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The Collapse of Chosroes' Palace and the Drying of Lake Saawah - Part One
Written by user2On the night of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)’s birth, a tremor struck the palace of Chosroes causing all fourteen towers of the palace to collapse. The fire that had perpetually blazed in the Persian fire-temple for a thousand years was abruptly extinguished. Lake Saawah also unexpectedly dried up. Chosroes was in a state of anxiety and distress the following morning. However, his royal dignity prevented him from revealing his despair. He eventually convened court by assembling his ministers and other pillars of state.
During the course of this assembly, he was informed that the fire in the fire-temple had extinguished. This fuelled the anguish of Chosroes even further. One of the Zoroastrian priests thereafter stood before him in court and said, “I saw a dream last night in which powerful camels were dragging some Arabian horses. I then witnessed them crossing over the Tigris River and fanning out to each and every country in the world.” “What is the interpretation of this dream?” asked Chosroes. The priest replied, “Perhaps a momentous incident is about to occur from the direction of Arabia.”
In order to investigate further and to put his mind at ease, Chosroes sent a message to Nu’maan bin Munzir instructing him to send him an eminent scholar who would be able to answer all his questions adequately.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/55)
Steadfastness on Islam
Abul Aswad narrates the following: Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had accepted Islam at the age of eight, and made hijrah at the age of eighteen. His uncle would suspend him in a pen and would light a fire so that he would suffer from the smoke. His uncle would then command him to abandon Islam, to which he would reply, “I will never become a Kaafir!”
(Tahzeeb-ul-Kamaal 9/321)
Hijrah
Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was among those Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who made Hijrah to Abyssinia to escape the persecution of the Quraish. However, he did not remain long in Abyssinia.
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 3/30)
Khalaf bin ‘Umar (rahimahullah) narrates:
I was once with Imaam Maalik bin Anas (rahimahullah) when ibn Abi Katheer (rahimahullah), the Qari of the people of Madinah Munawwarah, approached him and handed a piece of paper to him. On receiving the piece of paper, Imaam Maalim (rahimahullah) glanced at it and thereafter placed it beneath the musallah. When ibn Abi Katheer (rahimahullah) stood to leave, I also began to stand, but Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) said to me, “O Khalaf! Sit, and hand me the piece of paper.”
The Values of Islam in the Words of Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah)
Written by user2Hasan bin ‘Abdil ‘Azeez Al-Jarawi Al-Misri (rahimahullah) narrates that Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) once said, “I never debated with any person and hoped that he would err, and I do not possess any knowledge in my heart except that I desire that every person could possess the same knowledge, without the knowledge being attributed to me.”
Rabee’ (rahimahullah) mentions, “I once entered the presence Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) while he was ill. I then heard him say, after mentioning the kitaabs that he had compiled, “I wish that the entire creation could acquire this knowledge without any of this knowledge being attributed to me.”
Wounds in the Path of Allah Ta‘ala
Hafs bin Khaalid (rahimahullah) narrates that an old man who arrived from Mowsil had told him the following:
I once accompanied Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) on one of his journeys. During the course of the journey, while we were in an open, barren land, Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) needed to perform fardh ghusl. He thus said to me, “Conceal me (with a cloth so that I may perform ghusl).” I thus concealed him, and while concealing him, I caught a glimpse of the scars on his upper body from being struck by swords. I thus said to him, “By Allah! I have seen such scars on your body which I have never before seen on anyone else!” Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked me, “Did you see them?” When I replied that I had indeed seen the scars, he said, “By Allah! Know that there is no scar on my body except that I received it in the company of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) while striving in the path of Allah Ta‘ala.
(Tahzeeb-ul-Kamaal 9/321)
Hishaam bin ‘Urwah (rahimahullah) narrates, “Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had received three major wounds on his body from being struck by swords. One was on his shoulder, and (it was so big that) I would insert my fingers into it (the hole that was left after the wound healed). Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) received two wounds on the Day of Badr and one on the Day of Yarmuk.”
(Siyar ‘A’laam min Nubalaa 3/33)
It is reported on the authority of Ka’b Ahbaar (rahimahullah) that the previous scriptures describe the honoured personality of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the following words:
محمد رسول اللّٰه مولده بمكة ومهاجره بيثرب وملكه بالشام
“Muhammed, the Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam); his birthplace will be Makkah Mukarramah and his migration will be towards Yathrib (Madinah Munawwarah) and his rule will be over Shaam.”
The greatest of humans, the leader of the children of Aadam (‘alaihis salaam), Muhammad Mustafaa Ahmed Mujtabaa (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was born into this world fifty or fifty five days after the incident of the elephants, at the time of dawn on Monday 8th Rabee’-ul-Awwal, corresponding to April 570 A.D. in Makkah Mukarramah, in the house of Abu Taalib.
The Generosity of Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
Hishaam bin ‘Urwah mentions that seven Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) had appointed Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as the executor of their estate after their demise. Among these Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum,) were Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat ‘Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Miqdaad (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). After their demise, he safeguarded their wealth for their children and would spend on them from his own wealth.
(Usdul Ghaabah 2/211)
The Incident of the People of the Elephants - Part Four
Written by user2‘Abdul Muttalib thereafter took a few people with him and proceeded to the Ka‘bah so that they could all implore and beg Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa. At this juncture, ‘Abdul Muttalib recited the following poetic couplets of du‘aa:
لاهمّ إن المرء يمنع رحله فامنع رحالك
“O Allah! A man takes care of his house, You take care of Your house.
وانصر على آل الصليب وعابديه اليوم آلك
And assist Your people against the people of the cross and its worshippers.
لايغلبن صليبهم ومحالهم أبدا محالك
Their cross and their schemes can never overcome that which You have planned.
جرّوا جميع بلادهم والفيل كي يسبوا عيالك
They dragged (and brought) all their forces and their elephants to capture Your dependants.
عمدوا حماك بكيدهم جهلا وما رقبوا جلالك
Out of ignorance, they have plotted to destroy your haram, and they failed to consider Your greatness.”
Mis‘ar bin Kidaam (rahimahullah) narrates:
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) had prepared a set of clothing that was more valuable than all his other clothing. This set comprised of a kurta, pants, shawl and turban, and its value was 1500 Dirhams or perhaps even more than that.
After performing the Esha Salaah, when all the people had retired to bed, Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) would remove the clothing which he had worn during the day and would wear this extremely valuable set of clothing. After donning this set of clothing, he would apply ‘itr and thereafter stand in Salaah until the time of Fajr set in.
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The First Person to Draw his Sword for the Sake of Allah
Hazrat ‘Urwah bin Zubair (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) accepted Islam at the age of eight. On one occasion, Shaitaan caused a false rumor to spread that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had been seized and captured by the Kuffaar in the upper area of Makkah Mukarramah. When he heard this rumor, Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was only twelve years old at the time, immediately set out , parting the people with his sword in his search for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). All who saw Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) were surprised and remarked, “The youngster is carrying a sword!” When he reached Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked him, “What is the matter, o Zubair?” Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied by informing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) of the false rumor that had spread and said, “I came to strike those who seized you with my sword.”
The Incident of the People of the Elephants - Part Three
Written by user2Accompanied by a few leaders of Quraish, ‘Abdul Muttalib set out to meet Abrahah. Upon reaching, he sent a message to Abrahah informing him of his arrival. When ‘Abdul Muttalib arrived, Abrahah gave him a grand welcome.
Allah Ta’ala had blessed ‘Abdul Muttalib with unparalleled handsomeness, remarkable eminence, imposing awe, remarkable dignity and arresting majesty that left all who came into contact with him awestruck. Hence, Abrahah was also overwhelmed and awestruck by the personality of ‘Abdul Muttalib. He thus welcomed ‘Abdul Muttalib with absolute respect and honour. Abrahah found it inappropriate to seat anyone on or in line with his throne. So instead, he descended from the throne out of respect for ‘Abdul Muttalib and sat with him on the ground.
Receiving the title ‘Special Helper’ of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)
On the occasion of the Battle of Ahzaab, also known as the Battle of Khandaq (the Battle of the Trench), the Muslims received the information that the Banu Quraizah had broken their pledge of allegiance to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and had joined the enemy. In order to verify the information, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), “Who will bring me information of these people (the Banu Quraizah)?” Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) instantly responded by volunteering to go as a spy and bring information of the Banu Quraizah to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
The Incident of the People of the Elephants - Part Two
Written by user2When the Arabs heard of the church that Abrahah erected, a member of the Kinaanah tribe defaced the building by passing stool within its precincts and thereafter fleeing. Some are of the opinion that a few Arab youngsters lit a fire in the vicinity of the church. A gust of wind carried an ember onto the church, setting it ablaze and reducing it to ashes. This infuriated Abrahah and he vowed that he would not rest until he had reduced the Ka‘bah to ruins. With this evil intention, he set out to attack Makkah Mukarramah. En route to Makkah Mukarramah, the tribes who put up resistance were subdued with the might of the sword. Together with his army of men, he was also accompanied by a herd of elephants.