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Thursday, July 12, 2012
Questions and Answers on Jinns
The jinn are among the creatures that Allah (swt) created. Allah (swt)
created angels, jinn, mankind, animals, plants and others. Jinn have
some qualities like humanbeings. These qualities areintellect,
discrimination, freedom, and the power to choose between right and
wrong, between true and false, as well as between good and bad.
Question 2: When did Allah (swt) create the jinn?
Allah (swt) created the jinn before Adam (pbuh) was created. Both were
created in heaven and lived in paradise. One mayread in Surah Al-Hijr
(The Rocky Tract) [Qur'an, 15:26-27]. However, nothing was mentioned
about the duration of time of the jinn's creation before Adam (pbuh).
Question 3: What are jinn created from?
Jinn are created from fire of hot wind [Qur'an, 15:27]; and from
smokeless fire [Qur'an, 55:15]. They were originally made from fire
and then molded and shaped in the form and shape that Allah (swt)
wanted them to be.
Question 4: Do jinn have bodies?
Yes and no! It depends upon the information thatone has. One group of
scholars believe that jinn do not have bodies of their own. They also
do not inhabit bodies of other creatures. However, they do exist
independently by themselves. Therefore, they do not know how they
exist without bodies:smoke, flame, fire or what?
The other group of scholars do believe that jinn do have bodies
eitherdefinite or subtle. If their bodies are definite then they have
some density; otherwise, if they are subtle, then they are so fine
that our weak eyes cannot see them. One may read Surah Al-A'raf (The
Heights) [Qur'an, 7:27]. Even if they are subtle they should have
weight and density similar to that of the air itself.
Question 5: Do jinn die?
Yes. Jinn do die. As long asthey are creatures createdby Allah (swt),
they should die. They are creatures that marry, produce children, eat,
drink, and die like all other creatures in the universe. One may read
Qur'an Surah Al-Rahman (The Most Merciful) [Qur'an, 55:26-28].
Question 6: Do the jinn feel envy of us?
Yes. There are two types of evil eye: human and the jinn. One has to
read regularly 'A'oozu Billahi Minash-shaitanir Rajeem. Also, by
reading Ayah Al-Kursi and Al-Mu'awwazatain, one will be protected from
theevil eyes of both the jinn and mankind.
Question 7: Are there messengers and prophets from within the community of jinn?
Yes. Allah (swt) has sent prophets and messengers to jinn from within
the jinn community. Also, Allah (swt) sent Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to
mankind, to jinn, and to other creatures. In Surah Al-An'am (The
Cattle), Allah (swt) explains that He sent messengers to men and to
jinn. See Qur'an [6:130].
Question 8: Do jinn have different religions, sects and denominations?
In Surah Al-Jinn (Ch. 72), Allah (swt) informs us thatsome jinn
accepted Islam, while others refused. Those who refused have deviated,
and developed for themselves different methods, different ways of
life, and different religions, sects and denominations.
Question 9: Do jinn marry and have children?
Yes. Jinn do marry and they do have children. Theway they marry is not
known to us yet. We may be able to know the future if Allah (swt)
wantsus to know.
People never knew about microbes, viruses, and the unseen micro
creatures. Now we are able to knowmany things about their life cycles,
their life duration, their methods ofduplication or reproduction:
sexually and asexually. The mere fact that we do not know how the jinn
marry and reproduce does not negate their being married and
reproduced. The Qur'an stipulates in Surah Al-Kahf (18:50) that they
have offsprings. Similarly, the Qur'an states in Surah
Al-Rahman(55:56) that jinn and human beings never touched (married)
the ladies of paradise.
Question 10: Do jinn have animals as pets?
Yes. Jinn do have animals or beasts of their own. The Prophet (pbuh)
mentioned that every piece of dung is fodder forthe beasts of the
jinn. However, we do not know what type of beaststhe jinn have. The
same thing is to be said as to the varieties of beasts, their number,
their shape,their size, their weight and so on.
Question 11: Do jinn have homes of their own?
Yes. The jinn do have homes. They live all over the planet earth.
However, there are specialplaces that one may find them in abundance
and on a regular basis. These are deserts, ruins, places of impurities
such as dunghills, bathrooms and graveyards. They live in houses of
human beings too. For those who enter their houses mentioning the name
of Allah (swt), the jinn cannot have a place to stay overnight in that
house. If the people of the house mention the name of Allah (swt)
before eating, then the shaitan will not be able toeat with them.
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Should he delay the ‘aqeeqah of his child until he comes back from his travels, or should he appoint someone to slaughter the ‘aqeeqah on his behalf?
there. I read on your website about the rulings on the newborn and the
'aqeeqah, but I want to ask you: is it permissible to delay the
'aqeeqah until I go to Syria in a few months time, in sha Allah, or
does it have to be doneafter the birth? Do I have to do appoint
someone tobuy it, slaughter it and distribute it on my behalf?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The 'aqeeqah is Sunnah and mustahabb; it is not obligatory at all, so
there is no sin on the one who does not do it, or the one who delays
it and does not do it at the time that is mustahabb, although he
misses out on the virtue and reward of that. (He may delay it) until
he is able to do it, or he may omit it.
See the answer to question no. 38197
Secondly:
The Sunnah with regard to the 'aqeeqah is to do it on the seventh day,
and delaying it until after that is contrary to the Sunnah, because
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Every
child is in pledge for his 'aqeeqah which should be sacrificed for him
on the seventh day, and his head should be shaved and he should be
given a name."
Narrated by Abu Dawood(2838); classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Al-Layth ibn Sa'd said: The'aqeeqah should be offered for the newborn
on the seventh day; if they are not able to offer the 'aqeeqah on the
seventh day, there is nothing wrong with themdoing so afterwards. It
is not obligatory to offer the'aqeeqah for him after seven days.
End quote from Tuhfat al-Mawdood, p. 63
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If it is slaughtered on his behalf on the fourth or eighth or tenth
day, or after that, it is acceptable.
End quote from Tuhfat al-Mawdood, p. 63
The Scholars of the Standing Committee said:
The 'aqeeqah is a Sunnah mu'akkadah (confirmed Sunnah), two sheep on
behalf of a boy, each of which should be acceptable as an udhiyah, and
one sheep on behalf of a girl. It should be slaughtered on the seventh
day, and if it is delayed until after the seventh day it is
permissible to slaughter itat any time. There is no sin in delaying
it, although it is preferable to do it sooner if possible.
End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa'imah, 11/439
Thirdly:
There is nothing to say that the 'aqeeqah should not be delayed if
there is a reason to delay it or if doing so will achieve a better
purpose, and so on.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allah preserve him) was asked:
If I am in my city and Allah blessed me with a baby boy or girl, but I
willnot be able to go back to my husband in the other city where he
lives until after a month or more, doI have to do the 'aqeeqah on the
seventh or fourteenth or twenty-firstday as mentioned in the hadeeth
of 'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), or is it permissible for
me to delay it until I go back to my husband and do it when I am with
him?
He replied:
There is nothing to say that slaughtering of the 'aqeeqah cannot be
delayed until a time that is more suitable and easier for the parents
or for one of them. Rather slaughtering it on the seventh or
twenty-first day is recommended if that is possible. But if it is not
possible then there is nothing wrong with delaying it until another
time, according to what they are able to do. It should be noted that
slaughtering the 'aqeeqahshould be done by the father of the child and
it isone of the rights that the child has over his father.
End quote from al-Muntaqa min Fataawa al-Fawzaan, 84/5
Fourthly:
If you are able to appoint someone among your family or acquaintances
toslaughter the 'aqeeqah ontime, this is better and is preferable to
delaying it until the time of your arrival.
But if that is too difficult for you or you do not have enough money
to do that, or you do not have anyone who can do that on your behalf,
then as stated above there is nothing wrong with delaying it,
especially if there is a reason preventing you from slaughtering it on
time.
And Allah knows best.
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Jinn's reckoning on the Day of Resurrection
Mujaahid (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, concerning the aayah
(interpretation of the meaning): "...but the jinns know well that they
have indeed to appear (before Him) (i.e., they will be brought to
account)" [al-Saffaat 37:158]: "They will be brought to judgement."
Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Baab Dhikr al-Jinn wa Thawaabihim wa 'Iqaabihim.
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A boy with strong belief
the jungle. It appeared as if he was uttering some words. I greeted
him with Salaam and he replied accordingly. I inquired,"Where are you
going?" He retorted, "To the houseof Allah (Makkah)." I further asked,
"What are you reciting?" "The Qur'an" he replied. I remarked, "You are
at a tender age, it is not an obligation that you are required to
fulfill." He said, "I have witnessed death approach people younger
than me and therefore would like to prepare if death was to knock on
my door." I astoundingly commented,"Your steps are small and your
destination far." He responded, "My duty is to take the step and it
remains the responsibilityof Allah to take me to my destination." I
continued to ask, "Where is your provision and conveyance(means of
transport)." He replied "My Yaqeen (belief) is my provision and my
feet are my conveyance." I explained,"I am asking you regarding bread
and water." He replied "Oh Shaykh if someone invitedyou to his house,
would itbe appropriate to take your own food?" I exclaimed,
"No!""Similarly, My Lord has invited His servant to His house, it is
only the weakness of your Yaqeen that makes us carry provisions.
Despite this, do you think Allah will let me go to waste?" "Never"I
replied. He then left. Sometime later I saw him in Makkah. He
approachedme and inquired, "Oh Shaykh are you still of weak belief?"
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The First Muslim Jinns
" 'And some of us are Muslims, and of us some are al-qaasitoon
(disbelievers - those who have deviated from the Right Path). And
whosoever has embraced Islam, then such have sought the Right Path.
And as for the qaasitoon, they shall be firewood for Hell.'" [al-Jinn
72:14-15]
The Muslims among the jinn are of different levels as regards
righteousness and taqwa. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"[Some jinn said:] 'There are among us some that are righteous, and
some the contrary; we are groups, each having a different way
(religious sects, etc.)'" [al-Jinn 72:11]
The story of how the first jinns of this ummah became Muslims was
narrated by 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Abbaas, who said:"The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out with a group of his
Companions heading for the marketplace of 'Ukaaz.This was when the
shayaateen were prevented from getting any news from heaven, and
shooting stars had been sent against them. The shayaateen went back to
their people, who said, 'What is the matter with you?' They said, 'We
cannot get news from heaven, and shooting stars were sent against us.'
Their people said, 'Nothing is stopping you from hearing news from
heaven except some new event that must have happened. Go and look in
the east and the west of the earth, and see if you can find out what
it is that is stopping you from hearing news from heaven.' Those who
went out in the direction of Tihaamah came upon the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) in Nakhlah, when he was on his way to
'Ukaaz, and found him leading his Companions inFajr prayer. When they
heard the Qur'aan, they listened to it and said, 'By Allaah, this is
what is stopping us from hearing news from heaven.' Whenthey went back
to their people, they said, 'O our people, we have heard a wonderful
Recital (the Qur'aan). It guides to the Right Path, and we have
believed therein, and we shall never join (in worship) anything with
our Lord (Allaah). [al-Jinn 72:2 - interpretation of the meaning].
Then Allaahrevealed to His Prophet peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) the words (interpretation of the meaning): "Say (O
Muhammad): 'It has been revealed to me that a group of jinns listened
(to this Qur'aan)...' [al-Jinn 72:1], and Allaah revealedto him what
the jinn had said." (reported by al-Bukhaari, 731).
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From a new believer
Allah just 13 daysago. He was saying that: Look at a car. After few
years of driving you have to change the tires. But look at your feet,
all your life you walk with them but don't need to keep changing them.
Then lookat the joints of machines. If they are not regularly
lubricated using chemicals, then you will hear annoying scratching
sounds coming out of them. But look your jointsin the body, we never
lubricate them yet they function perfectly withoutmaking any
scratching sounds. These are indeed the signs of Allah.
"Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and (in) the
difference of night and day are signs (of His Sovereignty) for men of
understanding..." Surah Al Imran verse 190.
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The last touch
day of the battle of Badr. He had an arrow without point inhis hand.
Suwaid bin Ghazia (RA) was a little forward from the row. He (SAW)
pushed his belly gently with this stick asking him to stay erect. He
said "O Prophet of Allah! You have caused pain to me although Allahhas
sent you for establishing truth and justice. Hence let me take my
revenge." Thereupon, he (SAW) raised his clothe from his body and
asked him to take his revenge. Now Suwaid (RA) hugged him and kissed
his belly."What made you to do so O Suwaid!" he (SAW) inquired. He
submitted"You see what is lying before us. I thought to have the last
meeting with you in a state that my skin get in touch with that of
yours." Hearing this, he (SAW) prayed for his welfare. Source:
Transmitted by Ibn Is'haque from Hib'ban.
The companions of the Prophet loved him (SAW) more than anyone else.
Even at the last moment, they wish to be in touch with Rasulullah
(SAW) rather than their family members. Indeed, we will be raised with
those whom we love.
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The mysterious visitor
most of our worship. The incident took place in South Asia. A man was
offering salah in his house. He was praying as fast as he could as
many of us do. All of a sudden, he heard the door behind him open.
Since, someoneentered the room, he started making his ruku and sujud
longer. Upon completion of the salah, he looked back to see who it
was. To his amazement, it was a dog!
Today, we are ready to perfect our salah for a dog. But for the
Creator, we rarely lengthen our qiyam, ruku and prostration.
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Face or Feet?
the time for salah came, he went to the bathroom to make wudhu
(ablution). Since, the bathrooms in airplanes are very small, he had
to open the door to lift up his foot to the sink. An air hostess came
to him and told him not to wash his feet in the sink because they are
dirty. The scholarcalmly asked the hostess"How many times do you wash
your face?" The hostess replied "Usually once or twice." Then the
scholar replied "I wash my feet five times a day for prayers.
Therefore, my feet are cleaner than your face."
The purpose of this story is not to get a good laugh.However, it
teaches us how regular we should beabout prayers.
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Giving it away
Rasulullah (SAW). At the end of salah Rasulullah (SAW) hastily got up
and, stepping over the shoulders of the people, went to the houses of
one of his wives. People, not knowing what the necessity was, were
perplexed over his haste. On his return he perceivedthe people's
anxiety and explained that he had suddenly remembered leaving behind a
piece of gold in the house and he was afraid (lest his death should
take place while he owned a piece of gold; which would become
objectionable for him on the Day of Judgement). So, he had hurried
home to tell them to distribute it immediately. Source: Bukhari and
Mishkaat.
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Statistics About Domestic Abuse
Approximately 95% of the victims of domestic violence are women.
(Department of Justice figures)
Every 9 seconds in the United States a woman is assaulted and beaten.
4,000,000 women a year are assaulted by their partners.
In the United States, a woman is more likely to be assaulted, injured,
raped, or killed by a male partner than by any other type of
assailant.
Every day, 4 women are murdered by boyfriends orhusbands.
Prison terms for killing husbands are twice as longas for killing wives.
93% of women who killed their mates had been battered by them. 67%
killed them to protect themselves and their children at the moment of
murder.
25% of all crime is wife assault.
70% of men who batter their partners either sexually or physically
abuse their children.
Domestic violence is the number one cause of emergency room visits by women.
73% of the battered women seeking emergency medical services have
already separated from the abuser.
Women are most likely to be killed when attemptingto leave the abuser.
In fact,they're at a 75% higher risk than those who stay.
The number-one cause of women's injuries is abuse at home. This abuse
happens more often than car accidents, mugging, and rape combined .
Up to 37% of all women experience battering. This is an estimated
566,000 women in Minnesota alone.
Battering often occurs during pregnancy. One study found that 37% of
pregnant women, across all class, race, and educational lines, were
physically abused during pregnancy.
60% of all battered women are beaten while they are pregnant.
34% of the female homicide victims over age 15 are killed by their
husbands, ex-husbands, or boyfriends.
2/3 of all marriages will experience domestic violence at least once.
Weapons are used in 30% of domestic violence incidents.
Approximately 1,155,600 adult American women have been victims of one
or more forcible rapes by their husbands.
Over 90% of murder-suicides involving couples are perpetrated by the
man. 19-26% of male spouse-murderers committed suicide.
When only spouse abuse was considered, divorced or separated men
committed 79% of the assaults and husbands committed 21%.
Abusive husbands and lovers harass 74% of employed battered women at
work, either in person or over the telephone, causing 20% tolose their
jobs.
Physical violence in dating relationships ranges from 20-35%.
It is estimated that between 20% to 52% of high school and college age
dating couples have engaged in physical abuse.
More than 50% of child abductions result from domestic violence.
Injuries that battered women receive are at leastas serious as
injuries suffered in 90% of violent felony crimes.
In 1991, only 17 states kept data on reported domestic violence
offenses. These reports were limited to murder, rape, robbery, and
serious bodily injury.
More than half of battered women stay with their batterer because they
do not feel that they can support themselves and their children alone.
In homes where domestic violence occurs, children are abused at a rate
1,500% higher than the national average.
Up to 64% of hospitalized female psychiatric patientshave histories of
being physically abused as adults.
50% of the homeless women and children in theU.S. are fleeing abuse.
The amount spent to shelter animals is three times the amount spent
toprovide emergency shelterto women from domestic abuse situations.
Family violence kills as many women every 5 years as the total number
of Americans who died in the Vietnam War.
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The dwelling-places of the jinn
in ruins and unclean places like bathrooms, dunghills, garbage dumps
and graveyards. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) taught us to take precautions when entering such places, by
reciting the adhkaar (prayers) prescribed by Islam. One of these was
reported by Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him), who
said: "When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) entered the toilet, he would say, 'Allaahumma innee a'oodhu
bika min al-khubuthi wa'l-khabaa'ith (O Allaah, I seek refuge with You
from the evil ones, male and female).'" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 142;
and Muslim, 375).
Al-Khattaabi explained that khubuth is the plural of khabeeth (evil or
dirty -masculine form), and khabaa'ith is the plural of khabeethah
(evil or dirty -feminine form), and that what is meant is male
andfemale shayaateen.
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Recitation of the Quran During Menses and Post Natal Bleeding
and menstruating women in very different matters and ways. There are
lots of differences between them:
*. The sexually defiled man/woman can at any time he/she wishes remove
that state. He/she can make ghusl and if there is no water then they
can perform tayammum.
*. Menstruating woman can not do such a thing, she is in that state
for as long as Allah (SWT) wills, until her period comes to an end.
Recitation of the Quran by menstruating and post-partum bleeding women
has been made permissible by the Malikis, Shafis, Hanbalis, Abu
Hanifa, and a number of other scholars. Their proof being:
*. Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim concerning the Eid prayer. Narrated
Umm 'Atiya (RA):
*. "I heard Allah's Messenger (SAW) saying that the unmarried virgins
and the mature girls and the menstruating women should come out and
participate in the good deeds as well as invocations of faithful
believers but the menstruating women should keep away from the
Musallah - praying place [Salat (prayers)]. Someone asked (Umm
'Atiya)(surprisingly), "Do you say the menstruating women?" She
replied, "Doesn't a menstruating woman attend 'Arafat (Hajj) and such
and such(other deeds)?"
*. Takbeer is a type of remembrance of Allah (SWT) and supplication is
not any different from dhikr
*. Hadith of Bukhari regarding Aisha (RA) when she got her menses on
the way to Mecca.
Narrated 'Aisha (RA):
"We set out with the sole intention of performing Hajj and when we
reached Sarif, (11 kms. from Makka, I got my menses. Allah's
Messenger (SAW) came to me while I was weeping. He said "What is the
matter with you? Have you got your menses? I replied, "Yes." He said,
"This is a thing Allah (SWT) has ordained for the daughters of Adam.So
do what all the pilgrimsdo with the exception of Tawaf
(Circumambulation) round the Ka'bah." 'Aisha (RA), added, "Allah's
Messenger (SAW) sacrificed cows on behalf of his wives."
Pilgrims make dhikr and read Quran. There was no objection from the
Prophet (SAW) and he (SAW) actually "told" Aisha(RA) to do so.
Another reason being hardship. A woman might forget what she memorized.
So therefore if there is no text forbidding such an act, one cannot
conclude that the act is not allowable. The burden of proof is on
those who claim that such women cannot recite the Quran, and they
offer no clear or direct proof.
There is no harm whatsoever in a menstruating woman or post-partum
bleeding woman reciting the Quran from their memory without actually
touching the Quran.
Touching the Quran During the Menstruation and Post-Partum Bleeding
The most often quoted evidences, is an Ayat from the Quran:
".... None can touch but those who are pure..." (Al-Waqi'a 56:79)
A common mistake, is people taking verses and applying it to a
particular Fiqh (point). Yet when you study the verse in more detail
you will find, in fact, it is not related to the point whatsoever.
"That (this) is indeed an honourable recital (the Noble Quran). In a
Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz).
Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but those who are pure
from sins (i.e. the angels). A Revelation (this Quran) from the Lord
of the Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists). (Al-Waqi'a
56:77-80).
Put into context this A yat refers to "…a Book well-guarded," and this
means a Book with Allah (SWT). It is not talking about the physical
Quran we have in our presence here on earth..
Ibn Abbas (RA) and others, along with the early scholars, agree that
this verse is not talking about the Quran that we have in our hands. A
Book well-guarded refers to something that is hidden (Maknoon) . It is
not referring to the Quran we have in our presence here on earth.
Early scholars all agree to this conclusion.
"...In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz).
According to the Tafsir of Tabari and Ibn Kathir and also according
to Jamal al-deen al-Qasami, this Ayat is not in reference to humans
having to be free from impurities.
" Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but those who are pure
from sins (i.e. the angels)."
This verse in reference to the Angels and not mankind. In a Hadith
narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA), the Prophet (SAW) states, "a believer
never becomes impure."
"The Prophet (SAW) came across me in one of the streets of Medina and
at that time I was in a state of Janaba. So I slipped away from him
and went to take a bath.
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Fragrance from a grave
Pakistan. They reached a particular village where some people came up
to them and requested themto visit a grave yard. Uponreaching the
graveyard, they smelt a beautiful fragrance coming out from one of the
newly dug graves. The villagers asked the scholars if they knew why
this smell is eminating from that particular grave. The scholars
decided to meet some family members of that person who died to find
out what he used to do. After meeting them, they discovered that the
man didn't know how to read the Quran. However, after every Fajr
salah, he would sit with the Quran and put his fingers on verses and
say "My Lord has spoken the truth here.My Lord has spoken the truth
here." Then the scholars concluded that the beautiful fragrance is
coming out because of this deed of that man. Source: This story was
narrated to me by Shaikh Mahmud Abdi from Yemen who personally knows
one of the scholarswho were travelling.
May Allah also give us the ability to read and love the Holy Quran. Ameen.
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Giving it away
Rasulullah (SAW). At the end of salah Rasulullah (SAW) hastily got up
and, stepping over the shoulders of the people, went to the houses of
one of his wives. People, not knowing what the necessity was, were
perplexed over his haste. On his return he perceivedthe people's
anxiety and explained that he had suddenly remembered leaving behind a
piece of gold in the house and he was afraid (lest his death should
take place while he owned a piece of gold; which would become
objectionable for him on the Day of Judgement). So, he had hurried
home to tell them to distribute it immediately. Source: Bukhari and
Mishkaat.
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The light of guidance
in the airplane should be beside a group of carefreeyoung men whose
loud laughter and voices were too much, and the air wasfilled with
clouds of smoke from their cigarettes. By the wisdom of Allaah, the
plane was completely full and I could not change my seat.
I tried to escape from the problem by sleeping, but it was impossible�
When Igot fed up of their noise, Itook out my Mus-haf (copy of the
Qur�aan), andstarted to read what I could of the Qur�aan in a soft
voice. Soon after that these young men started to quieten down. Some
ofthem started to read newspapers, and some of them fell asleep.
Suddenly one of them said in a loud voice, even though he was sitting
right next to me, �Enough! Enough!�
I thought that I had disturbed him because myvoice was too loud, so I
apologized to him and carried on reading in a whisper that only I
could hear. I saw him holding his head in his hands, then fidgeting in
his seat, moving a lot. Then he raised his head and said to me
angrily, �Please, stop it, I can�t stand it!!�
Then he got up from his seat and went away for a while, then he came
back, greeted me with salaams, and apologized. He fell silent, and I
did not know what was going on. But after a while he turned to me with
his eyes full of tears and said to me in a whisper, �For three years
or more I have not put my forehead on the ground, and I have not read
even one aayah!
For a whole month I have been on this trip, and there is no evil
action thatI did not indulge in. Then Isaw you reading Qur�aan, and my
world turned black and my heart was filled with despair. I felt asif
someone was stranglingme� I felt every aayah that you read coming down
on my body like a whip .
I said to myself, for how long will this negligence go on? Where will
this path lead you? What will happen after all this foolish play? Then
I went to the washroom, do you know why?
I had the strong urge to weep, and I could not findanywhere else to
hide from the people�s sight!�
I spoke to him in general terms about tawbah (repentance) and turning
back to Allaah, then he fellsilent.
When the plane landed, he stopped me, and it seemed that he wanted to
keep away from his companions. He asked me,with a serious expression
on his face, �Do you think that Allaah will accept my repentance?� I
said, �If you are sincere and serious in your repentance, then Allaah
will forgive all your sins.�
He said, �But I have done terrible things, very terrible.�
I said, �Have you not heard what Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
�Say: O �Ibaadi (My slaves)who have transgressed against themselves
(by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of
Allaah, verily,Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft Forgiving,
Most Merciful� [al-Zumar 39:53]?�
I saw him smiling with joy, with his eyes filled with tears, then he
bade me farewell and left. Subhaan Allaah al-�Azeem!
No matter how great a man's evil and sin, in his heart there is a seed
of goodness. If only we can reach it and make it grow,it will bear
fruit, in sha Allaah.
This seed of goodness is always fighting in man's heart, even when it
is covered by layers of whims and desires. When Allaah wills good for
His slave, He causes the light of guidance to shine in hisheart and
guides him to the path of those who areguided. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
�And whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam;
and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and
constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky� [al-An�aam 6:125]
Ahmad ibn �Abd al-Rahmaan al-Swiyaan
From al-Bayaan magazine, issue # 152, Rabee� al-Aakhir 1421, pp. 66-67
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