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Have You Not Seen How Your Lord Dealt With The Owners of the Elephant?

Have You Not Seen How Your Lord Dealt With The Owners of the Elephant?

سورة الفيل

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ الرَّ‌حِيمِ

أَلَمْ تَرَ‌ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَ‌بُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ ﴿١﴾ أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِي تَضْلِيلٍ ﴿٢﴾ وَأَرْ‌سَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرً‌ا أَبَابِيلَ ﴿٣﴾ تَرْ‌مِيهِم بِحِجَارَ‌ةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ ﴿٤﴾ فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ ﴿٥

Surah 105, Al-Fil, of Noble Qur'aan

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

“Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the Owners of the Elephant?”

“Did He not make their plot go astray?”

“And He sent against them birds, in flocks (Ababil).”

“Striking them with stones of Sijjil.”

“And He made them like empty fields of stalk ('Asf, Ma'kul).”

This is one of the favors Allaah did for the Quraysh. He saved them from the People of the Elephant who had tried to tear down the Ka'bah and wipe out all traces of it's existence. Allaah destroyed them, defeated them, thwarted their plans, made their efforts in vain and sent them back routed.

They were people who were Christians, and thus, their religion was closer to the True Religion (Islaam) than the idolatry of the Quraysh. However, this was a means of giving a sign and preparing the way for the coming of the Messenger of Allaah (SalAllaahu alaihi was sallam). For verily, he was born during the same year according to the most popular opinion. So the tongue of destiny was saying, “ We will not help you, O people of Quraysh, because of any status you may have over the Ethiopians (Abyssinians). We are only helping you in order to defend the Ancient House (the Ka'bah), which We will honor, magnify and venerate by sending the unlettered Prophet, Muhammad (SalAllaahu alaihi was sallam), the Finality of all Prophets.”

**For the translated story of the People of the Elephant, refer to Tafsir Ibn Katheer, pgs. 589-598 [Darussalam]**

SO BEWARE OF CONSIDERING AS TOO LONG THE TIME FOR A PRAYER TO BE ANSWERED...

The Shaikh, the Imaam, the Allaamah, the Shaikh of Islaam, Abul-Faraj Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn al-Jawzi, said:

“I have reflected over an interesting situation: that a calamity may befall a believer and so he supplicates, going to great lengths in doing so, but he sees no sign of an answer. So when despair comes close, at that time his heart is looked at, thus if it is acceptant of the [many] decrees of fate, not having despaired of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic’s Bounty, then in most cases at that time the response is hastened, for it is there that eemaan is qualified, and the devil vanquished, and it is there that a man’s worth is shown.

And this has been alluded to in His Saying, the Most High, “… until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, “When is the help of Allaah?” [Baqarah 2:214]. And likewise is what happened to Ya’qoob ﻪﯿﻠﻋ مﻼﺴﻟا , for when he lost a son and the situation went on for a long time, he did not despair–and then his other son was taken, but his hope in his Lord’s Bounty that, “… perhaps Allaah will bring them to me all together …” [Yusuf 12:83] still did not cut off. And likewise Zakariya ﻪﯿﻠﻋ مﻼﺴﻟا said, “… and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy [i.e., disappointed].” [Maryam 19:3]

So beware of considering as too long the time for a prayer to be answered!

And look to the fact that He is the Sovereign Lord/the Absolute King of the entire universe, and that He is the All-Wise in that which He plans, and the One who knows what is of benefit [to you], and that He wants to examine you in order to test your concealed mettle, and that He wants to see your earnest supplication, and that He wants to reward you for your patience, and other such purposes.

In addition to that, He is testing you by delaying the response to your supplication so that you can fight Iblis’ whisperings and wicked insinuations–and every one of these things strengthens [one’s] belief in His Bounty, and obligates being thankful to Him–for He, by testing you with the trial, prepared you to turn to ask Him.

And the distressed person’s destitution/poverty in having to turn to Him is total and utter affluence.”

Saidul-Khaatir, pp. 227-228. http://giftsofknowledge.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/ ibn-al-jawzis-remarkable-comments-on-supplication/

Befriending those who commit sins

The second question of Fatwa no. 17324 Q : What is the appropriate limit of al-Wala' wal-Bara' (loyalty and disassociation for allah's Sake) as regards Muslims who commit sins such as singing, shaving the beard, smoking, snuffing, Isbal (lengthening and trailing clothing below the ankles), etc.? Must we boycott them if they do not respond to advice? A: It is not permissible to deal with those who commit sins in public unless you aim at counseling them, knowing that your advice will affect them positively. They should be loved in proportion to the strength of their belief in Allah, and they should be resented in proportion to the seriousness of their sins. If they do not accept the advice, they should be abandoned according to Shari`ah (Islamic law) until they repent to Allah. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions. The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' Member Member Member Chairman Bakr Abu Zayd `Abdul-`Aziz Al Al-Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Exerting Oneself

Narrated Aishah (Radi Allaahu anha): The Prophet (SalAllaahu alaihe was sallam) said, " Such a person as recites the Qur'an and masters it by heart, will be with the (angels) honorable and obedient (in heaven). And such a person as exerts himself to learn the Qur'an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward."

[Sahih al Bukhari hadeeth #4937, The Book of Commentary]

Tea + Sugar = Bitterness unless... - الشاي مع السكر يبقى مرا إلا إذا‎

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The deeds of anyone of you will not save you from the hellfire

Narrated Abu Hurairah (Radi Allaahu anhu): Allaah's Messenger (SalAllaahu alaihe was sallam) said, “The deeds of anyone of you will not save you [from the hellfire].” They said, “Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O Allaah's Messenger?” He said, “No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allaah protects or covers me with His Grace and His Mercy. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allaah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and Al-Qasd (always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course) whereby you will reach your Al-Qasd (target i.e., Paradise).” (1)

(1) The Prophet (Sal Allaahu alaihe was sallam) compares the Muslim to a traveler who should not exert himself at the beginning of the journey for he would become too tired to reach his destination. So one should adopt a moderate way of regular and constant worshipping of Allaah whereby one should reach his destination (i.e., Paradise).

[Sahih Al Bukhari hadeeth # 6463 (The Book of Ar-Riqaq Softening of the Hearts)]