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

HOW TO KEEP AWAY INDECENCY AND EVIL FRO OUR LIVES

 

Five times obligatory prayers keep us away from indecency and evil from our lives. The Glorious Qur’an guides us in Surah al-An’kabut Ayah 45 saying: “Recite that have been revealed to you of the Book, and establish the prayer, verily, prayer (keeps) one away from indecency and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Allah is greater, and Allah knows what you do.” In this Ayah, Allah (s.w.t.) commands His Messenger to take help from the two strengthening sources for performing the heavy responsibility of Prophet hood. He (s.a.w.a.s.) will find whatever he wants in them: knowledge and wisdom, advice and admonition, the criterion for the cognition of right and wrong, the means of enlightening of heart and spirit. He should recite it and apply in his life. The next command is to establish prayer which keeps one away from indecency and evil. Since the nature of prayer reminds man the strongest restraining factors i.e., the firm belief in origin and the Resurrection. He who stands in prayer, calls Allah higher than everything, he remembers His Bounties, praises, and glorifies Him, remembers the Day of Judgement, confesses his servitude to Him, seeks for His help, asks Him to lead him to the Straight Path, and he refuges to Him for the path of those inflicted with His Wrath and those gone astray. It creates a wave of spirituality in him which is a barrier against sins.

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “The five ritual prayers are like a stream with flowing wholesome water at the door of one of you in which he washes himself five times a day, then there will remain no dirt over his body.” “Whoever intentionally abandons prayer, his name will be written on the door of Hell among those who enter it. Allah says: “I have a covenant for My servant that if he establishes the prayer in its time, I may not punish him and that I admit him in Paradise without reckoning.”

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “I recommend you to prayer and protecting it is the best deed and it is the pillar of your religion”

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: “The one who wants to know whether his prayer has been accepted or not, he should see whether his prayer hindered him from indecency and evil.” The first thing that will be reckoned from a servant is the prayer. If the prayer is accepted, his other (good) deeds will be accepted, if it is rejected, his other good deeds will not be accepted.

Benefits of Prayers:

1.       The basis, philosophy of the prayer is the remembrance of Allah.

2.       The prayer is the means of wiping out the sins and forgiveness of Allah.

3.       The prayer is the barrier against committing future sins.

4.       The prayer removes negligence.

5.       The prayer removes egotism and haughtiness

6.       The prayer fosters the virtues of morals and spiritual perfection.

7.       As Imam Ali (a.s.) says: “prayer is a means of seeking nearness to Allah.”

8.       The prayer gives value and spirit to other deeds.

9.       The prayer strengthens the spirit of discipline.

10.   As Imam Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) said: “The reason of the legislation of prayer is acknowledgement to the Lordship of Allah, struggle against polytheism and idolatry,

 standing in front of Allah in utmost humbleness and submission, confession to the sins and asking forgiveness for the past faults and putting forehead on the ground for the Glorification of Allah every day.

Source: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) of Tafsir-e-Namounah compiled by Ayatuallah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

THE STATUS OF SICKNESS IN ISLAM

 

Islam has covered every nook and corner of human life. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Pure Progeny had expressed their thoughts about it.

Sickness is called “Maraz” which was used 24 times in the Glorious Qur’an. It includes the physical and spiritual sickness. Without going into the complex causes of different sickness, we may review it in the light of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)’s sayings. In Surah al-Shu’ara Ayah 80, Allah quotes Prophet Ibrahim, “And whenever I am sick, then He heals me.”

Primordial Prevention: The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Eat while you have the appetite, and refrain from eating while you still have the appetite.”

Primary Prevention: Surah al-Baqarah Ayah195 says, “Do not lay cast yourself into destruction.” Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “The stomach is the house of maladies, and denial is the principal medicine, and there is no well-being in greed.” Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) said, “And the peak of denial is to treat the body gently and with friendliness.”

Secondary Prevention: Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “One of the Prophets (once) got ill, whereupon he said; I shall not cure myself until He Who made me sick treats me Himself. The Almighty Allah revealed unto him: I will not cure you, until you treat yourself, for surely ‘cure’ comes from Me.” (Bihar ul Anwar v.59 pg. 66)

 Islam does not encourage one to immediately seek medicine for illnesses that take time to disappear. Instead, one is advised to take natural foods that have a medicinal effect on body.

Traditions showing how sickness could be advantageous to the believing souls: The Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Indeed a person may have a station near Allah which he could not attained only by his actions, (and thus) he would be afflicted by an ailment in his body by which he would attain that station.” Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “When Allah afflicts someone with a calamity, He reduces his sins in accordance with his calamity.” Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) said, “Sickness is purification and mercy for the believer and a punishment and curse for the disbeliever. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “A night’s headache removes all of one’s sins, save the major ones.”

 Sadaqah is a powerful means of curing a sick. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Treat your sick by giving Sadaqah.” He also said, “Remembering us the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is a cure from illness and diseases as well as from insinuation of doubt.”

The principal cause of many of the physical illnesses stem from spiritual illnesses, either from ourselves or others. An example of the first is when a person has no sense of temperance and allows his faculty of desire to prevail over his faculty of intellect, and engages in overindulgence in eating, copulation etc. Such lifestyle would be replete with illnesses. Sometimes, you are invited to a friend’s house and served with delicious food, but because you friend did not observe some religious or hygienic precautions while cooking, you became ill.

Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.) supplicates in “Sahifa-e-Sajjadia” in 29 couplets saying, “Praise be to Allah for good health enabling me to do good deeds and for ailments in my body to test me. I do not know which deserves more thanks. Sickness purifies and decreases the burden of sins.”

Sources: Daily Supplications in the moth of Ramazan by Abu Muhammad Zaynul Abidin

                Sahifa-e-Sajjadia, A Book of Supplications of the Infallible Imam Ali ibnal Husayn (a.s.)

THE NOBLE MESSENGER (S.A.W.A.S.)'S SERMON ON THE ADVENT OF RAMADHAN

 

Following is the English translation of the Sermon of the Messenger of Allah before the commencement of the Holy month of Ramadhan:

“O People! The month (Ramadhan) of Allah has come with His mercies, blessings, and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. Its days are best among the days, its nights are the best among the nights and its hours are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and to pray). Allah has honored you in it. In it every breath you take is (has the reward of) ‘Tasbih’ (the praise of Allah), your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted, and your invocations answered. Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in right earnest with your hearts that are free from sin and evil. And pray that Allah may help you to keep fasts and recite the Glorious Qur’an. Indeed! Miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgement. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue towards unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard. Be kind to orphans so that if your children become orphans, they also will be treated with kindness. Do repent to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Almighty Allah looks at His servants with mercy. (He) Answers if they supplicate, Responds if they call, Grants if they ask, and Accepts if they entreat. O People! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires. Make it free, by invoking Him for forgiveness. Your back is breaking under the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Him for long intervals and make it lighter. Do understand fully well that Allah has promised in the name of His Majesty and Honor that He will not take to task such people who perform Salaat and Sajda (prostration), and that He will guard their bodies against the Fire of Hell on the Day of Judgment People! If anyone amongst you arranges for the Iftar (food for ending fast at sunset) of any believers, then Allah will give him the reward as if he had set free a slave, and He will forgive his previous sins. Keep yourself away from the fire of hell, though it may consist of half a date or even some water if you have nothing else. O People! Anybody in this month cultivates good manners, will walk over the Sirat (bridge leading to Paradise) on the day when feet will tend to slip. Anybody who in this month may take light work from his servants, Allah will make easy his accounting, and anybody who does not annoy others in it, Allah will keep him safe from His Wrath on the Day of Judgement. Anybody who respects and treats an orphan with kindness in it, Allah shall look at him with kindness on that Day. Anybody who treats his kinsmen in it, Allah will bestow His Mercy on him on the Day of Judgement, while anyone maltreats his kinsmen in it, Allah will keep him away from His Mercy. Whoever offers recommended prayers in it, Allah will save him from hell, and whoever offers obligatory in it, his rewards will be that of seventy such obligatory that were observed in other months. Whoever recites repeatedly blessings (Salawat) on me in it, Allah will keep the scales of his good deeds heavy (on Judgement Day) whilst the scales of others will be tending to lightness. Whoever recites in this month an Ayah (verse) of the Holy Qur’an, his reward will be that of reciting the whole Qur’an in other months. O People! The gates of Paradise remain open in this month. Do pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. While the gates of hell are closed, do pray to your Lord they may never be opened for you. Satans have been hand-cuffed; invoke our Lord, not to let them dominate you.”

The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the best of the deeds in this month?” He (s.a.w.a.s.) replied, “The best of the deeds in this month is to be far from what Allah has forbidden.”