THE IMPORTANCE OF SURAH AL-QADR

Surah al-Qadr is the 97^th chapter of the Glorious Qur’an. The name of the Surah refers to the revelation of the Glorious Qur’an on the night of Honor and it describes the importance of the night and its Blessings.

As per a narration, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) dreamed that Bani Umayyad were climbing his pulpit. It disturbed him hence this Surah was revealed to comfort him. The Ayah, “The Night of Honor is better than a thousand months; which refers to the length of time Bani Umayyads ruled. In yet another tradition, it is narrated that he (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “One of the members of the Israelites had spent one thousand months having his fighting dress on and being always prepared for the holy war on the path of Allah.” His companions wished if that type of honor was for them.

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “He who recites this Surah will be rewarded like the one who has fasted the whole month of Ramadan and has kept vigil the whole night on the Night of Qadr.”  Obviously, the reward is for those who comprehend its meanings and tries to act upon its message in his life!

The Glorious Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan as stated in Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 185 which says, “The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed.” The first Ayah says, “Surely, We sent it (the Qur’an) down on the Night of Honor.” The use of the word “We” shows the importance of this Heavenly Book of which Allah has attributed its descent to Himself. The descent of the Glorious Qur’an on the Night of Honor, the very night in which the fates of men are decided, shows the importance of this great Divine Book. According to the scholars, there are two kinds of revelations; the whole Qur’an came down at once, in one night to the heart of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), or to Bait-ul-Ma’mur, or from the ‘Preserved Tablet’ to the lowest heaven of this world. In Arabic it is “In’zal” The second kind of revelation is when the Glorious Qur’an came down in portions gradually in 23 years. It is “Tanzil”

The greatness of the Night of Honor is referred in the next Ayah, “And what makes you know what the Night of Honor is?” “The Night of Honor is better than a thousand months.” It is more than 80 years which is the length of a long-blessed life. The next Ayah, “The angels and the Spirit descend therein by their Lord leave for every affair.” The word “Tanazzala”, which is originally “Tatanazzala” which is a future tense verb with a sense of continuity and permanence. It means every year this process shall continue. As for the meaning of “Ruh”, some say it means Gabriel but according to the Infallible Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.), “Gabriel is one of the Angels and Ruh (Spirit) is greater than angels. Has Allah, the Exalted, not said, “The Angels and the Spirit descend” (Tafsir Burhan 4/481). As for the meaning of “Kulli Amr or for every affair” it means the angels descend to proportionate and assign the fates and to bring any goodness or blessings on that night. The last Ayah, “Peace! It is, till the rising of the dawn.” It is a night wherein the Glorious Qur’an was revealed, and worship and vigilance equals one thousand months. It is a night of light, grace, mercy, blessings, goodness, spiritual safety and felicity. When asked as to which night was the Night of Honor, the Infallible Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) replied, “How do we not know it whereas the angels go around us therein.” This Ayah also confirms the existence of the Imam(a.s.)  till the Day of Resurrection where the angels and the Spirit descend every year! The question is where the angels and the Spirit descend?

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) – Tafsir-e-Namouna by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem                   Shirazi

               The Glorious Qur’an (English translation) by S.A. Mir Ahmed Ali & Ayatollah Agha                           H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi

THE REVELATION TO HONEYBEES

Revelation or Wahi was not restricted to His Messengers but Allah had used wahi to non-prophets also like the mother of Prophet Musa (28:7), Hazrat Maryam (19:25) and the disciples of Prophet Isa (5:111). But in case of bees, it is the instinct endowed in them. Wahi in its wider sense is applicable to any knowledge or action of a conscious being which is not obtained through experience.

In Surah al-Nahl Ayah 68, Allah has used the word “Wahi” when He says, “And your Lord revealed to the bee (an instinctive revelation), to build cells in the mountains and in the trees and in what they (men) build.”

The first mission of the bees is to build houses or beehives which are built in hexagonal form on top of each other without having any angles. The architectural engineers are astonished by these constructions. Then Allah guides the bees to reach different flowers and eat from them. It is stated in the next Ayah 69 saying, “Then eat out of all the fruits, and pave the ways of your Lord sincerely. There comes forth out of their bellies a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men. Verily in that is a sign for a people who reflect.”

Normally, the bees suck-in the special sugar from the flower and other parts. According to a botanist, Lying, that if the bees are extinguished then thousands of plants, flowers and fruits will be destroyed. The bee’s experts say that in the morning, a batch of bees experienced in identification of flowers go out and determine the places of flower beds, return and communicate with other bees who will go later to collect flower juice. The juice collected inside their bellies goes to a pot which is a sort of chemical factory which ultimately produces honey.

Honey is quickly absorbed in the body and it gives strength to the body. The Commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “There is nothing like honey to cure the diseases.” The areas wherein honey cures different ailments are:

It prevents producing bad smell in the stomach and intestine, cures dryness and constipation, effective in sleep management, removes tiredness in muscles, give it to the pregnant women to have babies with strong tissues, increases calcium in the blood, strengthens digestive system and the heart, builds the body promptly,  improves the function of liver and lungs, effective in fighting rheumatism, clears the voice cures the cough, is used in medicines relating to skin refinement and long life.

Honey contains iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, lead, copper, Sulphur, nickel, bronze, and sodium. Vitamin A, B, C, D, K AND E is found in honey. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “If a man drinks honey at least once a month and pray to Allah for the cure He promised in this Surah, Allah shall cure seventy types of diseases.

Honey remains fresh and does not become bad by the passage of time. Honey should not be heated.

Honeybees’ world is very organized and clean where everyone works. Duties are designated to different bees. Some are assigned to guard their house, some are assigned to procure the flower juice, some are assigned the duty of checking the quality of juices brought by the bees.  If any bee brings in honey from harmful flowers or smelly honey, it is stopped at the entrance of the beehive shells and such honey is destroyed and the bee is punished.

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

                 The Glorious Qur’an (English translation) by S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali & Ayatollah Agha                           H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi

THE SERMON OF THE NOBLE MESSENGER (S.A.W.A.S.) AT GHADIR-E-KHUMM

When the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) performed the last Hajj in the year 10 A.H. along with 120,000 Muslims, The Divine Command came at Arafa about the “Wilayah” of Imam Ali (a.s.), Surah Ma’idah Ayah 67 refers. Again, at Mina, He reminded the Muslims about this urgent matter and recited the “Hadees-e-Thaqalayn”. On Dhull Hijjah18, 10 A.H. when he reached Ghadir Khumm, Imam Ali (a.s.) joined him with 12,000 Muslims from Yemen. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) delivered a long sermon highlighting his mission. Excerpts from his sermon are given below:

“First, he praised Allah (s.w.t.), then testified about his prophet hood followed by “The Ayah of Wilayah” as stated in Surah Al-Ma’idah Ayah 67, “O Messenger, proclaim what is revealed to you from your Lord. If you did not do so, it will be as though you have not conveyed His message. Allah protects you from men. He does not guide the unbelieving people.” O ‘people I have not committed any shortcoming in conveying what Allah Almighty revealed to me. Three times Gabriel commanded me on behalf of Allah to inform you that Ali ibn Abi Talib is my brother, Wasi, and successor over my nation and Imam after me, the one whose status to me is like that of Haroon to Musa except there will be no prophet after me, and he is your master next only to Allah and to His Messenger and Allah has already revealed to me in one of the fixed verses of His Book saying, “Your Master is Allah and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay zakat even when they bow down” (5:55) and Ali ibn Abi Talib is the one who keeps up the prayers, he pays zakat even as he bows down, seeking to please Allah, the Sublime, the Almighty on each and every occasion.

There is no knowledge except that Allah has divulged it to me, and all the knowledge I have learned I have divulged it to Imam al-Muttaqeen (leader of the righteous), and there is no knowledge (that I know) except that I divulged it to Ali, and he is Imam al-Mubeen (the evident Imam) whom Allah mentions in Surah al-Yaseen:…..and everything We have computed is in (the knowledge of) an evident Imam. (36:12)

O people! Do not abandon him, he is the one who guides to righteousness. He defeats falsehood and prohibits others from acting upon it, accepting no blame from others while seeking to please Allah. He is first to believe in Allah and in His Messenger. And he is the one who offered his life as a sacrifice his life for the Messenger of Allah. He is the first to offer prayer. I ordered him, on behalf of Allah, to sleep in my bed, and he did, sacrificing his life for my sake.

O people! He is an Imam appointed by Allah, and Allah shall never accept the repentance of anyone who denies his authority, nor shall He forgive him; this is a must decree from Allah never to do so to anyone who opposes him, and that He shall torment him with a most painful torment for all time to come, for eternity; so, beware lest you should oppose him and thus enter the fire the fuel of which is the people and the stones prepared for the unbelievers.

O people! Prefer Ali (over all others), for he is the very best after me. Cursed and again cursed, condemned and again condemned, is anyone who does not accept this statement of mine. Gabriel himself has informed me of the same on behalf of Allah Almighty Who he said (in Gabriel’s words): “Anyone who antagonizes Ali and refuses to accept his Wilayah shall incur My curse upon him and My Wrath” “……and let every soul consider what it has sent forth for the morrow, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah.” (59:18)

O people! He (Ali) is “Janb-Allah” mentioned in Qur’an (39:56), the Sublime one, The Almighty, forewarning (Ali’s) adversaries, says, “Lest a soul should say: O woe unto me for what I fell short of my duty to Allah, and most surely I was of those who laughed to scorn” 

                Source: The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)’s sermon at Ghadeer-e-Kuhmm (Dua’s.org)

HAZRAT KHIZR (A.S.)

Hazrat Khizr was not a prophet but was a scholar who was given knowledge by Allah (s.w.t.). Hazrat Musa represented the Jurisprudential (“Tash’riie’”) leadership while Hazrat Khizr represented the Creational or Universal (“Tak’wini”) leadership. Consequently, Hazrat Musa objected to the actions of Hazrat Khizr which were against “Tash’rie” or Jurisprudence (Religious Laws). He acted according to the wishes of Allah (s.w.t.)

It was revealed to Hazrat Musa (a.s.) that there was a man who had vast knowledge than him. He prayed to Allah about his willingness to meet that person (Hazrat Khizr). The story of Hazrat Khizr has been stated in Surah al-Kahf from Ayat 60 to Ayat 82 as narrated below:

“Then they met one of Our servants who had received Blessings and Knowledge from Us. Musa asked him, “Can I follow you so that you will teach me the guidance that you have received?” He replied, “You will not be able to have patience with me. How can you remain patient with that of which you did not have complete information?” Musa said, “If Allah wishes, you will find me patient and I shall not disobey any of your orders.” He said to Musa, “If you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I tell you the story about it.

They started their journey and some time later they embarked on a boat in which he made a hole. Musa asked, “Did you make hole to drown the people on board? This is certainly very strange>” He said, “Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me?” Musa said, “Please, forgive my forgetfulness. Do not oblige me with what is difficult for me to endure” They continued in their journey until they met a young boy whom he killed. Musa said, “How could you murder an innocent soul? This is, certainly, a horrifying act.” He responded, “Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me? Musa said, “If I ask such questions again, abandon me; you will have enough reason to do so.” They continued their journey again until they reached a town. They asked the people there for food, but no one accepted them as guests. They found there a wall of a house which was on the verge of tumbling to the ground. The companion of Musa repaired that wall. Musa said, “You should have received some money for your labor.”

He replied, “This is where we should depart from one another. I shall give an explanation to you for all that I have done for which you could not remain patient.” “The boat belonged to some destitute people who were using it as a means of their living in the sea. The king had imposed a certain amount of tax on every (undamaged)boat. I damaged it so that they would not have to pay the tax.” “The young boy had very faithful parents. We were afraid that out of love for him they would lose their faith in Allah and commit rebellion so We decided that their Lord should replace him by a better and more virtuous son.” “The tumbling wall belonged to two orphans in the town whose father was a righteous person. Underneath the wall there was a treasure that belonged to them. Your Lord wanted the orphans to find the treasure through the Mercy of your Lord when they mature. I did not repair the wall out of my own desire. These were the explanations of my deeds about which you could not remain patient.”

Lessons to be learned from this story are: the pursuit of knowledge is important for everyone, the essence of the Divine knowledge is servitude and submission to Allah, acquisition of knowledge should be to practice it, avoid haste and be patient, there are apparent and innate feature of every affair, confess the reality, parent’s faith impacts the children, hurting the parents shortens the life-span, people become enemy of the things they do not know, the courteous behavior of students before a teacher.

The treasure of the orphans referred to in the story, was in fact a “Golden Tablet” as stated by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) “It is surprising why a person who believes in Allah’s decrees becomes grievous. It is amazing why a person who is sure of the death, is happy; who is certain of Reckoning, is neglectful; who is certain of sustenance, troubles himself more than the common; and who is assured of the change of the world but he trusts in it.” (Majma-ul-Bayan)

                Source: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) – Tafsir-e-Namouna by Ayatollah Nasir                                   Makarem Shirazi

SUPPLICATION OF QUNUT IN NAMAZ-E-EID

Namaz-e-Eid is not obligatory during the time of Great Occultation (Ghaybat-e-Kubra), but it is

recommended. It is two raka’at namaz; in the first raka’at after reciting Surah al-Hamd, it is

recommended to recite Surah A’la then recite Dua-e-Qunut 5 times. In the second raka’at, after

reciting Surah al-Hamd, recite Surah al-Shams then recite the Dua-e-Qunut 4 times and complete the namaz. The English translation of Dua-e-Qunut is as follows:

O Allah: You are the Lord of Glory and Greatness

And the Lord of Magnanimity and Omnipotence

And the Lord of Pardon and Mercy

And the worthiest of being feared and the Lord of Forgiveness

I beseech in the name of this day, which You have decided to be the feast for the Muslims

And to be safety and increasing honor for Muhammad – Peace of Allah be upon him and his

Household

(I beseech You) that You may send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,

And You may include me with every item of goodness with which You have included Muhammad and  the Household of Muhammad,

And that You save me from any item of evil from which You have saved Muhammad and the

Household of Muhammad,

May Your Blessings be upon him and upon them,

O Allah: I pray You for the best of all that for which Your righteous servants have prayed You,

And I seek Your protection against all that against which Your righteous servants have asked for Your

 protection.

Source: Duas.org

SUPPLICATIONS STARTING WITH "RABBANA"

In the Glorious Qur’an, there are many supplications starting with the word “Rabbana”. Some of them are normally recited in “Qunoot” which are detailed below:

Rabbana Taqabbal Minna Innaka Antas Samiul Alim (Al-Baqarah :127)

Our Lord! Accept from us this (service); Verily You alone are the All-hearing, the All-knowing.

Rabbana Waj’alna Muslimine Laka wa Min Dhurriyatina Ummatam Muslimital Laka Wa Arina Manasikina wa Tub Alayna Innaka Antat TawwaburRahim (Al-Baqarah :128)

Our Lord! Make us (Muslims) submissive to Your Will and raise from off-spring a (Muslim) community submissive to You and teach us our rites of worship and relent towards us. Verily You alone are the most relenting, the Ever Merciful.

Rabbana A’tina Fiddunya Hasanataw wa Fil A’khirati Hasanataw Wa Qina Azabannar (Al-Baqarah: 201)

Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire.

Rabbana Afrigh Alayna Sabraw wa Thabbit Aqdamana Wan Surna Alal Qawmil Kafirin (Al-Baqarah:250)

Our Lord! Bestow upon us endurance and make us firm of foot and grant us victory over the disbelieving folks.

Rabbana La Tua khizna In Nasina Aw Akhtana (Al-Baqarah:286)

Our Lord! Call us not to account if we forget or err

Rabbana wa La Tahmil Alayna Isran Kama Hamaltahu Alal Lazina Min Qablina (Al-Baqarah:286)

Our Lord! Lay not on us such a (heavy) burden as You did lay on those who passed away before us.

Rabbana wa La Tuhmmilna Ma Taqatalana Beh Wa Fu Anna Waghfirlana, Warhamna. Anta Mawlana Fansurna Alal Qawmil Kafirin. (Al-Baqarah:286)

Our Lord! Lay not on us that burden which we have not the strength to bear. And pardon us; absolve us; and have mercy on us; You alone are our Friend and Helper; help us to triumph over the unbelieving folk.  

Rabbana La Tuzigh Qulubana Ba’da Idh hadaytana wa Hablana Mil Ladunka Rahmah; Innaka Antal Wahhab (Al- Imran:8)

Our Rabb! Do not stray our hearts after granting us Guidance and gift us from Your Mercy. You are Bestower      

Rabbana Innaka Jamiun Nasi Li Yumil La Raiba Fih; Innal Laha La Yuqlifil Mi’ad (Al-Imran:5)

Our Lord! Surely You are the Gatherer of all mankind on a Day about which there is no doubt. Verily Allah never fails in His Promise

Rabbana Faghfirlana Zunubana wa Kaffir Anna Sayyiatina wa Tawaffana Ma’al Abrar (Al-Imran:193)

Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and wipe off our misdeeds from us and cause us (in all grace) to die with the righteous.

Rabbana Zalamna Anfusana: wa Illam Taghfir Lana wa Tarhamna Lanakunanna Minal Khasirin (Al-A’raaf:23)

Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls; and if You do not forgive us and have no mercy on us, we shall be losers.  

Rabbana Afrigh Alayna Sabran wa Tawaffana Muslimin (Al-A’raaf:126)

Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and cause us to die as Muslims (Bowing to Your Will)

Rabbana wa Taqabbal Du’a’ (Ibrahim:40)

Our Lord! Accept my humble prayer

Rabbanghfirli wa Li Walidayya wa Lil Muminina Yawma Yaqumul Hisab (Ibrahim:41)

Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and all the Muslims on the Day when Reckoning will take place.

Rabbana Hab Lana Min Azwajina wa Zurryyatina Qurrata A’yunin Waj Alna Lil Muttaqina Imama (Al-Furqan:74)

Our Lord! Grant us in our wives and offspring coolness of eyes and make us leaders of those who guarded against evil

THE BENEFACTOR OF ISLAM - SAYYIDA KHADIJA-TUL KUBRA (S.A.)

Sayyida Khadija (s.a.) was the first wife of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). He did not marry anyone while she was alive. There is well known saying, “Islam did not rise except by Ali (a.s.)’s sword and Khadija (s.a.)’s wealth.”

She was born in Makkah in 565 A.D. and died in 623 A.D. which was 11 years after Hijra. Her father was Hazrat Khuwaylid bin Asad belonging to Banu Asad tribe, a clan of Banu Hashim. He was a successful merchant and Sayyida Khadija inherited his vast wealth. Her trade caravan surpassed the caravans of all other traders of Quraysh put together.

In the Arabian society of Ja’hiliah, she earned the titles of “Ameert-ul-Quraysh” or “Princess of Quraysh” and “al-Tahira” or “the Pure One” due to her impeccable personality and virtuous character, not to mention her honorable descent. She used to be kind to the poor, assist her relatives financially. She did not worship idols and followed the Ibrahimic faith of Islam. As she did not travel herself with the caravans of trade, she used to employee an agent. At one time, she was looking for a new agent and Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) suggested his nephew, the young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) to do the job. She sent her servant, Maysarah, with him. The trip produced more profit than expected. Maysarah also saw some unusual events with the young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.). She sent him on another trade trip to Yemen. Her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal told her that the manners of young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) were like a messenger of God. She had also heard about his trust and truthfulness. Consequently, she proposed to marry him. The Nikah was performed by Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) and Nawfal gave away her hand to the young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.). The marriage was a very happy one and produced two boys who died in infancy. Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was the only daughter who survived. Her period of happiness lasted for 15 years. When the revelation started, she was the first woman to confirm his prophecy. As Islam started to spread across the Arabian Peninsula, she handed over her entire wealth to her beloved husband and he used it for the welfare of Muslims. When the Quraysh boycotted the family of Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S.), the richest woman of Quraysh gladly shared the hardships with her husband in the Shib-e-AbuTalib for 3 years. She used to give one gold coin to Imam Ali (a.s.), who was 16 years old at that time, to bring water secretly.  

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) used to say that Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.) was one of the four best women of the world; the other three being Hazrat Maryam, mother of Prophet Eisa’, and Hazrat A’siya, wife of the Pharaoh and her daughter Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.)

On the death bed, she sought forgiveness from her husband if she in any way had failed to serve the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Then asked for Shifaa’t on the Day of Judgment from her husband. She told her wish to her beloved daughter, Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) to ask her father to shroud her dead body in the clothes he (s.a.w.a.s.) was wearing when the first Wahi was revealed.  

Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.) and the “Protector of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)” Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S.) died in the same year. It was a great shock for him (s.a.w.a.s.), hence he called that year as “Aam ul Huzn” which means “Year of Grief”. Both these personalities were very dear and important to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and the All-Mighty Allah had referred to their functions in his life in Surah az-Zuha Ayah 6 and 8, “Did He (Allah) not find you an orphan and gave you shelter? Did He (Allah) not find you poor and enrich you?”

After her death, when one of his other wives heard him remembering and praising Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.), the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) became very angry and said, “She believed in me when all others disbelieved; she held me truthful when all others called me a liar; she sheltered me when others abandoned me; she comforted me when others shunned me; and Allah granted me children by her while depriving me of children by other women.”

Surah al-Ahza’b Ayah 6, “The Prophet has more authority over the believers than themselves. His wives are their mothers.” The Muslims in Makkah were very poor. The infidel Quraysh had ordered their community members not to pay any wages to the Muslims. Sayyida Khadija (s.a.) fed them day after day so that no Muslim slept hungry. As a mother wants to see her children are well-fed, hence she took loving care of the Muslim Ummah. There is a well-known tradition the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) that Paradise is under the feet of their mothers.

               Sources: Khadijatul Kubra by Sayyid Ali Asghar Razwy, Duas.org, Ziaraat.com, imamreza.net