Story Number 11:
The Way to Achieve Success
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Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a Najdi came to the presence of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). His hair was disheveled, and he was speaking in such a way that we could hear his voice but could not understand what he was saying. When he came closer, it became clear that he was inquiring about the meaning of Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told him that there are five daily prayers. The Najdi asked, “Is there any other obligatory prayer upon me besides these?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “No, but if you pray voluntary prayers, that is very good.” Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned the fasts of Ramadan. The Najdi asked, “Is there any other fast obligatory upon me besides these?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “No, but if you observe voluntary fasts, that is very good.” After that, the Prophet (peace be upon him) spoke about Zakat. The Najdi asked, “Is there anything else I must give besides Zakat?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “No! But if you give as voluntary charity, that is very good.” After hearing this, the Najdi said aloud as he left, “By God! I will not add to or subtract from this.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If this person is truthful, then he has succeeded.”
Benefit:
From this incident, it does not necessarily follow that the pillars of Islam are only these: prayer, fasting, and Zakat. The main purpose here is to explain that Islam includes both financial and physical acts of worship, some of which are mentioned here, and after embracing Islam, a person acquires knowledge of the rest as needed.
Secondly, it is no secret that lengthy philosophical discussions are harmful when converting a non-Muslim to Islam. In such situations, Islam should be presented in the easiest possible way so that the other person accepts it immediately.
Story Number 12
Deprivation of Knowledge Due to Fighting and Quarreling
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Hazrat Ubada bin Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) says that (one night) the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went out to inform about Laylat al-Qadr, but two Muslims were quarreling with each other. Seeing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I went out to give you some information about Laylat al-Qadr, but since so-and-so people were fighting, the knowledge of Laylat al-Qadr was taken away (meaning Laylat al-Qadr became unknown and it was not remembered on which date it falls), and perhaps this is better for you. Therefore, seek it on the 23rd, 27th, and 25th nights.”
Benefit:
This incident clearly shows the harm of fighting, quarrels, and mutual discord, as sometimes due to its misfortune, a person is deprived of a great portion of knowledge, over which one can do nothing except regret, because it is well known:
The value of a blessing is realized after its loss.
It will not be without benefit to mention here that the majority of the public consider Laylat al-Qadr to be on the 27th night of Ramadan, although it is not certain that Laylat al-Qadr falls on the 27th night of Ramadan. However, it is possible, but this possibility is not exclusive to that night alone; rather, this probability and possibility exist on every odd night of the last ten nights. Therefore, insisting on this is also not correct.
Story Number 13:
Four Commands and Four Prohibitions
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Hazrat Abu Jamrah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when I used to go and sit with Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), he would seat me on his throne. Once I went to him, and he said to me, “Stay with me; I will give you some of my wealth.” So I stayed with him for two months.
(One day) Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that once some representatives of the Abdul Qais tribe came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked them, “Who are you?” They replied, “We are from Bani Rabiah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Welcome, neither disgraced nor humiliated.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, by Allah! Except during the sacred months, we do not get the opportunity to come to your presence because the tribes of Mudar, these disbelievers, stand between us and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So please give us some ruling so that we can convey it to those who are left behind, and through it, we all may enter Paradise.” After that, these people asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the ruling regarding wine vessels.
He (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade them from four things and commanded them to do four things: (First) He commanded belief in the One God and said, “Do you know what it means to believe in Allah?” They replied, “Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) know well.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Believing in Allah means to testify to لااله الله محمد الرسول الله, then to regularly perform prayers, give zakat, fast in Ramadan, and pay one-fifth of the spoils of war.” The things He forbade them from using were:
➊ Lacquered vessels
➋ Copper vessels made from pumpkin gourd
➌ Wooden vessels
➍ Vessels coated with oily resin
Then He said, “Remember these and inform those who are left behind.”
Benefit:
It should be noted that the prohibition mentioned in this hadith regarding the four things pertains to vessels and containers that were used by the people of ignorance for drinking alcohol. Obviously, the prohibition of using these vessels was to further emphasize the abhorrence of alcohol and to instill this in people’s hearts. Otherwise, the vessels themselves cannot be considered inherently forbidden, nor has the Shariah taught such a concept.
Story Number 14:
Every Muslim’s Well-Wisher
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Hazrat Zaid bin Alaqah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that on the day Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood on the pulpit. First, he praised and glorified Allah, then he said: O people! Fear the One and Only God without partner and choose peace and tranquility (do not create discord and turmoil) until your (new) ruler arrives, for he is coming soon. Pray to Allah for forgiveness for the former ruler (i.e., Mughirah bin Shu’bah) because forgiveness was dear to him from the heart.
After that, he said: One day I came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said that I want to pledge allegiance to Islam. He took my pledge on the condition that I would be a well-wisher of every Muslim. Accordingly, I pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him) on this condition. By the Lord of this mosque! I am your well-wisher. In the end, Hazrat Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) descended from the pulpit while seeking forgiveness.
Benefit:
The central theme of this incident is “well-wishing and sympathy towards Muslims,” which is explained in another hadith as follows: Religion is entirely about well-wishing, whether it is towards humans, animals, plants, or inanimate objects. Being well-wishing towards every creature of Allah elevates a person to a very high status.
Story Number 15:
When does the trust begin to be lost?
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Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) says that once in a gathering, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was narrating something. At that moment, an Arab Bedouin came forward and asked, “When will the Day of Judgment occur?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) continued narrating the hadith without paying attention to him. Then someone said, “You have not heard him.” Finally, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) finished narrating the hadith, he asked, “Where is the one who asked about the Day of Judgment?” The Bedouin replied, “O Messenger of Allah, I am here!” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “When trust begins to be lost, then wait for the Day of Judgment.” The Bedouin asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how will trust be lost?” He replied, “When the incompetent are given authority, then at that time wait for the Day of Judgment.”
Benefit:
Among other things, this incident proves that if a scholar, imam, or preacher is delivering a speech or sermon, no questions should be asked in the middle of the sermon. Instead, one should write the question on a paper and give it to them; they will respond at an appropriate time. Otherwise, the flow of the speech and lesson is disrupted, and the continuity of the discourse is broken. If the speaker continues the discourse, then fatwas start being issued against him, saying he is very arrogant, proud, and does not listen to others. Clearly, considering this behavior objectionable in the light of the mentioned hadith is equivalent to objecting to the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself, which certainly no Muslim can do.
Story Number 16:
Heels Remaining Dry Causes Punishment
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Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) says that during a journey, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fell behind us. When he (peace be upon him) arrived, he saw that we had delayed the prayer (while waiting for him). Well! We began to perform ablution and hurriedly started wiping the feet. Upon seeing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) loudly said two or three times, “(If they remain dry,) there will be the punishment of fire for the heels.”
Benefit:
Since washing the feet in ablution is obligatory, and if the heels remain dry, this obligation is not fulfilled, which indicates that the ablution is not complete. In the absence of ablution, the correctness of the prayer can only be a misconception. It is never true. Therefore, special care should be taken to wash the heels properly.
Story Number 17:
A Bedouin’s Conversation with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
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Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه says that one day we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the mosque, when a man riding a camel arrived, came into the mosque, made the camel sit down, and tied the she-camel with a rope. Then he asked, “Who among you is Muhammad ﷺ?” At that time, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sitting in the middle, leaning on a cushion. We replied, “This fair-skinned man leaning on the cushion is Muhammad ﷺ.”
The man turned to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “O son of Abdul-Muttalib!” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Yes, I am listening (state your purpose).” The man said, “I want to ask you something, and I will be a bit strict in my questioning, so do not be angry with me.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Ask whatever you want.”
He said, “I swear by your Lord and the Lord of previous people, did God send you as a prophet for all people?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes, by God, He sent me as a prophet for all.” He said, “I swear by Allah, did God command you to pray five times a day and night?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes, by God.” He said, “I swear by Allah, tell me, did God command you to fast during the month of Ramadan every year?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes, by God.” He said, “I swear by Allah, tell me, did God command you to collect zakat from our wealthy and distribute it among the poor?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes, by God!”
Hearing this, the man said, “I believe in everything you have brought from God, and I am a representative of my people. My name is Dhumam bin Tha’labah.”
Benefit:
The explanation of this hadith is found in the next hadith of Sahih Bukhari, which contains more details of this incident. This is a gift for the general benefit of the readers.
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه says that since we were frequently forbidden in the Quran from asking the Prophet too many questions, we deeply wished that some wise Bedouin would come and ask the Prophet ﷺ a question so that we could listen. Once, a Bedouin came and said to the Prophet ﷺ, “Your messenger came to us and said that you claim God has made you a prophet?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “He spoke the truth.”
The Bedouin said, “Who created the lands and mountains?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “God created them.” The Bedouin said, “I swear by the Pure Being who created the heavens and the earth, established the mountains, and produced beneficial things in them, did God send you as a messenger?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes!”
The Bedouin said, “Your messenger said that five prayers are obligatory on us and zakat is necessary on our wealth?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “He spoke the truth.” The Bedouin said, “I swear by the God who sent you as a messenger, did God command you to do this?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes!”
The Bedouin said, “Your messenger said that fasting one month in a year is obligatory on us?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “He spoke the truth.” The Bedouin said, “I swear by the God who made you a prophet, did God command you this?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes!”
The Bedouin said, “Your messenger also said that Hajj to the Kaaba is obligatory on those among us who are able?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “He spoke the truth.” The Bedouin said, “I swear by the God who sent you as a messenger, did God command you this?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes!”
Finally, the Bedouin said, “By the God who sent you with truthfulness, I will not add or subtract anything from it.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “If this is true, then he has entered Paradise.”
Story Number 18:
Duration of Sermons and Advice
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Hazrat Abu Ayyal says that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) used to deliver sermons to people every Thursday. One person requested, “O Abu Abdur Rahman (this is the kunyah of Ibn Masood), I want you to preach to us daily.” Hazrat Abdullah replied, “I do not want to burden you. That is why I preach occasionally, just as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to preach to us occasionally, because he (peace be upon him) was mindful that we might get bored.”
Benefit:
This incident proves the validity of weekly lessons, as it is easier for the speaker and the listeners do not get bored. If the lessons were daily, they would not be sustainable.
Story Number 19:
How long will the Divine Religion last?
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Hazrat Amir Muawiya (may Allah be pleased with him) once said during a speech that I heard from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that he said: Allah Almighty grants the understanding of religion to whom He wishes to do good to. I am only the distributor; the real Giver is Allah. This Ummah will always remain steadfast on the Divine Religion, and their opponents will not be able to harm them until the command of Allah comes.
Benefit:
The establishment of the Divine Religion lasts until the command of Allah. When Allah’s will is to destroy this world, a cool and fragrant breeze will blow that will take the souls of every Muslim man and woman, and in the world, no one will remain except the disbelievers and evildoers, and the Day of Judgment will be established upon them.
Story Number 20:
The Example of a Muslim
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Hazrat Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I was traveling with Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to Medina. (During the journey) Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated only one hadith attributed to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and did not narrate any other hadith. He said that we were sitting with the Prophet (peace be upon him) when some date pulp was presented before him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Among the trees, there is one whose leaves do not fall; this is the example of a Muslim. I thought to say that it is the date palm tree, but since I was the youngest, I remained silent. However, in the end, the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself said that the tree is the date palm.
Benefit:
The details of this incident have come in some other narrations in such a way that when Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated this incident to his noble father, Hazrat Farooq-e-Azam (may Allah be pleased with him), he said that your remaining silent was more preferable to me because if your opinion had been correct, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have confirmed it, otherwise, he would have corrected you. However, from this incident, the lesson of “adab” (respect) is understood—that one should not display their knowledge in front of elders.
