MUSJIDUL HAQ

Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّکُمْ بِشَیۡءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوۡفِ وَالْجُوۡعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الۡاَمۡوٰلِ وَالۡاَنۡفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِ ؕ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِیۡنَ﴿۱۵۵﴾ۙ

  And We shall definitely put you to test with something of fear and hunger and with some loss of wealth and lives and fruits; and give glad tidings to the patient.

 (Al-Baqarah 2, Verse 155)

Hadeeth:

وَعَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أبِيْ رَبَاحٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ لِي ابنُ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا: ألَا أُرِيْكَ اِمْرَأةً مِنْ أَهْلِ الجَنَّة، فَقُلْتُ: بَلٰى، قَالَ: هذِهِ الْمَرْأةُ السَّوْدَاءُ أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – فَقَالَتْ: إنِّي أُصْرَعُ ، وَإِنِّي أتَكَشَّفُ، فَادْعُ اللهَ تَعَالٰى لِيْ. قَالَ: «إنْ شِئْتِ صَبَرْتِ وَلَكِ الْجَنَّةُ، وَإنْ شِئْتِ دَعَوْتُ اللهَ تَعَالٰى أَنْ يُّعَافِيْكِ» فَقَالَتْ: أَصْبِرُ، فَقَالَتْ: إنِّي أتَكَشَّفُ فَادْعُ اللهَ أَنْ لَّا أَتَكَشَّفَ، فَدَعَا لَهَا.

 مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيهِ.

Sayyiduna ‘Ata’ bin Abi Rabah reported: Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas – may Allah be pleased with them – asked him whether he would like to see a woman who is amongst the residents of Paradise. When he replied that he certainly would, he said, “This black woman, who came to the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – and said, ‘I suffer from epilepsy and my body gets exposed during fits, so make Du’a to Allah for me.’ He replied: ‘If you choose to endure it patiently you be rewarded with Jannah, or if you wish, I shall supplicate to Allah to cure you?’ She said, ‘I shall endure it.’ Then she added: ‘But my body gets exposed, so pray to Allah that it may not happen.’ He then made Du’a for her”.

(Bukhari, Muslim)

Commentary:

This pious woman’s name was either Su’airah or Suqairah.  She used to style the hair of Umm al-Mu’mineen Sayyidah Khadeejah – may Allah be pleased with her.

(Mirqat al-Mafateeh Hadeeth No. 1577(

Although in the knowledge of Sayyiduna RassolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – she would still be a woman of Paradise even if she did not have this illness, for she was a believer, and a Sahabiyah as well but he inculcated the teaching of Sabr and endurance on calamities so she could achieve a lofty abode in Paradise.

This Hadeeth teaches us that sometimes to leave an illness, without a medical treatment or Du’a for its cure, is done to seek virtues by making Sabr on it.  It cannot be labelled as suicide, especially when one is convinced that it is a test from Allah Almighty.

Sayyiduna Ibrahim – peace be upon him – did not make Du’a to be saved when he was being thrown into the fire nor did Imam Husain – may Allah be pleased with him – in the plains of Karbala, otherwise under normal circumstances, both medicine as well as Du’a are Sunnah.

The Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – often made Du’a and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – took medicine as well during his fetal illness.

(Mir’aat al-Manajeeh Vol. 2, p. 427)

Sayyidi AlaHazrat on Leprosy:

When Imam Ahmed Raza – may Allah be pleased with him – was asked concerning leprosy, he replied:  It is an extremely cursed disease, also known as Umm al-Sibyaan, if children are affected by it, otherwise it is called Sar’ i.e. leprosy.  It has been established through experience that it can be cured if it occurs within the age of twenty five but if it strikes someone at the age of 25 or above then it will not leave.  Except through the miracle of a Wali or through Ta’weedh it is still curable.

(Al-Malfooz p. 417)

The Causes of Leprosy, Prevention & Cure:

There are two causes of this illness:

1. Medical condition when the airborne viruses enter one’s body and affect the neurons in one’s brain or it could be the inflammation that is still retained from a previous condition of fever that the patient had.
2. Due to the mischief of evil Jinns.  These are sometimes driven due to one’s beauty or just simply to cause havoc in one’s life.

(Fat’h al-Baari under Hadeeth No. 6552)

The recitation of Surah Al-Shams and then blowing into the patient’s ear provides greats relief for someone suffering from leprosy.

(Jannati Zewar p. 602)

It is commendable to call Azan in the following conditions:

• In the ears of the newborn
• For the one drowned in sorrow
• One suffering from leprosy
• To calm a nasty and angry person or animal
• When a fight intensifies
• When there is a fire
• After burying a deceased
• At the time when the Jinns is up to mischief
• For a traveler
• When one loses his direction in the wild and there is no one to guide
• In the time when there is an outbreak of disease.

(Bahare Shariat, Vol. 3, p. 466)

AlaHazrat Imam Ahmed Raza – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions in his Malfoozaat as follows:

One of the reasons due to which one suffers with leprosy is the unnecessary delay in giving Azan in the ear of the newborn.  If Azan and Iqamah is given straight after the child is born and given a bath, then in sha Allah, the baby will be safeguarded from this disease for life.

(Al-Malfooz with reference to Shu’ab al-Iman Hadeeth No. 8619)

Story (Leprosy Cured by the Greatest Doctor Ever):

Sayyiduna Ya’la ibn Murrah Thaqafi – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that he had been blessed with the companionship of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – during a journey.  We stopped at the bank of a river and a woman came with her child who was suffering with leprosy.  The Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – held its nose and said, “Leave!  I am Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.”  Upon our return when the woman was asked concerning the child, she replied, “By the One Who has sent you as a True Prophet, we never found anything suspicious after your treatment.”

(Musnad Imam Ahmed Hadeeth No. 17876)

Patience of a Mother:

It is mentioned that once, while making Tawaaf, Hadrat Sayyiduna Shaikh Abul Hasan Siraaj – may Allah be pleased with him – noticed a certain lady. She was extremely good looking and looked like someone who did not have any worries or concerns. He kept on thinking that this was indeed someone who had no worries in the world. In fact, the female heard the comments of the Shaikh and approached him and said, “What are you saying? I wish to inform you that I am indeed an ocean of sadness and grief and I believe that very few people have gone through what I have gone through.”

The Shaikh asked her to explain.

She continued, “Once my husband slaughtered a goat. My two sons were also playing nearby and saw what their father was doing. The elder boy then asked his younger brother whether he wanted to see how an animal was slaughtered and the younger brother agreed to this. Without thinking what he was doing, he then took a knife and ran it across the neck of his younger brother. When he saw the blood, he ran into the wilds in a state of shock.

“When I heard the screams, I ran outside to see what was happening and as I did so, I did not realise that I had left my small infant unattended. A pot of water fell from the stove and this infant also passed away. My husband then went into the wilds to look for our son, but the wild animals had already eaten him and a few days later, due to thirst and hunger, my husband also died in the wild.

“I also had one daughter who had just got married and when heard of all of this, in immense sadness and grief, she also passed away. I am the only one who has survived all of this.”

When Shaikh Abul Hasan – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this amazing and strange incident he asked the female, “How have you managed to display Sabr in all of this?”

She replied, “When a person separates patience and non-patience, the road ahead becomes clear and apparent. If a person displays acceptance and has patience, the results will always be better and its fruit will always be much sweeter. If a person displays impatience, there is no reward for this and its results is also not good.” After saying this, the female departed.

(Roud Ar Riyaheen)

Story (Sayyiduna Ghaus Azam Cured the Leprous):

A man came to the court of Sayyiduna Ghaus Azam – may Allah be pleased with him – and said, “I am a resident of Asbahan.  My wife often suffers with the fits of leprosy and no one’s Taweedh has any effect on her.”  Sayyiduna Ghaus Azam – may Allah be pleased with him – said to him, “It’s a jinn from the valley of Sarandeep.  His name is Khanes.  When your wife has a fit, say in her ears, ‘O Khanes, Shaykh Abdul Qadir has summoned you to never come back after today or else you will be doomed’.”

The man departed and never returned for the next 10 years.  When he was seen after 10 years, he was asked concerning his wife and he replied, “I did as I was instructed by the Shaykh and since then there has been no sign of leprosy on her.”

No one in the entire city of Baghdad suffered with leprosy for the 40 years of the physical life of Sayyiduna Ghaus Azam – may Allah be pleased with him.  It only started after he had passed away.

(Bahjat al-Asrar p. 140)

Sabr of a Great Lady of Islam:

It is reported that the son of Sayyidah Asma binte Umais May Allah be pleased with her, Hadrat Mohammed bin Abu Bakr May Allah be pleased with him, was martyred in Egypt in the 37th year of Hijrah. After he had been killed, the heretics also tied his body on a donkey and had it burnt.

When Sayyidah Asma May Allah be pleased with her heard about this news, she displayed immense patience and continued to stand on her Musallah. (Usaabah)

The Allah declares in Surah Baqarah, verse 45:

وَاسْتَعِیۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلٰوۃِ ؕ وَ اِنَّہَا لَکَبِیۡرَۃٌ اِلَّا عَلَی الْخٰشِعِیۡنَ﴿ۙ۴۵﴾

And seek help in patience and prayer, and surely, the prayer is hard indeed save to those who lean towards Me with their hearts.

The pious Muslims of the past, besides been steadfast in practising on the various laws of Islam, continued their level best to obey the command of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

This also proves that these blessed people continued to remember Allah Almighty even in such difficult times and never allowed themselves to be swayed from the remembrance of Allah Almighty. They never thought of their sadness as something which came in between their Iibadah.

If only our thinking and outlook in life can be the same, certainly Muslims would be able to recreate another revolution in this world.

Patience of a Female Slave:

It is mentioned that there was once a female slave who used to always listen to the lecture of a certain Sheikh. She was also very pretty and make sure that she was in Pardah.

One day, this Sheikh noticed that there was someone in the market place who was trying to sell this female slave. This Sheikh then approached this female slave to see what was happening. He asked the person who was in charge of this female slave. The person replied that the actual owner of this female slave was a fire-worshipper.

At that moment, this fire-worshipper also arrived there. He then said to the Sheikh, “At the beginning, when I saw how pretty and intelligent she was, I purchased her. At that time also, she continued to worship what we were worshipping. However, one evening, one of the people from your religion came by and he read a few verses in front of this female slave. When she heard these verses, she screamed and fell on the floor. After that incident, she refused to worship what we were worshipping and also refused to eat the same food that we were eating. Now, she continues to face the Qiblah of the Muslims and perform her worship. Therefore, I am extremely disappointed in this female. She is of no value to me any longer.”

When this Sheikh questioned this female slave, she also mentioned the same words. The Sheikh then asked her which verses of the Qur’an she had heard. She said the verses of Surah Zaariyat. They were verses 50 to 56:

فَفِرُّوۡۤا اِلَی اللہِ ؕ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمۡ مِّنْہُ نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿ۚ۵۰﴾

Therefore flee towards Allah. Undoubtedly I am a clear warner to you from Him.

وَلَا تَجْعَلُوۡا مَعَ اللہِ اِلٰـہًا اٰخَرَ ؕ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمۡ مِّنْہُ نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۵۱﴾ۚ

And do not set other gods along with Allah. Surely, I am a clear warner to you from Him.

کَذٰلِکَ مَاۤ اَتَی الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبْلِہِمۡ مِّنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا قَالُوۡا سَاحِرٌ اَوْ مَجْنُوۡنٌ ﴿۵۲﴾ۚ

In the same way, whenever any Messenger came to those before them, they said only ‘a magician or a madman’.

اَتَوَاصَوْا بِہٖ ۚ بَلْ ہُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۳﴾

Have they bequeathed it to one another? Nay’ rather they are a people contumacious.

فَتَوَلَّ عَنْہُمْ فَمَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِمَلُوۡمٍ ﴿۵۴﴾٭۫

Therefore O beloved! (Prophet) turn your face from them and there is no blame on you.

وَّ ذَکِّرْ فَاِنَّ الذِّکْرٰی تَنۡفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾

And admonish, for admonition benefits the muslims.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعْبُدُوۡنِ ﴿۵۶﴾

And I have created the Jinn and the men only for this that they may worship Me.

(Al-Dhaariyaat 51, Verse 50-56)

She told him, “When I heard these verses, my heart had instantly transformed and what I am now, is not hidden from you.”

When the Sheikh heard these words, he was highly impressed and asked the owner to sell this slave to him. However, while speaking the cousin of this owner also arrived. He said to the owner, “Why are you selling this slave to a Muslim? Give her to me and I will make sure that I will bring her back to the religion of fire-worshipping.”

When the owner heard this, he handed this female slave to this cousin. When the Sheikh saw this, he was extremely disappointed and worried.

However, when the female slave saw the condition of this Sheikh, she said, “Do not be concerned at all. The Allah Almighty will create a solution.”

The Sheikh then returned to his house with a heavy heart.

After a few days when this same Sheikh entered the Masjid, he was shocked by what he saw.  He saw the same young man who had taken this female slave away was actually standing in the same line as the Muslims and was reading his Salaah.

After the Salaah, he asked the young man what had happened. He replied, “When I took her to my house, she made it a habit of teaching the people about the Divine Greatness and Divine Unity of the Allah Almighty. She also continued to discourage them from worshipping the fire. She also encouraged them to worship the One Creator and explained to them about the reward which awaited them in Jannah. When I saw this, I also became afraid that perhaps very soon, she would manage to convert my entire family. I also thought that I had brought her to convert her to a fire- worshipper but it seems like she was converting them to Islam.

“In this state of concern, I then approached one of my friends and informed him about what was happening. He then informed me that there was only one way of showing this female slave a lesson. He told me that I should leave some money with this female slave as a trust and wherever she leaves this money, I should remember that place. While she was not looking I should steal the money. When I ask her for this money and she is unable to give it, thhen I was also at liberty to punish her as I wished.

“I did as I was told and handed this female slave five hundred Dinaars. While she was reading her Salaah, I stole this purse. When she had finished reading her Salaah, I asked her for this purse. She went to this same place where she hid this purse and brought exactly the same type of purse with five hundred Dinaars inside it.

“I then realised that all of this was because of the Divine Creator she was worshipping. After this, all of us accepted Islam. We realised that the Divine Creator Who had saved the honour and respect of this helpless female slave was the true Deity we should be worshipping. We also freed this female slave.” (Roudur Riyaheen, 250)

There is no doubt that every word and message in the Qur’an is something which can transform people and nations if it is presented in a proper manner. At the same time, when someone reads the Qur’an in front of this female slave, it also created a revolution in this person.

It also proves that when a person, male and female, obeys Allah Almighty and protects themselves against sin and have complete trust in the Allah Almighty, He will certainly help them in their times of need. We should also not look at ourselves and our state. We should continue to convey the message of Islam so that others are blessed with this message. It is our duty to do this. To create an effect and a transformation in a person is all due to the Divine Mercy of the Allah Almighty. If this female slave had looked at her state and continued to behave in a manner which gave others no choice, then none of the people mentioned in this incident would have been blessed with gift of Islam.

Even in the present age, if people are waiting for the Divine Help of Allah Almighty and are also waiting to see the affect of their message and words, they should also make it a habit of practising upon what they are preaching.

There are also two important messages that we should bear in mind when we look at this incident.

A person should have firm belief that whatever she is going through and whatever needs they have, all of this only comes from Allah Almighty. In other words, our complete being and existence is within the Divine Control of Allah Almighty.

It should not mean that since we solely trust in Allah Almighty, therefore, we should divorce ourself from undertaking any duty or action. We should continue to strive in His Path and leave the actual result to His Divine Being. As much as we rely on Him and bear this in mind, so much so, the end result of this effort of ours will bear fruit.

There is an interesting story of a blessed companion who one day appeared in the Masjid on a camel and asked the Holy Prophet May Allah send peace and blessings upon him, “Should I leave the camel open (without tying it to something) and trust in Allah Almighty or should I tie it?” The Holy Prophet May Allah send peace and blessings upon him replied, “Tie your camel and trust in Allah Almighty”. (Mishkaat Shareef)

We also make Du’a that Allah Almighty also grace us with the Divine Gift of placing our complete trust in Him.

Aameen.

Lesson:

• To remain steadfast with Sabr on the worldly calamities is a means for one’s entry into Paradise.

• Giving Azan in the ear of a leprous provides great relief from the fit one suffers in this disease.

• While continuing medical treatment, one should not ignore to make Du’a to Allah because both have importance in their own rights.  It is completely lawful for one to rely on the Du’a only without even taking the medical treatment, for sometimes Du’a supersedes dawa (medicine).

• If Azan and Iqamah is called in the ears of the newborn without delay, it ensures that he or she will not suffer from leprosy in the entire lifetime in sha Allah.