The Amputation: A Story For Those in Distress

By: Shaykh Ahmad Musa Jibril

Actually, let me tell you this story and this will tell you what Raghbah is. Not only Raghbah, but all three of these Ibaadaat that we will mention today Inshaa Allah. It will tell you what Raghbah, Rahbah and Khushoo’ are and how they pertain to and affect your Ibaadah, and in particular the story I am going to tell you is how it affects Salah. The chain of this story is authentic, had it not been authentic you would think it is a fictional story or a figment of someone’s imagination.

The story is about ‘Urwah Ibn az-Zubayr Ibn al-‘Awwaam radhiallahu ‘anhuma. ‘Urwah was a man with a golden ancestry. His father is az-Zubayr Ibn al-‘Awwaam, one of the ten people promised to go to Jannah and the companion who was one of the six people that Umar radhiallahu ‘anhu chose when he was stabbed, to choose the destiny of this Ummah after he dies. His mother is Asmaa’ Bint Abu Bakr, that makes his maternal grandfather Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq radhiallahu ‘anhu. His paternal grandmother was Safiyyah Bint Abdul-Muttalib. If his mother is Asmaa’, that means his aunt is Aishah radhiallahu ‘anha. That is why he used to enter upon Aishah, if you know Hadith where he used to narrate Ahaadith from her and he used to learn with her. And because of that, he became one of the top seven Fuqhahaa’ in Madina. May Allah honour this Ummah with the likes of Aishah and Asmaa’ who play their proper model role in raising revivers and Mujaahideen for this Ummah. 

After the death of the Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he remained in Madinah. When he grew older, he decided to visit Bilaad ash-Shaam. During his journey or possibly before it, he was infected with some kind of disease in his foot that began to spread during the journey where it reached the shin area (somewhere between the knee and the ankle). When he arrived in Bilaad ash-Shaam, they brought him the doctors who told him this leg needs to be amputated otherwise it is going to spread and kill you. And back then, they used alcohol for anaesthesia, that is what reduced the pain when they operated in these kind of surgeries. ‘Urwah held himself to a higher standard. If it was permissible for normal people in such circumstances, it is not something ‘Urwah would allow upon himself. He held himself to a higher standard and this is our point here, he said let me make Salah and when you see me get into my Salah, amputate my leg as you wish. You know what he meant by that? What he meant is let me get into my Salah, let me stimulate and rev up my Raghbah, Rahbah and Khushoo’ and then amputate my leg.

Why ‘Urwah? Because when a heart elevates in that Ibaadah of Raghbah, Rahbah and Khushoo’ during Ibaadah, it numbs the feeling of the limbs. You are present in your body, but in reality you are in another world. You may see a bodybuilder or someone very athletic in the peak of his fitness abilities, you tell him your son just got hit by a car and if it affects him and moves him internally. That strong and athletic man will drop down to his knees in weakness. Where are his muscles? Where are his athletic abilities? The heart feeling overwhelms and overpowers his physical strength and paralyses the limbs. While ‘Urwah was deep in his Raghbah, Rahbah and Khushoo’ (and this is precisely how the story goes), they cut with a knife. It is by a bone area (by the shin area) and when they got to the bone area, they heated a saw and began to saw it off. First cut, then saw. At that time, out of his seven sons his most beloved son Muhammad went to a stable for the leader (al-Waleed Ibn Abdul-Malik) and a horse or a camel booted and stamped him to death.

When the people began to visit him and among them was al-Waleed Ibn Abdul-Malik, they gave him condolence about his leg and then they informed him and gave him condolence over his son. Why? First my leg and now my son? Problem after problem. My grandfather is Abu Bakr radhiallahu ‘anhu and he gave victory to Islam. I am one of the top seven Fuqhahaa’ in Madinah. Why me? I am the son of the man who gave your Messenger victory Yaa Allah. Is that what he said? That is not ‘Urwah Ibn az-Zubayr. Listen to what he said.

He said:

اللهم كانوا سبعة ، فأخذت واحدا وأبقيت ستة     

Oh Allah they were seven, You took one and You left me six. He means about his sons, he had seven. He said You took one and You left six. Look at the positive thinking, You have been so gracious and kind to me Yaa Allah.

وكن أربعا ، فأخذت واحدة وأبقيت ثلاثا

Now he is talking about his limbs. Oh Allah they were four (two hands and two legs), You took one and You left me with three. You have been so gracious and kind to me. Look at the positive thinking in the middle of a calamity.

Then he said:

اللهم لك الحمد ، فلئن إن كنت قد أخذت فقد أبقيت

Allah if You took, You left me with plenty. You took one of my limbs and You left me with three. You took one of my sons and You left me with six.

وإن كنت قد ابتليت فلطالما عافيت

And if You tested me, you kept me sound and well for such a long time.

فلك الحمد على ما أخذت وعلى ما عافيت

All thanks to you Allah for what You took and for what You kept.

This story has a few narrations to it and what will stun you is the addition in Ibn Abi ad-Dunya. He said the night that happened (he lost his leg and he lost his son), he did not miss his Qiyaam. Take a break ‘Urwah, mourn your son, wait until your pain eases and then resume your night recitation. These were men who were born for the Aakhirah, he did not miss his night recitation that night.

It gets more amazing, and I remember mentioning this in one of the first Jumu’ah Khutbahs I gave. It had to have been one of the first ten that I delivered maybe twenty or twenty five years ago and I said back then what I will still say today. For me the most amazing and astonishing part of it is what Ibn Katheer stated that al-Awzaa’ee said.

وقال الأوزاعي : لما نشرت رجل عروة قال : اللهم إنك تعلم أني لم أمش بها إلى سوء قط

When his leg was cut, ‘Urwah said oh Allah, You know I never used this leg to walk to a sin before. How many of us can look at their legs today and say that? Or look in the mirror at their eyes and say the same statement? Or at their tongues or at their hands and say Allah You know we never used this for a sin? Do you know it is the opinion of some of the Hanafiyyah that whoever says Allah You know (Ya’lamullah (يعلم الله)) I did this or that and he is a liar, that he becomes a Kaafir. Because in reality, by that statement and by that lie, he claims that Allah does not know. That is the opinion of some of the Hanafiyyah and it may be the weaker of two opinions on that issue, but what I am trying to say is it shows you how dangerous it is to say Ya’lamullah on a lie, it is more dangerous than saying it on an oath. Saying Wallahi and lying is easier than saying Ya’lamullah on a lie. ‘Urwah was so sure of his past that he said oh Allah, You know I never used this leg to commit a sin before.

Listen to the icing on the cake of this story. I told you his leg was amputated in Bilaad ash-Shaam, so he returned back to Madinah with no son and no leg. He lost his son and he lost his leg. When he returned back to Madinah, they said Wallahi we never heard him complain about his foot or about his son. Men raised by Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Before we get carried away, this story has so many lessons in it, however our point for this class and why I mention it for this class is the affect Raghbah, Rahbah and Khushoo’ have on someone’s Salah. The affect that it has is that it numbs and paralyses the limbs, because Raghbah, Rahbah and Khushoo’ take a person to another world. A true, spiritual world. A true Imaanic world. Some make superficial Salah, as many or most do. Others have Raghbah, Rahbah and Khushoo’ in them, like ‘Urwah. 

Source: The Amputation: A Story For Those in Distress - Shaykh Ahmad Musa Jibril

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_8ofNLj2GI

Transcribed: Explanation of Three Fundamental Principles 

                                                            

And Hasten to the Forgiveness from Your Lord – Abu Ayyub al-Maaldifi

وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous”

When the enemies join forces, to destroy the Deen of Allah, When the Sharia of Allah is belittled, and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasallam is mocked, when the Muslims are oppressed, and mischief widespread, when the true callers are imprisoned, and the word jihad omitted, Oh you who are oppressed by the hands of tyrants Oh you who are distressed by the situation of the Ummah Know that the Victory of Allah is near.

For; This is the religion of Allah the Creator of Heavens and Earth, No doubt Allah will keep sending His glorious soldiers, the best of His creation to protect & safeguard the firm Religion of Islam.

This is the Ummah of Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam which produced Sahabas of Great Caliber most of whom took their last breath in the battlefields never to give up even when their limbs were cut off and their bodies mutilated. And no doubt their successors and grandsons will rise to irrigate the oasis of faith and action with their blood to aid the Ummah of Islam as time goes by.

This is the Muslim Ummah of Jihad in which, no doubt mother’s would keep giving birth to heroes and wives would keep sending their husbands out of comfort of their life into the cross fire of guns and swords never to return unless in shrouds of lifelessness.

That is when we see the Lions of Allah moving killing and roaring “Labbaik ya Allah” in the battlefields beginning from the deserts of Arabia to the horn of Africa over to the torabora proceeding to open the gate of Ash Sham and finally to al Quds.

That is when we see the magnificent men who are willing to fasten the bridges of Deen with their bodies in response to kuffar’s invasion for nothing but the reward of Paradise responding to the call of Jihad Fi Sabilillahi when it is announced from every corner of the earth; from north to south and from east to west.

They are the Lions of monotheism and the moths of Prophethood, standing in the vanguard of the Ummah defending the Kalimah La ilaha ill Allah. Whose hearts are filled with love of being killed for the sake of Allah and whose hearts are filled with hatred of enemies for the sake of Allah.

At one point this very person may be induced by this world forgetting the hereafter but by the will of Allah sunhanahu wata alaa, the turner of hearts brings him out of darkness into light. After true guidance starts to shine through his life, Allah becomes more beloved than anything else in his life. Tears roll down his cheeks in Salatul Tahajjad. He feels the pain of Muslims in his heart for Muslims are like one body, if one limb is hurting then the rest of the body hurts. As he moves he sees that indigence and indignity has becomes fate of the Ummah. He sees the prevailing kufr with Wahn submerged in the hearts of Muslims. Realization dawns upon him that the aid to the religion of Allah is only through Jihad.

He starts to write the history of sacrifice and devotedness with his heart moving here and there looking for Hijrah to the lands of Jihad like a fish wanting to be in the water. He would cry tears of truth and he would not rest until he gets to the lands of Jihad to help the Ummah to once again raise the banner of Tawheed and eliminate the Disbelievers.

It may be a journey of trials and tribulations, prison and torment but he gives the message to every kuffar’s squadron and leaders that he can slay his neck for the Tawheed of Allah but he would not submit to the sills of their Thagooth with a single beat left in his heart. (In sha Allah)

These are the Soldiers of Allah whose sweat and blood paves the road of the Deen and whose torn bodies become the brick of it pillars. For you will see them with greed and eagerness for the everlasting Jannatul Firdawus which is wider than the heavens and the earth. For they become the Martyrs rushing towards the pleasure of their Lord the true Lord of the heavens and the earth.”

Abu Ayyub al Maaldifi

Source: http://biladalsham.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/and-hasten-to-the-forgiveness-from-your-lord-abu-ayyub-al-maaldifi/

The description of the house in which Prophet (Peace be upon him) use to live with Aisha (Radiy Allah anha)

It was about six feet wide, had earthen walls and the roof was of leaves and twigs. To prevent rain water from seeping in the roof was covered with a blanket. The roof was so low that a person standing upright could touch the roof. There was a single shuttered door, which was never closed; a blanket served as a curtain. Close to the room, on a slightly higher level was another small room, which Muhammad (Peace be upon him) occupied on the one occasion when he had boycotted the Mothers of the believers. A mat, a thin mattress, a pillow filled with the bark of trees, a leather water bag, a small plate for dates and a glass for drinking water were all the things in the room. There were none of the signs of worldly wealth and pomp, but this little room was filled with spiritual treasures. 

Source: Great Women of Islam

A poem which made Ahmed ibn Hanbal cry

Abu Hamid Al-Khulqani said: I asked Ahmed ibn Hanbal (Rahimahullah):  "O Abu Abdullah, Here is a poem which mentions Paradise and Hell? What do you say about these". He asked, "Like what?" He said, "It says:

إذا ما قال لي ربي

 أما استحييت تعصيني

وتخفي الذنب عن خلقي

 وبالعصيان تأتيني

"When my Lord asks me,
Are you not ashamed to disobey Me?
And you hide your sins from My creation,
And with disobedience (sins) you come to Me"" 

Ahmad said, "Read it to me again", so he did. Then Ahmad went into his house and closed the door. Then Abu Hamid said, “I could hear him from inside the house weeping and reciting :

إذا ما قال لي ربي

 أما استحييت تعصيني

وتخفي الذنب عن خلقي

 وبالعصيان تأتيني

"When my Lord asks me,
Are you not ashamed to disobey Me?
You hide your sins from My creation,
And with disobedience (sins) you come to Me""

Source

Oh, they left me alone to suffer the torture

Imam Adh-Dhahabi mentions this story in “Kitabul-Kabaair”

““Muhammad Ibn Yusuf Al-Feriabi said, “Once I went out accompanied with a group of my friends to visit Abu Sann'an, (May Allah have mercy on him). When we entered his house and sat down for a while, he said, “Let us visit a neighbor whose brother has recently died to console him.”

Then, we all went to the man but we found him wailing and impatient for the death of his brother. Accordingly, we tried to console him but of no avail. We admonished him that death is an inevitable end. Then, he said, I know. I just weep for my brother’s death abode and the torture he is in.

We asked, “Did Allah enable you to know the Unseen?” He said,” Of course not, but when I buried him and people went away I sat down by his grave.

Meanwhile, I heard a sound of distress. I heard someone crying.” ‘Oh, they left me alone to suffer the torture. I was praying, and fasting’. The brother went on saying “I wept out of pity for those words and I began to dig the grave to see his status. The grave was full of fire and I noticed a circle of fire around his neck. Out of pity I extended my arm to help him out from the fire. No sooner I extended my hand ,my fingers were burnt. Then, the man showed us his burnt hand.

He went on saying; “I hoarded the earth over him and went away. Thus, how can I keep patient after I have seen how he is”.

We, then, asked, "What did your brother do in this world (to deserve such a status)?"

He replied. “He did not pay Zakah from his money."

We said, "This is in accordance with Allah's saying,

{And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty (Wealth) think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory Zakat). Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do.} (Al-Imran: 180)

Your brother, therefore, is being tortured in advance in his grave until the Day of Judgment.”

Afterwards, we went to Abu Dharr (Radiy Allah anhu), the companion of the prophet (Sallallahu ‘alahi Wasallam), and told him this man's story. We also said, "When a Jew or a Christian dies, we do not notice them suffering like this," He said; "They are undoubtedly in the Hell-fire. Allah shows you the abode of the Muslims in order to learn the lesson. Allah, the Most High, says,

{Verily, proofs have come to you from your Lord, so whosoever sees, will do so for (the good of) his ownself, and whosoever blinds himself, will do so to his own harm, and I (Muhammad SAW) am not a watcher over you.)} (AI-An' am: 104)””

The extreme coldness of Hell fire

It was said Zubayd al-Yami woke up one night to pray. So, he walked towards the bowl of water that he would wash up from and put his hand it to find the water so cold that it was almost frozen. This reminded him of the extreme cold in Hell, and he did not remove his hand from the bowl until he later awoke and his servant came to find him like this. His servant said: “What are you doing, sir? Why didn’t you pray at night as you usually do? Why are you sitting here like this?” He replied: “I put my hand in this bowl and touched the cold water, and was reminded of the extreme cold of Hell. By Allah, I did not feel the severity of its coolness until you came just now. So, go and don’t tell anyone about this until I die.” And nobody knew of this incident until he had died, may Allah have Mercy on him.

It is mentioned in an authentic hadith: “Hell complained to its Lord, saying: “Parts of me have consumed the other parts.” So, He allowed it two breaths of exhalation: one in winter and one in summer. As for its breath in winter, that is the bitter cold, and its breath in the summer is the extreme heat.”

Source

Life & Duaa of Baqy Ibn Makhlad - Shiekh Ahmad Musa Jibril

The Salaf and their prayer

Mujaahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “When one of them stood in prayer, he would be too fearful of his Lord to allow his eyes to be drawn to anything, or to turn aside or to fidget by playing with pebbles or anything else or to think of any worldly matter, unless he forgot, during prayer.”

When Ibn al-Zubayr stood up to pray, he would be like a stick (i.e., immobile) with khushoo’. Once he was prostrating when a missile from a catapult was launched at him, when Makkah was being besieged, and part of his garment was torn away whilst he was praying, and he did not even raise his head.

Muslimah ibn Bashshaar was praying in the mosque when part of it collapsed, and the people got up [and fled], but he was praying and did not even notice.

When the time for prayer came, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib would be visibly shaken, and the color of his face would change. It was said to him, “what is the matter with you?’ He said, “By Allah, there has come the time of the amaanah (trust) which Allah offered to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it, but I bore it (referring to ayah of Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:72).”

When Sa’eed al-Tanookhi prayed, there would be tears rolling down his cheeks onto his beard.

One of the Taabi’een, when he stood up to pray, his color would change, and he would say, “Do you know before Whom I am going to stand and with Whom I am going to talk?”

They said to ‘Aamir ibn ‘Abd al-Qays, “Do you think to yourself during prayer?” He said, “Is there anything I like to think about more than the prayer?” They said, “We think to ourselves during prayer.” He said, “About Paradise and al-hooralin and so on?” They said, “No; about our families and our wealth.” He said, “If I were to be run through with spears, it would be dearer to me than thinking to myself about worldly matters during prayer.”

Sa’d ibn Mu’aadh said: “I have three qualities, which I wish I could keep up all the time, then I would really be something. When I am praying, I do not think about anything except the prayer I am doing; if I hear any hadeeth from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), I do not have any doubts about it; and when I attend a janaazah (funeral), I do not think about anything except what the janaazah says and what is said to it.”

Haatim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “I carry out what I am commanded; I walk with fear of Allah in my heart; I start with the [correct] intention; I magnify and glorify Allah; I recite at a slow and measured pace, thinking about the meaning; I bow with khushoo’; I prostrate with humility; I sit and recite the complete tashahhud; I say salaam with the [correct] intention; I finish with sincerity towards Allah; and I come back fearing lest [my prayer] has not been accepted from me, so I continue to strive until I die.”

Abu Bakr al-Subghi said: “I lived through the time of two imaams (leaders) although I was not fortunate enough to hear them in person: Abu Haatim al-Raazi and Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Marwazi. As for Ibn Nasr, I do not know of any prayer better than his. I heard that a hornet stung him on his forehead and blood started flowing down his face, but he did not move.” Muhammad ibn Ya’qoob al-Akhram said: “I have never seen any prayer better than that of Muhammad ibn Nasr. Flies used to land on his ears, and he did not shoo them away. We used to marvel at how good his prayer and khushoo’ were. His fear [of Allah] in prayer was so great that he would put his chin on his chest as if he were a piece of wood standing up.”

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him), when he started to pray, used to tremble so much that he would lean right and left. 

Source: 33 Ways of developing Khushoo’ in Salaah By Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Oh Father, Does Allah have a fire whose fuel is men and stones?

There was a king who had a lot of wealth, and he had a daughter and no other children. He loved her very much, and he used to let her enjoy all kinds of entertainment. This went on for a long time. Beside the king there lived a devoted worshipper, and whilst he was reciting one night, he raised his voice saying, “O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones “[al-Tahreem 66:6 – interpretation of the meaning]. The girl heard his recitation and said to her servants, “Stop!” But they did not stop. The worshipper started to repeat the verse, and the girl kept telling them to stop, but they did not stop. She put her hands to her collar and tore her garment, and they went to her father and told him the story.

He went to her and said, “My dear, what happened to you tonight? What made you weep?” and he hugged her. She said, “I ask you by Allah, O my father, to tell me, does Allah have a Fire, the fuel of which is men and stones?” He said, “Yes.” She asked him, “Why did you not tell me? By Allah I will not eat any good food or sleep on any soft bed until I know whether my abode is in Paradise or Hell.” 

Ibn al-Jawzi, Safwat al-Safwah, 4/437-438 

Some stories of Satan attending the dying person

Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (The son of Ahmad ibn Hanbal) said “When Abu Ahmad (Ahmad ibn Hanbal) was dying, I was present with him holding a piece of cloth in my hand. He repeatedly felt unconsciousness for some time and then recovered saying every time “No! No” So I said “Oh Father, What is wrong with you? He said Satan is standing close to my feet, biting his tip fingers and asking me to follow him, and I keep telling him “No, till the moment I die”

Al Rabe’e ibn  Murra ibn Ma’bad Al-Jahni (who was a famous worshiper of Allah in Basra ) Once said “ I was in Levin attending to a dying man there. People kept telling him to utter Shahadah (To testify that there is no God but Allah) but he kept repeating “Drink and give me more wine” The same happened to another one in Ahwaz who kept repeating some strange words “Ten, Eleven, Twelve…”Then I learned that he is a businessman who was overwhelmed by his love of business and accounting”.

A third one here in Basra was asked to say shahada (To testify that there is no God but Allah) before his death , but he said “She asked me about lavatory I took her home to start a love story” The scholar Abu Bakr ibn Sulaymaan ibn Al Najjad commeneted: That was a man who was standing in the street when a woman asked him about the way to public lavatory, Instead he let her to his house and said these lines of verse at his death. “

The Author (Imam Qurtubi) said: A lot of example can be found among the people who concern themselves primarily with the affairs of this worldly life so much so that I was told that when a broker was on his death bed he was asked to utter shahada (To testify that there is no God but Allah) However he kept saying” Three and Half, Four and Half, etc…”as he was overwhelmed by his love for brokerage.

 I have also seen an accountant on the verge of death holding his fingers and counting digits. Another dying person was asked to utter shahada (To testify that there is no God but Allah) but he kept saying “repair so and so in my flat, and so and so in my garden”. A third also kept saying “Take care of the donkey, go and tie the donkey”. And a fourth kept repeating “Take care of the yellow cow” as he was totally preoccupied with it. We ask Allah to grant us Mercy and help us to utter shahada (To testify that there is no God but Allah) when we are to die. 

Source: An authentic selection from Imam al Qurtubi's At-Tadhkirah  

Umar and Self remorse

Once Umar RadiyAllah anhu was busy with some important affairs of the State, when a person came to him and, complaining about some petty grievance, asked for immediate redress.

Thus disturbed, Umar felt very much annoyed. He took the lash and struck the man saying:

"When I sit for redressing the grievances of the common men you do not come, and when I am engaged in other important work you come with your grievances to disturb me."

The person walked away in a sullen mood. When the man went away, Umar felt struck with remorse for having treated the man shabbily.

Umar ran after the man, and overtaking him handed him his lash and said:

"I have been hard on you and lashed you. You take this lash, and strike me so that the account may be squared."

The man was overwhelmed with the sense of justice of Umar. He said:

"O Commander of the Faithful, how can I raise my hand against you. I seek no revenge. I forgive you. May Allah forgive you."

Umar went home and offered a special prayer of repentance. He upbraided himself loudly:

"O Umar, you were low but Allah elevated you. You were wandering astray but Allah guided you. You were base but Allah ennobled you and gave you sovereignty over the people. Now one of them comes and asks you for requital for the harm done to him, and you beat him. What answer would you give before Allah?"

Umar kept chiding himself long. Holding a straw in his hand he said:

"I wish, I were a straw like this." Turning to himself he said, "I wish my mother had not given birth to me."

 Hadrat Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman, Ali (ra) 4 Vol. Set by Prof. Masud-ul-Hasan 

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

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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

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

The mahr of Hoor al-ayn

Muhammad ibn al-Nu’maan al-Muqari said: 

I was sitting with al-Jala al-Muqari in Makkah in al-Masjid al-Haraam, when a tall, lean-bodied old man dressed in rags passed by. Al-Jala got up and stood with him for a while, then came back to us and said: Do you know who this old man is? We said: No. He said: He bought from Allaah a hoor al-‘iyn for four thousand khatmahs (readings of the entire Qur’aan) and when he had completed it, he saw her in a dream, wearing her jewellery and finery. He said: Who are you? She said: I am al-hoor whom you bought from Allaah with four thousand khatmahs; this is the price, what will I get from you? He said: One thousand khatmahs. Al-Jala said: He is still working on that. 

It was narrated from Sahnoon that he said: There was a man in Egypt called Sa’eed, and he had a mother who was a devoted worshipper. When he got up at night to pray qiyaam, his mother would pray behind him, and if he grew sleepy his mother would call out to him: O Sa’eed! There is no sleep for the one who fears Hell and wants to marry the beautiful hoor al-‘iyn. So he would get up out of alarm.  

It was narrated from Thaabit that he said: My father was one of those who prayed qiyaam to Allaah in the depths of the night. He said: Last night I saw in my dream a woman who did not resemble the women of this world. I said to her: Who are you? She said: A hoor al-‘iyn, a female slave of Allaah. I said to her: Give yourself to me in marriage. She said: Propose to me through your Lord and give me a mahr. I said: What is your mahr? She said: Lengthy tahajjud. 

Maalik ibn Dinar said: I had sections of the Quraan that I would read every night. I fell asleep one night and in my dream I saw a beautiful girl, with a piece of vellum in her hand. She said: Can you read? I said: Yes. She gave me the piece of vellum and on it was written these lines of poetry:

You are wasting your time in sleeping rather than seeking high goals

And seeking beautiful hoor al-‘iyn in Paradise.

There in Paradise you will have an eternal life and no death

And you will have delight with the beautiful hoor ‘iyn in splendid pavilions.

Wake up from your sleep, for what is better than sleeping is spending the night reciting the Qur’aan. 

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