1] Biographies Prophets - Prophet Nuh

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The prophets of Allah oftenhad a tough time getting their people to listen to them, and Prophet Nuh (Alayhis Salam) was no exception. His people had been going very far astray,they worshipped idols, and many of them were soinvolved with their material well being that they forgot about their souls. Therefore Allah sent Prophet Nuh (Alayhis Salam) to his people with a message.
Prophet Nuh’s Message
The prophet Nuh ’s (Alayhis Salam) message was a simple one. He said that they should worship Allah and serve none but Allah. If they wouldn’t change their ways, he feared that Allah would send down a terrible punishment on them. He reminded them of all the beauty and bounty that Allah had provided for them.
There were some people who did believe and they tried very hard to live as Allah had commanded. Butmost of the people would find reasons for not listening to Prophet Nuh’s (Alayhis Salam) message. Often the leaders would say that Prophet Nuh (Alayhis Salam) was crazy. At other times the leaders of those who didn’t believe would say, “You are just a man, no different from us, no angel, so how can you carry a message from Allah?”
And Prophet Nuh (Alayhis Salam) would remind them that he had never claimed to be anything other than a man, he had never claimed to know anything more than what he knew, and he had never tried to get anything from them in return for what he had to tell them. But he repeatedly told them that he had a message from Allah, which it was his duty to deliver, whether ornot they chose to listen to him.
Many of the people who believed in Prophet Nuh (Alayhis Salam) were not very high in social status, so the leaders of the people looked down on the followers of Prophet Nuh (Alayhis Salam). But he said that no one could save him from Allah’s anger if he drove away any of those who believed,no matter how poor or uneducated they were. Finally the leaders of the people would say in exasperation, “You’ve argued and argued with us for a long time, so bringon this punishment now that you’ve been threatening us with.”
Prophet Nuh’s (Alayhis Salam) answer was, “Allah will bring it on you if He sowills, and then you will not be able to stop it.”
These discussions went on for a long time. Prophet Nuh (Alayhis Salam) lived for 950 years among his people (Sura 29,Ayat 14). He became very discouraged when not many people would listen to him. He then received a message from Allah, “Noneof your people will believeexcept those who have believed already: So don’t worry about the wrongdoers any more. Build a ship under our guidance. Those who are in sin will soon be destroyed.”
Prophet Nuh and the building of the Ship
Prophet Nuh (Alayhis Salam) and his followers built the ship out of broad planks and caulked it with palm-fibre. As they worked the non believers ridiculed them. Sometime after the ship had been completed, water started gushing out of the earth. Allah commanded ProphetNuh (Alayhis Salam) to get into the ship, and to take with him a male and a female of each kind of living thing, and also to take the members of his family who believed and the small number of other believers from the community.
This was Prophet Nuh’s (Alayhis Salam) prayer before the flood. “O my Lord! Leave not a single one of the unbelievers on earth. For if any are left, they will only mislead those who worship you, and they will only producewicked, ungrateful offspring. O my Lord! Forgive me, my parents, allwho enter my house in faith, and all believing men and women. And to the wrongdoers grant no increase except in eternal damnation.”
The waters started to rise as water poured out of theearth and rain poured down upon the earth, and the waves were very high, like mountains. But the ship floated safely on the waves. Nuh (Alayhis Salam) saw one of his sonsstill on the shore and called to him to join them. The son was not a believerand called back that he would be safe on some mountain top. At that moment a wave came along and swept the son away, and he was seen no more.
Now Nuh (Alayhis Salam) was concerned about his son who had been washedaway by the waves, because a father never stops being a father, even if the son is not a worthy man. So Nuh (Alayhis Salam) asked Allah, “O my Lord, surely my son is one of my family. And you promised that my family would be safe.”
Allah replied, “He is not a member of your family, forhis conduct is not righteous. So don�t ask mefor things about which you have no knowledge .” Then Nuh (Alayhis Salam) realized that he had gone too far. He begged Allah toforgive him for asking for something about which hehad no knowledge. Only Allah knew why the son had been separated from the others./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Biographies Prophets - Prophet Ismail (A.S)

Prophet Ismail (a.s) was the son of Ibrahim (a.s) and Hajar. One day Ibrahim (a.s) took his babyson and wife (Hajar) to thesite where Ka’ba can be found today. He gave them some dates and water and started to leave.As Ibrahim (a.s) walked away, Hajar followed and asked why they were being left in this empty place. She understood from his silence that Allah had commanded him to do this. Finally, she asked if Allah had ordered him todo this and he replied thatit was so. Upon hearing this, she accepted Allah’s will and returned to the place where Ibrahim (a.s) had left her.
As soon as Ibrahim (a.s) was out of sight, he turnedand prayed to Allah to protect and provide for hisfamily which he had left out in the wilderness:
رَّبَّنَآ إِنَّيۤ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلاَةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِيۤ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ
“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; In order, O our Lordthat they may establish regular prayer ; So fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits; So that they may give thanks.” (al-Qur’an 14:37)
Ismail (a.s) and his mother lived for some time on thewater and dates Ibrahim (a.s) left them, but finally the water ran out, and Ismail’s (a.s) mother could no longer produce enoughmilk to feed Ismail (a.s). The mother could not bearto see her child suffering, so she ran to the top of nearby Mount Safa to see if she could find someone to help her. When she could see no one, she ran down the mountain and across the valley to Mount Marwa. She ran from one mountain to the other seven times, looking for water or help. After the seventh time she heard a voice and she called out toit for help. When she looked she saw an angel digging the earth with his heel until water flowed forth. That place was the site of Zam-zam. She carefully made a barrier around the place where the water was flowing, and filled her waterbag with her hands. Then she was able to drink water and feed her baby. The angel also told her not to be afraid, that she and her son would be provided for.
Ismail (a.s) and his mother continued to live at this place all by themselves forsome time. One day some people of the Jurhum tribewere passing through the valley. They didn’t intend to stop, because they knew that there had neverbeen any water in that valley. But they saw a kindof bird which was known to frequent wet spots, so they followed it to the spring of Zam-zam. There they found Ismail’s (a.s) mother sitting by the water.
Ismail’s mother agreed they could settle there for a while, as long as they did not claim possession to the water. Some of the people of the tribe settled by the water permanently and Ismail grew up amongst them./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Biographies Prophets - Prophet Adam

When Allah had created the heavens and the earth,He said to the
angels, "I will create a Khalifa on earth, someone to carry out my
orders." They asked Allah, "Will you place someone on earth who will
make mischief and shed blood, while we praise you and glorify
yourname?" And Allah said, "I know what you know not."
The Creation of Prophet Adam
So Allah created Prophet Adam (Alayhis-salam) out of clay, and taught
him thenames of all things. He placed the things before the angels and
asked the angels to tell Him the names of them, but the angels
answered, "You arethe exalted, and we know nothing except what you
have taught us." Allah then asked Adam (Alayhis-salam) the same
question, and Adam (Alayhis-salam) was able to answer correctly.
Allah ordered the angels to bow down to Prophet Adam (Alayhis-salam)
and they did so. But Iblis, or Shaitan, did not bow down. When Allah
asked, "What kept you from bowing down when I commanded you ?" Iblis
answered, "I am better than he. I was created from fire while he was
made from clay."
Upon hearing this response, Allah threw Shaitan out of paradise, but
Shaitan vowed that hewould lie in wait for Prophet Adam
(Alayhis-salam) and his descendants, trying to divert them from the
Straight Way. To which Allah replied, "If any of them follow you, Hell
will Ifill with you all."
Meanwhile, Allah had created a wife, Hawa, for Prophet Adam
(Alayhis-salam), and he told them to live in the garden of paradise,
Jannah, but he warned them to stay awayfrom one particular tree, lest
it bring harm to them. Shaitan started whisperingsuggestions to
Prophet Adam and Hawa (Alayhis-salam). He spoke in such a clever way
that they were convinced he was only concerned for their well-being.
He told them that the forbidden tree would make them immortal and that
they would live forever like the angels if they ate from it. Shaitan
spoke so convincingly that Adam and Hawa (Alayhis-salam) believed him.
As soon as they tasted the tree, they realized that they were naked,
and started trying to cover themselves with leaves from the garden,
for it now seemed wrong to be uncovered.
Then Allah called to them, "Did I not tell you to stay away from that
tree, and didn't I warn you that Shaitan was your sworn enemy?"
Prophet Adam & Hawa sent to earth
Prophet Adam and Hawa (Alayhis-salam) were immediately full of remorse
and begged for forgiveness and mercy from Allah. Allah ordered them
out of Jannah and sent them to live on earth.He said, "Therein shall
you live, and therein shall you die, but from it you shall be taken
out at last." Prophet Adam (Alayhis-salam) and his offspring began to
live on earth according to Allah's command.
And so we are all the descendants of Prophet Adam and Hawa
(Alayhis-salam), the first humans tobe placed on earth. Here on earth
we shall all live and die, and from here we shall all be made to
return to Allah. It is our choice whether we shall be takento Jannah
or join the disobedient and deceitful Shaitan in Hell. Allah, in
Hisinfinite mercy, realizes that we will sometimes beled astray by
Shaitan. Allahtaught Prophet Adam (Alayhis-salam) some prayers for
repentance andseeking pardon for wrongdoing.
Prophet Adam (Alayhis-salam) was the first prophet to bring Allah's
message to mankind, so that we might know how to worship Allah and how
to seek forgiveness for ourmistakes. This message was completed to
perfection by Allah through his last prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him).
The story of Prophet Adam(Alayhis-salam) can be found in the Quran,
Surah 2, Ayat 30-37 and Surah 7, Ayat 10-27.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was born in the city of Baghdad during the month of Rabi-ul Awwal 164 A.H. His father passed away either before he wasborn or shortly afterwards,and it was his mother whodiligently brought up the Imam.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s Education
He acquired his childhood education through the Maktab but even there his piety and scholarly character were recognised. Abu Afeef (r.a) has reported, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (r.a) was within our learning group at the Maktab. At that time he was very young, and we, as students were aware of his piety. Having completed his basic education at the age of 16,the Imam went on to study ahadith by attending the study circles of Qazi Imam Abu Yusuf (r.a).
Having acquired knowledge from the scholars of Baghdad, his zeal for learning took him to different parts of the world including Kufa, Basra, Yemen, Makkah , Madinah and Syria, to benefit from their great scholars. Sometimes, during long and difficult journies to acquire ahadith, the Imam had to resort to manual work in order to cover his expenses.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s Teachers
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal had many teachers, amongst the most prominent was Imam Shafiee (r.a) whom he met on several separate occasions and each time he took full benefit of the opportunity. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal commented, ‘Only after sitting in the Majlis of Imam Shafiee (r.a)did I understand and comprehend nasikh and mansukh hadith.’ One should remember , the Imam was an accomplished scholar evenbefore he met Imam Shafiee.
It was only at the age of forty, in 204 A.H., the Imam began formally teaching hadith. Whilst his teachers were still alivehe refused to teach and narrate hadith out of humility and respect for them. Imam Ahmad was acknowledged by the Ulama of his time as the Imam ul Hadith.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s books
Amongst his publications, the more famous are Kitabul Musnad (based upon 30,000 ahadith), Kitab ul Tafseer, Kitab us Salaah, Kitab us Sunnah, Kitab un Nasikh and Mansukh and others.
The Imam dressed very simply and disliked clotheswhich created a false awe. He wore a turban, white clothes and a shawl. He never accepted gifts offered by rulers and the affluent out of caution.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal died on the blessed day of Friday in Rabi ul Awwal 241 A.H at the age 77, after a period of illness which lasted nine days. The news of the Imams death soon spread and after Jumuah more than 850,000 people performedhis janazah prayer with the rows formed in the city, streets, bazaars and even on boats on the river Tigris. Even the non-Muslims mourned the passing away of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en