Importance of Family System & Identity (Ahadith 3111 – 3112)

Bismillah.

The importance Islam places on family system and values is widely known. A family is the basic unit of a society and hence affects the latter directly. Strong family ties mean a strong society and so on. There are innumerable benefits of this strength; peace, unity, empathy, emotional stability, respect and improved health to name a few. Similarly, weakness in family ties and relationships reflect on the society as a whole. One would find chaos, selfishness, suffering relationships, trust issues etc. in such a community.

The following two ahadith are examples of how Islam enforces family system and one’s right to belong to their  family and to be known as their own father’s son/daughter. If someone intentionally tries to change the identity of a person, the consequences can be severe.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 711 :
Narrated by Abu Dhar (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If somebody claims to be the son of any other than his real father knowingly, he but disbelieves* in Allah, and if somebody claims to belong to some folk to whom he does not belong, let such a person take his place in the (Hell) Fire.”

*”Disbelief” (kufr) in Arabic is also used for ungratefulness.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 712 :
Narrated by Wathila bin Al-Asqa (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Verily, one of the worst lies is to claim falsely to be the son of someone other than one’s real father, or to claim to have had a dream one has not had, or to attribute to me what I have not said.”

Changing one’s lineage is an example of this. In areas where the hierarchy of castes and tribes still exist, people try to “switch” to a superior one just for a higher social status and better connections. This is wrong. It can lead to multiple issues of identity, marriage and inheritance.

Takeaway from this? Know your father (and family by extension).

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Picking Sides (Hadith No. 3110)

Bismillah.

Continuing where we left off from Kitaab-ul-Manaaqib [Book of Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions] of Sahih al-Bukhari (Volume 4, Book 56, Hadith No. 710).

(4) Chapter: The descent of Yemenites from Isma’il (Ishmael)

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 710:
Narrated by Salama (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) passed by some people from the tribe of Aslam practicing archery. He said, “O children of Ishmael! Throw (arrows), for your father was an archer. I am on the side of Bani so-and-so,” meaning one of the two teams. The other team stopped throwing, whereupon the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “What has happened to them?” They replied, “How shall we throw while you are with Bani so-and-so?” He said, “Throw for I am with all of you.”

Once the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) picked a side, how could the other team continue to compete? They knew they would surely lose for the other side had major advantage over them. Also, I think, they might have felt left out.. like how children feel when parents prefer one child over the other. So to quickly put an end to the matter, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) opted out of choosing sides altogether and said, “I’m with all of you”. No arguments. Very wise.

There’s a lesson here for all of us. There’s always someone who looks up to us, whether it’s our children, younger siblings, friends, colleagues, subordinates or anyone else in our lives who favors our attentions. Sometimes there are situations where picking sides might lead to unpleasant circumstances so at that time, following this example of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) would be the way to go. :)

Note, staying neutral isn’t always recommended. Wisdom requires acting/reacting according to time, place and circumstance.

Virtues of Quraish (Ahadith 3101 – 3109)

Bismillah.

(2) Chapter: Virtues of Quraish

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 701 :
Narrated by Tawus
Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) recited the Quranic Verse: ‘Except to be kind to me for my kin-ship to you” (42.23)
Said bin Jubair said, “(The Verse implies) the kinship of Muhammad.”
Ibn ‘Abbas said, “There was not a single house (i.e. sub-tribe) of Quraish but had a kinship to the Prophet and so the above Verse was revealed in this connection, and its interpretation is: ‘O Quraish! You should keep good relation between me (i.e. Muhammad) and you.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 702 :
Narrated by Abu Mas’ud (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “From this side from the east, afflictions will appear. Rudeness and lack of mercy are characteristics of the rural bedouins who are busy with their camels and cows (and pay no attention to religion). Such are the tribes of Rabi’a and Mudar.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 703 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
I heard Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying, “Pride and arrogance are characteristics of the rural bedouins while calmness is found among the owners of sheep. Belief is Yemenite, and wisdom is also Yemenite (i.e. the Yemenites are well-known for their true belief and wisdom).”
Abu ‘Abdullah (Al-Bukhari) said, “Yemen was called so because it is situated to the right of the Ka’ba, and Sham was called so because it is situated to the left of the Ka’ba.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 704 :
Narrated by Muhammad bin Jubair bin Mut’im
That while he was with a delegation from Quraish to Muawiya, the latter heard the news that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘As said that there would be a king from the tribe of Qahtan. On that Muawiya became angry, got up and then praised Allah as He deserved, and said, “Now then, I have heard that some men amongst you narrate things which are neither in the Holy Book, nor have been told by Allah’s Apostle. Those men are the ignorant amongst you. Beware of such hopes as make the people go astray, for I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘Authority of ruling will remain with Quraish, and whoever bears hostility to them, Allah will destroy him as long as they abide by the laws of the religion.'”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 705 :
Narrated by Ibn Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Authority of ruling will remain with Quraish, even if only two of them remained.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 706 :
Narrated by Jubair bin Mut’im
‘Uthman bin Affan went (to the Prophet) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! You gave property to Bani Al-Muttalib and did not give us, although we and they are of the same degree of relationship to you.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Only Bani Hashim and Bani Al Muttalib are one thing (as regards family status).”
Narrated Urwa bin Az-Zubair: ‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair went with some women of the tribe of Bani Zuhra to ‘Aisha who used to treat them nicely because of their relation to Allah’s Apostle.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 707 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The tribe of Quraish, the Ansar, the (people of the tribe of) Julhaina, Muzaina, Aslam, Ashja’, and Ghifar are my disciples and have no protectors except Allah and His Apostle.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 708 :
Narrated by ‘Urwa bin Az-Zubair
‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair was the most beloved person to ‘Aisha excluding the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and Abu Bakr, and he in his turn, was the most devoted to her, ‘Aisha used not to withhold the money given to her by Allah, but she used to spend it in charity. (‘Abdullah) bin AzZubair said, ” ‘Aisha should be stopped from doing so.” (When ‘Aisha heard this), she said protestingly, “Shall I be stopped from doing so? I vow that I will never talk to ‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair.” On that, Ibn Az-Zubair asked some people from Quraish and particularly the two uncles of Allah’s Apostle to intercede with her, but she refused (to talk to him). Az-Zuhriyun, the uncles of the Prophet, including ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Aswad bin ‘Abd Yaghuth and Al-Miswar bin Makhrama said to him, “When we ask for the permission to visit her, enter her house along with us (without taking her leave).” He did accordingly (and she accepted their intercession). He sent her ten slaves whom she manumitted as an expiation for (not keeping) her vow. ‘Aisha manumitted more slaves for the same purpose till she manumitted forty slaves. She said, “I wish I had specified what I would have done in case of not fulfilling my vow when I made the vow, so that I might have done it easily.”

(3) Chapter: The Qur’an was revealed in the language of Quraish

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 709 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Uthman called Zaid bin Thabit, Abdullah bin Az-Zubair, Said bin Al-‘As and ‘AbdurRahman bin Al-Harith bin Hisham, and then they wrote the manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an in the form of book in several copies. ‘Uthman said to the three Quraishi persons. ” If you differ with Zaid bin Thabit on any point of the Quran, then write it in the language of Quraish, as the Quran was revealed in their language.” So they acted accordingly. (Said bin Thabit was an Ansari and not from Quraish ).

Rising Above Racism (Ahadith 3095 – 3100)

Bismillah.

Book of Virtues and Merits [Kitaab-ul-Manaaqib] starts here.

(1) Chapter: The Statement of Allah Ta’ala: “O mankind! We have created you from a male and female.”

﴿يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَـكُمْ شُعُوباً وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَـرَفُواْ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عَندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَـكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴾

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [49:13]

Everyone belongs to a nation or a tribe or a family that makes his or her identity. Allah has made us this way so we can recognize one another, not to feel superiority over others, or vice versa. This verse nips racism right in the bud. Humans have (and still do) created divisions and ranks based on things that they don’t have any control over. For example, which family a person is born into, which class do they belong to, the color of their skin, the status of their tribe etc. It’s really unfair and we all know it. The good news is that Allah does not discriminate based on these things. What really matters in His Eyes is how much taqwa we have, the quality of our faith and actions. And luckily, these are things that no one except Allah can measure and judge.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 695 :
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Regarding the Verse: ‘And (We) made you into Shu’ub and Qabail (49.13) that Shu’uib means the big Qabail (i.e. nations) while the Qabail (i.e. tribes) means the branch tribes.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 696 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was asked, “Who is the most honorable amongst the people?” He said, “The most righteous (i.e. Allah-fearing) amongst you.” They said, “We do not ask you about this.” He said, “Then Joseph, the prophet of Allah.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 697 :
Narrated by Kulaib bin Wail
I asked Zainab bint Abi Salama (i.e. daughter of the wife of the Prophet), “Tell me about the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). Did he belong to the tribe of Mudar?” She replied, “Yes, he belonged to the tribe of Mudar and was from the offspring of An-Nadr bin Kinana.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 698 :
Narrated by Kulaib
I was told by the Rabiba (i.e. daughter of the wife of the Prophet) who, I think, was Zainab, that the Prophet (forbade the utensils (of wine called) Ad-Dubba, Al-Hantam, Al-Muqaiyar and Al-Muzaffat. I said to her, ‘Tell me as to which tribe the Prophet belonged; was he from the tribe of Mudar?” She replied, “He belonged to the tribe of Mudar and was from the offspring of An-Nadr bin Kinana. ”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 699 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “You see that the people are of different natures. Those who were the best in the pre-lslamic period, are also the best in Islam if they comprehend religious knowledge. You see that the best amongst the people in this respect (i.e. ambition of ruling) are those who hate it most. And you see that the worst among people is the double faced (person) who appears to these with one face and to the others with another face (i.e a hypocrite).”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 700 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The tribe of Quraish has precedence over the people in this connection (i.e the right of ruling). The Muslims follow the Muslims amongst them, and the infidels follow the infidels amongst them. People are of different natures: The best amongst them in the pre-lslamic period are the best in Islam provided they comprehend the religious knowledge. You will find that the best amongst the people in this respect (i.e. of ruling) is he who hates it (i.e. the idea of ruling) most, till he is given the pledge of allegiance.”