IMAM MAHDI (as) MYTH OR REALITY? ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MAHDI PROMISED BY THE PROPHET (saww) PART 3 IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,MOST BENEFICENT,MOST MERCIFUL Welcome once again for the continuation of our series on the MYTH AND REALITY OF THE PROMISED MAHDI. Explanation Of Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami: وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنتَ فِيهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُو It is not for Allah to punish them while you (Muhammad) are among them. And Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness Holy Quraan (Suratul Anfaal:33) The Messenger of Allah (saww) referred to the existence of that in his Ahlulbait (a.s), and that they are the amnesty for the inhabitants of the earth, just like he (saww) is an amnesty for them. And the narrations about that are plenty. Some of them will be mentioned. (1): The stars are amnesty for the inhabitants of the heavens, and my Ahlulbait (a.s) are amnesty for the inhabitants of the earth. A group has all narrated this through a weak chain. And through another weak chain: My Ahlulbait (a.s) are amnesty for the inhabitants of the earth, and if my Ahlulbait (a.s) would go away (i.e. all die), the promised signs (of destruction) will come upon the inhabitants of the earth.(2) And in another narration of Ahmad bin Hanbal: And if the stars go away (i.e. become non-existent), the inhabitants of the heavens will be destroyed. And if my Ahlulbait (a.s) go away (i.e. all die), the inhabitants of the earth will be destroyed. And in a narration that has been authenticated by Imam Al-Hakim upon the conditions of the two Sheikhs: The stars help prevent the inhabitants of the earth from being drowned, and my Ahlulbait (a.s) are the protectors of my community against disputes (in religious matters). Therefore, whichever group among the Arabs that opposes my Ahlulbait (a.s), shall become a party of Satan. And the following has been narrated through many routes that strengthen each other: The example of my Ahlulbait (a.s) among you, is like the example of the Arc of Nuh (a.s). Who boarded it, got saved. And in a narration of Muslim: And who turned away from it, got drowned. And in another narration: Perished. (3) And in another narration: The example of my Ahlulbayt (a.s) among you is like the door of Hitta of Bani Israeel. Whoever entered it had been forgiven. And in another narration: Had been forgiven for his sins. And some of them said that Ahlulbait means those who are the safety of their scholars, because they are the ones by whom one is guided like the stars, and the ones that if they were absent, the people of the earth shall face the promised signs (of destruction). And that shall occur during the descent of the Mahdi (as). When, like mentioned in his narrations, Isa (a.s) shall pray behind him and kill the Dajjaal in his time, then after that the signs (of destruction) will occur. In Muslim it is reported that the people, after Isa (a.s) has killed the Dajjaal, will live 7 quiet years. Thereafter Allah (swt) will send a cold wind from the area of Syria, so no one who has a grain of goodness or faith in his heart shall remain on the face of the earth. And the evil ones shall remain. To my opinion, it probably refers to the Ahlulbait (a.s), since Allah (swt) created this world for the sake of the Prophet (saww), and has made its existence conditional to the existence of his Ahlulbait (a.s), for they have certain virtues in common with the Prophet (saww) as Fakhr Ad-Deen Al-Raazi mentioned, and because the Messenger of Allah (saww) said on their virtue that: O Allah (swt)! They are from me and I am from them. And they are a part of him as their mother Faatima (as) was a part of him. Thus, they (Ahlulbait (a.s)) have his (saww) position in amnesty for the earth. Source:( Sawaaiq Al-Muhriqa. Page. No.212 - 213). In conclusion, we can say with conviction that the hadeeth actually means Ahulbait (a.s) in the sense that the Shia define them. Surprisingly, Ibn Taymeeyyah also considers that the entire creation exists only for the sake of the Prophet (saww). Ibn Taymeeyyah: Muhammad (saww) is the Chief of the Children of Adam (a.s), the Best of Creation and the noblest of them in the sight of Allah (swt). This is why some have said that Allah (swt) created the Universe due to him, or that Were it not for him, He would have neither created a Throne, nor a Footstool, nor a heaven, earth, sun or moon. However, this is not a hadeeth on the authority of the Prophet (saww), neither is it saheeh nor is it weak and it has not been narrated by any person of knowledge in hadeeth either from the Prophet (saww) or Sahaaba but it may be explained from a correct aspect. Since the best of the righteous of the children of Adam (a.s) is Muhammad (saww), creating him was a desirable end of deep-seated purposeful wisdom, more than for anyone else, and hence the completion of creation and the fulfillment of perfection was attained with Muhammad, may Allah Exalted bless him and grant him peace and his family. The Chief of the Children of Adam (a.s) is Muhammad, may Allah Exalted bless him and grant him peace and his family, Adam (a.s) and his children being under his banner. He, may Allah Exalted bless him and grant him peace and his family, said: Truly, I was written as the Seal of the Prophets with Allah (swt), when Adam (a.s) was going to-and-fro in his clay, i.e. that my Prophethood was decreed and manifested when Adam (a.s) was created but before the breathing of the Spirit into him, just as Allah (swt) decrees the livelihood, lifespan, deeds and misery or happiness of the slave when He creates the embryo but before the breathing of the Spirit into it. Since man is the seal and last of all creation, and its microcosm, and since the best of man is thus the best of all creation absolutely, then Muhammad (saww), being the Pupil of the Eye, the Axis of the Mill, and the Distributor to the Collective, is as it were the Ultimate Purpose from amongst all the purposes of creation. Thus it cannot be denied to say that Due to him all of this was created, or that Were it not for him, all this would not have been created, so if statements like this are thus explained according to what the Book and the Sunnah indicate, it is acceptable. Source: ( Majma ul -Fataawa. Vol. 11, Page. No. 96 - 98) . Al-laahummah sol-li alaa Muhammad(saww) wa aali Muhammad(saww). Hujjah (Proofs) Of Allah (swt) And Their Qualities One of the most intriguing narrations that describes the qualities of the Proofs of Allah (swt)and their existence till the Day of Judgment, is the Will of Ameer ul-Mumineen Ali Ibn Abii Taalib (a.s) to Kumayl ibn Ziyaad (r.a). This Will has been narrated through a large number of narrators from both the Shia and Sunni schools. It has been recorded by many scholars with written commentaries wherefrom many notions and rules have been extracted in to books of Usuul and Fiqh. But before we go on to read the narration, we shall take a look at the main narrator, Kumayl ibn Ziyaad Al-Nakhaai to whom this Will is directed towards by the Ameer ul-Mumineen (a.s). Kumayl was a famous Taabiee who was a close companion of Ameer ul-Mumineen (a.s) upon whose trustworthiness and piety scholars collectively agree upon. Al-Mizzi: Kumayl ibn Ziyaad ibn Nahyak ibn Al-Haytham ibn Sad ibn Malik ibn Al-Harith ibn Suhbaan ibn Sad ibn Malik ibn Al-Nakha Al-Nakhai Al-Suhbaani Al-Kufi, it is also said: Kumayl ibn Abdullah, and Kumayl ibn Abdul Rahman, and the tribe of Nakha is part of the tribe of Mazhaj. He has narrated from Abdullah ibn Masoud (ra), Uthman ibn Affan (ra), Ali Ibn Abii Taalib (a.s), Umar ibn Al-Khattab(ra), Abi Masoud Al-Ansaari(ra) and Abi Huraira(ra). Ibn Saad mentions him among the first generation of the people of Kufa. He says: He has contributed in the battle of Siffeen with Ali (a.s) and he was a noble respected man, and his people used to obey him. When Al-Hajjaj came to Kufa, he called him and then he killed him. He was trustworthy; his narrations are few.(May Allahs Mercy be upon him) Ishaaq ibn Mansuur says: Yahya ibn Maeen said: He is trustworthy. Al-Ijlli says: He is a trustworthy Tabiee from the people of Kufa. Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Ammar says: Kumayl ibn Ziyaad was a Rafidhi, and he is trustworthy, from the companions of Ali (a.s). He says in another place: Kumayl ibn Ziyaad was of the heads of Shia and he was a trouble of the troubles. Ibn Hibban mentions him in his book of Al-Thuqat (Authenticated Ones). Abul Hassan Al-Madaini says: And the worshippers among them, i.e. among the people of Kufa, are: Uwais Al-Qurni, Amr ibn Utba ibn Farqad, Yazeed ibn Muawiyah Al-Nakhai, Rabi ibn Khuthaym, Hammam ibn Al-Harith, Mudhid Al-Shaybani, Jundab ibn Abdullah and Kumayl ibn Ziyad Al-Nakhai. Source: (Tahdeeb Al-Kamaal. Vol. 24, Page. No. 218 - 219, Person No. 4996). Ibn Hajar: Kumayl ibn Ziyaad ibn Nahik, or ibn Abdullah Al-Nakhai, the famous Tabiee, he has witnessed the time of the Prophet (saww). Ibn Abi Khaythama and Khalifa ibn Khayyaat say: He died in the year 82 A.H. Ibn Abi Khaythama has added: He was 70 years old. So he has witnessed 18 years of the life of the Prophet (saww). He has narrated from Umar (ra), Ali (a.s), Ibn Masoud (ra) and others. Narrated from him Abdul Rahman ibn Abis, Abu Ishaq Al-Sabiee, Al-Amash and others. Ibn Saad says: He has contributed in the battle of Siffeen with Ali (a.s) and he was a noble respected person, his people used to obey him. He was trustworthy, his narrations are few. Ibn Maeen: And a group of scholars have said too that he is trustworthy. Ibn Ammar: He was one of the heads of Shia. Ibn Abil Dunya narrated through Al-Amash who said: Al-Haytham ibn Al-Aswad entered upon Al-Hajjaj, so he said: How is Kumayl ibn Ziyaad? He said: He is an old man, sits at his home. He said: Where is he? He replied: He has become a senile old man. So he ordered him to be brought to him and said: Are you of those who killed Uthman (ra)? He said: No I didnt do that! He hit me, so I wanted to do Qisas (take revenge), but he retaliated, so I forgave him. He said: Al-Hajjaj then ordered him to be killed. Jarir ibn Mughira said: Al-Hajjaj asked for Kumayl ibn Ziyaad, but he escaped from him, so Al-Hajjaj stopped their share from the treasury. When Kumayl found out about it, he said: I am an old man and I have lived my life, I should not let my people to be deprived of their share. So he went to Al-Hajjaj, when Al-Hajjaj saw him, he said: I liked to have you arrested. Kumayl said to him: There has not remained long from my life, so do whatever you want to do, because the appointed date is with Allah (swt), verily Ameer ul-Mumineen Ali (a.s) informed me that you are my killer. Al-Hajjaj said: Yes, you were among those who killed Uthman(ra), so chop his head!(saying to his men). Then his head was chopped. Source:( Al-Isaba Fi Tamyeez Al-Sahaaba. Vol. 9, Page. No. 349 - 350, Person No. 7535). As mentioned earlier, the narration has been recorded in both Shia and Sunni sources. Firstly, we shall InshaAllah Taala present some Sunni sources and lastly, some from the Shia relating to this particular narration: Ibn Abd Rabbeeh: Narrated to us Ayyoub ibn Sulayman from Amir ibn Muawiyah from Ahmad ibn Imran Al-Akhnas from Al-Walid ibn Saleh Al-Hashimi from Abdullah ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Kufi from Abi Mikhnaf from Kumayl Al-Nakhai who said: Once Ali Ibn Abii Taalib (a.s) held my hand and took me out of the city to the desert. When we reached the desert, he heaved a sigh and said: O Kumayl, no doubt these hearts are containers, and the best of them are those who retain most. Memorize from me what I say; people are of three categories: the divine scholar, the students on the path of salvation, and (the third one) the riffraff of the society, following every crowing of the crows, bending as the wind blows; never benefiting from the light of knowledge, nor finding a refuge with a strong supporter. O Kumayl, knowledge is better than wealth; for knowledge guards you while you have to guard wealth; and wealth is diminished when spent, while knowledge grows and increases when you put it to use. The benefit of wealth fades when the wealth fades. O Kumayl, to have liking and affinity for a learned man is the best way to entrench ones faith in Allah (swt), it enables one to be obedient to Him during lifetime, and to be praiseworthy after one has died. Knowledge is the guardian and wealth is its imprisoner. O Kumayl, the hoarders of wealth have died, while the learned men exist forever; their bodies are missing, but their teachings and wisdom are ingrained in the hearts. And then pointing to his chest said: Here is well-grounded, plentiful knowledge; I wish it had true recipients and adherents. But unfortunately, some unscrupulous men of understanding have tried to misuse it, using religion as a weapon to earn the worldly gain, and seeking undue power by divine authority over Allahs (swt) creatures, abusing His bounties which He bestowed upon them. People took them as compliant with (divine) wisdom. Such people (who they have adopted as their guides) have no insight into its ramifications; with the result that with the slightest confusion, doubt enters their minds. Neither of them could be the true carrier of knowledge. And then there are those with insatiable lust, easily misled by the pleasures of flesh, or enticed by accumulating wealth, not at all among those who care for religion. They very much resemble the grazing cattle. Thus knowledge dies when its carriers are dead. But O Allah (swt)! Yet, the earth is never devoid of a divine authority, either a known manifest or a fearful in concealment, ensuring that His Proofs are not lost. Surely, with those fewer people of enormous value, Allah (swt) protects His proofs with them, till they succeed to transmit it further to their likes, and plant it deep in their hearts. They are the ones overwhelmed by the true knowledge of certitude, and have made it easy for themselves to tread on the path which men in luxury found difficult. They derive pleasure and enjoyment from things which repel the ignorant. Though they live on earth with their bodies, their souls hang unto the higher plane. O Kumayl, They are the (true) Caliphs of Allah (swt) on His earth, the ones who invite (people) to His religion. Alas! How keen I am to have sight of them! You may leave if you want. Source:( Al-Iqd Al-Fareed. Vol. 2, Page. No. 81 - 82). Al-Maaafa ibn Zakariyya Al-Jariri: Narrated to us Muhammad ibn Ahmad Al-Muqadami from Abdullah ibn Umar ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Warraq from ibn Aisha from his father from his uncle from Kumayl and also from his father from Ahmad ibn Ubayd from Madaini, and the wordings of the two are different, they both said: Kumayl ibn Ziyaad Al-Nakhai said: Once Ali Ibn Abii Taalib (a.s) held my hand and took me out of the city to the desert. When we reached the desert, he heaved a sigh and said: O Kumayl, no doubt these hearts are containers, and the best of them are those who retain most. Memorize from me what I say; people are of three categories: the divine scholar, the students on the path of salvation, and (the third one) the riffraff of the society, following every crowing of the crows, bending as the wind blows; never benefiting from the light of knowledge, nor finding a refuge with a strong supporter. O Kumayl, knowledge is better than wealth; for knowledge guards you while you have to guard wealth; knowledge grows and increases when you put it to use, while wealth is diminished when spent. O Kumayl, to have liking and affinity for the scholar of religion is the best way to entrench ones faith in Allah (swt), it enables one to be obedient to Him during lifetime, and to be praiseworthy after one has died. The benefit of wealth fades when the wealth fades, while knowledge is the guardian and wealth is its imprisoner. O Kumayl, the hoarders of wealth have died, while the scholar exist as long as the world exist; their bodies are missing but their teachings and wisdom are ingrained in the hearts. And then pointing to his chest said: Here is well-grounded, plentiful knowledge; I wish it had true recipients and adherents. But unfortunately, some unscrupulous men of understanding have tried to misuse it, using religion as a weapon to earn the worldly gain, and seeking undue power by divine authority over Allahs (swt) creatures, abusing His bounties which He bestowed upon them. People took them as compliant with (divine) wisdom. Such people (who they have adopted as their guides) have no insight into its ramifications; with the result that with the slightest confusion, doubt enters their minds. Neither of them could be the true carrier of knowledge. And then there are those with insatiable lust, easily misled by the pleasures of flesh, or enticed by accumulating wealth, not at all among those who care for religion. They very much resemble the grazing cattle. Thus knowledge dies with its carriers death. But O Allah (swt)! Yet, the earth is never devoid of a divine authority, either a known manifest or a fearful in concealment, ensuring that His Proofs are not lost among you. But where are they? Surely, they are few in number, but of enormous value. Allah (swt) protects His proofs with them, till they succeed to transmit it further to their likes, and plant it deep in their hearts. They are the ones overwhelmed by the true knowledge of certitude, and have made it easy for themselves to tread on the path which men in luxury found difficult. They derive pleasure and enjoyment from things which repel the ignorant. Though they live on earth with their bodies, their souls hang unto the higher plane. O Kumayl, They are the (true) Caliphs of Allah (swt) on His earth, the ones who invite (people) to His religion. Alas! How keen I am to have sight of them! May Allah (swt) forgive me and you. Source:( Al-Jalees Al-Saalih Al-Kaafi. Vol. 3, Page. No. 331 - 332). Al-Suyuuti: From Kumayl who said: Once Ali Ibn Abii Taalib (a.s) held my hand and took me out of the city to the desert. When we reached the desert, he heaved a sigh and said: O Kumayl, no doubt these hearts are containers, and the best of them are those who retain most. Memorize from me what I say; people are of three categories: the divine scholar, the students on the path of salvation, and (the third one) the riffraff of the society, following every crowing of the crows, bending as the wind blows; never benefiting from the light of knowledge, nor finding a refuge with a strong supporter. O Kumayl, knowledge is better than wealth; for knowledge guards you while you have to guard wealth; knowledge grows and increases when you put it to use, while wealth is diminished when spent. O Kumayl, to have liking and affinity for the scholar of religion is the best way to entrench ones faith in Allah (swt), it enables one to be obedient to Him during lifetime, and to be praiseworthy after one has died. The benefit of wealth fades when the wealth fades, while knowledge guards, wealth needs protection. O Kumayl, the hoarders of wealth have died, while the scholar exist as long as the world exist; their bodies are missing but their teachings and wisdom are ingrained in the hearts. And then pointing to his chest said: Here is well-grounded, plentiful knowledge; I wish it had true recipients and adherents. But unfortunately, some unscrupulous men of understanding have tried to misuse it, using religion as a weapon to earn the worldly gain, and seeking undue power by divine authority over Allahs (swt) creatures, abusing His bounties which He bestowed upon them. People took them as compliant with (divine) wisdom. Such people (who they have adopted as their guides) have no insight into its ramifications; with the result that with the slightest confusion, doubt enters their minds. Neither of them could be the true carrier of knowledge. And then there are those with insatiable lust, easily misled by the pleasures of flesh, or enticed by accumulating wealth, not at all among those who care for religion. They very much resemble the grazing cattle. Thus knowledge dies with its carriers death. But O Allah (swt)! Yet, the earth is never devoid of a divine authority, either a known manifest or a fearful in concealment, ensuring that His Proofs are not lost among you. But where are they? Surely, they are few in number, but of enormous value. Allah (swt) protects His proofs with them, till they succeed to transmit it further to their likes, and plant it deep in their hearts. They are the ones overwhelmed by the true knowledge of certitude, and have made it easy for themselves to tread on the path which men in luxury found difficult. They derive pleasure and enjoyment from things which repel the ignorant. Though they live on earth with their bodies, their souls hang unto the higher plane. O Kumayl, They are the (true) Caliphs of Allah (swt) on His earth, the ones who invite (people) to His religion. Alas! How keen I am to have sight of them! May Allah (swt) forgive me and you. Al-Suyuuti: (It has been narrated by ibn Al-Anbari in Al-Masaahif, Al-Marhabi in Al-Ilm, Nasr in Al-Hujjah, Hilyatul Awliya, Tarikh ibn Asakir). Source:( Jami Al-Ahadeeth. Vol. 4, Page. No. 108 - 109). Ibn Salama Al-Qadhaee: Narrated to me Muhammad ibn Mansuur ibn Abdullah from Abi Abdullah Al-Tustari from Abul Fadhl Muhammad ibn Umar ibn Muhammad Al-Kawkabi Al-Adeeb from Sulayman ibn Ahmad ibn Ayyoub from Muhammad ibn Uthman ibn Abi Shaybah from Dharar ibn Surad from Asim ibn Humayd from Thabit ibn Abi Safia Abi Hamza Al-Thumali from Abdul Rahman ibn Jundab from Kumayl ibn Ziyaad who said: Once Ali Ibn Abii Taalib (a.s) held my hand and took me out of the city to the desert. When we reached the desert, he heaved a sigh and said: O Kumayl, no doubt these hearts are containers, and the best of them are those who retain most for knowledge. Memorize from me what I say to you; people are of three categories: the divine scholar, the students on the path of salvation, and (the third one) the riffraff of the society, following every crowing of the crows, bending as the wind blows; never benefiting from the light of knowledge, nor finding a refuge with a strong supporter. O Kumayl, knowledge is better than wealth; for knowledge guards you, while you have to guard wealth; wealth is diminished when spent, while knowledge grows and increases when you put it to use. O Kumayl, to have liking and affinity for the scholar of religion enables one to be obedient to him during lifetime, and to be praiseworthy after one has died. The benefit of wealth fades when the wealth fades; while knowledge is the guardian, wealth is protected. O Kumayl, the hoarders of wealth have died, while the scholar exists; their bodies are missing but their teachings and wisdom are ingrained in the hearts. And then pointing to his chest said: Here is well-grounded, plentiful knowledge; I wish it had true recipients and adherents. But unfortunately, some unscrupulous men of understanding have tried to misuse it, using religion as a weapon to earn the worldly gain, and seeking undue power by divine authority over Allahs (swt) creatures, abusing His bounties which He bestowed upon them. People took them as compliant with (divine) wisdom. Such people (who they have adopted as their guides) have no insight into its ramifications; with the result that with the slightest confusion, doubt enters their minds. Neither of them could be the true carrier of knowledge. And then there are those with insatiable lust, easily misled by the pleasures of flesh, or enticed by accumulating wealth, not at all among those who care for religion. They very much resemble the grazing cattle. Thus knowledge dies with its carriers death. But O Allah (swt)! Yet, the earth is never devoid of a divine authority, either a known manifest or a fearful in concealment, ensuring that His Proofs are not lost among you. But where are they? Surely, they are few in number, but of enormous value in front of Allah (swt). Allah (swt) protects His proofs with them, till they succeed to transmit it further to their likes, and plant it deep in their hearts. They are the ones overwhelmed by the true knowledge of certitude, and have made it easy for themselves to tread on the path which men in luxury found difficult. They derive pleasure and enjoyment from things which repel the ignorant. Though they live on earth with their bodies, their souls hang unto the higher plane. They are the (true) Caliphs of Allah (swt) on His earth, the ones who invite (people) to His religion. Alas! How keen I am to have sight of them! May Allah (swt) forgive me and you O Kumayl, you may leave if you want. Source:( Dastuur Maaalim Al-Hikam. Page. No. 69 - 72). TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 4.WA SALAAMUL LAAHI ALAA MANIT-TABAAL HUDAA.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 13:15:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015