Commentary ~ The Wife of the Caliph Nurses a Pregnant Woman

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

As was his custom, ‘Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), the Leader of the Believers, went out at night to look after the needs of the people and to make sure that everyone was safe. As he passed by an open area in Al-Madinah, he heard the moans of a woman coming out from a small and shabby house, at the door of which was a man seated. ‘Umar greeted him and asked him how he was. The man said that he was from the desert and had come, seeking to reap some generosity from the Leader of the Believers. ‘Umar asked him about the woman and the moaning noises, and the man, not knowing that he was speaking to the Leader of the Believers, said, “Go away, may Allah have mercy on you, and do not ask about that which does not concern you.”

However ‘Umar persisted in asking the same question, offering to help if he could. And so the man informed him, “Indeed she is my wife, who is about to give birth, yet there is no one here to help her.” ‘Umar left the man, returned to his house in a hurry, entered, and said to his wife, Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with her), “Will you take reward that Allah has brought to you?” She said, “And what is that goodness and reward, O ‘Umar?”

No sooner did he inform her of what happened than she stood and took all that she needed to help the woman deliver her baby and all that the newborn would need as well. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Believers took a pot and with it some fat and grains. He and his wife hurried off together until they reached the same shabby house. While Umm Kulthum went in to help the pregnant woman, the Leader of the Believers remained outside with the husband, and cooked the food that he brought with him.

From inside the house, Umm Kulthum called out, “O Leader of the Believers, give glad tidings to your companion that Allah has provided him with a young boy.” The man was amazed to find out that it was the Leader of the Believers who was seated with him and who was cooking food with him; and the wife was shocked to learn that it was the wife of the Leader of the Believers who came to meet her and help her in her shabby house.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 110

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Hadith ~ A man of the rightful dwellers of Paradise

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): ‘Once we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (SAWS). He said: “There will appear before you a man of the rightful dwellers of Paradise.” Anas said: ‘A man of Al-Ansar appeared before us. He was shaking off water from his beard after performing the ablution carrying his sandals in his left hand. He greeted us.’ The following day, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said the same and that man appeared once again. On the third day, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said the same and that man appeared once again.’ When the Prophet (SAWS) left, Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al-Ass followed the man. He said to him; ‘I have had some words with my father and swore not to stay in my house for three nights. Please let me accompany you for the three nights. The man accepted. Abdullah spent three nights with the man. He observed that the man did not perform the night prayer (he performed the obligatory prayer Ishaa but not the voluntary prayers) but whenever he rolled over from side to side while sleeping, he used to glorify Allah. He did not get up except for the Dawn prayer (Fajr). Abdullah said; ‘I did not hear him saying anything but good. After the three nights had passed and I was about to contempt what he had used to do (of the minimal acts of worship), I said to him; ‘O servant of Allah! There was nothing between my father and me, but I have heard the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) saying such and such about you, so, I wanted to see what you do. I did not see you doing much goodness. What has raised you to such a rank?’ The man said; ‘It was only what you have seen. When I went out, the man called me and said; ‘It was only what you have seen. But I do not envy a Muslim for what Allah has given him.’ Abdullah said to him; ‘Nothing made you reach that rank except this. And not all of us are able to do so.’

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous) (Abridged)
By Imam An Nawawi Vol. (2)
Publisher: Dar Al-Manarah
ISBN: 977.6005.23.3
Chapiter 250, Page 1008, Number 865

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Ayaat 110-120 ~ Al-Ma’idah (The Table Spread with Food)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Listen to Recitation

110. (Remember) when Allâh will say (on the Day of Resurrection). “O ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Remember My Favour to you and to your mother when I supported you with Rûh­ul­Qudus [Jibrael (Gabriel)] so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you writing, Al­Hikmah (the power of understanding), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel); and when you made out of the clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My Permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a bird by My Permission, and you healed those born blind, and the lepers by My Permission, and when you brought forth the dead by My Permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from you (when they resolved to kill you) since you came unto them with clear proofs, and the disbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’ “

111. And when I (Allâh) put in the hearts of Al-Hawârîeen (the disciples) [of 'Iesa (Jesus)] to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: “We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims.”

112. (Remember) when Al-Hawârîûn (the disciples) said: “O ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Can your Lord send down to us a table spread (with food) from heaven?” ‘Iesa (Jesus) said: “Fear Allâh, if you are indeed believers.”

113. They said: “We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in Faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses.”

114. ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O Allâh, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers.”

115. Allâh said: “I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among (all) the ‘Alamîn (mankind and jinns).”

116. And (remember) when Allâh will say (on the Day of Resurrection): “O ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto men: ‘Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allâh?’ ” He will say: “Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner­self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All­Knower of all that is hidden and unseen.

117. “Never did I say to them aught except what You (Allâh) did command me to say: ‘Worship Allâh, my Lord and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. (This is a great admonition and warning to the Christians of the whole world).

118. “If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the All­Mighty, the All­Wise .”

119. Allâh will say: “This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) – they shall abide therein forever. Allâh is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise).

120. To Allâh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein, and He is Able to do all things.

Sura 5. Al-Ma’idah (The Table Spread with Food)

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Commentary ~ Avoiding the state of being proud

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Hasan Basri advised some of his students admonishing them about avoiding the state of being proud. He said:

1) Do not deceive yourself into becoming too proud because you are in a good or righteous environment, for there is no place that is better than Paradise, and our father, Adam (peace be upon him), experienced there what is known to all.

2) Do not become proud merely because you worship often, for consider what happened to Iblis (Satan) after he spent a great deal of time worshipping.

3) Do not think yourself great because you have met with righteous people, for there is no man more righteous than the Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection), yet the disbelievers and hypocrites did not benefit by simply knowing him.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 182

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Hadith ~ Easy for the tongue

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Narrated by Abu-Horaira (may Allah be pleased with him): ‘The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “There are two expressions that are very easy for the tongue to say, but they are very heavy in the balance and are very dear to the Beneficent (Allah), and they are: ‘Subhan Allah Al-Azim’ and ‘Subhan Allah wa Bihamdihi’.” (1) (Bukhari 415, Vol.8)

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous) (Abridged)
By Imam An Nawawi Vol. (2)
Publisher: Dar Al-Manarah
ISBN: 977.6005.23.3
Chapiter 225, Page 888, Number 767

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Ayaat 21-23 ~ Ibrahim (Abraham)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Listen to Recitation

21. And they all shall appear before Allâh (on the Day of Resurrection) then the weak will say to those who were arrogant (chiefs): “Verily, we were following you; can you avail us anything from Allâh’s Torment?” They will say: “Had Allâh guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference to us (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience, there is no place of refuge for us.”[1]

22. And Shaitân (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allâh promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allâh (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).”

23. And those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messengers and whatever they brought) and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, – to dwell therein forever (i.e.in Paradise), with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: Salâm (peace!) .

Sura 14. Ibrahim (Abraham)

[1]: Audio lecture on the different conversations in Paradise and HellFire can be found here: Part 1 and Part 2.

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Commentary ~ He left without Anything

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Hasan, the son of Abul-Hasan, entered upon Abdullah bin Ahtam, visiting him during his illness. He saw Ibn Ahtam point his finger toward a box in his house. He went to the box and asked Hasan, “O Abu Sa’eed, what would you say about one hundred thousand in this box, of which I have never paid Zakat and from which I have never joined ties of relations.” Hasan replied, “May your mother lose you. For whom were you gathering this wealth?” Ibn Ahtam explained, “I gathered it for difficult times, or the harshness of a cruel ruler, or for an increase in wives and children.”

Shortly after this meeting, Ibn Ahtam died and as he was being buried, Hasan said to those present, “Look at this pitiable person. Satan came to him, making him fear poverty and kept him from spending of that which Allah (the Exalted) gave to him. And now he has departed from this world, empty-handed and miserable.” Hasan then turned to the inheritors of the deceased and said, “Let not this wealth deceive you as it deceived this companion of yours. This wealth has come to you in a Halal manner, so do not let it be your destruction. For indeed the greatest sorrow on the Day of Judgment will be to see your wealth, which you toiled to gather (from both Halal and Haram sources), in the scales of your inheritors – if they do good with the money (charity, etc.), the good deed is with them, and the sin of that wealth is upon you.”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 33

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Hadith ~ Three exceptions

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Narrated by Abu-Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): ‘Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “When the son of Adam dies no further reward is recorded for his actions, with three exceptions: charity whose benefit is continuous, knowledge from which benefit continues to be reaped, or the supplication of a righteous son (for him).”‘ (Muslim)

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous) (Abridged)
By Imam An Nawawi Vol. (2)
Publisher: Dar Al-Manarah
ISBN: 977.6005.23.3
Chapiter 151, Page 653, Number 486

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Ayaat 212-216 ~ Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Listen to Recitation

212. Beautified is the life of this world for those who disbelieve, and they mock at those who believe. But those who obey Allâh’s Orders and keep away from what He has forbidden, will be above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allâh gives (of His Bounty, Blessings, Favours, Honours, etc. on the Day of Resurrection) to whom He wills without limit.

213. Mankind were one community and Allâh sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. And only those to whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it after clear proofs had come unto them through hatred, one to another. Then Allâh by His Leave guided those who believed to the truth of that wherein they differed. And Allâh guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.

214. Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the Help of Allâh?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allâh is near!

215. They ask you (O Muhammad) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred and orphans and Al­Masâkin (the poor) and the wayfarers, and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allâh knows it well.

216. Jihâd (holy fighting in Allâh’s Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allâh knows but you do not know.

Sura 2. Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

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Commentary ~ Good and Bad Deeds

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimahuAllah), in his book Ad-Da’ Wad-Dawa’, said that surely sins are like the seeds of fruits that always bear like fruits. Some of our pious predecessors have said that indeed the punishment for committing a sin is that one is compelled to commit sin again, and the reward for committing a good deed is the guidance to follow that up with yet another good deed. This singular action of doing a good deed bears a series of good deeds and in turn one’s profits multiply. Similarly bad deeds beget more bad deeds and begin to take shape and permanence in one’s character.

If a righteous person were to leave a good deed, he would feel confined and constricted, though he lives in a world of vast magnitude. Much like a fish out of water, the soul finds rest only in the tides of moral decency. So, it is the same for the sinner, who finds comfort only in the familiarity and repetition of an old sin. He, too, feels the same sense of longing as the righteous person does. He sins not for the pleasure that is derived from it, but to pacify the pain that being away from it brings.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 32

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Hadith ~ If you put your faith completedly in Allah

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Umar ibn-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: Indeed, if you put your faith completedly in Allah, as it ought to be, then surely you will be provided sustenance as birds are provided for. They leave in the morning with their stomachs empty and return in the evening duly filled. (Tirmidhi)

Audio lecture on the meaning of this hadith can be found here.

Muntakhab Ahadith
Compiled by Muhammad Yousuf Kandhlavi
Publisher: Annayyar
Chapter 1, Page 16, Number 31

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Ayaat 1-3 ~ Al-Asr (The Time)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Listen to Recitation

1. By Al-’Asr (the time).

2. Verily! Man is in loss,

3. Except those who believe[1] and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth[2], and recommend one another to patience[3].

Sura 103. Al-Asr (The Time)

[1]: in Islâmic Monotheism

[2]: i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma’rûf)which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar)which Allâh has forbidden

[3]: For the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh’s Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd, etc.

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