Motivational Stories

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu.

Interesting Story !! Read on ..

WOE UNTO YOU, O DINAAR

There is an interesting story related about Dinaar al-'Ayaar. Dinaar had a righteous mother who would constantly advise him to repent for his wayward, sinful existence, but as much as she tried, her words had no positive effect on him whatsoever. Then, one day, as he was walking by a graveyard, he stopped to pick up a bone. He was shocked to see how it crumbled and turned to dust in his hand. The sight of that bone had a profound effect on Dinaar. He began to think about his life and his past sins, and he then exclaimed, "Woe unto you, O Dinaar, you are going to end up like this crushed bone, and your body will turn into dust." All of his past sins then flashed before his eyes, and he made a firm resolve to repent. Turning his gaze towards the sky, he said, "My Lord, I now turn to you in complete submission, so accept me and have Mercy on me."

With a completely changed heart and state of mind, Dinaar went to his mother and said, "Mother, what does a master do when he captures his slave who had run away from him?" She said, "[To punish him] the master provides him with coarse clothing and low-quality food; and he ties his hands and feet so that he does not make another attempt to escape." Dinaar said, "Then I want a garment made of coarse wool, low-quality barley, and two chains. Mother, do with me that which is done with a runaway slave. Perhaps my Lord will, upon seeing my humiliation and humility, have mercy on me." Seeing that her son was adamant and resolute in his request, she complied.

At the beginning of every ensuing night, Dinaar would begin to cry and wail uncontrollably. And he would continue to repeat to himself the words, "Woe unto you, O Dinaar, do you have the power to withstand the Hell fire? How brazen you have been to have led a life that has made you deserving of the anger of the All-Mighty!" He would continue upon that state until the morning.

Turning wan and pale, Dinaar's body slowly wasted away. Not being able to bear seeing him in that pitiable state, his mother said, "My son, be easy on yourself." He answered, "My mother, let me remain tied for a short while, so that perhaps I can achieve long-term comfort later on. For tomorrow, I will be waiting a long time before my Majestic Lord, and I do not know whether He will order me to go to places of beautiful shade or to places of unspeakable horror."

She said, "My son, at least rest for a while." He said, "It is not present rest or comfort that I am seeking out. Mother, it is as if I see you and other people being led tomorrow towards Paradise, while I am being led towards the Hell-fire along with his inhabitants." She left him then, and he returned to crying, worshipping, and reciting the Quran. One night, as he was reciting the Quran, he came across these verses:

�َوَرَبّ�كَ لَنَسْأَلَنَّه�مْ أَجْمَع�ين عَمَّا كَان�وا يَعْمَل�ونَ َ

So, by your Lord [o Muhammad], We shall certainly call all of them to account, for all that they used to do.

[al-Hijr : 92-93]


As he contemplated the meanings and implications of these verses, he cried with such intensity that he fainted. His mother rushed to him and tried very hard to revive him, but he wouldn't respond. She thought he had died. Looking into the face of her son, she said, "O my beloved one, O the joy of my heart, where shall we meet again?" In fact, Dinaar still had some life left in him, and hearing his mother's words, he answered with a faint voice, "My mother, if you do not find me on the wide plains of the Day of Resurrection, then ask Maalik, the Custodian of Hell-fire about me." He then made a croaking sound and died.

After she finished washing his body, Dinaar's mother prepared him for his funeral. She then went out and made the announcement, "O people, come to the funeral prayer of one who has been killed by [fear of] the Hell-fire." People began to come from all directions. It is said that during that era, no greater gathering came together and no amount of tears were shed as much as on that day.

On the same night that his funeral was held, one of Dinaar's friends saw him in a dream, attired in a green robe. Dinaar was prancing around in Paradise, all the while reciting the verse:


�َوَرَبّ�كَ لَنَسْأَلَنَّه�مْ أَجْمَع�ين عَمَّا كَان�وا يَعْمَل�ونَ َ

So, by your Lord [o Muhammad], We shall certainly call all of them to account, for all that they used to do.


During the dream, his friend heard him say, "By His Might and Majesty, He asked me [about my deeds]. Having mercy on me, He forgave me and pardoned me [my sins.] Lo! Convey news of this to my mother."

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu

Allah's Vast And Comprehensive Mercy

Yusuf bin Al-Husain is the narrator of this story:


I was with Dhi-an-Nun on the edge of a stream, when we saw an extraordinarily large lizard crawling along the side of the stream. Something strange yet wonderful then happened. A frog surfaced from the stream, the lizard mounted its back, and the frog then swam to the other side of the stream, carrying its passenger on its back.

Dhi-an-Nun said, "There is something interesting about that lizard let us go and follow it." We crossed the stream (which wasn't so wide in width), and on the other side, we saw a drunken man who had passed out. Suddenly, a snake appeared before the prone body of the drunkard. It slithered its way up to the man's navel to his chest, making a direct course to one of his ears.
The lizard we saw earlier then sprang into action. It jumped onto the snake and struck it violently, splitting its body into two. Returning to the edge of the stream, the lizard then mounted the frog again, and the two crossed to the other side of the stream, though both were still visible to us. Dhi-an-Nun woke up the drunkard, who slowly opened his eyes and became conscious of what was happening around him. Dhi-an-Nun said, "O young man, look how Allah has saved you! When this snake came to kill you, that lizard came and killed it. He then eplained the entire story to the young man.
The young man stood up and exclaimed: "O my lord, this is how you deal with one who disobeys you, then what will your mercy be like for the one who obeys you?" He then betook himself to the desert, vowing to dedicate his life to worship and to never return to the evils of the city.



The above is taken from "The Stories of Repentence" published by dar-us-salam

[Aasiyah]

JazaakumAllahu khair! Amazing thread.

This may have been posted before...

Mansur bin 'Ammaar narrates:

I went out at the end of one night, mistakenly thinking that the morning had begun. Seeing that it was still dark, I sat down beside a small door (of a house). While I was sitting there, I heard the voice of a young man crying; he was saying: "By Your Might, and by your Majesty, with my sin I did not intend to oppose You. When I disobeyed You, I was not ignorant of Your punishment, nor was I seeking it out. And I did not take lightly the fact that You are All-Seeing. It is just that my soul enticed me, and my wretchedness overcame me; also, I became deluded into feeling safe by the fact that You cover me with your screen (protecting me from the sight of others when I sin). I disobyed You through my ignorance, and I went against Your (commands) through my own fault. Now who will save me from Your punishment? And if Your rope has been cut from my (hand), then whose rope can I cling to? Alas for the days I have spent disobeying my Lord! O, woe unto me! How often do I repent, yet how often do I then return to sinning! Is not the time near when I will be shy of my Lord (i.e. shy of disobeying Him)?"

After I heard his words, I said: "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:


يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ

"O you who believe! Ward off from yorselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe."
[At-Tahreem: 6]


I heard a muffled, yet terrified sounding voice; (but since it was not my business to barge into the house) I got up and went on my way. When I returned in the morning, I passed by the same house, and there was a dead body being lead out of the house; in the midst of that scene, an old woman kept on coming and going. I asked her: "Who is the dead person?"

"Go away from me," she said. "Do you want to renew for me my sadness?"

"I am a stranger here." I said.

"This dead person is my son," she said. "Last night, a man - may Allah reward not reward him well - recited a verse in which the Hell-fire is mentioned. My son, having heard him, continued to cry and shake in terror until he died." That is indeed the description of one who truly fears Allah .

[Sifatus-Safwah]

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu

THERE IS HOPE UNTIL THE VERY END


One day, as Ali bin Abi Taalib and al-Hussain bin Ali were walking together, they heard a man supplicating to Allah. The man was begging Allah to forgive him for his evil crimes. His sincere tone and eloquent words aroused the interest of Ali, who turned to his son and said, "Do you not hear the man who is so very contrite because of his sins? Go catch up with him and call him."

When al-Hussain caught up with the man, he saw that he was clean-looking, clean-smelling, with nice clothes and altogether handsome- except that he seemed to be paralyzed on the right side of his body. Al-Hussaid said, "Answer the summons of the Leader of the believers, Ali bin Abu Taalib."

Dragging his right side, the man followed al-Hussain back to where Ali was waiting for them.

"Who are you and what is your story," asked Ali.

"My story is that of a man who did not fulfill the rights of others and is now being punished for that," said the man.

"And what is your name?" asked Ali.

"Munaazil bin Laahiq," said the man.

"And what is your story?" asked Ali.

"I was famous among the Arabs for my frivolous and sinful exploits. Merciful and kind, my father would constantly admonish me and advise me to mend my ways. He would remind me of Allah's punishment, saying, 'My son, do not go against He who punishes with the Hell-fire!' When he would persist in advising me, I felt his voice grating on my nerves. I would get so frustrated that I would beat him with harsh blows. In response to my blows, he one day said, 'By Allah, I will fast withoug breaking my fast and I will pray without stopping to sleep.' He fasted for an entire week, but seeing no change in my behavior, he climbed a camel and set off to perform Hajj. His parting words were, 'I am going to the House of Allah, and there I will seek help from Allah against you.' When he reached Makkah, he embraced the curtain of the Kaa'ba and supplicated against me, asking Allah to make me paralyzed on one side of my body. By the One Who raised the sky and sends down the rain, no sooner did my father finish his supplication than I became paralyzed on my right side, which became like a piece of wood. Anyone that would then pass by me would point to me and say, 'Allah answered his father's supplication against him.'"

"What did your father do then?" asked Ali.

"O Leader of the Believers, after he became pleased with me, I asked him to go back and invoke Allah on my behalf. He agreed to do so. I walked alongside him as he rode on his camel, until we reached a place called the Valley of Arak. When we reached there, a group of birds flew away from a tree, their sudden movement frightened the camel. As the camel raced off in a state of fright, my father fell off it and died."

It was certainly late for the man, but not too late, and so Ali advised him to continue to supplicate and to repent for his past misdeeds. Ali then parted from the man, but before leaving him, he taught him the supplication that a person in distress should say. [The narration does not specifically mention which supplication it was that Ali taught the man.]

The above story is taken from "The Stories of repentence" published bu dar-us-salam

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu

THE EVER-LIVING NEVER SLEEPS


Both of them lived in a small town that was populated by only tens or hundreds of people. He was in love with her, and so when he saw her walking alone one night, he followed her until he had her cornered. When he came near to her, he said, "Woman, I crave for you."

She said, "First go and see if all the people are asleep."

Very pleased at her response, he walked around the town and returned. "Everyone is asleep," he said.

"What about Allah Azza wa Jal?" she asked. "Is He sleeping at this hour?"

"Woman, what are you saying?" he exclaimed. "Indeed, Allah does not sleep: neither slumber nor sleep overtake Him."

"The One Who hasn't slept and doesn't sleep sees us, even if people don't see us," she said. "Do you not fear He Who neither sleeps nor is heedless of anything that happens?"

The man left her alone with tears flowing from his eyes, having nothing in mind except the desire to repent to the One Who neither sleeps nor is heedless of anything that happens.

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum WaRahmatullah.


The Story of Julaybib



His name was unusual and incomplete. Julaybib means "small grown" being the diminutive form of the word "Jalbab." The name is an indication that Julaybib was small and short, even of dwarf-like stature. More than that, he is described as being "damim" which means ugly, deformed, or of repulsive appearance. Even more disturbing, for the society in which he lived, Julaybib's lineage was not known. There is no record of who his mother of his father was or to what tribe he belonged. This was a grave disability in the society in which he lived. Julaybib could not expect any compassion or help, any protection or support from a society that placed a great deal of importance on family and tribal connections. In this regard, all that was known of him was that he was an Arab and that, as far as the new community of Islam was concerned, he was one of the Ansar. Perhaps he belonged to one of the outlying tribes beyond Madinah and had drifted into the city or he could have even been from among the Ansar of the city itself.

The disabilities under which Julaybib lived would have been enough to have him ridiculed and shunned in any society and in fact he was prohibited by one person, a certain Abu Barzah of the Aslam tribe, from entering his home. He once told his wife: "Do not let Julaybib enter among you. If he does, I shall certainly do (something terrible to him)." Probably because he was teased and scoffed at in the company of men, Julaybib used to take refuge in the company of women. Was there any hope of Julaybib being treated with respect and consideration? Was there any hope of his finding emotional satisfaction as an individual and as a man? Was there any hope of his enjoying the relationships which others take for granted? And in the society emerging under the guidance of the Prophet, was he so insignificant as to be overlooked in the preoccupation with the great affairs of the state and in the supreme issues of life and survival which constantly engaged the attention of the Prophet?



Just as he was aware of the great issues of life and destiny, the Prophet of Mercy was also aware of the needs and sensibilities of his most humble companions. With Julaybib in mind, the Prophet went to one of the Ansar and said: "I want to have your daughter married." "How wonderful and blessed, O Messenger of Allah and what a delight to the eye (this would be)," replied the Ansari man with obvious joy and happiness. "I do not want her for myself," added the Prophet. "Then for whom, O Messenger of Allah?" asked the man, obviously somewhat let down. "For Julaybib," said the Prophet. The Ansari must have been too shocked to give his own reaction and he merely said: "I will consult with her mother." And off he went to his wife. "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wants to have your daughter married," he said to her. She too was thrilled. "What a wonderful idea and what a delight to the eye (this would be)," she said. "He does not want to marry her himself but he wants to marry her to Julaybib," he added. She was flabbergasted.

"To Julaybib! No, never to Julaybib! No, by Allah, we shall not marry (her) to him," she protested. As the Ansari was about to return to the Prophet to inform him of what his wife had said, the daughter who had head her mother's protestations, asked: "Who has asked you to marry me?" Her mother told her of the Prophet's request for her hand in marriage to Julaybib. When she heard that the request had come from the Prophet and that her mother was absolutely opposed to the idea, she was greatly perturbed and said: "Do you refuse the request of the Messenger of Allah? Send me to him for he shall certainly not bring ruin to me." This was the reply of a truly great person who had a clear understanding of what was required of her as a Muslim. What greater satisfaction and fulfillment can a Muslim find than in responding willingly to the requests and commands of the Messenger of Allah! No doubt, this companion of the Prophet, whose name we do not even know had heard the verse of the Quran:

"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error." (The Qur'an, Surah al-Ahzab, 33:36)

This verse was revealed in connection with the marriage of Zaynab bint Jahsh and Zayd ibn al-Harithah which was arranged by the Prophet to show the egalitarian spirit of Islam. Zaynab at first was highly offended at the thought of marrying Zayd a former slave and refused to do so. The Prophet prevailed upon them both and they were married. The marriage however ended in divorce and Zaynab was eventually married to the Prophet himself. It is said that the Ansari girl read the verse to her parents and said: "I am satisfied and submit myself to whatever the Messenger of Allah deems good for me." The Prophet heard of her reaction and prayed for her: "O Lord, bestow good on her in abundance and make not her life one of toil and trouble." Among the Ansaar, it is said that there was not a more eligible bride than she. She was married by the Prophet to Julaybib and they lived together until he was killed.

And how was Julaybib killed? He went on an expedition with the Prophet, peace be upon him, and an encounter with some mushrikin (polytheists) ensued. When the battle was over, the Prophet asked his companions: "Have you lost anyone?" They replied giving the names of their relatives or close friends who were killed. He put the same questions to other companions and they also named the ones they had lost in the battle. Another group answered that they had lost no close relatives whereupon the Prophet said: "But I have lost Julaybib. Search for him in the battlefield." They searched and found him beside seven mushrikin whom he had struck before meeting his end. The Prophet stood up and went to the spot where Julaybib, his short and deformed companion, lay. He stood over him and said: "He killed seven and then was killed? This (man) is of me and I am of him." He repeated this two or three times. The Prophet then took him in his arms and it is said that he had no better bed besides the forearms of the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet then dug for him a grave and himself placed him in it. He did not wash him for martyrs and not washed before burial.

Julaybib and his wife are not usually among the Companions of the Prophet whose deeds are sung and whose exploits are recounted with reverence and admiration as they should be. But in the meagre facts that are known about them and which have here been recounted we see how humble human beings were given hope and dignity by the Prophet where once they was only despair and self-debasement. The attitude of the unknown and unnamed Ansari girl who readily agreed to be the wife of a physically unattractive man was an attitude which reflected a profound understanding of Islam. It reflected on her path the effacement of personal desires and preferences even when she could have counted on the support of her parents. It reflected on her part a total disregard for social pressures. It reflected above all a ready and implicit confidence in the wisdom and authority of the Prophet in submitting herself to whatever he deemed good. This is the attitude of the true believer.

In Julaybib, there is the example of a person who was almost regarded as a social outcast because of his appearance. Given help, confidence and encouragement by the noble Prophet, he was able to perform acts of courage and make the supreme sacrifice and deserve the commendation of the Prophet: "He is of me and I am of him."

Transcribed from: Da'wah Publications, Issue #7, July 2008

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

Story of a Fish and Fisherman



Many people have been on this planet and many arrogant have gone under this earth. Those Kings, Pharaohs, Nimruds and many more... arrogantly claimed to be the God but they have died! Not just this, they could not even know when they would die! All of us might know our date-of-birth or place-of-birth, but who knows one's date-of-death or place-of-death! However, as long as we don't know when we will die, doors of repentance are open for us, insha' Allah.




A little fish considers her ocean to be the only universe, after all, how big is an ocean for a little fish! Once a big fish advised the little fish about fishermen outside the water but she could not be convinced to believe that there could be anything 'beyond' this under-water- world. The big fish gave descriptions of the fishermen and their tools (ship, baits, net, sinker.. etc) and warned her to stay away from those things.


One day, the little fish came across something strange and suddenly remembered what the elder fish had said about fishermen & their tools. The little fish moved ahead saying "There is no such thing as fishermen" and started to eat the bait until the hook got stuck into her mouth. Sadly, she was dragged out of the water and this was it! She could now see the world-beyond- water and became certain about what the elder fish had said before but unfortunately, she had no chance to return back.

Some of us we might consider that this world is the only world. Some fish cannot perceive life outside of water, however, there are also some fish who can see things outside the water, it might also happen that a small fish comes out of water for a short time then goes back without being hurt (thus witnessing things outside the water). There are Angels as well as Jinns outside our sights, we don't see them. Devils can be imagined as the fishermen with baits trying to lure us. We have been warned to stay away from evil, even if we like it's bait.

Imagine that the Angel of death suddenly appears before us and demands our Soul/Spirit (it can happen any instant anyway), if we don't happily surrender ourselves, that Angel could painfully snatch our Soul from us. Then we will realize and become certain about that unseen world, quite like that fish in the above example. Our death is certain, but are we prepared to stand in front of our Lord?



{ It is He (Allah) Who has given the best form to everything that He has created. He originated the creation of man from clay; then automated the creation of his progeny by an extract of a despicable water; then He fashioned him in due proportion and breathed into him of His spirit. He gave you ears, eyes and heart; yet you are seldom thankful. They say: "What! Once we are lost in the earth, shall we be created afresh?" Nay! They deny the fact that they will ever meet their Lord. Al-Qur'an [ as-Sajda -- 32:7-12 ]:

Say: "The angel of death (Izra'il) who is assigned for you will carry off your souls and bring you back to your Lord." If only you could visualize when the criminals will hang their heads before their Lord saying: "Our Lord! We have seen and we have heard; please send us back to the world and we will do good deeds: we are now convinced." }

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu

The Story of the Boy and the King (from Surah Burooj)

Imam Ibn Kathir

Imam Ahmad recorded from Suhayb that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
Among the people who came before you, there was a king who had a sorcerer, and when that sorcerer became old, he said to the king, "I have become old and my time is nearly over, so please send me a boy whom I can teach magic.'' So, he sent him a boy and the sorcerer taught him magic. Whenever the boy went to the sorcerer, he sat with a monk who was on the way and listened to his speech and admired them. So, when he went to the sorcerer, he passed by the monk and sat there with him; and on visiting the sorcerer the latter would thrash him. So, the boy complained about this to the monk. The monk said to him, "Whenever you are afraid of the sorcerer, say to him: `My people kept me busy.' And whenever you are afraid of your people, say to them: `The sorcerer kept me busy.''' So the boy carried on like that (for some time). Then a huge terrible creature appeared on the road and the people were unable to pass by. The boy said, "Today I shall know whether the sorcerer is better or the monk is better.'' So, he took a stone and said, "O Allah! If the deeds and actions of the monk are liked by You better than those of the sorcerer, then kill this creature so that the people can cross (the road).'' Then he struck it with a stone killing it and the people passed by on the road.

The boy came to the monk and informed him about it. The monk said to him, "O my son! Today you are better than I, and you have achieved what I see! You will be put to trial. And in case you are put to trial, do not inform (them) about me.''The boy used to treat the people suffering from congenital blindness, leprosy, and other diseases. There was a courtier of the king who had become blind and he heard about the boy. He came and brought a number of gifts for the boy and said, "All these gifts are for you on the condition that you cure me.'' The boy said, "I do not cure anybody; it is only Allah who cures people. So, if you believe in Allah and supplicate to Him, He will cure you.'' So, he believed in and supplicated to Allah, and Allah cured him.

Later, the courtier came to the king and sat at the place where he used to sit before. The king said, "Who gave you back your sight''The courtier replied, "My Lord.'' The king then said, "I did'' The courtier said, "No, my Lord and your Lord - Allah'' The king said, "Do you have another Lord beside me'' The courtier said, "Yes, your Lord and my Lord is Allah.'' The king tortured him and did not stop until he told him about the boy. So, the boy was brought to the king and he said to him, "O boy! Has your magic reached to the extent that you cure congenital blindness, leprosy and other diseases''He said, " I do not cure anyone. Only Allah can cure.'' The king said, "Me'' The boy replied, "No.'' The king asked, "Do you have another Lord besides me''The boy answered, " My Lord and your Lord is Allah.'' So, he tortured him also until he told about the monk. Then the monk was brought to him and the king said to him, "Abandon your religion.'' The monk refused and so the king ordered a saw to be brought which was placed in the middle of his head and he fell, sawn in two. Then it was said to the man who used to be blind, "Abandon your religion.'' He refused to do so, and so a saw was brought and placed in the middle of his head and he fell, sawn in two. Then the boy was brought and it was said to him, "Abandon your religion.'' He refused and so the king sent him to the top of such and such mountain with some people. He told the people, "Ascend up the mountain with him till you reach its peak, then see if he abandons his religion; otherwise throw him from the top.'' They took him and when they ascended to the top, he said, " O Allah! Save me from them by any means that You wish.'' So, the mountain shook and they all fell down and the boy came back walking to the king. The king said, " What did your companions (the people I sent with you) do'' The boy said, "Allah saved me from them.'' So, the king ordered some people to take the boy on a boat to the middle of the sea, saying, "If he renounces his religion (well and good), but if he refuses, drown him.'' So, they took him out to sea and he said, "O Allah! Save me from them by any means that you wish.'' So they were all drowned in the sea.

Then the boy returned to the king and the king said, "What did your companions do'' The boy replied, "Allah, saved me from them.'' Then he said to the king, "You will not be able to kill me until you do as I order you. And if you do as I order you, you will be able to kill me.'' The king asked, "And what is that'' The boy said, "Gather the people in one elevated place and tie me to the trunk of a tree; then take an arrow from my quiver and say: `In the Name of Allah, the Lord of the boy.' If you do this, you will be able to kill me.'' So he did this, and placing an arrow in the bow, he shot it, saying, "In the Name of Allah, the Lord of the boy.'' The arrow hit the boy in the temple, and the boy placed his hand over the arrow wound and died. The people proclaimed, "We believe in the Lord of the boy!'' Then it was said to the king, "Do you see what has happened That which you feared has taken place. By Allah, all the people have believed (in the Lord of the boy).''So he ordered that ditches be dug at the entrances to the roads and it was done, and fires were kindled in them. Then the king said, "Whoever abandons his religion, let him go, and whoever does not, throw him into the fire.'' They were struggling and scuffling in the fire, until a woman and her baby whom she was breast feeding came and it was as if she was being somewhat hesitant of falling into the fire, so her baby said to her,"Be patient mother! For verily, you are following the truth!'')

Muslim also recorded this Hadith at the end of the Sahih. Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar related this story in his book of Sirah in another way that has some differences from that which has just been related. Then, after Ibn Ishaq explained that the people of Najran began following the religion of the boy after his murder, which was the religion of Christianity, he said, "Then (the king) Dhu Nuwas came to them with his army and called them to Judaism. He gave them a choice to either accept Judaism or be killed, so they chose death. Thus, he had a ditch dug and burned (some of them) in the fire (in the ditch), while others he killed with the sword. He made an example of them (by slaughtering them) until he had killed almost twenty thousand of them. It was about Dhu Nuwas and his army that Allah revealed to His Messenger :

(Cursed were the People of the Ditch. Of fire fed with fuel. When they sat by it. And they witnessed what they were doing against the believers. And they had no fault except that they believed in Allah, the Almighty, Worthy of all praise! To Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And Allah is Witness over everything.) (85:4-9)
This is what Muhammad bin Ishaq said in his book of Sirah -- that the one who killed the People of the Ditch was Dhu Nuwas, and his name was Zur`ah. In the time of his kingdom he was called Yusuf. He was the son of Tuban As`ad Abi Karib, who was the Tubba` who invaded Al-Madinah and put the covering over the Ka`bah. He kept two rabbis with him from the Jews of Al-Madinah. After this some of the people of Yemen accepted Judaism at the hands of these two rabbis, as Ibn Ishaq mentions at length. So Dhu Nuwas killed twenty thousand people in one morning in the Ditch. Only one man among them escaped. He was known as Daws Dhu Tha`laban. He escaped on a horse and they set out after him, but they were unable to catch him. He went to Caesar, the emperor of Ash-Sham. So, Caesar wrote to An-Najashi, the King of Abyssinia. So, he sent with him an army of Abyssinian Christians, who were lead by Aryat and Abrahah. They rescued Yemen from the hands of the Jews. Dhu Nuwas tried to flee but eventually fell into the sea and drowned. After this, the kingdom of Abyssinia remained under Christian power for seventy years. Then the power was divested from the Christians by Sayf bin Dhi Yazin Al-Himyari when Kisra, the king of Persia sent an army there (to Yemen). He (the king) sent with him (Sayf Al-Himyari) those people who were in the prisons, and they were close to seven hundred in number. So, he (Sayf Al-Himyari) conquered Yemen with them and returned the kingdom back to the people of Himyar (Yemenis).

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

The below story has been taken from "The Stories in the Quran" by Imam Ibn Kathir

The Story of Qarun (Korah)

Allah the Almighty says:

{
Verily, Qarun (Korah) was of Musa's (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them.
And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.
Remember when his people said to him:


"Do not exult (with riches, being ungrateful to Allah).
Verily Allah likes not those who exult (with riches, being ungrateful to Allah).
"But seek with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter,
and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world,' and do good as Allah has been good to you,
and seek not mischief in the land.
Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupters)."

He(Qarun) said:


"This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess."


Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might
and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected?
But the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) will not be questioned of their sins
(because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without being called to account).
So he went forth before his people in his pomp.

Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said:


"Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given! Verily he is the owner of a great fortune."

But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said:


"Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds,
and this none shall attain except those who are As­Sabirun (the patient in following the truth).

"So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place.
Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.

And those who had desired (for a position like) his position the day before, began to say:
"Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His slaves.
Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)!
Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful.
" That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and
oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun (the pious and righteous persons)

}. (Al-­Qasas, 76-83)




Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) held the opinion that Qarun (Koran) was a paternal cousin to Musa (Peace be upon him).

Allah the Almighty mentioned the numerousness of his wealth and riches so that its keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.
It was also said: the keys were made of leather and that they used to be carried on sixty mules. Allah knows best!

However, he was advised by the godly men from among his people saying: {Do not exult}
i.e. do not be arrogant or conceited with riches, being ungrateful to Allah the Almighty.
{Verily Allah likes not those who exult (with riches, being ungrateful to Allah).
"But seek with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter}
they advise him to direct his endeavors to gain Allah's Reward in the Hereafter as it is the best of all rewards.
But, {and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world}, i.e. take thereof with your money what is made lawful to you
and have the possible lawful joys of this present life. And {do good as Allah has been good to you}, i.e. do good to the creation of Allah Who has been good to you.
And {seek not mischief in the land}, i.e. do not harm the people regarding whom you were commanded to do good.
If you harm them, He will punish you and take back what He has granted you {Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupters)}. His answer to this good advice of his people was nothing but: {He said: This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess}, i.e. I do not need what you have said or referred to, as Allah only gave me this for He knew that I deserve it and I am really qualified thereto. Moreover, were it not for that He loves me, He would not grant or give me this.

However, Allah the Almighty refuted his statement saying:
{Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him
in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected?
But the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) will not be questioned
of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without being called to account)}
, i.e. We have destroyed before him generations because of their sins and bad deeds and that they were stronger than Qarun
and they had more riches and children than him. So, if what he said was true, We would not punish anyone of those who had
more riches than him and his wealth and riches would not be a proof of Our love or care for him.

Allah the Almighty says:
{And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us (i.e. please Allah),
but only he who believes (in the Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds (will please Us),.
as for such, there will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings
Paradise) in peace and security}. (Saba', 37)

and, He says:
{Do they think that in wealth and children with which We enlarge them. We hasten unto them with good things.
Nay, [it is a Fitnah (trial) in this worldly life so that they will have no share of good things in the Hereafter] but they perceive not}. (Al-Mu'minun, 55,56).
Allah's answer to Qarun's claims confirms our interpretation of his saying,
{This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess}.
But as for those who claimed that he was a chemist or that he knew the Greatest Name of Allah
the Almighty and that he used it to collect wealth, all these are fallacies and not true.
For chemistry cannot change the reality of something, and the Greatest Name is of no effect if it is
pronounced by a disbeliever. And, Qarun was inherently a disbeliever and apparently a hypocrite.
Moreover, the context of the advice given by his people and his answer to them do not support that claim.

Almighty Allah says: {So he went forth before his people in his pomp},
many interpreters mentioned that he went forth before his people in great luxuries (servants, clothes and riding animals).
When those who were desirous of the life of the world saw him, they wished to have the same
and wondered "what a great fortune he has!"
When their saying reached the ears of the godly righteous men they said to them:
{Woe to you! The Reward of Allah is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds},
i.e. the Reward of Allah in the Hereafter is better and higher than this.

Almighty Allah says:
{and this none shall attain except those who are As-Sabirun (the patient in following the truth)},
i.e. this -advice, saying and high determination regarding the Hereafter in presence of the joys
of this present life -none shall attain except those who were guided and those whose hearts were fixed a
nd minds made stable by the Grace of Allah the Almighty. And, nothing is better than the saying of some
of our earlier scholars who said: "Verily, Allah loves penetrative insight in time of suspicious matters and perfect
reasoning in time of the presence of lusts" .

Allah the Almighty says: {So, We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place.
Then, he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves},
when Allah the Almighty mentioned his setting forth in his pomp, He said {So, We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place}.
As transmitted by Imam Al-Bukhari, Allah's Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
"While a man was walking, clad in a two-piece garment and proud of himself with his hair well-combed,
suddenly Allah made him sink into the earth and he will go on sinking into it till the Day of Resurrection. " (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Narrated Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) and As-Sadiy that
Qarun gave a prostitute a sum of money to say to Musa (Peace be upon him) while he is accompanied with other people that
he (Musa) committed with her (adultery). It is said that she did it and consequently, Musa (Peace be upon him)
trembled with fear and he performed two Rak`ahs (bowing in prayer) and then said to her: By Allah! Tell me, who hired you to do this?
She said: It was Qarun who hired me to do that. Then, she sought Allah's Forgiveness and repented to Him.
Upon that, he (Musa (Peace be upon him)) prostrated himself and invoked Allah against Qarun.
Allah the Almighty revealed to him that He subjugated the earth to obey him.
Musa (Peace be upon him) commanded the earth to swallow Qarun and his dwelling place. And it was! Allah knows best!

It was also said:
That when Qarun went forth before his people in his pomp: guards, mules and clothes,
he passed by Musa (Peace be upon him) while he was reminding the people of Allah.
When the people saw him, the faces of most of them turned towards him.
Musa (Peace be upon him) called him and said: Why do you do this?
Qarun replied saying: O Musa! You have been favored with Prophethood and I have been favored with riches.
If you want, you may go forth and invoke Allah against me, and I would invoke Him against you.
Thereupon, both of them went forth and Musa (Peace be upon him) said: Would you like to begin?
Qarun said: Yes, and he made his invocations but they were not answered.
When Musa (Peace be upon him) invoked Allah the Almighty against him saying: O Allah! Command the earth to transgress today.
Allah revealed to him that He did. Then, Musa (Peace be upon him) said:
O earth! Take them! And it took them to their feet. Then, he said: take them! And it took them to their knees.
Then, he said: take them! And it took them to their shoulders. Then, he said: O earth! Bring their .riches and treasures!
They were brought till they saw them, then Musa (Peace be upon him) pointed with his hand saying:
Go, you sons of Laui! And they sank into the earth.

It was narrated from Qatadah that he said: "They would sink into the earth till the Day of Resurrection."
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "They sank into the earth till they reached the seventh earth."

Allah the Almighty says:
{Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves}
, i.e. he could not help himself or get help from others.
Allah the Almighty states: {Then he will have no power, nor any helper}. (At-Tariq, 10)
When the people saw what happened to Qarun and his treasures of sinking into the earth and complete destruction,
those who had desired for a position like his position the day before regretted and thanked Allah the Almighty and
hence they said: {Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)!
Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful}.

Then, Allah the Almighty informs us that {That home of the Hereafter},
i.e. Paradise is prepared only for those {who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land
nor do mischief by committing crimes} and then He says: {And the good end is for the Muttaqun (the pious and righteous persons)}.

[AkheeAB]

AsSalam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah

Earth had thrown his body out

Narrated Anas (RadiAllaahu Anhu):

There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surat-al-Baqara and Al-Imran, and he used to write (the revelations) for the Prophet. Later on he returned to Christianity again and he used to say: "Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him." Then Allah caused him to die, and the people buried him, but in the morning they saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, "This is the act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and took his body out of it because he had run away from them." They again dug the grave deeply for him, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, "This is an act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and threw his body outside it, for he had run away from them." They dug the grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. So they believed that what had befallen him was not done by human beings and had to leave him thrown (on the ground).


[ Taken from Sahih Bukhari - Volume 4, Book 56, Number 814: Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions]