Biographies of the Companions (Sahabah) - Abdullah ibn Abbas

Abdullah was the son of Abbas, an uncle of the noble Prophet. He was
born just three years before the Hijrah. When the Prophet died,
Abdullah was thusonly thirteen years old.
When he was born, his mother took him to the blessed Prophet who put
some of his saliva on the babe's tongue even before he began to
suckle. This was thebeginning of the close and intimate tie between
Abbas and the Prophet that was to be part of a life-long love and
devotion.
When Abdullah reached the age of discretion, he attached himself to
the service of the Prophet. He would run to fetch water for him when
he wanted to make wudu. During Salat, he would stand behind the
Prophetin prayer and when the Prophet went on journeys or expeditions,
he would follow next in line to him. Abdullah thus became like the
shadow of the Prophet, constantly in his company.
In all these situations he was attentive and alert to whatever the
Prophet did and said. His heart was enthusiastic and his young mind
was pure and uncluttered, committing the Prophet's words to memory
with the capacity and accuracy of a recording instrument. In this way
and through his constant researches later, as we shall see, Abdullah
became one of the most learned companionsof the Prophet, preserving on
behalf of later generations of Muslims, the priceless words of the
Messenger of God. It is said that he committed to memory about one
thousand, six hundred and sixty sayings of theProphet which are
recorded and authenticated in the collections of al-Bukhari and
Muslim.
The Prophet would often draw Abdullah as a child close to him, pat him
on the shoulder and pray: "O Lord, make him acquire a deep
understanding of the religion of Islam and instruct him in the meaning
and interpretation of things."
There were many occasions thereafter when the blessed Prophet would
repeat this dua or prayer for his cousin and before long Abdullah ibn
Abbas realized that his life was to be devoted to the pursuit of
learning and knowledge.
The Prophet moreover prayed that he be granted not just knowledge and
understanding but wisdom. Abdullah related the following incident
about himself: "Once the Prophet, peace be upon him, was on the point
of performing wudu. I hurried to get water ready for him. He was
pleased with what Iwas doing. As he was about to begin Salat, he
indicated that I should stand at his side. However, I stood behind
him. When the Salat was finished, he turned to me and said: 'What
prevented you from being at my side, O Abdullah?' 'You are too
illustrious and too great in my eyes for me to stand side by sidewith
you,' I replied.
Raising his hands to the heavens, the Prophet then prayed: 'O Lord,
grant him wisdom." The Prophet's prayer undoubtedly was granted for
the young Abdullah was to prove time and again that he possessed a
wisdom beyond his years. But it was a wisdom that came only with
devotion and thedogged pursuit of knowledge both during the Prophet's
lifetime and after his death.
During the lifetime of the Prophet, Abdullah would not miss any of his
assemblies and he would commit to memory whatever he said. After the
Prophet passed away, he would take care to go to as many companions as
possible especially those who knew the Prophet longer and learn from
them what the Prophet had taught them. Whenever he heard that someone
knew a hadith of the Prophet which he did not know he would go quickly
to him and record it. He would subject whatever he heard to close
scrutiny and check it against other reports. He would go to as many as
thirtycompanions to verify a single matter.
Abdullah described what he once did on hearing that a companion of the
Prophet knew a hadith unknown to him: "I went to him during the time
of the afternoon siesta and spread my cloak in front of his door. The
wind blew dust on me (as I sat waiting for him). If I wished Icould
have sought his permission to enter and he would certainly have given
me permission. But I preferred to wait on him so that he could be
completely refreshed. Coming out of his house and seeing me in that
condition he said: 'O cousin of the Prophet! What's the matter with
you? If you had sent for me I would have come to you.' 'I am the one
who should come to you, for knowledge is sought, it does notjust
come,' I said. I asked him about the hadith and learnt from him."
In this way, the dedicated Abdullah would ask, and ask, and go on
asking. And he would sift and scrutinize the information he had
collected with his keen and meticulous mind.
It was not only in the collection of hadith that Abdullah specialized.
He devoted himself to acquiring knowledge in a wide variety of fields.
He had a special admiration for persons like Zayd ibn Thabit, the
recorderof the revelation, the leading judge and jurist consult in
Madinah, an expert in the laws of inheritance and in reading theQuran.
When Zayd intended to go on a trip, the young Abdullah would stand
humbly at his side and taking hold of the reins of his mount would
adopt the attitude of a humble servant in the presence of his master.
Zayd would say to him: "Don't, O cousin of the Prophet."
"Thus we were commanded to treat the learned ones among us," Abdullah
would say. "And Zayd would say to him in turn:"Let me see your hand."
Abdullah would stretch out his hand. Zayd, taking it, would kiss it
and say: "Thus we were commanded to treat the ahl al-bayt members of
the household of the Prophet."
As Abdullah's knowledge grew, he grew in stature. Masruq ibn alAjda
said of him: "Whenever I saw Ibn Abbas, I would say: He isthe most
handsome of men. When he spoke, I would say: He is the most eloquent
of men. And when he held a conversation, I would say: He is the most
knowledgeable of men."
The Khalifah Umar ibn al-Khattaboften sought his advice on important
matters of state and described him as "the young man of maturity".
Sad ibn abi Waqqas described him with these words: "I have never seen
someone who was quicker in understanding, who had more knowledge and
greater wisdom than Ibn Abbas. I have seen Umar summon him to discuss
difficult problems in the presence of veterans of Badr from among the
Muhajirin and Ansar. Ibn Abbas would speak and Umar would not
disregard what he had to say."
It is these qualities which resulted in Abdullah ibn Abbas being known
as "the learned man of this Ummah".
Abdullah ibn Abbas was not content to accumulate knowledge. He felt he
had a dutyto the ummah to educate those in search of knowledge and the
general masses of the Muslim community. He turned to teaching and his
house became a university - yes, a university in the full sense of the
word, a university with specialized teaching but with the difference
that there was only one teacher Abdullah ibn Abbas.
There was an enthusiastic response to Abdullah's classes. One of his
companions describeda typical scene in front of his house: "I saw
people convergingon the roads leading to his house until there was
hardly anyroom in front of his house. I went in and told him about the
crowds of people at his door and he said: 'Get me water for wudu.'
He performed wudu and, seatinghimself, said: 'Go out and say to them:
Whoever wants to ask about the Quran and its letters (pronunciation)
let him enter.'
This I did and people entered until the house was filled. Whatever he
was asked, Abdullah was able to elucidate and even provide additional
information to what was asked. Then (to his students) he said: 'Make
way for your brothers.'
Then to me he said: 'Go out and say: Who wants to ask about theQuran
and its interpretation, let him enter'.
Again the house was filled and Abdullah elucidated and provided more
information thanwhat was requested."
And so it continued with groups of people coming in to discuss fiqh
(jurisprudence), halal and haram (the lawful and the prohibited in
Islam), inheritance laws, Arabic language, poetry and etymology.
To avoid congestion with many groups of people coming to discuss
various subjects on a single day, Abdullah decided to devote one day
exclusively for a particular discipline. On one day, only the exegesis
of the Quran would be taught while on another day only fiqh
(jurisprudence). The maghazi or campaigns of the Prophet, poetry, Arab
history before Islamwere each allocated a special day.
Abdullah ibn Abbas brought to his teaching a powerful memoryand a
formidable intellect. His explanations were precise, clear and
logical. His arguments were persuasive and supported by pertinent
textual evidence and historical facts.
One occasion when his formidable powers of persuasion was used was
duringthe caliphate of Ali. A large number of supporters of Ali in his
stand against Muawiyah had just deserted him. Abdullah ibn Abbas went
to Ali and requestedpermission to speak to them. Alihesitated fearing
that Abdullah would be in danger at their hands but eventually gave
way on Abdullah's optimism that nothing untoward would happen.
Abdullah went over to the group. They were absorbed in worship. Some
were not willing to let him speak but others wereprepared to give him
a hearing.
"Tell me" asked Abdullah, "what grievances have you against the cousin
of the Prophet, the husband of his daughter and thefirst of those who
believed in him?"
"The men proceeded to relate three main complaints against Ali. First,
that he appointed men to pass judgment in matters pertaining to the
religion of God - meaning that Ali had agreed toaccept the arbitration
of Abu Musa al-Asbari and Amr ibn al-Asin the dispute with Muawiyah.
Secondly, that he fought and didnot take booty nor prisoners of war.
Thirdly, that he did not insist on the title of Amir al-Muminin during
the arbitration process although theMuslims had pledged allegiance to
him and he was their legitimate amir. To them this was obviously a
sign of weakness and a sign that Ali was prepared to bring his
legitimate position as Amir al-Muminin into disrepute.
In reply, Abdullah asked them that should he cite verses from the
Quran and sayings of the Prophet to which they had no objection and
which related to their criticisms, would they be prepared to change
their position. They replied that they would and Abdullah
proceeded:"Regarding your statement that Ali has appointed men to pass
judgment in matters pertaining to Allah's religion, Allah Glorifiedand
Exalted is He, says: 'O you who believe! Kill not game whilein the
sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb. If any of you do so
intentionally, the compensation is an offering, of a domestic animal
equivalent to the one he killed and adjudged by two just men among."
"I adjure you, by God! Is the adjudication by men in matters
pertaining to the preservation of their blood and their lives and
making peace between them more deserving of attention than
adjudication over a rabbit whose value is onlya quarter of a dirham?"
Their reply was of course that arbitration was more important in the
case of preserving Muslim lives and making peace among them than over
the killing of game in the sacred precincts for which Allah sanctioned
arbitration by men.
"Have we then finished with thispoint?" asked Abdullah and theirreply
was: "Allahumma, naam - O Lord, yes!" Abdullah went on:"As for your
statement that Ali fought and did not take prisoners of war as the
Prophet did, do you really desire to take your "mother" Aishah as a
captive and treat her as fair game in the way that captives are
treated? If your answer is"Yes", then you have fallen into kufr
(disbelief). And if you say that she is not your "mother", you would
also have fallen into astate of kufr for Allah, Glorified and Exalted
is He, has said: 'The Prophet is closer to the believersthan their own
selves and his wives are their mothers (entitledto respect and
consideration).' (The Quran, Surah al-Ahzab, 34:6).
"Choose for yourself what you want," said Abdullah and then he asked:
"Have we then finishedwith this point?" and this time too their reply
was:"Allahumma, naam - O Lord, yes!" Abdullah went on: "As for your
statement that Ali has surrendered the title of Amir al-Muminin,
(remember) that theProphet himself, peace and blessings of God be on
him, at the time of Hudaybiyyah, demanded that the mushrikin write in
the truce which he concluded with them: 'This is what the Messenger of
God has agreed...' and they retorted: 'If we believed that you were
the Messenger of God we would not have blocked your way to the Kabah
nor would we have fought you. Write instead: 'Muhammad the son of
Abdullah.' The Prophet concededtheir demand while saying: 'By God, I
am the Messenger of God even if they reject me." At this point
Abdullah ibn Abbas asked the dissidents: "Have we then finished with
this point? and their reply was once again:
"Allahumma, naam - O Lord, yes!"
One of the fruits of this verbal challenge in which Abdullah displayed
his intimate knowledge of the Quran and the sirah of the Prophet as
well as his remarkable powers of argument and persuasion, was that the
majority, about twenty thousand men, returned to the ranks of Ali.
About four thousand however remained obdurate. These latter came to be
known as Kharijites.
On this and other occasions, the courageous Abdullah showed that he
preferred peace above war, and logic against force and violence.
However, he was not only known for his courage, his perceptive thought
and his vast knowledge. He was also known for his great generosity and
hospitality. Some of his contemporaries said of his household: "We
have not seen a house which has more food or drink or fruit or
knowledge thanthe house of Ibn Abbas."
He had a genuine and abiding concern for people. He was thoughtful and
caring. He once said: "When I realize the importance of a verse of
God's Book, I would wish that all people should know what I know.
"When I hear of a Muslim ruler who deals equitably and rules justly, I
am happy on his accountand I pray for him...
"When I hear of rains which fail on the land of Muslims, that fills me
with happiness..."
Abdullah ibn Abbas was constant in his devotions. He kept voluntary
fasts regularly and often stayed up at night in Prayer. He would weep
while praying and reading the Quran. And when reciting verses dealing
with death, resurrection and the life hereafter his voice would be
heavy from deep sobbing.
He passed away at the age of seventy one in the mountainous city of Taif.

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Who made you a Qadi/Judge?

We have a lot of sectarian problems at the moment and these are adding
to the confusion of this time. Just imagine that you are an outsider
and you see groups of Muslims attacking each other. It's certainly not
a pretty sight nor does it attract one to the religion.
I am criticised a lot for stepping back and not involving myself and
sometimes not even voicing my opinion. I simply do not wish to be
involved in fighting people or even refuting people unnecessarily.
There are times when people need tobe refuted because they are causing
tribulation. But does that have to be done every time we speak? In
every Khutba? Even during Ramadan when we need spiritual advice
instead we a treated to a barrage of abuse aimed at particular groups.
I for one agree with the reliable opinion of the Hanafi school and the
reliable opinions of the Maturdi and Ashari school of doctrine. (Most
people are a mix of these schools of doctrine even thought they claim
to be otherwise!) Yet within these schools sectarianism has occurred
and I refute those who insult their Prophet whether intentional or not
but I do not make it my lives work!
I prefer taking a step back from all this tribulation andrefrain from
comment. The average person is now repeating the mistakes of their
Imams and purposely chasing those people who they think are wrong. It
is almost relentless and the zeal in which these average people are
chasingscholars for their 'errors' is something repugnant. They also
attack people who know the scholars andtheir students. In the most
Unislamic way imaginable with swearwords and speech full of hate.
Where has their Islamic manners gone?
No one likes to be told thatthey are doing a bad job orthat they do
not know what to do. Yet groups of people who do not know their own
Aqida correctly are attacking those who know their doctrine much
better than them.
Some groups claim that some things are disbelief when they are clearly
not and it is only their group who think it is! This is problematic
because the Awwam (the average person) should not be doing anything
but concentrating on their worship. This basic fact is something they
have failedto do. Many do not know what breaks their ablution nor do
they know what breaks their prayer but because they are Muslim they
think this gives them a divine right to correct scholars.
Who made you a Qadi?
If someone pronounces a word of disbelief then the case is brought
before a Qadi/Judge who asks the person if he realises the
ramifications of his words. If he does not recant then he is
imprisoned a scholar is brought to him to explain the issues and he
isgiven time to reconsider. Only when he does not after a given period
is the apostate killed. Just like if someone committed treachery to
the Crown who that person be killed ifconvicted. Now that we do not
have judges we have people who do their own vigilante style court in
which they apostate who they hate and give excuses to those they love!
So when one of their own imams commits apostasy on the pulpit because
he has tried to respect the Prophet (may Allah bestowpeace and
blessings upon him) by disrespecting the other Prophets. He is given
an excuse but when others do the same, then that person is attacked
and hounded. This happens in more instances than you can imagine.
We have misguided loyalties in that we think we are defending Islam
butinstead we are defending the politics of our group and not Islam at
all. We also think that everyone is astray except our group and we
claim to be Ahl-Sunna wa Jammah. Well, your group has only been around
for a hundred or so years, how can it just be you that are right? So
does that mean that there was no Ahl-Sunna until your group came? How
canthat be right? The Ahl-Sunna wa Jammah wasnot a specific group of
people from a certain place. Rather is it the corpus of rulings and
the followers of the scholars from the beginning of Islam until its
end. Those that fit into the four schools of Fiqh and the Ashari and
Maturdi schools of doctrine.
A popular singer once wrote love is blindness andit truly is when
people are not willing to look at their own errors yet jump upon the
errors of others like lions after their prey. Our love has made us
blind andthis misleading others.
What do we do then?
Overlook, like we used to and we refer case or situations to scholars
who will correct scholars. When this is done then the scholar who
corrected him should not make the discussions public. They should
discuss the problemand come to a resolution then put the issue to bed.
...

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Quraishi Women Praised

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "How excellent are the
women of the tribe of Quraish! They are most affectionate towards
children and most efficient guardians of their husbands' homes."
[Bukhari]
Safeguard the home, property, goods and reputation of your husband.
After marriage consider your husband's home as your own and spend the
wealth of your husband wisely and economically. Your prestige is based
on your husband's prestige.
Shower your children with love and affection. Make your home a warm
and secure place for them.

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The Fourth Caliph, Ali (656-661 A.C.)

"You [Ali] are my brother in this world and the next." (Hadeeth)
Ali's Election
After Uthman's martyrdom, the office of the caliphate remained
unfilled for two or three days. Many people insisted that Ali should
take up the office, but hewas embarrassed by the fact that the people
who pressed him hardest were the rebels, and he therefore declined at
first. When the notable Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him)
urged him, however, he finally agreed.
Ali's Life
Ali bin Abi Talib was the first cousin of the Prophet (peace be on
him). More than that, he had grown up in the Prophet's own household,
later married his youngest daughter, Fatima, and remained in closest
association with him for nearly thirty years.
Ali was ten years old when the Divine Message came to Muhammad (peace
be on him). One night he saw the Prophet and his wife Khadijah bowing
and prostrating. He asked the Prophet about the meaning of their
actions. The Prophet told him that they were praying to God Most High
and that Ali too should accept Islam. Ali said thathe would first like
to ask his father about it. He spent a sleepless night, and in the
morning he went to the Prophetand said, "When God created meHe did not
consult my father, so why should I consult my father in order to serve
God?" and he accepted the truth of Muhammad's message.
When the Divine command came, "And warn thy nearest relatives"
[26:214], Muhammad (peace be on him) invited his relatives for a meal.
After it was finished, he addressed them andasked, "Who will join me
in the cause of God?" There was utter silence for a while, and then
Ali stood up. "I am the youngest of all present here," he said, "My
eyes trouble me because they are sore and my legs are thin and weak,
but I shall join you and help you in whatever way I can." The assembly
broke up in derisive laughter. But during thedifficult wars in Mecca,
Ali stood by these words and faced all the hardships to which the
Muslims were subjected. He slept in the bed of the Prophet when the
Quraish planned to murder Muhammad. It was he to whom the Prophet
entrusted, when he left Mecca, the valuables which had been given to
him for safekeeping, to be returned to their owners.
Apart from the expedition of Tabuk, Ali fought in all the early
battles of Islam with great distinction, particularly in the
expedition of Khaybar. It is said that in the Battle of Uhud he
received more than sixteen wounds.
The Prophet (peace be on him) loved Ali dearly and called him by many
fond names. Once the Prophet found him sleeping in the dust. He
brushed off Ali's clothes and said fondly, "Wake up, Abu Turab (Father
of Dust)." The Prophet also gave him the title of 'Asadullah' ('Lion
of God').
Ali's humility, austerity, piety, deep knowledge of the Qur'an and his
sagacity gave him great distinction among the Prophet's Companions.
Abu Bakr, 'Umar and Uthman consulted him frequently during their
caliphates. Many times 'Umar had made him his vice-regent at Medina
when he was away. Ali was also a great scholar of Arabic literature
and pioneered in the field of grammar and rhetoric. His speeches,
sermons and letters served for generations afterward as models of
literary expression. Many of his wise and epigrammatic sayings have
beenpreserved. Ali thus had a rich and versatile personality. In spite
of these attainments he remained a modest and humble man. Once during
his caliphate when he was going about the marketplace, a man stood up
in respect and followed him. "Do not do it," said Ali. "Such manners
are a temptation for a ruler and a disgrace for the ruled."
Ali and his household lived extremely simple and austere lives.
Sometimes they even wenthungry themselves because of Ali's great
generosity, and none who asked for help was ever turned away from his
door. His plain, austere style of living did not change even when he
was ruler over a vast domain.
Ali's Caliphate
As mentioned previously, Ali accepted the caliphate very reluctantly.
Uthman's murder and the events surrounding it were a symptom, and also
became a cause, of civil strife on a large scale. Ali felt that the
tragic situation was mainly due to inept governors. He therefore
dismissed all the governors whohad been appointed by Uthman and
appointed new ones. All the governors excepting Muawiya, the governor
of Syria, submitted to his orders. Muawiya declined to obey until
Uthman's blood was avenged. The Prophet's widow Aisha also took the
position that Ali should first bring the murderers to trial. Dueto the
chaotic conditions during the last days of Uthman it was very
difficult to establish the identity of the murderers, and Ali refused
to punish anyone whose guilt was not lawfully proved. Thus a battle
between the army of Ali and the supporters of Aisha took place. Aisha
later realized her error of judgment and never forgave herself for it.
The situation in Hijaz (thc part ofArabia in which Mecca and Medina
are located) became so troubled that Ali moved his capital to Iraq.
Muawiya now openly rebelled against Ali and a fierce battle was fought
between their armies. This battle was inconclusive, and Ali had to
accept the de facto government of Muawiya in Syria.
However, even though the era ofAli's caliphate was marred by civil
strife, he nevertheless introduced a number of reforms,particularly in
the levying and collecting of revenues.
It was the fortieth year of Hijra. A fanatical group called
Kharijites, consisting of people who had broken away from Ali due to
his compromise with Muawiya, claimed that neither Ali, the Caliph, nor
Muawiya, the ruler of Syria, nor Amr bin al-Aas,the ruler of Egypt,
were worthy of rule. In fact, they went so far as to say that the true
caliphate came to an end with 'Umar and that Muslims should live
withoutany ruler over them except God. They vowed to kill all three
rulers, and assassins were dispatched in three directions.
The assassins who were deputed to kill Muawiya and Amrdid not succeed
and were captured and executed, but Ibn-e-Muljim, the assassin who was
commissioned to kill Ali, accomplished his task. One morning when Ali
was absorbedin prayer in a mosque, Ibn-e-Muljim stabbed him with a
poisoned sword. On the 20th of Ramadan, 40 A.H., died the last of the
Rightly Guided Caliphs of Islam. May God Most High be pleased with
them and grant to them His eternal reward.

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