Even if You cut my body into pieces in Your love.”

Story No. 123– Love in Islam (Al-Hubb Al-Islam)

Islamic Stories

Every heart that is not aflame is no heart;

A frozen heart is nothing but a handful of clay.

O God! Give me a breast that sets ablaze,

And in that breast a heart and that heart consumed with fire.

 

In Islam, the concept of love is one of the most important concepts. This fact manifests itself in Islamic philosophy, theology, mysticism and ethics; indeed, in some aspects, it plays the crucial role. For example, in defining the Islamic point of view on the relation between God and Universe in general, and between God and Mankind in particular, love has the most significant and profound place. Love is so central in Islam that it is seep as “the firmest handhold of faith” and “faith (Iman) is nothing but love for the sake of God and hate for the sake of God”.

 

Ibn Abbas reported that Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The strongest faith is to be sincere for the sake of Allah, to hate for the sake of Allah (Tabarra), to love for the sake of Allah (Tawalla), and to discard for the sake of Allah.”

 

There is a tendency among some people to think that there should be no hate at all. These people assume that excellence and nobility of character and “being sociable” consist of having all men one’s friends. Certainly Islam recommends Muslims to love people and optimize compassionate and sincere relationship with them, even if they do not believe in Islam or in God. However, it is not feasible for a person who has principles in his life and has devoted his life to realize sacred values to be indifferent to evil and oppressive deeds of wrongdoers and make friendship with everybody. Such a person certainly will have some enemies, whether he likes it or not. There are always good people in the society and bad people. Good and bad are two opposite poles. Attraction towards the good is not possible without repulsion from the bad.

 

When two human beings attract each other and their hearts wish for them to be friends and companions with one another, we should look for a reason for that. The reason is nothing other than similarity and resemblance. Unless there is a similarity between these two persons, they cannot attract one another and move towards friendship with each other, as saying goes, Birds of same feather flock together.

 

Maulana Rumi in his Mathnavi mentions fine story that illustrate this fact.

 

The story relates to a wise man that saw a Raven who had formed affection for a Stork. They perched together and flew together! The wise man could not understand how two birds of two different species that had no similarity either in shape or in colour with each other could be friends. He went close and discovered that both of them had only one leg.

 

The same idea is emphasized by Imams of the Household (Ahlul Bayt) of Prophet Muhammad (saw). For example, Fudayl ibn Yasar, a disciple, asked Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) whether love and hatred derive from faith (Iman). Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) replied: “Is faith anything but love and hate?”

 

It is also narrated that Imam al-Baqir (as), stated that: Religion (Deen) is love and love is religion.

 

As these statements and traditions indicate, love plays an important and significant role. Hence it deserves our close attention in order that we may discover the real meaning of the concept of love in Islam.

 

First of all, some questions come to the mind. What is the kind of love that has been emphasized by Islam? Who is the object of this special kind of love? Why should the believers have this kind of love and what purpose does it serve?

 

Love in Islam can be broadly categorized into: Love for God, love for Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his Household (Ahlul Bayt), and love for the faithful.

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