Prophet Muhammad: A Mercy To The Worlds
The Prophet’s Masjid in the city of Madinah Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was unlettered but a wise and well-respected man, a member of the ruling Quraysh tribe, who was born in Makkah in the year 570 C.E. at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe. He was orphaned at an early age and then raised by his uncle Abu Talib. As Muhammad (peace be upon him) grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. His reputation and personal qualities also led to his marriage at the age of 25 to Khadijah, a widow whom he had assisted in business. From then on, he became an important and trusted citizen of Makkah. Historians describe him as calm and meditative.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) never felt content to be part of his society whose values were devoid of true religious significance. He never worshiped idols and never drank alcohol, although drinking was widespread in Arabian society at that time. It became his habit to retreat from time to time to meditate in the cave of Hira’ near the summit of Jabal An-Nur, the “Mountain of Light”, near Makkah (now within Makkah city).
At the age of 40, while engaged in one such meditative retreat, Muhammad (peace be upon him) received his first revelation from Allah through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril). This revelation, which continued for 23 years, is known as the Qur’an.
His first convert was his wife Khadijah, whose support and companionship provided necessary reassurance and strength. He also won the support of some of his relatives and friends. The basic themes of the early message were the majesty of the One, Unique God; the futility of idol worship; the threat of judgment in the new life after being raised for grave; and the necessity of faith, compassion and morality in human affairs.
All these themes represented an attack on the crass materialism and idolatry prevalent in Makkah at the time. So when he began to proclaim the message to others, the Makkans rejected him. He and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution. Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers drew comfort from the knowledge revealed to him about other Prophets, such as Abraham, Joseph, and Moses (peace be upon them all), each of whom had also been persecuted and tested.
The Number Of People From This Ummah In Paradise
Many people from this ummah will enter Paradise, but only Allah knows their exact number. al-Bukhaari reports from Sa’eed ibn Jubayr who said, “Ibn ‘Abbaas told me that the Prophet (saw) said, “I was shown the nations, and I saw a Prophet passing by with his ummah, another with a band of followers, another with ten followers, another with five, and another who was alone. I looked and saw a huge crowd of people, and I asked, “O Jibreel, are these my ummah?” He said, “No look at the horizon.” I looked and saw a vast multitude. He said,”These are your ummah, and the seventy thousand in front will not be brought to account or be punished.” [al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab Yadhkul al-Jannah Sab’oona Alfaan, Fath al-Baari, 11/406]
The first crowd which the Prophet (Saw) thought was his ummah was in fact the Children of Israel as is stated in a number of saheeh reports, “I hoped that this would be my ummah, but I was told that this was Musa and his people.” [Fath al-Baari, 11/407].
Concerning the words “a vast multitude” Ibn Hajar said, “A report from Sa’eed ibn Mansoor says, “huge” [Adheem] and adds, “It was said to me, “look at the horizon” So I looked and I saw a huge multitude. Then I was told, “Look at the other horizon, it is just like the first one.”” According to a report given by Ibn Faadil, “[I saw] a multitude that filled the horizon and it was said to me “Look here and here, all across the horizon”. According to a version narrated by Ahmad, “I saw my ummah filling the plains and the mountains, and I was amazed at the numbers and their appearance. I was asked, “Are you pleased O Muhammad?” and I said, “Yes O Rabb.” [Fath al-Baari, 11/408]
Some hadiths state that along with every thousand of the seventy thousand will be another seventy thousand plus three handfuls added by Allah.
Our Prophet (saw) hoped that this ummah would constitute half of the population of Paradise. In a hadith whose authenticity is agreed upon, Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said that when the Messenger of Allah (saw) was speaking about who would be sent to hell, he said, “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise. Among the people you are no more than a black hair on the hide of a white bull..” [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/8]
Some hadith state that this ummah will constitute two thirds of the population of Paradise. at-Tirmidhi reports with a hasan isnaad and ad-Daarimee and al-Bayhaqee also report, from Buraydah, that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “The people of Paradise are one hundred and twenty ranks, eight from this ummah and forth from the rest of the nations.” [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/92, no. 5644]
Muslim reports from Anas (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “I will be the first intercessor in Paradise. No Prophet was believed in as I was believed in. Among the Prophets is one who was believed in by only one man.” [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/124, no. 5744].
The reason why so many people of this ummah believed is because of the great miracle of the Messenger of Allah (saw), which was a recited revelation which is addressed to hearts and minds. It is a miracle that is preserved and will remain until the Day of Judgement. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
“There is no Prophet who was not given a sign [or miracle] in which people believed and followed him. That which I have been given is a Revelation from Allah and I hope that I will have the greatest number of followers on the Day of Resurrection.” [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/142, 5746]
Spreading Love And Kindness In The Home
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘When Allah wills some good towards the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them.’” (Musnad Ahmad, 6/71; Sahih Al-Jami’, 303)
According to another report: “When Allah loves the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them.” (Ibn Abi Al-Dunya and others; Sahih al-Jami’, no. 1704)
In other words, they start to be kind to one another. This is one of the means of attaining happiness in the home, for kindness is very beneficial between the spouses, and with the children, and brings results that cannot be achieved through harshness, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah loves kindness and rewards it in such a way that He does not reward for harshness or for anything else.” (Sahih Muslim, no. 2592)
Many men think that housework is beneath them, and some of them think that it will undermine their status and position if they help their wives with this work.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), however, used to “sew his own clothes, mend his own shoes and do whatever other work men do in their homes.” (Musnad Ahmad, 6/121; Sahih Al-Jami’, 4927)
This was narrated by his wife Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her), when she was asked about what the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to do in his house; her response described what she herself had seen. According to another report, she said: “He was like any other human being: he would clean his clothes, milk his ewe and serve himself.” (Musnad Ahmad, 6/256; Al-Silsilat Al-Sahihah, no. 671)
She was also asked about what the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to do in his house, and she said, “He used to serve his family, then when the time for prayer came, he would go out to pray.” (Al-Bukhari)
If we were to do likewise nowadays, we would achieve three things: We would be following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him); we would be helping our wives; we would feel more humble, not arrogant.
Some men demand food instantly from their wives, when the pot is on the stove and the baby is screaming to be fed; they do not pick up the child or wait a little while for the food. Let these Hadith be a reminder and a lesson.
Being affectionate towards and joking with the members of the family is a praiseworthy trait. Showing affection towards one’s wife and children is one of the things that leads to creating an atmosphere of happiness and friendliness in the home.
The ways in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) showed affection towards young children are too well-known to need mentioning. He often used to show his affection towards his grandchildren – Hasan and Hussain (may Allah be pleased with them). This is probably one of the reasons why the children used to rejoice when he would come back from traveling; they would rush to welcome him, as reported in a Sahih Hadith: “Whenever he came back from a journey, the children of his household would be taken out to meet him.”
Aqwal Hazrat Umar Farooq
The Path To Allah
People are always eager to know the path to Allah. In other words, they are keen to know how to win Allah’s approval and avoid His displeasure and wrath. The Holy Qur’an abound with injunctions, guidelines, instances and deeds that will undoubtedly lead you to the path of Allah. In this article, I will shed some light on the things and deeds that lead people to the path of Allah as revealed in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah.
1- Love of the Prophet: This love also makes you follow the life example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in all his dealings and manners. Also this love is an indication of the love of Allah as stated in the Holy Qur’an, “Say: “If you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Say: “Obey Allah and His Messenger. But if they turn back, Allah loves not those who reject Faith.” (Qur’an, 3:31-32)
2- Spending your money for the sake of Allah: You have to spend as much money as you can in charitable works and helping the needy to win Allah’s pleasure because Allah says, “Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise).” (Qur’an, 9:111)
3- Forgiving others: This is another way to win Allah’s approval because Allah favors those who forgive other people because forgiveness raises man to the level of angels, “Let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 24:22)
4- Avoiding the evils of human nature: Avoiding human vices such as envy, spying, gossip and backbiting will undoubtedly take man one step closer to the path of Allah, for Allah warns people against such evils, “O you who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: And spy not on each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it…But fear Allah. For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 49:120)
5- Following the example of those who won Allah’s approval: Following the example of the former Prophets (and on top of them Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him), pious predecessors and martyrs will also lead us to the path of Allah, and this is mentioned in the very first chapter of the Qur’an, “Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).” (Qur’an, 1:6-7)
The Philosophy Of Salaah
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The importance of Salaah (obligatory 5 times prayers) in a Muslim’s life is undeniable, unquestionable, and undisputable. Every Muslim would agree that acts such as recitation of the Qur’an (qirat), giving charity to the poor (zakaat), pilgrimage (Hajj), fasting during Ramadan (fasting), respecting elders, loving the younger ones, abstaining from watching hearing and doing the haraam, and practices such as taqwa, kindness, prostrations (sajda), and supplications (dua) hold extreme importance in a Muslim’s life.
Our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallum commanded the Muslims to practice and teach all of the above mentioned devotions to themselves, others, and especially the children. But never has the Prophet stressed so much on any other element, as He has stressed on Salaat. The Prophet has emphasized Salaat so much that a child is to be disciplined from an early tender age and be put into the practice of offering his prayers. If the child does not recite the Qur’an, that’s ok. If he does not fast, that’s ok. But it is not ok for the child to not offer his prayers. The Prophet commanded the believers to condition their children in such a way that Salaat becomes part of his daily activity from as early of an age as 7 and 10 years.
Salaat is to be offered 5 times a day irrespective of any excuses, whether in a standing position, in a sitting posture, or even while lying down (if a person is sick), but it can not be ignored. The question arises to mind that what is it about Salaat that makes it so different from other pious activities? Why has the Salaat been emphasized so much that it
is one of the only few things that are actually commanded for even a child.Why???
Allah says in the Qur”an, “Seek help from Salaat.” Whenever the Prophet happened to face any difficulty, he would immediately resort to Salaat. When a Muslim offers his Salaat to please Allah, his sins are shed away from him just as leaves drop from trees in Autumn. Just as dirt can not remain on a person’s body who bathes five times, exactly similar is the effect of Salaat offered five times a day with the Grace of Allah it washes away all the dirt of the mind and spirit. Accountability of Salaat will be one of the only three questions asked in the grave, and will be the first and the foremost thing to be accounted for on the Day of Judgement. Salaat is the key to Paradise, the pillar of Islam, the light and mai’raaj of a Momin, and disgraces the Devil. The Mercy of Allah descends upon a person so long as he is engaged in Salaat. Of all the practices, Salaat made at fixed hours is most loved by Allah.
The place of Salaat in Islam is like the head in a body. Fire of Hell is forbidden and Paradise becomes due to a person who performs his ‘Wudhu’ properly and says his Salaat keenly and according to its regulations. Salaat encourages promptness in a person’s life and allows him to appreciate the value of time when he promptly offers his prayers 5 times everyday at their respective times.
Salaat strengthens faith and Eemaan because it makes a believer feel close to his Creator and makes him realize that even if he can not see Allah, Allah can surely see him. Salaat promotes unity and discipline for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side, and it is this subconscious indivisible unity of Islam that makes a man instinctively into a brother.
With these points in mind, one begins to understand the importance of Salaat on an individual’s life, and only now can we begin to understand why Allah and His Messenger emphasized so much on Salaat and wished to embed Salaat as part of every believer?s life, children and adults alike.
Spending On One’s Family Comes First
Spending on the family is highly recommended. Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said: “Of the c you spend in the way of Allah, the dinar you spend for the freedom of slave, the dinar you give away in charity to the poor, and the dinar you spend on your wife and children, the highest in respect of reward is the one you spend on your family.” (Sahih Muslim)
Mother of the believers, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) once asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “Shall I get a reward if I spend on the children (from my first husband Abu Salamah)? They cannot be left uncared for, running about here and there (in search of a living). They are after all are my children. He answered: “Yes, you will have reward for whatever you spend on them.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Ibn Mas’ud Al-Badri relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said; When a person spends on his family, hoping for reward, the same is counted as charity on his part. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “It is indeed a sin for a person to hold back the sustenance of one who is dependent depend on him.” (Sahih Muslim)
Abu Hurairah relates that Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said, “Everyday, two angels descend, one of them saying; Allah, bestow a (good) return upon the spender: and the other saying: Allah, Destroy the goods of the miser.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
In another Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The upper hand (the giver) is better than the lower hand (the receiver) and start (your generosity) with your dependents; and the best kind of charity is from your surplus; and one who wants to become virtuous, Allah will make him so, and one who desires abundance will be given so by Allah. (Al-Bukhari)
Istiqamat Aur Husn-e-Khatima
Specific People Who Will Be In Hell
The kuffaar and mushikreen will be in Hell, no doubt about it, but the Qur’an and hadith also mention specific people who will be in the Fire. One of them is the Pharaoh who ruled at the time of Musa (as):
“He [Pharaoh] will go before his people on the Day of Judgement, and will lead them into the Fire..” (11:98)
Also included are the wives of Nuh (as) and Lut (as):
“Allah sets forth for an example to the unbelievers, the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were [respectively] under two of Our righteous slaves, but they were false to their [husbands] and they profited nothing before Allah on their account, but were told: “Enter the Fire, along with those who enter!” (66:10)
Abu Lahab and his wife are also among those mentioned specifically:
“Perish the hands of the Father of Flame [Abu Lahab]! Perish he! No profit to him from all his wealth and all his gains! Burnt soon will he be in a Fire of blazing flames! His wife shall carry the [crackling] wood, as fuel! A twisted rope of palm fibre round her [own] neck!” (111:1-5)
Another of them is ‘Amr ibn ‘Aamir al-Khuzaa’i, whom the Prophet (saw) being disembowelled in Hell (sahih hadith narrated by al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Ahmad); and the one who killed ‘Ammar and plundered his possessions. A report with a Saheeh isnaad quoted in Mu’jam at-Tabaraani from ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas, and his son states that the Prophet (saw) said, “The one who killed ‘Ammaar and plundered his possessions will be in Hell”. (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4/110, #4170)