THE TRIALS AND SUCCESSES OF PROPHET IBRAHIM (A.S.)

 

The Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) was called the “Father of Prophets”. The Jews, The Christians and the Muslims all treat him as the “Father of Prophets” He (a.s.) had married Sarah and lived happily in Palestine. After many years they did not have any children, so Sarah suggested him to marry her maid Ha’jerah. Allah gave them a son Isma’il. They moved to Arabia and were living happily. After a while he (a.s.) wanted to go to see Sarah and he left them behind and prayed to Allah for their safety. “Our Lord! I have settled part of my descendants in a barren valley, by Your Sacred House, our Lord, that they may maintain the prayer. So, make the hearts of the part of the people fond of them, and provide them with fruits, so that they may give thanks.” (37:14).  The food and water left by him was running low. She placed Isma’il on sand and started running on the Mount of Safa and Marwa desperately looking for water. She ran seven times. On return she saw that water started to come from the sand where the baby was kicking the ground. She exclaimed “Zamzam”. Allah not only saved the future prophet and his mother but also made it a sign for the future humanity. During the season of Hajj, the Hajis also run between the mounts of Safa and Marwa seven times. “Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among Allah’s sacraments.” (2:158)

Earlier, Prophet Ibrahim logically established the Unity of Allah by considering the giant heavenly bodies like sun, moon, and stars as creations of Allah and not deities to be worshipped.  “When he saw a star and said, ‘This is my Lord! ‘When it set, he said, ‘I do not like those who set’. Similar was his remark for moon. When he saw sun rising, he said, ‘This is my Lord! This is bigger! But when it set, he said,’O people, indeed I disown what you take as His partners.” (6:78)

He even destroyed the idols of the community he was in. The tyrant of the times, Nimrod ordered him to be burned alive in a mammoth fire lit up for this purpose. Shaytan came to help the people to burn Ibrahim in the fire, but the problem was how to throw him in it. Shaytan told the people to prepare a catapult and hurl him in the fire. Allah, the Most Powerful saved Ibrahim from the fire by ordering fire to become cool for him and not hurting him. “We said, ‘O fire! Be cool and safe for Ibrahim.” (69:21)

Allah ordered Ibrahim and his son Isma’il to raise the foundations of the old House of Allah Ka’ba. Hence the father and the son rebuilt the Ka’ba as stated in the Glorious Qur’an, “As Ibrahim raised the foundations of the House with Ismail (they prayed) ‘Our Lord, accept it from us! Indeed, You are the All-hearing, the All-knowing. ’Our Lord, make us submissive to You.” (2:127-28)

Ibrahim dreamed three nights that he was sacrificing his son; “I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. See what you think. “He said, “Father! Do what you have been commanded. If Allah wishes, you will find me to be patient. So, when they both had submitted (to Allah’s will) and he had laid him down on his forehead, We called out to him, ‘O Ibrahim! You have indeed fulfilled the vision! Thus, indeed do We reward the virtuous! This was indeed a manifest test. Then We ransomed him with a great sacrifice. (37:102-106)  

Similarly, when Ibrahim was tested, and he fulfilled them then Allah made him the Imam of the mankind. Ibrahim was already a prophet hence the reward must be superior to his existing status. Hence, the Imamate is superior to prophet hood. “And when His Lord tested Ibrahim with certain words, and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘I am making you the Imam of mankind. ‘Said he, ‘And from among my descendants?’ He said, ’My pledge does not extend to the unjust.’ (2:124)

IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE MONTH OF DHUL HIJJAH

 

Ist of Dhul Hijjah               The wedding ceremony of the Chief of the Women of the world, Sayyeda Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.)

7h of Dhul Hijjah               Martyrdom of the 5ht. Imam, Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.)

8^th of Dhul Hijjah              Sayyed ush Shuhadah, Imam Husayn (a.s.) left Makkah towards Karbala

9^th of Dhul Hijjah              Day of Arafa & the Martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim bin Aqeel (a.s.)

10^th of Dhul Hijjah            Eid al-Adha

18^th of Dhul Hijjah            Eid al-Ghadeer

24^th of Dhul Hijjah            Eid -e-Mubahela

A shiah Muslim is supposed to be happy when Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) are happy and be sad when they are sad.

Marriage of Sayyeda Fatema Zahra (s.a.) and Imam Ali (a.s.): After the Migration (Hijrat) of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), his companions requested for the hand of Sayyeda Fatema Zahra (s.a.). The Messenger said that her marriage was in the discretion of Allah. When persuaded by other companions, Imam Ali (a.s.) asked her hand. He (s.a.w.a.s.) asked her to which she kept silence and the Messenger construed her silence as agreement. The Messenger greeted Imam Ali (a.s.), asked as to what assets he possessed. Imam Ali had a camel, a sword, and a shield. The Messenger sold his shield for 500 Dirham which became her dowry and used her dowry for the purchase of provisions for the house. It was the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, but Muslims forgot this Sunnah! Their marriage was solemnized on the earth and in the heavens.

Eid al-Adha: Hazrat Ibrahim saw a dream three times that he was sacrificing his young son, Is’maeel. He told his son about the dream, who was also a prophet and realized that it was Allah’s order to sacrifice him. He also agreed. Hazrat Ibrahim fastened his sons’ hands and feet, placed bandage on his eyes and sacrificed him. But Allah replaced Hazrat Is’maeel by a goat which was sacrificed. Allah accepted his sacrifice and made it an example for future generations.

Eid al-Ghadeer: It was the last year of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) earthly life. He was returning after performing Hajj along with about 120,000 Muslims when an Ayah was revealed, “Balligh ma Unzila Ilaik Min Rabbik. Wa in lam taf’al Fama Ballaghta Risalata” (5:67) It means communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message. This was the only occasion when Allah’s Divine tone was threatening. The Messenger had delivered each and every command received by him up to that point and he had left this world about two months later. It must have been an especially important task to be performed. The Messenger asked everyone to stop, prepare a temporary pulpit by seats of the camels. He delivered a long sermon reminding them of his services and asked if he did not have more right over them, they replied in affirmative. Then he said, “Whoever’s Master (Mawla) I am, Ali is also his Master (Mawla).” It was the Proclamation of the “Wilayat” of Imam Ali (a.s.). Immediately after this, Ayah 3 of Surah al-Ma’idah was revealed which says, “…Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion.”

Eid-e-Mubahela:   The priests of Najran, a town with a population of about 40,000 Christians, visited Madina to discuss the status of Jesus. They had several meetings with Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Their main contention was about the fatherhood of Jesus. He insisted that Jesus was only a prophet of Allah. The Glorious Qur’an states, “Verily, the similitude of Jesus with Allah is as the similitude of Adam; Allah created him out of dust, then said to him, ‘Be’ and he became.” (3:59). When the priests continued argument, it was agreed upon to perform “Mubahela” (the mutual imprecation). Mubahela is derived from the root word ‘bahala’ meaning ‘curse’. The chief of the Priests told his companions that if the Prophet brings his people in Mubahela, then they will accept the challenge but if he brings his family members then they will not do mubahela. Next day, The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s) came out with little Imam Husayn (a.s.) in his lap, while Imam Hasan (a.s.) was holding his finger followed by Sayyeda Fatima Zahra (s.a.), fully covered in hijab and Imam Ali (a.s.) was behind her. The Glorious Qur’an says, “Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge has come to you, say, ‘Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls, and your souls, and let us pray earnestly and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.’ (3:61) The point to be noted is the Plural tense; sons, women, and souls but the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) took two grandchildren, one daughter and one cousin. In the Arabic language plural tense is used for three or more!

THE WORDS OF WISDOM OF IMAM ALI (A.S.) ABOUT "THINKING"

 

The “Nafse Rasool”, “The Gateway of Knowledge”, the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) possessed supernatural knowledge. He was born inside the Holy Ka’ba, did not open his eyes for three days but opened it in the lap of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), who gave his tongue in baby’s mouth transferring all the streams of knowledge to him. He had spoken about everything, and his short sayings were collected in the late fifth century in a book known as “Ghurar Al Hikam” by Abdul Wahid al-Tamimi al-Amudi. The book contains more than Eleven Thousand Pearl of Wisdom. The Book can be seen online. There are seventy-seven sayings about “Thinking”. A selection is appended below:

The root of wisdom is reflection, its fruit is well-being.

The root of safety from error is thinking before acting and reflecting before speaking.

Contemplation is worship and it illuminates the mind. Thought is a gleaming mirror.

The benefit of thinking is finding solutions. Contemplations leads to gaining wisdom.

Think about the bounties of Allah is the best worship.

Thinking about the good (action) invites one to act upon it.

By repeated thinking (and contemplation), doubt is dispelled. By considering the consequences, 

one is saved from harm.

The cornerstone of insight is contemplation.

Think before you decide, consult before you proceed, and ponder before you rush forward.

The deliberation of the slow is better than the impulsiveness of the hasty.

Your contemplation guides you to the right path and motivates you to improve your Hereafter.

Thinking for a short while is better than prolonged worship.

Your thinking about worship prompts you to act upon it.

Your thinking about sin drives you to fall into it. Measure and then cut, think, and then speak, 

verify, and then act.

One who thinks a lot about (worldly) pleasures is overpowered by them.

One who thinks and reflects learns a lesson from everything.

There is no worship like contemplation.

Thinking about the kingdom of the heavens and earth is the worship of the sincere ones. 

Contemplation guides to the right path.

IMPORTANCE OF PROMISE (AHD) IN ISLAM

 

The word “Promise” or “Ahd” has been used forty-two times in the Glorious Qur’an. It means covenant, agreement, and promise. Being truthful to promise is a sign of devotion in Allah, “And mention Isma’eel in the Book; surely he was truthful in (his) promise, and he was an apostle and a prophet.” (19:54). Allah promised Prophet Ibrahim to make him an Imam for mankind. (2:124) He wished the station of Imamate for his children. Allah made a conditional Promise saying, “My covenant does not include the unjust.” (2:124) This is the greatest proof of showing the prophets and their successors must be infallible. At another place, Allah describes the righteousness saying, “It is not righteousness that you turn your face towards East and the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the angels and the Book and the prophets……and the performers of their promise when they make a promise.” (2:177)

In “Safinat al-Bihar” v.2 page 675, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “The closest of you to me on the Day of Judgement is the most truthful ones in speaking, giving the trusts (back to their owners), the keepers of promise, and the closest to the people in good temperament.”

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) once promised a man that he will remain sitting until the man returned. The man went away, and the sun rose. Soon it became extremely hot but he Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) never changed his place. One of his companions said, “What difference does it make if you come and sit in the shade?” The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “I promised to meet him here and not change the place till he comes, in order to fulfill my promise to him.”

The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Breach of promise brings the hatred of Allah and of people. Allah says, “It is most hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do.” (61:3)

To perpetuate the habit of keeping promises and abiding by covenants in the society, it is imperative to train the people from their very childhood to be true to their words. The child emulates the actions and words of their parents. The parents can set an example for their children. By nature, the child expects that promises will be kept. When the parents fulfil their small promises, the child gets trained in this important aspect of life. But if they take small promises lightly and neglect them, the child takes the negative example and develops the habit of breaking his word. They start believing that promises are meant to be broken. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Love the children. Treat them with kindness and if you make a promise to them, fulfill it without fail.”

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an

                  Piety (Taqwa) by Sayyed Hussain Shaikh al-Islam Tooysarkani

                  characteristics of A Muslim by AL-Balagh Foundation

                  Living the Right Way by Jawad Tehrani

                 Principles of Upbringing Children by Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini