Islam teaches that God has sent prophets to humanity, in different times and places, to communicate His message.
Stories
of the Prophets
Written
by Al-Imam ibn Kathir
Translated by Muhammad Mustapha Geme’ah, Al-Azhar
Contents
1. Prophet Adam
2. Prophet Idris (Enoch)
3. Prophet Nuh (Noah)
4. Prophet Hud
5. Prophet Salih
6. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)
7. Prophet Isma'il (Ishmael)
8. Prophet Ishaq (Isaac)
9. Prophet Yaqub (Jacob)
10. Prophet Lot (Lot)
11. Prophet Shuaib
12. Prophet Yusuf (Joseph)
13. Prophet Ayoub (Job)
14 . Prophet Dhul-Kifl
15. Prophet Yunus (Jonah)
16. Prophet Musa (Moses) & Harun (Aaron)
17. Prophet Hizqeel (Ezekiel)
18. Prophet Elyas (Elisha)
19. Prophet Shammil (Samuel)
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[next] 20. Prophet Dawud (David)
21. Prophet Sulaiman (Soloman)
22. Prophet Shia (Isaiah)
23. Prophet Aramaya (Jeremiah)
24. Prophet Daniel
25. Prophet Uzair (Ezra)
26. Prophet Zakariyah (Zechariah)
27. Prophet Yahya (John)
28. Prophet Isa (Jesus)
29. Prophet Muhammad
Informing
the Angels About Adam
Allah the Almighty revealed:
"Remember when your Lord said to the
angels: 'Verily, I am going to place mankind generations after generations on
earth.' They said: 'Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein
and shed blood, while we glorify You with praises and thanks (exalted be You
above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You.' Allah
said: 'I know that which you do not know.' Allah taught Adam all the names of
everything, then He showed them to the angels and said: "Tell Me the names
of these if you are truthful." They (angels) said: "Glory be to You,
we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Verily, it is You, the
All-Knower, the All-Wise."
He said: "O Adam! Inform them of their
names," and when he had informed them of their names, He said: "Did I
not tell you that I know the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know
what you reveal and what you have been hiding?"
2
[next] Remember when We said to the angels:
"Prostrate yourself before Adam" They prostrated except Iblis, he
refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers(disobedient to
Allah)."
We said: "O Adam! Dwell you and your wife
in the Paradise and both of you freely with pleasure and delight of things
therein as wherever you will but come not near this tree or you both will be of
the Zalimeen (wrongdoers)." Then the Satan made them slip therefrom (the
Paradise), and got them out from that in which they were. We said: "Get
you down all with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place
for you and an enjoyment for a time."
Then Adam received from his Lord Words. His Lord
pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily He is the One Who forgives
(accepts repentance), the most Merciful. We said: "Get down all of you
from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from
Me, and whoever follows My Guidance there shall be no fear on them, nor shall
they grieve. But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayah (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, and signs and revelations, etc) such are the dwellers of the
Fire, they shall abide therein forever." (Chapter 2:30-39, Qur'an).
Almighty
Allah also revealed:
"And surely, We created you (your father
Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being), then We told
the angels, "Prostrate to Adam", and they prostrated, except Iblis,
he refused to be those who prostrate. Allah said: "What prevented you (O
Iblis) that you did not postrate when I commanded you?"
Iblis said: "I am better than him (Adam),
You created me from fire and him You created from clay."
Allah said: "O Iblis get down from this
(Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out for you are of those
humiliated and disgraced." Iblis said: "Allow me respite till the Day
they are raised up (Day of Resurrection)."
Allah said: "You are of those allowed
respite."
Iblis said: "Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (they will not be dutiful to You)." Allah said: "Get out from Paradise,
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[next] disgraced and expelled. Whoever of them (mankind) will follow
you, then surely I will fill Hell with you all." "And O Adam! Dwell
you and your wife in Paradise, and eat thereof as you both wish, but approach
not this tree otherwise you both will be of the Zalimeen (unjust and
wrongdoers)."
“Then Satan whispered suggestions to them both
in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts
before, he said:" Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should
become angels or become of the immortals." Satan swore by Allah to them
both saying: "Verily I am one of the sincere well wishers for you
both." So he misled them with deception. Then when they tasted of the
tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became
manifest to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over
themselves (in order to cover their shame). Their Lord called out to them
saying "Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you, Verily Satan is an
open enemy unto you?" They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged
ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall
certainly be of the losers." Allah said: "Get down one of you an
enemy to the other (i.e. Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On earth will be a dwelling
place for you and an enjoyment, for a time." He said: "therein you
shall live, and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out
(resurrected)." (Chapter 7:11-25 Qur'an).
We imagine when Allah the Almighty decided to
create Adam: He addressed His angels and told them to prostrate before him. He
did not mean to ask their opinion or take their advice, for He is above that.
Allah the Exalted told them that He was going to create a vicegerent on the
earth who would have children and grandchildren who would corrupt the earth and
shed each other's blood. That is why the angels said to Allah the Almighty:
"Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed
blood!" (Chapter 2:30 Quran). There are old traditions about the angels
before the creation of Adam. According to Ibn Qatadah, it was said that the
angels were informed about the creation of Adam and his progency by the jinn
who lived before Adam. Abdullah Ibn Umar said that the jinn had existed for
about 2000 years before Adam and then shed blood. Therefore Allah sent on them
an army of angels that drove them out to the depths of the seas.
Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Ali jafar Al Baqer that the angels were informed that man would cause wickedness and shed blood on earth. It was also said that they knew that no one would be created on earth who would not be wicked and shed blood. Whether or not these traditions are correct, the angels did understand that Allah would create a
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[next] vicegerent
on earth. Allah the Almighty announced that HE was going to create a human
being out of clay, that HE would mold him and blow His spirit into him and then
the angels should prostrate before him. Abi Musa al Sha'arai narrated that the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Allah created Adam from a
handful of dust taken from different lands, so the children of Adam have been
created according to the composition of the land. Therefore from mankind we
have white, red, black and yellow ones; we have good and evil, ease and sorrow,
and what comes in between them." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Ibn Masud and other companions of the Prophet
(PBUH) said that Allah the Almighty sent Gabriel onto the earth to said that
Allah the Almighty sent Gabriel onto the earth to get Him clay therefrom. The
earth said: "I seek refuge in Allah from your decreasing my quantity or
disfiguring me." So Gabriel returned and did not take anything. He said:
"My Lord, the land sought refuge in You and it granted." So Allah
sent Michael for the same purpose, and the land sought refuge with Allah and it
was granted. So he went back and said to Allah what Gabriel has said before
him. Then Allah sent the Angel of Death, and the land sought refuge in Allah,
the angel said: "I also seek refuge with Allah from returning without
carrying out His command." So he took clay from the face of the earth and
mixed it. He did not take from one particular place, but rather he took white,
red, and black clay from different places. The Angel of Death ascended with it,
Allah soaked the clay till it became sticky. Then Allah said to the angels:
"Truly, I am going to create man from clay.
So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me,
then you fall down prostrate to him." (Chapter 38:71-72 Quran). So Allah
shaped Adam into a human being, but he remained a figure of clay for fourty
years. The angels went past him. They were seized with fear by what they saw,
and Iblis felt fear most. He used to pass by the figure of Adam, buffeting it,
which would make a sound like pottery. Allah told us: "He created man
(Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery." (Chapter 55:Quran).
When the time drew near to breathe the spirit into Adam, as Allah decreed, He
commanded the angels: "When I breathe My spirit into him prostrate before
him." Allah breathed His spirit into Adam and when it reached his head Adam
sneezed. The angels said: "Say all praise belongs to Allah." Adam
repeated: "All praise belongs to Allah." Allah said to him:
"Your Lord has granted you mercy." When the spirit reached his eyes,
Adam looked at the fruits of Paradise. When it reached his abdomen Adam felt an
appetite for food. He jumped hurriedly before the spirit could reach his legs,
so that he could eat from the fruits of Paradise. Allah, therefore, said:
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[next] "Man is created of haste."
(Chapter 21:37 Quran).
And then:
"The angels prostrated themselves all of
them together. Except Iblis, he refused to be among the prostrators. (Ch
15:31-32 Quran). Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Allah created Adam from dust after He mixed the clay and left him for some
time until it became sticky mud, after which Allah shaped him. After that Allah
left him till it became like potter's clay. Iblis used to go past him saying
'You have been created for a great purpose.' After that Allah breathed His
spirit into him. The first thing into which the spirit passed was his eye and
then his nose. He sneezed. Allah said: "May your Lord have mercy upon you,
O Adam! Go to those angels and see what they would say.' So Adam went and
greeted them. they replied saying: "Peace be upon you and the mercy and
blessings of Allah." Allah said: "O Adam! This is your greeting and
that of your offspring." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Adam's
Progeny Accept Allah
Allah the Almighty revealed:
"Remember when your Lord brought forth from
the children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his
offspring) and made them testify as to themselves saying: 'Am I not your Lord?'
They said: 'Yes! We testify' lest you should say on the Day of Resurrectio:.
'Verily we have been unaware of this'. Or lest you should say: 'It was only our
father aforetime who took others as partners in worship along with Allah and we
were merely their descendants after them; will you then destroy us because of
the deeds of men who practiced al batil (polytheism) and committing crimes and
sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allah?' Thus do We explain the
Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations etc) in detail so
that they may turn unto the truth". (Ch 7:172-174 Quran). Adam's progeny
declared: "Our Lord, we bear witness that You are our Lord; we have no
other Lord but Allah. Allah raised their father Adam, and he looked at them and
saw those of them who were rich and those who were poor, and those who had good
forms and those who did not. Adam said: "O Allah! I wish You to make Your
servants equal." Allah replied "I love being thanked." Adam saw
among the prophets like lamps among his progeny.
The
Prophet's Covenant
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[next] Almighty Allah declared: "Remember
when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (o Muhammad), and
from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus son of Mary. We took from them a strong
covenant. (Ch 33:7Quran). In another verse Allah the Exalted commanded:
"So set you (O Muhammad) your face towards
the religion of pure Islamic Monotheism Hanifan (worship none but Allah Alone)
Allah's Fitrah (Allah's Islamic Monotheism), with which He has created mankind.
No change let there be in khalqillah (the Religion of Allah--Islamic
Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most men know not." (Ch
30:30 Quran). Another version of the story relates that Allah took a handful of
the dust of the earth and mixed into it the colors, white, black, yellow and
red. That is the reason why men are born different colors. When Allah mixed the
dust with water, it turned into potter's clay that makes a sound. It was
fermented and had a smell. Iblis passed by, wondering what was going to be made
of that clay. From the clay Allah created Adam. he molded his form with His own
hands and blew His spirit into him. Adam's body quivered as life was imbued
into it.
"Then We drowned the other (disbelievers
and polytheists, etc.)." (Ch 37:82 Quran).
Similarity
between Adam and Jesus (PBUT)
Allah the Almighty declared:
"Verily the likeness of Jesus, in Allah's
Sight is the likeness of Adam, He created him from the dust then He said to him
"Be!" --and he was. (Ch 3:59 Quran).
The
Meaning of the Angel's Prostration
Adam opened his eyes and saw all the angels
prostrating before him except one being who was standing at a distance Adam did
not know what kind of creature it was that did not prostrate before him nor did
he know its name. Iblis was standing with the angels so as to be included in
the command given to them but he was not one of them. He was a jinn, and as
such he was supposed to be inferior to the angels. What is clear is that this
prostration was to show respect and did not mean that the angels were
worshipping Adam. Prostrating in worship is done only for Allah.. Almighty
Allah recounted the story of Iblis's refusal to prostate before Adam:
"Remember when your Lord said to the angels, 'I am going to create a man (Adam) from
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[next] sounding clay of
altered black smooth mud. So when I have fashioned him completely and breathed
into him (Adam) the soul which I created for him then fall you down prostrating
yourselves unto him'. So the angels prostrated themselves all of them together,
except Iblis, he refused to be among the prostrators. Allah said: 'O Iblis!
What is your reason for not being among the prostrators?' Iblis said: 'I am not
the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from sounding
clay of altered black smooth mud.' Allah said: 'Then get out from here for
verily you are Rajim (an outcast or cursed one). Verily the curse shall be upon
you till Day of Recompense (Day of Resurrection)'". (Ch 15:28-35 Quran).
In another surah Almighty Allah recounted it
thus:
"Surely We created you (your father Adam)
and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being), then We told the
angels: 'Prostrate to Adam and they prostrated except Iblis he refused to be of
those who prostrate". Allah said: "What prevented you Iblis that you
did not prostrate when I commanded you?" Iblis said: 'I am better than him
(Adam), You created me from fire and him You created from clay.' Allah said:
'Get down from this Paradise, it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out,
for you are of those humiliated and disgraced.' Iblis said: 'Allow me respite
till the Day of Resurrection).' Allah said: 'You are of those allowed
respite.'" (Ch 7:11-15 Quran). Ibn Jarir reported that Muhammad Ibn sirin
said that the first one to reach a conclusion by reasoning was Iblis and that
the sun and moon were not worshiped except through this method. This means that
Iblis tried to compare himself to Adam. He believed that he was more honorable
than Adam. Therefore he abstained from prostrating even though Allah had
commanded him to do so, just as He had commanded the angels.
If an analogy is made we see that Iblis is vain.
For indeed clay is better than fire because in it can be found the qualities of
calmness, clemency, perseverance and growth; whereas in fire can be found
heedlessness, insignificance, haste, and incineration. Iblis tried in vain to
justify his refusal:
"Shall I prostrate to one whom You created
from clay?" Iblis said: "See? those whom You have honored above me,
if You give me respite (keep me alive) to the Day of Resurrection, I will
surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them astray) all but a
few!" (Ch 17:62 Quran).
Adam was following what was happening around him and had feelings of love, awe, and astonishment. Deep love of Allah,Who had created and glorified him and Who had
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[next] made His angels prostrate before
him. Awe of the Creator's wrath when He excluded Iblis from His mercy. Adam was
surprised by this creature, Iblis who abhorred him without even knowing him and
who imagined himself better than Adam without having proved that he was
worthier. What a strange creature Iblis was, and how strange was his excuse for
not prostrating! He imagined that fire is better than clay, but how did he get
such an idea? Such knowledge is exclusive to Allah Who created fire and clay
and Who knows which is the better of the two. From the dialogue Adam realized
that Iblis was a creature characterized by cunning and ingratitude. He then
knew that Iblis was his eternal enemy. He was greatly astonished at Iblis's
audacity and Allah's tolerance. Immediately after his creation Adam witnessed
the large amount of freedom that Allah gives to His commissioned creatures.
Allah knew that Iblis was not going to obey Him
in prostrating before Adam. Allah could have totally annihilated him or turned
him into a handful of dust or stifled the refusal in his mouth. Yet, Allah
gives His commissioned creatures absolute freedom even to the extent that they
can refuse Allah the Almighty's commands. He grants them the freedom of denial,
disobedience, and even disagreement with Him. His kingdom will not diminish if
the disbelievers do not believe in Him nor will it be extended if many people
believe in Him. On the contrary, the disbelievers will lose, and the believers
will gain but Allah is above all of that.
There were many traditions about Iblis at the
time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ibn Masud, Ibn Abbas and a group of the
companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Iblis had been the head of
the angels in the worldly heavens. Ibn Abbas said in one narration that his
name had been Azazil and in another narration he said it had been Al Harith.
Ibn Abbas also said that Iblis was a jinn and that they had once been the
keepers of Paradise, with Iblis the most honorable and the most learned and the
most pious of them. Another tradition says that he had been one of the famous
four possessors of wings (angels), before Allah transformed him into the
accursed Satan.
Allah Almighty recounts Iblis's disobedience in
another surah:
"Remember when your Lord said to the angels: 'Truly I am going to create man from clay. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him.' So the angels prostrated themselves all of them; except Iblis, he was proud and was one of the disbelievers." Allah said: "The truth is, and the truth I say, that I will fill Hell with you and those of them (mankind) that follow you
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[next] together." (Ch 38:71-85 Quran).
The
Reason for Adam's Creation
After this lesson about freedom Adam learned
another lesson, one about knowledge. Adam realized that Iblis was the symbol of
evil in the universe and that the angels were the symbol of good. However he
did not yet know anything about himself. Then Allah made him perceive his true
identity and the reason for his creation, and the secret of his glorification.
Allah the Exalted said: "He taught Adam all the names of everything".
(Ch 2:31 Quran).
Teaching
Adam
Almighty Allah granted Adam the power to know
the natures of all things and to summarize them by names; that is a bird, that
is a star, that is a tree, etc Allah implanted in Adam an insatiable need for
and love of knowledge and a desire to bequeath knowledge to his children. This
was the reason for his creation and the secret of his glorification. After Adam
had learned the names of all things, along with their properties and uses,
Allah presented them to the angels and said:
"Tell Me the names of these if you are
truthful."(Ch 2:31 Quran)
The angels admitted their inability:
"Glory be to You, we have knowledge except
what You have taught us. Verily it is You the All Knower, the All Wise."
(Ch 2:32)
Allah Almighty then turned to Adam:
"O Adam! Inform them of their names,"
and when he had informed them of their names, He said: 'Did I not tell you that
I know the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and
what you have been hiding?'" (Ch 2:33).
Allah wanted the angels to know that He knew of their astonishment when He had told them about the creation of Adam and that He also knew of their confusion which they had not revealed, as well as what Iblis had concealed of his disobedience and ingratitude. The angels realized that Adam was the creature who knew what they did not know and that his capacity to learn was his noblest quality. His knowledge included knowledge of the Creator which we call faith or Islam, as well as the knowledge he would
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[next] need
to inhabit and master the earth. All kinds of worldly knowledge which are
included in this.
Adam knew the names of everything. Sometimes he
talked to the angels, but they were preoccupied with worshipping Almighty
Allah. Therefore Adam, felt lonely. One day he slept and when he awoke he found
near his head, a woman gazing at his face with beautiful tender eyes. The
angels asked him her name he replied: "Eve (Hawa)." (means living
things). They asked: "Why did you call her Eve?" Adam said:
"Because she was created of me and I am a living being."
Adam Sees
Eve
Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the
Prophet (PBUH) narrated that when Iblis was sent out of Paradise and Adam was
accommodated therein, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not have a partner from
whom he could get tranquility. He slept for some time and when he woke up, he
saw a woman whom Allah had created from his ribs. So he asked her, "Who
are you? She replied, "A woman" He asked: "Why have you been
created?" She said :"So that you could find tranquility in me."
The angels, trying to find out the extent of his knowledge, asked him:
"What is her name, O Adam?" He replied, "Eve". They asked:
"Why was she so named?" He replied, " Because she was created from
something living."
Eve's
Creation
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq and Ibn Abbas related that
Eve was created from the shortest left rib of Adam while he was sleeping and
after awhile she was clothed with flesh. That is why Allah the Exalted said:
"O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who
created you from a single person (Adam) and from Him (Adam) He created his wife
(Eve), and from them both He created many men and women. (Ch 4:1)
Allah also said:
"It is he Who has created you from a single
person (Adam) and then He created from him his wife (Eve), in order that he
might enjoy the pleasure of living with her."(Ch 7:189).
Establishing
the Islamic Greeting
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[next] Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said: "O Muslims! I advise you to be gentle with women,
for they are created from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its
upper part. If you try to straighten it, it will break and if you leave it, it
will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of the women." (Sahih
Bukhari).
Allah commanded Adam to dwell in Paradise:
"O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you
freely with pleasure and delight of things therein as wherever you will, but
come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zalimeen (wrong
doers)."(Ch 2:35)
The
Location of Adam and Eve's Paradise
The location of this Paradise is unknown to us.
The Quran did not reveal it, and the commentators had five different opinions.
Some said that it was the paradise of our refuge and that its place was heaven.
Others regreted that statement because if it was the paradise of refuge Iblis
would have been forbidden admission and disobedience would have been forbidden
as well. Still others said that it was another paradise that was created by
Allah for Adam and Eve. A fourth group said it was a paradise on the earth
located in a high place. Another group of commentators accept what
was in the Quran without questioning where this
paradise was located. We agree with this last opinion as the lesson we learn
from its location is immaterial compared to the lesson we learn from the events
that took place there.
Allah's
Warning to Adam and Eve
Adam and eve were admitted to Paradise and there
they lived the dream of all human beings. Allah permitted them to approach and
enjoy everything except one tree, that might have been the Tree of Pain or the
Tree of Knowledge. Allah forbade them they were give abode in Paradise.
"But come not near this tree or you both
will be of the wrong doers." (Ch 2:35)
Adam's
Weakness
Adam and Eve understood that they were forbidden to eat the fruit of that tree. Adam was however a human being and man tends to forget. His heart changes and his will weakens. Iblis summoned all the envy within him and took advantage of Adam's humanity to exploit him. He started to whisper to him day after day, coaxing him: "Shall
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[next] I guide you to
the Tree of Immortality and the Eternal Kingdom?" He said to them:
"Your Lord did not forbid you this tree
save you should become angels or become of the immortals." He (Satan) swore
by Allah to them both saying: "Verily I am one of the sincere well wishers
for you both." (Ch 7:20-21)
Adam asked himself: "What will happen if I
eat from this tree? It might truly be the Tree of Immortality." His dream
was to live forever in the pure innocence of Paradise." Years went by, and
Adam and Eve were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day they
decided to eat of its fruit. They forgot that Allah had warned them not to
approach it and that Iblis was their sworn enemy. Adam stretched out his hand,
picked one of the fruits and offered it to Eve. They both ate of the forbidden
tree.
Allah Almighty told us: "So he (Satan)
misled them with deception." (Ch 7:22)
Allah said: "Thus did Adam disobey his Lord
so he went astray." (Ch 20:121). According to the old Testament, Eve was
tempted by the serpent to eat of the forbidden tree. She ate because of the
words of the serpent and fed Adam some of it. At that moment, their eyes were
opened to the fact that they were naked, and they took the leaves of the fig
tree to cover themselves. Wahb Ibn Munabah said that their clothing (before
their sin) was made of light on the private parts of both of them.This story in
the Old Testament is a falsification and deception. Allah the Almighty
revealed:
"O Children of Adam! Let not Satan deceive
you, as he got your parents (Adam and Eve) out of Paradise stripping them of
their rainments; to show them their private parts. Verily he and Qabiluhu (his
soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them.
Verily, We made the devils (protectors and helpers) for those who believe
not." (Ch 7:27)
Adam had hardly finished eating when he felt his
heart contract, and he as filled with pain, sadness and shame. The surrounding
atmosphere had changed and the internal music had stopped. He discovered that
he and his wife were naked, so they both started cutting tree leaves with which
to cover themselves.
Condensed
Story of Adam and Allah's Promise
Allah the Almighty addressed him:
"Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily Satan is an open enemy unto you?"
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[next] They said:
"Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow
not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers." Allah said;
"Get down, one of you an enemy to the other (Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On
earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment, for a time." He
said: "Therein you shall live and therein you shall die, and from it you
shall be brought out (resurrected)." (7:22-25).
Again there are old stories about these events.
Al Hafez Ibn Asaker narrated that Allah commanded two angels to remove Adam
from His holy proximity. So Gabriel stripped him of the crown on his head, and
Michael took the diadem from his forehead. Adam thought that his punishment had
been hastened and bowed down crying; "Forgiveness! Forgiveness!" so
Allah asked: "Are you running away from Me?" Adam replied, "No,
my Lord, but I am shy of You." Abdul Rahman Ibn Amru Al - Awza'iy said that
Adam spent 100 years in Paradise. In another narration it was said he spent 60
years. Ibn Asaker reported that Adam wept for 60 years for his loss of Paradise
and 70 years for his mistake, and he wept for another 70 years when his son was
killed. They left Paradise and descended upon the earth. Adam was sad and Eve
was crying. Allah accepted their repentance because it was sincere and He told
them that the earth would be their realm and origin where they would live and
die and whence they would come on the Day of Judgment.
Allah the Almighty recounted this third lesson
Adam learned in Paradise:
"Indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm will power. Remember when We said to the angels "Prostrate yourselves to Adam." They prostrated (all) except Iblis, who refused. then We said: "O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. so let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you be distressed in misery. Verily, you have (a promise from Us) that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you will suffer not from thrist therein nor from the sun's heat." then Satan whispered to him, saying "O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?" Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness and gave him guidance. Allah said: "Get you down (upon the earth), both of you, together from Paradise, some of you are an enemy to some others. THen if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (neither believes
14
[next] in this Quran nor acts on its
orders etc). Verily, for him is a life of hardship and We shall raise him up
blind on the Day of Resurrection." He will say: "O my Lord! Why have
you raised me up blind, while I had sight before." Allah will said:
"like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, etc). came unto you, but you disregarded them (you left them, did
not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you
will be neglected in the Hellfire, away from Allah's Mercy.)" And thus do
We requite him who transgresses beyond bounds (commits the great sins and
disobeys his Lord (allah) and believes not in His Messengers, and His revealed
Books, like this Quran etc), and believes not in the Ayat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). of his Lord, and the torment of the
Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting." (Ch 20:115-127)
Commentary:
Why Adam and Eve Descended
Some people believe that the reason why mankind
does not dwell in Paradise is that Adam was disobedient and that if it had not
been for this sin, we could have been there all along. These are naive fictions
because when Allah wanted to create Adam, He said to the angels, "I shall
make a vicegerent on the earth." He did not say, "I shall make a
vicegerent in Paradise." Adam's descent on earth, then, was not due to
degradation but rather it was dignified descent. Allah knew that Adam and Eve
would eat of the tree and descend to earth. He knew that Satan would rape their
innocence. That experience was essential for their life on earth; it was a
cornerstone of their vicegerency. It was meant to teach Adam, Eve, and their
progeny that it was Satan who had caused them to be expelled from Paradise and
that the road to Paradise can only be reached by obedience to Allah and enmity
to Satan.
Commentary:
Adam's Free Will
Could it be said that Adam and the rest of mankind were predestined to sin and to be expelled from Paradise and sent to the earth? In fact, this fiction is as naive as the first one. Adam complete free will, and he bore the consequences of his deed. He disobeyed by eating of the forbidden tree, so Allah dismissed him from Paradise. His disobedience does not negate his freedom. On the contrary it is a consequence of it. The truth of the matter is that Allah knew what was going to happen, as He always know the outcome of events before they take place. However Allah does not force things to happen. He grants free will to His human creatures. On that He bases His supreme wisdom in populating the earth, establishing the vicegerents, and so on. Adam understood his 3rd lesson. He
15
[next] knew now in a practical way
that Iblis was his enemy, the cause of his losing the blessing of living in
Paradise, and the cause of his distress. Adam also understood that Allah
punishes disobedience and that the way of Paradise has to be through submission
to the will of Allah. And he learned from Allah Almighty to ask for
forgiveness. Allah accepted Adam's repentance and forgave him. He then sent him
to the earth as His first messenger.
Encounter
Between Adam and Moses (PBUT) – Hadith
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger (PBUH)
said: "Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam: 'Your
sin expelled you from Paradise.' Adam said: ' You are Moses whom Allah selected
as His messenger and as the one to whom He spoke directly. Yet you blame me for
a thing which had already been written in my fate before my Creation?"
Allah's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said twice, "So Adam outclassed
Moses." (Sahih Bukhari). Umar Ibn Al Khattab also narrated that the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Moses (PBUH) said: 'My Lord! May I see Adam
who removed us and himself from the Paradise?" So Allah made him see Adam
and he said to him: "Are you Adam?" Adam said: "Yes." And
he said "Were you the one in Whom Allah breathed His spirit and before
whom He bowed His angels and to whom He taught the names of all things?"
Adam answered: "Yes." So Moses said: "What made you remove us
and yourself from Paradise.?" Adam said: "Who are you?" Moses
said: "I am Moses." Adam said: "So you are Moses the prophet of
the Children of Israel. Were you the one Allah spoke to directly?" Moses
answered "Yes." Adam said: "Why do you blame me for a matter
which Allah had predestined?" So Allah’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said
twice. "Adam outclassed Moses." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Variation
of Where Adam, Eve, and Iblis Descended
There are many traditions concerning the place of Adam's descent upon earth. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "Adam descended on land 'Dihna' between Mecca and Taif." Al Hassan said that Adam descended in India and Eve in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Iblis Bodistiman (Iraq), and the serpent in Ashahan (Iran). This last was also reported by Ibn Hatim. Ass'ady related that Adam descended with the Black Stone (a large black stone set into the wall of the ka'ba in Mecca. It is said to have come from Paradise) in India, and he had a handful of the seeds of Paradise. He sowed them in India and they grew into the fragrant tree therein. Ibn Umar said that Adam descended on As-Safa and Eve on Al Marwa ( names of two mountains in the vicinity of the sacred
16
[next] house in Mecca. Part of the
rites of pilgrimage (hajj) includes pacing between these two hills in
commemoration of Hajar's search for water). This was also reported by Ibn
Hatim. Abdul Razzaq reported that Abi Musa Al-shari said that when Allah
ordered Adam to descend from Paradise to earth, He taught him the making of
everything and provided him with the crops from Paradise. Abu Hurairah narrated
that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The best of days on which the sun
has risen is Friday. One this day Adam was created, and on this day he was
descended to earth." (al Bukhari)
Adam's
Life on Earth
Adam knew he bade farewell to peace and he left
Paradise. On earth he had to face conflict and struggle. No sooner had one
ended than another began. He also had to toil to sustain himself. He had to
protect himself with clothes and weapons and protect his wife and children from
the wild beasts.
Above all, he had to struggle with the spirit of
evil. Satan, the cause of his expulsion from Paradise, continued to beguile him
and his children in an effort to have them thrown into the eternal hellfire.
The battle between good and evil is continuous, but those who follow Allah's
guidance and should fear nothing while those who disobey Allah and follow Iblis
will be damned along with him.
Adam grasped all of this and with the knowledge
of this suffering he started his life on the earth. The only thing that allowed
his grief was that he was master of the earth and had to make it yield to him.
He was the one who had to perpetuate, cultivate and construct and populate the
earth. He was also the one who had to procreate and raise children who would
change and improve the world.
The First
Four Children
The pinnacle of earthly bliss was reached when Adam
and Eve witnessed the birth of their first children, a set of twins. Adam was a
devoted father and Eve a contented mother. The twins were Cain (Qabil) and his
sister. Later Eve gave birth to a second set of twins, Abel (Habil) and his
sister. The family enjoyed the bounties and fruits of the earth provided by
their Lord. The children grew up to be strong and healthy young adults. Cain
tilled the land while Abel raised cattle.
Cain's
Disobedience
The time arrived when the two young men desired life partners. This was part of Allah’s
17
[next] plan for mankind, to multiply
and form nations with different cultures and colors. Allah revealed to Adam
that he should marry each son to the twin sister of the other. Adam instructed
his children according to Allah's command, but Cain was displeased with the
partner chosen for him, for Abel's twin sister was not as beautiful as his own.
Commentary:
Cain's Disobedience
It appears that since the beginning of time,
physical beauty has been a factor in the attraction between man and women. This
attraction caused Cain to envy his brother Abel. He rebelled against Allah's
command by refusing to accept his father's advice.
At first glance Cain's rebellion might appear
strange, but we should remember that although man has a pure nature, the
potential for dichotomy exists. In other words, he had both good and bad
qualities. He can become greedy, covetous, possessive, selfish and even
destructive. Man is, therefore capable of seeking self-satisfaction even if it leads
to failure in this life and in the hereafter. The path to goodness lies in
harnessing the enemy within him, his baser self by controlling evil thoughts
and deeds and practicing moderation in his desires and actions. His reward then
will be the delights of this world and the hereafter. Thus Allah tests us
through our divided nature.
Cain's
Jealousy of Abel
Adam was in a dilemma. He wanted peace and
harmony in his family, so he invoked Allah for help. Allah commanded that each
son offer a sacrifice, and he whose offering was accepted would have right on
his side. Abel offered his best camel while Cain offered his worst grain. His
sacrifice was not accepted by Allah because of his disobedience to his father
and the insincerity in his offering. This enraged Cain even further. Realizing
that his hopes marrying his own beautiful sister were fading, he threatened his
brother. "I will kill you! I refuse to see you happy while I remain
unhappy!"
Abel feeling sorry for his brother, replied,
"It would be more proper for you, my brother to search for the cause of
your unhappiness and then walk in the way of peace. Allah accepts the deeds
only from those who serve and fear Him, not from those who reject His
Commands."
The First
Death
Abel was intelligent, obedient, and always ready to obey the will of Allah. This
18
[next] contrasted sharply with his brother
who was arrogant, selfish and disobedient to his Lord. Abel did not fear his
brother's threats, but neither did he want his brother to be hurt, Allah had
blessed Abel with purity and compassion. Hoping to allay the hatred seething in
his brother Abel said, " My brother, you are deviating from the right path
and are sinful in your decisions. It is better that you repent to Allah and
forget about your foolish threat. But if you do not then I will leave the
matter in the hands of Allah. You alone will bear the consequence of your sin,
for the Fire is the reward of the wrong-doers." This brotherly plea did
nothing to lessen the hatred in Cain's heart, nor did he show fear of Allah's
punishment. Even familial considerations were cast aside. Cain struck his
brother with a stone killing him instantly. This was the first death and the
first criminal act committed by man on earth. When Abel had not appeared for some
time, Adam began to search for him but found no trace of his beloved son. He
asked Cain about Abel's whereabouts. Cain insolently replied that he was not
his brother's keeper nor his protector. From these words his father understood
that Abel was dead and Adam was filled with grief.
The First
Burial
Meanwhile Cain did not know what to do with his
brother's corpse. He carried it on his back wandering from place to place
trying to hide it. His anger had now subsided and his conscience was saddled
with guilt. He was tiring under the burden of the corpse which had started to
have a stench. As a mercy, and to show that dignity could be retained even in
death, Allah sent two ravens that began fighting, causing the death of one. The
victorious bird used its beak and claws to dig a hole in the ground, rolled its
victim into it and covered it with sand. Witnessing this, Cain was overcome
with shame and remorse. "Woe unto me!" he exclaimed. "I was
unable to do what this raven has done, that is to hide my brother's
corpse." Cain then buried his brother. This was also the first burial of
man.
Allah the Almighty revealed:
" And (O Muhammad) recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam (Abel and Cain) in truth; when each offered a sacrifice to Allah, it was accepted from the one but not from the other. The latter said to the former; "I will surely kill you." The former said: "Verily Allah accepts only from those who are Al Muttaqeen (the pious). If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I fear Allah; the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinn, and all that exists). Verily
19
[next] I intend to let
you draw my sin onyourself as well as yours then you will be one of the
dwellers of the Fire, and that is the recompense of the Zalimeen (polytheists,
and wrongdoers)." So the self of the other (latter one) encouraged him and
made fair seeming to him the murder of his brother; he murdered him and became
one of the losers. Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide
the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not
even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?"
Then he became one of those who regretted. (Ch 5:27-31).
The First
Murder - from Various Hadith
Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud and a group of the
companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) related that inter-marriage of the
male of one pregnancy with the female of another had been in practice among
Adam's children. Abel wanted to marry Cain's sister, but Cain wanted her for himself
because she was very beautiful. Adam ordered him to give her in marriage to his
brother but he refused. So Adam ordered both of them to offer a sacrifice, then
went to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage. After Adam had left, they offered
their sacrifices; Abel offered a fat lamb, he was a shepherd, while Cain
offered a bundle of worst grain. Fire descended and devoured Abel's sacrifice,
leaving that of Cain so he became angry and said: "I will surely kill you
so that you will not marry my sister." Abel replied, "Allah accepts
from those who fear Him." According to Abu Ja'afar al Baqer, Adam was
watching their offering and was sure that Abel's sacrifice would be accepted.
Cain complained to Adam that the acceptance was due to his supplication for
Abel and that he had not done the same for him, so he promised his father to
settle the matter between himself and his brother. One night, Abel was late
returning from tending his flock. Adam sent Cain to see what happened to him.
When he found him, he glared at him saying: "Yours was accepted, and mine
was not." Abel replied, "Allah only accepts from the
Allah-fearing." Cain became angry on hearing this and hit him with a piece
of iron that was with him and thus killing him. In another version it was said
that he killed him with a rock to the head while he was sleeping.
Adam
Preaches to His Children
Adam was utterly grief stricken by the loss of his two sons. One was dead, the other was won over by the devil. Adam prayed for his son and turned to mundane matters for he had to toil for his sustenance. At the same time he was a prophet advising his children and grandchildren, telling them about Allah and calling them to believe in Him. He told
20
[next] them about Iblis and warned them by recounting his own experience
with the devil and of how the devil had tempted Cain to kill his brother.
Adam's
Successor, Seth
Years and years passed, Adam grew old and his
children spread all over the earth. Muhammad Ibn Ishaq related that when Adam's
death drew near, he appointed his son Seth to be his successor and taught him
the hours of the day and night along with their appropriate acts of worship. He
also foretold to him the floor that would come. Abu Dhar narrated that the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Allah sent down 104 psalms, of which 50
were sent down to Seth."
Adam's
Death
Abdullah Ibn Al Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal narrated
that Ubai Ibn Kab said: "When Adam's death was near, he said to his
children: "O my children, indeed I feel an appetite for the fruits of
Paradise."
So they went away searching for what Adam had
requested. They met with the angels, who had with them his shroud and what he
was to be embalmed with. They said to them: "O Children of Adam, what are
you searching for? What do you want? Where are you going?" They said:
"Our father is sick and has an appetite for the fruits of Paradise."
The angels said to them: "Go back, for your father is going to meet his
end soon." So they returned (with the angels) and when Eve saw them she
recognized them. She tried to hide herself behind Adam. He said to her.
"Leave me alone. I came before you; do not go between me and the angels of
my Lord." So they took his soul, embalmed and wrapped him, dug the grave
and laid him in it. They prayed on him and put him in his grave, saying:
"O Children of Adam, this is your tradition at the time of
death.""
Before his death Adam reassured his children
that Allah would not leave man alone on the earth, but would sent His prophets
to guide them. The prophets would have different names, traits and miracles,
but they would be united in one thing; the call to worship Allah alone. This
was Adam's bequest to his children. Adam finished speaking and closed his eyes.
Then the angels entered his room and surrounded him. When he recognized the
Angel of Death among them, his heart smiled peacefully.
Successor
After Adam
After Adam's death, his soth Seth (Shiith) took over the responsibilities of prophethood,
21
[next] according to a hadith
narrated by Abu Dhar. Abu Dhar narrated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"Allah sent down one hundred and four psalms, of which fifty were sent
down to Seth." (Sahih al Bukhari) When the time of his death came Seth's
son Anoush succeeded him. He in turn, was succeeded by his son Qinan, who was succeeded
by Mahlabeel. The Persians claim that Mahlabeel was the King of the Seven
Regions, that he was the first one to cut down trees to build cities and large
forts and that he built the cities of Babylonia. He reigned for a period of
forty years. When he died his duties were taken ov er by his son Yard, who on
his death, bequeathed them to his son Khonoukh, who is Idris (pbuh) according
to the majority of the scholars.
Allah has praised Enoch, describing him as being
a prophet and truthful:
"Mention in the Book (Quran) Idris (Enoch).
Verily! He was a man of truth (and) a prophet. We raised him to a high
station". (Ch 19:56-57 Quran).
Birth and
Teachings
Enoch was born and raised in Babylon following
the teachings and religion of Prophet Adam (pbuh) and his son Seth (pbuh).
Enoch was the 5th generation of the Prophet Adam. He called the people back to
his forefathers religion, but only a few listened to him, while the majority
turned away.
Prophet Enoch and his followers left Babylon for
Egypt. There he carried on his mission, calling people to what is just and
fair, teaching them certain prayers and instructing them to fast on certain
days and to give a portion of their wealth to the poor.
The Wise
Sayings of Prophet Enoch
He was the first of the Children of Adam to be
given prophethood after Adam and Seth (peace upon them). It is reported that he
was the 1st to invent the basic form of writing. Some of his wise sayings are:
"Happy is he who looks at his own deeds and
appoints them as pleaders to his Lord." "None can show better
gratitude for Allah's favors than he who shares them with others."
"Do not envy people for what they have as they will only enjoy it for a
short while." "He who indulges in excess will not benefit from
it." "The real joy of life is to have wisdom."
22
3.
Prophet Nuh (Noah)
Variation
on the Birth of Noah
He was Noah Ibn Lamik, Ibn Mitoshilkh, Ibn
Enoch, Ibn yard, Ibn Mahlabeel, Ibn Qinan, Ibn Anoush, Ibn Seth, Ibn Adam the
Father of Mankind (PBUH). According to the history of the People of the Book,
(refers to the Jews, and Christians, so called by Allah because they received
Revealed Books, Taurat, Zabur and Injeel. These names are translated 'Torah,
Psalms, and Gospels' respectively, but the books that are extent are corrupt.
Of the Revealed Books, ONLY the Quran remains exactly as it was revealed).
The period between the birth of Noah and the
death of Adam was 146 years. (According to Genesis 5 (new Revised Standard
Version), Noah was born one hundred and twenty six years after the death of
Adam. Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The
period between Adam and Noah was ten centuries." (Sahih Bukhari, Noah was
born 1056 years after Adam's creation (or after he left the Garden of Eden).
Thus, this hadith does not contradict the previous statement from the People of
the Book as it may first appear to do. The reader should keep in mind, however
that any statement or narratives taken from the People of the Book are not
necessarily credible. This was taken from Genesis 5).
Noah's
People - Idolaters
For many generations Noah's people had been
worshipping statues that they called gods. They believed that these gods would
bring them good, protect them from evil and provide all their needs. They gave
their idols names such as Waddan, Suwa'an, Yaghutha, Ya'auga, and Nasran,
(These idols represented, respectively, manly power; mutability, beauty; brute
strength, swiftness, sharp sight, insight) according to the power they thought
these gods possessed.
Allah the Almighty revealed: "They
(idolaters) have said: "You shall not leave your gods nor shall you leave
Wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya uq nor Nasr (names of the idols)." (CH
71:23 Quran).
Originally these were the names of good people who had lived among them. After their deaths, statues of them were erected to keep their memories alive. After sometime, however, people began to worship these statues. Later generations did not even know
23
[next] why they had been
erected; they only knew their parents had prayed to them. That is how idol
worshipping developed. Since they had no understanding of Allah the Almighty
Who would punish them for their evil deeds, they became cruel and immoral.
Various
Hadith describing the Origin of Idolatry
Ibn Abbas explained: "Following upon the
death of those righteous men, Satan inspired their people to erect statues in
the places where they used to sit. They did this, but these statues were not
worshiped until the coming generations deviated from the right way of life.
Then they worshipped them as their idols." In his version, Ibn Jarir
narrated: "There were righteous people who lived in the period between
Adam and Noah and who had followers who held them as models. After their death,
their friends who used to emulate them said: 'If we make statues of them, it
will be more pleasing to us in our worship and will remind us of them.' So they
built statues of them, and , after they had died and others came after them,
Iblis crept into their minds saying:'Your forefathers used to worship them, and
through that worship they got rain.' So they worshipped them."
Ibn Abi Hatim related this story: "Waddan
was a righteous man who was loved by his people. When he died, they withdrew to
his grave in the land of Babylonia and were overwhelmed by sadness. When Iblis
saw their sorrow caused by his death, he disguised himself in the form of a man
saying: 'I have seen your sorrow because of this man's death; can I make a
statue like him which could be put in your meeting place to make you remember
him?' They said: 'Yes.' So he made the statue like him. They put it in their
meeting place in order to be reminded of him. When Iblis saw their interest in
remembering him, he said: 'Can I build a statue of him in the home of each one
of you so that he would be in everyone's house and you could remember him?'
They agreed. Their children learned about and saw what they were doing. They
also learned about their remembrance of him instead of Allah. So the first to
be worshipped instead of Allah was Waddan, the idol which they named
thus."
The essence of this point is that every idol from
those earlier mentioned was worshipped by a certain group of people. It was
mentioned that people made picture sand as the ages passed they made these
pictures into statues, so that their forms could be fully recognized;
afterwards they were worshipped instead of Allah.
It was narrated that Umm Salmah and Umm Habibah told Allah's Prophet Muhammad
24
[next] (PBUH) about the church called
"Maria" which they had seen in the land of Abyssinia. They described
its beauty and the pictures therein. He said: "Those are the people who
build places of worship on the grave of every dead man who was righteous and
then make therein those pictures. Those are the worst of creation unto
Allah." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Commentary
- Idolatry
Worshipping anything other than Allah is a
tragedy that results not only in the loss of freedom; its serious effect
reaches man's mind and destroys it as well. Almighty Allah created man and his
mind with its purpose set on achieving knowledge the most important of which is
that Allah alone is the Creator and all the rest are worshippers (slaves).
Therefore, disbelief in Allah, or polytheism, results in the loss of freedom,
the destruction of the mind, and the absence of a noble target in life. (By
worshipping anything other than Allah, man becomes enslaved to Satan, who is
himself a creature and becomes harnessed to his
own baser qualities). Into this environment Allah sent Noah with His message to
his people. Noah was the only intellectual not caught in the whirlpool of man's
destruction which was caused by polytheism.
Noah's
Reasoning with his People
Allah in His Mercy sent His messenger Noah to
guide his people. Noah was an excellent speaker and a very patient man. He
pointed out to his people the mysteries of life and the wonders of the
universe. He pointed out how the night is regularly followed by the day and
that the balance between these opposites were designed by Allah the Almighty
for our good. The night gives coolness and rest while the day gives warmth and
awakens activity. The sun encourages growth, keeping all plants and animals
alive, while the moon and stars assist in the reckoning of time, direction and
seasons. He pointed out that the ownership of the heavens and the earth belongs
only to the Divine Creator. Therefore, he explained to this people, there
cannot have been more than one deity. He clarified to them how the devil had
deceived them for so long and that the time had come for this deceit to stop.
Noah spoke to them of Allah's glorification of man, how HE had created him and
provided him with sustenance and the blessings of a mind. He told them that
idol worshipping was a suffocating injustice to the mind. He warned them not to
worship anyone but Allah and described the terrible punishment Allah would mete
out if they continued in their evil ways.
25
[next] Division Among
Noah's People
The people listened to him in silence. His words
were a shock to their stagnating minds as it is a shock to a person who is
asleep under a wall which is about to fall and who is vigorously awakened. This
person may be alarmed and may even become angry although the aim was to save
him. Noah's people were divided into two groups after his warning. His words
touched the hearts of the weak, the poor, and the miserable and soothed their
wounds with its mercy. As for the rich, the strong, the mighty and the rulers
they looked upon the warning with cold distrust. They believed they would be
better off if things stayed as they were. Therefore they started their war of words
against Noah.
The
Disbelievers' Arguments
First they accused Noah of being only human like
themselves.
“The chiefs of the disbelievers among his people
said: "We see you but a man like ourselves."' (Ch 11:27 Quran)
He, however, had never said anything other than
that. He asserted that, indeed, he was only a human being; Allah had sent a
human messenger because the earth was inhabited by humans. If it had been
inhabited by angels Allah would have sent an angelic messenger. The contest
between the polytheists and Noah continued. the rulers had thought at first
that Noah's call would soon fade on its own. When they found that his call
attracted the poor, the helpless and common laborers, they started to verbally
attack and taunt him: 'You are only followed by the poor, the
meek and the worthless.' Allah the Almighty told
us: "Indeed We sent Noah to his people (he said): "I have come to you
as a plain Warner that you worship none but Allah, surely, I fear for you the
torment of a painful Day." the chiefs of the disbeliveers among his people
said: "We see you but a man like ourselves, nor do we see any follow you
but the meanest among us and they too followed you without thinking. And we do
not see in you any merit above us in fact we think you are liars." (CH 11:25-27).
The
Disbelievers Attempt to Bargain
Thus the conflict between Noah and the heads of his people intensified. The disbeliveers tried to bargain: "Listen Noah, if you want us to believe in you, then dismiss your
26
[next] believers. They
are meek and poor, while are elite and rich; no faith c an include us
both." Noah listened to the heathens of his community and realized they
were being obstinate. However, he was gentle in his response. He explained to
his people that he could not dismiss the believers as they were not his guests
but Allah's. Noah appealed to them:
"O my people! I ask of you no wealth for
it, my reward is from none but Allah. I am not going to drive away those who
have believed. Surely, they are going to meet their Lord, but I see that you
are a people that are ignorant. O my people! Who will help me against Allah, if
I drove them away? Will you not then give a thought? And I do not say to you
that with me are the Treasures of Allah nor that I know the unseen, nor do I say
I am an angel, and I do not say of those whom your eyes look down upon that
Allah will not bestow any good on them. Allah knows what is in their inner
selves (regards to Belief). In that case, I should, indeed be one of the
Zalimeen (wrongdoers, oppressors etc)." (Ch 11:29-31 Quran)
Noah refuted the arguments of the disbelievers
with the noble knowledge of the prophets. It is the logic of intellect that
rids itself of personal pride and interests.
The
Disbelievers Remain Ignorant
The rulers were tired of Noah's arguments. Allah
the Exalted related their attitude:
They said: "O Noah! You have disputed with
us and much have you prolonged the dispute with us, now bring upon us what you
threaten us with, if you are of the truthful." He said: "Only Allah
will bring it (the punishment)on you, if He will, and then you will escape not.
And my advice will not profit you, even if I wish to give you counsel, if
Allah's Will is to keep you astray. He is your Lord! And to Him you shall return."
(Ch 11:32-34 Quran) The battle continued; the arguments between the
disbeliveers and Noah became prolonged. When all the refutations of the
disbeliveers collapsed and they had no more to say, they began to be rude and
insulted Allah's prophet:
“The leaders of his people said: "Verily,
we see you in plain error." (Ch 7:60 Quran) Noah responded in the manner
of the prophets:
"O my people! There is no error in me, but
I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that
exists)! I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to
you. And I know from Allah what you know not." (CH 7:61-62 Quran)
27
[next] Noah continued appealing to his people
to believe in Allah hour after hour, day after day year after year. He
admonished his people and called them to Allah day and night, in secret and
openly. HE gave them examples, explained Allah's signs and illustrated Allah's
ability in the formation of His creatures. But whenever he called them to
Allah, they ran away from him. Whenever he urged them to ask Allah to forgive
them, they put their fingers in their ears and became too proud to listen to
the truth.
Noah's
Appeal to His People
Allah the Almighty related what Noah faced:
"Verily, We sent Noah to his people saying:
"Warn your people before there comes to them a painful torment." He
said: "O my people! Verily, I am a plain Warner to you, that you should
worship Allah alone, be dutiful to Him and obey me, He (Allah) will forgive you
of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Verily, the term of Allah
when it comes, cannot be delayed, if you but knew." He said: "O my
Lord! Verily, I have called my people night and day (secretly and openly to
accept the doctrine of Islamic Monotheism), but all my calling added nothing
but to their flight from the truth. Verily! Everytime I called unto them that
You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into their ears, covered
themselves up with their garments, and persisted (in their refusal), and
magnified themselves in pride. Then verily, I called to them openly (aloud);
then verily, I proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed to them in
private, I said to them: 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord, Verily, He is Oft
Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in
wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers."
What is the matter with you, that you fear not Allah (His Punishment), and you
hope not for reward from Allah or you believe not in His Oneness. While He has
created you in different stages. (Ch 23:13-14 Quran) See you not how Allah has
created the seven heavens one above another, and has made the moon a light
therein and made the sun a lamp? And Allah has brought you forth from the dust
of earth. Afterwards He will return you into it (the earth), and bring you
forth (again on the Day of Resurrection) Allah has made for you the earth wide
spread (an expanse) that you may go about therein broad roads.
Noah said: "My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give him no increase but only loss. They have plotted a mighty plot. They have said: 'you shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth,
28
[next] nor ya'uq
nor Nasr (names of the idols). Indeed they have led many astray. O Allah! Grant
no increase to the Zalimeen (polytheists, wrongdoers, and disbeliveers etc)
save error." Because of their sins they were drowned, then were made to
enter the Fire and they found none to help them instead of Allah. (Ch 71:1-25
Quran).
The
Length of Noah's Preaching
Noah continued to call his people to believe in
Allah for nine hundred fifty years. Allah the Almighty said: Indeed We sent
Noah to his people and he stayed among them a thousand years less fifty years
(inviting them to believe in the Oneness of Allah (Monotheism) and discard the
false gods and other deities). (Ch 29:14 Quran) It happened that every passing
generation admonished the succeeding one not to believe Noah and to wage war
against him. the father used to teach his child about the matter that was
between himself and Noah and counsel him to reject his call when he reached
adulthood. Their natural disposition rejected believing and following the
truth.
Noah saw that the number of believers was not
increasing, while that of the disbeliveers was. He was sad for his people, but
he never reached the point of despair.
Noah
Prays for the Disbeliever's End
There came a day when Allah revealed to Noah
that no others would believe. Allah inspired him not to grieve for them at
which point Noah prayed that the disbeliveers be destroyed. He said:
"My Lord! Leave not one of the disbeliveers
on the earth. If you leave them, they will mislead Your slaves and they will
beget none but wicked disbeliveers." (Ch 71:27 Quran) Allah accepted
Noah's prayer. The case was closed, and He passed His judgment on the
disbeliveers in the form of a flood. Allah the Exalted ordered His worshipper
Noah to build an ark with His knowledge and instructions and with the help of angels.
Almighty Allah commanded:
"And construct the ship under Our Eyes and
with Our Inspiration and address Me not on behalf of those who did wrong; they
are surely to be drowned." (Ch 11:37 Quran)
Noah
Builds the Ark
Noah chose a place outside the city, far from the sea. HE collected wood and tools and began to day and night to build the ark. The people's mockery continued: "O Noah! Does
29
[next] carpentry
appeal to you more than prophethood? Why are you building an ark so far from
the sea? Are you going to drag it to the water or is the wind going to carry it
for you?" Noah replied: "You will come to know who will be put to
shame and suffer."
Allah the Almighty narrated:
"As he was constructing the ship, whenever
the chiefs of his people passed by him, they made a mockery of him. He said :
"If you mock at us, so do we mock at you likewise for your mocking. And
you will know who it is on whom will come a torment that will cover him with
disgrace and on whom will fall a lasting torment." (Ch 11:38-39 Quran)
The Flood
begins
The ship was constructed, and Noah sat waiting
Allah's command. Allah revealed to him that when water miraculously gushed
forth from the oven at Noah's house, that would be the sign of the start of the
flood, and the sign for Noah to act.
The terrible day arrived when the oven at Noah's
house overflowed. Noah hurried to open the ark and summon the believers. He
also took with him a pair, male and female, of every type of animal, bird and
insect. Seeing him taking these creatures to the ark, the people laughed
loudly: "Noah must have gone out of his head! What is he going to do with
the animals?" Almighty Allah narrated:
“So it was till then there came Our Command and
the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We said:
"Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family,
except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who
believe." And none believed him except a few.(Ch 11:40 Quran)
The
Number of Believers
Noah's wife was not a believer with him so she
did not join him; neither did one of Noah's sons, who was secretly a
disbeliever but had pretended faith in front of Noah. Likewise most of the
people were disbeliveers and did not go on board.
The scholars hold different opinions on the
number of those who were with Noah on the ship. Ibn Abbas stated that there
were 80 believers while Ka ab al Ahbar held that there were 72 believers.
Others claimed that there were 10 believers with Noah.
Description
of the Flood
30
[next] Water rose from the cracks in the
earth; there was not a crack from which water did not rise. rain poured from
the sky in quantities never seen before on earth. Water continued pouring from
the sky rising from the cracks; hour after hour the level rose. The seas and
waves invaded the land. The interior of the earth moved in a strange way, and
the ocean floors lifted suddenly, flooding the dry land. The earth, for the
first time was submerged.
Noah
Appeals to his Son
Allah told the story thus: He (Noah) said:
"Embark therein in the Name of Allah will
be its moving course and its resting anchorage. Surely, my Lord is Oft
Forgiving, most Merciful."
So it (the ship) sailed with them amidst the
waves like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who had separated himself
(apart), "O my son! Embark with us and be not with the disbeliveers."
The son replied, "I will betake myself to a
mountain, it will save me from the water." Noah said: "This day there
is no savior from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy."
And a wave came in between them so he (the son) was among the drowned."
(Ch. 11: 41-43)
The Flood
Ends
It was said:
"O Earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky!
Withhold (your rain)." The water was diminished (made to subside) and the
Decree (of Allah) was fulfilled (the destruction of the people of Noah). And it
(the ship) rested on Mount Judi, and it was said: "Away with the people
who are Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoing)!"
And it was said:
"O Noah! Come down (from the ship) with
peace from Us and blessings on you and on the people o\who are with you(and on
some of their offspring), but (there will be other) people to whom We shall
grant their pleasures (for a time), but in the end a painful torment will reach
them from Us." (Ch 11:41-48 Quran) With the issue of the divine command,
calm returned to earth, the water retreated, and the dry land shone once again
in the rays of the sun. The flood had cleansed the earth of the disbeliveers
and polytheists.
31
[next]
The
Believers Disembark
Noah released the birds, and the beats which
scattered over the earth. After that the believers disembarked. Noah put his
forehead to the ground in prostration. The survivors kindled a fire and sat
around it. Lighting a fire had been prohibited on board so as not to ignite the
ship's wood and burn it up. None of them had eaten hot food during the entire
period of the floor. Following the disembarkation there was a day of fasting in
thanks to Allah.
Noah's
Death
The Quran draws the curtain on Noah's story. We
do not know how his affairs with his people continued. All we know or can
ascertain is that on his deathbed he requested his son to worship Allah alone,
Noah then passed away. Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al as narrated that the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said: "When the death of the Messenger of Allah Noah
approached, he admonished his sons: 'Indeed I would give you far reaching
advice, commanding you to do two things, and warning you against doing two
things as well. I charge you to believe that there is no god but Allah and that
if the seven heavens and the seven earths were put on one side of a scale and
the words "there is no god but Allah" were put on the other, the
latter would outweigh the former. I warn you against associating partners with
Allah and against pride." (Sahih al Bukhari) Some traditions said that his
grave is in the Scared Mosque in Mecca, while others said that he was buried in
Baalabak, a city in Iraq.
Description
of the People of Ad
The people of 'Ad lived many years in the
windswept hills of an area between Yemen and Oman. They were physically well
built and renowned for their craftsmanship especially in the construction of
tall buildings with lofty towers. They were outstanding among all the nations in
power and wealth, which, unfortunately, made them arrogant and boastful. Their
political power was held in the hand of unjust rulers, against whom no one
dared to raise a voice. They were not ignorant of the existence of Allah, nor
did they refuse to worship Him. What they did refuse was to worship Allah
alone. They worshipped other gods, also, including idols. This is one sin Allah
does not forgive.
32
[next] Description of
Hud
Allah wanted to guide and discipline these
people so He sent a prophet from among them. This prophet was Hud (PBUH), a
noble man who handled this task with great resoluteness and tolerance.
Ibn Jarir reported that he was Hud Ibn Shalikh,
Ibn Arfakhshand, Ibn Sam, Ibn Noah (PBUH). He also reported that Prophet Hud (PBUH)
was from a tribe called Ad Ibn Us Ibn Sam Ibn Noah, who were Arabs living in Al
Ahqaf in Yemen between Oman and Hadramaut, on a land called Ashar stretching
out into the sea. The name of their valley was Mughiith Some traditions claimed
that Hud (PBUH) was the first person who spoke Arabic while others claimed that
Noah (PBUH) was the first. It was also said that Adam was the first.
Commentary
- Hud's Appeal to his People
Hud (PBUH) condemned idol worship and admonished
his people. "MY people, what is the benefit of these stones that you carve
with your own hands and worship? In reality it is an insult to the intellect.
There is only One Deity worthy of worship and that is Allah. Worship of Him and
Him alone, is compulsory on you.
He created you, He provides for you and He is
the One Who will cause you to die. He gave you wonderful physiques and blessed
you in many ways. So believe in Him and do not be blind to His favors, or the
same fate that destroyed Noah's people will overtake you." With such
reasoning Hud hoped to instill faith in them, but they refused to accept his
message. His people asked him: "Do you desire to be our master with your
call? What payment do you want?"Hud tried to make them understand that he
would receive his payment (reward) from Allah; he did not demand anything from
them except that they let the light of truth touch their minds and hearts.
Hud's
Appeal to His People - Quranic
Allah the Almighty states:
"And to Ad people We sent their brother Hud. He said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (god) but Him; Certainly, you do nothing but invent (lies)! O my people I ask of you no reward for it (the Message). My reward is only from Him Who created me. Will you not then understand? And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your
33
[next] Lord
and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add
strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimeen (criminals,
disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah)." They said: "O Hud! No
evidence have you brought us and we shall not leave our gods for your mere
saying! We are not believers in you. All that we say is that some of our gods
(false deities) have seized you with evil (madness)." HE said: "I
call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you
ascribe as partners in worship, and with Him (Allah). SO plot against me, all
of you, and give me no respite. I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord!
There is not a moving (living) creature but HE has grasp of its forelock.
Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth). SO if you turn away, still
I have conveyed the Message with which I was sent to you. My Lord will make
another people succeed you, and you will not harm Him in the least. Surely, my
Lord is Guardian over all things." (Ch 11:50-57 Quran)
Hud
(pbuh) explains the Day of Judgement
Hud tried to speak to them and to explain about
Allah's blessings: how Allah the Almighty had made them Noah's successors, how
He had given them strength and power, and how HE sent them rain to revive the
soil.
Hud's people looked about them and found they
were the strongest on earth, so they become prouder and more obstinate. Thus
they argued a lot with Hud. They asked "O Hud! Do you say that later we
die and turn into dust, we will be resurrected?" He replied, "Yes,
you will come back on the Day of Judgment and each of you will be asked about
what you did."
A peal of laughter was heard after the last
statement. "How strange Hud's claims are!" The disbeliveers muttered
among themselves. They believed that when man dies his body decays and turns
into dust, which is swept away by the wind. How could that return to its
original state? Then what is the significance of the Day of Judgment? Why does
the dead return to life? All these questions were patiently received by Hud. He
then addressed his people concerning the Day of Judgment. he explained that
belief in the Day of Judgment is essential to Allah's justice, teaching them
the same thing that every prophet taught about it.
Hud explained that justice demands that there be a Day of Judgment because good is not always victorious in life. Sometimes evil overpowers good. Will such crimes go unpunished? If we suppose there is no Day of Judgment, then a great injustice will have
34
[next] prevailed, but Allah has
forbidden injustice to be incurred by Himself or His subjects. Therefore, the
existence of the Day of Judgment, a day of accounting for our deeds and being
rewarded or punished for them, reveals the extend of Allah's justice. Hud spoke
to them about all of these things. They listened but disbelieved him.
The
Disbeliever's Attitude
Allah recounts Hud's people's attitude towards
the Day of Judgment:
"The chiefs of his people, whom disbelieved
and denied the meeting in the Hereafter, and to who We had given the luxuries
and comforts of this life, said: "He is no more than a human being like
you, he eats of that which you eat, and drinks of what you drink. If you were
to obey a human being like yourselves then verily! You indeed would be losers.
Does he promise you that when you have died and have become dust and bones, you
shall come out alive (resurrected)? Far, very far, is that which you are promised.
There is nothing but our life of this world! We die and we live! We are not
going to be resurrected! He is only a man who has invented a lie against Allah,
but we are not going to believe in him." (Ch 23:33-38 Quran)
The
Disbelievers Question Hud
The chiefs of Hud's people asked: "Is it
not strange that Allah's chooses one of us to reveal His message to?"
Hud replied: "What is strange in that?
Allah wants to guide you to the right way of life, so HE sent me to warn you.
Noah's flood and his story are not far away from you, so do not forget what
happened. All the disbeliveers were destroyed, no matter how strong they
were."
"Who is going to destroy us Hud?" the
chiefs asked.
"Allah." replied Hud.
The disbeliveers among his people answered:
"We will be saved by our gods."
Hud clarified to them that the gods they
worshipped would be the reason for their destruction, that it is Allah alone
Who saves people, and that no other power on earth can benefit or harm anyone.
35
[next] The conflict between Hud and his
people continued. The years passed, and they became prouder and more obstinate,
and more tyrannical and more defiant of their prophet's message.
Hud Warns
his People
Furthermore, they started to accuse Hud (PBUH)
of being a crazy lunatic. One day they told him: "We now understand the
secret of your madness you insulted our gods and they harmed you; that is why
you have become insane."
Almighty Allah repeated their words in the
Quran:
"O my Hud! No evidence have you brought us,
and we shall not leave our gods for your mere saying! And we are not believers
in you. All that we say is that some of our gods (false deities) have seized
you with evil (madness)." (Ch 11:53-54 Quran)
Hud had to return their challenge. He had no
other way but to turn to Allah alone, no other alternative but to give them a
threatening ultimatum. he declared to them: "I call Allah to witness and
bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as pin worship with
Him (Allah). SO plot against me, all of you and give me no respite. I put my
trust in Allah, my Lord your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but
He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the
truth). So if you turn away, still I have conveyed the message with which it
was sent to you. My Lord will make another people succeed you, and you will not
harm Him." (Ch 11:54-57 Quran)
The
Punishment
Thus Hud renounced them and their gods and
affirmed his dependence on Allah Who had created him. Hud realized that punishment
would be incurred on the disbeliveers among his people. It is one of the laws
of life. Allah punishes the disbeliveers, no matter how rich, tyrannical or
great they are.
Hud and his people waited for Allah's promise. A
drought spread throughout the land, for the sky no longer sent its rain. the
sun scorched the desert sands, looking like a disk of fire which settled on
people's heads.
Hud's people hastened to him asking: "What
is that drought Hud?" Hud answered: "Allah is angry with you. If you
believe in Him, He will accept you and the rain will fall and you will become
stronger than you are."
36
[next] They mocked him and became more
obstinate, sarcastic and preserve in their unbelief. The drought increased, the
trees turned yellow, and plants died. A day came when they found the sky full
of clouds. Hud's people were glad as they came out of their tents crying:
"A cloud, which will give us rain!" The weather changed suddenly from
burning dry and hot to stinging cold with wind that shook everything; trees,
plants, tents, men and women. The wind increased day after day and night after
night.
Hud's people started to flee. They ran to their
tents to hide but the gale became stronger, ripping their tents from their
stakes. They hid under cloth covers but the gale became stronger and still and
tore away the covers. It slashed clothing and skin. It penetrated the apertures
of the body and destroyed it. It hardly touched anything before it was
destroyed or killed, its core sucked out to decompose and rot. The storm raged
for 8 days and 7 nights.
Almighty Allah recounts:
"Then when they saw it as a dense cloud
coming towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us
rain!" Nay but it is that torment which you were asking to be hastened! a
wind wherein is a painful torment! Destroying everything by the command of its
Lord! (Ch 46:24-25 Quran)
Allah the Exalted described it thus:
"And as for Ad, they were destroyed for a
firious violent wind which Allah imposed on them for seven nights and eight
days in succession, so that you could see men lying overthrown (destroyed) as
if they were hollow trunks of palm trees! (Ch 69:6-7 Quran)
The
Believers are Saved
That violent gale did not stop until the entire
region was reduced to ruins and its wicked people destroyed, swallowed by the
sands of the desert. Only Hud and his followers remained unharmed. They
migrated to Hadramaut and lived there in peace, worshipping Allah, their true
Lord.
Description
of the People of Thamud
37
[next] After the destruction of the Ad, the
tribe of Thamud succeeded them in power and glory. They also fell to
idol-worshipping. As their material wealth increased so, too, did their evil
ways while their virtue decreased. Like the people of Ad, they erected huge
buildings on the plains and hewed beautiful homes out of the hills. Tyranny and
oppression became prevalent as evil men ruled the land.
Description
of Salih
So Allah sent unto them His Prophet Salih
(PBUH), a man from among them. His name was Salih Ibn Ubeid, Ibn Maseh, Ibn
Ubeid, Ibn Hader, Ibn Thamud, Ibn Ather, Ibn Eram, Ibn Noah. He called his
people to worship Allah alone, and to not associate partners with Him. While
some of them believed him, the majority of them disbelieved and harmed him by
both words and deeds. Salih directed them:
"O my people! Worship Allah, you have no
other Ilah (god) but Him." (Ch 11:61) Salih was known for his wisdom,
purity and goodness and had been greatly respected by his people before Allah's
revelation came to him. Salih's people said to him:
"O Salih! You have been among us as a
figure of good hope and we wished for you to be our chief, till this, new thing
which you have brought that we leave our gods and worship your God (Allah)
alone! Do you now forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped?
But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us to
monotheism." (CH 11:62 Quran).
Salih's
People Demand a Miracle
They merely wanted to worship the same gods as their fathers had, with no reason, no proof, no thought. The proof of Salih's (PBUH) message was evident, but despite this it was obvious that most of his people did not believe him. They doubted his words, thinking he was charmed, and they saw that he would not stop preaching. Fearing that his followers would increase, they tried to put him off by assigning him an important task; to prove that he was a messenger of Allah by performing a miracle. Let a unique she camel issue from the mountains. Allah granted Salih this miracle and a huge, unique, she camel appeared from the direction of the mountain. The Quranic commentators said that the people of Thamud gathered on a certain day at their meeting place, and the prophet Salih (PBUH) came and addressed them to believe in Allah, reminding them of the favors Allah had granted them. Then pointing at a rock, they demanded: "Ask your Lord to make a she camel, which must be 10 months
38
[next] pregnant, tall and attractive, issue from the
rock for us." Salih replied: "Look now! If Allah sends you what you
have requested, just as you have described, will you believe in that which I
have come to you with and have faith in the message I have been sent
with?"
They answered: "Yes."
So he took a vow from them on this, then prayed
to Allah the Almighty to grant their request. Allah ordered the distant rock to
split asunder, to bringing forth a great ten month pregnant she camel. When
their eyes set on it, they were amazed. They saw a great thing, a wonderful
sight, a dazzling power and clear evidence!
A number of Salih's people believed, yet most of
them continued in their disbelief, stubbornness, and going astray. Allah the
Almighty said:
"We sent the she camel to Thamud as a clear
sign, but they did her wrong. (Ch 17:59)
and also:
"Verily the dwellers of Al Hijr (the rocky
tract) denied the Messengers. We gave them Our Signs, but they were averse to
them. (Ch 15:80-81 Quran)
There are a number of ancient accounts of this
camel and its miraculous nature. It was said that the she camel was miraculous
because a rock in the mountain split open and it came forth from it, followed
by its young offspring. Other accounts said that the she camel used to drink
all the water in the wells in one day, and no other animals could approach the
water. Still others claimed that the she camel produced milk sufficient for all
the people to drink, on the same day that it drank all the water, leaving none
for them. At first, the people of Thamud were greatly surprised when the she
camel issued from the mountain rocks. It was a blessed camel, and its milk
sufficient for thousands of men, women and children. If it slept in a place
that place was abandoned by other animals. Thus it was obvious that is was not
an ordinary camel, but one of Allah's signs. It lived among Salih's people,
some of whom believed in Allah while the majority continued in their obstinacy
and disbelief. Their hatred of Salih turned towards the blessed she camel and
became centered on it. A conspiracy started to be hatched against the camel by
the disbeliveers, and they secretly plotted against it.
Salih feared that they might kill the camel, so
he warned them:
39
[next] "O my people! This she camel of
Allah is a sign to you, leave her to feed on Allah's earth, and touch her not
with evil lest a near torment will seize you." (Ch 11:64 Quran)
For awhile, Salih's people let the camel graze
and drink freely, but in their hearts they hated it. However, the miraculous
appearance of the unique camel caused many to become Salih's followers, and
they clung to their belief in Allah.
Stories
About the She-camel
The disbeliveers now began complaining that this
huge she camel with its unusual qualities drank most of the water and
frightened their cattle. They laid a plot to kill the camel, and sought the
help of their women folk to tempt the men to carry out their commands. Saduq
bint of Mahya, who was from a rich and noble family, offered herself to a young
man named Masrai Ibn Mahraj on condition that he hamstring the camel. Aniza, an
old woman, offered one of her daughters to a young man, Qudar Ibn Saluf, in return
for killing the camel. Naturally these young men were tempted and set about
finding seven others to assist them.
They watched the camel closely, observing all
its movements. As the she camel came to drink at the well, Masarai shot it in
the leg with an arrow. It tried to escape but was hampered by the arrow. Qudar
followed the camel and struck it with a sword in the other leg. As it fell to
the ground, he pierced it with his sword.
The killers were given a hero's welcome, cheered
with songs and poetry composed in their praise. In their arrogance they mocked
Salih, but he warned them: "Enjoy life for 3 more days then the punishment
will descend upon you." Salih was hoping that they would see the folly of
their ways and change their attitude before the three days went out.
"Why three days?" they asked.
"Let the punishment come as quickly as possible."
He pleaded with them: "My people, why do
you hasten to evil rather than good? Why do not you ask pardon of Allah so that
you may receive mercy?"
They replied: "We see your presence and
that of your followers as bringing evil on us."
Almighty Allah related their story:
"And indeed We sent to Thamud their brother Salih, saying "Worship Allah Alone and none else." Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbeliveers) quarreling
40
[next] with each
other. He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment)
before the good (Allah's Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allah,
that you may receive mercy?" They said: We augur till omen from you and
those with you." he said: "Your ill omen is with Allah; nay, but you
are a people that are being tested." And there were in the city nine men
(from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not
reform. They said: "Swear to another by Allah that we shall make a secret
night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his
near relatives: "We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and
verily! We are telling the truth."" So they plotted a plot, and We
planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their
plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together. These are their
houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. Verily, in this is indeed an Ayah (a
lesson or a sign) for people who know. We saved those who believed, and used to
fear and obey Allah. (Ch 27:45-53 Quran)
They also plotted to kill Salih and his
household as Almighty Allah stated:
"So they plot, and We planned a plan, while
they perceived not." (Ch 27:50 Quran) Allah saved Salih and his followers
from their wicked plans. Heavy hearted, they left the evil doers and moved to
another place. Three days after Salih's warning, thunderbolts filled the air,
followed by severe earthquakes which destroyed the entire tribe and its
homeland. The land was violently shaken, destroying all living creatures in it.
There was one terrific cry which had hardly ended when the disbeliveers of
Salih's people were struck dead, one and all, at the same time. Neither their
strong buildings nor their rock hewn homes could protect them.
Allah the Exalted said:
"To Thamud people We sent their brother Salih. HE said: "O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other Ilah (god) but Him (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). Indeed there has come to you a clear sign ( the miracle of the coming out of a huge she camel from the midst of a rock) from your Lord. This she camel of Allah is a sign unto you so you leave her to graze in Allah's earth, and touch her not with harm, lest a painful torment should size you. Remember when He made you successors after Ad people and gave you habitations in the land, you build for yourselves palaces in plains and carve out homes in the mountains. So remember the graces bestowed upon you from Allah, and do not go about making mischief on the earth." The leaders of those who were arrogant among his people said to those who were counted weak to such of them as believed:
41
[next] "Know you that Salih is
one sent from his Lord." They said: "We indeed believe in that with
which he has been sent." Those who were arrogant said: "Verily, we
disbelieve in that which you believe in." So they killed the she camel and
insolently defied the Commandment of their Lord, and said: "O Salih! Bring
about your threats if you are indeed one of the Messengers (of Allah)." So
the earthquakes seized them and they lay dead, prostrate in their homes. Then
he (Salih) turned from them, and said: "O my people! I have indeed
conveyed to you the Message of my Lord, and have give you good advise but you
like not good advisers." (Ch 7:73-79 Quran)
All were destroyed before they realized what was
happening. As for the people who believed in the message of Salih (PBUH), they
were saved because they had left the place. Ibn Umar narrated that while the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was passing by Thamud's houses on his way to the battle
of Tabuk, he stopped together with the people there. the people fetched water
from the wells from which the people of Thamud used to drink. They prepared
their dough (for baking) and filled their water skins from it (the water from
the wells). The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) ordered them to empty the water skins and
give the prepared dough to the camels. Then he went away with them until they
stopped at the well from which the she camel (of Salih) used to drink. He
warned them against entering upon the people that had been punished, saying
"I fear that you may be affected by what afflicted them; so do no enter
upon them."
Description
of Abraham and his Family
Some of the People of the Book stated that his
name was Abraham Ibn Tarikh, Ibn Nahur, Ibn Sarough, Ibn Raghu, Ibn Phaligh,
Ibn Aher, Ibn Shalih, Ibn Arfghshand, Ibn Sam, Ibn Noah.
They said that when Tarikh was seventy five
years old, he had Abraham, Nahor (Nohour) and Haran. Haran had a son named Lot.
They also said that Abraham was the middle child and that Haran died in the
lifetime of his father in the land where he was born, the land of the Chaldeans
(Al Kaldanieen), also known as Babylonia. At that time some people worshipped
idols of stone and wood; others worshipped the planets, stars, sun and moon;
still others worshipped their kings and rulers.
Abraham was born into that atmosphere, into a typical family of that ancient time. The head of the family was not even an ordinary idolater, but was one who totally rejected
42
[next] Allah and who used
to make the idols with his own hands. Some traditions claimed that Abraham's
father died before his birth and he was raised by an uncle whom Abraham called
father. Other traditions said that his father was alive and was named Azer.
Into that family Abraham was born, destined to
stand against his own family, against the entire system of his community. In
brief, he stood against all kinds of polytheism.
Abraham's
Childhood
He was endowed with spiritual understanding from
an early age. Allah enlightened his heart and mind gave him wisdom from
childhood. Allah the Almighty stated:
"Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Abraham
his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well Acquainted with him( as to his
Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc). (Ch 21:51) During his early childhood
Abraham realized that his father made strange statues. One day, he asked him
about what it was he made. His father replied that he made statues of gods.
Abraham was astonished and he spontaneously rejected the idea. Being a child he
played with such statues sitting on their backs as people sit on the backs of
donkeys and mules.
One day his father saw him riding the statue of
Mardukh and he became furious. He ordered his son not to play with it again.
Abraham asked: "What is this statue,
father? It has big ears, bigger than ours."
His father answered: "It is Mardukh, the
god of gods, son! These big ears show his deep knowledge." This made
Abraham laugh, he was only seven years old at that time.
Abraham's
Hatred for Idols
Years passed and Abraham grew. Since his childhood his heart had been full of hatred for these idols. He could not understand how a sane person could make a statue and then worship what he had made. He noticed that these idols did not eat, drink or talk and they could not even turn themselves right side up if someone turned them upside down. How, then could people believe that such statues could harm or benefit them? Abraham 's people had a big temple full of idols, in the middle of which was a niche accommodating the biggest gods which was of different kinds, qualities and shapes. Abraham, who used to go to the temple with his father when he was a child, greatly despised all that wood and stone. What surprised him was the way his people behaved
43
[next] when they entered the temple; they bowed and
started to cry, begging and imploring their gods for help as if the idols could
hear or understand these requests!
At first, such a sight seemed funny to Abraham,
but later he began to feel angry. Was it not astonishing that all those people
could be deceived? What added to the problem was that his father wanted him to
be a priest when he was grown. He wanted nothing more from his son that that he
revere those statues, yet Abraham never stopped displaying his hatred and
disdain of them.
Abraham
Discovers Allah
One night Abraham left his house to go to a
mountain. He walked alone in the dark until he chose a cave in the mountain
where he sat resting his back against its wall. He looked at the sky. He had
hardly seen it when he remembered that he was looking at planets and stars
which were worshipped by some people on earth. His young heart was filled with
tremendous pain. He considered what was beyond the moon, the stars and the
planets (i.e. Allah) and was astonished that these celestial bodies were
worshipped by men when they had been created to worship and obey their Creator,
appearing and disappearing at His command.
Abraham
Reasons with Celestial Worshippers
Abraham, addressed his people who worshipped
celestial bodies as Almighty Allah revealed:
"Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of
the heavens and the earth that he be one of those who have Faith and certainty.
When the night covered him over with darkness he saw a star. He said:
"This is my lord." But when it set, he said: "I like not that
those who set." When he saw the moon rising up he said: "This is my
lord." but when it set he said: "Unless my Lord guides me, I shall
surely be among the erring people." When he saw the sun rising up he said:
"This is my lord, This is greater." But when it set, he said: "O
my people! I am indeed free from all that you join as partners in worship with
Allah. Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens
and the earth Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allah
Alone) and I am not of the Al Mushrikeen (those who worship others besides Allah)." His people disputed with him. He said: "Do you dispute with me concerning Allah while HE has guided me and I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship.
44
[next] (Nothing can
happen to me) except when my Lord (Allah) wills something. My Lord comprehends
in His Knowledge all things. Will you not then remember? "And how should I
fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither
benefit nor harm), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with
Allah things for which HE has not sent down to you any authority. So which of
the two parties has more right to be in security? If you but know." It is
those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and
confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong, i.e. by worshipping others besides
Allah), for them only there is security and they are the guided. And that was
Our proof which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise whom We will in
degrees. Certainly your Lord is All Wise, All Knowing. (Ch 6:75-83 Quran).
In that debate, Abraham clarified to his people
that these celestial bodies do not serve as deities and cannot be worshipped as
partners with Allah the Almighty. Indeed these bodies are created things,
fashioned, controlled, managed and made to serve. They appear sometimes and
disappear at others, going out of sight from our world. However, Allah the
Almighty does not lose sight of anything, and nothing can be hidden from Him.
He is without end, everlasting without disappearance. There is no other deity
but Allah.
Abraham made clear to them, first that the
celestial bodies are unworthy of worship and second that they are among the
signs of Allah. Almighty Allah commanded:
"And from among His Signs are the night and
the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon,
but prostrate to Allah Who created them if you really worship Him. (Ch 41:37)
Abraham's reasoning helped to reveal the truth,
and then the conflict between him and his people began for the worshippers of
the stars and planets did not stand mute. they began arguing and threatening
Abraham.
Abraham replied:
"Do you dispute with me concerning Allah while HE has guided me, and I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship. (Nothing can happen to me except when my Lord (Allah) wills something. My Lord comprehends in His Knowledge all things. Will you not then remember? How should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit or harm), while you fear not that you have joined
45
[next] in
worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any authority.
SO which of the two parties has more rights to be in security? .....if you but
know! It is those who believe (in the oneness of Allah and worship none but
HiAlone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong by worshipping others
besides Allah), for them only there is security and they are the guided."
(Ch 6:80-82)
Abraham
Reasons with Idolators
The curtains are drawn on the first category of
the people, those who were worshipping celestial bodies. the next situation
reveals the second group, those who were practicing idolatry. Allah gave
Abraham (pbuh) the reasoning he needed the first time and every time he argued
with his people. Almighty Allah declared:
"And that was Our Proof which We gave
Abraham against his people. We raised whom We will in degrees. Certainly your
Lord is All Wise, All Knowing. (Ch 6:83) Abraham did his best to make his
people heedful to the belief in the oneness of Almighty Allah and to the
worship of Him alone. He bade them to firmly renounce the worship of idols. HE
said to his father and his people:
"What are these images, to which you are
devoted?" they said: "We found our fathers worshipping them." He
said: "Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error." They
said: "Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who play
about?" He said: "Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the
earth, Who created them and of that I am of the witnesses." (Ch 21:52-56)
Abraham
reasons with his Father
All was finished between Abraham and his people
and the struggle began. the most amazed and furious was his father (or his
uncle who had raised him), for as it is well known, he not only worshipped
idols but sculpted and sold them as well. Abraham felt that it was his duty as
a good son to advise his father against this evil so that he could be saved
from Allah's punishment.
Being a wise son he did not make his father feel
foolish, nor did he openly laugh at his conduct. He told him that he loved him,
thereby hoping to generate fatherly love. Then he gently asked him why he
worshipped lifeless idols who could not hear, see or protect him. before his
father could become angry he hastily added:
"O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you.
46
[next] So follow me. I will guide
you to a Straight Path. O my father! Worship not Satan. Verily! Stan has been a
rebel against the Most Beneficent (Allah). O my father! Verily! I fear lest a
torment from the Most Beneficent (Allah) overtake you as that you become a
companion of Satan (in the Hellfire)." He (the father) said: "Do you
reject my gods, O Abraham? If you stop not this, I will indeed stone you. So
get away from me safely before I punish you." Abraham said: "Peace be
on you! I will ask Forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily! He is unto me, Ever
Most Gracious. And I shall turn away from you and from those whom you invoke
besides Allah." (Ch 19:43-48)
Abraham
debates with the Idolaters
His father's harsh treatment did not stop
Abraham from delivering the message of truth. Angry and sad to see people
prostate before idols, he was determined to stamp out these practices and went
to the town to debate with the people knowing full well that he might suffer
harm.
Like a wise doctor searching for the cause of a
sickness so as to prescribe the proper cure, or like a judge who questioned the
accused sharply so that he mighty detect the truth. Abraham asked them:
"Do the idols see you when you prostrate before them? Do they benefit you
in any way." They quickly tried to defend their beliefs. They argued that
they knew the idols were lifeless but that their forefathers had worshipped
them; to them this was proof enough for their belief.
Abraham explained that their forefathers had
been wrong. This angered them and they retorted: "Are you condemning our
gods and our forefathers? Or are you just joking?" Abraham showed no fear
as he replied: "I am serious. I come to you with a true religion. I have
been sent with guidance from our Lord Who alone is worthy of worship, Who is
the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and Who regulates all affairs of
life, unlike the dumb idols which are just stone and wood." To convince
them that the idols could not harm him, he challenged: "I have already
condemned them; of they had any power they would have harmed me by now!"
Abraham
reasons with the Idolaters, Second Time
Almighty Allah recounted:
"Recite to them the story of Abraham. When he said to his father and his people. "What do you worship?" They said: "We worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted." He
47
[next] said: "Do they hear you when you call on them? OR do they benefit
you or do they harm you?" They said: "Nay but we found our father
doing so." He said: "Do you observe that which you been worshipping,
You and your ancient fathers? Verily! They are enemies to me, save the Lord of
the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists); Who has created me and it is HE
Who guides me and it is HE Who feeds me and gives me to drink. And when I am
ill, it is He who cures me; and Who will cause me to die and then will bring me
to life again and Who I hope will forgive me my faults on the Day of
Resurrection." (Ch 26:69-82 Quran).
In another surah The Almighty revealed:
"And remember Abraham when he said to his
people: "Worship Allah Alone and fear Him that is better for you if you
did but know. You worship besides Allah only idols and you only invent
falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship beside Allah have no power to give
you provision, so seek your provision from Allah Alone, you will be brought
back. And if you deny then nations before you have denied their Messengers. the
duty of the Messenger is only to convey the Message plainly." See they not
how Allah originates creation, then will repent it. Verily, that is easy for
Allah.
Say: "Travel in the land and see how Allah
originated creation and then Allah will bring forth (resurrect) the creation of
the Hereafter (i.e. resurrection after death) verily, Allah is Able to do all
things." He punishes whom HE wills and shows mercy to whom He wills, and
to Him you will be returned. And you cannot escape in the earth or in the
heaven. And besides Allah you have
neither any Wali (Protector, or guardian) nor
any Helper. And those who disbelieve in the Ayat (proofs, lessons, signs,
evidences, verses, revelations etc) of Allah and the Meeting with Him, it is
they who have no hope of My Mercy, and it is they who will have a painful
torment. (CH 22:16-23 Quran)
Abraham
Breaks the Idols
He explained to them the beauty of Allah's creation, His power and wisdom. Idol worship is detested by Allah for Allah is the Lord of the universe Who created mankind, guided him and provided him with food and drink and cured him when he was sick and Who will cause him to die and be raised up again. iT was He to Whom Abraham prayed and Who would forgive his sins on the Day of Judgment. However, they would not give up but clung fast to idolatry. Abraham left his father's house and abandoned his people
48
[next] and
what they worshipped. He decide to do something about their state of disbelief,
but did not reveal it. He knew that there was going to be a great celebration
on the other bank of the river which would be attended by all the people.
Abraham waited until the city was empty, then came out cautiously, directing
his steps towards the temple. the streets leading to it were empty and the
temple itself was deserted for the priests had also gone to the festival
outside the city. Abraham went there carrying a sharp axe. He looked at the
stone and wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front of them as
offerings. He approached one of the statues and asked: "The food in front
of you is getting cold. Why don't you eat?" the statue kept silent and
rigid. Abraham asked all the other statues around him:
"Will you not eat of the offering before
you?" (Ch 37:91)
He was mocking them for he knew they would not
eat. He once again asked then:
"What is the matter with you that you do
not speak?" (Ch 37:92) He then raised his axe and started smashing the
false gods worshipped by the people. He destroyed them all except one on whose
neck he hung the axe. After this his anger subsides and he felt at peace. He
left the temple. He had fulfilled his vow to show his people a practical proof
of their foolishness in worshipping something other than Allah.
The
Idolaters Question Abraham
When the people returned, they were shocked to
see their gods smashed to pieces, lying scattered all over the temple. They
began to guess who had done that to their idols and Abraham's name came to
their minds.
Allah the Almighty said: they said:
"Who has done this to our aliah (gods)? He
must indeed be one of the wrongdoers." They said: "We heard a young
man talking against them who is called Abraham." They said: "Then
bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may testify." they
said: "Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Abraham?"
Abraham said: "nay, this one, the biggest of them (idols) did it, Ask
them, if they can speak!"So they turned to themselves and said:
"Verily you are the Zalimun (polytheists, and wrongdoers)." Then they
turned to themselves (their first thought and said): "Indeed you (Abraham)
know well that these idols speak not?" Abraham said: "DO you then
worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you nor harm you? If upon
you, and upon that which you worship besides Allah! Have you then no
sense?" (Ch 21:59-67 Quran)
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[next] Furious, they demanded that Abraham be
arrested and tried. Abraham did not resist. this was precisely what he had been
aiming for, so that he could show them up in public for their foolish beliefs.
At the trial they asked him if he was responsible for breaking the idols.
Smiling, he told them to ask the biggest idol which was still whole. He told
them that he must be the culprit! They replied that he knew well that the idol
could not speak or move which gave Abraham the chance to prove the foolishness
of worshipping these lifeless objects.
They then realized the senselessness of their
beliefs; however, their arrogance would not allow them to admit their
foolishness. All they could do was to use their power of authority as tyrants
usually do to punish Abraham. They kept him in chains and planned their
revenge.
The
Idolaters Try to burn Abraham
Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided
to throw Abraham into the biggest fire they could build. All the citizens were
ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods. Ignorant, sick women vowed
that if they were cured they would donate so much wood to burn Abraham. For
several days they collected fuel. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood
and ignited it. They brought a catapult with which to cast Abraham into the
fire. Abraham was put on the catapult, his hands and feet were tied. The fire
was ready with its flame reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit
because of the great heat. Then the chief priest gave his order to cast Abraham
into the fire.
The angel Gabriel came near Abraham's head and
asked him: "O Abraham do you wish for anything?" Abraham replied:
"Nothing from you." The catapult was shot and Abraham was cast into
the fire. But his descent into the blaze was as descent on steps in a cool
garden. The flames were still there, but they did not burn for Allah the
Almighty had issued His command:
"O fire! Be you coolness and safety for
Abraham." (Ch 21:69 Quran)
The fire submitted to the will of Allah,
becoming cool and safe for Abraham. It only burned his bonds, and he sat in the
midst of the fire as if he were sitting in a garden. He glorified and praised
Allah the Almighty, with a heart that contained only his love for Allah. There
was not any vacant space therein for fear, awe, or worry. It was filled with
love only.
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[next] Fear and awe were dead, and the fire
was turned into coolness, making the air pleasant. Those who love Allah as
Abraham do did not fear.
The Faith
of the Believers
Allah declared:
"Those (believers) unto whom the people
(hypocrites) said: "Verily! the people (pagans) have gathered against you
(a great army), therefore, fear them." but it only increased them in
Faith, and they said: Allah Alone is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best
Disposer of affairs for us." So they returned with Grace and Bounty from
Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah.
Allah is the Owner of Great bounty. It is only Satan that suggests to you the
fear of his Auliya (supporters and friends, polytheists, disbeliveers in the
Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad) so fear them not but fear Me if
you are true believers." (Ch 3:173-175 Quran) The throng, the chiefs, and
the priests sad watching the fire from a distance. It was burning their faces
and nearly suffocating them. It kept burning for such a long time that the
disbeliveers thought it would never be extinguished. When it did burn out, they
were greatly amazed to find Abraham coming out of the pit untouched by the
fire. Their faces were black from the smoke, but his was bright with the light
and grace of Allah. The raging fire had become cool for Abraham and had only
charred the ropes which held him. He walked out of the fire as if he were
walking out of a garden. Cries of astonishment were heard from the heathens.
"They wanted to harm him, but We made them
the worst losers. (Ch 21:70) This miracle shamed the tyrants, but it did not
cool the flame of anger in their hearts. However after his event many of the people
followed Abraham, although some kept their belief a secret for fear of harm or
death at the hands of the rulers.
Abraham
challenges those who proclaim themselves as gods, King Namrud
Abraham had established a definite reasoning
against idolaters. Nothing was left for him except to reason against the people
who proclaimed themselves gods.
When the king, Namrud, heard of Abraham's safe
exit from the fire he became very angry. He feared that the status of godhead
he had proclaimed for himself was not challenged by an ordinary human being. He
summoned Abraham to the palace and held a dialogue with him which Allah
Almighty recounted:
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[next] "Have you not thought about him
who disputed with Abraham about his Lord (Allah) because Allah had given him
the kingdom? When Abraham said to him: "My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives
life and causes death." He said: "I give life and cause death."
Abraham said: "Verily, Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then
cause it you to rise from the west." So the disbeliever was utterly
defeated. Allah guides not the people who are Zalimeen (wrongdoers etc). (Ch
2:258 Quran)
Abraham's fame spread throughout the entire
kingdom. People talked about how he had been saved from the blazing fire and
how he had debated with the king and left him speechless. In the meantime,
Abraham continued calling people to believe in Allah, exerting a great effort
to guide his people to the right path. He tried every means to convince them.
However in spite of his love and care for his people, they felt angry and
deserted him. Only one woman and one man of his people shared his belief in
Allah. The woman's name was Sarah and she became his wife. The man's name was
Lot and he became a prophet.
When Abraham realized that no one else was going
to believe in his call, he decided to emigrate. He left his people and traveled
with his wife and Lot to a city called Ur, then another called Haran, and then
to Palestine. Allah the Almighty told us:
" So Lut believed in him (Abraham's message
of Islamic Monotheism). He (Abraham) said: "I will emigrate for the sake
of my Lord. Verily, He is the All Mighty, the All Wise." (Ch 29:26) After
Palestine, Abraham traveled to Egypt, calling people to believe in Allah
wherever he traveled, judging fairly between people, and guiding them to truth
and righteousness. Hadith about Abraham, Sarah and Hajar
Abu Hurairah narrated that Abraham (pbuh) did not tell a lie except on three occasions, twice for the sake of Allah (Exalted and Almighty) when he said: "I am sick," (when his people were holding a festival in honor of their gods, Abraham excused himself by saying he was sick. (Ch 37:89 Quran) and when he said: "(I have not done this but) the big idol has done it." The (third was) that while Abraham and Sarah (his wife) were going (on a journey), they passed by (the territory of) a tyrant. Someone said to the tyrant: "This man (Abraham is accompanied by a very charming lady." SO, he sent for Abraham and asked him about Sarah saying "Who is this lady?" Abraham said: "She is my sister." Abraham went to Sarah said "O Sarah! There are no believers on the surface of the earth except you and me. This man asked me about you and I have told him that
52
[next] you are my sister do not contradict my
statement." the tyrant then called Sarah, and when she went to him, he
tried to take a hold of her with his hand, but his hand got stiff and he was
confounded. He asked Sarah: "Pray to Allah for me and I shall not harm
you." SO Sarah asked Allah to cure him and he got cured. He tried to take
hold of her for the second time, but his hand got as stiff as or stiffer than
before and he was more comfounded. He again requested Sarah: "Pray to
Allah for me, and I will not harm you." Sarah asked Allah to again, and he
became all right. He then called one of his guards who had brought her and
said: "You have not brought me a human being but have brought me a
devil." The tyrant then gave Hajar as a maid servant to Sarah. Abraham,
gesturing with his hand, asked: "What has happened?" She replied:
"Allah has spoiled the evil plot of the infidel or immoral person and gave
me Hajar for service." Abu Hurairah then addressed his listeners saying:
"That Hajar was your mother, O Bani Ma is Sama (Arab, the descendants of
Ishmael, Hajar's son)."
Hajar and
Sarah
Abraham's wife Sarah was sterile. She had been
given an Egyptian woman Hajar, as a servant. Abraham had aged and his hair was
gray and after many years spent in calling people to Allah. Sarah thought she
and Abraham were lonely because she could not have a child. Therefore, she
offered her husband her servant Hajar in marriage. Hajar gave birth to her
first son Ishmael (isma'il) when Abraham was an old man.
Abraham
Questions Resurrection
Abraham lived on earth worshipping Allah and
calling people to monotheism, but he was journeying to Allah, knowing that his
days on earth were limited and that they would be followed by death and finally
resurrection. The knowledge of life after death filled Abraham with peace and
love and certitude. One day he begged Allah to show him how He brought the dead
back to life. Allah commanded Abraham to take four birds, cut them up and
mingle their body parts, divide them into four portions and place them on top
of four different hills, then call back the birds in Allah's name. Abraham did
as he was told. Immediately the mingled parts of the birds separated to join
their original bodies in different places and the birds flew back to Abraham.
Almighty Allah revealed:
“Remember when Abraham said: ‘My Lord Show me
how You give life to the dead." Allah said: "Do you not
believe?" Abraham said: "Yes I believe, but to be stronger in
Faith." HE said: "Take four birds, the cause them to incline towards
you (then slaughter them, cut them into pieces) and then put a portion of them
on every hill and call them they will come to you in haste. And know
that Allah is All Mighty and All Wise."(Ch 2:260 Quran)
53
[next]
Abraham
leaves Hajar and Ishmael
One day, Abraham woke up and asked his wife
Hajar to get her son and prepare for a long journey. In a few days Abraham
started out with his wife Hajar and their son Ishmael. The child was still
nursing and not yet weaned. Abraham walked through cultivated land, desert, and
mountains until he reached the desert of the Arabian Peninsula and came to an
uncultivated valley having no fruit, no trees, no food, no water. The valley
had no sign of life. After Abraham had helped his wife and child to dismount,
he left them with a small amount of food and water which was hardly enough for
2 days. He turned around and walked away. He wife hurried after him asking:
"Where are you going Abrahim, leaving us in this barren valley?"
Abraham did not answer her, but continued walking. She repeated what she had
said, but he remained silent. Finally she understood that he was not acting on his
own initiative. she realized that Allah had commanded him to do this. She asked
him : "Did Allah command you to do so?" He replied: "Yes."
Then his great wife said: "We are not going to be lost, since Allah Who
has commanded you is with us." Abraham invoked Almighty Allah thus:
"O Our Lord! I have made some of my
offspring to dwell in a valley with no cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the
Ka'ba at Mecca); in order, O our Lord, that they may offer prayers perfectly
(Iqamat as salat) so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and O
Allah provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks. O our Lord!
Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or
in the heavens is hidden from Allah." (Ch 14:37-38)
Hajar and
Ishmael - Narrated by Ibn Abbas
Ibn Abbas narrated: "The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ishmael. She used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah (by dragging it). Abraham brought her and her son Ishmael while she was suckling him to a place near the Kaba under a tree on the spot of ZamZam at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Mecca, nor was there any water so he made them sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates and a small water skin containing
54
[next] some water and set out homeward. Ishmael's mother followed
him saying:
"O Abraham! Where are you going, leaving us
in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is
there anything to enjoy?" she repeated that to him many times, but he did
not look back at her. Then she asked him : "Has Allah ordered you to do
so?" He said: "Yes." She then said: "Then He will not
neglect us," and returned while Abraham proceeded onwards. On reaching the
Thaniya where they could not see him, he faced the Kaba and raising both hands,
invoked Allah saying the following prayers:
"O our Lord! I have made some of my
offspring dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Your Sacred House (Kaba at
Mecca) in order, O our Lord that they may offer prayer perfectly. So fill some
hearts among men with love towards them, and O Allah provide them with fruits
so that they may give thanks." (Ch 14:37)
Ibn Abbas's narration continued; "Ishmael's
mother went on suckling Ishmael and drinking from the water (she had) When the
water in the water skin had been used up, she became thirsty and her child also
became thirsty, She started looking at him (Ishmael) tossing in agony. She left
him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of
As-Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. she too on it and started
looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not
see anybody. Then she descended for As Safa and when she reached the valley,
she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and
trouble till she crossed the valley and reached the mountain of Al Marwa. There
she stood and started looking expecting to see somebody, but she could not see
anybody. She repeated that running between Safa And Marwa seven times."
Hajar
sees Zam-zam - by Prophet Muhammad
The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "This is the source of the tradition of the Sa'y (rituals of the hajj, pilgrimage) the going of people between them (As-Safa and Al-Marwa). When she reached Al Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be quiet and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said: "O whoever you maybe! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?" And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zam zam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing) till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her water skin with water with her hands and the water was flowing out water she had scooped some of it." The
55
[next] Prophet (pbuh)
added: "May Allah bestow mercy on Ishmael's mother! Had she let the
zam-zam flow without trying to control it, or had she not scooped from that
water to fill her water skin, Zam zam would have been a stream flowing on the
surface of the earth."
Makka is
Settled - Told by Prophet Muhammad
The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "Then she
drank water and suckled her child. The angel said to her: "Don't be afraid
of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this
boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people." The House (Kaba)
at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came,
they flowed to its right and left. "She lived in that way till some people
from the tribe of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by her and her child as
they (the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kada. they landed in
the lower part of Mecca where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying
around water and not leaving it. they said: "this bird must be flying
around water, though we know that there is no water in this valley." They
sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water and returned to
inform them of the water. So they all came towards the water. Ishmael's mother
was
sitting near the water. They asked her: "Do
you allow us to stay with you?" She replied: "Yes, but you will have
no right to possess the water." They agreed to that. Ishmael's mother was
pleased with the whole situation, as she used to love to enjoy the company of
the people, so they settled there, and later on they sent for their families
who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents
there. The child (Ishmael) grew up and learned Arabic from them and (his
virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up and when he reached
the age of puberty they made him marry a woman from amongst them."
Ishmael's
Wives
The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "After Ishmael's mother had died, Abraham came after Ishmael's marriage in order to see his family that he had left before but he did not find Ishmael there. When he asked Ishmael's wife about him, she replied: "He has gone in search of livelihood." Then he asked her about their way of living and their condition, and she replied, "We are living in misery; we are living in hardship and destitution," complaining to him. He said: "When your husband returns, convey my salutations to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house)." When Ishmael
56
[next] came, he
seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife: "Has anyone
visited you?" she replied, "Yes, an old man of such and such description
came and asked me about you and I informed him and he asked about our state of
living and I told him that we were living in a hardship and poverty." On
that Ishmael said: "Did he advise you anything?" She said: "Yes
he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the
threshold of your gate." Ishmael said: "It was my father and he has
ordered me to divorce you. Go back to your family." So, Ishmael divorced
her and married another woman from among them (Jurhum).
The Kaba
is Built - by Prophet Muhammad
"Then Abraham stayed away from them for a
period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find
Ishmael. So he came to Ishmael's wife and asked her about Ishmael. She said:
'he has gone in sof our livelihood.' Abraham asked her; 'how are you getting
on?' asking her about their sustenance and living. she replied: 'we are
prosperous and well off (we have everything in abundance).' then she thanked
Allah. Abraham said: 'What kind of food do you eat?' she said: 'meat.' he said:
'what do you drink?' she said: 'water.' he said: 'O Allah! bless their meat and
water.""
The Prophet (pbuh) added: "At that time
they did not have grain, and if they had grain he would have also invoked Allah
to bless it. If somebody has only these two things as his sustenance, his
health and disposition will be badly affected unless he lives in Mecca."
The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "Then Abraham said to Ishmael's wife: 'When
your husband comes give my regards to him and tell him that he should keep firm
the threshold of his gate.' When Ishmael came back he asked his wife, 'did
anyone call no you?' she replied: 'yes, a good looking old man came to me,' so
she praised him and added: 'He asked about you and I informed him that we were
in a good condition.' Ishmael asked her:' did he give you any piece of advice?'
she said; 'yes, he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you
should keep firm the threshold of your gate.' on that Ishmael said: 'It was my
father, and you are the threshold of the gate. He has ordered me to keep you
with me.'
Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period
as long as Allah wished and called on them afterwards. He saw Ishmael under a
tree near Zam Zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Abraham, he rose up to
welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his son or a son
does with his father). Abraham said: 'O Ishmael! Allah has give me an order.'
Ishmael said: 'Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.' Abraham asked:'Will
you help me?' Ishmael said: 'I will help you.' Abraham said: 'Allah has
ordered me to build a house here,' pointing to a hillock higher than the land
surrounding it.
57
[next]
"Then they raised the foundations of the
House (the Kaba). Ishmael brought the stones while Abraham built and when the
walls became high Ishmael brought this stone and put it for Abraham who stood
over it and carried on building. While Ishmael was handing him the stones, and
both of them were saying:
"Our Lord! Accept this service from us,
verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." (Ch 2:127 Quran)
The Prophet (pbuh) added: "Then both of
them went on building and going round the Kaba saying:
"O our Lord! Accept this service from us,
verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower."; (Sahih Bukhari).
Hajar
sees zam - zam - by Ibn Abbas
Ibn Abbas narrated a slightly different version:
"When Abraham had differences with his wife (because of her jealousy of
Hajar, Ishmael's mother), he took Ishmael and his mother and went away. They
had a water skin with them containing some water. Ishmael's mother used to
drink water from the water skin so that her milk would increase for her child.
When Abraham reached Mecca, he made her sit under a tree and afterwards
returned home. Ishmael's mother followed him and when they reached Kada, she
called him from behind: 'O Abraham! To whom are you leaving us?' He replied:
'(I am leaving you) to Allah's care.' she said: 'I am satisfied to be with
Allah.' She returned to her place and started drinking water from the water
skin and her milk increased for her child.
"When the water had all been used up, she said to herself: 'I had better go and look so that I may see somebody.' she ascended As-Safa mountain and looked hoping to see somebody but in vain. When she came down to the valley, she ran till she reached Al Marwa Mountain. She ran to and for (between the two mountains) many times. Then she said to herself; 'I had better go and see the state of the child.' she went and found it in a state of one on the point of dying. She could not endure to watch it dying and said to herself: 'If I go and look I may find somebody.' she went and ascended al-Safa mountain and looked for a long while but could not find anybody. Thus she completed seven
58
[next] rounds of running between As-Safa
and Al-Marwa. Again she said to herself: 'I had better go back and see the
state of the child.' but suddenly she heard a voice, and she said to that
strange voice. 'help us if you can offer any help.' lo! it was Gabriel (who had
made the voice) Gabriel hit the earth with his heel like this (Ibn Abbas hit
the earth with his heel to illustrate it), and so the water gushed out.
Ishmael's mother was astonished and started digging."
Abu Al Qasim, the Prophet (pbuh) said: "If
she had left the water, (flow naturally, without her intervention, ) it would
have been flowing on the surface of the earth."
Makka is
Settled - by Ibn Abbas
Ibn Abbas continued narrating: "Ishmael's
mother started drinking from the water, and her milk increased for her child.
Afterwards some people of the tribe of Hurhum saw some birds while passing
through the bottom of the valley and that astonished them. They said:
"birds can only be found at a place where there is water." They sent
a messenger who searched the place and found the water and returned to inform
them about it. Then they all went to her and said: "O Ishmael's mother!
Will you allow us to be with you (or dwell with you)?" Then they stayed
there.
Ishmael's
Wives - by Ibn Abbas
"Later on her boy reached the age of
puberty and married a lady from them. Then an idea occurred to Abraham, which
he disclosed to his wife (sarah). 'I want to call on my dependants I left at
Mecca.' When he went there he greeted Ishmael's wife and said: 'where is
Ishmael?' She replied: 'He has gone out hunting.' Abraham said to her: 'When he
comes, tell him to change the threshold of his gate.' When Ishmael came she
told him the same and whereupon Ishmael said to her: 'you are the threshold so
go to your family (you are divorced).' "Again Abraham thought of visiting
his dependents whom he had left at Mecca, and told his wife (Sarah) of his
intentions. Abraham came to Ishmael's house and asked: 'Where is Ishmael?'
Ishmael's wife replied: 'He has gone out hunting,' and added: 'will you stay
for some time and have something to eat and drink?' Abraham said: 'what is your
food and what is your drink?' she replied: 'our food is meat and our drink is
water.' he replied: 'O Allah! Bless their meals and their drink.' Abu Al Qasim
(the Prophet)(pbuh) said: "Because of Abraham's invocation there are
blessings in Mecca."
Kaba is
Built - by Ibn Abbas
59
[next] Ibn Abbas continued: "Once more
Abraham thought of visiting his family he had left at Mecca and he told his
wife (Sarah) of his decision. HE went and found Ishmael behind the Zam-zam
well, mending his arrows. He said: 'O Ishmael, your Lord has ordered me to
build a house for Him.' Ishmael said: 'Obey the order of your Lord.' Abraham said:
'Allah has also ordered me that you should help me therein.' Ishmael said:
'Then I will do so.' So both of them were saying:
"O our Lord! Accept this service of us,
verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." (Ch 2:127)
When the building became high and the old man
(Abraham) could no longer lift the stones to such a high position, he stood
over the stone of Al Maqam and Ishmael carried on handing him the stones and
both of them were saying:
"O our Lord! Accept this service of us,
verily You are the All Hearer, the All Knower.""
Abraham and Ishmael (PBUT) - The Sacrifice
Allah the Almighty told us of Abraham's
affliction with his beloved son:
"And he said after his rescue from the
fire:
'Verily! I am going to my Lord. He will guide
me! My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous." SO We gave him the
glad tidings of a forbearing boy. And when he (his son) was old enough to walk
with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am
slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what do you
think!Ý" "O my father! Do that which you are commanded InshAllah (if
Allah wills), you shall find me of the patient." Then when they had both
submitted themselves to the Will of Allah and he had laid him prostrate on his
forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering); and We called out
to him: "O Abraham! You have fulfilled the dream (vision!" Verily!
Thus do Wereward those who perform good deeds, totally for Allah's sake only.
Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial and We ransomed him with a great
sacrifice (a ram;) and We left for him ( a goodly remembrance) among
generations (to come) in later times. "Salamun (peace) be upon
Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsineen (good doers). Verily, he
was one of Our believing slaves. (Ch 37:99-111 Quran) Time passed. One day
Abraham was sitting outside his tent thinking of his son Ishmael and Allah's
sacrifice. His heart was filled with awe and love for Allah for His countless
blessings. A big tear dropped from his eyes and reminded him of Ishmael.
60
[next] Tidings of
Isaac
In the meantime, three angels descended to the
earth; Gabriel, Israphael, and Michael. They came in human shapes and saluted
Abraham. Abraham arose and welcomed them. He took them inside his tent thinking
they were strangers and guests. He seated them and made sure that they were
comfortable, then excused himself to go to his people.
His wife Sarah arose when he entered. She had
become old and white haired. Abraham said to her: "We have three strangers
in the house." "Who are they?" she asked. "I do not know
any of them," he answered. "What food have we got?" He asked.
Half a sheep." she replied, "Half a sheep! Slaughter a fat calf for
them; they are strangers and guests." he ordered while leaving.
The servants roasted and served a calf. Abraham
invited the angels to eat and he started eating so as to encourage them. He
continued, but when he glanced at his guests to assure they were eating, he
noticed that none of them had touched the food. He said to the them: "Are
you not going to eat?" He resumed eating, but when he glanced at them
again he found that they were still not eating. Their hands did not reach out
for the food. He began to fear them. Abraham's fears increased. The angels, however
were reading his inner thoughts and one of them said: "Do not fear."
Abraham raised his head and replied: "Indeed I am in fear. I have asked
you to eat food but you do not stretch out your hands to eat. Do you intend me
evil?" One of the angels smiled and said: "We do not eat. We are
Allah's angels." One of them then turned towards his wife and conveyed the
glad tidings about Isaac (Ishaaq).
Tidings
of Isaac - Quranic
Almighty Allah revealed:
"Verily! There came Our Messengers to
Abraham with glad tidings. They said: "Salaam (greetings or peace)!"
he answered: "Salaam (greetings or peace)!" and he hastened to
entertain them with a roasted calf. But, when he saw their hands went not
towards it (the meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of
them. They said: "Fear not, we have been sent against the people of
Lot." And his wife was standing there and she laughed (either, because the
Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the
people of Lot). But We gave her glad tidings of Isaac, and after him of Jacob.
61
[next] She said (in astonishment): "Woe
unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband
an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!" They said: "Do you
wonder at the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you,
O the family (of Abraham). Surely, He (Allah) is All praiseworthy,
All-Glorious." (CH 11:69-73).
Isaac's
Sons - from Commentators
The Quran does not give details of Isaac's life
(pbuh), but reliable Quranic commentators mentioned that when Abraham felt that
his life was drawing to a close, he wished to see Isaac married. He did not
want Isaac to marry one of the Canaanites, who were pagans, so he sent a
trustworth servant to Haran in Iraq to choose a bride for Isaac. The servant's
choice fell upon Rebekah Bint Bethuel, Ibn Nahor (who was a brother of
Abraham). Isaac married her and she gave birth to a set of twins, Esau (Al Eis)
and Jacob (Yaqub).
Ill feelings developed between the two brothers
when they grew into manhood. Esau disliked the fact that Jacob was favoured by
his father and by Allah with prophethood. This ill feeling became so searious
that Esau threatened to kill his brother. Fearing for his life, Jacob fled the
country.
Isaac's
Sons - from the People of the Book
The People of the Book said that when Isaac was
forty years old, he married Rebekah Bint Bethuel, during his father's life.
They said she was sterile, so Isaac prayed to Allah and then she became
pregnant. She gave birth to twin boys. The first one was called Esau whom the
Arabs called Al-Eis. He became the father of Rum. The second one was called
Jacob, which means Isreal, (belonging to the people of Israel).
Issac's
Death
Jacob came to his father Isaac and settled with
him in the village of Hebron which lies in the land of Canaan where Abraham had
lived. Then Isaac fell ill and died when he was one hundred eighty years old.
His sons Esau and Jacob buried him with his father Abraham Al Khalil in a cave
which he had bought. It was said that Abraham died at the age of one hundred
seventy five.
62
9.
Prophet Yaqub (Jacob)
Isaac's
Sons - Jacob and Esau
Isaac married Rebekah Bint Bethuel, Ibn Nahor,
and she gave birth to a set of twins, Esau (Al Eis) and Jacob (Yaqub). Ill
feelings developed between the two brothers when they grew into manhood. Esau
disliked the fact that Jacob was favored by his father and by Allah with
prophethood. This ill feeling became so serious that Esau threatened to kill
his brother. Fearing for his life, Jacob fled the country.
Isaac's
Sons - from the People of the Book
The People of the Book said that when Isaac was
forty years old, he married Rebekah, Bint Bethuel, during his father's life.
They said she was sterile, so Isaac prayed to Allah and then she became
pregnant. She gave birth to twin boys. The first one was called Esau whom the
Arabs called Al-Eis. He became the father of Rum. The second one was called
Jacob, which means Isreal, (belonging to the people of Israel).
The People of the Book claimed that when Isaac
(pbuh) grew old and his eye sight had weakened, he had a desire for food, so he
asked his son Esau to go hunting and bring him some cooked game. Esau asked him
to bless the food and pray for him. Esau, a hunter, went out to get his father
the meat. Rebekah, overhearing this, ordered her son Jacob to slaughter two
goats of his best flock and cook them as his father liked and bring it to him
before his brother returned. She dressed Jacob in his brother's clothes and put
goat skin on his arms and neck, for Esau was hairy while Jacob was not. When he
approached his father with the food, his father asked: 'Who are you?' Jacob
answered: 'I am your son.' When his father finished eating, he prayed for his
son to be the more blessed brother and to prevail over them and all people, and
for Allah to sustain him and his children.
When he left his father, his brother Esau, who
had carried out his father's command, entered. Isaac asked him: "What is
this my son?" He answered: "This is the food you like." Isaac
asked: "Did you bring it an hour ago and ask me to pray for you?"
Esau said: "No, I swear I did not," and he knew his brother had
preceded him in this matter and he was sick at heart.
Jacob
Leaves his Home - from the People of the Book
63
[next] The People of the Book said Esau
threatened to kill his brother when their father was dead. They also said that
he asked his father to pray for him that Allah make the earth good for his
offspring and multiply his sustenance and fruits.
When their mother knew that Esau threatened his
brother Jacob, she commanded her son Jacob to go to her brother Laban in the
land of Haran and abide with him for a time until his brother's anger had
abated, and to marry one of the Laban's daughters. She told her husband Isaac
to command him with that advice and pray for him, and he did.
Jacob's
Promise
Jacob (pbuh) left his family, when night came he
found a place to rest. He took a stone and put it under his head and slept. He
dreamed of a ladder from heaven to earth. Angels were ascending and descending
and the Lord addressed him and said to him; "I will bless you and your
offspring and make this land for you and for those who come after you."
When he awoke he felt joyful from what he had seen in his dream and vowed, for
Allah's sake that if he returned to his family safely, he would build here a
temple for Allah the Almighty. He also vowed to give one tenth of his property
for the sake of Allah. He poured oil on the stone so as to recognize it and
called the place "Ayle's House" (Bethel), which means "House of
Allah". It was to be the location of Jerusalem later.
Jacob's
Wives - from the People of the Book
The People of the Book also said that when Jacob
came to his maternal uncle in the land of Haran, his uncle had two daughters.
The elder one was called Leah (Lia) and the younger one was Rachel (Rahil). The
latter was the better and lovelier of the two. His uncle agreed to marry his
daughter to him on the condition that Jacob pasture his sheep for seven years.
After a period of time, his uncle prepared a feast and gathered people for the
wedding. He married Leah, his elder daughter, to him at night. She was
weak-sighted and ugly. When morning came, Jacob discovered she was Leah and he
complained to his uncle. "You deceived me; I was engaged to Rachel and you
married me to Leah." His uncle said: "It is not our tradition to
marry the younger daughter before the elder daughter. However, if you love her
sister, work another seven years and I will marry you to both of them."
Jacob worked for seven years and then married Rachel. It was acceptable in
their time, as described in the Torah, for a man to marry two sisters. Laban
gave a female slave to each daughter. Leah's slave was called Zilpah and
Rachel's slave was called Bilha.
64
[next] Jacob's Children
- from the People of the Book
Almighty Allah compensated Leah's weakness by
giving her sons. The first one was named Rueben (Robel), after whom there were
Simon (Shamun), Levi (Lawi), and Judah (Yahudh). Rachel felt jealous of Leah's
having sons, as she was barren. She gave her slave Bilha to her husband and he
had relations with her until she became pregnant. She gave birth to a son and
named him Naphtali. Leah was vexed that Rachel's slave had give birth to a son,
so she in turn gave her slave Zilpah to Jacob (pbuh), Zilpah gave birth to two
sons, Gad and Asher. Then Leah got pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son,
Issaacher, and later she gave birth to a sixth son Zebulun. After this Leah
gave birth to a daughter named Dinah. Thus, Leah had seven sons from Jacob.
Then Rachel prayed to Allah to give her a son
from Jacob. Allah heard her call and responded to her prayer. She gave birth to
a son, great, honorable, and beautiful. She named him Joseph (Yusuf). All of
this happened when they were in the land of Haran and Jacob (pbuh) was
pasturing his uncle's sheep, which he did for a period of twenty years.
Jacob's
Request - from the People of the Book
Jacob then asked his uncle Laban to let him go
and visit his family. His uncle said to him: "I have been blessed because
of you; ask for whatever money you need." Jacob said: "Give me each
spotted and speckled goat born this year and each black lamb." But at
Laban's command his sons removed their father's goat that were striped, spotted
or speckled, and the black lambs, lest others should be born with those traits.
They walked for three days with their father's goats and sheep while Jacob
tended the remaining flock. The People of the Book said that Jacob (pbuh) took
fresh rods of poplar, almond, and plane. He peeled streaks in them and cast
them into the water through for the goats to look at. The young inside their
abdomens were terrified and moved and they were born striped, spotted or
speckled. When the sheep were breeding, he set their faces towards the black
sheep in Laban's flock and put the rods among them. Their lambs were born
black. This was considered an example of supernatural powers, a miracle. Jacob
had many goats, sheep, beast and slaves. His uncle and his sons faces changed
as if they the sheep and goats had been stolen from them.
Jacob
Accused of Taking Idols
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[next] Allah the Almighty inspired Jacob to
return to the country of his father and people, and He promised to stand by
him. Jacob told his family that, and they responded and obeyed him. Jacob did
not tell Laban of his plans, however, and left without bidding farewell.
Upon leaving, Rachel stole her father's idols.
After Jacob and his people had fled for his country, Laban and his people
followed them. When Laban met with Jacob, he blamed him for leaving him without
his knowledge. He would have liked to know so that he could have made them
leave with celebration and joy, with drums and songs, and so that he could have
bidden his daughters and sons farewell. And why have they taken his idols with
them? Jacob had no knowledge of his idols, so he denied that he had taken them
from him. Then Laban entered the tents of his daughters and slaves to search,
but he found nothing, for Rachel had put the idols in the camel saddle under
her. She did not get up, apologizing that she had her menses. Thus, he could
not perceive what they had done. Then they sat on a hill called Galeed and made
a covenant there. Jacob would not ill treat Laban's daughters nor marry others.
Neither Laban nor Jacob would pass the hill into the other's country. They
cooked food and their people ate with them. Each bade the other farewell as
they departed, each returning to his own country.
Jacob
Prepares to meet Esau
When Jacob approached the land of Seir, the
angels greeted him. He sent a messenger ahead with greetings to his brother
Esau, asking forgiveness and humbling himself before him. The messenger
returned greetings and told Jacob that Esau was riding towards him with four
hundred men. This
made Jacob afraid and he entreated and prayed to
Allah Almighty. He prostrated in humiliation and asked Him to fulfill His
promise which He had made before. He asked Him to stop the evil of his brother
Esau. Then Jacob (pbuh) prepared a great present for his brother: two hundred
female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, and
thirty milch camels, forty cows and two bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten
male donkeys. He commanded his slaves to take the animals, each drove by
itself, and pass on ahead of him with a space between the droves. He instructed
them: "When you meet my brother Esau he will ask you, 'to whom do you
belong? where are you going?' you shall say, 'they belong to your servant
Jacob; they are a present to my master Esau. Moreover, he is behind us."
Jacob stayed behind with his two wives, his slaves and his children for two
nights, then continued walking by night and resting by day.
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[next] Jacob becomes
Israel
When the dawn of the second day came one of the
angels appeared in the shape of a man. Jacob began to wrestle with him. They
were neck and neck until the angel injured his thigh and Jacob became lame.
When the day was breaking, the angel said to him: 'What is your name?' He
answered: 'Jacob.' The angel said: "After today you shall not be called
anything but Israel." Jacob asked: "Who are you? What is your
name?" He vanished. Then Jacob knew that he was one of the angels. Jacob
was lame, and for this reason the children of Israel do not eat the thigh
muscle on the hip socket.
Jacob and
Esau Meet
Jacob raised his eyes and saw his brother Esau
coming. Jacob prostrated seven times before him for it was their salutation in
that time. It was lawful for them just as the angels had prostration in
salutation to Adam.
When Esau saw him, he ran towards him, embraced
and kissed him and wept. When Esau raised his eyes and saw the women and
children he asked: "Who are these with you?" Jacob answered:
"Those whom Allah has given me, your servant." Leah, Rachel, their
slaves, and all the children approached and prostrated before him. Jacob asked
Esau to accept his gift and insisted until he did so. Esau returned and went in
advance before him. Jacob and his family followed with the flocks and herds and
slaves to the mountains (Seir).
Jacob
Builds Ayl
When he came to Succoth (Sahur), he built a
house for himself and shades for his beasts. Then he passed by Jerusalem, the
village of Shechem, and camped before the village. He bought a farm from Shcehm
Ibn Hamor with one hundred goats and built an altar, which he called Ayl, as
Allah commanded him. He built the altar where Jerusalem stands today and later
Solomon son of David (pbuh) rebuilt it. It is in the place of the stone which
he had earlier anointed with oil as was mentioned before.
Dinah's
Story - from the People of the Book
The people of the book tell a story of Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah. Shechem Ibn Hamor seized her and lay with her by force. Then he asked her father and brothers to let
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[next] him marry her. Her
brothers said : "Circumcise all of you, and we will give our daughters to
you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves; but we do not marry with
uncircumcised people." They (the men of the city) agreed to that, and all
of them were circumcised. When the third day came, the pain from the
circumcision had increased, Jacob's sons approached and killed them till the
last one. They killed Shchem and his father for the evil they had committed
against them and for their worship of idols. That is why Jacob's sons killed
them and seized their money as spoils.
Rachel's
Death
Then Rachel got pregnant and gave birth to a
son, Benjamin, but she had a hard labor and died after delivery. Jacob buried
her in Ephrath (afrath). The tomb of Rachel is there till the present day.
The Sons
of Jacob
Jacob's sons were twelve men. From Leah there
were Rueben (Robil), Simon (Shamun), Levi (Lawi), Judah (Yahudh), Issachar
(Isakher), and Zebulun (Zablun). From Rachel there were Joseph (Yusuf) (pbuh)
and Benjamin. From Rachel's slave there were Dan and Naphtali (Neftali), and
from Leah's slave there were Gad and Asher.
Isaac's
Death
Jacob came to his father Isaac and settled with
him in the village of Hebron which lies in the land of Canaan where Abraham had
lived. Then Isaac fell ill and died when he was one hundred eighty years old.
his sons Esau and Jacob buried him with his father Abraham Al Khalil in a cave
which he had bought. It was said that Abraham died at the age of one hundred
seventy five.
The
Prophet's last Wish
Allah the Almighty declared in the Glorious
Quran:
"And who turns away from the religion of Abraham (Islamic Monotheism) except him who befools himself? Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous. When his Lord said to him: "Submit (be a Muslim)!" He said: "I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)." And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by Abraham upon his sons and by Jacob, (saying): "O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the true
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[next] religion, then die not except in the Faith of
Islam (as Muslims -- Islamic Monotheism)." Or were you witnesses when
death approached Jacob? When he said unto his sons: "What will you worship
after me?" They said: "We shall worship you (Ilah (God - Allah) the
Ilah (God) of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, One Ilah (God), and to Him
we submit (in Islam)." That was a nation who had passed away. They shall
receive the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn. And you will
not be asked of what they used to do.
Quran's
Way of Confronting People of the Book
They say: "Be Jews or Christians, and then
you will be guided." Say (to them O Muhammad): "Nay (we follow) only
the religion of Abraham, Hanifan (Islamic monotheism, i.e. to worship none but
Allah Alone, and he was not of the Al Mushrikeen (those who worshipped others
along with Allah)." Say (O Muslims): "We believe in Allah and that
which has been sent down to us and that which had been sent down to Abraham,
Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and to Al Asbat (the twelve sons of Jacob), and that
which has been given to Moses and Jesus and that which has been given to the
Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to
Him we have submitted (in Islam)." So if they believe in the like of that
which you believe, then they are rightly guided, but if they turn away, then
they are only in opposition. So, Allah, will suffice you against them. He is
the All Hearer, the All Knower.
(Our Sibghah, religion is) the Sibghah
(religion) of Allah (Islam) and which Sibghah (religion) can be better than
Allah's. We are His worshippers.
Say (O Muhammad, to the Jews and Christians):
"Dispute you with us about Allah while He is our Lord and your Lord? And
we are to be rewarded for our deeds and you for your deeds. We are sincere to
Him in worship and obedience (i.e., we worship Him Alone and none else, and we
obey His Orders)." Or say you that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and Al
Asbat (the twelve sons of Jacob) were Jews or Christians? Say: "Do you
know better or does Allah know better....that they all were Muslims? And who is
more unjust than he who conceals the testimony (to believe in the Prophet
Muhammad, when he comes written in their books) he has from Allah? Allah is not
unaware of what you do."(Ch 2:130-140 Quran)
In another surah Almighty Allah declared:
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[next]
"O People of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians)! Why do you dispute about Abraham, while the Torah and the
Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense? Verily, you
are those who have disputed about that of which you have no knowledge. Why do
then dispute concerning that which you have no knowledge? It is Allah Who knows,
and you know not.
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but
he was a true Muslim Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism), to worship none but Allah
Alone and he was not of the polytheists (he joined none in worship with Allah).
Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to
Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad) and those who
have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the
believers.(Ch 3:65-68 Quran) Allah the Exalted also affirmed:
" Then verily! Your Lord for those who do
evil (commit sins and are disobedient to Allah) in ignorance and afterward
repent and do righteous deeds, verily, your Lord thereafter to such is Oft
Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Verily, Abraham was an Ummah (a leader having
all the good righteous qualities or a nation), obedient to Allah, Hanifan (to
worship none but Allah), and he was not one of those who were Al Mushrikeen
(polytheists, idolaters, disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah and those who
joined partners with Allah). He was thankful for His (Allah's) Graces. He
(Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a Straight Path
(Islamic Monotheism, neither Judaism or Christianity). We gave him good in this
world and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous. Then, We have inspired
you (O Muhammad saying): "Follow the religion of Abraham Hanifan (Islamic
Monotheism to worship none but Allah) and he was not of the Mushrikeen
(polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah and His
Messenger Muhammad, those who worship others along with Allah or set up rivals
with or partners to Allah)." (Ch 16:119-123 Quran)
Description
of the People of Sodom
Prophet Abraham (PBUH) left Egypt accompanied by
his nephew Lut (PBUH), who then went to the city of Sodom (Sadum), which was on
the western shore of the Dead Sea.
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[next] This city was filled with evil. Its
residents waylaid, robbed and killed travelers. Another common evil among them
was that men had sex with men instead of with women. This unnatural act later
became known as sodomy (after the city of Sodom). It was practiced openly and
unashamedly.
Lot's
Message
It was at the height of these crimes and sins
that Allah revealed to Prophet Lut (PBUH) that he should summon the people to
give up their indecent behavior, but they were so deeply sunk in their immoral
habits that they were deaf to Lot's preaching. Swamped in their unnatural
desires, they refused to listen, even when Lot warned them of Allah's
punishment. Instead, they threatened to drive him out of the city if he kept on
preaching.
Allah the Almighty revealed: The people of Lot
(those dwelt in the towns of Sodom in Palestine) belied the Messengers when
their brother Lot said to them: "Will you not fear Allah and obey Him?
Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. SO fear Allah, keep your duty to
Him, and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islamic
Monotheism) my reward is only from the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and
all that exists). Go you in unto the males of the Alamin (mankind), and leave
those whom Allah has created for you to be your wives? Nay, you are a
trespassing people!" They said: "If you cease not, O Lot! Verily, you
will be one of those who are driven out!" HE said: "I am indeed, of
those who disapprove with severe anger and fury your (this evil) action (of
sodomy). My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do." SO We saved
him and his family, all except an old woman (this wife) among those who
remained behind. (Ch 26:160-171 Quran)
Lot's
Wife
The doings of Lot's people saddened his heart.
Their unwholesome reputation spread throughout the land, while he struggled
against them. As the years passed, he persisted in his mission but to no avail.
No one responded to his call and believed except for the members of his family,
and even in his household, not all the members believed. Lot's wife, like
Noah's wife, a disbeliever.
Allah the Almighty declared:
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[next]
"Allah set forth an example for those who
disbelieve, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two
of Our righteous slaves, but they both betrayed their (husbands, by rejecting
their doctrines) so they (Noah & Lut) benefited them (their respective
wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with
those who enter!" (Ch 66:10 Quran)
Angels
Come to Meet Lot
If home is the place of comfort and rest, then
Lut found none, for he was tormented both inside and outside his home. His life
was continuous torture and he suffered greatly, but he remained patient and
steadfast with his people. The years rolled by, and still not one believed in
him. Instead, they belittled his message and mockingly challenged him:
"Bring Allah's Torment upon us if you are one of the truthful!" (Ch 29:29
Quran).
Overwhelmed with despair, Lot prayed to Allah to
grant him victory and destroy the corrupt. Therefore, the angels left Abraham
(pbuh) and headed for Sodom the town of Lut (pbuh). They reached the walls of
the town in the afternoon. The first person who caught sight of them was Lot's
daughter, who was sitting beside the river, filling her jug with water. When
she lifted her face and saw them, she was stunned that there could be men of
such magnificent beauty on earth.
One of the tree men (angels) asked her: "O
maiden, is there a place to rest?" Remembering the character of her people
she replied, "Stay here and do not enter until I inform my father and
return." Leaving her jug by the river, she swiftly ran home.
"O father!" she cried. "You are
wanted by young men at the town gate and I have never before seen the like of
their faces!"
Lot felt distressed as he quickly ran to his
guests. He asked them where they came from and where they were going. They did
not answer his questions. Instead they asked if he could host them. He started
talking with them and impressed upon them the subject of his people's nature.
Lot was filled with turmoil; he wanted to convince his guests without offending
them, not to spend the night there, yet at the same time he wanted to extend to
them the expected hospitality normally accorded to guests. In vain he tried to
make them understand the perilous situation. At last, therefore, he requested
them to wait until the night fell, for then no one would see them.
The Mob
at Lot's House
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[next] When darkness fell on the town, Lot
escorted his guest to his home. No one was aware of their presence. However, as
soon as Lot's wife saw them, she slipped out of the house quietly so that no
one noticed her. Quickly, she ran to her people with the news and it spread to
all the inhabitants like wildfire. The people rushed towards Lot quickly and
excitedly. Lot was surprised by their discovery of his guests. and he wondered
who could have informed them. The matter became clear, however, when he could
not find his wife, anywhere, thus adding grief to his sorrow.
When Lot saw the mob approaching his house, he
shut the door, but they kept on banging on it. He pleaded with them to leave
the visitors alone and fear Allah's punishment. He urged them to
seek sexual fulfillment with their wives, for
that is what Allah had made lawful.
Lot's people waited until he had finished his
short sermon, and then they roared with laughter. Blinded by passion, they
broke down the door. Lot became very angry, but he stood powerless before these
violent people. He was unable to prevent the abuse of his guests, but he firmly
stood his ground and continued to plead with the mob.
The
Punishment
At that terrible moment, he wished he had the
power to push them away from his guests. Seeing him in a state of helplessness,
and grief the guests said: "Do not be anxious or frightened, Lot for we
are angels, and these people will not harm you." On hearing this, the mob
was terrified and fled from Lot's house, hurling threats at him as they left.
The angels warned Prophet Lut (pbuh) to leave his house before sunrise, taking
with him all his family except his wife. Allah had decreed that the city of
Sodom should perish. An earthquake rocked the town. IT was as if a mighty power
had lifted the entire city and flung it down in one jolt. A storm of stones
rained on the city. Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Lot's
wife.
The
Angels Meet Abraham
Allah the Almighty recounted this story:
"And tell them about the guests (angels) of
Abraham. When they entered unto him, and said: "Salaaman (peace)!"
Abraham said: "Indeed! We are afraid of you."
They (the angels) said: "Do not be afraid! We give you glad tidings of a boy (son)
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[next] possessing much knowledge and
wisdom." (Abraham) said: "Do you give me glad tidings (of a son) when
old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news?" They (the angels)
said: "We give you glad tidings in truth. So be not of the
despairing."
Abraham said: "And who despairs of the
Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?" (Abraham again) said:
"What then is the business on which you have come, O Messengers?"
They (the angels) said: "We have been sent
to a people who are Mujrimeen (criminals, disbeliveers, polytheists, sinners).
(All) except the family of Lot. Them all we are surely going to save (from
destruction)."
Except his wife, of whom We have decreed that
she shall be of the those who remain behind (she will be destroyed).
Then when the Messengers (the angels) came unto
the family of Lot, he said: "Verily! You are people unknown to me."
They said: "Nay! we have come to you with that (torment) which they have
been doubting. And we have brought to you the truth (the news of the
destruction of your nation) and certainly, we tell the truth. Then travel in a
part of the night with your family, and you go behind them in the rear, and let
no one amongst you look back, but go on to where you are ordered." And We
made known this decree to him, that the root of those (sinners) was to be cut
off in the early morning
The inhabitants of the city came rejoicing (at
the news of the young men's arrival). Lot said: "Verily! These are my
guests, so shame me not. And fear Allah and disgrace me not." They (people
of the city) said: "Did we not forbid you to entertain (or protect) any of
the Alamin (people, foreigners strangers etc) from us?" Lot said:
"These (the girls of the nation) are my daughters to marry lawfully) if you
must act so."
Verily, by your life (O Muhammad), in their wild
intoxication they were wandering blindly. So As Saliha (torment, awful cry etc)
overtook them at the time of sunrise; and We turned (the towns of Sodom in
Palestine) upside down and rained down on them stones of baked clay. Surely! In
this are signs for those who see (or understand or learn the lessons from the
Signs of Allah). And verily! They (the cities) are right on the highroad (from
Mecca to Syria, i.e. the place where the Dead Sea is now). Surely! Therein is
indeed a sign for the believers." (Ch 15:51-77 Quran)
Allah the Exalted also declared:
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[next] "So we saved him and his family,
all, except an old woman (his wife) among those who remained behind. Then
afterward We destroyed the others. We rained on them a rain of torment. How
evil was the rain of those who had been warned. Verily, in this is indeed a
sign yet most of them are not believers. Verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the
All Mighty, the Most Merciful. (Ch 26:170-175 Quran)
Lot's
Life after Sodom
The book was closed on the people of Lot (pbuh).
Their towns and names have been erased from the face of the earth. Gone are
they from memory. One book was closed of the books of corruption. Lot (pbuh)
proceeded towards Abraham (pbuh). HE visited him, and when he recounted the
story of his people, he was surprised to learn that Abraham (pbuh) already
knew. So Lut (pbuh) continued to invite people to Allah, as did Abraham (pbuh),
the patient one who turned to Allah repentantly, and the two held firm to their
mission.
Shuaib's
Message
Allah the Almighty revealed the story of Shu'aib
(pbuh):
"To the people of Madyan (Madian) (We sent) their brother Shu'aib. He said: "O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Verily! a clear proof (sign) from your Lord has come unto you; so give full measure and full weight and wrong not men in their things, and do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order that will be better for you, if you are believers. And sit not on every road, threatening, and hindering from the Path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking to make it crooked. Remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you. See what was the end of the Mufsideen (mischief makers, corrupts and liars). And if there is a party of you who believes in that which I have been sent and a party who do not believe, so be patient until Allah judges between us, and He is the Best of judges." The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said: "We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu'aib! and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you all shall return to our religion." He said: "Even though we hate it! We should have invented a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion, after Allah has rescued us from it. It is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, should will. Our Lord comprehends all
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[next] things in His Knowledge. In Allah
(Alone) we put our trust. Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth,
for You are the Best of those Who gives judgment." The chiefs of those who
disbelieved among his people said to their people: "If you follow Shu'aib
be sure then you will be the losers!" Then he (shu'aib) turned from them
and said: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed my Lord's Messages unto you
and I have given you good advice. Then how can I sorrow for the disbelieving
people's (destruction)." (Ch 7:85-93 Quran)
The people of Madyan were Arabs who lived in the
country of Ma'an, part of which today is greater Syria. They were a greedy
people who did not believe that Allah existed and who led wicked lives. They
gave short measure, praised their goods beyond their worth, and hid their
defects. They lied to their customers, thereby cheating them.
Allah sent His Prophet Shu'aib (pbuh) armed with
many miracles. Shu'aib preached to them, begging them to be mindful of Allah's
favors and warning them of the consequences of their evil ways, but they only
mocked him. Shu'aib remained calm as he reminded them of his kinship to them
and that what he was doing was not for his personal gain.
They seized the belongings of Shu'aib and his
followers, then drove them out of the city. The
Messenger turned to his Lord for help, and his
plea was answered. Allah sent down on them scorching heat and they suffered
terribly. On seeing a cloud gathering in the sky, they thought it would bring
cool, refreshing rain, and rushed outside in the hope of enjoying the rainfall.
Instead the cloud burst, hurling thunderbolts and fire. They heard a thunderous
sound from above which caused the earth under their feet to tremble. The evil
doers perished in this state of horror.
The
Disbeliever's Ignorance
Allah the Exalted stated:
"The dwellers of Al Aiyka (near Midian, or Madyan) belied the Messengers. When Shu'aib said to them: "Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. SO fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it (my message of Islamic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). Give full measure, and cause no loss to
76
[next] others. And weigh with the true and straight balance. Defraud not people
by reducing their things nor do evil making corruption and mischief in the
land. Fear Him Who created you and the generations of the men of old."
They said: "You are only one of those bewitched! You are but a human being
like us and verily, we think that you are one of the liars! So cause a piece of
heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!" He said: "My Lord
is the Best Knower of what you do." But, they belied him, so the torment
of the day of shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them, indeed that was the torment
of a Great Day. Verily, in this is a sign yet most of them are not believers.
And verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the All Mighty, the Most Merciful."
(Ch 26:176-191 Quran).
Introduction
to Joseph's Story
This is the most detailed and fascinating story
in the Quran, involving both human weaknesses such as jealousy, hatred, pride,
passion, deception, intrigue, cruelty, and terror as well as noble qualities
such as patience, loyalty, bravery, nobility, and compassion. It is related
that among the reasons for its revelation is that the Jews asked the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) to tell them about Joseph (pbuh) who was one of their old
prophets. His story had been distorted in parts and marred in others with interpolation
and exclusions. Therefore it was revealed in the Book of Allah (Quran),
complete in its minute and careful details.
Allah the Almighty declared:
"We relate unto you (Muhammad) the best of
stories through Our Revelations unto you, of this Quran. And before this (i.e.
before the coming of Divine Inspiration to you), you were among those who knew
nothing about it (the Quran). ( Ch 12:3 Quran)
Almighty Allah also decreed:
"Thus We relate to you (O Muhammad) some
information of what happened before, And indeed We have give you from Us a
Reminder (this Quran). Whoever turns away from it (this Quran--i.e. does not
believe in it, nor acts on its orders), verily they will bear a heavy burden
(of sins) on the Day of Resurrection. They will abide in that (state in the
Fire of Hell), and evil indeed will it be that load for them on the Day of
Resurrection.(Ch 20:99-101)
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[next] The story of Joseph (pbuh) moves in a
stream from beginning to end; its substance and form are equally coherent. It
inspires you with a feeling for the depth of Allah's power and supremacy and
the execution of His rulings despite the challenge of human intervention.
"And Allah has full power and control over
His Affairs, but most of men know not. (Ch 12:21)
This is what the story of Joseph (pbuh),
confirms categorically, for it ends with comfort and marvels.
Summary
of Joseph's Story
Joseph lived all his life confronting schemes
made by the people closest to him. His brothers plotted to kill him, but they
amended it to exiling him. This happened to him while he was a boy. He was sold
into the slave market in Egypt, where he was bought for a nominal sum. Then he
fell victim to the attempted seduction by a great man's wife who, when her wish
was foiled, sent him to prison, where he remained for some time. In spite of
all of this, he at length approached close
to the Egyptian throne and became the king's
chief minister. He then began his call to Allah from the position of the ruling
authority.
Allah's plans were carried out, and the matter
ended. This is the substance (theme) of the story. As for the form (style) in
which it is presented, it is a landmark of wonder.
The
Story's Presentation
The story is presented in a sequence of
episodes. It gives you scene after scene and the transition is inspiring,
informative, and stirring to the imagination. There are also artistic
loopholes, which leave it to the imagination of the reader to complete the
sense, as well as the depth of the picture, the like of which no human artist
can bring forth.
Joseph's
Childhood
The story begins with a dream and ends with its
interpretation. As the sun appeared over the horizon, bathing the earth in its
morning glory, Joseph (pbuh), son of the Prophet Jacob (pbuh) awoke from his
sleep, delighted by a pleasant dream he had had. Filled with excitement he ran
to his father and related it.
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[next] "O my father! Verily, I saw (in a
dream) eleven stars and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves
to me." (Ch 12:4)
His father's face lit up. He foresaw that Joseph
would be one through whom the prophecy of his grandfather, Prophet Abraham
(pbuh), would be fulfilled, in that his offspring would keep the light of
Abraham's house alive and spread Allah's message to mankind. Therefore, it was
narrated that Allah's Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) was asked: "Who is the
most honorable amongst the people?" He replied: "The most
God-fearing." The people said: "We do not want to ask you about
this." He said: "The most honorable person is Joseph Allah's prophet,
the son of Allah's prophet, the son of the faithful friend of Allah
(Abraham)." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) However, the father was well aware of the
jealousy of Joseph's brothers, so he warned him against telling his dream to
his brothers.
"O my son! Relate not your vision to your
brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Satan is to man an open
enemy! Thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of
dreams (an other things) and perfect His Favor on you and on the offspring of
Jacob, as He perfected it on your fathers, Abraham, and Isaac aforetime!
Verily! your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise." (Ch 12:5-6)
Joseph heeded his father's warning. He did not
tell his brothers what he had seen. It is well known that they hated him so
much that it was difficult for him to feel secure telling them what was in his
heart and in his dreams.
Description
of Joseph
Joseph was eighteen years old, very handsome and
robust, with a gentle temperament. He was respectful, kind and considerate. His
brother Benjamin was equally pleasant. Both were from one mother, Rachel.
Because of their refined qualities, the father loved the two more than his
other children, and would not let them out of his sight. To protect them, he
kept them busy with work in the house garden.
The Evil
Plot of Joseph's Brothers
The scene of Jacob and his son closes. Another
opens on Joseph's brothers plotting against him.
"Truly, Joseph and his brother (Benjamin) are loved more by our father than we, but we are Usbah (a strong group). Really our father is in a plain error. Kill Joseph or cast him
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[next] out to some
other land, so that the favor of your father may be give to you alone, and
after that you will be righteous folk (by intending repentance before committing
the sin)." One from among them said: "Kill not Joseph, but if you
must do something, throw him down to the bottom of a well, he will be picked up
by some caravan of travelers." (Ch 12:8-10)
The pages of the Old Testament say that Joseph
told them his dream, whereas the Quran does not say that happened. Had it been
so, the brothers would have said so themselves. The Old Testament claims they
had lost their own rights by him, and so they would kill him. Indeed Joseph
kept his father's order and did not tell his brothers about his vision. In
spite of this, his brothers sat down to conspire against him. One of them
asked: "Why does our father love Joseph more than us?"
Another answered: "Perhaps because of his
beauty."
A third said: "Joseph and his brother
occupied our father's heart."
The first complained: "Our father has gone
all astray."
One of them suggested a solution to the matter;
kill Joseph.
"Where should we kill him?"
"We should banish him away from these
grounds."
"We will send him to a distant land."
"Why should we not kill him and have rest
so that the favor of your father may be give to you alone?"
However, Judah (Yahudh), the eldest and most
intelligent among them, said: "There is no need to kill him when all you
want is to get rid of him. Look here, let us throw him into a well and he will
be picked up by a passing caravan. T hey will
take him with them to a distant land. He will disappear from your father's
sight and our purpose will be served with his exile. Then after that we shall
repent for our crime and become good people once again."
The discussion continued on the idea of dropping Joseph into a well, as it was seen as the safest solution. The plan to kill him was defeated; kidnap into a distant land was approved. It was the cleverest of ideas.
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[next]
The
Brothers Approach Jacob
Their next movement opened the scene between
them and their father Jacob (pbuh):
They said: "O our father! Why do you not
trust us with Joseph, when we are indeed his well wishers? Send him with us
tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and verily we will take care of him."
He (Jacob) said: "Truly, it saddens me that you should take him away. I
fear lest a wolf should devour him, while you are careless of him." They
said: "If a wolf devours him, while we are Usbah (a strong group) (to
guard him), then surely we are the losers." (Ch 12:11-14)
Jacob suggested a point, which had not occurred
to them in their discussion: he feared that desert wolves would eat him! ithe
wolves within them, or did he mean the wild wolves? No one but Allah knows.
They coaxed their father to send Joseph with them; he agreed under their
pressure.
Joseph
Thrown into the Well
They were excited that they could now get rid of
Joseph for after this they could stand a better chance of receiving their
father's affection. On leaving home, they went directly to the well, as they
had planned, on the pretext of drinking water. One of them put his arms around
Joseph and held him tightly. Startled by this unusual behavior, Joseph
struggled to free himself. More brothers rushed to hold him. One of them
removed his shirt. Some more joined in to lift Joseph up and cast him into the
deep well. Joseph's piteous pleas made no difference to their cruel hearts.
Then Allah revealed to Joseph that he was safe and should not fear, for he
would meet them again some day to remind them of what they had done. There was
water in the well, which buoyed Joseph's body, so he was not harmed. He sat
lonely in the water, then clung to a rock ledge overheard and climbed on top of
it. his brothers left him in this desolate place. Then they killed a sheep and
soaked Joseph's shirt in its blood. One brother said that they should swear to
keep their deed a close secret. All of them took the oath.
The
Brothers Lie to Jacob
"And they came to their father in the early
part of the night weeping." (Ch 12:16)
The scene here is dark night, broken by the crying of ten men. The father is sitting in his
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[next] house when the sons
enter, the darkness of night covering the darkness of their hearts and the
darkness of their lies struggling to come out. Jacob wondered aloud: "Why
this weeping? Has anything
happened to our flock?" They answered
crying: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph by
our belongings and a wolf devoured him; but you will never believe us even when
we speak the truth. (Ch 12:17)
"We were surprised after returning from the
race that Joseph was in the belly of the wolf."
"We did not see him!"
"You will not believe us even though we are
truthful! we are telling you what happened!"
"The wolf has eaten Joseph!"
"This is Joseph's shirt. We foiled it
soiled with blood, and did not find Joseph!"
They brought his shirt stained with false blood.
(Ch 12:18)
Deep down in the heart Jacob knew that his
beloved son was still alive and that his other sons were lying. He held the
blood stained in his hands, spread it out and remarked: "What a merciful
wolf! he ate up my beloved son without tearing his shirt!" Their faces
turned red when he demanded more information, but each swore by Allah that he
was telling the truth. The brokenhearted father burst into tears:
"Nay! But your ownselves have made up a
tale. So for me patience is more fitting. It is Allah Alone whose Help can be
sought against that which you assert." (Ch 12:18)
The father acted wisely by praying for mighty
patience, which is free of doubt, and by trusting in Allah for help against
what they had plotted against him and his son. This scene dims, and the scene
opens in the well with which Joseph had been thrown.
Joseph
Finds Comfort in Allah
In the dark well Joseph managed to find a stone ledge to hold onto. Around him was total darkness and an eerie silence. Fearful thoughts entered his mind: what would happen to him? Where would he find food? Why had his own brothers turned against him? Would his father know of his plight? His father's smile flashed before him recalling
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[next] the love and
affection he had always shown him. Joseph began to pray earnestly, pleading to
Allah for salvation. Gradually his fear began to subside. His Creator was
testing the young man with a great misfortune in order to infuse in him a
spirit of patience and courage. Joseph, surrended himself to the will of his
Lord.
Joseph
From the Well to Slavery
The next scene shows the wide desert. At the
horizon is a long line of camels, horses, and men; a caravan on its way to
Egypt. The caravan of merchants halted at this famous well for water. A man
lowered in his bucket. Joseph was startled by the bucket hurtling down and
grabbed hold of it before it could land in the water. As the man began to haul
he felt the load unusually heavy, so he peeped into the well. What he saw
shocked him; a man was clinging to the rope! He held the
rope tightly and shouted to his friends:
"Better give me a hand fellows! Looks like I found real treasure in the
well!" His companions rushed to the well and helped him to pull out the
stranger holding onto the rope. Standing before them was a healthy, handsome
youth, beaming with an angelic smile. They saw in him a handsome prize, for
money was all that mattered to them. Immediately, they clapped iron shackles on
his feet and took him along to Egypt, far away from his beloved homeland of
Canaan. All over the Egyptian city the news spread that an unusually handsome,
robust young slave was on sale. People gathered by the hundreds at the slave
market. some were spectators, others were bidders the elite and the rich, each
one craning his neck to view the handsome specimen. the auctioneer had a field
day as the bidding went wild, each buyer trying to outbid the other.
Eventually, the Aziz, the chief minister of Egypt, outbid all the others and
took Joseph to his mansion.
The Quran describes this scene as follows:
"And there came a caravan of travelers; they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket into the well. He said: "What a good news! Here is a boy." So they hid him as merchandise (a slave). And Allah was the All Knower of what they did. They sold him for a low price, for a few Dhirhams (for a few silver coins). They were of those who regarded him insignificant. He (the man) from Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay comfortable, may be he will profit us or we shall ado[t him as a son." Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. (Ch 12:19-21) See how Allah the Almighty reveals the substance of this long story from its
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[next] beginning:
And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know
not. (Ch 12:21)
The chains of slavery have closed on Joseph. He
was cast into the well, deprived of his father, picked from the well, made a
slave, sold at the market, and made the property of this man, the Aziz, the
chief minister. The hazards followed in quick succession, leaving Joseph
helpless.
Joseph's
Master
What we see as hazards and slander is the first
step of the ladder on Joseph's way to greatness. Allah is decisive in His
action. His plan is carried out despite the plans of others and while theirs
are still being made. So He spoils their plan, and Allah's promise is realized.
Allah has promise Joseph prophethood. Love for Joseph was thrust into the heart
of the man who bought him, and he was a man of no mean position. He was an
important personage, one of the ruling class of Egypt.
Therefore, Joseph was pleasantly surprised when
the chief minister of Egypt ordered his men to remove the heavy shackles from
his swollen feet. He was also surprised when he told Joseph not to betray his
trust; he would not be ill-treated if he behaved himself. Joseph smiled at his
benefactor, thanked him, and promised to be loyal.
Joseph felt at ease, for at last he was
sheltered and would be well cared for. He thanked Allah
over and over and wondered at the mysterious of
life. Not so long ago he had been cast into a deep, dark well with no hope of
ever coming out alive. Next he was rescued, then enslaved in iron shackles, and
now he was moving freely in a luxurious mansion with enough food to enjoy.
However, his heart ached with longing for his parents and brother Benjamin, and
he shed tears daily.
Joseph was made the personal attendant of the
chief minister's wife. He was obedient and ever-obliging. With his pleasant
manners and charming behavior, he won everybody's heart. Joseph's handsomeness
became the talk of the town. People referred to him as the most attractive man
they had ever seen and wrote poetry about him. His face carried immaculate
beauty. The purity of his inner soul and his heart showed in his face,
increasing his beauty. People from afar came to the city to have a glimpse of
him. The prettiest of maidens and the richest of ladiesnursthe to possess him,
but not once did he show haughtiness or conceit. he was always humble and
polite.
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[next] Joseph's Qualities
The days passed and Joseph grew. Almighty Allah
said:
"And when he (Joseph) attained his full
manhood, We gave him wisdom and knowledge (the Prophethood), thus We reward the
doers of good. (Ch 12:22)
He was given wisdom in affairs and knowledge of
life and its conditions. He as given the art of conversation, captivating those
who heard him. He was given nobility and self restraint, which made him an
irresistible personality. His master soon knew that Allah had graced him with
Joseph. He understood that Joseph was the most honest, straightforward and
noble person he had met in his life. Therefore, he put Joseph in charge of his
household, honored him, and treated him as a son.
Zulaikha's
Feelings for Joseph
The wife of the chief minister, Zulaikha,
watched Joseph from day to day. She at with him, talked with him, listened to
him, and her wonder increased over the passion of time.
Joseph was soon confronted (with his second
trial). The chief minister's wife, Zulaikha could not resist the handsome
Joseph, and her obsession with him caused her sleepless nights. She fell in
love with him, and it was painful for her to be so close to a man, yet be
unable to hold him. Yet, she was not a wayward woman, for in her position she
could get any man she desired. By all accounts, she must have been a very
pretty and intelligent lady, or why would the chief minister have chosen her of
all the pretty women in the kingdom? Although she bore him no child, he would
not take another wife, as he loved her passionately.The Quran raises the
curtain on the scene of this fierce and devouring love on the part of the lady.
Allah the Almighty told us:
"And she, in whose house he was, sought to
seduce him (to do an evil act), she closed the doors and said: "come on, O
you." He said: "I seek refuge in Allah (or Allah forbid)! Truly he
(your husband) is my master! He made my stay agreeable! (So I will never betray
him). Verily, the
Zalimun (wrong, evildoers) will never be
successful." Indeed she did desire him and he would have inclined to her
desire had he not seen the evidence of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might turn
away from evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of Our
chosen, guided slaves. (Ch 12:23-24)
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Joseph's
Feelings for Zulaikha
Commentators are unanimous about her intention
of disobedience but disagree about his own intention. There are those who say
that she tempted him and he tempted her to sin, although he did not follow
through with his intent. Others say that she merely wanted him to kiss her, and
he attempted to strike her. Yet others say that this anxiety had been there
before this incident. There was a psychological disturbance in Joseph when he
reached adolescence, which Almighty Allah rid him of.
The safest commentary for us is that there is
temptation and resistance in the verse, for He Most High stated:
"And indeed she did desire him and he would
have inclined to her desire... (Ch 12:24)
Abu Ubaidah said that this is a temptation and
resistance meaning that she had tried to seduce him; had he not seen the proof
of Allah, he would have been seduced. This is in keeping with the infallibility
of prophets, as it suits the words, which immediately follow:
"Thus it was that We might turn away from
him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. surely, he was one of Our chosen,
guided slaves. (Ch 12:24)
This verse proves that Joseph was an upright
worshipper of Allah; it also testifies to his rescue from the authority of
Satan. The Almighty said to the devil (Iblis) on the Day of Creation:
"Certainly, you shall no authority over My
slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghawin (Mushrikeen, and those who go
astray, criminals, polytheists, and evildoers, etc)"(Ch 15:42)
Zulaikha's
False Accusation
Joseph's refusal only heightened her passion. As
he moved to the door to escape, she ran after him and caught hold of his shirt,
like a drowning person clinging to the boat. In her tugging she tore his shirt
and held the torn piece in her hand. They reached the door together. It opened
suddenly, there stood her husband and a relative of hers. Almighty Allah said:
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[next] "So they raced with one another
to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back. They both found her lord
(her husband) at the door. (Ch 12:25)
As he opened the door, he saw her husband
standing in front of him. The sly woman immediately changed her tone to anger,
and, showing the torn piece of the shirt in her hand, asked her husband:
"What is the recompense (punishment) for
him who intended an evil design against your wife, except that he be put in
prison or a painful torment?" (Ch 12:25)
She was now accusing Joseph of molesting her, to
give the impression that she was innocent and a victim of Joseph's sexual
desire. Though bewildered Joseph denied it:
"It was she that sought to seduce me."
(Ch 12:26)
The shirt was passed from hand to hand, while
she watched. The witness (her cousin) looked at it and found that it was torn
at the back. The evidence showed that she was guilty. The disappointed husband
remarked to his wife: "Surely, it is a plot of you women! Certainly mighty
is you plot!" (Ch 12:28)
The wise and just Aziz apologized to Joseph for
his wife's indecency. He also instructed her to beg Joseph's forgiveness for
accusing him falsely. Allah the Almighty narrated this incident thus:
He (Joseph) said:
"It was she that sought to seduce me,"
and a witness of her household bore witness saying: "If it be that his
shirt is torn from the front, then her tale is true, and he is a liar! but if
it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is
speaking the truth!" So when he (the husband) saw his (Joseph's) shirt was
torn at the back; (her husband) said: "Surely, it is a plot of you women!
certainly mighty is your plot! O Joseph! turn away from this! (O woman)! Ask
forgiveness for your sin. Verily, you were of the sinful."(Ch 12:26-29
Quran).
Zulaikha
is Ridiculed by the People
An incident like this cannot remain a secret in
a house filled with servants, and the story spread. Women began to see her
behavior as scandalous. They remarked:
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[next] "The wife of Al-Aziz is seeking
to seduce her (slave) young man, indeed she loves him violently; verily, we see
her in plain error." (Ch 12:30)
Zulaikha's
Plan to Regain Her Reputation
Naturally their gossip distressed Zulaikha. She
honestly believed that it was not easy for any women to resist a man as
handsome as Joseph. To prove her helplessness, she planned to subject the women
to the same temptation she faced. She invited them to a lavish banquet. No one
so invited would want to miss the honor of dining with the chief minister's
wife; besides, they secretly harbored the desire to meet the handsome Joseph
face to face. Some of her close friends jokingly said they would come only if
she introduced them to Joseph.
The invitation was restricted to ladies. The
banquet began, laughter and mirth abounded. Etiquette dictated that the ladies
not mention the topic of Joseph. They were shocked, therefore,
when Zulaikha opened the topic. "I have
heard of those who say I have fallen in love with the young Hebrew man,
Joseph." Silence fell upon the banquet. At once all the guests hands
stopped, and all eyes fell on the chief minister's wife. She said, while giving
orders for the fruit to be served: "I admit that he is charming fellow. I
do not deny that I love him. I have loved him for a long time."
The
Women's Reaction to Joseph
The confession of the chief minister's wife
removed the tension among the ladies. After finishing their dinner, the guests
began cutting their fruit. At that very moment she summoned Joseph to make his
appearance. He entered the hall gracefully, his gaze lowered. Zulaikha called
him by his name and he raised his head. The guests were astonished and
dumbfounded. His face was shining and full of man angelic beauty. It reflected
complete innocence, so much so that one could feel the peace of mind in the
depth of his soul.
They exclaimed in astonishment while continuing
to cut the fruit. All their eyes were on Joseph. So it was that the women began
to cut their palms absent mindly without feeling that they had cut them.
The presence of Joseph at the scene of drama was so effective that blflowedwithouttheir feeling pain. One of the ladies gasped: "Good gracious!" Another whispered: "This is not
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[next] a
mortal being!" Another stammered, patting her hair: "This is but a
noble angel." Then the chief minister's wife stood up and announced:
"This is the one for whom I have been blamed. I do not deny that I tempted
him. You have been enchanted by Joseph, and see what has happened to your
hands. I have tempted him, and if he does not do what I want of him he shall be
imprisoned."
The Women's
Reaction - Quranic
Almighty Allah related the scene of the banquet
in His words:
“So when she heard of their accusation, she sent
for them and prepared a banquet for them; she gave each one of them a knife (to
cut the foodstuff with), and she said (to Joseph): "Come out before
them." Then, when they saw him, they exalted him (at his beauty) and (in
their astonishment) cut their hands. They said: "how perfect is Allah (or
Allah forbid)! No man is this! This is none other than a noble angel!"
She said: "This is he (the young man) about
whom you did blame me (for his love) and I did seek to seduce him, but he
refused. And now if he refuses to obey my order, he shall certainly be cast
into prison, and will be one of those who are disgraced."
He said: "O my Lord! Prison is more to my
liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from
me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one of those who commit sin and
deserve blame or those who do deeds of the ignorants." So his Lord
answered his inovocation and turned away from him their plot. Verily he is the
All Hearer, the All Knower.” (Ch 12:31-34)
That evening, Zulaikha convinced her husband
that the only way to save her honor was to put Joseph in prison; otherwise she
would not be able to control herself or to safeguard his prestige. The chief
minister knew Joseph was absolutely innocent, that he was a young man of honor,
a loyal servant, and he loved him for these reasons. It was not an easy
decision for him to put an innocent man behind bars. However, he was left with
no choice. He reasoned that Joseph's honor would also be safeguarded if he was
kept out of Zulaikha's sight. That night, with a heavy heart, the chief
minister sent Joseph to prison.
Joseph's
Time in Prison
Prison was Joseph's third test. During this period Allah blessed him with an
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[next] extraordinary gift; the ability to
interpret dreams. At about the same time two other men landed in the prison.
One was the cupbearer of the king; the other was the king's cook. The two men
sensed that Joseph was not a common criminal, for an aura of piety glowed on
his face. Both men had vivid dreams, and they were anxious to have them
explained. The king's cook dreamed that he stood in a place with bread on his
head, and two birds were eating the bread. The cupbearer dreamed that he was
serving the king wine. The two went to Joseph and told him their dreams, asking
him to give them their meaning.
First, Joseph called them to Allah. Then he said
that the cook would be crucified until he died and that the cupbearer would
return to the service of the king. Joseph told the cupbearer to remember him to
the king and to say that there was a wronged soul called Joseph in prison. What
Joseph predicted did happen; the cook was crucified and the cupbearer returned
to the palace.
After the cupbearer returned to service, Satan
made him forget to mention Joseph's name to the king. Therefore, Joseph
remained in prison for a few years, but he made patience his own, praying to Allah.
Joseph's
Time in Prison - Quranic
Almighty Allah narrated:
"And there entered with him two young men
in the prison. One of them said: "Verily, I saw myself (in a dream)
pressing wine." The other said: "Verily, I saw myself (in a dream)
carrying bread on my head and birds were eating thereof." They said:
Inform us of the interpretation of this. Verily, we think you are one of those
Muhsineen (doers of good)." He said: "No food will come to you (in
wakefulness or in dream) as your provision but I will inform (in wakefulness)
its interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that which my Lord
has taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people that believe
not in Allah and are disbeliveers in the Hereafter. And I have followed the religion
of my fathers, - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and never could we attribute any
partners whatsoever to Allah. This is from the Grace of Allah to us and to
mankind, but most men think not (i.e. they neither believe in Allah nor worship
Him). "O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods)
better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible? You do not worship besides Him but
only names which you have named (forged),
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[next] you and your fathers, for which Allah
has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgment) is for none but
Allah. He has commanded (His Monotheism), that is the true, straight religion,
but most men know not. "O two companions of the prison! As for one of you,
he (as a servant) will pour out wine for his lord (King or master) to drink;
and as for the other, he will be crucified and birds will eat from his head.
Thus is the case judged concerning which you both did inquire." And he
said to the one whom he knew to be saved: "Mention me to your lord (your
King, so to get me out of the prison)." But Satan made him forget to
mention it to his lord (or Satan made Joseph to forget the remembrance of his
Lord (Allah) as to ask for His Help, instead of others). So Joseph stayed in
prison a few more years. (Ch 12:36-42).
The
King's Dream
The scene in the prison closes; a new scene
opens in the bedchamber of the king. The king is asleep. He sees himself on the
banks of the Nile river. The water is receding before him, becoming mere mud.
The fish begin to skip and jump in the mud. Seven fat cows come out of the
river followed by seven lean cows. The seven lean ones devour the seven fat
ones. The king is terrified. The seven ears of green grain grow on the
riverbanks and disappear in the mud. One the same spot grow seven dray ears of
grain. The king awoke frightened, shocked, and depressed, not knowing what all
this meant. He sent for the sorcerers, priests and ministers, and told them his
dream. The sorcerers said: "This is a mixed up dream. How can any of that
be? It is a nightmare." The priests said: "Perhaps his majesty had a
heavy supper." The chief minister said: "Could it be that his majesty
was exposed and did not draw the blanket up at night?" The king's jester
said, jokingly: "His majesty is beginning to grow old, and so his dreams
are confused." They reached an unanimous conclusion that it was only a
nightmare. The news reached the cupbearer. He recollected the dream he had in
prison and compared it to the king's dream, and, therefore Joseph came to mind.
He ran to the king to tell him about Joseph, who was the only one capable to
interpreting the dream. The cupbearer said : "He had asked me to remember
him to you, but I forgot." The king sent the cupbearer to ask Joseph about
the dream.
Joseph's
Interpretation of the Dream
Joseph interpreted it to him: "There will be seven years of abundance. If the land is properly cultivated, there will be an excess of good harvest, more than the people will need. This should be stored. Thereafter, seven years of famine will follow, during which time the excess grain could be used." He also advised that during the famine they should
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[next] save some grain to be used for seed for the next harvest.
Joseph then added; "After seven years of drought, there will be a year
during which water will be plentiful. If the water is properly used, grapevines
and olive trees will grow in abundance, providing plenty of grapes and olive
oil." The cupbearer hurried back with the good news. The king was
fascinated by Joseph's interpretation.
The Dream
and Interpretation - Quranic
Almighty Allah narrated this incident thus:
"And the king of Egypt said: "Verily,
I saw in a dream seven fat cows, whom seven lean cows were devouring, and seven
green ears of corn and seven others dry. O notables! Explain to me my dream if
it be that you can interpret dreams." They said: "Mixed up false
dreams and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams." Then the
man who was released (one of the two who were in prison), now at length
remembered and said: "I will tell you its interpretation, so send me
forth." (He said): "O Joseph, the man of truth! Explain to us (the
dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring, and of seven
green ears of corn and seven others dry, that I may return to the people, and
that they may know." Joseph said: "For seven consecutive years, you
shall sow as usual and that the harvest which you reap you shall leave in ears,
all --except a little of it which you may eat. Then will come after that seven
hard years, which will devour what you have laid by in advance for them, all
except a little of that which you have guarded (stored). Then thereafter will
come a year in which people will have abundant rain and in which they will
press wine and oil." (Ch 12:43-49)
Joseph's
Innocence Proved
The king was greatly astonished. Who could this
person be? He commanded that Joseph be set free from prison and presented to
him at once. The king's envoy went to fetch him immediately, but Joseph refused
to leave the prison unless his innocence was proven. Perhaps they accused him
of cutting the ladies hands, or trying to rape them. Perhaps any other false
accusation was made. We do not know exactly what was said to the people to
justify Joseph's sentence to prison. The envoy returned to the king. The king
asked him: "Where is Joseph? Did I not command you to fetch him?"
The envoy replied: "He refused to leave
until his innocence is established regarding the ladies who cut their
hands."
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[next] The king ordered: "Bring the
wives of the ministers and the wife of the chief minister at once." The
king felt that Joseph had been harmed unfairly but he did not know exactly how.
The wife of the chief minister came with the other ministers' wives. The king
asked: "What is the story of Joseph? What do you know about him? Is it
true that…?"
One of the ladies interrupted the king
exclaiming: "Allah forbid!"
A second said: "We know of no evil he has
done."
A third said: "He enjoys the innocence of
angels."
The eyes of everyone turned to the wife of the
chief minister. She now wore a wrinkled face and
had lost weight. She had been overwhelmed by
sorrow over Joseph while he was in prison. She boldly confessed that she had
lied and he had told the truth.
"I tempted him; but he refused." She
confirmed what she said, not out of fear of the king or the other ladies, but
for Joseph to know that she had never betrayed him during his absence, for he
was still in her mind and soul. Of all creation he was the only one she cared
for, so she confirmed his innocence before all.
Joseph's
Innocence Proved - Quranic
Almighty Allah said: And the king said:
"Bring him to me." But, when the messenger came to him (Joseph) said:
"Return to your lord, and ask him, 'what happened to the women who cut
their hands? Surely, my Lord (Allah) is Well Aware of their plot." (The
king) said (to the women): "What was your affair when you did seek to
seduce Joseph?" The women said: "Allah forbid! No evil know we
against him!" The wife of Al Aziz said: "Now the truth is manifest to
all, it was I who sought to seduce him and he is surely one of the
truthful." (Then Joseph said: "I asked for this inquiry) in order
that he (Al-Aziz) may know that I betrayed him not in secret. And, verily!
Allah guides not the plot of the betrayers. And I free not myself (from the
blame). Verily, the human self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows
His Mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, most
Merciful." (Ch 12:50-53).
Zulaikha's
Life Afterwards
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[next]
Reflecting on these verses suggests that she had turned to Joseph's religion, monotheism. His imprisonment was a great turning point in her life. After this, the Quranic style neglects the story of the chief minister's wife completely. We do not know what happened to her after she gave her clear evidence. Yet still, there are legends about her. It has been said that after her husband died she married Joseph, and, behold she was a virgin. She confessed that her husband had been old and had never touched women. Other legends said that she lost her sight, weeping for Joseph. She abandoned her palace and wandered in the streets of the city. However, the lady disappeared from the Quranic narrative at the suitable stage, at the climax of her trouble. Perhaps she lingers in memory longer than if we had known the ending.
Joseph's
High Position
The king informed Joseph that his innocence was
established and ordered him to come to the palace for an interview. The king
recognized his noble qualities. When Joseph came, the king spoke to him in his
tongue. Joseph's replies astonished the king with his cultural refinement and
wide knowledge. Then the conversation turned to the dream. Joseph advised the
king to start planning for years of famine ahead. He informed him that the
famine would affect not only Egypt but the neighboring countries as well. The
king offered him a high position. Joseph asked to be made controller of the
granaries, so that he could guard the nation's harvest and thereby safeguard it
during the anticipated drought. By this Joseph did not mean to seize an opportunity
or personal gain; he merely wanted to rescue hungry nations for a personal
gain; he merely wanted to rescue hungry nations for a period of seven years. It
was a sheer nobleness on his part in that he wanted to ensure that many people
would not die as a result.
Joseph's
High Position - Quranic
Almighty Allah said: "And the king said:
"Bring him to me that I may attach him to my person." Then, when he
spoke to him, he said: "Verily, this day, you are with us high in rank and
full trusted." Joseph said: "Set me over the store houses of the
land; I will indeed guard them with full knowledge." (as a minister of
finance in Egypt, in place of Al-Aziz who was dead at that time). Thus did We
give full authority to Joseph in the land, to take possession therein, as when
or where he likes. We bestow of Our Mercy on whom We please, and We make not to
be lost the reward of Al Muhsineen (the good-doers). (Ch 12:54-57).
Joseph
Meets His Brothers
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[next] The wheels of time turned. During the
seven good years, Joseph had full control over the cultivation, harvesting, and
storage of crops. During the following seven years, drought followed and famine
spread throughout the region, including Canaan, the homeland of Joseph. Joseph
advised the king that as his kingdom was blessed with reserved grain, he should
sell his grain to the needy nations at a fair price. The king agreed, and the
good news spread all over the region.
Jacob sent ten of his sons, all except Benjamin,
to Egypt to purchase provisions. Joseph heard of the ten brothers who had come
from afar and who could not speak the language of the Egyptians. When they
called on him to purchase their needs, Joseph immediately recognized his
brothers, but they did not know him. How could they? To them Joseph no longer
existed; he had been thrown into the deep, dark well many years ago!
Joseph received them warmly. After supplying
them with provisions, he asked where they had come from. They explained:
"We are eleven brothers, the children of a noble prophet. The youngest is
at home tending to the needs of our aging father."
On hearing this, Joseph's eyes filled with
tears; his longing for home swelled up in his heart, as well as his longing for
his beloved parents and his loving brother Benjamin. "Are you truthful
people?" Joseph asked them.
Perturbed they replied, "What reason should
we have to state an untruth?"
"If what you say is true then bring your
brother as proof and I will reward you with double rations. But if you do not
bring him to me, it would be better if you do not return," Joseph warned
them.
They assured him that they would gladly fulfill
his command but that they would have to get their father's permission. As an
inducement to return with their brother, Joseph ordered his servant to secretly
place the purse, with the money they had paid, into one of their grain sacks.
Joseph
Meets His Brothers - Quranic
Allah the Almighty said:
"And Joseph's brethren came and they entered unto him, and he recognized them, but they recognized him not. And when he had furnished them forth with provisions (according to their need), he said: "Bring me a brother of yours from your father; (he
95
[next] meant
Benjamin). See you not that I give full measure, and that I am the best of the
hosts? But if you bring him onto me, there shall be no measure of corn for you
with me, nor shall you come near me." They said: "We shall try to get
permission for him from his father, and verily, we shall do it." And
(Joseph) told his servants to put their money (with which they had bought the
corn) into their bags, so that they might know it when they go back to their
people, in order that they might come back. (Ch 12:58-62)
The
Brothers Return to Canaan
The scene dims in Egypt and lights in Canaan.
The brothers returned to their father. Before they could unload the camels,
they greeted him, then reproved him: "We were denied some supplies because
you did not let your son go with us. They would not give us food for absentees.
Why would you not entrust him with us? Please, send him with us, and we shall
take care of him." Jacob became sad and told them: "I will not permit
Benjamin to travel with you. I will not part with him, for I entrusted Joseph
to you and you failed me." Later, when they opened their grain sacks, they
were surprised to find the money purse returned intact. They rushed to their
father; "Look, father! The noble official has returned our money; this is
surely proof that he would not harm our brother and it can only benefit
us." But Jacob refused to send Benjamin with them. After some time, when
they had no more grain, Jacob asked them to travel to Egypt for more. They
reminded him of the warning the Egyptian official had given them. They could
not return without Benjamin. Jacob agreed, but not before he extracted a pledge
from them. "I will not send him with you unless you give me a pledge in
Allah's name that you shall bring him back to me as safely as you take
him." They gave their solemn pledge. He reminded them: "Allah is
witness to your pledge." He then advised them to enter the city through
several different gates.
The
Brothers Return to Canaan - Quranic
Almighty Allah narrated:
"So when they returned to their father, they said: "O our father! No more measure of grain shall we get (unless we take our brother). So send our brother with us, and we shall get our measure and truly we will guard him." He said: "Can I entrust him to you except as I entrust his brother (Joseph) to you aforetime? But Allah is the best to guard, and He is the Most Merciful of those Who show mercy." And when thopened their bags, they found their money had been returned to them. They said: "O our father! What more can we desire? This, our money has been returned to us, so we shall get more food for
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[next] our family, and we
shall guard our brother and add one more measure of a camel's load. This
quantity is easy (for the king to give)." He (Jacob) said: "I will
not send him with you until you swear a solemn oath to me in Allah's Name, that
you will bring him back to me unless you are yourselves surrounded (by enemies,
etc). And when they had sworn their solemn oath, he said: "Allah is the
Witness over what we have said." And he said: "O my sons! Do not
enter by one gate, but by different gates, and I cannot avail you against Allah
at all. Verily! The decision rests only with Allah. In Him, I put my trust and
let all those that trust, put their trust in Him." (Ch 12:63-67 Quran).
Jacob blessed them on their departure and prayed
to Allah for their protection. The brothers undertook the long journey to
Egypt, taking good care of Benjamin. Joseph and Benjamin Meet
Joseph welcomed them heartily, although, with
difficulty, he suppressed the desire to embrace Benjamin that arose within him.
He prepared a feast for them and seated them in pairs. Joseph arranged to sit
next to his beloved brother Benjamin, who began to weep. Joseph asked him why
he was crying. He replied: "If my brother Joseph had been here, I would
have sat next to him." That night, when Joseph and Benjamin were alone in
a room, Joseph asked whether he would have him for a brother. Benjamin
respectfully answered that he regarded his host as a wonderful person, but he
could never take the place of his brother. Joseph broke down, and amidst
flowing tears said; "My loving brother, I am the brother who was lost and
whose name you are constantly repeating. Fate has brought us together after
many years of separation. This is Allah's favor. But let it be a secret between
us for the time being." Benjamin flung his arms around Joseph and both
brothers shed tears of joy.
A Thief
Among the Brothers
The next day, while their bags were being filled
with grains to load onto the camels, Joseph ordered one of his attendants to
place the king's gold cup which was used for measuring the grain into
Benjamin's saddlebag. When the brothers were ready to set out, the gates were
locked, and the court crier shouted: "O you travelers, you are
thieves!" The accusation was most unusual, and the people gathered around
Joseph's brothers.
"What have you lost?" his brothers
inquired.
A soldier said: "The king's golden cup.
Whoever can trace it we will give a beast load of grain."
97 [next]
Joseph's brothers said with all innocence:
"We have not come here to corrupt the land and steal."
Joseph's officers said (as he had instructed
them): What punishment should you choose for the thief?"
The brothers answered: "According to our
law, whoever steals becomes a slave to the owner of the property."
The officers agreed: "We shall apply your
law instead of the Egyptian law, which provides for imprisonment."
The chief officer ordered his soldiers to start
searching the caravan. Joseph was watching the incident from high upon his
throne. He had given instructions for Benjamin's bag to be the last to be
searched. When they did not find the cup in the bags of the ten older brothers,
the brothers sighed in relief.
Benjamin
is Accused
There remained only the bag of their youngest
brother. Joseph said, intervening for the first time, that there was no need to
search his saddle as he did not look like a thief. His brothers affirmed:
"We will not move an inch unless his saddle is searched as well. We are the
sons of a noble man, not thieves." The soldiers reached in their hands and
pulled out the king's cup. The brothers exclaimed: "If he steals now, a
brother of his has stolen before." They strayed from the present issue in
order to blame a particular group of the children of Jacob. Joseph heard their
resentment with his own ears and was filled with regret. Yet, he swallowed his
own resentment, keeping it within. He said to himself, "you went further
and fared worse; it shall go bad with you and worse hereafter, and Allah knows
your intention." Silence fell upon them after these remarks by the
brothers. Then they forgot their secret satisfaction and thought of Jacob; they
had taken an oath with him that they would not betray his son. They began to
beg Joseph for mercy. "Joseph, O minister! Take one of us instead. He is
the son of a good man, and we can see you are a good man." Joseph answered
calmly: "How can you want to set free the man who has stolen the king's
cup? It would be sinful." The brothers went on pleading for mercy.
However, the guards said that the king had spoke and his word was law. Judah,
the eldest, was much worried and told the others: "We promised our father
in the name of Allah not to fail him. I will, therefore, stay behind
and will only return if my father permits me to do so."
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[next]
Joseph
Meets Benjamin and the Accusation - Quranic
Regarding this scene, Almighty Allah said:
"And when they entered according to their
father's advice, it did not avail them in the least against (the Will of )
Allah, it was but a need of Jacob's inner self which he discharged. And verily,
he was endowed with knowledge because We had taught him, but most men know not.
And when they went in before Joseph, he betook his brother (Benjamin) to himself
and said: "Verily! I am your brother, so grieve not for what they used to
do." So when he had furnished them forth with their provisions, he put the
golden bowl in his brother's bag. Then a crier cried: "O you in the
caravan! Surely, you are thieves!" They, turning towards them said:
"What is that you have missed?" They said: "We have missed the
golden bowl of the king and for him who produces it is the reward of a camel
load; I will be bound by it."
They said: "By Allah! Indeed you know that
we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!" They
(Joseph's brothers) said: "The penalty should be that he, in whose bag it
is found, should be held for the punishment of the crime. Thus we punish the
Zalimeen (wrongdoers, etc)!" So he (Joseph) began the search in their bags
before the bag of his brother. Then he brought it out of his brother's bag.
Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the law of the
king (as a slave), except that Allah willed it. So Allah made the brothers to
bind themselves with their way of 'punishment, i.e. enslaving of a thief.' We
raise to degrees whom We please, but over all those endowed with knowledge is
the All-Knowing (Allah). They (Joseph's brothers) said: "If he steals,
there was a brother of his (Joseph) who did steal before him." But these
things did Joseph keep in himself, revealing not the secrets to them. He said
(within himself): "You are in the worst case, and Allah knows best the
truth of what you assert!" They said : "O ruler of the land! Verily,
he has an old father who will grieve for him, so take one of us in his place.
Indeed we think that you are one of the good doers." He said: "Allah
forbid! That we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property.
Indeed if we did so, we shall be Zalimun (wrongdoers)." So, when they
despaired of him, they held a conference in private. The eldest among them
said: "Know you not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah's
name, and before this did fail in your duty with Joseph? Therefore, I will not
leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah decides my case (by
releasing Benjamin) and He is the Best of the judges." (Ch
12:68-80 Quran).
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[next]
Joseph's
Plan
The brothers left enough provisions behind for
Judah, who stayed at a tavern awaiting the fate of Benjamin. In the meantime,
Joseph kept Benjamin in his house as his personal guest and told him how he had
devised the plot to put the king's cup in his bag, in order to keep him behind,
so as to protect him. He was also glad that Judah had stayed behind, as he was
a good hearted brother. Joseph secretly arranged to watch over Judah's well
being. Joseph's plan in sending the others back was to test their sincerity, to
see if they would come back for the two brothers they had left behind.
The
Brothers Confront Jacob
When they arrived home, they entered upon their
father calling: "O our father! Your son has stolen!" He was puzzled,
scarcely believing the news. He was overwhelmed with sorrow and his eyes wept
tears. "Patience be with me; perhaps Allah will return all of them to me.
He is Most Knowing, Most Wise." A pal of lonesomeness closed over him, yet
he found consolation in patience and trusted in Allah.
The
Brothers Confront Jacob - Quranic
Allah revealed to us what happened at their
meeting with their father:
"Return to your father and say: 'O our
father! Verily, your son (Benjamin) has stolen, and we testify not except
according to what we know, and we could not known the unseen! And ask the
people of the town where we have been, and the caravan in which we returned and
indeed we are telling the truth."" He (Jacob) said: "Nay, but
your ownselves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting
for me. Maybe Allah will bring them back all to me. Truly He! Only He is
All-Knowing, All-Wise." And he turned away from them and said: "Alas,
my grief for Joseph!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he
was suppressing. (Ch 12:81-84)
Jacob's
Request to Find Joseph
The father was deeply hurt. Only prayer could comfort him and strengthen his faith and patience. Weeping all those years for his beloved son Joseph - and now one more of his best sons had been snatched from him - Jacob almost lost his sight. The other sons pleaded with him: "O father, you are a noble prophet and a great messenger of Allah.
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[next] Unto you descended revelation and people received guidance and faith
from you. Why are you destroying yourself in this way?" Jacob replied:
"Rebuking me will not lessen my grief. Only the return of my sons will
comfort me. My sons, go in search of Joseph and his brother; do not despair of
Allah's mercy."
Jacob's
Request to Find Joseph - Quranic
Allah, the Almighty told us:
"They said: "By Allah! You will never
cease remembering Joseph until you become weak with old age, or until you be of
the dead." He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah,
and I know from Allah that which you know not. O my sons! Go you and inquire
about Joseph and his brother and never give up hope of Allah's Mercy. Certainly
no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve." (Ch
12:85-87 Quran).
Joseph
Reveals Himself
The caravan set out for Egypt. The brothers - on
their way to see the chief minister (Joseph) were poor and depressed. On
reaching Egypt they collected Judah and called on Joseph, to whom they pleaded:
"O ruler of the land! A hard time has hit
us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure
and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable." (Ch
12:88).
At the end, they begged Joseph. They asked alms
of him, appealing to his heart, reminding him that Allah rewards alms givers.
At this moment, in the midst of their plight, Joseph spoke to them
in their native tongue saying:
"Do you know what you did with Joseph and
his brother when you were ignorant?" They said: "Are you indeed
Joseph?" He said: "I am Joseph, and his is my brother (Benjamin).
Allah has indeed been Gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience
to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous
good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the
good doers to be lost." They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has
preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners." (Ch 12:89-91)
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[next] The brothers began to tremble with
fear, but Joseph comforted them:
"No reproach on you this day, may Allah
forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!" (Ch
12:92)
Jacob
Learns About Joseph
Joseph embraced them, and together they wept
with joy. It was not possible for Joseph to leave his responsible office
without proper replacement, so he advised his brothers:
"Go with this shirt of mine, and cast it
over the face of my father, he will become clear-sighted, and bring to me all
your family." (ch 12:93)
And so the caravan headed back for Palestine. We
lave the scene in Egypt and return to Palestine and the house of Jacob. The old
man is sitting in his room; tears have been flowing down his cheeks. He stands
up all of a sudden, dresses and goes out to his son's wives. Then he lifts up
his face to Heaven and sniffs the air.
The wife of the eldest son remarked: "Jacob
has come out of his room today." The women inquired about what was amiss.
There was a hint of a smile on his face. The others asked him:
"How do you feel today?"
He answered: "I can smell Joseph in the
air."
The wives left him alone, saying to one another
that there was no hope for the old man. 'he will die of weeping over Joseph.'
"Did he talk about Joseph's shirt?"
"I do not know. He said he could smell him;
perhaps he has gone mad."
That day the old man wanted a cup of milk to
break his fast, for he had been fasting. At night he changed his clothes. The
caravan was traveling in the desert with Joseph's shirt hidden among the grain.
It neared the old man's estate. He gesticulated in his room, and then he prayed
a long time, lifting his hands to heaven and sniffing the air. He was weeping
as the shirt was nearing him.
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[next] And when the caravan departed, their
father said: "I do indeed feel the smell of Joseph, if only you think me
not a dotard (a person who has weakness of mind because of old age)." They
said: "By Allah! Certainly, you are in your old error." Then, when
the bearer of the glad tidings arrived, he cast the shirt over his face, and he
became clear sighted. He said: "Did I not say to you, I know from Allah
that which you know not."" They said: "O our father! Ask
Forgiveness from Allah for our sins, indeed we have been sinners." (Ch
12:94-97)
Jacob and
Joseph (PBUT) Meet
The story began with a dream and it ends with
the interpretation of the dream. Almighty Allah narrated:
He said: "I will ask my Lord for
forgiveness for you, verily, He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most
Merciful."
Then, when they entered unto Joseph, he betook
his parents to himself and said: "Enter Egypt, if Allah will, in
security."
And he raised his parents to the throne and they
fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the
interpretation of my dream of old! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed
good to me, when He took me out of prison, and brought you all here out of the
Bedouin life, after Satan had sown enmity between me and my brothers.
Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He will. Truly He!
Only He is the All Knowing, the All-Wise." (Ch 12:98-100)
Epilogue
Consider his feelings now that his dream has
come true. He prays to Allah:
"My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of
the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of my dreams; The only
Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper,
Supporter, Guardian etc). in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die
as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the
righteous." (Ch 12:101)
Joseph arranged an audience with the king for
himself and his family, to ask the king's permission for them to settle in
Egypt. Joseph was an assert to the kingdom, and the king was happy to have him
remain with his household. Joseph prostrated to Allah in gratitude.
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[next] The Deatb
of Jacob and Joseph (PBUT)
Before he died, Jacob (pbuh) advised his
children to adhere to the teachings of Islam, the religion of all of Allah's
prophets. Allah the Almighty revealed:
"Or were you witnesses when death
approached Jacob? When he said unto his sons: "What will you worship after
me?" they said: "We shall worship your Ilah (God-Allah) the Ilah
(God) of your father. Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, One Ilah (God), and to Him we
submit in Islam." (Ch 12:133 Quran).
Joseph (pbuh), at the moment of his death, asked
his brothers to bury him beside his forefathers if they were to leave Egypt. So
when Joseph (pbuh) passed away, he was mummified and placed in a coffin until
such a time as he could be taken out of Egypt and buried beside his
forefathers, as he had requested. It was said that he died at the age of one
hundred ten.
Job's
Family History
Ibn Ishaaq stated that he was a man of Rum. His
name was Job, Ibn Mose, Ibn Razeh, Ibn Esau, Ibn Isaac (pbuh), Ibn Abraham
(pbuh). Someone else said he was Job, Ibn Mose, Ibn Rimil, Ibn Esau, Ibn Isaac,
Ibn Jacob. There have also been other statements on his lineage. Ibn Asaker
narrated that his mother was a daughter of Lot (pbuh). It was said, also that
his father was one who believed in Abraham (pbuh) when he was cast into the
fire.
The first opinion is the most plausible, because
he was a descendant of Abraham's offspring as
Allah Almighty declared: "That was Our
proof which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise whom We will in
degrees. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All Knowing. And We bestowed upon him
Isaac and Jacob, each of them We guided and before him, We guided Noah, and
among his progeny David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. Thus do We
reward the good doers. (Ch 6:83-84)
Allah's
Praises of Job
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[next] Allah the Almighty praised His
worshipper Job in His Glorious Quran:
"Truly! We found him patient. How excellent
a slave! Verily, he was ever oft returning in repentance to Us!" (Ch
38:44)
Job (pbuh) was repentant, remembering Allah with
thankfulness, patience, and steadfastness. This was the cause of his rescue and
the secret of Allah's praising him.
A group of angels were discussing Allah's other
human creatures, how those who were humble earned Allah's pleasure, while those
who were arrogant incurred His displeasure. One of the angels remarked:
"The best creature on earth today is Job, a man of noble character who
displays great patience and always remembers his Generous Lord. He is an
excellent model for the worshippers of Allah. In return, his Lord has blessed
him with a long life and plenty of servants, as well as the needy and the poor
share in his good fortune; he feeds and clothes the poor and buys slaves to set
them free. He makes those who receive his charity feel as if they are favoring
him so kind and gentle is he."
Iblis'
Jealousy of Job
Iblis overhearing all of this, became annoyed.
He planned to tempt Job to corruption and disbelief, so he hastened to him. He
tried to distract Job from his prayers by whispering him about the good things
in life but Job was a true believer and would not let evil thoughts tempt him.
This disturbed Iblis even more; thus he began to hate Job even more.
Iblis
Destroys Job's Wealth
Iblis complained to Allah about Job. He said
that although he was continuously glorifying Allah he was not doing so out of
his sincerity but to satisfy Allah so that his wealth should not be taken away.
It was all a show, all out of greed. "If You remove his wealth then You
will find that his tongue will no longer mention Your name and his praying will
stop." Allah told Iblis that Job was one of His most sincere devotees. He
did not worship Him because of the favors; his worship stemmed from his heart
and had nothing to do with material things. But to prove to Iblis the depth of
Job's sincerity and patience, Allah allowed him to do whatever he and his helpers
wished with Job's wealth.
Iblis was very happy. he gathered his helpers and set about destroying Job's cattle,
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[next] servants and farms until he
was left with no possessions. Rubbing his hands in glee, Iblis appeared before
Job in the guise of a wise old man and said to him: "All your wealth is
lost, some people say that it is because you gave too much charity and that you
are wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allah. Others say that
Allah has brought this upon you in order to please your enemies. If Allah had
the capacity to prevent harm, then He would have protected your wealth."
True to his belief, Job replied: "What Allah has taken away from me
belongs to Him. I was only its trustee for awhile. He gives to whom He wills
and withholds from whom He wills." With these words, Job again prostrated
to his Lord.
Iblis
Destroys Job's Children
When Iblis saw this, he felt frustrated, so he
again addressed Allah: "I have stripped Job of all his possessions, but he
still remains grateful to You. However he is only hiding his disappointment,
for he places great store by his many children. The real test of a parent is
through his children. You will see how Job will reject You." Allah granted
Iblis authority but warned him that it would not reduce Job' faith in His Lord
nor his patience. Iblis again gathered his helpers and set about his evil
deeds. He shook the fountain of the house in which Job's children were living
and sent the building crashing, killing all of them. Then he went to Job
disguised as a man who had come to sympathize with him. In a comforting tone he
said to Job: "The circumstances under which your children died were sad.
Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly for all your prayers."
Having said this, Iblis waited anxiously hoping Job was now ready to reject
Allah.
But again Job disappointed him by replying:
"Allah sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes pleased and
sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial or harmful
to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my Creator."
then Job prostrated to his Lord. At this Iblis was extremely vexed.
Iblis
Destroys Job's Health
Iblis called on Allah. "O my Lord, Job's wealth is gone, his children are dead, and he is still healthy in body, and as long as he enjoys good health he will continue to worship You in the hope of regaining his wealth and producing more children. Grant me authority over his body so that I may weaken it. He will surely neglect worshipping You an will thus become disobedient." Allah wanted to teach Iblis a lesson that Jo was a devoted servant of his Lord so He granted Iblis his 3rd request but placed a condition: "I
106
[next] give you authority over his body but not over his
soul, intellect or heart, for in these places reside the knowledge of Me and My
religion." Armed with this new authority, Iblis began to take revenge on
Job's body and filled it with disease until it was reduced to mere skin and
bone and he suffered severe pain. But through all the suffering Job remained
strong in his faith, patiently bearing all the hardships without complaining.
Allah's righteous servant did not despair or turn to others for help but
remained hopeful of Allah's mercy. Even close relatives and friends deserted
him. Only his kind, loving wife stayed with him. In his hour of need, she
showered her kindness on him and cared for him. She remained his sole companion
and comforter through the many years of suffering.
Job's
Life - Summary
Ibn Asaker narrated: "Job was a man having
much wealth of all kinds; beats, slaves, sheep, vast lands of Haran and many
children. All those favors were taken from him and he was physically afflicted
as well. Never a single organ was sound except his heart and tongue, with both
of which he glorified Allah, the Almighty all the time day and night. His
disease lasted for a long time until his visitors felt disgusted with him. His
friends kept away from him and people abstained from visiting him. No one felt
sympathy for him except his wife. She took good care of him, knowing his former
charity and pity for her."
Job's
Prayer for Mercy
Therefore Iblis became desperate. He consulted
his helpers, but they could not advise him. They asked : "How is it that
your cleverness cannot work against Job, yet you succeeded in misleading Adam
the father of man, out of Paradise?" Iblis went to Job's wife in the form
of a man. "Where is your husband?" he asked her.
She pointed to an almost lifeless form crumbled
on the bed and said: "There he is, suspended between life and death."
Iblis reminded her of the days, when Job had good health, wealth and children.
Suddenly, the painful memory of years of hardship overcame her, and she burst
into tears. She said to Job: "How long are you going to bear this torture
from our Lord? Are we to remain without wealth, children or friends forever?
Why don't you call upon Allah to remove this suffering?" Job sighed, and
in a soft voice replied : "Iblis must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied.
Tell me how long did I enjoy good health and riches?"
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[next] She replied: "eighty
years."
Then Job replied: "How long am I suffering
like this?"
She said: "seven years."
Job then told her: "In that case I am
ashamed to call on my Lord to remove the hardship, for I have not suffered
longer than the years of good health and plenty. It seems your faith has
weakened and you are dissatisfied with the fate of Allah. If I ever regain
health, I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this day onward,
I forbid myself to eat or drink anything by your hand. Leave me alone and let
my Lord do with me as He pleases."
Job's
Health is Restored
Crying bitterly and with a heavy heart, she had
no choice but to leave him and seek shelter elsewhere. In this helpless sate,
Job turned to Allah, not to complain but to seek His mercy:
"Verily! distress has seized me and You are
the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy." so We answered his call,
and we removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him
(that he had lost), and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from
Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us." (Ch 21:83-84)
Almighty Allah also instructed:
"Remember Our slave Job, when he invoked
His Lord saying: "Verily! Satan has touched me with distress (by losing my
health) and torment (by losing my wealth)!" Allah said to him:
"Strike the ground with your foot: This is a spring of water to wash in
and cool and a refreshing drink." And We gave him back his family, and
along with them the like thereof as a Mercy from Us, and a reminder for those
who understand." (Ch 38:41-43) Job obeyed and almost immediately his good
health was restored. Meanwhile, his faithful wife could not longer bear to be
parted from her husband and returned to him to beg his forgiveness, desiring to
serve him. On entering her house, she was amazed at the sudden change: Job was
again healthy! She embraced him and thanked Allah for His mercy.
Job was not worried, for he had taken an oath to punish her with a hundred strokes if he had regained health but he had no desire to hurt her. He knew if he did not fulfill the
108
[next] oath, he would
be guilty of breaking a promise to Allah. Therefore in His wisdom and mercy,
Allah came to the assistance of His faithful servant and advised him:
"take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith your wife,
and break not your oath.
" Truly! We found him patient. How excellent
a slave! Verily, he was ever oft returning in repentance to Us!" (Ch
38:44)
Prophet
Muhammad's Account on Job
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him)
narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"While Job was naked, taking a bath, a swarm
of gold locusts fell on him, and he started collecting them in his garment. His
Lord called him: "O Job! Have I not made you too rich to need what you
see?" He said: "Yes, My Lord! But I cannot shun Your Blessings."
(Al Bukhari)
Is he a
Prophet?
Allah the Almighty declared:
" Remember Ishmael and Idris and Dhul Kifl,
all were from among those who observe patience." (Ch 21:85-86)
Immediately following Job's story in the Qur'an,
Almighty Allah also directed:
"Remember Our slaves, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob (all) owners of strength (in worshipping Us) and also of religious
understanding. Verily, We did choose them by granting them (a good thing ) the
remembrance of the home (in the Hereafter and they used to make the people
remember it and also they used to invite the people to obey Allah and to do
good deeds for the Hereafter). And they are in Our Sight, verily of the chosen
and the best! Remember Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhul Kifl all are among the
best." (Ch 38:45-48)
It is obvious from his being mentioned and
praised in the Glorious Quran along with those other prophets that Dhul - Kifl
was also a prophet.
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[next] However, some of the Quranic
commentators assumed that he was not a prophet but that he was righteous and strictly
just.
The
meaning of Dhul Kifl
Ibn Jarir narrated that he was not a prophet but
he was a righteous man. He supported his people to suffice their needs and
administered justice among them. That is why he was called Dhul - Kifl. (Dhul -
Kifl literally means "possessor of, or giving, a double requital or
portion".)
Description
of Jonah's People
Prophet Jonah (Yunus) (pbuh) also known as
Dhan-Nun. About his people Almighty Allah said:
"Was there any town community that believed
after seeing the punishment, and its Faith at that moment, saved it from the
punishment? (the answer is none)--except the people of Jonah; when they
believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the
present world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while. (Ch 10:98 Quran)
The inhabitants of the town of Nineveh were
idolaters who lived a shameless life. Prophet Jonah (pbuh) was sent to teach
them the worship of Allah. The people disliked his interference in their way of
worship, so they argued. "We and our forefathers have worshipped these
gods for many years and no harm has come to us."
Jonah
Leaves His People
Try as he might to convince them of the
foolishness of idolatry and of the goodness of Allah's laws, the ignored him.
He warned them that if they kept on with their foolishness, Allah's punishment
would soon follow. Instead of fearing Allah, they told Jonah that they were not
afraid of his threats. "Let it happen," they told him. Jonah was
disheartened. "in that case, I will leave you to your misery!" so
saying, he left Nineveh, fearing that Allah's anger would soon follow.
"Remember Dhan Nun (Jonah), when he went
off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (the calamities which
had befallen him)! (ch 21:87)
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[next] The People
are Forgiven
Hardly had he left the city when the skies began
to change color and looked as if they were on fire. The people were filled with
fear by this sight. They recalled the destruction of the people of 'Ad, Thamud
and Noah. Was theirs to be a similar fate? Slowly faith penetrated their
hearts. They all gathered on the mountain and started to beseech Allah for His
mercy and forgiveness. The mountains echoed with their cries. It was a
momentous hour, filled with sincere repentance. Allah removed His wrath and
showered His blessings upon them once again. When the threatening storm was
lifted, they prayed for the return of Jonah so that he could guide them.
The Storm
at Sea
Meanwhile, Jonah had boarded a small ship in the
company of other passengers. It sailed all day in calm waters with a good wind
blowing at the sails. When night came, the sea suddenly changed. A horrible
storm blew as if it were going to split the ship into pieces. The waves looked
wild. They rose up as high as mountains then plunged down like valleys, tossing
the ship and sweeping over the deck. Behind the ship, a large whale was splitting
the water and opening its mouth. A command had been issued from Almighty Allah
to one of the greatest whales of the sea to surface. It obeyed. The whale
hurried to the surface of the sea and followed the ship as it had been
commanded. The tempest continued and the chief crewman asked the crew to
lighten the ship's heavy load. They threw their baggage overboard, but this was
not enough. Their safety lay in reducing the weight further, so they decided
among themselves to lighten their load by removing at least one person.
Jonah
Jumps into the Sea
The captain directed: We will make lots with all
of the travelers' names. The one whose name is drawn will be thrown into the
sea." Jonah knew this was one of the seamen's traditions when facing a
tempest. It was a strange polytheistic tradition, but it was practiced at that
time. Jonah's affliction and crisis began.
Here was the prophet, subjected to polytheistic rules that considered the sea and the wind to have gods that riot. The captain had to please these gods. Jonah reluctantly participated in the lot, and his name was added to the other travelers' names. The lot was drawn and "Jonah" appeared. Since they knew him to be the most honorable among
111
[next] them, they did not wish to throw him into the angry sea.
Therefore, they decided to draw a second lot. Again Jonah's name was drawn.
They gave him a final chance and drew a third lot. Unfortunately for Jonah, his
name came up again. Jonah realized that Allah's hand was in all this, for he
had abandoned his mission without Allah's consent. The matter was over, and it
was decided that Jonah should throw himself into the water. Jonah stood at the
edge of the ship looking at the furious sea. It was night and there was no
moon. The stars were hidden behind a black fog. But before he could be thrown
overboard, Jonah kept mentioning Allah's name as he jumped into the raging sea
and disappeared beneath the huge waves.
The Whale
Swallows Jonah
The whale found Jonah floating on the waves
before it. It swallowed Jonah into its furious stomach and shut its ivory teeth
on him as if they were white bolts locking the door of his prison. The whale
dived to the bottom of the sea, the sea that runs in the abyss of darkness.
Three layers of darkness enveloped him, one above the other; the darkness of
the whale's stomach, the darkness of the bottom of the sea, the darkness of the
night. Jonah imaged himself to be dead, but his senses became alert when he
found he could move. He knew that he was alive and imprisoned in the midst of
three layers of darkness. His heart was moved by remembering Allah. His tongue
released soon after saying:
" La ilaha illa Anta (none has the right to
be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You (above all that
evil they associate with You), Truly, I have been of the wrong doers." (Ch
21:87 Quran)
Jonah continued praying to Allah, repeating this
invocation. Fishes, whales, seaweeds, and all the creatures that lived in the
sea heard the voice of Jonah praying, heard the celebration of Allah's praises
issuing from the whale's stomach. All these creatures gathered around the whale
and began to celebrate the praises of Allah in their turn, each in its own way
and in its own language. The whale also participated in celebrating the praises
of Allah and understood that it had swallowed a prophet. Therefore it felt
afraid; however, it said to itself; "Why should I be afraid? Allah
commanded me to swallow him."
Allah
Forgives Jonah
112 [next]
Allah Almighty saw the sincere repentance of
Jonah and heard his invocation in the whale's stomach. Allah
commanded the whale to surface and eject Jonah onto an island. The whale obeyed
and swam to the farthest side of the ocean. Allah commanded it to rise towards
the warm, refreshing sun and the pleasant earth. The whale ejected Jonah onto a
remote island. His body was inflamed because of the acids inside the whale's
stomach. He was ill, and when the sun rose, its ray burned his inflamed body so
that he was on the verge of screaming for the pain. However, he endured the
pain and continued to repeat his invocation to Allah. Almighty Allah caused a
vine to grow to considerable length over him for protection. Then Allah Exalted
caused Jonah to recover and forgave him. Allah told Jonah that if it had not
been for his praying to Him, he would have stayed in the whale's stomach till
the Day of Judgment.
Summary
of Jonah's Story
Almighty Allah recounted:
" And, verily, Jonah was one of the
Messengers. When he ran to the laden ship, he agreed to cast lots and he was
among the losers, Then a big fish swallowed him and he had done an act worthy
of blame. Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, he would have indeed
remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection. But We cast him
forth on the naked shore while he was sick and We caused a plant of gourd to
grow over him. And We sent him to a hundred thousand people or even more, and
they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while. (Ch 37:139-148 Quran).
Jonah's
People - Changed
Gradually he regained his strength and found his
way to his hometown, Nineveh. He was pleasantly surprised to notice the change
that had taken place there. The entire population turned out to welcome him.
They informed him that they had turned to believe in Allah. Together they led a
prayer of thanksgiving to their Merciful Lord.
Prophet
Muhammad's Saying About Jonah (PBUT)
Ibn Abbas narrated: "The Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) said: 'One should not say I am better than Jonah Ibn Matta.'"
(Sahih Bukhari).
16. Prophet
Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron)
Description
of the Pharaoh
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[next] The pharaoh who ruled Egypt was a
tyrant who oppressed the descendants of Jacob (pbuh), known as the children of
Israel (Bani Israel). He used every means to demean and disgrace them. They
were kept in bondage and forced to work for him for small wages or nothing.
Under this system the people obeyed and worshipped the pharaoh, and the ruling
class carried out his orders, thereby authorizing his tyranny and crazy whims.
The pharaoh wanted the people to obey him only, and to believe in the gods of
his invention. Perhaps, during that time, there were many classes of people who
did not believe in or practice polytheism; however, they kept this to
themselves and outwardly did as they were expected to do, without revolting or
revealing themselves to anyone.
Thus, successive dynasties came to Egypt and
assumed that they were gods or their representative or spokesmen.
Visions
of Dethroning the Pharaoh
Years passed, and a despotic king, who was
adored by the Egyptians, ruled Egypt. His king saw the children of Israel
multiplying and prospering. He heard them talking about a vague vision that one
of Israel' s sons would dethrone the pharaoh of Egypt. Perhaps this vision was
only a daydream that persisted within the hearts of the persecuted minority, or
perhaps it was a prophecy from their books. Another tradition states that it
was Pharaoh himself who had the vision. Ibn 'Abbas narrated: "Pharaoh saw
in his vision a fire, which came from Jerusalem and burned the houses of the
Egyptians, and all Copts, and did not do harm to the children of Israel. When
he woke up, he was horrified. He then gathered his priests and magicians and
asked them about this vision. They said: "This means a boy will be born of
them and the Egyptian people will perish at his hands.' That is why Pharaoh
commanded that all male children of the children of Israel be killed."
Either way, this vision reached the ears of the Pharaoh. He then issued a
decree to slay any male child that would be born to the children of Israel.
The
Killing of the Children of Israel
The killing of the children of Israel was
carried out until the experts of economics said to Pharaoh: "The aged of
the children of Israel die and the young are slaughtered. This will lead to
their annihilation. As a result, Pharaoh will lose the manpower of those who
work for him, those whom he enslaves, and their women whom he exploits. It is
better to regulate this procedure by initiating the following policy: males
should be slaughtered in one year but spared to live the next year."
Pharaoh found that solution to be safer
economically.
114
[next] The Birth
of Aaron and Moses (PBUT)
Moses's mother was pregnant with Aaron (pbuh) in
a year that boys were spared; thus she gave birth to the child publicly and
safely. During a year in which boys were to be slain, she gave birth to Moses
(pbuh); thus his birth caused her much terror. She was afraid he would be
slain, so she nursed him secretly.
Description
of the Pharaoh and Birth of Moses - Quranic
Allah the Almighty revealed:
"These are Verses of the manifest Book
(that makes clear truth from falsehood, good from evil, etc.). We recite to you
some of the news of Moses and Pharaoh in truth, for a people who believe (those
who believe in this Quran, and in the Oneness of Allah). Verily, Pharaoh
exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a
group (children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and letting their
females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsideen (those who commit great sins and
crimes, oppressors, tyrants, etc.). And we wished to do a favor to those who
were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them
the inheritors, and to establish them in the land, and We let Pharaoh and Haman
and their hosts receive from them that which they feared. And We inspired the
mother of Moses, saying: "Suckle him (Moses), but when you fear for him,
then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring
him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers." (Ch 28: 2-7
Quran).
Moses
Thrown into the Nile
No sooner had the divine revelation finished
that she obeyed the sacred and merciful call. She was commanded to make a
basket for Moses. She nursed him, put him into the basket, then went to the
shore of the Nile and threw it into the water. Her mother's heart, the most
merciful one in the world, grieved as she threw her son into the Nile. However,
she was aware that Allah was much more merciful to Moses than to her, that He
loved him more than her. Allah was his Lord and the Lord of the Nile.
Hardly had the basket touched the water of the Nile than Allah issued His command to the waves to be calm and gentle while carrying the child would one day be a prophet. She instructed her daughter to follow the course of the basket and to report back to her.
115
[next] As the
daughter followed the floating basket along the riverbank, she found herself
right in the palace grounds and saw what was unfolding before her eyes.
The basket came to rest at the riverbank, which
skirted the king's palace. The palace servants found the basket with the baby
and took it to the Pharaoh and his queen. When the queen beheld the lovely
infant, Allah instilled in her a strong love for this baby. Pharaoh's wife was
very different from Pharaoh. He was a disbeliever; she was a believer. He was
cruel; she was merciful.
He was a tyrant; she was delicate and
goodhearted. She was sad because she was infertile and had hoped to have a son.
Hardly had she held the baby than she kissed him. Pharaoh was much amazed when
he saw his wife hugging this baby to her breast. He was much astonished because
his wife was weeping with joy, something he had never seen her do before. She
requested her husband: "Let me keep the baby and let him be a son to
us."
Moses
Finds a Home - Quranic
Almighty Allah said:
"Then the household of Pharaoh picked him
up, that he might become for them an enemy and a cause of grief. Verily!
Pharaoh, Haman, and their hosts were sinners. And the wife of Pharaoh said;
"A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he maybe
of a benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceived not (the
result of that). (Ch 28:9 Quran)
Moses and
His Mother Reunited
The queen summoned a few wet nurses to suckle
the baby Moses, but he would not take any of their breasts. The queen was
distressed and sent for more wet nurses. Moses's sister was also worried, as
her baby brother was without milk for a long time. Seeing the queen's anxiety,
she blurted that she knew jut the mother who would suckle the child
affectionately.
They asked her why she was following the floating basket. She said she did so out of curiosity. Her excuse sounded reasonable, so they believed her. They ordered her to rush and fetch the woman she was talking about. Her mother also was waiting with a heavy heart, worried about the fate of her baby. Just then her daughter rushed in with the good news. Her heart lifted and she lost no time in reaching the palace. As the child
116
[next] was put to her breast, he immediately started suckling. Pharaoh
was astonished and asked: "Who are you? This child has refused to take any
other breast but yours."
Had she told the truth, Pharaoh would have known
that the child was an Israelite and would have killed Moses instantly. However,
Allah gave her inner strength and she replied: "I am a woman of sweet milk
and sweet smell,and no child refuses me." This answer satisfied Pharaoh.
From that day onward, she was appointed as Moses's wet nurse. She continued to
breast-feed him for a long time. When he was bigger and was weaned, she was
allowed the privilege of visiting him. Moses was raised in the palace as a
prince.
Moses and
His Mother Reunited - Quranic
"And the heart of the mother of Mûsa
(Moses) became empty [from every thought, except the thought of Mûsa (Moses)].
She was very near to disclose his (case, i.e. the child is her son), had We not
strengthened her heart (with Faith), so that she might remain as one of the
believers. And she said to his [Musa's (Moses)] sister: "Follow him."
So she (his sister) watched him from a far place secretly, while they perceived
not. And We had already forbidden (other) foster suckling mothers for him,
until she (his sister came up and) said: "Shall I direct you to a
household who will rear him for you, and sincerely they will look after him in
a good manner?" So did We restore him to his mother, that she might be
delighted, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the
Promise of Allâh is true. But most of them know not." (Ch. 28: 10-13)
The
Qualities of Moses - Quranic
And when he attained his full strength, and was
perfect (in manhood), We bestowed on him Hukman (Prophethood, right judgment of
the affairs) and religious knowledge (of the religion of his forefathers,
Islamic Monotheism). And thus do We reward the Muhsineen (good-doers)."
(Ch 28:14 Quran)
Moses
Kills and Egyptian
Allah had granted Moses (pbuh) good health, strength, knowledge, and wisdom. The weak and oppressed turned to him for protection and justice. One day in the main city, he saw two men fighting. One was an Israelite, who was being beaten by the other, an Egyptian. On seeing Moses, the Israelite begged him for help. Moses became involved in the dispute and, in a state of anger, struck a heavy blow on the Egyptian, who died on
117
[next] the spot. Upon realizing that he had killed a human being, Moses's heart
was filled with deep sorrow, and immediately he begged Allah for forgiveness.
He had not intended to kill the man. He pleaded
with Almighty Allah to forgive him, and he felt a sense of peace filling his
whole being. Thereafter Moses began to show more patience and sympathy towards
people.
The next day he saw the same Israelite involved
in another fight. Moses went to him and said: "You seem to be a
quarrelsome fellow. You have a new quarrel with one person or another each
day." Fearing that Moses might strike him, the Israelite warned Moses:
"Would you kill me as you killed the wretch yesterday?"
The Egyptian with whom the Israelite was
fighting overheard this remark and reported Moses to the authorities. Soon
thereafter, as Moses was passing through the city, a man approached and alerted
him: "O Moses, the chiefs have taken counsel against you. You are to be
tried and killed. I would advise you to escape."
Moses
Kills an Egyptian - Quranic
Moses knew that the penalty for killing an
Egyptian was death. Allah the Exalted recounted:
"And he entered the city at a time of
unawareness of its people, and he found there two men fighting, one of his
party (his religion, from the children of Israel), and the other of his foes.
The man of his own party asked him for help against his foe, so Moses struck
him with his fist and killed him. He said, "This is of Satan's doing,
verily, he is a plain misleading enemy."
He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me." Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favored me, I will never more be a helper for the Mujrimeen (criminals, disobedient to Allah, polytheists, sinners, etc.)!" So he became afraid, looking about in the city (waiting as to what will be the result of his crime of killing), when behold, the man who had sought his help the day before, called for his help again. Moses said to him: "Verily, you are a plain misleader!" Then when he decided to seize the man who was an enemy to both of them, the man said: "O Moses! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday? Your aim is nothing but to become a tyrant in the land, and not to be one of those who do right." And there came a man running, from the farthest
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[next] end of the city. He said: "O Moses!
Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so
escape. Truly, I am to you of those who give sincere advice." So he
escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord!
Save me from the people who are Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrong-doers)!"
(Ch 28:15-21 Quran)
Moses
Leaves Egypt
Moses left Egypt in a hurry without going to
Pharaoh's palace or changing his clothes. Nor was he prepared for traveling. He
did not have a beast of burden upon which to ride, and he was not in a caravan.
Instead, he left as soon as the believer came and warned him of Pharaoh's
plans. He traveled in the direction of the country of Midian, which was the
nearest inhabited land between Syria and Egypt. His only companion in this hot
desert was Allah, and his only provision was piety. There was not a single root
to pick to lessen his hunger. The hot sand burned the soles of his feet.
However, fearing pursuit by Pharaoh's men, he forced himself to continue on.
Moses
Helps Women Shepherds
He traveled for eight nights, hiding during the
day. After crossing the main desert, he reached a watering hole outside Midian
where shepherds were watering their flocks. No sooner had Moses reached the
Midian than he threw himself under a tree to rest. He suffered from hunger and
fatigue. The soles of his feet felt as if they were worn out from hard walking
on sand and rocks and from the dust. He did not have any money to buy a new
pair of sandals, nor to buy food or drink. Moses noticed a band of shepherds
watering their sheep. He went to the spring, where he saw two young women
preventing their sheep from mixing with the others. Moses sensed that the women
were in need of help. Forgetting his thirst, he drew nearer to them and asked
if he could help them in any way. The older sister said: "We are waiting
until the shepherds finish watering their sheep, then we will water ours."
Moses asked again: "Why are you
waiting?"
The younger one: "We cannot push men."
Moses was surprised that women were shepherding,
as only men were supposed to do it. It is
hard and tiresome work, and one needs to be on the alert. Moses asked: "Why are you shepherding?" The younger sister said: "Our father is an old man; his health is too poor
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[next] for him
to go outdoors for pasturing sheep."
Moses (pbuh) said: "I will water the sheep
for you."
When Moses approached the water, he saw that the
shepherds had put over the mouth of the spring an immense rock that could only
be moved by ten men. Moses embraced the rock and lifted it out of the spring's
mouth, the veins of his neck and hands standing out as he did so. Moses was
certainly strong. He watered their sheep and put the rock back in its place. He
returned to sit in the shade of the tree. At this moment he realized that he
had forgotten to drink. His stomach was sunken because of hunger.
Moses
Helps Women Shepherds - Quranic
Almighty Allah described this event:
"And when he arrived at the water of Midian
(Midyan) he found there a group of men watering their flocks, and besides them
he found two women who were keeping back their flocks. He said: "What is
the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until
the shepherds take their flocks. And our father is a very old man." So he
watered their flocks for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My
Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!" (Ch
28:22-24 Quran)
Moses
Finds a Home Among Shepherds
The young ladies returned home earlier than
usual, which surprised their father. They related the incident at the spring
which was the reason that they were back early. Their father sent one of his
daughters to invite the stranger to his home. Bashfully, the woman approached
Moses and delivered the message. "My father is grateful for what you have
done for us. He invites you to our home so that he may thank you
personally." Moses welcomed this invitation and accompanied the maiden to
her father. Moses could see that they lived comfortably as a happy and peaceful
household. He introduced himself and told the old man about the misfortune that
he had befallen him and had compelled him to flee from Egypt. The old man
comforted him: "Fear not, you have escaped from the wrong-doers."
Moses's gentle behavior was noticed by the father and his daughters. The kind
man invited him to stay with them. Moses felt at home with this happy
household, for they were friendly and feared Allah.
Moses
Becomes a Shepherd
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[next] One of the daughters suggested to her
father that he employ Moses, as he was strong and trustworthy. They needed
someone like him, especially at the water hole, which was visited by ruffians.
The father asked her how she could be sure of
his trustworthiness in such a short time. She replied: "When I bade him to
follow me to our home, he insisted that I walk behind him so he would not
observe my form (to avoid sexual attraction)."
The old man was pleased to hear this. He
approached Moses and said: "I wish to marry you to one of my daughters on condition
that you agree to work for me for a period of eight years." This offer
suited Moses well, for being a stranger in this country, he would soon have to
search for shelter, and work. Moses married the Midianite's daughter and looked
after the old man's animals for ten long years.
Moses
Becomes a Shepherd - Quranic
Almighty Allah recounted:
"Then there came to him one of the two
women, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may
reward you for having watered our flocks for us." So when he came to him
and narrated the story, he said; "Fear you not. You have escaped from the
people who are Zalimeen (polytheists, disbeliveers, and wrong-doers)." And
said one of them (the two women): "O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best
of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy." He said: "I
intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you
serve me for eight years, but if you complete ten years, it will be a favor
from you. But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you
will find me one of the righteous." He (Moses) said: "That is settled
between me and you whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no
injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say." ( Ch 28:25-28
Quran)
The Ten
Years of Preparation
Time passed, and he lived in seclusion far from his family and his people. This period of ten years was of importance in his life. It was a period of major preparation. Certainly Moses's mind was absorbed in the stars every night. He followed the sunrise and the sunset every day. He pondered on the plant and how it splits and soil and appears thereafter. He contemplated water and how the earth is revived by it and flourishes after its death. Of course, he was immersed in the Glorious Book of Allah, open to the insight
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[next] and heart. He was immersed in the existence of Allah. All
these became latent within him. The religion of Moses (pbuh) was the same as
that of Jacob (pbuh), which was Islamic monotheism. His forefather was Jacob
(pbuh) the grandson of Abraham (pbuh). Moses (pbuh), therefore, was one of the
descendants of Abraham (pbuh) and every prophet who came after Abraham was one
of Abraham's successors. In addition to physical preparation, there was a similar
spiritual preparation. It was made in complete seclusion, in the middle of the
desert, and in the places of pasture. Silence was his way of life, and
seclusion was his vehicle. Allah the Almighty prepared for His prophet the
tools he would need later on to righteously bear the commands of Allah the
Exalted.
Moses
Decides to Return to Egypt
One day after the end of this period, a vague
homesickness arose in Moses's heart. He wanted to return to Egypt. He was fast
and firm in making his decision, telling his wife: "Tomorrow we shall
leave for Egypt." His wife said to herself. "There are a thousand
dangers in departing that have not yet been revealed." However, she obeyed
her husband.
Moses himself did not know the secret of the
quick and sudden decision to return to Egypt. After all, he had fled from their
ten years ago with a price on his head. Why should he go back now? Did he look
forward to seeing his mother and brother? Did he think of visiting Pharaoh's
wife who had raised him and who loved him as if she were his mother? No one
knows what went through Moses's mind when he returned to Egypt. All we know is
that a mute obedience to Allah's destinies impelled him to make a decision and
he did. These supreme destinies steered his steps towards a matter of great
importance.
Moses
Begins His Prophethood
Moses left Midian with his family and traveled through the desert until he reached Mount Sinai. There Moses discovered that he had lost his way. He sought Allah's direction and was shown the right course. At nightfall they reached Mount Tur. Moses noticed a fire in the distance. "I shall fetch a firebrand to warm us." As he neared the fire, he heard a sonorous voice calling him: "O Moses, I am Allah, the Lord of the Universe." Moses was bewildered and looked around. He again heard the strange voice. "And what is in you right hand, O Moses?" Shivering, Moses answered: "This is my staff on which I lean, and with which I beat down branches for my sheep, and for which I find other uses." (This question was asked so that Moses' attention would focus on the staff
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[next] and
to prepare him for the miracle which was to happen. This was the beginning of
Moses's mission as a prophet -pbuh). The same voice commanded him: "Throw
down your staff!" He did so, and at once the staff became a wriggling
snake. Moses turned to run, but the voice again addressed him: "Fear not
and grasp it; We shall return it to its former state." The snake changed
back into his staff. Moses's fear subsided and was replaced by peace, for he
realized that he was witnessing the Truth. Next, Allah commanded him to thrust
his hand into his robe at the armpit. When he pulled it out, the hand had a
brilliant shine. Allah then commanded Moses; "You have two signs from Your
Lord; go to Pharaoh and his chiefs, for they are an evil gang and have
transgressed all bounds." However, Moses feared that he would be arrested
by Pharaoh, so he turned to Allah saying: "My Lord! I have killed a man
among them and I fear that they will kill me." Allah assured him of his
safety and set his heart at rest.
Moses
Begins His Prophethood - Quranic
Almighty Allah narrated this event:
"And has there come to you the story of
Moses? When he saw a fire, he said to his family: "Wait! Verily, I have
seen a fire, perhaps I can bring you some burning brand therefrom, or find some
guidance at the fire." And when he came to it the fire, he was called by
name: "O Moses! Verily! I am your Lord! So take off your shoes, you are in
the sacred valley, Tuwa. And I have chosen you. So listen to that which is
inspired to you. Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to
be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and offer prayers perfectly, for My
Remembrance. Verily, the Hour is coming - and My Will is to keep it hidden -
that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives. Therefore, let the
one who believes not therein (in the Day of Resurrection, Reckoning, Paradise
and Hell etc) but follows his own lusts, divert your therefrom lest you perish.
And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?" He said: "This is my
stick, whereon I lean, and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep and
wherein I find other uses." Allah said: "Cast it down, O Moses!"
He cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly. Allah said:
"Grasp it, and fear not, We shall return it to its former state, and press
your right hand to your left side, it will come forth white and shining, and
without any disease as another sign, that We may show you some of Our Greater
Signs. "Go To Pharaoh! Verily! He has transgressed (all bounds in
disbelief and disobedience, and has behaved as an arrogant, and as a
tyrant)." (Ch. 20: 9-24)
Moses and
Aaron (PBUT) Given Their Duties - Quranic
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[next] Moses said: "O my Lord! Open for
me my chest (grant me self-confidence, contentment, and boldness). And ease my
task for me; and make loose the knot (the defect) from my tongue, (remove the
incorrectness of my speech) that they understand my speech, and appoint for me
a helper from my family, Aaron, my brother; increase my strength with him, and
let him share my task (of conveying Allah's Message and Prophethood), and we
may glorify You much, and remember You much, Verily! You are of us Ever a
Well-Seer." Allah said: "You are granted your request, O Moses! And
indeed We conferred a favor on you another time before. When We inspired your
mother with that which We inspired, saying: "Put him (the child) into the
Tabut (a box or a case or a chest) and put him into the river (Nile), and then
the river shall cast it up on the bank, and there, an enemy of Mine and an
enemy of his shall take him.' And I endured you with love from Me, in order
that you maybe brought up under My Eye, when your sister went and said;
"Shall I show you one who will nurse him?' So We restored you to your
mother, that she might cool her eyes and she should not grieve. Then you did
kill a man, but We saved you from a great distress and tried you with a heavy
trial. Then you stayed a number of years witthe people of Midian. Then you came
here according to the term which I ordained (for you), O Moses! "And I have
Istana'tuka (chosen you for My Inspiration and My Message) for Myself. Go you
and your brother with My Ayat (proofs, lessons, verses, evidences, signs,
revelations, etc), and do not, you both, slacken and become weak in My
Remembrance. "Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, verily, he has transgressed all
bounds in disbelief and disobedience and behaved as an arrogant and as a
tyrant. And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear
Allah." They said: "Our Lord! Verily! We fear lest he should hasten
to punish us or lest he should transgress all bounds against us."
He (Allah) said: "Fear not, Verily! I am
with you both, Hearing and Seeing. So go you both to him, and say:
"Verily, we are Messengers of your Lord, so let the children of Israel go
with us, and torment them not; indeed, we have come with a sign from your Lord!
And peace will be upon him who follows the guidance! Truly, it has been
revealed to us that the torment will be for him who denies (believes not in the
Oneness of Allah, and in His Messengers, etc), and turns away' (from the truth,
and obedience of Allah)." (Ch 20:9-48 Quran).
Moses and
Aaron (PBUT) Talk to the Pharaoh
Moses (pbuh) and Aaron (pbuh) went together to Pharaoh and delivered their message. Moses spoke to him about Allah, His mercy and His Paradise and about the obligations of monotheism and His worship.
Pharaoh listened to Moses' speech with disdain.
He thought that Moses was crazy because he dared to question his supreme
position. Then he raised his hand and asked: "What do you want?"
Moses answered: "I want you to send the children of Israel with us."
Pharaoh asked: "Why should I send them, as they are my slaves?" Moses
replied: "They are the slaves of Allah, Lord of the Worlds."
Pharaoh then inquired sarcastically if his name
was Moses. Moses said "Yes." "Are you not the Moses whom we
picked up from the Nile as a helpless baby? Are you not the Moses whom we
reared in this palace, who ate and drank from our provisions and whom our
wealth showered with charity? Are you not the Moses who is a fugitive, the
killer of an Egyptian man, if my memory does not betray me? It is said that
killing is an act of disbelief. Therefore, you were a disbeliever when you
killed. You are a fugitive from justice and you come to speak to me! What were
you talking about Moses, I forgot?"
Moses knew that Pharaoh's mentioning his past,
his upbringing, and his receiving Pharaoh's charity was Pharaoh's way of
threatening him. Moses ignored his sarcasm and explained that he was not a disbeliever
when he killed the Egyptian, he only went astray and Allah the Almighty had not
yet given him the revelation at that time. He made Pharaoh understand that he
fled from Egypt because he was afraid of their revenge upon him, even though
the killing was an accident. He informed him that Allah had granted him
forgiveness and made him one of the messengers.
Moses and
Aaron (PBUT) Talk to the Pharaoh - Quranic
Allah the Almighty revealed to us part of the
dialogue between Moses (pbuh) and Pharaoh:
"Allah said: "Nay! Go you both with
Our Signs, Verily! We shall be with you, listening. And when you both come to
Pharaoh, say: "We are the Messengers of the Lord of the Alamin (mankind,
jinn and all that exists), and So allow the children of Israel to go with
us."" Pharaoh said to Moses: "Did we not bring you up among us
as a child ? And you did dwell many years of your life with us. And you did
your deed which you did (the crime of killing a man) and you are one of the
ingrates."
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[next] Moses said: "I did it then, when
I was an ignorant (as regards my Lord and His Message). So I fled from you when
I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukman (religious knowledge, right
judgments of the affairs and Prophethood), and appointed me as one of the
Messengers. And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, and that you
have enslaved the children of Israel."
Pharaoh said: "And what is the Lord of the
Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)?" Moses replied: "Lord of
the heavens, and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be
convinced with certainty." Pharaoh said to those around: "Do you not
hear what he says?" Moses said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your
ancient fathers!" Pharaoh said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been
sent to you is a madman!" Moses said: "Lord of the east, and the
west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!" Pharaoh
said: "If you choose an ilah (a god) other than me, I will certainly put
you among the prisoners." Moses said: "Even if I bring you something
manifest (and convincing)." Pharaoh said: "Bring it forth then, if
you are of the truthful!" (Ch 26:16-31 Quran)
Moses
Proves Himself Right
The degree of the conflict expressed in this
dialogue reached its apex; thus, the tone of dialogue changed. Moses used a
convincing intellectual argument against Pharaoh. However, Pharaoh escaped from
the circle of dialogue based on the logic and began a dialogue of another type,
a type which Moses could not bear to follow; a dialogue of menacing and
threatening. Pharaoh deliberately adopted the style of the absolute ruler. He
asked Moses how he dared to worship Allah! Did he not know that Pharaoh was a
god? After declaring his divinity, Pharaoh asked Moses how he dared to worship
another god. The punishment for this crime was imprisonment. It was not
permitted for anyone to worship anyone other than the Pharaoh. Moses understood
that the intellectual arguments did not succeed. The calm dialogue was
converted from sarcasm to mentioning charity, then to scorn, then to the threat
of imprisonment.
Moses said: "Even if I bring you something
manifest and convincing." Pharaoh said; "Bring it forth, then, if you
are of the truthful!" So Moses threw his stick, and behold, it was a
serpent, manifest. And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all
beholders! (Ch 26:30-33 Quran)
Moses
Defeats the Magicians
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[next] Pharaoh's amazement turned to terror.
Fearing that his rule was in danger, he addressed his advisors: "These are
two wizards who will strip you of your best traditions and drive you of the
country with their magic. What do you advise?" they counseled Pharaoh to
detain Moses and his brother while they summoned the cleverest magicians in the
country. Then they too, could show their skills of magic and change sticks into
serpents. In this way they sought to reduce the influence of Moses's miracles
on the masses.
Pharaoh detained Moses and Aaron. He dispatched
couriers all o ver the land to enlist the best magicians. He offered each
successful magician a big reward, including appointment as a royal courtier. On
the customary festival day, which attracted citizens from all over the Egyptian
empire, Pharaoh arranged for a public contest between Moses and the magicians.
The people came in droves as near before when they heard of the greatest
contest ever between Pharaoh's many magicians and a single man who claimed to
be a prophet. They had also heard of a baby who had once floated down the river
Nile in a basket, landed on Pharaoh's palace grounds, been reared as a prince,
and who later had fled for killing an Egyptian with a single blow.
Everyone was eager and excited to watch this
great contest. Before it began, Moses arose. There was a hush in the huge
crowd. Moses addressed the magicians. "Woe unto you, if you invent a lie
against Allah by calling His miracles magic and by not being honest with the
Pharaoh. Woe unto you, if you do not know the difference between the truth and
falsehood. Allah will destroy you with His punishment, for he who lies against
Allah fails miserably." Moses had spoke sincerely and made the magicians
think. But they were overwhelmed by their greed for money and glory. They hoped
to impress the people with their magic and to expose Moses as a fraud and a cheat.
Moses asked the magicians to perform first. They
threw their magical objects down on the ground. Their staffs and ropes took the
forms of wriggling serpents while the crowd watched in amazement. Pharaoh and
his men applauded loudly. Then Moses threw his staff. It began to wriggle vand
became an enormous serpent. The people stood up, craning their necks for a
better view. Pharaoh and his men sat silently as, one by one, Moses's huge
serpent swallowed all the snakes. Moses bent to pick it up, and it became a
staff in his hand.
The crowd rose like a great wave, shouting and screaming with excitement. A wonder like this had never been seen before! On witnessing the power of Moses, the magicians
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[next] prostrated themselves to
Allah, declaring: "We believe in the Lord of Moses and Aaron."
Pharaoh was angry and began plotting his next move. He charged that the
demonstration had been arranged secretly between Moses and the magicians. He
demanded that the magicians confess to their scheme, threatening them with
death. They refused to denounce Allah and stuck to their sincerity of their
belief. No longer hiding his cruel nature, Pharaoh threatened to cut off their
hands and feet and to crucify them on the trunks of palm trees as an example to
his subjects.
Moses
Defears the Magicians - Quranic
Almighty Allah recounted this event:
"He (Pharaoh) said: "Have you come to
drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses? Then verily, we can produce
magic the like thereof; so appoint a meeting between us and you, which neither
we, nor you shall fail to keep, in an open wide place where both shall have a
just and equal chance (and beholders could witness the competition)."
Moses said: "your appointed meeting is the day of the festival, and let
the people assemble when the sun has risen (forenoon)." So Pharaoh
withdrew, devised his plot and then came back. Moses said to them: "Woe
unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He should destroy you completely
by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie (against Allah) will fail
miserably." Then they debated with one another what they must do, and they
kept their talk secret. They said: "Verily! There are two magicians. Their
object is to drive you out from your land with magic and overcome your chiefs
and nobles. So devise your plot, and then assemble in line. And whoever
overcomes this day will be indeed successful." They said: "O Moses!
Either you throw first or we be the first to throw?"
Moses said: "nay, throw you (first)!"
Then behold, their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as
though they moved fast. So Moses conceived a fear in himself. We (Allah) said:
"Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand. Throw that which is in
your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they
have made is only a magician's trick, and the magician will never be
successful, no matter whatever amount of skill he may attain."
So the magicians fell down prostrate. They said :"We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." Pharaoh said: "Believe you in him (Moses) before I give you permission? Verily! He is your chief who taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you shall
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[next] surely know which of us (I Pharaoh,) or the Lord of
(Moses) (Allah), can give the severe and more lasting torment." They said:
"We prefer you not over the clear signs that have come to us, and to Him
(Allah) Who created us. So decree (regarding) this life of the world. Verily!
We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic
to which you did compel us. And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison
to your (Pharaoh's) reward, and more lasting (as regards punishment in
comparison to you punishment)."
Allah's
Description of Belivers and Non-Believers - Quranic
Verily! Whoever comes to his Lord as a Mujrim
(criminal, polytheist, disbeliever, in the Oneness of Allah and His Messengers,
sinner, etc.), then surely, for him is Hell, therein he will neither die nor
live. But whoever comes to Him (Allah) as a believer (in the Oneness of Allah,
etc.), and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the
Hereafter), - Everlasting Gardens (And Paradise), under which rivers flow,
wherein they will abide forever; such is the reward of those who purify
themselves (by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has
forbidden and by doing all that which Allah has ordained). (Ch 20:58-76 Quran).
The
People's Non - Reaction to the defeat of the magicians
The magicians represented the elite of the
Egyptian society. They were its scholars. They prostrated before righteousness,
but the people abandoned them and left them to their fate. The path of
righteousness was plain, but in spite of this, the people did nothing but stand
by and watch.
If every one of the Egyptians had stopped to
pick up a piece of brick and had thrown it at Pharaoh, he would have fallen
dead and the history of Egypt would have been changed.
This obviously did not happen. None of the
people moved. Each one stood motionless in his place. The people did nothing
but watch, and they paid the price of this inactivity: they were drowned later
as the price for the cowardice of one day.
The
Pharaoh's Reaction to Moses Victory
Moses and Aaron left, and Pharaoh returned to his palace. Pharaoh entered to his palace. Pharaoh was completely stupefied when he faced the two miracles. When Moses went out of his presence, his emotions changed from amazement and fear to violent rage. He quarreled with his ministers and men, reviled them bitterly for no reason, and
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[next] commanded
them to get out of his presence. When he was left alone, he tried to think more
calmly. He drank several cups of wine, but his anger did not abate.
Then he summoned all the ministers, leaders, and
responsible men for a serious meeting. Pharaoh entered the meeting with a rigid
face. It was obvious that he would never surrender easily. He had established a
kingdom on the basis of his being a god worshipped by the Egyptian people. Now
Moses came to destroy what he had built. Moses said that there was no Lord
other than Allah in existence. This meant that Pharaoh was a liar. Pharaoh
opened the session by throwing a sudden question at Haman: "Am I a liar, O
Haman?" Haman fell to his knees in amazement and asked: "Who dared to
accuse Pharaoh of lying?" Pharaoh said: "Has he (Moses) not said that
there is a Lord in the heaven?" Haman answered: "Moses is
lying." Turning his face to the other side, Pharaoh asserted impatiently:
"I know he is a liar." Then he looked towards Haman (and cried):
"O Haman! Build me a tower that I may
arrive at the ways, - the ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilah
(God) of Moses but verily, I think him to be a liar." Thus it was made
fair seeming, in Pharaoh's eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered
from the Right Path, and the plot of Pharaoh led to nothing but loss and destruction
for him. (Ch 40:36-37 Quran).
Pharaoh issued his royal command to erect a
lofty tower, its height to reach the heavens. Pharaoh's command depended
fundamentally upon Egyptian civilization and its fondness for building what
Pharaoh wanted. However, he ignored the rules of engineering. In spite of this,
Haman assented (hypocritically), knowing that it was impossible to erect such a
tower. He said that he would issue a command to build it immediately.
"However, your majesty, let me object to Pharaoh for the first time. You
will never find anyone in the heavens. There is no god but you." Pharaoh
listened to a settled fact. Then he declared in the famous meeting his historic
line:
"O chiefs! I know not that you an ilah (a
god) other than me." (Ch 28:38 Quran).
Pharaoh's
Men Spread Rumors
Pharaoh was absorbed in his new problem. A series of serious meetings began in his palace. He summoned those responsible for the army, the police and, what we call today his director of intelligence. He also summoned the ministers, princes, and priests. He called whoever had a powerful effect on the direction of events. Pharaoh asked his
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[next] director
of intelligence: "What do people say?" He said: "My men have
spread among them that Moses won the contest because of a plot and that a major
magician had joined with him in this plan. The plot had been disclosed, and we
believe an unknown authority financed it." Pharaoh asked his director of
police: "What about the magicians' corpses?"
He said: "My men hung them in public
squares and markets to terrify the people. We will spread a rumor that Pharaoh
will kill whoever had anything to do with the plot." Then Pharaoh asked
the commander of the army: "What does the army say?" He said:
"The army hopes that commands will be issued to move in whatever direction
Pharaoh desires."
Pharaoh said: "The role of the army has not
come yet. Its role will come."
Pharaoh's
Men Harm the Believers
Pharaoh fell silent. Haman, the Prime Minister,
moved and raised his hand to speak. Pharaoh permitted him and Haman asked:
"Will we leave Moses and his people to corrupt the rest of the people on
the earth so that they leave your worship?" Pharaoh said: "You read
my thoughts, O Haman. We will kill their sons, rape their women, and conquer them."
He issued commands, and Pharaoh's men rushed to slay the sons, rape the women,
and imprison whomever objected to these acts. Moses stood watching what was
happening. He could not interfere, nor did he have the power to forbid these
acts. All he could do was to advise his people to be patient. He ordered them
to ask Allah the Almighty for a calamity on the Egyptians. He pointed out to
them the model of the Egyptian magicians who endured for Allah's sake without
complaint. He helped them to understand that Pharaoh's soldiers behaved on
earth as if they were its private owners. Pharaoh's terrorism infused the
children of Israel with a spirit of defeat. They complained to Moses:
"We (children of Israel) had suffered
troubles before you came to us, and since you have come to us." He said:
"It maybe that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you successors
on the earth, so that He may see how you act." (Ch 7:129 Quran).
Korah -
His Actions and Destruction
Moses began to face a difficult situation. He
had to confront Pharaoh's anger and his plots, while at the same time he had to
deal with the mutiny of his people. In the midst of all this, Korah (Qaroun)
moved.
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[next] Korah was one of Moses' s people. He
was very rich and lived in a magnificent mansion. He wore only the most
expensive clothes. Numerous slaves waited on him and he indulged in every known
luxury. His enormous wealth made him arrogant. Korah treated the poor with
contempt and told them that their poverty was due to their lack of
intelligence. He believed that what he owned was due to his own cleverness and
business ability. Moses reminded Korah to pay alms (zakat) on his wealth, a
portion of which was rightfully due to the poor. Alms are compulsory upon all
the believers. Korah was annoyed by this advice and told Moses that his being
wealthy was proof that he was favored by Allah, Who approved of his life-style
and increased his wealth daily. Moses argued with him and warned him of the
result of his wicked thoughts.
When Korah did calculate the alms due on his
wealth, he was shocked at the large amount he had to part with. He not only
refused to give alms, but spread a rumor that Moses had invented the law of
zakat for his own gain. He even bribed the people to oppose Moses and to spread
wicked rumors about him.Allah warned Moses of Korah's plot. Moses appealed to
Allah to punish him for his stinginess and for defying His laws. Allah's anger
fell on Korah. The earth opened up and swallowed him, his mansion and all his
wealth, as if he had never existed.
Korah -
His Actions and Destruction - Quranic
Almighty Allah revealed:
"Verily, Korah was of Moses's people, but
he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of
which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his
people said to him: "Do not be glad with ungratefulness to Allah's
Favors). Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with wealth) which Allah
has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget nor your portion of
legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and
seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsideen (those who
commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, and mischief-makers,
corrupts)."
He said: "This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount of riches, they had collected. But the Murimun (criminals, disbeliveers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account). So he went
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[next] forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous
of the life of the world said: "Ah, would that we had the like of what
Korah has been given! Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune."
But those who had been given religious knowledge
said: "Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for
those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain
except those who are patient (in following the truth)."
So We caused the earth to swallow him and his
dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor
was he one of those who could save themselves. And those who had desired (for a
position like) his position, the day before, began to say; "Know you not
that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He
please of His slaves? Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could
have caused the earth to swallow us up also!" Know you not that the
disbeliveers will never be successful? (Ch 28:76-82 Quran).
The
Pharaohs Relative Defends Moses
When the Egyptians and children of Israel
examined the miracle, the conflict between Moses and Pharaoh again reached a
crisis because Pharaoh believed that Moses was threatening his kingdom. Pharaoh
was afraid that the people would be misled by Moses. He suggested to his
ministers and notable men that Moses be killed. We believe that Haman supported
the idea along with a front of disbeliveers. It was on the verge of approval,
except for the vote of one of the notable men of the state, whose name is not
mentioned in the Quran. The Quran says only that this man was a believer.
This believer spoke in the assembly where the
idea of killing Moses had been introduced. He proved that it was not a good
idea: "Moses did not say more than that Allah is his Lord. Later, he came
with clear evidence that he is a messenger. There are two possibilities; either
Moses is righteous or a liar. If he lies, he will be responsible for his lie.
If he is righteous and we slay him, where is the guarantee that we will be
rescued from the torment of Allah? Either way, he neither says nor does
anything that merits our killing him." This angered Pharaoh and his
counselors and they threatened to harm the man, but he refused to budge from
his stance. Then they tried to woo him back, but he still warned them that they
were inviting their doom. This angered Pharaoh more, and he now threatened to
kill the man. However, Allah protected His believer.
The
Pharaoh's Relative Defends Moses - Quranic
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[next] Almighty Allah revealed their
dialogue:
Pharaoh said: "Leave me to kill Moses, and
let him call his Lord (to stop me from killing him)! I fear that he may change
your religion, or that he may cause mischief to appear in the land!" Moses
said: "Verily, I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant
who believes not in the Day of Reckoning!"
And a believing man of Pharaoh's family, who hid
his faith said: "Would you kill a man because he says: My Lord is Allah,
and he has come to you with clear signs (proofs) from your Lord? And if he is a
liar, upon him will be (the sin of) his lie; but if he is telling the truth,
then some of that calamity wherewith he threatens you will befall on you.
Verily, Allah guides not one who is a Musrif (a polytheist, or a murderer who
shed blood without a right, or those who commit great sins, oppressor,
transgressor, a liar! O my people! Yours is the kingdom this day, you are uppermost
in the land. But, who will save us from the Torment of Allah, should it befall
us?" Pharaoh said: "I show you only that which I see correct and I
guide you only to the path of right policy!"
And he who believed said: "O my people!
Verily, I fear for you a fate like that day of disaster of the confederate of
old! Like the fate of the people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud, and those who
came after them. And Allah wills no injustice for His slaves. And, O my people!
Verily! I fear for you the Day when there will be mutual calling between the
people of Hell and of Paradise." A Day when you will turn your backs and
flee having no protector from Allah, and whomsoever Allah sends astray, for him
there is no guide. And indeed Joseph did come to you, in times gone by, with
clear signs, but you ceased not to doubt in that which he did bring to you,
till when he died you said: "No Messenger will Allah send after him."
Thus Allah leaves astray him who is a Musrif (a polytheist, oppressor, a
criminal, sinner who commits great sins) and a Murtab (one who doubts Allah's
warning and His Oneness). Those who dispute about the Ayat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, revelations and signs, etc.) of Allah, without any authority
that has come to them, it is greatly hateful in the Sight of Allah and in the
sigh of those who believe. Thus does Allah seal up the heart of every arrogant,
tyrant. (So they cannot guide themselves to the Right Path).
And Pharaoh said: "O Haman! Build me a tower that I may arrive at the ways, - the ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilah (God ) of Moses but verily, I think him to be a liar." Thus it was made fair seeming, in Pharaoh's eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the Right Path, and the plot of Pharaoh led to nothing but loss and
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[next] destruction for him. And the man who believed said: "O my
people! Follow me, I will guide you to the way of right conduct (guide you to
Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism with which Moses has been sent). O my
people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing)
enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.
Whosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof, and
whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female, and is a true believer
(in the Oneness of Allah), such will enter Paradise, where they will be
provided therein (with all things in abundance) without limit."
"And O my people! How is it that I call you
to salvation while you call me to the Fire! You invite me to disbelieve in
Allah (and in His Oneness), and to join partners in worship with Him, of which
I have no knowledge, and I invite you to the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving! No
doubt you call me to worship one who cannot grant me my request or respond to
my invocation in this world or in the Hereafter. And our return will be to
Allah, and Al-Musrifeen (polytheists, and arrogants, those who commit great
sins, the transgressors of Allah's set limits)! The shall be the dwellers of the
Fire! And you will remember what I am telling you, and my affair I leave it to
Allah. Verily, Allah is the All-Seer of His slaves."
So Allah saved him from the evils that they
plotted (against him), while an evil torment encompassed Pharaoh's people. (Ch 40:26-45
Quran).
The
Plagues of Egypt
Moses repeated his demand that Pharaoh release
the children of Israel from slavery. In response, Pharaoh called his subjects,
including the children of Israel, to a huge gathering where he reminded them
that he was their lord and provided all their needs. Moses, he said, had no
gold amulets nor angels following him; he was just a poor man. Being a people
who had been oppressed for a very long time, they lacked vision. Their judgment
were limited to what they could see in the material world. They regarded their
ruler to be wealthy and able to provide all their worldly needs. In ignorance,
they obeyed Pharaoh and ignored Moses's call.
Egypt
Suffers a Drought and a Flood
Allah commanded Moses to warn Pharaoh of a punishment in this world for his faithlessness and his persecution of the children of Israel. As a portent of the punishment which Allah would meet out, the Nile did not flood its banks to soak the dry
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[next] land as it normally
did. As a result, crops failed, leading to famine. However Pharaoh remained
arrogant, so Allah caused a huge flood, which devastated the land.
Egypt's
Crops are Destroyed by Locusts
As often as they were troubled grievously, they
appealed to Moses thus:
"O Moses! Invoke your Lord for us because
of His Promise to you. IF you will remove the punishment from us, we indeed
shall believe in you, and we shall let the children of Israel go with
you." (Ch 7:134 Quran)
Moses prayed to his Lord and He relived the
suffering caused by the flood. The surging water ceased and withdrew from the
land, and it became cultivatable. But when Moses bade them to fulfill their
promise to release the children of Israel, they did not respond. Then Allah
sent swarms of locusts which ate whatever corps they had grown. The people
hurried to Moses, asking him to invoke Allah to remove this affliction and
promising they would send the children of Israel with him this time. The
locusts departed, but they did not fulfill their promise.
Egypt
Becomes Infested with Lice
Then another sign came, the sign of lice, which
spread amongst the Egyptians, carrying diseases. Their refuge to Moses and
their promise to him was repeated. His prayer to Allah was repeated and so,
too, their breach of promise, as usual.
Egypt Becomes
Infested with Frogs
A sign of frogs was revealed. The land suddenly
filled with frogs. They jumped on the food of the Egyptians, shared their
houses, and distressed them greatly. The Egyptians went to Moses again,
promising him to release the children of Israel. He prayed to his Lord, and
Allah relieved them of the problem of the frogs, but they again broke their
promise.
Nile's
water was changed to Blood
Then the last sign was revealed, the sign of
blood. The Nile water was changed into blood. When Moses and his people drank
the water, it was, for them, ordinary water. However, if any Egyptian filled
his cup with the water, he discovered his cup full of blood. They hurried to
Moses as usual, but as soon as everything returned to normal, they
turned their backs on Allah.
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[next]
Allah's
Punishments on the Disbelievers - Quranic
Almighty Allah said:
"And indeed We punished the people of Pharaoh
with years of drought, and shortness of fruits (crops, etc.), that they mighty
remember (take heed). But whenever good came to them, they said: "Ours is
this." And if evil athem, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with
Moses and those with him. Be informed! Verily, their evil omens are with Allah
but most of them know not. They said to Moses: "Whatever Ayat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) you may bring to us, to
work therewith your sorcery on us, we shall never believe in you." So We
sent on them: the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood: (as a
succession of) manifest signs, yet they remained arrogant, and they were of
those people who were Mujrimeen (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.) (Ch 7:130-133
Quran)
Almighty Allah also said:
"But when We removed the punishment from
them to a fixed term, which they had to reach, behold! They broke their word!
(Ch 7:135 Quran)
Moses'
Story - Condensed and Quranic
Pharaoh became ruder and more arrogant. He proclaimed
to his people. "Pharaoh is the only god. Has he not the kingdom of Egypt
and rivers flowing under it?" He declared that Moses was a liar, a
magician, and a poor man who did not wear even one bracelet of gold. Almighty
Allah declared:
“And indeed We did sent Moses with Our Ayat
(proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to Pharaoh and
his chiefs (inviting them to Allah's Religion of Islam). He said: "Verily!
I am a Messenger of the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
But when he came to them with our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons,
signs, revelations, etc.) behold! They laughed at them. And not an Ayah (sign,
etc.) We showed them but it was greater than its fellow, and We seized them
with torment in order that they might turn from their polytheism to Allah's
Religion (Islamic Monotheism).
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[next]
And they said to Moses: "O you sorcerer!
Invoke your Lord for us according to what He has covenanted with you.
Verily, we shall guide ourselves aright." But when We removed the torment
from them, behold! They broke their covenant (that they will believe if We
remove the torment for them).
And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people, saying
"O my people! Is not mine the dominion of Egypt, and the rivers flowing
underneath me. See you not then? Am I not better than this one (Moses), and who
is Mahin (has no honor nor any respect, and is weak, and despicable) and can
scarcely express himself clearly? Why then are not golden bracelets bestowed on
him, or angels sent along with him?"
Thus he (Pharaoh) befooled and misled his
people, and they obeyed him. Verily, they were Fasiqeen (rebellious,
disobedient to Allah). So When they angered Us, We punished them, and drowned
them all. And We made them a precedent (as a lesson for those coming after
them), and an example to later generations. (Ch 43:46-56 Quran).
Pharaoh
and his Army Perish - Moses Allowed to Leave Egypt
It appeared that Pharaoh would never believe in
Moses' s message, nor would he stop the torture of the children of Israel.
Therefore, Moses prayed to his Lord thus:
"Our Lord! You have indeed bestowed on
Pharaoh and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of this world, our Lord!
That they may lead men astray from Your Path. Our Lord! Destroy their wealth,
and harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the
painful torment." Allah said: "Verily, the invocation of you both is
accepted. So you both keep to the Straight Way (keep on doing good deeds, and
preaching Allah's Message with patience), and follow not the path of those who
know not (the truth, to believe in the Oneness of Allah, and also to believe in
the Reward of Allah: Paradise etc.)." (Ch 10:88-89 Quran)
Allah inspired Moses to conduct his people of
Egypt, but only a few of his people believed in his message. Allah revealed:
"But none believed in Moses except the offspring of his people, because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs lest they should persecute them; and verily, Pharaoh was an arrogant tyrant on the earth, he was indeed one of the Musrifeen (polytheists, sinners, and transgressors, those who give up the truth and follow the evil, and commit all kinds of great sins). And Moses said: "O my people! If you have believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims (those who submit to Allah's Will)." They said: "In
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[next] Allah we put our trust. Our
Lord! Make us not a trial for the folk who are zalimeen (polytheists, and
wrong-doing) (do not make them overpower us). And save us by Your Mercy from
the disbelieving folk." (Ch 10:83-86 Quran).
Almighty Allah decided to put an end to
Pharaoh's crimes after He had given him several chances. Allah commanded Moses
to depart, and the children of Israel received reluctant permission from the
Pharaoh to go out of the city for the feast. They prepared themselves to leave
Egypt. This later became known as Exodus. They carried with them their jewels
and borrowed a lot of jewels from the Egyptians.
The
Pharaoh Learns of the Believer's Escape
In the darkness of night, Moses led his people
towards the Red Sea, and in the morning they reached the beach. By then Pharaoh
was aware of their departure, so he mobilized a huge army to pursue them.
The
Parting of the Red Sea
The impatient children of Israel soon became
agitated and Joshua (Yusha), Ibn Nun, exclaimed:
"In front of us is this impassable barrier,
the sea, and behind us the enemy; surely death cannot be avoided!"
Moses replied that he would wait for further
guidance from Allah. These words filled them with some hope, but man is always
impatient for results: they were willing to surrender themselves back into
slavery. At that moment Allah revealed to Moses: "Smite the sea with your
staff!" Moses did as he was commanded. A fierce wind blew, the sun shone
brightly, and in a flash the sea parted, the crests of the waves standing like
mountains on each side. Moses led his people across. This miracle proved
Moses's oft-repeated claim. "Verily! My Lord is with me!" As they
looked back, they saw Pharaoh and his army approaching, about to take the very
path which had been opened for them. In great fear and panic, they pleaded with
Moses to ask Allah to close the sea. However, Allah commanded Moses not to
smite the sea with his staff again, for Allah's decree was already in action.
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[next]
The Death
of the Pharaoh
Pharaoh and his army had seen the miracle, how the sea had parted, but being the pretender that he was, Pharaoh turned to his men and proclaimed: "Look! The sea has opened at my command so that I may follow those rebels and arrest them!" They rushed across the parted waters, and when they were midway, Allah commanded the sea to return to its former state. Terror-stricken Pharaoh, realizing his end had come, declared out of fear: "I believe that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah in Whom the children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender to Him." But Allah did not accept this declaration from the tyrant, and the waters closed over him, drowning him and his entire army.
Almighty Allah narrated:
"And We inspired Moses, saying: "Take
away My slaves by night, verily, you will be pursued." Then Pharaoh sent
callers to all the cities. Saying: "Verily! These indeed are but a small
band. And verily, they have done what has enraged us; but we are host all
assembled, amply fore-warned." So, We expelled them from gardens and
springs, treasures, and every kind of honorable place. Thus (We turned them
Pharaoh's people) out, and We caused the children of Israel to inherit them. So
they pursued them at sunrise. And when the two hosts saw each other, the people
of Moses said: "We are sure to be overtaken." Moses said: "Nay,
verily! With me is my Lord, He will guide me." Then We inspired Moses
saying: "Strike the sea with your stick." And it parted, and each
separate (part of that sea water) became like the huge, firm mass of a
mountain. Then We brought near the others (Pharaoh's party) to that place. And
We saved Moses and all those with him. Then We drowned the others. Verily! In
this is indeed a sign (or a proof), yet most of them are not believers. And
verily, your Lord! He is truly the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful." (Ch
26:52-68 Quran)
Moses'
People Escape and Pharaoh's Death - Quranic
In another surah Almighty Allah narrated:
"And We took the children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts followed them in oppression and enmity, till when drowning overtook him, he sai: "I believe that La ilaha illa huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but) He, in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims (those who submit to Allah's Will)." Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the mufsideen (evildoers, corrupts, etc.). So this day We shall deliver your dead body out from the sea that you maybe a sign to those who come after you! And verily, many among mankind
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[next] are heedless or our Ayah (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). (Ch 10:90-92 Quran) The
curtain fell on Pharaoh's tyranny, and the waves threw his corpse up to the
western seashore. The Egyptians saw him and knew that their god whom they
worshipped and obeyed were mere slaves who could not keep death away from their
own necks.
The
Moses' People Desire an Idol
In spite of Pharaoh's death, he left a bad
influence on the souls of the children of Israel. It was difficult for the
years of oppression and intense humilty to pass easily. He had made them
accustomed to humbling themselves and submitting to someone other than Allah.
he had so suppressed their souls and spoiled their nature that they began to
torture Moses out of ignorance and obstinacy.
The miracle of the parting of the sea was still
fresh in their minds, damp sea sands were still stuck on their soles, when they
passed by a people worshipping idols. Instead of manifesting their indignation
at the idolaters' oppression of the intellect by celebrating the praises of
Allah for His guidance, they looked to Moses for him to specify a god for them
to worship as those other people did. They were jealous of the other people and
their idols, and they desired the same. They missed the ancient idolatry which
they had lived with during the reign of Pharaoh.
Moses'
People Desire an Idol - Quranic
Allah the Exalted revealed:
"And We brought the Children of Israel
(with safety) across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to some of
their idols (in worship). They said: "O Mûsa (Moses)! Make for us an
ilâhan (a god) as they have âliha (gods)." He said: "Verily, you are
a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allâh and what is
obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allâh Alone, the One and the Only
God of all that exists)." [Mûsa (Moses) added:] "Verily, these people
will be destroyed for that which they are engaged in (idols-worship). And all
that they are doing is in vain." He said: "Shall I seek for you an
Ilâhan (a God) other than Allâh, while He has given you superiority over the
'Alamîn (mankind and jinns of your time)." And (remember) when We rescued
you from Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people, who were afflicting you with the worst
torment, killing your sons and letting your women live. And in that was a great
trial from your Lord." (Ch. 7: 138-141)
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[next] The Favours
of Allah on Moses' People
The children of Israel were favoured with
Allah's grace and bounty. They were saved from oppression and had witnessed the
drowning of their cruel ruler Pharaoh. When they needed water in the dry land,
Allah commanded Moses to strike a rock, which parted and sent forth twelve
springs of water for the twelve different tribes so that they need not dispute
over a shortage of water. Allah also kept the skies cloudy to protect them from
the scorching sun. To relieve their hunger, manna (the dried exudate of certain
plants) and quail were provided for them.
In spite of Allah's generousity, the mean
spirited ones began to stir Moses' people to object that they were disgusted
with this food; they desires onions, garlic, beans, and lentils, which were
traditional Egyptian foods. That is why the children of Israel asked Prophet
Moses to pray to Allah to make the earth produce these foods. Moses again
admonished them for oppressing themselves and for their desire to return to a
life of humiliation in Egypt. He also pointed out that they were ungrateful for
the bet and most abundant food. They wanted the worst instead of the best.
Allah's
Favours on Moses' People - Quranic
Allah the Exalted said:
" Remember when Moses asked for water for
his people, We said: "Strike the stone with your stick." Then gushed
forth therefrom twelve springs. Each group of people knew its own place for
water. "Eat and drink of what which Allah had provided and do not act
corruptly, making mischief on the earth." And remember when you said:
"O Moses! We cannot endure one kind of food. So invoke your Lord for us to
b ring forth for us of what the earth grows, its herbs, its cucumbers, its Fum
(wheat, or garlic), its lentils and its onions." He said: "Would you
exchange that which is better for that which is lower? Go you down to any town
and you shall find what you want!" (Ch 2:60-61 Quran).
The
Cowardice of Moses' People
Allah had also directed Moses to lea them to the Promised Land (Palestine) which had been promised to Abraham as a land in which the pious and Allah-fearing of his offspring would live and uphold Allah's law. The children of Israel were an ungrateful people. In spite of all of Allah's favors, they could not stay away from evil and continued to reject Allah's Laws. When Moses ordered them to conquer the town of the Canaanites
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[next] the
Hittites (their enemies who had hounded them), the children of Israel were
cowardly and made excuses: "O Moses, a great people dwell therein, We will
not go in unless they leave." Ancient books tell that they were six
hundred thousand men. Moses did not find among them but two men who were ready
to fight. These two said to the people: "Once we enter through the door,
Allah will make us victorious." However, all the children of Israel were
an incarnation of cowardice and quivered from within.
Allah
Keeps Moses' People Wandering
Moses knew that his people were fit for nothing.
Pharaoh was dead, but his effect upon their souls still remained. Their
recovery needed a long period of time. Moses returned to his Lord, telling Him
that he was responsible only for the actions of himself and his brother. He
prayed to his Lord to judge between his people and himself. Allah the Exalted
issued His judgment against this generation whose nature was corrupted by the
Egyptians: they must wander restlessly in the wilderness until this generation
had died or become senile and had created another generation, a generation
which had not been defeated from within and which could fight and score
victory.
The
Cowardice of Moses' People - Quranic
Almighty Allah revealed:
" And remember when Moses said to his
people: "O my people! Remember the Favor of Allah to you, when He made
Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not give to any
other among the Alamin (mankind and jinn), in the past. O my people! Enter the
holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you and turn not back in
flight for then you will be returned as losers."
They said: "O Moses! In it (this holy land)
are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it;
when they leave, then we will enter." Two men of those who feared Allah
and in whom Allah had His Grace said: "Assault them through the gate, for
when you are in, victory will be yours, and put your trust in Allah if you are
believers indeed." They said: "O Moses! We shall never enter it as
long as they are there. So go you, and your Lord and fight you two, we are
sitting right here." (Ch. 5: 20-24)
Moses'
People are Kept Wandering - Quranic
He (Moses) said: "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the Fasiqeen (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)!"
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[next] Allah said:
"Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in
distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the
people who are the Fasiqeen (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)." (Ch
5:20-26 Quran)
Moses
Fasts for Forty Days
The days of restless wandering began. Each day
ended where it began and began where it ended. They started walking to no
destination, day and night, morning and evening. They entered Sinai. Moses came
to the same place where he had spoke to Allah for the first time. He appealed
to Allah for guidance in judging over his people. Allah instructed him to
purify himself by fasting for thirty days, after which he was to go to Mount
Sinai, where he would be given the law by which he would govern his people. The
ancients said that after Moses fasted thirty days, he hated to speak to his
Lord because of the odor of his mouth. He ate a plant of the earth and then his
Lord said to him: "Why did you break your fast?" Moses said: "O
my Lord, I disliked to speak to You with my mouth not having a pleasant
smell." Allah said: "Do you not know, Moses, the odor of the faster's
mouth is more fragrant to Me than the rose. Go back and fast ten days; then
come back to Me." Moses did what Allah commanded.
Moses
Speaks to Allah - Quranic
Almighty Allah declared:
" And We appointed for Moses thirty nights
and added to the period ten more, and he completed them term, appointed by his
Lord, of forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron: "Replace me
among my people, act in the Right Way (by ordering the people to obey Allah and
to worship Him Alone) and follow not the way of the Mufsideen (mischief
makers)." And when Moses came the time and place appointed by Us, and his
Lord spoke to him, he said: "O my Lord! Show me (yourself), that I may
look upon You."
Allah said: "You cannot see Me, but look
upon the mountain if it stands still in its place then you shall see Me."
So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust, and
Moses fell down unconscious. Then when he recovered his senses he said:
"Glory be to You, I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the
believers."
Allah said: "O Moses, I have chosen you
above men by My Messages, and by My speaking to you. So hold that which I have
given you and be of the grateful."
144
[next] And We wrote for him on the Tablets
the lesson to be drawn from all things and the explanation of all things (and
said): "hold unto these with firmness, and enjoin your people to take the
better therein, I shall show you the home of Al Fasiqeen (the rebellious,
disobedient to Allah). I shall turn away from My Ayat (verses from the Quran),
those who behave arrogantly on the earth, in a wrongful manner, and even if
they see all the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations,
etc.) they will not believe in them. And if they see the way of righteousness
(monotheism, piety, and good deeds), they will not adopt it as the Way, but if
they see the way of error (polytheism, crimes, and evil deeds), they will adopt
that way, that is because they have rejected Our Ayat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and were heedless to learn a lesson
from them. Those who deny Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, etc.) and the Meeting in the Hereafter (Day of Resurrection), vain
are their deeds. Do they expect to be rewarded with anything except what they
used to do?" (Ch 7:142-147 Quran)
The Ten
Commandments
The Earlier scholars said that The Ten
Commandments of the Torah are included in two verses of the Quran.
"Say: "Come, I will recite what your
Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good
and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty- We
provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to shameful sins
(illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly; and
kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to
Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand. And come not near
to the orphan's property, except to improve it, until he or she attains the age
of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden
not any person but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word
(judge between men or give evidences, etc.) , say the truth even if a near
relative is concerned, and fulfill the Covenant of Allah. This He commands you,
that you may remember." (Ch 6:151-152 Quran).
The Story
of Golden Calf - Moses' People Turn to Idolatry
Moses (pbuh) had been gone for forty days and his people were becoming restless, for they did not know that Allah had extended his time by a further ten days. Samiri, a man
145
[next] who was
inclined towards evil, suggested that they find themselves another guide, as
Moses had broken his promise. He said to them: "In order to find true
guidance, you need a god, and I shall provide one for you." So he
collected all their gold jewelry, dug a hole in which he placed the lot, and
lit a huge fire to
melt it down. During the casting, he threw a
handful of dust, making actions like a magician's to impress the ignorant. From
the molten metal he fashioned a golden calf. It was hollow, and the wind
passing through it produced a sound. Since superstition was imbedded in their
past, they quickly linked the strange sound to something supernatural, as if it
were a living god. Some of them accept the golden calf as their god.
Aaron
Tries to Reason with the Idolaters
Moses's brother Aaron (pbuh), who acted as their
leader in Moses' s absence, was grieved and spoke up: "O my people! You
have been deceived. Your Lord is the Most Beneficent. Follow and obey me."
They replied: "We shall stop worshipping this god only if Moses
returns." Those who had remained steadfast in belief separated themselves
from the pagans.
Moses
Sees the Idolaters
On his return Moses saw his people singing and
dancing around the calf statue. Furious at their paganistic ritual, he flung
down the Tablet of the Law he was carrying for them. He tugged Aaron's beard
and his hair, crying: "What held you back when you saw them going astray?
Whey did you not fight this corruption?" Aaron replied: "O son of my
mother, let go of my beard! The fold considered me weak and were about to kill
me. So make not the enemies rejoice over me, nor put me among the people who
are wrong-doers." Moses' s anger began to subside when he understood
Aaron's helplessness, and he began to handle the situation calmly and wisely.
Almighty Allah narrated:
"They said: "We broke not the promise to you, of our own will, but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the Pharaoh's people, then we cast them into the fire, and that was what As-Samiri suggested." Then he took out of the fire, for them a statue of a calf which seemed to low. They said: "This is your ilah (god), and the ilah (god) of Moses, but Moses has forgotten (his god)." Did they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do
146
[next] them good? And Aaron indeed had said to
them beforehand: "O my people! You are being tried in this, and verily,
your Lord is Allah the Most Beneficent, so follow me and obey my order."
They said: "We will not stop worshipping it (the calf) until Moses returns
to us." (Ch 20:87-91 Quran)
The
Conversation Between Allah and Moses - Quranic
Allah the Exalted revealed some of the dialogue
that took place between Him and Moses on Mount Sinai:
"And what made you hasten from your people,
O Moses?" He said: "They are close on my footsteps, and I hastened to
You, O my Lord! That you might be pleased." Allah said: "Verily! We
have tried your people in your absence, and As-Samiri has led them
astray." Then Moses returned to his people in a state of anger and sorrow.
He said: "O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a fair promise? Did
then the promise seem to you long in coming? Or did you desire the Wrath should
descend from your Lord on you, so you broke your promise to me (disbelieving in
Allah and worshipping the calf)?" (Ch 20: 83-86 Quran)
Moses
Sees the Idolators - Quranic
Allah the Exalted revealed what happened further
on Moses's return:
"Moses said: "O Aaron! What stopped
you when you saw them going astray, that you followed me not (according to my
advice to you)? Have you then disobeyed my order?" He (Aaron) said;
"O my son of my mother! Seize me not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily,
I feared lest you should say: 'You have caused a division among the children of
Israel, and you have not respected my word!'" (Moses) said: "And what
is the matter with you, O Samiri? (why did you do so?)" Samiri said:
"I saw what you saw not, so I took a handful of dust from the hoof print
of the Messenger (Gabriel's horse) and threw it (into the fire in which were
put the ornaments of the Pharaoh's people, or into the calf). Thus my
inner-self suggested to me." Moses said: "Then go away! And verily,
your punishment in this life will be that you will say: 'Touch me not' (you
will live alone exiled away from mankind); and verily (for a future torment),
you have a promise that will not fail. And look at your ilah (god), to which
you have been devoted. We will certainly burn it, and scatter its particles in
the sea." (Ch 20:83-98 Quran)
The
Idolaters' Punishment
147
[next] However, the punishment which was
imposed upon the calf worshippers was severe, death.
“Remember when Moses said to his people: "O
my people! Verily, you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf. So turn
in repentance to your Creator and kill yourselves (the innocent kill the wrong
doers among you), that will be better for you in the Sight of your
Creator." Then He accepted your repentance. Truly, He is the One Who
accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. (Ch 2:54 Quran)
Therefore, the crime of worshipping the calf did
not pass unpunished. Moses commanded the elite of the children of Israel to
pray to Allah for forgiveness and demonstrate their repentanc. He chose seventy
en out of them and ordered them: "Rush towards Allah and repent for what
you did and ask His forgiveness for what you left."
Moses'
People Demand to See Allah
Moses returned to Mount Sinai with the seventy
elders and there he communicated with Allah. The elders heard Moses speaking
with his Lord. (Allah spoke to Moses directly.) This was, perhaps, the last
miracle that they would see, and it was hoped that it would be sufficient
enough to convey the religion to their hearts forever. However, the seventy
elite who heard the miracles were dissatisfied. They said to Moses:
"O Moses! We shall never believe in you
till we see Allah plainly." (Ch 2:35 Quran)
This was a tragedy that amazes one. It was a
tragedy that indicated those who were hard-hearted and who continued to hold
onto sensual and material concerns. Their stubborn demand was rewarded with
punishing lightning bolts and a violent quaking that stupefied their souls and
bodies at once, leaving them dead.
Moses
Prays for His People
Moses knew what had happened to the seventy
elite and was filled with sorrow. He prayed to his Lord, entreating Him to
forgive them, for they were fools. Foolishness is only expiated by death. Allah
forgave the elders and revived them after their death. Allah the Exalted
declared:
"Moses chose out of his people seventy of the best men for Our appointed time and place of meeting, and when they were seized with a violent earthquake, he said: "O my Lord, if it had been Your Will, You could have destroyed them and me before; would You
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[next] destroy
us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? It is only Your Trial by which
You lead astray whom You will, and keep guided whom You will. You are our Wali
(Protector), so forgive us and have Mercy on us, for You are the Best of Those
who forgive. And ordain for us good in this world, and in the Hereafter.
Certainly we have turned unto You."
He said (as to ) My Punishment I afflict
therewith whom I will and My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall
ordain for those who are the Muttaqun and give Zakat; and those who believe in
our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.); Those
who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (Muhammad)
whom they find written with them in the Torah and the Gospel, (Ch 7:155-157
Quran , Deut. 18:18; Psl. 118:22-23; Isa 42:1-13; Hab, 3:3-4, Matt 21:42-43, Jn
14:16-17, 26-28, 16:7-14) he commands them for Al Ma'ruf (Islamic Monotheism
and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from Al Munkar (disbelief,
polytheism, of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as
lawful At Tayyibat (all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds beliefs,
persons, food, etc. and prohibits them as unlawful Al Khabaith (all evil and
unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, food, etc.), he releases
them from their heavy burdens (of Allah's Covenant), and from the fetters
(bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad), honor
him, help him, and follow the light (the Quran) which has been sent down with
him, it is they who will be successful. (Ch 7:155-157 Quran)
The Story
of Israelites and the Cow - The Pious Man and His Son
Moses (pbuh) stayed among his people calling
them to Allah. It seems their souls were uneasy in a way that the observant eye
could not mistake. Their obstinacy and chattering about what has become known
as "The Story of the Cow" was unwarranted. This topic did not need so
many negotiations between Moses and the people, nor did it need all their bias.
It was said that among the children of Israel
there lived a pious man. He was poor but very careful about how he earned the
living; it had to be honestly earned. Everything that he did was done for the
sake of Allah, never for selfish gain. On his deathbed his last words were:
"O Allah, I place my wife, my little son, and my only possession, a calf,
in Your care." Strangely, he asked his wife to lead the calf to the forest
and leave it there. He did this because he did not trust the children of
Israel, for they were a selfish and greedy folk.
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[next] After a few years when the boy had
grown up, his mother told him: "Your father has left you a calf in the
trust of Allah. It must have grown into a cow by now." The son was
surprised. He did not know of any calf all these years and asked his mother
where it was. She replied: "Be like your father and say: 'I trust in
Allah,' then go look for it."
With a rope in his hand, he went to the forest
and prostrated himself before Allah: "O Allah, Lord of Abraham and Jacob
and Job, return to me my father's trust. " As he raised his head, he saw a
cow coming towards him. It stopped submissively beside him. He tied the rope
around its neck and led it to his house. The cow would not allow anyone else
come near it except the young man. The youth was as pious as his father. He
earned his living by cutting wood. Whatever he earned he divided into three
equal portions; one he gave to his mother, one he used for his needs, and the
last he gave as charity. His nights, too, were divided into three parts; during
the early part of the night he helped his mother, the middle part he devoted to
the worship of Allah, and during the last part he rested.
The
People Ask Questions About a Cow
About this a wealthy man died, leaving behind an
only son, who inherited his father's wealth. His cousins envied his good
fortune, and secretly killed him so that they could inherit it. The dead boy's
other relatives came to the Prophet Moses (pbuh) and asked his help in tracing
the boy's murderer. Moses instructed them to slaughter a cow, remove its tongue
and place it on the corpse. This would reveal the murderer, he told them. They
accused Moses of joking. He replied: "Allah forbid that I be
foolish!" They questioned him about the type of cow they should slaughter,
and he said: "This cow is neither young nor mature, but in between the two
conditions, so do as you have been commanded." Instead of following his
direction, they asked him more questions. "What color must it be?" He
replied: "Verily, it is yellow in color." They still were not
satisfied with his answer and asked for more details. Moses replied: "It
is an unyoked cow; it does not plow the soil nor water the tilth, and is
entirely without marks."
Moses'
People Find the Right Cow
They went out in search of such a cow. The only
one that matched the description was the one owned by the orphaned youth. They
met him on the way and asked the price for which he would sell his cow. He told
them he would have to consult his mother first, so they accompanied him to his
house and offered her three gold coins. She refused their offer, saying that
the cow was worth much more.
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[next] They were on increasing their offer
and the mother kept on refusing. Finally the urged the son to speak to his
mother to be reasonable. He told them: "I will not sell the cow without my
mother's approval, even if you offered me its skin filled with gold!" On
hearing this, his mother smiled and said: "Let that be the price: its skin
filled with gold." They realized that no other cow would do; they had to
have it at any price. They agreed to buy the cow and paid with its skin filled
with gold.
The
People are Asked to Slaugter a Cow - Quranic
Allah the Almighty narrated:
"And remember when Moses said to his
people: "Verily, Allah commands you that you slaughter a cow." They
said: "Do you make fun of us?" He said: "I take Allah's Refuge
from being among Al Jahileen (the ignorants or the foolish)." They said:
"Call upon your Lord for us that He may make plain to us what it is!"
He said: "He says, 'Verily, it is a cow neither too old nor too young, but
it is between the two conditions, so do what you are commanded." They
said; "Call upon your Lord for us to make plain to us its color." He
said: "He says, 'It is a yellow cow bright in its color, pleasing to the
beholders.'" They said: "Call upon your Lord for us to make plain to
us what it is. Verily to us all cows are alike, and surely, if Allah wills, we
will be guided." He (Moses) said: "He says, 'It is a cow neither
trained to till the soil nor water the fields, sound, having no other color
except bright yellow.'" They said: "Now you have brought the
truth." So they slaughtered it though they were near to not doing it. And
remember when you killed a man and fell into dispute among yourselves to the
crime. But Allah brought forth that which you were hiding. So We said:
"Strike him (the dead man) with a piece of it (the cow)." Thus Allah
brings the dead to life and shows you His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) so that you may understand. Then after that
your hearts were hardened and became as stone or even worse in hardness. And
indeed, there are stones out of which rivers gush forth, and indeed, there are
of them stones which fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of
what you do. (Ch 2:67-74 Quran).
The Story
of Moses and Al-Khidr - Moses Informed of a Wise Man
One day Moses (pbuh) delivered such an
impressive sermon that all who heard it was deeply moved. Someone in the
congregation asked: "O Messenger of Allah, is there another man on earth
more learned than you?" Moses replied: "No!", believing so, as
Allah had given him the power of miracles and honored him with the Torah.
151
[next] However, Allah revealed to Moses that
no man could know all there is to know, nor would one messenger alone be the
custodian of all knowledge. There would always be another who knew what others
did not. Moses asked Allah: "O Allah, where is this man? I would like to
meet him and learn from him." He also asked for a sign to this person's
identity. Allah instructed him to take a live fish in a water filled vessel.
When the fish disappeared, he would find the man he sought. Moses set out on
his journey, accompanied by a young man who carried the vessel with the fish. They
reached a place where two rivers met and decided to rest there. Instantly,
Moses fell asleep.
Moses
Finds Al-Khidr
While he was asleep, his companion saw the fish
wriggle out of the vessel into the river and swim away. However, he forgot to
relate the incident to Moses. When he awoke, they continued their journey until
they were exhausted and hungry. Moses asked for his morning meal. Only then did
his companion recall that the fish they had brought with them had gotten away.
Hearing this, Moses exclaimed: "This is exactly what we are seeking!"
They hurriedly retraced their steps to the place where the rivers met and where
the fish had jumped out. There they found a man, his face partly covered with a
hood. His bearing showed he was a saintly man. He was Al-Khidr, the guide.
Moses
Finds Al-Khidr - Quranic
Allah the Almighty narrated:
"And remember when Moses said to his boy
servant: "I will not give up (traveling) until I reach the junction of the
two seas or until I spend years and years in traveling." But when they
reached the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it took its
way through the sea as in a tunnel. So when they had passed further on (beyond
that fixed place), Moses said to his boy servant: "Bring us our morning
meal; truly, we have suffered much fatigue in this, our journey." He said:
"Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the dock? I indeed forgot the
fish, none but Satan made me forget to remember it. It took its course into the
sea in a strange way!" Moses said: "That is what we have been
seeking." So they went back retracing their footsteps. Then they found one
of Our slaves, unto whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught
knowledge from Us. (Ch. 18: 60-65)
Moses
Speaks to Al-Khidr
152
[next] Moses said to him (Khidr) "May I
follow you so that you teach me something of that knowledge (guidance, and true
path) which you have been taught by Allah?" He (Khidr) said: "Verily!
You will not be able to have patience with me! And how can you have patience
about a thing which you know not?"
Moses said; "If Allah will, you will find
me patience, and I will not disobey you in aught." He (Khidr) said:
"Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything till I myself mention
it to you."
So they both proceeded, till, when they were in
the ship, he (Khidr) scuttled it. Moses said: "Have you scuttled it in
order to drown its people? Verily, you have done Imra- a Munkar (evil, bad,
dreadful) thing." He (Khidr) said: "Did I not tell you, that you
would not be able to have patience with me?" Moses said: "Cal me not
to account for what I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my affair with
you."
Then they both proceeded, till they met a boy,
he (Khidr) killed him. Moses said: "Have you killed an innocent person who
had killed none? Verily, you have done Nukra a great Munkar (prohibited, evil
dreadful) thing!" Khidr said: "Did I not tell you that you can have
no patience with me?" Moses said: "If I ask you anything after this,
keep me not in your company, you have received an excuse from me."
Then they both proceeded, till, when they came
to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to
entertain them. Then they found therein a wall about to collapse and he (Khidr)
set it up straight. Moses said: "If you had wished, surely you could have
taken wages for it!"
Khidr said: "This is the parting between me
and you, I will tell you the interpretation of those things over which you were
unable to hold patience. "As for the ship, it belonged to poor people
working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was
a king after them, who seized every ship by force. "And as for the boy,
his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion
and disbelief. So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for
one better in righteousness and near to mercy.
"And as for the wall, it belonged to two
orphan boys in the town; and there was under it a treasure belonging to them;
and their father was a righteous man, and your Lord intended that they should
attain their age of full strength and take out their treasure as a mercy
from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation
of those (things) over which could not hold patience. (Ch 18:66-82 Quran)
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[next]
Moses
Seeks Al-Khidr - Hadith
The story of Moses and Al-Khidr is also told in
a hadith. Said Ibn Jubair said: "I said to Ibn' Abbas, Nauf Al Bukah
claims that Moses, the companion of Al Khidr, was not Moses (the Prophet) of
the children of Israel, but some other Moses.' Ibn Abbas said: 'Allah's enemy
(Nauf) has told a lie. Ubai Ibn Kab told us that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
"Once Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked who was the most
learned man amongst the people. He said: "I." Allah admonished him as
he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So, Allah said to him:
"Yes, at the junction of the two seas there is a slave of Mine who is more
learned than you." Moses said; "O my Lord! How can I meet him?"
Allah said: "Take a fish and put it in a large basket and you will find
him at the place where you will lose the fish." Moses took a fish and put
it in a basket and proceeded along with his servant boy, Joshua (Yusha Ibn
Nun), till they reached the rock where they laid their heads (lay down). Moses
slept, and the
fish, moving out of the basket, fell into the
sea. It took its way into the sea straight as in a tunnel. Allah stopped the
flow of water over the fish and it became like an arch (the Prophet pointed out
this arch with his hands). They traveled the rest of the night, and the next
day Moses said to his boy servant: "Give us our food, for indeed, we have
suffered much fatigue in this journey of ours." Moses did not feel tired
till he crossed that place which Allah had ordered him to seek after. His boy
said to him: "Do you know that when we were sitting near that rock, I
forgot the fish, and none but Satan caused me to forget to tell you about it,
and it took its course into the sea in an amazing way?" So there was a
path for the fish and that astonished them. Moses said: "That was what we
were seeking after." So both of them retraced their footsteps till they
reached the rock. There they saw a man lying covering with a garment.
Moses
Talks to Al-Khidr - Hadith
Moses greeted him, and he replied saying: "How do people greet each other in your land?" Moses said: "I am Moses." The man asked: "Moses of Bani Israel?" Moses said: "yes, I have come to you so that you may teach me from those things which Allah has taught you." He said: "O Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught me and which you do not know, wyou have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know." Moses asked: "May I follow you?" He
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[next] said:
"But you will not be able to remain patient with me, for how can you be
patient about things which you will not be able to understand?" Moses
said: "You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient, and I will not
disobey you in aught."
So both of them set out walking along the
seashore. A boat passed by them, and they asked the crew of the boat to take
them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khidr, so they took them on board without
fare. When they were on board the boat, a sparrow came and stood on the edge of
the boat and dipped its beak once or twice into the sea. Al Khidr said to
Moses: "O Moses! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased
Allah's knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the
sea with its beak." Then suddenly Al Khidr took an adz and pulled up a
plank, and Moses did not notice it till he had pulled up a plank with the adz.
Moses said to him: "What have you done? They took us on board charging us
nothing; yet you have intentionally made a hole in their boat as to drown its
passengers. Verily, you have done a dreadful thing." Al Khidr replied:
"Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with
me?" Moses replied: "Do not blame me for what I have forgotten, and
do not be hard upon me for my fault." So the first excuse of Moses was
that he had forgotten.
When they had left the sea, they passed by a boy
playing with other boys. Al Khidr took a hold of the boy's head and plucked it
with his fingertips as if he were plucking some fruit. Moses said to him:
"Have you killed an innocent person who has not killed any person? You
have really done a horrible thing." Al Khidr said: "Did I not tell
you that you could not remain patient with me?" Moses said: "If I ask
you about anything after this, don't accompany me. You have received an excuse
from me."
Then both of them went on till they came to some
people of a village, and they asked its inhabitants for food but they refused
to entertain them as guests. Then they saw therein a wall which was just going
to collapse and Al Khidr repaired it just by touching it with his hands.
(Sufyan, the sub-narrator, gestured with his hands, illustrating how Al Khidr
passed his hands over the wall upwards.) Moses said: "These are the people
whom we have called on, but they neither gave us food, nor entertained us as
guests, yet you have repaired their wall. If you had wished, you could have
taken wages for it." Al Khidr said: "This is the parting between you
and me, and I shall tell you the explanation of those things on which you could
not remain patient." The Prophet (pbuh) added: "We wish that Moses
could have remained patient by virtue of which Allah might have told us more
about their story." (Sufyan, the sub-narrator, said that the Prophet
(pbuh) said: "May Allah bestow His Mercy on Moses! If he had remained
patient, we would have been told further about their case."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
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[next]
The Death
of Moses - Moses' Suffering
Moses (pbuh) suffered terribly from his people
and endured much for the sake of Allah.
Abdullah Ibn Umar narrated: "Once the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) distributed something (among his companions). A man
said: "This distribution has not been done (with justice) seeking Allah's
Countenance.' I went to the Prophet (pbuh) and told him of that. He became so
angry that I saw the signs of anger on his face. Then he said: 'May Allah
bestow His Mercy on Moses, for he was harmed more (in a worse manner) than
this; yet he endured patiently.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari) The children of
Israel mistreated Moses (pbuh) a lot. His agony was not limited to mutiny,
stupidity, chattering, ignorance, and idolatry; it exceeded this and went as
far as inflicting personal harm on him. Almighty Allah commanded:
"O you who believe! Be not like those who
annoyed Moses, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was
honorable in Allah's sight! (Ch 33:69 Quran).
Allah
Clears Moses of False Rumors
Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger Muhammad
(pbuh) said: "Prophet Moses was a shy person and used to cover his body
completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt
him by saying: 'He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in
his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.'
Allah wished to clear Moses of what they said
about him, so one day while Moses was in seclusion, he took his clothes and put
them on a s tone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he
moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes
and fled. Moses picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying: 'O stone!
Give me my garment!' till he reached a group of children of Israel who saw him
naked then, and found him in the best shape of what Allah had created, and
Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of. The stone stopped there, and
Moses took and put on his garment and started hitting the stone with his stick.
By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four, or five
marks. This was what Allah the Almighty refers to in His saying:
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[next] “O you who believe! Be not like those
who annoyed Moses, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was
honorable in Allah's sight!" (Ch 33:69 Quran) (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
The Death
of Aaron
Aaron (pbuh) died shortly before Moses (pbuh).
His people were still wandering in the wilderness when he died.
The Death
of Moses
Abu Hurairah narrated: "The Angel of Death
was sent to Moses (pbuh). When he came to Moses, Moses slapped him on the eye.
The Angel returned to his Lord and said: 'You have sent me to a slave who does
not want to die.' Allah said: 'Return to him and tell him to put his hand on
the back of an ox and for every hair that will come under it, he will be
granted one year of life.' Moses said: 'O Lord! What will happen after that?'
Allah replied: 'then death.' Moses said: 'Let it come now!' Moses then
requested Allah to let him die close to the Holy Land so that he would be at a
distance of a stone's throw from it." Abu Hurairah added: "Allah's
Messenger (pbuh) said: 'If I were there, I would show you his grave below the
red sandhill on the side of the road.'" (Sahih Al Bukhari)
Moses (pbuh), Prophet of Allah and the one to
whom Allah spoke to directly, met his death with a contented soul and a
faithful heart that looked forward to righteousness and made haste to meet with
Him Who bore tidings of peace.
Allah
Resurrects the Dead
Almighty Allah said:
"Did you (O Muhammad) not think of those
who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allah said to
them, "Die." And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allah is full
of Bounty to mankind, but most men think not. (Ch 2:243 Quran).
Mohammad Ibn Ishaaq stated of Wahb Ibn Munbah said that when Allah took Kalih Ibn Yofra (Jephtha) after Joshua, Ezekiel Ibn Buzi succeeded him as the prophet to the Israelites. The people had fled from Palestine for fear of the plague and settled on a plateau. Allah said to them: "Die you all," and they all perished. A few centuries passed,
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[next] and then Ezekiel, passing by, stopped over them, wondering. There came a
voice: "Do you want Allah to resurrect them while you watch?" He
said: "Yes." Then he was commanded to call those bones to join one to
the other and to be covered with flesh. So he called them by the power of
Allah, and the people arose and glorified Allah in the voice of one man.
Allah
Resurrects the Dead Through Ezekiel
According to Ibn Abbas, this place was called
"Damardan." Its people were inflicted with plague, so they fled,
while a group of them who remained in the village perished. The Angel of Death
called to the survivors: "Die you all," and they perished. After a
long time a prophet called Ezekiel passed by them and stood wondering over
them, twisting his jaws and fingers. Allah revealed to him: "Do you want
Me to show you how I bring them back to life? He said: "Yes." His
idea was to marvel at the power of Allah over them. A voice said to him:
"Call: 'O you bones, Allah commands you to gather up.'" The bones
began to fly one to the other until they became skeletons. Then Allah revealed
to him to say; "Call: 'O you bones, Allah commands you to put on flesh and
blood and the clothes in which they had died.'" And a voice said:
"Allah commands you to call the bodies to rise." And they rose. When
they returned to life they said: "Blessed are You, O Lord, and all praises
is Yours." Ibn 'Abbas reported that the dead who were resurrected were
four thousand, while Ibn Salih said they were nine thousand.
Hadith
About the Plagues
Regarding plague, Abu Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah
related that 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was on his way to Syria and had reached Sarg
when the leader of the Muslim army, Abu Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah, and his
companions met him and told him of a pestilence that had broken out in Syria.
'Umar remember the Prophet's (pbuh) saying: "If it (plague) be in a
country where you are staying, do not go out fleeing it, and if you hear it is
in a country, do not enter it." Umar praised Allah and then went off.
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq stated that we do not know
how long Ezekiel (pbuh) stayed among the Israelites before Allah took him away.
After him, the Israelites deviated from the right way of life, as they usually
did, and deserted Allah's covenant with them. They worshipped many idols, among
them Ba'al, so Allah sent to them the Prophet Elijah (pbuh).
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[next] Elisha's Mission
"And remember Our slaves, Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, (all) owners of strength (in worshipping Us) and (also) of religious
understanding. Verily, We did choose them by granting them (a good thing ) the
remembrance of the home (in the Hereafter and they used to make the people
remember it, and also they used to invite the people to obey Allah and to do
good deeds for the Hereafter). And they are in Our Sight, verily, of the chosen
and the best! And remember Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best.
(Ch 38:45-48 Quran).
Ibn Ishaaq said that Elisha (pbuh) was sent to
the children after Elijah (pbuh). He lived among his people, calling them to
Allah and abiding by the message and laws of Elijah until he passed away. Then
dissension rose among them, and events took momentum. Sins increased
everywhere, and the tyrants increased and killed the prophets.
The
Family History of Elisha
According to Al-Hafiz Abu Al-Qasim Ibn Asaker,
Elisha was Ibn Adi, Ibn Shultam, Ibn Aphraem, Ibn Joseph, Ibn Isaac, Ibn Abraham.
It was said that he was the cousin of Elijah. Other sources said also that he
had been hiding with Elijah in a cave in Mount Qasium to escape from the King
of Ba'alabak, and when Elijah died, he Elisha succeeded him as a prophet among
his people.
The State
of the Israelites After Joshua
Ibn Jarir reported that the condition of the
Israelites deteriorated. They committed many sins and killed whom they wished
of the prophets. Consequently Allah sent them tyrannous king who ill-treated
them and spilled their blood, and set their enemies from outside against them
as well. They used to go war, taking with them The Ark of the Covenant. They
did this so that they would be victorious by its blessings, and it became a
symbol of calm and a relic left behind by Moses's people. When they went to war
with the people of Gaza and Askalon, they were defeated because the Ark of the
Covenant was captured from them. When the king of the Israelites heard of this
he died on the spot. The children of Israel remained like sheep without a
shepherd until Almighty Allah sent them a prophet named Samuel (Shammil)
(pbuh). They asked him to appoint a king over them to lead in a war
against their enemies.
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[next]
The Ark
of the Covenant
According to Ibn 'Asaker, the Israelites
believed their Ark of the Covenant to be very holy and an important symbol of
their history. The carried the Ark even in battle and believed that, because of
it, Allah would protect them from their enemies. This belief gave them peace of
mind and great courage, and their enemies were terrified by it. Their enemies
also believed that it was given special power by Allah. Gradually the
Israelites started to ignore Allah's law; evil habits became part of their
lives. Allah sent upon them an enemy, the Philistines, who defeated the
Israelites, captured their Ark, drove them out of their homes, and took away
their children to use or sell as slaves. Their power was broken. They separated
from one another and were very disheartened.
Samuel
Comes to the Israelites
Then came Prophet Samuel (pbuh) among them to
bring some relief. They asked the prophet's help in appointing a strong leader,
a king under whose banner they could unite and fight the Philistines. Prophet
Samuel (pbuh), knowing their weakness, told them: "I fear that when the
time comes to fight you may refuse." But they assured him that they had
suffered enough insults and were now ready to fight in the way of Allah, even
if they lost their lives. Prophet Samuel prayed to Allah for guidance. Allah
revealed to him that He had chosen one, Saul (Talut), to be their king. The
prophet wanted to know how to recognize the future king. He was told that Saul
would come to him by himself and that they should then hand over the control of
kingdom to him, for he would lead them in battle against the Philistines.
Saul is
Appointed King
Saul was tall and sturdy, pious, and very intelligent. He lived and worked with his father on their farm. One day, several of their donkeys were lost. Accompanied by his servant, Saul went in search of them. They traveled for many days and were very tired. Saul said to his servant: "Let us rather go back, for I am sure that my father will be worried by now, and the other animals must also be cared for." His servant suggested that as they were already in the land of Samuel the prophet, they should go to him to inquire about the lost donkeys. Saul agreed, and they carried on. On their way, they asked directions from some maidens carrying water. They were told to go in the direction of the mountain. Here, a vast crowd was waiting for the Prophet Samuel. When Saul set eyes
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[next] on him,
he instantly recognized him as a prophet by his holy men. Samuel also
recognized Saul as the king that Allah had chosen for them. Saul greeted the
prophet respectfully. When he asked about his missing donkeys, Samuel told him
not to worry, his donkeys were already on their way to his fat's farm.
He then told Saul that Allah had chosen him as
the king of the children of Israel. His duty would be to take charge of their
affairs, to unite them under one banner, and to protect them from their
enemies. If he carried out Allah's commands, he would be given victory. Saul
was surprised by this sudden honor offered to him. It was also a heavy
responsibility. He protested to the prophet that he was a of the children of
Benjamin, the least famous of the tribes of Jacob; he did not know anything of
leadership or kingship and had no wealth. Samuel told him that it was the will
of Allah that he should be the king, that he should thank Allah for His favor
and be strong in faith.
Saul is
Appointed King - Quranic
Taking Saul by the hand, Samuel led him to the
children of Israel, but they insisted on a direct sign from Allah. Prophet
Samuel told them to go outside the city to see the sign, which they did.
Almighty Allah revealed:
"Have you not thought about the group of
children of Israel after (the time of ) Moses? When they said to a Prophet of
theirs: "Appoint for us a king and we will fight in Allah's Way." He
said: "Would you then refrain from fighting, if fighting was prescribed
for you?" They said: "Why should we not fight in Allah's Way while we
have been driven out of our homes and our children (families have been taken as
captives)?" But when fighting was ordered for them, they turned away, all
except a few of them. And Allah is All-Aware of the Zalimeen (polytheists, and
wrongdoers). And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: "Indeed Allah has
appointed Saul as a king over you." They said: "How can he be a king
over us when we are better fitted than him for the kingdom, and he has not been
given enough wealth." He said: "Verily, Allah has chosen him above
you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah grants
His Kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures'
needs, All-Knower."
And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them:
"Have you not thought about the group of the Children of Israel after (the time of) Mus (Moses)? When they said to a Prophet of theirs, "Appoint for us a king and we will fight inAllÂh's Way." He said, "Would you then refrain from fighting, if fighting was
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[next] prescribed foryou?" They said, "Why should we not fight
in AllÂh's Way while we have been driven out of our homes and our children
(families have been taken as captives)?" But when fighting was orderedfor
them, they turned away, all except a few of them. And AllÂh is All-Aware of the
ZÂlimÛn (polytheists and wrong-doers). And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them,
"Indeed AllÂh has appointed TalÛt (Saul) as a king over you." They
said, "How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than him for
thekingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth." He said:
"Verily, AllÂh has chosen himabove you and has increased him abundantly in
knowledge and stature. And AllÂh grants HisKingdom to whom He wills. And AllÂh
is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower." And their Prophet
(Samuel) said to them: Verily! The sign of His Kingdom is that there shallcome
to you At-TÂbÛt (a wooden box), wherein is Sakinah (peace and reassurance) from
yourLord and a remnant of that which Mus (Moses) and HÂrÛn (Aaron) left
behind, carried by the angels. Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are
indeed believers." (Ch. 2: 246-250)
Saul
Leads an Army - Quranic
Then when Saul set out with the army, he
said:"Verily! Allah will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he
is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes
thereof in the hollow of his hand." Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a
few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed
with him, they said: "We have no power on this day against Goliath and his
hosts." But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their
Lord, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah's
Leave?" And Allah is with the patient.
And when they advanced to meet Goliath and his
forces, they invoked:
"Then when TalÛt (Saul) set out with the
army, he said: "Verily! AllÂh will try you by a river. So whoever drinks
thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him
who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand." Yet, they drank thereof,
all, except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those
who believed with him, they said: "We have nopower this day against JalÛt
(Goliath) and his hosts." But those who knew with certainty thatthey were
to meet their Lord, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host
by AllÂh's Leave?" And AllÂh is with As-SÂbirin (the patient ones, etc.).
And when they advanced to meet Jalut (Goliath)
and his forces, they invoked: "Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and
make us victorious over the disbelieving people."
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[next] Saul Leads
an Army
Saul set about organizing his army with strong
faith and wisdom. He ordered that only men free from responsibilities should
join. Those engaged in building homes, men who were about to be
married and those occupied with business should
not join. After establishing a well-trained army, he decided to put them to the
test. He told them that along the route they would pass a river where they
should drink enough water to quench their thirst but not more than that. To his
disappointment, he discovered the majority of them drank more water than they
should have. He discharged them for disobedience and kept only the few who had
obeyed him, as they were the ones who proved their sincerity. This resulted in
a split in the army, but he was not bothered. He believed in quality and not
numbers; better a small band of true believers he could rely on than a huge
army of unreliable men.
Saul's
Army Sees the Enemy
Saul's men sighted the enemy on the other side
of the river. Their opponents appeared physically strong and were armed with
better weapons. They were led by the mighty warrior Goliath (Galut), known for
his huge build and brute strength. A great number of Saul's men ran away on
seeing this strong force. The small band that remained was willing to fight,
whatever the outcome, for they had heard that there had been many incidents in
the past in which Allah had caused a small force to defeat a larger one.
David
Challenges Goliath
When the two armies faced each other, Goliath
challenged any soldier from King Saul's army to single combat, as was the
custom of battle in those days. Goliath also wanted to show off his strength.
The men were terrorized, and no one had enough courage to volunteer. The king
offered the hand of his pretty daughter in marriage to the man who would fight
Goliath, but even this tempting offer did not change the deadly silence among
his soldiers.
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[next]
Then, to everyone's surprise, a youth stepped
forward. A roar of laughter echoed from the enemy's side, and even
Saul's men shook their heads. The young man was David (Dawud), from the city of
Bethlehem. His elderly father had chosen three of his sons to join Saul's army.
He had instructed the youngest one, David, not to take part in the fighting but
to help the army in other ways and to report to his father daily on what was
happening on the war front.
Although Saul was very impressed by the youth's
courage, he said: "I admire your courage, but you are no match for that
mighty warrior. Let the strong men come forward." David, however, had
already decided and was willing to meet the challenge. Proudly, he told the
king that only the day before he had killed a lion which had threatened his
father's sheep, and on another occasion he had killed a bear. He asked Saul not
to judge him by his appearance, for he feared no man or wild beast. Saul,
surprised by young David's brave stance, agreed: "My brave soldier, if you
are willing, then may Allah guard you and grant you strength!"
David and
Goliath Fight
The king dressed David in battle armor and
handed him a sword, but David was not used to wearing battle dress. He felt
uncomfortable in it, and it obstructed his movements. He removed the armor,
then collected a few pebbles and filled his leather pouch with them. He slung
it over his shoulder next to his sling. With his wooden staff in hand, he began
to walk towards the enemy. Saul was worried and asked him how on earth, with a
sling and a couple of stones was he going to defend himself against the giant?
David replied: "Allah Who protected me from the claws of the bear and the
fangs of the lion will certainly protect me from this brute!"
When Goliath set eyes on the lean young man who
looked like a boy, he laughed loudly and roared: "Are you out to play war
with one of your playmates, or are you tired of your life? I will simply cut
off your head with one swipe of my sword!" David shouted back: "You
may have armor, shield, and sword, but I face you in the name of Allah, the
Lord of the Israelites, Whose laws you have mocked. Today you will see that it
is not
the sword that kills but the will and power of Allah!" So saying, he took his sling and placed in it a pebble from his pouch. He swung and aimed it at Goliath. The pebble shot from the whirling sling with the speed of an arrow and hit Goliath's head with great force. Blood gushed out, and Goliath thumped to the ground, lifeless, before he had a chance to draw his sword. When the rest of his men saw their mighty hero slain, they took to their heels. The Israelites followed in hot pursuit, taking revenge for their years
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[next] of suffering at the hands of their enemy, killing every
soldier they could lay hands on. In this battle the Israelites regained the
glory and honor that had been lost for a long time.
David became a hero overnight. Saul kept his
word and married his daughter Michal (Miqel) to the young warrior and took him
under his wing as one of his chief advisors.
Allah
Gives David the Kingdom
Almighty Allah declared:
"So they routed them by Allah's Leave and
David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him (David) the kingdom (after the death
of Saul and Samuel) and wisdom, and taught him of that which He willed. And if
Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would
indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of Bounty to the Alamin (mankind,
jinns and all that exist). (Ch 2:251 Quran).
David
Becomes a Prophet
David became the most famous man among the
Israelites. However, he was not inveigled by this; he was not a prisoner of
fame or leadership but a prisoner of Allah's love. Therefore, after killing
Goliath he went out into the desert in the company of nature, glorifying
Almighty Allah and contemplating His favors.
"Verily, We made the mountains to glorify
Our Praises with him (David) in the Ashi (after the mid-day till sunset) and
Ishraq (after the sunrise till mid-day). And (so did) the birds assembled: all
with him (David) did turn (to Allah, glorified His Praises). We made his
kingdom strong and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision.
(Ch 38:18-20 Quran)
Creatures such as the plants, birds, beasts, and
even the mountains responded to his voice glorifying Allah. Allah had chosen
David to be a prophet and revealed the Psalms to him. As He the Almighty said:
"And to David We gave the Psalms." (Ch 17:55 Quran).
David is
Granted the Language of Animals
David recited his scripture and glorified Allah
while the mountains joined him praise and the birds rallied around him.
Almighty Allah directed:
Be patient (O Muhammad) of what they say, and remember Our slave David, endured with power. Verily, he was ever oft-returning in all matters and in repentance toward Allah. (Ch 38:17Quran).
[next]
David's sincerity was not the only factor
responsible for the birds and beasts joining with him in glorifying Allah, nor
was the sweetness of his voice. IT was a miracle from Allah. This was not his
only miracle, for Allah also endowed him with the faculty of understanding the
languages of birds and animals.
David's
Fasting and Praying
David (pbuh) fasted every other day. Abdullah
Ibn Amr Ibn Al-As narrated: Allah's Apostle (pbuh) said to me: "The most
beloved fasting to Allah was the fasting of the Prophet David, who used to fast
alternate days. And the most beloved prayer to Allah was the prayer of David,
who used to sleep the first half of the night, and pray for one third of it and
again sleep for a sixth of it.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al-As also narrated:
"The Prophet (pbuh) said to me: 'I have been informed that you pray all
the nights and observe fast all the days; is this true?' I replied: 'Yes.' He
said: 'If you do so, your eyes will be weak and you will get bored. So fast
three days a month, for this will be the fasting of a whole year. (Or equal to
the fasting of a whole year).' I said: 'I find myself able to fast more.' He
said: 'Then fast like the fasting of (the Prophet) David (pbuh) who used to
fast on alternate days and would not flee on facing the enemy.'" (Sahih
Al-Bukhari)
Iron
Becomes Flexible for David
Allah granted David great influence. His people
had a great number of wars in their time, but they had a problem in that the
iron armor was too heavy for the fighter to move and fight as he wished. It is
said that David was sitting one day, contemplating this problem while toying
with a piece of iron. Suddenly, he found his hand sinking in the iron. Almighty
Allah had made it flexible for him:
"And We made the iron soft for him."
(Ch 34:10 Quran)
Saul
Becomes Jealous of David
The people praised and loved David. However, the hearts of men are fickle and their memories short. Even great men can feel insecure and become petty-minded. One day David found Saul in a worried state. He sensed something strange in Saul's attitude
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[next] towards him. That
night, when he shared his feeling with his wife, she started to weep bitterly
and said: "O David, I will never keep any secrets from you." She told
him that her father had become jealous of his popularity and feared that he
would lose his kingdom to him. She advised him to be on his guard.
This information shocked David very much. He
prayed and hoped that Saul's good nature would overcome the darker side of his
character. The following day, Saul summoned David to inform him that Canaan had
gathered its forces and would march on the kingdom. He ordered David to advance
on them with the army and not to return unless victory was gained.
David sensed that this was an excuse to get rid
of him; either the enemy would kill him, or in the thick of battle, Saul's
henchmen might stab him in the back. Yet he hastened with his troops to meet
the army of Canaan. They fought the Canaanites brav, without thinking of their
own safety. Allah granted them victory, and David lived to return to Saul.
Saul
Plots to Kill David
Unfortunately, this only increased Saul's fear,
so he plotted to kill David. Such is jealousy that not even a daughter's
well-being mattered. Michal learned of her father's plan and hurried to warn
her husband. David gathered some food and things, mounted his camel and fled.
He found a cave in which he remained hidden for many days.
After a time, David's brothers and some citizens
joined forces with him. Saul's position became very weak, for he began to rule
with a heavy hand. He ill-treated the learned, tortured the reciters of the
Talmud, and terrorized his soldiers. This worsened his position, and his subjects
began to turn against him. He decided to go war against David. Hearing this
news, David marched to confront Saul's army.
David
Forgives Saul
The king's army had traveled a great distance and was overcome by fatigue, so they decided to rest in a valley, where they fell asleep. Quietly, David crept up to the sleeping Saul, removed his spear, and cut off a piece of his garment with the sword. David then awakened the king and told him: "Oh king, you come out seeking me, but I do not hate you, and I do not want to kill you. If I did, I would have killed you when you were asleep. Here is a piece of your garment. I could have hacked your neck instead, but I did not. My mission is that of love, not malice." The king realized his mistake and begged for forgiveness.
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[next]
David
Becomes King
Time passed and Saul was killed in a battle in
which David did not take part.
David succeeded Saul, for the people remembered
what he had done for them and elected him king. So it was that David the
Prophet was also a king.
Allah strengthened the dominion of David and
made him victorious. His kingdom was strong and great; his enemies feared him
without engaging in war with him.
David's
Son Solomon (PBUT)
David had a son named Solomon (Sulaiman), who
was intelligent and wise from childhood. When the following story took place,
Solomon was eleven years old. One day David, was sitting, as usual, solving the
problems of his people when two men, one of whom had a field, came to him. The
owner of the field said: "O dear Prophet! This man's sheep came to my
field at night and ate up the grapes and I have come to ask for
compensation." David asked the owner of the sheep: "Is this
true?" He said: "Yes, sir." David said: "I have decided
that you give him your sheep in exchange for the field." Solomon, to whom
Allah had given wisdom in addition to what he had inherited from his father,
spoke up: "I have another opinion. The owner of the sheep should take the
field to cultivate until the grapes grow, while the other man should take the
sheep and make use of their wool and milk until his field is repaired. If the
grapes grow, and the field returns to its former state, then the field owner
should take his field and give back the sheep to their owner."
David responded: "This is a sound judgment.
Praise be to Allah for gifting you with wisdom. You are truly Solomon the
Wise."
David as
a Ruler
Prophet David was a just and righteous ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his people, and whom Allah honored as a messenger. He delivered Allah's message to the people through the precious gift of his melodious voice. When he recited the Psalms (Zaboor), it was as if the rest of creation chanted with him; people listened as if in a trance. The messages David delivered are famous and well remembered. They are known in the Bible as the Psalms or Songs of David. David divided his working day into
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[next] four parts: one to earn a living and to rest, one to pray to his Lord,
one to listen to the complaints of his people, and the last part to deliver his
sermons. He also appointed deputies to listen to his subjects' complaints so
that in his absence people's problems might not be neglected. Although a king,
he did not live on the income of his kingdom. Being well-experienced in the
craft of weapon-making, he made and sold weapons and lived on that income.
Angels
Teach David About Fairness
One day, as David was praying in his prayer
niche, he ordered his guards not to allow anyone to interrupt him, but two men
managed to enter and disturb him. "Who are you?" he asked. One of the
men said: "Do not be frightened. We have a dispute and have come for your
judgment." David said: "What is it?" The first man said:
"This is my brother, has ninety nine sheep, and I have one. He gave it to
me but took it back." David, without hearing from the other party said:
"He did you wrong by taking the sheep back, and many partners oppress one
another, except for those who are believers."
The two men vanished like a cloud, and David
realized that they were two angels sent to him to teach him a lesson. He should
not have passed a judgment without hearing from the opposing party.
Almighty Allah told us of this incident:
“And has the news of the litigants reached you?
When they climbed over the wall into (his) Mihrab (a praying place or a private
room). When they entered in upon David, he was terrified of them, they said:
Fear not! (We are) two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other; therefore
judge between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, and guide us to
the Right Way."
"Verily, this is my brother (in religion)
has ninety nine ewes, while I have only one ewe, and he says: 'Hand it over to
me,' and he overpowered me in speech." David said immediately without
listening to the opponent: "He has wronged you in demanding your ewe in
addition to his ewes. And, verily, many partners oppress one another, except
those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and they are few."
And David guessed that We have tried him and he sought Forgiveness of his Lord, and he fell down prostrate and turned to Allah in repentance. So We forgave him that, and verily, for him is a near access to Us, and as good place of final return Paradise. O David!
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[next] Verily! We
have placed you as a successor on earth, so judge you between men in truth and
justice. And follow not your desire for it will mislead you from the Path of
Allah. Verily! Those who wander astray from the Path of Allah shall have a
severe torment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning. (Ch 38:21-26 Quran).
The Death
of Prophet David
David worshipped Allah, glorified Him and sang
His praise until he died. According to traditions, David died suddenly and was
mourned by four thousand priests as well as thousands of people.
It was so hot that people suffered from the
intensity of the sun. Solomon called the birds to protect David and the people
from the sun, and they did so until he was buried. This was the first sign of
his dominion to be witnessed by the people.
21.
Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon)
Solomon's
Knowledge
Solomon inherited David's prophethood and
dominion. This was not a material inheritance, as prophets do not bequeath
their property. It is given away to the poor and needy, not to their relatives.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The prophets' property will not be
inherited, and whatever we leave is to be used for charity." (Sahih
Al-Bukhari).
"And indeed We gave knowledge to David and
Solomon, and they both said: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who
has preferred us above many of His believing slaves!" And Solomon
inherited (the knowledge of) David. He said: "O mankind! We have been taught
the language of birds, and on us have been bestowed all things. This, verily,
is an evident grace (from Allah)." And there were gathered before Solomon
his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they were all set in battle order
(marching forwards). (Ch 27:15-17 Quran).
Solomon
Becomes King
After his father's death, Solomon became king. He begged Allah for a kingdom such as none after him would have, and Allah granted his wish. Besides wisdom, Allah had blessed Solomon with many abilities. He could command the winds and understand and
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[next] talk to
birds and animals. Allah directed him to teach both men and jinns to mine the
earth and extract its minerals to make tools and weapons. He also favored him
with a mine of copper, which was a rare metal in those days.
Solomon's
Admiration of Horses
During his time horses were the common mode of
transportation. They were very essential for defense, to carry soldiers and
cart provisions and weapons of war. The animals were well cared for and well
trained. One day Solomon was reviewing a parade of his stable. The fitness,
beauty and posture of the horses fascinated him so much that he kept on
stroking and admiring them. The sun was nearly setting, and the time for the
middle prayer was passing by. When he realized this, he exclaimed: "I
surely love the finer things of life than the service of my Lord! Return them
to me."
Allah's
Gifts to Solomon - Quranic
Almighty Allah revealed:
"And to David We gave Solomon. How
excellent a slave! Verily, he was ever oft returning in
repentance (to Us)! When there were displayed
before him, in the afternoon, well-trained horses of the highest breed (for
jihad in Allah's cause). And he said: "Alas! I did love the good (these
horses) instead of remembering my Lord (in my 'Asr prayer)" till the time
was over, and the sun had hidden in the veil of the night. Then he said:
"Bring them (horses) back to me." Then he began to pass his hand over
their legs and their necks (till the end of the display). And indeed We did try
Solomon and We placed on his throne Jasadan (a devil, so he lost his kingdom
for a while) but he did return (to his throne and kingdom by the Grace of Allah
and he did return) to Allah with obedience and in repentance. He said: "My
Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any
other after me. Verily, You are the Bestower." So, We subjected to him the
wind, it blew gently to his order whithersoever he willed, and also the devils
from the jinns including every kind of builder and diver, and also other bound
in fetters. (Saying of Allah to Solomon): "This is Our gift, so spend you
or withhold, no account will be asked." And verily, he enjoyed a near
access to Us, and a good final return Paradise. (Ch38:30-40 Quran).
Solomon Hears
the Ant's Warning
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[next] One day Solomon gathered his army,
which had different battalions of men, jinns, birds, and animals. He marched
them to the country of Askalon. While they were passing through a valley, an
ant saw the approaching army and cried out to warn the other ants: "Run to
your homes! Otherwise, unaware, Solomon and his army might crush you!"
Solomon, hearing the cry of the ant, smiled. He was glad that the ant knew him
to be a prophet who would not intentionally harm Allah's creation. He thanked
Allah for saving the ants' lives.
Solomon
Hears the Conversation of Ants - Quranic
Allah the Almighty narrated: And there were
gathered before Solomon his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they all
were set in battle order (marching forwards). Till, when they came to a valley
of the ants, one of the ants said: "O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest
Solomon and his hosts crush you, while they perceive not." So he (Solomon)
smiled, amused at her speech and said: "My Lord! Inspire and bestow upon
me the power and ability that I maybe grateful for Your Favors which You have
bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that
will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves."
(Ch 27:17-19 Quran).
Solomon's
Travels
In Jerusalem, on a huge rock, Solomon built a
beautiful temple to draw the people to worship Allah. Today this building is
known as "The Dome of the Rock." From there, a large band of
followers joined Solomon on pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque in Mecca. After they
had completed their hajj, they traveled to Yemen and arrived in the city of
San'a. Solomon was impressed by their clever method of channeling water all
over their cities. He was keen to build similar water systems in his own
country but did not have enough springs.
The
Hoopoe Brings Information to Solomon
He set out to find the hoopoe bird, which could detect water under the ground. He sent signals all over the hoopoe to call on him, but it was nowhere to be found. In anger, he declared that unless the bird had a good reason for its absence, he would punish it severely. The hoopoe eventually came to Solomon and explained the reason for its delay. "I have discovered something of which you are not aware. I have come from Sheba (Sab'a) with important news." Solomon became curious, and his anger subsided. The bird continued: "Sab'a is ruled by a queen named Bilkis (Bilqis), who has plenty of
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[next] everything, including a splendid throne. But in spite of
all this wealth, Satan has entered her heart and the hearts of her people. She
rules their minds completely. I was shocked to learn that they worship the sun
instead of Allah the Almighty." To check the hoopoe's information, Solomon
sent a letter to the queen with the bird. He instructed the bird to remain
hidden and to watch everything.
The Queen
of Sheba Sends Gifts
The hoopoe dropped the letter in front of the
queen and flew away to hide. She excitedly opened and read it:
"Verily! It is from Solomon, and verily! It
reads: 'In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, and Most Merciful; be you
not exalted against me, but come to me as Muslims (true believers who submit
with full submission).'" ( Ch 27:30-31 Quran).
The queen was very disturbed and hurriedly
summoned her advisors. They reacted as to a challenge, for they felt that there
was someone challenging them, hinting at war and defeat, and asking them to
submit to his conditions. They told her that they could only offer advice, but
it was her right to command action. She sensed that they wanted to meet
Solomon's invasion threat with a battle. However, she told them: "Peace
and friendship are better and wiser; war only brings humiliation, enslaves
people and destroys the good things. I have decided to send gifts to Solomon,
selected from our most precious treasure. The courtiers who will deliver the
gifts will also have an opportunity to learn about Solomon and his military
mighty."
Solomon's
Rejects the Queen's Gifts
Solomon's reconnaissance team brought him the
news of the arrival of Bilkis' messengers with a gift. He immediately realized
that the queen had sent her men on a probing mission thus, he gave orders to
rally the army. The envoys of Bilqis, entering amidst the well-equipped army,
realized that their wealth was nothing in comparison to that of the kingdom of
Solomon's palace floors, which were made of sandalwood and inlaid with gold.
They noticed Solomon surveying his army, and they were surprised at the number
and variety of soldiers, which included lions, tigers, and birds. The
messengers stood in amazement, realizing that they were in front of an irresistible
army.
The envoys marveled at the splendor surrounding them. They eagerly presented their queen's precious gifts and told Solomon that the queen wished that he would accept
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[next] them as an act of friendship.
They were shocked by his reaction: he did not even ask to open the covers of
the containers! He told them: "Allah hagiven me plenty of wealth, a large
kingdom, and prophethood. I am, therefore, beyond bribery. My only objective is
to spread the belief in Tawheed, the Oneness of Allah."
He also directed them to take back the gifts to
the queen and to tell her that if she did not stop her kind of worship he would
uproot her kingdom and drive its people out of the land.
The Queen
Decides to Visit Solomon
The queen's envoys returned with the gifts and
delivered the message. They also told her of the wonderful things they had
seen. Instead of taking offense, she decided to visit Solomon. Accompanied by
her royal officials and servants, she left Sheba, sending a messenger ahead to
inform Solomon that she was on her way to meet him.
Solomon asked the jinns in his employ whether
anyone among them could bring her throne to he palace before she arrived. One
of them said; "I will bring it to you before this sitting is over."
Solomon did not react to this offer; it appeared that he was waiting for a
faster means. The jinns competed with each other to please him. One of them
named Ifrit said: "I will fetch it for you in the twinkling of an
eye!"
No sooner had this one - who had the knowledge
of the Book - finished his phrase than the throne stood before Solomon. The
mission had, indeed, been completed in the blinking of an eye. Solomon's seat
was in Palestine, and the throne of Bilqis had been in Yemen, two thousand
miles away. This was a great miracle performed by one of those sitting with
Solomon.
The
Queen's Visit with Solomon
When Bilqis arrived at Solomon's palace, she was
welcomed with pomp and ceremony. Then, pointing to the altered throne, Solomon
asked her whether her throne looked like that one. She looked at it again and
again. In her mind she was convinced that her throne could not possibly be the
one she was looking at, as hers was in her palace; et, she detected a striking
similarity and replied: "It is as if it were the very one, and resembles
mine in every respect." Solomon judged that she was intelligent and
diplomatic.
He then invited her into the great hall, the floor of which was laid in glass and
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[next] shimmering. Thinking it was
water, as she stepped on the floor, she lifted her skirt slightly above her
heels, for fear of wetting it. Solomon pointed out to her that it was made of
solid glass. She was amazed. She had never seen such things before. Bilqis
realized that she was in the company of a very knowledgeable person who was not
only a ruler of a great kingdom but a messenger of Allah, as well. She
repented, gave up sun worship, accepted the faith of Allah, and asked her
people to do the same.
It was finished; Bilqis saw her people's creed
fall apart before Solomon. She realized that the sun which her people
worshipped was nothing but one of Allah's creatures.
The sun eclipsed within her for the first time,
and her heart was lit by a never fading light, the light of Islam.
Solomon
is Informed About the Queen of Sheba - Quranic
Almighty Allah told us this story in the Quran:
"He inspected the birds, and said:
"What is the matter that I see not a hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?
I will surely punish him with a severe torment, or slaughter him, unless he
brings me a clear reason." But the hoopoe stayed not long, he came up and
said: "I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not
grasped and I have come to you from Sheba with true news. I found a woman
ruling over them, and she has been given all things that could be possessed by
any ruler of the earth, and she has a great throne. I found her and her people
worshipping the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds fair
seeming to them, and has barred them from Allah's Way, so they have no
guidance."
Al-La (this word has two interpretations) [As
Satan has barred them from Allah's Way} so that they do not worship (prostrate
before) Allah, or so that they may worship (prostrate before) Allah, Who brings
light to what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you
conceal and what you reveal. Allah, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to
be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne! (Solomon) said: "We
shall see whether you speak the truth or you are one of the liars. Go with this
letter of mine, and deliver it to them, then draw back from them, and see what
answer they return."
She said: "O chiefs! Verily! Here is a delivered to me a noble letter. Verily! It is from Solomon and verily! It (reads): 'In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most
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[next] Merciful;
Be you not exalted against me, but come to me as Muslims (true believers who
submit to Allah with full submission)."
She said: "O chiefs! Advise me in this case
of mine. I decide no case till you are present with me." They said:
"We have great strength, and great ability for war, but it is for you to
command; so think over what you will command." She said: "Verily!
Kings, when they enter a town (country), they despoil it, and make the most honorable
amongst its people low. And thus they do. But verily! I am going to send him a
present, and see with what answer the messengers return."
So when (the messengers with the present) came
to Solomon, he said: "Will you help me in wealth? What Allah has given me
is better than that which He has given you! Nay, you rejoice in your
gift!" (Then Solomon said to the chief of her messengers who brought the
present): "Go back to them. We verily shall come to them with hosts that
they cannot resist, and we shall drive them out from there is disgrace, and
they will be abased."
He said: "O chiefs! Which of you can bring
me her throne before they come to me surrendering themselves in
obedience?" An Ifrit (strong) from the jinns said: "I will bring it
to you before you rise from your place (council). And verily, I am indeed
strong, and trustworthy for such work." One with whom was knowledge of the
Scripture said: "I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an
eye!" then when Solomon saw it placed before him, he said: "This is
by the Grace of my Lord, to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And
whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for the good of his ownself, and
whoever is ungrateful, he is ungrateful only for the loss of his ownself.
Certainly! My Lord is Rich (Free of all wants), Bountiful!"
He said: "Disguise her throne for her that
we may see whether she will be guided (to recognize her throne), or she will be
one of those not guided." So when she came, it was said to her: "Is
your throne like this?" She said: "It is as though it was the very
same." And Solomon said: "Knowledge was bestowed on us before her,
and we were submitted to Allah (in Islam as Muslims before her)." And that
which she used to worship besides Allah has prevented her from Islam, for she
was of a disbelieving people.
It was said to her: "Enter As-Sarh" (a glass surface with water underneath it) or a palace, but when she saw it, she thought it was a pool, and she tucked up her clothes, uncovering her legs. Solomon said: "Verily, it is Sarh paved smooth with slab of glass." She said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, and I submit (in Islam), together with Solomon, to Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists)." (Ch 27:20-44 Quran)
[next]
Jinns and
Solomon
Solomon's public work was largely carried out by
the jinns. This was a punishment for their sins of making people believe that
they were all-powerful, knew the unseen, and could foresee the future. As a
prophet, it was Solomon's duty to remove such false beliefs from his followers.
Solomon's
Death
Solomon lived amidst glory, and all creatures
were subjected to him. Then Allah the Exalted ordained for him to die. His life
and death were full of wonders and miracles; thus, his death harmonized with
his life and glory. His death, like his life, was unique. The people had to
learn that the future is known neither by the jinns, nor by the prophets, but
by Allah alone. Solomon's effort in this direction did not end with his life,
for even his death became an example. He was sitting holding his staff, overseeing
the jinns at work in a mine. He died sitting in this position. For a long time
no one was aware of his death, for he was seen sitting erect. The jinns
continued with their sand toil, thinking that Solomon was watching over them.
Many days later, a hungry ant began nibbling Solomon's staff. It continued to
do so, eating the lower part of the staff, until it fell out of Solomon's hand,
and his great body fell to the ground. People hurried to him, realizing that he
had died a long time ago and that the jinns did not perceive the unseen, for
had the jinns known the unseen, they would not have kept working, thinking that
Solomon was alive.
Solomon's
Death - Quranic
Allah the Exalted revealed:
"And We caused a fount of molten brass to
flow for him, and there were jinns that worked in front of him by the Leave of
his Lord, and whosoever of them turned aside from Our Command, We shall cause
him to taste of the torment of the blazing Fire. They worked for him what he
desired, (making) high rooms, images, basins as large as reservoirs, and
(making) cauldrons fixed (in their places). "Work you, O family of David,
with thanks!" But few of My slaves are grateful.
Then when we decreed death for him (Solomon), nothing informed them (jinns) of his death except a little worm of the earth, which kept slowly gnawing away at his stick, so
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[next] when he fell down,
the jinns saw clearly that if they had known the unseen, they would not have
stayed in the humiliating torment. (Ch 34:12-14 Quran).
Isaiah
and Hezekiah
Among the prophets between David and Zakariah is
Isaiah (pbuh), Ibn Amoz (Amisiah). According to Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq, Isaiah
(pbuh) appeared before Zakariah (pbuh) and Yahya (John the Baptist) (pbuh). He
is among those who prophesied about Isa (Jesus) (pbuh) and Muhammad (pbuh). The
king during his time was called Hezekiah (Hazkia). He listened and was obedient
to Isaiah in what he advised him to do and prohibit for the good of the state.
Affairs took momentum among the Israelites. The king became sick with an
infected foot. While he was sick, King Sennacherib (Sinharib) of Babylon
advanced towards Jerusalem with sixty thousand men.
Allah
Grants More Life to Hezekiah
The people were greatly terrified. The King
asked Isaiah: "What did Allah reveal to you regarding Sennacherib and his
army?" He replied: "He has not yet revealed anything to me."
Then the revelation came down for King Hezekiah to appoint a successor, as he
wished, because his end was at hand. When Isaiah told him this, the king turned
to the qibla (the direction faced in prayer); he prayed, glorified Allah,
invoked Him, and wept. Weeping and invoking Allah the All-Powerful and majestic
with a sincere heart, trust and patience, he said: "O Lord of lords, and
God of gods! O, Benevolent and Merciful One Whom neither sleep nor nodding can
overpower, remember me for my deeds and my just judgment over the children of
Israel; and all that was from You, and You know it better than I do, my open
acts and my secrets are with You."
Allah answered his prayers had compassion on
him. He revealed to Isaiah to tell him the glad tidings that He had compassion
for his weeping and would extend his life for a further fifteen years and save
him from the enemy, Sennacherib. When Isaiah told this to Hezekiah, his disease
was healed. Evil and sadness departed, and he fell prostrate, saying: "O
Lord, it is You Who grants kingship to whomsoever You wish and dethrones
whomsoever You wish and elevates whomsoever You wish and degrades whomsoever
You wish, Knower of the unseen and the evident. And lo! You are the First and
the Last; the Manifest and the Perceived; You grant mercy and answer the
prayers of the troubled ones."
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[next] When he raised his head, Allah
revealed to Isaiah to command the king to extract the water of the fig and
apply it to his sore, and he would be whole and cured. He did so and was cured.
Allah
Destroys Hezekiah's Enemies
Then Allah sent death upon the army of
Sennacherib. In the morning they were all corpses, except Sennacherib and five
of his companions, among them Nebuchadnezzar (Bukhtanasar). The king of Israel
immediately sent for them, put them in shackles and displayed them in the land
for seventy
days to spite and insult them. Every day each of
them was fed a loaf of barley bread; after seventy days he confined them in
prison.
Allah then revealed to Isaiah that the king
should send them back to their country so that they might warn their people
what would happen to them. When they returned, Sennacherib gathered his people
and told them what had happened to them. The priests and magicians said to him:
"We told you about their Lord and their prophets, but you did not listen
to us. It is a nation which, with their God, nobody can overcome." So,
Sennacherib was afraid of Allah. He died seven years later.
Israel
After Hezekiah's Death
Ibn Ishaaq also reported that when King Hezekiah
of Israel died, the Israelites' condition deteriorated; there was political
confusion, and their wickedness increased. Isaiah preached to them what Allah
revealed to him, directing them to righteousness and warning them of Allah's
severe punishment. His preaching made him their enemy and they decided to kill
him, so he escaped from them.
Isaiah's
Death
Ibn Ishaaq also reported an Israelite
interpolation which said that when Isaiah was passing by a tree, it opened, and
he entered therein; but Satan saw him and held onto the loop of his garment so
that it stuck out. When they saw it, they brought a saw and sawed the tree, and
him with it. Indeed, from Allah we come and to him we return.
23.
Prophet Aramaya (Jeremiah)
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[next] Jeremiah's Family
History
Another prophet is Jeremiah (pbuh) Ibn Hilkiah
from the House of Levi Ibn Jacob (pbuh). It has been claimed that he was
Al-Khidr. This was related by Al-Dahak from Ibn Abbas but it is not true.
Traditions
About Jeremiah
Ibn Asakir reported that it is written in some
scrolls that Jeremiah stood upon the blood of John Ibn Zechariah while it was
flowing and he said: "O blood! You have enlightened the people, so take a
rest." So it stopped and condensed until it disappeared. There is a
tradition that Jeremiah asked Allah: "O Lord! Which of Your slaves is more
lovable to You?" He answered: "Those who remember Me most away from
their remembrance of My creatures; those who are not thinking of death, nor
speak of eternal living; those who, when they are allured by the riches of this
world, despise them, and when they lose them are happy; those have My love,
indeed, and I shall reward them more than they desired."
Allah's Warning to the Children of Israel
Almighty Allah declared:
“And We gave Moses the Scripture and made it a
guidance for the children of Israel (saying): "Take not other than me as
your Wakil (Protector, Lord, or Disposer of your affairs, etc). O offspring of
those whom We carried in the ship with Noah! Verily, he was a grateful
slave." And We decreed for the children of Israel in the Scripture, that
indeed you would do mischief of the earth twice and you will become tyrants and
extremely arrogant! So, when the promise came for the first of the two, We sent
against you slaves of Yours given to terrible warfare. They entered the very
innermost parts of your homes. And it was a promise completely fulfilled. Then
We gave you once again, a return of victory over them. And We helped you with
wealth and children and made you more numerous in manpower. And We said:
"If you do good, you do good for yourselves, and if you do evil (you do
it) against yourselves." Then, when the second promise came to pass, (We
permitted your enemies) to make your faces sorrowful and to enter the mosque
(of Jerusalem) as they had entered it before, and to destroy with utter
destruction that fell in their hands. (And We said in the Torah): "It may
be that your Lord may show mercy unto you, but if you return to sins, We shall
return to Our Punishment. And We have made Hell a prison for the
disbeliveers." (Ch 17:2-8 Quran).
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[next] Allah's Message
to the Children of Israel
Wahb Ibn Munbah reported that when sin
increased, Allah revealed to an Israelite prophet called Amos (Mamia) (pbuh)
that he should stand before his people and admonish them that they are
hard-headed, blind, and deaf and tell them: "I (Allah) remember their
forefathers, and that makes Me merciful with them. And ask them about My
bounty: can any of them benefit from disobeying Me? And does any suffer who obeys
Me? The beasts remember their countries and return to them, but those people
have forgotten why I have favored them for the sake of their forefathers, and
have misused their generosity. Your cries have forgotten My tenets and your
reciters worship other than Me, and your women have not learned a useful lesson
and their rulers have lied against me and My messengers. Their hearts and
mouths are full of lies. And I swear by My majesty and power that I will send
upon them people with strange tongues, and strange faces, merciless in the face
of their tears; and I shall send them a tyrannous cruel king, with an army like
clouds, and followers like storms, and their flags like the wings of eagles,
and the paces of their hoses like the decades of a journey. They will return
buildings to dust, and leave the villages a wilderness. Woe betide it and its
inhabitants if they shout and invoke! I will not look at their faces."
Allah's
Warning to the Children of Israel - Varation
Ibn Asaker has related the same in these words:
Ishaaq Ibn Bishr said that Idris told them that Wahb Ibn Munbah said that Allah
the Exalted sent Jeremiah to the children of Israel when the situation had
become worse among them - in disobedience, killing of prophets and
covetousness. Allah was determined to revenge Himself upon them vindictively;
and so He revealed to Jeremiah: "I am going to destroy Jerusalem (the
children of Israel) irevenge. Go to the Dome of the Rock. I will give you My
commands and revelations." Jeremiah stood up and rent his clothes, and
applied ashes to his face and fell prostrate and said: "O Lord! Would that
my mother had not borne me, when You made me the last prophet of Israel, and
Jerusalem be destroyed in my time." Allah said: "Raise your
head." He raised his head, wept, and said: "O my Lord! Whom will You
set against them?" He said: "The worshippers of fire who do not fear
My punishment, nor expect My reward. Stand up Jeremiah, and hear the news about
Israel. Before I chose you, I had made you and favored you and honored you. Go
with the king and guide and protect him."
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[next] (He was with the king while he was
receiving revelation from Allah, and they forgot how Allah saved them.)
"Go and tell them what I have told you." "O Allah! I am weak and
if You do not strengthen me." "Do you not know that all affairs are
controlled by Me? I am Allah without semblance, or any like Me. I spoke to the
oceans so; I am with you, and nothing shall harm you. Go to your people and
tell them: Allah has remembered you, with His remembrance of our forefathers'
good deeds. The animals remember their countries and return to them. But those
people of yours are drenched in destruction and damnation, for they have
forgotten the purpose of My generosity to their forefathers and have misplaced
My favors. The scholars and priests have gone astray and have worshipped
another god besides Me. "As for their kings and princes, they have been
lavished with My bounty and though themselves safe from My fate. They abandon
My Book and kill My prophets. Is it possible for Me to have a partner? Is it
possible for Me to make a creature to be worshipped and to be obeyed besides
Me? As for their reciters and jurists, they teach and learn what they like. As
for the children of the prophets, they are oppressed and seduced and go with
the crowd. They want the positions of their fathers without the discipline,
patience, piety, and kindness of their fathers.
"By my power, I swear, that I shall send
woe upon them that no wise man can understand. I shall replace their luxury
with ordeal, chains, and fetters and after dwelling in palaces, they will dwell
in dust. I will disgrace and degrade their womenfolk. I create My creatures and
slaves with mercy and bounty. If they accept and recognize it, I complete My
favors and mercy. When I change My mind, I change My mind; and if I change, I
am angry; and if I am angry, I punish, and nothing prospers with My
anger."
Jeremiah
Pleads on Behalf of His People
According to Ka'b, Jeremiah said: "By your grace I have come to learn before You; how is it possible when I am weak and powerless, to speak before You? But by Your mercy You have spared me to this day. None fears this punishment more than I do, because I have been among them while they disobeyed You, yet without it changing me. If You punish me, I deserve it, and if You spare me, I expect it of Your kindness. O Lord, You are Overlord! Are you going to destroy their country when it is the place of Your prophets the place of Your revelations? O Lord the Exalted and Blessed by Your Name! For You to destroy this mosque and all pertaining to it, and those houses which landed Your praise! O Lord, for You to kill these people and punish them, when they are the issue of Abraham Your faithful friend and David Your chosen one! O lord, which village will escape Your punishment then? Which worshipper will escape Your vengeance after
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[next] the children of Your faithful friend
Abraham?"
He on High said: "He who disobeys Me will
not detest My punishment. I had honored them because they obeyed Me. If they
disobeyed me I will place them among the disobedient, until I rescue them out
of My Mercy."
Jeremiah said: "O Lord, You made friends
with Abraham and for his sake You preserved us; and Moses You did save; and he
asked You to save us and not abandon us, nor throw us to the enemy." And
so Allah revealed to him: "O Jeremiah, I made you honored in your mother's
womb and have chosen you to this day. If your people had protected the orphans,
the widows, the helpless, and the stranded, I would have been their Sustainer.
They would have been like a blissful garden to Me; but I complain of the
children of Israel to you. I have been the kind shepherd to them; but I honor
only those who honor and despise those who despise My command. Those before
them feared Me, but these people displayed their obedience of Me in the temple,
market place, hill and mountain tops, and under the shade of trees until the
heavens wondered at them before Me, and the earth and the mountains, including
the beasts, wondered and wailed. All that had no effect on them; nor was the
Book useful to them."
Jeremiah's
People Refuse to Listen
Ka'b said that when Jeremiah delivered the
message of his Lord, and the people heard the threats and warnings in it, they
said: "You are lying, if you are saying that Allah shall destroy the land,
His temple, His Book, His worship, and monotheism." They captured
Jeremiah, tied him up and imprisoned him. At this, Allah sent Nabuchadnezzar
upon them. He entered the country with his
troops and surrounded the city. When the siege
was prolonged they surrendered to his rule. They opened the gates and
Nabuchadnezzar's troops streamed in.
Nebuchadnezzar's
Rule
He ruled them savagely and punished them cruelly. He killed a third of them, captured a third, and spared the lame and the old; then h trampled upon them with the horses, demolished their houses, drew the youth along, and stood the women in the market places as guards. He intimidated the troops and destroyed the castles and temples. He burned the Torah. He asked about Daniel, the prophet who had written to him, but he was dead. His family took out the letter which he had written to him. Among the family
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[next] members were Daniel the youngest son of Ezekiel, Azariah, and
Mishael. He left that letter for them. The younger Daniel succeeded the elder
Daniel. Nabuchadnezzar entered Jerusalem with his troops, then marched to
Syria. He killed the children of Israel until he almost exterminated them. He
returned to Babylon with booty in the form of treasure and men, among them
young princes and children of priests numbering seventy thousand.
Nebuchadnezzar
and Jeremiah Meet
Ibn Ishaaq Ibn Bishr reported that Wahb bin
Munbah stated that after Nabuchadnezzar had destroyed Jerusalem, he was told
that the Israelites had a man who used to predict what had befallen them,
describing the king and his actions, foretelling that he would slay their
warriors, capture their children, destroy the temple, and burn their Torah.
They had said he was lying, and so they had tied him and kept him in prison.
Nabuchadnezzar ordered that he be brought out from prison. Jeremiah was
released and the king said to him: "Did you warn those people against what
has happened to them?" Jeremiah affirmed it and the king said: "I
knew that." Jeremiah stated: "Allah sent me to them and they accused
me of lying." He asked: "Did they beat you and imprison you?" He
replied: "Yes." The king said: "What a wicked race, to deny
their prophet and their Lord's message! So would you like to join me, for me to
honor you and make you free? And if you want to remain in your country, I grant
you that." Jeremiah replied: "I am still in the security of Allah
when I did not go away from the country at all. If the Israelites did not go
out of it, they would not fear you, nor any other, nor would you have authority
over them." When Nabuchadnezzar heard this, he let him alone, and so
Jeremiah went to live in his place in Elia (Elat).
Nebuchadnezzar
and Jeremiah Meet - Variation
According to Hisham Ibn al-Kalbi, Nabuchadnezzar
marched on Jerusalem, its king who was a descendant of David, who had built
Jerusalem for the Israelites - made peace with him. Nabuchadnezzar took
hostages and departed. When he had gone as far as Thahria, he learned that the
Israelites had risen against their king and killed him because he had made
peace with him. So, Nabuchadnezzar beheaded all the hostages that were with
him. He returned to the Israelites and invaded the city, killing the warriors
and capturing their families. When he had found Jeremiah in prison and released
him, Jeremiah told him his story and his warnings concerning him.
Nabuchadnezzar said: "What a wicked people, that disobey the prophet of
Allah!" He set him free and honored him. Jeremiah gathered around him the
remaining weak souls of Israel.
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[next] The Children
of Israel Do Not Repent
He said to them: "Woe to us! We have
disobeyed Allah. We must repent to Allah, Great and Majestic, for what we have
done, and I shall pray to Allah to accept our repentance." He prayed so,
and Allah revealed to him that He would not accept it: "If they are
sincere, they must stay with you in this country (or town)." He told them
what Allah had revealed. They said: "How can we stay in this town when it
has been devastated and Allah is angry with its people?" So they refused
to stay. Ibn al-Kalbi said that since that time, the children of Israel were
dispersed the world over. Some of them went to the Hijaz, Taif and Medina, and
others settled in Wadi al Qura. Some went to Egypt, and Nabuchadnezzar wrote to
its king, demanding those who had escaped thither, but he refused. So
Nabuchadnezzar mounted his army and fought him. He defeated him and captured
their children. Then he marched to the extreme of Morocco. He returned from
Morocco, Egypt, Jerusalem, Palestine, and Jordan with many captives, and among
them was Daniel. Ibn al-Kalbi said that it appears that it was Daniel, the
youngest son of Ezekiel, and not the elder Daniel, according to Ibn Munbah.
Allah knows best.
Jeremiah
Sleeps for 100 Years, Jerusalem is Rebuilt
Hashim ibn Al-Kalbi reported that Allah the
Exalted revealed to Jeremiah: "I am going to reconstruct Jerusalem, so go
there." He went and found it devastated. He said to himself: "Exalted
be Allah! Allah told me to come to this city and that He was reconstructing it.
When will Allah rebuild it? And when will He bring it back to life?"
Then he slept, and his donkey with him, for
seventy years until Nebuchadnezzar and the king over him - Laharasab, who had
ruled one hundred twenty years - had perished. Laharasab was succeeded by his
son Bashtaasib (According to the Bible, Ezra 1, this would be King Cyrus of
Persia). News of the death of Nebuchadnezzar had reached Bashtaasib through
Sham (Syria), which was in utter ruin. the wild beats had multiplied in
Palestine, for it had become empty of men. Bashtaasib therefore called to the
children of Israel in Babylon: "Whoever wants to return to Sham
(Syria/Palestine) may do so." It was ruled by one from the House of David,
who was ordered by Bashtaasib to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple, so they returned
and rebuilt it. Then Jeremiah opened his eyes, blinked from the seventy year
sleep, and saw how the city was being reconstructed. He remained in that sleep
of his until he had completed one hundred years. When Allah awoke him, he
thought that he had slept no more than an hour. He had known the city as a
devastated land; when he saw it rebuilt and populated, he said:
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[next] "He grants wisdom to whom He
pleases, and he, to whom wisdom is granted, is indeed granted abundant good.
But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding."
[2:269]
The
History of Israel After its Rebuilding
Ibn Al-Kalbi said that the Israelites settled
it, and Allah rebuilt their glory. It remained so until Rome vanquished them in
the era of the tribal kings; then they lost their community and their authority
after the appearance of Christianity.
This is how Ibn Jarir tells their story in his
History of Jerusalem. He said that Laharasab was a just king and diplomatic.
The people, cheifs, and kings obeyed him, and he was gifted in the construction
of cities, canals and institutions. When he grew too weak to rule, after more
than one hundred, his son Bashtaasib ascended to the throne. During his reign
the religion of Zoroastrianism (alMajusia) appeared. A man named (Zoroaster)
(Zordahst) had been a companion of Jeremiah and had angered him, so Jeremiah
cursed him. Zoroaster became a leper. He went to the land of Azerbaijan, joined
Bashtaasib forced peolple to embrace it and killed many people who disobeyed him.
After Bashtaasib, his son Barman ruled. They
were among the famous and heroic kings of Persia, and Nebuchadnezzar had been
deputy to all three of them. He lived a long time, may Allah torment him!
The essence of what has been written by Ibn
Jarir is that the person or wayfarer passing through this village was Jeremia.
Others say that it was Hosea (Ozir), and this is the consensus of the ancients
and those after them, but Allah knows best.
Allah
Saves Daniel from the Lions
Ibn Abi Al-Dunya narrated the following, based on a chain of citations. Nabuchadnezzar captured the two lions and threw them into a pit. He then brought Daniel and threw him at them; yet they did not pounce at him; rather, he remained as Allah wished. When then he desired food and drink, Allah revealed to Jeremiah, who was in Sham (Palestine/Syria): "Prepare food and drink for Daniel." He said: "O Lord I am in Jerusalem while Daniel is in Babylon (Iraq)." Allah revealed to him: "Do what I have
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[next] commanded you to do, and I shall send you one
who will carry you and what you have prepared." Jeremiah did so and Allah
sent him something that would carry him until he arrived at the brink of the
pit.
Then Daniel asked: "Who is this?" He
answered: "I am Jeremiah." He asked: "What brought you?" He
answered: "Your Lord sent me to you." He said: "And so my Lord
has remembered me?" He said: "Yes." Daniel said: "Praise be
to Allah Who never forgets those who appeal to Him! And Praise be to Him Who
compensates good with good, rewards patience with safety, dispels harm after
distress, assures us when we are overwhelmed, and is our hope when skill fails
us."
Daniel
After Death
Yunus Ibn Bakeer reported that Muhammad Ibn
Ishaaq reported that Abu Khalid Ibn Dinar reported that Abul Aa'lia said:
"When Tastar was invaded, we found, in the treasure house of Al-Harmazan,
a bed on which lay a dead man, with a holy script at his bedside. We took the
scripture to Umar Ibn Al Khattab. He called Ka-b and he translated it into
Arabic, and I was the first Arab to read it. I read it as I read the
Qur'an." Here, I (Khalid Ibn Dinar) said to Abul Aa'lia: "What was in
it?" He said: "Life history, annals, songs, speech, and what is to
come." I asked: "And what did you do with the man?" He said:
"We dug in the river bank thirteen separate graves. At nightfall we buried
him and leveled all the graves in order to mislead people for they would tamper
with him." I asked: "And what did they want from him?" He said:
"When the sky was cloudless for them, they went out with his bed, and it
rained." I asked: "Who did you think the man was?" He said;
"A man called Daniel." I asked: "And for how long had he been
dead when you found him?" He said: "Three hundred years." I
asked: "Did not anything change on him?" He said: "No, except
for the hairs of his face (beard, and mustache); the skin of the prophets is
not harmed by the earth, nor devoured by hyenas."
The chain of citation from Abul Aa'lia is good, but if the date of the dead man's death was really three hundred years, then he was not a prophet but a saintly an, because there was no prophet between Isa (Jesus)(pbuh), and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), according to the hadith in Bukhari. The span between them (the dead man and Muhammad (pbuh)) was variously reported as four hundred, six hundred, and six hundred twenty years. It could be that he had died eight hundred years earlier, which would be near to Daniel's time, if his being Daniel is correct. However, he could still
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[next] have been somebody else, either a prophet or a saint. Yet the truth is
more likely he was Daniel, because he had been taken by the King of Persia and
remained imprisoned as already mentioned.
It was narrated with a correct citation that his
nose as one span (nine inches) long. Anas Ibn Malik, with a good citation, said
that his nose was an arm's stretch long (two feet), on which basis he is
thought to be an ancient prophet from before this period. Almighty Allah knows
best.
Daniel's
Death - Hadith
Ibn Abu Dunya reported from Abu Bilal that Abu
Musa found with Daniel a holy script and a container in which were dirhams, his
ring and ointment. He wrote to Umar, who replied: "Send the scripture to
us, send some of the ointment, tell the Muslims who are with you to use it,
share the dirhams among them, and leave the ring for you.
Abu Bakr Ibn Abu Dunya related without citation
that when Abu Musa was told that he was Daniel, he stayed with him, embraced
him, and kissed him. Then he wrote to Umar that he found with him nearly ten
thousand Dhirhams. It used to be that people came to borrow from it, and if
they did not return it, they became sick. Umar ordered his burial in a grave to
be kept secret and the money to be sent to the treasury, with the box and the
ring a gift to him (Abu Musa). It is related of Abu Musa that he told four of
the captives to dam the river and dig a grave in the middle, where he buried
him. Then he beheaded the four captives in order for the secret to be kept from
all except himself.
Daniel's
Ring
Ibn Abu Dunya also reported, by a chain of
citations, that a ring was seen on the hand of Ibn Abu Barda Ibn Abu Musa. The
gem was carved with two lions with a man between them, whom they were licking.
Abu Barda said: "This is the ring of that man whom the people of this town
say is Daniel. Abu Musa took it the day he was buried. The learned people of
the town told Abu Musa that soothsayers and astrologers told the king in
Daniel's time that a boy would be born who would destroy him and his kingdom. So
the king swore to kill all the baby boys, except that they threw Daniel in the
lions' den, and the lion and lioness began to lick him and did not harm him.
His mother came and took him. Abu Musa said: "And so Daniel carved his
image and the image of the two lions into the gem of his ring, for him not to
forget Allah's blessing upon him in this.'" This has a good citation.
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25.
Prophet Uzair (Ezra)
Ezra
Sleeps For 100 Years
Ishaaq Ibn Bishr reported, on the authority of
Ibn' Abbas and others, that Ezra was a saint and a wise man. He went out one
day to his own farm, as was his custom. About noon he came to a deserted,
ruined place and felt the heat. He entered the ruined town and dismounted his
donkey, taking figs and grapes in his basket. He went under the shade of the
khaiba tree and ate his food. Then he got up to look at what remained of the
ruins. The people had long been lost, and he saw bones.
"Oh! How will Allah ever bring it to life
after its death?" (Ch 2:259 Quran)
He said this not out of doubt but out of
curiosity. Allah sent the Angel of Death to take his life. He remained dead for
one hundred years.
After one hundred years had passed and there had
been changes in Israelite affairs, Allah sent an angel upon Ezra to revive his
heart and his eyes in order for him to feel and see how Allah revives the dead.
The angel said: "For how long did you sleep?" He said: "A day or
part of a day." He said this because he knew he had slept early in the
afternoon and woke up late in the afternoon. The angel said: "You remained
asleep for one hundred years." He ate and drank the food which he had
prepared before he was overtaken by that long sleep. Then the angel revived his
donkey.
Almighty Allah said:
"And look at your donkey! Thus We have made
of you a sign for the people. Look at the bones, how We bring them together and
clothe them with flesh." When this was clearly shown to him he said:
"I know now that Allah is able to do all things." (Ch 2:259)
Ezra
Returns Home
He rode on his donkey and entered his native place, but the people did not recognize him, nor did his household, except the maid, now an old woman. He asked her: "Is this the house of Ezra?" She said: "Yes, but the people have long forgotten Ezra." He said: "I am Ezra, Allah had taken my life for a one hundred years and has now returned it to me." She said: "Ezra used to be answered when he prayed to Allah. Pray to cure me of blindness if you are Ezra." He prayed for her and massaged her eyes and took her by the
189
[next] hand. "Get up
by the power of Allah," he said. The crippled woman stood up and walked;
she opened her eyes and saw; her blindness was gone. She said: "I bear
witness that you are Ezra."
Ezra
Finds and Copies the Torah
She rushed to the assembly of the Israelites.
Ezra's son was one hundred eighteen years old, and his children 's children now
were lords of the assembly. She called out to them saying: "This is Ezra
come to you." They accused her of lying. She said: "I am your old
maid. He has just prayed to Allah for me, and here I am whole again, walking
and seeing." The people stood up and looked at him. His son said: "My
father had a mark between his shoulders, a black mole," and they
discovered it. They said: "None among us memorized the Torah since
Nabuchadnezzar burned it, except Ezra; and there was only one copy of the
Torah, which was hidden by Sarukha. He buried it in the days of Nabuchadnezzar
in a place none but Ezra knows." Ezra led the people to the hidden place
and took out that copy of the Torah. Its leaves had rotted, and the book itself
crumpled.
Ezra sat under the shade of a tree surrounded by
the children of Israel and copied out the Torah for them from that script.
Henceforth, the Jews said that Ezra is the son of Allah, for two evidences
which came down from Heaven and for his copying the torah and for his fighting
the cause of the Israelites.He had been copying the Torah for Ezekial in the
land of darkness in the hermitage of Ezekiel. The village which was in ruins is
said to be Sayrabadh. Ibn Abbas commanded: "So it is as Allah said:
"We have made of you a sign for the
people." (Ch 2:259)
That is, for the Israelites, in that he was
sitting among his children, the old men, and he a youth. He died as a forty
year old, and Allah resurrected him at the same age on the day of his
death."
26.
Prophet Zakariyah (Zechariah)
Description
of Zakariyah
The years had taken their toll on the Prophet Zakariyah (pbuh). He was now old and bent with age, in his nineties. Despite his feebleness, he went to the temple daily to deliver his sermons. Zakariyah was not a rich man, but he was always ready to help
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[next] those in need.
His one disappointment in life was that he had no children, for his wife was
barren. This worried him, for he feared there was no one after him to carry out
his work. The people needed a strong leader, for it they were left on their
own, they would move away from Allah's teachings and change the Holy Laws to
suit themselves.
Zakariyah
Talks to Mary
During one of his visits to the temple, he went
to check on Mary, who was living in a secluded room of the temple. He was
surprised to find fresh out of season fruit in her room. Besides him, no one
had entry to her room. When he inquired, she told him that the fruit was from
Allah. She found it every morning. But why was he so surprised, she asked him.
Did he not know that Allah provides without measure for whom He wills? This
noble girl had opened this eyes to a startling idea. Could he not ask his Lord
to bless him with a child in his old age? Even if his wife was past
childbearing age, nothing was impossible for his Gracious Lord!
Zakariyah
Asks for a Son - Quranic
Allah the Almighty revealed:
'Kaf, Ha, Ya, Ain, Sad, (These letters are one
of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah Alone knows their meanings).
This is a mention of the Mercy of your Lord to His slave Zakariyah. When he
called out his Lord (Allah) - a call in secret, saying: "My Lord! Indeed
my bones have grown feeble, and gray hair has spread on my head, and I have
never been unblest in my invocation to You, O my Lord! And Verily! I fear my
relatives after me, since my wife is barren. So give me from Yourself an heir,
- who shall inherit me, and inherit also the posterity of Jacob (inheritance of
the religious knowledge and Prophethood, not the wealth, etc.) And make him, my
Lord, one with whom You are Well-pleased!"
Allah said: "O Zakariyah! Verily, We give
you the glad tidings of a son. His name will be Yahya (John). We have given
that name to none before him." He said: "My Lord! How can I have a
son, when my wife is barren, and I have reached the extreme old age." He
said: "So (it will be). Your Lord says, It is easy for Me. Certainly I
have created you before, when you had been nothing." Zakariyah said:
"My Lord! Appoint for me a sign." He said: "Your sign is that
you shall not speak unto mankind for three nights, though having no bodily
defect."
Then he came out to his people from Al Mihrab (a praying place or a private room, etc.),
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[next] he told them by signs to
glorify Allah's Praises in the morning and in the afternoon. It was said to his
son: "O John! Hold fast to the Scripture (The Torah)." And We gave
him wisdom while yet a child, and made him sympathetic to men as a mercy or a
grant from Us, and pure from sins (John) and he was righteous, and dutiful
towards his parents, and he was neither an arrogant nor disobedient (to Allah
or to his parents). And Salamun (peace) on him the day he was born, the day he
dies, and the day he will be raised up to life again! (Ch 19:1-15 Quran)
Almighty Allah also said:
"At that time Zakariyah invoked his Lord,
saying: "O my Lord! Grant me from You, a good offspring. You are indeed
the All-Hearer of invocation." Then the angels called him, while he was
standing in prayer in Al- Mihrab ( a praying place or a private room), saying:
"Allah gives you glad tidings of John confirming (believing in) the Word
from Allah ("Be!" - and he was! (i.e. the creation of Isa (Jesus), son
of Mariam (Mary), noble keeping away from sexual relations with women, a
Prophet, from among the righteous."
He said: "O my Lord! How can I have a son
when I am very old, and my wife is barren?" Allah said: "Thus Allah
does what He wills." He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me."
Allah said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to mankind for three
days except with signals. And remember your Lord much (by praising Him again
and again), and glorify Him in the afternoon and in the morning." (Ch
3:38-41 Quran).
John's
Childhood
John (pbuh) was born a stranger to the world of
children who used to amuse themselves, as he was serious all the time. Most
children took delight in torturing animals whereas, he was merciful to them. He
fed the animals from his food until there was nothing left for him, and he just
ate fruit or leaves of trees. John loved reading since childhood. When he grew
up, Allah the Exalted called upon him:
"O John! Hold fast to the Scripture (The
Torah)." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child. (Ch 19:12 Quran).
John's
Qualities
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[next] Allah guided him to read the Book of Jurisprudence closely; thus, he became the wisest and most knowledgeable man of that time. Therefore, Allah the Almighty endowed him with the faculties of passing judgments on people's affairs, interpreting the secrets of religion, guiding people to the right path, and warning them against the wrong one. John reached maturity. His compassion for his parents, as well as for all people and all creatures, increased greatly. He called people to repent their sins. There are quite a number of traditions told about John. Ibn Asaker related that one time his parents were looking for him and found him at the Jordan River. When they met him, they wept sorely, seeing his great devotion to Allah, Great and Majestic. Ibn Wahb said that, according to Malik, grass was the food of John Ibn Zakariyah, and he wept sorely in fear of Allah. A chain of narrators reported that Idris Al Khawlawi said: "Shall I not tell you he who had the best food? It is John Ibn Zakariyah, who joined the beasts at dinner, fearing to mix with men."
Why John
Always Wept
Ibn Mubarak stated that Wahb Ibn Al-Ward
narrated that Zakariayah did not see his son for three days. He found him
weeping inside a grave which he had dug and in which he resided. "My son,
I have been searching for you, and you are dwelling in this grave
weeping!" "O father, did you not tell me that between Paradise and
Hell is only a span, and it will not be crossed except by tears of weepers?"
He said to him: "Weep then, my son." Then they wept together. Other
narrations say that John (pbuh) said: "The dwellers of Paradise are
sleepless out of the sweetness of Allah's bounty; that is why the faithful must
be sleepless because of Allah's love in their hearts. How far between the two
luxuries, how far between them?" They say John wept so much that tears
marked his cheeks.
John's
Love of Nature
He found comfort in the open and never cared about food. He ate leaves, herbs, and sometimes locusts. He slept anywhere in the mountains or in holes in the ground. He sometimes would find a lion or a bear as he entered a cave, but being deeply absorbed in praising Allah, he never heeded them. The beasts easily recognized John as the prophet who cared for all the creatures, so they would leave the cave, bowing their heads. John sometimes fed those beasts, out of mercy, from his food and was satisfied with prayers as food for his soul. He would spend the night crying and praising Allah for His blessings. When John called people to worship Allah, he made them cry out of love and
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[next] submission, arresting their hearts with the
truthfulness of his words. A conflict took place between John and the
authorities at that time. A tyrant king, Herod Antipas, the ruler of Palestine,
was in love with Salome, his brother's daughter. He was planning to marry his
beautiful niece. The marriage was encouraged by her mother and by some of the
learned men of Zion, either out of fear or to gain favor with the ruler. On hearing
the ruler's plan, John pronounced that such a marriage would be incestuous. He
would not approve it under any circumstance, as it was against the Law of the
Torah.
John's
Cruel Death
John's pronouncement spread like wildfire.
Salome was angry, for it was her ambition to rule the kingdom with her uncle.
She plotted to achieve her aim. Dressing attractively, she sang and danced
before her uncle. Her arousing Herod's lust. Embracing her, he offered to
fulfill whatever she desired. At once she told him: "I would love to have
the head of John, because he has defiled your honor and mine throughout the
land. If you grant me this wish, I shall be very happy and will offer myself to
you." Bewitched by her charm, he submitted to her monstrous request. John
was executed and his head was brought to Salome. The cruel woman gloated with
delight. But the death of Allah's beloved prophet was avenged. Not only she,
but all the children of Israel were severely punished by invading armies which
destroyed their kingdom.
Allah
Declares He Has No Son
In many verses of the Glorious Qur'an Allah the
Exalted denied the claim of the Christians that He has a son.
A delegation from Nagran came to the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh). They began to talk about their claim about the Trinity, which
is that Allah is three in one, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with
some disagreement among their sects. That is why Allah affirmed in many verses
of the Qur'an that Jesus is a slave of Allah, whom He molded in the womb of his
mother like any other of His creatures, and that He created him without a
father, as He created Adam without a father or a mother. Almighty Allah had
chosen Isa to be one of his messengers to humanity.
The Birth
of Mary - Quranic
Allah the Almighty said:
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[next] "Allah chose Adam, Noah, the
family of Abraham and the family of Imran above the Alamin (mankind and
jinns)(of their times). Offspring, one of theo other, and Allah is All-Hearer,
All-Knower. Remember when the wife of Imran said: "O my Lord! I have vowed
to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services
(free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship), so accept this,
from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All Knowing." Then when she
delivered her (child Mary), she said: "O my Lord! I have delivered a
female child," and Allah knew better what she delivered, - "and the
male is not like the female, and I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge with
You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast."
Mary's
Sustenance - Quranic
So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly
acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of
Zechariah. Every time he entered Al-Mihrab (a praying place or a private room),
he found her supplied with sustenance. As Allah recounted in the Glorious
Quran:
She said: "From Allah. Verily, Allah
provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit." (Ch 3:37 Quran)
Mary's Family History
Allah declared that He had elected Adam (pbuh)
and the elite of his offspring who obey Allah. Then He specified the family of
Abraham (pbuh), which includes the sons of Ishmael (pbuh), and the family of
Imran, the father of Mary.
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq stated that he was Imran Ibn
Bashim, Ibn Amun, Ibn Misha, Ibn Hosqia, Ibn Ahriq, Ibn Mutham, Ibn Azazia, Ibn
Amisa, Ibn Yamish, Ibn Ahrihu, Ibn Yazem, Ibn Yahfashat, Ibn Eisha, Ibn Iyam,
Ibn Rahba am, Ibn David (Dawud).
Mary's
Birth - Longer Version
Prophet Zakariyah's (pbuh) wife's sister had a
daughter named Hannah. She was married to Imran, a leader of the Israelites.
For many years, the couple remained childless. Whenever Hannah saw another
woman with a child, her longing for a baby increased. Although years had
passed, she never lost hope. She believed that one day Allah would bless her
with a child, on whom she would shower all her motherly love.
She turned to the Lord of the heavens and the earth and pleaded with Him for a child. She would offer the child in the service of Allah's house, in the temple of Jerusalem.
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[next] Allah granted
her request. When she learned that she was pregnant, she was the happiest woman
alive, and thanked Allah for His gift. Her overjoyed husband Imran also thanked
Allah for His mercy. However, while she was pregnant her husband passed away.
Hannah wept bitterly. Alas, Imran did not live to see their child for whom they
had so longed. She gave birth to a girl, and again turned to Allah in prayer:
"O my Lord, I have delivered a female
child," and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Mary,
and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and her offspring from Satan, the
outcast." (Ch 3:36 Quran)
Zechariah
Becomes Mary's Guardian
Hannah had a big problem in reference to her
promise to Allah, for females were not accepted into the temple, and she was
very worried. Her sister's husband Zakariyah, comforted her, saying that Allah
knew best what she had delivered and appreciated fully what she had offered in
His service. She wrapped the baby in a shawl and handed it over to the temple
elders. As the baby was a girl, the question of her guardianship posed a
problem for the elders. This was a child of their late and beloved leader, and everyone
was eager to take care of her. Zakariyah said to the elders: "I am the
husband of her maternal aunt and her nearest relation in the temple; therefore,
I will be more mindful of her than all of you."
As it was their custom to draw lots to solve
disagreements, they followed this course. Each one was given a reed to throw
into the river. They had agreed that whoever's reed remained afloat would be
granted guardianship of the girl. All the reeds sank to the bottom except
Zakariyah's. With this sign, they all surrendered to the will of Allah and made
him the guardian.
Mary's
High Status
To ensure that no one had access to Mary,
Zakariyah built a separate room for her in the temple. As she grew up, she
spent her time in devotion to Allah. Zakariyah visited her daily to see to her
needs, and so it continued for many years. One day, he was surprised to find
fresh fruit, which was out of season in her room. As he was the only person who
could enter her room, he asked her how the fruit got there. She replied that
these provisions were from Allah, as He gives to whom He wills. Zakariyah
understood by this that Allah had raised Mary's status above that of other
women.
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[next] Thereafter, Zakariyah spent more time
with her, teaching and guiding her. Mary grew to be a devotee of Allah,
glorifying Him day and night.
Mary's
High Status - Prophet Muhammad
Ali Ibn Abi Talib narrated that the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The best of the world's women is Mary (in her
lifetime), and the best of the world's women is Khadija (in her
lifetime)." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Abu Musa Al-Ashari also narrated that the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "May among men attained perfection but among
women none attained perfection except Mary the daughter of Imran, and Asiya the
wife of Pharaoh, and the superiority of Aisha to other women is like the
superiority of Tharid (an Arabic dish) to other meals."
Mary
Receives News of Jesus
While Mary was praying in her temple, an angel
in the form of a man appeared before her. Filled with terror, she tried to
flee, praying:
"Verily! I seek refuge with the Most
Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah." The angel said:
"I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a
righteous son." She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has
touched me, nor am I unchaste?" He said: "So (it will be), your Lord
said: "That is easy for me (Allah): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign
to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed,
(by Allah).'" (Ch 19:18-21 Quran)
The Birth
of Jesus
The angel's visit caused Mary great anxiety,
which increased as the months went by. How could she face giving birth to a
child without having a husband? Later, she felt life kicking inside her. With a
heavy heart, she left the temple and went to Nazareth, the city in which she
had been born where she settled in a simple farm house to avoid the public. But
fear and anxiety did not leave her. She was from a noble and pious family. Her
father had not been an evil man nor was her mother an impure woman. How could
she prevent tongues from wagging about her honor?
After some months, she could not bear the mental strain any longer. Burdened with a heavy womb, she left Nazareth, not knowing where to go to be away from this depressing atmosphere. She had not gone far, when she was overtaken by the pains of childbirth. She saw down against a dry palm tree, and here she gave birth to a son.
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[next] Looking at her beautiful
baby, she was hurt that she had brought him into the world without a father.
She exclaimed: "I wish I had died before this happened and had vanished
into nothingness!"
Suddenly, she heard a voice nearby: "Grieve
not, your Lord has placed a rivulet below, and shake the trunk of this tree,
from which ripe dates will fall. So eat and drink and regain the strength you
have lost; and be of good cheer, for what you see is the power of Allah, Who
made the dry palm tree regain life, in order to provide food for you." For
a while she was comforted by Allah's miracle, for it was a sure sign of her
innocence and purity.
Mary
Returns to the City with Jesus
Mary decided to return to the city. However, her
fears also returned. What was she going to tell the people? As if sharinhis
mother's worry, the baby began to speak: "If you meet any person say: 'I
have vowed to fast for The Beneficent and may not speak to any human
today.'" With this miracle, Mary felt at ease.
As she had expected, her arrival in the city
with a newborn baby in her arms aroused the curiosity of the people. They
scolded her: "This is a terrible sin that you have committed." She
put her finger to her lips and pointed to the child. They asked: "How can
we speak to a newborn baby?" To their total amazement, the child began to
speak clearly: "I am Allah's servant. Allah has given me the Book, and has
made me a prophet, and has blessed me wherever I may be, and has enjoined on me
prayers and alms-giving as long as I live. Allah has made me dutiful towards
she who had borne me. He has not made me arrogant nor unblessed. Peace unto me
the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive."
Most of the people realized that the baby was unique, for it Allah wills
something, He merely says "Be" and it happens. Of course, there were
some who regarded the baby's speech as a strange trick, but at least Mary could
now stay in Nazareth without being harassed.
Mary
Receives News of Jesus - Quranic
Allah the Exalted revealed:
"And mention in the Book (the Qur'an, O Muhammad, the story of) Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh (angel Gabriel), and he
198
[next] appeared before her in
the form of a man in all respects.
She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the
Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah." The angel said:
"I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a
righteous son." She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has
touched me, nor am I unchaste?"
He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said:
"That is easy for Me (Allah): and (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to
mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by
Allah).'" (Ch. 19: 16-21)
The Birth
of Jesus - Quranic
So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him
to a far place (Bethlehem valley, about four to six miles from Jerusalem). And
the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said:
"Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of
sight!"
Then (the babe "Jesus" or Gabriel)
cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided
you a water stream under you; and shake the trunk of palm tree towards you, it
will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, and if
you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most
Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'"
(Ch. 19: 22-26)
Mary and
Jesus Return to the City - Quranic
"Then she brought him (the baby) to her
people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Indeed you have brought a thing
Fariyya (an unheard mighty thing). O sister (the like) of Aaron (not the
brother of Moses, but he was another pious man at the time of Mary)! Your
father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor was your mother an
unchaste woman."
Then she pointed to him. They said: "How
can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" He (Jesus) said:
"Verily! I am a slave of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me
a Prophet; and He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined me
prayer, and Zakat, as long as I live, and dutiful to my mother, and made me not
arrogant, unblest. And Salam (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day
I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!" (Ch. 19:27 - 33)
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[next] Allah's Message
About Jesus - Quranic
Such is Jesus, son of Mary. (It is) a statement
of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute). It befits not (the Majesty of)
Allah that He should beget a son (this refers to the slander of Christians
against Allah, by saying that Jesus is the son of Allah). Glorified (and
Exalted be He above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing,
He only says to it, "Be!" - and it is.
Jesus said: "And verily Allah is my Lord
and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the Straight Path. (Allah's Religion
of Islamic Monotheism which He did ordain for all of His Prophets)." Then
the sects differed (the Christians about Jesus), so woe unto the disbeliveers
(those who gave false witness saying that Jesus is the son of Allah) from the
meeting of a great Day (the Day of Resurrection, when they will be thrown in
the blazing Fire).
How clearly will they (polytheists and
disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah) see and hear, the Day when they will
appear before Us! But the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) today are in
plain error. And warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day of grief and regrets, when
the case has been decided, while now they are in a state of carelessness and
they believe not. (Ch 19:34-39 Quran)
Some
Stories About Mary's Pregnancy
It was said that Joseph the Carpenter was
greatly surprised when he knew the story, so he asked Mary: "Can a tree
come to grow without a seed?" She said: "Yes, the one which Allah
created for the first time." He asked her again: "Is it possible to
bear a child without a male partner?" She said: "Yes, Allah, created
Adam without male or female!" It was also said that, while pregnant, Mary
went one day to her aunt, who reported that she felt as if she was pregnant.
Mary in turn, said that she, too, was feeling as if she was pregnant. Then her
aunt said: "I can see what is in my womb prostrating to what is in your
womb."
Jesus
Upsets the Jews
The Jewish priests felt this child Jesus was
dangerous, for they felt that the people would turn their worship to Allah the
Almighty Alone, displacing the existing Jewish tenets. Consequently, they would
lose their authority over the people. Therefore, they kept the miracle of
Jesus's speech in infancy as a secret and accused Mary of a great misdeed.
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[next] Jesus's Ability
to Debate
As Jesus (pbuh) grew, the signs of prophethood
began to increase. He could tell his friends what kind of supper waited for
them at home and what they had hidden and where. When he was twelve years old,
he accompanied his mother to Jerusalem. There he wandered into the temple and
joined a crowd listening to the lecture of the Rabbis (Jewish priests). The
audience were all adults, but he was not afraid to sit with them. After
listening intently, he asked questions and expressed his opinion. The learned
rabbis were disturbed by the boy's boldness and puzzled by the questions he
asked, for they were unable to answer him. They tried to silence him, but he
ignored their attempts and continued to express his views. Jesus became so
involved in this exchange that he forgot he as expected back home.
In the meantime, his mother went home, thinking
that he might have gone back with relatives or friends. When she arrived, she
discovered that he was not there, so she returned to the city to look for him.
At last she found him in the temple, sitting among the learned, conversing with
them. He appeared to be quite at east, as if he had been doing this all his
life. Mary got angry with him for causing her worry. He tried to assure her
that all the arguing and debating with the learned had made him forgot the
time.
Jesus
Does Not Observe the Sabbath
Jesus grew up to manhood. It was Sabbath, a day
of complete rest: no fire could be lit or extinguished nor could females plait
their hair. Moses (pbuh) had commanded that Saturday be dedicated to the
worship of Allah. However, the wisdom behind the Sabbath and its spirit had
gone, and only the letter remained in the Jews' hearts. Also, they thought that
Sabbath was kept in heaven, and that the People of Israel had been chosen by
Allah only to observe the Sabbath. They made a hundred things unlawful on
Saturday even self-defense or calling a doctor to save a patient who was in bad
condition. This is how their life was branded by such hypocrisy. Although
the Pharisees were guardians of the law, they
were ready to sell it when their interests were involved so as to obtain
personal gains. There was, for example, a rule which prohibited a journey of
more than one thousand yards on the Sabbath day. What do we expect of the Pharisees
in this case? The day before, they transferred their food and drink from their
homes two thousand yards away and erected a temporary house so that from tthey
could travel a further thousand yards on the Sabbath day.
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[next] Jesus was on his way to the temple.
Although it was the Sabbath, he reached out his hand to pick two pieces of
fruit to feed a hungry child. This was considered to be a violation of the
Sabbath law. He made a fire for the old women to keep themselves warm from the
freezing air. Another violation. He went to the temple and looked around. There
were twenty thousand Jewish priests registered there who earned their living
from the temple. The rooms of he temple were full of them.
Jesus
Receives His Prophethood
Jesus observed that the visitors were much fewer
than the priests. Yet the temple was full of sheep and doves which were sold to
the people to be offered as sacrifices. Every step in the temple cost the
visitor money. They worshipped nothing but money. In the temple, the Pharisees
and Sadducees acted as if it were a market place, and these two groups always
disagreed on everything. Jesus followed the scene with his eyes and observed
that the poor people who could not afford the price of the sheep or dove were
swept away like flies by the Pharisees and Saducees. Jesus was astonished. Why
did the priests burn a lot of offerings inside the temple, while thousands of
poor people were hungry outside it? On this blessed night, the two noble
prophets John (pbuh) and Zakariyah (pbuh) died, killed by the ruling authority.
On the same night, the revelation descended upon Jesus (pbuh). Allah the
Exalted commanded him to begin his call to the children of Israel. To Jesus,
the life of ease was closed, and the page of worship and struggled was opened.
Jesus's
Message
Like an opposing force, the message of Jesus
came to denounce the practices of the Pharisees and to reinforce the Law of
Moses. In the face of a materialistic age of luxury and worship of gold, Jesus
called his people to a nobler life by word and deed. This exemplary life was
the only way out of the wretchedness and diseases of his age. Jesus's call,
from the beginning, was marked by its complete uprightness and piety. It
appealed to the soul, the inner being, and not be a closed system of rules laid
down by society.
Jesus continued inviting the people to Almighty
Allah. His call was based on the principle that there is no mediation between
the Creator and His creatures. However, Jesus was in conflict with the Jews'
superficial interpretation of the Torah. He said that he did not come to
abrogate the Torah, but to complete it by going to the spirit of its substance
to arrive at its essence.
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[next] He made the Jews understand that the
Ten Commandments have more value than they imagined. For instance, the fifth
commandment does not only prohibit physical killing, but all forms of killing;
physical, psychological, or spiritual. And the sixth commandment does not
prohibit
adultery only in the sense of unlawful physical
contact between a man and a woman, but also prohibits all forms of unlawful
relations or acts that might lead to adultery. The eye commits adultery when it
looks at anything with passion.
Jesus
Denounces Materialism
Jesus was therefore in confrontation with the
materialistic people. He told them to desist from hypocrisy, show and false
praise. There was no need to hoard wealth in this life. They should not
preoccupy themselves with the goods of this passing world; rather they must
preoccupy themselves with the affairs of the coming world because it would be
everlasting. Jesus told them that caring for this world is a sin, not fit for
pious worshippers. The disbeliveers care for it because they do not know a
better way. As for the believers, they know that their sustenance is with Allah,
so they trust in Him and scorn this world. Jesus continued to invite people to
worship the Only Lord, Who is without partner, just as he invited them to
purify the heart and soul.
Jewish
Priests Try to Embarrass Jesus
His teaching annoyed the priests, for every word
of Jesus was a threat to them and their position, exposing their misdeeds. The
Roman occupiers had, at first, no intention of being involved in this religious
discord of the Jews because it was an internal affair, and they saw that this
dispute would distract the Jews from the question of the occupation.
However, the priests started to plot against
Jesus. They wanted to embarrass him and to prove that he had come to destroy
the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law provides that an adulteress be stoned to death.
They brought him a Jewish adulteress and asked Jesus: "Does not the law
stipulate the stoning of the adulteress?" Jesus answered: "Yes."
They said: "This woman is an adulteress." Jesus looked at the woman
and then at the priests. He knew that they were more sinful than she. They
agreed that she should be killed according to Mosaic Law, and they understood
that if he was going to apply Mosaic Law, he would be destroying his own rules
of forgiveness and mercy.
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[next] Jesus understood their plan. He
smiled and assented: "Whoever among you is sinless can stone her."
His voice rose in the middle of the Temple, making a new law on adultery, for
the sinless to judge sin. There was none eligible; no mortal can judge sin,
only Allah the Most Merciful. As Jesus left the temple, the woman followed him.
She took out a bottle of perfume from her garments, knelt before his feet and
washed them with perfume and tears, and then dried his feet with her hair.
Jesus turned to the woman and told her to stand up, adding: "O Lord,
forgive her sins." He let the priests understand that those who call
people to Almighty Allah are not executioners. His call was based on mercy for
the people, the aim of all divine calls.
Jesus'
Brings the Dead to Life
Jesus continued to pray to Allah for mercy on
his people and to teach his people to have mercy on
one another and to believe in Allah. Jesus
continued his mission, aided by divine miracles. Some Qur'anic commentators
said that Jesus brought four people back from the dead: a friend of his named
Al-Azam, an old woman's son, and a woman's only daughter. These three had died
during his lifetime. When the Jews saw this they said: "You only resurrect
those who have died recently; perhaps they only fainted." They asked him
to bring back to life Sam the Ibn Noah.
When he asked them to show him his grave, the people
accompanied him there. Jesus invoked Allah the Exalted to bring him back to
life and behold, Sam the Ibn Noah came out from the grave gray-haired. Jesus
asked: "how did you get gray hair, when there was no aging in your
time?" He answered: "O Spirit of Allah, I thought that the Day of
Resurrection had come; from the fear of that day my hair turned gray."
The
Miracles of Jesus - Quranic
Allah the Almighty said:
"Remember when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My Favor to you and to your mother when I supported you with Ruh-ul-Qudus (Gabriel) so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you writing, Al Hikmah (the power of understanding), the Torah and the Gospel; and when you made out of the clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My Permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a bird by My Permission, and you
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[next] healed
those born blind, and the lepers by My Permission, and when you brought forth
the dead by My Permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from
you (when they resolved to kill you) since you came unto them with clear
proofs, and the disbeliveers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident
magic.'" And when I (Allah) put in their hearts of the disciples (of
Jesus) to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: "We believe. And bear
witness that we are Muslims." (Ch 5:110-111 Quran)
Jesus'
Abilities and the Disciples - Quranic
Almighty Allah also revealed:
"And He Allah will teach him (Jesus) the
Book and Al Hikmah (the Sunna, the faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom,
etc.), (and) the Torah and the Gospel. And will make him (Jesus) a Messenger to
the Children of Israel (saying): "I have come to you with a sign from your
Lord, that I design for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and
breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's Leave; and I heal him who was
born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah's leave. And I
inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein
is a sign for you, if you believe. And I have come confirming that which was
before me of the Torah, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to
you, and I have come to you with proof from your Lord. So fear Allah and obey
me. Truly! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the
Straight Path." Then when Jesus came to know of their disbelief, he said:
"Who will be my helpers in Allah's Cause?" The disciples said:
"We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness
that we are Muslims (we submit to Allah)."
Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger
(Jesus); so write us down among those who bear witness (to the truth, La ilaha
ill Allah - none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). And they
(disbeliveers) plotted (to kill Jesus), and Allah planned too. And Allah is the
Best of the planners. (Ch 3:48-54 Quran)
Allah
Sends the Disciples a Feast
Jesus continued calling people to Almighty Allah
and laying down for them what might be called "the law of the
Spirit." Once when standing on a mountain surrounded by his disciples,
Jesus saw that those who believed in him were from among the poor, the
wretched, an the downtrodden, and their number was small. Some of the miracles
which Jesus performed had been requested by his disciples, such as their wish
for a "holy table" to be sent down from heaven. Allah the Exalted
said:
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[next] "Remember when the disciples
said: "O Jesus, son of Mary! Can your Lord send down to us a table spread
(with food) from heaven?" Jesus said: "Fear Allah, if you are indeed
believers." They said: "We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in
Faith and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves
be its witnesses." Jesus, son of Mary, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send
us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us - for the
first and the last of us - a festival and a sign from You; and provide us
sustenance, for You are the best of sustainers." Allah said: "I am
going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then
I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among
all the Alamin (mankind and jinn).
And (remember) when Allâh will say (on the Day
of Resurrection): "O 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto
men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allâh?' " He will say:
"Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say).
Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my
innernself though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the
AllnKnower of all that is hidden and unseen." (Ch 5:112-116 Quran)
It was related that Jesus commanded his
disciples to fast for thirty days; at the end of it, they asked Jesus to bring
food from heaven to break their fast. Jesus prayed to Allah after his disciples
had doubted Allah's power. The great table cam down between two clouds, one
above and one below, while the people watched. Jesus said: "O Lord, make
it a mercy and not a cause of distress." So it fell between Jesus's hands,
covered with a napkin. Jesus suddenly prostrated and his disciples with him.
They sensed a fragrance, which they had never smelled before. Jesus said:
"The one who is the most devout and most righteous may uncover the table,
that we might eat of it to thank Allah for it." They said: "O Spirit
of Allah, you are the most deserving."
Jesus stood up, then performed ablution and
prayed before uncovering the table, and behold, there was a roasted fish. The
disciples said: "O Spirit of Allah, is this the food of this world or of
Paradise?" Jesus said to his disciples: "Did not Allah forbid you to
ask questions? It is the divine power of Allah the Almighty Who said: 'Be,' and
it was. It is a sign from Almighty Allah warning of great punishment for
unbelieving mortals of the world. This is the kernel of the matter." It is
said that thousands of people partook of it, and yet they never exhausted it. A
further miracle was that the blind and lepers were cured.
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[next] Those Worshipping
Jesus and Allah's Questions to Jesus
The Day of the Table became one of the holy days
for the disciples and followers of Jesus. Later on, the disciples and followers
forgot the real essence of the miracles, and so they worshipped Jesus as a god.
Almighty Allah asserted:
"And remember when Allah will say (on the
Day of Resurrection): "O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say unto men:
'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?'" He will say:
"Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right to say. Had
I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my
inner self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the
All Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. Never did I say to them aught
except what You (Allah) did command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your
Lord', And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You
took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all
things. (This is a great admonition and warning to the Christians of the whole
world). If you punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them,
Verily You, only You are the All Mighty, the All Wise." Allah will say:
"This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs
are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) - they shall abide therein
forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great
success (Paradise). To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth
and all that is therein, and He is Able to do all things." (Ch 5:116-120
Quran)
The Jews
Plot to Kill Jesus
Jesus went on his mission until vice knew that its throne was threatening to fall. So the forces of evil accused him of magic, infringement of the Mosaic Law, allegiance with the devil; and when they saw that the poor people followed him, they began to scheme against him. The Sanhedrin, the highest judicial and ecclesiastical council of the Jews, began to meet to plot against Jesus. The plan took a new turn. When the Jews failed to stop Jesus' s call, they decided to kill him. The chief priests held secret meetings to agree on the best way of getting rid of Jesus. While they were in such a meeting, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, went to them and asked: "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" Judas bargained with them until they agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver known as shekels. The plot was laid for the capture and murder of Jesus.
207
[next] It
was said that the high priest of the Jews tore his garment at the meeting,
claiming that Jesus had denied Judaism. The tearing of clothes at that time was
a sign of disgust.
The
Torture of Jesus
The priests had no authority to pass the death
sentence at that time, so they convinced the Roman governor that Jesus was
plotting against the security of the Roman Empire and urged him to take immediate
action against him. The governor ordered thaJesus be arrested. According to the
Book of Matthew, Jesus was arrested and the council of the high priests passed
the death sentence upon him. Then, they began insulting him, spitting on his
face and kicking him. It was the Roman custom for the condemned to be flogged
before they were executed. So Pilate, the Roman governor, ordered that Jesus be
flogged. The Mosaic Law stipulates forty lashes, but the Roman had no limit,
and they were brutal lashes. After that, Jesus was handed to the soldiers for
crucifixion. They took off his clothes, and kept them. They put a crown of
thorns on his head to mock him. According to custom he carried his cross on his
back to increase his suffering.
Jesus's
Crucifixion - Bible Version
Finally, they reached a place called Golgotha,
meaning the Place of Skulls, outside the walls of Jerusalem. Instead of giving
him a cup of wine diluted with scent to help lessen the pain on the cross, the
soldiers gave Jesus a cup of vinegar diluted with gall. Then they crucified him
and, as a further mockery, two thieves with him. So it is written in the Bible.
Jesus's
Crucifixion - Quranic
But the faith of Islam came with views quite
different from that of the extend gospels with regards to both the end of Jesus
and his nature. The Glorious Qur'an affirms that Allah the Exalted did not
permit the people of Israel to kill Jesus or crucify him. What happened was
that Allah saved him from his enemies and raised him to heaven. They never
killed Jesus, they killed someone else. Allah the Almighty declared:
"And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah," but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of Jesus was put over another man (and they killed that man) and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no certain knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not (Jesus, son of Mary): But Allah raised him (Jesus) up
208
[next] (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he
is in the heavens). And Allah is Ever All Powerful, All Wise. And there is none
of the people of the Scripture (Jews & Christians), but must believe in
him (Jesus, son of Mary, as only a Messenger of Allah, and a human being0,
before his (Jesus or a Jew's or a Christian's ) death (at the time of the
appearance of the angel of death). And on the Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus)
will be a witness against them. ( Ch 4:157-159 Quran)
Almighty Allah also revealed:
"And remember when Allah said: "O
Jesus! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you (of the forged
statement that Jesus is Allah's son) of those who disbelieve, and I will make
those who follow you (Monotheists, who worship none but Allah ) superior to
those who disbelieve (in
the Oneness of Allah, or disbelieve in some of
His Messengers, e.g. Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, etc., or in His Holy Books, e.g.
the Torah, the Gospel, the Qur'an) till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will
return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to
dispute." (Ch 3:55 Quran).
Refutation
of the Christians Claim
Allah Disclaims Begetting Anyone - Surah 19,
Almighty Allah refuted the claims of the Jews and the Christians in many verses
of the Glorious Qur'an. And they say: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) has
begotten a son (or offspring or children) (as the Jews say: Ezra is the son of
Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son (Christ), and the
pagan Arabs say that he has begotten daughters (angels, etc.))." Indeed
you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. Whereby the heavens are
almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins,
that they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent
(Allah). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of ) the Most Beneficent
(Allah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children). There is non in
the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) as a
slave. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting.
And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without
any helper, or protector or defender). (Ch 19:88-95 Quran)
Allah the Exalted also declared:
"Yet, they join the jinns as partners in worship with Allah, though He has created them
209
[next] (the jinns), and they
attribute falsely without knowledge sons and daughters to Him. Be He Glorified!
And Exalted above (all) that they attribute to Him. He is the Originator of the
heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife? He created
all things and He is the All-Knower of everything. Such is Allah, your Lord! La
ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Creator of
all things. So worship Him (Alone), and He is the Wakil (Trustee, Disposer of
affairs, Guardian etc.) over all tings. No vision can grasp Him, but His Grasp
is over all vision. He is the Most Subtle and Courteous, Well-Acquainted with
all things. (Ch 6:100-103 Quran) Almighty Allah commanded:
"O people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in you religion, nor say of Allah aught
but the truth. The Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was (no more than ) a Messenger
of Allah and His Word, ("Be" - and he was) which He bestowed on Mary
and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say
not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (It is ) better for you. For Allah is
the only One Ilah (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a
son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth.
And Allah is All Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs. The Messiah will never be
proud to reject to be a slave to Allah, nor the angels who are near (to Allah).
And whosoever rejects His worship and is proud, then He will gather them all
together unto Himself. So, as for those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah -
Islamic Monotheism) and did deeds of righteousness, He will give their (due)
rewards, and more out of His Bounty. But as
for those who refuse His worship and were proud,
He will punish them with a painful torment. And they will not find for
themselves besides Allah any protector or helper. (Ch 4:171-173 Quran)
Allah
Disclaims Ezra as a Son
Almighty Allah also declared:
And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbeliveers of old. Allah's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth! They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah, (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah) and (they also took as their lord) Messiah, son of Mary , while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded (in the Torah and the
210
[next] Gospel) to worship none but One Ilah (God- Allah) La ilaha illa
Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him,
(far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him). (Ch
9:30-32 Quran)
Allah
Disclaims Begetting Anyone
Allah the Almighty also revealed:
"Now ask them (O Muhammad): "Are there
(only) daughters for your Lord and sons for them?" Or did We create the
angels females while they were witnesses? Verily, it is of their falsehood that
they (Quraish pagans) say: "Allah has begotten off-spring or children
(angels are the daughters of Allah)" And, verily, they are liars! Has He
(then) chosen daughters rather than sons? What is the matter with you? How do
you decide? Will you not then remember? Or is there for you a plain authority?
Then bring your Book if you are truthful! And they have invented a kinship
between Him and the jinns, but the jinn know well that they have indeed to
appear (before Him) (i.e. they will be brought for accounts). Glorified be
Allah! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him! Except the slaves of
Allah, whom He chooses (for His Mercy i.e. true believers of Islamic Monotheism
who do not attribute false things unto Allah). (Ch 37:149-160 Quran) And
Almighty Allah declared:
"Surely, in disbelief are they who say that
Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say (O Muhammad): "Who then has the
least power against Allah, if He were destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, his
mother, and all those who are on the earth together?" And to Allah belongs
the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them. He
creates what He wills. And Allah is Able to do all things. And (both) the Jews
and Christians say; "We are the children of Allah and His loved
ones." Say: "Why then does He punish you for your sins?" Nay,
you are but human beings, of those He has created, He forgive whom He wills and
He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the
dominion of the heavens and the earth and all
that is between them, and to Him is the return of all. O people of the
Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad)
making (things) clear unto you, after a break in (the series of ) Messengers,
lest you say: "there came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no
warner." But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner.
And Allah is Able to do all things. (Ch 5:17-19 Quran)
Allah the Exalted warned: Surely they have disbelieved who say: "Allah is the Messiah
211
[next] (Jesus), son of
Mary." But the Messiah (Jesus) said: "O Children of Israel! Worship
Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Verily, whosoever sets up partners in
worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire
will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists, and wrong-doers) there are
no helpers.
Surely, disbeliveers are those who said:
"Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)." But there is no
Ilah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah (God- Allah).
And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall
the disbeliveers among them. Will they not repent to Allah and ask His
Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Messiah (Jesus),
son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed
away before him. His mother (Mary) was a Siddiqah (she believed in the Words of
Allah, and His Books. They both used to eat food, as any other human being,
while Allah does not eat). Look how We made the Ayat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are
deluded away from the truth. (Ch 5:72-75 Quran) And Almighty Allah ordered: And
say:
"All the praises and thanks be to Allah,
Who has not begotten a son (nor an offspring), and Who has no partner in His
Dominion, nor He is low to have a Wali (helper, protector, or supporter). And
magnify Him with all the magnificence, (Allahu-Akbar, Allah is the Most
Great)." (Ch 17:111Quran)
The pagans once asked the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh): "To whom is your Lord related, His original ancestors and His
various branches of descendants?" It is also reported that the Jews said:
"We worship Ezra, the Son of Allah," and the Christians said:
"Jesus is the Son of Allah," and the Magians said: "We worship
the sun and the moon," an the Pagans said: "We worship idols."
In response to all of them Allah revealed some of His attributes: Unity,
Uniqueness, and other substantives:
Say: (O Muhammad): "He is Allah, the One.
Allah As-Samad (The Self- Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He
neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; and there is none
co-equal or comparable unto Him." (Ch 112:1-4 Quran)
Description
of Muhammad
Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Mecca ( Makkah), Arabia, on Monday, 12 Rabi' Al-Awal
212
[next] (2 August A.D. 570). His mother,
Aminah, was the daughter of Wahb Ibn Abdu Manaf of the Zahrah family. His
father, 'Abdullah, was the son of Abdul Muttalib. His genealogy has been traced
to the noble house of Ishmael, the son of Prophet Abraham in about the fortieth
descend. Muhammad's father died before his birth. Before he was six years old
his mother died, and the doubly orphaned Muhammad was put under the charge of
his grandfather Abdul Muttalib who took the most tender care of him. But the
old chief died two years afterwards. On his deathbed he confided to his son Abu
Talib the charge of the little orphan.
Journey
to Busra - Christian Monk merits Muhammad
When Muhammad was twelve years old, he
accompanied his uncle Abu Talib on a mercantile journey to Syria, and they
proceeded as far as Busra. The journey lasted for some months. It was at Busra
that the Christian monk Bahira met Muhammad. He is related to have said to Abu
Talib: 'Return with this boy and guard him against the hatred of the Jews, for
a great career awaits your nephew."
Muhammad's
honest and honorable character
After this journey, the youth of Muhammad seems
to have been passed uneventfully, but all authorities agree in ascribing to him
such correctness of manners and purity of morals as were rare among the people
of Mecca. The fair character and the honorable bearing of the unobtrusive youth
won the approbation of the citizens of Mecca, and b y common consent he
received the title of "Al Ameen," The Faithful. In his early years,
Muhammad was not free from the cares of life. He had to watch the flocks of his
uncle, who, like the rest of the Bani Hashim, had lost the greater part of his
wealth.
Solitary
lifestyle of Muhammad's youth
From youth to manhood he led an almost solitary
life. The lawlessness rife among the Meccans, the sudden outbursts of causeless
and bloody quarrels among the tribes frequenting the Fair of Okadh (The Arabian
Olympia), and the immorality and skepticism of the Quraish, naturally caused
feelings of pity and sorrow in the heart of the sensitive youth. Such scenes of
social misery and religious degradation were characteristic of a depraved age.
Muhammad's
marriage to Khadijah
213
[next] When Muhammad was twenty five years
old, he traveled once more to Syria as a factor of a noble and rich Quraishi
widow named Khadijah; and, having proved himself faithful in the commercial
interests of that lady, he was soon rewarded with her hand in marriage. This
marriage proved fortunate and singularly happy. Khadijah was much the senior of
her husband, but in spite of the disparity of age between them, the most tender
devotion on both sides existed. This marriage gave him the loving heart of a
woman who was ever ready to console him in his despair and to keep alive within
him the feeble, flickering flame of hope when no man believed in him and the
world appeared gloomy in his eyes.
Troubled,
lawless times for the Makkans
Until he reached thirty years of age, Muhammad
was almost a stranger to the outside world. Since the death of his grandfather,
authority in Mecca was divided among the ten senators who constituted the
governing body of the Arabian Commonwealth. There was no such accord among them
as to ensure the safety of individual rights and property. Though family
relations afforded some degree of protection to citizens, yet strangers were frequently
exposed to persecution and oppression. In many cases they were robbed, not only
of their goods, but even of their wives and daughters. At the instigation of
the faithful Muhammad, an old league called the Federation of Fudul, i.e.,
favors was revived with the object of repressing lawlessness and defending
every weak individual - whether Meccan or stranger, free or slave - against any
wrong or oppression to which he might be the victim within the territories of
Mecca.
When Muhammad reached thirty-five years, he
settled by his judgment a grave dispute, which threatened to plunge the whole
of Arabia into a fresh series of her oft-recurring wars. In rebuilding the
Sacred House of the Ka'ba in A.D. 605, the question arose as to who should have
the honor of raising the black stone, the most holy relic of that House, into
its proper place. Each tribe claimed that honor. The senior citizen advised the
disputants to accept for their arbitrator the first man to enter from a certain
gate. The proposal was agreed upon, and the first man who entered the gate was
Muhammad "Al-Ameen." His advice satisfied all the contending parties.
He ordered the stone to be placed on a piece of cloth and each tribe to share
the honor of lifting it up by taking hold of a part of the cloth. The stone was
thus deposited in its place, and the rebuilding of the House was completed
without further interruption.
Muhammad
thwarts intention of the Romans to control Makka
214
[next] It is related that, about this time,
a certain Usman, Ibn Huwairith, supported by Byzantine gold, made an attempt to
convert the territory of Hijaz into a Roman dependency, but the attempt failed,
chiefly through the instrumentality of Muhammad.
Kindness
and generousity shown to the people
These are nearly all the public acts related by
historians in which Muhammad took part in the first fifteen years of his
marriage to Khadijah. As for his private life he is described to have been ever
helpful to the needy and the helpless. His uncle Abu Talib had fallen into
distress through his endeavors to maintain the old position of his family.
Muhammad, being rather rich at this time by his alliance with Khadijah, tried
to discharge part of the debt of gratitude and obligation which he owed to his
uncle by undertaking the bringing up and education of his son 'Ali. A year
later he adopted 'Akil, another of his uncle's sons.
Khadijah bore Muhammad three sons and four
daughters. All the males died in childhood, but in loving 'Ali he found much
consolation. About this time, Muhammad set a good example of kindness, which
created a salutary effect upon his people. His wife Khadijah had made him a
present of young slave named Zaid Ibn Haritha, who had been brought as a
captive to Mecca and sold to Khadijah. When Haritha heard that Muhammad
possessed Zaid, he came to Mecca and offered a large sum for his ransom.
Whereupon Muhammd said: "Let Zaid come here, and if he chooses to go with
you, take him without ransom; but if it be his choice to stay with me, why
should I not keep him?' Zaid, being brought into Muhammad's presence, declared
that he would stay with his master, who treated him as if he was his only son.
Muhammad no sooner heard this than he took Zaid by the hand and led him to the
black stone of Ka'ba, where he publicly adopted him as his son, to which the
father acquiesced and returned home well satisfied. Henceforward Zaid was
called the son of Muhammad.
Muhammd was now approaching his fortieth year,
and his mind was ever-engaged in profound contemplation and reflection. Before
him lay his country, bleeding and torn by fratricidal wars and intolerable
dissension's; his people, sunk in barbarism, addicted to the observation of
rites and superstitions, were, with all their desert virtues, lawless and
cruel. His two visits to Syria had opened to him a scene of unutterable moral
and social desolation, rival creeds and sects tearing each other to pieces,
carrying their hatred to the valleys and deserts of Hijaz, and rending the
townships of Arabia with their quarrels and bitterness.
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[next] Allah's Divine
Inspiration touches Muhammad
For years after his marriage, Muhammad had been
accustomed to secluding himself in a cave in Mount Hira, a few miles from
Mecca. To this cave he used to go for prayer and meditation, sometimes alone
and sometime with his family. There, he often spent the whole nights in deep
thought and profound communion with the Unseen yet All-Knowing Allah of the
Universe. It was during one of those retirements and in the still hours of the
night, when no human sympathy was near, that an angel came to him to tell him
that he was the Messenger of Allah sent to reclaim a fallen people to the
knowledge and service of their Lord. Renowned compilers of authentic traditions
of Islam agree on the following account of the first revelations received by
the Prophet. Muhammad would seclude himself in the cave of Mount Hira and
worship three days and nights. He would, whenever he wished, return to his
family at Mecca and then go back again, taking wihim the necessities of life.
Thus he continued to return to Khadijah from time to time until one day the
revelation came down to him and the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) appeared to him and
said:
"Read!" But as Muhammad was
illiterate, having never received any instruction in reading or writing, he
said to the angel:
"I am not a reader."
The angel took a hold of him and squeezed him as
much as he could bear, and then said again:
"Read!" Then Prophet said:
"I am not a reader."
The Angel again seized the Prophet and squeezed
him and said:
"Read! In the Name of Your Lord, Who has
created (all that exists), has created a man from a clot (a piece of thick
coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught
(the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not." (Ch
96:1-4 Quran).
Then the Prophet repeated the words with a trembling heart. He returned to Khadijah
216
[next] from Mount Hira and said:
"Wrap me up! Wrap me up!" She wrapped him in a garment until his fear
was dispelled. He told Khadijah what had occurred and that he was becoming
either a soothsayer or one smitten with madness. She replied: "Allah
forbid! He will surely not let such a thing happen, for you speak the truth,
you are faithful in trust, you bear the afflictions of the people, you spend in
good works what you gain in trade, you are hospitable and you assist your
fellow men. Have you seen anything terrible?" Muhammad replied:
"Yes," and told her what he had seen. Whereupon, Khadijah said:
"Rejoice, O dear husband and be cheerful. He is Whose hands stands
Khadijah's life bears witness to the truth of this fact, that you will be the
prophet to this people."
Khadijah
consults cousin knowledgeable of Scriptures; confirmation of Prophet
After this experience Khadijah went to her
cousin Waraqa Ibn Naufal, who was old and blind and who knew the Scriptures of
the Jews and Christians, and is stated to have translated them into Arabic.
When she told him of what she had heard, he cried out: "Holy! Holy! Verily,
this is the Namus (The Holy Spirit) who came to Moses. He will be the prophet
of his people. Tell him this and bid him to be brave at heart." When the
two men met subsequently in the street, the blind old student of the Jewish and
Christian Scriptures spoke of his faith and trust: "I swear by Him in Who
hand Waraqa's life is, Allah has chosen you to be the prophet of this people.
They will call you a liar, they will persecute you, they will banish you, and
they will fight against you. Oh, that I could live to those days. I would fight
for these." And he kissed him on the forehead.
Muhammad's
Visions and struggle to fight depression
The first vision was followed by a considerable
period, during which Muhammad suffered much mental depression. Only Almighty
Allah knows what Muhammad must have been thinking and feeling at that time. He
may have been worried about his visions, uncertain as to how the majority of
the Makkans would treat Allah's blessing, since their own interests were at
stake. The Makkans, at that time, relied heavily on trade that revolved around
polytheistic and pagan rituals of false idols and statues and other things that
they worshipped. One can't contemplate his future and responsibilities to the
people of the world, as well as the challenges that Allah Almighty had chosen
him for.
Prophet
rises to start his mission for Allah
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[next] The angel spoke to the grieved heart
of hope and trust and of the bright future when he would see the people of the
earth crowding into the one true faith. His destiny was unfolded to him, when,
wrapped in profound meditation, melancholy and sad, he felt himself called by a
voice from heaven to arise and preach.
"O you (Muhammad) enveloped (in garments)!
Arise and warn! And your Lord (Allah) magnify!" (Ch 74:1-3 Quran)
He arose and engaged himself in the work to
which he was called. Khadijah was the first to accept his mission. She was to
believe in the revelations, to abandon the idolatry of her people and to join
him in purity of heart and in offering up prayers to Allah the Almighty.
The
Companions
At the beginning of his mission, Muhammad -
hereinafter called the Prophet - opened his soul only to those who were
attached to him and tried to free them from the gross practices of their
forefathers. After Khadijah, his cousin' Ali was the next companion. The
Prophet used often to go into the desert around Mecca with his wife and young
cousin that they might together offer their heart felt thanks to the Lord of
all nations for His manifold blessings. Once they were surprised by Abu Talib,
the father of 'Ali. He said to the Prophet: "O son of my brother, what is
this religion you are following?" "It is the religion of Allah of His
Angels, of His Messengers and of our ancestor Abraham," answered the
Prophet. "Allah has sent me to His servants, to direct them towards the
truth, and you, O my uncle, are the most worthy of all. It is meet that I
should thus call upon you and it is meet that you should accept the truth and
help in spreading it."
Abu Talib replied: "Son of my brother, I
cannot abjure the religion of my fathers; but by the Supreme Lord, while I am
alive, none shall dare to injure you." Then turning towards 'Ali, the
venerable chief asked what religion was his. Ali answered: "O father, I
believe in Allah and His Prophet and go with him." Abu Talib replied:
"Well my son, he will not call you to anything except what is good,
therefore you are free to go with him."
After 'Ali, Muhammad's adopted son Zaid became a convert to the new faith. He was followed by Abu Bakr, a leading member of the Quraish tribe and an honest, wealthy merchant who enjoyed great consideration among his compatriots. He was but two years younger than the Prophet. His adoption of the new faith was of great moral effect. Soon after, five notables presented themselves before the Prophet and accepted Islam.
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[next] Several
converts also came from lower classes of the Arabs to adopt the new religion.
Proliferation
of Islamic Knowledge by our Prophet
For three weary long years, the Prophet labored
very quietly to deliver his people from the worship of idols. Polytheism was
deeply rooted among the people. It offered attractions, which
the new faith in its purity did not possess. The
Quraish had personal material interests in the old worship, and their prestige
was dependent upon its maintenance. The Prophet had to contend with the
idolatrous worship of its followers and to oppose the ruling oligarchy, which
governed its destinies. After three years of constant but quiet struggle, only
thirty followers were secured. An important change now occurred in the
relations of the Prophet with the citizens of Mecca. His compatriots had begun
to doubt his sanity, thinking him crazy or possessed by an evil spirit.
Hitherto he preached quietly and unobtrusively. He now decided to appeal
publicly to the Meccans, requesting them to abandon their idolatry. For this he
arranged a gathering on a neighboring hill and there spoke to them of their
folly in the sight of Allah in worshipping pieces of stone which they called
their gods. He invited them to abandon their old impious worship and adopt the
faith of love, truth and purity. He warned them of the fate that had overtaken
past races who had not heeded the preaching of former prophets. But the
gathering departed without listening to the warning given them by the Prophet.
Having thus failed to induce his fellow citizens to listen to him, he turned
his attention to the strangers arriving in the city on commerce or pilgrimage.
But the Quraish made attempts to frustrate his efforts. They hastened
themselves to meet the strangers first on different routes, to warn them
against holding any communication with the Prophet, whom they represented as a
dangerous magician. When the pilgrims or traders returned to their homes, they
carried with them the news of the advent of the bold preacher who was inviting
the Arabs loudly - at the risk of his own life - to abandon the worship of
their dear idols.
Persecution
perpetrated by the Makkan Tribe of Quraish
Now the Prophet and his followers became subject to some persecution and indignity. The hostile Quraish prevented the Prophet from offering his prayers at the Sacred House of the Ka'ba; they pursued him wherever he went; they covered him and his disciples with dirt and filth when engaged in their devotions; they scattered thorns in the places which he frequented for devotion and meditation. Amidst all these trials the
219
[next] Prophet
did not waver. He was full of confidence in his mission, even when on several
occasions he was put in imminent danger of losing his life. At this time Hamza,
the youngest son of Abdul Muttalib, adopted Islam. Hamza was a man of
distinguished bravery, an intrepid warrior, generous and true, whose heroism
earned for him the title of the "Lion of Allah." He became a devoted
adherent of Islam and everlost his life in the cause. The Prophet continued
preaching to the Arabs in a most gentle and reasonable manner. He called
thepeople, so accustomed to iniquity and wrong doings, to abandon their
abominations. In burning words which excited the hearts of his hearers, he
warned them of the punishment which Allah had inflicted upon the ancient tribes
of 'Ad and Thamud who had obstinately disobeyed the teachings of Allah's
messengers to them. He adjured them by the wonderful sights of nature, by the
noon day brightness, by the night when it spreads its veil, by the day when it
appears in glory to listen to his warning before a similar destruction befell
them. He spoke to them of the Day of Reckoning, when their deeds in this world
will be weighed before the Eternal Judge, when the children who had been buried
alive will be asked for what crime they were put to death. Almighty Allah said:
"Nay, they wonder that there has come to
them a Warner (Muhammad) from among themselves.
So the disbeliveers say: "This is a strange thing! When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be resurrected)? That is a far return." We know that which the earth takes of them (their dead bodies), and with Us is a Book preserved (i.e., the Book of Decrees). Nay, but, they have denied the truth (this Qur'an) when it has come to them, so they are in a confused state (can not differentiate between right and wrong). Have they not looked at the heaven above them, how We have made it and adorned it, and there are no rifts in it? And the earth! We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and have produced therein every kind of lovely growth (plants). An insight and a reminder for every slave turning to Allah (i.e., the one who believes in Allah and performs deeds of His obedience, and always begs His pardon). And We send down blessed water (rain) from the sky, then we produce therewith gardens and grain (every kind of harvests that are reaped). And tall date palms, with ranged clusters; a provision for (Allah's) slaves. And We give life therewith to a dead land. Thus will be the resurrection (of the dead). Denied before them (i.e. these pagans of Makka who denied you, O Muhammad) the people of Noah, and the dwellers of Rass, and the Thamud, and 'Ad, and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot, and the dwellers of the Wood, and the people
220
[next] of Tubba, everyone of them denied their Messengers, so My
Threat took effect." (Ch 50: 2-14 Quran)
Almighty Allah also declared:
"All praises and thanks be to Allah Who
Alone created the heavens and the earth, and originated the darkness and the
light, yet those who disbelieve hold others as equal with their Lord. He it is
Who has created you from clay, and then has decreed a stated term (for you to
die). And there is with Him another determined term (for you to be
resurrected), yet you doubt (in the Resurrection). And He is Allah (to be
worshipped Alone) in the heavens and on the earth, He knows what you conceal
and what you reveal, and He knows what you earn (good or bad). And never an
Ayah (sign) comes to them from the Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs,
revelations, etc.) of their Lord, but that they have been turning away from it.
Indeed, they rejected the truth (The Qur'an and Muhammad) when it came to them,
but there will come to them the news of that (the torment) which they used to
mock at. Have they not seen how many a generation before them We have destroyed
whom We had established on the earth such as We have not established you? And
We poured out on them rain from the sky in abundance, and made the rivers flow
under them. Yet We destroyed them for their sins, and created after them other
generations." (Ch 6:1-6 Quran)
As the number of believers increased and the
cause of the Prophet was strengthened by the conversions of many powerful
citizens, the Prophet's preaching alarmed the Quraish. Their power and prestige
were at stake. They were the custodians of the idols, which the Prophet had
threatened to destroy; they were the ministers of the worship, which he
denounced; in fact their existence and living wholly depended upon the
maintenance of the old institutions. The Prophet taught that in the sight of
his Lord all human were equal, the only distinction recognized among them being
the weight of their piety. Allah the Exalted said:
"O mankind! We have created you from a male
and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one
another. Verily, the most honorable of you in the Sight of Allah is that
believer who has At Taqwa (one of the Muttaqun, pious and righteous persons who
fear Allah much, abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has
forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has
ordained. Verily! Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." (Ch 49:13 Quran).
The Quraish would have none of this leveling of distinctions, as it reflected upon their
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[next] long inherited privileges.
Accordingly, they organized a system of persecution in order to suppress the
movement before it became firmly established. They decided that each family
should take upon itself the task of stamping out the new faith on the spot.
Each household tortured its own members or adherents or slaves who were
supposed to have connected themselves with the new religion. With the exception
of the Prophet, who was protected by Abu Talib and his kinsmen, and Abu Bakr,
and a few others who were either distinguished by their rank or possessed some
influence among the Quraish, all other converts were subjected to different
sorts of torture. Some of them were thrown into prison, starved, and then
flogged. The hill of Ramada and the place called Bata thus became scenes of
cruel torture.
Quraish
fear spread of Islam - Try in vain to blackmail Prophet
One day the Quraish tried to induce the Prophet
to discontinue his teachings of the new religion, which had sown discord among
their people. 'Utba Ibn Rabi'a, was delegated to see the Prophet and speak to
him. 'Utba said: "O son of my brother, you are distinguished by your
qualities; yet you have sown discord among our people and cast dissension in
our families; you denounced our gods and goddesses and you charge our ancestors
with impiety. Now we are come to make a proposition to you, and I ask you to
think well before you reject it." "I am listening to you, O father of
Walid," said the Prophet. "O son of my brother, if by this affair you
intend to acquire riches, honors, and dignity, we are willing to collect for
you a fortune larger than is possessed by any one of us; we shall make you our
chief and will do nothing without you. If you desire dominion, we shall make
you our king; and if the demon which possesses you cannot be subdued, we will
bring you doctors and give them riches until they cure you." When 'Utba
had finished his discourse, the Prophet said: "Now listen to me, O father
of Walid." "I listen." He replied. The Prophet, recited to him
the first thirteen verses of Surah Fussilat, which maybe interpreted as
follows:
"Ha Mim (These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah Alone knows their meanings). A revelation from Allah the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. A Book whereof the Verses are explained in detail; - a Quran in Arabic for people who know. Giving glad tidings (of Paradise to the one who believes in the Oneness of Allah, Islamic Monotheism) and fears Allah much (abstains from all kinds of sins and evil deeds) and loves Allah much (performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained), and warning (of punishment in the Hellfire to be the one who disbelieves in the Oneness of Allah), but most of them turn away, so they listen not. And they say:
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[next] "Our hearts are under coverings
(screened) from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and
between us and you is a screen, so work you (on your way); verily we are
working (on our way). Say (O Muhammad): "I am only a human being like you.
It is inspired in me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God - Allah), therefore
take the Straight Path to Him (with true Faith
Islamic Monotheism) and obedience to Him, and
seek forgiveness of Him. And woe to Al-Mushrikeen; (polytheists, pagans,
idolaters, and disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah, etc, those who worship
others along with or set up rivals or partners to Allah etc.) Those who give
not the Zakat and they are disbeliveers in the Hereafter. Truly, those who
believe (in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad - Islamic
Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds for them will be an endless reward that
will never stop (Paradise). Say (O Muhammad): "Do you verily disbelieve in
Him Who created the earth in two Days and you set up rivals (in worship) with
Him? That is the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). He
placed therein (the earth) firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and
measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days equal (all
these four days were equal in the length of time), for all those who ask (about
its creation). Then He Istawa (rose over) towards the heaven when it was smoke,
and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or
unwillingly." They both said: "We come, willingly." Then He
completed and finished from their creation as seven heavens in two days and he
made in each heaven with lamps (stars) to b e an adornment as well as to guard
(from the devils by using them as missiles against the devils). Such is the
Decree of Him the All Mighty, The All Knower. But if they turn away, then say
(O Muhammad): "I have warned you of a Sa'iqa (a destruction awful cry,
torment, hit, a thunder bolt) like the Sa'iqa which overtook 'Ad and Thamud
(people)." (Ch 41:1-13 Quran).
When the Prophet had finished his recitation, he
said to 'Utba: "This is my reply to your proposition; now take what course
you find best."
Quraish
increase Persecution - First Hijra of 615 C.E. to Abyssinia
Persecution by the Quraish grew fiercer every day and the sufferings of the Prophet's disciples became unbearable. He had heard of the righteousness, tolerance, and hospitality of the neighboring Christian king of Abyssinia. He recommended such of his companions who were without protection to seek refuge in the kingdom of that pious king, Al Najashi (Negus). Some fifteen of the unprotected adherents of Islam promptly
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[next] availed
themselves of the advice and sailed to Abyssinia. Here they met with a very
kind reception from the Negus. This is called the first hijrah (migration) in
the history of Islam and occurred in the fifth year of the Prophet Muhammad's
mission, A.D. 615. These emigrants were soon followed by many of their fellow
sufferers, until the number reached eighty-three men and eighteen women. The
hostile Quraish, furious at the escape of their victims, sent deputes to the
king of Abyssinia to request him to deliver up the refugees, that they might be
put to death for adjuring their old religion and embracing a new one. The king
summoned the poor fugitives and inquired of them what was the religion, which
they had adopted in preference to their old faith. Ja'far, son of Abu Talib and
brother of 'Ali, acted as spokesman for the exiles. He spoke thus: "O
king, we were plunged in the depth of ignorance and barbarism, we adored idols,
we lived in unchastity, and we ate dead bodies, and we spoke abomination, we
disregarded every feeling of humanity and sense of duty towards our neighbors,
and we knew no law but that of the strong, when Allah raised among us a man, of
whose birth, truthfulness, honesty, and purity we were aware. He called us to
profess the Unity of Allah and taught us to associate nothing with Him; he
forbade us the worship of idols and enjoined us to speak the truth, to be
faithful to our trusts, to be merciful, and to regard the rights of neighbors;
he forbade us to speak evil of the worship of Allah and not to return to the
worship of idols of woos and stone and to abstain from evil, to offer prayers,
to give alms, to observe the fast. We have believed in him, we have accepted
his teachings and his injunctions to worship Allah alone and to associate
nothing with Him. Hence our people have persecuted us, trying to make us forego
the worship of Allah and return to the worship of idols of wood and stone and
other abominations. They have tortured us and injured us until, finding no
safety among them, we have come to your kingdom trusting you will give us
protection against their persecution."
Al-Najashi
(Negus), King of Abyssinia protects Muslims
After hearing the above speech, the hospitable king ordered the deputies to return to their people in safety and not to interfere with their fugitives. Thus the emigrants passed the period of exile in peace and comfort. While the followers of the Prophet sought safety in foreign lands against the persecution of their people, he continued his warnings to the Quraish more strenuously than ever. Again they came to him with offers of riches and honor, which he firmly and utterly refused. But they mocked at him and urged him for miracles to prove his mission. He used to answer: "Allah has not sent me to work wonders; He has sent me to preach to you." Thus disclaiming all power of wonder working, the Prophet ever rested the truth of his divine mission upon his wise teachings.
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[next] He
addressed himself to the inner consciousness of man, to his common sense and to
his own better judgement:
"Say (O Muhammad): "I am only a human
being like you. It is inspired in me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God-
Allah), therefore take the Straight Path to Him (with true Faith Islamic
Monotheism) and obedience to Him and seek forgiveness of Him. And woe to Al
Mushrikeen; (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbeliveers in the Oneness of
Allah etc., those who worship others along with Allah or set up rivals or
partners to Allah etc. (Ch 41:6 Quran)
Despite all the exhortation of the Prophet, the
Quraish persisted in asking him for a sign. They insisted that unless some sign
be sent down to him from his Lord, they would not believe. The disbeliveers
used to ask: "Why has Muhammad not been sent with miracles like previous
prophets?" T he Prophet replied: "Because miracles had proved
inadequate to convince. Noah was sent with signs, and with what effect? Where
was the lost tribe of Thamud? They had refused to receive the preaching of the
Prophet Salih, unless he showed them a sign and caused the rock to bring forth
a living camel. He did what they asked. In scorn they cut the camel's feet and
then daring the prophet to fulfill his threats of judgment, were found dead in
their beds the next morning, stricken by the angel of the Lord."
The Holy
Quran is a Miracle
There are some seventeen places in the Quran, in
which the Prophet Muhammad is challenged to work a sign, and he answered them
all to the same or similar effect: Allah has the power of working miracles, and
has not been believed; there were greater miracles in nature than any which
could be wrought outside of it; and the Quran itself was a great, everlasting
miracle. The Quran, the Prophet used to assert to the disbeliveers, is a book
of blessings which is a warning for the whole world; it is a complete guidance
and explains everything necessary; it is a reminder of what is imprinted on
human nature and is free from every discrepancy and from error and falsehood.
It is a book of true guidance and a light to all.
As to the sacred idols, so much honored and esteemed
by the pagan Arabs, the Prophet openly recited:
"They are but names which you have named -
you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority." (CH
53:23 Quran)
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[next] When the Prophet thus spoke
reproachfully of the sacred gods of the Quraish, the latter redoubled their
persecution. But the Prophet, nevertheless, continued his preaching undaunted
but the hostility of his enemies or by their bitter persecution of him. And
despite all opposition and increased persecution, the new faith gained ground.
The national fair at Okadh near Mecca attracted many desert Bedouins and
trading citizen of distant towns. These listened to the teachings of the
Prophet, to his admonitions, and to his denunciations of their sacred idols and
of their superstitions. They carried back all that they had heard to their
distant homes, and thus the advent of the Prophet was made know to almost all
parts of the peninsula.
Makkans
plea to Abu Talib to stop the Prophet
The Meccans, however, were more than ever
furious at the Prophet's increasing preaching against their religion. They
asked his uncle Abu Talib to stop him, but he could not do anything. At , as
the Prophet persisted in his ardent denunciations against their ungodliness and
impiety, they turned him out from the Ka'ba where he used to sit and preach,
and subsequently went in a body to Abu Talib. They urged the venerable chief to
prevent his nephew from abusing their gods any longer or uttering any ill words
against their ancestors. They warned Abu Talib that if he would not do that, he
would be excluded from the communion of his people and driven to side with
Muhammad; the matter would then be settled by fight until one of the two
parties were exterminated.
Abu Talib neither wished to separate himself
from his people, nor forsake his nephew for the idolaters to revenge themselves
upon. He spoke to the Prophet very softly and begged him to abandon his affair.
To this suggestion the Prophet firmly replied: "O my uncle, if they placed
the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to cause me to renounce
my task, verily I would not desist therefrom until Allah made manifest His
cause or I perished in the attempt." The Prophet, overcome by the thought
that his uncle and protector was willing to desert him, turned to depart. But
Abu Talib called him loudly to come back, and he came. "Say whatever you
please; for by the Lord I shall not desert you ever."
Abu Talib
protects his Nephew, the Prophet
The Quraish again attempted in vain to cause Abu Talib to abandon his nephew. The venerable chief declared his intention to protect his nephew against any menace or violence. He appealed to the sense of honor of the two families of the Bani Hashim and
226
[next] the Bani Muttalib,
both families being kinsmen of the Prophet, to protect their member from
falling a victim to the hatred of rival
parties. All the members of the two families
nobly responded to the appeal of Abu Talib except Abu Lahab, one of the
Prophet's uncles, who took part with the persecutors.
Umar
Al-Khattab submits to Islam
During this period, 'Umar Al-Khattab adopted
Islam. In him the new faith gained a valuable adherent and an important factor
in the future development and propagation of Islam. Hitherto he had been a
violent opposer of the Prophet and a bitter enemy of Islam. His conversion is
said to have been worked by the miraculous effect on his mind of a Surah of the
Quran which his sister was reading in her house, where he had gone with the
intention of killing her for adopting Islam. Thus the party of the Prophet had
been strengthened by the conversation by his uncle Hamza, a man of great valor
and merit; and of Abu Bakr and 'Umar, both men of great energy and reputation.
The Muslims now ventured to perform their devotions in public.
Quraish
divided into two factions
Alarmed at the bold part which the Prophet and
his followers were not able to assume, and roused by the return of the deputies
from Abyssinia and the announcement of their unsuccessful mission, the Quraish
determined to check by a decisive blow any further progress of Islam. Towards
this end, in the seventh year of the mission, they made a solemn covenant
against the descendants of Hashim and Muttalib, engaging themselves to contract
no marriage with any of them and to have no communication with them. Upon this,
the Quraish became divided into two factions, and the two families of Hashim
and Muttalib all repaired to Abu Talib as their chief.
Abu
Lahab's hatred of Islam
Abu Lahab, the Prophet's uncle, however, out of
his inveterate hatred of his nephew and his doctrine, went over to the opposite
party, whose chief was Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb, of the family of Umayya. The
persecuted party, Muslims as well as idolaters betook themselves to a defile on
the eastern skirts of Mecca. They lived in this defensive position for three
years. The provisions, which they had carried with them, were soon exhausted.
Probably they would have entirely perished but for the sympathy and occasional
help received from less bigoted compatriots.
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[next] Reconciliation of
the Quraish
Towards the beginning of the tenth year of the
mission, reconciliation was concluded between the Quraish and the two families
of Hashim and Abdul Muttalib through the intermediation of Hisham, Ibn Umar,
and Zobeir, Ibn Abu Umayya. Thus, the alliance against the two families was
abolished, and they were able to return to Mecca. During the period the Prophet
and his kinspeople passed in their defensive position, Islam made no progress outside;
but in the sacred months, when violence was considered sacrilege, the Prophet
used to come out of his temporary prison to preach Islam to the pilgrims.
Death of
Abu Talib and Khadijah
In the following year, both Abu Talib and
Khadijah died. Thus the Prophet lost in Abu Talib the kind guardian of his
youth who had hitherto protected him against his enemies, and in Khadijah his
most encouraging companion. She was ever his angel of hope and consolation. The
Prophet, weighed down by the loss of his amiable protector and his beloved
wife, without hope of turning the Quraish from idolatry, with a saddened heart,
yet full of trust, resolved to exercise his ministry in some of her field. He
chose Taif, a town about sixty miles east of Mecca, where he went accompanied
by a faithful servant Zaid.
The tribe of Thakif, who were the inhabitants of
Taif, received Muhammad very coldly. However, he stayed there for one month.
Though the more considerate and better sort of men treated him with a little
respect, the slaves and common people refused to listen to his teachings; they
were outrageously indignant at his invitation to abandon the gods they
worshipped with such freedom of morals and lightness of heart. At length they
rose against him, and bringing him to the wall of the city, obliged him to
depart and return to Mecca.
People of
Madina accept Prophet
The repulse greatly discouraged his followers;
however, the Prophet boldly continued to preach to the public assemblies at the
pilgrimage and gained several new converts, among whom were six of the city of
Yahtrib (later called Medina), of the Jewish tribe of Khazraj. When these
Yathribites returned home, they spread the news among their people that a
prophet had arisen among the Arabs who was to call them to Allah and put an end
to their inquiries.
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[next] Miraj (Ascension
to the Heavens) on a creature called Buraq
In the twelfth year of his mission, the Prophet
made his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, and thence to heaven. His
journey, known in history as Miraj (Ascension) was a real bodily one and not
only a vision. It was at this time that Allah ordered the Muslims to pray the
five daily prayers.
Almighty Allah had said:
“Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) (above
all that evil they associate with Him), Who took His slave Muhammad for a
journey by night from AL Masjid al Haram (at Makka) to the farthest mosque (in
Jerusalem), the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, order that We might show
him (Muhammad) of Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily,
He is the All Hearer, the All Seer." (Ch 17:1 Quran)
Abbas Ibn Malik reported that Malik Ibn Sasaa
said that Allah's Messenger described to them his Night Journey saying:
"While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and
cut my body open from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud, who was by my side,
"What does he mean?" He said: "It means from his throat to his public
area," or said, "From the top of the chest." The Prophet further
said, "He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought
to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to
its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and
bigger than a donkey was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked:
"Was it in the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?" I (Anas) replied in the
affirmative. The Prophet said: "The animal's step (was so wide that it)
reached the farthest point within the reach of the animals' sight. I was
carried on it.
Miraj -
Muhammad's encounter with Adam (Hadith)
Gabriel set out with me till we reached the
nearest heaven. "When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked,
'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompany you?'
Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel
replied in the affirmative. Then it was said. 'He is welcomed. What an
excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first
heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said to me: 'This is your father, Adam; pay
him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and
said: 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.'
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[next] Miraj -
Muhammad's encounter with John and Jesus (Hadith)
Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached
the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who
is it?' Gabriel answered: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompany you?'
Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel
answered in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed. What an
excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened. "When I went over the second
heaven, here I saw John (Yahya) and Jesus (Isa), who were cousins of each
other. Gabriel said to me: "These are John and Jesus; pay them your
greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and
said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Miraj -
Muhammad's encounter with Joseph (Hadith)
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third
heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. IT was asked 'Who is it?' And
Gabriel replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompany you?' Gabriel
replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the
affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his
is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw
Joseph (Yusuf), Gabriel said to me: 'This is Joseph, pay him your greetings.'
So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said: 'You are
welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Miraj -
Muhammad's encounter with Enoch (Hadith)
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth
heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. IT was asked 'Who is it?' Gabriel
replied, 'Gabriel' It was asked: 'Who is accompany you?' Gabriel replied:
'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the
affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his
is!' "The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I
saw Enoch (Idris), Gabriel said to me: 'This is Enoch; pay him your greetings.'
So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said: 'You are welcomed
O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Miraj -
Muhammad's encounter with Aaron (Hadith)
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompany you?'
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[next] Gabriel
replied 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the
affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his
is!' So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Aaron (Harun), Gabriel
said to me: "This is Aaron; pay hyour greetings.' So I greeted him and he
returned the greetings to me and said: "You are welcomed, O pious brother
and pious Prophet."
Miraj -
Muhammad's encounter with Moses (Hadith)
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth
heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel
replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied:
'Muhammad.' It was said: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative.
It was said: 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' "When I
went over the sixth heaven, there I saw Moses (Musa). Gabriel said to me:
"This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned
the greetings to me and said: "You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious
Prophet." When I left him (Moses) he wept. Someone asked him: 'What makes
you weep?' Moses said: 'I weep because after me there has been sent (as
Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers
than my followers.'
Miraj -
Muhammad's encounter with Abraham (Hadith)
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the seventh
heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel
replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied:
'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the
affirmative. Then it said: 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!'
"So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham (Ibrahim).
Gabriel said to me: 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I
greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said: 'You are welcomed, O
pious son and pious Prophet.'
Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha
(the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary). Behold! Its fruits were like the jars
of Hajr (a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of
elephants. Gabriel said: "This is the Lote Tree of the utmost and
boundary.' Behold! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible,
I asked: 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?' He replied: 'As for
the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are
the Nile and the Euphrates.'
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[next] Moses advises
Muhammad to plea to Allah to lessen prayers
"Then Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur (the Sacred House)
was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a
third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked:
'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.' Then
the prayers were enjoined on me: they were fifty prayers a day. When I
returned, I passed by Moses, who asked me; 'What have you been ordered to do?'
I replied: 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said:
'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah I have tested
people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel in vain. Go
back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers'' burden.' So
I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses,
but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to
Allah, and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came to Moses he said the same.
I went back to Allah, and He ordered m to observe ten prayers a day. When I
came back to Moses, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allah and
was ordered to observe five prayers a day.
"When I came back to Moses, he said: 'What
have you been ordered?' I replied: 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers
a day.' He said: 'Your followers cannot bear fear prayers a day, and no doubt,
I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level
best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lesson
your followers' burden.' I said: 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I
feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah's Order.' When I
left, I heard a voice saying: 'I have passed My order and have lessened the
burden of My worshippers.'"
Women's
Oath - People of Yathrib (Madina) submit to Islam
In this year, twelve men of Yathrib, of whom ten were of the Jewish tribe of Khazraj and the other two of Aws, came to Meccan and took an oath of fidelity to the Prophet at Al-Aqaba, a hill on the north of that city. This oath was called the Women's' Oath, not that any women were present at this time, but because a man was not thereby obliged to take up arms in defense of the Prophet or his religion, it being the same oath that was afterwards exacted of the women. This oath was as follows: "We will not associate anything with Allah; we will not steal nor commit adultery or fornication, nor kill our children (as the pagan Arabs used to do when they apprehended that they would not be able to maintain them), nor forge calumnies; we will obey the Prophet in everything that
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[next] is reasonable, and we
will be faithful to him in well and sorrow." When they had solemnly
engaged to do all this, the Prophet sent one of his disciples, Mus'ab Ibn
Umair, home with them to teach them the fundamental doctrines and ceremonies of
the religion. Mus'ab, having arrived at Yathrib by the assistance of those who
had been formerly converted, gained several new converts, particularly Usaid
Ibn Khudair, a chief of man of the city, and Sa'd Ibn Mu'adh, prince of the
tribe of Aws. Islam spread so fast that there was a scarce a house that did not
have some Muslims in it.
The next year, being the thirteenth of the
mission (A.D. 622) Mus'ab returned from Yathrib accompanied by seventy-three
men and two women of that city who had adopted Islam, besides others who were
as yet unbelievers. On their arrival, these Yathribites immediately sent to the
Prophet and invited him to their city. The Prophet was not in great need of
such assistance, for his opponents had by this time grown so powerful in Mecca
that he could not stay there much longer without imminent danger. He therefore
accepted their proposal and met them one night by appointment at Al Aqaba
attended by his uncle Al-Abbas, who, though he as not then a convert, wished
his nephew well.
Al Abbas made a speech to those of Yathrib
wherein he told them that, as the Prophet Muhammad was obliged to quit his
native city and seek shelter elsewhere, and they had offered him their
protection, they would do well not to deceive him; and that if they were not
firmly resolved to defend and not to betray him, they had better declare their
minds and let him provide for his safety in some other manner. Upon their
professing their sincerity, the Prophet swore to be faithful to them, on
condition that they should worship none but Allah observe the precepts of
Islam, obey the Prophet in all that was right, and protect him against all
insults as heartily as they would their wives and families. They then asked him
what would be their return, if they should happen to be killed in the cause of
Allah; he answered: "Paradise," whereupon they pledged their faith to
him and his cause.
The Hijra
- People of Yathrib (Madina) welcome Muslims
The Prophet then selected twelve men out of their number to act as his delegates. Thus was concluded the second covenant of Al Aqaba. The Yathribites returned home leaving the Prophet to arrange for the journey to their city. The Prophet directed his followers to seek immediate safety at Yathrib, which they accordingly did. About one hundred families silently disappeared from Mecca and proceeded to Yathrib, where they were
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[next] received with enthusiasm and much hospitality. Finally, all the
disciples had gone to Yathrib. The Prophet alone remained at Mecca, keeping
with him only his young cousin, 'Ali, and his devoted friend Abu Bakr.
The
Makkans plot to kill Allah's Prophet
The Meccans, fearing the consequence of this new
alliance, began to think seriously of preventing Muhammad from escaping to
Yathrib. They met in all haste. After several milder expedients had been
rejected, they decided that he should be killed. They agreed that one man
should be chosen out of every tribe and that each man should strike a blow at
him with his sword so that responsibility of the guilt would rest equally on
all tribes. The Bani Hashim, Muhammad's own tribe, were much inferior and
therefore would not be able to revenge their kinsman's death. A number of noble
youths were selected for the bloody deed. As the night advanced, the assassins
posted themselves round the Prophet's dwelling. They watched all night long,
waiting to murder Muhammad when he should leave his house at the early dawn. By
some the Prophet had warned of the danger, and he directed 'Ali to lie down in
his place and wrap himself up in his green clock, which he did. The Prophet
miraculously escaped through the window and he repaired to the house of Abu
Bakr, unperceived by door. These, in the meantime, looking through a crevice
and seeing 'Ali, whom they mistook for Muhammad himself, asleep, continued
watching there until morning. When 'Ali arose, they found themselves deceived.
The fury of the Quraish was now unbounded. The news that the would be assassins
had returned unsuccessful and that Muhammad had escaped aroused their whole
energy. A price of a hundred camels was set upon Muhammad's head.
A
narration Aisha Bint Abu Bakr (Prophet's Wife)
Narrated 'Aisha Bint Abu Bakr (the wife of the Prophet): "I never remembered my parents believing in any religion other than the true religion (Islam), and (I don't remember) a single day passing without our being visited by Allah's Messenger in the morning and in the evening. When the Muslims were put to test (troubled by the pagans), Abu Bakr set out migrating to the land of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), and when he reached Bark-al-Ghimad, Ibn Ad-Daghina, the chief of the tribe of Qara, met him and said, 'O Abu Bakr! Where are you going?' Abu Bakr replied: 'My people have turned me out (of my country), so I want to wander on the earth and worship my Lord.' Ibn Ad-Dhagina said: 'O Abu Bakr! A man like you should not leave his homeland, nor should he be driven out, because you help the destitute, earn their living, and you keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the weak and the poor, entertain guests
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[next] generously, and help the
calamity-stricken persons. Therefore, I am your protector. Go back and worship
your Lord in your town.'
"So Abu Bakr returned and Ibn Ad-Daghina
accompanied him. In the evening Ibn Ad-Dhagina visited the nobles of Quraish
and said to them. 'A man like Abu Bakr should not leave his homeland, nor
should he be driven out. Do you (Quraish) drive out a man who helps the
destitute, earns their living, keeps good relations with his kith and kin,
helps the weak and poor, entertain guests generously and helps the
calamity-stricken persons?' So the people of Quraish could not refuse Ibn
Ad-Dhagina's protection, and they said to Ibn Ad-Daghina: 'Let Abu Bakr worship
his Lord in his house. He can pray and recite there whatever he likes, but he
should not hurt us with it, and should not do it publicly, because we are
afraid that he may affect our women and children." Ibn Ad-Dhagina told Abu
Bakr all of that. Abu Bakr stayed in that state, worshipping his Lord in his
house. He did not pray publicly, nor did he recite Quran outside his house.
Abu Bakr
builds Mosque
"Then a thought occurred to Abu Bakr to
build a mosque in front of his house, and there he used to pray and recite the
Quran. The women and children of the pagans began to gather around him in great
number. They used to wonder at him and look at him. Abu Bakr was a man who used
to weep too much, and he could not help weeping or reciting the Quran. That
situation scared the nobles of the pagans of Quraish, so they sent for Ibn
Ad-Daghina. When he came to them, they said: 'We accepted your protection of
Abu Bakr on condition that he should worship his Lord in his house, but he has
violated the conditions and he has built a mosque in front of his house where
he prays and recites the Quran publicly. We are not afraid that he may affect
our women and children unfavorably. So, prevent him from that. If he likes to
confine the worship of his Lord to his house, he may do so, but if he insists
on doing that openly, ask him to release you from your obligation to protect
him, for we dislike to break our pact with you, but we deny Abu Bakr the right
to announce his act publicly.' Ibn Ad-Dhagina went to Abu Bakr and said: 'O Abu
Bakr! You know well what contract I have made on your behalf; now, you are
either to abide by it, or else release me from my obligation of protecting you,
because I do not want the Arabs hear that my people have dishonored a contract
I have made on behalf of another man.' Abu Bakr replied: 'I release you from
your pact to protect me and am pleased with the protection from Allah.'
Aisha's narration's continues: "At that time the Prophet was in Mecca, and he said to the
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[next] Muslims: 'In a
dream I have been shown your migration place, a land of date palm trees,
between two mountains, the two stony tracts.' So, some people migrated to
Medina, and most of those people who had previously migrated to the land of
Ethiopia, returned to Medina. Abu Bakr also prepared to leave for Medina, but
Allah's Messenger said to him: 'Wait for awhile, because I hope that I will be
allowed to migrate also.' Abu Bakr replied: 'Do you indeed expect this? Let my
father be sacrificed for you!' The Prophet said: 'Yes.' So Abu Bakr did not
migrate for the sake of Allah's Messenger in order to accompany him. He fed two
she camels he possessed with the leaves of As-Samur tree that fell on being
struck by a stick for four months.
"One day, while we were sitting in Abu
Bakr's house at noon, someone said to Abu Bakr: 'This is Allah's Messenger with
his head covered coming at a time at which he never used to visit us before.'
Abu Bakr said: 'May my parents be sacrificed for him. By Allah he has not come
at this hour except for a great necessity.' So Allah's Messenger came and asked
permission to enter, and he was allowed to enter. When he entered, he said to
Abu Bakr: "Tell everyone who is present with you to go away.' Abu Bakr
replied: 'There are none but your family, May my father be sacrificed for you,
O Allah's Messenger!' The Prophet said: 'I have been given permission to
migrate.' Abu Bakr said: 'Shall I accompany you? May my father be sacrificed
for you, O Allah's Messenger!' Allah's Messenger said: 'Yes.' Abu Bakr said, 'O
Allah's Messenger! May my father be sacrificed for you, take one of these two
she-camels of mine.' Allah's Messenger replied: 'I will accept it with payment.'
So we prepared the baggage quickly and put some journey food in a leather bag
for them. Asma, Abu Bakr's daughter, cut a piece from her waist belt and tied
the mouth of the leather bag with it, and for that reason she was named
'Dhat-un-Nitaqain' (the owner of two belts).
"Then Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr reached a cave on the mountain of Thaur and stayed there for three nights. Abdullah Ibn Abi Bakr who was an intelligent and sagacious youth, used to stay with them overnight. He used to leave them before daybreak so that in the morning he would be with Quraish as if he had spent the night in Mecca. He would keep in mind any plot made against them and when it became dark he would go and inform them of it. 'Amir Ibn Fuhaira, the freed slave of Abu Bakr, used to bring the milch sheep (of his master, Abu Bakr) to them a little while after nightfall in order to rest the sheep there. So they always had fresh milk at night, the milk of their sheep, and the milk which they warmed by throwing heated stones in it. 'Amir Ibn Fuhaira would then call the herd away when it was still dark (before daybreak). He did the same in each of those three nights. Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr had hired a man
236
[next] from the tribe
of Bani Ad-Dail from the family of Bani Abd Ibn Adi as an expert guide, and he
was in alliance with the family of Al-As Ibn Wail As-Sahmi and he was in the
religion of the infidels of Quraish. The Prophet and Abu Bakr trusted him and
gave him their two she-camels and took his promise to bring their two
she-camels to the cave of the mountain of Thaur in the morning after three
nights later. And when they set out, Amir Ibn Futhaira and the guide went along
with them and the guide led them, along the seashore." (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
The nephew of Suraqa Ibn Ju'sham said that his
father informed him that he heard Suraqa Ibn Jusham saying: "The
messengers of the pagans of Quraish came to us declaring that they had assigned
for the persons who would kill or arrest Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr, a
reward equal to their bloodmoney. While I was sitting in one of the gatherings
of my tribe, Bani Mudlij, a man from them came to us and stood up while we were
sitting and said: 'O Suraqa! No , I have just seen some people far away on the
seashore, and I think they are Muhammad and his companions.' I, too, realized
that it must have been they. But I said: 'No, it is not they, but you have seen
so-and-so and so-and-so, whom we saw set out.' I stayed in the gathering for a
while and then got up and left for my home, and ordered my slave-girl to get my
horse, which was behind a hillock, and keep it ready for me.
"Then I took my spear and left by the back door of my house dragging the lower end of the spear on the ground and keeping it low. Then I reached my horse, mounted it and made it gallop. When I approached them (Muhammad and Abu Bakr), my horse stumbled and I fell down from it. Then I stood up, gold hold of my quiver and took out the divining arrows and drew lots as to whether I should harm them or not, and the lot which I disliked came out. But I remounted my horse and let it gallop, giving no importance to the divining arrows. When I heard the recitation of the Qur'an by Allah's Messenger who did not look hither and thither while Abu Bakr was doing it often, suddenly the forelegs of my horse sank into the ground up to the knees, and I fell down from it. Then I rebuked it, and it got up but could hardly take out its forelegs from the ground, and when it stood up straight again, its forelegs caused dust to rise up in the sky like smoke. Then again I drew lots with the divining arrows, and the lot which I disliked came out. So I called upon them to feel secure. They stopped, and I remounted my horse and went to them. When I saw how I had been hampered from harming them, it came to my mind that the cause of Allah's Messenger (Islam) would become victorious. So I said to them: 'Your people have assigned a reward equal to bloodmoney for your head.' Then
237
[next] I told them all the plans the people of Mecca had
made concerning them. Then I offered them some journey food and goods, but they
refused to take anything and did not ask for anything, but the Prophet said:
'Do not tell others about us.' Then I requested him to write for me a statement
of security and peace. He ordered 'Amir Ibn Fuhaira, who wrote it for me on a
parchment, and then Allah's Messenger proceeded on his way." (Sahih
Al-Bukhari)
Holy
Prophet travels to Madina (Hijra)
"Narrated 'Urwa Ibn Az-Zubair:
"Allah's Messenger met Az Zubair in a caravan of Muslim merchants who were
returning from Sham. Az -Zubair provided Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr with
white clothes to wear. When the Muslims of Medina heard the new of the
departure of Allah's Messenger from Mecca (towards Medina), they started going
to the Harra every morning,. They would wait for him till the heat of the noon
forced them to return. One day, after waiting for a long while, they returned
home, and when they went into their houses, a Jew climbed up to the roof of one
of the forts of his people to look for something, and he saw Allah's Messenger
and his companions, dressed in white clothes, emerging out of the desert
mirage.
"The Jew could not help shouting at the top of his voice: 'O you Arabs! Here is your great man whom you have been waiting for!' So all the Muslims rushed to their arms and received Allah's Messenger on the summit of Harra. The Prophet turned with them to the right and alighted at the quarters of Bani Amr Ibn Auf, and this was on Monday in the month of Rabi ul Awal. Abu Bakr stood up, receiving the people, while Allah's Messenger sat down and kept silent. Some of the Ansar who came and had not seen Allah's Messenger before began greeting Abu Bakr, but when the sunshine fell on Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr came forward and shaded him with his sheet, only then the people came to know Allah's Messenger. Allah's Messenger stayed with Bani Amr Ibn Auf for ten nights and established the mosque (Mosque of Quba) which was founded on piety. Allah's Messenger prayed in it and then mounted his she-camel and proceeded on, accompanied by the people till his she-camel knelt down at the place of the Mosque of Allah's Messenger at Medina. Some Muslims used to pray there in those days, and that place was a yard for drying dates belonging to Suhail and Sahl, the orphan boys who were under the guardianship of Asad In Zurara. When his she-camel knelt down, Allah's Messenger said: 'This place, Allah willing, will be our abiding place.' Allah's Messenger then called the two boys and told them to suggest a price for that yard so that he might take it as a mosque. The two boys said: 'No, but we will give it as a gift, O Allah's
238
[next] Messenger!' Allah's Messenger then built a mosque there. The
Prophet himself started carrying unburned bricks for its building and while
doing so, he was saying: 'This load is better than the load of Khaibar, for it
is more pious in the Sight of Allah and purer and better rewardable.' He was
also saying: 'O Allah! The actual reward is the reward in the Hereafter, so
bestow Your Mercy on the Ansar and the
Emigrants.' Thus the Prophet recited (by way of proverb) the poem of some
Muslim poet whose name is unknown to me." (Ibn Shibab said, 'In the
hadiths, it does not occur that Allah's Messenger recited a complete poetic
verse other than this one.') (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Hijra -
Islamic Calendar marks this date
Thus was accomplished the hijrah, or the flight
of Muhammad as called in European annals, from which the Islamic calendar
dates.
Yathrib
renamed Al-Madina, Al-Munawara - "The Illuminated City"
When the Prophet Muhammad and his companions
settled at Yathrib, this city changed its name, and henceforth was called,
Al-Medina, Al-Munawara, the Illuminated City, or more shortly, Medina, the City.
It is situated about eleven-day's journey to the north of Mecca. At that time
it was ruled by two Kahtanite tribes, Aws and Khazraj. These two tribes,
however, were constantly quarreling among themselves. It was only about that
time when the Prophet announced his mission at Mecca that these tribes, after
long years of continuous warfare, entered on a period of comparative peace.
When the Prophet settled at Medina, the tribes of Aws and Khazraj forgot
entirely their old feuds and were united together in the bond of Islam. Their
old divisions were soon effaced and the Ansar", the Helpers of the
Prophet, became the common designation of all Medinites who had helped the
Prophet in his cause. Those who emigrated with him from Mecca received the
title of "Muhajereen" or the Emigrants. The Prophet, in order to
unite both classes in closer bonds, established between them a brotherhood,
which linked them together as children of the same parents, with the Prophet as
their guardian.
Allah's
Apostle Settles in Madina
The first step the Prophet took, after his
settlement at Medina, was to built a mosque for the worship of Allah according
to principles of Islam. Also, houses for the accommodation of the emigrants
were soon erected.
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[next] Muhammad's Charter
- Jews and Muslims unite to defend against enemies
Medina and its suburb were at this time
inhabited by three distinct parties, the Emigrants, the Helpers, and the Jews.
In order to weld them together into an orderly federation, the Prophet granted
a charter to the people, clearly defining their rights and obligations. This
charter represented the framework of the first commonwealth organized by the
Prophet. It started thus: 'In the name of he Most Merciful and Compassionate
Lord, this charter is given by Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah to all
believers, whether of Quraish or Medina, and all individuals of whatever origin
who have made common cause with them, who shall all constitute one
nation." The following are some extracts from the charter: The state of
peace and war shall be common to all Muslims; no one among them shall have the
right of concluding peace with, or declaring war against, the enemies of his
co-religionists. The Jews who attach themselves to our commonwealth shall be
protected from all insults and vexations; they shall have an equal right with
our people to our assistance and good offices. The Jews of the various branches
and all others doiciled in
Medina shall form with the Muslims one composite
nation; they shall practice their religion as freely as the Muslims. The allies
of the Jews shall enjoy the same security and freedom. The guilty shall be
pursued and punished. The Jews shall join the Muslims in defending Medina all
enemies. The interior of Medina shall be a sacred place for all who accept this
charter. All true Muslims shall hold in abhorrence every man guilty of crime,
injustice or disorder; no one shall uphold the culpable, though he be his
nearest kin.
After dealing with the interior management of
the State, the charter concluded as follows: "All future disputes arising
among those who accept this charter shall be referred, under Allah to the
Prophet."
Thus this charter put an end to the state of
anarchy that prevailed among the Arabs. It constituted the Prophet Muhammad as
chief magistrate of the nation.
Charter
faces Mutiny (Inside enemies) - The Hypocrites and unsatisfied Jews
The party of the Ansars, or Helpers, included some lukewarm converts who retained an ill-concealed predilection for idolatry. These were headed by Abdullah Ibn Ubai, a man with some claims to distinction. They ostensibly joined Islam, but in secret were disaffected. They often were a source of considerable danger to the newborn commonwealth and required unceasing watchfulness on the part of the Prophet.
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[next] Towards them he
always showed the greatest patience and forbearance, hoping in the end to win
them over to the faith, which expectations were fully justified by the result.
While the death of Abdullah Ibn Ubai, his party which were known as the party
of the "Munafiqeen" (the Hypocrites) disappeared.
The Jews who constituted the third party of the
Medinites were, however, the most serious element of danger. No kindness or
generous treatment on the part of the Prophet would seem to satisfy them. They
soon broke off and ranged themselves with the enemies of the new faith. They
did not hesitate to declare openly that they preferred idolatry, with its
attendant evils, to the faith of Islam. Thus, the Prophet had to keep an eye on
his enemies outside Medina, on the one hand, and those within the city on the
other. The Meccans who had sworn Muhammad's death were well acquainted, thanks
to the party of the Hypocrites and of the Jews at Medina, with the real forces
of the Muslims. They also knew that the Jews had accepted Muhammad's alliance
only from motives of temporary expedience and that they would break away from
him to join the idolaters as soon as the latter showed themselves in the
vicinity of Medina. The safety of the state required the proscription of the
traitors who were secretly giving information to the common enemy. About six
men were executed for high treason of this nature.
Madina
under Sabotage style attacks on Food, Cattle etc...
Towards the second year of the hijrah, the
idolaters of Mecca began a series of hostile acts against the Muslims of
Medina. They sent men in parties to commit depredations on the fruit trees of
the Muslims of Medina and to carry away their flocks. Now came the moment of
severest trial to Islam. It became the duty of the Prophet to take serious
measures to guard against any plot rising from within or a sudden attack from
without.
Battle of
Badr - Makkan Troop formations approaching Madina
Allah's Prophet put Medina in a state of military discipline. He had to send frequent reconnoitering parties to guard against any sudden onslaught. No sooner did the Prophet organize hi state than a large well-equipped army of the Meccans was afield. A force constituting of one thousand men marched under Abu Jahl, a great enemy of Islam, towards Medina to attack the city. The Muslims received timely notice of their enemies' intention. A body of three hundred adherents, of whom two thirds were citizens of Medina, was gathered to forestall the idolaters by occupying the valley of Badr, situated near the sea between Mecca and Medina. When the Prophet saw the army of the infidels approaching the valley, he prayed that the little band of Muslims might
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[next] not be destroyed.
Victory -
Battle Badr is Won
The army of the Meccans advanced into the open
space which separated the Muslims from the idolaters. According to Arab usage,
the battle was began by simple combats. The engagement that became general. The
result of the battle was that the Meccans were driven back with great loss.
Several of their chiefs were slain, including Abu Jahl.
Allah's
Apostle set rules for treatment of POWs
A large number of idolaters remained prisoners
in the hands of the Muslims. They were, contrary to all usage and traditions of
the Arabs, treated with the greatest humanity.
The Prophet gave strict orders that sympathy
should be shown to them in their misfortune and that they should be treated
with kindness. These instructions were faithfully obeyed by the Muslims to
whose care the prisoners were confided. Dealing with this event, Sir William
Muir, in his book Life of Muhammad, quotes one of the prisoners saying:
"Blessing be on the men of Medina; they made us ride, while they
themselves walked; they gave us wheaten bread to eat, when there was little of
it, contenting themselves with dates." Almighty Allah said:
"And Allah has already made you victorious
at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much (abstain from
all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much,
perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained) that you may be
grateful. (Remember) when you (Muhammad) said to the believers, "is it not
enough for you that your Lord (Allah) should help you with three thousand
angels; sent down? Yes, if you hold on to patience and piety, and the enemy
comes rushing at you; your Lord will help you with five thousand angels having
marks of distinction. Allah made it not but as a message of good news for you
and as an assurance to your hearts. And there is no victory except from Allah
the All Mighty, the All Wise. That He might cut off a part of those who
disbelieve, or expose them to infamy, so that they retire frustrated." (Ch
3:123-127 Quran).
The remarkable circumstances, which led to the
victory of Badr, and results, which followed from it, made a deep impression on
the minds of the Muslims; the angels of the heaven had battled on their side
against their enemies. The division of the spoils created some dissension
between the
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[next] Muslim warriors. For the moment, the
Prophet divided it equally among all. Subsequently, a Qur'an revelation laid
down a rule for future division of the spoils. According to this rule, a fifth
was reserved for the public treasury for the support of the poor and indigent,
while the distribution of the remaining four fifths was left to the discretion
of the Chief of the State.
Makkan
Avenge Loss in Badr - Battle of Uhud
The next battle between the Quraish and the
Muslims was the battle of Uhud, a hill about four miles to the north of Medina.
The idolaters, to revenge their loss at Badr, made tremendous preparations for
a new attack upon the Muslims. They collected an army of three thousand strong
men, of whom seven hundred were armed with coats of mail, and two hundred
horses. These forces advanced under the conduct of Abu Sufyan and encamped at a
village six miles from Medina, where they gave themselves up to spoiling the
fields and flocks of the Medinites. The Prophet, being much inferior to his
enemies in number, at first determined to keep himself within the town and to
receive them there; but afterwards, the advice of some of his companions
prevailing he marched out against them at the head of one thousand men, of whom
one hundred were armed with coats of mail; but he had no more than one horse,
besides his own, in his whole army. With these forces he halted at Mount Uhud.
He was soon abandoned by Abdullah Ibn Ubai, the leader of the Hypocrites, with
three hundred of his followers. Thus, the small force of the Prophet was
reduced to seven hundred.
At Mount Uhud the Muslim troops passed the
night, and in the morning, after offering their prayers, they advanced into the
plain. The Prophet contrived to have the hill at his back, and, the better to
secure his men from being surrounded, he placed fifty archers on the height in
the rear, behind the troops, and gave them strict orders not to leave their
posts whatever might happen. When they came to engage, the Prophet had
superiority at first. But afterward, his archers left their position for the
sake of plunder, thus allowing the enemy to attack the Muslims in the fear and
surround them. The Prophet lost the day and very nearly lost his life. He was
struck down by a shower of stones and wounded in the face by two arrows, and
one of his front teeth was broken. Of the Muslims, seventy men were killed,
among whom was the Prophet's uncle Hamza. Of the infidels, twenty-two men were
lost.
Exhausted
Quraish leave Madina victorious
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[next] The Quraish were too exhausted to
follow up their advantage, either by attacking Medina or by driving the Muslims
from the heights of Uhud. They retreated from the Medinite territories after
barbarously mutilating the corpses of their dead enemies. Almighty Allah said:
"So do not become weak (against your
enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed
(true) believers. If a wound (and killing ) has touched you, be sure a similar
wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not
so good), We give to men by turns, that Allah may test those who believe, and
that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allah likes not the Zalimeen
(polytheists and wrongdoers). And that Allah may test (or purify) the believers
(from sins) and destroy the disbeliveers. Do you think that you will enter
Paradise before Allah tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and
(also) tests those who are patient? You did indeed
wish for death (Ash-shahadah- martyrdom) before you met it. Now you have seen
it openly with your own eyes." (Ch 3:139-143 Quran)
Allah the Exalted also said:
"We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allah for which He has sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire and how evil is the abode of the Zalimeen (polytheists and wrong-doers). And Allah did indeed fulfil His Promise to you when you were killing them (your enemy) with His Permission; until (the moment) you lost your courage and fell to disputing about the order, and disobeyed after He showed you (of the booty) which you love. Among you are some that desire this world and some that desire the Hereafter. Then He made you flee from them (your enemy), and He might test you. But surely, He forgave you, and Allah is most Gracious to the believers. And remember when you ran away (dreadfully) without even a casting a side-glance at anyone, and the Messenger (Muhammad) was in your rear calling you back. There did Allah give you one distress after another by way of requital to teach you not to grieve for that which had escaped you, nor that which had befallen you. And Allah is Well Aware of all that you do. Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you, while another party was thinking about themselves (as how to save their ownselves, ignoring the others and the Prophet) and thought wrongly of Allah - the thought of ignorance. They said, "Have we any part in the affair?" Say you (O Muhammad): "Indeed the affair belongs wholly to
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[next] Allah." They hide within themselves
what they dare not reveal to you, saying: "If we had anything to do with
the affair, none of us would have been killed here." Say: "Even if
you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would
certainly have gone forth to the place of their death," but that Allah
might test what is in your breasts; and to Mahis (to test, to purify, to get
rid of) that which was in your hearts (sins), and Allah is All Knower of what
is in (your) breasts." (Ch 3:151-154 Quran).
Narrated Al-Baraa' Ibn Azib: "The Prophet
appointed Abdullah Ibn Jubair as the commander of the infantry men (archers)
who were fifty on the day (of the battle) of Uhud. He instructed them: 'Stick
to your place, and don't leave it even if you see birds snatching us, till I
send for you; and if you see that we have defeated the infidels and made them
flee, even then you should not leave your place till I send for you.' Then the
infidels were defeated. By Allah I saw the women fleeing lifting up their
clothes revealing their leg bangles and their legs. So, the companions of
Abdullah Ibn Jubair said: "The booty! O people, the booty! Your companions
have become victorious, what are you waiting for now?" Abdullah Ibn Jubair
said: "Have you forgotten what Allah's Messenger said to you?" They
replied: "By Allah! We will go to the people (the enemy) and collect our
share from the war booty." But when they went to them, they were forced to
turn back defeated. At that time Allah's Messenger in their rear was calling
them back. Only twelve men remained with the Prophet, and the infidels martyred
seventy men from us.
"The Prophet and his companions caused the Pagans to lose one hundred and forty men, seventy of whom were captured and seventy were killed. Then Abu Sufyan asked three times: 'Is Muhammad present among these people?' The Prophet ordered his companions not to answer him. Then he asked three times: 'Is Ibn Abu Quhafa present amongst these people?' He asked again three times: 'Is Ibn Al Khattab present among these people?' He then returned to his companions and said: 'As for these (men), they have been killed.' 'Umar could not control himself and said to Abu Sufyan: ' You told a lie, by Allah! O enemy of Allah! All those you have mentioned are alive, and the thing which will make you unhappy is still there.' Abu Sufyan said: 'Our victory today compensates for yours in the Battle of Badr, and in war (the victory) is always undecided and is shared in turns by the belligerents. You will find some of your killed men mutilated, but I did not urge my men to do so, yet I do not feel sorry for their deed.' After that he started reciting cheerfully: 'O Hubal, be superior!' On that the Prophet said (to his companions): 'Why don't you answer him back?' They said: 'O Allah's Messenger! What shall we say?' He said: 'Say, Allah is Higher and more Sublime.' Then Abu Sufyan
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[next] said: 'We have the idol of Al-Uzza, and you have no 'Uzza.'
The Prophet said (to his companions): 'Why don't you answer him back?' They
asked: 'O Allah's Messenger! What shall we say?' He said: 'Say Allah is our
Helper and you have no helper.'" (Sahih Al Bukhari)
The moral effect of this disastrous battle was
such as to encourage some neighboring nomad tribes to make forays upon the
Medinte territories, but most of these were repelled.
More
Mutiny as Charter members cause dissent
The Jews also were not slow to involve in
trouble the Prophet and his followers. They tried to create disaffection among
his people and slandered him and his adherents. They mispronounced the words of
the Qur'an so as to give them an offensive meaning. They also caused their
poets, who were superior in culture and intelligence, to use their influence to
sow sedition among the Muslims. One of their distinguished poets, called Ka'b,
of the Bani An-Nadir, spared no efforts in publicly deploring the ill success
of the idolaters after their defect at Badr.
By his satires against the Prophet and his
disciples, and his elegies on the Meccans who had fallen at Badr, Ka'b
succeeded in exciting the Quraish to that frenzy of vengeance which broke out
at Uhud. He then returned to Medina, where he continued to attack the Prophet
and the Muslims, men and women, in terms of the most obscene character. Though
he belonged to the tribe of Bani An Nadir, which had entered into the compact
with the Muslims and pledged itself both for the internal and external safety
of the State, he openly directed his acts against the commonwealth of which he
was a member.
Another Jew, Sallam by name, of the same tribe,
behaved equally fiercely and bitterly against the Muslims. He lived with a
party of his tribe at Khaibar, a village five days' journey northwest of
Medina. He made every effort to excite the neighboring Arab tribes against the
Muslims. The Muslim commonwealth with the object of securing safety among the
community, passed a sentence of outlawry upon Ka'b and Sallam.
The members of another Jewish tribe, namely Bani Qainuqa', were sentenced to expulsion from the Medinite territory for having openly and knowingly infringed the terms of the compact. It was necessary to put an end to their hostile actions of the sake of maintaining peace and security. The Prophet had to go to their headquarters, where he required them to enter definitively into the Muslim commonwealth by embracing
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[next] Islam
or to leave Medina. To this they replied in the most offensive terms: "You
have had a quarrel with men ignorant of the art of war. If you are desirous of
having any dealings with us, we shall show you that we are men." They then
shut themselves up in their fortress and set the Prophet and his authority at
defiance. The Muslims decided to reduce them and laid siege to their fortress
without loss of time. After fifteen days they surrendered. Though the Muslims
at first intended to inflict some severe punishment on them, they contented
themselves by banishing the Bani Qainuqa'.
The Bani An-Nadir had now behaved in the same
way as Bani Qainuqa'. The had likewise, knowingly and publicly, disregarded the
terms of the Charter. The Prophet sent them a message similar to that which was
sent to their brethren, the Qainuqa'. Then, relying on the assistance of the
Hypocrites' party, returned for a defiant reply. After a siege of fifteen days,
they sued for terms. The Muslims renewed their previous offer, and the Jews of
An Nadir chose to execute Medina. They were allowed to take with them all their
movable property, with the exception of their arms. Before leaving Medina, they
destroyed all their dwellings in immovable property and arms which they could
not carry away with them were distributed by the Prophet with the consent of
the Ansar and the Emigrants. A principle was henceforth adopted that any
acquisition not made in actual warfare should belong to that state and that its
disposal should be left to the discretion of the ruling authorities.
Almighty Allah said: (And there is also a share
in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and
their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him. And helping
Allah (helping His Religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad). Such are indeed the
truthful (to what we say); and those who, before them, had homes (in Al Madina)
and had adopted the Faith, love, those who emigrate to them, and have no
jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty
of Bani An Nadir), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even
though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own
covetousness, such are they who will be the successful." (Ch 59:8-9 Quran)
The expulsion of the Bani An-Nadir took place in the fourth year of the hijrah. The remaining portion of this year and the early part of the next were passed in repressing the hostile attempts of the nomadic tribes against the Muslims and inflicting punishment for various murderous forays on the Medinite territories. Of this nature was the expedition against the Christian Arabs of Dumat Al Jandal (a place about seven days' journey to the south of Damascus), who had stopped the Medinites traffic with Syria and
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[next] even threatened a raid upon Medina. These marauders, however, fled on
the approach of the Muslims, and the Prophet returned to Medina after
concluding a treaty with a neighboring chief, to whom he granted permission of
pasturage in the Medinite territories.
Enemy's
Army (headed by Abu Sufyan) march towards Madina
In the same year, the enemies of Islam made
every possible attempt to stir up the tribes against the Muslims. The Jews also
took an active, if hidden, part in those intrigues. An army of ten thousand
well-equipped men, marched towards Medina under the command of Abu Sufyan. They
encamped near Mount Uhud, a few miles from the city. The Muslims could gather
only an army of three thousand men. Seeing their inferiority in numbers on the
one hand, and the turbulence of the Hypocrites within the town on the other,
they preferred to remain on the defensive. They dug a deep moat round the
unprotected quarters of Medina and encamped outside the city with a trench in
front of them. They relied for safety of the other side upon their allies, the
Quaraiza, who possessed several fortresses at a short distance towards the
south and were bound by the compact to assist the Muslim s against any raiders.
These Jews, however, were induced by the
idolaters to violate their pledge and to join
the Quraish. As these Jews were acquainted with the Hypocrites within the walls
of the city were waiting for an opportunity to play their part, the situation
of the Muslims was most dangerous.
The siege had already lasted for twenty days. The enemy made great efforts to cross the trench, but every attempt was fiercely repulsed by the small Muslim force. Disunion was now rife in the midst of the besieging army. Their horses were perishing fast, and provisions were becoming less every day. During the night, a storm of wind and rain caused their tents to be overthrown and their lights extinguished. Abu Sufyan and the majority of his army fled, and the rest took refuge with the Quraiza. The Muslims, though they were satisfied with the failure of their enemies, could not help thinking that the victory was unsatisfactory so long as the Quraiza, who had violated their sworn pledge, remained so near. The Jews might at any time surprise Medina from their side. The Muslims felt it their duty to demand an explanation of the violation of the pledge. This was utterly refused. Consequently, the Jews were besieged and compelled to surrender at discretion. They only asked that their punishment should be left to the judgment of Sa'd Ibn Mu'adh, the prince of the tribe of Aws. This chief, who was a fierce
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[next] soldier, had been wounded in the attack, and, indeed, died of his wounds
the following day. Infuriated by the treacherous conduct of the Bani Quraiza, he
gave judgment that the fighting men should be to death and that the women and
children should become the slaves of the Muslims. The sentence was carried into
execution.
The
Prophet protects the Christians of Madina
It was about this time that the Prophet granted
to the monks of the Monastry of St. Catherine, near Mount Sinai, his liberal
charter by which they secured for the Christians noble and generous privileges
and immunities. He undertook himself and enjoined his followers, to protect the
Christians, to defend their churches and the residences of their priests and to
guard them from all injuries. They were not to be unfairly taxed; no bishop was
to be driven out of his diocese; nor Christian was to be forced to reject his
religion; no monk was to be expelled from his Monastry; no pilgrim was to be
stopped from his pilgrimage; nor were the Christian churches to be pulled down
for the sake of building mosques or houses for the Muslims. Christian women
married to Muslims were to enjoy their own religion and not to be subjected to
compulsion or annoyance of any kind. If the Christians should stand in need of
assistance for the repair of their churches or monasteries, or any other matter
pertaining to their religion, the Muslims were to assist them. This was not to
be considered as supporting their religion, but as simply rendering them
assistance in special circumstances. Should the Muslims be engaged in
hostilities with outside Christians, no Christian resident among the Muslims
should be treated with contempt on account of his creed. The Prophet declared
that any Muslim violating any clause of the charter should be regarded as a
transgressor of Allah's commandments, a violator of His testament and
neglectful of His faith.
The
Treaty of Hudaibiya
Six years had already elapsed since the Prophet
and his Meccan followers had fled from their birthplace. Their hearts began to
yearn for their homes and for their Sacred House the Ka'ba. As the season of
the pilgrimage approached, the Prophet announced his intention to visit the
holy center, and numerous voices of his disciples responded to the call.
Preparations were soon made for the journey to Mecca. The Prophet, accompanied
by seven or eight hundred Muslims,
Emigrants and Ansars, all totally unarmed, set out on the pilgrimage. The Quraish, who were still full of animosity towards the Muslims, gathered a large army to prevent them from entering Mecca and maltreated the envoy whom the Prophet had sent to ask
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[next] permission to
visit the holy places. After much difficulty, a treaty was concluded by which
it was agreed that all hostilities should cease for ten years; that anyone
coming from the Quraish to the Prophet without the permission of the guardian
or chief should be given back to the idolaters; that any Muslim persons going
over to the Meccans should not be surrendered; that any tribe desirous of
entering into alliance, either with the Quraish or with the Muslims, should be
at liberty to do so without disputes; that the Muslims should go back to Medina
on the present occasion and stop advancing further; that they should be
permitted in the following year to visit Mecca and to remain there for three
days with the arms they used on journeys, namely, their scimitars in sheaths.
The Treaty of Hudaibiya thus ended, the Prophet returned with his people to
Medina.
Prophet
Muhammad dispatches envoys
About this time it was revealed to the Prophet
that his mission should be universal. He dispatched several envoys to invite
the neighboring sovereigns to Islam. The embassy to the king of Persia,
Chosroes Parvis, was received with disdain and contumely. He was haughtily
amazed at the boldness of the Mecca fugitive in addressing him on terms of
equality. He was so enraged that he tore up into pieces the Prophet's letter of
invitation to Islam and dismissed the envoy from his presence with great
contempt. When the Prophet received information on this treatment, he calmly
observed: "Thus will the Empire of Chosroes be torn to pieces."
Heraclius
submits to Almighty God and embraces Islam
The embassy to Heraclitus, the Emperor of the Romans, was received much more politely and reverentially. He treated the ambassador with great respect and sent the Prophet a gracious reply to his message. Another envoy was sent to an Arab price of the Ghassanite tribe, a Christian feudatory of Heraclius. This prince, instead of receiving the envoy with any respect, cruelly murdered him. This act caused great consternation among the Muslims, who considered it as an outrage of international obligations. Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb informed me that Heraclius had sent a messenger to him while he had been accompanying a caravan from Quraish. They were merchants doing business in Sham (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan) at the time when Allah's Messenger had a truce with Abu Sufyan and Quraish infidels. So Abu Sufyan and his companions went to Heraclius at Ilya (Jerusalem). Heraclitus called them in the court and he had all the senior Roman dignitaries around him. He called for his translator who, translating Heraclius's question, said to them: "Who among you is
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[next] closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?" Abu Sufyan
replied: "I am the nearest relative to him (amongst the group)." Heraclius
said: "Bring him (Abu Sufyan) close to me and make his companions stand
behind him." Abu Sufyan added: "Heraclius told his translator to tell
my companions that he wanted to put some questions to me regarding that man
(The Prophet) and if I told a lie they (my companions) should contradict me. By
Allah! Had I not been afraid of my companions labeling me a liar, I would have
not have spoken the truth about the Prophet." Abu Sufyan's narration
continues:
"The first question he asked me about him
was; What is his family status among you?" "I replied: "He
belongs to a good noble family amongst us." Heraclius further asked:
"Has anybody among you ever claimed the same (to be a Prophet) before
him?" I replied: "No." He said: "Was anybody amongst his
ancestors a king?" I replied: "No." Heraclius asked: "Do
the nobles or the poor follow him?" I replied: "It is the poor who
follow him."
He said: "Are his followers increasing or
decreasing (day by day)?" I replied: "They are increasing." He
then asked: "Does anybody amongst those who embrace his religion become
displeased and renounce the religion afterwards?" I replied:
"No." Heraclius said: "Have you ever accused him of telling lies
before his claim (to be a Prophet)?" I replied: "No." Hereaclius
said: "Does he break his promises?" I replied: "No. We are at
truce with him but we do not know what he will do in it." I could not find
opportunity to say anything against him except that. Heraclius asked:
"Have you ever had a war with him?" I replied: "Yes." Then
he said: "What was the outcome of the battles?" I replied:
"Sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we." Heraclius said:
"What does he order you to do?"
I said: "He tells us to worship Allah and
Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him, and to renounce all
that our ancestors had said. He orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be
chaste and to keep good relations with our kith and kin."
Heraclius asked the translator to convey to me the following: "I asked you about his family and your reply was that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact, all the Messengers come from noble families among their respective peoples. I questioned you whether anybody else among you claimed such a thing; your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following the previous man's statement. Then I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral
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[next] kingdom. I further asked whether he was ever accused of
telling lies before he said what he said and your reply was in the negative. So
I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a
lie about Allah. I then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the
poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And, in fact, all the
Messengers have been followed by this very class of people. Then I asked you
whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were
increasing, and, in fact, this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in
all respects. I further asked you whether there was anybody, who, after
embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion. You reply
was in the negative, and, in fact this is (the sign of) true faith, when its
delight enters the hearts and mixes with them completely. I asked you whether
he had ever betrayed. You replied in the negative, and likewise the Messengers
never betray. Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he
ordered you to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along
with Him, and forbade you to worship idols, and ordered you to pray, to speak
the truth and to be chaste. If what you have said is true, he will very soon
occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew it (from the scriptures) that
he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you, and if I could
reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with
him, I would certainly wash his feet."
Heraclius then asked for the letter addressed by
Allah's Messenger which had been delivered by Dihya to the Governor of Busra,
who forwarded it to Heraclius to read. The contents of the letter were as
follows: "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. (This letter
is) from Muhammad, the slave of Allah and His Messenger to Heraclius the ruler
of Byzantine. Peace be upon him who follows the right path. Furthermore, I
invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah
will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of Islam, you will
be committing a sin by misguiding your subjects.
And I recite to you Allah's Statement: SAY (O
Muhammad): 'O People of the Scripture (Jews & Christians): Come to a
word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that
we associate no partners with Him and that none of us shall take others as lords
besides Allah.' Then, if they turn away, say: 'Bear witness that we are
Muslims.' "
Abu Sufyan then added: When Heraclius had finished his speech and had read the letter, there was a great hue and cry in the Royal Court. So we turned out of the court. I
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[next] told my companions
that the question of Ibn-Abi-Kabsha (the Prophet Muhammad) had become so
prominent that even the King of Bani Al-Asfar (Byzantine) was afraid of him.
Then I started to become sure that he (the Prophet) would be the conqueror in
the near future till I embraced Islam (Allah guided me to it). The sub narrator
added that Ibn An-Natur was the Governor of Ilya (Jerusalem) and Heraclius was
the head of the Christians of Sham. Ibn An-Natur narrated that once while Heraclius
was visiting Ilya (Jerusalem), he got up in the morning with a sad mood. Some
of his priests asked him why he as in that mood. Hreaclius was a foreteller and
an astrologer. He replied: "At night when I looked at the stars, I saw
that the leader of those who practice circumcision had appeared (become the
conqueror). Who are they who practice circumcision?" The people replied:
"Except the Jews, nobody practices circumcision, so you should not be
afraid of them (Jews). Just Issue orders to kill every Jew present in the
country.'
While they were discussing it, a messenger sent
by the king of Ghassan to convey the news of Allah's Messenger to Heraclius was
brought in. Having heard the news, he (Heraclius) ordered the people to go and
see whether the messenger of Ghassan was circumcised. The people, after seeing
him, told Heraclius that he was circumcised. Heraclius then asked him about the
Arabs. The messenger replied: "Arabs also practice circumcision."
After hearing that Heraclius remarked that
sovereignty of the Arabs had appeared. Heraclius then wrote a letter to his
friend in Rome who was as good as Heraclius in knowledge. Heraclius then left
for Homs (a town in Syria) and stayed there till he received the reply of his
letter from his friend, who agreed with him in his opinion about the emergence
of the Prophet and the fact that he was a Prophet. On that, Heraclius invited
all the heads of the Byzantines to assemble in his palace at Homs. When they
assembled, he ordered that all the doors of his palace be closed. Then he came
out and said: "O Byzantines! If success is your desire and if you seek
right guidance and want your empire to remain, then give a pledge of allegiance
to this Prophet (embrace Islam)." (on hearing the views of Heraclius) the
people ran towards the gates of the palace like onagers but found the doors
closed. Heraclius realized their hatred towards Islam and when he lost the hope
of their embracing Islam, he ordered that they should be brought back in
audience. (When they returned) he said: "What was already said was just to
test the strength of your conviction and I have seen it." The people
prostrated before him and became pleased with him, and this was the end of
Heraclius's story (in connection with his faith). (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
253
[next] Attack from
the Jews of Khaibar thwarted
In the same year the Jews of Khaibar, a strongly
fortified territory at a distance of four days' journey from Medina, showed
implacable hatred towards the Muslims. United by alliance with the tribe of
Ghatfan, as well as with other cognate tribes, the Jews of Khaibar made serious
attempts to for ma coalition against the Muslims. The Prophet and his adherents
were apprised of this movement and immediate measures were taken in order to
repress any new attack upon Medina. An expedition of fourteen hundred men was
soon prepared to march against Khaibar. The allies of the Jews left them to
face the war with the Muslims all alone. The Jews firmly resisted the attacks
of the Muslims, but eventually all their fortress had to be surrendered, one
after the other to their enemies. They prayed for forgiveness, which was
accorded to them on certain conditions. Their lands and immovable property were
secured to them, together with the free practice of their religion. After
subduing Khaibar, the Muslims returned to Medina in safety.
Allah's
Messenger and the Muslims perfom Hajj
Before the end of the year, it being the seventh
year of the hijrah, the Prophet and his adherents availed themselves of their
armistice with the Quraish to visit the holy Ka'ba. The Prophet, accompanied by
two hundred Muslims, went to Mecca to perform the rites of pilgrimage. On this
occasion the Quraish evacuated the city during the three days which the
ceremonies lasted. Sir William Muir, in his book, Life of Mohammed Vol. III
comments on the incident as follows: It was surely a strange sight, which at
this time presented itself at the vale of Mecca, a sight unique in the history
of the world. The ancient city is for three days evacuated by all its
inhabitants, high and low, every house deserted, and as they retire, the exiled
converts, many years banished from their birth-place, approach in a great body
accompanied by their allies, revisit the empty homes of their childhood, and
within the short allotted space, fulfil the rites of pilgrimage. The outside
inhabitants, climbing the heights around take refuge under tents or other
shelter among the hills and glens; and clustering on the overhanging peak of
Abu Qubeis, thence watch the movements of the visitors beneath, as with the
Prophet at their head, they make the circuit of the Ka'ba and rapid procession
between Essafa and Marwah, and anxiously scan every figure, if perchance they
may recognize among the worshippers some long lost friend or relative. It was a
scene rendered only by the throes, which gave birth to Islam.
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[next] In accordance with the terms of the
treaty, the Muslims left Mecca at the end of three day's visit. This peaceful
visit was followed by important conversions among the Quraish. Khalid Ibn
Al-Walid, known as the Sword of Allah, who, before this, had been a bitter
enemy of Islam and who commanded the Quraish cavalry at Uhud; and Amr Ibn Al'
As, another important character and warrior, adopted the new faith.
Retribution
for the Murder of the Muslim Envoy
When the Prophet and his followers returned to
Medina, they arranged in expedition to exact retribution from the Ghassanite
prince who had killed the Muslim envoy. A force of three thousand men, under
the Prophet's adopted son Zaid, was sent to take reparation from the offending
tribe.
Khalid Ibn Al-Walid was one of the generals
chosen for the expedition. When they reached the neighborhood of Muta, a
village to the southeast of the Dead Sea, they met with an overwhelming force
of Arabs and Romans who were assembled to oppose them. The Muslims, however,
resolved resolutely to push forward. Their courage was of no avail and they
suffered great losses. In this battle Zaid and Ja'far, a cousin of the Prophet,
and several other notables were killed. Khalid Ibn Al-Walid, by a series of
maneuvers, succeeded in drawing off the army and conducting it without further
loses to Medina. A month later, however, Amr Ibn Al-' As marched unopposed
through the lands of the hostile tribes, received their submission, and restored
the prestige of Islam on the Syrian frontier.
Quraish
violate terms of Hudaibiya, Prophets army march against Idolators
About the end of the seventh year of the hijrah,
the Quraish and their allies, the Bani Bakr, violated the terms of the peace
concluded at Hudaibiya by attacking the Bani Khuzaah, who were in alliance with
the Muslims. The Bani Khuzzah appealed to the Prophet for help and protection.
The Prophet determined to make a stop to the reign of injustice and oppression,
which had lasted so long at Mecca. He immediately gathered ten thousand men to
march against the idolaters and set out on January, 630.
After eight days the Muslims army halted, and alighted at Marr Az-Zahran, a day's journey from Mecca. On the night of their arrival, Abu Sufyan, who was delegated by the Quraish to ask the Prophet to abandon his project, presented himself and besought an interview. In the morning it was granted. "Has the time not come, O Abu Sufyan," said the Prophet, "for you to acknowledge that there is no deity save Allah and that I am His
255
[next] Messenger?" Abu Sufyan, after hesitating for
awhile, pronounced the prescribed formula of belief and adopted Islam. He was
then sent back to prepare the city for the Prophet's approach.
With the exception of a slight resistance by
certain clans headed by Ikrima and Safwan, in which many Muslims were killed,
the Prophet entered Mecca almost unopposed. The city which had treated him so
cruelly, driven him and his faithful band for refuge among strangers, the city
which had sworn his life and the lives of his devoted adherents, now lay at his
mercy. His old persecutors were now completely at his feet. The Prophet entered
Mecca on his favorite camel Al Kaswa, having Usama Ibn Zaid sitting behind him.
On his way he recited Surah Al Fath (Victory), the first verses of which maybe
interpreted thus:
"Verily! We have given you (O Muhammad) a
manifest victory. That Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and future,
and complete His Favor on you, and guide you on the Straight Path; and that
Allah may help you with strong help. (Ch 48:1-3 Quran)
Prophet
Muhammad (saw) orders the destruction of the idols
The Muslim army entered the city unpretentiously
and peacefully. No house was robbed, no man or woman was insulted. The Prophet
granted a general amnesty to the entire population of Mecca. Only four
criminals, whom justice condemned, were proscribed. He did however, order the
destruction of all idols and pagan images of worship, upon which three hundred
and fifty idols which were in the Sacred House of Ka'ba were thrown down. The
Prophet himself destroyed a wooden pigeon hung from the roof and regarded as
one of the deities of the Quraish. During the downfall of the images and idols
he was heard to cry aloud: "Allah is great. Truth has come and falsehood
has vanished; verily falsehood is fleeting." The old idolaters observed
thoughtfully the destruction of their gods, which were utterly powerless. After
the Prophet had abolished these pagan idols and every pagan rite, he delivered
a sermon to the assembled people. He dwelt upon the natural brotherhood of man
in the words of the Qur'an:
"O Mankind! We have created you for a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you in the Sight of Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (one of the Muttaqun, pious, and righteous persons who fear Allah much, abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which
256
[next] He has ordained.) Verily Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Ch 49:13
Quran)
Narrated Hisham's father: When Allah's Messenger
set out (towards Mecca) during the year of the Conquest (of Mecca) and this news
reached (the infidels of Quraish), Abu Sufyan, Hakim Ibn Hizam and Budail Ibn
Waraqa came out to gather information about Allah's Messenger. They proceeded
on their way till they reached a place called Marr-az-Zahran (which is near
Mecca). Behold! There they saw many fires as if they were the fires of
Arafat." Budail Ibn Waraqa' said: "Banu' Amr are less in number than
that." Some of the guards of Allah's Messenger saw them and took them
over, caught them, and bthem to Allah's Messenger. Abu Sufyan embraced Islam.
When the Prophet proceeded, he said to Al' Abbas: "Keep Abu Sufyan
standing at the top of the mountain so that he would look at the Muslims. SO
Al- Abbas kept him standing (at that place) and the tribes with the Prophet
started passing in front of Abu Sufyan in military batches. A batch passed in
front of Abu Sufyan and said: "O 'Abbas who are these?" 'Abbas said:
"They are Banu Ghaifar." Abu Sufyan said: "I have got nothing to
do with Ghifar." Then a batch of the tribe of Juhaina passed by and he
said similarly as above. Then a batch of the tribe of Sa'd Ibn Huzaim passed by
and he said similarly as above. Then came a batch, the like of which Abu Sufyan
had not seen. He said: "Who are these?" Abbas said: "They are
the Ansar headed by Sa'd Ibn 'Ubada, the one holding the flag." Sa'd Ibn
'Ubada said: "O Abu Sufyan! Today is the day of a great battle and today
(what is prohibited in )the Ka'ba will be permissible." Abu Sufyan said,
"O Abbas! How excellent the day of destruction is!" Then came another
batch of warriors which was the smallest of all the batches, and in it there
was Allah's Messenger and his companions, and the flag of the Prophet was
carried by Az-Zubair Ibn Al-Awwam. When Allah's Messenger passed by Abu Sufyan,
the latter said to the Prophet: "Do you know what Sa'd Ibn Ubada
said?" The Prophet said: "What did he say?" Abu Sufyan said:
"He said so-and-so." The Prophet said: "Sa'd told a lie, but
today Allah will give superiority to the Ka'ba and today the Ka'ba will be
covered with a cloth covering." Allah's Messenger ordered that his flag be
fixed at Al-Hajun.
Narrated Urwa: Nafi' Ibn Jubair Ibn Mut'im said: "I heard Al-Abbas saying to Az-Zubair Ibn Al- Awwam, 'O Abu Abdullah! Did Allah's Messenger order you to fix the flag here?' "Allah's Messenger ordered Khalid Ibn Al-Walid to enter Mecca from its upper part from Kadaa' while the Prophet himself entered from Kudaa. Two men from the cavalry of Khalid Ibn Al-Walid named Hubaish Ibn Al Ashar and Kurz Ibn Jabir Al-Fihri were martyred on that day. (Sahih Al Bukhari) Now great multitudes came to adopt Islam and
257
[next] take the oath of allegiance to the Prophet. For this
purpose an assembly was held at As-Safa Mountain. Umar, acting as the Prophet's
deputy administered the oath, whereby the people bound themselves not to adore
any deity but Allah to obey the Prophet to abstain from theft, adultery,
infanticide, lying and backbiting. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy embodied in
the Surah Al Fath in the Quran.
During his stay at Mecca, the Prophet dispatched
his principal disciples in every direction to preach Islam among the wild
tribes of the desert and call them to the true religion of Allah. He sent small
detachments of his troops into the suburbs who destroyed the temples of Al
Uzza, Suwaa, and Manat, the three famous idols in the temples of the
neighboring tribes. The Prophet gave strict orders that these expeditions
should be carried out in a peaceable manner. These injunctions were obeyed in
all cases, with one exception. The troops under Khalid Ibn Al-Walid, the fierce
newly-converted warrior, killed a few of the Bani Jazima. When the news of this
wanton bloodshed reached the Prophet, he was deeply grieved and exclaimed:
"Oh, my Lord, I am innocent of what Khalid has done." He dispatched a
large sum of money for the widows and orphans of the slain and severely rebuked
Khalid.
At this time the tribes of Hawazin and Thakif showed unwillingness to render obedience to the Muslims without resistance. They formed a league with the intention of attacking the Prophet, but he was vigilant enough to frustrate their plan. A big battle was fought with this new enemy of Islam near Hunain, a deep and narrow defile nine miles northeast of Mecca. The idolaters were utterly defeated. One body of the enemy, consisting chiefly of the Thakif tribe, took refuge in their fortified city of Ta'if, which eight or nine years before had dismissed the Prophet from within its walls with injuries and insults. The remainder of the defeated force, consisting principally of the Hawazin, sought at a camp in the valley of Autas. This camp was raided by the Muslim troops. The families of the Hawazin, their flocks and herds with all their other effects, were captured by the troops of the Prophet. Ta'if was then besieged for a few days only, after which the Prophet raised the siege, well knowing that the people of Ta'if would soon be forced by circumstances to submit without bloodshed. Returning to his camp where the prisoners of Hawazin were left safely, the Prophet found a deputation from this hostile tribe who begged him to set free their families. The Prophet replied that he was willing to give back his own share of those captives and that of the children of Abdul Muttalib, but that he could not force his followers to abandon the fruits of their victory. The disciples followed the generous example of their teacher. The hearts of several members of the Thakir tribe were so influenced by this that they offered their allegiance and soon
258
[next] became earnest Muslims. The Prophet now returned to Medina fully
satisfied with the achievements of his mission.
The ninth year of the hijrah is known as the
Year of Embassies, as being the year in which the various tribes of Arabia
submitted to the claim of the Prophet and sent embassies to render homage to
him.
These tribes had been awaiting the issue of the
war between Muhammad and the Quraish; but as soon as the tribe - the principal
of the whole nation and the descendants of Ishmael, whose prerogatives none
offered to dispute - had submitted, they were satisfied that it was not in
their power to oppose Muhammad. Hence their embassies flocked into Medina to
make their submission to him. The conquest of Mecca decided the fate of
idolatry in Arabia. Now deputations began to arrive from all sides to render
the adherence to Islam of various tribes. Among the rest, five princes of the
tribe of Himyar professed Islam and sent ambassadors to notify Muhammad of the
same. These were the princes of Yemen, Mahra, Oman, and Yamama. The idolaters
of Ta'if, the very people who had driven the Messenger of Islam from their
midst with violence and contempt, now sent a deputation to pray forgiveness and
ask to be numbered among his followers. They begged, however, for temporary preservation
of their idols. As a last appeal they begged for one month of grace only. But
even this was not conceded. The Prophet said Islam and the idols could not
exist together. They then begged for exemption from the daily prayers. The
Prophet replied that without devotion, religion would be nothing. At last they
submitted to all that was required of them. They, however, asked to be exempted
from destroying the idols with their own hands. This was granted. The Prophet
selected Abu Sufyan and Mughira to destroy the idols of Ta'if, the chief of
which was the notorious idol of Al-Lat. This was carried out amidst cries of
despair and grief from the women of Ta'if.
The conversion of this tribe of Ta'if is worthy of notice. This tribe, which hither to had proved hostile to the new faith, was noted among the Arabs for its idolatrous priesthood. A small detachment under Ali was sent to reduce them to obedience and to destroy their idols. The prince of the tribe was 'Adi, the son of the famous Hatim, whose generosity was spoken of all over Arabia. On the approach of the Muslim force, Adi fled to Syria, leaving his sister with his principal clansmen, to fall into the hands of the Muslims. These were conducted by Ali with every sign of respect and sympathy to Medina. When the daughter of Hatim came before the Prophet, she addressed him in the following words: "Messenger of Allah, my father is dead; my brother, my only relation fled into
259
[next] the mountains on the approach of
the Muslims. I cannot ransom myself; I count on your generosity for my
deliverance. My father was an illustrious man, the prince of his tribe, a man
who ransomed prisoners, protected the honor of women, fed the poor, cothe
afflicted, and was deaf to no appeal." The Prophet replied: "Your
father had the virtues of a true Muslim; if it were permitted to invoke the
mercy of Allah on any whose life was passed in idolatry, I would pray to Allah
for mercy for the soul of Hatim." Then, addressing the Muslims around him,
he said: "the daughter of Hatim is free, her father was a generous and
humane man; Allah loves and rewards the merciful." With the daughter of
Hatim, all her people were set at liberty. She proceeded to Syria and related
to her brother the generosity of Muhammad. 'Adi, touched by gratitude, hastened
to Medina, where he was kindly received by the Prophet. He professed Islam and
returned to his people and persuaded them to abandon idolatry. They all
submitted and became devoted Muslims.
Hitherto no prohibition had been enforced
against idolaters entering the Holy Ka'ba, or performing their abominable rites
within the sacred precincts. Towards the end of the ninth year of the hijrah,
during the month of pilgrimage 'Ali was delegated by the Prophet to read a
proclamation that ran as follows: "No idolater shall after this year
perform the pilgrimage; no one shall make the circuit of the Ka'ba naked (such
a disgraceful custom was practiced by the pagan Arabs); and treaty with the
Prophet shall continue in force but four months are allowed to every man to
return to his territories; after that there will be no obligation on the
Prophet, except towards those with whom treaties have been concluded."
The vast multitude who had listened to the above
declaration returned to their homes, and before the following year was over the
majority of them were Muslims. During the tenth year of the hijrah, as in the
preceding one, numerous embassies continued to pour into Medina from all parts
of Arabia, to testify to the allegiance of their chiefs and their tribes.
Teachers were sent by the Prophet into the different provinces to teach the new
converts the principles and precepts of Islam. These teachers were invariably
given the following injunctions when they were about to depart on their mission:
"Deal gently with the people, and be not harsh; cheer them, and do not
look down upon them with contempt. You will meet with many believers in the
Holy Scriptures, who will ask you: 'What is the key to heaven?' Answer them it
(the key to heaven) is to bear witness to the divine truth and to do
good."
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[next]
Thus, the mission of the Prophet Muhammad was
now accomplished; the whole work was achieved in his lifetime.
Idolatry with its nameless abominations was entirely destroyed. The people who
were sunk in superstition, cruelty, and vice in regions where spiritual life
was utterly unknown were now united in one bond of faith, hope and charity. The
tribes which had been from time immemorial engaged in perpetual wars were now
united together by the ties of brotherhood, love, and harmony. Henceforth,
their aims were not confined to this earth alone; but there was something
beyond the grave - much higher, purer, and diviner - calling them to the
practice of charity, goodness, justice, and universal love. They could now
perceive that Allah was not that which they had carved out of wood or stone,
but the Almighty Loving, Merciful, the Creator of the Universe.
Prophet
Muhammad's last Sermon, mount Arafat
On the return of the sacred month of pilgrimage,
the Prophet, under the presentiment of his approaching end, determined to make
a farewell pilgrimage to Mecca. In February 632, he left Medina with a very
considerable concourse of Muslims. It is stated that from ninety thousand to
one hundred and forty thousand people accompanied the Prophet. Before
completing all rites of the pilgrimage, he addressed the assembled multitude
from the top of Mount Arafat in the following words:
"O people! Listen to my words, for I know
not whether another year will be vouchsafed to me after this year to find
myself among you. Your lives and property are sacred and inviolable among one
another until you appear before the Lord, as this day and this month are sacred
for all; and remember, you will have to appear before your Lord Who will demand
from you an account for all your actions. O people, you have rights over your
wives, and your wives have a right over you. Verily you have taken them on the
security of Allah and have made their people lawful unto you by the words of Allah.
And your slaves, see that you feed them with such food as you eat yourselves,
and clothe them with the stuff you wear, and if they commit a fault which you
are not inclined to forgive, then part with them; for they are the servants of
the Lord and are not to be harshly treated. O people, listen to my words and
understand them. Know that all Muslims are brothers. You are one brotherhood;
but no man shall take ought from his brother, unless by his free consent. Keep
yourselves from injustice. Let him who is present tell this to him who is
absent. It maybe that he who is told this afterward may remember better than he
who has now heard it. The Prophet concluded his sermon by exclaiming: "O
Lord, I have fulfilled my message and accomplished my work." The assembled
multitude, all in one voice, cried: "Yea, verily you have." The
Prophet again exclaimed: "O Lord, I beseech You, bear witness to
it."
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[next]
Prophet
returns to Madina
Having rigorously performed all the ceremonies
of the pilgrimage, that his example might be followed by all Muslims for all
succeeding ages, the Prophet returned with his followers to Medina.
The eleventh year of the hijrah, being the last
year of Muhammad's life, was spent at Medina. There he settled the organization
of the provincial and tribal communities which had adopted Islam and become the
component parts of the Muslims federation. More officers had to be deputed to
the interior provinces for the purpose of teaching their inhabitants the
precepts of the religion, administering justice, and collecting Zakat. Muadh
Ibn Jabal was sent to Yemen. On his departure to that distant province the
Prophet enjoined him to use his own discretion in the event of his being unable
to find express authority in the Quran. Ali was deputed to Yamama in the
southeast of the peninsula. To him the Prophet said: "Never decide between
any two parties who come to you for justice unless you first hear both of
them."
Murders
and false claims of Prophethood arise
A force was being prepared under Usama Ibn Zaid,
whose father was killed at Muta, against the Byzantines, to exact the
long-delayed reparation for the murder of the envoy to Syria. However, the news
of the Prophet's sickness and failing health caused that expedition to be
stopped. This news was soon noised abroad and produced disorder in some
districts. Three pretenders had arisen who gave themselves out as prophets and
tried by all kinds of imposture to win over their tribes. The most dangerous of
these pretenders was known as Al Aswad. He was a chief of Yemen and a conjurer.
He soon succeeded in gaining over his tribesmen and, with the help, reduced to
subjection many of the neighboring towns. He killed Shahr, whom the Prophet had
appointed as Governor of Sana in the place of his father Bazan, who had just
died. Bazan had been the viceroy of Yemen under Chosroes of Persia; after he
had adopted Islam he was allowed by the Prophet to remain as Governor of Yemen.
He was able to convert to Islam all the Persian colony in that province. Al-Aswad,
the conjurer, had now killed Shahr, but soon after he was massacred by the
Persians of Yemen.
The other two pretenders, Tulayha and Haroun by name, were not suppressed until after the death of the Prophet, during the reign of Abu Bakr. Haroun, better known as
262
[next] Mussaylamah, addressed to
the Prophet a letter which ran as follows: "From Mussaylamah the Prophet
of Allah, to Muhammad the Prophet of Allah. Peace be to you. I am your partner.
Let the exercise of authority be divided between us. Half the earth will be
mine, and half will belong to your Quraish. But the Quraish are too greedy to
be satisfied with a just division." To this letter the Prophet replied as
follows: "From Muhammad the Messenger of Allah to Mussaylamah the liar.
Peace be to those who follow the right path. The earth belongs to Allah. It is
He Who makes the reign whomsoever He pleases. Only those will prosper who fear
the Lord."
Prophet
Muhammad's last days
The health of the Prophet grew worse. His last
days were remarkable for the calmness and serenity of his mind. He was able,
though weak and feeble, to lead the public prayers until within three days of
his death. He requested that he might be permitted to stay at 'Aisha's house
close to the mosque during his illness, an arrangement to which his other wives
assented. As long as his strength lasted, he took part in the public prayers.
The last time he appeared in the mosque he addressed the congregation, after
the usual prayers were over, in the following words: "O Muslims, if I have
wronged anyone of you, here I am to answer for it; if I owe anything to anyone,
all I may happen to possess belongs to you." A man in the crowd rose and
claimed three Dhirhams which he had given to a poor man at the request of the
Prophet. They were immediately paid back with these words: "Better to
blush in this world than in the next." The Prophet then prayed and
implored Allah's mercy for those who had fallen in the persecution of their
enemies. He recommended to all his followers the observance of religious duties
and the leading of a life of peace and goodwill. Then he spoke with emotion and
with a voice still so powerful as to reach beyond the outer doors of the
mosque: "By the Lord in Whose hand lies the soul of Muhammad as to myself,
no man can lay hold on me in any matter; I have not made lawful anything
excepting what Allah has made lawful; nor have I prohibited anything but that
which Allah in His Book has prohibited."
Then turning to the women who sat close by, he
exclaimed: "O Fatimah, my, daughter, and Safia, my aunt, work you both
that which procure you acceptance with the Lord, for verily I have no power to
save you in any wise." He then rose and re-entered the house of Aisha.
The death
of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him
After this, the Prophet never appeared at public prayers. A few hours after he returned
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[next] from the mosque, the Prophet
died while laying his head on the bosom of Aisha. As soon as the Prophet's
death was announced, a crowd of people gathered at the door of the house of
Aisha, exclaiming: "How can our messenger be dead?" Umar said:
"No, he is not dead; he will be restored to us, and those are traitors to
the cause of Islam who say he is dead. If they say so let them be cut in
pieces." But Abu Bakr entered the house at this moment, and after he had
touched the body of the Prophet with a demonstration of profound affection, he
appear at the door and addressed the crowd with the following speech: "O
Muslims, if anyone of you has been worshipping Muhammad, then let me tell you
that Muhammad is dead. But if you really do worship Allah then know that Allah
is living and will never die. Do you forget the verse in the Quran:
"Muhammad is not more than a Messenger, and
indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed,
will you then turn your back on your heels (as disbeliveers)? And he who turns
back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give
reward to those who are grateful." (Ch 3:144 Quran).
Upon hearing this speech of Abu Bakr, 'Umar
acknowledged his error, and the crowd was satisfied and dispersed.
Al-Abbas, the Prophet's uncle, presided at the
preparation for the burial, and the body was duly washed and perfumed. There
was some dispute between the Quraish and the Ansars as to the place of burial;
however, Abu Bakr settled the dispute by affirming that he had heard the
Prophet say that a prophet should be buried at the very spot where he died. A
grave was accordingly dug in the ground within the house of Aisha and under the
bed on which the Prophet died. In this grave the body was buried, and the usual
rites were performed by those who were present. Thus ended the glorious life of
that Prophet Muhammad.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him.
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