Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - The Role Model
• When becoming humiliated, remember the Prophet [PBUH] in Ta'if.
• When being starved, remember the Prophet [PBUH] tying two stones to his stomach in the battle of Khandaq.
• When becoming angry, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s control of anger on the martyrdom of his beloved Uncle Hamza.
• When losing a tooth, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s tooth in the battle of Uhud.
• When bleeding from any part of the body, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s body covered in blood on his return from Ta'if.
• When feeling lonely, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s seclusion inMount Hira
• When feeling tired in Salaat, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s blessed feet in Tahajjud.
• When being prickled with thorns, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s pain from Abu Lahab's wife.
• When being troubled by neighbours, remember the old woman who would empty rubbish on the Prophet [PBUH].
• When losing a child, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s son, Ibrahim.
• When beginning a long journey, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s long journey to Madinah.
• When going against a Sunnah, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s intercession, (Ummati, Ummati, Ummati) (My Ummah).
• When sacrificing an animal, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s sacrifice of 63 animals for his Ummah.
• Before shaving your beard, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s face rejecting the two beardless Iranians.
• When falling into an argument with your wife, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s encounter with Aisha and Hafsa.
• When experiencing less food in the house, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s days of poverty.
• When experiencing poverty, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s advice to Ashaab-e-Suffa (People of Suffa).
• When losing a family member, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s departure from this world.
• When becoming an orphan, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s age at six.
• When sponsoring an orphan, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s sponsor for Zaid ibn Haritha.
• When fearing an enemy, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s saying to Abu Bakr inMount Thour
• Whatever situation you may find yourself in, remember your role model, the best of creation: Prophet [PBUH] Muhammad.
• When being starved, remember the Prophet [PBUH] tying two stones to his stomach in the battle of Khandaq.
• When becoming angry, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s control of anger on the martyrdom of his beloved Uncle Hamza.
• When losing a tooth, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s tooth in the battle of Uhud.
• When bleeding from any part of the body, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s body covered in blood on his return from Ta'if.
• When feeling lonely, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s seclusion in
• When feeling tired in Salaat, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s blessed feet in Tahajjud.
• When being prickled with thorns, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s pain from Abu Lahab's wife.
• When being troubled by neighbours, remember the old woman who would empty rubbish on the Prophet [PBUH].
• When losing a child, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s son, Ibrahim.
• When beginning a long journey, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s long journey to Madinah.
• When going against a Sunnah, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s intercession, (Ummati, Ummati, Ummati) (My Ummah).
• When sacrificing an animal, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s sacrifice of 63 animals for his Ummah.
• Before shaving your beard, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s face rejecting the two beardless Iranians.
• When falling into an argument with your wife, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s encounter with Aisha and Hafsa.
• When experiencing less food in the house, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s days of poverty.
• When experiencing poverty, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s advice to Ashaab-e-Suffa (People of Suffa).
• When losing a family member, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s departure from this world.
• When becoming an orphan, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s age at six.
• When sponsoring an orphan, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s sponsor for Zaid ibn Haritha.
• When fearing an enemy, remember the Prophet [PBUH]'s saying to Abu Bakr in
• Whatever situation you may find yourself in, remember your role model, the best of creation: Prophet [PBUH] Muhammad.
Tears of Muhammad (PBUH)
> >Suddenly, there was a person who said salaam
> >
> >
> >
> >"May I come in?" he asked.
> >
> >
> >
> >But Fatimah did not allow him to enter the room.
> >
> >
> >
> >"I'm sorry, my father is ill," said Fatimah, and turned back and closed the
> >door.
> >
> >
> >
> >She went back to her father who had opened his eyes and he asked Fatimah,
> >"Who was he, my daughter?"
> >
> >
> >
> >"I don't know, my father. It's the first time I'm seeing him," Fatimah said
> >gently.
> >
> >
> >
> >Then, Rasulullah (SAW) looked at his daughter with a trembled look, as if
> >he wanted to reminisce about every part of his daughter's face.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Know one thing! He is who erases the temporary pleasure; he is who
> >separates the companionship in
> >the world. He is the angel of death," said Rasulullah (SAW).
> >
> >
> >
> >Fatimah bore the bomb of her cry.
> >
> >
> >
> >The death angel came toward him, but Rasulullah (SAW) asked why Jibril did
> >not come along with him.
> >
> >
> >
> >Then, Jibril was called. Jibril was ready in the sky to welcome the soul of
> >Habibullah and the leader of the earth.
> >
> >
> >
> >"O Jibril, explain to me about my rights in front of ALLAH?" Rasulullah
> >(SAW) asked with a weak voice.
> >
> >
> >
> >"The doors of the sky have opened; the angels are waiting for your soul."
> >
> >
> >
> >"All jannats are open widely waiting for you," Jibril said. But, in fact,
> >all that did not make Rasulullah (SAW) relieved. His eyes were still full
> >of worry.
> >
> >
> >
> >"You are not happy to hear this news?" asked Jibril.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Tell me
> >about the destiny of my people in the future?"
> >
> >
> >
> >"Don't worry, o Rasul ALLAH. I heard ALLAH told me: 'I make jannat haram
> >for everyone, except the people of Muhammad" Jibril said.
> >
> >
> >
> >It became closer and closer, the time for Malaekat Izrail to do his work.
> >Slowly, Rasulullah's (SAW) soul was pulled. It seemed that the body of
> >Rasulullah (SAW) was full of sweat; the nerves of his neck became tight.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Jibril, how pain this sakaratul maut is!"
> >
> >
> >
> >Rasulullah (SAW) uttered a groan slowly. Fatimah closed her eyes, Ali sat
> >beside her bow deeply and Jibril turned his face back.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Am I repugnant to you that you turn your face back o Jibril?"
> >
> >Rasulullah (SAW) asked to the Deliverer of Wahyu.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Who is the one who could see the Habibullah in his sakaratul maut,"
> >Jibril said.
> >
> >
> >
> >Not for a while, Rasulullah (SAW) uttered a groan because of unbearable
> >pain.
> >
> >
> >
> >"O ALLAH, how greatest is this sakaratul maut. Give me all these pains,
> >don't to my people."
> >
> >
> >
> >The body of Rasulullah (SAW) became cold, his feet and chest did not move
> >anymore.
> >
> >
> >
> >His lips vibrated as if he wanted to say something, Ali took his ear close
> >to Rasulullah (SAW).
> >
> >
> >
> >"Uushiikum bis shalati, wa maa malakat aimanuku? take care the shalat and
> >take care the weak people among you."
> >
> >
> >
> >Outside the room, there were cries shouted each other, sahabat held each
> >other. Fatimah closed her face with her hands and, again, Ali took his ear
> >close to Rasulullah's (SAW) mouth which became bluish.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Ummatii, ummatii, ummatii?" ? "My people, my people, my
> >people."
> >
> >
> >
> >And the life of the noble man ended.
> >
> >
> >
> >Could we love each other like him? Allahumma sholli 'ala Muhammad wa baarik
> >wa salim 'alaihi.
> >
> >
> >
> >How deep is Rasulullah's (SAW) love to us.
> >
> >
> >
> >"May I come in?" he asked.
> >
> >
> >
> >But Fatimah did not allow him to enter the room.
> >
> >
> >
> >"I'm sorry, my father is ill," said Fatimah, and turned back and closed the
> >door.
> >
> >
> >
> >She went back to her father who had opened his eyes and he asked Fatimah,
> >"Who was he, my daughter?"
> >
> >
> >
> >"I don't know, my father. It's the first time I'm seeing him," Fatimah said
> >gently.
> >
> >
> >
> >Then, Rasulullah (SAW) looked at his daughter with a trembled look, as if
> >he wanted to reminisce about every part of his daughter's face.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Know one thing! He is who erases the temporary pleasure; he is who
> >separates the companionship in
> >the world. He is the angel of death," said Rasulullah (SAW).
> >
> >
> >
> >Fatimah bore the bomb of her cry.
> >
> >
> >
> >The death angel came toward him, but Rasulullah (SAW) asked why Jibril did
> >not come along with him.
> >
> >
> >
> >Then, Jibril was called. Jibril was ready in the sky to welcome the soul of
> >Habibullah and the leader of the earth.
> >
> >
> >
> >"O Jibril, explain to me about my rights in front of ALLAH?" Rasulullah
> >(SAW) asked with a weak voice.
> >
> >
> >
> >"The doors of the sky have opened; the angels are waiting for your soul."
> >
> >
> >
> >"All jannats are open widely waiting for you," Jibril said. But, in fact,
> >all that did not make Rasulullah (SAW) relieved. His eyes were still full
> >of worry.
> >
> >
> >
> >"You are not happy to hear this news?" asked Jibril.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Tell me
> >about the destiny of my people in the future?"
> >
> >
> >
> >"Don't worry, o Rasul ALLAH. I heard ALLAH told me: 'I make jannat haram
> >for everyone, except the people of Muhammad" Jibril said.
> >
> >
> >
> >It became closer and closer, the time for Malaekat Izrail to do his work.
> >Slowly, Rasulullah's (SAW) soul was pulled. It seemed that the body of
> >Rasulullah (SAW) was full of sweat; the nerves of his neck became tight.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Jibril, how pain this sakaratul maut is!"
> >
> >
> >
> >Rasulullah (SAW) uttered a groan slowly. Fatimah closed her eyes, Ali sat
> >beside her bow deeply and Jibril turned his face back.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Am I repugnant to you that you turn your face back o Jibril?"
> >
> >Rasulullah (SAW) asked to the Deliverer of Wahyu.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Who is the one who could see the Habibullah in his sakaratul maut,"
> >Jibril said.
> >
> >
> >
> >Not for a while, Rasulullah (SAW) uttered a groan because of unbearable
> >pain.
> >
> >
> >
> >"O ALLAH, how greatest is this sakaratul maut. Give me all these pains,
> >don't to my people."
> >
> >
> >
> >The body of Rasulullah (SAW) became cold, his feet and chest did not move
> >anymore.
> >
> >
> >
> >His lips vibrated as if he wanted to say something, Ali took his ear close
> >to Rasulullah (SAW).
> >
> >
> >
> >"Uushiikum bis shalati, wa maa malakat aimanuku? take care the shalat and
> >take care the weak people among you."
> >
> >
> >
> >Outside the room, there were cries shouted each other, sahabat held each
> >other. Fatimah closed her face with her hands and, again, Ali took his ear
> >close to Rasulullah's (SAW) mouth which became bluish.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Ummatii, ummatii, ummatii?" ? "My people, my people, my
> >people."
> >
> >
> >
> >And the life of the noble man ended.
> >
> >
> >
> >Could we love each other like him? Allahumma sholli 'ala Muhammad wa baarik
> >wa salim 'alaihi.
> >
> >
> >
> >How deep is Rasulullah's (SAW) love to us.
Prophet Muhammad and Son Ibrahim Death
Ibrahim, the son of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Maria, died in the tenth year of the Hijrah. He was sixteen months old (eighteen months old in another account) and under the care of a nurse when he died. Upon hearing what had happened to his son, Prophet Muhammad immediately went to the house of the nurse, where he held Ibrahim in his hands, and tears flowed from his eyes.
He said, “The eyes send their tears and the heart is saddened, but we do not say anything except that which pleases our Lord. Indeed, O Ibrahim, we are bereaved by your departure from us.” Then he turned his face towards the mountain before his and said, “O mountain! If you were as sorrowful as I am, you would certainly crumble into pieces! But we say what Allah has ordered us: (We are the servants of Allah and we will return to Him; We thank Allah, the Creator of the Universe)”
While Prophet Muhammad was grieving for his son Ibrahim, Usama ibn Zayd started to cry. The Prophet warned him not to. Usama said, “I saw you crying.”
The Prophet answered: “I have not commanded you against sadness, but against raising your voice in grief.”
While preparing the grave for Ibrahim, Prophet Muhammad saw an opening between the clay and ordered the Companions to fill it in.
He filled the opening with sand and said:
“Tombstones are neither good nor ill, but they help appease the living. Anything that man does, God wishes him to do well.”
(Ibn-i Sa’d, Tabaqat v.1, p.131-144)
Death is an exemplary lesson in every way for the living ones. However, we tend not to contemplate death too much for we prefer the forget the things that can remind us of it. We do not regard death as an opportunity to realize the meaning of life for ourselves and for our loved ones. Every death experienced indeed is devastating if it is allowed to kill the beauty and divinity in the outlook of those who are still alive. Those who have lost their way in the darkness of mourning and fate are so greatly removed from the viewpoint of Maulana, who considered death to be the wedding night (night of reunion with Allah). Those who do not have the strength or maturity to bear the sadness fall into a contradiction when they recite amantu billahi… wa al-yawmi al-ahiri (I belief in Allah and in the Day of Judgment). On the other hand, for those who obey the order “Frequently mention death which dispels pleasure and makes it bitter,” life becomes more open to love, compassion, justice and sharing due to the fact that it does not become immured within material aspects. Therefore it becomes possible for us to protect ourselves from being devoured by certain people.
After his child had passed away, the humane, yet dignified and dependable attitude shown by the Prophet as a father – a father who had lost many of his children before – removed the banality of death and transformed it into a lesson. Even when experiencing the greatest of agonies, we can see that he still maintained a lofty level in his servitude to Allah: the heart grieves, tears drop, but the tongue does not rebel. This is the act of someone who knows their limits. This is the non-offending stance of the spirit in the position of consent; shaken, yet not aggrieved. This is the lament of the heart which turns into tears in the eye and into inna lillah on the tongues. Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rajiun means “To Allah we belong and to Him we will return.” Only this can extinguish the fire within the hearts that has become a blaze.
The wailing and laments that bring people to rebellion and make the tongue an excuse for fire may change the status of this pain, the essence of which is peculiar to this world, and cause it to surround the afterlife. The humanity of silently crying versus the evil of hear-rendering laments… The choice is ours.
Prophet Muhammad invited the believers to goodness, which is the best form of servitude, and encouraged them to perform what is pleasant in words and deeds. “Allah who is beautiful and loves beauty” (Muslim, faith 147), revealed that the deeds become pleasant only with beautiful/reliable/correct words (qawl-i sadid) (Al-Ahzab, 70) and thus broadened our horizon from another perspective. Prophet Muhammad, whose heart was scorched with sadness for his son, encouraged his Companions to do their best when they had a task to perform. This understanding and sensitivity, which put forward the notion of looking into the future with hope and not becoming estranged from life even during an incident that could cause the color of life to fade, like death, led the Muslims to become the most prolific and profound craftsmen who made works throughout history that reflected this inner beauty. Thus, a new path was designated for people, granting them the grace of searching for beauty in everything they performed and realizing the beauty that lies within the universe. This prospect, which takes its principle from the tawheed that is in harmony with the beauty created by Allah, surrounds even the daily life and leads the aesthetic to acquire a divine quality that is reflected in all the beauty of the world.
He said, “The eyes send their tears and the heart is saddened, but we do not say anything except that which pleases our Lord. Indeed, O Ibrahim, we are bereaved by your departure from us.” Then he turned his face towards the mountain before his and said, “O mountain! If you were as sorrowful as I am, you would certainly crumble into pieces! But we say what Allah has ordered us: (We are the servants of Allah and we will return to Him; We thank Allah, the Creator of the Universe)”
The Prophet answered: “I have not commanded you against sadness, but against raising your voice in grief.”
While preparing the grave for Ibrahim, Prophet Muhammad saw an opening between the clay and ordered the Companions to fill it in.
He filled the opening with sand and said:
“Tombstones are neither good nor ill, but they help appease the living. Anything that man does, God wishes him to do well.”
(Ibn-i Sa’d, Tabaqat v.1, p.131-144)
Death is an exemplary lesson in every way for the living ones. However, we tend not to contemplate death too much for we prefer the forget the things that can remind us of it. We do not regard death as an opportunity to realize the meaning of life for ourselves and for our loved ones. Every death experienced indeed is devastating if it is allowed to kill the beauty and divinity in the outlook of those who are still alive. Those who have lost their way in the darkness of mourning and fate are so greatly removed from the viewpoint of Maulana, who considered death to be the wedding night (night of reunion with Allah). Those who do not have the strength or maturity to bear the sadness fall into a contradiction when they recite amantu billahi… wa al-yawmi al-ahiri (I belief in Allah and in the Day of Judgment). On the other hand, for those who obey the order “Frequently mention death which dispels pleasure and makes it bitter,” life becomes more open to love, compassion, justice and sharing due to the fact that it does not become immured within material aspects. Therefore it becomes possible for us to protect ourselves from being devoured by certain people.
After his child had passed away, the humane, yet dignified and dependable attitude shown by the Prophet as a father – a father who had lost many of his children before – removed the banality of death and transformed it into a lesson. Even when experiencing the greatest of agonies, we can see that he still maintained a lofty level in his servitude to Allah: the heart grieves, tears drop, but the tongue does not rebel. This is the act of someone who knows their limits. This is the non-offending stance of the spirit in the position of consent; shaken, yet not aggrieved. This is the lament of the heart which turns into tears in the eye and into inna lillah on the tongues. Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rajiun means “To Allah we belong and to Him we will return.” Only this can extinguish the fire within the hearts that has become a blaze.
The wailing and laments that bring people to rebellion and make the tongue an excuse for fire may change the status of this pain, the essence of which is peculiar to this world, and cause it to surround the afterlife. The humanity of silently crying versus the evil of hear-rendering laments… The choice is ours.
Prophet Muhammad invited the believers to goodness, which is the best form of servitude, and encouraged them to perform what is pleasant in words and deeds. “Allah who is beautiful and loves beauty” (Muslim, faith 147), revealed that the deeds become pleasant only with beautiful/reliable/correct words (qawl-i sadid) (Al-Ahzab, 70) and thus broadened our horizon from another perspective. Prophet Muhammad, whose heart was scorched with sadness for his son, encouraged his Companions to do their best when they had a task to perform. This understanding and sensitivity, which put forward the notion of looking into the future with hope and not becoming estranged from life even during an incident that could cause the color of life to fade, like death, led the Muslims to become the most prolific and profound craftsmen who made works throughout history that reflected this inner beauty. Thus, a new path was designated for people, granting them the grace of searching for beauty in everything they performed and realizing the beauty that lies within the universe. This prospect, which takes its principle from the tawheed that is in harmony with the beauty created by Allah, surrounds even the daily life and leads the aesthetic to acquire a divine quality that is reflected in all the beauty of the world.
Justice of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
The Prophet (pbuh) asked people to be just and kind. As the supreme judge and arbiter, as the leader of men, as generalissimo [head commander and chief] of a rising power, as a reformer and apostle, he had always to deal with men and their affairs. He had often to deal with mutually inimical and warring tribes when showing justice to one carried the danger of antagonizing the other, and yet he never deviated from the path of justice. In administering justice, he made no distinction between believers and nonbelievers, friends and foes, high and low. From numerous instances reported in the traditions, a few are given below.
Sakhar, a chief of a tribe, had helped Muhammad (pbuh) greatly in the siege of Taif, for which he was naturally obliged to him. Soon after, two charges were brought against Sakhar: one by Mughira of illegal confinement of his (Mughira's) aunt and the other by Banu Salim of forcible occupation of his spring by Sakhar. In both cases, he decided against Sakhar and made him undo the wrong. [Abu Dawud]
Abdullah Bin Sahal, a companion, was deputized to collect rent from Jews of Khaibar. His cousin Mahisa accompanied him but, on reaching Khaibar, they had separated. Abdullah was waylaid and done to death. Mahisa reported this tragedy to the Prophet (pbuh) but as there were no eye-witnesses to identify the guilty, he did not say anything to the Jews and paid the blood-money out of the state revenues. [Sahih Bukhari]
A woman of the Makhzoom family with good connections was found guilty of theft. For the prestige of the Quraish, some prominent people including Asmaa Bin Zaid interceded to save her from punishment. The Prophet (pbuh) refused to condone the crime and expressed displeasure saying,
"Many a community ruined itself in the past as they only punished the poor and ignored the offences of the exalted. By Allah, if Muhammad's (My) daughter Fatima would have committed theft, her hand would have been severed."[Sahih Bukhari]
The Jews, in spite of their hostility to the Prophet (pbuh), were so impressed by his impartiality and sense of justice that they used to bring their cases to him, and he decided them according to Jewish law. [Abu Dawud]
Once, while he was distributing the spoils of war, people flocked around him and one man almost fell upon him. He pushed the men with a stick causing a slight abrasion. He was so sorry about this that he told the man that he could have his revenge, but the man said, "O messenger of Allah, I forgive you." [Abu Dawud]
In his fatal illness, the Prophet (pbuh) proclaimed in a concourse assembled at his house that if he owed anything to anyone the person concerned could claim it; if he had ever hurt anyone's person, honour or property, he could have his price while he was yet in this world. A hush fell on the crowd. One man came forward to claim a few dirhams which were paid at once. [Ibn Hisham]
The Prophet's Night Journey to Jerusalem (Arabic: Israa) and Ascent to the Heavens (Arabic: Miraj)
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
Regarding the Statement of Allah"
"And We granted the vision (Ascension to the heavens) which We made you see (as an actual eye witness) was only made as a trial for the people."(17.60)
Ibn Abbas added: The sights which Allah's Apostle was shown on the Night Journey when he was taken to Bait-ul Maqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) were actual sights, (not dreams). And the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Quran is the tree of Zaqqum (itself) .
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
The Prophet said, "On the night of my Ascent to the Heaven, I saw Moses who was a tall brown curly-haired man as if he was one of the men of Shan'awa tribe, and I saw Jesus, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire and Ad-Dajjal amongst the signs which Allah showed me." (The Prophet then recited the Holy Verse): "So be not you in doubt of meeting him' when you met Moses during the night of Mi'raj over the heavens" (32.23)
Narrated Anas and Abu Bakra: "The Prophet said, "The angels will guard Medina from Ad-Dajjal (who will not be able to enter the city of Medina)."
Narrated Abbas bin Malik:
Malik bin Sasaa said that Allah's Apostle described to them his Night Journey saying, "While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, "What does he mean?" He said, "It means from his throat to his pubic area," or said, "From the top of the chest." The Prophet further said, "He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked, "Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?" I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative). The Prophet said, "The animal's step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal's sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven.
When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (to me). 'This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened.
When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (i.e. John) and 'Isa (i.e. Jesus) who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said (to me), 'These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Joseph. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Joseph; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excel lent visit his is!'
The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Idris; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked. 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is! So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun (i.e. Aaron), Gabriel said, (to me). This is Aaron; pay him your greetings.' I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked. 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!'
When I went (over the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses. Gabriel said (to me),' This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' When I left him (i.e. Moses) he wept. Someone asked him, 'What makes you weep?' Moses said, 'I weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked,' Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!'
So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said, 'This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) . Behold ! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked, 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?' He replied,' As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.'
Then Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur (i.e. the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked, 'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.' Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses who asked (me), 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said, 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.' So I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to Allah and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came back to Moses he said the same, I went back to Allah and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day.
When I came back to Moses, he said, 'What have you been ordered?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said, 'Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your follower's burden.' I said, 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying, 'I have passed My Order and have lessened the burden of My Worshippers."
The expulsion of a liar's corpse by the Earth
Narrated Anas:
There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surat-al-Baqara and Al-Imran, and he used to write (the revelations) for the Prophet. Later on he returned to Christianity again and he used to say: "Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him." Then Allah caused him to die, and the people buried him, but in the morning they saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, "This is the act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and took his body out of it because he had run away from them." They again dug the grave deeply for him, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, "This is an act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and threw his body outside it, for he had run away from them." They dug the grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. So they believed that what had befallen him was not done by human beings and had to leave him thrown (on the ground).
The Speech of the Wolf
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "While a man was riding a cow, it turned towards him and said, 'I have not been created for this purpose (i.e. carrying), I have been created for sloughing.l" The Prophet added, "I, Abu Bakr and 'Umar believe in the story." The Prophet went on, "A wolf caught a sheep, and when the shepherd chased it, the wolf said, 'Who will be its guard on the day of wild beasts, when there will be no shepherd for it except me?' "After narrating it, the Prophet said, "I, Abu Bakr and 'Umar too believe it." Abu Salama (a sub-narrator) said, "Abu Bakr and 'Umar were not present then."
It has been written that a wolf also spoke to one of the companions of the Prophet near Medina as narrated in Fath-al-Bari:Narrated Unais bin 'Amr: Ahban bin Aus said, "I was amongst my sheep. Suddenly a wolf caught a sheep and I shouted at it. The wolf sat on its tail and addressed me, saying, 'Who will look after it (i.e. the sheep) when you will be busy and not able to look after it? Do you forbid me the provision which Allah has provided me?' " Ahban added, "I clapped my hands and said, 'By Allah, I have never seen anything more curious and wonderful than this!' On that the wolf said, 'There is something (more curious) and wonderful than this; that is, Allah's Apostle in those palm trees, inviting people to Allah (i.e. Islam).' "Unais bin 'Amr further said, "Then Ahban went to Allah's Apostle and informed him what happened and embraced Islam.)" palm trees or other trees and share the fruits with me."
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