H6 – Towards the Hereafter

As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaah

The Haafidh of Qur’aan is the best of people

If Allaah `azza wa jall gave every servant a value and a rank, then the people of Qur’aan are the best of people in rank, for the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, as is narrated in Bukhari – “The best of you is the one who learns Qur’aan and teaches it.”

Tranquility descends upon the people of Qur’aan and mercy envelopes them

The Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “No people gather together in one of the Houses of Allaah, reciting the Book of Allaah and studying it among themselves, except that Sakeenah (Tranquility) descends upon them, and Mercy envelops them, and the angels surround them, and Allaah mentions them amongst those who are with Him.” [1]

The Qur’aan is the Banquet of Allaah `azza wa jall

It is narrated from Ibn mas’ood (radhillaahu `anhu) that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Indeed this Qur’aan is the banquet of Allaah so learn as much as you can from the banquet of Allaah. Indeed this Qur’aan is the strong rope of Allaah and it is the clear guidance and it is a beautiful cure, a protection for those who cling to it and a salvation for those who follow it. Nothing is bent or corrupted except that the Qur’aan rectifies it, nor deviated but that it reprimands them. Its marvels do not fade nor is the sweetness of it decreased by the frequency of those who recite it. So recite it, for indeed Allaah will bestow upon you ten times the single reward for your recitation of each letter. I do not say for Alif, Laam, Meem is a letter but Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter and Meem is a letter.” [2]

The Qur’aan is your soul amongst the people of the heavens

It is narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (radhiallaahu `anhu) that he said, “Have taqwa of Allaah because it is the head of all matters and upon you is Jihaad because it is the monasticism of Islaam and upon you is the remembrance of Allaah and the recitation of Qur’aan as it is your soul amongst the people of the heavens and your mention amongst the people of the earth, and upon you is to remain silent except in the truth as you will then over power the Shaytaan.” [3]

Narrated from Jundub that he said, “I advice you with the taqwa of Allaah and I advice you with the Qur’aan for truly it is a light by the dark night and a guidance by the day – act upon it in difficulty and in poverty. If a calamity befalls, sacrifice your wealth instead of your Deen (religion) and if the calamity intensifies, then sacrifice your wealth and your life instead of your Deen for surely the ruined one is he whose religion is ruined and the deprived is he who has been deprived of his Deen. Know that there is no poverty after entering Paradise and no prosperity after entering Hellfire.” [4]

 

The recitor of Qur’aan is not returned to senile old age

Narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (radhiallaahu `anhumaa): “Whoever reads the Qur’aan is not returned to senile old age and that is the meaning of Allaah’s Statement, “Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low, except those who believe…” – he said ‘those that recite the Qur’aan” [5]

The Haafidh of Qur’aan is lowered into his grave before others

Just like Allaah `azza wa jall raised the value of the bearer of Qur’aan in this world and made him the most deserving of leadership amongst the people, He has also raised his rank and value in the Hereafter by making him the most deserving of entering his grave first.

Narrated from Jabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (radhiallaahu `anhumaa): The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to gather together two men from those killed in Uhud in one piece of cloth, then he would say, “Which one of them knows Qur’aan more?” If one of them was pointed out to him, he would lower him into the grave first and say, “I am a witness over them on the Day of Judgement.” He would then order for their burial in their blood and they were not washed nor were they prayed over. [6]

Steps and Causes that Aid in the Memorisation of Qur’aan

4 – Seeking Forgiveness

A person forgets all that he has memorised due to his sins and for that reason he should increase in istighfaar (seeking forgiveness). Ibn Mas’ood (radhiallaahu `anhu) said, ‘I reckon a man forgets knowledge that he has learnt due to a sin that he has earned.’ And if a mas’ala (matter) became ambiguous for Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullaah), he would say to his companions, ‘This is not except due to a sin I have commited’ and he would seek forgiveness and perhaps even pray, then the mas’ala would become clear to him.

5 – Cleansing of the soul from bad akhlaaq

Learning the Qur’aan is worship of the heart, prayer in secret and drawing closer to Allaah `azza wa jall, and just like the fact that the prayer is not valid except with outward tahaarah (purity) of the body, clothes and place of prayer… the inner acts of worship – of the heart – are not valid except with the purification of the heart from hypocrisy, deception, filth, malice and envy, enmity and hatred – and those are the impurities of the heart, soul and inner being. The Noble Qur’aan is like a crop/plantation, it does not grow except in good, fertile soil. As for land that is salty or deprived, then no produce will come forth and if some things do come out, then they will not grow and if they do grow, they will not produce fruit and even if they do produce fruit, it will not be of good quality. So the Qur’aan will not grow or produce fruit except in a good, pure and righteous heart. Due to this, it is incumbant upon the student of Qur’aan that he should be clean and pure from these bad characteristics and adorn himself with good, honourable and generous characteristics like truthfulness, honesty, sincerity, and in a nutshell, all that faith requires.

6 – That he intends to adorn his heart and clean his soul by his learning

It is incumbant upon the student of Qur’aan that he intends by his learning to adorn his heart, clean his soul, purify his inner being and that he intends to draw closer to Allaah, ascend to be with the Noble Angels and join the rows of the Angels, as Umm al-Mu’mineen, ‘Aisha (radhiallaahu `anhaa) informed us of that when she said, “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels.” And we all know that the Angels descended to listen to Usaid ibn Hudhayr [7]

7 – Dedicating a specific time for Hifdh

From the things that will aid you in the memorisation of Qur’aan is that you dedicate a specific time towards hifdh and you inform your brothers/sisters that you will be busy during this time so that no-one can disturb you from your hifdh.
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References:

[1] Reported by Muslim [2699]
[2] Narrated by al-Haakim, al-Albani declared it saheeh in ‘al-silsilah al-saheeha [660]
[3] Nuzhatul-Fudhalaa [1/248]
[4] Nuzhatul-Fudhalaa [1/258]
[5] Al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb [2/355] – Al-Mundhari said, ‘al-Haakim said ‘its chain is saheeh’
[6] Reported by al-Bukhari
[7] Samaat Taalib Halaqat al-Qur’aan – Ramadan Muhammad Hasan al-Samdeesi [pg. 23 - 25]

“For You is an Appointed Time” [`Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz]

As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaah

Below is a short clip on the last khutbah by ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-’Aziz (rahimahullaah). Absolutely amazing subhan’Allaah - below is the clip (featured on al-’Afasy channel) and a quick translation of it:

خطب عمر بن عبد العزيز
آخر خطبة خطبها فقال فيها

‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-`Aziz (rahimahullaah) said in his last khutbah:

[يا أيها الناس]

O people,

إنكم لم تخلقوا عبثاً
ولم تتركوا سدىً

Indeed you have not been created for mere play
Nor will you be left in vain

وإن لكم معاداً
ينزل الله فيه للفصل بين عباده

And for you is an appointed time
Wherein Allaah will descend to judge between his servants

فقد خاب وخسر من خرج من رحمة الله
التي وسعت كل شيء

Truly the failure is he who has left the Mercy of Allaah
which has encompassed all things

و حرم جنة عرضها السماوات والأرض

And who has been forbidden from Paradise,
its width as wide as the heavens and the earth

ألا ترون أنكم في أسلاب هالكين

Don’t you see that you are indeed in a destroyed plunder

وسيرثها بعدكم الباقون

And those after you shall inherit it

كذلك حتى ترد إلى خير الوارثين

Like that it will be, until it is returned to the Best of Inheritors (Allaah)

و في كل يوم تشيعون غادياً ورائحاً إلى الله

And everyday you are going back and forth escorting (someone) to Allaah

قد قضى نحبه
و أنقضى أجله

His term has been settled
And his life is over

أتودعونه و تدعونه في صدع من الأرض
غير موسّد ولا ممهّد

Will you then bid him farewell and call him from the rough and unleveled cracks of the earth?

قد خلع الأسباب
و فارق الأحباب
و سكن التراب
و واجه الحساب

He has left all provisions
And left his beloved ones
He has settled to live among dust
And is due to face the reckoning

غني عما خلف
فقير إلى ما أسلف

He is free from what he has left behind
And in dire need of what he has put forth

فاتقوا الله عباد الله
قبل نزول الموت و انقضاء مواقيته

So fear Allaah O servants of Allaah
Before the descent of death and the coming of his time

و إني لأقول لكم هذه المقالة
وما أعلم عند أحد من الذنوب مما أعلم عندي

Indeed, I say this to you
But none knows as much as I do of the sins (I have) earned

ولكني
استغفر الله و أتوب إليه

But I seek the forgiveness of Allaah and repent to Him

ثم رفع طرف ردائه و بكى حتى شهق
ثم نزل فما عاد إلى المنبر حتى مات

رحمة الله عليه

He then lifted the ends of his cloak and weeped…
Then he got down and did not return to the minbar until he passed away
May the Mercy of Allaah be upon him.

Ameen

Calligraphy Studies

As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaah

One of the many things that interest me when it comes to Islamic Art is calligraphy It’s absolutely amazing mashaa’Allaah – a lot of detail to it and precision.

A couple of days ago I was watching a program on al-Fajr channel, a specialised channel for Qur’aan and its sciences (my favourite channel!) the documentary was on the print & publication of different mus-hafs and their distribution around the world. It featured a shaykh who was very talented in calligraphy, writing out ayaat of the Qur’aan for the actual publication of a mus-haf, it was beautiful subhan’Allaah and very inspirational.

Soon afterwards, apart from my studies in Arabic and Qur’aan, I decided to study some calligraphy. Currently we’re learning Naskh script, which is the script of the current madani mushafs - afterwards bi’ithnillaah we should move on to Kufi, Diwani, Farsi and possibly Andalusian inshaa’Allaah. Naskh script and Andalusi are two that I would probably like to carry on in the future

[My japanese calligraphy pen and 'al-Mujtahid' pencil]

.

[A little present from my teacher ]

Calligraphy is an entire field of art which is very geometrical and has its own set of rules. Sizes and shapes of letters are based on a particular mizaan (scale of pattern) which revolves around the ‘nuqtah’ (the diamond shaped dot) :

What do you think of calligraphy… do you have a favourite script?

Below are some classical calligraphic scripts mashaa’Allaah:

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Some info: http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AE%D8%B7_%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A

Interrogation, Torture and the Defiance of Muslim Prisoners

As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaah

Innal hamdalillaahi wa-salaatu wa-salaamu `alaa Rasoolillaah

Interrogation & Torture: 7th Century

Towards the end of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam)’s life, a certain man had started to claimed Prophethood in the city of San’aa, Yemen. It was Al-Aswad al-‘Ansiyy, and with this claim of his, he tightened his grip over his people and all had submitted except for a few. Of those few was the righteous Taabi’ee Abu Muslim al-Khawlaani (‘Abdullaah ibn Thuwab) who had refused to acknowledge al-Aswad’s preposterous claim. As a result, al-Aswad ordered for a trench of blazing fire and for Abu Muslim to be called up for interrogation. The people gathered around the blazing fire and the scene that day had a stark similarity to the scene at the time of Ibrahim `alayhisalaam as he faced his own interrogation at the hands of his own people.

Shackled and bound by fetters, Abu Muslim al-Khawlaani was brought in to face al-Aswad, his comrades and the people of San’aa. The conversation that took place between him and them showed not only the bravery, strength and steadfastness of Abu Muslim, but also the defiance of truth against falsehood and of Imaan against Kufraan:

Al-Aswad: Do you bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah?
Abu Muslim: Yes, I bear witness that he is the servant and Messenger of Allaah, and that he is the leader of the Messengers and Seal of all Prophets

Al-Aswad: And do you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allaah?
Abu Muslim: Indeed, in my ears is deafness so I cannot hear you.

Al-Aswad: Then I will throw you in this fire
Abu Muslim: If you throw me into this fire whose fuel is only wood, then I will be saved from the Fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are appointed angels stern and severe, who flinch not from executing the commands they receive from Allah, but do what they are commanded.

Al-Aswad: I will not hasten it upon you. Instead I’ll give you a chance for your senses to return.

Al-Aswad: Do you bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah?
Abu Muslim: Yes, I bear witness that he is the servant and Messenger of Allaah, and that He sent him with the religion of Truth and Guidance and He sealed all Messages with his Message

Al-Aswad: And do you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allaah?
Abu Muslim: Did I not tell you that there is deafness in my ears, so I cannot hear this saying of yours?!

Anger overtook al-Aswad and from here the sources split, some say Abu Muslim al-Khawlaani was thrown into the fire, but he was saved from it like Ibrahim `alayhisalaam was saved from the blazing fire. Others say that al-Aswad couldn’t bring himself round to throw him in the fire for fear that he’ll be saved and that the people will follow him, instead exiled him from the land [1]. Whatever the case, the defiance of Abu Muslim al-Khawlaani in the face of tyranny and injustice was clear – he was one man up against a state.

Asmaa bint Abi Bakr (radhiallaahu `anha) was interrogated by pagan chiefs of Makkah as she hid the traces of the Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhim wa sallam) and her father when they made Hijrah to Madinah. Despite being heavily pregnant with her child, she endured the many interrogations she was put to regarding the whereabouts of her father and the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhim wa sallam) and although not a prisoner as such, she still withstood and she held her word.

Khubayb & Bilaal (radhiallaahu `anhum) both had different heartfelt stories to tell as they sat with a group of the Sahabah – stories of days gone by wherein they bore the tyranny and injustice of a people they once lived amongst in freedom from strife. They shared accounts of torture and hostilities, imprisonment and humiliation at the hands of a people who they thought they knew better. Khubayb needn’t say a word as he removed his shirt to reveal the statements of such a torture, and as for Bilaal, eyes only knew too well the reality of his days.

With their likes and more, these honourable figures had ultimately paved the way for the defiance of Muslim prisoners & those tortured in history – held and tortured only because they believed in Allaah.

Interrogation & Torture: 21st Century

With the turning hands of the clock and the change of history, methods of interrogation and torture have indeed also changed. With different times and places came different techniques and schemes of getting the enemy to ‘cough up’ information. Whether those techniques and methods were ‘ethical’ and ‘humane’ depended largely on the existence of a moral backbone on the captors and their respective masters.

Pentagon doctrine, despite holding records for the fact that 95% of prisoners in the cold-war broke upon straightforward questioning, it surprisingly found that interrogators in Afghanistan, and later in Cuba and Iraq, were dumbfounded with just the opposite: practically none of the terror detainees was giving up any piece of information – neither in response to direct questioning, nor to army-approved psychological gambits for prisoners of war. [2]

Almost none of the means and modes of interrogation had remained the same and uniform throughout history, but the defiance of Muslim prisoners certainly hasn’t been brushed with the same brush of change. Boldness in the face of falsehood and standing up for the truth, especially in unfavourable circumstances was a principle firmly established in the hearts of the believers, from the Companions of the Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) to our present day.

The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) commanded, “Say the truth, even if it is bitter” [3] and he encouraged that the best forms of Jihaad is “a word of truth in front of an oppressive ruler…” [4] Such tarbiyyah from the Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) was instilled into the hearts and minds of generations, from the Companions to our current times.

The state of the imprisoned believer is like no other and that is because his crime is like no other – imprisoned only because of his obedience to Allaah, imprisoned only because of his belief in Allaah. “Would you kill a man because he says: My Lord is Allaah…” [5] For such a person then, to be defiant is no less of a right as such a believer who enjoys the worship of the Most Merciful does not view himself as a criminal deserving of punishment, but it is as Ibn Taymiyyah so eloquently put it, “The prisoner is only he who is imprisoned from his Lord” – shackled away by his sin and transgression. The believer has nothing to lose yet everything to gain. His state elevates along with his rank, shifting from patience to gratitude, from hope of Paradise to desiring the Meeting of Allaah `azza wa jall, and from pain to pleasure. From pain to pleasure? Indeed. Finding enjoyment and pleasure in a test and trial is the highest degree of faith, reliance and patience, reserved for those whom Allaah loves. A believer moves from being patient over the Decree of Allaah and accepting it, to being pleased with it. This is a concept and a reality unheard of and incomprehensible to the minds of the world. When the one imprisoned, tortured, hassled and troubled for the Sake of his Lord reaches such a state, then his state of belief expresses and shines from him. His inner strength and anchors of faith come into play and this will surely enrage his enemies. This is clear in the parable that Allaah puts forth at the end of Soorah al-Fath regarding the Companions in specific & the believers in general: “But their description in the Gospel is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers – that He may enrage the disbelievers with them…” [6] The strength, uprightness and firmness of the believers will always enrage their enemies because it shows defiance and victory on another level. As the poet said,

Be patient over the plot of the envier
Your patience will surely kill him
For the fire only consumes itself
If it doesn’t find something else to consume

Without a doubt, current affairs surrounding the Muslim prisoners ushered in under the so-called ‘War on terror’ has taken many turns – much of the time, for the worse. Guantanamo Bay whose prisoners are still incarcerated to this day, marking more than 5 years tells a story beyond oppression, unfair detention and injustice. Believe it or not, it actually tells a story of remarkably unbreakable men who despite being put to unending interrogation, psychological games and harsh conditions have held on and proved resilient when their captors and indeed even the world expected them to fall. One interrogator in Guantanamo Bay stated that when tempted with a return to their families in exchange for any information, the prisoners would simply respond by saying, “…‘I’ve divorced this life; I don’t care about my family.” [7] The interrogators had clearly underestimated ‘the enemy’ and they were undoubtedly powerless despite claiming to be the ones ‘holding the reigns.’ It is for this reason that torture has broken out in many camps, jails and detention centres like Abu Ghraib and Bagram. Frustration at being unable to subdue, and break the prisoner has pushed ‘those above the law’ to resort to torture and use of force – anything to pacify, disorientate, harm and extract information – any information regardless – in as quick a time as possible.

Abu Ghraib showed us an example of the above coupled with grossly corrupt ‘orders from high up’ which seem to have no accountability – until particular voices are raised that is, voices other than those of the prisoners. The CIA has been known to use certain techniques on prisoners, such as ‘water-boarding’ on Khalid Shaykh Muhammad, where he was forcefully submerged in water [8]. The use of dogs, humiliation by stripping, isolation for hours at times accompanied with blasting heavy metal music, sleep deprivation, lack of medical attention, indefinite detention as well as countless other acts have indeed obliterated any existing human rights and can even be classified as torture. What’s more despicable is that the interrogators and guards were constantly made to feel that these were not merely acceptable acts but rather they were noble and patriotic ones. However, resilience is resilience and defiance is just that. By far, none of these measures have been enough to destroy the Muslim prisoners, neither historically nor in our current times.

The account of Imaam Ahmad is a glowing illustration of this when he was caged, tortured and made to the bear the iron fist of tyranny – but he resisted and emerged to confirm the triumph he had over an administration and a population. His triumph meant a lucid victory for the Islamic ideology and creed.

Abu Farraas al-Hamdaani was a famous warrior who would exhibit courage and many skills in war. When taken prisoner in the land of the Romans, he held defiant and was bold, often reciting poetry to demonstrate his bravery and defence:

They say: “What fortitude keeps back your tears!
Are naught there affections that hold you sway?”
But nay, am I full of anguish and fears,
But I am one to keep my heart at bay.

In truth the fire glows within my breast.
If kindled by my memories rehearsed;
My love would I visit, but first calls death;
Let no rain fall if I must die in thirst.

A captive I’ve become while with my men;
And not unproven were master and steed.
But when Allah, of his decrees does send,
Not land or sea can save you from the deed.

When his cousin who held the position of a king refused to ransom him out, he responded back in defiance:

 My people will surely remember me
When their situation worsens (in war)
And in the darkness of the night
When the moon is surely missed

We have ranging examples from that of the leading scholars of the established schools of thought to that of even women such as Khawla bint al-Azwar who defied all to free her brother who was held captive by the Romans.

For centuries this Ummah has also had to bear the brunt of injustice, many times from within. Scholars and revivalists, youth and even the layman have been subject to unjust captivity and persecution but the Sunnah of Allaah `azza wa jall in His believing servants has remained firm and unchanged. Light is not like the darkness and truth can never be forever subdued. As Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’aala said,

“And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way over the believers.” [9]

We ask Allaah `azza wa jall for thabaat (steadfastness) and a near victory.

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References:

[1] Suwar min Hayaat at-Taabi’een by ‘Abdur-Rahman al-Baasha
[2] ‘How to Interrogate Terrorists’ by Heather MacDonald
[3] Reported by al-Bayhaqi
[4] Al-Nisaa’ee no. 4209
[5] Soorah al-Ghaafir: 28
[6] Soorah al-Fath: 29
[7] Ref.2, pg.86
[8] Ref.2, pg.92
[9] Soorah al-Nisaa: 141

My comrades said that I must flee or die;
What bitter option can the sweetest be!
To that which brings me no disgrace I fly;
The best of choices is captivity.