Stories of the Prophets

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Are we Chasing away the Angels

http://uswatulmuslimah.co.za

Angels of mercy do not enter a house that contains pictures of animate objects. Nowadays, children’s bedding, clothing, curtaining, stationery and toys are all covered with animals, actors, cartoons and characters. The human mind is such that by us continuously gazing at these pictures, an impression is left in our minds. These impressions over a period of time become our thoughts, words and actions. At times we are shocked at our child’s behavior, not realizing that our child is simply imitating a cartoon character who we have introduced the child to. Hours in front of the forbidden television screen adds fuel to the child’s love for cartoon characters and inculcates shameless and disrespectful behaviour in him/her. We teach our children not to speak to strangers, but we allow a host of strangers to keep our children entertained for hours on end in the form of the forbidden television screen. Thus they learn what the strangers tell them and act accordingly.

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Loving the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam

By Khalid Baig
On the twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal, Muslims all over the world hold special gatherings to commemorate and celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. The special programs attract huge numbers of Muslims. There can be no two opinions among the believers that remembering the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, and learning about his life example are highly meritorious acts. The milad celebrations show the deep love and devotion that all the believers have for the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. This love and devotion remains a distinct characteristic of Muslims throughout the centuries.
However, while the fact of this love has not changed, its nature has. It has taken different forms than what we find in the early generations. The Companions were the special people who came in direct contact with Allah’s Messenger, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, learned from him, joined his struggle, gave the most sacrifices for it, devoted their lives for his mission, and earned the credentials for being the model disciples, followers, and devotees.
Among them was Sayyidna Mus’ab ibn Umayr, Radhiyallaahu Anhu. As a young pagan in Makkah, he was the best dressed, the best cared for youth. Clad in the most expensive silk and wearing the best perfumes, he would leave a trail of fragrance wherever he passed by. Then something happened. He met the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, and his message penetrated the depth of his heart. Life changed drastically. His pagan mother, who used to love him before, now despised him and began to punish him severely. His was a transformation from riches to rags. Once the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, saw him covering his body with a patched up old hide and showing the signs of rough life that he had embraced. He said, “I saw this young man some years ago in Makkah. There was none at that time who was more handsome, was living a more luxurious life, or was better dressed than him. But today he has sacrificed all the comforts of this life for the love of Allah and his Prophet.” He was the first teacher of the Ansar in Madinah and the standard bearer of the Muhajireen in Badr. When he was martyred in Uhud, there was not enough cloth to cover his body completely; grass was used to supplement the small burial cloth. According to some reports, the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, stood by his body and recited the verse: “From among the believers there are some men who fulfilled their pledge with Allah.”
Among them was Sayyidna Sa’d ibn Mu’az, Radhiyallaahu Anhu, the leader of the Ansar. The Ansar had provided hospitality and protection to the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam and the Makkan Muslims, but soon they faced a bigger challenge. Would they be ready to fight against the much larger and better equipped Makkan army? His powerful words in the meeting before Badr captured the spirit of their commitment. “O Rasulullah, we have believed in you, affirmed your Prophethood, and pledged obedience. By Allah, who has sent you as a Messenger, if you were to command us to jump into the ocean we will do that. Not one soul among us will remain behind. Insha-Allah you will find us steadfast in the battle.”
Among them was Sayyidna Jareer ibn Abdullah, Radhiyallaahu Anhu. Once he sent his servant for buying a horse. The servant made a deal for three hundred dirhams and brought the seller with him so he could be paid. Sayyidna Jareer ibn Abdullah, Radhiyallaahu Anhu, looked at the horse and realized that the seller had undervalued it. “Would you sell it for four hundred?” he asked. The seller agreed. “How about five hundred?” he continued his unusual “bargaining” and finally bought the horse for eight hundred dirhams. He was later asked why he did so. “The seller was not aware of the true value of this horse, ” he explained. “I have simply given him a fair price because I had promised to Prophet Muhammad, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, to always be sincere and well-wisher for every Muslim.”
Among them was the unnamed person who was wearing a gold ring. It is prohibited for Muslim men to wear gold. The Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, took his ring and threw it on the ground, saying it was like wearing burning charcoal from Hell. Later on people suggested to him to pickup the ring as it could be used for other legitimate purposes. But he refused saying: “No, by Allah, I will never take it, when it has been thrown away by the Messenger of Allah.”
These are just some random glimpses into the lives and minds of the great Companions. Their life accounts are full of such examples. They accepted his Prophethood from the bottom of their hearts, knowing fully what that means. From that point on, their lives revolved entirely around this belief. They loved the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam more than anybody else in the world. They intently observed his actions and listened to his words. They remembered him all the time. They obeyed each and every one of his commands. They never said, “This is only a Sunnah,” meaning it can be ignored. They never asked why a command was given. They never sought excuses. Within the home and outside it, in business or on the battlefield, in their private gatherings or in the courts of kings and emperors, everywhere they were the most obedient servants of Allah and the most obedient followers of the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam.
None of them ever celebrated Prophet’s birthday. They did not need to have a day or a month devoted to the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, because they had devoted their entire lives to him.
Today our lives and our outlooks bear little resemblance to theirs. We praise but do not listen to him; we claim to love, but refuse to follow; we claim to believe but lead lives like those who don’t. We emphasize what the Companions ignored and ignore what they emphasized.
They loved the Prophet, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, and had their lives to show for it. And we? Can we honestly say that we love the Prophet as he should be loved?

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History of The Prophet (pbuh)

Spirit of The Sunnat

Allah Ta’ala declares: “Say (to the Believers) O Muhammad, (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)! If you love Allah, then follow me (Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Allah will love you and he will forgive your sins.” This verse alone makes it abundantly clear that to earn the love of Allah Ta’ala and gain salvation in both the worlds, there is only one path – the path of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). This path of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) encompasses every aspect of our lives. From birth to death the beautiful and noble teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) are to be implemented. This is known as the path of the sunnah.

“SMALL SUNNAH”?
As for the sunnah, there is really no such thing as a “small sunnah.” Every sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is worth more than the seven heavens and the seven earths. It is a unanimous view of the Fuqaha (jurists) that to mock or ridicule any sunnah is an act of kufr. Thus the sunnah enjoys an extremely lofty position in Deen.
Nevertheless, there are those sunnats that pertain to the apparent actions of a person. The sunnats of eating, drinking, sleeping, purification, appearance, etc., all fall under this category. Every effort should be made to adhere to all these sunnats. Each one of these sunnats is worth more than the entire universe. Therefore one should strive to make them a part and parcel of one’s life.
However, there are certain teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) pertaining to our innerselves which, although they embody the very spirit of the sunnah, are rarely even considered as something to learn or to inculcate in oneself. Many people don’t even regard them as having any connection to the Sunnah. Yet we find Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) laying great stress on these internal aspects which contain the spirit of the sunnah.

THE HEART
There are many sunnats that pertain to the inner-self. These are aspects that are linked to the heart, such as, humility, contentment, good character, tolerance and forbearance, forgiveness, sabr (patience), shukr (gratitude), etc. Likewise, to refrain from pride, riya (ostentation), anger for personal reasons, greed, love for the world, etc., are also aspects of the internal sunnats. Some examples from the Ahadith will illustrate the importance this aspect was accorded by Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaba (radhiallahu anhum). For instance the humility of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was to the utmost degree. Despite his extremely elevated position, Rasulullah (sallallahualaihi wasallam) would ride a donkey, milk the sheep himself, mend his shoes, help in the household chores, serve the guests personally and sit on the bare ground. He would even say: “I eat in the manner that a slave eats and I sit in the manner that a slave sits.” He also disliked sitting in a distinguished position or walking in front while everyone else followed behind.

TREATMENT
The Sahaba (R.A.) also followed in the footsteps of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Once Sayyidina Umar (R.A.), after he had become the Calipha, came out in the bazaar with a container of water and began giving the people water to drink. Someone inquired of him as to what was the reason for this. He replied: “I received several deputations and as a result I found some change in my heart (i.e. my ego was boosted). To remove this malady I have adopted this treatment.” Since they were immersed in the spirit of the sunnah, they easily detected any shadow of pride, ostentation, etc. Hence they even subjected themselves to various forms of “treatments” to cleanse their hearts of these ailments.

FORGIVENESS
We also find the entire life of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) filled with incidents of forgiveness. he forgave the Jewish lady that poisoned a lamb and gave it to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to eat. On the occasion of the conquest of Makkah he forgave all those who had persecuted him and his Sahaba (R.A.). When Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was falsely accused of not distributing the booty fairly, all he said was: “May Allah shower his blessings on Moosa (alaihis salaam). He was troubled with much worse things but he observed patience.” The forgiveness of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was endless. This is also a great sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). To what extent have we practiced this sunnah?

ANGER
Another aspect is that of anger. It is reported in the Hadith that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) never became angry nor did he ever take revenge for his personal self. He only displayed anger when any aspect of Deen was violated. Once a bedouin came up to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and violently pulled his shawl thus leaving a mark on his shoulder. He then demanded that he be given something. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) merely smiled and ordered that something be given to him. Hazrath Anas (R.A.) reports that for ten long years he was in the service of Rasulullah (sallallahualaihi wasallam). However, in this entire period of time not once did Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) rebuke him or scold him for not having fulfilled some instruction or having committed some error. Have we judged ourselves in the light of this example? Or do we become enraged at the least abuse directed at us, and become incensed at the slightest mistake of some subordinate? Here also is a sunnah to learn and to practice.

CONCERN
In the same light the it is a part of adopting the sunnah that the concerns that permeated the blessed heart of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) become our concern. It is reported in a Hadith that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was in constant grief and perpetual concern (Shamaa’il Tirmizi). It is obvious that his concern was not for the material things of this world. Allah Ta’ala had offered to turn the mountain in to gold for Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) but he declined. His concern was that of Deen. His concern was of how to save mankind from the perpetual destruction of the Hereafter. In adopting the sunnah, this concern also should become our concern.

SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES
If one ponders over these sunnats, one will find that neglecting them will have very serious consequences. If one neglects the sunnah of humility, one will automatically fall into the sin of pride. In this regard Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “That person will not enter Jannah who has pride to the extent of a mustard seed” (Mishkaat). Likewise not inculcating the sunnah of contentment will result in one falling into greed. Greed brings about the destruction of one’s wordly life as well as the life of the Hereafter. It is reported from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that he said: “The love of the world is the root of all evil” (Mishkaat). Thus we understand that every sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is to be practiced upon. The sunnah encompasses a complete code of life which covers the external as well as the internal aspects. Together with practicing upon the external sunnats, every effort must be made to inculcate those aspects which pertain to the inner-self, which very few even regard as sunnah. May Allah Ta’ala enable us to follow the example of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as closely as possible.
Al Haadi

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WASAWIS The Whisperings of Shaitaan

Wasawis is the plural of Waswasah. Wasawis can be loosely translated into “doubts” and these are generally, the whisperings of Shaitaan.

Wasawis are of various categories and affect a person in different aspects. Some are more common than others but the cause of all are the same and the remedy is more or less, also the same. It should be noted that not every person is affected by Wasawis and some people are more affected than others. Since these are whisperings of Shaitaan, a person should not be perturbed and he should learn to ignore them. In the Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has consoled us and informed us that Allah will not hold a person accountable for the Wasawis that he is troubled with as long as he does not act on it or verbally express it. (Sahih al-Bukahri, Hadith #: 2528, Narrated by Abu Hurayrah)
Shaitaan inflicts a person with Wasawis to dissuade him from progressing in life and gaining closeness to Allah. He uses this in various aspects of a person’s life. To list all the spheres of life is virtually impossible so we will suffice by listing those that are most common:

a) Wasawis (doubts) pertaining to one’s Imaan- Sometimes Shaitaan plagues a Muslim with various doubts about his Imaan. He begins to think that he is not a true Muslim or he begins to doubt Allah and His Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), or has negative thoughts about Islam and he feels extremely guilty about it. That “am I really a Muslim? How can I be having such doubts about Islam? “And so on…

Whilst this may apparently seem to be a serious offence, this is actually a sign of Imaan. It is recorded in Sahih Muslim that a group of Sahabah (Radiallahu Anhum) once came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and complained to him that they were having these very same doubts and that they feel ashamed to even mention these doubts to anyone.

Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) enquired from them, “Really? Are you really experiencing such thoughts?”They replied in the affirmative. On this, Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “This is a clear sign of Imaan”. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith #: 357).

، عن أبي هريرة، قال: جاء ناس من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فسألوه: إنا نجد في أنفسنا ما يتعاظم أحدنا أن يتكلم به، قال: وقد وجدتموه؟ قالوا: نعم، قال: ذاك صريح الإيمان ،
[شرح محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي]
[ش (إنا نجد في أنفسنا ما يتعاظم) أي يجد أحدنا التكلم به عظيما لاستحالته في حقه سبحانه وتعالى (ذاك صريح الإيمان) معناه سبب الوسوسة محض الإيمان أو الوسوسة علامة محض الإيمان]

When Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said “This is a clear sign of Imaan”, he meant that having these doubts is a result of a person being a true Muslim. Only a person who has Imaan in his heart will experience such doubts.

To understand this better, consider the following example. A thief will not attempt to rob a home or place that is devoid of valuables. A thief will only attempt to rob those homes or places that contain valuables and precious items.

Similarly, the heart of a Mu’min is the home of the most valuable and precious thing in this world and the Aakhirah. Shaitaan will only put doubts in those hearts that have this valuable gift of Imaan and he will try his utmost to unsettle and rob this person of Imaan. Therefore, instead of becoming perturbed and despondent over these doubts, a person should be thankful to Allah for blessing him with Imaan.

What to do when plagued by these doubts:

Ignore these doubts – The Ulama have mentioned that the remedy for these thoughts is to ignore them. Whenever a person is plagued with these thoughts, he should ignore them and engage in the Zikr and Shukr of Allah. They are just baseless doubts from Shaitaan that don’t deserve any attention at all.

Reflect over the difference between a Kafir and Mu’min – He should reflect over the difference of a Kafir and a Mu’min. When such thoughts occur in the mind of a Mu’min, he is troubled and perplexed showing that he does not accept such thoughts and this is a clear sign of Imaan. On the contrary, a Kafir is not troubled in the least and actually enjoys, cherishes and propagates such thoughts and beliefs. The fact that a Mu’min is perturbed is ample proof of his Imaan and his pleasure with Islam as his religion.

Recite the three Quls and abstain from sins – Make it a habit of reciting the three Quls daily after Fajr and Maghrib thrice each and abstain from all types of Haraam, all types of literature and things that may induce these doubts and most importantly stay away from all sins for engaging in sins weakens a person’s Imaan and gives Shaitaan the upper hand over him.

Recite the prescribed Duas – Recite (أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ) “A’oozu Billahi Minash Shaitaanir Rajeem” and (آمَنْتُ بِاللهِ وَرُسُلِهِ) “Aamantu Billahi Wa Rusulih”. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) advised that when a person is plagued with doubts, he should ask Allah for protection (recite the Ta’awwuz) and ignore the doubts. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith #: 3276). Sayyidatuna Aa’ishah (Radiyallahu Anha) narrates that Rasululullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) advised that when a person is plagued with doubts about Allah, he should recite: (آمَنْتُ بِاللهِ وَرُسُلِهِ) “Aamantu Billahi Wa Rusulih”, for this will dispel the doubts. (Musnad Ahmed, Hadith #: 26203)

In short, a person who is troubled with such doubts has nothing to worry about. The doubts are a sign of Imaan which is actually, a good sign and practising on the abovementioned advice will help strengthen one’s Imaan.

b) Wasawis pertaining to Validity of Wudhu – Sometimes a person is plagued by doubts in the validity of his Wudhu or whether he has washed a certain limb properly or whether he has washed a certain limb at all and that’s when a person is seen washing a limb in Wudhu repeatedly, over and over again. This is the whispering of Shaitaan in order to make person waste his time and water.

The Remedy:

Ignore the doubt – A person who is plagued by such doubts should immediately ignore the doubts

Recite the prescribed Duas – Recite the Ta’awwuz and Aamantu Billahi Wa Rusuli.

Recite La Ilaha Illallah – Imam Nawawi (Rahimahullah) recommended that a person who is troubled by Waswasah in Wudhu should recite La Ilaha Illallah for Shaitaan flees from a person who is engaged in the Zikr of Allah

Know that doubt cannot override certainty – He should impress it in his mind that he is not allowed to wash his limbs more than three times. Furthermore, he should know that as long as he is not 100 % sure that he did not wash a certain limb properly or he did not wash a certain limb at all, his Wudhu is valid and there is no need for him to wash that limb again. Only if he can take a Qasam (an oath) that he did not wash the limb properly or he did not wash the limb at all, then he should wash that limb. This has been emphasized by the Fuqahaa (jurists) based on the principle:

اليقين لا يزول بالشك
“Doubt cannot override certainty”
(al-Mabsoot, By Sarakhsi, Vol:1, Pg:121)

Thus, when the person is certain that he has made Wudhu, he should not allow doubts to bother him for until he cannot be absolutely certain that he did not fulfil the requirements of Wudhu, his Wudhu will remain valid.

c) Wasawis pertaining to cleanliness/Impurity – Sometimes a person is plagued by doubts whether he is impure or not or that something impure is on his clothing. As long as he did not see or physically feel the impurity come on to him, he should ignore these doubts and he should know that these are the whisperings of Shaitaan. If a person does not ignore these doubts, they will only become worse until it reaches a stage where a person feels that he is constantly impure which ultimately results in him then neglecting his Salaah and Ibadah because he feels impure. This is the aim and objective of Shaitaan and he will employ whatever means he has to dissuade a Muslim from the remembrance of Allah.

The Remedy:
Ignore the doubt – A person should tell himself that he has not seen or physically felt the impurity so he cannot entertain the doubt. A few companions asked Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that they are not sure if they had passed wind in Salaah. He informed them that their Wudhu and Salaah are valid as long as they did not physically feel or hear any sound.

Recite the prescribed Duas – recite the Ta’awwuz and Aamantu Billahi Wa Rusulih.

d) Wasawis pertaining to Istinja (cleansing after relieving onself) – Sometimes a person feels that he has not cleansed himself thoroughly after relieving himself. This is where a person spends a long time in the toilet washing his private area repeatedly thinking that he has not yet cleansed himself thoroughly. This is also a doubt injected by Shaitaan and results in a person wasting water and spending more time in the habitat of Shaitaan (i.e.; the toilet).

The remedy:

Ignore the doubt – After he has washed thrice and there are no traces of impurity left, there is no need to have any doubt. So he should ignore the doubts.

Recite the prescribed Duas – he should recite the Ta’awwuz and Aamantu Billahi Wa Rusulih in his mind.

Know that washing seven times is the most that is allowed: – The Fuqahaa’ have ruled that it is not permissible to wash more than seven times in Istinjaa. The Sunnah is to wash thrice and this is sufficient. However, if a person is suffering with doubts, it is permitted for him to wash up to seven times. Washing seven times is more than enough to remove impurities and there is no room for doubt after washing for the seventh time. If a person washes more than seven times, he will be sinful for wasting water.
Sprinkle water over the private area after Wudhu – If a person suffers from doubts of incontinence, he should sprinkle water around his private area after making Wudhu and should assume that the moisture is because of the clean water, not urine. This was the advice Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) gave to the Sahabah in order to dispel their doubts.
e) Wasawis pertaining to Talaaq – Some men suffer from the doubt that they have divorced their wives. Due to their constant fear of divorcing their wives, they sometimes end up doubting whether they have uttered the words of divorce to their wives or not. This becomes very unsettling for the husband and he is in constant fear of divorcing his wife. This is also from the whisperings of Shaitaan and a ploy of his to break up a marriage.
The remedy:
Ignore the doubt – A person who suffers from such doubts should ignore them. Until he cannot take a Qasam (oath) that he has divorced his wife in a sane state of mind, the ruling will be that he has not divorced his wife. Furthermore, the Fuqahaa have explicitly mentioned that the Talaaq of a person suffering from these doubts is not effective. (Raddul Muhtaar).
Recite the prescribed Duas – he should recite the Ta’awwuz and Aamantu Billahi Wa Rusulih until the doubts subside.

Important advice:

Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haitami (Rahimahullah) has mentioned that the most effective way of combatting Wasawis is to ignore them. What is meant by ignoring them is that a person should brush the doubts aside and not pay attention to them, as though they never occurred. He should not fight the thoughts as they will only become stronger. It is like a barking dog. The more you fight with it, the more it will bark. But if it is ignored, it will eventually keep quiet. Similarly, the most effective way of dispelling doubts is to ignore them. Eventually, the Wasawis will stop. If a person does not ignore the doubts, they will only grow stronger and eventually, it will make a person’s life a misery. In certain cases, it has even lead to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and sometimes insanity. So it is extremely important that the person affected by Wasawis be strong willed and he should ignore the doubts and recite the prescribed Duas.
Some people affected with Wasawis resort to asking various Alims about their problems. This is the biggest mistake a person can make and it will only lead to more confusion. A person affected with Wasawis should ask only one Alim. He should select a Alim in whom he has the most confidence and ask him only. Asking multiple Alims will result in him receiving different advice which will confuse him even more. He should adhere to one learned Alim and place his full confidence in him and act on his advice, even if it goes against his liking. The learned Alim will diagnose that he is affected with Waswasah and give him the appropriate advice. In a short while, the questioner will be cured from Wasawis Insha Allah.

Suhail Tarmahomed 23/05/2011
Fatwa Department
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)

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Angels

Who are Angels

Angel Gabriel brought Allah’s words to the Prophet Muhammad and therefore we

call Gabriel the Messenger Angel. There are many other angels and we can read

about them in the Quran.

Each of us has two angels who accompany him. These angels take note of

everything we do. They write down our good deeds and our bad deeds. We call

these angels the Writing Angels. There are other angels, too. For example,

there is an angel who helps people when they die. This angel brings death, so

we call him the Angel of Death.

We cannot see the angels because they are made of things which our eyes cannot

see. But all the same, we know that they are there, because Allah has told us

so. Sometimes, we can even feel the presence of these angels.

Angels are created by Allah, just as man and everything else has been created

by Him. Angels obey Allah and are His servants. They perform many tasks and

keep the world in being by obeying Allah’s commands.

We know that when the sun rises and sets, when the clouds move in the sky, when

the raindrops fall, when the plants grow and many other things happen in

nature, it is Allah Who has crated them and Allah Who sustains them. Nothing

can happen without Allah’s will. In the same way, Allah created the angels who

obey Him. They carry out His will, and take great care that everything goes

according to Allah’s will. They are the obedient servants of Allah.

Allah wanted man to obey Him, to pray to Him and to do good. He wanted man to

know about Allah. That is why the Angel Gabriel was sent by Allah. The Angel

Gabriel told Muhammad what Allah wanted man to do. This was Gabriel’s task.

Through the Angel Gabriel, Allah had spoken to many prophets before Muhammad,

so that man would remember and not forget what Allah wants him to do. We can

read about this in the Quran. Here there are the stories of Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim,

Musa (Alaih Salwat Ajmaeen) and many other prophets. All of them have said to

man:

IN ALLAH ALONE YOU SHOULD BELIEVE

ALLAH ALONE YOU SHOULD WORSHIP

ONLY GOOD DEEDS YOU SHOULD DO

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What and Who are shayateen?

SHAYTAN: What is Shaytan?

Allah (SWT) created jinn and insaan solely for his Ibaadat (worship). Shaytan belongs to Jinn; a life form created from smokeless fire (like electricity), which existed long before Adam (A.S.). At the time when the whole nation of Jinn became disobedient to Allah (SWT), the Angels were ordered to destroy them completely. As the Angels set about their task, they discovered one particular Jinn who had been engaged in prayer and asked Allah (SWT) for guidance in how to deal with him. In reply, Allah (SWT) ordered the Angels to bring this particular Jinn back with them up to the Kingdom of Malaika (angels). This ‘saved’ Jinn was called Iblis, also known as Angel Makram. Iblis had devoted nearly eighty thousand years to Allah’s (SWT) worship and since he had acquired vast knowledge, Allah (SWT) appointed him as teacher to the Angels.

When Allah (SWT) decided to create Adam (A.S.), certain Angels were ordered to bring some clay from the earth. As one by one, the Angels proceeded to collect the clay, the clay pleaded to them, “For the sake of Allah (SWT) please don’t take me from this earth.” So the Angels returned without the clay. Allah (SWT) then ordered Azra’il to collect this clay. When the clay made the same plea to him, Angel Azra’il replied that it was His order to take the clay back and without hesitation Azra’il took the clay as ordered.

While the Angels were busy collecting the clay from the earth, they were delayed in attending the class of Iblis. Upon their return, Iblis queried the Angels about their late arrival. When Iblis heard the reason for their delay, he became very jealous that Allah (SWT) was creating a new life and that he alone was not enough for worship. Iblis then requested to be taken to the location where Allah (SWT) was creating Adam (A.S.) but was refused by the Angels as they were under strict orders not to take anyone to this location. However, Iblis did eventually discover this location and managed to visit Adam (A.S.). During his visit, Iblis went inside Adam (A.S.) and found out the mechanism to his body. Upon his return, Iblis stated to the Angels that Adam (A.S.) was useless and that they should follow Iblis and not Adam (A.S.). The Angels replied that they only follow Allah (SWT).

After some time had elapsed, and the creation of Adam (A.S.) was complete, Allah (SWT) ordered the Angels to prostrate in front of Adam (A.S.). The Angels obeyed this order of Almighty Allah (SWT), the Creator, and The Most Wise. But when Allah (SWT) gave the same order to Iblis, he refused, introducing logic into his arguments rather than obeying in faith. When Allah (SWT) asked Iblis, “What prevented you from prostrating before that what I created with my own hands?” Iblis replied, “I am better than him. You have created me from fire but him you have created from clay.” (Q7:12, 15:32:33). Allah (SWT) then said, “Get out of here. You are cast out. My curse is on you till the Day of Judgement”.

The Quran says in (Q2:34) “And behold we said to the Angels, bow down to Adam (A.S.), and they all bowed down. Not so Iblis, he was disobedient. He was with those who reject faith.” Allah says, in Surah Saad verses 71 – 85: “When thy Lord said unto the Angels: Lo! I am about to create a mortal out of clay and when I have fashioned him and breathed into him My spirit then fall down before him prostrate. The Angels fell down and prostrated everyone except Iblis; He was scornful and became one of the disbelievers (Kafir). He said: “O Iblis! What prevents you from prostrating before that which I have created with both hands? Art Thou too proud or art thou of the high exalted? He said: I am better than him. Thou created me from fire, whilst him thou created from clay. He said: Go forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast. And lo! My curse is on thee till the Day of Judgement. He said: My lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised. He said: Lo! Thou are of those reprieved until the day of the time appointed. He said: Then, by Thy might, I surely will beguile them everyone. Save thy single-minded shared among them. He said: The truth is, and the truth I speak, that I shall fill Hell with thee and those of them as follow thee, together”.

Iblis asked Allah (SWT), “What are you going to give me in return as there was no place on earth where I did not prostrate to you?” Allah (SWT) replied “Say what do you want?” So Iblis asked for the power to enter into the Adam (A.S.)’s body and into the body of all his descendants (Bani Adam). He asked for the permission and power to enter and leave Bani Adam’s body 70 times within one pulse beat (60 times a second). Allah (SWT) granted him this request. Iblis then said to Allah (SWT), “I will be standing between you and the sons of Adam (A.S.), at the front, at the left, at the back and at the right, and I will be all around him. I will make it difficult for him to find the Siratul Mustaqim (the straight path) to come to you. Allah (SWT) said, “You can do whatever you want, but remember, whoever is my servant, they will find the way to come to Me.” Allah (SWT) then outcast Iblis from His blessings.

Allah (SWT) then taught Adam (A.S.) how to pray and seek help from Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) taught Adam (A.S.) not to ask for Allah (SWT)’s help from the front, left, back or right, but to ask for Allah (SWT)’s help from above, as Iblis who is now Shaytan did not request that he would be able to stand between Adam (A.S.) and Allah (SWT) from above. Allah (SWT) made a way through which Shaytan could enter into the body of Adam (A.S.).

There are two entrances into Bani Adam’s body: one is called ‘was-wasa’ whereby Shaytan gives ‘was-wasa’ or bad inspiration. The other entrance known as the ‘mul-him’ is for the sole use of Angles through which they give Ilham or good news. The Ilham could thus emanate directly from Allah (SWT) or from the Bani Adams’ own destiny. Allah (SWT) has placed an Angel to guard the mul-him, and likewise Shaytan has placed one of his agents at the was-wasa. Shaytan’s instrument is bad inspiration, which he uses to deceive Bani Adam.

But, Allah (SWT) has also taught us how to pray and seek help from Him. This is why when in need, we should not go to anybody or anything else except Allah (SWT). No one can get help through his capacity unless Allah (SWT) wishes to help him. If any one asks for help from a worldly thing or anything else (like idol worshippers who seek guidance from wood, stone, fire and other man made articles) other than Allah (SWT), it is as if he is asking help from Shaytan. Allah (SWT) said in Surah Fatihah (Q1:5), “Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek”. The devil is clever and also positively dangerous for righteous persons. In this Surah, Allah (SWT) is beautifully and tenderly teaching us how to seek help and guidance from Him and seek protection from Shaytan.

In Surah Saffat 162 and 163 Allah (SWT) said, “Can lead (any) into temptation concerning God, (163) except such as one (themselves) going into the blazing fire”. In the Holy Quran (translation and commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, pp 1213:4134) Allah (SWT) said “Evil has no power over faith, truth, and sincerity. Such power as it has over those who deliberately put themselves in the way of destruction. It is their own will that leads them astray. If they were fortified against evil by faith, patience and constancy, evil would have no power to hurt them. God will protect them”. Allah (SWT) said: “Kalimah: ‘La ila ha illal lahu’ is My fortress. Whoever reads this by heart will be inside my fortress, he will have no fear of My punishment and no fear of Shaytan’s deceptions. Shaytan is the source of punishment, who so ever reads the Kalimah and obeys Allah (SWT), he is safe from Shaytan’s deceptions and has saved himself from this world and the world hereafter”. The Prophet (S.A.S.) said whoever reads ‘Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim’ if Shaytan comes like an elephant he will run away like an ant.

We should not try to fight with Shaytan, it means that we are giving him importance and making him happy. Our duty is simply to ask for help from Allah (SWT) and obey Him. Before the Prophet (S.A.S.)’s time, there was a tradition in Arabia, that whenever a traveller entered another territory, he used to ask protection from the leader of Jinn of that particular area. But Allah (SWT) said that whoever seeks protection from anyone but Allah (SWT), is not a believer. We are helpless and lonesome children until and unless we ask protection from Allah (SWT) and Allah (SWT) alone.

When a child is born, Shaytan thinks of him as an additional enemy. Invisible to the naked eye, Shaytan, therefore, tries to take the child away and kill him using his Jinn agents. Shaytan is like an eagle, spying on his prey like an eagle spying on newly hatched chickens. To prevent Shaytan’s agent from taking the baby, Allah sends 70 Angels to guard the newly born baby – if the baby is of a Mumin, Allah (SWT) doubles this guard i.e. there are 140 Angels guarding and protecting the baby from Shaytan.

Allah (SWT) says “Oh! Mumin (believers), be aware of Shaytan, he is your open enemy – he is very far from me, but is very close to you”. Allah teaches us to say: “A’oothu-billah-him-inash-shaytan-ir-rajim” which is translated as “Oh Allah! I seek refuge in thee from the outcast Shaytan”.

Once a Wali Allah dreamt that Shaytan was advancing towards him and the Wali Allah, in his dream, was trying to beat off the Shaytan with his staff. The Wali Allah then heard a voice saying that Shaytan cannot be beaten with a staff. Upon hearing this voice, the Wali Allah stood back and after a few moments asked Shaytan to come towards him. In reply Shaytan asked, “What have you got for me to come to you?” The Wali Allah said, “What do you want?” The Shaytan said “I want the world but you haven’t got it, so what is the use of me coming to you?”

Allah (SWT) created Shaytan’s wife from his left thigh, in the similar manner as Adam (A.S)’s wife was created from the rib. When Shaytan’s wife was pregnant, she laid twenty one eggs from which Shaytan’s children were hatched. These children spread themselves all over the world across jungles, mountains, rivers, seas, trees etc. Once our Prophet (S.A.S) said “There is nobody without a Shaytan with him”. After hearing this one of the Sahaba asked our Prophet (S.A.S) “Is there any with you?” Our Prophet (S.A.S) replied, “Yes, but Allah (SWT) has made this Shaytan Musalma’an, and he is always giving me good inspirations”.

Once Abu Bakr (R.A.), Umar (R.A.), Uthman (R.A.), Ali (K.A.), Salman Farsi (R.A.) and Amer Ibn Yasar (R.A.) found our Prophet (S.A.S) coming back from somewhere and he was sweating. The Prophet wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “May Allah (SWT) cast the cursed Shaytan”. He then looked down. Ali (K.A) said to him “Whom are you casting upon?” Our Prophet (S.A.S) replied “The enemy of Allah (SWT), the outcasted Shaytan, he just put his tail in the cave and laid seven eggs from which seven Shaytans were born. Their duty is to deceive the sons of Adam (A.S.).”

The prophet (S.A.S) then proceeded to name these seven Shaytans stating that the first one is called Mudhas and his duty is to inspire, attract and tempt the Alim. The second one is Hodish and his duty is to distract people from their prayer and offer distractive attractions and amusements. Hodish makes people sleepy during their prayer, sometimes they go to sleep and when they awaken they continue their prayer without wudu and falsely believe that they never went to sleep and, therefore, do not require fresh wudu. The third Shaytan is Zal Banun who is on duty in the market place so that the traders would not weigh and measure honestly or care for the quality of their goods. These traders would show off unjustly, and praise their low quality goods. The Zal Banun also enables people to walk wondrously around the market place and encourage them to spend their money unwisely. The fourth Shaytan is Bothar whose duty is to make people restless by attacking their patience. The fifth’s name is Manshoot who draws people towards lying and backbiting. The sixth Shaytan is called Dasham who destroys people’s sense of justice. The seventh Shaytan, Auoawar, inspires people to steal and become thieves in the belief that this way their needs will be met, and that they could always ask for forgiveness later from Allah (SWT) and will surely be excused. Our Prophet (S.A.S) also said “There is a Shaytan called Dal-han. He always deceives people when they are making wudu.” Our Prophet (S.A.S) advised Mumin to be aware of him and ask help from Allah (SWT) against this Shaytan. There is another Shaytan called Khanzub, who always deceives people during prayer. Besides the above mentioned. there are other Shaytans who always stay with you when you are bathing and whether you are inside or outside the house. They are always there because this is their place of stay.

Once our Prophet (S.A.S) met Shaytan, he said to him “Why are you an enemy of Allah (SWT)? Don’t you realise that you will be punished for your activities?” Shaytan replied “I know a Dua (prayer), that will enter me into the heaven” (you can say that it is a key for the door of heaven). Jibril (A.S.) appeared at that moment and said to our Prophet (S.A.S): “Shaytan does know the Dua which will enable him to enter into paradise, but forty days before his death Allah (SWT) The Almighty, All Powerful, and All Knowing, will take this Dua away from Shaytan’s memory.” Jibril (A.S.) then unveiled this Dua to our Prophet (S.A.S).

The Prophet (S.A.S) said that Magrib (sunset) is the play time for the Shaytans so children should come inside the house behind closed doors so that the Shaytans cannot enter. In another Hadith, Prophet (S.A.S) told us that everyone should always wear pairs of shoes and should never wear unpaired shoes as it is the Shaytans who hide them away. From my experiences, this can lead to unnecessary arguments and stress in the home.

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Prophet Adam alyhissalaam

Prophet Adam

Ibn Kathir

Allah the Almighty revealed: Remember when your Lord said to the angels: ‘Verily, I am going to place mankind generations after generations on earth.’ They said: ‘Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, while we glorify You with praises and thanks (exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You.’ Allah said: ‘I know that which you do not know.’

Allah taught Adam all the names of everything, then He showed them to the angels and said: “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.” They (angels) said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.”

He said: “O Adam! Inform them of their names,” and when he had informed them of their names, He said: “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been hiding?”

Remember when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourself before Adam” They prostrated except Iblis, he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers(disobedient to Allah).”

We said: “O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and both of you freely with pleasure and delight of things therein as wherever you will but come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zalimeen (wrongdoers).”

Then the Satan made them slip therefrom (the Paradise), and got them out from that in which they were. We said: “Get you down all with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment for a time.”

Then Adam received from his Lord Words. His Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the most Merciful.

We said: “Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever follows My Guidance there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve. But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, and signs and revelations, etc) such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide therein forever.” (Chapter 2:30-39, Qur’an).

Almighty Allah also revealed: And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being), then We told the angels, “Prostrate to Adam”, and they prostrated, except Iblis, he refused to be those who prostrate.

Allah said: “What prevented you (O Iblis) that you did not postrate when I commanded you?”

Iblis said: “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire and him You created from clay.”

Allah said: “O Iblis get down from this (Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out for you are of those humiliated and disgraced.”

Iblis said: “Allow me respite till the Day they are raised up (Day of Resurrection).”

Allah said: “You are of those allowed respite.”

Iblis said: “Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (they will not be dutiful to You).”

Allah said: “Get out from Paradise, disgraced and expelled. Whoever of them (mankind) will follow you, then surely I will fill Hell with you all.”

“And O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat thereof as you both wish, but approach not this tree otherwise you both will be of the Zalimeen (unjust and wrongdoers).”

Then Satan whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts before, he said:” Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.” Satan swore by Allah to them both saying: “Verily I am one of the sincere well wishers for you both.”

So he misled them with deception. Then when they tasted of the tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became manifest to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over themselves (in order to cover their shame). Their Lord called out to them saying “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you, Verily Satan is an open enemy unto you?”

They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” Allah said: “Get down one of you an enemy to the other (i.e. Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment, for a time.” He said: “therein you shall live, and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (resurrected).” (Chapter 7:11-25 Qur’an).

We imagine when Allah the Almighty decided to create Adam: He addressed His angels and told them to prostrate before him. He did not mean to ask their opinion or take their advice, for He is above that. Allah the Exalted told them that He was going to create a vicegerent on the earth who would have children and grandchildren who would corrupt the earth and shed each other’s blood. That is why the angels said to Allah the Almighty: “Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood!” (Chapter 2:30 Quran).

There are old traditions about the angels before the creation of Adam. According to Ibn Qatadah, it was said that the angels were informed about the creation of Adam and his progency by the jinn who lived before Adam. Abdullah Ibn Umar said that the jinn had existed for about 2000 years before Adam and then shed blood. Therefore Allah sent on them an army of angels that drove them out to the depths of the seas. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Ali jafar Al Baqer that the angels were informed that man would cause wickedness and shed blood on earth. It was also said that they knew that no one would be created on earth who would not be wicked and shed blood.

Whether or not these traditions are correct, the angels did understand that Allah would create a vicegerent on earth. Allah the Almighty announced that HE was going to create a human being out of clay, that HE would mold him and blow His spirit into him and then the angels should prostrate before him.

Abi Musa al Sha’arai narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Allah created Adam from a handful of dust taken from different lands, so the children of Adam have been created according to the composition of the land. Therefore from mankind we have white, red, black and yellow ones; we have good and evil, ease and sorrow, and what comes in between them.” (Sahih al Bukhari).

Ibn Masud and other companions of the Prophet (PBUH) said that Allah the Almighty sent Gabriel onto the earth to said that Allah the Almighty sent Gabriel onto the earth to get Him clay therefrom. The earth said: “I seek refuge in Allah from your decreasing my quantity or disfiguring me.” So Gabriel returned and did not take anything. He said: “My Lord, the land sought refuge in You and it granted.”

So Allah sent Michael for the same purpose, and the land sought refuge with Allah and it was granted. So he went back and said to Allah what Gabriel has said before him.

Then Allah sent the Angel of Death, and the land sought refuge in Allah, the angel said: “I also seek refuge with Allah from returning without carrying out His command.” So he took clay from the face of the earth and mixed it. He did not take from one particular place, but rather he took white, red, and black clay from different places.

The Angel of Death ascended with it, Allah soaked the clay till it became sticky. Then Allah said to the angels: “Truly, I am going to create man from clay. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him.” (Chapter 38:71-72 Quran).

So Allah shaped Adam into a human being, but he remaineda figure of clay for 40 years. The angels went past him. They were seized with fear by what they saw, and Iblis felt fear most. He used to pass by the figure of Adam, buffeting it, which would make a sound like pottery. Allah told us: “He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery.” (Chapter 55:Quran).

When the time drew near to breathe the spirit into Adam, as Allah decreed, He commanded the angels: “When I breathe My spirit into him prostrate before him.” Allah breathed His spirit into Adam and when it reached his head Adam sneezed. The angels said: “Say all praise belongs to Allah.” Adam repeated: “All praise belongs to Allah.” Allah said to him: “Your Lord has granted you mercy.” When the spirit reached his eyes, Adam looked at the fruits of Paradise. When it reached his abdomen Adam felt an appetite for food. He jumped hurriedly before the spirit could reach his legs, so that he could eat from the fruits of Paradise. Allah, therefore, said: “Man is created of haste.” (Chapter 21:37 Quran). And then: The angels prostrated themselves all of them together. Except Iblis, he refused to be among the prostrators. (Ch 15:31-32 Quran).

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Allah created Adam from dust after He mixed the clay and left him for some time until it became sticky mud, after which Allah shaped him. After that Allah left him till it became like potter’s clay. Iblis used to go past him saying ‘You have been created for a great purpose.’ After that Allah breathed His spirit into him. The first thing into which the spirit passed was his eye and then his nose. He sneezed. Allah said: “May your Lord have mercy upon you, O Adam! Go to those angels and see what they would say.’ So Adam went and greeted them. they replied saying: “Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah.” Allah said: “O Adam! This is your greeting and that of your offspring.” (Sahih al Bukhari).

Allah the Almighty revealed: Remember when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam’s loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves saying: “Am I not your Lord?” They said: “Yes! We testify.” lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection. “Verily we have been unaware of this.” Or lest you should say: “It was only our father aforetime who took others pas partners in worship along with Allah and we were merely their descendants after them; will you then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practiced al batil (polytheism) and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allah?”

Thus do We explain the Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations etc) in detail so that they may turn unto the truth. (Ch 7:172-174 Quran).

Adam’s progeny declared: “Our Lord, we bear witness that You are our Lord; we have no other Lord but Allah. Allah raised their father Adam, and he looked at them and saw those of them who were rich and those who were poor, and those who had good forms and those who did not. Adam said: “O Allah! I wish You to make Your servants equal.” Allah replied “I love being thanked.” Adam saw among the prophets like lamps among his progeny.

Almighty Allah declared: Remember when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (o Muhammad), and from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus son of Mary. We took from them a strong covenant. (Ch 33:7 Quran).

In another verse Allah the Exalted commanded: “So set you (O Muhammad) your face towards the religion of pure Islamic Monotheism Hanifan (worship none but Allah Alone) Allah’s Fitrah (Allah’s Islamic Monotheism), with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in khalqillah (the Religion of Allah–Islamic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most men know not.” (Ch 30:30 Quran).

Another version of the story relates that Allah took a handful of the dust of the earth and mixed into it the colors, white, black, yellow and red. That is the reason why men are born different colors. When Allah mixed the dust with water, it turned into potter’s clay that makes a sound. It was fermented and had a smell. Iblis passed by, wondering what was going to be made of that clay. From the clay Allah created Adam. he molded his form with His own hands and blew His spirit into him. Adam’s body quivered as life was imbued into it. Verily His Command, when He intends a thing is only that He says to it, “BE!” and it is! (Ch 37:82 Quran).

Allah the Almighty declared: Verily the likeness of Jesus, in Allah’s Sight is the likeness of Adam, He created him from the dust then He said to him. “Be!” –and he was. (Ch 3:59 Quran).

Adam opened his eyes and saw all the angels prostrating before him except one being who was standing at a distance Adam did not know what kind of creature it was that did not prostrate before him nor did he know its name. Iblis was standing with the angels so as to be included in the command given to them but he was not one of them. He was a jinn, and as such he was supposed to be inferior to the angels. What is clear is that this prostration was to show respect and did not mean that the angels were worshipping Adam. Prostrating in worship is done only for ALLAH.

Almighty Allah recounted the story of Iblis’s refusal to prostate before Adam: Remember when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud. So when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) the soul which I created for him then fall you down prostrating yourselves unto him.” SO the angels prostrated themselves all of them together, except Iblis, he refused to be among the prostrators. Allah said: “O Iblis! What is your reason for not being among the prostrators?” Iblis said: “I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.” Allah said: “Then get out from here for verily you are Rajim (an outcast or cursed one). Verily the curse shall be upon you till Day of Recompense (Day of Resurrection). (Ch 15:28-35 Quran).

In another surah Almighty Allah recounted it thus: Surely We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being), then We told the angels, “Prostrate to Adam and they prostrated except Iblis he refused to be of those who prostrate.

Allah said: “What prevented you Iblis that you did not prostrate when I commanded you?” Iblis said: “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire and him You created from clay.” Allah said: “Get down from this Paradise, it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced.” Iblis said: Allow me respite till the Day of Resurrection).” Allah said: “You are of those allowed respite.” (Ch 7:11-15 Quran).

Ibn Jarir reported that Muhammad Ibn sirin said that the first one to reach a conclusion by reasoning was Iblis and that the sun and moon were not worshiped except through this method.

This means that Iblis tried to compare himself to Adam. He believed that he was more honorable than Adam. Therefore he abstained from prostrating even though Allah had commanded him to do so, just as He had commanded the angels. If an analogy is made we see that Iblis is vain. For indeed clay is better than fire because in it can be found the qualities of calmness, clemency, perseverance and growth; whereas in fire can be found heedlessness, insignificance, haste, and incineration.

Iblis tried in vain to justify his refusal: “Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?” Iblis said: “See? those whom You have honored above me, if You give me respite (keep me alive) to the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them astray) all but a few!” (Ch 17:62 Quran).

Adam was following what was happening around him and had feelings of love, awe, and astonishment. Deep love of Allah,Who had created and glorified him and Who had made His angels prostrate before him. Awe of the Creator’s wrath when He excluded Iblis from His mercy. Adam was surprised by this creature, Iblis who abhorred hiwithout even knowing him and who imagined himself better than Adam without having proved that he was worthier. What a strange creature Iblis was, and how strange was his excuse for not prostrating!

He imagined that fire is better than clay, but how did he get such an idea? Such knowledge is exclusive to Allah Who fire and clay and Who knows which is the better of the two.

From the dialogue Adam realized that Iblis was a creature characterized by cunning and ingratitude. He then knew that Iblis was his eternal enemy. He was greatly astonished at Iblis’s audacity and Allah’s tolerance. Immediately after his creation Adam witnessed the large amount of freedom that Allah gives to His commissioned creatures.

Allah knew that Iblis was not going to obey Him in prostrating before Adam. Allah could have totally annihilated him or turned him into a handful of dust or stifled the refusal in his mouth. Yet, Allah gives His commissioned creatures absolute freedom even to the extent that they can refuse Allah the Almighty’s commands. He grants them the freedom of denial, disobedience, and even disagreement with Him.

His kingdom will not diminish if the disbelievers do not believe in Him nor will it be extended if many people believe in Him. On the contrary, the disbelievers will lose, and the believers will gain but Allah is above all of that.

There were many traditions about Iblis at the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ibn Masud, Ibn Abbas and a group of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Iblis had been the head of the angels in the worldly heavens. Ibn Abbas said in one narration that his name had been Azazil and in another narration he said it had been Al Harith. Ibn Abbas also said that Iblis was a jinn and that they had once been the keepers of Paradise, with Iblis the most honorable and the most learned and the most pious of them. Another tradition says that he had been one of the famous four possessors of wings (angels), before Allah transformed him into the accursed Satan.

Allah Almighty recounts Iblis’s disobedience in another surah: Remember when your Lord said to the angels: “Truly I am going to create man from clay. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him.” So the angels prostrated themselves all of them; except Iblis, he was proud and was one of the disbelievers.

Allah said: “The truth is, and the truth I say, that I will fill Hell with you and those of them (mankind) that follow you together.” (Ch 38:71-85 Quran).

After this lesson about freedom Adam learned another lesson, one about knowledge. Adam realized that Iblis was the symbol of evil in the universe and that the angels were the symbol of good. However he did not yet know anything about himself. Then Allah made him perceive his true identity and the reason for his creation, and the secret of his glorification.

Allah the Exalted said: He taught Adam all the names of everything. (Ch 2:31 Quran).

Almighty Allah granted Adam the power to know the natures of all things and to summarize them by names; that is a bird, that is a star, that is a tree, etc Allah implanted in Adam an insatiable need for and love of knowledge and a desire to bequeath knowledge to his children. This was the reason for his creation and the secret of his glorification.

After Adam had learned the names of all things, along with their properties and uses, Allah presented them to the angels and said: “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.” (Ch 2:31 Quran) the angels admitted their inability: “Glory be to You, we have knowledge except what You have taught us. Verily it is You the All Knower, the All Wise.” (Ch 2:32)

Allah Almighty then turned to Adam: “O Adam! Inform them of their names, ” and when he had informed them of their names, He said: “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been hiding?” (Ch 2:33).

Allah wanted the angels to know that He knew of their astonishment when He had told them about the creation of Adam and that He also knew of their confusion which they had not revealed, as well as what Iblis had concealed of his disobedience and ingratitude.

The angels realized that Adam was the creature who knew what they did not know and that his capacity to learn was his noblest quality. His knowledge included knowledge of the Creator which we call faith or Islam, as well as the knowledge he would need to inhabit and master the earth. All kinds of worldly knowledge which are included in this.

Adam knew the names of everything. Sometimes he talked to the angels, but they were preoccupied with worshipping Almighty Allah. Therefore Adam, felt lonely. One day he slept and when he awoke he found near his head, a woman gazing at his face with beautiful tender eyes.

The angels asked him her name He replied: “Eve (Hawa).” (means living things). They asked: “Why did you call her Eve?” Adam said: “Because she was created of me and I am a living being.”

Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the Prophet (PBUH) narrated that when Iblis was sent out of Paradise and Adam was accommodated therein, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not have a partner from whom he could get tranquility. He slept for some time and when he woke up, he saw a woman whom Allah had created from his ribs. So he asked her, “Who are you? She replied, “A woman” He asked: “Why have you been created?” She said :”So that you could find tranquility in me.” The angels, trying to find out the extent of his knowledge, asked him: “What is her name O Adam?” He replied, “Eve” They asked “Why was she so named?” He replied, ” Because she was created from something living.”

Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq and Ibn Abbas related that Eve was created from the shortest left rib of Adam while he was sleeping and after awhile she was clothed with flesh. that is why Allah the Exalted said: O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam) and from Him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women. (Ch 4:1) Allah also said: It is he Who has created you from a single person (Adam) and then He created from him his wife (Eve), in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her. (Ch 7:189).

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “O Muslims! I advise you to be gentle with women, for they are created from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part. If you try to straighten it, it will break and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of the women.” (Sahih Bukhari).

Allah commanded Adam to dwell in Paradise: “O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zalimeen (wrong doers).(Ch 2:35)

The location of this Paradise is unknown to us. The Quran did not reveal it, and the commentators had five different opinions. Some said that it was the paradise of our refuge and that its place was heaven. Others regreted that statement because if it was the paradise of refuge Iblis would have been forbidden admission and disobedience would have been forbidden as well. Still others said that it was another paradise that was created by Allah for Adam and Eve. A fourth group said it was a paradise on the earth located in a high place. Another group of commentators accept what was in the Quran without questioning where this paradise was located. We agree with this last opinion as the lesson we learn from its location is immaterial compared to the lesson we leafrom the events that took place there.

Adam and eve were admitted to Paradise and there they lived the dream of all human beings. Allah permitted them to approach and enjoy everything except one tree, that might have been the Tree of Pain or the Tree of Knowledge. Allah forbade them they were give abode in Paradise. “But come not near this tree or you both will be of the wrong doers.” (Ch 2:35)

Adam and Eve understood that they were forbidden to eat the fruit of that tree. Adam was however a human being and man tends to forget. His heart changes and his will weakens. Iblis summoned all the envy within him and took advantage of Adam’s humanity to exploit him. He started to whisper to him day after day, coaxing him: “Shall I guide you to thTree of Immortality and the Eternal Kingdom?” He said to them: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.” He (Satan) swore by Allah to them both saying: “Verily I am one of the sincere well wishers for you both.” (Ch 7:20-21)

Adam asked himself: “What will happen if I eat from this tree? It might truly be the Tree of Immortality.” His dream was to live forever in the pure innocence of Paradise.”

Years went by, and Adam and Eve were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day they decided to eat of its fruit. They forgot that Allah had warned them not to approach it and that Iblis was their sworn enemy. Adam stretched out his hand, picked one of the fruits and offered it to Eve. They both ate of the forbidden tree.

Allah Almighty told us: “So he (Satan) misled them with deception.” (Ch 7:22) Allah said: “Thus did Adam disobey his Lord so he went astray.” (Ch 20:121).

According to the old Testament, Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat of the forbidden tree. She ate because of the words of the serpent and fed Adam some of it. At that moment, their eyes were opened to the fact that they were naked, and they took the leaves of the fig tree to cover themselves. Wahb Ibn Munabah said that their clothing (before their sin) was made of light on the private parts of both of them.

This story in the Old Testament is a falsification and deception. Allah the Almighty revealed: O Children of Adam! Let not Satan deceive you, as he got your parents (Adam and Eve) out of Paradise stripping them of their rainments; to show them their private parts. Verily he and Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the devils (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not.” (Ch 7:27)

Adam had hardly finished eating when he felt his heart contract, and he as filled with pain, sadness and shame. The surrounding atmosphere had changed and the internal music had stopped. He discovered that he and his wife were naked, so they both started cutting tree leaves with which to cover themselves.

Allah the Almighty addressed him: “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily Satan is an open enemy unto you?” They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” Allah said; “Get down, one of you an enemy to the other (Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment, for a time.” He said: “Therein you shall live and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (resurrected).” (7:22-25).

Again there are old stories about these events. Al Hafez Ibn Asaker narrated that Allah commanded two angels to remove Adam from His holy proximity. So Gabriel stripped him of the crown on his head, and Michael took the diadem from his forehead. Adam thought that his punishment had been hastened and bowed down crying; “Forgiveness! Forgiveness!” so Allah asked: “Are you running away from Me?” Adam replied, “No, my Lord, but I am shy of You.”

Abdul Rahman Ibn Amru AL Awza iy said that Adam spent 100 years in Paradise. In another narration it was said he spent 60 years. Ibn Asaker reported that Adam wept for 60 years for his loss of Paradise and 70 years for his mistake, and he wept for another 70 years when his son was killed.

They left Paradise and descended upon the earth. Adam was sad and Eve was crying. Allah accepted their repentance because it was sincere and He told them that the earth would be their realm and origin where they would live and die and whence they would come on the Day of Judgment.

Allah the Almighty recounted this third lesson Adam learned in Paradise: Indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm will power. Remember when We said to the angels “Prostrate yourselves to Adam.” They prostrated (all) except Iblis, who refused. then We said: “O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. so let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you be distressed in misery. Verily, you have (a promise from Us) that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you will suffer not from thrist therein nor from the sun’s heat.”

then Satan whispered to him, saying “O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?” Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness and gave him guidance.

Allah said: “Get you down (upon the earth), both of you, together from Paradise, some of you are an enemy to some others. THen if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders etc). Verily, for him is a life of hardship and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”

He will say: “O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight before.” Allah will said: “like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). came unto you, but you disregarded them (you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected in the Hellfire, away from Allah’s Mercy.)”

And thus do We requite him who transgresses beyond bounds (commits the great sins and disobeys his Lord (allah) and believes not in His Messengers, and His revealed Books, like this Quran etc), and believes not in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). of his Lord, and the torment of the Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting. (Ch 20:115-127)

Some people believe that the reason why mankind does not dwell in Paradise is that Adam was disobedient and that if it had not been for this sin, we could have been there all along. These are naive fictions because when Allah wanted to create Adam, He said to the angels, “I shall make a vicegerent on the earth.” He did not say, “I shall make a vicegerent in Paradise.”

Adam’s descent on earth, then, was not due to degradation but rather it was dignified descent. Allah knew that Adam and Eve would eat of the tree and descend to earth. He knew that Satan would rape their innocence. That experience was essential for their life on earth; it was a cornerstone of their vicegerency. It was meant to teach Adam, Eve, and their progeny that it was Satan who had caused them to be expelled from Paradise and that the road to Paradise can only be reached by obedience to Allah and enmity to Satan.

Could it be said that Adam and the rest of mankind were predestined to sin and to be expelled from Paradise and sent to the earth? In fact, this fiction is as naive as the first one.

Adam complete free will, and he bore the consequences of his deed. He disobeyed by eating of the forbidden tree, so Allah dismissed him from Paradise. His disobedience does not negate his freedom. On the contrary it is a consequence of it.

The truth of the matter is that Allah knew what was going to happen, as He always know the outcome of events before they take place. However Allah does not force things to happen. He grants free will to His human creatures. On that He bases His supreme wisdom in populating the earth, establishing the vicegerents, and so on.

Adam understood his 3rd lesson. He knew now in a practical way that Iblis was his enemy, the cause of his losing the blessing of living in Paradise, and the cause of his distress. Adam also understood that Allah punishes disobedience and that the way of Paradise has to be through submission to the will of Allah. And he learned from Allah Almighty to ask for forgiveness.

Allah accepted Adam’s repentance and forgave him. He then sent him to the earth as His first messenger.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger (PBUH) said: “Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam: ‘Your sin expelled you from Paradise.’ Adam said: ‘ You are Moses whom Allah selected as His messenger and as the one to whom He spoke directly. Yet you blame me for a thing which had already been written in my fate before my Creation?” Allah’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said twice, “So Adam outclassed Moses.” (Sahih Bukhari).

Umar Ibn Al Khattab also narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Moses (PBUH) said: ‘My Lord! May I see Adam who removed us and himself from the Paradise?” so Allah made him see Adam and he said to him: “Are you Adam?” Adam said: “yes.” And he said “Were you the one in Whom Allah breathed His spirit and before whom He bowed His angels and to whom He taught the names of all things?” Adam answered: “yes.” so Moses said: “What made you remove us and yourself from Paradise.?”

Adam said: “Who are you?” Moses said: I am Moses.” Adam said: “So you are Moses the prophet of the Children of Israel. Were you the one Allah spoke to directly?” Moses answered “yes.” Adam said: “Why do you blame me for a matter which Allah had predestined?” So Allah’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said twice. “Adam outclassed Moses.” (Sahih al Bukhari).

there are many traditions concerning the place of Adam’s descent upon earth. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Abbas said: “Adam descended on land ‘Dihna’ between Mecca and taif.” AL Hassan said that Adam descended in India and Eve in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Iblis Bodistiman (Iraq), and the serpent in Ashahan (Iran). This last was also reported by Ibn Hatim.

Ass’ady related that Adam descended with the Black Stone (a large black stone set into the wall of the ka’ba in Mecca. It is said to have come from Paradise) in India, and he had a handful of the seeds of Paradise. He sowed them in India and they grew into the fragrant tree therein.

Ibn Umar said that Adam descended on As-Safa and Eve on Al Marwa ( names of two mountains in the vicinity of the sacred house in Mecca. Part of the rites of pilgrimage (hajj) includes pacing between these two hills in commemoration of H’s search for water). This was also reported by Ibn Hatim. Abdul Razzaq reported that Abi Musa Al-shari said that when Allah ordered Adam to descend from Paradise to earth, He taught him the making of everything and provided him with the crops from Paradise.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best of days on which the sun has risen is Friday. One this day Adam was created, and on this day he was descended to earth.” (al Bukhari)

Adam knew he bade farewell to peace and he left Paradise. On earth he had to face conflict and struggle. No sooner had one ended than another began. He also had to toil to sustain himself. He had to protect himself with clothes and weapons and protect his wife and children from the wild beasts. Above all he had to struggle with the spirit of evil. Satan, the cause of his expulsion from Paradise, continued to beguile him and his children in an effort to have them thrown into the eternal hellfire. The battle between good and evil is continuous, but those who follow Allah’s guidance and should fear nothing while those who disobey Allah and follow Iblis will be damned along with him.

Adam grasped all of this and with the knowledge of this suffering he started his life on the earth. The only thing that allowed his grief was that he was master of the earth and had to make it yield to him. He was the one who had to perpetuate, cultivate and construct and populate the earth. He was also the one who had to procreate and raise children who would change and improve the world.

The pinnacle of earthly bliss was reached when Adam and Eve witnessed the birth of their 1st children, a set of twins. Adam was a devoted father and Eve a contented mother. The twins were Cain (Qabil) and his sister. Later Eve gave birth to a second set of twins, Abel (Habil) and his sister. The family enjoyed the bounties and fruits of the earth provided by their Lord. The children grew up to be strong and healthy young adults. Cain tilled the land while Abel raised cattle.

The time arrived when the two young men desired life partners. This was part of Allah’s plan for mankind, to multiply and form nations with different cultures and colors. Allah revealed to Adam that he should marry each son to the twin sister of the other. Adam instructed his children according to Allah’s command, but Cain was displeased with the partner chosen for him, for Abel’s twin sister was not as beautiful as his own.

It appears that since the beginning of time, physical beauty has been a factor in the attraction between man and women. This attraction caused Cain to envy his brother Abel. He rebelled against Allah’s command by refusing to accept his father’s advice.

At first glance Cain’s rebellion might appear strange, but we should remember that although man has a pure nature, the potential for dichotomy exists. In other words, he had both good and bad qualities. He can become greedy, covetous,possessive, selfish and even destructive. Man is, therefore capable of seeking self-satisfaction even if it leads to failure in this life and in the hereafter. The path to goodness lies in harnessing the enemy within him, his baser self by controlling evil thoughts and deeds and practicing moderation in his desires and actions. His reward then will be the delights of this world and the hereafter. Thus Allah tests us through our divided nature.

Adam was in a dilemma. He wanted peace and harmony in his family, so he invoked Allah for help. Allah commanded that each son offer a sacrifice, and he whose offering was accepted would have right on his side. Abel offered his best camel while Cain offered his worst grain. His sacrifice was not accepted by Allah because of his disobedience to his father and the insincerity in his offering.

This enraged Cain even further. Realizing that his hopes marrying his own beautiful sister were fading, he threatened his brother. “I will kill you! I refuse to see you happy while I remain unhappy!”

Abel feeling sorry for his brother, replied, “It would be more proper for you, my brother to search for the cause of your unhappiness and then walk in the way of peace. Allah accepts the deeds only from those who serve and fear Him, not from those who reject His Commands.”

Abel was intelligent, obedient, and always ready to obey the will of Allah. This contrasted sharply with his brother who was arrogant, selfish and disobedient to his Lord. Abel did not fear his brother’s threats, but neither did he want his brother to be hurt, Allah had blessed Abel with purity and compassion.

Hoping to allay the hatred seething in his brother Abel said, ” My brother, you are deviating from the right path and are sinful in your decisions. It is better that you repent to Allah and forget about your foolish threat. But if you do not then I will leave the matter in the hands of Allah. You alone will bear the consequence of your sin, for the Fire is the reward of the wrong-doers.”

This brotherly plea did nothing to lessen the hatred in Cain’s heart, nor did he show fear of Allah’s punishment. Even familial considerations were cast aside. Cain struck his brother with a stone killing him instantly. This was the 1st death and the 1st criminal act committed by man on earth.

When Abel had not appeared for some time, Adam began to search for him but found no trace of his beloved son. He asked Cain about Abel’s whereabouts. Cain insolently replied that he was not his brother’s keeper nor his protector. From these words his father understood that Abel was dead and Adam was filled with grief.

Meanwhile Cain did not know what to do with his brother’s corpse. He carried it on his back wandering from place to place trying to hide it. His anger had now subsided and his conscience was saddled with guilt. He was tiring under the burden of the corpse which had started to have a stench. As a mercy, and to show that dignity could be retained even in death, Allah sent two ravens that began fighting, causing the death of one. The victorious bird used its beak and claws to dig a hole in the ground, rolled its victim into it and covered it with sand.

Witnessing this, Cain was overcome with shame and remorse. “Woe unto me!” he exclaimed. “I was unable to do what this raven has done, that is to hide my brother’s corpse.” Cain then buried his brother. This was also the 1st burial of man.

Allah the Almighty revealed: And (O Muhammad) recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam (Abel and Cain) in truth; when each offered a sacrifice to Allah, it was accepted from the one but not from the other. The latter said to the former; “I will surely kill you.”

the former said: “Verily Allah accepts only from those who are Al Muttaqeen (the pious). If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I fear Allah; the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinn, and all that exists). Verily I intend to let you draw my sin onyourself as well as yours then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire, and that is the recompense of the Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoers).”

So the self of the other (latter one) encouraged him and made fair seeming to him the murder of his brother; he murdered him and became one of the losers. Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: “Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?” Then he became one of those who regretted. (Ch 5:27-31).

Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud and a group of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) related that inter-marriage of the male of one pregnancy with the female of another had been in practice among Adam’s children. Abel wanted to marry Cain’s sister, but Cain wanted her for himself because she was very beautiful. Adam ordered him to give her in marriage to his brother but he refused. SO Adam ordered both of them to offer a sacrifice, then went to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage. After Adam had left, they offered their sacrifices; Abel offered a fat lamb, he was a shepherd, while Cain offered a bundle of worst grain. fire descended and devoured Abel’s sacrifice, leaving that of Cain so he became angry and said: “I will surely kill you so that you will not marry my sister.” Abel replied, “Allah accepts from those who fear Him.”

According to Abu Ja’afar al Baqer, Adam was watching their offering and was sure that Abel’s sacrifice would be accepted. Cain complained to Adam that the acceptance was due to his supplication for Abel and that he had not done the same for him, so he promised his father to settle the matter between himself and his brother. One night, Abel was late returning from tending his flock. Adam sent Cain to see what happened to him. When he found him, he glared at him saying: “yours was accepted, and mine was not.” Abel replied, “Allah only accepts from the Allah-fearing.” Cain became angry on hearing this and hit him with a piece of iron that was with him and thus killing him. In another version it was said that he killed him with a rock to the head while he was sleeping.

Adam was utterly grief stricken by the loss of his two sons. One was dead, the other was won over by the devil. Adam prayed for his son and turned to mundane matters for he had to toil for his sustenance. At the same time he was a prophet advising his children and grandchildren, telling them about Allah and calling them to believe in Him. He told them about Iblis and warned them by recounting his own experience with the devil and of how the devil had tempted Cain to kill his brother.

Years and years passed, Adam grew old and his children spread all over the earth. Muhammad Ibn Ishaq related that when Adam’s death drew near, he appointed his son Seth to be his successor and taught him the hours of the day and night along with their appropriate acts of worship. He also foretold to him the floor that would come.

Abu Dhar narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Allah sent down 104 psalms, of which 50 were sent down to Seth.”

Abdullah Ibn Al Iman Ahmad Ibn Hanbal narrated that Ubai Ibn Kab said: “When Adam’s death was near, he said to his children: “O my children, indeed I feel an appetite for the fruits of Paradise.”

So they went away searching for what Adam had requested. They met with the angels, who had with them his shroud and what he was to be embalmed with. They said to them: “O Children of Adam, what are you searching for? What do you want? Where are you going?”

They said: “Our father is sick and has an appetite for the fruits of Paradise.”

the angels said to them: “Go back, for your father is going to meet his end soon.”

So they returned (with the angels) and when Eve saw them she recognized them. She tried to hide herself behind Adam. He said to her. “Leave me alone. I came before you; do not go between me and the angels of my Lord.’ So they took his soul, embalmed and wrapped him, dug the grave and laid him in it. They prayed on him and put him in his grave, saying: ‘O Children of Adam, this is your tradition at the time of death.”"

Before his death Adam reassured his children that Allah would not leave man alone on the earth, but would sent His prophets to guide them. the prophets would have different names, traits and miracles, but they would be united in one thing; the call to worship Allah alone. This was Adam’s bequest to his children. Adam finished speaking and closed his eyes. Then the angels entered his room and surrounded him. When he recognized the Angel of Death among them, his heart smiled peacefully.

After Adam’s death, his soth Seth (Shiith) took over the responsibilities of prophethood, according to a hadith narrated by Abu Dhar. Abu Dhar narrated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Allah sent down one hundred and four psalms, of which fifty were sent down to Seth.” (Sahih al Bukhari) When the time of his death came Seth’s son Anoush succeeded him. He in turn, was succeeded by his son Qinan, claim that Mahlabeel was the King of the Seven Regions, that he was the first one to cut down trees to build cities and large forts and that he built the cities of Babylonia. He reigned for a period of forty years. When he died his duties were taken ov er by his son Yard, who on his death, bequeathed them to his son Khonoukh, who is Idris (pbuh) according to the majority of the scholars.

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SEANCE OF DECEPTION

In order to ensnare people in their traps of kufr, sometimes the evil jinn at a seance set up an exemplary performance of piety and holiness which deceive not only the simple ones, but even Ulama. The following is an account of a real séance narrated by the Shaafi’ Faqeeh, Shaikh Ahmad Izzuddeen (rahmatullah alayh):
“I knew a man who claimed that with the aid of the jinn he rendered good favours to people. He would help people via a human medium (i.e. a human being in whose body the jinn entered). He contended that he had acquired this power as a consequence of considerable thikr and ibaadat. Someone who claimed to have knowledge of the occult had taught him. I was one day invited by this man to attend a séance where the ‘pious’ jinn would be present.
The deceit practised to ensnare me was that the meeting began with supplications (duas) for maghfirah (forgiveness), and the thikr of La ilaha il lallaah. This fraud is calculated to allay fears and to make one comfortable and believe that the jinn participating are noble spirits. The man sat on a bed. We then started, under direction, to recite prayers of forgiveness, and we engaged in the thikr of La ilaha il lallaah until the man lapsed into a trance. According to his instruction prior to the trance, I laid him on the bed and covered him with a blanket.
Then in a deep voice his jinn friend greeted me. He (the jinn) expressed his happiness at meeting me. He mentioned his love for me. He said that he was neither an angel nor a jinn, but another unique creation which came into existence by Allah’s command of ‘Kun!’ (‘Be!’). He claimed that all the jinn submitted to his instructions. There were only five stages between him and Allah Ta’ala, the fifth one being Jibraeel.
He lauded much praise on me and made amazing promises. Meanwhile I continually supplicated to Allah Ta’ala to protect me from slipping into the trap of evil error. I attended many such meetings where the visiting jinn claimed to be an angel or a jinn or a Sahaabi or from among the Auliya. They would show me great respect and speak with me. Then he would depart, and another one would appear. He too would leave, and another and another would appear.
One claimed to be Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu). Another claimed to be Hasan Basri (rahmatullah alayh), and another one said that he was Abul Hasan Shaazali (rahmatullah alayh).”
(To be continued, Insha’Allah)

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SUMMONING THE SOULS

ONE of the favourable stunts of deception and fraud perpetrated by some people with the aid of evil jinn is supposedly to summon the souls or spirits of dead persons to appear. When the ‘souls’ of the deceased appear, they speak and convey information about the unseen realm. Such a meeting with the ‘spirits’ or ‘souls’ is called a séance.
Sometimes at the séance the ‘dead’ makes a visible appearance and speaks to those present. Sometimes the ‘souls’ of the dead denuded of physical form, speak through a medium who is a human being in a trance. During the trance, it is said that the souls of the dead enter into the body of the person who is in the trance.
All such demonstrations are satanic stunts of deception and fraud. Neither do the deceased persons appear nor their souls. All such displays are the effects of the shayaateen. Every person has a shaitaan called Qareen who constantly accompanies that person. Sometimes after the death of a person, Qareen assumes the appearance of the deceased and appears to people. Sometimes he does not make a visible appearance, but speaks through a medium in a voice which the observer recognizes to be that of the deceased person.
This type of fraud leads people to believe that the dead truly appear on earth. The souls of the dead are either in the abode of Torment (Sijjeen) or in the abode of Bliss (Illiyeen). No human being or devil has the power to summon the deceased from these abodes. Evil jinn assume the forms of the deceased and in this way deceive and mislead people. Never be impressed with this type of seemingly supernatural fraud.

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