Section (d) AHADITH CONCERNING MAINTENANCE OF KINSHIP Abu Hurairah Radhiallaho anho narrates that a man asked Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, "For whom should I be most concerned in maintaining good relations?" Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "Your mother". The man put the same question a second and a third time; and each time Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam gave the same reply. When he repeated the same question the fourth time, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "Your father and then other relatives, in order of nearness to you in kinship". Note: Some Ulama infer from this Hadith that a mother’s share is three parts in regard to kind treatment, because Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, ‘Your mother’ three times and said, ‘your father’ only when the question was repeated for the fourth time. The reason for this preferment, the Ulama say, lies in the fact that a mother has to go through hardships for her child: pregnancy, child-birth and breast-feeding. The theologians have added that, if a person does not have the means to take care of both his parents he should give first preference to his mother. However, the father enjoys preference in matters relating to respect and obedience from his children. (Mazahir-e-Haqq). Being a woman, a mother evidently needs more help and loving care of her children. The near relatives are then to be given preference (over others) in order of their kinship, the nearer relations will be given preference over the distant ones. Another Hadith narrates "Begin with your mother in your good treatment, then comes your father, then your sister, then your brother and then other kinsmen in order of their nearness in relationship. Do not ignore your neighbours and the needy". (Kanz). Another Hadith quoted by Bahz Bin Hakeem from his grand father repeats the same obligation that a person has to his parents and other relations. Another Hadith indicates that Allah Ta’ala will make the hour of death easy for him who possesses the following three qualities and grant him entry into Jannah:- 1. Is kind to the weak; 82 2. Treats his parents with loving care; 3. Shows favour to his subordinates. (Mishkaat) HADITH: 2 Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam is reported to have said: "Anyone who wishes to have his means of livelihood enlarged and a prolonged life, should treat his relatives with kindness". In this Hadith the word ‘anyone who wishes to have his footprints last longer’, implies prolonged life. For, he who lives longer will leave his footprints for a longer period; when a person dies, his footprints get effaced after a short time. Some people may take an exception to this Hadith saying, "Everybody’s term of life is predetermined". At many places in the Holy Qur’an, it has been clearly stated that the term of life is fixed; not a moment can be added or lessened there from. Some Ulama have interpreted the term ‘prolongation of life’ as grant of ‘Barakah’ (blessings) in life. Due to Divine blessings a person may accomplish tasks within hours, which others usually take days to perform, and may accomplish in days what is usually done in months. Others say that ‘prolongation of life’ term implies a laudable remembrance of his good deeds long after his death. Others say that it means ‘increase in progeny and his descendants’ flourishing after his death.’ It has to be admitted that, as a statement of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, all of whose sayings are doubtlessly true; these benefits in some form will accrue from maintaining kinship. Allah Ta’ala is all powerful: He may create and bring about anything He wills. Whatever He wills must happen and He creates such subtle means for bringing about events that the wisest of men are taken by surprise. Therefore, there should be no ambiguity about the ‘prolongation of life’ granted as a reward for strengthening family bonds. Truly the decrees of destiny are unalterable, but Allah Ta’ala has introduced casual relationship in the affairs of the world; for everything that happens in this world, there is a cause either hidden or apparent. For example when a person is suffering from cholera, we send for the doctors in the hope of helpful treatment to make him survive, though we know that his death-hour is fixed and cannot be delayed or hastened. There is no reason for not taking up seriously giving Sadaqah to deserving blood relations as an effective prescription for prolongation of life. This recipe was prescribed by the wisest of all men, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, whose diagnosis and treatment for human ailments could never be wrong, whereas the physicians of this world may err while diagnosing a disease or writing a prescription. The subject matter of the Hadith quoted above has appeared in other narrations with slight variations, hence it is fully authentic. It has been narrated in another Hadith, on the authority of Ali Radhiallaho anho, that for him who guarantees one thing (respect of kinship), Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has guaranteed four things, namely long life, respect among relatives, increase in means of livelihood and entry into Jannah. (Kanz). Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam told Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho that three results are assured: (1) If a victim of cruelty overlooks it, he will earn greater respect; (2) Whoever hankers after increase in his wealth, will find a decrease in it; (3) Whoever opens the door of Sadaqah and regard for kinship, will have abundant wealth. (Durre Manthur). The theologian Abul-Laith Rahmatullah alaihe has said that ten rewards are priceless in the obligations of kinship:- 1. It wins pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, who has ordered its fulfilment. 2. It promotes happiness among the kith and kin – and Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said that the best of deeds is to make a Muslim happy. 3. The angels also feel happy about it. 83 4. The Muslims praise the one who keeps it up. 5. Shaitan is grieved by it. 6. It brings prolongation of life. 7. It enhances means of livelihood. 8. It brings happiness to the dead when they come to know about it. 9. It strengthens mutual help: when you do good to someone, he would help you whole-heartedly in time of need. 10. One will benefit from it after his death, as the beneficiaries will always remember him with good wishes and prayers. Anas Radhiallaho anho says that three types of persons will enjoy a place in the shade of the Grand Throne of Allah Ta’ala:- 1. The benefactor of the kith and kin, who gets a prolonged life and enhanced livelihood and also an enlarged grave. 2. A widow who brings up young children of her deceased husband, without her remarriage, so that she has no difficulties in looking after them till they are grown up. 3. The person who invites the poor and orphans to participate in his feasts. Hasan Radhiallaho anho has quoted Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam to have said that Allah Ta’ala loves two foot-steps, the one taken for the sake of obligatory Salaat and the other taken to meet an intimate friend or a relation. Some Ulama have said that five things, if observed regularly and constantly, earn such rewards from Allah Ta’ala as are even bigger than high mountains, and one’s means of livelihood are also increased on account of them. These are: Constancy in giving Sadaqah, be it large or small; spending regularly on one’s relatives (to strengthen family bonds), whether one spends little or much; Jehaad (striving in the path of Allah); remaining always in a state of Wudhu (ablution); constancy in obedience to one’s parents. (Tanbeeh-ul-Ghafileen). A Hadith says, "Strengthening ties of kinship is a virtue for which one is most readily rewarded and blessed by Allah; even many a sinner is granted abundance in wealth and in children, on account of kind behaviour towards relatives". (Ihya). It occurs in a Hadith that the following virtues cause one’s misfortunes to change into good fortune, prolong one’s term of life and avert an evil death: giving Sadaqah in the proper manner, adopting ways that are good and beneficial (for others), treating one’s parents with kindness, and maintaining bonds of kinship. There are several other Ahadith which assert that a man’s livelihood is increased and his term of life is prolonged on account of his kindness towards his kinsmen. We have just quoted a few of them, by way of example. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has pointed out to us an easy way of achieving these two ambitions through strengthening ties of kinship. All those who desire a long life and extensive means of livelihood can try this prescription suggested by Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, if they sincerely believe in the truth of his sayings, and spend as much as they can on strengthening kinship. For, it is bound to be recompensed with increase in means of livelihood and, furthermore, it guarantees a prolonged term of life. HADITH: 3 Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho narrates that Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam once said, "An excellent way of showing kindness to one’s father in his absence is to treat his friends and acquaintances in a kindly way". 84 Note: Absence may be temporary or permanent from this world i.e. death. In the latter case, showing kindness to one’s father’s friends will be a higher virtue. For, if a person treats his father’s friends kindly, in the absence of his father when alive, he may be doing so in order to win the favour for his own selfish designs, whereas, if he treats them kindly even after the death of his father, this will not be for any selfish design, but will be out of genuine regard and esteem for him. In another Hadith, Ibne Dinar Rahmatullah alaihe relates that Abdullah Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho was going on a journey to Makkah when he saw a Bedouin going on the way. Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho gave him his own riding-beast, took off his own turban and gave it to him as a gift. Ibne Dinar Rahmatullah alaihe said to him, "This man might have been pleased with something less". Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho said, "This man’s father was a friend of my father and I have heard Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam saying, "Showing kindness to the friends of ones father gets the best return". Abu Hurairah Radhiallaho anho says that, on one of his visits to Madina, Ibne Umar came to see him and said, "Do you know why I have come to see you? I have heard Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam saying, "If anyone wishes to show kindness to his father who is dead, let him treat his father’s friends in a kindly manner, and (you know that) my father (Umar) was a friend of yours". (Targheeb). A Hadith reports Abu Usaid Maalik bin Rabi’ah Radhiallaho anho as saying, "While we were sitting in company with Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, a man of the Banu Salma Tribe came to him and said, "O Rasulullah, is there any way left for me to show kindness to my parents after their death?" He replied, "Yes, you can invoke Allah’s blessings on them, make ‘Istighfaar’ for them (ask Allah’s forgiveness for them), fulfil the promises (if any) made by them with people, treat their relatives and dependents with kindness and show respect to their friends". (Mishkaat). A version adds: At this the man said, "What an excellent idea!" and Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam replied, "Practice it, then". (Targheeb) HADITH: 4 Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam says, "If the parents of a person die, or one of them dies, and he has not been dutiful to them, but he goes on asking forgiveness for them and making other supplications (Du’aa) for them, Allah Ta’ala will record him as a dutiful son". Note: How bounteous are the blessings and favours of Allah Ta’ala to His men! Very often, circumstances arise which cause a certain unpleasantness between parents and children, but the parent and children relationship is deep-rooted to allow for permanent estrangement from each other. So, when a man’s father or mother dies, filial love re-asserts itself, he feels deep remorse and is distressed to remember their loving care for himself. Allah Ta’ala has, in His infinite Mercy and Compassion for man, shown a way for redeeming such situations. He has ordained that, if a person prays for Allah’s blessing for his parents after their death, makes ‘Isthighfaar’ for them and, after doing a good deed involving expenditure of money or otherwise, requests Allah to transfer its rewards to their credit (called ‘Eesaal-e-Thawab’), these good deeds will compensate for his failure to fulfil the duties he owed them in their lifetime and he will be recorded as a dutiful son. It is one of the greatest favours of Allah Ta’ala to His men that He has opened a way for the undutiful sons and daughters to atone for their sins, even after the death of their parents when, normally, it is said to be too late. What a shame would it be if we were too hard-hearted not to avail of this opportunity for atonement! For, there are very few whose behaviour to their parents is always correct and who give their parents their due rights. It is, therefore, advisable that each one of us should make a routine of performing some good deeds regularly and pray to Allah to transfer the blessings earned in this way to the credit of his deceased parents. It would be an excellent routine, in view of its splendid consequences. A Hadith says that if anyone performs Hajj on behalf of his parents, it is treated as a ‘Hajj-e-Badal’ (i.e. it atones for their failure to perform Fardh Hajj during their life), the glad tidings whereof are conveyed to their souls in the Heavens above, and he is recorded as a dutiful son, even though he may have been undutiful heretofore. Another Hadith says that if a person performs Hajj on behalf of either of his parents, the father (or mother) receives reward 85 for one Hajj, while his own reward for it is equal to that of a person performing Hajj nine times. Allama Ainee Rahmatullah alaihe has quoted a Hadith in his explanatory notes on Bukhari, to the following effect:- Whosoever recites the following Du’aa and then requests Allah Ta’ala to transfer the reward earned thereby to the credit of his parents, is like one having fulfilled his obligations to them: Alhamdulillahi Rabil aalameen. Rabisamaawaathie wa Rabil ardhie wa Rabil aalameen. Wa la hul kibariyaaa ouu fisamaawaathie wal ardhie wa huwal Azeezul Hakeem. Wa lillahil hamdhu Rabisamaawaathie wa Rabil ardhie Rabil aalameen. Wa la hul azmathu fisamaawaathie wal ardhie wa huwal Azeezul Hakeem. Huwal Maliku Rabusamaawaathie wa Rabul ardhie wa Rabul aalameen. Wa la huNooru fisamaawaathie wal ardhie wa huwal Azeezul Hakeem. All praise be to Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds; the Lord of the heavens and the earth; to him alone belongs the true greatness in the heavens and in the earth and He alone has supremacy and is Wise. All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, the Sustainer of the Worlds, to Him alone belongs Majesty in the heavens and in the earth, and He is Supreme and Wise; He alone is the Sovereign, Lord of the heavens and the earth and the Sustainer of the Worlds; to Him alone belongs the celestial light (Nur) of the heavens and the earth and He is the Majestic, the Wise. Another Hadith relates: What does it cost a person if, having spent something as a Nafl Sadaqah, he prays to Allah Ta’ala to transfer the reward to his parents, provided they be Muslims? For, in that case, they will receive the blessings while his own reward will not decrease. (Kanz). According to this Hadith, a man does not need to perform any virtuous deed exclusively for his parents; he should just pray to Allah Ta’ala to transfer to his parents the rewards earned by him spending for a good cause. Abdullah Ibne Salaam Radhiallaho anho says: I swear by the name of the Immaculate Being, Who sent Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam with the message of truth, it is implied in the Sacred Book of Allah, ‘Do not sever kinship with him who has done a favour to strengthen kinship with your father, for that might cause your loss of faith’. It occurs in another Hadith that: "Whosoever goes to visit the graves of his parents, or the grave of either of them, on every Friday, his sins will be forgiven and he will be counted among the dutiful". Allama Auzaa’ee Rahmatullah alaihe says, "I have heard it said that, if a person who has been undutiful towards his parents makes ‘Istighfaar’ for them after their death, pays off their debts and does not speak ill of them, he will be counted as dutiful; and that, if a person who has been dutiful towards his parents speaks ill of them after their death, does not pay off their debt they owed, nor makes ‘Istighfaar for them, he will be treated as undutiful. (Durre Manthur). HADITH: 5 Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam once said, "Shall I not advise you on an excellent Sadaqah? It is what you spend to provide for a daughter who has been sent back to you, and who has no one but you to earn her livelihood". Note: ‘Has been sent back to you’ means sent back to you after being widowed or divorced by her husband. It may also mean that some other circumstances have necessitated her coming back to her parents. In these cases, all that is spent to meet her requirements is treated as an excellent Sadaqah, for it combines many acts of virtue: (1) Sadaqah, (2) helping a person in distress, (3) strengthening family bonds, (4) loving care for one’s children, and (5) sympathy with the grieved, for earlier, when the children lived with their parents, they felt happy to look after their needs, but, when they come back to their parents, after having been married and having started to live happily in their own homes, both the children and the parents feel extremely grieved. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam once said, ‘For anyone helping a distressed person Allah Ta’ala records seventy-three grades of forgiveness, one of which shall suffice him for his well-being in all worldly affairs and seventy two will raise him spiritually on the Day of Judgment’. 86 We have already referred to a number of Traditions bearing upon this subject in Chapter one, under the Hadith quoted at Serial No. 26. Umme Salamah Radhiallaho anha once asked Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam ‘Shall I gain reward for what I spend on the sons of Abu Salamah my previous husband, for they are my sons?’ He replied, ‘Spend on them, you will be rewarded for spending on them’. (Mishkaat). Besides, it is a praiseworthy act, according to Shariah, to treat one’s children with kindness and loving care, even when they are not in need of help. Once Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam caressed his grandson, Hasan or Hussain Radhiallaho anhuma who were with him and Aqra Ibne Haabis, the chief of Banu Tameem, who was also with him at that time said, "I have ten children and I have never shown affection to any one of them". Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam regarded him with sharp looks and said, "He who does not show mercy, will not be shown mercy". It occurs in another Hadith that a nomadie Arab asked Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, "Do you kiss your children? We do not kiss them". Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam replied, "How can I help it when Allah Ta’ala has made your heart devoid of tender feelings". If a person treats children kindly when they are in distress, he gets a specific reward in addition to that for showing kindness to his children normally. HADITH: 6 Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said, "A Sadaqah given to a poor man is merely Sadaqah, but when it is given to a relative, it serves two purposes: it is both a Sadaqah and an extra act of kindness for kinship". Note: While giving Sadaqah, the poor relatives should be given preference over the poor ones among the common people, as it is more virtuous to spend on one’s kinsmen. This is the subject of many a Tradition, and it has been treated in the Ahadith in various ways. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "Of the (four) Dinaars, a Dinaar you contribute in the path of Allah, a Dinaar spent to set free a slave, a Dinaar given as Sadaqah to a poor man and a Dinaar spent to provide for your family – the one spent to support your family will bring the greatest reward, provided it is spent solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and they need help". It has been narrated in another Hadith that once, when Maimunah Radhiallaho anha set free a slave-girl, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "It would have given you greater reward if you had given her to your maternal uncle". Once Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam specifically exhorted women to give Sadaqah. After listening to the exhortation, Zainab returned to her husband Abdullah Ibne Mas’ood, an eminent Sahabi and a great Faqeeh, and said to him, "Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has commanded us to give Sadaqah and you are financially weak; so go and ask him if my spending on you will count as Sadaqah". Abdullah Ibne Mas’ood Radhiallaho anho told her that she had better go and ask it herself. (Possibly he felt shy to ask the question himself or might have thought it would appear selfish of him to ask such a question). So she went to Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam and found a woman standing at his door, who had come for the same purpose, but they dare not ask him. Meanwhile Bilal Radhiallaho anho came out, so they said to him, "Go to Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam and tell him that there are two women at the door who have come to ask whether it would count as Sadaqah if they gave something to their husbands and to the orphans, who are in their charge, from among the children of their late husbands". Bilal Radhiallaho anho went in and conveyed the message to Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, who asked him who the women were, whereupon Bilal told him that there was a woman from the Ansar and Zainab, the wife of Abdullah bin Mas’ood. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam then said, "Yes; and they will get two rewards: one for the kinship and the other for Sadaqah". (Mishkaat). Ali Radhiallaho anho says, "I would love to help my brother with a Dirham rather than spend twenty Dirhams on another person. I would rather help him (a brother) with a hundred Dirhams than set free a slave". (Ihya). It occurs in another Hadith that (while spending money) the first preference should be given to one’s own needs; if the money exceeds one’s needs, it should be spent on one’s family; if there is still something extra, it should be spent on other relatives; and if there is still some left, it should be distributed among other people. (Kanz). There are many other Ahadith on this subject related in Kanz-ul-Ummal and some other collections of Ahadith; but the Ahadith mean that, when spending money, a person can prefer his family above others only if he knows for certain that his family is more in need of help. But if others are in greater need of help or he himself, in spite of his need, has patience with perfect trust in Allah Ta’ala, it is highly commendable to prefer others’ needs to his own. We have already discussed this point in Chapter one under the Ayat: 28 beginning: "…and prefer them before themselves..." (al-Hashr: 9) 87 Ali Radhiallaho anho relates: "Shall I tell you an incident about myself and my wife, Fatimah Radhiallaho anha, the dearest and most loved daughter of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, who lived with me in my house. She used to grind the corn herself so that calluses grew on the palms of her hands; she fetched water for the house in a goatskin bag, the strap of which had left a mark on her body; she swept the house herself, which soiled her clothes; she cooked the food so that her dress became black with smoke. In short, she did all the strenuous household jobs herself. Once some war-captives were brought to Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam and I asked her to go to him and ask him for a helper. She went to Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam but, as there were many people round him, she could not ask him for shyness. (A version has: She mentioned the matter to Aishah Radhiallaho anha and came back). Next day, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam visited us and said, "Fatimah, what did you want to tell me yesterday?" She felt shy and kept quiet. I told Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam about her daily labours and her having to fetch water, etc., and said that I had sent her to ask for a servant. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "Let me suggest something that is better than a servant: when you go to bed, say: Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah) thirty three times, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) thirty three times and Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) thirty four times. That will be better for you than a servant". (Abu Dawood). Another version of the Hadith adds: Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "I cannot give you a servant at this time when the ‘Companions of the Suffah’ are suffering from pangs of hunger. I shall sell the slaves and spend the price on their requirements". (Fath-ul-Bari) HADITH: 7 Asmaa Radhiallaho anha, daughter of Abu Bakr, says that, when Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam was negotiating a treaty with the Quraish, her mother, who was a non-believer, came (from Makkah) to visit her (in Madinah) and she asked, "O Rasulullah, my mother has come to me, expecting me to help her; shall I help her?" Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam replied, "Yes, do help her". Note: In the early days of Islam, Muslims were mercilessly persecuted by the non-believers and books on History are full of painful details of their miseries. Even when the Muslims migrated to Madinah Munawwarah, the nonbelievers did not allow them to live in peace. They attacked them and harassed them in all possible ways. Once Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam came to Makkah with a small number of his Sahabah Radhiallaho anhum, with the sole intention of performing Umrah, but the non-believers prevented their entry into the Sacred City and compelled them to return to Madinah without performing the rites of Umrah. On this occasion, however, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam made a treaty with the Quraish to stop hostilities for a few years, on certain conditions. This is a well-known event of Islamic history, to which Asmaa Radhiallaho anha has referred in the above-quoted Hadith. It was during those days of treaty that the divorced wife of Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho, who was the mother of Asmaa Radhiallaho anha but who had not embraced Islam, came to visit her in Madinah Munawwarah in the hope of gaining some financial help. As she was a non-believer, Asmaa Radhiallaho anha could not decide whether she should help her or not, and so asked Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam about it, who advised her to help her mother. Commenting on this incident, Imaam Khattabi Rahmatullah alaihe writes: "We can infer from this incident that it is necessary to give material help to our kinsmen, irrespective of their being Muslims or non- Muslims". A Tradition says that the following Ayat was revealed concerning this incident: "Allah does not forbid you to show kindness to and deal justly with those who did not make war against you on account of Deen (religion) and did not drive you out from your homes. Lo! Allah loves those who deal justly". (al- Mumtahinah: 8) Commenting on the Ayat, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Rahmatullah alaihe writes, "It refers to the non-believers who have become ‘Zimmis’ (non-Muslim subjects living in a Muslim state) or those non-Muslims who have agreed to live at peace with the Muslims. It is commendable to treat these classes kindly. In this context, ‘Show kindness and deal 88 justly’ means that they be treated kindly, in view of their being subjects of a Muslim state or are reconcilable. Not to speak of a Zimmi, it is incumbent upon a Mo’min to deal justly with every man, Muslim or non-Muslim, and even with animals" (Bayab-ul-Qur’an). The name of Asmaa’s mother is said to be ‘Qailah’ or ‘Qutailah’, daughter of Abdul-Uzza, who had been divorced by Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho as she had not embraced Islam. Some traditions relate that when she came to visit her daughter Asmaa Radhiallaho anha, with some cheese and purified butter as gifts for her, Asmaa did not allow her to enter her house, but sent a messenger to her half-sister, Aishah Radhiallaho anha requesting her to ask Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam whether she (Asmaa) could allow her non-Muslim mother into her house. When asked, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam gave her the permission and the above-quoted Ayat was revealed concerning this incident. (Fatah and Durre Manthur). The incident speaks of the firm faith of the ladies of those times, which is really enviable. Just imagine! Her mother comes to her house just to see her (for, she has not yet asked her for any help) but the lady does not allow her to come in till she has ascertained, by sending a messenger and asking Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, whether it is permissible to entertain one’s non-Muslim relatives. Many Traditions have it that, in the early days of Islam, the Sahabah did not like to give Sadaqah to their non-Muslim relatives, till the following Ayat was revealed: "Their acceptance of Islam is not thy duty (O Muhammad), but Allah grants whom He will. And whatsoever good thing you spend (as Sadaqah, etc) it is for yourselves, when you spend not except for seeking Allah’s pleasure". (al- Baqarah: 272) The Ayat implies that whatever a man spends as Sadaqah, etc., for the sake of Allah Ta’ala may be given to any needy person, Muslim or non-Muslim. Ibne Abbas Radhiallaho anho says: People did not like to treat their non- Muslim relatives with favour, so that they, too, might come into the fold of Islam. Some of them asked Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam about it and, on this occasion, the Ayat "Their acceptance of Islam is not thy duty.." was revealed. The same subject has appeared in several other Ahadith. (Durre Manthur). Imaam Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihe writes: "Once a fire-worshipper (Magian) came to Ibrahim Alaihissalam and requested to be entertained as a guest. Ibrahim Alaihissalam refused to entertain him saying, "If you embrace Islam, I shall be pleased to entertain you". The Magian went away, but a revelation came to Ibrahim Alaihissalam from Allah Ta’ala saying, "Ibrahim, you could not feed a non-Muslim for a night until he accepted your creed, while I have been feeding him for the last seventy years, notwithstanding his being a non-believer. It would not have mattered much if you had given him a meal". Ibrahim Alaihissalam got up at once and went in search of the Magian and asked him to come back and share a meal with him. The Magian came back and, having taken the meal, asked Ibrahim Alaihissalam what had made him go out and search for him. At this, Ibrahim Alaihissalam told him about the revelation, on hearing which the fire worshipper embraced Islam and said, "As He has been treating me so kindly, I accept Islam. Please give me necessary instructions". (Ihya) A Hadith relates three matters, which are a must for everybody: (1) treating one’s parents with kindness, be they Muslims or non-Muslims; (2) fulfilling one’s undertaking, whether it is for a Muslim or a non-Muslim; (3) returning a thing kept in trust, to its owner, be he a Muslim or a non-Muslim. (Jaame-us-Saghir). The three divines, Muhammad Ibne Hanafiyyah, Ataa and Qatadah Rahmatullah alaihum, are agreed that the following Ayat from the Qur’an requires the Muslims to deal kindly with those of their relatives who are Jews, Christians or other non-Muslims: "Except that you should deal kindly with your friends". (al-Ahzaab: 6) HADITH: 8 Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said, "All creatures are Allah’s family (dependents) and those are dearest to Allah who treat His family men with kindness". 89 Note: The phrase "All creatures" includes Muslims, non-Muslims, all mankind, and animals. Islam teaches us to behave kindly towards all creatures, so as to earn love from Allah. We have already quoted a Hadith at serial No. 10 in Chapter one, which relates how an unchaste woman was granted forgiveness by Allah Ta’ala, by virtue of an act of kindness i.e. giving some water to a thirsty dog. Another Hadith, quoted at serial No. 8 in Chapter two above relates that a woman was punished for starving her pet cat to death. Such are the rewards for showing kindness to animals; one can imagine how bountiful will be the reward for the good treatment and kindness shown to human beings, who are the best of creation. An oft-quoted Hadith says: "Show mercy to those who are on the earth; He Who is in the Heavens will have mercy on you". According to another Hadith, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam once said, "Allah Ta’ala will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to other people". Still another Hadith has: "Mercy is taken away from the heart of an ill-fated person". (Mishkaat). Each and every incident from the life history of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam bears testimony to the fact that his blessed life was a mercy for the entire world. Therefore, it is important that every member of the Muslim Ummah should try to learn the details of his everyday life and follow his blessed example. Allah Ta’ala says: "And we have not sent you (for no other purpose than) to show mercy to all the people of the entire world". (al- Ambia: 107) Commenting on this Ayat, Ibne Abbas Radhiallaho anho says: Undoubtedly the sacred personality of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam is a mercy both in this world and in the Akhirah for those who believe in him as a Rasul of Allah Ta’ala. What is more, his life is also a mercy for those who do not believe in him. For, though the benedictions of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, they have been saved from suffering drastic punishments in this life, which were inflicted on the Ummahs of the past for their sins, such as being swallowed up by the earth or being changed into animals, or being stoned to death from above. Abu Hurairah Radhiallaho anho says that Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam was asked, "Invoke Allah’s curse upon the Quraish, for they have been very cruel in persecuting the Muslims and have caused them great harm", but he replied, "I have not been sent to curse people. I have been sent as a mercy to mankind!" And there are many other Traditions on the same subject. (Durre Manthur). In the ‘Stories of Sahabah’ the harrowing tale of the sufferings of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam on his visit to Ta’if has been related, describing how the wretched people of Ta’if treated him mercilessly and pelted him with stones, so that his body was covered with blood. But when the angel of the mountain came and said to him that, if he wished, he (the angel) would cause the hills on both sides of Ta’if to collide so that all the humans within would be crushed to death, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "No, if they do not embrace Islam, I hope among their progeny there will be such who will do so and pray to Him". In the Battle of Uhud, when the Quraish made a severe attack on Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam and one of his blessed teeth was broken, he was asked to curse them, but all he said was, "O Allah, show my people the path of Hidayat (of Truth). They do not know me". Once Umar Radhiallaho anho said, "O Rasulullah, if you had invoked Allah Ta’ala against us (in our pre-Islamic days) as Nooh Alaihissalam did, all of us would have been ruined. But you tolerated all manner of torture at our hands, and still, always implored Allah, saying, ‘O Allah forgive my people, for they do not know’!" Qazi Ayaaz Rahmatullah alaihe says, "If we carefully consider all these incidents, we find in them the great height of moral attainments of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, showing his great forbearance, nobility of disposition and magnanimity. The non-believers treated him in the cruellest possible way, but Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam always implored Allah Ta’ala to forgive them and grant them proper guidance (i.e. Hidayat) " The story of Ghawath bin Harth is well known in the life history of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam. Once Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam was on a journey and went to sleep all by himself; Ghawath came along unsheathing his sword and awakening him said, "Who can protect you from me?" Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "Allah!" On hearing this, Ghawath began to tremble with fear and the sword fell from his hand!
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 21:13:13 +0000
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