Anecdotes from the People of the Book [Part I] (Ahadith 3059 – 3069)

Bismillah.

What follows is a collection of narrations about the Jews and Christians that have come to us from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and his companions. These narrations include stories about some of them, a few statements that were made about them, and comparison between them and the Muslim ummah.

What we should take from these stories and anecdotes is lessons for our lives. If it’s something good, we should be inspired to emulate it and if it’s something bad, we should try our best to stay away from it. May Allah be pleased with us and make us the best versions of ourselves.

Chapter: What has been said about Bani Israel

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 659 :
Narrated by Rabi bin Hirash
‘Uqba bin ‘Amr said to Hudhaifa, “Won’t you relate to us of what you have heard from Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)?” He said, “I heard him saying, “When Al-Dajjal appears, he will have fire and water along with him. What the people will consider as cold water, will be fire that will burn (things). So, if anyone of you comes across this, he should fall in the thing which will appear to him as fire, for in reality, it will be fresh cold water.”

Hudhaifa added, “I also heard him saying, ‘From among the people preceding your generation, there was a man whom the angel of death visited to capture his soul. (So his soul was captured) and he was asked if he had done any good deed.’ He replied, ‘I don’t remember any good deed.’ He was asked to think it over. He said, ‘I do not remember, except that I used to trade with the people in the world and I used to give a respite to the rich and forgive the poor (among my debtors). So Allah made him enter Paradise.”

Hudhaifa further said, “I also heard him saying, ‘Once there was a man on his death-bed, who, losing every hope of surviving said to his family: When I die, gather for me a large heap of wood and make a fire (to burn me). When the fire eats my meat and reaches my bones, and when the bones burn, take and crush them into powder and wait for a windy day to throw it (i.e. the powder) over the sea. They did so, but Allah collected his particles and asked him: Why did you do so? He replied: For fear of You. So Allah forgave him.” ‘Uqba bin ‘Amr said, “I heard him saying that the Israeli used to dig the grave of the dead (to steal their shrouds).”

That one small good deed that we take for granted can tip the balance. Keep at it!

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 660 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha and Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhumaa)
On his death-bed Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) put a sheet over his-face and when he felt hot, he would remove it from his face. When in that state (of putting and removing the sheet) he said, “May Allah’s Curse be on the Jews and the Christians for they build places of worship at the graves of their prophets.” (By that) he intended to warn (the Muslim) from what they (i.e. Jews and Christians) had done.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 661 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The Israelis used to be ruled and guided by prophets: Whenever a prophet died, another would take over his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be Caliphs who will increase in number.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! What do you order us (to do)?” He said, “Obey the one who will be given the pledge of allegiance first. Fulfil their (i.e. the Caliphs) rights, for Allah will ask them about (any shortcoming) in ruling those Allah has put under their guardianship.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 662 :
Narrated by Abu Said (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “You will follow the wrong ways, of your predecessors so completely and literally that if they should go into the hole of a mastigure, you too will go there.” We said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?” He replied, “Whom else?” (Meaning, of course, the Jews and the Christians.)

Mastigures are spiny-tailed lizards.

This is what we need to keep in mind when we think some issues are non-issues. This is why we should make sure that whatever we do is somehow different (and better) from what the Jews and Christians did. This is why the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered Bilal to give Adhan to call for prayer instead of bells and fires. This is why we were told to fast 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th of Muharram instead of just the 10th as Jews do. And there are other examples which you’ll come across in ahadith below and some future posts.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 663 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The people mentioned the fire and the bell (as means proposed for announcing the time of prayer) and by such a suggestion they referred to the Jews and the Christians. But Bilal was ordered, “Pronounce the words of the Adhan (i.e. call for the prayer) twice and the Iqama once only.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 664 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
That she used to hate that one should keep his hands on his flanks while praying. She said that the Jew used to do so.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 665 :
Narrated by Ibn Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Your period (i.e. the Muslims’ period) in comparison to the periods of the previous nations, is like the period between the ‘Asr prayer and sunset. And your example in comparison to the Jews and the Christians is like the example of a person who employed some laborers and asked them, ‘Who will work for me till midday for one Qirat each?’ The Jews worked for half a day for one Qirat each. The person asked, ‘Who will do the work for me from midday to the time of the ‘Asr (prayer) for one Qirat each?’ The Christians worked from midday till the ‘Asr prayer for one Qirat. Then the person asked, ‘Who will do the work for me from the ‘Asr till sunset for two Qirats each?’ ” The Prophet added, “It is you (i.e. Muslims) who are doing the work from the Asr till sunset, so you will have a double reward. The Jews and the Christians got angry and said, ‘We have done more work but got less wages.’ Allah said, ‘Have I been unjust to you as regards your rights?’ They said, ‘No.’ So Allah said, ‘Then it is My Blessing which I bestow on whomever I like. “

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 666 :
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
I heard ‘Umar saying, “May Allah Curse so-and-so! Doesn’t he know that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ‘May Allah curse the Jews for, though they were forbidden (to eat) fat, they liquefied it and sold it.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 667 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single sentence, and tell others the stories of Bani Israel (which have been taught to you), for it is not sinful to do so. And whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 668 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The Jews and the Christians do not dye (their grey hair), so you shall do the opposite of what they do (i.e. dye your grey hair and beards).”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 669 :
Narrated by Jundub (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Amongst the nations before you there was a man who got a wound, and growing impatient (with its pain), he took a knife and cut his hand with it and the blood did not stop till he died. Allah said, ‘My Slave hurried to bring death upon himself so I have forbidden him (to enter) Paradise.’ “

 

More to come in the next post inshaAllah. :)

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