For love of the Mother!

"My father said, "The Prophet  said, 'When I stand for prayer, I intend to prolong it but on hearing the cries of a child, I cut it short, as I dislike to trouble the child's mother.' "
Hadith - Bukhari 1:675, Narrated 'Abdulla bin 'Abi Qatada 


A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?"  The Prophet  said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet  said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your father."
Hadith - Bukhari 8.2, Narrated Abu Huraira  



The Prophet said, "Allah has forbidden for you, (1) to be undutiful to your mothers*, (2) to bury your daughters alive, (3) to not to pay the rights of the others (e.g. charity, etc.) and (4) to beg of men (begging). And Allah has hated for you (1) vain, useless talk, or that you talk too much about others, (2) to ask too many questions, (in disputed religious matters) and (3) to waste the wealth (by extravagance).
Hadith - Bukhari 1:3:591, Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu'ba 

The seven

1. A just ruler
2. A youth who rose up worshipping Allah
3. A man whose heart is attached to the Masjid
4. Two men who love eachother for the sake of Allah; they meet on the basis of it and seperate on the basis of it
5. A man who is invited by a woman of high posistion and beauty and replies "Indeed I fear Allah"
6. A man who gives charity and hids it so much so that his left hand is unaware of what his right hand gave
7. A man who remembers Allah in private and his eyes become filled with tears

It was said by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that these are the seven (groups) that will be covered by Allah's shade on the day of judgement.

Sheikh Bilal Philips 'In the shade of the throne'

Which companions will we be?

Narrated Ibn Abbas:
The Prophet said, "You will be gathered (on the Day of Judgment), bare-footed, naked and not circumcised." He then recited:--'As We began the first creation, We, shall repeat it: A Promise We have undertaken: Truly we shall do it.' (21.104) He added, "The first to be dressed on the Day of Resurrection, will be Abraham, and some of my companions will be taken towards the left side (i.e. to the (Hell) Fire), and I will say: 'My companions! My companions!' It will be said: 'They renegade from Islam after you left them.' Then I will say as the Pious slave of Allah (i.e. Jesus) said. 'And I was a witness Over them while I dwelt amongst them. When You took me up You were the Watcher over them, And You are a witness to all things. If You punish them. They are Your slaves And if You forgive them, Verily you, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (5.120-121)

A Difficult Position

Narrated Aisha (the wife of the Prophet) "Whenever Allah's Apostle intended to go on a journey, he would draw lots amongst his wives and would take with him the one upon whom the lot fell. During a Ghazwa of his, he drew lots amongst us and the lot fell upon me, and I proceeded with him after Allah had decreed the use of the veil by women. I was carried in a Howdah (on the camel) and dismounted while still in it. When Allah's Apostle was through with his Ghazwa and returned home, and we approached the city of Medina, Allah's Apostle ordered us to proceed at night. When the order of setting off was given, I walked till I was past the army to answer the call of nature. After finishing I returned (to the camp) to depart (with the others) and suddenly realized that my necklace over my chest was missing. So, I returned to look for it and was delayed because of that. The people who used to carry me on the camel, came to my Howdah and put it on the back of the camel, thinking that I was in it, as, at that time, women were light in weight, and thin and lean, and did not use to eat much. So, those people did not feel the difference in the heaviness of the Howdah while lifting it, and they put it over the camel. At that time I was a young lady. They set the camel moving and proceeded on. I found my necklace after the army had gone, and came to their camp to find nobody. So, I went to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would discover my absence and come back in my search. While in that state, I felt sleepy and slept.

Safwan bin Mu'attal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army and reached my abode in the morning. When he saw a sleeping person, he came to me, and he used to see me before veiling. So, I got up when I heard him saying, "Inna lil-lah-wa inn a ilaihi rajiun (We are for Allah, and we will return to Him)." He made his camel knell down. He got down from his camel, and put his leg on the front legs of the camel and then I rode and sat over it. Safwan set out walking, leading the camel by the rope till we reached the army who had halted to take rest at midday. Then whoever was meant for destruction, fell into destruction, (some people accused me falsely) and the leader of the false accusers was 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After that we returned to Medina, and I became ill for one month while the people were spreading the forged statements of the false accusers. I was feeling during my ailment as if I were not receiving the usual kindness from the Prophet which I used to receive from him when I got sick. But he would come, greet and say, 'How is that (girl)?' I did not know anything of what was going on till I recovered from my ailment and went out with Um Mistah to the Manasi where we used to answer the call of nature, and we used not to go to answer the call of nature except from night to night and that was before we had lavatories near to our houses. And this habit of ours was similar to the habit of the old 'Arabs in the open country (or away from houses). So. I and Um Mistah bint Ruhm went out walking. Um Mistah stumbled because of her long dress and on that she said, 'Let Mistah be ruined.' I said, 'You are saying a bad word. Why are you abusing a man who took part in (the battle of) Badr?' She said, 'O Hanata (you there) didn't you hear what they said?' Then she told me the rumors of the false accusers.

My sickness was aggravated, and when I returned home, Allah's Apostle came to me, and after greeting he said, 'How is that (girl)?' I requested him to allow me to go to my parents. I wanted then to be sure of the news through them I Allah's Apostle allowed me, and I went to my parents and asked my mother, 'What are the people talking about?' She said, 'O my daughter! Don't worry much about this matter. By Allah, never is there a charming woman loved by her husband who has other wives, but the women would forge false news about her.' I said, 'Glorified be Allah! Are the people really taking of this matter?' That night I kept on weeping and could not sleep till morning. In the morning Allah's Apostle called Ali bin Abu Talib and Usama bin Zaid when he saw the Divine Inspiration delayed, to consul them about divorcing his wife (i.e. 'Aisha). Usama bin Zaid said what he knew of the good reputation of his wives and added, 'O Allah's Apostle! Keep you wife, for, by Allah, we know nothing about her but good.' 'Ali bin Abu Talib said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Allah has no imposed restrictions on you, and there are many women other than she, yet you may ask the woman-servant who will tell you the truth.' On that Allah's Apostle called Buraira and said, 'O Burair. Did you ever see anything which roused your suspicions about her?' Buraira said, 'No, by Allah Who has sent you with the Truth, I have never seen in her anything faulty except that she is a girl of immature age, who sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough for the goats to eat.' On that day Allah's Apostle ascended the pulpit and requested that somebody support him in punishing 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. Allah's Apostle said, 'Who will support me to punish that person ('Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul) who has hurt me by slandering the reputation of my family? By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good, and they have accused a person about whom I know nothing except good, and he never entered my house except in my company.'

Sad bin Mu'adh got up and said, 'O Allah's Apostle! by Allah, I will relieve you from him. If that man is from the tribe of the Aus, then we will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, the Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that Sad bin 'Ubada, the chief of the Khazraj and before this incident, he had been a pious man, got up, motivated by his zeal for his tribe and said, 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you cannot kill him, and you will never be able to kill him.' On that Usaid bin Al-Hadir got up and said (to Sad bin 'Ubada), 'By Allah! you are a liar. By Allah, we will kill him; and you are a hypocrite, defending the hypocrites.' On this the two tribes of Aus and Khazraj got excited and were about to fight each other, while Allah's Apostle was standing on the pulpit. He got down and quietened them till they became silent and he kept quiet. On that day I kept on weeping so much so that neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep.

In the morning my parents were with me and I had wept for two nights and a day, till I thought my liver would burst from weeping. While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked my permission to enter, and I allowed her to come in. She sat down and started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Allah's Apostle came and sat down and he had never sat with me since the day they forged the accusation. No revelation regarding my case came to him for a month. He recited Tashah-hud (i.e. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is His Apostle) and then said, 'O 'Aisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent, then Allah will soon reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him to forgive you, for when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.' When Allah's Apostle finished his speech my tears ceased completely and there remained not even a single drop of it. I requested my father to reply to Allah's Apostle on my behalf. My father said, By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Apostle.' I said to my mother, 'Talk to Allah's Apostle on my behalf.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Apostle.

I was a young girl and did not have much knowledge of the Quran. I said. 'I know, by Allah, that you have listened to what people are saying and that has been planted in your minds and you have taken it as a truth. Now, if I told you that I am innocent and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would not believe me and if I confessed to you falsely that I am guilty, and Allah knows that I am innocent you would believe me. By Allah, I don't compare my situation with you except to the situation of Joseph's father (i.e. Jacob) who said, 'So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert and it is Allah (Alone) whose help can be sought.' Then I turned to the other side of my bed hoping that Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah I never thought that Allah would reveal Divine Inspiration in my case, as I considered myself too inferior to be talked of in the Holy Qur'an. I had hoped that Allah's Apostle might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Allah's Apostle had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to Allah's Apostle. So, there overtook him the same state which used to overtake him, (when he used to have, on being inspired divinely). He was sweating so much so that the drops of the sweat were dropping like pearls though it was a (cold) wintry day. When that state of Allah's Apostle was over, he was smiling and the first word he said, 'Aisha! Thank Allah, for Allah has declared your innocence.' My mother told me to go to Allah's Apostle . I replied, 'By Allah I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.' So Allah revealed: "Verily! They who spread the slander are a gang among you . . ." (24.11)




Dear reader I would like you to take note of the Prophet's reaction to the allegations against his wife. I would like you to note that though he was unsure of her guilt and did not extend himself to her as usual, Ayesha never says that he yelled at her, got angry with her, hit her, cursed her, accused her, or punished her. He (SAW) was in a difficult position but he did not let the situation overcome his character. He was still kind and merciful. He did not become impatient with her indirect answer and he let her go back to her parents house for some time. He didn't tell her that if she was guilty then she will be punished but rather told her to ask for Allah's mercy and he had patience with her and with Allah that her innocence would soon be proven. Masha Allah, Allah's Apostle is the best of mankind!

Prophetic Sayings

Jabir said: I heard Allah's messenger say: "The best remembrance (of Allah) is la illaha illa llah" (There no God except God)
Tirmidhi
From 'Uthman ibn' 'Affan: Allah's messenger said: "The best of you is he who has learnt the Quran and then taught it"
Bukhari
Abu Huraira said that Allah's messenger said; "The most perfect of believers is the best of you in character; and the best of you are those among you are best to their wives"
Tirmidhi
From Abu Huraira: Allah's messenger said: "It is a (part) of the sunna that a man goes with his guest to the door of the house"
Ibn Maja
From Anas: "Sadaqa extinguishes the Lord's anger and repels evil death"
Tirmidhi

A HADITH FROM PROPHET MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H)

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) said: 'When a man dies and his relatives are busy in funeral, there stands an extremely handsome man by his head. When the dead body is shrouded, that man gets in between the shroud and the chest of the deceased.
When after the burial, the people return home, 2 angels, Munkar and Nakeer(names of two special Angels), come in the grave and try to separate this handsome man so that they may be able to interrogate the dead man in privacy about his faith. But the handsome man says, 'He is my companion, he is my friend. I will not leave him alone in any case. If you are appointed for interrogation, do your job. I cannot leave him until I get him admitted into Paradise '....

Thereafter he turns to his dead companion and says, 'I am the Qur'an, which you used to read, sometimes in a loud voice and sometimes in a low voice. Do not worry. After the interrogation of Munkar and Naker, you will have no grief.'
When the interrogation is over, the handsome man arranges for him from Al-Mala'ul A'laa (the angels in Heaven) silk bedding filled with musk..
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) said: 'On the Day of Judgement, before Allah, no other Intercessor will have a greater status than the Qur'an, neither a Prophet nor an angel.'
Please keep forwarding this 'Hadith' to all ....because
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) said:
'Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse'.
May Allah bestow this favour on all of us.

The Prophetic Understanding of Strength in Islam–Faraz Rabbani

Abu Hurayra said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer although there is good in each. Desire that which will bring you benefit, and seek help from Allah and do not give way to incapacity. If something happens to you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such-and-such.’ Rather say, ‘The decree of Allah. He does what He will.’ Otherwise you will open yourself up to the action of shaytan.” [Muslim]

Shaykh Faraz gives us a road map to follow by focusing on the four characteristics of a strong believer mentioned in the remaining words of the above hadith which are .
1) Be avid for benefit,
2) Seek the assistance of Allah,
3) Don’t deem yourself incapable,
and 4) Don’t second guess yourself.

Shaykh Faraz also mentioned five keys to benefit in this.
1) Seek beneficial knowledge,
2) Be committed to turning to Allah,
3) Act on one’s knowledge,
4) Keep good company,
and 5) Hold fast to the remembrance of Allah and to repent.

source: sunnipath library

Convey

Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:



The Prophet peace be upon him said,

"Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single sentence.

(Alhadith, Sahih Bukhari)

Would it Benefit You?

Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: While I was standing beside the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) one of the rabbis of the Jews came and said: Peace be upon you, O Muhammad. I pushed him back so hard that he nearly fell over. Upon this he said: Why do you push me? I said: Why don't you say: O Messenger of Allah? The Jew said: We call him by the name which he was given by his family. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: My name is Muhammad, which is how I was named by my family.

The Jew said: I have come to ask you (something). The
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Will it be of any benefit to you, if I tell you that? He (the Jew) said: I shall lend my ears to it. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) drew a line with the help of the stick that he had with him and then said: Ask (whatever you like).

Thereupon the Jew said: Where will the human beings be on the Day when the Earth changes into another earth and the Heavens too (change into other heavens)?

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). said: They will be in darkness beside the bridge.

He (the Jew) again said:
Who amongst the people will be the first to cross (this bridge)?

He said: They would be the poor amongst the refugees.

The Jew said: What would constitute their breakfast when they would enter Paradise?

He (the Holy Prophet) replied: A caul of
fish-liver.

He (the Jew) said:
What would be their food after this?

He (the Holy Prophet) said: a bullock which was fed in the different quarters of Paradise would be slaughtered for them.

He (the Jew) said: What would be their drink?

He (the Holy Prophet) said: They would be given a drink from the fountain which is named Salsabil.

He (the Jew) said: I have come to ask you about something which no one amongst the people on Earth knows except an apostle or one or two men besides him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Would it
benefit you if I tell you that?

He (the Jew) said: I would lend my ears to that. He then said:

I have come to ask you about the child.

He (the Holy Prophet) said:

The reproductive substance of a man is white and that of a woman (i.e. ovum central portion) is yellow. When they have sexual intercourse and the male's substance (chromosomes and genes) prevails upon the female's substance (chromosomes and genes), it is the male child that is created by Allah's Decree. When the substance of the female prevails upon the substance contributed by the male, a female child is formed by the Decree of Allah.

The Jew said: What
you have said is true; verily you are an Apostle.

He then turned round and went away. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: He asked me about such and such things of which I had no knowledge until Allah gave it to me.

Ref: Muslim Sharif

Narrated Anas bin Malik
The Prophet said, "At every womb Allah appoints an angel who says, 'O Lord ! A drop of semen, O Lord ! A clot. O Lord ! A little lump of flesh." Then if Allah wishes (to complete) its creation, the angel asks, (O Lord!) Will it be a male or female, a wretched or a blessed, and how much will his provision be? And what will his age be?' So all that is written while the child is still in the mother's womb."

Ref: Sahih Al-Bukhari

Dear Visitors,
Thanks for reading this hadith. Please check this link as well:
http://scienceislam.com/scientists_quran.php

May Allah help us to take benefit from Quran and Hadith.
Ameen

The Mercy of Allah

Narrated Abu Huraira (R.A)


I heard Allah's Apostle (Muhammad peace be upon him) saying, "Verily Allah created Mercy. The day He created it, He made it into one hundred parts. He withheld with Him ninety-nine parts, and sent its one part to all His creatures. Had the non-believer known of all the Mercy which is in the Hands of Allah, he would not lose hope of entering Paradise, and had the believer known of all the punishment which is present with Allah, he would not consider himself safe from the Hell-Fire."


Abu Said Al Khudri (R.A)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"Amongst the men of Bani Israel there was a man who had murdered ninety-nine persons. Then he set out asking (whether his repentance could be accepted or not). He came upon a monk and asked him if his repentance could be accepted. The monk replied in the negative and so the man killed him. He kept on asking till a man advised to go to such and such village. (So he left for it) but death overtook him on the way. While dying, he turned his chest towards that village (where he had hoped his repentance would be
accepted), and so the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment quarrelled amongst
themselves regarding him. Allah ordered the village (towards which he was going) to come closer to him, and ordered the village (whence he had come), to go far away, and then He
ordered the angels to measure the distances between his body and the two villages. So he
was found to be one span closer to the village (he was going to). So he was forgiven."

Abu Huraira narrated that
Allah's Apostle (Muhammad peace be upon him) said,

"A prostitute was forgiven by Allah, because, passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the dog was about to die of thirst, she took off her shoe, and
tying it with her head-cover she drew out some water for it. So, Allah forgave her because of that."

Ref: Bukhari

The Angels Write Our Good and Bad Deeds

Narrated Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him)


The Prophet (Peace be upon him) narrating about his Lord and,

"Allah ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times to many more times: and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allah will write one bad
deed (in his account)."

A Story Relating to Prophet Ibrahim, Ismail (PBUH) and Hajj in Mecca

Ibn Abbas
(R.A) Narrated that :
When Abraham (Peace be upon him) had differences with his wife), he took Ishmael (Peace be upon him) and his mother and went away. They had a water-skin
with them containing some water, Ishmael's mother used to drink water from the water-skin so that her milk would increase for her child. When Abraham reached Mecca, he made her sit under a tree and afterwards returned home. Ishmael's mother followed him, and when they reached Kada', she called him from behind, "O Abraham! To whom are you leaving us?" He replied, "(I am leaving you) to Allah's (care)." She said, "I am satisfied to be
with Allah." She returned to her place and started drinking water from the water-skin, and her milk increased for her child. When the water had all been used up, she said to herself,
"I'd better go and look so that I may see somebody." She ascended the Safa mountain and looked, hoping to see somebody, but in vain.

When she came down to the valley, she ran till she reached the Marwa mountain. She ran
to and fro (between the two mountains) many times. They she said toherself, "I'd better go and see the state of the child." She went and found it in a state of one on the point of dying. She could not endure to watch it dying and said (to herself), "If I go and look, I may
find somebody." She went and ascended the Safa mountain and looked for a long while but could not find anybody. Thus she completed seven rounds (of running) between Safa and
Marwa. Again she said (to herself), "I'd better go back and see the state of the child." But suddenly she heard a voice, and she said to that strange voice, "Help us if you can offer
any help." Lo! It was Gabriel (who had made the voice).

Gabriel hit the earth with his heel like this (Ibn 'Abbas hit the earth with his heel to
illustrate it), and so the water gushed out. Ishmael's mother was astonished and started digging. (Abu Al-Qasim) (i.e. the Prophet) said, "If she had left the water, (flow naturally
without her intervention), it would have been flowing on the surface of the earth.")
Ishmael's mother started drinking from the water and her milk increased for her child.
Afterwards some people of the tribe of Jurhum, while passing through the bottom of the valley, saw some birds, and that astonished them, and they said, "Birds can only be found
at a place where there is water." They sent a messenger who searched the place and found the water, and returned to inform them about it.

Then they all went to her and said, "O Ishmael's mother! Will you allow us to be with you (or dwell with you)?" (And thus they stayed there.) Later on her boy reached the age of
puberty and married a lady from them. Then an idea occurred to Abraham which he disclosed to his wife (Sarah), "I want to call on my dependents I left (at Mecca)." When he went there, he greeted (Ishmael's wife) and said, "Where is Ishmael?" She replied, "He has gone out hunting." Abraham said (toher), "When he comes, tell him to change the
threshold of his gate." When he came, she told him the same whereupon Ishmael said to her, "You are the threshold, so go to your family (i.e. you are divorced)."

Again Abraham thought of visiting his dependents whom he had left (at Mecca), and he told
his wife (Sarah) of his intentions. Abraham came to Ishmael's house and asked. "Where is
Ishmael?" Ishmael's wife replied, "He has gone out hunting," and added, "Will you stay (for some time) and have something to eat and drink?" Abraham asked, "What is your food and what is your drink?" She replied, "Our food is meat and our drink is water." He said, "O
Allah! Bless their meals and their drink." Abu Al-Qa-sim (i.e. Prophet) said, "Because of Abraham's invocation there are blessings (in Mecca)." Once more Abraham thought of
visiting his family he had left (at Mecca), so he told his wife (Sarah) of his decision. He went
and found Ishmael behind the Zam-zam well, mending his arrows. He said, "O Ishmael,
Your Lord has ordered me to build a house for Him." Ishmael said, "Obey (the order of) your
Lord." Abraham said, "Allah has also ordered me that you should help me therein." Ishmael
said, "Then I will do." So, both of them rose and Abraham started building (the Ka'ba) while
Ishmael went on handing him the stones, and both of them were saying, "O our Lord!
Accept (this service) from us, Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." (2.127) When
the building became high and the old man (i.e. Abraham) could no longer lift the stones (to
such a high position), he stood over the stone of Al-Maqam and Ishmael carried on handing him the stones, and both of them were saying, -O our Lord! Accept (this service) from us,
Verily You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing." (2.127)

Reference : Bukhari

What is faith?

Narrated Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him)


One day while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "What is faith?" Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His
angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts
during the month of Ramadan." Then he further asked, "What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's
Apostle (peace be upon him) replied, "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of
devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allah's Apostle replied, "The answerer has no better
knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents.

When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.
When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) then recited: "Verily, with Allah (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour--." (31. 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the
people their religion." Abu 'Abdullah said: He (the Prophet (peace be upon him)) considered all that as a part of faith.

Ref: Bhukhari

The story of Abu Dhar's (R.A) conversion to Islam

Abu Jamra
narrated that
Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said to us, "Shall I tell you the story of Abu Dhar's (may Allah be pleased with him) conversion to Islam?" We said, "Yes." He said, Abu Dhar (R.A) said: "I was a man from the tribe of Ghifar. We heard that a man (peace be upon him) had appeared in Mecca, claiming to be a Prophet. I said to my brother, 'Go to that man (peace be upon him) and talk to him and bring me his news.' He set out, met him and returned. I asked him, 'What is the news with you?' He said, 'By Allah, I saw a man enjoining what is good and
forbidding what is evil.' I said to him, 'You have not satisfied me with this little information.'
So, I took a waterskin and a stick and proceeded towards Mecca. Neither did I know him (i.e. the Prophet (peace be upon him)), nor did I like to ask anyone about him. I kept on drinking Zam-zam water and staying in the mosque. Then 'Ali (R.A) passed by me and said, 'It seems you are a stranger?' I said, 'Yes.' He proceeded to his house and I accompanied him. Neither did he ask me anything, nor did I tell him anything. Next morning I went to the mosque to ask about the Prophet (peace be upon him) but no one told me anything about him. 'Ali (R.A)passed by me again and
asked, 'Hasn't the man recognized his dwelling place yet?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Come along with me.' He asked me, 'What is your business? What has brought you to this town?' I said
to him, 'If you keep my secret, I will tell you.' He said, 'I will do,' I said to him, 'We have heard that a person has appeared here, claiming to be a Prophet (peace be upon him). I sent my brother to speak to him and when he returned, he did not bring a satisfactory report; so I thought of meeting him personally.' 'Ali (R.A) said (to Abu Dhar), 'You have reached your goal; I am going to him just now, so follow me, and wherever I enter, enter after me. If I should see someone who may cause you trouble, I will stand near a wall pretending to mend my shoes (as a
warning), and you should go away then.' 'Ali (R.A) proceeded and I accompanied him till he entered a place, and I entered with him to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to whom I said, 'Present (the
principles of) Islam to me.' When he did, I embraced Islam 'immediately. He said to me, 'O Abu Dhar! Keep your conversion as a secret and return to your town; and when you hear of our victory, return to us. ' I said, 'By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I will
announce my conversion to Islam publicly amongst them (i.e. the infidels),' Abu Dhar went to the mosque, where some people from Quraish were present, and said, 'O folk of Quraish! I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I (also) testify that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is Allah's Slave and His Apostle.' (Hearing that) the Quraishi men said, 'Get at this Sabi (i.e. Muslim)!' They got up and beat me nearly to death. Al 'Abbas (R.A) saw me and
threw himself over me to protect me. He then faced them and said, 'Woe to you! You want to kill a man from the tribe of Ghifar, although your trade and your communications are through the territory of Ghifar?' They therefore left me. The next morning I returned (to the Mosque) and said the same as I have said on the previous day. They again said, 'Get at
this Sabi!' I was treated in the same way as on the previous day, and again Al-Abbas found me and threw himself over me to protect me and told them the same as he had said the day before.' So, that was the conversion of Abu Dhar (may Allah be Merciful to him) to Islam."

Prayers of 3 Men Who Took Shelter Inside a Cave

Ibn Umar (a companion of Messenger Muhammad peace be him) narrated that:

Allah's Apostle (peace be him) said, "Once three persons (from the previous nations) were traveling, and
suddenly it started raining and they took shelter in a cave. The entrance of the cave got closed while they were inside. They said to each other, 'O you! Nothing can save you except the truth, so each of you should ask Allah's help by referring to such a deed as he thinks he did sincerely (i.e. just for gaining Allah's pleasure).' So one of them said, 'O Allah! You know that I had a laborer who worked for me for one Faraq (i.e. three Sas) of rice, but he departed, leaving it (i.e. his wages). I sowed that Faraq of rice and with its yield I bought cows (for him). Later on when he came to me asking for his wages, I said (to him), 'Go to those cows and drive them away.' He said to me, 'But you have to pay me only a Faraq of rice,' I said to him, 'Go to those cows and take them, for they are the product of that Faraq (of rice).' So he drove them. O Allah! If you consider that I did that for fear of You, then please remove the rock.' The rock shifted a bit from the mouth of the cave. The second one said, 'O Allah, You know that I had old parents whom I used to provide with the milk of my sheep every night. One night I was delayed and when I came, they had slept, while my wife and children were crying with hunger. I used not to let them (i.e. my family) drink unless my parents had drunk first. So I disliked to wake them up and also disliked that they should sleep without drinking it, I kept on waiting (for them to wake) till it dawned. O Allah! If You consider that I did that for fear of you, then please remove the rock.' So the rock shifted and they could see the sky through it. The (third) one said, 'O Allah! You know that I had a cousin (i.e. my paternal uncle's daughter) who was most beloved to me and I sought to seduce her, but she refused, unless I paid her one-hundred Dinars (i.e. gold pieces). So I collected the amount and brought it to her, and she allowed me to sleep with her. But when I sat between her legs, she said, 'Be afraid of Allah, and do not deflower me but legally. 'I got up and left the hundred Dinars (for her). O Allah! If You consider that I did that for fear of you then please remove the rock. So Allah saved them
and they came out (of the cave)."

Ref: Bukhari

(This Hadith indicates that one can only ask Allah for help directly or through his performed good deeds. But to ask Allah through dead or absent prophets, saints, spirits, holy men, angels etc. is absolutely forbidden in Islam and it is a
kind of disbelief.)

The Right of Allah upon His Slaves

Narrated Muadh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) :

The Prophet (Muhammad peace be upon him) said,

"O Muadh! Do you know what Allah's Right upon His slaves is?"

I said, "Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) know better."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "That they worship Him (Allah)
Alone and do not associate any partner in worship with Him (Allah). Do
you know what their right upon Him is?"

I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "That He will not punish them
(if they did so)."

Ref: [Al-Bukhari]

Never belittle a Good Deed

Abur Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet peace be upon him said to me,


"Do not belittle any good deed, even your meeting with your brother with a cheerful face."

(Ref: Muslim)

Reward for Helping Others

Abu Hurairah (R.A) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, "He who removes from a believer one of his difficulties of this world, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of resurrection; and he who gives relief to a hard-pressed person, Allah will make things easy for him in this life and in the hereafter; he who covers up (the faults and sins) of a Muslim, Allah will cover up (his faults and sins) in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah helps His slave as long as the slave helps his brother; and he who treads a path in search of knowledge, Allah makes easy for him a path leading to Jannah (Paradise). The people who assemble in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, learning it and teaching it, there descends upon them the tranquility, mercy covers them, the angels flock around them, and Allah mentions them in the presence of those near Him; and he who lags behind in doing good deeds, his noble lineage will not make him go ahead."

[Muslim]



Abu Hurairah (R.A) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, "Every day the sun rises, charity (Sadaqah) is due on every joint of a person. Administering justice betwen two people is a charity; and assisting a man to mount his beast, or load his luggage on it is a charity; and a good word is a charity; and every step that you take (towards the mosque) for Salat(prayer) is a charity; and removing harmful things from the road is a charity."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

No Burden on a Soul Beyond its Ability to Bear

"On no soul do We place a burden greater than it can bear: before Us is a record wich clearly shows the truth: they will never be wronged."
The Holy Quran (23:62)

"And those who believe and do good - We do not impose on any of them a burden beyond his capacity."
The Holy Quran (7:42)


Narrated Abu Huraira(R.A):
While we were sitting with the Prophet (Peace be upon him)a man came and said,
O Allah's Apostle(Peace be upon him)!
"I have been ruined."
Allah's Apostle (Peace be upon him) asked what was the matter with him.
He replied, "I had sexual intercourse with my wife while I was fasting."
Allah's Apostle (Peace be upon him) asked him "Can you afford to manument a slave?"
He replied in the negative.
Allah's Apostle (Peace be upon him) asked him,"Can you fast for two successive months?"
He replied in the negative.
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked him, "Can you afford to feed sixty poor persons?"
He replied in the negative.
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) kept silent and while we were in that state, a big basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet (Peace be upon him). He asked,"Where is the questioner?"
He replied,"I (am here)."
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said to (him), "Take this(basket of dates) and give it in charity."
The man said, "Should I give it to a person poorer than I?
By Allah; there is no family betwen it's (i.e Madina's) two mountains who are poorer than I."

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) smiled till his pre-molar teeth became visible and then said,
"Feed your family with it."

[Bukhari, Book#31 Fasting]

Daughters

Narrated Aisha (R.A) : (the wife of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) )

A lady along with her two daughters came to me asking me (for some alms), but she found nothing with me but one date wich I gave to her and she divided it with her two daughters, and then she got up and went away. Then the Prophet (Peace be upon him) came in and I informed him about this story. He said,

"Whoever is in charge of (put to test by) these daughters and treets them generously, then they will act as a shield for him from the (Hell) fire. "