Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam)

As-salamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullah,

Insha Allah this will add on to the previous post:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6CCBMBeOh60

"Radeena billali Rabban wa bil islami deenan wa bi Muhammadin (Sallalahu alayhi wa Sallam) nabiyyan wa rasoola..."

ma'as-salam wal ikram,

shampu

Al-Husayn's question to his father, Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both)

Al-Husayn said, "I asked my father about how the messenger of Allah was at home."

He (Ali) said, "It was allowed for him to enter his house for his own comfort. When he retired to his house, he divided his time into three parts-one part for Allah, one for his family, and one for himself. Then he divided his part between his people and himself. He used the time for the people more for the common people than for the elite. He did not reserve anything for himself to their exclusion. Of his conduct in the part reserved for himself was that he would show preference to the people of merit, and would divide the time according to their excellence in the deen. Some people needed one thing, some needed two, and some had many needs. He concerned himself with them and kept them busy doing things that were good for them and the community. He always asked about them and what was happening to them. He used to say, "Those who are present should convey things to those who are absent and you should let me know about what is needed by people who cannot convey their needs to me. On the Day of Rising, Allah will make firm the feet of a person who conveys to a ruler the need of someone who cannot convey it himself." This was all that was mentioned in his presence and he would only accept this from people.'"

Al-Husayn said, "Tell me about when he went out and how he behaved then?"

His father replied, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, held his tongue except regarding what concerned people. He brought people together and did not split them. He honored the nobles of every group of people and appointed them over their people. He was cautious about people and on his guard against them, but he did that without averting his face from them or being discourteous. He asked about his companions and he asked people how other people were. He praised what was good and encouraged it, and disliked what was ugly and discouraged it. He took a balanced course, without making changes. He was not negligent, fearing that people would become negligent or weary. He was prepared for any eventuality. He did not neglect a right nor did he let his debts reach the point where others had to help him. The best and most preferred people in his eyes were those who supported and helped him."

Al-Husayn then asked him about his assembly and how he behaved in it.

He said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not sit down or stand up without mentioning Allah. He did not reserve a special place for himself and forbade other people to do so. When he came to people, he sat down at the edge of the assembly and told other people to do the same. He gave everyone who sat with him his share so that no one who sat with him thought that anyone was honored more than he was. If anyone sat with him or stood near him to ask for something, he put up with that person until the person turned away. When someone asked him for something he needed, he either departed with it or with some consoling words. He had the kindest and best behavior of all people, being like a father to them. They were all equal in respect of their right with him.”

May Allah grant us the tawfeeq to follow His beloved messenger's footsteps. Ameen ya Rabbal 'aalameen.

“I declared a state of Jihad upon my soul and put death before my eyes. I made an intention to memorise the Noble Qur’aan. So I abandoned telephone calls and unnecessary visits, and I changed all the negative thoughts associated with hifdh (memorisation) to positive and practical ones e.g. When a thought came to me saying ‘I can’t do it!’ I’d say, ‘I can do it.’ If it said, ‘My memory is weak!’ I’d say ‘I take pleasure in having a great memory.’

I chose the masjid as the place of my hifdh as it preserves three:

1. The eyes

2. The ears

3. The tongue

I followed a specific dietary program consisting of eating dates, fruits and honey - and fasting helped me a great deal in that. I used to wake up before salaat al-Fajr by 2 and a half hours and I slept 2 hours after ‘Isha. I used to wake up for Tahajjud (the night prayer), prolonging my sujood wherein I would call upon Allaah ta’alaa to ease for me my affair. I would also seek forgiveness 100 times.

I began to memorise 5 pages and would recite them in the Sunnah prayers of Fajr. After salaat al-Fajr, I would begin the memorisation of 5 new pages and at the end, I would recite them in the 2 raka’ahs of salaat al-Duhaa, all the time thanking Allaah for easing the memorisation.

I would perfect the recitation of what I had memorised by listening to tapes of one of the recitors. I would read about the qiraa’ah in books or via the Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah (poem on the ahkam of tajweed).

After salaat al-Dhuhr, I would repeat everything that I had memorised previously beginning from the 1st Juz, until salaat al-’Asr. After the ‘Asr prayer, I would repeat the new portion of hifdh and the juz before. After the Maghrib prayer, I would prepare the recitation of 10 new pages and it was only after salaat al-’Isha that I’d review the Qur’aan with my teacher, may Allaah reward him well.

Before retiring to bed, I would listen to all that I memorised in the day from cassettes and I would be sitting for 6 continuous hours, without any boredom or feeling tired. In the 1st week, I would sit for 6 hours, memorising and revising. In the 2nd week, I would sit for 8 hours. In the 3rd week, it was 10 hours and in the 4th week, it was 12 hours. In the last 10 days, I was sitting for 14 hours memorising and revising.

The hardest times for me were when it came to sleeping and eating. I ardently wished that the period of sleep would end quickly so that I could start my hifdh of the Noble of Qur’aan. Everytime I began to read the Qur’aan and memorise, I felt such delight and enjoyment that I had never felt before. Du’a was an important factor for me before and after hifdh. I would memorise a page whilst sitting down and then repeat it whilst walking. My teacher played an important role in encouraging me, in revision, in correcting me and benefiting me in terms of Tajweed.

In the last week, on the night of 20th Ramadan, only 4 and a half juz remained until completion of hifdh. So I turned to Allaah to open up my way and ease it for me. I went on to memorise it in 6 days with the Help of Allaah.

Laylatul-Qadr came, the night of delight and happiness - it was like a wedding night to me. My completion of hifdh took place between Maghrib and ‘Isha in the masjid with the Imam and those in I’tikaaf. We began the khatma (reciting from beginning till end of the Book). In the end, during the du’aa, my heart opened up greatly and I began to weep like never before. It was the most beautiful hour of my life. Allaah had honoured me with the memorisation of His Book.

During the du’aa, I remembered a dream I had more than 10 years ago… I was a Mu’adhin of a mosque and after Fajr salaah, I sat remembering Allaah in the mosque. I felt sleepy so I took a nap in the middle of the mosque, and behold! I found myself amidst a gathering. A powerful ray of light descended from the sky down to the middle of the masjid. From that light came many angels and between them were 2 big Angels. One of them turned towards me and took me to the light. I entered along with the 2 angels. I then found myself on top of a large green tree - I began to climb it in the companionship of the 2 angels. We found angels standing by the door of the 1st heaven. They said to me ‘Where are you going?’ They opened up a book and said, ‘We don’t have your name with us, so climb onwards to the top.’ And likewise, all the time (through each heaven), they said the same thing to me.

Upon arriving at the 7th heaven, we reached the end of the tree. I found angels standing at the door and they said, ‘Are you Muhammad?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ They said, ‘Enter, for the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) wants you.’ I said to the 2 angels that were with me ‘Come in with me.’ They said, ‘We can’t enter. But we will wait for you.’ So I entered Jannah and behold, I saw therein what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and had never entered in the heart of Man. Angels were surrounding me and there was a door, on top of it was written لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله. جنة الفردوس (There is no God but Allaah and Muhammad is His Messenger. Al-Firdaws Paradise).

The Angels opened the door and I entered. Before me was the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) sitting at the top end and beside him were men, some that I recognised and some that I didn’t. In front of him were a very large group of men, women and children. They wore white clothes, and they were so many that they had a beginning but no end. All of them were reciting Qur’aan.

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) called me and I went up to him. He got up and made some space for me. I kissed him and he sat me down besides him. I asked him ‘Who are these people O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘These are the people who have memorised the Book of Allaah `azza wa jall.’

Inshaa’Allaah ta’ala, the dream ended in truth. I never spoke to anyone about it until the night that I completed the memorisation of the Qur’aan.”

May Allah give us all the tawfiq to read, memorize and practice the holy quran, Ameen.

wassalaam,

-- NiNjA

THE SLAVE WHO WAS THE NOOR OF SOLACE

Abdul Waahid Bin Zaid (rahmatullah alayh) had purchased a slave. During the night he called the slave, but found him missing. The doors and windows were all closed and locked as he had left them. In the morning the slave mysteriously appeared and handed his master a silver coin (dirham) on which was inscribed Surah Ikhlaas. When Hadhrat Abdul Waahid asked him about the dirham, the slave said: "I shall give you such a dirham everyday on condition that you do not call me during the night."

The master accepted. Every morning thereafter, the slave presented a dirham to Hadhrat Abdul Waahid.

Many days thereafter, his neighbour came and said: "Sell your slave. He is a kafan-thief." The neighbour said that the slave was seen entering graves, hence it was assumed that he stole the kafans of the dead. Hadhrat Abdul Waahid was extremely grieved. He decided to follow the slave that night and discover the truth. Continuing the story, he says:

"After Esha Salaat when the slave decided to leave, I saw to my utter amazement the closed door open up at a sign made by him. When he made another sign, the door closed. He passed through three doors of the house in this manner. I was observing him closely from a vantage point in concealment. When he reached outside, I followed. We walked on until we arrived in a plain. He removed his clothes and donned a simple garment of rough sack cloth. Soon he was engrossed in Salaat until Fajr. After completing his Salaat, he raised his face towards the heaven, and made dua: 'O my Great Master! Give me the wage for my small master.'

As he supplicated, a dirham fell from above and landed by him. He put the dirham in his pocket. I was astonished and bewildered and was overcome with awe and fear. I made wudhu and performed two rak`ats. I sought forgiveness from Allah Ta`ala for the suspicion I had entertained about him and I resolved to set him free.

When I looked, I saw that he had disappeared. I was now extremely concerned. I did not know where I was. I could not recognize the wilderness where I was standing. Suddenly I saw a man on a green horse approaching. He said: 'O Abdul Waahid! Why are you sitting here today?' I explained what had transpired. He asked: 'Do you know the distance this place is from your city?' I said: 'I know nothing.' He said: 'For a man on a fast horse, it will take two years to reach your city. But remain here. Tonight your slave will return to this place.' The horseman disappeared.

That night my slave appeared suddenly. A cloth with a variety of dishes appeared. The salve said: 'O master, eat! In future do not do so.' I ate. The slave remained performing Salaat until the morning. Then taking hold of my hand, he recited a glorious Name of Allah (Ism - e - A`zam) which I could not make out. He walked with me a few steps. To my amazement I was standing at the entrance of my home. He then said: ' O my master! Did you not resolve to set me free?'

I said: 'That is still my intention.'

The Slave: ' In lieu of the price you had paid for me, emancipate me. You will also be rewarded in the Aakhirah.'

He picked up a stone and gave it to me. When I took it, it was gold. The slave departed leaving me with a broken heart.

My neighbour came to me and asked: 'What have you decided about your kafan-thief slave?'

I said: 'Beware! He is not a kafan-thief. He is a celestial light of solace.'

I narrated the miracles of the slave to the neighbours. They all cried abundantly and repented."