Condition of the Faith of True Believers - Synthesis of Iman

Condition of the Faith of True Believers

Within the Qur'anic discourse, the people whose faith in Islam is the result of intellectual and audition based faiths are termed siddiqeen (singular siddeeq). The major characteristic of siddiqeen, which distinguishes them from other believers, is that they leap forward to accept a prophet’s call without a moment’s hesitation. They are likened to the believer who, after performing wudu` (ritual purity), impatiently waits for the prayer-call and the moment the call is sounded scurries to the masjid. Among the siddiqeen, the personality  of Abu Bakr (RAA) is prominent about whom the Prophet (SAW) said: whosoever I invited to Islam took some time to accept it except Abu Bakr (RAA), who did not hesitate even for a moment. It is for this reason that Abu Bakr (RAA) is called “al-siddeeq al-akbar” (The Greatest siddeeq i.e. testifier).

We must ponder why this was so? It was because Abu Bakr (RAA) had no difficulty in accepting the Prophet’s (SAW) call, for the call was nothing more than a reverberation of Abu Bakr’s (RAA) own thoughts and beliefs that he had come to accept having traversed the process of iman-e-`aqli. Abu Bakr (RAA) was not the lone case however. In that land of vulgar paganism and polytheism, a land sunk deep in the darkness of ignorance and backwardness, there were individuals whose hearts were illumined with the light of tauheed (Unity of God) and whose inner nature was pure and pristine. Among them, as stated above, was Abu Bakr (RAA) who had never associated gods with Allah (SWT); just as the Prophet (SAW), Abu Bakr (RAA) was also a follower of tauheed from day one. 

Same was the case with Uthman bin `Affan (RAA) and Sa`eed bin Zaid (RAA), both of whom were among the ten companions given the glad-tidings of Paradise in their lifetime. In this very land lived the father of Sa`eed bin Zaid (RAA), named Zaid bin ‘Amr bin Nufail – who died before the revelation descended upon Prophet Muhammad (SAW) – about whom it is known that he used to supplicate while clinging to the drapes of Ka’bah: “My Lord! I want to worship You alone. I proclaim my disassociation with all these false-gods that the people of Makkah worship. I want to worship none except You, but do not know how!” 

In this very land once roamed a man by the name of Waraqah bin Naufil who renounced paganism and sought to discover the True Reality of life. His search took him to Syria where he learned the Hebrew language and converted to Christianity. At the time when the first revelation descended upon the Prophet (SAW), his (SAW) wife Khadijah (RAA) took the Prophet (SAW) to Waraqah. Waraqah confirmed that the man who appeared to the Prophet (SAW) was the same angel who had descended upon Musa (AS) and Isa (AS). He further informed the Prophet (SAW) that he wished to live to see the day when the people of Makkah would force him (SAW) out of the city so that he can help him (SAW). However, he died soon thereafter. 

In summation, the siddiqeen are characterized by sound intellect and pristine pure nature; people whose iman is the result of both iman-e-a`qli and iman-e-sam`ee. The Qur’an mentions them in another place:

“And when they listen to the revelation received by the prophet you will see their eyes overflowing with tears for they recognize the truth: they pray: ‘Our Lord! We believe! Write us down among the witnesses.’”

[al-Qur’an 5:83]

The especial regard for the siddiqeen by All ah (SWT) is evident from the fact that their supplication (ayahs 192-194) mentioned above is promptly responded to by their Lord (SWT):

“And their Lord has accepted of them and answered them (their prayers): ‘Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you be he male or female: You are members one of another (equal to one another).”

[al-Qur’an 3:195]

Source: Synthesis of Iman

To be continued....

Dreams of the Companions of the Prophet - DREAMS IN ISLAM

Dreams of the Companions of the Prophet

Narrated Kharija bin Zaid bin Thabit: 

Um al-’Ala, an Ansari woman who had given the pledge of allegiance to Allah’s Apostle, said: “Uthman bin Maz’un came in our share when the Ansars drew lots to distribute the emigrants (to dwell) among themselves, He became sick and we looked after (nursed) him till he died. Then we shrouded him in his clothes. Allah’s Apostle came to us, I (addressing the dead body) said: “May Allah’s Mercy be on you, O Aba As-Sa’ib! I testify that Allah has honored you.” The Prophet asked: “How do you know that?”  I replied: “I do not know, by Allah.”  He said: “As for him, death has come to him and I wish him all good from Allah. By Allah, though I am Allah’s Apostle, I neither know what will happen to me, nor to you”  Um al-’Ala said: “By Allah, I will never attest the righteousness of anybody after that.” She added: “Later I saw in a dream a flowing spring for ‘Uthman. So I went to Allah's Apostle and mentioned that to him. He said, that is (the symbol of) his good deeds (the reward for) which is going on for him.”

 (Bukhari)

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:

Men from the companions of Allah’s Apostle used to see dreams during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle and they used to narrate those dreams to Allah’s Apostle. Allah’s Apostle would interpret them as Allah wished. I was a young man and used to stay in the masjid before my wedlock. I said to myself: “If there were any good in myself, I too would see what these people see.”  So when I went to bed one night, I said: “O Allah! If you see any good in me, show me a good dream.” So while I was in that state, there came to me (in a dream) two angels. In the hand of each of them there was a mace of iron, and both of them were taking me to Hell, and I was between them, invoking Allah: “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from Hell.” Then I saw myself being confronted by another angel holding a mace of iron in his hand. He said to me: “Do not be afraid, you will be an excellent man if you only pray more often.” So they took me till they stopped me at the edge of Hell, and behold, it was built inside like a well and it had side posts like those of a well, and beside each post there was an angel carrying an iron mace. I saw therein many people hanging upside down with iron chains, and I recognized therein some men from the Quraish. Then (the angels) took me to the right side. I narrated this dream to (my sister) Hafsa. Hafsa told me that she had mentioned it to the Prophet and he said: “Abdullah is a righteous man, if only he would pray more at night.” (Az-Zuhri said: “After that ‘Abdullah used to pray more at night.”) 

 (Bukhari)

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

A man came to Allah’s Apostle and said: “I saw in a dream, a cloud having shade. Butter and honey were dropping from it and I saw the people gathering it in their hands, some gathering much and some a little. And behold, there was a rope extending from the earth to the sky, and I saw that you (the Prophet) held it and went up, and then another man held it and went up and (after that) another (third) held it and went up, and then after another (fourth) man held it, but it broke and then got connected again.”  Abu Bakr said: “O Allah’s Apostle! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Allow me to interpret this dream.” The Prophet said to him: “Interpret it.” Abu Bakr said: “The cloud with shade symbolizes Islam, and the butter and honey dropping from it, symbolizes the Qur’an, its sweetness dropping and some people learning much of the Qur’an and some a little. The rope which is extended from the sky to the earth is the Truth which you (the Prophet) are following. You follow it and Allah will raise you high with it, and then another man will follow it and will rise up with it and another person will follow it and then another man will follow it but it will break and then it will be connected for him and he will rise up with it. O Allah’s Apostle! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Am I right or wrong?” The Prophet replied: “You are right in some of it and wrong in some.” Abu Bakr said: “O Allah’s Prophet! By Allah, you must tell me in what I was wrong.”  The Prophet said, “Do not swear.”

 (Bukhari)

Narrated Qais bin ‘Ubada:

I was sitting in a gathering in which there was Sa’d bin Malik and Ibn ‘Umar. ‘Abdullah bin Salam passed in front of them and they said: “This man is from the people of Paradise.”  I said to ‘Abdullah bin Salam: “They said so-and-so.” He replied: “Subhan Allah! They ought not to have said things of which they have no knowledge, but I saw (in a dream) that a post was fixed in a green garden. At the top of the post there was a handhold and below it there was a servant. I was asked to climb (the post). So I climbed it till I got hold of the handhold.” Then I narrated this dream to Allah’s Apostle. Allah’s Apostle said: “Abdullah will die while still holding the firm reliable handhold (i.e., Islam).” 

 (Bukhari) 

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:

Some people were shown the Night of Qadr as being in the last seven days (of the month of Ramadan). The Prophet said, “Seek it in the last seven days (of Ramadan).” 

 (Bukhari)  

Narrated Kharija bin Zaid bin Thabit:

Um al-’Ala, an Ansari woman who had given a pledge of allegiance to Allah’s Apostle, told me: “The Muhajirin (emigrants) were distributed amongst us by drawing lots, and we got ‘Uthman bin Maz’un in our share. We made him stay with us in our house. Then he suffered from a disease which proved fatal. When he died and was given a bath and was shrouded in his clothes, Allah’s Apostle came. I said, (addressing the dead body), ‘O Aba As-Sa’ib! May Allah be Merciful to you! I testify that Allah has honored you.’  Allah’s Apostle asked, “How do you know that Allah has honored him?” I replied, “Let my father be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Apostle! On whom else shall Allah bestow His honor?” Allah’s Apostle replied, “As for him, by Allah, death has come to him. By Allah, I wish him all good (from Allah). By Allah, in spite of the fact that I am Allah’s Apostle, I do not know what Allah will do to me.”  Um al-’Ala added, “By Allah, I will never attest the righteousness of anybody after that.”   Narrated Az-Zuhri: Regarding the above narration the Prophet said, “I do not know what Allah will do to him (Uthman bin Maz’un).” Um al- ‘Ala said, “I felt very sorry for that, and then I slept and saw in a  dream a flowing spring for ‘Uthman bin Maz’un, and told Allah’s Apostle of that, and he said:“that flowing spring symbolizes his good deeds.”

 (Bukhari)

                                                          

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Salam: 

(In a dream) I saw myself in a garden, and there was a pillar in the middle of the garden, and there was a handhold at the top of the pillar. I was asked to climb it. I said: “I cannot.” Then a servant came and lifted up my clothes and I climbed (the pillar), and then got hold of the handhold, and I woke up while still holding it.  I narrated that to the Prophet who said: “The garden symbolizes the garden of Islam, and the handhold is the firm Islamic handhold which indicates that you will be adhering firmly to Islam until you die.” 

 (Bukhari)

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:

I saw in a dream a piece of silken cloth in my hand, and in whatever direction in Paradise I waved it, it flew, carrying me there. I narrated this (dream) to (my sister) Hafsa and she told it to the Prophet who said (to Hafsa): “Indeed, your brother is a righteous man,” or, “Indeed, ‘Abdullah is a righteous man.” 

 (Bukhari)

“Um al-Fadl once came to Allah’s Messenger sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam  and said: O Allah’s Messenger!  I saw an awful dream.  He replied: Blessed be it.  She continued:  I saw a piece of your flesh put in my lap!  Allah’s Messenger smiled and said:  My daughter Fatima will beget a son, and you shall take him in your lap.  Later on Fatima conceived a child from her husband Ali, and Um al-Fadl placed the new-born in her lap.” ³¹

                                                                              

“Once the Caliph Omar bin al-Khattab appointed a judge for Syria.  When the man left Makkah, one night he saw in a dream that the sun, the moon, and the stars were fighting against one another.  Then the man himself became a star and participated in the fight in the dream.  Halfway through his journey the man returned to Madina and told the Caliph of his dream.  Omar asked:  When you became a star in the dream did you fight on the side of the sun or that of the moon? The man replied: I fought on the side of the moon.  Omar replied: Go away, and do not work for me.  Later on the man joined the army of Yazeed in Syria and died fighting the caliphate during the battle of Siffin.” ³²

                                                                         

Source: Dreams in Islam by Imran Hosein
To be continued ....

Dreams in Christian Arabia - DREAMS IN ISLAM

Dreams in Christian Arabia

Even in the youth of the Prophet sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam we are told about the Christian hermit, Baheera, who succeeded in meeting with the Prophet sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam after (perhaps) seeing in a dream that the future Prophet sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who was still a boy, would soon be passing by his cave in a caravan.¹⁰

Even more significant than Baheera’s dream was the dream of the Byzantine Christian ruler of Greater Egypt (which included Syria), Heraclius, in which he saw the emergence of the new conqueror of the world arising from amongst the circumcised:

“Ibn An-Natur was the Governor of Ilya’ (Jerusalem) and Heraclius was the head of the Christians of Sham. Ibn An-Natur narrates that once while Heraclius was visiting Ilya’ (Jerusalem), he got up in the morning in a sad mood. Some of his priests asked him why he was in that mood? Heraclius was an astrologer. He replied, ‘At night (i.e., during a dream) when I looked at the stars, I saw that the leader of those who practice circumcision had appeared (and would become the conqueror). Who are they who practice circumcision?’ The people replied, ‘Except the Jews nobody practices circumcision, so you should not be afraid of them (Jews).  Just issue orders to kill every Jew present in the country.’

While they were discussing it, a messenger, who had been sent by the king of Ghassan to convey the news of Allah’s Apostle to Heraclius, was brought in. Having heard the news he (Heraclius) ordered the people to go and see whether the messenger of Ghassan was circumcised. The people, after seeing him, told Heraclius that he was circumcised. Heraclius then asked him about  the Arabs. The messenger replied, Arabs also practice circumcision.’

 

(After hearing that) Heraclius remarked that sovereignty of the  Arabs had appeared. Heraclius then wrote a letter to his friend in Rome who was as good as Heraclius in knowledge. Heraclius then left for Homs (a town in Syria), and stayed there until he received the reply of his letter from his friend who agreed with him in his opinion about the emergence of the Prophet and the fact that he was a Prophet. On that Heraclius invited all the heads of the Byzantines to assemble in his palace at Homs. When they assembled, he ordered that all the doors of his palace be closed. Then he came out and said, ‘O Byzantines! If success is your desire and if you seek right guidance and want your empire to remain then give a pledge of allegiance to this Prophet (i.e. embrace Islam).’

(On hearing the views of Heraclius) the people ran towards the gates of the palace like onagers but found the doors closed. Heraclius realized their hatred towards Islam and when he lost hope of their embracing Islam, he ordered that they should be brought back in audience.

(When they returned) he said, ‘What was said was just to test the strength of your conviction and I have seen it.’ The people prostrated before him and became pleased with him, and this was the end of Heraclius’s story (in connection with his faith). 

(Bukhari)

We have recorded these dreams from pagan and Christian Arabia that they  might jolt the consciousness of today’s Muslims who possess the complete Truth  and yet pay less or no attention to dreams.

Let us now begin our subject proper by examining the dreams that were sent down by Allah Most High to certain of His servants and which were recorded in the Qur’an.  What were those dreams?  What epistemology do they establish?  And what are their importance?

Source: Dreams in Islam by Imran Hosein
To be continued ....