Dua, - Counting the Remembrance of Allah

الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Translation
"How far from imperfections Allah is"
"All praise is for Allah"
"Allah is the greatest."
[or any type of Dhikr that requires counting]
Abdullah Ibn AAamr (RA) said, "I saw the prophet (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him) make tasbeeh (count the remembrance of Allah)
with his right hand."
Transliteration
subḥaan-allaah
al-ḥamdu-lillaah
allaahu akbar
Sources: Abu Dawud No# 1502; At-Tirmidhi No# 3411, 3486; An-Nisa'i No# 1355;

The Story of Profopet luth(a.w)

Prophet Luutleft Egypt, accompanied by his uncle Ibraaheemand headed
to the city of Sodom in Palestine, which was on the western shore of
the Dead Sea.
This city was filled with evil. Its residents waylaid, robbed and
killed travellers. Another common evil among them was that their men
used to have sex with men instead of women. This unnatural act later
became known as sodomy, after the city ofSodom. It was practiced
openly and unashamedly.
It was at the height of these crimes and sins that Allaah revealed to
Prophet Luutthat he should summon the people to give up their indecent
behaviour, but their immoral habits were so deeply ingrained that they
were deaf to Luut's preaching. Addicted to their unnatural desires,
they refused to accept the call to repentance, even when Luutwarned
them of Allaah's punishment. Instead, they threatened to drive him out
of the city if he continued preaching against their evil habits.
Allaah Almighty revealed )what means(:"The people of Luut denied the
messengers. When their brother Luut said to them: 'Will you not fear
Allaah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So fear Allaah
and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is
only from the Lord of the worlds. Do you approach males among the
worlds. And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you
are a people transgressing.' They said: 'If you do not desist, O Luut,
you will surely be of those evicted.' He said: 'Indeed, I am, toward
your deed, of those who detest ]it[. My Lord! Save me and my family
from ]the consequence of[ what they do.' So We saved him and his
family, all. Except an old woman ]i.e., the wife of Luut[ among those
who remained behind."]Quran: 26:160-171[
The sinful actions of Prophet Luut's people saddened his heart. Their
abominable reputation spread throughout the land, while he continued
to struggle against them. As the years passed, he persisted in his
mission, but to no avail. No one responded to his call and believed
except for the members of his family; even in his household, not all
the members believed: Luut's wife was a disbeliever.
If home is the place of comfort and rest, then Luutfound none, for he
was tormented both within and outside his home. His life was
continuous agony as he suffered greatly, but he remained patient and
steadfast as a Messenger to his people. Instead of heeding to him,
they belittled his message, and mockingly challenged him, saying )what
means(:"…'Bring us the punishment of Allaah, if you should be of the
truthful!"]Quran: 29:29[
Overwhelmed with despair, Luutprayed to Allaah to grant him victory
and to destroy the corrupt. Allaah Almighty, therefore, sent three
angels in the guise of young handsome men in answer to his prayer.
They reached the walls of the town in the afternoon. The first person
who caught sight of them was Luut's daughter while she was filling her
jug with water from the river. When she saw them, she was stunned that
there could be men of such magnificent beauty on earth.
One of the three men )angels( asked her: "O maiden! Is there a place to rest?"
Remembering the evil character of her people, she replied: "Stay here
and do not enter the town until I inform my father and return."
Leaving her jug by the river, she swiftly ran home.
"O father!" she cried. "You are wanted by young men at the town gate
and I have never before seen the like of their faces!"
Luutfelt distressed as he quickly ran to his guests.
They visited him at home as guests. After ushering them in hospitably,
he asked them where they came from and where they were going.
They did not reply to his questions. Instead they asked if he could
host them. He began talking with them and impressed upon them the
repulsive nature of his people. Luutwas filled with turmoil; he wanted
to convince his guests without offending them, not to spend the night
there, yet at the same time he wanted to extend to them the expected
hospitality normally accorded to guests. In vain, he tried to make
them understand the perilous situation. At last, therefore, he
requested them to wait until nightfall, for then no one would see
them.
When darkness shrouded the town, Luutescorted his guests to his home.
No one was aware of their presence. However, as soon as Luut's wife
saw them, she slipped out of the house quietly so that no one noticed
her. Quickly, she ran to her people with the news and spread it to all
the inhabitants like wildfire. The people rushed towards Luutquickly
and excitedly.
When Luutsaw the mob approaching his house, he shut the door, but they
kept on banging on it. He pleaded with them to leave the visitors
alone and fear Allaah's punishment. He urged them to seek sexual
fulfilment with their wives, for that is what Allaah had made lawful.
Luut's people waited until he had finished his short sermon, and then
they roared with laughter. Blinded by lust, they broke down the door.
Luutbecame very angry, but he stood powerless before these violent
people. He felt powerless to prevent the abuse of his guests, but he
firmly continued to plead with the mob.
At that terrible moment, he wished he had the power to push them away
from his guests. Seeing him in a state of helplessness and grief, the
guests said to him: "Do not be anxious or frightened, for we are
angels, and these people will not harm you."
On hearing this, the mob was terrified and fled from Luut's house,
hurling threats at him as they left. The angels warned Prophet Luutto
leave his house before sunrise, taking with him all his family, except
his wife.
Allaah had decreed that the city ofSodomshould perish. An earthquake
rocked the town. It was as if a mighty power had lifted the entire
city and flung it down in one jolt. A storm of stones then rained on
the city. Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Luut's
wife.
The Holy Quran recorded this event; it states )what means(:"So We
saved him and his family, all. Except an old woman ]his wife[ among
those who remained behind. Then We destroyed the others. And We rained
upon them a rain ]of stones[, and evil was the rain of those who were
warned. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be
believers. And indeed, your Lord – He is the Exalted in Might, the
Merciful."]Quran: 26:170-175[
Thus, the people of Luutwere destroyed and their towns and names have
been erased from the face of the earth.

The story of Haaroot and Maaroot– I

One of the stories in the Quran, is the story of Haaroot and Maaroot.
Allaah Says what means:"And they ]i.e., the Children of Israel[
followed ]instead[ what the devils had recited during the reign of
Sulaymaan )Solomon(. It was not Sulaymaan who disbelieved, but the
devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed
to the two angels at Babylon, Haaroot and Maaroot. But they ]i.e., the
two angels[ do not teach anyone unless they say: 'We are a trial, so
do not disbelieve ]by practicing magic[.' And ]yet[ they learn from
them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife.
But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allaah.
And they ]i.e., people[ learn what harms them and does not benefit
them. But they ]i.e., the Children of Israel[ certainly knew that
whoever purchased it ]i.e., magic[ would not have in the Hereafter any
share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they
only knew."]Quran 2: 102[
The Children of Israel received a Great Book from Allaah, namely the
Quran, which confirmed what they had been told in the Tawraah )i.e.
Torah(; they were claiming to adhere to their scripture, yet they
disbelieved in the Messenger )Muhammad(and a group of them also threw
the Scripture of Allaah )i.e., the Tawraah( behind their backs and
shunned it, despite them knowing that it was the truth, as Allaah
tells us, saying what means:"…A party of those who had been given the
Scripture threw the Scripture of Allaah ]i.e., the Tawraah[ behind
their backs as if they did not know ]what it contained[."]Quran 2:
101[
It is the way of Allaah that He punishes those who shun that which
benefits them; He therefore busies them with things that are of no
benefit to them, or makes them indulge in what harms them. Whoever
shuns the worship of the Most Merciful will be afflicted with the
worship of idols.
Whoever shuns Islamic monotheism will be afflicted with association
with Allaah. Whoever shuns the Sunnah will be afflicted with religious
innovation. Whoever shuns adhering to the Islamic texts will be
afflicted with blind imitation of others who have no evidence to back
up their actions.
Whoever shuns hoping in, loving and fearing only Allaah will be
afflicted with directing all these acts to other than Him. Whoever
refrains from spending his wealth for the sake of Allaah will be
afflicted with spending it for the sake of Satan.
Whoever shuns humbling himself to Allaah will be afflicted with being
humiliated by other people, and whoever shuns the truth will be
afflicted with adhering to falsehood.
This is exactly what happened to the Jews when they shunned the Book
of Allaah; they were afflicted with following in the footsteps of
Satan. During the reign of Sulaymaanthey refused to believe in the
Book of Allaah, and were thus afflicted by following what the devils
recited and invented.
The devils introduced magic to the people and claimed that
Sulaymaanused magic and that it was the means for him to have such
great power and a vast empire.
Indeed they lied, because Allaah is the One who granted him enough
power and such a vast empire that he had no need to resort to magic,
or to seek the help of the devils. As a matter of fact, Allaah
facilitated the devils for the disposal of Sulaymaan; Allaah Says what
means:"They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues,
bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles…"]Quran 34: 13[
Allaah utilised them for Sulaymaanto use, and so they were under his
command, but after the death of Sulaymaanthe devils came out to the
people claiming that the reason behind his control over them was the
magic he used and practiced, but Allaah exposes their lie saying what
means:"And they ]i.e., the Children of Israel[ followed ]instead[ what
the devils had recited during the reign of Sulaymaan. It was not
Sulaymaan who disbelieved …"]Quran 2: 102[
Whoever practices or uses magic is a disbeliever, but Sulaymaannever
disbelieved and never practiced magic; indeed Allaah confirms the very
opposite, saying what means:"…It was not Sulaymaan who disbelieved,
but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic…"]Quran 2: 102[ They
disbelieved by teaching people magic and how to use it, thereby
misguiding them.
The Jews practiced the magic that Allaah sent the two angels with,
namely Haaroot and Maaroot, as a means of testing people and seeing
who amongst His slaves would remain steadfast and who would deviate,
or who would remain upon faith and who would disbelieve.
These two angels, Haaroot and Maaroot, were sent to teach people magic
in the land of Babylon in Iraq as a test for these people. One may
ask: "How can Allaah send these two angels to teach people magic if
practicing magic is disbelief?" The answer is that it is done in
order to subject people to a trial, as Allaah Says what means:"…But
they ]i.e., the two angels[ do not teach anyone unless they say: 'We
are a trial, so do not disbelieve ]by practicing magic[…'"]Quran 2:
102[
These angels would initially warn people not to learn this magic, and
that to do so would entail disbelief, but if they insisted on learning
magic, then they would teach them it; this magic could thereafter be
used for prohibited reasons, such as to separate spouses. The Jews
practiced the magic that they accused Sulaymaanof using.
The Jews learnt magic and became specialists in it, and to this day
the most skilled magicians are the Jews, especially the Moroccan Jews.
These Jews shunned the news of the description and imminent arrival of
the Prophet Muhammadthat was in their scripture; they also shunned the
new Book )i.e. the Quran(; they eschewed all this and instead resorted
to learning and practicing magic.
In this story, Allaah mentions some of the evil consequences of magic,
such as what means:"…And ]yet[ they learn from them that by which they
cause separation between a man and his wife…"]Quran 2: 102[
This is while Allaah describes marriage as something that results in
harmony when He Says what means:"…He placed between you ]i.e., man and
his wife[ affection and mercy…."]Quran 30: 21[
Magic separates man from his wife, which is proof that it does have an
effect, but this effect only occurs by the will of Allaah. Some types
of magic make a person love another and act as if he is enslaved to
him or her; such a person would feel that he simply cannot live
without this person; another type of magic results in the opposite,
whereby a person may hate another to the extent that he cannot even
look him in the eye; a father can be bewitched in order to make him
despise his children or wife, as in the previously mentioned verse of
Chapter Al-Baqarah.
Allaah Says what means:"But they ]i.e. the Children of Israel[
certainly knew that whoever purchased it ]i.e. learnt and practiced
magic[ would not have in the Hereafter any share."]Quran 2: 102[
The scholars differed in their interpretation of this verse. Some of
them stated that Allaah did not send down these angels with magic to
teach people, but rather it was the devils who taught people magic. On
the other hand, many from the Salaf )predecessors(were of the view
that Allaah sent down to the earth these two angels from the heavens
as a punishment to them; others said that they were angels who
deviated and were an exceptional case from all the other angels, who
never disobey Allaah; yet others said that they were honourable angels
who were sent down to teach people magic as a way of testing them, but
who only taught those who insisted on learning it after having been
informed and reminded that magic is a form of disbelief, and after
having been sternly warned against learning and practicing it.
Undoubtedly, learning magic is prohibited, and practicing it is
disbelief, as indicated in the verse, in addition to many prophetic
narrations that affirm this fact.

The Story of Haaroot and Maaroot – II

Magic is a reality and not mere illusion; some people consider tricks
of the hand or deceptions of the eye to be magic, but magic is much
more than that; it is a reality, and could lead one to hate what he
used to love, such as the case which Allaah informs us of in the
abovementioned verse where it can separate man from his wife. Indeed
the goal that the devil strives hardest to achieve is to separate man
from his wife, as in the narration of Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaahwho stated
that the Prophetsaid:"Satan places his throne on the water, then he
sends his troops to people; the closest devil in position to him is
the one who causes the most mischief and trials amongst people. One of
them )i.e., from his troops( comes to him and says: `I continued to
whisper to so and so until he committed such and such a sin.` Satan
responds: `I swear by Allaah! You have not done much.` )This process
continues( until one )devil( comes and says: `I continued to whisper
to him until I made him separate from his wife.` Thereupon, Satan
brings him close to him and hugs him, saying: `Yes! You are the
one.`"]Muslim[ Meaning, that he is the one who has achieved the
greatest accomplishment. This separation is caused by either magic or
by any other means.
Some magicians use magic to bewitch the eyes of people and make them
believe that they are seeing something that they are not, as Allaah
says regarding the magicians of Pharaoh what means:"…And they
presented a great ]feat[ of magic."]Quran 7: 116[ People thought, as a
result of their magic, that they were seeing snakes instead of ropes
and sticks.
Some people claim that there is a prophetic narration that is as
follows: "Learn magic but do not teach it to others." This is a
fabrication; such words were never uttered by the Prophet.
The Islamic ruling regarding the magician is that he is to be
beheaded, as the Prophetsaid:"The punishment for the magician is that
he must be beheaded."]At-Tirmithi & Al-Haakim[ This is because such a
person is an apostate, even if he fasts, prays and claims that he is a
Muslim, because his practice of magic invalidates any good deeds he
may perform.
There are two ways of being relieved from the effects of magic:
- The incorrect way is to go to magicians for this purpose; this is
prohibited because the Prophetsaid:"He who approaches a magician and
believes what he says will have his prayers rejected for forty
days."]Muslim[ Thus, it is prohibited to approach them or to seek
their assistance in removing the effect of magic done on one by
others.
- The correct way is by reciting the legislated Ruqyah )i.e. the Quran
and certain prophetic supplications(. Examples of this would be the
Chapters Al-Faatihah, Al-Ikhlaas, Al-Falaq, An-Naas and the Verse of
the Throne, or Ayat Al-Kursi, which is the two-hundred and fifty fifth
verse of Chapter Al-Baqarah. An example of a prophetic supplication
that is useful in this regard is:"Allaahumma Rabban-naas,
athhibil-ba's, wash'fi, Antash-Shaafi, laa shifaa'a illaa shifaa'uka,
shifaa'n laa yughaadiru saqama ]O Allaah! The Lord of mankind! Remove
this disease and cure )him or her(. You are the Great Curer. There is
no cure but through You, which leaves behind no
disease[.'']Al-Bukhaari[
One may also recite Quranic verses in water and add to it seven dried
and crushed Lote-tree leaves. This method is confirmed to have been
practiced by some of the Salaf such as Wahb ibn Munabbih.
Some people recite the verses that address the issue of magic, like
those found in Chapters Al-A'raaf, Yoonus, and Taa Haa over this water
and then add the crushed leaves to it, then they recite Chapters
Al-Ikhlaas, Al-Falaq, An-Naas and some authentic Prophetic
supplications over it. They then wash their body with this water. This
is a method that has been proven to be beneficial by experience.
The Prophetwas bewitched by Labeed ibn Al-A'sam, who had strong
relations with the Jews, and the Jews requested his assistance due to
him being renowned for his experience in magic.
The Prophetwas afflicted by this magic for six months. Hewould think
that he was sleeping with his wives while in fact he was not.
Hepersevered through this period, and when he feared that it would
affect his zeal for worship, hesupplicated to Allaah, asking Him to
remove it from him.
'Aa'ishahnarrated: "Magic was done on the Prophetso he began to think
that he was doing things that he was not actually doing. One day,
heinvoked )Allaah( for a long period and then said:"I feel that Allaah
has inspired me as how to cure myself. Two persons came to me )in a
dream( and sat down, one by my head and the other by my feet. One of
them asked the other: 'What is the sickness of this man?' The other
replied: 'He has been bewitched.' The first asked: 'Who has bewitched
him?' The other replied: 'Labeed ibn Al-A'sam.' The first one asked:
'What materials did he use?' The other replied: 'A comb, the hair
gathered on it, and the outer skin of the pollen of a male date-palm.'
The first asked: 'Where are they?' The other replied: 'In the well of
Tharwaan.'"
So the Prophetheaded out towards the well. He later returned and said
to me:"The date-palms )i.e., the ones on the well( are like the heads
of devils."I asked: 'Did you take out those things with which the
magic was done?' Hereplied:"No, for I have been cured by Allaah, and I
am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the people."Later
on the well was filled up with earth." ]Al-Bukhaari[
The hair that was on the comb was taken, and a knot was made in which
the magic was placed; then, the hair that contained the magic was
placed inside the outer skin of the pollen of a male date-palm, and
this was placed under a rock, inside the well. When some
Companionswent to remove this magic from the well, they found that its
water was the colour of Henna, due to the effect of magic on it.
The Prophetwas inspired by Allaah as to where the location of the
magic was; it was removed and the knot was undone, so the magic was
ruined.
The question of 'Aa'ishahwas an indirect way of asking why the
Prophetdid not punish the man who bewitched him, and heexplained why,
saying:"I am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the
people."Meaning, that since the punishment of being a magician is
execution by beheading, and because people did not know that he
practiced such evil, nor did they witness him doing it on the
Prophetthen punishing him would have encouraged people to accuse
anyone of doing magic, even if they were innocent, and justify it by
quoting this action of the Prophet.
Hewas very careful not to execute anyone whose crime was not obvious
to everybody, and it is for this same reason he refrained from killing
Ibn Salool, who was the head of hypocrites, despite him knowing that
he was being a disbeliever, a liar and a hypocrite.
Hedid not kill him because it would not have been clear to people why
he killed him, due to this Ibn Salool pretending to be Muslim.
One may ask: "How could the Prophetbe bewitched when he was conveying
the message?"
The answer is that the magic never affected any aspect of his mind,
memory or mission; it only affected his relations with his wives.
Another question that might be asked is: "Does the fact that hewas
bewitched not contradict being protected by Allaah? Allaah Says what
means:"…And Allaah will protect you from the people…"]Quran 5: 67[
The answer is that the protection referred to in this verse was
against certain matters only, such as being killed before conveying
the message fully, or being prevented from conveying the message in
any way.
In fact, proof of the fact that such protection was limited is that
hewas afflicted greatly by the disbelievers: they offended and beat
him, and besieged him and his followers. Healso suffered hunger and
fell into a pit that the disbelievers had dug for him. They did all
these things but were unable to prevent him from conveying the message
of Allaah.
Some magic is performed by blowing into knots and other materials
which magicians compile, which makes the bewitched person believe he
is performing actions that is not actually doing; another type makes a
person incapable of having sexual intercourse with his wife; another
type makes the wife imagine that her husband is a beast or a snake
whenever he tries to approach her sexually; there is another type that
makes the husband imagine that his wife has a foul stench whenever he
attempts to approach her sexually, even though she may be clean and
smell pleasant.
There are women who resort to magic in order to make their husbands
divorce his other wife or wives, so that she can have him all to
herself - and this is one of the greatest ways of oppressing others.
One may ask: "There are deadly types of magic; are they incurable?"
The answer is that they are curable, unless the effects of this magic
coincide with the designated time of the person's death. If that is
the case, then nothing can help him. Allaah Says what means:"But never
will Allaah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allaah is
Acquainted with what you do."]Quran 63: 11[
The one who bewitches others and thereby causes their death must be
sentenced to death, because such a person killed a soul intentionally
and without due right.
Some people wear amulets, claiming that they protect them from magic,
but they only add to the evil and make them weaker in faith.
In Islam, ends do not justify means; there are people who resort to
magic in order to reconcile, for example, between two disputing
people. This is prohibited, even if people claim that they have good
intentions and are only using it for a good purpose.This is refused in
Islam because the means used are evil, and regardless of the sought
result, using magic remains prohibited.