THE NOBLE MESSENGER (S.A.W.A.S.) DOES NOT SPEAK OUT OF HIS OWN DESIRE

Wahey literally means inspiration, revelation, suggestion, to point out a thing to someone, to put a thing into the mind of someone secretly; letter, writing: something revealed or written, or the idea inspired or revealed; saying; commandment; to dispatch a messenger to someone; to speak to someone secretly; to urge; voice. In Islamic terminology, Wahey means communication of idea, command and information from Allah to a chosen human being, conveyed either directly or through supernatural agencies like angels.

According to the Glorious Qur’an, there are three basic methods of revelation as explained in Surah as-Shura Ayah 51, “It is not possible for a man that he should receive the message of Allah except either by inspiration or from behind a  curtain, or Allah sends angels and the angels bring the message of Allah, whatever Allah wishes. Verily, Allah is High, Omniscient.”

Inspiration are of two types; True Dreams and Prophetic Inspirations.

True Dreams: Before the formal proclamation of prophethood (Be‘that), the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) used to receive Divine Messages through this medium. In the first dream, he (s.a.w.a.s.) saw that Umayyads were climbing his pulpit like monkeys. He was so grieved by this dream that he did not smile from then to his last breath. The sorrow was based on his sure knowledge that Umayyads would destroy his religion, as they did. The dreams of prophets and the Pure Imams are never a false dream; whatever he dreams is a message or command from Allah.

Prophetic Inspirations may be accompanied by clear words or may be in the form of a thought without a word. Surah al-Najm Ayahs 3 and 4, “He (i.e. the Prophet) does not speak of his own desire, it is nothing, but a revelation revealed.”

By the authority of these Ayahs, even the traditions of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) are treated as revelation.

Revelations from behind the curtain: Such revelations are also of many kinds:

The first is like hearing some low murmuring sounds and knowing the interpretation.

The second is like hearing high-pitched sounds and knowing the interpretation.

The third is the hearing the sound from a material object; One example is prophet Musa seeing the bush burning yet remaining unconsumed by the fire followed by his appointment as a prophet. The other example is on the night of Ascension (Mai’raj), he (s.a.w.a.s.) arrived at a sublime place where neither any prophet nor angel had ever reached. He saw a curtain of light, and then heard a voice from it.

The fourth is the hearing of a voice of an angel without seeing him. This type is not reserved for prophets, but other chosen people may be honored by this angelical conversation. They are called “al-Muhaddath”.

Revelation through angels: This is the last mode of revelation. Normally Gabriel came either in his usual image or like a man. These messages were mostly oral.

Suyyuti in Tafsir of Dure Manthur narrates, “One day, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) ordered that all doors except Imam Ali (a.s.) around the Mosque which would open inside the Mosque, be closed. Hazrat Hamza complained to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) about it. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “O People! Neither I closed the doors nor opened it. Neither I exited you nor stationed him (Ali). (What transpired was the command of Allah). Then he recited the Ayahs 1 to 4.

                Sources: The Glorious Qur’an and Qur’an and Hadith by Allama Sayyid Saeed Akhtar                                       Rizvi

THE NOBLE MESSENGER (S.A.W.A.S.)'S ADVICE TO ABU DHARR (R.A.)

Abu Dharr was one of the thrusted companions of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). It is a very long narration but restricted to accommodate within one page. It is extracted from” Ain-al-Hayat” compiled by Sheikh Jaleel al-Tabrasi. References are given from Sheikh Mufeed (r.a.) to Abu al-Aswad. (Shiavault.com)

He (s.a.w.a.s.) said:” O Abu Dharr! Worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you weren’t seeing Him, surely, He sees you. The first of worship of Allah is (Ma’rifa) gnosis, then belief in me (s.a.w.a.s), bearer of glad tidings, a warner to all humanity and the love of my Pure Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Allah has made my Ahlul Bayt in my nation like the ship of Nuh (Noah), whoever rides it is saved and whoever desires other than it is drowned. There are two blessings seriously taken for granted (misused) by mankind, health and spare time. Take advantage of five things before five things seize you; Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your spare time before your being busy, and your life before your death. Be greedier, in terms of your time (life span) more than that of your gold and silver. He who seeks knowledge to deceive others will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise. When you are asked about some knowledge you know not, say, “I do not know”, you will be saved of its consequences. The people of Paradise will ask the people of Hell, “What has made you enter the Hell-Fire?” They will say, “We used to bid others to do good while we ourselves did not do it.” The Pious are the masters and the learned are the leaders. Surely Allah, when He wills good for His servant, He puts his sins before his two eyes. Don’t look at the smallness of the sin but look at the one you disobeyed. Surely a man’s sustenance is prohibited (from reaching him) because of a sin he did. Leave that which have nothing to do with you. Do not speak of that which does not concern you and guard your tongue like you guard your money. When Allah wants a good for a servant, He gives him the understanding in religion and makes him to see his own faults. The harvest of the Hereafter is the good deeds, and the harvest of the life of this world is wealth and children. Let there be for you in everything a pious intention, even when it comes to sleeping and eating. Lower your voice during a funeral, during fighting and during the recitation of the Qur’an. Two rak’at prayer with pondering is better than standing all night in the prayer with a neglectful heart. Some supplication with good deeds is enough just as some salt is enough with food. The one who supplicates without deed is like one who tries to shoot his arrow without a string on his bow. He who remembers Allah among the careless is like a warrior among the fleeing. A pious gathering is better than being alone and being alone is better than an evil gathering and speaking good is better than silence and silence is better than speaking evil. Surely Allah is with the tongue of every speaker. So, let every man fear Allah and know what he is saying. It is enough for a man as a lie to say everything he hears. A good word of advice is sadaqa and every step you take towards salat is also sadaqa. Whoever does not care from where he earns his money, Allah does not care from where He will enter him into Hell. Whoever obeys Allah has remembered Him even if his prayers, fasting and recitation of Qur’an is little. The King of religion is Piety and its crown is obedience. If the son of Adam ignores his sustenance just like he runs away from death, it will reach him just like death will reach him. Allah does not look at your appearance or your financial status or your words, but He looks at your heart and deeds. Whoever defends his Muslim brother from backbiting, he would deserve that Allah emancipates him from Hellfire. Whoever have two faces and two tongues in this life, he will also have two tongues in the Hellfire. Beware of abandoning your brother; deeds are not accepted while you are abandoning your brother. Whoever carries his own belongings will be free of arrogance.

THE DEBATE BETWEEN IMAM JA'FFAR AS-SADIQ (A.S.) AND IMAM ABU HANIFA

Imam Abu Hanifa was known for interpreting Islamic laws by his personal analogical deductions. He also attended the classes, consisting of about 4,000 students, conducted by the Infallible Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (a.s.) in Madinah. He had said, “If it was not for those two years (I spent with Imam Jaffar as-Sadiq, Nauman (Abu Hanifa) would have perished.” He was encouraged by the Muslim king Mansur al-Dawaniqi, an Abbasside king, to confront his teacher; Imam Jaffar as-Sadiq (a.s.), in exchange for material benefits. Mansur al-Dawaniqi arranged a debate between the teacher and his student. It is an irony that the Umayyads and Abbasids kings were enemies of the Progeny of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) except the Bani Umayyad’s Umar bin Abdul Aziz who respected the Household of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). The history is the evidence that Imam Ali (a.s.) was apparently martyred by a Kharijite and Imam Husayn and his family were mercilessly slaughtered by the so-called Muslims (Yazid bin Muawiya’s army) and the rest of nine Imams were poisoned by the Umayyad and Abbasside kings! Surah al-Shu’ara Ayah 23, “(Muhammad), say, “I do not ask you for any compensation for my preaching to you except (your) love of (my near) relatives.” What a great reward and compensation the Muslims had given to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) by murdering his Pure Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)!

Following are some of the questions and answers exchanged:

Imam Sadiq (a.s.): Do you know why there is cataract in the eyes, bitterness in the ears, coolness in the nose and wetness in the lips. Also, a phrase that starts with infidelity and ends with faith?

Abu Hanifa: I Do not know please explain.

Imam Sadiq (a.s.): My father told me that my grandfather the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.s.) said: out of merit of Allah and generosity, He made cataracts for humans in his eyes so that it would catch the dirt, and He made bitterness in the ears as a veil from bugs. And He made coolness in the nose so that one can inhale. And He made the lips wet so that it would feel pleasure in tasting food. And the phrase that starts with infidelity is when a servant says, “There is no God” and the phrase that ends with faith is when a servant says “But Allah”

Then Imam Sadiq (a.s.) advised Imam Abu Hanifa not to use his own analogical deductions in religion. He said, “My father told me that my grandfather the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.s.) said: The first one to use his analogical deduction in religion was Iblees when Allah told him to prostrate to Adam, Iblees said, “I am better than Adam, You created me from fire, and created him from clay.

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) Which is the greater sin in the eyes of Allah; murder or adultery?

Abu Hanifa: Murder

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) Then why did Allah accepted 2 witnesses for murder and 4 witnesses for adultery?

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) which is better; praying or fasting?

Abu Hanifa: Prayer is better.

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) Then according to your analogical deductions, after the menstrual cycle, a woman should pray for what she has missed of prayers, and don’t fast what she has missed of days. But Allah obligated fasting the missing days and not praying.

Imam Sadiq (a.s.): Which is dirtier, urine or semen?

Abu Hanifa: Urine

Imam Sadiq (a.s.): Then according to your analogical deductions, one should shower (ghusl) after urination, and not after ejecting semen. And Allah obligated the shower (ghusl) after ejecting semen and not urine.  

                Source: al-islam.org/fourteen luminaries of Islam by Allama Ahmad Ahmadi Birjandi

              Research into other sects.blogspot.com, najah.info2

SURAH AL-INSAN AND THE NOBLE MESSENGER (S.A.W.A.S.)'S HOUSEHOLD (A.S.)

This Surah is also known as “Dahr” and “Hal-Ata”. It is the 31^st Surah of the Glorious Qur’an. It is probably revealed in Madinah as it appreciates the self-sacrifice of the Noble Messenger’s Progeny. The contents may be divided in 5 parts:

1.       Man’s creation by a mingled sperm; his guidance and his free-will.

2.       The reward offered to the Righteous (Abrar) – The Household of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)

3.       The merits which cause one to deserve rewards.

4.       The importance of the Glorious Qur’an, the manner of conducting its principles and the road to self-perfection.

5.       The dominance of Allah (s.w.t.)’s Will (even though man has a limited free-will) 

From Ayah 5 to Ayah 22 relates to the supreme self-less sacrifice of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.), Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.), Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) and their maidservant, Fizza.

Ibn Abbas says that Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn were sick. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) along with his followers visited them and suggested to Imam Ali (a.s.) to take a vow for their recovery. Hence, Imam Ali (a.s.), Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and Fizza, the maid servant, took a vow that if Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) recovered, they would fast for three days.

After a short time, they recovered. Therefore, the family fasted. As they were in dire need for food stuff, Imam Ali (a.s.) borrowed some barley and Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.) grounded one-third of it into flour and baked some bread. When they were preparing to break the fast, an indigent person came to their door and said, “Peace be upon you, O Household of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.). I am a needy Muslim, so please give me some food. May Allah bestow upon you, in kind, from Divine Sustenance.” All of them gave priority to him and gave their share of bread and opened the fast with water only.

The following day they fasted again, and an orphan came to the door and. Once again, they forfeited their share of bread and gave it the orphan and opened the fast with water only. The next day they fasted third time and this time a captive came to their house and they repeated their priceless charity.

On the fourth day Imam Ali (a.s.) took Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). When he (s.a.w.a.s.) observed their condition; they were trembling with hunger, he said, “It grieves me to see you in this condition.” He (s.a.w.a.s.), along with Imam Ali (a.s.), Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.), came to their house and saw Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) praying, her stomach was sunk to her backbone, and her eyes were also sunken in the eye sockets. He (s.a.w.a.s.) was greatly affected. At this moment Gabriel descended and said, “O, Muhammad! receive this Surah. Allah congratulates you for having such a family.

The Ayahs 5 to 11 relates to the self-sacrifice and Ayahs 12 to 22 narrates the rewards Allah had promised for them.

Ayahs 5 to 11 are: “Verily, the righteous drink of a cup; the mixture of which is (like) camphor. A fountain where the servants of Allah drink, flows in abundance. They fulfill their vows and fear a Day, the chastisement of which is widespread. And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan and captive. (Saying): We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks. We only fear from our Lord a Day, frowningly severe. Therefore, Allah will certainly rescue them from the terror of that Day and will meet them with joy and pleasure.

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

THE LONGEST AYAH OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

The longest Ayah of the Glorious Qur’an is Ayah 282 of Surah al-Baqarah. This Ayah contains instructions about the commercial and economical affairs to strengthen the growth of capital and prevents any difficulty or conflict.

The Ayah contains 19 ordinances for the smooth flow of financial transactions, detailed here under:

1.The Ayah says, “O You who have faith! When you contract a debt for a stated term, then write it down.” It includes time-bargain, purchase on credit or loan.

2. & 3. To generate confidence and minimize the chances of interference from either party, it is recommending that the contract be written by a just third person. The Ayah says, “…and let a scribe write it down just between you.”

4.For the sake of that Blessing which Allah has bestowed upon him, he should not refrain from writing of the contract and help the two sides of the contract. The Ayah says, “…and no scribe may refuse to write as Allah has taught him.”

5. The person who is incurring the debt should dictate (so that he may not be able to disown the contract). The Ayah says, “….so let him write, and let the one who incurs the debt dictate….”

6. The one who is dictating should remember Allah. The Ayah says, “…and he should be in awe of Allah, his Lord, and not diminish it.

7. The guardian, of a person unsound of understanding, mentally weak, or he is unable to dictate, should dictate it.

8. The guardian should also observe justice in dictating while confessing the debt of those under his guardianship.

9. The Ayah says, “…..and call to witness from among your men, two witnesses.”

10 & 11. The witnesses should be adult and Muslim.

12. The Ayah says, “…but if two men are not available, then a man and two women…..”

13. The witnesses should be just and reliable.

14. In the case the witnesses are two men, either of them can bear witness independently. But when the witnesses are two women and a man, these two women must bear witness together so that if either of the two witnesses errs, the other woman will remind her.

15. It is obligatory to bear witness when called in to testify. The Ayah says, “….and the witness should not refuse (to evidence) whenever they are summoned….”

16. The debt should be written down, whether the amount involved is big or small.

17. The only exception to the above ordinances is the fact that if the transactions are for ready merchandise.

18. In the case of cash transactions no documentation is necessary but still it is better to call witnesses.

19. The Ayah says, “And let no harm be done to a scribe or witness, and if you do, this is transgression on your part, be in awe of Allah and Allah teaches you, and is All-knowing of all things.

                Source: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) of Tafsir-e-Namoona by Ayatollah Naser                                  Makarem Shirazi

CONTENTMENT IN ISLAM

Surah al-Hajj Ayah 36, “And feed the poor man who is contented, and the beggar.”

“Be contented so that you may be the most thankful of all people.” (Ja’mme al Sad’aat volume 2 page 102)

Muslims should struggle to have a lawful source of sustenance. Once they get it, they should earn like Rizq-e-Halal. They should perform their duties to earn every cent. After working hard, they should leave it to Allah and pray for its continuity. This is contentment in sustenance.

Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Contentment is when a person is content with what he loves and what he hates; it is a ray of light of gnosis. He who is content is annihilated to all his choices; he is really the one with whom Allah is content.

Contentment is the neuro-physiological experience of satisfaction and being at ease in one’s situation. Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have. It is one of the most important prerequisites of happiness in our life.

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Remember death frequently. This will save you from longing for the worldly pleasures. Show gratitude frequently to Allah which will increase the graces upon you. Richest among you is the one who is contented.”

The Commander of the Faithful Imam Aki (a.s.) said, “Contentment is the capital which will never diminish.”

Aswad and Alqamah narrates that they visited Imam Ali (a.s.)’s house and found that there was a tray in front of him in which there was some date fibers, and upon which lay two loaves of barley bread, the chaff of barley was clearly visible. The Imam picked up the loaves and struck them on his knees and ate them with some salt. They told Fizza, “Why did you not remove the chaff from the flour? She replied, “Had Ali eaten the delicious bread, its sin would have befallen on my shoulders.” Imam Ali, said, “I my self had instructed her not to remove the chaff. In this way my soul will be subjugated, it becomes contented, and the Muslims shall continue to follow me till I depart from this world.”  

Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “If a son of Adam possessed two valleys of gold and silver, yet he will search for the third.”

Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) said, “The world is like water of sea, a thirsty man, the more he drinks the thirstier he becomes, until the water kills him in the end.

To cure this habit, one should look at those who have less resources than us and thank Almighty Allah for what we have.  Do not spoil what you possess by desiring what you do not have.

The contentment of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is a perfect guide for us. Once, the Noble Messe3nger (s.a.w.a.s.) visited his daughter Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and saw that she was wearing a dress made of camel hair. Tears welled in his eyes and he said, “Fatima, today endure the hardships and poverty with patience so that you may acquire the comfort of Paradise.

Patience and contentment are closely connected. In the case of Prophet Ayyub. He was rich having numerous cattle heads, fertile land, many children, good health. Then Allah wanted to test him, and he slowly lost everything, he became very sick. He continued to be thankful to Allah and was contented. His wife also left him. Then he prayed to Allah for help and Allah returned everything to him.

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an, anecdotes for reflection by Sayyid Ali Akbar Saadat

                  Lantern of the Path by the Infallible Imam Jaffar as-Sadiq (a.s.), www.ezsoftech.com

PROPHET ISA IN THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

Prophet Isa (Jesus) was born without a father and his mother was Hazrat Maryam (Mary). Hazrat Maryam’s mother had vowed to give away the baby who will be born to serve Allah, thinking that it may be a boy, but instead Hazrat Maryam was born but still she dedicated her to the house of Allah. She had grown up and one day while she was alone, an angel appeared in the shape of a man. Prophet Isa was mentioned 36 times in the Glorious Qur’an. The story of the birth of Prophet Isa is described in Surah Maryam Ayah 16 to 36 as follows:

Hazrat Maryam said, “Verily, I take refuge in the Beneficent (Allah) from you! If you are God- fearing.”

He (the angel) said, “Verily, I am only a messenger from your Lord that I bestow on you a pure son.”

She said, “How shall there be for me a son while no man has touched me, neither have I been unchaste.”

He said, “‘So (it will be)’. Your Lord says: ’It is easy for Me and that We will make him a Sign (Miracle) unto the people and a Mercy from Us, and it is a matter decreed. So, she conceived him (Jesus) and withdrew with him to a distant place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of ma palm tree.  She said:’ Would I had died ere this and had been a thing forgotten. Then (a voice) called out unto her from beneath her: ‘Grieve not! Verily Your Lord has made a stream to flow beneath you. And shake the trunk of palm-tree towards yourself. It will drop on you fresh ripe dates. So, eat and drink and refresh your eye; and if you meet any mortal, say: ‘Verily I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent (God), so never shall I speak today with any human being. Then she brought the child to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said, “Verily you have done a very indecent thing. O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a bad man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman. Then Maryam pointed to him. They said, “How shall we speak to one who is (yet) a child in the cradle? He (miraculously) said, “Verily I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and almsgiving so long as I live. And (He has made me) kind to my mother, and He has not made me arrogant unblessed. And peace be on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive. This is Jesus, son of Maryam, a statement of truth, concerning which they doubt. It is not befitting to Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a thing, He only says unto it: ‘Be’ and it ‘is’. And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship (only) Him. This is a straight path.  

Some of the other places where Prophet Isa is mentioned are as follows:

They said, “We murdered Jesus Christ, son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah, when, in fact, they could not have murdered him or crucified him. They, in fact, murdered someone else by mistake. (4:157)  

The similitude of Jesus before Allah is that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: ‘Be’ and he was. (3:59)

Christ the son of Maryam was no more than a Messenger. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah does make signs clear to them; see in what way they are deluded away from the truth. (5:75)

(Muslims), say, ‘We believe in Allah and what He has revealed to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, and their descendants and what was revealed to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among them and to Allah we have submitted ourselves. (2:136)

He told Jesus, “I will save you from your enemies, raise you to Myself, keep you clean from association with the unbelievers, and give superiority to your followers over the unbelievers until the Day of Judgment. On that day you will all return to me and I shall resolve your dispute.

Jesus, son of Maryam, said to the Israelites, I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you. I confirm the Torah which is in existence and give you the glad news of the coming of a Messenger who will come after me named Ahmad. When this Messenger came to them with all the proofs (to support his truthfulness), they said, “He is only a magician” (61:6) 

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