The good neighbour

Sahl Ibn `Abdullah At- Tustri (may Allah have mercy upon him) reported that, "He had a magian neighbor and from his water closet, there was a hole flowing into the house of Sahl. Sahl used to put a vessel under this flowing hole until all rubbish gathered in it and threw it during the night to conceal himself from the people.

Sahl continued to do that for a long period until the time of his death come. He sent for his magian neighbor and summoned him saying, "Enter this house and look into it. He entered and saw the hole with rubbish flowing from it into the vessel and he said, what is this, which I see? Sahl said this is from a long period; I receive it during the day and threw it during the night. The time of my death has come, and I fear that the manners of other people might not endure you, otherwise I would not tell you.. 

The magian said, O an old man, you treat me in such a way from a long period and I am still indulging in my disbelief? Stretch your hand to me, I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah(Sallalhu alahi wasallam). Then the soul of Sahl was taken.

Source: Major sins by Imam Dhahabi

From within a hostile land

A Poem by Brother Tarek Mahenna

Halfway around the planet from the holy desert sands,
Upon which God’s final Prophet built with his hands,
A refuge for the believers, a Madinah so grand,
I grant you these words from within a hostile land,
To get you to understand that it was planned,
To imprison a small band,
Of young men upon the Truth who found their understanding outlawed and banned,
Remanded to the custody of injustice’s American brand,
Branded for life because of a way of life passed down from Negroes of sand,
Slave masters and house Negroes conspiring to stop a force unstoppable,
Inhospitable to the proposals of RAND,
I am hostile,
To any who would revile,
The Truth even if they smile,
In my face all the while,
Yes, I live my life by the Book,
So, don’t give me that look,
You crooks,
It is you who took,
From humanity its freedom to let its soul fly,
To its sole Creator,
In Whose eyes this capitalistic, materialistic prison of a world isn’t worth the wing of a fly,
So, we wait in this prison like knights without horses,
Weeping on the nights that we recite His verses,
Or hear it,
Serious and bearded,
No one had to force us,
We just read ancient texts and decided to join forces,
With the Prophet and his Companions,
To accompany their fight,
To become companions of the Right,
Right to Heaven we hope to go and avoid Hellfire’s fright,
To Hell with the enemies who frighten us with shackles and chains,
Who go to great pains to keep us in pain,
All in vain,
Because our veins flow with blood,
That is worth less to us than the Pleasure of the Lord who created them from mud,
Their tears flow: “Why? Why won’t he submit to our manmade gods?” they furiously ask,
As I throw mud in their faces, lean back, and laugh…

- Tariq Mehanna, Ramadan 5 1433
(July 24, 2012)

(May Allah release him)

Sukoon Al Layl

There has not been a Prophet or Messenger except that they spent their nights in the worship of the One Who had sent them, and the night prayer has always been a sign of a believer. An Ummah precedes us who would revive their nights with prayer and supplication, who would beseech their Lord at a time when He is closest to them. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (radhiallahu `anhu) once said to ‘Umar, ‘O Umar! Verily, Allah has rights by night which He does not accept during the day, and verily Allah has rights by day which He does not accept during the night…’

Truly, the Paradise of the believer in this world lies in his place of prayer…

The night prayer of the Prophets

Fudhayl ibn al-’Iyadh: ‘It used to be said that the characteristics of the Prophets and the righteous, the chosen ones from Mankind whose hearts are pure, are three characteristics: They were forbearing, oft-returning (to Allah), and they all had a portion of Qiyam al-Layl (the night prayer).’

Musa `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘I passed by Musa – `alayhisalam – on the night of my Ascension while he was in his grave praying.’ 1

‘Isa `alayhisalam: ‘Verily the night and the day are two stores so look to what you do in them.’ Ibn ‘Abbas (radhiallahu `anhu) said regarding Prophet ‘Isa, ‘Wherever the night caught up with him, he would straighten his feet and stand in prayer until the morning.’ 2

Dawud `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Dawud was the most devout worshipper from Mankind.’ 3

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The most beloved of prayers to Allah is the prayer of Dawud and the most beloved of fasts to Allah is the fast of Dawud. He used to sleep half of the night, stand up in prayer for a third of it and sleep a sixth of it, and he used to fast on alternate days.’ 4

Sulayman `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The mother of Sulayman ibn Dawud said to Sulayman ‘O my son, do not sleep a lot at night because indeed, sleeping too much at night will leave a man in poverty on the Day of Judgment.’ 5

The night prayer of the righteous

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam): ‘Upon you is to observe the night prayer for it is the way of the righteous that came before you…’

Whenever Mu’adh ibn al-Jabal rose to pray at night, he would call out, ‘O Allah, indeed the eyes of people are asleep and the stars have receded but You are the Ever Living and Eternal. O Allah, my way to Paradise is slow and my fleeing from Hellfire is weak. O Allah, grant me Guidance from You which you return to me on the Day of Judgment, truly You do not fail in Your Promise.’ 6

Abul-’Aliyah: ‘We used to consider it a big sin that a man learns Qur’an then he sleeps without reciting some of it (in prayer).’ 7

Al-Hasan al-Basri: ‘If a slave falls asleep in prostration (out of tiredness), Allah boasts about him to the Angels saying, ‘Look at My slave, he worships Me whilst his soul is with Me and he is in prostration.’ 8

He (rahimahullah) also said: ‘By Allah, I have accompanied a people who spent these dark nights prostrating and standing up in prayer to their Lord. Their tears would flow down their cheeks, one time they’d be bowing and another time they are in prostration. They beseech and implore their Lord to free their necks (from the Hellfire) and the long night did not bore them because of the hope in their hearts for the Day of Return. May Allah have mercy upon a person who competes with them in these deeds and who is not content with falling short… truly the world has cut off its inhabitants and the deeds of a people are only returned to them.’ 9

It was once said to Yunus ibn ‘Ubayd, ‘Have you ever seen anyone perform like the deeds of Al-Hasan al-Basri?’ He said, ‘By Allah, I have not seen anyone who even speaks like him so how can I see anyone do like his deeds?! His words of admonition used to make the hearts weep while the admonition of other people doesn’t even make the eyes weep.’ 10

Al-Rabi’ ibn Khuthaym: He bought a horse for thirty thousand and used it to partake in battles. One day he sent his servant Yasar (on an errand) and tied his horse. When the servant returned he said, ‘O Rabi! Where is your horse?’ He said, ‘It has been stolen, O Yasar.’ He said, ‘While you were looking?!’ He said, ‘Yes, O Yasar. But I was beseeching my Lord `azza wa jall and there is nothing to busy me from beseeching my Lord.’ Then he made du’a for the thief saying, ‘O Allah, he stole from me and it was not I who stole from him. O Allah, if he is wealthy, then guide him and if he is poor then give him wealth.’ 11

Al-Hasan al-Banna: ‘The minutes of the night are expensive so do not render them cheap by heedlessness.’

One of the Salaf used to say: ‘For 40 years, nothing has upset me as much as the rise of dawn.’ (i.e. marking the end of tahajjud)

‘Amr ibn al-Aswad used to have an expensive garment of 200 dirhams which he wore exclusively for the night prayer. 12

Imam Hamza ibn Habib (one the 7 Qurraa): Muhammad ibn al-Fudhayl said about him, ‘I don’t consider that Allah keeps punishment away from the people of Kufa except by (the virtues of) Hamza. He used to read the Qur’an until the people departed, then he would pray four units, then he would pray between al-Dhuhr and al-’Asr, and between al-Maghrib and al-’Isha. One of his neighbours said that he never used to sleep at night and that they would often hear him recite the Qur’an melodiously.’ Hamza himself used to say, ‘I would look into the mushaf (copy of Qur’an) until I feared losing my sight!’ 13

Abu Ja’far (also one of the Qurra): Nafi’ (rahimahullah) said. ‘When Abu Ja’far was being washed (for his funeral), they saw that between his neck and heart was a script like that of the mushaf. No one from among those present doubted that this was the light of the Qur’an.’ 14

‘Abdullah ibn Ghalib al-Hadani: ‘When the enemy approached (in battle), he said ‘What can sadden me in this world? By Allah, there is no happiness in it for the wise one and by Allah, were it not for my love of meeting the night in prostration and lying my forehead down for You O’ Master, in-between movement of limbs and joints (i.e. praying), in the depth of the nights all in hope of Your reward and Pleasure, were it not for this, I would have hoped to leave this world and its people.’ Then he broke the scabbard of his sword and went forth to fight until he was killed. When he was buried, they found the fragrance of musk at his grave and the people began to take the dust of his grave as if it were musk.

A man once saw him in a dream and said, ‘O Abu Faras, what have you done?’ He said, ‘The best of deeds.’ He asked, ‘Where have you gone?’ He said, ‘To Paradise,’ He said, ‘With what?’ He said, ‘By having conviction (yaqin) and standing for long periods in Tahajjud (night prayer) and bearing thirst in the midday heat (i.e. fasting).’ He said, ‘And what is this sweet fragrance at your grave?’ He said, ‘That is the fragrance of recitation and thirst.’ He said, ‘Advise me.’ He said, ‘Seize goodness for yourself; do not allow the nights and days to pass you by empty, for indeed I have seen that the righteous ones attain piety with piety.’ 15

Qatadah: ‘A hypocrite does not remain vigil at night (in prayer).’ 16

Abu Salman al-Darani: ‘If it wasn’t for the Night prayer, I wouldn’t have liked to remain in this world.’

Hadith: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Our Lord descends during the last third of each night to the lower heaven, and says: ‘Is there anyone who calls on Me that I may respond to him? Is there anyone who asks Me that I may give unto him? Is there anyone who requests My Forgiveness that I may forgive him?” 17

Rabi’a al-’Abidah: When questioned by her husband as to why she gets up to pray at night, she simply said, ‘I only rise up when I am called.’ 18

And ‘Utbah would be found walking along the seashore at night saying, ‘O Allah, if You punish me, then I do love You and if You have mercy upon me, then still I love You.’ 19

Hadith Qudsi: ‘O My Slaves, it is only your deeds which I record for you, then I shall reward you for them…’ 20

References

1] Sahih Muslim, Ahmad and al-Nasa’i
2] Al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah (2/16)
3] Sahih Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim
4] Sahih al-Bukhari
5] Reported by Ibn Majah and al-Bayhaqi (chain contains al-Fadhl ibn ‘Isa who is weak)
6] Hilyat al-Awliya, by Abu Nu’aym
7] Al-Zuhd, by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
8] Al-Zuhd
9] Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl, by Al-Marwazi
10] Tanbih al-Mughtarin, by Al-Sha’rani
11] Al-Zuhd
12] Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, by Ibn Kathir (8/26)
13] Ma’rifat al-Qurraa al-Kibar
14] Siyar A’lam al-Nubala, by Imam al-Dhahabi
15] Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl, by Imam al-Samarqandi
[16] Hilyat al-Awliya’, by Abu Nu’aym
[17] Sifat al-Safwah, by Ibn al-Qayyim
[18] Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim
[19] Sifat al-Safwah
[20] Sahih Muslim

Source

Some miracles that happened to righteous people

With regard to karaamaat (miracles) of the righteous among this ummah, such as the scholars, devoted worshippers and ascetics, there are many such stories. We will quote a few examples of such incidents that were narrated by the scholars in their books. However we should point out that many of the stories that have been narrated in this regard may not be sound, so it is essential to verify reports of this nature before taking them seriously or quoting them. 

It was narrated that Qays ibn Abi Haazim said: I saw Khaalid ibn al-Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him) in Heerah. Some poison was brought to him and he said: What is this? They said: Poison that kills in a very short time. He said: Bismillah (in the name of Allah), then he swallowed it and nothing bad happened to him. 

(Sharh Usool I‘tiqaad Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah, 6/498; al-Bidaayah wa’n-Nihaayah, 6/382)

It was narrated that Thaabit al-Bunaani said: I was with Anas when his steward came to him and said: O Abu Hamzah, our land is very dry. Anas got up and did wudoo’, then he went out to the desert and prayed two rak‘ahs, then he offered supplication (du‘aa’). And I saw the clouds gathering, then it rained until everything was full. When the rain stopped, Anas sent one of his family members to look and said: See how far the rain reached. So he looked and it had not reached beyond his land except a short distance.

(End quote from Sharh Usool I‘tiqaad Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah, 7/11; al-Bidaayah wa’n-Nihaayah, 9/107) 

It was narrated that Ja‘far ibn Zayd al-‘Abdi said: We went out on campaign to Kabul and among the army was Silah ibn Ashyam. When we got close to the land of the enemy, the commander said: No one among the troops should wander off away from the army. A mule of Silah’s strayed, carrying its load, and he started to pray. It was said: The people (i.e. the army) have started moving on. He said: It is only two brief rak‘ahs. Then he offered supplication (du‘aa’) and said: O Allah, I urge You to return my mule and its load to me. Then it came and stood in front of him.

(End quote from Sharh Usool I‘tiqaad Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah, 7/142) 

It was narrated that Naafi‘ ibn Abi Nu‘aym said: When Abu Ja‘far Yazeed ibn al-Qa‘qaa‘ al-Qaari’ was washed (ghusl) after he died, they looked at the area between his throat and chest and saw that it looked like a page of the Mushaf. He said: None of those who were present doubted that it was the light of the Qur’aan.

(End quote from Tahdheeb al-Kamaal, 33/201) 

It was narrated from Muhammad ibn Ziyaad al-Alhaani, from Abu Muslim al-Khawlaani, that a woman turned his wife against him, so he prayed against her and she lost her sight. Then she came to him and said: O Abu Muslim, I did such and such, but I shall not do it again. He said: O Allah, if she is telling the truth then restore her sight to her. And she regained her sight. 

(End quote from Hilyat al-Awliya’, 5/121) 

It was narrated that Bilaal ibn Ka‘b al-‘Akki said: Some boys said to Abu Muslim al-Khawlaani when a gazelle passed by: Pray to Allah to detain this gazelle for us. He prayed to Allah (du‘aa’) and He detained it until they caught it with their hands. 

(End quote from Tareekh Dimashq, 27/215) 

It was narrated that Shaqeeq said: I was in some farmland of mine when a cloud came, and I heard from it a voice saying: Rain on the land of So and so. So I went to the man and said: What do you do with your crops? He said: I plant one third (i.e., save the seeds for planting), I eat one third and I give one third in charity.

(End quote from Sharh Usool I‘tiqaad Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah, 7/94) 

It was narrated from Abu’l-‘Alaa’ ibn ‘Abdillah ibn ash-Shakhkheer that ‘Aamir ibn ‘Abd Qays used to take his stipend and carry it in the hem of his rida’ (upper garment), and he would not meet any of the poor who asked him for something but he would give him something. Then when he entered upon his family, he gave it to them and they counted it, and it was the same as what he had been given (i.e., it had not decreased at all).

(End quote from Tareekh Dumashq, 26/29; al-Isaabah, 5/77) 

It was narrated that Yoonus said: When Mutarrif ibn ‘Abdillah entered his house, the vessels in his house would glorify Allah.

(End quote from Tareekh Dimashq, 58/323; Hilyat al-Awliya’, 2/206) 

It was narrated that Qataadah said: Mutarrif ibn ‘Abdillah and a companion of his were walking on a dark night, and at the end of the whip of one of them there was a light. He said to his companion: If we tell people about this they will say that we are lying. Mutarrif said: The one who says we are lying is more of a liar.

(End quote from Hilyat al-Awliya’, 2/205; Siyar A‘laam an-Nubala’, 4/193) 

It was narrated that al-Jurayri said: ‘Abdullah ibn Shaqeeq was a man whose du‘aa’s were answered. Clouds would pass by him and he would say: O Allah, do not let them go beyond such and such a place before it rains, and they would not go beyond that place before it rained.

(End quote from Tareekh Dimashq, 29/161) 

It was narrated that al-Haarith ibn an-Nu‘maan said: Ibraaheem ibn Adham used to pick fresh dates from oak trees.

(End quote from Tareekh Dimashq, 6/326; Siyar A‘laam an-Nubala’, 7/393) 

It was narrated that Yahya ibn Katheer al-Basri said: Kahmas ibn al-Hasan bought some flour for one dirham and ate some of it, then after a long time he weighed it and found that it was the same weight as when he bought it.

(End quote from Siyar A‘laam an-Nubala’, 6/317) 

Source

Some of the wise saying of Prophet Idris (Enoch)

"Happy is he who looks at his own deeds and appoints them as pleaders to his Lord."

"None can show better gratitude for Allah's favors than he who shares them with others."

"He who indulges in excess will not benefit from it."

“There is no better way to thank Allah for His favors than to be kind and generous to His creation.”

“When you invoke Allah make your intention sincere and pure.”

“Wisdom is the life of the soul.”

“Do not be jealous of people for the things they have, for their enjoyment of those things is short lived.”

“Nothing can make one feel rich when one seeks to have more than bare necessities.”

Collected from "Stories of the Prophets"  & "Atlas of the Quran" 

Allah has given me a better offer

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas (RadiyAllah anhu) said: There was a drought at the time of Abu Bakr as-siddiq(RadiyAllah anhu). The people came to Abu Bakr and said: It has not rained and the earth is not bringing forth its produce and the people are suffering great hardship. Abu Bakr said: Go and be patient, for evening will not come before Allah the Most Generous grants you relief. It was not long before the workers of ‘Uthman(RadiyAllah anhu)  came from Syria, bringing him one hundred camels laden with wheat - or foodstuff. The people gathered at 'Uthman's door and knocked on the door.

 'Uthman (RadiyAllah anhu) came out to the crowd of people and said: What do you want? They said: It has not rained and the earth is not bringing forth its produce and the people are suffering great hardship, and we have heard that you have food; sell it to us so that we may give it to the poor Muslims. 

'Uthman(RadiyAllah anhu)  said: By all means, come in and buy. The merchants went in and saw the food in the house of 'Uthman. He said: 0 merchants, how much profits will you give me for that which I bought from Syria? They said: Twelve in return for ten. 'Uthman (RadiyAllah anhu) said: I have had a better offer. They said: Fifteen for ten. 'Uthman said: I have had a better offer. The merchants said: O Abu 'Amr, there are no merchants in Madinah other than us. Who has given you a better offer? He said: Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, has given me a better offer, ten for every dirham. Can you offer me more? They said: No, by Allah. He said: I call upon Allah to bear witness that I am giving this food as charity for the poor Muslims.

Ibn 'Abbas said: Last night I saw the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) in my dream. He was riding a black and white mule, wearing a suit of light; on his feet were shoes of light, in his hand was a staff of light, and he was hastening. I said: 0 Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), I am longing to see you and hear you speak. Where are you hastening to? He said: "O Ibn 'Abbas, 'Uthman has given charity, and Allah has accepted it from him and given him a bride in Paradise, and I have been invited to the wedding."

Source: The biography of Uthman ibn Affan by Dr.Muhammad As-Sallabi/Translated by Nasir Khattab, Source originally taken from al-Riqqah wa'l-Buka', p. 190