46. THE STORY OF THE TWO REPENTANT KINGS
Imam Ahmad narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ood (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “While a man from among those who lived before you was in his kingdom, he began to think, and he realized that all of that would be cut off from him and that his (royal) situation had diverted him from the worship of his Lord, so he stole away from his palace one night and went to a neighboring kingdom. He arrived at the coast and there he found work of brick-making. With the wages he was paid, he sustained himself and gave the remainder as charity. He continued doing this until news of him, his worship and his virtue was conveyed to the king. The king sent a message to him calling for his presence. But he refused to go to him. The king repeated his demand again and again, but he refused to go to him. The king said, “Who is he, and who am I?” So he mounted his horse and rode to him. When the man saw him, he turned away from him and fled. When the king saw this, he raced in pursuit of him but he did not catch up with him, so he called out to him, “O, slave of Allah! You have nothing to fear from me.” So the man stood still until the king caught up with him. The king asked him, “Who are you, may Allah have mercy on you?” He replied, “I am so-and-so, the son of so-and-so, the ruler of such-and-such a kingdom. I thought about my situation and I realized that my kingdom would (one day) be cut off from me, and it had diverted me from the worship of my Lord, so I abandoned it and came here, that I might worship my Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.” The king said, “You were not in greater need of that which you did than I.” Then he dismounted from his horse and set it free. Then he followed him and both of them together worshipped Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful and they asked Him to cause them to die together. So they both died.” ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “If we were in Rumailah, Egypt, I would show You their graves in the location described to me by the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).”
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), that he said, “Amongst the people who lived before you, there was a man whom Allah had given a lot of money. When he was on his deathbed, he called his sons and said, “What type of father have I been to you?” They replied, “You have been a good father.” He said, “I have never done a single good deed; so when I die, burn me, crush my body, and scatter the resulting ashes on a windy day.” His sons did accordingly, but Allah gathered the particles and asked (him), “What made you do so?” He replied, “Fear of you.” So Allah bestowed His Mercy upon him (i.e. forgave him).”
Another hadeeth: It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said, “A man used to give loans to the people and used to say to his servant, “If the debtor is poor, forgive him, so that Allah may forgive us.” So when he met Allah (after his death), Allah forgave him.”
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘Amir ibn Sa‘d Ibn Abi Waqqas from his father that he heard him asking Usamah Ibn Zaid (May Allah be pleased with him), “What did you hear from the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) regarding plague?” Usamah replied, “The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Plague is a calamity which was sent to the Children of Isra’eel or upon those who were before you. So when you hear that it has broken out in a land, do not go to it, and when it has broken out in the land where you are, do not run away from it.” It was also narrated by Muslim.
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘A’ishah (may Allah be Pleased with her) that the people of Quraish became very worried about the Makhzoomiyyah lady who had committed theft. They said, “Nobody can speak (in favor of the lady) to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and nobody dares do that except Usamah, who is the favorite of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).” When Usamah spoke to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) about that matter, he said, “Do you intercede (with me) to violate one of the legal punishments of Allah?” Then he got up and addressed the people, saying, “O, people! The nations before you went astray because if a noble person committed theft, they used to leave him, but if a weak person among them committed theft, they used to inflict the legal punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, committed theft, I would cut off her hand!”
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ood (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “I heard a man reciting a Verse from the Qur’an and I had heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) reciting it in a different way and so I took him to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and informed him (of what I had heard). I recognized in his face signs of dislike and he said, “Both of you are right. Do not differ, for the nations before you differed and perished (because of their differences).”
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The Jews and Christians do not dye (their grey hair), so do the opposite of what they do (i.e. dye your grey hair and beards).” Al-Bukhari was alone in narrating this; Muslim did not narrate it. In Abu Dawood’s Sunan it is reported : “Pray in your shoes (and by so doing,) be different from the Jews.”
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that once ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was informed that a certain man sold alcohol and he heard him say, “May Allah curse so-and-so! Does he not know that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “May Allah curse the Jews, for Allah had forbidden them to eat the fat of animals but they melted it and sold it.”
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of Anas Ibn Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “The people mentioned the fire and the bell (i.e. they suggested those as signals to indicate the starting of prayers), and by that they mentioned the Jews and the Christians. Then Bilal was ordered to pronounce the Adhan for the prayers by repeating its wordings twice; and for the iqamah (the call for the actual standing for the prayers in rows) by pronouncing its wordings once. (The iqamah is pronounced when the people are ready for the prayer).”
What is meant by this is that we should be different to the People of the Scripture in all manners and characteristics, because when the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) arrived in Al-Madinah, the Muslims used to come to prayer without any call to it. Then he ordered someone to call them to prayer (by saying, “The prayer is convened.”). Then they wished to be called to prayer with something that the people would recognize, so some of them said, “Let us ring a bell.” Others said, “Let us light a fire.” But they disliked this, because it was similar to the practices of the People of the Scripture. Then ‘Abdullah Ibn Zaid Ibn ‘Abd Rabbih Al-Ansari was shown the Adhan in a dream. He related this to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), who ordered Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) to pronounce the Adhan, as described in the Chapter on the Adhan, in the Book of Judgments (in Saheeh Al-Bukhari).
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘A’ishah (may Allah be Pleased with her) and ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that they said that on his deathbed, the Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would put a sheet over his face and when he felt hot, he would remove it from his face. While in that state (of putting and removing the sheet) he said, “May Allah’s Curse be on the Jews and the Christians for they build places of worship at the graves of their prophets.” (By that) he intended to warn (Muslims) against what they (i.e. the Jews and Christians) had done.
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e. inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure, you would follow them.” We said, “O, Messenger of Allah! (Are you referring to) the Jews and the Christians?” He said, “Who else?”
What is meant by this is to acquaint us with the sayings and deeds that resemble those of the People of the Scripture who lived before us, which are prohibited according to Islamic Law, and to inform us that Allah and His Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) have prohibited us from copying them in their words and deeds. Even if the intention of the Believer was a good one, if his deed is clearly an imitation of their deeds (it is forbidden). And just as praying at sunrise and sunset is prohibited, in order not to imitate the pagans, who used to prostrate before the sun in those times – even if no such intention occurred to the Believer. Likewise, this is why Allah, Most High, says, {O, you who believe! Say not (to the Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) ), “Ra‘ina,” but say “Unzurna,” (Do make us understand) and hear. And for the disbelievers there is a painful punishment. (See Verse 4:46)} (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:104). The disbelievers used to say to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), when they spoke with him, “Ra‘ina,” i.e. direct your gaze toward us and listen to our words. What they actually meant by this was ‘joke with us.’ So the Believers were prohibited from saying that, even if none of them intended this (evil meaning) by it.
And Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said, “I was sent with the sword just before the Last Hour, so that Allah is worshipped alone without partners. My sustenance was provided for me from under the shadow of my spear. Those who oppose my command were humiliated and made inferior, and whoever imitates a people, he is one of them.” So it is not permissible for Muslims to imitate them, whether it be in their religious festivals and holidays, or in their worship, because Allah, Most High, has honored this (Islamic) nation with the Seal of the Prophets, for whom the great, eternal, comprehensive and complete Religion was legislated – the Prophet who, if Moosa (Peace be upon him), son of ‘Imran – to whom the Tawrah was sent down – and ‘Eesa (Peace be upon him), the son of Maryam – to whom the Injeel was revealed – were present, indeed if all of the Prophets were present, they would have no alternative but to follow this pure, noble, exalted and mighty Law. And since Allah, Most High, has blessed us by making us the followers of Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), so how can it befit us to imitate a people who have gone astray aforetime, and who have misguided many from the Straight Path? They have altered their religion, distorted it and deliberately misinterpreted it, until it appeared that it was a different religion entirely to that which was originally legislated for them. In addition to this, it is based on adherence to that which has been abrogated; and holding fast to what has been abrogated is unlawful. Allah will accept neither little nor much of it. And there is no difference between it and something that was not legislated (by Allah) at all. And Allah guides whom He wills to the Straight Path.
Another hadeeth: Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) from the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said, “Your period (i.e. the Muslims’ period) in comparison to the periods of the previous nations is like the period between the ‘Asr prayer and sunset. And your example in comparison to the Jews and the Christians is like the example of a person who employed some laborers and asked them, “Who will work for me till midday for one qeerat each?” The Jews worked for half a day for one qeerat each. The person asked, “Who will do the work for me from midday to the time of the ‘Asr (prayer) for one qeerat each?” The Christians worked from midday till the ‘Asr prayer for one qeerat. Then the person asked, “Who will do the work for me from the ‘Asr prayer till sunset for two qeerats each?” The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “It is you (i.e. the Muslims) who are doing the work from the ‘Asr prayer till sunset, so you will have a double reward. The Jews and the Christians got angry and said, “We have done more work but got less wages.” Allah said, “Have I been unjust to you as regards your rights?” They said, “No.” So Allah said, “Then it is My Blessing which I bestow on whomsoever I will.” In this hadeeth there is evidence that the period of this nation is short, compared to the periods of the nations who came before us. This is inferred from the saying of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him): “Your period (i.e. the Muslims’ period) in comparison to the periods of the previous nations is like the period between the ‘Asr prayer and sunset.” And none knows the past except Allah, just as none but He knows the future. But it is short in comparison to what has passed; and none knows precisely how much time remains except Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, as He, Most High, says, {None can reveal its time but He} (Soorah Al-A‘raf 7:187) and He, Most High, says, {They ask you (o, Muhammad) about the Hour – when will be its appointed time? You have no knowledge to say anything about it. To your Lord belongs (the knowledge of) the term thereof} (Soorah An-Nazi‘at 79:42-44). As for the hadeeth that some of the people mention, which is well-known to the common folk, and which states: “He has no knowledge of the unseen,” it is baseless and is not to be found in the books of ahadeeth. A hadeeth has been related which states that the life of this world is one Friday of the Fridays of the Hereafter. But there is doubt about its authenticity. What is meant by this comparison between the workers is to point out the dissimilarity in their rewards and that this is not dependent on abundance of deeds or paucity of deeds. Rather, it is dependent on other matters which Allah, Most High, deems important. And how often are few deeds more useful or advantageous than abundant deeds? Deeds performed on Lailatul-Qadr, for example, are better than a thousand nights of worship performed at any other time. The Companions of Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) spent (in Allah’s Cause) and if someone in our time were to spend the same amount in gold as they spent in dates, it would not be equivalent to it. And Allah sent the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was forty years old and took him when he was sixty-three, according to what is widely accepted. During these twenty-three years, he excelled in beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds over all of the Prophets who came before him, including even Nooh (Peace be upon him), who remained among his people for nine hundred and fifty years, calling them to the worship of Allah, Alone, without partners and working day and night in obedience to Allah. May the Blessings and Peace of Allah be upon all of the Prophets. This nation was only honored and had its reward multiplied because of the blessed leadership of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), his nobility and his greatness, as Allah, Most High, says, {O, you who believe (in Moosa i.e. the Jews and ‘Eesa i.e. the Christians)! Fear Allah and believe too in His Messenger (Muhammad). He will give you a double portion of His Mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight), and He will forgive you. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. So that the people of the Scripture (the Jews and Christians) may know that they have no power whatsoever over the Grace of Allah and that (His) Grace is (entirely) in His Hand to bestow on whomsoever He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.} (Soorah Al-Hadeed 57:28,29)
Section:
The stories of the Children of Isra’eel are extremely numerous in the Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah, and were we to make an exhaustive study of them, the book would be very long. But we have mentioned what Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Al-Bukhari has mentioned in this book and in that there is sufficiency, and they are a reminder and examples for this chapter. And Allah (SWT) knows better.
As for the Isra’eelites’ stories, according to what has been mentioned by the scholars of tafseer and the scholars of history, they are extremely numerous. Some of them are authentic and agree with what has been related in the Qur’an and Sunnah. But a lot of the stories they mention – indeed, most of them – are lies and inventions fabricated by their disbelievers and those who had gone astray. These narrations fall into three categories: (i) Those that are authentic, because they agree with what Allah has related in His Book or with what the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) has reported; (ii) those whose falseness is known, because they contradict the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him); and (iii) those which may be true, or they may be false. Concerning this latter category, we are commanded to remain non-committal. We neither believe them nor belie them, as confirmed in the authentic hadeeth: “If the People of the Scripture relate something to you, neither believe them, nor disbelieve them; instead, say, “We believe in what has been revealed to us and in what has been revealed to you.” And it is permissible to report it, according to the aforementioned hadeeth, which states: “Relate from the Children of Isra’eel, and there is no objection.”
By Ibn Katheer
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