Random Anecdotes (Hadiths, Quotes, Stories)

Category: SOUND

“Has the time not come for the believers that their hearts become tender for the remembrance of Allah and for the Truth which has been revealed?”
-A quote of a verse from the Qur'an that is heard often in various forms in stories from and about old saints and pious Muslims at the time of the reawakening of a person's Iman.

"Say : The truth is from your Rabb [Lord]. Therefore, whoever wishes should accept Iman [faith] and whoever wishes should commit kufr [disbelieve]."
-Qur'an, Surah al-Kahf

"Do not be misled by a person's prayers and fasting look to his sincerity and Wisdom."
-Hazrat Amir-ul-Mumineen Umar Ibn Khattab (ra)

"The doors of success have been closed upon the creation because of six things: Their busying themselves with the blessings of Allaah instead of thanking Allaah for them, their desire for knowledge while they abandon actions, the hastiness to sin and delaying repentance, the deception of having righteous companions and not taking them as examples, the turning away of the dunya from them while they chase it, and the approach of the afterlife towards them while they turn away from it."
-Shaqeeq Ibn Ibrahim

"The understanding of Islam in the courtroom is also clouded by the crisis of authority in the religion itself. For centuries, the Koran was rarely translated out of Arabic, giving authority to those—usually religious scholars, or ulama—with command of the language. In the past half century or so, the Koran has been more widely translated—or “interpreted,” since Muslims don’t believe it can be literally translated—and that has opened its interpretation to the layperson. The Internet, meanwhile, allows anyone to disseminate texts, opinions, and fatwas—and gain a following. And clerical authority has waned as places like Cairo’s Al-Azhar University, the heart of Islamic learning, have put themselves in the service of secular state interests."
-TheAtlantic.com

"The debates within Islam also concern who has the right or authority to do the interpreting. Men like bin Laden—who lacks religious credentials—now issue or order up a fatwa. Extremists proclaim their right to interpret Islamic texts. And clerics no longer have the authority to repudiate such interpretations."
-TheAtlantic.com

“A falcon came to me, but I did not catch it. Thereafter, I spent 40 years trying to catch a falcon, but in vain.”
-Shaykh Abi Muhammad Hariri (ra)

“Riches does not mean having a great amount of property; real wealth is self-contentment.”
-Prophet Muhammad (saw) (Bukhari)

“Sometimes one may utter a word without thinking whether it is right or wrong and because of that he may slip down in the Fire as far away as the East is from the West.”
Hadith No. 837, Narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) Sahih Bukhari Book 81, Chapter 23

Hadrat Saad bin Abi Waqas [radhiallaahu anhu] said, "O Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] make dua that Allah Ta'ala, makes me of those whose prayers will be answered." Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] replied: "O Saad keep your food pure and halaal and you will become of those whose prayers are answered. I swear by Him, in whose hand Muhammed[sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]'s life lies, that when a man casts one morsel of Haraam food into his stomach, The righteous deeds of his shall not be accepted for forty days."

Hadhrat Sufyaan Thauri (rahmatullahi alayh) said:
“I heard from Hadhrat Ja`far Saadiq (rahmatullahi alayh) that safety has almost disappeared so much so that searching for it has become obscure. If there is safety in anything, it is in anonymity. If it is not in anonymity then it is in solitude, but this is not equal to anonymity. If it is not in solitude then it is in silence, but this is not equal to solitude. If it is not in silence, then it is in the discourses of the pious people of bygone times. A fortunate man is he who finds solitude in his heart.”

During the Battle of Bait Lihya, the Muslim Commander Zarrar(ra) was captured by the Byzantine forces. Word was sent to Khalid Bin Walid (ra) for further help.

Leaving the command of Damacus to Abu Ubaida (ra), Khalid (ra) set off to Bait Lihya with his mobile contingent of 4000 horsemen. As Khalid (ra) approached the battle-field, he saw a muslim rider with a masked face gallop off towards the Byzantine front. This warrior would kill a number of the enemy soldiers, and then withdraw. He would after some time pounce on the enemy again and kill everyone who came his way. He was striking fear in the ranks of the enemy soldiers.

Khalid (ra) was struck by the bravery of this warrior, and asked him to identify himself. The Warrior however, dashed to the front again. As he returned from the attack after killing a number of the enemy, Khalid (ra) wanted the warrior to halt and identify himself. The Warrior signaled to Khalid (ra) with his hands not to ask him his identity.

Khalid (ra) shouted "I ask In the name of Allah, oh courageous one who are you?" From behind the mask on the warriors face a female voice was heard " I am Khaula , sister of Zarrar (ra). I have come to liberate my brother from the clutches of the enemy, by Allah I shall not rest until he is freed." Saying this she plunged straight in to the ranks of the enemy again.

The Muslims gained a substantial victory and Zarrar (ra) was liberated, and Khaula (ra) was highly praised for her bravery, by Khalid Bin Walid (ra).

The above is from "Life of Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA)" by Prof Masud ul Hasan.

A muslim traveler arrived at the court of a Pious King, he informed the king as to how his people were being oppressed by a tyrant, he begged the King for assistance. The King being deeply moved, ordered a battalion to be sent, The Commander put in charge was the Kings oldest son the Prince.

A few weeks later news arrived that the Muslims had been defeated, and that the Prince who was in charge of the forces, had actually abandoned his own troops and was killed fleeing from battle.

The King was deeply grieved,and felt humiliated, not only were the troops defeated but his son had committed a grave sin by fleeing from the battle,and therefore dying an accursed death. He went and informed the Queen as to what had happened. The Queen replied " Do not be grieved, for the news you heard is untrue. The King said "The entire Kingdom is talking about it,and I have received news from the front line confirming you're sons cowardly demise, woman you seem to be blinded by Motherly love." Saying this the King angrily marched away.

However a few days later a messenger arrived confirming the Queens belief, the Prince with his forces had defeated the enemy. The earlier news had been enemy propaganda.

The King being very overjoyed and surprised, asked the Queen how she had been so certain that the earlier news had been false. She said " Oh my beloved, it was not motherly love that caused me to deny that story. When our son was a child, before I used to breast feed him I would do Wudu ,and as he was suckling I would recite the Darood Ibrahimi. I had firm conviction that a child who had drank milk, that had the sacred names of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), and his father Ibrahim(Alaihi Salaam) recited with it. Could not betray his deen."

Paradise indeed does lie at the feet of such pious mothers, and such is the power of Darood.

The above was transcribed from an Urdu lecture by Maulana Masud.

There was once a pious old maid servant, who worked for the King. One day she was cleaning the Royal bedroom, feeling extremely tired, she looked at the Kings bed, covered in silken, sheets, and pillows stuffed with feathers. She thought to herself I wonder what it feels like to, sleep in such a luxurious bed. She decided that she would take a short nap, after all who was going to see her, The King and his courtiers were away on a hunting trip.

The bed was so comfortable that she fell a sleep straight away. Lo and behold five minutes later the King returned, entering his chambers, he was extremely angry, to find the old maid servant asleep in his bed. She apologised profusely, "Your Majesty I am sorry, I had only laid to rest for five minutes." The King was in no mood to listen he said "old Woman for sleeping five minutes in the bed of the King, and transgressing the boundaries, the punishment is fifty lashes, how dare you behave so impudently."

The poor old Woman was strung up in chains, the King ordered one of his officers to carry out the punishment. As she was being lashed, she burst out in laughter, the King getting angrier told his officer to strike her even harder, but the more she was struck the greater her laughter.

The King and his courtiers were perplexed by the Old maid servants behavior .
He said " Old woman you're being punished yet you laugh uncontrollably, truly you are insane." The old woman replied, "you're Majesty the reason I am laughing is that a thought came in to my head as I was being struck. For being neglectful, and becoming enamored with the charms of the Duniya, and sleeping in the bed of the King, for just five minutes my punishment is fifty lashes. You have spent you're entire life in neglect, and transgression, what will be the punishment , for your impudence when you stand before the King of Kings on the day of reckoning. She further said, " truly the one who has fallen in love with the charms of such a disloyal maiden as the Duniya is the one who is insane." Upon hearing this the king was struck with fear and started trembling profusely.

...

A saint commented:

“A man cannot save himself from the snares of the nafs by his own efforts. He is saved by the aid of Allah Ta`ala, from the evil of the nafs.”

Seek comfort from Allah. Do not attempt to seek comfort without Allah. Whoever derives comfort from Allah, has been saved. Whoever sought comfort by abandoning Allah, was destroyed.

The heart derives rest in the Thikr of Allah. Searching for rest besides Allah is a sign of perpetual ghaflat (obliviousness).

Sheikh Abu Abdullah Muhammad Bin Ali Tirmizi Hakeem (rahmatullah alayh) said: “The Thikr of Allah moistens the heart and cultivates tenderness in it. When the heart is bereft of Thikrullah, the heat of the nafs overtakes it; the fire of lust reaches it; the heart becomes barren and hard, and all the limbs refrain from obedience to Allah Ta`ala.”

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fadhl (rahmatullah alayhi)said: “Lamentable is the condition of the person who goes through numerous difficulties and hardships travelling through the wilderness to reach his family at his home, but he does not cut asunder his nafsaani desires to reach the heart in which the signs of his Friend (Allah Ta`ala) are manifest.”

Sheikh Abu Turaab Bakshi (rahmatullah alayh) said: “Whoever turns away from Allah Ta`ala after being engrossed with Him (with His Remembrance), he will immediately become involved in the Wrath of Allah Ta`ala.”

...

A man asked a buzrug to teach him something which will benefit him. The buzrug said: “Flee from people and dissociate from them. You will then meet Allah Ta`ala. Your union with Him will then be perfect.”

The man asked for more naseehat. The buzrug said: “Take hold of Sidq (truth) and taqwa (piety); abandon ujub (vanity) and riyaa (show); be dominant over the nafs and its desires. You will then reach your goal.”

"May Allah Ta`ala bestow on us the wealth of fikr (reflection) and the affection of ibrat (i.e. to take lesson). May He bestow success to us in the love of khalwat (solitude) and keep us ever alert against ghaflat (indifference, obliviousness)."

A former Majusi (Fire-worshipper) narrated the following story to a Buzrug.

“I had purchased a slave girl. I paid a huge sum for her on account of her intelligence , beauty and piety. She devoted herself to the worship of our god (the fire). I was enamored and in love with her.

One day a man of your religion (i.e. a Muslim) came to our home and recited something from your Scripture (Qur`aan). When the slave girl heard the recitation, she shrieked loudly. Her loud shriek instilled fear in us. She lapsed into a state of bewilderment. She would not answer when we spoke to her. She abandoned us and our god. She abstained from our food. During the night she would face the Qiblah and pray like you.

I sternly prohibited her, but she ignored all my warnings. The glitter of her beauty faded and her entire condition underwent a complete change. No longer did we derive any benefit from her, nor did we succeed in bringing any change in her.

One day when I came home, I saw the slave girl sitting on a chair and lecturing on the thikr and unity of Allah, and warning my family against fire-worship. She was praising Jannat. I was shocked to see her reviling our religion. I consulted with a friend who advised me to give a bag with some money to her for safe-keeping. I should then remove the bag from her custody without her knowledge. When she will obviously be unable to produce the bag on demand, I will then have a valid reason for beating her. He advised me to give her a thorough beating.

I followed the advice of my friend. When she had become engrossed in Salaat as had become her practice, I surreptitiously removed the bag. She was completely unaware. I then appeared and demanded the bag. She quickly went to the place where she had put the bag and brought it to me. I was dumb-founded. I could not believe it as I, myself, had taken away the bag. I now realized the truth of her religion. I had no doubt that the Deity she worshipped was indeed Almighty. We all- my friend, my family and I- embraced Islam.

We set the slave girl free in fulfillment of her desire. She spent her days in concealment absorbed in the love and worship of Allah Ta`ala.”

Good lesson:

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ahnaaf (rahmatullah alayh) relates that Isa Bin Yunus Misri (rahmatullah alayh) said to him:

“In a certain place you will find an old man and a young man. Both are perfect in their contemplation of Allah (i.e. muraqabah). If you just cast a glance on them, it will benefit you throughout your life. Do meet them.”

I journeyed to the wilderness where the two Buzrugs were. I was hungry and thirsty and I had nothing to protect me against the intense heat. I found them both sitting, facing the Qiblah, absorbed in contemplation. I greeted them and spoke, but they did not respond. I persisted and begged them to say something.

The old man said: ‘O son of Ahnaaf! How little intelligence have you! You are free of encumbrances, hence you came to disturb us.’

He then lowered his head and became absorbed in contemplation. I, however, remained in front of them. We performed Zuhr and Asr. My hunger and thirst disappeared. I said to the young Buzrug: ‘Give me some naseehat which will benefit me.’ He said: ‘We are in a calamity. Our tongues lack the ability for naseehat.’

I stayed 3 nights and 3 days by them. None of us ate anything during this time. On the third day as I resolved to speak to them, the young man said: ‘Be in the association of a man who reminds you of Allah when you look at him and you gain admonition (naseehat) from his actions, not from his speech.’ When I again looked both had instantaneously disappeared from my sight.”

...

After a pious lady had died, her friend saw her in a dream. She saw the deceased lady seated on a throne. Below the throne was a utensil of Noor (celestial light) which was covered. She asked her deceased friend about the covered utensil. The deceased replied:

“In it is the gift of my husband, which he sent for me last night.”

The next day the woman related her dream to the deceased’s husband. He said: “I had recited the Qur`aan Shareef and bestowed the thawaab of it to her.”

Even a dog is better than some of our rulers today:

Once a dog found a dead animal on the outskirts of the town. He returned to the town and brought 20 dogs with him. All the dogs devoured the dead animal while the leader sat one side looking on. When they all had eaten and left, there remained only some bones. The leader came and ate whatever had remained.

...

Once Hadhrat Saalik Mirri (rahmatullahi alayh) was passing through a qabrustan on a Friday night. He sat down by a grave and fell asleep. He dreamt that the Ahl-e-Quboor were emerging from their graves. Soon they gathered and sat in a circle talking amongst themselves. A youth in dirty clothes and with a sad countenance was sitting aloof.

Suddenly a group of Angels descended carrying trays of Noor. They distributed these to all those who were seated in the circle. Each one returned to his/her grave with his/her tray. Only the youth received nothing. He was shattered with grief. As he was about to enter his grave, Hadhrat Saalih exclaimed: “O servant of Allah! Why are you sad? What is happening here?”

The youth said: “The trays contain the gifts of Sadaqah , Dua, Tilaawat, etc. which the living have sent for their dead relatives and friends. Every Jumuah these gifts reach the dead. But, I have a mother who has remarried. She is engrossed in the world and has completely forgotten me, hence there is no gift for me.”

Hadhrat Saalih enquired about the whereabouts of his mother. The youth informed him in the dream of his mother’s exact address. In the morning Hadhrat Saalih hastened to the address. From behind a screen he explained the plight of the youth to his mother. She broke down crying confessing her error. She resolved never to forget her son again. She gave Hadhrat Saalih 1000 dirhams requesting him to distribute it as Sadaqah so that the thawaab is transmitted to her son.

The next Friday Hadhrat Saalih again passed through the same qabrustan. He set next to a grave and fell asleep. In a dream the same scene was re-enacted. However this time he saw the youth dressed in beautiful garments. He too had received his mother’s gifts. He approached Hadhrat Saalih and said: “O Saalih! May Allah Ta`ala reward you wonderfully. The gifts have reached me.”

Hadhrat Saalih: “Do you (the Ahl-e-Quboor) recognise Jumuah?”

The youth: “Yes. Even the birds know Jumuah. When Jumuah arrives they sing: ‘As salaam, As salaam O Day of Jumuah!’

O Saalih! May Allah Ta`ala repeatedly bestow the Barkat of Jumuah to us.”

Stories of the Sahaba

Category: SOUND

It is reported that Ibn Abbas said: "I have never seen any people better than the Sahabah of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Throughout his mission, until he passed away, they only asked him about thirteen matters, all of which are mentioned in the Qur'an. For example, [the meaning of]: 'They ask you about fighting in the sacred month...' (2:212); and 'They ask you about the menstruating woman...' (2:222)" Ibn Abbas said, "They only asked him about matters which were of actual concern to them." [ See 'Abd Allah ibn 'Abd al Rahman al Darimi, Sunan, I, 51.]

Ibn 'Umar said in this respect: "Don't ask about something that hasn't happened, for I heard my father, 'Umar ibn al Khattab, curse one who asked about something which had not occurred." [ al Darimi, op. cit., I, 50.]

Qasim said (to the third generation of Muslims): "You ask about things we never asked about, and quarrel about things we never quarrelled about. You even ask about things which I'm not familiar with; but if we did know, it would not be permitted for us to remain silent concerning them." [ al Darimi, op. cit., I, 49.]

The Sahabah who gave Fatawa in the Prophet's lifetime were: Abu Bakr, 'Uthman, 'Ali, 'Abd al Rahman ibn 'Awf, Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, Ubay ibn Kab, Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Ammar ibn Yasir, Hudhayfah ibn al Yaman, Zayd ibn Thabit, Abu al Darda, Abu Musa al Ash'ari and Salman al Farisi, may Allah be pleased with them.

Some Sahabah gave more Fatawa than others. Those who gave the most Fatawa were: 'Aishah Umm al Mu'minin, 'Umar ibn al Khattab and his son Abd Allah, 'Ali ibn Abu Talib, Abd Allah ibn Abbas and Zayd ibn Thabit. The Fatawa given by any one of these six would fill a great volume. For example, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Musa ibn Ya'qub ibn al Khalifah Ma'mun collected the Fatawa of Ibn Abbas in twenty volumes.

Those from whom a lesser number of Fatawa were narrated are: Umm Salmah Umm al Mu'minin, Anas ibn Malik, Abu Sa'id al Khudri, Abu Hurayrah, 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, Abd Allah ibn Amr ibn al 'As, 'Abd Allah ibn Zubayr, Abu Musa al Ash'ari, Sa'd ibn Abu Waqqas, Salman al Farisi, Jabir ibn Abd Allah, Mu'adh ibn Jabal and Abu Bakr al Siddiq. The Fatawa of each of these thirteen would fill only a small part of a book.

The following are from 'Malfoozat', a book of anecdotes by Hakim ul-Ummat, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (ra):

Hadhrat Shuraih (radhiallahu anhu) was appointed the Qadhi by Hadhrat Umar (radhiallahu anhu). During the Khilafat of Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu), Hadhrat Shuriah (radhiallahu anhu) was still the Qadhi. Hadhart Ali’s shield was stolen. Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu) recognised his shield when he saw it in the possession of a Jew.

He instituted a claim in the court of Qadhi Shuraih (radhiallahu anhu) who asked that Hadhrat Ali produce his witnesses to prove his claim. Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu) presented his son and his emancipated slave. According to Hadhrat Shuraih (radhiallahu anhu) the testimony of a son in favor of his father was not admissible, hence he ordered Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu) to present another witness. When Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu) was unable to do so, Qadhi Shuraih dismissed the claim. Hadhrat Ali (radhaillahu anhu), the Khalifah of the time, emerged from the court cheerfully. On seeing this high degree of justice, the Jew recited the Kalimah and embraced Islam. He presented the armour to Hadhart Ali (radhiallahia anhu) saying that, in actual fact, it belonged to him Hadhart Ali. Hadhart Ali (radhiallahia anhu) responded: “I have made a gift of it to you.” Thereafter the Jew remained perpetually in the company of Hadhart Ali (radhiallahia anhu) and was martyred in the Battle of Siffeen.

Two companions along the journey sat down to eat. The one has five bread rolls and the other had three. A passer-by, on the invitation of two companions, joined them. After eating, the generous passer-by presented them with eight dirhams (silver coins). The traveler who had three bread rolls requested his companion to share the money equally between them. The companion refused, saying that he was entitled to five dirhams since he had five bread rolls. The other one should receive three dirhams because he had three rolls. When they could not settle this dispute, the presented their case to Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu) who said to the one who had three bread rolls:
“What haram is there if you accept this division of three and five?”
He replied: “I want justice.”
Hadhrat Ali:
“If it is justice you want, then you take one dirham and your companion seven dirhams.”
The companion with three bread rolls objected. Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu) commented:
“There were eight rolls and three who ate, hence each person ate one third of the eight rolls. Eight consists of 24 third. Thus each one ate eight parts. However, his three rolls consistes of 9 parts (thirds). After having consumed his 8 parts there remained one part of his share. The one with five rolls had 15 parts (thirds) of which he ate 8, leaving behind 7
parts. The 8 dirhams have, therefore, to be divided in this proportion the one who contributed one part of his bread has to receive in dirham and the one who contributed 7 parts should receive 7 dirhams.”

Stories of the Qur'an - Dhul-Qarnayn (as) & Luqman (as)

Category: SOUND

It was narrated on the authority of Ka'b Al-Ahbar (ra) that he said to Mu'awiyah (ra): Dhul-Qarnayn (as) on his death-bed told his mother, after his death, to prepare food and gather the women of the city and invite them to eat save anyone who lost any of her children (she should not eat thereof). The mother did as she was asked, and none of them stretched a hand towards the food. She said: Glory be to Allah! Did you all lose children? They answered: By Allah! Yes we did. And, this was a great condolence for her.

Yazid told us after Abul Ashhab after Muhammad Ibn Wasi' as saying:
Luqman (as) said to his son: "0 my son! Fear Allah and do not let the people notice that you fear Him to gain honor (from them) while your heart is sinful."

Narrated Sufyan Ibn 'Uyaynah (ra): Luqman (as) was asked: Who is the worst of all people? He replied: It is the one who does not feel shame if found committing a sinful deed.

Abu As-Samad (ra) told us after Malik Ibn Dianr (ra) as saying: I found some pieces of wisdom [from Hazrat Luqman (as)] as follows: "Allah Almighty scatters and wastes the bones of those who give religious opinions that go with the people's lusts and desires." And, "There is no good for you that you learn something new while you do not practice what you have learnt previously. This is like a man who gathered a pile of dry wood, then tried to carry it but couldn't. Thereupon, he collected a second one."

The Sahaba

Category: SOUND

"The Sahaba learnt ten verses of the Qur'an from the Prophet(saw) at a time. They would not take the next lesson until they had mastered the knowledge and acted upon those ten verses."
-Abu Abdur Rahman (ra)

When the Prophet(saw) died, Hazrat 'Umar (ra) almost lost it. He was bewildered and threatened to kill anyone who said that Muhammad(saw) had died. Hazrats 'Uthman and Ali (radhiyalloanhum) were, literally, speechless. They were as if in a daze. Only Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) maintained his composure and addressed the people so they could move on and get to work. He also was the one to manage the affairs of the Prophet(saw)'s burial and inheritance, etc. as the rest of the Sahaba weren't sure whether to bury him at Mecca, Medina, or Jerusalem and he cited a little known Hadith where the Prophet(saw) said prophets are buried at the place they die. Being the Prophet(saw)'s closest companion, he was also privy to a few more Hadiths that settled things after his death.

Respect for the Sahaba (from 'Shifa' by Qaadhi Iyaadh)

If we claim to revere and honour the Prophet(saw), we must also respect his Sahaba. As Muslims, it is incumbent on us to appreciate what we owe to them, to follow them and to ask forgiveness of Allah for them. No doubt they had their differences, but we have no right to comment on them. We must beware of the stories forged by Shi'as, innovaters, or biased historians, whose mischievous motive is to slander some of the Sahaba and slight the others. We must never doubt the sincerity and honesty of Sahaba. When we come across any event in history which appears likely to lower their status in our eyes, we must explain it as far as we can in their favour and attribute it to sincere motives, for they really deserve this line of action. We must always speak of their virtues and must hold our tongue in uttering anything likely to slight them. The Prophet(saw) himself has said, "Observe silence in respect of my Sahaba (when they are mentioned with disrespect)."

The following verses of the Qur'an speak highly of the Sahaba: (XLVIII:29), (XLVIII:18-19), (XXXIII:23), (IX:100).

Stories of Sahabi Women

Category: SOUND

Hazrat Umme Salmah (ra)

Ummul-Momineen Hazrat Umme Salmah (ra) was first married to Abu Salmah (ra). The husband and wife were very much attached to each other. Once Umme Salmah said to her husband:

'I have heard that if a husband does not marry another woman during the life or after the death of his wife, and also if the wife does not remarry after the death of her husband, the couple when admitted to Paradise is allowed to live there as husband and wife. Give me your word that you will not marry after my death, and I too pledge that I will not marry again if you happen to die before me'.

Hazrat Abu Salmah said: 'Will you do as I say?'

She replied: 'Of course'.

He said: 'I want you to take a husband after my death'.

He then prayed, saying, 'O, Allah! Let Umme Salmah be married after my death to a husband better than I. May he give her no trouble whatsoever'.

In the beginning, the couple emigrated to Abyssinia. After their return, they again emigrated to Medina. Hazrat Umme Salmah (ra) says:

"When my husband made up his mind to emigrate to Medina, he loaded the camel with the luggage. He then made me and our son Salmah ride the camel. He led the camel out of the town, holding the string in his hand. The people of my father's clan (Banu Mughirah) happened to see us leaving. They came and snatched the string from Abu Salmah (ra)'s hand saying, 'You can go wherever you like but we cannot allow our girl to go and perish with you.' They forcibly took me and my son back to their clan. When the people of my husband's clan (Banu Abdul Asad) learnt this, they came to Banu Mughirah and began to argue with them saying, 'You can keep your girl if you like, but you have no claim over the child who belongs to our clan. Why should we allow him to stay in your clan, when you have not allowed your girl to go with her husband?' They forcibly took the boy away. Hazrat Abu Salmah (ra) had already gone to Medina. All the members of the family were thus seperated from each other. Daily, I would go out in the desert and weep there from morning till night. I lived in this condition for one full year, seperated from my husband and my son. One day, one of my cousins taking pity on me said to the people of the clan, 'You have seperated this poor woman from her husband and son. Why don't you have mercy on her and let her go?' Due to the humanitarian efforts of this cousin of mine, the people of Banu Mughirah agreed to let me go and join my husband. Banu Abdul Asad also made over my son to me. I got a camel ready and, with my son in my lap, I sat on its back and set off for Medina all alone. I had hardly gone four miles, when Hazrat Usman bin Talhah (ra) met me at Tan'eem. He inquired, 'Where are you going?' I said, 'To Medina!' He remarked, 'With none accompanying you!', I said 'No, I have nobody except Allah to accompany me.' He took the rope of my camel and began to lead. By Allah, I have never come across a person more noble than Hazrat Usman (ra). When I had to get down, he would make the camel sit and himself go behind a bush and when I had to climb up he would bring the camel and make it sit close to me. He would then hold the rope and lead the animal. Thus we reached Quba (a suburb of Medina). He informed me that Hazrat Abu Salmah (ra) was staying there. He then made us over to my husband and then returned all the way back to Mecca. By Allah, no one else could bear the hardships that I bore during that single year'."

After reaching Medina she had another son, 'Umar', and two daughters, Durrah and Zainab (radhiyalloanhum).

Hazrat Abu Salmah (ra) was the eleventh man to embrace Islam. He participated in the battle of Badr as well as Uhud. He got a severe wound in Uhud, which did not heal for a long time. He was sent by the Prophet(saw) in an expedition in Safar, 4 AH. When he returned from the expedition, the old wound had again started giving trouble and at last he died of the same on 8th Jamadil-Akhir, 4 AH. Hazrat Umme Salmah (ra) was pregnant at the time. Zainab was born to her after the death of her husband. After she had completed her Iddat (waiting period), Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) proposed to marry her, but she declined.

Later, the Prophet(saw) offered to marry her. She said:

"O, Prophet of Allah! I have quite a few children with me and I am very sensitive by nature. Moreover, all my people are in Mecca, and their permission for getting remarried is necessary."

The Prophet(saw) said:

"Allah will look after your children and your sensitiveness will vanish in due course. None of your people will dislike the proposed marriage."

She then asked her (eldest) son, Hazrat Salmah (ra) to serve as her guardian and give her in marriage to the Prophet (saw).

She says: "I had heard from the Prophet(saw) that a person struck with a calamity should recite this prayer: 'O Allah! Recompense me for this affliction by giving me something better than what I have lost': then Allah would accept his prayer. I had been reciting this prayer since the death of Hazrat Abu Salmah (ra), but I could not imagine a husband better than he, till Allah arranged my marriage with the Prophet(saw)."

She was the last of the Prophet(saw)'s wives to die. It was in 59 or 62 AH. She was 84 at the time of her death.

"In the Khaibar campaign, I along with five other women reached the battlefield. The Prophet(saw), having learnt this, sent for us. he said with anger, 'Who permitted you to come over here? Who brought you to this place?' We said, 'O, Prophet of Allah! We know knitting and we have some medicines with us. We shall help the Mujahidin by supplying them with arrows, by attending them when they are sick, and by preparing food for them.' The Prophet(saw) permitted us to stay."
-Hazrat Umme Ziyad (ra)

Hazrat Umme Salim (ra) joined the Huneyn campaign in the state of pregnancy. She kept a dagger on her person. The Prophet(saw) inquired:

'What is this dagger for, O, Umme Salim?'

She replied: 'I shall run it through the belly of any Kafir approaching me.'

She had also taken part in the battle of Uhud, wherein she tended the wounds of the fighting men.

Anas (ra) says:

'I saw Hazrat Aishah and Hazrat Umme Salim (radhiyalloanhuma) running to and fro in the battlefield, carrying water for the wounded.'

Umme Salaim (ra) was the mother of Hazrat Anas (ra). After the death of her husband, she remained a widow for some time with a view of devoting herself to the proper upbringing of her son. She was then married to Hazrat Abu Talhah (ra) and got a son named Abu Umair from him. The Prophet(saw) used to go to her house and play with the child.

One day, Abu Umair was ill and Hazrat Abu Talhah (ra) was fasting. While Abu Talhah (ra) was out on his job, the child died. She washed and enshrouded the dead body and laid it on the cot. She then herself used the bathroom, took a bath, and changed her clothes. When the husband returned home and had his Ifter he asked her:

'How is the child?'

She replied: 'He is now in peace.'

He was satisfied. The couple shared the bed for the night.

When they got up in the morning, they had the following conversation.

Umme Salaim: I have a question to ask you.
Abu Talhah: What is that?
Umme Salaim: Suppose a person is entrusted with something. Should he deliver up on demand that which is entrusted to him or not?
Abu Talhah: He must deliver up. He has no right to hold it back.
Umme Salaim: Abu Umair was entrusted to us by Allah. He has taken him back.

Hazrat Abu Talhah (ra) was filled with grief. He simply said: 'But why did you not inform me before?'

He went to the Prophet(saw) and narrated the story to him. He prayed for him and said: 'Allah is likely to bless your sharing the bed with your wife last night.'

One of the Sahaba says:

'I lived to see the effect of the Prophet(saw)'s blessing. As a result of his union with his wife on that night, Hazrat Abu Talhah (ra) got a son named Abdullah. This Abdullah had nine sons, all of whom where Qaris.'

Hazrat Zainab (ra) was the one who married to the Prophet(saw)'s adopted son, Zaid (ra). After they divorced, her marriage to the Prophet(saw) was ordered by Allah to break the custom of the non-Muslims in treating adopted children like their own blood in terms of marriage. It is always said about her, that while the rest of the Prophet(saw)'s wives were given to him by their relations in marriage, she was given to him by Allah.

She was the first of his wives to die and join him, and he had prophesied that the one who did this was the one with 'long arms' (i.e, most giving in charity).

After the Prophet(saw)'s death, the Amir ul Momineen, Hazrat Umar (ra) would pay her annual allowances numbering in the thousands of dirhams a year and she promptly gave it all away. Upon hearing this, he'd send even more, and she gave even that away. The Muslims at this time were conquering territory after territory so money was pouring into Medina like never before but she left nothing behind except her house.

Hazrat Saffiyah (ra) was the aunt of the Prophet(saw) and a sister of Hazrat Hamzah (ra). She took part in the battle of Uhud. When the Muslims were defeated and some of them began to flee from the battle, she would smite their faces with her spear and exhort them to go back and fight.

In the war of the Khandaq (Trench), the Prophet(saw) had collected all the Muslim women in a fortress and had deputed Hazrat Hasaan bin Thabit (ra) to look after them. The Jews of Medina who had sided with the polytheists despite a treaty with the Muslims, surrounded the place and sent one of them to find out if there were any men with the ladies. Hazrat Saffiyah (ra) happened to see the Jew approaching the fort. She said to Hazrat Hasaan (ra):

'There is a Jew coming to spy on us. You must go out and kill him.'

Hazrat Hasaan (ra) was a weak person. He did not make bold to do the job. Saffiyah (ra) got a hold of a tent peg and went outside the fortress and gave a blow on the head of the Jew that killed him on the spot. She came back and said to Hasaan:

'The man is dead. I have not removed the clothes and arms from his body for reasons of modesty. Now you go and remove everything from his body. Also bring his head after severing it from his body.'

Hazrat Hasaan (ra) was too sensitive to do that even. She herself went again and brought his head, and threw it over the wall amidst the Jews. When they saw this, they said:

'We were wondering how Muhammad (saw) could keep the womenfolk alone in this fort. Surely, there are men inside to guard the ladies.'

Saffiyah (ra) died in 20 AH at the age of seventy three. The war of the Trench was fought in 5 AH. She was, therefore, 58 then.

Hazrat Asma (ra) interviews the Prophet (saW) regarding Rewards for Women

Hazrat Asma bint Yazid Ansari (ra) came to the Prophet(saw) and said:

"O, Prophet of Allah! You are dearer to me than my parents. My Muslim women have deputed me as their representative to talk to you on their behalf. Verily you are the Prophet of Allah for both men and women. We stay for the most part of our time within the four walls of our houses. We remain pinned to our duties of fulfilling the sexual desires of our men, bearing children for them and looking after their homes. Not withstanding all this, men excel us in getting rewards for things which we are unable to do. They go and say their daily Salaat and weekly Jummah in the Masjid, visit the sick, attend the funerals, perform Hajj after Hajj and, above all, fight in the way of Allah. When they go for Hajj or Jihad, we look after their property, bring up their children and weave cloth for them. Do we not share their rewards with them?"

The Prophet (saw) addressing the Sahaba sitting around him, said:

'Did you ever hear a woman asking a better question?'

The Sahaba replied: 'O, Prophet of Allah! We never thought that a woman could ever put such a question.'

The Prophet (saw) adressing Asma (ra) said:

"Listen attentively, and then go and tell the ladies who have sent you that when a woman seeks the pleasure of her husband and carries out her domestic functions to his satisfaction, she gets the same reward as the men get for all their services to Allah."

Hazrat Asma (ra) returned very happily after getting this reply to her question.

Obedience to and good behaviour towards husbands is a very great asset for the women, provided they know its value.

"I once saw a very deep cut on the shoulder of Hazrat Umme Ammarah (ra). I inquired how she had got that. She said, 'I got it in Uhud. When people were running about in confusion, I saw Ibn Qumiah coming towards us and shouting, 'where is Muhammad(saw). Let somebody tell me his whereabouts. If he is saved today, I am no more.' I, Hazrat Mus'ab bin Umair (ra), and some others intercepted him. He gave me this deep cut on my shoulder. I also attacked him, but he escaped on account of the double coat of mail that he was wearing.'"
-Hazrat Umme Sa'eed (ra)

"In fact, we were very much handicapped in Uhud. The enemy had strong cavalry, while we fought on foot. There would have been a fair fight if they too had been on foot. When somebody came riding on his horse to attack me, I stopped his sword on my shield and when he turned about, I attacked his horse from the rear and cut its leg. This caused the horse as well as the rider to fall on the ground. As soon as this happened, the Prophet(saw) would shout to my son, who would run to my help and then we both finished the man in no time."
-Hazrat Umme Ammarah(ra)

"I had a wound on my left arm, which would not stop bleeding. The Prophet(saw) said to my mother, 'Put a bandage over it.' My mother took out a bandage from her belt and after bandaging my wound, said, 'Now, son! Go and fight again with the idolaters.' The Prophet (saw) was watching us. He said, 'O, Umme Ammarah, who can have courage like yours?'"
-Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid (ra)

"I was standing with the Prophet(saw) when one of the enemy passed in front of me. The Prophet(saw) said to me, 'Umme Ammarah! He is the man who wounded your son.' I jumped at him and hit his leg. It made him fall down. We then went forward and finished him. The Prophet(saw) smiled and said, 'Umme Ammarah has avenged her son.' When the Prophet(saw) was praying for us, I said to him, 'O Prophet of Allah! Pray for my company with you in Paradise.' He favoured me with this prayer too, and after that I cared little for what happened to me in this life."
-Hazrat Umme Ammarah(ra)

After the death of the Prophet(saw), Umme Ammarah(ra) took part in the fierce battle of Yamamah which was fought with the renegades. She lost one of her arms and received eleven other wounds in this battle. She was 43 in Uhud and 52 in Yamamah.

Hazrat Umme Hakim (ra) was the wife of Ikramah bin Abi Jahl. She participated in Uhud on the enemy side. She embraced Islam on the fall of Mecca.

She loved her husband very much, who would not become a Muslim on account of his father, who was the worst enemy of Islam. After the fall of Mecca, her husband fled to Yemen. She secured pardon for him from the Prophet(saw) and went to Yemen and induced her husband to return to his home. She told him:

'You can be safe from the sword of Muhammad (saw) only when you put yourself in his lap.'

She returned with him to Medina, where Ikramah embraced islam and the couple began to live together happily. They both participated in the Syrian war during the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). Ikramah was killed in a battle. She was then married to another Mujahid, Hazrat Khalid bin Sa'eed (ra). It was at a place called Marja-us-Safr that her husband wanted to meet her. She said:

'We have enemy concentrating on all fronts. We shall meet after they are done away with.'

He said: 'I am sure I shall not survive this battle.'

They then shared the bed for the first time in a tent at that place. Next day, Hazrat Khalid bin Sa'eed (ra) was arranging for the Walimah when the enemy attacked with full force and he was killed in the battle. Hazrat Umme Hakim (ra) packed up her tent and other luggage, and, with a tent-peg in her hand, fought the enemy until she killed seven of them.

The first Shahid

Hazrat Sumayyah (ra) was one of the first Muslims and was persecuted severely in Mecca. She bore the trials patiently and did not weaken in her love and devotion to Islam. She was standing one day when Abu Jahl passed that way. He first hurled all manner of profanity at her, then speared her through her private parts. She was the first to meet martyrdom for Islam.

The Prophet's daughter, Hazrat Zainab (ra)

Hazrat Zainab (ra) was born after five years of the Prophet(saw)'s marriage to Hazrat Khadijah (ra), when the Prophet(saw) was thirty years of age. She came of age and then accepted Islam. She was married to her cousin, Abul Aas bin Rabi. Her husband fought in Badr for the Quraish and was captured by the Muslims.

When the Quraish were paying ransom to secure release of their prisoners, Hazrat Zainab (ra) gave over as ransom for her husband the necklace she had received in dowry from her mother, Hazrat Khadijah (ra). When the Prophet(saw) saw the necklace, the memories of Hazrat Khadijah (ra) came to his mind and tears were in his eyes. After consultation with the Sahaba, he returned the necklace to Hazrat Zainab (ra) and released her husband without ransom on the condition that he would send Hazrat Zainab (ra) to Medina on his return to Mecca. Two men were sent to stay outside Mecca and bring Hazrat Zainab (ra) safely to Medina. Her husband asked his brother Kinanah to take Hazrat Zainab (ra) outside Mecca and make her over to the Muslim escort. As Hazrat Zainab (ra) and Kinanah were moving out of the town on camel's back, the Quraish sent a party to intercept them. Her own cousin, Habar bin Aswad flung a spear at her, which wounded her and made her fall from the camel. As she was pregnant, she had an abortion. Kinanah started sending arrows towards the interceptors when Abu Sufyan said to him:

'We cannot tolerate the daughter of Muhammad leaving Mecca so openly. Let her go back and you can send her secretly after a few days.'

Kinanah agreed. Hazrat Zainab (ra) was dispatched after a few days. She suffered from this wound for a long time, till at last, she died of it, in 8 AH. The Prophet(saw) said at the time of her death:

'She was my best daughter, for she has suffered much on my account.'

The Prophet (saw) buried her with his own hands. As he went into the grave to lay her down, he looked very sorrowful but when he came out of the grave, he was very composed. On the query by the Sahaba, he said:

'In view of the feebleness of Zainab, I prayed to Allah to remove from her the tortures of the grave, and the prayer has been answered by Allah.'

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Just imagine, even the daughter of the Prophet who sacrificed her life for Islam needed a prayer from the Prophet (saw) for protection from difficulties in the grave. What about us people who are much steeped in sins? It is necessary that we should always seek protection from the difficulties in the grave. The Prophet (saw) would often seek refuge in Allah from the horrors of the grave. This was all for the instruction of his followers.

Hazrat Hafsah (ra) was the daughter of Hazrat 'Umar (ra) and the fourth wife of the Prophet(saw). She was very pious and would fast during the days and pray during the nights. Once something happened between them and the Prophet(saw) became very displeased with her and even pronounced the first divorce. Hazrat 'Umar (ra) was naturally very shocked over this.

Angel Jibrail (as) came to the Prophet and said: 'Allah wants you to take Hafsah back, as she is fasting often and spending her nights in Salaat, and also Allah wants it for Hazrat 'Umar's (ra) sake.'

The Prophet(saw) therefore took her back. She died in 45 AH at the age of 63. This incident shows the high position of the Sahaba, of Hazrat Umar (ra) especially, as well as the Prophet(saw)'s wives. Allah even ordered the Prophet(saw) around on their interests and for their sake.

Stories of the Sahaba (Long)

Category: SOUND

"When I thrust my spear through him, he uttered, 'By Allah, I have triumphed' and to my amazement I saw his body lifted upwards towards the sky. I made enquiries later on as to what was the triumph that 'Amir bin Fuhairah (ra) meant when he uttered, 'By Allah, I have triumphed.' I was told that it was that of entering into Paradise. This made me embrace Islam."
-Jabbar bin Salmi

"Whosoever does not mind his mother lamenting him, his wife becoming a widow and his children being rendered orphans, he may come out of Mecca and face me."
-Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab (ra)

"O, people! What a beautiful place is Paradise. And how happy is its approach! How fine and how cool is its water. The Romans' doom is at hand, I must finish them all."
-Hazrat Ja'far bin Abi Talib (ra) at the Battle of Mutah

Hazrat Mus'ab bin 'Umair (ra) was a youth from a well-to-do family in Mecca when he heard the message of the Holy Prophet (saw) and accepted Islam. Prior to this, he was quite spoiled both materially and with affection from his parents, who bought him pretty much everything (so he's probably one of the Sahabas most relatable to for us). After he converted, his parents tied him down in the house to prevent him from meeting with the Muslims. He escaped and fled to Abyssinia (Ethiopia). When he returned, he emigrated to Medina on the orders of the Prophet(saw) where he taught and preached Islam and helped convert a sizable number of people there to Islam so by the time the Prophet(saw) made his Hijrah, a lot of the city was already Muslim. It was the first Tabligh being carried out. Once the Prophet (saw) was sitting and he walked by, wearing a single cloth sheet full of patches and nothing else. The Prophet (saw) with tears in his eyes, mentioned Mus'ab's life of luxury before Islam. He was charged with holding the flag of the Muslims at the Battle of Uhud. Despite the tide of battle turning against the Muslims, he held the flag and stood at his position like a rock. He was overcome by the enemy who cut off his hand that held the flag. He immediately grabbed the flag with his other arm. That too was cut off. So he grabbed it with the bloody stumps that remained of his limbs and held it to his bosom until he was felled by arrows. When they buried him, they didn't even have a cloth sheet big enough so they wrapped his feet in leaves.

Hazrat Ja'far bin Abi Talib (ra) met a similar end at the Battle of Mutah with the Romans, he held the flag inbetween his teeth until his torso was cut in two. They counted 90 wounds on his body, all from the front. He was the second of three in the chain of command appointed by the Prophet (saw). A Jew who had heard the Prophet(saw)'s orders remarked that all three men mentioned by name must die, as that was how the previous prophets used to prophesy. After he and his appointed successor died, the Muslims appointed Khalid bin Walid (ra) to be their leader who salvaged the battle by reshuffling the troops at the rear and ordering the cavalry to raise lots of dust at the flanks so as to make it appear that reinforcements were constantly arriving. The Romans, seeing this, disengaged rather than fight on. It was about 3,000 Muslims vs. 100,000 Romans backed up later by another 100,000 Romans under the command of Heraclius himself. Khalid bin Walid, who led the pagans at the Battle of Uhud (their only 'success' against the Muslims), began a remarkable series of victories with this and became one of the most successful commanders in history.

Although all the Sahaba, along with their engagement in Jihad and propagation of faith, were devoted to acquiring and further spreading of knowledge, yet there was a panel of Sahaba who were exclusively entrusted with Fatwa, even during the lifetime of the Prophet (saw). The panel comprised the following Sahaba:

Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Uthman, Ali, Abdur Rahman bin 'Auf, Ubayy bin Kaab, Abdullah bin Mas'ood, Ma'az bin Jabal, Ammar bin Yaasir, Huzaifah, Salman Farsi, Zaid bin Thabit, Abu Musa, Abu Darda (Radhiyallahoanhum)

To give Fatwa during the lifetime of the Prophet(saw) was a big privilege for these Sahaba, and speaks of their deep and dependable knowledge.

Prophet(saw): 'Allah has commanded me to recite the Qur'an to you.'
'Ubay bin Ka'ab(ra): 'O, Prophet of Allah! Did Allah mention me by name?'
Prophet(saw): 'Yes, He mentioned you by your name.'
'Ubay bin Ka'ab started crying with joy upon hearing that. He was also the one to correct the Prophet(saw) once during Salaat when he missed one verse.

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'O you dwellers of the graves! O you who live amongst ruins! O you who live in the wilderness and solitude! How fare you in the other world? How has it gone with you there? The news from our side is that all you did leave of the wealth and riches here, has long since been distributed; your children are orphans; your widows have long since remarried. Now let us hear about you! ... ... O Kumail! If they could speak, they would have informed us that the best provision for the Hereafter is Taqwa.'
-Hazrat Ali (ra)

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Hazrat 'Utbah bin Abi Farqad (ra) visited the Amir ul Mumineen, Hazrat Umar (ra) one day and he was invited in to share in his food. He started eating but the bread was so coarse, he couldn't even swallow it.

'Utbah: Why don't you use fine flour for your bread, Umar?
'Umar: Can every Muslim afford fine flour for his bread?

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"All things fear a person who fears Allah, while everything is a source of fear to him who fears somebody other than Allah."
~Prophet Muhammad (saw)

"The face that gets wet with the smallest drop of tear from the fear of Allah is safe from entrance into the fire of Hell."
~Prophet Muhammad (saw)

"When a Muslim shivers with the fear of Allah, his sins fall away from him like the falling leaves of a tree."
~Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Hazrat A'ishah (ra) once inquired of the Prophet (saw), 'Is there anybody among your followers who will go to Paradise without reckoning?' 'Yes,' he replied, 'the person who often cries over their sins.'

"One who can weep should do so, and one who cannot should make the appearance of a weeping person."
-Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)

"Fear of Allah is the root of all wisdom."
~Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Hazrat Ibn 'Umar (ra) used to weep so much with the fear of Allah that he lost his eyesight. He said to somebody watching him:

"You wonder at my weeping. Even the sun weeps with the fear of Allah."

Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawahah (ra) (the last of the 3 appointed commanders to die at the Battle of Mutah) was once weeping. His wife also began to weep on seeing him in this condition. He inquired of her:

"Why are you weeping?"

She replied: "Whatever makes you weep makes me weep too."

He said: "The idea that I have to cross the bridge of Siraat across Hell makes me weep. I don't know whether I shall be able to cross over or fall into Hell."

When he took command at the Battle of Mutah, he was hesitant to charge into battle and then scolded himself that perhaps he loved his wife too much. So he declared his divorce, freed his slaves, ordered his gardens to be given as Sadaqa, and charged ahead, whereupon he was martyred.

Zurarah bin Aufa was leading the Salaat in a Masjid when he recited the verse: 'For when the Trumpet shall sound; Surely that day will be a day of anguish!' (LXXIV:8&9)

He fell down and expired. People carried his body to his house.

Khulaid was saying his Salaat. During his Qirat, when he reached the verse: 'Every soul shall taste of death' (III:185), he began to repeat it over and over. He heard a voice from the corner of the room saying: 'How often are you going to repeat this verse? Your recitation has already caused the death of four Djinns.'

Umar (ra) would often hold a straw in his hand and say: 'I wish I were a straw like this.'

Sometimes he would say: 'I wish my mother had not given birth to me.'

Once Hazrat Umar (ra) was going on his usual round towards Harrah (a suburb of Medina) with his slave, Aslam, when he saw a distant fire in the desert. He said: 'There seems to be a camp. Perhaps it is a caravan that could not enter the town due to nightfall. Let's go and look after them and arrange for their protection during the night.'

When he reached there, he found a woman and some children. The children were crying. The woman had a pan of water over the fire. Hazrat Umar (ra) greeted her with salaam and, with her permission, went near her.

Umar: Why are these children crying?
Woman: Because they are hungry.
Umar: What is in the pan?
Woman: Only water to soothe the children, so that they may go to sleep in the belief that food is being prepared for them. Ah! Allah will judge between Umar and me, on the Day of Judgement, for neglecting me in my distress.
Umar: May Allah have mercy on you! How can Umar know of your distress?
Woman: When he is our Amir, he must keep himself informed about us.

Hazrat Umar (ra) returned to the town and straightaway went to the Baitul-Mal to fill a sack with flour, dates, fat and clothes, and also drew some money. When the sack was ready, he said to Aslam: 'Now put this sack on my back, Aslam.'

Aslam: No please, aamirulmo'mineen! I shall carry this sack.

'Umar refused to listen to Aslam, even on his persistant requests to allow him to carry the sack, and remarked: 'What! Will you carry my load on the Day of Judgement? I must carry this bag, for it is I who would be questioned (in the Hereafter) about this woman.'

Aslam most reluctantly placed the bag on Umar's (ra) back, who carried it with a swift pace right to the woman's tent. He put a little flour and some dates and fat in the pan and began to stir. He blew into the fire to kindle it.

Aslam says: I saw the smoke passing through his thick beard.

After some time, the pottage was ready. He himself served it to the family. When they had eaten to their fill, he made over to them the little that was left for their next meal. The children were very happy after their meal and began to play about merrily. The woman felt very grateful and remarked: 'May Allah reward you for your kindness! In fact you deserve to take the place of the Caliph instead of Umar.'

'Umar consoled her and said: 'When you come to see the Caliph, you will find me there.'

He sat for a while at a place close by and kept on watching the children. He then returned to Medina. He told Aslam he sat there because 'I had seen them [the children] weeping in distress; I liked to see them laughing and happy for some time.'

It is said that Hazrat Umar (ra) while leading Fajr Salaat used to recite 'Kahf', 'Taha' and other such Surahs in his Salaat, and would weep so much that his crying could be heard back several rows. Once he was reciting Surah 'Yusuf' in Fajr. When he came to the verse 'I only plead for my distress and anguish unto Allah,' (XII:86), he wept so much that he could not recite any further. In Tahajjud, he would sometimes fall to the ground and would get indisposed with excessive weeping.

Such was the fear of Allah in Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab (ra) whose name struck terror in the hearts of the mightest monarchs of the time.

"May I tell you about people whom Allah holds in high esteem? These are those whom His fear has driven to absolute silence, even though they are neither helpless nor dumb. Rather they are possessors of eloquence and have power to speak and sense to understand. But constant glorification of Allah's name has so overpowered their wits that their hearts are overawed and their lips sealed. When they get established in this state, they hasten towards righteousness. Wither have you people deviated from this course?"
-Abdullah bin Abbas (ra)

"I recite Istighfar 12000 times daily."
-Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra)

"I have heard the Prophet(saw) saying, 'Allah eases the way to Paradise for one who traverses some distance to seek knowledge. The angels spread their wings under his feet, and all things in heaven and earth (even the fish in the water) pray for his forgiveness. The superiority of a person possessing knowledge over a person doing worship is as the superiority of the moon over the stars. The Ulama are the inheritors of the Prophet(saw). The legacy of the Prophets (as) is neither gold nor silver. Their legacy is knowledge. A person who acquires knowledge acquires a great wealth."
-Hazrat Abu Darda (ra)

"I love death, so that I may meet Allah. I love destitution, so that I may be meek. I love sickness, so that I may be pardoned my sins."
-Hazrat Abu Darda (ra)

"I am a slave to the person who has taught me even a single word. He may sell me or set me free."
-Hazrat Ali (ra)

(everytime I quote the Prophet(saw), I am relating something that he has been reported to have said, or something like that. Perhaps less or more. I am not attributing it to him directly myself)

btw, keep in mind that you are reading Hadith and all this stuff while sitting at home on the computer. People had to travel across Arabia and the Middle East for even less important things.

i've got a few more awesome ones i'll post later. most are from: 'Faza Il-e-Aamal' by Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Khandhalvi.

Stories of the Pious Predecessors - Abdullah bin Mubarak (ra)

Category: SOUND

"Abdullah bin Mubarak (ra) was an eminent jurist, scholar of Hadith and Sufi of high calibre. He was a contemporary of Imam Abu Hanifah (ra) and his student too. Before he turned to religion he was a very rich and free-thinking man. He had many properties, including gardens but he was not interested in learning or religion. He was an alcoholic much interested in singing and dancing. Among his gardens, he also had apple gardens. Once he took his friends to one such garden when the apples were ready to pick. There they had plenty of food and wine together with the fresh apples, and music. He himself was a good musicion and played very well. They had satiated themselves with food and were deeply intoxicated, the atmosphere was pleasant. Abdullah bin Mubarak had a guitar in his hands and he played it. He fell asleep. When he woke up, he still had the guitar in his hands. He began to play it again but it would not work. It did not produce any sound. So, he fiddled with the threads and wires and tried again but it did not omit any sound. He tried it a third time after some more fiddling with it. This time it did work but, instead of producing music, it reproduced the sound of the following verse of the Qur'an:

'Has not the time yet come for those who believe, and their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah and the Truth.' (57:16)

The guitar gave out this sound. When Allah wishes to guide any of His servants then He provides such Unseen means too. The moment Abdullah bin Mubarak heard this voice, his heart accepted the Truth, and he answered the words of the verse: 'Surely, my Lord! It has arrived!'

This is the same Abdullah bin Mubarak who when visiting Baghdad during the reign of Harun al-Rashid, the Caliph heard a loud commotion from the outskirts of the city. Fearing an attack, the Caliph asked a man to find out what had happened. The man reported back that Abdullah bin Mubarak had sneezed and had said 'Praise be to Allah', and the crowd that had gathered to welcome him responded with 'May Allah have mercy on you' and the sound he had heard was of this, the crowd's response (indicating its large size and his esteemed position to attract such a crowd)."

-Mufti Taqi Usmani

(translated from oral lecture in Urdu)