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Significant Role Of Women Companions Of The Prophet

When people became Muslim, they were eager to know more about Islam. During the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him), he was the only source from which they could learn their faith. They realized that by adopting Islam, they committed themselves to a fundamental change in their life pattern and the way they conducted their affairs. Hence, they went to him asking about everything that occurred to them. Men and women sought his guidance. Therefore, it was not uncommon that they should meet and exchange information, or discuss matters. They found nothing wrong with that. Nor did the Prophet at any time point to any need of separation between men and women. We will cite some examples of this, making clear that such exchanges occurred all the time in the early period of Islam. The first is the case of Asma’ bint Umays. She was visiting Lady Hafsah bint Umar, the Prophet’s wife when she had a bit of an argument with Umar about their relative positions. Asma’ had been among those who emigrated to Abyssinia and stayed there for many years until the Prophet instructed them to come back. She was upset by Umar’s remark and she went to seek clarification from the Prophet.

Abu Musa Al-Ashari reports: When the Prophet came in, she said: “God’s Messenger! Umar has just said, ‘We have had the honor of emigrating with the Prophet before you. We have a better claim than yours to the companionship of God’s Messenger (peace be upon him).’ The Prophet asked her, ‘What was your reply to him?’ She reported her answer in the following words: ‘No, by God. You were with God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) who fed those of you who were hungry and admonished the ignorant, while we were in the land of hostile strangers, staying there only for the sake of God and His Messenger… We were often abused and we were scared.’ The Prophet said: ‘He does not have a better claim to me than you. He and his fellow Muslims have the reward of one emigration, while you, the people of the boat, shall have the reward of two emigrations.’ Asma’ added: ‘Abu Musa and the people who came on the boat from Abyssinia came in groups to see Asma’ and ask her about this Hadith. Nothing in this world gave them more joy and greater happiness than what God’s Messenger said to her.'” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Amir Al-Shaabi was a famous scholar of the Tabieen generation, which followed that of the Prophet’s companions. He said to Fatimah bint Qays, who was one of the early Muslim women to emigrate: “Tell me a Hadith which you yourself had heard from the Prophet, not reporting it through anyone else.” She said that she could easily do that if she had a mind to it. He insisted and she reported to him the following Hadith: “I heard the caller announcing prayer to be held shortly (which meant that a public meeting would be held). I went out to the mosque and joined the Prophet’s prayer. I was in the women’s row that was immediately behind the men’s rows. When the Prophet finished the prayer, he sat on the pulpit smiling. He said: ‘Let everyone stay where they are. Do you know why I have asked you to come?’ They said: ‘God and His messenger know best.’ He said: ‘I have not asked you to come in order to announce anything pleasant or unpleasant. I only want to tell you that Tameem Al-Dari was a Christian man who came forward and declared himself a Muslim, pledging his loyalty to me. He told me something that was in agreement with what I had told you about the Impostor who would claim to be the Messiah. He said to me that he went on a boat in the sea with thirty people…'” (Related by Muslim.)

The Hadith goes on to report what the Prophet said, but we are now interested only in this first part which makes clear that men and women were equal in seeking knowledge and that they met as they pursued what they wanted. Here Fatimah mentions that she was in the first of women’s rows and listened to the Prophet as he gave them this information.

In fact, the Prophet’s companions did not find it odd that they should seek knowledge from the opposite sex. Tawoos, a famous scholar of the Tabieen generation, reports: “I was with Ibn Abbas when Zayd ibn Thabit said to him: ‘Did you rule that a woman pilgrim who is in her period could leave before she had performed the tawaf of farewell?’ Ibn Abbas said: ‘If you are unsure, then go and ask this Ansari woman (he named her) whether it was God’s messenger who ordered her to do so.’ When Zayd ibn Thabit came back to meet Ibn Abbas he said to him: ‘I see that you have said the truth.'” (Related by Muslim.)

This is just one example of men seeking to learn from women. We mentioned many other examples when we discussed how the Prophet’s companions sought to learn from his wives what he said about different issues. Needless to say, when the Prophet traveled for his pilgrimage, there were many occasions when men and women met and exchanged information, or learned together from the Prophet. Here are three examples, the first of which suggests that the Prophet gave a general order, applying to men and women alike: Lady Ayesha reports: “We went out with the Prophet on his farewell pilgrimage. We all declared our intention to do the Umrah. Then the Prophet announced: ‘Whoever has brought his sacrifice with him should declare their intention to do the pilgrimage and the Umrah together. They must not release themselves from consecration until they had done their duties for both.'” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Yahya ibn Al-Hussayn quotes his grandmother as saying: “I went out with the Prophet on his farewell pilgrimage. I saw him when he did the stoning at Jamrat Al-Aqabah and then left. He was on his camel, and Bilal and Usamah were with him. One of them was leading the camel and the other holding his robe above the Prophet’s head to shelter him from the sun. The Prophet said many things before I heard him saying: “If a slave whose ears and nose have been cut (and the reporter thought that she described the slave as ‘black’) is appointed your leader and he implements God’s book, then you must listen and obey him.” (Related by Muslim.)

Ibn Abbas reports that “the Prophet met a group of travelers at Al-Rawha’ and asked them who they were. They said: ‘We are Muslims. Who are you?’ He said: ‘I am God’s messenger.’ A woman lifted her baby son and asked him: ‘Can this one perform the pilgrimage?’ He said: ‘Yes, and you earn a reward.'” (Related by Muslim.)

The Prophet Married Aisha For The Benefit Of Islam And Humanity

1. The Prophet married Aisha primarily for three reasons:

  1. To reinforce the friendly relations already existing with Abu Bakr (his closest companion).
  2. To educate and train Aisha for the purposes of Islam.
  3. To utilize her capabilities for the sake of Islam.

2. Her Marriage with the prophet was a Wahy (Divine Revelation). She, herself relates from the Prophet. “He said, ‘I saw you in dreams three times. The angel brought you to me and you were clad in white silk. He (the angel) said that it was your consort and he (angel) showed me by opening your face. You are just like that…” Sahih Muslim, Vol.2, p. 285.

3. Aisha (r.a.) was born after her parents had embraced Islam. Therefore, she was free from the defilement of polytheism right from her birth.

4. In her youth, already known for her striking beauty and her formidable memory, she came under the loving care and attention of the Prophet himself. As his wife and close companion, she acquired from him knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever acquired.

Aisha lived on almost fifty years after the passing away of the Prophet. She had been his wife for a decade. Much of this time was spent learning and acquiring knowledge of the two most important sources of God’s guidance, the Qur’an and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Aisha ( r.a.) was one of the three wives (the other two being Hafsa (r.a.) and Umm Salama (r.a.) who memorized the Revelation. Like Hafsa (r.a.), she had her own script of the Qur’an written after the Prophet had died.

So far as the Hadith or sayings of the Prophet is concerned, Aisha ( r.a.) is one of four persons (the others being Abu Hurayra, Abdullah ibn Umar, and Anas ibn Malik) who transmitted more than two thousand sayings. From her, 2210 Hadith have come, out of which 174 Hadith are commonly agreed upon by both Bukhari and Muslim.

Many of her transmissions pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of personal behavior which only someone in Aisha’s position could have learnt. What is most important is that her knowledge of Hadith was passed on in written form by at least three persons including her nephew Urwah who became one of the greatest scholars among the generation after the Companions.

It is the claim of the Scholars of Islam that without her, half of the Ilm-I-Hadith [knowledge, understanding of the Hadith (and Islam)] would have perished.

5. Many of the learned companions of the Prophet and their followers benefited from Aishah’s knowledge.

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari once said: “If we companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a matter, we asked Aisha about it.”

“Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from Said ibn al-Musayyab that Abu Musa al-Ash’ari came to Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said to her, “The disagreement of the companions in a matter which I hate to bring before you has distressed me.” She said, “What is that? You did not ask your mother about it, so ask me.” He said, “A man penetrates his wife, but becomes listless and does not ejaculate. “She said, “When the circumcised part passes the circumcised part ghusl is obligatory.” Abu Musa added, “I shall never ask anyone about this after you.” Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik, Hadith 2.75.

Arwa Bin Zubair says, “I did not find anyone more proficient [than Aisha (r.a.)] in the knowledge of the Holy Qur’an, the Commandments of Halal (lawful) and Haram (prohibited), Ilmul-Ansab and Arabic poetry. That is why even senior companions of the Prophet used to consult Aisha ( r.a.) in resolving intricate issues”. Ibn Qayyim and Ibn Sa’ad, Jala-ul-Afham, vol. 2, p. 26.

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari says: “Never had we (the companions) had any difficulty for the solution of which we approached Aisha and did not get some useful information from her”.
Sirat-I-Aisha, on the authority of Trimidhi, p. 163.

6. As a teacher she had a clear and persuasive manner of speech and her power of oratory has been described in superlative terms by al-Ahnaf who said: “I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali and the Khulafa up to this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of any person than from the mouth of Aisha.”

The Prophet said, “The superiority of ‘Aisha to other ladies is like the superiority of Tharid ( i.e. meat and bread dish) to other meals. Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Mary, the daughter of Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh.” Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith, Narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari Hadith 4.643.

Musa Ibn Talha (r.a.) says, “I did not see anyone more eloquent than Aisha (r.a.)”. Mustadrak of Hakim, vol.4, p.11.

7. Men and women came from far and wide to benefit from her knowledge.

Aisha’s great interest in the study of the Qur’an is understandable. She was an eye-witness to a number of revelations and had therefore a clear idea of the circumstances in which they were revealed. It was on her bed alone (and no other consort’s) that the Prophet received Wahy (Divine Revelations) several times. This helped her in interpreting the verses.

8. At the time of the Prophet’s death, the Prophet’s head was on her lap. It was in her quarters that the Prophet was buried.

The life of Aisha (R) is proof that a woman can be far more learned than men and that she can be the teacher of scholars and experts. Her life is also proof that a woman can exert influence over men and women and provide them with inspiration and leadership. Aisha (R) is a continuing inspiration and role model to today’s youth who are diligently searching for an example amongst pop stars, movie actresses, and sports stars. May the memory of her’s life forever in the heart of the Muslim Ummah and may Allah grant her the highest abode in Paradise…Ameen.

Conclusion
It was the aforementioned qualities of Aisha ( r.a.) and the Prophet’s guidance in molding these capabilities for the service of Islam, were the main reasons, why the Prophet Married young Aisha (r.a.), and not the perverted reasons brought forth by misguided orientalists.

Muslims invite all sincere humans to study the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon) in the light of the authentic sources of the Qur’an and the Sunnah (exemplary sayings and deeds of the Prophet) and judge for themselves where the truth lies. Indeed, by recognizing the truth of Islam as the final and complete Guidance sent by our Creator can humanity find lasting peace in this world and a means of salvation from the hellfire in the hereafter.

“I have studied him – the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much-needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”
George Bernard Shaw, The Genuine Islam, vol. 1, no. 81936.

Though the Prophet is not among us in his flesh, his exemplary life has been preserved for all humanity to follow.

When Truth comes Falsehood disappears, Islam came, now Shirk (polytheism) must clear.

Welcome to Islam…

The Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Aallam – I Have Been Sent As A Qasim

The Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam is the Distributor(Qasim) for the Ummah and the Atta is from Allah.

Sahih Bukhari Book 25, Number 5317:
Jabir b. ‘Abdullah reported that a child was born to one of the persons amongst us and he decided to give him the name of Muhammad We said: We will not allow you to give the name after the name of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) until you ask him (the Holy Prophet). So he (that person) came and said (to the Holy Prophet): A child was born in my house and I wanted to give him the name (of Muhammad) after the name of Allah’s Messenger, whereas my people did not allow me that I should name him after that (sacred) name until I have asked Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) in this connection, whereupon he said: Give him the name after my name but do not call him by my kunya, for I have been sent as a Qasim as I distribute amongst you.

Sahih Bukhari Book 25, Number 5317:
Some people argue that here Qasim only means the distribution of Zakat and spoils of the war and it is only limited to that, but in this hadith, the Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam said that he was sent as a Qasim, which clearly signifies that purpose of this attribute “Qasim” is not just distribution of zakat and spoils of war, but Allah’s blessing are doled out to us through the Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam, He is the door from which we get Allah’s blessings, whether it be in this world or the next.

The distribution of Shafaath is also through him on the day of judgment, Allah will give Shafaath to the Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam and it is distributed to all by him

To clarify this point I am extracting the incident when Abu Bakr Siddique anhu radi Allahu taala gave his entire wealth to the Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, The Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam had already refused another Sahabi’s wealth when he gave everything because one must also keep wealth to take care of himself and his family and it is a Muslims fard, but he only accepted Siddique E Akbar’s sacrifice because of the level of Imaan of Siddique E Akbar, who said I have left Allah and his Rasool in my home.

I have left the source (Allah) and the means (the Holy Prophet) of the distribution of wealth in my home.

This is described by Allama Sir Syed Muhammed Iqbaal

The poem from Allama Iqbal is as follows

“To the companions, one day the Holy Prophet(Sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam) appealed, O You of wealth, give in the path of righteousness,

Hearing the command Umar(radiallahu taala anhu) rose with immense desire,
for that day several thousand dirhams he did acquire

he thought to himself compared to Siddique(radiallahu taala anhu) today, my steed will surely lead the way

To the trusted Prophet(Sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam) His Riches he did give
, an act of selflessness for the dependent, he took the initiative

The Master of the World (Sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam) Enquired,
O Umar (radiallahu taal anhu) For whom the passion for the truth is the solace of the heart

For your own family, what did you leave? , What is in their right, the kinsmen must receive

Umar(radiallahu taal anhu) replied, Half the riches to the women and children would suffice,
The rest assigned to the Ummah in sacrifice,

By then the friend of Apostleship arrives
From Whom Love and affection derives

With his sincere nature, he brings forth,
All that in the worlds eye has worth

The Prophet said the concern for the family you must not dismiss
Then replied the secret keeper of love and bliss

From you do the eyes of the moon and the stars get their light
It is your being that is the means for the distribution of livelihood

The Candle is sufficient for the Moth
The Flower to the nightingale,
for Siddique(radiallahu taala anhu) The Messenger of Allah is Sufficient

Beautiful Sayings Of Prophet Muhammad(Salaho Alhi Wasalam)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.”[Muslim].

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): “Who is the most excellent among the Muslims?” He said, “One from whose tongue and hands the other Muslims are secure. ”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Whosoever gives me a guarantee to safeguard what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, I shall guarantee him Jannah. ”[Al-Bukhari].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying, “A person utters a word thoughtlessly (i.e., without thinking about its being good or not) and, as a result of this, he will fall down into the fire of Hell deeper than the distance between the east and the west.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “A man utters a word pleasing to Allah without considering it of any significance for which Allah exalts his ranks (in Jannah); another one speaks a word displeasing to Allah without considering it of any importance, and for this reason, he will sink down into Hell. ”[Al-Bukhari].

Abu ‘Abdur-Rahman Bilal bin Al-Harith Al-Muzani (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “A man speaks a good word without knowing its worth, Allah records for him His Good Pleasure till the day he will meet Him; and a man utters an evil word without realizing its importance, Allah records for him His displeasure till the day he will meet Him. ”[Imam Malik and At-Tirmidhi].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “He whom Allah saves from the evil of that which is between his jaws and the evil of that which is between his legs will enter Jannah.”[At-Tirmidhi] .

‘Uqbah bin `Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), “How can salvation be achieved?” He replied, “Control your tongue, keep to your house, and weep over your sins.”[At-Tirmidhi] .

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “When the son of Adam gets up in the morning, all the limbs humble themselves before the tongue and say: `Fear Allah for our sake because we are with you: (i.e., we will be rewarded or punished as a result of what you do) if you are straight, we will be straight; and if you are crooked, we will become crooked. ”'[At-Tirmidhi].

What Sort Of Married Life

When we try to discern the sort of life the Prophet (peace be upon him) had before the start of his message, we have few reports to hand. Interest in his personal life did not develop until later. Before prophethood, he was an ordinary man living in his community. While he did not take part in idol worship and did not attend festivals organized in the name of any idol, he did not stand out as different from other people. He was well known for his honesty and integrity. In fact, people in his community nicknamed him Al-Ameen, which meant the Trustworthy. People trusted him in every way, realizing that he was a man of his word, and he never tried to cheat in any situation. This earned him immense respect in his community. People continued to deposit their valuables with him for safekeeping, even when they were determinedly opposed to his message.

From the few reports that we have of his life after his marriage, up until he received the Angel Gabriel who told him of his assignment as God’s last messenger to mankind, we realize that he led a very happy life, with a caring and loving wife, Khadijah. She recognized his exceptional qualities and provided him with a comfortable home. Many years later, when he had established the first Muslim community and first Muslim state in Madinah, he mentioned that he had a business partner in Makkah called Al-Saib and he praised his partner for his integrity. This suggests that the Prophet continued to run his wife’s business, as he had no money of his own while she was a wealthy lady who employed people to travel on her business. This was how she met Muhammad and recognized his personal qualities. He must have been successful in this, ensuring a comfortable standard of living. When Makkah went through a rough period and people found it difficult to cope, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to his uncle Al-Abbas: “Your brother, Abu Talib, has a large family and things are hard for everyone. Let us both help him: you take one of his children and I take one to reduce his burden.” This is how Ali came to live with the Prophet in his home, giving him a good upbringing.

Khadijah was a model wife: loving, caring, supporting, and providing everything a man needs. We have good reports about her support when the Prophet was met with open hostility and determined opposition as he called on people to believe in God and abandon idolatry. Yet this was not new in their relationship. A few years before he began to receive his message, the Prophet used to spend time alone in a cave, in contemplation. She made sure that he lacked nothing. When once his absence was a little longer than usual, she sent a few of her servants looking for him.

Her exceptional care stands out when he received the Angel for the first time. This was not an easy encounter. How could it be when there is nothing in human experience to prepare him for it? He was in fear as he looked at the Angel standing above him, with his head high in the sky, and he told him: “You are the Prophet of this community.” It was Khadijah who reassured him, feeling that a man of his upright nature could not be deceived on such a momentous matter. She enlisted the learned support of her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who had studied the Bible and gained exceptional experience in religious matters. The two comforted him and helped him recognize the way that he was to lead as God’s messenger. Khadijah’s support was the best he could have received in his hour of great need.

– By Adil Salahi

Eating Habits And Diet Of The Prophet

The Prophet’s guidance with regard to food is perfect guidance. It was described by Ibn al-Qayyim as follows: When he put his hand in the food, he would say, “Bismillaah (in the Name of Allah), and he told people to say this when eating.

He said, “When any one of you eats, let him mention the name of Allah. If he forgets to mention the name of Allah at the beginning, let him say Bismillaahi fi awwalihi wa aakhirihi (in the name of Allah at its beginning and at its end).”
Saheeh hadeeth, narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1859) and Abu Dawood (3767).

When he raised the food to his mouth, he would say,
“Al-hamdu Lillaahi hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan fihi ghayri makfiyyin wa laa muwadda wa laa mustaghni ‘anhu Rabbanaa azza wa jall (Allah be praised with an abundant, beautiful, blessed praise. He is the One Who is Sufficient, Who feeds and is never fed, The One Who is longed for, along with that which is with Him, and the One Who is needed. He is Our Lord, may He be glorified).
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5142).

He never criticized food at all. If he liked it, he would eat it, and if he did not like it, he would leave it and not say anything.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3370) and Muslim (2064).

Or he would say, “I do not feel like eating this.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5076) and Muslim (1946).

Sometimes he would praise the food, as when he asked his family for food, and they said, “We have nothing but vinegar.” He asked for it and started to eat it, saying, “What a good food is vinegar.”
Narrated by Muslim (2052)

He used to talk whilst he was eating, as is seen from the report quoted above about vinegar.

And he said to his step-son Umar ibn Abi Salamah when he was eating with him: “Say Bismillaah and eat from that which is in front of you in the dish*.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5061) and Muslim (2022).

[* At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), people used to eat together from one dish, and children would sometimes forget the correct etiquette. – Translator]

He would repeatedly urge his guests to eat, as generous hosts do, and as is seen in the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, narrated by al-Bukhaari, about the story of drinking milk, where he repeatedly said to him, “Drink!” and he kept telling him to drink until he (the guest) said, “By the One Who sent you with the truth, I have no more room for it!”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6087).

When he ate with others, he would not leave until he had made dua for them.

He made dua in the house of Abd-Allah ibn Bisr, and said: “O Allah, bless for them that which You have provided for them, forgive them and have mercy on them.”
Narrated by Muslim (2042).

He commanded people to eat with their right hands and forbade them to eat with their left hands. He said, “The Shaytaan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.”
Narrated by Muslim (2020).

This implies that eating with the left hand is haraam, and this is the correct view, because the one who eats with his left hand is either a Shaytaan (a devil), or he is imitating the Shaytaan.

It was also reported in a Saheeh hadeeth that he told a man who was eating with his left hand in his presence, “Eat with your right hand!”
The man said, “I cannot.”
He said, “May you never be able to!” – and the man never lifted his right hand to his mouth after that. Narrated by Muslim (2021).

If it was permissible (to eat with the left hand), he would not have prayed against him for doing so. It was the man’s stubborn arrogance that made him refuse to obey the command, and this is the utmost disobedience that deserved this prayer against him.

He commanded those who complained that they never felt full to eat together and not separately, and to mention the name of Allah (say Bismillaah) over the food so that He might bless it for them.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood (3764) and Ibn Maajah (3286). (See Zaad al-Maaad, 2/397-406)

It was also reported that he said, “I do not eat reclining.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5083.

He used to eat using the first three fingers (of his right hand), which is the best way of eating.
See Zaad al-Maaad, 220-222.

The Prophets guidance regarding diet:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to know what he was eating. He used to eat what was good for him. He used to eat enough to keep him going, but no so much as to make him fat.

Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The believer eats in one stomach whilst the kaafir eats in seven.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5081) and Muslim (2060).

He taught his ummah something to protect them from diseases caused by eating and drinking.

He said: “The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls, to keep him going. If he must do that (fill his stomach), then let him fill one third with food, one third with drink, and one third with air.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1381), Ibn Maajah (3349); classed as Saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (2265).

And Allah knows best.

Qur’an: Witness The Miracle

Night after night in Ramadan, the believers witness a unique spectacle at mosques around the world. They stand in special Taraweeh prayers in which the prayer leader will recite the entire Quran from memory. Those who have accomplished this extraordinary feat of memorizing all of the 6246 verses are not a handful of devotees but there are hundreds of thousands of them. Most, just like most Muslims in the world today, do not speak Arabic. Yet they have painstakingly learnt to pronounce each and every word of the Quran correctly. The phenomenon is not a result of some religious resurgence that would pass. From the very first day that the Quran was revealed, it was memorized. And the number of those who have memorized it has been increasing ever since. Memorization of the Quran has been going on all through the centuries, all over the globe wherever Muslims are.

There are other religions that claim to possess the Word of God. There are none that can show a book that has commanded anything remotely comparable to this level of devotion. Quran is the most read and the only completely memorized book in the whole world. It is also the most studied book in the world. It has stimulated the development of entire disciplines of knowledge dealing with its reading, writing, and interpretation.

Miraculous as it is, this is not the only unique aspect of the Quran.

Quran was the first book in the Arabic language. Yet fourteen centuries later, its language is as alive as it was when it was revealed. And there is no other example of when the very first book in a language became any masterpiece let alone the eternal masterpiece that the Quran is.

This Book is meant to command and guide humanity until the end of time. That the passage of fourteen centuries has not made the slightest dent in its language or literary beauty is only one evidence of that unique role; its contents have also been unassailable by the passage of time. It makes statements of scientific facts that science would discover centuries later but none that science could ever refute. It tells about ancient histories, like the civilization of the ‘Aad people in the Empty Quarter of the Arabian desert that no other historical sources, then or since, contain any information about. Yet, its veracity has only recently been verified by scientific discoveries. Above all, it provides a system of beliefs and a code of conduct for life that is as relevant, illuminating, and true today as it was fourteen centuries earlier and during all the centuries in between.

The believers know that this Book had to be above space and time because this is the Word of the Creator of space and time. And He has promised that it will always be above space and time. But those who are looking from the outside and are just curious may consider these additional facts:

Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, did not go to any school, study from any teacher, or even learn how to read and write. He even had no interest in poetry, which was one of the most prized disciplines of his time. Yet suddenly at age forty, he began to recite this marvelous revelation.

The style of the Quran is very distinct from the words of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, himself, which also have been preserved in Hadith collections. His own sayings are embodiments of eloquence, but they have a different style. Moreover, they clearly are the words of a human being. Although never deviating from the truth, they do show human emotions and the effects of the circumstances in which they were said. Quran, on the other hand, never shows the slightest trace of these effects. It always speaks from above.

It was revealed over a twenty-three-year period and covers a very wide range of subjects yet it shows neither a gradual development of style nor any self-contradictions in the voluminous text.

The twenty-three years of Prophetic life was not a period spent in isolation. He did not retire to a cave to produce this miraculous work. The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, did spend long periods of time in quiet meditation in Cave Hira before becoming a Prophet. But after Prophethood was conferred upon him, his life was one of constant struggle with the pagans, and later the Jews, of Arabia who spared no effort to stop and persecute him. It was during this period of persecution, wars, campaigns, and solving problems associated with the bringing about of the greatest civilizational revolution of all times — an extremely busy and challenging period — that Quranic Revelation was also received and compiled.

The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, himself was most deeply moved by the Book. He used to stand for hours in solitary midnight prayers reciting from the Book until his feet used to get swollen. How preposterous that one should attempt to attribute the Book to him. Has there ever been another example of somebody getting so moved by his own words?

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all the evidence that proves the Quran to be the Word of God. Scholars have written books expounding the miracle of miracles that the Quran is. But even this small sampler may propel an inquiring mind to go and read the Book himself.

To read this book with an open mind is to believe in it. Those who sincerely seek guidance will find their questions answered, their confusions removed, their problems solved in its pages. From the beginning until the end, every word in the Quran tells the reader that it is the Word of Allah. And those who ignore it do so at their own peril.

“And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true. But if you cannot – and of a surety, you cannot – then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones which is prepared for those who reject Faith.” [Al-Baqarah 2:23-24]

By Khalid Baig