Hoping to be human someday!

Should I Tick The World Off?

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

I’ve been facing a dilemma. I want to ask some questions but I’m apprehensive w.r.t. the consequences.

I’ve decided to cancel the third Zakir Naik post about Karbala and the Quraan when I saw the comments in my first Zakir Naik post [I still might do one on Yazeed(L.A.) and another on Muawiyah(L.A.)]. People do not understand the Quraan and still act like they were the ones it was revealed to. No offense, but our “Ummah” is immature to the core.

They refuse to question their beliefs, ignoring that the only thing capable of making them learn more is the question “Why?”

One of my elders, Syed Fayyaz Haider Zaidi, said to me:

“The beliefs of your parents are not religion!”

And when I pondered over it, I realized how true it was. You should too. I’ve questioned my beliefs before, and am happy to say that each “Why?” strengthens my faith in Allah and his Prophet (S.A.W.W.). Their have been times when I was baffled beyond measure but when I thought about those things I realized how great Allah was. I now stand proud of my God!

Some of these things, I’ve shared with you. Most, I haven’t. I don’t think people can take the burden and not go crazy. And when they go crazy, I become the heretic.

I must say, I didn’t think on my own. I was helped all along. Allah made me lucky that I was born at the right time to receive that help. By whom, some of you know. Some do not. But I don’t think anyone is interested, so I’m not naming that helper.

My concept of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) differs greatly from that of people I meet. To such an extent that I fear being declared a heretic by others. Because no one tries to understand how great he truly is! People are hell bent on declaring him a common man with mistakes, using the same Quraan that they do not understand, under the slogan “Quraan kaafi hai!”

Well it’s not, for your information. (There is a better answer but it’s not good for people with bloated egos and pea-sized brains who refuse to think. So just keep in mind the hadees: “I’m leaving behind with you two things…“)

This also brings me back to my dilemma. Should I pose those questions here or not? Should I be brave and not give a crap what the world thinks?

I’m currently neither in the emotional state nor the mood to bear the burden of long and stupid comments but there is a part of me that wants to tick the world off. To say things that no one wants to believe but are actually true.

I remember my old office, listening to Nauhas in Muharram with my Sunni colleagues. They had respect for the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) family and for that I respected them a lot. They actually used to ask me to put on certain Nauhas that they liked and I had sort of become a “Nauha Jockey”. But good times don’t last long, do they?

Today, I see people interested in the Gaza crisis, bashing Israel and all, yet they get thorns in their tongues when it comes to the massacre of the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) own family. They can’t bear the mention of what happened then. Well let me tell you something: the Gaza massacre is nothing compared to the Yazeedi brutality (read Muslim brutality) of that time. Read and think about Karbala, if not from a Muslim’s point of view then do it as a human. Otherwise all this cry over Gaza is sheer hypocrisy, nothing else. What’s happening in Gaza is happening to the whole population. Imagine if it all happened to just one family.

Done that?

Welcome to Karbala, 61 AH!

Back to my dilemma, should I transfer some of the burden to your brain? Are you ready for it? It won’t be easy, trust me on this and it will require a lot of thinking, and research if you want to investigate.

Hmmm?

And do remember that behind every smile, there are a thousand secret sorrows! ;)

(Man, I’m getting good at philosophy. Maybe I should quit trying to be a software engineer and become a philosopher or writer? Am I good enough?)

Anyone in the mood to listen to Nadeem Sarwar’s “Kya Muhammad Ka Pyara Nahin Hoon?” vintage version?

P.S. Sorry if this post disturbed you. Following posts may go several steps ahead.

14.01.2009 Captives of Karbala(A.S.), Enemies of the Ahle Bayt (A.S.), History, Husain(A.S), Martyrs Of Karbala(A.S.), Me, Muhammad(S.A.W.W.), Rants, Reflections, Society, World 31 Comments

Muhammad’s (S.A.W.W.) Prophecies Regarding the Event of Karbala

Sunday, September 7th, 2008

Whenever the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) sorrow was hard on him, he would take Husain in his lap and bring him along to the mosque, to the gathering of Sahaba while crying. His tears falling, he would display to them the infant Husain with the sand of Karbala in his hand and say:

“My nation (Ummah) will kill him, and this is the dirt of Karbala.”

Or he would take the dirt smell it and cry, with the mention of his murder and death, saying:

“The smell of Karb wa Balaa (sorrow and trial).”

Or would say:

“By The One who owns my soul, it saddens me: Who is this who kills Husain after me?”

Or would say:

“Karbala: the land of Karb (deep sorrow) and Balaa (painful trial).”

Or put Husain on his lap, with his red dirt in his hand, while crying and say:

“I wish I could express my self! Who kills you after me?”

Sources:

  • Musnad Ahmad Ibne Hanbal, Imam Ahmad bine Hanbal
  • Musnad Abu-Ya’la, Abu-Ya’la Al-Mousulli
  • Musannaf Ibn Abi Sheiba
  • Al-Khasaes, al-Nisaai
  • Saheeh Al-Tirmizi
  • Mushkil Al-Athar, Al-Tahawi
  • Al-’Ilal, Al-Darqutni
  • Huliat Al-Abrar, Abu-Naeem
  • Al-Dalael, Al-Bayhaqi
  • and many others via Ayesha, daughter of Abu Bakar

Ahmed and Ibn al-Dhahhak narrated from Ali (A.S.) that: I entered on the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and his eyes were flooded. I said:

“Oh Prophet of Allah! Has anyone made you angry? Why are your eyes flooded?”

He said:

“Jibraeel (Gabriel) just left me telling me that Hussain will be killed by the river Euphrates. He asked me whether I want him to let me smell the sand from his grave. I said yes. He reached with his hand, grabbed a handful of sand and gave it to me. So I could not help it and my eyes were flooded.”

Source:

  • Thakhaer al-Uqba, Tabari, pg 148.

Narration by Ya’la bin ‘Ubaid, Musa al-Jahani, Salih bin Arbad al-Nakhei, Ummu Salamah said:

Husain entered on the Prophet (S.A.W.W.), while I was sitting at the door. I saw in the hand of the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) something he turned over while (Husain was) sleeping on his stomach. I said:

“Oh messenger of Allah, I looked and saw you turning something over in your hand when the child was sleeping on your stomach and your tears were pouring.”

He said:

“Jibraeel (Gabriel) came to me with the sand upon which he will be killed. And he informed me that my nation (Ummah) will kill him.”

Source:

  • Al-Musannaf, by Al-Hafidh Abu Bakr Bin Abi Shaibah, vol 12

Narrated Ali bin Mohammad, Uthman bin Muqsim, al-Muqbari, from ‘Aesha:

While the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.W.) was lying down, Husain (A.S.) came crawling towards him so I moved him away from the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and I got up to do something. But Husain (A.S.) got close to the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and he woke up crying. So I said:

“What makes you cry?”

He said:

“Jibraeel showed me the sand on which Husain will be killed. The anger of Allah is great on whomever sheds his blood.”

He opened his hands, in which was a grab of sand. He said:

“Oh, Ayesha, by the One who has my soul is in His hands, it saddens me! Who is this from my nation (Ummah) who kills Husain after I am gone?”

Source:

  • Al-Taba’qat al-Kubra, Ibne Saad (Tabaqat Ibne Saad)

When Ali (A.S.) passed by Karbala in his march to Siffin and lined up with Nainawa, a village on the Euphrates, he stopped and called one of the men:

“Tell Aba-Abdillah (Husain ) what this land is called.”

He said:

“Karbala.”

Then Ali (A.S.) cried until the earth was wet from his tears. He then narrated:

I entered on the messenger of Allah (S.A.W.W.) and he was crying. So I asked what made him cry? He said:

“Gabriel was with me, just now, and informed me: that my son Husain will be killed at the banks of Furaat (River Euphrates) at a place called Karbala. Then Gabriel grabbed a handful of dirt and let me smell it. So I could not help it, my eyes overflowed.”

Sources:

  • Tabaqaat Ibne Saad
  • Masnad Ahmed Ibne Hanbal
  • Al-Musannaf, Ibne Abi Shaibeh, vol 12
  • Al-Moejam Al-Kabeer, Al-Tabarani, vol 1
  • Tareekh Al-Shamm, Ibn Asakir

Aisha narrated:

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: “Gabriel informed me that my grandson Husain (A.S.) will be killed after me in the land of al-Taff and brought me this Turbah (mudd/soil) and informed me that this is the soil of the place he will be martyred.”

Sources:

  • Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa’d,
  • Al-Tabarani
  • Al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 3, p292

07.09.2008 Ali(A.S.), Enemies of the Ahle Bayt (A.S.), Fatimah Zehra(S.A.), General Knowledge, History, Husain(A.S), Martyrs Of Karbala(A.S.), Muhammad(S.A.W.W.), Reflections, Religious 6 Comments

Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) and Husain (A.S.)

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

One of the most beautiful and deep aspects of the life of Imam Husain (A.S.) is the great and excessive attention that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) showed towards him and his elder brother Imam Hasan (A.S.). The affection of the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) towards Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Husain (A.S.) was so obvious that historians and narrators have recorded many different instances of this affection. Below are only a few of the incidents:

The Prophet (S.A.W.W.) was invited to dinner. As he was walking with his companions, he saw his little grandson, Imam Husain (A.S.) playing in the valley. The Prophet (S.A.W.) went forward to grab him, but he ran away childishly. With a gentle smile on his face, the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) started running after him until he finally caught him. He then put a hand around the Imams neck, another hand under his chin, and kissed him. The Prophet (S.A.W.W.) then said:

“Husain is from me and I am from Husain. May Allah love that person who loves Husain.”

Source:

  • Ansab al-Ashraf by Ahmad ibne Jabir ibne Al-Bladhori

Zaid, the son of Harith, narrates:

I wanted to go see the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) regarding a task. I went to his house at night and knocked on the door. The Prophet (S.A.W.W.) opened the door, while he had something hidden under his cloak. I told him about my task and when we were finished, I asked him: “O’ the Messenger of Allah, what do you have under your cloak?”

He opened his cloak and showed Hasan (A.S.) and Husain (A.S.). He said:

“These are my children and the children of my daughter.”

At that moment the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) looked towards the sky and said:

“O Allah! You are aware that I love these two children, so You love them too, and love those who love these two.”

Source:

  • Tarikh Al-Tabari

Salman Farsi has narrated that the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) said about Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Husain (A.S.):

“Whoever loves my children Hasan and Husain, (then) I love him; and whomever I love, Allah loves him; and whoever Allah loves, he will enter a heavenly state filled with blessings. However, he who shows enmity towards the two and oppresses them, I will consider him as my enemy; and whomever I consider an enemy, Allah will be his enemy, and will throw him in the hell fire where he will suffer forever.”

Source:

  • Tabaqat ibne Sa’ad

The Prophet (S.A.W.W.) said:

“Through me, you (people) came to awareness, with Ali you found the way and were guided, all good came to you through Hasan, however, your happiness and wretchedness is with Husain. Be aware that Husain is one of the doors of paradise. Whoever shows enmity towards him will be deprived from the scent of paradise.”

Source:

  • Morooj al-Dhahab and Ma’adin al-Jawhar, Ali ibn al-Hussian ibn Ali Masoudi, Matba’at al-Sa’adah

This kind of love and attention toward Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Husain (A.S.) is not just family love, rather it is beyond that. Similar narrations like the ones above all show that with the knowledge of what will come upon the Muslim community because of their enemity towards Husain (A.S.), the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) wanted to make people aware of truth and falsehood.

Other events during the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) life include when Imam Husain (A.S.) climbed on his back while he was in prostration and leading the prayers in Masjid-e-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque). The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) lengthened the prostration until Imam Husain (A.S.) got off of his own will!

On another occasion, he was delivering a sermon in the same mosque on his mimber, when Imam Husain (A.S.) entered the mosque and tripped on his way towards the Prophet (S.A.W.W.). The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) got off his mimber and rushed and picked up Husain (A.S.). He then climbed back on the mimber and finished the sermon with tears in his eyes and Husain (A.S.) on his lap.

Another event is that on the occasion of Eid, both Hasan (A.S.) and Husain (A.S.) came to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.), wearing new clothes but looking sad. The Prophet (S.A.W.W.) inquired about the reason of sadness to which they replied that they did not have a camel to ride like the other children. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) then got down on his knees and asked both children to climb on his back and hold his long hair as the reins!

Round and round he went in the courtyard of Masjid-e-Nabawi but still the children looked sad. He then inquired again about the reason of sadness. The children replied that their camel did not make any sounds, to which the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) starting producing sounds like a camel.

Abu Bakar, standing close by, remarked:

“O Hasan and Husain, what a wonderful ride you have!”

To this, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) replied:

“Don’t say that. Say what wonderful riders I have!”

Need I write more about the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) love for his grandsons?

03.09.2008 Ali(A.S.), General Knowledge, Hasan(A.S.), History, Husain(A.S), Martyrs Of Karbala(A.S.), Muhammad(S.A.W.W.), Reflections, Religious 16 Comments

There’s something good about us…

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

I was asked to write on the topic

There’s something good about us…

Well i would like to recall here two incidents showing that there is indeed good about us, among us, within us! These incidents did not occur with me but they show the love and humanity in us as a nation.

**************

On May 7, 2004, congregational Friday prayers were being offered in Masjid-e-Hyderi belonging to the Shia sect, inside Sindh Madrassah-tul-Islam, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s alma mater.

Suddenly, there was a blast inside the mosque, killing and injuring many.

The blast was heard in a neighboring Sunni Barelvi masjid. The Imam of that masjid addressed the gathering to leave their prayers immediately and to rush and help their Shia brethren.

The death toll in this blast was 25, with 100 injured. This was the first big blast in a series which would haunt the country for the next 3 years.

**************

On May 30th, 2005, two more bombers tried to enter the Imambargah-e-Madina-tul-Ilm during Maghrib prayers. The Sunni policemen posted at the gates tried to stop them. Upon resistance, one bomber opened fire. In the gun battle that ensued, one bomber and two policemen died. The other bomber managed to enter and blew himself up.

The two Sunni policemen gave their lives in the line of duty, to protect the citizens of Pakistan, irrespective of cast, color or creed.

**************

Forget your sects, forget your nationalities, put everything aside for the sake of your country. Learn something from the example above, set by the Imam of the masjid, the worshippers and the two policemen. May Allah bless them for their good deeds, in the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) and His Family (A.S.)!

14.08.2008 Pakistan, Reflections, Society 8 Comments