Royal Characteristics After Marriage

Due to the Royal Wedding which has occured, I felt it ideal to post something in relation to wedlock. Once a person is married, he will have to adapt his ways in order to get along with his partner. It is for this reason that I have translated a few chapters from Tuhfatuz Zawjayn by Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi rahimahullah. He mentions some really nice and beautiful points. The last part is a brief account of Hazrat Maulana Thanwi's own behaviour inside his household.

Speaking to your wife and keeping her happy is also her right

Some people are such that they are referred to as respected elders or obedient followers of a respected elder. They are fully engiaged in prayer, fasting, zikr etc and it is as if they are purchasing their place in Jannah through their worship. However, these people are such that they remain ignorant of the rights of their wife.

Remember! It is also the right of your wife that you fix a time for her in which you can speak to her in order to listen to her problems and her joys. It is also her right that you have heart to heart with her so that she remains happy but it is unfortunate that many religious and less religious people remain ignorant with regards to this and thus do not fulfil this right of the spouse. These people are such that they think the only thing that they have to do is provide food and clothing for their wife!

Buying gifts for your wife without reason and feeding her with your hands

If a person purchases something for his wife without any reason to do so then that will not be considered to be extravagance. This is because making the heart of your wife happy is what is needed. However, there is also the condition that a person doesn’t incur a debt upon himself greater than he can satisfy.

And to feed the wife some food is also good, Allah Ta’ala places reward in this.

Hazrat Thanwi and his beautiful conduct with the women of his house

“It is not something which should be mentioned but out of necessity I will tell you as to how I run my household and how I take assistance from the people of my house.

Alhamdulillah, I am not suppressed and nor do I suppress anyone in my household and still, I live the life of a king. My habit is this that when I go home, I check if there is fresh chapatti; if it hasn’t been made, I eat the stale chapatti. Many a times I see that my wife is busy with something so I take the chapatti with my own hands and I take some water with me also. I then take a plate and poor curry into the plate and sit down to eat. If she is making chapatti, I ask her if she needs anything as sometimes, water is needed. If this is the case, I go to the sink or well and fill a bucket of water for her. Sometimes, if she is free, I ask her to bring me the food and that poor girl brings it for me (i.e. Hazrat Thanwi is showing his compassion for his wife that she assists him without making any complaint). It is important for a person to see whether she is busy or not as a person does not remain in the same state all the time.

I tend to get less sleep at night and so after observing my wife for a while, I get up and make thanks to Allah Ta’ala that at least He gave her sleep. Otherwise two sadness’s would be joined together (i.e. one sadness for me not being able to sleep and one sadness for her not being able to sleep).

Then when I am leaving my house, I ask her if there is anything she would like me to do for her. If she says that there is nothing for me to do, I go about my business and if she tells me that there is some work that needs taking care of, I do it. For example, if she wants me to write a letter, I will finish this job and then leave.

Nowadays, many people in our society say that having a wife means a life of friendship! O naive people! Do you even fulfil any rights of friendship or do you just use this term as a (flowery) word? It is only shown by your actions whether or not you have taken that poor girl to be your friend."

May Allah Ta'ala give us the ability to inculcate within ourselves beautiful characteristics which perfume the houses we live in and bring joy to the people we spend time with. May He give us the ability to cherish one another. Ameen, ya Rabbal 'Aalameen.

Miscellaneous Stories

Qaazi Abu Bakr ibn Arabi rahmatullahi alayh narrates that in the time that Mansur was the ruler of Baghdad, a man called Musa ibn Eesa Haashimi said to his wife in a state of intense, intimate love,

“If you are not prettier than the moon, I give you three divorces!”

The woman became extremely worried and thought that the divorce has been sanctioned. Consequently, she stopped coming in front of her husband. When the man came to his senses and out of his state of intense love, he became worried too. In fact, he spent the entire night sleepless and in much difficulty. After much worry, the morning came and Musa went straight to Mansur and narrated what had happened. Mansur immediately called the biggest scholars and jurists of the city and presented the story before them. The majority of the scholars felt that the divorce had been sanctioned because the wife was not as pretty as the moon. However, one jurist from amongst them said that the divorce was not valid. When he was asked for the reason he related the verse from the Qur’an, “We have created mankind in the best mould.” (95:4)

Mansur really liked this reply and Musa ibn Eesa was sent away with this answer that the alleged divorce was not valid.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Imran ibn Hittaan was a renowned eloquent and classical poet of the Khaariji (a misguided sect) sect. There are many stories of his showings. Allamah Zamakshari rahmatullahi alayh narrates that he (Imran ibn Hattaan) had an extremely darkened face and was really ugly. And as ugly as he was, his wife was extremely beautiful. One day, she was staring at his face for a long time and then suddenly said, “Alhamdulillah (all praise is to Allah)!” Imran asked, “What is the matter? What did you say Alhamdulillah upon?” His wife replied, “I had expressed my gratitude to Allah upon this matter that we both are destined for Jannah!” Imran said, “How is that?” She then said, “This is because you have been given a wife like me and you have done shukr (expressed thanks to Allah) on this. And I have received an ugly husband like you upon which I have had to do sabr (be patient). And so Allah has promised the thankful one and the patient one with Jannah!”

Translated from Tarashe

"Maulvi's are the mureed of their wives..."

By Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi rahmatullahi alayh
Translate from Tohfae Zowjayn (excellent book, must buy).

Those people who are religious have much gratitude for the many efforts of their wives. Maulana Muhammad Mazar rahmatullahi alayh was such that his wife had become quite elderly but Maulana shared such a bond with her that whenever she would become even a little sick, he would immediately take leave from Madressa (where he would teach) and he would do her khidmat (service) with his own hands.

Today, some people hate having elderly wives where in reality, they are the people that made them a bhudi (elderly) but Maulana Muhammad’s rahmatullahi alayh was such that he did not employ maids or butlers to do his wife’s looking after but rather he did it himself and take leave from Madressa in the process.

It is for this reason that some people say in jest that: “The scholars are the mureed of their wives!” but Jee ha! Yes, indeed! It is better for them to be their mureed then be their peer like you people! And that too, a bogus peer!

The reality is this that Maulvi’s are not the mureed of their wives but they have the fear of Allah Ta’ala set in their hearts with regards to fulfilling the rights of other people and the rights of their wives. Their eyes have passed over the Qur’an and Hadith and they have read the social conduct of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam through the narrations of Hadith. They have seen how he showed such softness and compassion to his wives in order to put them at ease.

The reality is that whatever Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam presented to his wives through his beautiful behaviour can never be done by any Maulana today and if he did make an effort to portray this behaviour (tit for tat) then the people would jest him by calling him more than a mureed of his wife.

In the Hadith it comes that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would race with his wife Hazrat Aisha radiallahu anha. It is for this reason Maulvi’s do more for the sake of their wives because they have social conduct of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam in their eyes. Then by doing things for the happiness of their wives, there is a big benefit in the world. The People of Allah are not the mureed of their wives, rather they understand their significance.

Stories of Hazrat Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri rahmatullahi alayh

This article has been translated from Tarashe, the wording in the brackets is my own in order to help the understanding.

Hazrat and The Padre

Once Hazrat Allamah Shah sahib rahmatullahi alayh was waiting at the bus stop when a Padre (Christian chaplain) approached him and said, “I can tell from your face that you are a big scholar of your religion.” Hazrat replied, “No, I am merely a student of knowledge.” The Padre said, “Do you have knowledge with regards to Islam?” Hazrat replied, “A bit.” Then Hazrat stated with regards to the cross the Padre was wearing, “This is incorrect, this is not the reality.” Then he stated forty proofs of the Prophetsalallahu alayhi wa salam & his prophethood. Ten from the Qur’an, ten from the Torah, ten from the Bible and ten using common sense.

Hazrat and The Qadiyanis

Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Anwari Sahib Lailpuri rahmatullahi alayh who is the student of Hazrat Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri rahmatullahi alayh relates that there was a famous debate in Bahaawalpur with the Qadiyanis. In this debate, a Qadiyani asked Hazrat Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri rahmatullahi alayh, “You have stated that your religion has been transmitted to you by the way of an unbroken transmission (i.e. there is an unbroken link all the way to the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam). And you also believe that if anybody rejects this then they have become a disbeliever. Well now you should put the fatwa of disbelief on Imam Raazi (who is a very big scholar from the past and is known for his Tafsir al Kabir)! Because in Fawatih Ar Rahmat Sharh Muslim Ath Thaboot, Allamah Bahr al Ulum has stated that Imam Raazi has rejected this principle.”

Maulana Anwari rahmatullahi alayh states that coincidentally, we did not have that book with us at that time (so that we could check it for ourselves) but Hazrat Allamah Shah sahib replied at the exact moment,

“Judge Sahib! Note that it has been 32 years since I last read this book and now I no longer have it. But Imam Raazi states that in the hadith where it is stated, “My nation will not gather upon a misguidance.” That this hadith is not on the level of the meaning of tawatur (unbroken transmission). He has rejected the unbroken transmission of this particular hadith, he has not rejected the argument of tawatur! This man has presented this case with trickery. Now tell him to read the actual text from the book otherwise I will take the book from him and read the text out (to you all) myself.”

Consequently, the Qadiyani representative began reading the text from the book. It was precisely that text (word for word) which Hazrat Allamah Shah sahib had dictated to us through his memory. The judge became overtaken with happiness. Hazrat Shah sahib then stated,

“Judge Sahib! This man wanted to leave us without an answer but it is because I am a student of knowledge I have read a few books here and there so that this does not occur.”

Brief Stories and Haalaat of Seeking Knowledge and the Akaabireen #2

The following I have translated from "Zafrul Muhasileen Bi Ahwaalil Musanifeen". It is an excellent book for students of knowledge to read and extremely beneficial.

Imam Raazi rahmatullahi alayh would become extremely sorrowful at the time of eating as he would no longer be engaged in attaining Islamic knowledge. So much so that he would say, “I swear by Allah! At the time of eating I feel so sorrowful from being disengaged from knowledge. Without doubt, (the utilisation of) time is magnificent.”

The madressa Sheikh Abu Ishaaq used to study in had 10 flights of stairs. On every staircase, Sheikh Abu Ishaaq would read his sabak 100 times. By the time he got to the top, he had read his sabak 1,000 times. Now, where is this effort today? The state of the common folk became such that when Sheikh Abu Ishaaq travelled to Kharaasaan, whichever big or small district he went to, people came out in their masses to meet him and every working person would place their prized possessions in the transport Sheikh was using.

Hafiz Abul Qasim Sulayman ibn Ahmad Tabraani rahmatullahi alayh passed away 360AH. He spent 33 years travelling around and sought knowledge from 1,000 scholars. Despite this, his thirst for knowledge remained till his death.

Hafiz ibn Taahir Muqqadasi rahamatullahi alayh would never ever use any form of transport when travelling for hadith. He would take the job of transport and conveyance upon himself alone. At times of difficulty, his urine would be blood (due to his situation and lack of food).

Ibn al Maqri rahmatullahi alayh relates: I travelled to 70 destinations to acquire a document (written) by ibn Fuzala. The external appearance of this document was such that even a baker would not exchange one chapatti for it. (i.e. to some it may look so poor but he still went for it.)

Qadhi Thanaullah Panipati rahmatullahi alayhwould spend his bedtime in the obedience, worship and prayer of Allah Ta’ala. He would read 100 rak’at every day and would have the habit of finishing one Qur’an per day in his tahajjud prayer.

Imam e Adab, Sebuwee rahmatullahi alayh started his search for knowledge in fiqh and hadith. At this point, he did not have much of a connection with Nahw (syntax). During this period, Sheikh Hammad ibn Salamah would narrate hadith. One day, Hammad used the words, “laysa AbAAd Darda radiallahu anhu” and Imam e Adab had written down, “laysa AbUUd Darda radiallahu anhu”. Thereafter, he (Sebuwiya) recited this hadith to other listeners. Sheikh Hammad instantly spotted his mistake and said, “Do not recite the hadith incorrectly! It is ‘laysa AbAAd Darda radiallahu anhu!'" At this, Hazrat Sebuwee felt so sad and made a firm intention in his heart that he will learn that topic (Nahw) that will prevent him from making many mistakes. As a result of that, he began to seek knowledge upon Nahw and he studied with such firmness and determination that many students came after him would refer to him as Imam e Adab Sebuwee Nahwee.

May Allah Ta'ala give us the ability to tread in the footsteps of our Akaabireen. Ameen.

Brief Stories and Haalaat of Seeking Knowledge and the Akaabireen

Imam Abu Yusuf debating about a juristic issue at the time of his death.

Imam Abu Yusuf Qadhi (Ya’qub ibn Ibrahim ibn al Ansari al Kufiyi and then Bagdhadi) rahimahullah

Born: 113 AH
Death: 182 AH

He was the student and propagator of Imam Abu Hanifah’s rahimahullah knowledge and mazhab. And he was the Qadhi (judge) of the Abbasid caliph, al Mahdi al Hadi Rasheed. He would say for Imam Abu Yusuf rahimahullah is the judge of the judges in this world.
He was taking in his last stages of life with a loss of blood when he was debating with another man in a juristic issue with the hope that it would bring benefit to the one who seeks benefit or to the learner.

His student Qadhi Ibrahim ibn Jarrah al Kufiyi mentions that Imam Abu Yusuf was ill so I had gone to him to find him unconscious. When he woke up, he said to me: O Ibrahim! What do you say in this (juristic) matter? I said: You are asking me this in such a state?! He said: No worries with regards to this state (of mine). I will teach you, perhaps you will attain salvation as a result of it. Then he said: O Ibrahim, what is more virtuous in the ritual of Hajj in relation to the stoning of the jamaraat (click here to see) ? Should the stoning be done walking or should a person be a passenger (i.e. whilst riding on something)? I said: As a passenger. He said: You have made a mistake. I said: Walking. He said You have made a mistake: I said: You tell me about this, may Allah be pleased with you. He said: If the person is staying there because he wants to make dua, than it is more virtuous that he does the stoning as a walker. And if he does not intend to stay there, it is more virtuous that he does it as a messenger. I then stood by his side and (prepared to leave). I reached the door of his house when I heard a cry, it was then he had passed away. May Allah Ta’ala have mercy on him.

This was the way of the Ulama and Mashaaikh. They would say: Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. (طلب العلم من المهد الي اللحد)

So much so that Shuja’ah ibn Mukhlad says that I heard Abu Yusuf saying: My son had died. I was not able to attend his funeral preparations or his burial and I left him with my neighbours and my close ones. Fear had set upon me that I may miss something from the duroos (lessons) of Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah so I did not go.

Muhammad ibn Hassan rahimahullah – He didn’t sleep at night except very little.

Muhammad ibn Hassan ash Shaybani

Born: 132 AH
Death: 189 AH

He was an Imam, Faqeeh, Mujtahid and Muhadith; the student of Imam Abu Hanifah. Allamah Tashkubri mentions: He did not sleep at night but very little and would place a book beside him. When he would get tired from this, he would look the other way and would get rid of it with water. He would say: Without doubt, sleep is from fever! (illness)

‘Isaam al Balkhi rahimahullah buys a pen for a dinar so that he can write whatever he hears.

‘Isaam ibn Yusuf al Balkhi

Death: 215 AH

Allamah Taashkubri relates: He was a Hanafi jurist and Muhadith of Balkh. He would purchase a pen for a dinar so he could write whatever (ilm) he hears in every state. His life was short but his knowledge was vast. Students should not miss out on timing and hours, they should take the night as a retreat (i.e. to study) and should go to the scholars and benefit from them. You will not realise what you have let slip.

Translated from the book: Qeematuz Zamn 'indal Ulama

A strange story of Hazrat Nuh Alayhis Salam

When the nation of Hazrat Nuh alayhis salam was afflicted by a storm, they all were destroyed as a result. So after this, Allah Ta’ala gave Hazrat Nuh alayhis salam the command through wahi (revelation) that you are now to make some plates out of mud. And so, in accordance with Allah Ta’alas command, Hazrat Nuh alayhis salam began making the plates and he would be engrossed in this work day and night. After a few days had passed and the number of plates had increased in bulk, the command came from Allah Ta’ala,

“Break all the plates, one by one.”

Hazrat Nuh alayhis salam pleaded with Allah Ta’ala,

“O Allah! I had made these plates with so much effort at Your command and now You are giving me the command to break it?”

Allah Ta’ala replied,

“Our command still remains that you break them.”

And so Hazrat Nuh alayhis salam broke them but it broke his heart to do this because he had made the plates with so much effort and then he had to destroy them. At this Allah Ta’ala said,

“O Nuh! You had made these plates with your hands at My command. You had so much love for these plates that when I had given you the command to break it, you were not willing to do so. Your heart was telling you, ‘These are plates that I had made with my own hands through much effort! I have to save them somehow.’ You had this feeling because you fell in love with these plates. But you did not look towards the fact that the entirety of humanity is My creation and at one point you made the dua’a:

رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرۡ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا

‘My Lord, do not leave on earth even a single inhabitant (surviving) out of the disbelievers.’

At this one utterance of yours, I had destroyed my creation! You had made these plates not on your own accordance, rather you had made it because of My instructions to you. Even then, you fell in love with them so if this is your case, would not I fall in love with My creation? So if I have love for them, then you must love them to if you have love for Me.”

Translated from the book 'Allah Ta'ala bando sai kitni muhabbat karte hai' by Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Akhtar sahib. This is a book I recommend all to buy.

For more on Hazrat Nuh alayhis salam, click here

Ramadhan Mubarak to you all. May Allah give us all the ability to fulfill the rights of this month. May He make it a means of all of us to attain His pleasure and Jannah. Ameen.

Do remember me for a few seconds in your dua'as closer to iftar time. Iftar mai yaad.

Flower vs The Pearl

Flower Vs. The Pearl... Source: LSC ISOC

By Sister Mehak

Asalaamu'alaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarkatahu dear respected brothers and sisters, insha'Allah this post is more aimed towards the sisters, but the brothers can apply this to their own hijaab and whether they'd rather follow the sunnah or the society (i.e. covering for their Awrah [navel to knees]).

"One day, a brilliantly beautiful and fragrant flower with attractive colors met a pearl that lives far in the bottom of the sea and has none of these characteristics. Both got acquainted with each other.

The flower said: "Our family is large; roses and daisies are members of the family. And there are many other species that are various and countless; each has a distinctive scent, appearance etc."

Suddenly, a tinge of distress appeared on the flower.

"Nothing accounts for sorrow in your talk; so why are depressed?" The pearl asked.

"Human beings deal with us carelessly; they slight us. They don't grow us for our sake but to get pleasure from our fragrance and beautiful appearance. They throw us on the street or in the garbage can after we are dispossessed of the most valuable properties; brilliance and fragrance."

The flower sighed. And then the flower said to the pearl: "Speak to me about your life! How do you live? How do you feel it? You are buried in the bottom of the sea."

The pearl answered: "Although I have none of your distinctive colors and sweet scents, humans think I am precious. They do the impossible to procure me. They go on long journeys, dive deep in the seas searching for me. You might be astounded to know that the further I lay, the more beautiful and brilliant I become. That's what upraises my value in their thought. I live in a thick shell isolated in the dark seas. However, I'm happy and proud to be in a safe zone far from wanton and mischievous hands and still the humans consider me highly valuable."

Do you know what the flower and the pearl symbolize? Think, Think, Think... You will find that: The flower is the unveiled woman (who shows her charms) and the pearl is the veiled woman (who conceals her beauties).Who would you like to be my dear sisters?????

Wasalaamu'alaikum Wa'rahmatulahi Wa'barkatahu.