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Praying Two Nawaafil Before Being Killed – Whose Sunnah is it? (Hadith No. 2678)
Bismillah.
Volume 4, Book 52, Number 281 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira
Allah’s Apostle sent a Sariya of ten men as spies under the leadership of ‘Asim bin Thabit al-Ansari, the grandfather of ‘Asim bin Umar Al-Khattab. They proceeded till they reached Hadaa, a place between ‘Usfan, and Mecca, and their news reached a branch of the tribe of Hudhail called Bani Lihyan. About two-hundred men, who were all archers, hurried to follow their tracks till they found the place where they had eaten dates they had brought with them from Medina. They said, “These are the dates of Yathrib (i.e. Medina), “and continued following their tracks. When ‘Asim and his companions saw their pursuers, they went up a high place and the infidels circled them. The infidels said to them, “Come down and surrender, and we promise and guarantee you that we will not kill any one of you” ‘Asim bin Thabit; the leader of the Sariya said, “By Allah! I will not come down to be under the protection of infidels. O Allah! Convey our news to Your Prophet. Then the infidels threw arrows at them till they martyred ‘Asim along with six other men, and three men came down accepting their promise and convention, and they were Khubaib-al-Ansari and Ibn Dathina and another man So, when the infidels captured them, they undid the strings of their bows and tied them. Then the third (of the captives) said, “This is the first betrayal. By Allah! I will not go with you. No doubt these, namely the martyred, have set a good example to us.” So, they dragged him and tried to compel him to accompany them, but as he refused, they killed him. They took Khubaib and Ibn Dathina with them and sold them (as slaves) in Mecca (and all that took place) after the battle of Badr. Khubaib was bought by the sons of Al-Harith bin ‘Amir bin Naufal bin ‘Abd Manaf. It was Khubaib who had killed Al-Harith bin ‘Amir on the day (of the battle of) Badr. So, Khubaib remained a prisoner with those people. Narrated Az-Zuhri: ‘Ubaidullah bin ‘Iyyad said that the daughter of Al-Harith had told him, “When those people gathered (to kill Khubaib) he borrowed a razor from me to shave his pubes and I gave it to him. Then he took a son of mine while I was unaware when he came upon him. I saw him placing my son on his thigh and the razor was in his hand. I got scared so much that Khubaib noticed the agitation on my face and said, ‘Are you afraid that I will kill him? No, I will never do so.’ By Allah, I never saw a prisoner better than Khubaib. By Allah, one day I saw him eating of a bunch of grapes in his hand while he was chained in irons, and there was no fruit at that time in Mecca.” The daughter of Al-Harith used to say, “It was a boon Allah bestowed upon Khubaib.” When they took him out of the Sanctuary (of Mecca) to kill him outside its boundaries, Khubaib requested them to let him offer two Rakat (prayer). They allowed him and he offered Two Rakat and then said, “Hadn’t I been afraid that you would think that I was afraid (of being killed), I would have prolonged the prayer. O Allah, kill them all with no exception.” (He then recited the poetic verse):– “I being martyred as a Muslim, Do not mind how I am killed in Allah’s Cause, For my killing is for Allah’s Sake, And if Allah wishes, He will bless the amputated parts of a torn body” Then the son of Al Harith killed him. So, it was Khubaib who set the tradition for any Muslim sentenced to death in captivity, to offer a two-Rak’at prayer (before being killed). Allah fulfilled the invocation of Asim bin Thabit on that very day on which he was martyred. The Prophet informed his companions of their news and what had happened to them. Later on when some infidels from Quraish were informed that Asim had been killed, they sent some people to fetch a part of his body (i.e. his head) by which he would be recognized. (That was because) ‘Asim had killed one of their chiefs on the day (of the battle) of Badr. So, a swarm of wasps, resembling a shady cloud, were sent to hover over Asim and protect him from their messenger and thus they could not cut off anything from his flesh.
Isn’t it a beautiful end to a beautiful story? Here are the original verses of Khubaib’s (radiallaahu `anhu) poetry that he said before being martyred:
“I being martyred as a Muslim, Do not mind how I am killed in Allah’s Cause, For my killing is for Allah’s Sake, And if Allah wishes, He will bless the amputated parts of a torn body.”
Importance of First Aid (Hadith No. 2530)
Bismillah.
Volume 4, Book 52, Number 135 :
Narrated by Abu Musa (radiallaahu `anhu)
Abu ‘Amir (radiallaahu `anhu) was hit with an arrow in his knee, so I went to him and he asked me to remove the arrow. When I removed it, the water started dribbling from it. Then I went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and told him about it. He said, “O Allah! Forgive ‘Ubaid Abu ‘Amir.”
Concept of the Human Body & Human Rights in Islam
Islam invokes respect for the body as a gift from Allah; a Muslim does not assume absolute “ownership” of his or her body, but only cares for it as a precious gift while he/she lives until it is returned to its Creator upon death. Muslims are required to take good care of their health and that of other Muslims as much as humanly possible. They’re also required to respect nature, the environment, and the physical well being of all living things, including humans of other faiths. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed to Muslims that they will be asked in front of Allah on Judgment Day about how they used the gift of healthy bodies in life. Contrary to some other faiths, a Muslim is prohibited from terminating his own life, is not allowed to abuse or destroy his body, nor is he required to humiliate it to achieve excellence in worship or closeness to the Creator. The Qur’an says what means:
*{And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to [your] destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.}* (Al-Baqarah 2:195)
Islam teaches that every living being has an equal right to life-sustaining elements, and humans get the greatest share of respect as the deputies of Allah on earth. Muslims are instructed to study the functions of their own bodies in order to appreciate Allah’s magnificence and to be able to save precious lives. The Qur’an says what means:
*{As also in your own selves: will ye not then see?}* (Adh-Dhariyat 51:21)
For example, in the Qur’an, Allah speaks about the stages of man’s embryonic development to invoke curiosity for learning among Muslims. The Qur’an says what means:
*{We created Man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into a `alaqah [leech, suspended thing, or blood clot], then We made the `alaqah into a mudghah [chewed substance]…}* (Al-Mu’minun 23:12-14)
According to these rules, seeking medical help to “repair” affected or impaired physical functions becomes a priority for a good Muslim to maintain a body healthy enough to fulfill his Islamic duties on earth.
Islam, a Religion of Healing
Islam is a religion of healing for humans on all levels of their being: mind, body, and soul. Seeking medical help is advised in many prophetic traditions asserting that “there is a remedy for every malady and it’s excellent to get treatment.” (Narrated by Muslim.)
In addition to seeking medical assistance from a professional to cure the body on emergencies or chronic cases, Islam offers the sick and the ailing cure for their souls and minds through an array of Qur’anic verses and supplications called ruqyah. A Muslim believes that Allah is the Creator of everything in the universe, including germs, illness, accidents, natural disasters, etc. So, after seeking medical assistance, Muslims are instructed to turn to Allah to seek complete and comprehensive healing for the marvelous miracle that is the human body.
The healing philosophy is taken a step further as Islam looks at the Muslim nation as one healthy human body; if one member is sick, the rest of the body suffers, as Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) teaches in his tradition. Consequently, Muslims worldwide are supposed to offer assistance, first aid, and life sustenance to their Muslim brethren in other lands affected with natural disasters or epidemics—thus the creation of international organizations such as Islamic Relief and the Red Crescent.
Islamic Ethical System Refines Arabs’ First Aid Skills
Before Islam, Arabs lived in a very rough environment. Desert life resulted in an array of accidents and injuries that required all levels of medical skills to treat, whether those injuries were from domestic chores, child rearing, work, travel, hunting, war, or contracted diseases and infections. Cuts, burns, bruises, bone fractures, dehydration, sunstrokes, animal and insect bites, wounds and infections were all common problems for the native Arabs, who had a wide knowledge of the healing properties of animal extracts, medical plants, and various first aid materials suitable for each case.
As Islam spread, a comprehensive ethical system was introduced into all aspects of the daily lives of its followers, capitalizing on existent skills while refining them into a model example for civilized social systems. The Qur’an elaborates on being kind and humane to others, even to prisoners, captives, and enemies during wars. The Qur’an says what means:
*{If one amongst the pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge.}* (At-Tawbah 9: 6)
Respect was granted to all, even to dead bodies, which were recommended for prompt burial out of protection and respect. Torture, mutilation, dismembering of dead bodies, or any kind of physical humiliation was prohibited. Even hitting the face in fury was prohibited, even between parent and child, to prevent humiliation, which is not suitable for a dignified Muslim.
Even during wars, medical help and first aid was systematically offered to everyone in equal measure, Muslim soldiers as well as prisoners of war. Muslim women volunteered as nurses at war, and Rufaida, the first female doctor in Islam was personally appointed by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). She was given a spacious tent to serve as a makeshift battleground hospital. As a result, many captives embraced Islam after sampling superior humane treatment from their Muslim captors.
Many may not know that the modern international laws of the UN in use today for treating prisoners of war (POWs) were based on the impeccable conduct of the great Muslim conqueror Salah Ad-Din (Saladin) and his armies, who fought to liberate occupied Muslim lands in the Middle East in the Middle Ages.
Islam also takes into consideration the special conditions of the Muslim sick and wounded when performing acts of worship. They’re given the benefit of special rulings in Islamic fiqh (jurisdiction) to allow for their weakness. Other Muslims are expected to assist them and support them whenever possible. For example, senior citizens and severely ill Muslims can perform their five daily prayers sitting instead of standing, or even lying down in their beds if they can’t get up. Proper food, healthy living conditions, and tender loving care are detailed in many Qur’anic verses and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Muslim ethics and medical knowledge were spread through many other ways besides wars. Travel was required to perform Hajj and to fulfill the duty of da`wah (spreading the word of Allah) to all corners of the earth; thus, all Muslims, both men and women, found it necessary to learn some level of first aid in order to offer life-saving help whenever needed. Men and women excelled in medical practice and could treat each other in emergencies. Even the great Caliph `Umar ibn Al-Khattab on his nightly rounds personally offered first aid to poor people on various occasions—without revealing his identity so as not to intimidate them.
Consequently, Muslims were sought after as skilled first aid and medical experts when they traveled across the world. People came to them for advice and information. Many such stories are recorded in history and travel books in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In a few decades from the dawn of Islam, Muslims built the firm foundations of the science of modern medicine, anatomy, and surgery. The work of the great Muslim scientist Ibn Sina (Avicenna) is still taught at top international universities to this present day.
Taken from OnIslam.Net
The Virtue of Justice (Hadith No. 2368)
Bismillah.
Hadith no. 2367 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.
Volume 3, Book 49, Number 869 :
Narrated by Abdullah bin Kab bin Malik from Kab bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
Abdullah bin Abu Hadrad Al-Aslami owed Kab bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu) some money. One day the latter met the former and demanded his right, and their voices grew very loud. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) passed by them and said, “O Ka’b,” beckoning with his hand as if intending to say, “Deduct half the debts.” So, Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu) took half what the other owed him and remitted the other half.
Today’s Hadith:
Volume 3, Book 49, Number 870 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “There is a Sadaqa to be given for every joint of the human body; and for every day on which the sun rises there is a reward of a Sadaqa (i.e. charitable gift) for the one who establishes justice among people.”
The daily sadaqah due on human body is like an act of gratitude. Something we do to show thankfulness to Allah for our health and physical wellness etc. One can do so by doing acts of worship like prayer, charity and fasting etc., because what is worship if not gratitude?
In a normal give-and-take deal, the matter would end with us completing our side of the bargain: You give me something, I pay back, the end. But when it comes to dealing with Allah, it’s not like this at all. He gives us blessings (of health, wealth, family etc.), we show gratefulness (and so little of it!) by praying, fasting, giving in charity etc. And it doesn’t end there, He rewards us for our worship and gratitude. But we don’t do anything for Him in return. You see, with Allah, we always have the lower hand. We’re always taking something, benefiting, while He keeps giving and giving without measure. You’ve got to be utterly stupid to complain!
Establishing justice among people is not for qualified judges only. Everyone can do it in their own capacity. If you’re a parent, treat your children fairly; teacher, no favoritism; leader, solve matters honestly, and so on. Any decision you take regarding your attitude towards people has an element of justice in it. If you do it right, you’re rewarded. Is Allah not generous?
Ihraam – Shower? (Hadith No. 1561)
Bismillah.
Hadith no. 1560 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu):
A man was crushed to death by his she-camel and was brought to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who said, “Give him a bath and shroud him, but do not cover his head, and do not bring any perfume near to him, as he will be resurrected reciting Talbiya.”
Today’s Hadith:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Hunain:
Abdullah bin Al-Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) and Al-Miswar bin Makhrama (radiallaahu `anhu) differed at Al-Abwa’; Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) said that a Muhrim could wash his head; while Al-Miswar (radiallaahu `anhu) maintained that he should not do so. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) sent me to Abu Aiyub Al-Ansari (radiallaahu `anhu) and I found him bathing between the two wooden posts (of the well) and was screened with a sheet of cloth. I greeted him and he asked who I was. I replied, “I am ‘Abdullah bin Hunain and I have been sent to you by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) to ask you how Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) used to wash his head while in the state of lhram.” Abu Aiyub Al-Ansari (radiallaahu `anhu) caught hold of the sheet of cloth and lowered it till his head appeared before me, and then told somebody to pour water on his head. He poured water on his head, and he (Abu Aiyub) rubbed his head with his hands by bringing them from back to front and from front to back and said, “I saw the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) doing like this.”
Hence proven, that a Muhrim may take a shower and wash his hair as well.
It is permissible for the Muslim to wash his entire body in order to cool down if it is hot. This will give him more energy in order to perform this act of worship. He should take care when washing so that nothing falls from his hair or skin.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas, Fataawa al-Lajnah, 11/184
P.S. it’s interesting to know the way Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) used to wash his hair – moving his hands front to back and then back to front. Unknown Sunnah, eh?
Punishment of the Grave II (Ahadith 1153 – 1161)
Bismillah.
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 454:
Narrated Masruq:
‘Aisha said that a Jewess came to her and mentioned the punishment in the grave, saying to her, “May Allah protect you from the punishment of the grave.” ‘Aisha then asked Allah’s Apostle about the punishment of the grave. He said, “Yes, (there is) punishment in the grave.” ‘Aisha added, “After that I never saw Allah’s Apostle but seeking refuge with Allah from the punishment in the grave in every prayer he prayed.”
Already covered here.
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 455:
Narrated Asma’ bint Abi Bakr :
Allah’s Apostle once stood up delivering a sermon and mentioned the trial which people will face in the grave. When he mentioned that, the Muslims started shouting [crying] loudly.
Must have been some sermon!
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 456:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah’s Apostle said, “When (Allah’s) slave is put in his grave and his companions return and he even hears their footsteps, two angels come to him and make him sit and ask, ‘What did you use to say about this man (i.e. Muhammad)?’ The faithful Believer will say, ‘I testify that he is Allah’s slave and His Apostle.’ Then they will say to him, ‘Look at your place in the Hell Fire; Allah has given you a place in Paradise instead of it.’ So he will see both his places.” (Qatada said, “We were informed that his grave would be made spacious.” Then Qatada went back to the narration of Anas who said;) Whereas a hypocrite or a non-believer will be asked, “What did you use to say about this man.” He will reply, “I do not know; but I used to say what the people used to say.” So they will say to him, “Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Quran).” Then he will be hit with iron hammers once, that he will send such a cry as everything near to him will hear, except Jinns and human beings.
Already covered here.
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 457:
Narrated Abi Aiyub:
Once the Prophet went out after sunset and heard a dreadful voice, and said, “The Jews are being punished in their graves.”
Prophet (SAW) was made to hear that voice. Generally humans are incapable of hearing the dead [while they cry out in pain due to punishment]. Refer to the last Hadith on this post.
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 458:
Narrated Musa bin ‘Uqba:
(From the daughter of Khalid bin Sa id bin Al-‘Asi) who said that she had heard the Prophet seeking refuge with Allah from the punishment in the grave.
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 459:
Narrated Abu Huraira :
Allah’s Apostle used to invoke (Allah): “Allahumma ini a’udhu bika min ‘adhabi-l-Qabr, wa min ‘adhabi-nnar, wa min fitnati-l-mahya wa-lmamat, wa min fitnati-l-masih ad-dajjal. (O Allah! I seek refuge with you from the punishment in the grave and from the punishment in the Hell fire and from the afflictions of life and death, and the afflictions of Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal.”
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 460:
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
The Prophet once passed by two graves and said, “They (the deceased persons in those graves) are being tortured not for a great thing to avoid.” And then added, “Yes, (they are being punished for a big sin), for one of them used to go about with calumnies while the other never saved himself from being soiled with his urine.” (Ibn Abbas added): Then he took a green leaf of a date-palm) and split it into two pieces and fixed one piece on each grave and said, “May their punishment be abated till these (two pieces) get dry.”
Already covered here.
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 461:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar :
Allah’s Apostle said, “When anyone of you dies, he is shown his place both in the morning and in the evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise; he is shown his place in it, and if he is from the people of the Hell-Fire; he is shown his place there-in. Then it is said to him, ‘This is your place till Allah resurrect you on the Day of Resurrection.”
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 462:
Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri :
Allah’s Apostle said, “When the funeral is ready (for its burial) and the people lift it on their shoulders, then if the deceased is a righteous person he says, ‘Take me ahead,’ and if he is not a righteous one then he says, ‘Woe to it (me)! Where are you taking it (me)?’ And his voice is audible to everything except human beings; and if they heard it they would fall down unconscious . “
May Allah make us from the people of Paradise. May we get to see our grand palaces in Jannah morning and evening in our grave. May we be the ones asking people to hurry up while burying us, so we can meet our Lord as soon as possible. May we be among the fortunate ones.
So if the dead get punished in their graves for the sins they committed, and they actually cry out in pain although human beings can’t hear them, is it the soul that’s being punished, or is the torture inflicted upon the body as well?
According to the most correct scholarly view, the torment of the grave befalls both the soul and the body.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“The view of the salaf (earliest generations) of this ummah and its imams is that the torment or blessing (of the grave) happens to the soul of the deceased and his body. After it departs from the body, the soul continues to be blessed or punished, and it is also connected to the body from time to time, so that the blessing or torment befalls the body as well as the soul.”
So we must believe in that which Allaah has told us.
(al-Ikhtiyaaraat al-Fiqhiyyah, p. 94)
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) was asked about this matter, and we will quote his reply in full:
“Indeed, the torment and blessing happen to both the soul and the body, according to the consensus of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah. The soul is blessed or tormented separately from the body, and it is blessed or tormented in connection with the body. The body is connected to it, so in this case the blessing or torment happens to them both, and it may happen to the soul separately from the body.
The view of the salaf and imams of this ummah is that when a person dies, he will be in a state of blessing or torment, and that happens to his soul and his body. After the soul has departed from the body, it remains in a state of blessing or torment, and that is sometimes connected to the body and the blessing or torment happens to them both. Then when the Day of Resurrection comes, the souls will be returned to their bodies and they will rise from their graves to meet the Lord of the Worlds. The physical resurrection is a matter upon which the Muslims, Jews and Christians are agreed.”
(al-Rooh, p. 51, 52)
The scholars likened that to dreams when one is asleep, for a person may dream that he is going and traveling, and he may feel happiness or grief and sorrow while he is sleeping, and that is when he is in his place and in this world. So it is more apt that things should be different in the life of al-barzakh which is completely different from the life of this world and the life of the Hereafter.
Al-Nawawi said:
“If it is said, we see the deceased and how he is in his grave, so how can he be questioned, made to sit up and beaten with iron rods, when no mark is left on him? The answer is that this is not impossible, and indeed there is a similar case in our regular lives, that of the sleeper who feels joy or pain of which we feel nothing. A person who is awake may also feel joy or pain because of something he hears or thinks about, and those who are sitting with him feel nothing of that. Similarly, Jibreel used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and tell him of the Wahy (Revelation), and the people present were unaware of it. All of that is clear and evident.”
(Sharh Muslim, 17/201)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
“When a person sleeps, he may feel joy or pain, and that happens to his soul and his body. He may dream that someone is beating him and wake up with pain in his body, or he may dream that he is being fed some good food, then wake up with the food in his mouth. This is something that really happens. If the body and soul of a sleeping person can experience joy and pain that are not felt by the person next to him, and a sleeper may even cry out because of the intensity of pain or fear of what is happening to him, and those who are awake can hear him, and he may speak, reciting Qur’aan or dhikr, or talking to someone, and those who are awake can hear that, even though he is asleep with his eyes closed, and he does not hear them if they speak to him – then how can we deny that the one who is buried in his grave also feels things, when the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has told us that he “hears the sound of their footsteps” and “You do not hear what I say any better than they do”?
The heart is akin to the grave, hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, when he missed ‘Asr on the day of al-Khandaq: “May Allaah fill their hearts and graves with fire.” And Allaah differentiated between them (graves and hearts) in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“Knows he not that when the contents of the graves are poured forth (all mankind is resurrected)?
And that which is in the hearts (of men) shall be made known?”
[al-‘Aadiyaat 100:9-10]
This is just to explain that this could happen.
We cannot say that the blessing or torment that the dead experience is like that which a sleeper experiences when he dreams, rather that blessing or torment is more complete and more far-reaching; it is a real blessing and a real torment. But this example is given to show that this is possible. If someone were to say that the dead person does not move in his grave, and the soil does not change, and so on, this matter may be explained in more detail, but that would take too long to explain here. And Allaah knows best. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.(Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 4/275, 276)
And Allaah knows best.
[IslamQA]
Wassalam.
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