HAJJ 2012: Stories of the Prophets – Ibrahim (as) and Ismail (as)

Prophet Ibrahim (as) – also known as Prophet Abraham – is one of the greatest Prophets and the father of us all. He is described by Allah as being an Ummah. Muslims, jews and christians all trace roots back to him. Prophet Ibrahim (as) is mentioned in our prayers, at least 5 times a day, such an honoured position has he, and he was described as Khalil-ullah – the Friend of Allah (swt).

From Ibrahim’s (as) two sons lie the lineage of the Muslims and the Jews. From Ismail comes the line of the Arabs – the Muslims. From Ishaq comes the line of the Jews.

Alhamdulillah, Prophet Ibrahim (as) was on the truth from an early age. He questioned and challenged the idol worship of his time; he faced the disbelievers of Babylon; he faced Nimrud (Nimrod); with his son, Ismail, he built the Kaaba and it is from the family of Ibrahim that Hajj was established as one of the pillars of Islam, and something practised by millions upon millions of Muslims since the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

It is essential that Muslims know of the story of Prophet Ibrahim (as) as much of Islam refers to him.

Stories Of The Prophets By Ibn Kathir

The following are some snippets of the Stories of the Prophets as written by the renowned scholar (masha’Allah), Ibn Kathir and translated by Sheikh Muhammad Mustafa Geme’ah (Office of the Grand Imam, Sheikh Al-Azhar). I hope you will find them beneficial, insha’Allah.

IBRAHIM (AS) AND ISMAIL (AS) – THE SACRIFICE
Allah the Almighty told us of Prophet Ibrahim’s (as) affliction with his beloved son:

“And he said after his rescue from the fire: ‘Verily! I am going to my Lord. He will guide me! My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous.” SO We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. And when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what do you think!” “O my father! Do that which you are commanded In sha Allah (if Allah wills), you shall find me of the patient.”

Then when they had both submitted themselves to the Will of Allah and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering); and We called out to him: “O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream (vision!” Verily! Thus do Wereward those who perform good deeds, totally for Allah’s sake only. Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial and We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (a ram;) and We left for him ( a goodly remembrance) among generations (to come) in later times. “Salamun (peace) be upon Ibrahim!” Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsineen (good doers). Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. (Ch 37:99-111 Qur’an)

Download the book and read more about the Story of Prophet Ibrahim (as), Prophet Ismail (as) and other Prophets in the Stories Of The Prophets By Ibn Kathir

Stand Up 4 Islam!

[If you like this article, please share it with your friends

Fasting on the Day of Arafat: sins forgiven for two years

It is one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar. The virtues and blessings of this day are immense. There is no other day like it and millions of Muslims turn to Allah on this day. It’s the Day of Arafat; Saturday 5th November 2011.

Many Muslims around the whole world will be fasting this day, in search of forgiveness and the Forgiveness and Mercy of Allah is amazing. Fasting on this day is expiation for two years of sin. So I encourage all Muslims to fast on this day. We are surely in need of much forgiveness and how can we do without this amazing day that Allah Has Given us?

VIRTUES OF THE DAY OF ARAFAT

It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allaah’s Favour was completed. 

In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar said, “Which aayah?” He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maa’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning]. ‘Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafaah on a Friday.”

It is a day by which Allaah swore an oath. 

The Almighty cannot swear by anything except that which is mighty. Yawm ‘Arafaah is the “witnessed day” mentioned in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of ‘Arafaah].” [al-Burooj 85:3].

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafaah, and the witnessing day is Friday.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

It is the “odd” [i.e., odd-numbered, Witr] by which Allaah swore in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And by the even and the odd” [al-Fajr 89:3]. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The even is the Day of al-Adhaa [i.e., 10th Dhoo’l-Hijjah] and the odd is the Day of ‘Arafaah [i.e., 9th Dhoo’l-Hijjah] This is also the view of ‘Ikrimah and al-Dahhaak.

Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years. 

It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah. He said, “It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.” Narrated by Muslim.

This (fasting) is mustahabb for those who are not on Hajj. In the case of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day of ‘Arafaah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast on this day in ‘Arafaah. It was narrated that he forbade fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah in ‘Arafaah.

It is the day on which Allaah took the covenant from the progeny of Adam. 

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah took the covenant from the loins of Adam in Na’maan, i.e., ‘Arafaah. He brought forth from his loins all his offspring and spread them before Him, then He addressed them, and said: ‘Am I not your Lord? They said, ‘Yes, we testify,’ let you should say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Verily, we have been unaware of this.’ Or lest you should say: ‘It was only our fathers aforetime who took others as partners in worship along with Allaah, and we were (merely their) descendents after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Baatil (i.e., ploytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allaah)?’ [al-A’raaf 7:172-173 – interpretation of the meaning].” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani. And there is no greater day than this and no greater covenant than this.

It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire and pride in the people who are there: 

In Saheeh Muslim it was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafaah. He comes close and expresses His Pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’”

It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah expresses His Pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of ‘Arafaah, about the people of ‘Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

Stand Up 4 Islam!

[If you like this article, please share it with your friends]

Stories of the Prophets – Ibrahim (as)

Prophet Ibrahim (as) – also known as Prophet Abraham – is one of the greatest Prophets and the father of us all. He is described by Allah as being an Ummah. Muslims, jews and christians all trace roots back to him. Prophet Ibrahim (as) is mentioned in our prayers, at least 5 times a day, such an honoured position has he, and he was described as Khalil-ullah – the Friend of Allah (swt).

From Ibrahim’s (as) two sons lie the lineage of the Muslims and the Jews. From Ismail comes the line of the Arabs – the Muslims. From Ishaq comes the line of the Jews.

Alhamdulillah, Prophet Ibrahim (as) was on the truth from an early age. He questioned and challenged the idol worship of his time; he faced the disbelievers of Babylon; he faced Nimrud (Nimrod); with his son, Ismail, he built the Kaaba and it is from the family of Ibrahim that Hajj was established as one of the pillars of Islam, and something practised by millions upon millions of Muslims since the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

It is essential that Muslims know of the story of Prophet Ibrahim (as) as much of Islam refers to him.

Stories Of The Prophets By Ibn Kathir

The following are some snippets of the Stories of the Prophets as written by the renowned scholar (masha’Allah), Ibn Kathir and translated by Sheikh Muhammad Mustafa Geme’ah (Office of the Grand Imam, Sheikh Al-Azhar). I hope you will find them beneficial, insha’Allah.

IBRAHIM (AS) BREAKS THE IDOLS
He explained to them the beauty of Allah’s creation, His power and wisdom. Idol worship is detested by Allah for Allah is the Lord of the universe Who created mankind, guided him and provided him with food and drink and cured him when he was sick and Who will cause him to die and be raised up again. iT was He to Whom Abraham prayed and Who would forgive his sins on the Day of Judgment. However, they would not give up but clung fast to idolatry. Abraham left his father’s house and abandoned his people and what they worshipped. He decide to do something about their state of disbelief, but did not reveal it. He knew that there was going to be a great celebration on the other bank of the river which would be attended by all the people.

Abraham waited until the city was empty, then came out cautiously, directing his steps towards the temple. the streets leading to it were empty and the temple itself was deserted for the priests had also gone to the festival outside the city. Abraham went there carrying a sharp axe. He looked at the stone and wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front of them as offerings. He approached one of the statues and asked: “The food in front of you is getting cold. Why don’t you eat?” the statue kept silent and rigid.

Abraham asked all the other statues around him: “Will you not eat of the offering before you?” (Ch 37:91)

He was mocking them for he knew they would not eat. He once again asked then: “What is the matter with you that you do not speak?” (Ch 37:92)

He then raised his axe and started smashing the false gods worshipped by the people. He destroyed them all except one on whose neck he hung the axe. After this his anger subsides and he felt at peace. He left the temple. He had fulfilled his vow to show his people a practical proof of their foolishness in worshipping something other than Allah.

THE IDOLATERS QUESTION IBRAHIM (AS)

When the people returned, they were shocked to see their gods smashed to pieces, lying scattered all over the temple. They began to guess who had done that to their idols and Abraham’s name came to their minds.

Allah the Almighty said: they said: “Who has done this to our aliah (gods)? He must indeed be one of the wrongdoers.”

They said: “We heard a young man talking against them who is called Abraham.” They said: “Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may testify.”

They said: “Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Abraham?” Abraham said: “nay, this one, the biggest of them (idols) did it, Ask them, if they can speak!”So they turned to themselves and said: “Verily you are the Zalimun (polytheists, and wrongdoers).”Then they turned to themselves (their first thought and said): “Indeed you (Abraham) know well that these idols speak not?”

Abraham said: “DO you then worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you nor harm you? If upon you, and upon that which you worship besides Allah! Have you then no sense?” (Ch 21:59-67 Quran)

Furious, they demanded that Abraham be arrested and tried. Abraham did not resist. This was precisely what he had been aiming for, so that he could show them up in public for their foolish beliefs. At the trial they asked him if he was responsible for breaking the idols. Smiling, he told them to ask the biggest idol which was still whole. He told them that he must be the culprit! They replied that he knew well that the idol could not speak or move which gave Abraham the chance to prove the foolishness of worshipping these lifeless objects.

They then realised the senselessness of their beliefs; however, their arrogance would not allow them to admit their foolishness. All they could do was to use their power of authority as tyrants usually do to punish Abraham. They kept him in chains and planned their revenge.

THE IDOLATERS TRY TO BURN IBRAHIM (AS)

Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided to throw Abraham into the biggest fire they could build. All the citizens were ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods. Ignorant, sick women vowed that if they were cured they would donate so much wood to burn Abraham.

For several days they collected fuel.

They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and ignited it. They brought a catapult with which to cast Abraham into the fire. Abraham was put on the catapult, his hands and feet were tied. The fire was ready with its flame reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit because of the great heat. Then the chief priest gave his order to cast Abraham into the fire.

Download the book and read more about the Story of Ibrahim (as) and other Prophets in the Stories Of The Prophets By Ibn Kathir

Stand Up 4 Islam!

[If you like this article, please share it with your friends]