MUSJIDUL HAQ

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَرْفَعُوۡۤا اَصْوٰتَکُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِیِّ وَلَا تَجْہَرُوۡا لَہٗ بِالْقَوْلِ کَجَہۡرِ بَعْضِکُمْ لِبَعْضٍ اَنۡ تَحْبَطَ اَعْمٰلُکُمْ وَ اَنۡتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۲﴾

  ‘O believers! raise not your voices above the voice of the Communicator of unseen (the Prophet) and speak not aloud in the presence of him as you shout to one another, lest your works become vain while you are unaware.

(Al-Hujrat 49, Verse 2)

Hadrat Moulana Na’eemudeen Muradabadi ‘Alaihir Rahmah explains that, “When you speak or implore in the court of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, then lower your voice. This is showing respect and adab in his court”.

In this verse, the respect, the decorum and adab for the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam is being highlighted and explained.  In other words, when we address the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, we should address him with respect while all the time using respectful titles to do so.  If this is not done, then all our good deeds could be destroyed and wiped out and we would not even be aware of it.

The reason for this Revelation!

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas Radi Allahu ‘Anhuma explains that this verse was revealed in relationship to Sayyiduna Thaabit bin Qais bin Shammaas Radi Allahu ‘Anhu.

Sayyiduna Thaabit bin Qais bin Shammaas Radi Allahu ‘Anhu had a problem with hearing and because of this, he used to speak in a loud voice.  It is also said that when this verse was revealed, Sayyiduna Thaabit bin Qais Radi Allahu ‘Anhu was so fearful of appearing in front of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam that he sat in his house fearing that he was a person who would be entering the Fire of Hell.

One day, the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam inquired from Hadrat Sa’ad Radi Allahu ‘Anhu about his condition and he replied, “He is my neighbour and I do not have any knowledge whether he is ill”.

Hadrat Sa’ad Radi Allahu ‘Anhu then visited Hadrat Thaabit Radi Allahu ‘Anhu and informed him about the inquiry of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam. Sayyiduna Thaabit bin Qais Radi Allahu ‘Anhu replied, “Since this verse was revealed and you know that I speak the loudest among you, therefore I am a person who will enter Hell.”

When Hadrat Sa’ad Radi Allahu ‘Anhu reported this to the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, he declared, “(Definitely not), he is a person of Jannah.”

(Muslim Shareef)

Allama Mullah Ali Qari explaining the incident of the Bedouin states that the Bedouin did not deliberately speak in a loud tone.  He was genuinely unaware of the rules when speaking or addressing the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam.

(Mirqaatul Mafaatih)

Imam Ahle Sunnah, Sayyidi Ala Hadrat ‘Alaihir Rahmah explains that, “The ‘Ulama have clearly mentioned that taking the name of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam directly and addressing him is Haraam.  And there is no doubt that when the Creator Himself has shown such love when addressing his Prophet, who are we, who are merely the servants of the Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam to address him any way we wish to”.

Imam Malik Reproaches the Khalifah on Violating the Respect of the Court of RasoolAllah:

When Khalifah Haroon Rasheed entered Madinah Shareef, he took Imam Malik and entered the blessed Tomb of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – but as per his habit, he continued to talk loudly even inside the Mubarak Raudhah of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.  Imam Malik – may Allah pleased with him – became extremely angry at his unacceptable behavior and rebuked him, “Ameerul Mu’mineen!  This is the court of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, so lower your voice and talk with respect.   Do you not know that Allah Almighty revealed this Quranic verse to teach the respect of the court of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَرْفَعُوۡۤا اَصْوٰتَکُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِیِّ وَلَا تَجْہَرُوۡا لَہٗ بِالْقَوْلِ کَجَہۡرِ بَعْضِکُمْ لِبَعْضٍ اَنۡ تَحْبَطَ اَعْمٰلُکُمْ وَ اَنۡتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۲﴾

  ‘O believers! raise not your voices above the voice of the Communicator of unseen (the Prophet) and speak not aloud in presence of him as you shout to one another, lest your works become vain while you are unaware.

(Al-Hujrat 49, Verse 2)

Haroon Rasheed was taken aback at this warning and acknowledge his knowledge and Taqwa.  He kept quiet for a while then whispered slowly and asked Imam Malik, “I have presented my Salam in the Court of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – and now I need to make Du’a to Allah Almighty.  Please tell me whether I should make Du’a facing the direction of Ka’bah shareef or towards the Mubarak Qabr of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon?”

Imam Malik replied:

کَیْفَ تُوَلِّیْ عَنْہُ وَھُوَ وَسِیْلَتُکَ وَ وَسِیْلَۃُ اِبِیْکَ آدَمَ

How can you turn your face away from him when he is your Medium to Allah and even the Waseelah of your father Sayyiduna Adam – peace be upon him?!

O Ameerul Mu’mineen, do you not remember the command of Allah Almighty:

وَلَوْ اَنَّہُمْ اِذۡ ظَّلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمْ جَآءُوۡکَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللہَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَہُمُ الرَّسُوۡلُ لَوَجَدُوا اللہَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِیۡمًا ﴿۶۴﴾

  And if they do injustice unto their souls, then O beloved! they should come to you and then beg forgiveness of Allah and the messenger should intercede for them, then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful.

(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 64)

Hence, as per the guidance of Imam Malik, Haroon Rasheed stood there and made a lengthy Du’a facing the Mubarak Grave of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – standing next to the Imam.

(Wafa al-Wafa Vol. 4, 1374)

Adab of Sahaba:

Sayyiduna Anas bin Maalik – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that whenever the Ansaar and Muhaajireen used to sit around Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – in that gathering, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – and Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – used to also sit. When Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – used to appear, no one raised their head to look directly at Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.  However, only these two looked at Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and he used to look at them.  They used to smile at him, and he used to smile at them.

A similar report is mentioned by Hadrat Sayyiduna Barra bin ‘Aazib – may Allah be pleased with him. He also declared that, “Whenever I wanted to ask something, due to the immense awe of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – I sometimes delayed that question for nearly two years (at a time).”

The same is mentioned by Hadrat Sayyiduna Usaamah bin Shuraik – may Allah be pleased with him. He stated, “We used to sit in front of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – in such silence as if there was a bird on our head (with fear that the bird does not fly away).  None of us used to speak.  Suddenly, some people appeared in front of him and asked, ‘Who is the most beloved slave with Allah?’ Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – replied, ‘He who has the best Ikhlaaq (behaviour and manners).’”

(Hakim, Tirmidhi, Tabarani, ibn Habban, etc)

Imam Malik’s Adab:

It is mentioned that when the great Saint and scholar, Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Malik – May Allah be pleased with him – intended to teach the Hadith Shareef, he used to remake his Wudu and sit in the front row of the Masjid.  He used to also comb his beard and sit with absolute dignity, respect and stature.  When people once asked him about this, he replied, “I am someone who always displays immense respect and reverence for the Ahadith and without proper Tahaarah I do not recite or mention the Hadith Shareef.”

Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Malik – May Allah be pleased with him – was also someone who immensely disliked the habit of rushing through the words of the Hadith Shareef.  He used to also mention that one of his purpose was to educate people properly about the message of the Hadith Shareef.

Even though Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Malik – May Allah be pleased with him – became very old, he never once rode an animal on the blessed streets of Madina Shareef.  He says, “I cannot ride on an animal in this city in which the blessed body of the Holy Prophet peace be upon is buried.”

(Waafi’atul Ayyan by Ibn Khallakan, 4/135)

Hadrat Moulana Rumi – May Allah be pleased with him – has also mentioned that, “We ask the Allah Almighty to grace us with the blessing of Adab or respect. The reason is that a person who has no Adab, certainly robs himself of the Divine Grace of Allah Almighty.” In fact, the eminent Saints have  gone so far as to admit that the essence of Imaan is actually Adab.

Crooked Face of the One Who Ridiculed RasoolAllah:

A person by the name of Abul aas was one of the enemies of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – who lived in Makkah Mukarramah.  Whenever he used to see the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – he would make funny faces to ridicule him.  One day RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – was extremely upset at his behavior and said in a state of anger, “Become like that.”

As soon as he said that, his face became crooked permanently.

(Al-Khasaais al-Kubra Vol. 2, p. 79)

Maulana Roomi – may Allah be pleased with him – has mentioned this incident in his Mathnavi shareef as follows:

آن دهان کژ کرد و از تسخر بخواند

 مر محمد را دهانش کژ بماند

He made his mouth crooked and called (the name of) Sayyiduna Muhammad – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – in ridicule: his mouth remained crooked.

باز آمد کای محمد عفو کن

ای ترا الطاف و علم من لدن‌‌

He came back, saying, “Forgive me, O Muhammed, O you to whom belong the (Divine) favours and knowledge from Allah.”

من ترا افسوس می‌‌کردم ز جهل

من بدم افسوس را منسوب و اهل‌‌

In my ignorance I have ridiculed you while I myself am to be ridiculed and deserving it.

However, he cried, and cried a lot and begged but the arrow had left the bow and it was the words of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.  His face remained crooked!