MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 1/41)
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MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM
His Life & Prophecy compiled from traditional sources in Ottoman Turkish by Hajjah Amina Adil. Preface by Shaykh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani Foreward by Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani
The author, Hajjah Amina (right), and her daughter, Hajjah Naziha Adil.
2002 Islamic Supreme Council of America
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the written permission of the Islamic Supreme Council of America. (www.islamicsupremecouncil.org)
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ISBN: 9781618429131
Front cover photo: Entrusted to the Ottoman Sultan through the succession of caliphs dating back to 7th century, this exquisite tableau in many ways summarizes the life of Prophet Muhammad. The first flag of Islam is preserved within the closed box, representing the Prophet's spiritual authority. The Quran -- the divine book which he brought -- rests open, symbolizing the never-extinguished light of his guidance. The sheathed swords represent the Prophet's struggle, primarily against the ego (the greater jihad) and against religious oppression (the lesser jihad).
Back cover photos: The blessed footprint of Prophet Muhammad; golden keys to the Kaba in Mecca, bestowed upon the Ottoman Sultans as caretakers of the sacred site.
All items are part of a permanent display at Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.
Table of Contents
PREFACE FOREWORD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NOTES
CREATION OF THE LIGHT OF MUHAMMAD
The Twelve Veils Creation of the Beloved
From the Light of Muhammad
Who Gazed at the Soul of Muhammad
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PROPHETS OF GOD
Adam Seth Idris Noah Hud Salih Abraham Ishmail Isaac Jacob Joseph Job Shu’ayb Moses Aaron Ilyas David Solomon Ezra Jonah Zacharia John Jesus
Muhammad
Created Through the Light of Muhammad
DESCENT OF NUR-I-MUHAMMAD
Narration of Ka’b al-Akhbar
THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT
Diverting the Pilgrimage to Yemen The Wisdom of Abdul-Muttalib Divine Support Saves Mecca
THE BLESSED BIRTH
More Events Surrounding the Noble Birth of the Prophet Halima as-Sa’adia, the Prophet’s Nurse
EARLY HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE COMMUNITY
Muhammad’s Marriage to Khadija al-Kubra Revelation of Prophethood
How `Umar bin Khattab Came to Islam Some Miracles of the Holy Prophet Migration to Abyssinia
Hamza Enters the Fold of Islam
The Quraysh Send Envoys to the King of Abyssinia The Deaths of Abu Talib and Khadija
The Holy Prophet’s Visit to Ta’if
THE HOLY ASCENSION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Buraq is Dispatched to His Noble Mount Prophet Narrates His Mi’raj
Bayt-al-Maqdis
Meeting the Prophets
THE PROPHET’S VISIT TO HEAVENS
The Second Heaven The Third Heaven
Allah Grants the Prophet Intercession The Fourth Heaven
Mansions of Maryam, Buhayyid and Asiya The Fifth Heaven
The Sixth Heaven
THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
The Bayt-al-Ma’mur (The Heavenly House) The Sidratul Muntaha
The Four Streams of Paradise Ramadan, the Blessed
The Angel Jibra’il’s Appearance The Vision of the Divine Beauty The Tahiyyat Prayer
Allah Complains About the Ummah
PARADISE
About the Paradise Gardens The Tuba Tree
The Waters of Kawthar The Duration of the Mi’raj
THE EARLY MUSLIMS IN MADINAH
The Second Tryst at ‘Aqaba The Hijra
The Snake Bites Abu Bakr The First Hijri Mosque at Quba The Song of Welcome
A King of Yemen is Granted Shahada
EVENTS OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE HIJRA
The Beginning of the Islamic Calendar The Command to Fight the Idolators The Expedition of ‘Ubayda bin al-Harith The Changing of the Qibla
The Fasting of Ramadan The Great Battle of Badr ‘Abbas Enters Islam
The Story of Wahab bin ‘Umayr The Marriage of Fatima to Ali Other Marriages
THE BATTLE OF UHUD
The Martyrdom of Hamza Umm Ummara Joins the Battle
The Prophet is Wounded Allah Offers Martyrdom Umm Ayman is Injured
The Death of Ubayy bin Khalaf The Funeral Prayer in Islam More Examples of Pious Women The Military Defeat at Uhud
EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE GROWING MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Events of Bir Ma’una The Day of Raji’
The Expulsion of the Bani Nadir Why the Bani Nadir Were Expelled The Story of Zaynab bint Jahsh The Battle of the Trench
The Treachery of the Bani Qurayza The Reconciliation at al-Hudaybiyah
The Pledge of Allegiance, Baiyat-i-Ridwan
MESSAGES TO VARIOUS RULERS
The Byzantine Emperor Heraclius The Khosroes of Iran, King Parviz The Negus of Abyssinia
The Muqawqis of Egypt The Chief of Yamama
The Chief of the Syrian Arabs
CHALLENGES & ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NEW MUSLIM NATION
Preparing for the Conquest of Khaybar Diplomatic Solutions Failed Approaching the Battle
Ali Leads the Fight by High Example The Results of War
The Story of Safiya bint Huyay bin Akhtab How the Holy Prophet Dealt With His Enemies The Prophet’s ‘Umra
The Battle of Mu’ta
The Story of ‘Amr ibn al-‘As The Battle of Murays
The Slander of Aisha The Conquest of Mecca
The Prophet Forgave the Crimes of Jahiliyya The Incident of the Bani Jadhima
The Battle of Hunayn The Division of the Spoils
THE NINTH YEAR OF THE HIJRA
Repudiation and Choice Developing Diplomatic Ties Various Envoys Visit the Prophet The Battle of Tabuk
Masjid al-Dirar
The Pilgrimage of Islam
EVENTS OF THE TENTH YEAR OF THE HIJRA
Many Thousands Enter Islam The Farewell Pilgrimage False Prophets Appear
An Unprecedented Legacy
THE HOLY PROPHET’S PASSING
The Deep Love of the Sahaba Advice of the Prophet
The Friend on High, the Exalted Companion of Paradise
Choosing a Successor
The Battles of the Holy Prophet The Prophet’s Scribes
The Prophet’s Military Weaponry
The Holy Prophet’s Blessed Description
MONTHS AND HOLY DAYS OF THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Preface
Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam has been published at a time when people around the world, particularly those who are unfamiliar with the Islamic faith, are searching for understanding of this great religion, its adherents, its holy book the Quran, and the life examples of its ultimate leader, Muhammad, unto him be peace.
This esteemed work arrives as crucial questions are being asked. What is so appealing about Islam that nearly one-fourth of the world’s inhabitants claim it as their religion? How does Islam regard human life, women, education and literacy, democracy, military pursuits and, in general terms, the life we have come to know in the West? What is the Islamic view of other religions?
In fact Islam is a religion that engages its adherents at every level of life, going beyond the walls of the mosque. Islamic teachings are based on the divinely revealed Quran, on the Hadith (examples of the Prophet Muhammad ), and on the legal judgments of trained jurists. It is also a religion largely open to interpretation, which allows for consensus, discussion, and disagreement.
However, everyone who is familiar with Islam will certainly agree it offers guidance for every aspect of our lives, with the goal of serving Allah subhana wa ta’ala, The Almighty in the best manner. Therefore, to be a servant of God is the highest goal of humankind, which encompasses respect for all creation and humility.
To achieve this goal or “station”, one must be cognizant of what Allah subhana wa ta’ala truly expects from His creatures. One must seek guidance and the ability to distinguish what is right, and to stand for it even in the face of opposition. One must certainly remain open to Truth.
And thus we find in Islam the guidance in the form of the textual sources, but also practices that feed the soul, to keep it in tune with The Divine. Just as our physical bodies cannot survive without food and drink, being from Heavens, our souls have specific needs to survive in this earthly sphere of life. It is this spiritual connection with The Divine that actually allows us to carry the burden of life in this physical world.
To view humanity as mere physical beings - as evolved, more sophisticated animals - reduces us to a limited, one-dimensional, material level. History is replete with countless examples of the failure of humanity to resolve its miseries and challenges through material means. Currently there are more resources in the world than ever before, and yet poverty and hunger have reached unprecedented levels, prisons are bursting from overcrowding, the volume of refugees has surpassed all predictions, wars have not subsided, and fatal diseases and illnesses pervade every region. We live in a time when financial success and the material life does not solve our problems; in fact in most cases it drives us to excessive behaviors. As a people, these circumstances are spiritually killing us, across all social and religious boundaries, wiping out true humanity from the face of the earth.
Islam categorically refutes the materialist approach to life by raising the status of human beings to representatives of Allah subhana wa ta’ala on earth, equipped with faculties of reason, but similarly equipped with powers to develop as superior beings through acts of kindness, humility, and intervention against what is wrong. By following the divine guidance of Allah’s prophets and saints, we are granted access to a spiritual world through which we are perpetually fed, gaining the crucial abilities we need to survive this material world.
Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam embodies the timeless teachings of holy souls through the ages, whom Allah subhana wa ta’ala has endowed with immense wisdom. May we benefit from what they offer, that these lessons help us evolve to higher stations, becoming truly in tune with the spiritual dimension of life, achieving a state of genuine peace – with ourselves and the world around us.
Wa min Allah at Tawfiq - and Allah knows best. Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, Cyprus, January 2002
Foreword
Praise be to Allah subhana wa ta’ala (The Almighty, glorified and exalted) that He created us and sent His messengers to teach us, and sent His message of the Unity of God through many prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and our master Muhammad . To fill all peoples with love and peace, and to provide us wisdom and guidance, Allah subhana wa ta’ala sent the heavenly books: the Psalms of David, the Torah of Moses (Old Testament), the Injil of Jesus (New Testament), and the Holy Quran of Prophet Muhammad .
We find in His infinite wisdom and mercy, Allah subhana wa ta’ala has sent divine knowledge much as the sun fills the horizon, illuminating the hearts of humankind as they navigate and face the challenges of this earthly life. He made his prophets role models for all humanity, for all times to come. May His blessings come on all messengers, especially on the Last Messenger, Sayyidina Muhammad , the Chosen One from among all prophets, sent as a mercy for all humanity and a rainbow of divine light and revelation for the entire world. Blessings be upon his companions who are the stars of that universe of knowledge, and forgiveness be upon those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.
A prophet (nabi) is a human being to whom Allah subhana wa ta’ala has revealed a criterion of disciplinary law (Shari`a) but whom He did not ask to deliver it as a message.
A messenger (rasul) is a human being to whom Allah subhana wa ta’ala has revealed the disciplinary law as a prophet, but on top of that, sent him to deliver the message; thus he is both a prophet and a messenger.
Prophets, as they have been described in the sayings of Ibn `Abbas in the work of commentary Ruh al-bayan, specifically of the chapter of Quran entitled Surat al-`Araaf, it is stated that the prophets number around 124,000, and the prophet- messengers are twenty-five. Further, Imam Ahmad narrated that Abi Dharr al- Ghifari said, “Oh Messenger of Allah, who was the first Prophet?” He said, “Adam”. … And I asked, “Oh Messenger of Allah, how many are the messengers?” He said, “310 and a few more.”
And in another narration of Imam Ahmad, from the narration of Abi Umaama, Abu Dharr asked, “Oh Messenger of Allah, how many are the prophets?” He said, “120,000 and between them 315 messengers.”
The Holy Quran mentions twenty-five of these messengers, namely: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishma`il, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Zacharia, John (the Baptist), Idris, Jonah, Hud, Shu`ayb, Salih, Lot, Ilyas, Ilya`sa, Dhul-kifli, Jesus and Sayyidina Muhammad, peace be upon them all. These are the messengers of Allah who came with holy books containing the divine message. The others are prophets who received divine revelation but who were not ordered to deliver it to anyone; it was for them. For example, all Jacob’s sons were prophets, but Joseph was the only messenger from among them.
Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam proves a very great resource for Muslims and people of other faiths. It expounds intimate details of the life of Prophet Muhammad , highlighting his love and respect for all humanity, the depth of his compassion and mercy for all creation, and his perfect example as a role model for anyone who seeks the ultimate proximity to Allah subhana wa ta’ala and perfection as a human being.
What he brought was revolutionary: enlightenment and education that immediately ushered people out of wayward darkness into guiding light, from unrealistic life to realistic life, from evil to good. The life examples of the Last Messenger Muhammad are a vast reservoir of examples from which we can draw deeply at any point in time, to quench the thirst for self-improvement and true guidance.
Laboriously compiled from rare manuscripts, traditional Islamic texts, and other printed source material (including sahih hadith and others*), painstakingly translated from Ottoman Turkish to English, Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam accurately depicts the perfected, blessed character and refined manners that Allah subhana wa ta’ala bestowed on His beloved prophet . This illustrious work examines the greatness Prophet Muhammad showed throughout his life. It depicts the great lengths to which he went - many times risking his own life, suffering humiliation, torment and abuse from his own tribe, leaving the only home he knew, always tolerant of his attackers and seeking peace - to guide the entire world with practical lessons on living a successful life. These lessons can be applied in any culture, place, or era, and miraculously remain as current today as they were fifteen centuries ago.
From Prophet Muhammad’s life examples (sunnah) we find elaborate guidelines on all aspects of society building, from infrastructure development and establishing relations with foreign nations, to building academic, economic and welfare systems, and establishing the judiciary body and ministry of defense. To this day, he is known as a superior statesman who built a solid nation, able to face countless challenges. In fact over time, many of the Prophet’s nation-building tactics have been applied and proven in various regions of the world.
In the glorious Quran, Allah subhana wa ta’ala said:
Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets, and Allah has full knowledge of all things. [33:40]
Tirmidhi (hasan) and Ibn Maja:
Abu Sa`id al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet said: “I am the leader of human beings and I say this without pride.”
At-Tirmidhi narrated:
“The Prophet said: I heard your words, and everything you said is indeed true, and I myself am the Beloved of Allah (habibullah) and I say this without pride, and I carry the flag of glory (liwa ul-hamd) on the Day of Judgment, and am the first intercessor and the first whose intercession is accepted, and the first to stir the circles of Paradise so that Allah will open it for me and I shall enter it together with the poor among my Community, and I say this without pride. I am the most honored of the First and the Last, and I say this without pride.”
And thus we lovingly present Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam in our humble attempt to bring light where there is darkness, to bring peace to troubled minds, and to restore love to battered hearts.
Wa min Allah at Tawfiq - and Allah knows best.
Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, Washington D.C., January 2002
* According to a sound ruling in Islamic jurisprudence in reference to matters of worship, even a weak
tradition (hadith) is acceptable in order to encourage people to a better way of life and self-improvement. In Seerat ibn Hisham and at-Tabari and in other Islamic historical sources, there appear numerous hadith from Bukhari and Muslim, but still you find weak narrations are included. This book has been compiled from all these sources: from the sahih hadith to the good, the fair to the weak, all of which serve to encourage people to live more pious lives and to clarify the details of the life of the Prophet .
About the Author
Hajjah Amina Adil is a renowned author, lecturer and spiritual advisor who, for more than forty years, has devoted herself to help people of all walks of life better understand Islam. In addition, she has played a pivotal role in helping Muslim women understand and apply the many distinguishing rights God Almighty set forth for women in the Islamic faith.
Married for fifty years to Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, the spiritual head of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order, Hajjah Amina has traveled the world. A scholar of Shari`ah and shaykha, she has thousands of disciples throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East, Southeast and Central Asia, and Africa.
She studied under many scholars of the Middle East and Turkey, including Grandshaykh Abdullah ad-Daghestani an-Naqshbandi, among others.
Hajjah Amina is from the family of Prophet Muhammad . She was born in Russia’s Kazan Province during the early Communist era, which mandated a statewide purge of Jews, Christians and Muslims. With neighbors mysteriously disappearing and millions exiled to camps in Siberia where they either froze or starved to death, when she was a mere toddler the family fled on foot in the dark of night on a perilous journey that, for reasons of safety, could only be undertaken with the clothes on their backs.
Too young to recall the long journey that would eventually lead them to Turkey, family members have narrated her parents’ bravery and deep sense of faith, young Amina’s sense of adventure, and a tragic life-threatening fall that left her in a coma from which they feared she would not recover. After more than a year and with Communist officials in deadly pursuit, the family miraculously made their way to Arzurum in northeastern Turkey.
Thus, at such a tender age, Hajjah Amina was granted the high status of “muhajirah”, which means one who migrated from tyranny and religious oppression to a place where they can openly practice their faith. It is said the reward for such an undertaking rests solely with God Almighty.
These early life experiences seem to have shaped Hajjah Amina’s love of family,
community and travel, her forthrightness in standing for justice, and her love of Islam. However, after twelve years in Turkey, Hajjah Amina’s father had a vision in which he was instructed to relocate the family to “Sham” (Damascus), which had been their original destination upon leaving Russia. In Damascus they found the life they had been seeking, and settled on Jabal Qasiyun, a high mountain which overlooks the entire city.
It was here the family met Grandshaykh Abdullah al-Fa`iz ad-Daghestani of the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, who took particular care in overseeing Hajjah Amina’s religious and spiritual development. Under Grandshaykh Abdullah she studied Tasawwuf (Sufism – Islamic spirituality) and she studied Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) under such notable scholars as Shaykh Salih Farfour of Syria and Shaykh Mukhtar Alaily, then Secretary General of Religious Affairs of Lebanon. Hajjah Amina’s teachers and mentors were always amazed with her acumen, with her high level of retention, and her ability to grasp and reason complex issues within the framework of Islamic Law, even at a young age.
At age twenty-three, upon the advice of Grandshaykh Abdullah she was engaged to the young Shaykh Nazim; they married a month later and have remained great companions for nearly fifty years. In fact Shaykh Nazim often remarks that his wife seems to him the same as when they first married. Together they have lived and raised their four children between Syria, Turkey and Cyprus, and at the time of this writing they have been blessed with sixteen grandchildren and six great- grandchildren.
As a young mother and wife of a shaykh in training, Hajjah Amina was often left alone to face the challenges of raising a family while her husband was either in spiritual retreat or traveling for months on end, visiting various regions to spread the word of the Unity of God. This, coupled with her early life experience, only strengthened her faith and reliance on God Almighty.
Hajjah Amina has thrice performed Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Known for her wise, practical approach to life and her problem-solving skills, over the years she has become a much-turned-to advisor of women on a host of issues. She speaks fluent Turkish and Arabic, and is proficient in English. She is uniquely beloved to heads of state and their ministers, to celebrities, as well as common folk.
Hajjah Amina currently resides in Cyprus in a comfortable “old world” farm house with a spacious garden, where she receives thousands of visitors each year from all over the world. She still occasionally accompanies Shaykh Nazim on
his official visits to other countries and has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences on Islam and Muslim women.
Hajjah Amina’s other works include the three-volume series Lore of Light, her inimitable narration of stories of the prophets and miracles of the saints. All inquiries for Hajjah Amina may be directed to the publisher.
Acknowledgements
This brilliant work stands as tribute to the profound impact on religious and social development made by the Rahmatun-lil `Alamin, the “Mercy to all the Worlds”, Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdallah (peace and blessing of God be upon him).
As one who grew up at the feet of renowned scholars thoroughly conversant in Islamic history and tradition, it is my distinct honor to acknowledge my mother’s shining attempt to bring to life stories handed down over centuries on the unprecedented life of the Prophet of Islam.
In her inimitable style – which captivates the imagination much like in the pre- television era - renowned scholar and author, my mother Hajjah Amina Adil meticulously compiled this great Seerah (biography) in her native Ottoman Turkish, a classic language which inevitably suffers loss when translated to English. Thus, every care has been taken to capture the linguistic styles and finer meanings of ancient narrations, while presenting them to a contemporary, English-speaking audience.
It is deeply hoped Muhammad (): The Messenger of Islam will fill the current literary demand for titles on traditional Islam, and its much-discussed religious interpretations. This book is presented with a view to answer many contemporary questions and to help those unfamiliar with this great world religion in better understanding its tenets, history and culture which is shared by
1.5 billion adherents, roughly one-fifth of the world’s inhabitants.
For the past year our editorial team has worked intensely to bring you this highly authoritative work, replete with textual references and a glossary of the many foreign terms, which have recently surfaced into the mainstream English language.
My deep gratitude goes to Ms. Radhia Shukrullah of Cyprus who labored to provide an accurate translation from the original Ottoman Turkish.
The following women have taken great pains to ensure the integrity of all textual references, and have provided extensive editing to present this work to mainstream audiences: Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, Director of Public Affairs, Islamic Supreme Council of America; Hajjah Talibah Jilani, National Executive
Director, Kamilat Muslims Women’s Association; and Ms. Jennifer McLennan, Executive Director, Islamic Supreme Council of America.
Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam is a work of enduring love, which comes to you from our hearts. The efforts of this sincere group of women – from the author and translator through the editors and publisher – is tribute to the high standards of women’s and human rights, introduced in Arabia fifteen centuries ago by this greatest of God’s prophets.
In these times, when we are inundated with news of religious radicalism, I pray the readers of this shining work will gain a deeper respect and understanding for traditional Islam, which has thrived peacefully for many centuries, and which supports religious tolerance, gender equality, social consciousness, and civil responsibility. Further, through centuries of influence of the Sufi mystics and their various spiritual practices, classical Islam is known to liberate souls from their earthly bondage.
If you complete this reading better informed, with a sounder view of Islam and its adherents, if it spurns discussion and debate, and challenges you to re- evaluate past perceptions of Islam, Muslims, and their place in world history, not one moment of our collective effort has been in vain.
With a combination of pride, humility, and awe, I salute the five decades of my mother’s devotion to bringing light where there is darkness, and for instilling in me a deep love for Islamic tradition. May this valuable book be blessed, and may it reach those who may truly benefit from it.
Hajjah Naziha Adil
Chairwoman, Kamilat, April 2002
Notes
Quran translations are quoted from the Arberry English translation, The Quran Interpreted by Arthur J. Arberry, Oxford University Press, 1964.
Quotes from the Quran and Hadith, the two major source texts on Islam, are italicized and referenced by the chapter name and verse.
The following symbols are universally recognized by Muslims and have been respectfully included in this work:
The symbol represents “sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam” (Allah's blessings and greetings of peace be upon him) which is customarily recited after reading or pronouncing the name of Prophet Muhammad.
It is intended that “alayhis-salam” (peace be upon him/her) be recited after the names of the other prophets, the Family of the Prophet, the pure and virtuous women in Islam, and the angels, represented by the symbol .
It is also intended that “radiAllahu anh” or (may Allah be pleased with him/her) is recited after the names of Companions of the Prophet, represented by the symbol .
Creation of the Light of Muhammad
One day Ali, karam Allahu wajhahu, the cousin and son-in-law of the Holy Prophet asked, “Oh Muhammad, both my parents shall be my ransom, pray tell me what the Lord Almighty created before all other beings of creation?” This was his blissful reply:
Verily, before your Lord made any other thing, He created from His own Light the light of your Prophet , and that Light rested haithu mashaAllah, where Allah willed it to rest. And at that time there existed aught else-not the Preserved Tablets, not the Pen, not Heaven nor Hell, not the Angelic Host, not the heavens nor the earth; there was no sun, no moon, no star, no jinn nor man nor angel– none was as yet created, only this Light.
Then Allah – glorified be He – by divine decree willed the Creation to be. He therefore divided this Light into four parts. From the first part He created the Pen, from the second the Tablets, from the third the Divine Throne.
Now it has become known that when the Lord had created the Tablets and the Pen, the Pen had on it one hundred nodes, the distance between two nodes being that of two years wayfaring. The Lord then commanded the Pen to write, and the Pen asked, “Oh Lord, what shall I write?” The Lord said, “Write: la ilaha illAllah, Muhammadan Rasulullah.” Thereupon the Pen exclaimed, “Oh, what a beautiful, great name is that of Muhammad that it is to mentioned in one with Thy hallowed Name, oh Lord.”
The Lord then said, “Oh Pen, mind your manners! This name is the name of My Beloved, from his Light I have created the Throne and the Pen and the Tablets; you, too, are created from his Light. Had it not been for him, I would not have created a single thing.” When Allah Almighty had spoken these words, the Pen split in two from awe of the Lord, and the place from which its speech issued became blocked, so that to this very day its nib remains cloven in two and clogged up, so it does not write, which is the sign of this great divine secret. Therefore, let no one fail in veneration and honoring of the Holy Prophet , or become lax in following his shining example, or contravene the noble custom he has taught us.
Then again the Lor
Link: https://www.nvrislam.net/index.php?j=eng&post=5952
MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM
His Life & Prophecy compiled from traditional sources in Ottoman Turkish by Hajjah Amina Adil. Preface by Shaykh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani Foreward by Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani
The author, Hajjah Amina (right), and her daughter, Hajjah Naziha Adil.
2002 Islamic Supreme Council of America
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the written permission of the Islamic Supreme Council of America. (www.islamicsupremecouncil.org)
Published and Distributed by:
Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA)
1400 Sixteenth Street NW, #B112, Washington, DC 20036 USA
Publishing Office:
17195 Silver Parkway, #201, Fenton, MI 48430 USA
Tel: (888) 278-6624
Fax: (810) 815-0518
Email: staff@islamicsupremecouncil.org Web: www.islamicsupremecouncil.org
Please visit us on the Web for more titles in Islamic spirituality and traditional scholarship.
ISBN: 9781618429131
Front cover photo: Entrusted to the Ottoman Sultan through the succession of caliphs dating back to 7th century, this exquisite tableau in many ways summarizes the life of Prophet Muhammad. The first flag of Islam is preserved within the closed box, representing the Prophet's spiritual authority. The Quran -- the divine book which he brought -- rests open, symbolizing the never-extinguished light of his guidance. The sheathed swords represent the Prophet's struggle, primarily against the ego (the greater jihad) and against religious oppression (the lesser jihad).
Back cover photos: The blessed footprint of Prophet Muhammad; golden keys to the Kaba in Mecca, bestowed upon the Ottoman Sultans as caretakers of the sacred site.
All items are part of a permanent display at Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.
Table of Contents
PREFACE FOREWORD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NOTES
CREATION OF THE LIGHT OF MUHAMMAD
The Twelve Veils Creation of the Beloved
From the Light of Muhammad
Who Gazed at the Soul of Muhammad
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PROPHETS OF GOD
Adam Seth Idris Noah Hud Salih Abraham Ishmail Isaac Jacob Joseph Job Shu’ayb Moses Aaron Ilyas David Solomon Ezra Jonah Zacharia John Jesus
Muhammad
Created Through the Light of Muhammad
DESCENT OF NUR-I-MUHAMMAD
Narration of Ka’b al-Akhbar
THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT
Diverting the Pilgrimage to Yemen The Wisdom of Abdul-Muttalib Divine Support Saves Mecca
THE BLESSED BIRTH
More Events Surrounding the Noble Birth of the Prophet Halima as-Sa’adia, the Prophet’s Nurse
EARLY HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE COMMUNITY
Muhammad’s Marriage to Khadija al-Kubra Revelation of Prophethood
How `Umar bin Khattab Came to Islam Some Miracles of the Holy Prophet Migration to Abyssinia
Hamza Enters the Fold of Islam
The Quraysh Send Envoys to the King of Abyssinia The Deaths of Abu Talib and Khadija
The Holy Prophet’s Visit to Ta’if
THE HOLY ASCENSION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Buraq is Dispatched to His Noble Mount Prophet Narrates His Mi’raj
Bayt-al-Maqdis
Meeting the Prophets
THE PROPHET’S VISIT TO HEAVENS
The Second Heaven The Third Heaven
Allah Grants the Prophet Intercession The Fourth Heaven
Mansions of Maryam, Buhayyid and Asiya The Fifth Heaven
The Sixth Heaven
THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
The Bayt-al-Ma’mur (The Heavenly House) The Sidratul Muntaha
The Four Streams of Paradise Ramadan, the Blessed
The Angel Jibra’il’s Appearance The Vision of the Divine Beauty The Tahiyyat Prayer
Allah Complains About the Ummah
PARADISE
About the Paradise Gardens The Tuba Tree
The Waters of Kawthar The Duration of the Mi’raj
THE EARLY MUSLIMS IN MADINAH
The Second Tryst at ‘Aqaba The Hijra
The Snake Bites Abu Bakr The First Hijri Mosque at Quba The Song of Welcome
A King of Yemen is Granted Shahada
EVENTS OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE HIJRA
The Beginning of the Islamic Calendar The Command to Fight the Idolators The Expedition of ‘Ubayda bin al-Harith The Changing of the Qibla
The Fasting of Ramadan The Great Battle of Badr ‘Abbas Enters Islam
The Story of Wahab bin ‘Umayr The Marriage of Fatima to Ali Other Marriages
THE BATTLE OF UHUD
The Martyrdom of Hamza Umm Ummara Joins the Battle
The Prophet is Wounded Allah Offers Martyrdom Umm Ayman is Injured
The Death of Ubayy bin Khalaf The Funeral Prayer in Islam More Examples of Pious Women The Military Defeat at Uhud
EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE GROWING MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Events of Bir Ma’una The Day of Raji’
The Expulsion of the Bani Nadir Why the Bani Nadir Were Expelled The Story of Zaynab bint Jahsh The Battle of the Trench
The Treachery of the Bani Qurayza The Reconciliation at al-Hudaybiyah
The Pledge of Allegiance, Baiyat-i-Ridwan
MESSAGES TO VARIOUS RULERS
The Byzantine Emperor Heraclius The Khosroes of Iran, King Parviz The Negus of Abyssinia
The Muqawqis of Egypt The Chief of Yamama
The Chief of the Syrian Arabs
CHALLENGES & ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NEW MUSLIM NATION
Preparing for the Conquest of Khaybar Diplomatic Solutions Failed Approaching the Battle
Ali Leads the Fight by High Example The Results of War
The Story of Safiya bint Huyay bin Akhtab How the Holy Prophet Dealt With His Enemies The Prophet’s ‘Umra
The Battle of Mu’ta
The Story of ‘Amr ibn al-‘As The Battle of Murays
The Slander of Aisha The Conquest of Mecca
The Prophet Forgave the Crimes of Jahiliyya The Incident of the Bani Jadhima
The Battle of Hunayn The Division of the Spoils
THE NINTH YEAR OF THE HIJRA
Repudiation and Choice Developing Diplomatic Ties Various Envoys Visit the Prophet The Battle of Tabuk
Masjid al-Dirar
The Pilgrimage of Islam
EVENTS OF THE TENTH YEAR OF THE HIJRA
Many Thousands Enter Islam The Farewell Pilgrimage False Prophets Appear
An Unprecedented Legacy
THE HOLY PROPHET’S PASSING
The Deep Love of the Sahaba Advice of the Prophet
The Friend on High, the Exalted Companion of Paradise
Choosing a Successor
The Battles of the Holy Prophet The Prophet’s Scribes
The Prophet’s Military Weaponry
The Holy Prophet’s Blessed Description
MONTHS AND HOLY DAYS OF THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Preface
Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam has been published at a time when people around the world, particularly those who are unfamiliar with the Islamic faith, are searching for understanding of this great religion, its adherents, its holy book the Quran, and the life examples of its ultimate leader, Muhammad, unto him be peace.
This esteemed work arrives as crucial questions are being asked. What is so appealing about Islam that nearly one-fourth of the world’s inhabitants claim it as their religion? How does Islam regard human life, women, education and literacy, democracy, military pursuits and, in general terms, the life we have come to know in the West? What is the Islamic view of other religions?
In fact Islam is a religion that engages its adherents at every level of life, going beyond the walls of the mosque. Islamic teachings are based on the divinely revealed Quran, on the Hadith (examples of the Prophet Muhammad ), and on the legal judgments of trained jurists. It is also a religion largely open to interpretation, which allows for consensus, discussion, and disagreement.
However, everyone who is familiar with Islam will certainly agree it offers guidance for every aspect of our lives, with the goal of serving Allah subhana wa ta’ala, The Almighty in the best manner. Therefore, to be a servant of God is the highest goal of humankind, which encompasses respect for all creation and humility.
To achieve this goal or “station”, one must be cognizant of what Allah subhana wa ta’ala truly expects from His creatures. One must seek guidance and the ability to distinguish what is right, and to stand for it even in the face of opposition. One must certainly remain open to Truth.
And thus we find in Islam the guidance in the form of the textual sources, but also practices that feed the soul, to keep it in tune with The Divine. Just as our physical bodies cannot survive without food and drink, being from Heavens, our souls have specific needs to survive in this earthly sphere of life. It is this spiritual connection with The Divine that actually allows us to carry the burden of life in this physical world.
To view humanity as mere physical beings - as evolved, more sophisticated animals - reduces us to a limited, one-dimensional, material level. History is replete with countless examples of the failure of humanity to resolve its miseries and challenges through material means. Currently there are more resources in the world than ever before, and yet poverty and hunger have reached unprecedented levels, prisons are bursting from overcrowding, the volume of refugees has surpassed all predictions, wars have not subsided, and fatal diseases and illnesses pervade every region. We live in a time when financial success and the material life does not solve our problems; in fact in most cases it drives us to excessive behaviors. As a people, these circumstances are spiritually killing us, across all social and religious boundaries, wiping out true humanity from the face of the earth.
Islam categorically refutes the materialist approach to life by raising the status of human beings to representatives of Allah subhana wa ta’ala on earth, equipped with faculties of reason, but similarly equipped with powers to develop as superior beings through acts of kindness, humility, and intervention against what is wrong. By following the divine guidance of Allah’s prophets and saints, we are granted access to a spiritual world through which we are perpetually fed, gaining the crucial abilities we need to survive this material world.
Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam embodies the timeless teachings of holy souls through the ages, whom Allah subhana wa ta’ala has endowed with immense wisdom. May we benefit from what they offer, that these lessons help us evolve to higher stations, becoming truly in tune with the spiritual dimension of life, achieving a state of genuine peace – with ourselves and the world around us.
Wa min Allah at Tawfiq - and Allah knows best. Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, Cyprus, January 2002
Foreword
Praise be to Allah subhana wa ta’ala (The Almighty, glorified and exalted) that He created us and sent His messengers to teach us, and sent His message of the Unity of God through many prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and our master Muhammad . To fill all peoples with love and peace, and to provide us wisdom and guidance, Allah subhana wa ta’ala sent the heavenly books: the Psalms of David, the Torah of Moses (Old Testament), the Injil of Jesus (New Testament), and the Holy Quran of Prophet Muhammad .
We find in His infinite wisdom and mercy, Allah subhana wa ta’ala has sent divine knowledge much as the sun fills the horizon, illuminating the hearts of humankind as they navigate and face the challenges of this earthly life. He made his prophets role models for all humanity, for all times to come. May His blessings come on all messengers, especially on the Last Messenger, Sayyidina Muhammad , the Chosen One from among all prophets, sent as a mercy for all humanity and a rainbow of divine light and revelation for the entire world. Blessings be upon his companions who are the stars of that universe of knowledge, and forgiveness be upon those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.
A prophet (nabi) is a human being to whom Allah subhana wa ta’ala has revealed a criterion of disciplinary law (Shari`a) but whom He did not ask to deliver it as a message.
A messenger (rasul) is a human being to whom Allah subhana wa ta’ala has revealed the disciplinary law as a prophet, but on top of that, sent him to deliver the message; thus he is both a prophet and a messenger.
Prophets, as they have been described in the sayings of Ibn `Abbas in the work of commentary Ruh al-bayan, specifically of the chapter of Quran entitled Surat al-`Araaf, it is stated that the prophets number around 124,000, and the prophet- messengers are twenty-five. Further, Imam Ahmad narrated that Abi Dharr al- Ghifari said, “Oh Messenger of Allah, who was the first Prophet?” He said, “Adam”. … And I asked, “Oh Messenger of Allah, how many are the messengers?” He said, “310 and a few more.”
And in another narration of Imam Ahmad, from the narration of Abi Umaama, Abu Dharr asked, “Oh Messenger of Allah, how many are the prophets?” He said, “120,000 and between them 315 messengers.”
The Holy Quran mentions twenty-five of these messengers, namely: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishma`il, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Zacharia, John (the Baptist), Idris, Jonah, Hud, Shu`ayb, Salih, Lot, Ilyas, Ilya`sa, Dhul-kifli, Jesus and Sayyidina Muhammad, peace be upon them all. These are the messengers of Allah who came with holy books containing the divine message. The others are prophets who received divine revelation but who were not ordered to deliver it to anyone; it was for them. For example, all Jacob’s sons were prophets, but Joseph was the only messenger from among them.
Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam proves a very great resource for Muslims and people of other faiths. It expounds intimate details of the life of Prophet Muhammad , highlighting his love and respect for all humanity, the depth of his compassion and mercy for all creation, and his perfect example as a role model for anyone who seeks the ultimate proximity to Allah subhana wa ta’ala and perfection as a human being.
What he brought was revolutionary: enlightenment and education that immediately ushered people out of wayward darkness into guiding light, from unrealistic life to realistic life, from evil to good. The life examples of the Last Messenger Muhammad are a vast reservoir of examples from which we can draw deeply at any point in time, to quench the thirst for self-improvement and true guidance.
Laboriously compiled from rare manuscripts, traditional Islamic texts, and other printed source material (including sahih hadith and others*), painstakingly translated from Ottoman Turkish to English, Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam accurately depicts the perfected, blessed character and refined manners that Allah subhana wa ta’ala bestowed on His beloved prophet . This illustrious work examines the greatness Prophet Muhammad showed throughout his life. It depicts the great lengths to which he went - many times risking his own life, suffering humiliation, torment and abuse from his own tribe, leaving the only home he knew, always tolerant of his attackers and seeking peace - to guide the entire world with practical lessons on living a successful life. These lessons can be applied in any culture, place, or era, and miraculously remain as current today as they were fifteen centuries ago.
From Prophet Muhammad’s life examples (sunnah) we find elaborate guidelines on all aspects of society building, from infrastructure development and establishing relations with foreign nations, to building academic, economic and welfare systems, and establishing the judiciary body and ministry of defense. To this day, he is known as a superior statesman who built a solid nation, able to face countless challenges. In fact over time, many of the Prophet’s nation-building tactics have been applied and proven in various regions of the world.
In the glorious Quran, Allah subhana wa ta’ala said:
Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets, and Allah has full knowledge of all things. [33:40]
Tirmidhi (hasan) and Ibn Maja:
Abu Sa`id al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet said: “I am the leader of human beings and I say this without pride.”
At-Tirmidhi narrated:
“The Prophet said: I heard your words, and everything you said is indeed true, and I myself am the Beloved of Allah (habibullah) and I say this without pride, and I carry the flag of glory (liwa ul-hamd) on the Day of Judgment, and am the first intercessor and the first whose intercession is accepted, and the first to stir the circles of Paradise so that Allah will open it for me and I shall enter it together with the poor among my Community, and I say this without pride. I am the most honored of the First and the Last, and I say this without pride.”
And thus we lovingly present Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam in our humble attempt to bring light where there is darkness, to bring peace to troubled minds, and to restore love to battered hearts.
Wa min Allah at Tawfiq - and Allah knows best.
Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, Washington D.C., January 2002
* According to a sound ruling in Islamic jurisprudence in reference to matters of worship, even a weak
tradition (hadith) is acceptable in order to encourage people to a better way of life and self-improvement. In Seerat ibn Hisham and at-Tabari and in other Islamic historical sources, there appear numerous hadith from Bukhari and Muslim, but still you find weak narrations are included. This book has been compiled from all these sources: from the sahih hadith to the good, the fair to the weak, all of which serve to encourage people to live more pious lives and to clarify the details of the life of the Prophet .
About the Author
Hajjah Amina Adil is a renowned author, lecturer and spiritual advisor who, for more than forty years, has devoted herself to help people of all walks of life better understand Islam. In addition, she has played a pivotal role in helping Muslim women understand and apply the many distinguishing rights God Almighty set forth for women in the Islamic faith.
Married for fifty years to Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, the spiritual head of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order, Hajjah Amina has traveled the world. A scholar of Shari`ah and shaykha, she has thousands of disciples throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East, Southeast and Central Asia, and Africa.
She studied under many scholars of the Middle East and Turkey, including Grandshaykh Abdullah ad-Daghestani an-Naqshbandi, among others.
Hajjah Amina is from the family of Prophet Muhammad . She was born in Russia’s Kazan Province during the early Communist era, which mandated a statewide purge of Jews, Christians and Muslims. With neighbors mysteriously disappearing and millions exiled to camps in Siberia where they either froze or starved to death, when she was a mere toddler the family fled on foot in the dark of night on a perilous journey that, for reasons of safety, could only be undertaken with the clothes on their backs.
Too young to recall the long journey that would eventually lead them to Turkey, family members have narrated her parents’ bravery and deep sense of faith, young Amina’s sense of adventure, and a tragic life-threatening fall that left her in a coma from which they feared she would not recover. After more than a year and with Communist officials in deadly pursuit, the family miraculously made their way to Arzurum in northeastern Turkey.
Thus, at such a tender age, Hajjah Amina was granted the high status of “muhajirah”, which means one who migrated from tyranny and religious oppression to a place where they can openly practice their faith. It is said the reward for such an undertaking rests solely with God Almighty.
These early life experiences seem to have shaped Hajjah Amina’s love of family,
community and travel, her forthrightness in standing for justice, and her love of Islam. However, after twelve years in Turkey, Hajjah Amina’s father had a vision in which he was instructed to relocate the family to “Sham” (Damascus), which had been their original destination upon leaving Russia. In Damascus they found the life they had been seeking, and settled on Jabal Qasiyun, a high mountain which overlooks the entire city.
It was here the family met Grandshaykh Abdullah al-Fa`iz ad-Daghestani of the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, who took particular care in overseeing Hajjah Amina’s religious and spiritual development. Under Grandshaykh Abdullah she studied Tasawwuf (Sufism – Islamic spirituality) and she studied Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) under such notable scholars as Shaykh Salih Farfour of Syria and Shaykh Mukhtar Alaily, then Secretary General of Religious Affairs of Lebanon. Hajjah Amina’s teachers and mentors were always amazed with her acumen, with her high level of retention, and her ability to grasp and reason complex issues within the framework of Islamic Law, even at a young age.
At age twenty-three, upon the advice of Grandshaykh Abdullah she was engaged to the young Shaykh Nazim; they married a month later and have remained great companions for nearly fifty years. In fact Shaykh Nazim often remarks that his wife seems to him the same as when they first married. Together they have lived and raised their four children between Syria, Turkey and Cyprus, and at the time of this writing they have been blessed with sixteen grandchildren and six great- grandchildren.
As a young mother and wife of a shaykh in training, Hajjah Amina was often left alone to face the challenges of raising a family while her husband was either in spiritual retreat or traveling for months on end, visiting various regions to spread the word of the Unity of God. This, coupled with her early life experience, only strengthened her faith and reliance on God Almighty.
Hajjah Amina has thrice performed Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Known for her wise, practical approach to life and her problem-solving skills, over the years she has become a much-turned-to advisor of women on a host of issues. She speaks fluent Turkish and Arabic, and is proficient in English. She is uniquely beloved to heads of state and their ministers, to celebrities, as well as common folk.
Hajjah Amina currently resides in Cyprus in a comfortable “old world” farm house with a spacious garden, where she receives thousands of visitors each year from all over the world. She still occasionally accompanies Shaykh Nazim on
his official visits to other countries and has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences on Islam and Muslim women.
Hajjah Amina’s other works include the three-volume series Lore of Light, her inimitable narration of stories of the prophets and miracles of the saints. All inquiries for Hajjah Amina may be directed to the publisher.
Acknowledgements
This brilliant work stands as tribute to the profound impact on religious and social development made by the Rahmatun-lil `Alamin, the “Mercy to all the Worlds”, Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdallah (peace and blessing of God be upon him).
As one who grew up at the feet of renowned scholars thoroughly conversant in Islamic history and tradition, it is my distinct honor to acknowledge my mother’s shining attempt to bring to life stories handed down over centuries on the unprecedented life of the Prophet of Islam.
In her inimitable style – which captivates the imagination much like in the pre- television era - renowned scholar and author, my mother Hajjah Amina Adil meticulously compiled this great Seerah (biography) in her native Ottoman Turkish, a classic language which inevitably suffers loss when translated to English. Thus, every care has been taken to capture the linguistic styles and finer meanings of ancient narrations, while presenting them to a contemporary, English-speaking audience.
It is deeply hoped Muhammad (): The Messenger of Islam will fill the current literary demand for titles on traditional Islam, and its much-discussed religious interpretations. This book is presented with a view to answer many contemporary questions and to help those unfamiliar with this great world religion in better understanding its tenets, history and culture which is shared by
1.5 billion adherents, roughly one-fifth of the world’s inhabitants.
For the past year our editorial team has worked intensely to bring you this highly authoritative work, replete with textual references and a glossary of the many foreign terms, which have recently surfaced into the mainstream English language.
My deep gratitude goes to Ms. Radhia Shukrullah of Cyprus who labored to provide an accurate translation from the original Ottoman Turkish.
The following women have taken great pains to ensure the integrity of all textual references, and have provided extensive editing to present this work to mainstream audiences: Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, Director of Public Affairs, Islamic Supreme Council of America; Hajjah Talibah Jilani, National Executive
Director, Kamilat Muslims Women’s Association; and Ms. Jennifer McLennan, Executive Director, Islamic Supreme Council of America.
Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam is a work of enduring love, which comes to you from our hearts. The efforts of this sincere group of women – from the author and translator through the editors and publisher – is tribute to the high standards of women’s and human rights, introduced in Arabia fifteen centuries ago by this greatest of God’s prophets.
In these times, when we are inundated with news of religious radicalism, I pray the readers of this shining work will gain a deeper respect and understanding for traditional Islam, which has thrived peacefully for many centuries, and which supports religious tolerance, gender equality, social consciousness, and civil responsibility. Further, through centuries of influence of the Sufi mystics and their various spiritual practices, classical Islam is known to liberate souls from their earthly bondage.
If you complete this reading better informed, with a sounder view of Islam and its adherents, if it spurns discussion and debate, and challenges you to re- evaluate past perceptions of Islam, Muslims, and their place in world history, not one moment of our collective effort has been in vain.
With a combination of pride, humility, and awe, I salute the five decades of my mother’s devotion to bringing light where there is darkness, and for instilling in me a deep love for Islamic tradition. May this valuable book be blessed, and may it reach those who may truly benefit from it.
Hajjah Naziha Adil
Chairwoman, Kamilat, April 2002
Notes
Quran translations are quoted from the Arberry English translation, The Quran Interpreted by Arthur J. Arberry, Oxford University Press, 1964.
Quotes from the Quran and Hadith, the two major source texts on Islam, are italicized and referenced by the chapter name and verse.
The following symbols are universally recognized by Muslims and have been respectfully included in this work:
The symbol represents “sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam” (Allah's blessings and greetings of peace be upon him) which is customarily recited after reading or pronouncing the name of Prophet Muhammad.
It is intended that “alayhis-salam” (peace be upon him/her) be recited after the names of the other prophets, the Family of the Prophet, the pure and virtuous women in Islam, and the angels, represented by the symbol .
It is also intended that “radiAllahu anh” or (may Allah be pleased with him/her) is recited after the names of Companions of the Prophet, represented by the symbol .
Creation of the Light of Muhammad
One day Ali, karam Allahu wajhahu, the cousin and son-in-law of the Holy Prophet asked, “Oh Muhammad, both my parents shall be my ransom, pray tell me what the Lord Almighty created before all other beings of creation?” This was his blissful reply:
Verily, before your Lord made any other thing, He created from His own Light the light of your Prophet , and that Light rested haithu mashaAllah, where Allah willed it to rest. And at that time there existed aught else-not the Preserved Tablets, not the Pen, not Heaven nor Hell, not the Angelic Host, not the heavens nor the earth; there was no sun, no moon, no star, no jinn nor man nor angel– none was as yet created, only this Light.
Then Allah – glorified be He – by divine decree willed the Creation to be. He therefore divided this Light into four parts. From the first part He created the Pen, from the second the Tablets, from the third the Divine Throne.
Now it has become known that when the Lord had created the Tablets and the Pen, the Pen had on it one hundred nodes, the distance between two nodes being that of two years wayfaring. The Lord then commanded the Pen to write, and the Pen asked, “Oh Lord, what shall I write?” The Lord said, “Write: la ilaha illAllah, Muhammadan Rasulullah.” Thereupon the Pen exclaimed, “Oh, what a beautiful, great name is that of Muhammad that it is to mentioned in one with Thy hallowed Name, oh Lord.”
The Lord then said, “Oh Pen, mind your manners! This name is the name of My Beloved, from his Light I have created the Throne and the Pen and the Tablets; you, too, are created from his Light. Had it not been for him, I would not have created a single thing.” When Allah Almighty had spoken these words, the Pen split in two from awe of the Lord, and the place from which its speech issued became blocked, so that to this very day its nib remains cloven in two and clogged up, so it does not write, which is the sign of this great divine secret. Therefore, let no one fail in veneration and honoring of the Holy Prophet , or become lax in following his shining example, or contravene the noble custom he has taught us.
Then again the Lor
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