Story Number 31:
What is the Soul?
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Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that one day I was walking with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in an uninhabited part of Medina. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was walking with support on a date palm stick. On the way, the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by a group of Jews. Seeing the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Jews started telling each other to ask him about the soul. One said, “Do not inquire; it might be that they will recite some unpleasant word to you.” But some said, “We will definitely ask.” (Whatever happens.) Accordingly, one of them stood up and said, “Abu al-Qasim, what is the soul?” Upon hearing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) remained silent for a while. I understood that revelation was being revealed to him, so I stood up. When the difficulty of revelation passed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited this verse: “They ask you about the soul. Say: The soul is a command from my Lord, and you have been given only little knowledge about it.”
Benefit:
As much as humans have understood the limits of the universe, it is not the reality and knowledge from the divine perspective. Indeed, even the most educated class may not consider this thought correct, and we have not yet been fully successful in unveiling the hidden secrets of the universe. The extent to which human intellect and consciousness are needy and weak can be estimated by the fact that human intellect still stumbles in discovering cures for countless diseases. So, reaching the reality of the “soul,” understanding it, and becoming acquainted with it is beyond human capacity. That is why the Quran only states that “the soul is a command,” because there is no capacity to understand more than this.
Story Number 32:
The Rights of Allah over His Servants
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Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that once, while traveling, Hazrat Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) was riding a camel behind the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him, “Mu’adh!” He replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said again, “Mu’adh!” He replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” This happened three times. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever testifies from the heart that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, Allah will forbid Hellfire for him.” Hazrat Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I not inform the people so that they may be happy?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If you inform them, they will become complacent and stop doing good deeds.” Hazrat Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated this hadith out of fear of sin at the time of his death.
Benefit:
It is not obligatory or necessary for Allah Almighty to do anything, but if He takes upon Himself any task out of His mercy, then this is His grace. We are entirely dependent on Allah’s grace; we do not have the strength to endure His justice, otherwise, perhaps no one would survive. Therefore, dear respected readers, it is requested that you protect the belief in Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) more dearly than your own life, lest Satan snatch this priceless gem from you by any means.
Story Number 33:
In the Valleys of Arafat and Muzdalifah
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Hazrat Usama bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) says that (once during the days of Hajj) the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) left Arafat, and when he reached the valley of the mountain, he dismounted from his mount, urinated, and performed ablution but did not complete the full ablution. I said, O Messenger of Allah, the time for Maghrib prayer has come. He (peace be upon him) said the prayer will be later. After that, the Prophet (peace be upon him) mounted again and upon reaching Muzdalifah, he dismounted, performed complete ablution, the call for prayer was made, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed Maghrib. Then everyone took their camels to their respective places, the Takbir for Isha prayer was pronounced, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed Isha. He did not pray any other Sunnah or Nafl between Maghrib and Isha.
Benefit:
It may be that our addressee has already been blessed by visiting the two holy sanctuaries, and perhaps his mind has also wandered through the valleys of Arafat and Muzdalifah. What a beautiful time it must have been when the Imam of the Prophets, the Pride of Creation, the Master of the Worlds, Ahmad Mujtaba, Hamd Mustafa (read it) (peace be upon him) was reciting the chants of “Labbaik” with his devoted and faithful companions, the noble attributes of the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) in those valleys. The field must have echoed with their cries of Takbir. Oh, how we wish we had also witnessed that soul-stirring scene.
Story Number 34:
What if there is a shortage of water?
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Hazrat Ata bin Yasar says that once Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) performed ablution. First, he washed his mouth by taking one mudd of water and rinsing it, then he put water into his nose. Then he took another mudd of water, joined his hands, and washed his mouth with it. Then he took one mudd of water and washed his right hand, then one mudd of water and washed his left hand. After that, he wiped his head. Then he took one mudd of water, sprinkled it on his right foot, and washed it. Then he took another mudd of water and washed his left foot. Finally, he said that he had seen the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) perform ablution in this manner.
Benefit:
If a person goes to a place where water is scarce and the time for prayer arrives, he should not use the shortage of water as an excuse. Instead, he should wash the parts of ablution once each in such a way that no part remains dry. The above-mentioned incident points to this fact. It should be remembered that washing each part of ablution three times is Sunnah, and the wisdom behind this is that no part remains dry. If this condition is fulfilled by washing once, the obligation will be lifted; however, being deprived of the light of Sunnah is not a good thing.
Story Number 35:
Hijab and the Mothers of the Believers
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Umm al-Mu’minin Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that when the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to go out to relieve themselves, they would go out at night in the open fields. However, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to request the Prophet (peace be upon him) to have his wives observe hijab. One day, Umm al-Mu’minin Hazrat Saudah bint Zam’ah (may Allah be pleased with her) went out at night for Isha prayer. Since she was a tall woman, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) recognized her and called out, saying, “We have recognized you,” because Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was very eager for the command of hijab to be revealed. After this, Allah Almighty revealed the command for hijab.
Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “You all are permitted to go out for your needs.” Hisham says that “needs” here means going out to relieve oneself.
Benefit:
Hazrat Farooq-e-Azam (may Allah be pleased with him), although equal in status to all the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), was unique and unparalleled in being the beloved of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was the sole inheritor of divine inspiration and the sole narrator of Hadith. Therefore, the Creator of the heavens and the earth used to honor his desires and wishes.
From this incident, it is also understood that when the “mother” is commanded to observe hijab, then for the daughter, sister, and daughter-in-law, the emphasis on this knowledge will certainly increase. The pure wives of the Prophet are the mothers of the Ummah; now whoever calls and considers themselves their daughter must also necessarily live under the cover of hijab. Otherwise, while claiming a spiritual relationship with these sacred personalities, they must reflect upon their stance.
Story Number 36:
Istinja with Stones
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Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) says that once the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went to relieve himself, and I followed behind him. It was the habit of the Prophet (peace be upon him) not to look around while walking. When I came close to him, he said, “Bring me some stones so that I may perform istinja, but do not bring bones, dung, or anything like that.” So I brought some stones in the hem of my garment for him and placed them beside the Prophet (peace be upon him), then turned my face away from him. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) finished, he performed istinja with them one after another.
Benefit:
Performing istinja with stones is Sunnah, and using water afterward is a source of added light and love for Allah. However, it is necessary to draw attention to one point here: some people have been seen holding a loose stone in their hand while walking and performing istinja. Obviously, this is inappropriate behavior. It is better to dry the urine at one place and then attend to your need. Otherwise, by causing the Sunnah to be discredited, we may not earn any reward.
Story Number 37:
The Sunnah Method of Wudu
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Hazrat Usman رضي الله عنه’s freed slave, Hazrat Humran, says that once, in front of my eyes, Hazrat Usman رضي الله عنه ordered a water vessel to be brought. When the water arrived, he poured water on his hands three times and washed them. After washing, he dipped his right hand in the water and rinsed his mouth and then put water into his nose. Then he washed his face three times and washed both hands up to the elbows three times. After that, he washed both feet up to the ankles three times. Finally, he said that whoever performs wudu in this manner and then prays two rak’ahs (Tahiyat al-Wudu) without engaging in worldly talk in their heart, all their previous sins are forgiven.
In another narration by Hazrat Humran, it is mentioned that after Hazrat Usman رضي الله عنه completed wudu, he said that if the verse ان الذين يكتمون ما انزلنا Al-Khal were not revealed, I would not have told you, but now I will narrate a hadith. I heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم say that whoever performs wudu properly and then prays, all the sins committed until the previous prayer time are forgiven.
Benefit:
I have strong hope from my addressee that today he will surely perform wudu in this manner and offer two rak’ahs of Nafl prayer with utmost humility and devotion because the true addressee is the one who takes a book in hand with the intention to act and engraves its contents in his heart and soul. Oh, if only some sincere person would act upon this as well. It can be claimed that the Lord will surely protect His beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم’s honor and will wash away his sins with His rain of mercy.
Story Number 38:
A Rare Example of Following the Sunnah
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Once, Ubaid bin Jureih asked Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he saw him doing four things which he did not see other companions doing. Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, “What are those things?” Ubaid said:
➊ You touch only two of the Yemeni corners of the Kaaba out of the four corners.
➋ You wear shoes without hair.
➌ You wear clothes dyed yellow.
➍ And when you are in Makkah Mukarramah, people start Ihram as soon as they see the moon, but you do not start Ihram before the eighth day of the month.
Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I have only seen the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) touching the Yemeni corners, so I also touch only those. As for wearing shoes without hair, I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wearing such shoes without hair, and he used to take them off to wash his feet, so I also prefer to use shoes without hair. Regarding the yellow color, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to wear clothes dyed yellow, so I also sincerely desire to dye my clothes yellow. And the reason for Ihram is that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not start Ihram until the she-camel (for travel) was standing.”
Benefit:
A masterpiece of the era of the companions, a shining and radiant star whom the world has always honored by the name “Ibn Umar,” was a living example of following the Sunnah. The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to say in their private gatherings that after the passing of the Prophet Muhammad, the Master of the Two Worlds (peace and blessings be upon him), every companion underwent some change, but this son of Umar was so intoxicated with the passion of following the Sunnah that nothing could change him. If during travel the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stopped to relieve himself at a place and Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by that same place, even if there was no need, out of the zeal for following the Sunnah, he would sit there so that this Sunnah would not be left out. Then how is it possible for him to act against the Sunnah? The need is that this spirit of loyalty should awaken in us as well. May Allah make it so. Ameen!
Story Number 39:
These were Our Prophet ﷺ
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Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says that (one day) the time for Asr prayer arrived, and the people searched for water to perform ablution but could not find any. At that moment, a person came to the presence of the Prophet ﷺ with some water. The Prophet ﷺ placed his hand in that vessel and ordered the people to perform ablution from it. I saw water flowing abundantly from beneath the fingers of the Prophet ﷺ, and so much water came out that all the people performed ablution with it.
Benefit:
This miraculous incident of the Prophet ﷺ has also been mentioned in other places in Bukhari Sharif, where the number of companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who performed ablution with this blessed water flowing from the sacred fingers of the Prophet ﷺ is stated to be even greater. On this occasion, scholars have also written that the importance of Kawthar, Salsabeel, Zamzam, and Tasneem remains as it is, but this water flowing from the blessed fingers of the Prophet ﷺ was superior and more blessed than all other waters. Neither Kawthar nor Zamzam attained the honor of being superior to this water.
Story Number 40:
The great reward for feeling compassion for the voiceless
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Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: A man was walking on a path and felt very thirsty. He found a well, went down into it, drank water, and came out. Just as he came out, he saw a dog panting and licking the mud due to thirst. The man said, “The suffering I felt because of thirst must be the same for this dog.” So he immediately went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, held it in his mouth, and gave water to the dog. Allah appreciated his act and forgave him. The Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), do we get reward for treating animals well too?” He replied, “There is reward for giving water to every thirsty creature.”
Benefit:
Dear readers! In this materialistic life, the search for the best of the best may not be a possible cause for our salvation. The point to ponder is that the Most Merciful, whose mercy is such that He forgives a person for giving water to a dog and punishes for leaving a cat hungry, how could He neglect good treatment towards the noblest of creatures? Reflect on this and prepare yourself for action.
