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Those Shaded by GOD The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Do you know who will go first on the Day of Resurrection to the shade of God…Those who when given what is right accept it, when asked for something give freely and who judge in favor of others as they do for themselves.”——— Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1042 The Best Charity The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The best charity is that given to a relative who does not like you.” ——— Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 100 Feed Those in Need The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “A man has sinned enough if he neglects to feed those in need.” ——— Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 100 Religion is Very Easy The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Religion is very easy, and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded.” ——— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 38 Love the Poor The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “O God, grant me life as a poor man, cause me to die as a poor man and resurrect me in the company of the poor..” His wife asked him why he said that, and he replied: “Because (the poor) will enter Paradise (before) the rich. Do not turn away a poor man…even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you..God will bring you near Him on the Day of Ressurrection.” ——— Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1376. Lawful Earnings The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked what type of earning was best, and he replied: ” A man’s work with his hands and every (lawful) business transaction.” ——— Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 846 .The Prophet also said: “A truthful and trustworthy merchant is associated with the prophets..” ——— Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 50 And also: “There was a merchant who would lend to the people, and whenever his debtor wasin difficult circumstances, he would say to his employees, ‘Forgive him so that God may forgive us.’ So, God forgave him.” ——— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 292 A Seed of Faith The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “On the Day of Resurrection I will intercede and say, ‘O my Lord! Admit into Paradise (even) those who have faith equal to a mustard seed in their hearts.’ ” ——— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadith 600 A Living Soul A funeral procession once passed in front of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) and he stood up out of respect. When he was told the person in the coffin was Jewish and not Muslim, he said: “Was it not a living (soul)?” ——— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 399 The Rules of War The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once saw the corpse of a woman who had been killed in a military action, and he disapproved of it and forbade the killing of women and children. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and his successor as head of the Muslim community, advised one of his military commanders: “Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place.” ——— Al-Muwatta, Volume 21, Hadith 9 and 10 Service and Humility When asked what the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did while in his house, his wife Ayesha relied: “He used to keep busy serving and helping members of the household.” Anas bin Malik related that: “(Even the humblest) maid servant of Madina would take the Prophet’s hand and take him to any place (for the redress of her grievances).” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadiths 605 and 606 Be Dutiful to your Mother The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “God has forbidden you to be undutiful to your mothers, to withhold (what you should give) or demand (what you do not deserve), or to bury your daughters alive (a pre-Islamic practice).” ——— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 8:6 The Learned are Heirs of the Prophet The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The learned are heirs of the prophets, and the prophets do not leave any inheritance in the form of (monetary wealth), but they do leave knowledge as their legacy. A person who acquires knowledge, acquires his full share (of this legacy).” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Number 1388 Visit the Sick and Feed the Hungry The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “(God) will (question a person) on the Day of Resurrection (saying)): ‘O son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me.’ The person will say: ‘O my Lord, how could I visit Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds?’ Thereupon (God) will say: ‘Didn’t you know that a servant of Mine was sick but you did not visit him, and were you not aware that if you had visited him, you would have found Me by him?’ (God will then say) ‘O son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me.’ The person will say: ‘My Lord, how could I feed Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds?’ (God) will say: ‘Didn’t you know that a servant of Mine asked you for food but you did not feed him, and were you not aware that if you had fed him you would have found him by My side?’ ——— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1172 The Best Jihad The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The best (Jihad) is (to speak) word of justice to an oppressive ruler.” ——— Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2040 Focus on the Positive The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another.” ——— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 705 Good Conduct Toward Neighbours The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “He will not enter Paradise whose neighbour is not secure from his wrongful conduct.” ——— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 15 A Way Out of Distress The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If anyone continually asks pardon, God will appoint for him a way out of every distress, and a relief from anxiety, and will provide for him from where he did not reckon.” ——— Abdu Dawood, Hadith 599 Say a Pleasant Word The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “(Each one) of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find a half date, then (you can do it through saying) a pleasant word (to your brethern).” ——— Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 394 Do not Turn Away the Poor The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once told his wife: “Do not turn away a poor man..even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you…GOD will bring you near HIM on the Day of Resurrection.” ——— Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1376 Avoid Cruelty and Injustice The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once told his wife: “Avoid Cruelty and injustice..and guard yourselves against miserliness, for this has ruined nations who lived before you.” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 203 A Heart Free of Malice The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said to one of his companions: “Son, if you are able, keep your heart..free from malice toward anyone.” ——— Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 59 Those Sheltered by GOD The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Seven kinds of people will be sheltered under the shade of God on the Day of Judgment…They are: a just ruler, a young man who passed his youth in the worship and service of others for the sake of God…a man who is invited to sin…but declines, saying ‘I fear God’…one who spends his charity in secret, without making a show…and one who remembers God in solitude so that his eyes overflow.” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 376 Avoid What is Doubtful The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “That which is lawful is clear, and that which is unlawful is also quite clear. Between these two is that which is ambiguous, which most people do not know. One who avoids the doubtful safeguards his faith and his honor.” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 588 Good Manners The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “A believer may achieve the status of one who regularly fasts (for religious reasons) during the day and spends the night in prayer, through his good manners.” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 629 A Clean Heart The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “No companion of mine should tell me anything bad about another person. For when I meet you, I would like my heart to be clean (unbiased.)” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 1539 Humility The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “(God) has revealed to me that you should adopt humility so that no one oppressess another.” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 1589 Avoid Jealousy The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “Avoid jealousy, for it destroys good deeds as fire destroys wood.” ——— Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 1569 A Superior Provision The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once asked Bilal to join in his morning meal. Bilala declined the invitation because he was fast . The Prophet then replied: “We are eating our provision and Bilal’s superior provision is in Paradise. Did you know, Bilal, that…the angels ask forgiveness for (someone who is fasting) as long as people eat beside him?” ——— Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 640 The Essence of Fasting The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “Fasting is not (just abstaining) from eating and drinking, but also from vain speech and foul language. If one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he should say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’ ” ——— Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 132A Fasting Brings Forgiveness The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from God, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” ——— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 125 Fast for God The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to say when he broke his fast: “O God, for Thee I have fasted and with Thy provision I have broken my fast.” ——— Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 978 Felicity The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “If you are given health and security from evil in this world and the next, you have attained felicity.” ——— Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 781 Say What is Good OR Keep Quite The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day (of Judgment) should not harm his neighbor. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet.” ——— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 47
The First Battle of IslamThis was the second year of the Hijrah (Prophet's escape from Mecca). Muslims were commanded to turn their faces to the Kaaba, the Holy House at Mecca, instead of Bait-ul-Muqaddus, the Holy Place in Palestine. The Qibla (point of attention in prayer) was thus changed. Also fasting was made compulsory during the month of Ramazan. The year is important for other things too. For the first time in the city, courts started functioning, hygienic measures were introduced, lanes were widened and arrangements made to promote literacy, laws regulated the rights and duties of slaves, and people were enjoined to commit to writing all civil contracts.Yet another great thing happened during the year. Muslims and the Quresh fought their first battle at Badr. The Prophet learnt that the Quresh were on their way to Medina with a big army. He started to meet the enemy far away from the town. He also came to know that a big trade caravan of the Quresh was on its way to Mecca; the Meccan army was there ostensibly to protect it. The prophet was prepared as best as he could. But he had not many means for an armed conflict. He had not many men either. Muslims were prepared to meet only the caravan. They were not in a position to meet the Quresh army. The Meccans had raised a big force. They had enlisted every fighting man. Only two chiefs of the town were not willing to join them. One was Abu Lahab, an uncle, but a great enemy of the Prophet. His sister had had a fearful dream. He was frightened on that account. The other was Umaiyya bin Khalaf, another bitter enemy of Islam. He greatly feared death. He had learnt that Prophet had predicted that he would die in the battlefield. He knew the Prophet spoke the truth but he was forced to join the army against his will. Before the Prophet took to the field, he wanted to know the mind of the Muslims. The Muhajirs were eager to lay down their lives at his command. The Ansar were no less willing. When asked, their chief, Saad bin Moaz, said, "We are with you, wherever you go, o Prophet of Allah, if you tell us to jump in the sea, by God, we will."The Prophet was highly pleased. He told them that God had promised him a great victory. When they reached the valley of Badr, they found the enemy camp already there. Its force numbered one thousand. The Muslims numbered 313. The Quresh had 800 mounts, the Muslims only 30. Three hundred of the enemy had armour, of the Muslims only two. The follower of the Prophet camped close to the enemy. A pavilion shaded the Prophet where he and Abu Bakr spent the night together. The Prophet prayed throughout the night and the next day. It was the 17th of Ramazan. Soon after sunrise the enemy made advance. Some of them came to the spring to fetch water. Muslims made to stop them. But the Prophet said, "No, let them have access to the water."The Quresh sent out one Umar bin Wahab to do scout duty. He went round the Muslims on horse back. He returned to the Quresh in a state of panic. He said, "O Quresh I did not see men on the mounts, I saw death riding on the backs of camels."So did the Muslims appear to him. The first of the enemy force to seek battle were Utba, Shaiba and Walid. The Prophet ordered Hamza, Ali and Ubaidah to meet them. Hamza and Ali killed all three. Ubaida was fatally wounded. Then the Quresh made a general attack. The Prophet, who watched from his tent, prayed thus: "O Lord, make good Thy promise. If today this party of Muslims is wiped out, there will be none left to worship Thee."Abu Jahl was also praying. His prayer was: "O God, if we are in the wrong then stone us from above or punish us otherwise." First Victory of IslamBoth were heard. The Muslims won, the Quresh lost the battle. Musilms fought with great courage. Two Ansar youth rushed to the spot where Abu Jahl had taken his position. In an instant they cut him down. The Prophet then ordered a general attack. Muslims fell on the enemy like lightning. The Quresh fled. Seventy were taken prisoner and as many lay dead. Among them were 24 leading chiefs. Umaiyya bin Khalaf was on the casualties. Thus was cut off the root of Meccan strength.The dead Quresh were buried in one pit. The Prophet addressing the dead enemy, said, "Did you find true the promise God had made to you? Well, I found His promise to me true."Then he said, "O ye who lie in the pit, you were bad relations of your Prophet. You rejected me, others accepted me. You turned me out of my home, others gave me shelter. You made war on me, others aided me." Grief in MeccaOnly fourteen Muslims were slain in the battle. There was great joy in Medina. There was great grief in Mecca. The star of the Prophet was up. The name of the Quresh was mud. They felt the disgrace keenly. They forbade all mourning and pledged to wipe out their shame with revenge. They will then and only then mourn their dead. But many had lost their sons, many their brothers, many their fathers and many their husbands. They could not bear the grief in silence for long. It is said that a man named Aswad once heard a woman weep. He had lost two sons and a grandson in Badr. He asked his servant to enquire if mourning had been permitted. He said, if it was so, he would like to cry."There is a fire burning inside me. I would love to weep to my heart's content."The servant returned with the answer that woman had lost her camel and was therefore crying. Aswad was a poet. He at once uttered these lines: "O woman, thou art weeping over the loss of a camel. Its grief is keeping thee from sleep. If thou must weep, then weep over Badr where our luck failed us. Aye, if thou must weep, then weep over my Adil and weep over my Harith, who was a lion among lions."Then there followed general mourning in Mecca. The only house that did not join was that of Abu Sufiyan. His wife Hinda would not shed a tear. She had lost her father and two brothers in Badr. "Tears cannot put out the fire of my grief,"she said, "If they could, I would shed plenty."She wanted them to go to war against Muhammad. So did many others. Mecca made ready for revenge. It was to be a great battle. They wanted to finish the Muslims! So they made big preparations. For the Muslims it was a great honour to have fought in Badr. Saad bin Abi Viqas was one of them. Later, he founded Kufa. He was also governor of Iraq. He conquered Iraq. He conquered Iran. He was young when he took part in the battle of Badr. He died at the age of eighty. Before his death, he asked for the cloak he had worn at Badr. He had kept it safe. He put it on when he was dying. He said he had saved it for that day. He was buried in the same cloak. Humane Treatment of enemy P.O.W'sThe Prophet ordered that the enemy prisoners of war should be treated with kindness. At that time perisoners of war were dealt with very savegely. They were kept as slaves and used as beasts. The Prophet was the first man in history to give prisoners of war humane treatment. He ordered that they should be set free on payment of ransom. Some prisoners were asked to teach Muslims how to read and write. This duty was to earn them their freedom. Abbas, an uncle of the Prophet, who had been forced to join the Meccan army, was taken prisoner. He was bound up like the others. He felt pain and moaned at night. The Prophet felt very uneasy on that account. The Muslims noted this. They at once loosened the bonds of Abbas. He felt at peace. When he did not moan any more, the Prophet knew the reason why. He ordered all the prisoners to be treated alike. Soon the bonds of all were made loose.Muslims were very good to the Quresh prisoners of war. They gave them food and starved themselves. They gave them mounts and themselves walked on foot. Translate This Page Contact Us
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