The Knowledge and Wisdom of Ibn Mas`ud [radiallaahu `anhu] (Hadith No. 2604)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 209 :
Narrated by Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
Today a man came to me and asked me a question which I did not know how to answer. He said, “Tell me, if a wealthy active man, well-equipped with arms, goes out on military expeditions with our chiefs, and orders us to do such things as we cannot do (should we obey him?)” I replied, “By Allah, I do not know what to reply you, except that we were in the company of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and he used to order us to do a thing once only till we finished it. And no doubt, everyone among you will remain in a good state as long as he obeys Allah. If one is in doubt as to the legality of something, he should ask somebody who would satisfy him, but soon will come a time when you will not find such a man. By Him, except Whom none has the right to be worshipped, I see that the example of what has passed of this life (to what remains thereof) is like a pond whose fresh water has been used up and nothing remains but muddy water.”

The narrator of this hadith, Abdullah, is none other than the famous Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (radiallaahu `anhu), about whom `Allaamah adh-Dhahabi writes:

“‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (ra), the learned leader (al-imam al-rabbani), Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman ‘Abdullah Ibn Ummi ‘Abd al-Hudhali; Companion and personal servant of the Messenger (saw); among the first to embrace Islam; among the veterans of the battle of Badr; among the expert jurists and teachers of the Qur’an; among those who strove to convey (the words of the Messenger – saw) very accurately; extremely scrupulous in (his) narrations; and one who would admonish his students upon their negligence in recording the exact words (of the Messenger – saw)…(Due to extreme caution) he would narrate very little (himself)… His students would not give preference to any Companion over him…. Surely he was from among the leading Companions, the bearers of sacred knowledge, and the exemplars (a’imma) of guidance.” (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz 1:13-16)

Hudhayfa (radiallaahu `anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said:

“Whatever ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (radiallaahu `anhu) narrates to you, accept it.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)

Going back to the hadith, his reply to the questioner is basically in affirmative when he says that we used to do whatever the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to us. And that you would prosper as long as you obey Allah (by obeying the leader). Now we know from yesterday’s post that one must obey the appointed ruler as much as he can and as long as he doesn’t order you to do acts of kufr (disbelief) etc. Ibn Mas`ud (radiallaahu `anhu) did not say yes explicitly to not make it hard for the person to follow his fatwa. So he said when such things happen (I’m supposing this was a hypothetical question), ask someone who can satisfy you – meaning a scholar, who will be rare to find. And his parable of the life already lived as compared to the remaining portion adds weight to his point in my opinion – that the days are only getting worse. So it will definitely happen that rulers will ask of subjects what they cannot do resulting in disobedience of the subjects.

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The Good from Satan (Hadith No. 2002)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 38, Number 505 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) deputed me to keep Sadaqat (al-Fitr) of Ramadan. A comer came and started taking handfuls of the foodstuff (of the Sadaqa) (stealthily). I took hold of him and said, “By Allah, I will take you to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).” He said, “I am needy and have many dependents, and I am in great need.” I released him, and in the morning Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked me, “What did your prisoner do yesterday?” I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! The person complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so, I pitied him and let him go.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Indeed, he told you a lie and he will be coming again.” I believed that he would show up again as Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had told me that he would return. So, I waited for him watchfully. When he (showed up and) started stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold of him again and said, “I will definitely take you to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). He said, “Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependents. I promise I will not come back again.” I pitied him and let him go. In the morning Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked me, “What did your prisoner do.” I replied, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! He complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free.” Allah’s Apostle said, “Verily, he told you a lie and he will return.” I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he (came and) started stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said, “I will surely take you to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) as it is the third time you promise not to return, yet you break your promise and come.” He said, “(Forgive me and) I will teach you some words with which Allah will benefit you.” I asked, “What are they?” He replied, “Whenever you go to bed, recite “Ayat-al-Kursi”– ‘Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-l-Haiy-ul Qaiyum’ till you finish the whole verse. (If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no satan will come near you till morning. ” So, I released him. In the morning, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked, “What did your prisoner do yesterday?” I replied, “He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will benefit me, so I let him go.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked, “What are they?” I replied, “He said to me, ‘Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi from the beginning to the end —- Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-lHaiy-ul-Qaiyum—-.’ He further said to me, ‘(If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no satan will come near you till morning.’ (Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) or another sub-narrator) added that they (the companions) were very keen to do good deeds. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “He really spoke the truth, although he is an absolute liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three nights, O Abu Huraira?” Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “No.” He said, “It was Satan.”

I sometimes wonder what Abu Hurairah’s (radiallaahu `anhu) reaction to this information would’ve been.. Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) telling him he was interacting with Shaytan (Satan) for the past three nights. Would he have been surprised, amused, scared..? Definitely not scared, I presume. Satan was the one scared. So scared he taught him something that would benefit him too much against Satan himself. Now, isn’t that amusing? Lol.

This hadith teaches us many things, some of which I’ll mention here:

• We, the believers, are not “rejectors” of the truth, or khayr (good). We accept it from wherever we get it, even from the worst of people. Because the criterion for something to be good or bad is not based on its carrier/messenger but on the thing itself. If it’s a piece of information, we check its authenticity to decide whether we’re going to accept it or not. As in this case, Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu `anhu) confirms what he had heard with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) to make sure what he had been told was right or not. It didn’t matter to him whether the teller was a thief, or worse, Satan himself!
• We are keen to do good deeds and to learn more. Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu `anhu) let the thief go when he offered to teach him something. Isn’t that fair trade?
• We say Ayat ul Kursi before going to sleep so Allah’s appointed guard doesn’t let Satan even come near us, let alone harm us or give us nightmares. It’s for our protection, and we’re smart enough to make a habit out of it.
• We are honest with our jobs. If we’re on night duty, we’re wide awake and alert. And if we’re put in charge of food/money, we do what we can to protect it from being stolen, or worse, stealing it ourselves.
• We believe the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and every word he said. He predicted (given knowledge of it by Allah, of course) that the thief would come again, and Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu `anhu) believed it to be true. That made him be even more cautious and alert during his night vigil.

Can you think of some more lessons from this hadith? Do share! Were it not for sharing, we wouldn’t be reading this hadith today. :)

Does Work Keep You Busy? (Hadith No. 1772)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 34, Number 277:

Narrated ‘Ubai bin ‘Umar:

Abu Musa (radiallaahu `anhu) asked Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) to admit him but he was not admitted as ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) was busy, so Abu Musa (radiallaahu `anhu) went back. When ‘Umar finished his job he said, “Didn’t I hear the voice of ‘Abdullah bin Qais (radiallaahu `anhu)? Let him come in.” ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) was told that he had left. So, he sent for him and on his arrival, he (Abu Musa) said, “We were ordered to do so (i.e. to leave if not admitted after asking permission thrice). ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) told him, “Bring witness in proof of your statement.” Abu Musa (radiallaahu `anhu) went to the Ansar’s meeting places and asked them. They said, “None amongst us will give this witness except the youngest of us, Abu Said Al-Khudri (radiallaahu `anhu). Abu Musa then took Abu Said Al-Khudri (radiallaahu `anhu) (to ‘Umar) and ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) said, surprisingly, “Has this order of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) been hidden from me?” (Then he added), “I used to be busy trading in markets.”

Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) admitted that he was unaware of that statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) because his trade used to keep him busy. He didn’t have enough time to spend in the company of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and increase his knowledge like some other Companions did, for example Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu).

Isn’t this the case with many of us today? Something or the other keeps us away from increasing our knowledge about Islam, be it studies, work or whatever else. While it’s not wrong to be busy with this stuff, one must try their level best to take out time for Deen as well. Depending on your situation and circumstances, you MUST be involved in some sort of Islamic classes or courses. If weekdays are busy, join weekend classes. If commuting is an issue, study online. There are a lot of options nowadays and you know you don’t have an excuse to not study Islam anymore. Take action now. Yes, Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) didn’t have as much knowledge of the Hadith as Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) so to speak, but he didn’t become the second caliph for no reason. Get it?

The Travel of One Companion to Egypt to Obtain One Hadeeth

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

السلام علیکم ورحمتہ اللہ و برکاتہ

A man travelled to Egypt just for one Hadeeth and he did not stop his jorney to settle down, until he returned back to his home. (The Hadeeth was);

Whoever concealed (the fault of) his brother in this world, Allaah will conceal his faults on the Day of Judgement.

[Taken from the Book Of Knowledge By Imaam Abu Khaithama]

While reading this I was thinking that Wallaah! This was the true passion of those righteous people (May Allaah Be Pleased With Them). The passion of seeking the Noble Knowledge (العلم), their love for Islaam and because of this love they strive hard, covered the distance of miles in search for one Hadeeth or Tafseer of one Ayaah or a talk of wisdom.

Just think for a minute that though today we have the resources, we have access, just with one click (tuk tuk) we can search, read, learn etc. But still.. Why?? What we are lacking?? Why are we not at that level??

(افلا تتفکرون) Do tadabbur and tafakkur and Inshaa’Allaah you’ll get the answer.

 

May Allaah Subhanahu wa ta`alaa increase and strengthen our Imaan. Aameen.

السلام علیکم

Keys of the Unseen (Hadith No. 848)

Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Last post from Kitaab-ul-Istisqaa’ [Book of Invoking Allah for Rain]

Volume 2, Book 17, Number 848:

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:

Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, “Keys of the unseen knowledge are five which nobody knows but Allah… nobody knows what will happen tomorrow; nobody knows what is in the womb; nobody knows what he will gain tomorrow; nobody knows at what place he will die; and nobody knows when it will rain.”

Allah says in the Qur’an:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

Verily Allah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things).

[Luqman: 34]

The Hour = Day of Judgement.

O man. You do not have the knowledge even about those things with which you are most closely and intimately concerned in life. How then can it be possible for you to know as to when will the whole world cane to an end? Your prosperity and adversity mainly depend on the rain. But its control and regulation is entirely in the hand of Allah. He sends down the rain whenever and wherever and in whatever measure He pleases and withholds it whenever He pleases. You do not at all know how much of the rain will fall at a particular place at a particular time and which land will remain without it, and which land will be adversely affected in spite of it. Your wives conceive by your own sperm-drop, which perpetuates your race in the future, but you do not know what is taking shape in their wombs, and in what form and with what good or evil it will emerge. You do not even know what you are going to meet with the next day. A sudden accident can change your destiny; but you are unaware of it even a minute before its occurrence. You do not know where your present life will eventually come to an end. Allah has kept all this information with Himself alone; and has not given you any knowledge of any of these. You actually desire that you should have the knowledge of each of these things so that you may make necessary preparations beforehand, but you have no other course open to you than to depend only on Allah’s decree and disposal in these matters. Likewise, about the end of the world there is no alternative but to rely on Allah’s decree and decision. The knowledge of this also has neither been given to anybody, nor can it be given.

Is weather forecast knowledge of the unseen, or some sort of astrology? Read the ruling here.

Kitaab-ul-Kusoof [Book of Eclipses] starts tomorrow inshaAllah.

Wassalam.