Tragedy of Bir-Maoona

In the tragedy of Bir-Maoona, seventy sahabah (Prophet’s s.a.w companion) were massacred. All of them were Hafiz of Quran. Their Jamaat (group) was called the Jamaat of Qura and consisted mostly of Ansar.

The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w love them very much, for they engaged themselves in zikr and recitation of the Quran during the night and attended upon the Prophet s.a.w and his family during the day. A person named Amir bin Malik and know as Abu Bara, belonging to Bani Amir clan of Najd, came to the Prophet s.a.w and took this Jamaat with him for the Tabligh and Taalim (teaching of Islam) of this clan. The Prophet s.a.w expressed his apprehensions, saying:

“I fear some harm may came to my Sahabah.”

But the person assured him that he was personally responsible for their safety. The Prophet s.a.w , after much hesitation agreed to send the Jamaat of seventy Sahabah with him. He also gave them an epistle to Amir bin Tufail (the head of the clan), inviting him to Islam.

This Sahabah camped at Bir-Maoona. Umar bin Umayyah r.a and Munzir bin Umar r.a took the camels for grazing and Haram r.a with two companions went to deliver the Prophet’s epistle to Amir bin Tufail. On reaching near his place, Haram r.a said to his companions:

“You both stay here, I shall go alone to him. If I am safe, you may also come after me, but if I am betrayed you may return from here, as the loss of one is better than of three.”

Amir bin Tufail was a nephew of Amir bin Malik, who had brought the Jamaat. He was bitter enemy of Islam and hated the Muslims to the core. When Haram r.a delivered the Prophet’s epistle to him, he did not even care to read it and attacked Haram r.a with his spear, which pierced through the latter’s body. Haram r.a uttered “ By the Lord of Kaabah I have triumphed,” and died. The heartless person had no consideration for the guarantee given by his uncle, nor for the accepted tradition all over the worl, that nobody would kill the envoy. He then assembled the people of his clan and exhorted them to kill all the sahabah camping at Bir-Maoona. The people hesitated, in view of the guaranteed given by Amir bin Malik. He collected a large number of people from neighbouring tribes and attacked the Muslims. They massacred each one of them, except Kaab bin Zaid r.a, who had some life left in him and enemy left him a dead.

Munzir r.a and Umar r.a , while grazing the camel, notice vultures hovering in the air. They exclaimed. ‘Something foul has happened and return to the camp'. They saw from some distance that their companions were dead and the murderers were standing around their bodies with bloody swords in their hands. They stopped a while to think what they might do. Umar r.a said:

“Let us go back to Madinah and inform the Prophet s.a.w.”

Munzir r.a did not agree. He said:

“The Prophet s.a.w will get the information sooner or later. I do not like to miss martyrdom and run away from place where our companions are lying in their peaceful sleep. Let us go forward and meet them”

The both went and jumped into the thick of battle. Munzir r.a. was killed and Umar r.a. was captured. As Amir’s mother had to set free a slave in connection with some vow that she had made, Amir set Umar free and let him go. Amir bin Fuhairah r.a, a slave of Abu Bakar r.a, was also among those who were killed at Bir Maoona. Jabir bin Salmi, who killed him says:

When I thrust my spear through him, he uttered, “By Allah, I have triumphed” and to my amazement I saw his body lifted upwards towards the sky. I made enquiries later on as to what was the triumph that Amir bin Fuhairah r.a meant when he uttered, “By Allah, I have triumphed”. I was told that it was that of entering into Paradise. This made me embrace Islam.”

These are the illustrious people of whom Islam is rightly proud. Death had really more attraction for them than wine for their enemies. As they did deeds which were sure to win Allah’s pleasure, they felt most triumphant at the time of surrendering their souls.


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Rise and fall of nations by reason of the Holy Quran

From Umar r.a narrates that Rasullullah s.a.w said: “Allah exalts many people by means of this book (the Holy Quran), and He also degrades many others by means of the same.”

People who believe the Holy Quran and act upon it are given by Allah position of honour and respect, both in this life as well as in the hereafter, while those who do not act upon it are disgraced by Allah. This principle is also borne out by the various ayat of the Holy Quran. At one place it reads:

“He misleads many by this book and guides many thereby.”

At another place we come accros:

“And We send down in the Quran that which is healing and mercy for believers, thought it increases for the evil doers naught save ruin,”

The Prophet s.a.w is also reported to have said “ Many hypocrites of this Ummat will be the qurra, i.e., those who recite the Quran correctly.” In Ihya ul-Ulum, it is reported from some ‘masaikh’, “As soon as a man starts reading a surah (chapter of the Holly Quran) the angle start invoking mercy for him and they continue to do so till he stop reading; on the contrary another person starts reading a surah and the angels start cursing him and they continue to do so till he completes the reading.”

Some scholars have stated that sometimes a man read the Holly Quran and invokes curses on himself without even knowing it. For instance, he reads in the Holy Quran :

“Beware, the curse of Allah is on the wrong-doers and he exposes himself to this warning because of his wrong-doings”

In the like manner, he reads in the Quran:

“Beware, the curse of Allah is upon the liars.”

In fact he exposes himself to the warning by reason of his being himself a liar.

Amir ibni Wathilah r.a says that Umar r.a had appointed Nafe ibni Abdul Harith r.a as the Governor of Mecca. Once he asked the latter as to whom he had appointed as the administrator of forest. “Ibni Abzi.” replied Nafe. “Who is Ibni Abzi ?” Said Umar r.a. “ He is one of our slaves” was the reply. “Why you appointed a slave the amir (leader)?” Objected Umar r.a, “Because he recites the Book of Allah (Quran)” said Nafi. At this, that it had been said by Rasullullah s.a.w that, because of this Book, Allah elevates many people and degrades many.



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Similitude of Those Who Recite The Holy Quran And Those Who Do Not

From Abu Musa r.a narrated that Rasullullah s.a.w said; “The Example of a Mukmin (beliver) who read the Quran is like that of turanj (citron), which has a pleasant smell and a sweet taste. The example of a mukmin who does not read the Quran is like that of a dates, which has no smell, though its taste is sweet, the munafiq (hypocrite) who does not read the Quran is like a wild gourd, which has a bitter taste and no smell, and the munafiq who reads the Quran is like a raihan (sweet selling flower) which is fragrant but has a bitter taste.”

In this hadith an abstract quality of reading the glorious Quran, has been to concrete objects in order to illustrate the difference between reading and not reading the Holy Quran. Otherwise it is obvious that material object of this world like citron and dates cannot match the sweetness and perfume of the Quran. There are, however special points in this similitude, which pertain to the deep knowledge of the Prophets and testify to the vast understanding of Rasullullah s.a.w. Consider, for example, the citron, which gives flavour to the mouth, cleans the stomach and stimulates the digestion. These are the qualities specially associated with reading of the Quran sinse, fragrance in the mouth, internal purity and spiritual strength result from reading the Quran. It is also said that if there is citron in house, no genie can enter it. If it is true, then such is the speciality of the Quran. Some physicians say that citron strengthens the memory and it is reported in the Ihya by Saidina Ali bin Abu Talib r.a that three things, i.e, cleaning the teeth with miswak, fasting and reading the Holy Quran strengthen the memory.

In the book of Abu Daud, it is mentioned at the conclusion of the hadith given above that a good companion is like a person having musk. Even if you do not get musk, you will at least enjoy its fragrance. An evil companion is like a person with furnace, near whom, even if you do not get blackened, you certainly cannot avoid the smoke. It is therefore, important that one should be very careful in choosing his companion, which whom he has to mix generally.

Doors of Heaven Opened for The Reciter of 'La ila haillallah'

From Abu Hurairah r.a , narrates that Rasullullah (Prophet) s.a.w said; “There is nobody who may recite “La ila ha illallah” and the doors of heavens do not get opened to allow this kalimah to reach Arash (Allah’s Throne) provided he abstains from the major sins.”

The extreme excellence and acceptability of this kalimah is proved by its going straight to the Arash (Throne of Allah). It has already been stated that its recitation, even with major sins, is not without benefit. Mulla Ali Qari (Rahmatullah Alaih) says that the quick condition of being free from major sins is the key to quick acceptance and for the opening of all the doors of heaven; otherwise the recitation of kalimah is not without reward and acceptance, in spite of major sins. Some scholars have explained this hadith to mean that after the death of such a person, all the doors of the heavens are opened to welcome his soul. According to another hadith, two kalimah ase such that one does not stop before reaching the Throne of Allah, and the other fills the Heaven and earth with its light or reward: one is La ila ha illalah and the other is Allahu Akbar.

Two Things For Which Jealousy Is Permissible

From Ibnu Umar r.a narrates that Rasullullah s.a.w said ; “Hasad (jealousy) is not permitted except in respect of two person – one whom Allah blesses with recitation of Quran and he remains engaged in it day and night, and the others who is a lot of wealth by Allah and he spends it day and night”

On the authority of many ayat of the Quran and numerous hadith, hasad is an evil and is absolutely forbidden. This hadith, however, appears to permit hasad in respect of two person. Because there are many well know traditions dealing with hasad, the ulama (plural of alim – religious scholar) have interpreted this hadith in two ways. Firstly, hasad as denoted by arabic word (ghibtah), is taken here in the sense of emulation. There is a difference between jealousy and emulation. Hasad is desire that one possessing a blessing should be deprived of it; whether the person who feels jealous acquires it or not, while emulation signifies a desire to possess a thing, whether the actual owner is deprived of it or not. Since hasad is haram (religiously unlawful) under ijma (consensus of opinion), the ulama (Islamic religious scholar) have translated, by way of metaphor, this word hasad as ghibtah, meaning emulation. Ghibtah is permissible in worldly affairs and commendable in religious matters.

The second interpretation is that the term hasad has been used in a hypothetical sense, i.e., if hasad has were permissible it would have been so with regard to the two persons mentioned above.


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