Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) used many methods in order to call people to Islam. For example, he used to tell them true realistic stories as well as the stories of the earlier nations so that they would deduce lessons from them. In these stories, ALLAH Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says which translates as: "there is a message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses the truth" (Noble Qur’an Sura Qaaf: 37).
The second said, 'O Allah! You know that I was in love with a cousin of mine, like the deepest love a man may have for a woman, and I tried to seduce her but she refused, until one day she became in need of money, and she came to me for help, so I offered her one hundred and twenty Dinaars (gold currency) provided she gives in to my desire, and she accepted. When I sat in between her legs, she said to me: Fear Allah, and asked me not to deflower her except rightfully (by marriage). So, I got up and left her, though she was the most desired and beloved to me, and made her keep the money. O Allah! If You regard that I did it for Your sake, kindly remove this rock.' So, the rock was moved a bit but it was to small for them to get out.
Then the third man said, “O Allah! Once I employed workers, and I paid them, except one who left with out taking his due share, so I invested it and from it great wealth developed. After some time that man came and demanded his money. I said to him: Go to those camels, cows and the shepherd and take them for they are all for you. He asked me not to mock him. I told him that I was not mocking him, so he took it all and left nothing behind. O Allah! If You regard that I did it sincerely for Your sake, then please remove the rock. So, the rock was removed completely from the mouth of the cave, and they came out walking”.
THE FIRST MAN in the cave gave a great example of dutifulness towards his parents. Throughout the whole night, he was holding the vessel of milk not allowing his children nor himself to drink (until his parents had drunk their share). He did not even disturb his parents by waking them up until dawn. This indicates the excellence of having and showing dutifulness to parents and that it is a means for facilitating one's affairs and avoiding distress. Dutifulness to one's parents is the best act of keeping relations with one's family and relatives.
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Whoever would like to have wider provisions and prolong his life, should keep good relations with his kith and kin" ~(Al-Bukhari & Muslim).
This is an advanced reward in this worldly life. His provisions are lavish and his life is prolonged, let aside the reward in the Hereafter. ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY highly honors parents to an extent that He prohibited the son to utter even the smallest word that indicates annoyance as He says which translates as: "Thy Lord has decreed that you worship none but him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: my Lord bestow on them thy mercy even as they cherished me in childhood"~ (Noble Qur’an Sura Al-Isra’: 23-24).
Respected Brothers & Sisters in Islam! THE SECOND PERSON of the three in the story gave a great example of unmitigated virtuousness. He almost managed to fulfil his desire with this woman who was the most beloved person to him. Yet, when she reminded him to fear ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY, he left her in spite of his love and did not even take back his money.
Bukhari and Muslim reported a Hadith that there are seven people whom ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY will give shade on the Day when there will be no shade but His, one of these is "a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I fear Allah".
What a great difference it is between this man and the man who travels to countries where adultery is practiced openly! He travels in order to commit adultery with prostitutes. I seek refuge in ALLAH Subhanahu wa Ta’ala from such an act. Travelers to such countries should know that ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY sees them and that He is All-Knowing. He knows all about them in this country as well as in the other and they will find themselves with destruction if they do not repented. ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY says which translates as: "Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred, except for just cause, nor commit fornication; and any that does this (not only) meets punishment. (But) the Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him, and he will dwell therein in ignominy. Except he who, repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" ~(Al-Furqan: 68).
In order to know how disgraceful adultery is, it is enough to think over the legal penalty of it in this worldly life. An unmarried adulterer (adulteress) is to be lashed one hundred times and exiled for a year. A married adulterer (adulteress) is to be put to death, but in a most horrible manner - stoning till death.
I seek refuge in ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY from the accursed Satan, ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY says which translates as: "Nor come close to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils)" (Noble Qur’an Al-Isra’: 32).
Respected Brothers & sisters in faith! THE THIRD PERSON mentioned in this story was a man who gave the best example of honesty and sincerity. He invested the employee's wages and increased it greatly, he gave it (the accumulated wealth) to him and refused to take anything in return. What a great difference between this man and those who treat their employees unjustly and devour their wages, especially if such employees are from different countries! Such employers are very near to the people mentioned in ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY's saying which translates as: "Woe to those that deal in fraud, Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, But when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called to account?" ~(Noble Qur’an Al- Mutaffifeen: 1-4).
They want the employees to perform their work as best as they can, but they do not give them their due wages or procrastinate in giving them. Some employees may return home without getting all their wages. Let those employers who hire an employee and deny him his wages, be aware that this helpless employee will not be their adversary; it will be ALLAH the Lord of the Worlds.
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said that ALLAH has said: "There are three people whom I will litigate against on the Day of Judgment, and whosoever I litigate against will lose" Out of them, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) mentioned: "A man who hires a worker who fulfilled his duties, but he did not give him his wages".
This Hadith indicates that It is permissible to supplicate to ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY by mentioning good deeds. Such supplication is a means of relieving distress. Think about these three people who supplicated to ALLAH Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala by mentioning their best deeds when they were in distress and how ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY relieved it.
By : Reflect reflect on this
Three persons in the cave
Stories have an undeniable effect on people. Let's mention, respected brothers & sisters in Islam, one of the stories about one of the earlier nations as narrated by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) so that we can deduce useful lessons. Bukhari and Muslim reported that `Abdullah bin `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) says: “While three persons were traveling, the night fell and they had to enter a cave in a mountain in order to spend the night. A big rock rolled over and blocked the mouth of the cave. They said to each other: Nothing could rescue you but invoking Allah with the best deed you have performed (so Allah might remove the rock)”. One of them said, 'O Allah! My parents were old and I used to go out to collect wood. On my return I would milk (the animals) and take the milk in a vessel to my parents to drink. After they had drunk from it, I would give it to my children, family and wife. One day I was delayed and on my return I found my parents sleeping, but I disliked to wake them up, or to feed my family before them. I waited with the vessel in my hand with my children crying at my feet (because of hunger) until dawn when they woke up and drank their share of the milk. O Allah! If You regard that I did it for Your sake, then please remove this rock so that we may see the sky.' So, the rock was moved a bit but it was too small for them to get out.The second said, 'O Allah! You know that I was in love with a cousin of mine, like the deepest love a man may have for a woman, and I tried to seduce her but she refused, until one day she became in need of money, and she came to me for help, so I offered her one hundred and twenty Dinaars (gold currency) provided she gives in to my desire, and she accepted. When I sat in between her legs, she said to me: Fear Allah, and asked me not to deflower her except rightfully (by marriage). So, I got up and left her, though she was the most desired and beloved to me, and made her keep the money. O Allah! If You regard that I did it for Your sake, kindly remove this rock.' So, the rock was moved a bit but it was to small for them to get out.
Then the third man said, “O Allah! Once I employed workers, and I paid them, except one who left with out taking his due share, so I invested it and from it great wealth developed. After some time that man came and demanded his money. I said to him: Go to those camels, cows and the shepherd and take them for they are all for you. He asked me not to mock him. I told him that I was not mocking him, so he took it all and left nothing behind. O Allah! If You regard that I did it sincerely for Your sake, then please remove the rock. So, the rock was removed completely from the mouth of the cave, and they came out walking”.
Remember Allah The Almighty
MASHAALLAH!! Respected brothers & sisters in Islam. Think over this great story. These three persons remembered ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY and followed his commands when they were free from any troubles and ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY saved them when they were in distress. Hence, whenever a man fulfills his duties towards ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY during times of ease, ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY will support him in times of worry, trouble and distress; He will be Most Gracious to him and facilitate maters for him. Allah says which translates as: " … And whosoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out ( from hardships). And will provide him from sources he could never imagine" (At-Talaaq: 2-3). He also said which translates as: "And whosoever fears Allah, He will make his matter easy for him" (At- Talaaq: 4).THE FIRST MAN in the cave gave a great example of dutifulness towards his parents. Throughout the whole night, he was holding the vessel of milk not allowing his children nor himself to drink (until his parents had drunk their share). He did not even disturb his parents by waking them up until dawn. This indicates the excellence of having and showing dutifulness to parents and that it is a means for facilitating one's affairs and avoiding distress. Dutifulness to one's parents is the best act of keeping relations with one's family and relatives.
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Whoever would like to have wider provisions and prolong his life, should keep good relations with his kith and kin" ~(Al-Bukhari & Muslim).
This is an advanced reward in this worldly life. His provisions are lavish and his life is prolonged, let aside the reward in the Hereafter. ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY highly honors parents to an extent that He prohibited the son to utter even the smallest word that indicates annoyance as He says which translates as: "Thy Lord has decreed that you worship none but him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: my Lord bestow on them thy mercy even as they cherished me in childhood"~ (Noble Qur’an Sura Al-Isra’: 23-24).
Respected Brothers & Sisters in Islam! THE SECOND PERSON of the three in the story gave a great example of unmitigated virtuousness. He almost managed to fulfil his desire with this woman who was the most beloved person to him. Yet, when she reminded him to fear ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY, he left her in spite of his love and did not even take back his money.
Bukhari and Muslim reported a Hadith that there are seven people whom ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY will give shade on the Day when there will be no shade but His, one of these is "a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I fear Allah".
What a great difference it is between this man and the man who travels to countries where adultery is practiced openly! He travels in order to commit adultery with prostitutes. I seek refuge in ALLAH Subhanahu wa Ta’ala from such an act. Travelers to such countries should know that ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY sees them and that He is All-Knowing. He knows all about them in this country as well as in the other and they will find themselves with destruction if they do not repented. ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY says which translates as: "Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred, except for just cause, nor commit fornication; and any that does this (not only) meets punishment. (But) the Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him, and he will dwell therein in ignominy. Except he who, repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" ~(Al-Furqan: 68).
In order to know how disgraceful adultery is, it is enough to think over the legal penalty of it in this worldly life. An unmarried adulterer (adulteress) is to be lashed one hundred times and exiled for a year. A married adulterer (adulteress) is to be put to death, but in a most horrible manner - stoning till death.
I seek refuge in ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY from the accursed Satan, ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY says which translates as: "Nor come close to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils)" (Noble Qur’an Al-Isra’: 32).
Respected Brothers & sisters in faith! THE THIRD PERSON mentioned in this story was a man who gave the best example of honesty and sincerity. He invested the employee's wages and increased it greatly, he gave it (the accumulated wealth) to him and refused to take anything in return. What a great difference between this man and those who treat their employees unjustly and devour their wages, especially if such employees are from different countries! Such employers are very near to the people mentioned in ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY's saying which translates as: "Woe to those that deal in fraud, Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, But when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called to account?" ~(Noble Qur’an Al- Mutaffifeen: 1-4).
They want the employees to perform their work as best as they can, but they do not give them their due wages or procrastinate in giving them. Some employees may return home without getting all their wages. Let those employers who hire an employee and deny him his wages, be aware that this helpless employee will not be their adversary; it will be ALLAH the Lord of the Worlds.
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said that ALLAH has said: "There are three people whom I will litigate against on the Day of Judgment, and whosoever I litigate against will lose" Out of them, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) mentioned: "A man who hires a worker who fulfilled his duties, but he did not give him his wages".
This Hadith indicates that It is permissible to supplicate to ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY by mentioning good deeds. Such supplication is a means of relieving distress. Think about these three people who supplicated to ALLAH Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala by mentioning their best deeds when they were in distress and how ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY relieved it.
By : Reflect reflect on this