Notes of a student

Session 5: 4th April 2015

Part 1

Assalaamu alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

The Sheikh welcomes our first session of the ‘Provisions for the Hereafter.’ He begins by praising Allah and sending blessings upon the final messenger Muhammad  (Khutbatul Haajah).

Gentle reminder: This gathering is surrounded by the mercy of Allah due to it being a gathering of knowledge. The Live Sessions have the extra blessings that Allah has placed in them, (I.e. – the company of the angels who rush to find such circles.) The angel who found a gathering rushes to call other angels to witness them.

Recap: When we know there is no way to Allah except to know the messenger, it becomes mandatory to know the Messenger.

Introduction:

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was a global messenger and the evidence for this is that he sent letters around the world.

Side benefit: The global nature of Da’wah.

Lineage of the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam):

Noone dared to insult or mock the lineage of the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) due to the giants that were present in it.

One of the objectives of the Shari’ah is to protect lineage. Among its objectives are protection of the mind, wealth and even lineage. Look at how comprehensive our religion is.

Grandfather of the Prophet:

(add from WB)

Grandfather of the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam):
Qusay – This grandfather was special as he took lead in organizing the Quraysh to look after the Kaa’bah. He supplied the pilgrims with water.

Despite the beliefs of the Quraysh, they respected the Kaa’bah.

Even before the event of the Elephants – they would honour the Kaa’bah

They would even name their children Abdul Ka’bah. The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam)’s uncle, one of the brothers of Abu Taalib and Hamzah was known as Abdul Ka’bah.

It is mentioned in Seerah books, that the Quraysh would say, if you want us to believe you, then bring back Qusay, and if he endorses you, then we will accept your message.

Side note: Always remember…

The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. People will remember you by how you made them feel.  The Quraysh valued Qusay.

We have to ask ourselves:

What value can I add to the situation?

Today people write for the sake of writing, speak for the sake of speaking and do for the sake of doing.

 

We’ve got to remember when we assist someone; we are giving someone a portion of your life and time. So you have to ask yourself, is this an investment or a sacrifice?

 

E.g. – Attending a Walima. Choose to sit with those who will help you build your Jannah.

 

When Qusay passed away, he left behind 4 sons. The most honorable of these sons was Abd Manaaf.

 

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) enjoyed an honorable lineage.

 

The son of Abd Manaaf, Ibn Hisham, came into prominence as well.

 

Why was he prominent?

 

If you recall in the Qur’an (Surah Quraysh), it discusses the caravans that the Quraysh would journey on in the summer and winter

Ibn Hisham was the one who began these journeys. His real name was Amr, however he was known as Hisham as he was famous for crushing ingredients (هشم means to crush something) for a meal known a Thareed (stock and bread).

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would say ‘this is to that as Thareed is to other foods.’, indicating the relative importance of Thareed amongst other foods. It was an extremely special food amongst the Quraysh.

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was sent to complete good character, as is mentioned in the Hadith. He used the word “complete” because the Arabs already had some good character.

 

[Reference: 2:208]

 

These people of Quraysh did have good character despite certain inhuman acts, the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) came to correct and remove those negative traits.

 

Abdul Muttalib:

The Prophet’s grandfather, who looked after the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) after the death of his mother.

He loved Rasulullah so much. When the Prophet was born, he took him raised him high by the Kaa’bah and named him as ‘Muhammad’ – the praised one.

Abdul Muttalib had a famous sitting near the Kaa’bah under the shade; even his sons were not allowed to sit in that shade. However the Prophet would crawl to the shade. The sons would remove him from it, however the grandfather, Abdul Muttalib would say, ‘Leave him, for he is the praised one.’

 

The Prophet (s) was most special:

“Allah chose Kinanah from the progeny of Ismail, and chose the Quraysh from Kinaanah, and chose from the Quraysh Banu Hashim and, and chose me from Banu Hashim.”

 

His Birth

Year of the Elephants:

The Prophet was born in Makkah in the year of the Elephants.

It took place in the life of Abdul Muttalib when he was in charge of the Kaa’bah and its affairs.

The vice king of Habasha in Abyssinia was Abraha, who was a Christian, became jealous of the Kaa’bah as it was center for trade. (E.g. – The world cup in today’s time unites many people in one place).

The vice king decided to build a massive church called ‘Qulays’ in San’aa, Yemen. This would shift the centrality the Kaa’bah enjoyed to a new region.

Someone from the children of Kinanah (an Arab) decided to visit this church and he stained the walls of the church with filth to deter Abraha from his goal.

Abrah’s ego was hurt, he got extremely angry and decided to put an army of 60,000 together, just because he could.

A lesson to take: Today, we refused to mend relationships because we feel like it, or we refuse to forgive because we feel like it. Anger is detrimental to all aspects of our lives.

Abraha walked with this army to the east part of the Haram. He not only intended to destroy the Kaa’bah but he also decided to usurp the wealth of the Quraysh. He took the wealth of Abdul Muttalib (200 camels), and so the grandfather of the Prophet (s) went to negotiate with Abraha.

It is said that in the eyes of Abraha, Abdul Muttalib was an amazing person. This opinion was based on what he had heard about his etiquettes and care. Abdul Muttalib was highly respected by Abraha. Abraha even stood up to honour Abdul Muttalib.

Side note: It is prohibited in Islam to stand up in order to respect or honour a person out of reverence or admiration. Exceptions are in cases of etiquette e.g. meeting a guest.

Abraha became cross and infuriated when Abdul Muttalib spoke with him about the wealth he had usurped. Abdul Muttalib replied: “The Owner of this House is its Defender, and I am sure He will save it from the attack of the adversaries and will not dishonor the servants of His House.”  – This statement is coming from a disbeliever!

Look at the yaqeen (certainty) and tawakkul (trust) they had in Allah. It shows us that they didn’t deny Allah, they recognized Him, but they associated partners with Him in aspects of Ruboobiyah (Lordship) and Ibaadah (Worship).

[Reference: Fil:105]

 

Allah took care of the Kaa’bah. He sent birds high above with stones made of clay to strike what they were supposed to strike with ultimate precision. Only the people of harm were harmed. No child, or nothing in the environment was harmed but only they. Such that the people became like straw eaten up.

It is said that the event seems to have happened in Muharram (end of February or beginning of March – 571 AD). And Allah knows best.

Lesson from the event of the Elephant:

• Being strategic in our Dawah

• The event of the Elephants really shocked the tribes of Banu Hashim, as when they looked at the Quraysh, they were amazed, as they realized that divine assistance came for  Quraysh!
• This raised their rank among the other  tribes. With their rank, had Quraysh entered into Islam, all the other tribes would have entered into Islam. (That eventually happened when Makkah was conquered).
• We need to be effective in our strategic planning. We don’t need to pluck at the leaves when we can hack at the root of the evil.
• The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) knew that if he was effective with the Quraysh there would be no need to pluck at the leaves.
• In 23 years the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) changed an entire nation without communication or satellite!
• He (s) only migrated to Madinah 13 years after he became a Prophet.

 

• “For every 100 plucking at the leaves of evil, there is one hacking at its root.” – English Proverb

 

• He (s) used his resources correctly. He wrote to the Kings afterwards, but first he worked closely with Quraysh, establishing Dawah with them.

Ponder:

We all need to have our own cave. We need to have a ‘thinking day’ where we switch of technology and just think and reflect. We need to introduce a learning system where we are able to gather data and synthesize data that grows us as an organisation and as a people.

We are a people who don’t read, and even if we do read, we do not understand, and those who don’t understand do not think and ponder. Islamic scholarship is about thinking, reading and understanding.

A lot of the problems today with our youth falling into the traps of extremism is because of this. We don’t read and ask the critical questions of life:

 

• What?

 

• Why?

• How?

 

 

How many of us ask these questions before we do anything? Sometimes we ask it in the beginning but cease to ask it in the middle!

“If you do what you always did, you will always get what you always got. If you want to get what you never got, then you need to do what you never did!”

– The only tongue twister that ever made sense!

Back to Abraha:

Abraha respected Abdul Muttalib highly, but he only lost respect for him when he spoke.

Perceptions happen before people meet us. This shows that our tongues make us or break us.

“The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound.” – People perceive us by sight before be speak.

E.g. – some people carry an aura, until they open their mouth, which when we lose respect for them.

We have two ears and one mouth, which in itself should indicate to us the ratio of the listening to speaking.

Allah has given us a wall for our tongue, our teeth and lips. So we must use our ears twice as much as we use our tongue.

How many reasons do we have to ponder; yet how many of us ponder?

“I am listening to you, O father of Walid.” – Prophet (s), when he was talking to one of the chiefs of Quraysh. [Source: Ibn Kathir’s stories of the Prophet]

The Prophet (s) father:

• First opinion: Abdullah, the Prophet (s)’s father, passed away whilst he was in the womb of his mother (correct opinion)
• Second opinion is he passed away 7 months after he was born
• Allah chose  the Prophet (s) for prophethood.

Heart softener…

Don’t ever forget that whatever Allah does, does good. Remember this ayah, “Allah is gentle with His slaves.” [42:19].

Ibn alQayyim -may Allah have mercy upon him- says:

“Allah disciplines his believing slave -whom he loves and is gracious to- at the slightest slip or stumble [on his part]. Hence, the slave remains constantly awake and cautious [of the slightest mistake].

As for the one who has fallen in the sight of Allah and become lowly in His sight, Allah leaves him with his sins [and doesn’t discipline him for it]. Every time a sin is committed, Allah gives this person a blessing, thus the deceived thinks that this is from Allah’s generosity!

Little does he know that this is a source of degradation, and that Allah intends by it [not disciplining him, but blessing him] a severe punishment, one that has no end.”

[Zaad ul-Ma’ad, 3/506]

 

Shifting Paradigms:

The two O’s:

• Obstacle
• Opportunity

In reality, all obstacles are opportunities placed before you by Allah. (Paradigm shifts)

“If Allah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever has patience will have patience, and whoever is anxious will be anxious.” [Imam Ahmed].

 

Allah took the father away from the Messenger of Allah, not to punish him but to prepare him.

His Mother:

• Amina
• She passed away in a place between Makkah and Madinah, on the way back from her maternal uncle, in a place known as Abha(Note the Prophet (s)’s relationship to Madinah)
• Thereafter he was taken into the care of Abdul Muttalib until he passed away, while he was around 8-10 years old.

His Youth:

• When the Prophet (s) was 25 years old he went on a journey of trade to Syria under the leadership of Khadija (she owned the business). (Another views says he was 21 years old)
• The Prophet (s) was taken on a trading trip to Damascus with his uncle, Abu Taalib, despite how young he was.

Lesson:

• We need to teach our children when they are young.
• It shows us how mature the children were at that age.
• A 9 year old at that time was not like a 9 year old today. Ayesha (ra) was 18 when Rasulullah (s) passed away. She was a pillar of hadith.
• Due to the socio-economic conditions of the time, as well as the environment, people matured faster physically and intellectually.
• Therefore, we should be careful when comparing our postmodern society with theirs in terms of marriage-age, etc.

Prophethood:

• The Prophet (s) became a prophet at the age of 40. A person reaches a state of full strength or the age of prime at the age of 40.
• Most of the Prophets of Allah became prophets at the age of 40.
• Five years before his prophethood, he became a means of saving the Quraysh from bloodshed (next to the Kaa’bah!)
• The Prophet (s) would detach himself from the hustle and bustle of life to connect himself to his Fitrah. Likewise, we need to have a day in the month when we take a day off from life to think and connect to the Fitrah.
• We need to become smarter than the smart phone!
• We need to protect ourselves from retrogression by seeing it through contemplation and acting on it. E.g. – Sit in a masjid for itikhaf, go to a scenic place, etc.

Time:

[Reference: 103:1-3]

• In Surah Asr, Allah takes a Qasam by time. We are a group of people who are in loss. By default we are all in loss, except those who do good deeds, and call to truth and patience. – Invite well, propagate well and be patient with the people they call to Allah.
• Connect to your inner-self as Allah has given you the mechanism to remain upon guidance.
• We learn that the majorities are astray so we need to be the exception.

[6:116]

[7:179]

• Our product cannot be based on our DNA (nature) or the environment (nurture).
• Islam says we don’t have to be product of nature or nature.
• The Prophet (s) had grandfathers who were polytheist, yet he was a champion of Tawhid.
• People would put rationale over revelation and be lead astray.

May Allah reward one and all for their intention and effort.

End Class.

 

Appendix

(Whiteboard Material)