Sunday 25 January 2015

Importance of a Mother’s Forgiveness – The Story of Alaqma

Mother in Islam

There are Quranic verses and Hadiths showing the importance of forgiveness in Islam and being obedient to our parents. Let us see what happened to Alqamah (radi Allahu anhu) during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Alqamah (radi Allahu anhu) was a very pious person. He spent his time in prayer and fasting. At the approach of death he was unable to proclaim the Kalima Shahada, in spite of repeated instruction by those present. Alqamah’s wife sent a messenger to Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) to inform him of Alqamah’s grave condition.
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) enquired whether the parents of Alqamah were alive. He was informed that Alqamah’s mother was alive. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked the aged mother about Alqamah. She replied: “Alqamah is a very pious person. He passes his time in Salat and Saum. He performs Tahajjud, but he always disobeys me for the sake of his wife. I am, therefore, displeased with him.’
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “It will be best for him if you forgive him.’ However, she refused. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) to gather firewood. On hearing this order, Alqamah’s mother asked in consternation: “Will my child be burnt in the fire?’
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Yes! Compared to the punishment of Allah, our punishment is light. I take oath by Allah that as long as you remain displeased with him, neither his Salat nor his Sadaqah is accepted.’
The old lady said: “I make you and all people present witness that I have forgiven Alqamah.’ Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) addressing the gathering, said: “Go and see if the Kalima is on the tongue of Alqamah or not.’
After returning from Alqamah the people informed him that he was reciting the Kalima. Thus, he left this world with the Kalima on his lips. After burying Alqamah, Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The curse of Allah is on the one who causes difficulty to his mother. The curse of the angels and the curse of mankind be on him. Allah Ta’ala neither accepts his Fardh nor his Nafl Ibadat as long as he does not repent and obey his mother. He has to gain her pleasure as best as he can. Allah’s Pleasure depends on the mother’s pleasure and His Wrath is concealed in her wrath.’” (Ahmad)
This Hadith is an important reminder for us to be respectful and obedient to our parents and try to keep them happy with us. Our mothers deserve our utmost attention, respect and obedience. It is not a small matter to upset them for the sake of our friends or others who we value more.
It is also important to find out what are the rights of our children, spouses, relatives, friends and other Muslims so that we know what Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) wants us to do in case there is a clash between what different people want from us. This is the only proper way to balance relationships as it seeks Allah’s pleasure.

FROM THE QURAN AND HADITH:

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.
[Quran 17:23]
And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.
[Quran 31:14]
Narrated Abu Huraira:
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. ”
[Bukhari and Muslim]

Story about Hazrat Ghaus E Azam Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani Alayhi Rahma




One morning, close to mid day, Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) saw in his dream Huzoor Pur-Noor Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) asked him, “O Abdul Qadir, Why do you not lecture and give advice to the people?” He replied, “Ya Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) I am a non-Arab. What am I going to say in front of the fluen…t-speaking Arabs?” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Open your mouth.” He then placed his blessed Saliva seven times into the mouth of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and said, “Go, address mankind and invite them to the path of your Lord with wise and beautiful words.
After waking from this spiritually enlightening dream, Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) performed his Zohr Salaah and prepared to deliver his first lecture to the people of Baghdad. At once, people began to gather around him and he became nervous. Just then he entered a spiritual condition in which he saw Sher-e-Khuda Sayyiduna Ali-e-Murtaza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) standing in front of him and saying, “Why are you not commencing your lecture?” Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said, “I feel nervous.” Sayyiduna Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) then said, “Open your mouth,” and placed his blessed saliva six times into the mouth of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) who then asked, “Why did you not place your blessed saliva seven times like Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)?” Sayyiduna Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) then replied, “Out of respect for the Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam),” and then disappeared. Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) then commenced his lecture in such pure and fluent Arabic that authorities of the Arabic language seated in his lecture where astounded by his lecture.

One Apple Leads To His Marriage. A Beautiful Story!

One of our pious predecessors, Thabit Bin Nu’man, was hungry and tired as he was passing through a garden that bordered a river. He was so hungry that he could hear his stomach growling, and so his eyes became fixed on the fruits he saw on the various trees of the garden. In a fit of desperation, he forgot himself and extended his hand to an apple that was within reach. He ate half of it and then drank water from the river. But then he became overcome with guilt, despite the fact that he had only eaten because of dire need.
He said to himself, “Woe unto me! How can I eat someone else’s fruits without his permission? I make it binding upon myself not to leave this place until I find the owner of this garden and ask him to forgive me for having eaten one of his apples.“
After a brief search, he found the owner’s house. He knocked on the door and the owner of the garden came out and asked him what he wanted.
Thabit Bin Nu’man said, “I entered your garden that borders the river, and I took this apple and ate half of it. Then I remembered it does not belong to me, and so I ask you now to excuse me for having eaten it and to forgive me for my mistake.“
The man said, “On one condition only I will forgive you for your mistake.“
Thabit Bin Nu’man asked, “And what is that condition?“
He said, “That you marry my daughter.“
Thabit Bin Nu’man said, “I will marry her.“
The man said, “But heed you this; indeed my daughter is blind, she does not see; mute, she does not speak;deaf, she does not hear.“
Thabit Bin Nu’man began to ponder over his situation; a difficult predicament indeed did he find himself in now; what should he do? Not get out of it, thought Thabit, for he realised that to be tested by such a woman, to take care of her, and to serve her, are all better than to eat from the foul matter of the Hellfire as a reward for the apple that he ate. And after all, the days of this world are limited.
And so he accepted the condition to mary the girl, seeking his reward from Allaah, Lord of all that exists. He was nonetheless somewhat anxious in the days prior to the marriage.
He thought, “How can I have sexual relations with a woman who neither speaks nor sees nor hears?“
So miserable did he become that he almost wished for the earth to swallow him up before the appointed date.
Yet despite such apprehensions, he placed his complete trust upon Allaah and he said, “There is neither might nor power except with Allaah. Indeed to Allaah do we belong and indeed to Him shall we al return.“
On the day of the marriage he saw her for the first time. She stood up before him and said,“Peace, mercy and blessings of Allaah be upon you.“
When he saw her grace and beauty, he was reminded of what he would see when he would imagine the fair maidens of paradise (i.e., the gorgeous hoor al-ayn). After a brief pause he said, “What is this? She indeed speaks, hears and sees.” He then told her what her father said earlier.
She said, “My father has spoken the truth. He said I was mute because I do not speak any forbidden word, and I have never spoken to any man who is not lawful to me (i.e., she has never spoken to any ghair mahrams)! And I am indeed deaf in the sense that I have never sat in a gathering in which there is backbiting, slander, or false and vain speech! And I am indeed blind, in the sense that I have never looked upon a man who is not permissible for me!“
Noble reader, reflect on and learn a lesson from this story!
My brothers in Islaam, see how much he feared Allaah, and how much he had his trust in Allaah, and where this got him!
My sisters in Islaam, see how this woman kept herself chaste, pious, in her hijaab, so much so, she was considered mute (not speaking to any man), deaf (avoiding places of backbiting) and blind (not seeing any man). Allaahu Akbar, isn’t it these qualities that pious men love to see in their wives? Nay; aren’t these qualities all men (Muslim and non-Muslims) wish to see in their wives? Isn’t it these qualities that give men the crave and yearn to meet their hoor al-ayn in jannah?
The fruit of this marriage was the birth of a child who grew up to be known as Imaam Abu Haneefah.

Rabi Al Thani

This month, also known as Rabi ul Akhir is the fourth month of the Islamic calendar. The literal meaning of this month means "the second spring". This is perhaps one of the most benefiting months for those who cannot afford food and clothes. Muslim from all over the world perform the acts of generosity through giving Sadqah and doing Fateha/Niyaz in the names of Prophets and Aulia of Allah. In this month the urs of Peeran-e-Peer, Ghauth-e-Pak Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani takes place. This is one of the main reason as to why Muslims give charities and celebrate the personality of Ghauthe Azam.

Salat al Asrar

Also known as Salatul Ghausia, it is specially performed in the month of Rabi al thani, although it is believed that it can be performed in any month. It is proven that if one needs and requires any help and solution for his/her problems then they should perform this Salah. Hazrat Mulla Ali Qari, Hazrat Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehalvi and Hazrat Abdul Hasan Nuruddin have reported from Ghauth e Pak regarding the method of this Salah

1) Complete the fard and sunnat salah of Maghrib

2) After completion perform 2 rakah

3) In each rakah read Surah al Fatiha and then Surah al Ikhlas for 11 times

4) After reciting Surah al Ikhlaas recite, then recite 11 times the dua mentioned below:

YA Rasoola Allah hi YA NAbi Allah hi Aghisni wa Amdidni Fi Qadi ai Hajati Ya Qadi al Hajaat

After reading this dua, take 11 steps towards Iraq and on each step recite this dua:

Ya Ghaus Saqalaini Ya Kareem-at-Tarfaini Aghisni was amdidni fi Qada-e-Hajati Ya Qaadi al Hajaat

After this ask Allah by making the waseela of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and INshallah all your needs will be fulfilled. Remember Ghauth Pak said:

 

If a person in distress or hardships calls out to me, his hardships will be eradicated.
If a person uses my name as a Wasila ( Medium ) when he pleads to Allah Almighty,
his need will be fulfilled

Events in this month

1) Battle of Furu took place from Bahran in 3 AH.

2) Battle of Sariyya took place, in which the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) were honoured to lead it, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not participate. It is reported that Ali ibn Talib (MAy Allah be pleased with him) was consigned for Sariyya with Ibn Alqama Mujazziz Mujdalee

Nawafil in the month of Rabi al thani

on the first of Rabi al Thani perform after Maghrib Salah, perform 8 rakah nawafil in sets of Two Rakah each. After Surah al Fatiha read Surah Ikhlas 3 times in the first rakah and Surah al Kafiroon in the second rakah or Surah al Ikhlas 3 times in all rakah. It is believed that the rewards for his are enormous.

on the 1st, 15th and 29th night of Rabi al thani read 4 rakah nafil with reciting 5 times Surah al-Ihklaas in each rakah after Surah reciting Surah al-fatiha. It is believed that by doing this Allah (subhana was ta'ala) will forgive your 1000 sins and reward you with 1000 blessings. Inshallah.