Narrated Abdullah ibn Masood. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days in the form of a nutfah (a drop), then he becomes an alaqah (clot of blood) for a like period, then a mudghah (morsel of flesh) for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows his soul into him and who is commanded with four matters: to write down his rizq (sustenance), his life span, his actions, and whether he will be happy or unhappy (i.e., whether or not he will enter Paradise). By the One, other than Whom there is no deity, verily one of you performs the actions of the people of Paradise until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him, and so he acts with the actions of the people of the Hellfire and thus enters it; and verily one of you performs the actions of the people of the Hellfire, until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him and so he acts with the actions of the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.” Commentary: This hadith highlights one of the miracles in the accurate description of the development of the foetus. Though there are reports of historical research about this done before the time of the Prophet ﷺ it was both not common to the Arabs and was not in the same detail, yet brief eloquence. The foetus is a “drop of fluid” (nutfah) at the beginning of the first 40 days (1-40), and in science this is the amniotic sac. In the beginning of the next 40 days (41-80) the foetus is a “blood clot”, and in science they confirm no heart but a tube of clotted blood. In the beginning of the next 40 days (81-120) the foetus is a “chewed flesh”, and in science they identify this as the time when the lump of flesh with a chewed appearance starts having developed limbs and become human like. At 120 days the soul is breathed into a baby, and in science they call this the quickening when the brain “turns on” – also from the resemblances of being a true person with a soul the gender is also visible and known at this same time. I made a video on this hadith to help illustrate and to share for dawah @ youtu.be/9eXzjil72kg Secondly, we see the concept of Qadr brought up again. Qadr is extremely important to the Muslim in both times of ease and harship. You recognize your ease and wealth is from Allah, and you did nothing without Allah to earn it so one is thankful. Aisha once asked the Prophet ﷺ why he prays so much at night even though Allah forgave his past and future sins and he replied “should I not be a thankful servant.” Alternatively in hard times we turn to Allah for relief from them. About this Sufyan ath-Thawri said, “In our view, a person does not have an understanding of the religion until he thinks of a hardship as a blessing, and comfort and luxury as being a hardship.” The items of Qadr listed in this hadith are four: Rizq (sustenance) Life span Actions (deeds) Jannah or Jahannam As we mentioned before this is known by Allah before the creation was even created. The fact that Allah knows this with His perfect knowledge does not negate that you are given free will and you choose to do each decision. We also recognize that if Allah wanted us to be poor we would be poor. If Allah wanted us to be rich we would be rich. If we are blessed with something than know it belongs to Allah and should be used in the path of pleasing Allah, such as your wealth given to orphans, sadaqah, masjids, dawah, etc. A Muslim never says “he died too young” or “it wasn’t his time” for Allah has already written our time to die. Whether a parent, child, friend or unknown person dies it was all within the power of Allah to happen or not happen. Upon us is acceptance and patience. Allah says, “Who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return.’” [Quran 2:156] This is where we derive saying “Ina lillahi wa ina ilaihi rajioon” – which is the Arabic from the verse above – and the Prophet ﷺ instructed us to remember this upon any calamity such as someone’s death and so on [see: Tirmidhi 48/142]. Finally, the reality is shown that of the most important things is how we die. One could be a pious and dedicated servant and then before death die upon Christianity, Atheism, etc. The Prophet ﷺ advised us that we should strive to die with “la ilaha illallah” on our lips, and this is facilitated by living with “la ilaha illallah” in every aspect our lives. Shaytan (Iblis) is an open enemy and before one dies this is his last and final chance to get you and he will be trying his best. Abdullah narrates that his father Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal was falling asleep and waking up on his death bed and when he would awake he would say “No, not yet.” Abdullah was concerned that his dying father was saying this but Imam Ahmed explained to his son that he was saying this because Shaytan came to him and said “You defeated me Ahmed” so he said “No, not yet.” This is Shaytan’s last chance to instill arrogance into Ahmed ibn Hanbal’s heart and lead him astray through it, but he refused and fought the Shaytan until his final breath. Allah says, “O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].” [Quran 3:102] Please comment below with your reflections and thoughts from this great hadith. May Allah accept our deeds and make us to die as Muslims while He is pleased with us and give us Jannatul Firdaus al-Ala, ameen.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 00:32:47 +0000
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