Foraward by Aley Rasool
Gardens Of Sunnah
Vol: 1
BISMILLA HIR RAHMAA NIR RAHEEM
ALLAH (THE EXALTED)’S NAME I START WITH, THE MOST BENEFICENT AND MERCIFUL
FORWARD BY
SYED ALEY RASOOL NAZMI
Sajjadah Nasheen,
Dargah-e-Barkaatiyah Nooriyah,
Marehra Sharief, India.
Allah’s Name I begin With, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
All Praise is to Allah. Peace and blessings be on Rasoolallah, Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Auspicious prayers are on Ehl-e-Bait and on all his just and devoted Sahaba.
Narrated Hazrat Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said “All my followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” They said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Who will refuse?” He said, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me is the one who refuses (to enter it).” (Sahih Bukhari)
This tradition of the Holy Prophet indicates that the real salvation of a believer lies in obeying the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. What is Sunnah?
Let us first know the definition of the Sunnah. Sunnah is something that has been recommended to us by the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. There are three types of traditions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. (1) His sayings, (2) His actions, and (3) His keeping silence over certain acts of his companions. Scholars say that everything the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said or did is Sunnah. Some scholars say that there are certain things which the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam did as matters of personal choice or because they were normal practice in his society. They have no bearing on religious matters. This is the opinion of Ghair Muqallids, those who do not follow any particular school of thought. These are the people who take the religion very lightly, just as a matter of faith. But they forget that Allah the Almighty has commanded us in the Qur’an: So take whatever the Messenger assigns to you and deny yourself that which he withholds from you. (Surah Al-Hashr: 7)
The Companions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam were very particular in following each and every action of their Master. This was a group of people who dedicated themselves to personify the traditions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Their words and actions reflected the words and actions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. The company of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had given them complete training to lead a righteous life. In the beginning, when the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam invited the Arabs to reform their faith and actions, the response to that invitation was very poor. But the essence of Truth continued to expand day by day and within a short span of time there gathered around the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam great people who have no parallel in the history of the nations of the Old. Initially they could be counted on finger tips. Their number increased steadily till the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam migrated to Medina. The Battle of Badr saw 313 faithfuls who left their home and hearth with the sole objective of do and die for their Master. This strength reached to an impressive number of ten thousand during the Great Victory of Mecca. The Last Pilgrimage saw 13000 companions around the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. But at the time of Prophet’s departure from this world their number crossed five figures. 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
There were several factors that influenced the lives of the companions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. The Holy Qur’an was the foremost among them. Hazrat Umar had set out to kill the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam but as he heard the verses of the Holy Qur’an, his heart was filled with the light of faith. Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifari heard from his brother the impact of the Holy Qur’an; he presented himself in the court of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and embraced Islam. Hazrat Tufail bin Amr heard the Holy Qur’an from the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and his heart changed to the faith of Islam. Hazrat Abu Ubaydah, Hazrat Abu Salmah, Hazrat Arqam bin Abi Arqam and Hazrat Usman bin Maz’oon heard the Holy Qur’an from the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and embraced Islam. When the forecast of the Holy Qur’an about the victory of Romans over Iranians came true, many people embraced Islam.
The Prophet’s high morale impressed many a people. Once a Bedouin demanded many goats from the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. When his demand was fulfilled by the Prophet, he went to his tribe and said to his people, “O People! Embrace Islam because Muhammad is so generous that he does not fear of being penniless.” The Holy Prophet’s sermons had also impressed many persons to accept his faith and become Muslim. Some people saw the divine grace on Prophet’s countenance and embraced Islam. Hazrat Abu Rafe’ came to the court of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as the ambassador of the pagans of Quraysh but as soon as he saw his graceful personality, he openly converted to the faith of Islam. The miracles of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam also impressed many people. There are hundred and one examples when the people saw the miracles of the holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and embraced Islam. Once a person entered the circle of Islam, there was no looking back. The Companions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam surrendered themselves totally to the beck and call of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “O people! You cannot become a believer unless you love me more than your parents and offspring and your own self.” That was why when the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked his companions to contribute their mite to the funds of Jihad, Hazrat Umar brought half of his household and presented to the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Hazrat Abu Bakr, on the other hand, brought his total belongings for the support of Islam. The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked, “O Abu Bakr! What have you left at home for your family?” He said, “Allah and His Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam suffice for their sustenance.” Such was the faith at its zenith.
The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “O My People! Time has come when Allah’s creature has to answer His call. I am leaving you with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet. If you follow them, you will never go astray.” The Companions took these words as the essence of faith. Once the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “My people will divide into 73 sects. Of these only one sect would enter Paradise.” The Companions asked: Ya Rasoolallah! Who will be the members of that group? He said: Those who would follow my ways and those of my companions. This Hadith lays emphasis on adhering to the words and deeds of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the traditions of his companions.
Then there is the famous verse of the Holy Qur’an: Say: “If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Aley Imran: 31) Such were the commands of Allah the Almighty that provided the Companions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam with the basis of total dedication, immense affection and absolute love towards their Master. They were seen collecting everything that belonged to the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, including his hair, his clothes, his shoes, his miswak, his nails, even the water that flowed while he made ablution. The companions were fond of copying the Apostle of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam all the time. Once a companion of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was going to some place on his camel’s back. When he passed through a desert full of thorny trees, he diverted his camel to a thorny tree. When he 4 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
reached under that tree, he lifted himself a little so that his turban could contact a thorn. When enquired, he said he had seen his beloved Master Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam who passed through that place and his turban got entangled with the thorns of that particular tree.
Similarly when the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam started observing continuous fasts, his companions also followed him. Narrated Hazrat Abu Huraira, Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam forbade Al-Wisal in observing the fasts. So, one of the Muslims said to him, “But you practice Al-Wisal. O Allah’s Messenger!” The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied, “Who amongst you is similar to me? I am given food and drink during night by my Lord.” In another quotation it was said to them, “Do that much of deeds which is within your ability.” Similar was the case of the Taraveeh. The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was very fond of performing the Taraveeh in his mosque. The Companions gathered in multitude in the mosque to pray by the side of their Master. When the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam saw their addiction, he feared that Allah may make the Taraveeh obligatory on his followers. Therefore he stopped going to the mosque for Taraveeh. The Companions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam firmly believed that if they follow the sayings and actions of their Master Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, they will definitely be rewarded by Allah the Almighty.
Many Islamic scholars have dealt with the topic of Sunnah from different angles. There are certain groups among Muslims who claim to derive their faith only from the Qur’an. These groups call themselves Ehl-e-Qur’an, the followers of the Qur’an. But actually they are the followers of Satan as no person can claim to be a Muslim by accepting the Qur’an and discarding the Hadith. The Qur’an and Sunnah go together. The Holy Qur’an prescribes the basics of faith while the Sunnah provides their interpretation as well as implementation.
The Islamic Ummah has found special status amongst other Ummahs through the Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. The Holy Qur’an says: “Thus have We made of you an Ummah justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations and the Messenger a witness over yourselves.” (Surah Baqrah: 143) An Ummah always begins with one individual, an individual who has a divine idea and human ideal, and scatters its seed in people’s thoughts. The Qur’an says in Surah Nahl, verse 120: “Surely Ibrahim was an example, obedient to Allah, upright.” The exalted Prophet of Islam is himself an Ummah who is the founder of the great Ummah of Islam, and perpetrator of Ibrahim’s nation and the line of monotheism. He is the real model and witness, leader of the minds, hearts of believers, and witness of humanity.
The Companions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam firmly believed in the Qur’anic verse: “Allah has promised those of you who are believers and do good deeds, to make them Caliphs on the earth, as He did with those of the past, and to establish the religion He has chosen for them, and change their fear into tranquility, in order to worship Allah only, and make no partner for Him.” This is what Allah has promised, and Allah does not violate His promise.
But one fundamental principle in this destiny must not be forgotten, and that is the active and effective role of faith and action of the Islamic Ummah. The Holy Qur’an says in this connection: Allah does not change the destiny of a nation until they themselves engage in changing their condition. This change is possible when the Muslims return to Islam and revive Islamic ideology and throw away idolatry, colonial ideology and foreign ideas and thoughts, and act according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and do their best in sincerity and chastity and Islamic morality to revive Islam and the execution of its laws. They should sever their connections with foreign powers which have no aim but the destruction of the Muslims, and by ignoring geographical, racial, national and colour frontiers offer each other the hands of brotherhood and strengthen it and rise to save shelterless and oppressed people. They should abandon usurping and illegitimate governments of Islamic lands and hypocritical and seemingly political organizations which are nourished by arrogant powers, and join Allah, and rise for the annihilation of tyrannical rulers who are the main elements of mischief and factors of the unfortunate of the deprived 5 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
masses, and spare no efforts and money and life for the establishment of the Qura’nic rule of justice, because independence, freedom, greatness and honour are not secured easily and cheaply. They should know that with limited possibilities, and a small but resolute and faithful self-sacrificing number, it is possible to win victory over the monsters of oppression and despotism, in the same way that the people of Badr acted. They rose with empty hands and hearts full of faith for the sake of Allah, and sacrificed their everything and as a result gained everything.
The above formula appears to be idealistic, but to make it realistic and more pragmatic; we shall need the backing of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah. I am happy to note that a young man from amongst us has risen to wake up the Islamic nation from its slumber. I am proud of introducing Maulvi Abdul Mannan Master from Preston, UK who has authored a beautiful book on the subject the Sunnah. The magnificence of the book is evident right from the beginning. The author has touched almost all the aspect of his subject with authenticity and facts. Defining the Sunnah he writes:
In its technical sense Sunnah has three meanings:
1. Sayings of the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and grant
him peace) meaning the Hadith.
2. Actions the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and grant
him peace) did, meaning his practices.
3. Approval, the actions of the companions in the presence of the
Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) that were not sanctioned by him. Also something attributed whether physical or moral ascribed to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), whether before or after he proclaimed his Prophethood.
Abdul Mannan has included a separate chapter on beard. He has from all angles proved that wearing a beard is near to obligatory (Wajib) practice. To quote:
Cause of destruction today!
The Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that, “There were ten such habits amongst the people of Prophet Lut (upon whom be peace) which were the cause of their destruction. Amongst these habits he listed the shaving of the beard and the lengthening of the moustache.”
The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that, “Because of ten evil actions the people of Prophet Lut, (upon whom be peace) where destroyed. One of which was sodemy, the other drinking alcohol, shaving the beards and growing the moustache.”
He further writes:
Shaykh Ahmad Raza Khan (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) has written a book called ‘Lam’atud Duha Fi I’fail Luha’ on the importance of the beard. He has proved from this book that to keep a beard is necessary. He has quoted eighteen verses from the Qur’an, seventy two Hadith and sixty sayings of the pious predecessors. However, in his other works he has mentioned regarding the size of the beard. Of which the conclusion is as follows; the hair that grows from near the ear, the jaw and the chin is included in the beard (to keep a goatee is not expectable). The width is from between the ear and the cheek. Any hair on the cheek area i.e. under the eyes is not counted as a part of the beard and can be removed if it disfigures the face. If the hair around the cheek areas does not grow too long then there is not a need to remove this hair. These are separate by nature and not part of the beard.
Chapter Nine of the book deals with the quotations from non-Muslims who spoke or wrote in praise of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. My father Huzoor Syedul Ulema Syed 6 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
Shah Aley Mustafa Barkaati of Marehra Sharief used to call these people the greatest hypocrites of their times. He said, “We should not give any importance to the sayings of these non-Muslims. If these non-Muslims admired the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in the true sense, why did they not accept the great ideology of Islam prophesied by him?”
Dear readers, it would be a long essay if I deal at length each and every topic of the book. The book deals with the practice of Sunnah by Khulafa-e-Rashideen, Sahaba and Salaf (great seers). In addition to these topics Abdul Mannan has touched almost all matters of day to day life in the light of the sayings and actions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and his pious companions. These topics include Holy Prophet’s mannerism in Sleeping, Waking-up, Bath, Ablution, Drinking, Eating, Cleanliness, and Use of Miswak etc.
The book deals at length with the Sunnah of Amama. Chapter Thirty Three reads:
Manners of Amama
1. Wear the Amama whilst standing facing the Qibla & take it off whilst
sitting.
2. It is the Sunnah of the angels.
3. Wearing a hat is proven by the Prophet (May Allah bless him and
grant him peace).
4. Tie the Amama from the right (Clockwise).
5. Do not have the length more than twelve arms as it is against the
Sunnah.
6. Take the Amama of the same manner you put it on but do not pull it
off.
7. The angels make salaam to those who wear an Amama.
8. Wear the Amama as it is a sign of Islam and it distinguishes between a
Muslim and non-believers.
9. The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, when I
ascended the sky (Me’raj) I saw that most of the angels were wearing Amamas.
10. Make a practice of tying Amamas since it is a hallmark of the angels.
Furthermore, tie them back in such a manner that the tail hangs at the
back.
11. It is against the Sunnah not to have a tail (Shimla) for the Amama.
12. The shimla can either be a minimum of four finger lengths and the
maximum is that it doesn’t give you any problems whilst sitting.
Meaning it dose not cause any inconvenience.
13. The difference between the polytheists and us is that we wear a hat
under our Amama while the polytheists do not.
14. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) would not
venture out without an Amama.
15. Salaah with an Amama is equivalent to 10,000 cycles.
16. Those who wear the Amama on Friday Allah (The Exalted) and His
angels send Durood on that person.
17. Every round you tie on your head of the Amama, on the day of
Resurrection you will be given light (Noor).
18. Tie the Amama, as your wisdom will increase.
19. Amama is the respect and the sign of Islam.
20. The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) pointed to the
Amama and said, “There are only forty crowns of angels.
21. With the Amama one Jumu’ah is equivalent to seventy Jumu’ahs.
22. To stay bare head is not the Sunnah, you should try to put on the
angels crown from time to time as it is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). 7 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
Sheikh Ahmad Raza (may Allah have mercy upon him) would tie the Amama and leave the tail over the right shoulder.
It is my pleasure that Maulvi Abdul Mannan provided me with an opportunity to write these few lines about his book. I assure the readers that by going through this book and by implementing its contents, you will secure for yourselves great rewards from the Court of Allah the Almighty. This is most valuable book for those who seek proximity with the Prophet of Prophets, Mustafa Jaan-e-Rahmat Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. I recommend that every Sunni Muslim should have a copy of this book as it will give us the right direction towards a righteous life. May Allah the Almighty bless Maulvi Abdul Mannan with His Grace and make this book an instrument of intercession on the Day of Judgment? Amen.
(SYED ALEY RASOOL HASNAIN MIYA NAZMI)
Sajjadah Nasheen,
Dargah-e-Barkaatiyah Nooriyah,
Marehra Sharief, India.
Mumbai,
The 7th of Rabiul Awal, 1427 A.H.
6th April 2006 8 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
FORWARD
BY
Shaykh Muhammad Arshad Misbahi
and
Shaykh Muhammad Pirzada Imdad Hussain
Allah is our creator. He has sent many prophets and messengers for our guidance. The last and final messenger of Allah is His most beloved Muhammad Salla Lahu Alaihi Wasallam. The beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Lahu Alaihi Wasallam was blessed with the revelation of the Glorious Qur’aan. The Qur’aan is a book in which there is no doubt. Every Muslim should strive and struggle to lead this ephemeral life in accordance to the laws and instructions of this manifest book. The Qur’aan is undoubtedly the first primary source of Shari’ah.
Prophet Muhammad Salla Lahu Alaihi Wasallam never spoke out of his own whim or impulse.
The Qur’aan is a witness to this fact:
And he does not speak of his own desire. It is not but a revelation that is revealed to him. (53: 3-4)
This blessed verse of the Qur’aan was revealed to counter a charge leveled by the Quraishites of Makkah against the Beloved Salla Lahu Alaihi Wasallam. They had accused him of speaking from a selfish desire and that he spoke out of his whim. This verse is a confirmation from Allah that all his thoughts, actions and speech is guided by his creator, Allah. It also clarifies that important of the Hadith and the Sunnah for the interpretation of the entire Qur’aan. It is a well known fact that, after the Qur’aan, Hadith or Sunnah is the second primary source of Shari’ah. Allah says in the Qur’aan:
And We have revealed to you this discourse so that you may explain clearly to people what has been sent to them, so that they may reflect. (16:44)
An authority in the Hadith literature confirms that Sunnah is actually the interpretation of the Qur’aan:
Undoubtedly, I have been given (by Allah) the Qur’aan and the like of it (Sunnah) with it.
(Al-Bukhari)
The Glorious Qur’aan gives us the general principles and rules, while the Sunnah of the Prophet Salla Lahu Alaihi Wasallam provides the details of their implementation and application. For example, the Qur’aan says:
Establish Salaah (prayer)
But it does not describe how to do this. It is the Sunnah of the Prophet which gives us the details. In it we see that the Prophet Salla Lahu Alaihi Wasallam in respect of the Salaah says:
Pray as you see me offering prayers. (Al-Bukhari; chapter of Adhan).
Sunnah means a path, example or a system. In the Islamic terminology, it refers to the practice of the Prophet, his life example. It includes and embodies the sayings, actions and the approvals to the Prophet Salla Lahu Alaihi Wasallam. These are normally referred to as Ahadith (plural of Hadith).
Alhamdulillah, my ‘Abdul-Mannan has strived and worked hard to educate the English-speaking people towards understanding the beautiful, unique, unequalled and exemplary life of 9 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
our beloved Prophet Salla Lahu Alaihi Wasallam. I pray that Allah Almighty rewards him in accordance to His infinite mercy for this effort.
I conclude citing a command of Allah in the Qur’aan:
Say to them (o beloved: If you really love Allah, then follow me; Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins; and verily Allah is the Most-forgiving, the Ever-Merciful. (3:31).
Muhammad Arshad Misbahi
Imam/Khateeb Manchester Central Mosque, UK
&
Muhammad Pirzada Imdad Hussain
Founder and Principle of Jamia Al-Karam, Redford, UK
The 19th of Rabiul Awal, 1427 A.H.
18th April 2006