BEAUTIFUL MESSAGES

BEAUTIFUL MESSAGES

 

The Sacred Journey of A Lifetime - Hajj

The Sacred Journey of A Lifetime Hajj

Assalamualaikum


The HAjj—The Sacred Journey is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is a dream for many and a reality for the invited few. The dawn of the blessed month of Dhul-Hijjah will bring millions to descend upon the sanctified lands of Makkah and Madinah. Following in the footsteps of Rasülulläh (Saw) they will perform their Hajj and thus fulfill a sacred pillar of Islam. With the holy season falling in the traditional year-end holiday period, there is no better time and no worthier place to be than at Hajj. In the company of millions you too can be raising your hands on the plains of 'Arafat,hoping to be cleansed by the rain of DivineMercy and Forgiveness and returning home with a clean slate to start afresh


"The first sanctuary ever built- I for mankind was that Bakkah [Makkah], a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples. In it there are plain signs; the place -where Abraham stood. Whoever enters it is safe. And Pilgrimage to the House Vis a duty to Allah from mankind,for all who are able to make a journey.As for the disbelievers [they should know that] Allah is Independent of all creatures." (Qur'an: Ali Imrän 3:96-97)

(Messenger of Allah (saw) said: 'Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of pleasing Allah and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any evil deed, shall return from Hajj as free from sin as the day on which his mother gave birth to him." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Rasulullah (saw) said: Hajj Mabrür (an accepted Hajj) has no less a reward than Paradise.(Bukhäri and Muslim)


Visiting Madinah after Haj


Visiting Madinah, the city of the Prophet (S), has no relation or connection with Hajj rituals as some people may believe. It is a separate thing that a person can do at any time during the year. Visiting the Prophet's Masjid is a recommended Sunnah. The Prophet (S) said,

"There are only three mosques that travelling specifically to them is recommended: The Holy Masjid -in Makkah - and the Masjid of Rassulul-Allah (S) and the Farthest Masjid -in Jerusalem." [Agreed upon]

The prayer in the Prophet's Masjid is better than one thousand prayers somewhere else except in the Holy Masjid of Makkah.

"The prayer in this Masjid of mine is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere except in the Holy Masjid - of Makkah." [Agreed upon]

The Prophet's Masjid is distinguished by the Rawda as-Shareefah, which is the area between the house of Rasulul-Allah (S) - al-Hujrah as-Shareefah - and the Minbar. The Prophet (S) said,

"Between my house and my minbar - pulpit - a Rawdah -garden- of Jannah." [Agreed upon]

And about the virtues of praying in this beautiful Masjid, the Prophet (S) said,



"Whoever prays in this Masjid of mine forty prayers consecutively without missing one of them, it will be written for him an innocence from Hellfire, and a salvation from the Torment, and will be free from hypocrisy." [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, al-Mundhiri, and at-Tabaraani]

I should emphasize here that this is not obligatory and the visiting person should not worry if he, or she, could not make it for some reason.

Things to do:
- Pray two Rak'aas at the Rawdah as-Sharifah if possible once you enter the mosque. Otherwise in any place close to it.
- Follow all the etiquette of entering and behaving in the mosques.
- Go near the Prophet's grave and say,

"As-Salaamu alayka yaa Rassul-Allah! As-Salaamu alayka yaa Nabiya-Allah! As-Salamu alayka Yaa kheerata khalqil-Allah! Ash-Hadu an-laa ilaaha ill-Allah wa-ash-hadu annaka 'abduhu wa-Rassuluh! Qad ballaghta ar-Rissaala, wa-addaytal-Amaana, wanasahtal-Ummata, wa-Jaahadta fil-Lahi haqqa jihaadihi! Sall-Allahu 'alayaka wa 'alaa Aalika wa-Azwaajika wa-Sallama tasliman kathiran!"

"Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allah! Peace be upon you O Prophet of Allah! Peace be upon you O the best creation of Allah! May Peace, Mercy, and Blessings of Allah be upon you O prophet of Allah! I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah and that you are the servant and Messenger of Allah. And I bear witness that you did transmit the Message -to us- and you did deliver what you were entrusted with, and you did advice the Ummah, and you did strife for the sake of Allah at your utmost. May Allah shower His blessings on you as well as your family and your wives!"

Then after this, the visitor should move a little bit forward to say Salaam to Abu Bakr then to 'Umar may Allah be pleased with them.

Things to avoid doing:
- To disobey the Prophet (S) by making du'aa to him instead of Allah.
- Asking the Prophet (S) favors and raising the hands towards his grave or to wipe oneself with al-Hujrah as-Shareefah - where the grave is.
- To make Tawaaf around the Hujrah as-Shareefah.
- To push others to reach places in the Masjid.
- To occupy a spot at the Rawdah for a long time making it difficult for other visitors to have a chance to pray there.

Visiting Qibaa'- or Qubaa'- Masjid:

Qibaa'a Masjid is the first masjid in Islam. It is Sunnah to visit it because the Messenger of Allah used to visit it and pray in it. The Prophet (S) said,

"Whoever cleans himself in his house and goes to Qibaa'a Masjid and prays in it a prayer, he will be given the reward of a 'Umrah" [Ahmad, an-Nassaa'i, ibn Maajah, and al-Haakim]

Visiting al-Baqee' and Uhud:

It is good to visit the graves of the companions of the Messenger of Allah as long as there are no bad innovations and Shirk practices such as wailing at al-Baqee' or asking favors from the dead.
The Prophet (S) taught his companions to say this du'aa,

"As-Salaamu alaikum ahala-diyaari mil-Mu'mineena wal-Muslimeena. Antum as-Saabiqoona wa-innaa insha Allahu bikum lalaahiqoona wayar-hamu Allahu al-Mustaqdimeena minnaa wa-minkum wal-Musta'khireena. Nass'alu-Allah lanaa walakum al-'Aafiya fid-Dunia wal-'Aakhira. Allahumma ighfir lanaa wa-lahum wa-irhamnaa wa-iyyaahum. Allahumma laa tahrimnaa ajrahum walaa taftinnaa ba'dahum!"

Going to Uhud is a good thing because many companions were buried there after the battle of Uhud. The Prophet (S) said about Uhud mountain,

"This is Uhud a mountain which loves us and we love it" [Agreed upon]

Upbringing of Children

Upbringing of Children by Moulana Moosa Olgar

PARENTS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "All of you are guardians and
are responsible for your subjects. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects
and the man is a guardian of his family, the lady is a guardian of her
husband's house and his off-spring and all of you are guardians and are
responsible for your subjects'.

After having children the first and foremost desire of parents is to prepare
them for a bright and successful future. Thus every parent hopes and wishes
that their children be pious with excellent character but this can only be
achieved if the correct method towards this goal is adopted and the right
environment created from the very beginning. It is very important to note
that the spiritual upbringing is far more important than the physical
upbringing.

Although the environment prior to the child's birth is very important, so
too is the environment into which the child is born, as the actual
upbringing starts in the mother's lap which is the first MADRASAH for the
child.

Although the father plays an important role in educating the child, the
mother plays a more important and greater role in this process. Rather it
can rightly be said that the mother contributes the greater share and plays
the best role in the early training and education of her children. Moreover
the mother is more loving, kind and patient than the father, she is nearer
to the children and they are more free and attached to her. This makes the
mother more capable of educating and training her children in the most
proper way.

The meaning of this is: Every child is born pure. It is the environment
created by his parents that determines his future. It is absolutely
necessary to understand that before you expect your child to learn the ways
of Islam, the parents have to be practising Muslims themselves. Parents
should set a good example in front of their children. Therefore for the
parents to be practising Muslims is of utmost importance for the Islamic
upbringing of their children. Regarding parents, this poem is best suited:
"The parent is like a mirror, the reflection it gives, the child adopts. If
the reflection is good, the child is good. If the reflection is bad, the
child is bad".

Remember, the entire future of the child depends entirely on the parent's
teachings, training and environment in which the parent's bring up their
child. The home environment and the parent's upbringing of the child either
makes or mars the child's future. If the home environment is Islamic, then
the child will be religiously inclined, but if the home environment is
unIslamic, then the child will develop irreligious traits and habits in
himself. Because the child does not come from a solid Islamic home, he is
unaware of the gems and jewels of Islam due to lack of Islamic knowledge and
education. Copper, brass and gravel of other religions look dazzling and
beautiful in his eyes.If the child hears music and watches television, then
he will want to imitate the singers and the T.V. stars. On the other hand,
if the words of Allah Taa'la (i.e the Quraan) keeps falling in his ears and
the lives of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaaba
(radiyallahu anhum) are related to him, then he will develop good qualities
and try to imitate Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaaba
(radiyallahu anhum). Remember, if the home environment is not Islamic, how
do we expect the child to become a fine and respectable Muslim servant of
Allah?

If religious education and training are given from childhood, the child on
growing up will definitely understand the rights of the parents and elders
and will respect them. If the child has been deprived of religious education
and training by careless and neglectful parents, he will not discharge the
rights that he has to towards his parents^Many parents complain that their
children are ill-mannered, disobedient and disrespectful. The cause of their
disobedience is only the fault of the parents, as they, on account of their
greed for worldly things and love for money, kept their children blank in
religious education. To earn their livelihood and to fill their bellies,
parents are keeping their children aloof from religious education, and
instead involve them in profane education and worldly pursuits, thus making
them irreligious. There is none to educate these innocent children and to
train and inculcate Islamic morals into them. How will the fear of Allah be
instilled into their minds? Since attaining the age of sensitivity, the love
of money, beautiful clothes and houses, fast cars etc. has entered his heart
and he now remains occupied day and night with the thought of these things
only and keeps trying to acquire them. He cares not if in acquiring these
things, he may be depriving or destroying the rights of others.(In his greed
of acquiring worldly goods, high medical, legal and engineering degrees, he
is ready to waste the invaluable wealth of IMAAN. Such men can cause ruin to
the community and in creating a struggle for power, are in fact proving to
be the disintegrators of institutions. What now can the religion and
community expect from this kind of upbringing?-! How can the parents then
say that the youth "the fresh blood" do not obey the parents, do not help
the weak, the widows and the orphans, and do not take interest in works
concerning the masaajid and madaaris? The parents themselves have not taught
them to do these acts. The young people are even ignorant of the reward for
obeying their parents and of the punishment for disobeying them. How many
Ahaadith do they know? And how many Ahaadith have they been asked to
memorise? Not a single answer will be received to any of these questions.
Then what else can you expect from such ignorant youth?

Nowadays parents say: O' look at my son, he shows no respect to his parents
or they say: look at what my daughter has done, she has no DEEN in her. But
alas! do they ever ask themselves why? Why has my child no DEEN in him? The
parents eventually refuse to take the blame for their son's or daughter's
evil actions. But, ponder, whose fault is this? This fault is none other
than the parents themselves. To them it is definitely not their fault, as
they brought their child up, nurtured him, gave the best food, the best
clothes, took him wherever he wanted gave him plenty of money, and did
whatever he wanted, as he was their special child. But the main and
essential thing the parent forgot or rather did not feel it necessary to
give the child was religious education and tarbiyat. Now as the child grows
up, his greed for worldly material things has blinded his sense of morals.
Oh yes! you wonder what morals? That's right, the child has no Islamic
morals or education whatsoever. So now, how can you expect morals and good
habits from him, if you did not inculcate it into him. The child now feels
that there is nothing wrong in disobeying his parents. He now adopts the
western ways which are prevalent today and which has no place for parents as
Islam does.

Amongst westerners when their parents reach old age they no longer care for
them. Instead in a cruel way, they place them in old age homes. The very
same parents who brought them up, fed them, clothed them, gave them
everything, the same mother who gave birth to him, nurtured him, spent
sleepless nights, and now all of a sudden they are considered too much of a
burden to be cared for. This my dear reader, is the western attitude and if
you as a parent fail to impart deeni education and training to your
children, then they will definitely receive education and influences of a
different standard. A way of the westerners! and due to your negligence you
may also be thrown out by your own very special child. The difference
between Muslims and non-Muslims is that Muslims impart religious education
and training to their children, thus making them successful in both the
worldly life and the life of the hereafter. So remember parent's, it is YOU
who make a big difference ! It is your teachings and tarbiyat which will
mould your child into a respectable Islamic conscious person. But Alas! the
parent, harpe upon their own rights and grumble against the children.
Likewise, think of the basic cause whereby the children became disobedient.
No doubt the parents have a right to claim the fulfilment of their rights
from their children. But since the parents are unaware of the children's
rights and their rightful demand, they do not discharge their own
responsibility and as a consequence the children become disobedient. It was
the parent's primary duty to give religious education and training to the
children, but instead of that they made them become involved in worldly
pursuits.

However by paying attention to the crucial necessity of giving religious
education during childhood, an effort should be made to create an emotion
and fervour for IMAAN in the hearts of the children. (The imparting of
religious education will make them conscious of Allah's rights, the rights
of elders, widows, orphans and parents, whereby they will consider the
discharging of these rights as an act of reward and the cause of success and
prosperity in the world and religion.

But if children are kept away from religious education, then what we are
observing today is definitely going to happen. Parents and elders who do not
discharge the children's rights and miss the opportunity of acquitting
themselves of their responsibility, will not find the children fulfilling
their parent's rights when they grow up. Such children rather than being
useful will prove to be harmful to the community.

The following two stories (anecdotes) refer to those parents who fail to
impart deeni education and training to their children. Read them carefully
and take lesson from them!

Abul Laith Samarqandi (R.A) has related that a man brought his son to Hazrat
Umar (radiyallahu anhu) and said: "My son does not obey me, he! is
disobedient to me". Hearing this Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anhu) said: j "O'
boy, don't you know what rights a father has on his son?" Thereafter he
narrated the rights of a father on his children. The boy said: "O' Commander
of the faithful! Do the children too have any rights on their; ; father?"
Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anhu) said: "Yes! the children too have! i rights
on their father". "What are those rights"? asked the boy. Hazrat! < Umar
(radiyallahu anhu) replied: "First of all, he should search for a good; ]
mother for his son. He should marry with a virtuous, religious woman,! i and
must not marry any woman of questionable nature and doubtful! ] character.
The second right is that when he begets a child, he should name it with a
good name, and the third right of the child is that he should ' impart
religious knowledge to him and teach the Quraan". The boy said:i; "O'
Commander of the faithful! my father has not discharged any of these! i
rights. Firstly, the woman who is my mother is a negress, a slave woman! 1
that he has bought for 400 dirhams. She is a neophyte Muslim slave woman 11
who is quite ignorant of religious education, Islamic civil manners and''
morals. It is in her laps that I have passed my infancy. She has not givenj
i me any religious education. What should I do? Secondly, they have not
named me with a good name. They have named me Jo'al meaning black, ugly man.
I should have been given a good name which was my right, but my father did
not discharge his responsibility towards me. The third is the right of
religious education, which they did not give me at all. Now whatever
decision you give, I will accept it".

Just ponder over it. A great man like Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anhu) at[ the
very mention of whose name people shudder even today said: "O'; boy's
father, first of all, you have been neglectful regarding the boy's rights
which you did not discharge and now you tell me that your son does not obey
you. GET OUT! It is you who have disobeyed first".

Ponder over Hazrat Umar's (radiyallahu anhu) decision. Just as we have given
up discharging the responsibility regarding our children, what is our
condition? Then we consider our children to be disobedient and unworthy.
Parents should remember that they became disobedient first. Children are a
trust, and this responsibility came upon the parents and they did not
discharge it, but instead they engaged their children in worldly things.
Hating knowledge and the assemblies of Ulema, parents have attached their
children's hearts to the bazaar and the motor stand. How then can you expect
to reform the children? . So if parents remind their children during their
childhood itself about religious responsibility and make an effort to attach
him to religion, then Insha-Allah, by such training, the children will
become virtuous and pious. So if you want to live an honourable life in this
world, engage your children in religious education.

The second anecdote is regarding a son beating his father. A man came to an
Aalim and said: "My son beats me and beats me very much". "What! the son
beats his father", exclaimed the Aalim. "Yes!" replied the man, he beats me
and beats me too much". The Aalim said: "Have you imparted to him deeni
education and have you taught him manners?" The man said: "No". The Aalim
then asked : "Have you taught him the Quraan?" When the man again said no,
the Aalim asked: "What does your son do?" The man replied: "He is a
cultivator". The Aalim asked: "Do you know why your son beats you?" The man
said that he did not know. The Aalim then said: "It seems to be that your
son must be going to the field sitting on a horse or a donkey, an ox must be
in front of him and a dog in his rear. The son has not read the Quraan and
does not know what the Quraan is. You must have asked him at that time as he
was going to the field to read the Quraan and therefore he beat you. Thank
Allah that your head did not break.

Yes! the reality here is that religious education was not given to his son
in his young days, with the result he is unaware of his father's rights.
ITis therefore the right of every child upon the parents that he be given a
sound Islamic education and be taught good manners. This in turn will ensure
that they lead a proper Islamic life and be saved from hardships in this
world, and more important in the hereafter.

The Quraan says:
"O! You who believe, save yourself and your family from afire whose fuel is
men and stones". (Surah Tahreem)
Hazrat All (radiyallahu anhu) interprets this to mean that you must save
your family by giving them good education and good manners. Therefore to
make children's lives successful according to standards set by Islam,
parents should devotedly train and educate them. Parents should carry out
their duty with wisdom, affection, patience and steadfastness. By doing
this, their position will be exalted in the eyes of Allah, and their status
will be raised in society.

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: If Everyone of you is a
shepherd and everyone of you will be answerable for his flock".

The mother in particular is responsible for the correct upbringing of the
child. It is stated in the Hadith about the mother: "and she is a
shepherdess over the house of her husband and of his children, and she is
answerable".

Basic Islamic education and good morals could only be taught am practised at
home. Therefore the first MADRASAH for the child is the mother's lap. The
mother contributes the greater share and plays the best role in the early
training and education of her children.

By imparting Deeni knowledge to the children, parent's positions will be
exalted in the eyes of Allah, and their status will be raised in society,

Know Your World-Poem

A beautiful nasheed poem about the universe and existence set to the ney flute.

For free copy of the e-paper "Know Your World and Know Your Self" go to www.windsofmercy.com

"Upon a calm subtle ocean
of inconceivable, brilliant lights
Descend the winds of mercy,
There are vibrations.. quickening,
brilant stirs of words and meaning.
In waves of possiblities,
all possible things are entangled...preserved.
When Allah commands a thing...
'be'
...and it is
A call for a thing to come out of possibilities.

A stir efferveses its way in the peaceful ocean
The tiniest of lively sparkles of light come forth
The sparkles in their entanglements,
veil and hide secrets

The ocean whispers its sparkling secret mist to the cloud,
The cloud is now the carrier
Every vibration has a meaning
Every tune a message

A turbenlent sea of manifestations
Waves of quantum leaps and transmutations
A briliant steam of massive energyy and light
bursts into a baby universe
The unverse unfolds subtle matter
Visible islands of stars and galaxies

The earth is crowned, it receives its heavenly crown
Blessed rain and fertile rivers run throught its clay,
Like paint clings to the artists brush
The clay clings to its guidance
It's secrets are now hidden,
wrapped in clay

The clay, once inert, now quickens
with its hidden treasures,
restless to find the way.
Out of the must sprout small plants raising their heads,
Crafty animals and wild beasts
We find an urge to chase game,
And to run from bigger beasts

In the world of clay,
you run and run until you are exhausted
You lay your head on a rock,
And to your lower self you sleep

You have a clear vision
Praying in Mecca
Standing on Mount Arafat
Touching the stars

A confirming brililant, heavenly light
shines into your heart
Tranforming lights peel off your clay
And unveil angelic wings for a deputy on earth

The blessed rid themsevles of clay
as their hearts cling to heavingly lights
You are born again
Into the heavens this time
Into the light from which you came

Do not be like those
whose hearts cling to the darkend clay,
instead of the light

With pure hearts we submit to Allah
Then it is said Praise be to Allah
Lord of all the worlds

It is time to stop the aimless running,
Peel off your clay,
Cling to the lights"

The As'hab us-Suffah

The As'hab us-Suffah: The Sufi Fuqara with the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam)

These are the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who, as they were poor, lived in a verandah in the Prophet’s Masjid in Madina. The raised platform in Masjid an-Nabawi indicates where they lived. They were very pious, ascetic, dignified, highly scrupulous, drowned in the love of Alla Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, prepared to lay down their lives for the sake of Islām, and deeply attached to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).


Hadith on the As'hab us-Suffah

Hadhrat Abu ‘Uthman narrated that Hadrat ‘Abdu’r Rahmān bin Abū Bakr (RA) said, “The Suffa Companions were poor people and Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam said, ‘Whoever has food for two persons should take a third one from them (Suffa Companions). And whosoever has food for four persons, he should take one or two from them’. Sayyidinā Abū Bakr Rady Allāhu ‘Anhu took three men and Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam took ten of them”. (Sahih Bukhari)


The As'hab us-Suffah Were Served By Prophet Muhammad S.A.W

Hadhrat Abu Huraira (RA) relates:
"By Allah, except whom there is no God, during the days of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) I used to press my stomach against the ground due to extreme hunger, or I used to tie a stone over it. One day I was sitting by the side of a public thoroughfare when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) passed by me. On seeing me he smiled and recognized from my face my condition (that I was hungry). He called "Abahir" (meaning Abu Huraira) and I responded: 'I am here, O Messenger of Allah'. He said: 'Come along with me' and he walked on; I followed him. On reaching home he sought permission of the inmates, and entered, and also permitted me to enter in the house. He found a cup full of milk, and asked the inmates 'From where has this milk come? They said: 'It is a present for you from some gentleman or lady.' He called me 'Abahir' and I responded: 'I am here, O Messenger of Allah'. He said: Go and call my Suffa Companions.' These companions were the guests of the Muslims, who had no house, no property, no friends or relatives with whom they could live. As such they were guests of all Muslims. Whenever the Holy Prophet (SAW) received something as charity he used to send it to them and would not retain anything out if it for himself (as charity was forbidden for him and his family). However, whenever he received something as a gift he would send for them and shared it with them. But on this occasion I did not like his invitation to them, and thought: 'How would this milk suffice so many? I deserve this more than others, as by drinking it I might gain some energy. When these companions of the Suffa would come, the Holy Prophet (SAW) will ask me to serve the milk to them. When they start drinking I do not think that anything would be left for me out of this milk. But what could I have done, I could not dare avoid the orders of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and His Messenger (SAW). Accordingly I went out and called them; they came and solicited permission to come in, which was granted and they came in and took their seats. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) called me 'Abahir' and I replied: 'I am here, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Take hold of the cup of milk and give it to them.' I took the cup and passed it to one man who would drink and when he felt satisfied, he would return it to me, and I would give it to the next person who likewise drank the milk to his fill. I went on doing this till the cup reached the Holy Prophet (SAW). By that time all had drunk the milk to their satisfaction. The Holy Prophet (SAW) took the cup in his hand, looked towards me, smiled and said: 'Abahir?' I said 'I am here, O Messenger of Allah.' He said, "Now only two persons, myself and you are left!" I said: "Of course, O Messenger of Allah, you are right." Then he said: "Sit and drink." I sat down and started drinking the milk. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) said: "Take more." I took a bit more and he continued saying; 'Drink a little more', till I said: By Allah! Who has commissioned you with the truth , now I have no more room in my stomach.' He said: 'Then let me have it.' So I passed on the cup to him. He thanked Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and with the name of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) drank the milk which was left in the cup. (Sahih Bukhari)

Source:

Al-Hafiz Abu Nu’aym Ahmad bin ‘AbdAllah al-Asfahani, Hilyatu’l Awliya’ wa Tabaqat u’l Asfiya’ (The Adornment of the Saints and the Ranks of the Spiritual Elite), Dar u’l Fikr and Dar u’l Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut, 1357 A.H, Vol. I, p. 347-385, Vol II, p. 3-25

True Friendship

True Friendship *
Compiled By Living Shari`ah Staff(IslamOnline)


Do hearts have connections to one another? Sometimes, a person happens to meet someone whom he or she immediately loves and spontaneously develops some sort of affinity with. The reverse can apply when the same person meets up with another person. The point is one does not know the reason why one feels good toward some people and feels bad toward others. Is there some sort of connection between their souls?

`A'ishah, the Prophet's wife, narrated a hadith, that she heard from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which gives us a glimpse of the nature of the soul and clears some of the vague feelings that we might find:

"Souls are like conscripted soldiers; those whom they recognize, they get along with, and those whom they do not recognize, they will not get along with" (Al-Bukhari).

Also Abu Hurairah reported Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying,

"Souls are troops collected together and those who familiarized with each other (in the heaven from where these come) would have affinity, with one another (in the world) and those amongst them who opposed each other (in the Heaven) would also be divergent (in the world)." (Muslim)
Sometimes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gives us a glimpse of insight into the realm of the soul, which we know very little about. The important thing to remember in this connection is that Allah has chosen not to give us a detailed knowledge of the soul. We should also remember that whatever He has chosen to withhold from us would not affect our role on earth and the fulfillment of the task assigned to us in this life. Therefore, we limit ourselves to what is outlined in the Qur'an and what the Prophet has given us in authentic hadith.

Almighty Allah says,

(And they ask you about the soul. Say: The soul is one of the commands of my Lord, and you are not given aught of knowledge but a little.)(Al-Israa' 17: 85)
However, people continue to try to explore the realm of the soul and come up with all sorts of ideas to show that they have special knowledge that is denied to others. All such claims are false, because they do not rely on any confirmed knowledge imparted to us by Allah through His messenger.

This hadith has several versions with different chains of transmission, all of which are authentic. This makes it highly authentic. One version that throws some light on its meaning mentions that a woman —known to have a sense of humor and to play tricks — from Makkah traveled to Madinah where she was a guest of a woman of similar qualities. When `A'ishah heard of that, she said, "My beloved husband always told the truth (and she quoted the hadith)."

What this hadith means is that Allah created souls and gave them their qualities. Those of similar qualities will easily be friends when they meet in this life, while those who have different natures are likely to be in conflict. This in fact accounts for endless cases of people getting along together when their apparent circumstances should have kept them well apart. Moreover, it tells us something about what brings good people together and what allows evil ones to flock together and even trust one another, when they know that they are evil at heart.

Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on the hadith "Concerning the phrase 'Souls are like conscripted soldiers…',

This may refer to their similarity as regards good or evil, righteousness or corruption. Good people are inclined towards other good people, and evil people are similarly inclined towards other evil people. Souls feel affinity with others according to the nature in which they were created, good or evil. If souls' natures are similar, they will get along, otherwise they will not be on good terms with one another. It could have happened in the beginning of creation in the realm of the unseen when souls were created before bodies, and used to meet one another. When souls have entered bodies (come to the physical realm) they may recognize one another from the past, and may be on friendly terms or otherwise based on that past experience
Al-Khattaabi also commented this hadith,

This getting along with one another has to do with what Allah decreed from the outset about the ultimate destiny of souls, whether they will be among the blessed (in Paradise) or the doomed (in Hell). Souls are of two opposing kinds, and when they meet in this physical world, they will either love or hate one another depending on the way they were created. Good souls will be inclined towards other good souls, and evil souls will be inclined towards other evil souls.
Thus, the souls of righteous people have connection as if they are recruited due to the purification in their hearts; on the contrary, the souls of devils — both humans and Jinn — have connection since they have the same evil thoughts.

That is why Allah says about the believers, (And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts.) (Al-Anfal 8:63)

But when talking about the devils of Jinn and human beings, Almighty Allah says,

(Shall I inform you (of him) upon whom the Shaitans(devils) descend? They descend upon every lying, sinful one.) (Ash-Shu`araa' 26: 221-222)
The Almighty also says,

(And thus do We make some of the iniquitous to befriend others on account of what they earned.) (Al-An`am6:129)

That is why when a believer meets wrongdoers or corrupt people, he or she does not feel at ease and finds it difficult to get along with them because of their sinful deeds; their souls act like oil and water that never mix.