Bibi Karimah bint Ahmad Maruzi

She had been a world reputed scholar in fifth century Hijrah. She was
daughter of Ahmad ibnMuhammadibn Abi ... Spain, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn
Sabaq Saqli was a devoted learner from her. He, after the Muslim rule
at Saqqlyah (Sicily) ended, had gone to Makkah where he achieved
learning of Hadith from her. He, afterwards went to Spain and made her
abode in Granada to narrate Ahadith, he had learnt at Makkah. Ibn
Bashkwal says…
(Abu Bakr Muhammad reported Ahadith from Karimah bint AhmadAl-Maruzi
and others, He came to Andalus and the people of Granada passionately
learned from him).
AIlama Khatib Baghdadi says in Tarikh Baghdad (History of Baghdad)
that he, in 463H, during the days of Hajj, heard Sahih Bukhari from
Karimah. Hundreds of seekers participated in the Dars session of
Muhaddithah Karimah and quenched their thirst of learning. Besides Abu
Bakr Muhammad, Allama KhatibBaghdadi and Allama Abu Talib Zaynabi, a
number ofother scholars of great esteem attained knowledge of Hadith
from her. Bibi Karimah was said to have achieved perfection in
mysticism besides other faculties of studies. She presumabty died
about 464H with the controversy on the exactness of the date.
(Khazinat-ul-Asfia, Tarikh Saqqlya)

Three Different Trees

By Ibnul Qayyim (r.a)
The year is a tree, the months are its branches, the days are its
twigs, the hours (and minutes) are itsleaves and every breath man
takes is a fruit of the tree. Thus the fruit of the trees of a person
who breathes in obedience to Allah will be sweet and thefruit of the
tree of a personwho breathes in disobedience to Allah will be bitter.
However, the fruit of this tree will only be harvested on the Day
ofMa'aad (the day when Manwill return to Allah) and the sweet fruit
will only bedifferentiated from the bitter fruit when it will be
harvested.
Ikhlaas and Tauheed are a tree in the heart (of the Believer). The
branches of this tree are good actions and its fruits are a
pleasantlife in the world and never-ending comfort in the Hereafter
and just as the fruit of Jannah will never come to an end nor will it
be held back, the same can be said regarding the fruits of Ikhlaas and
Tauheed in theDunyaa.
Shirk, lies and Riyaa (doinggood actions for show) arealso a tree in
the heart. The worldly fruits of the tree are fear, worry, sorrow,
narrowness of the heart (discontent, cowardice, etc) and darkness of
the heart. In the Hereafter the fruits of this tree will be Zaqqoom
and everlasting punishment.
These two trees have beenmentioned by Allah in the following Aayaat of
Surah Ibrahim:
"Did you not see how Allahpresented an example? A pleasant word is
like a pleasant tree; its roots are firm and its branches are (high)
in the sky, it yields its fruit all the time with the command of its
Sustainer. And Allah presents examples to the people so that they may
take heed. And the example of a bad word is that of a bad tree that
has been uprooted from abovethe earth having no firmness." (Verse 24 –
26)

Prophet Musa and Fir’awn

Prophet Musa and his brother Harun had been called upon by Allah to
deliver a message to the leader of the Egyptians, Fir'awn (Pharaoh),
who considered himself a god and insisted that his subjects worship
him.
Prophet Musa told Fir'awn that he, Musa, was a messenger of the Lord
of the Worlds and that he had clear proof of it. Therefore, Fir'awn
should let the people of Israel go with him. Prophet Musa showed
Fir'awn the staff that turned into a serpent and the hand which turned
shining white when placed under his arm. Fir'awn consulted with all
his chiefs and theydecided that perhaps Musawas just a very good
magician. They called together all their best magicians to compete
with Prophet Musa. The magicians were promised a reward if they won.
The magicians went first inthe contest and they were good, really
good. They made their ropes and sticks appear to run in front of their
audience. Prophet Musa was afraid that he couldn't surpass their
skills, but Allah told him not to be afraid. WhenProphet Musa threw
downhis staff, it ate up all that the magicians had made. When the
magicians saw this, they bowed down and proclaimed their beliefin the
Lord of Prophet Musa and Harun.
Fir'awn was not very happy about this turn of events. He threatened to
cut off the hands and feet of the magicians and to crucify them. But
the magicians would not change their opinion. Theywere convinced by
the clear proofs which ProphetMusa had shown to them and they told
Fir'awn that he could only end for them their life in this world. For
those who believe there would be another life after death , ingardens
beneath which rivers flow.
Following this there begananother period of persecution against the
followers of Allah. Fir'awn had all of their sons killed. Prophet Musa
had to encourage the children of Israel to continue strong intheir
belief in Allah and to pray to Allah faithfully.
Whenever good fortune befell the Egyptians, they took credit for it.
When misfortune came, they blamed Prophet Musa and his people. They
failed to see that everything, both good and bad, comes fromAllah.
Allah sent all kinds of hardships against the Egyptians- famine, loss
of fruits, floods, locusts, pests,frogs, and blood- as signs to them.
They would promise to free the peopleof Israel if Musa would pray to
his God for deliverance from the pestilence. But as soon as the
hardship had been removed, they would go back on their promise.
Finally Prophet Musa was instructed by Allah to lead the followers of
Allah away by night. When they came to the sea, the waters parted so
that theycould pass to the other side without getting wet. However,
when Fir'awn and his armies pursued them, the waters of the sea closed
in on them and they were all drowned. In this way did Allah punish
Fir'awn for leading his people away from Allah.
Insha Allah in the next issue we shall relate the conclusion of the
story of Musa , when we tell what befell the children of Israelafter
they left Egypt. You can read about Musa and Fir'awn in al-Quran
7:103-137; 20:49-79; 26:16-67; and 43:46-56.

Being Corrected

Being offended when we are corrected, seriously reduces our chances of
improving or achieving heights in any field.
We must always welcome those who correct us and show us where we are
going wrong.
In most cases, those who regularly correct our ways and habits or
errors in any filed are those who truly care for us.
People who intentionally do not correct us are eitherinsincere or
fearful of our reaction due to being offended.