Know Your Enemy IV (Ahadith 2899 – 2906)

Bismillah.

Chapter: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 500 :
Narrated by Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When night falls, keep your children close to you, for the devils spread out then. An hour later you can let them free; and close the gates of your house (at night), and mention Allah’s Name thereupon, and cover your utensils, and mention Allah’s Name thereupon, (and if you don’t have something to cover your utensil) you may put across it something (e.g. a piece of wood etc.).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 501 :
Narrated by Safiya bint Huyay (radiallaahu `anhaa)
While Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was in Itikaf, I called on him at night and having had a talk with him, I got up to depart. He got up also to accompany me to my dwelling place, which was then in the house of Usama bin Zaid. Two Ansari men passed by, and when they saw the Prophet they hastened away. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (to them). “Don’t hurry! It is Safiya, the daughter of Huyay (i.e. my wife).” They said, “Glorified be Allah! O Allah’s Apostle! (How dare we suspect you?)” He said, “Satan circulates in the human mind as blood circulates in it, and I was afraid that Satan might throw an evil thought (or something) into your hearts.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 502 :
Narrated by Sulaiman bin Surd (radiallaahu `anhu)
While I was sitting in the company of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), two men abused each other and the face of one of them became red with anger, and his jugular veins swelled (i.e. he became furious). On that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I know a word, the saying of which will cause him to relax, if he does say it. If he says: ‘I seek Refuge with Allah from Satan.’ then all is anger will go away.” Some body said to him, “The Prophet has said, ‘Seek refuge with Allah from Satan.”‘ The angry man said, “Am I mad?”

Anger Management

There are means of soothing anger if it arises, which will enable the one who does them to cure himself of anger and its effects. Al-Maawirdi mentioned a good number of them when he said: 

“Remember that there are means of soothing anger if it arises, which a person may use to help himself become patient. These include:

1 – Remembering Allaah, which should make him fear Him; this fear will motivate him to obey Him, so he will resume his good manners, at which point his anger will fade. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And remember your Lord when you forget”

[al-Kahf 18:24]

‘Ikrimah said: i.e., when you get angry. And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytaan (Satan), then seek refuge with Allaah”

[al-A’raaf 7:200]

i.e., if the Shaytaan makes you angry – then seek refuge with Allaah, for He is the All-Hearer, All-Knower – i.e., He hears the ignorance of the ignorant and He knows the things that take anger away from you.

One of the wise men said: Whoever remembers the power of Allaah will not use his own power to wrong the slaves of Allaah. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Muslim ibn Muhaarib said to Haroon al-Rasheed: “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, I ask You by the One before Whom you are more insignificant than I am before you, and by the One Who has more power to punish you than you have to punish me: why don’t you let me off?” So he left him off, because he had reminded him of the power and might of Allaah.

2 – He should get out of the situation he is in, so that his anger will dissipate because of his moving away from that situation. 

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to us: “If one of you gets angry when he is standing, let him sit down, and if that does not take away his anger, then let him lie down.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4782; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

3 – He should remember what anger leads to of regret and the need to apologize.

One of the literary figures said: Beware of the pride of anger, for it leads to the humiliation of apology.

4 – He should remember the reward for forgiving others and of being tolerant, so he should force himself to overcome his anger, seeking that reward and so as to avoid deserving blame and punishment.

Raja’ ibn Haywah said to ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwaan, when he had the power to capture some of his enemies: “Allaah has given you the victory that you wanted, so give Allaah what He wants of forgiveness.” A man said something that ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez disliked to hear, so ‘Umar said: “You wanted the Shaytaan to provoke me because of my position so that I would be harsh with you and in return you would harm me tomorrow (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection). Go away, may Allaah have mercy on you.”

5 – He should remind himself of the way that people like and respect him, and he should not risk losing that because of his anger, so that people change their minds about him. He should know that by forgiving people he will only increase the respect with which they view him.

As the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Allaah will not increase a person who forgives others except in honour.” Narrated by Muslim, 2588.

And one of the poets said:

“It is not a trait of nobility to be swift in seeking revenge.

And generosity does not lead to a loss of blessings.”

Taken from Adab al-Dunya wa’l-Deen, p. 258-260.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 503 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If anyone of you, on having sexual relation with his wife, says: ‘O Allah! Protect me from Satan, and prevent Satan from approaching the offspring you are going to give me,’ and if it happens that the lady conceives a child, Satan will neither harm it nor be given power over it.”

 

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 504 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) offered a prayer, and (after finishing) he said, “Satan came in front of me trying persistently to divert my attention from the prayer, but Allah gave me the strength to over-power him.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 505 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When the call for the prayer is pronounced, Satan takes to his heels, passing wind with noise, When the call for the prayer is finished, he comes back. And when the Iqama is pronounced, he again takes to his heels, and after its completion, he returns again to interfere between the (praying) person and his heart, saying to him. ‘Remember this or that thing.’ till the person forgets whether he has offered three or four Rakat: so if one forgets whether he has prayed three or four Rak’a-t, he should perform two prostrations of Sahu (i.e. forgetfulness).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 506 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When any human being is born. Satan touches him at both sides of the body with his two fingers, except Jesus, the son of Mary, whom Satan tried to touch but failed, for he touched the placenta-cover instead.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 507 :
Narrated by Alqama
I went to Sham (and asked. “Who is here?”), The people said, “Abu Ad-Darda.” Abu Darda said, “Is the person whom Allah has protected against Satan, (as Allah’s Apostle said) amongst you”. The sub-narrator, Mughira said that the person who was given Allah’s Refuge through the tongue of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was ‘Ammar (bin Yasir).

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Know Your Enemy (Ahadith 2888 – 2891)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 489 :
Narrated by Abu Wail
Somebody said to Usama (radiallaahu `anhu), “Will you go to so-and-so (i.e. ‘Uthman) and talk to him (i.e. advise him regarding ruling the country)?” He said, “You see that I don’t talk to him. Really I talk to (advise) him secretly without opening a gate (of affliction), for neither do I want to be the first to open it (i.e. rebellion), nor will I say to a man who is my ruler that he is the best of all the people after I have heard something from Allah s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).” They said, What have you heard him saying? He said, “I have heard him saying, “A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown in the (Hell) Fire, so that his intestines will come out, and he will go around like a donkey goes around a millstone. The people of (Hell) Fire will gather around him and say: O so-and-so! What is wrong with you? Didn’t you use to order us to do good deeds and forbid us to do bad deeds? He will reply: Yes, I used to order you to do good deeds, but I did not do them myself, and I used to forbid you to do bad deeds, yet I used to do them myself.”

Chapter: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 490 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
Magic was worked on the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) so that he began to fancy that he was doing a thing which he was not actually doing. One day he invoked (Allah) for a long period and then said, “I feel that Allah has inspired me as how to cure myself. Two persons came to me (in my dream) and sat, one by my head and the other by my feet. One of them asked the other, “What is the ailment of this man?” The other replied, ‘He has been bewitched” The first asked, ‘Who has bewitched him?’ The other replied, ‘Lubaid bin Al-A’sam.’ The first one asked, ‘What material has he used?’ The other replied, ‘A comb, the hair gathered on it, and the outer skin of the pollen of the male date-palm.’ The first asked, ‘Where is that?’ The other replied, ‘It is in the well of Dharwan.’ ” So, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) went out towards the well and then returned and said to me on his return, “Its date-palms (the date-palms near the well) are like the heads of the devils.” I asked, “Did you take out those things with which the magic was worked?” He said, “No, for I have been cured by Allah and I am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the people.” Later on the well was filled up with earth.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 491 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, ‘The night is, long, so keep on sleeping’. If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone, and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone, and when he prays, all the knots are undone, and he gets up in the morning lively and gay, otherwise he gets up dull and gloomy. “

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 492 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
It was mentioned before the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) that there was a man who slept the night till morning (after sunrise). The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “He is a man in whose ears (or ear) Satan had urinated.”

Your enemy is out to get you. He has numberless armies at his disposal that watch your every move without being seen. They don’t get tired for a moment yet you sleep for hours unaware of yourself and your surroundings. Are you well-protected? Are you prepared to put up a fight and show your enemy who’s boss? Your strongest weapon is dhikr of Allah. It’ll protect you from all kinds of evils and troubles.

In the hadeeth (narration) it says that Allaah commanded Yahya (peace be upon him) to enjoin five things upon the Children of Israel, one of which was: “I command you to remember Allaah, for this is like a man who is being pursued by the enemy, then he comes to a strong fortress and saves himself from them. Similarly a man cannot save himself from his enemy except by means of dhikr.”
Narrated by al-Haafiz Abu Moosa al-Madani in al-Targheeb fi’l-Khisaal al-Hameedah wa’l-Tarheeb min al-Khilaal al-Murdiyyah.

Two Things that Fled from Ibn `Umar [RA] (Ahadith 2699 – 2700)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2698 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 301 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) performed ‘Umra, setting out from Al-Jarana where he distributed the war booty of Hunain.

Today’s Ahadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 302 :
Narrated by Nafi
Once a slave of Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) fled and joined the Byzantine. Khalid bin Al-Walid (radiallaahu `anhu) got him back and returned him to ‘Abdullah (bin ‘Umar) (radiallaahu `anhu). Once a horse of Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) also ran away and followed the Byzantines, and he (i.e. Khalid) got it back and returned it to ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu).

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 303 :
Narrated by Ibn Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
That he was riding a horse on the day, the Muslims fought (against the Byzantines), and the commander of the Muslim army was Khalid bin Al-Walid (radiallaahu `anhu) who had been appointed by Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu). The enemy took the horse away, and when the enemy was defeated, Khalid (radiallaahu `anhu) returned the horse to him.

If a Muslim’s property is captured by non-Muslims and is returned as war booty to the Muslims, does the original owner have more right on it or the fighters? Scholars have disputed in this matter, but it looks like Imam Bukhari takes evidence in these ahadith from the fact that Khalid bin Waleed (radiallaahu `anhu) returned Ibn `Umar’s (radiallaahu `anhu) slave and horse to him without any hesitation. All the major sahaabah were present at that time, including Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu). It’s highly unlikely of them to not speak up against a wrongdoing when they see it.

P.S. isn’t it funny how the slave that fled and the horse that was captured both belonged to Ibn `Umar (radiallaahu `anhu). Coincidence?

Read more on the ruling on war booty.

Pardon for Robbery (Hadith No. 2675)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2674 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 277 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was the (most handsome), most generous and the bravest of all the people. Once the people of Medina got frightened having heard an uproar at night. So, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) met the people while he was riding an unsaddled horse belonging to Abu Talha and carrying his sword (slung over his shoulder). He said (to them), “Don’t get scared, don’t get scared.” Then he added, “I found it (i.e the horse) very fast.”

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 278 :
Narrated by Salama (radiallaahu `anhu)
I went out of Medina towards Al-Ghaba. When I reached the mountain path of Al-Ghaba, a slave of ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf (radiallaahu `anhu), met me. I said to him, “Woe to you! What brought you here?” He replied, “The she-camels of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) have been taken away.” I said, “Who took them?” He said, “Ghatafan and Fazara.” So, I sent three cries, “O Sabaha-h ! O Sabahah !” so loudly that made the people in between its (i.e. Medina’s) two mountains hear me. Then I rushed till I met them after they had taken the camels away. I started throwing arrows at them saying, “I am the son of Al-Akwa’; and today perish the mean people!” So, I saved the she-camels from them before they (i.e. the robbers) could drink water. When I returned driving the camels, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) met me, I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Those people are thirsty and I have prevented them from drinking water, so send some people to chase them.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “O son of Al-Akwa’, you have gained power (over your enemy), so forgive (them). (Besides) those people are now being entertained by their folk.”

Forgiving someone when you have power over them is one of the hardest things to do, I suppose. If a ‘big guy’ took your lunch money in school, you probably had to let it go because standing up to him would mean more bullying. But if the same crime were committed by a weak little person, would you have done the same thing considering you could smash his entire being into the wall? I don’t know why there’s so much violence in my example today. :/ :P

The robber will get the punishment he deserves, in this life or the next, but your reward for forgiving him after overpowering him will be much greater than the satisfaction of seeing him get punished for his crime. Allah knows. :)

Fear in the Hearts of Enemies (Ahadith 2616 – 2617)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with terror (cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand.” Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) added: Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet did not benefit by them).

This is what ru`b (fear/terror/anxiety) refers to.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 221 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Abu Sufyan said, “Heraclius sent for me when I was in ‘llya’ (i.e. Jerusalem). Then he asked for the letter of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and when he had finished its reading there was a great hue and cry around him and the voices grew louder and we were asked to quit the place. When we were turned out, I said to my companions, ‘The cause of Ibn Abi Kabsha has become conspicuous as the King of Bani Al-Asfar is afraid of him.’ “

It’s really interesting how Imam Bukhari brings these two narrations under the same heading: “I have been made victorious by awe (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month’s journey”. I say this because Ibn Hajr says in his commentary that the scholars have said that the distance between Madinah and the neighboring kingdoms/empires wasn’t more than a month’s journey. See how Heraclius gets afraid after reading Prophet’s (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) letter.. this was the Divine help that the above hadith mentions.