[shano]

Abdullah ibn Masud attained such a knowledge of the Quran that he would say, "By Him besides Whom there is no god, no verse of the book of God has been revealed without my knowing where it was revealed and the circumstances of its revelation. By God, if I know there was anyone who knew more of the Book of Allah, I will do whatever is in my power to be with him."

Abdullah was not exaggerating in what he said about himself. Once Umar ibn al-Khattab met a caravan on one of his journeys as caliph. It was pitch dark and the caravan could not be seen properly. Umar ordered someone to hail the caravan. It happened that Abdullah ibn Masud was in it.

"From where do you come?" asked Umar.

"From a deep valley," came the reply. (The expression used fajj amiq deep valley--is a Quranic one).

"And where are you going?" asked Umar.

"To the ancient house," came the reply. (The expression used al-bayt al-atiq ancient house, is a Quranic one.)

"There is a learned person (alim) among them," said Umar and he commanded someone to ask the person:

"Which part of the Quran is the greatest?"

"God. There is no god except Him, the Living, the Self-subsisting. Neither slumber overtakes Him nor sleep," replied the person answering, quoting the Ayat al-Kursi (the verse of the Throne).

"Which part of the Quran is the most clear on justice?"

"God commands what it just and fair the feeding of relatives..." came the answer.

"What it the most comprehensive statement of the Quran?'

"Whoever does an atom's weight of good shall see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil shall see it."

"Which part of the Quran gives risk to the greatest hope?'

"Say, O my servants who have wasted their resources, do not despair of the mercy of God. Indeed, God forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Compassionate."

Thereupon Umar asked:

"Is Abdullah ibn Masud among you?'

"Yes, by God," the men in the caravan replied.
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Abdullah ibn Masud was not only a reciter of the Quran, a learned man or a fervent worshipper. He was in addition a strong and courageous fighter, one who became deadly serious when the occasion demanded it.

The companions of the Prophet were together one day in Makkah. They were still few in number. weak and oppressed. They said, "The Quraysh have not yet heard the Quran being recited openly and loudly. Who is the man who could recite it for them?'

"I shall recite it from them," volunteered Abdullah ibn Masud . "We are afraid for you," they said. "We only want someone who has a akin who would protect him from their evil . "

"Let me," Abdullah ibn Masud insisted, "Allah shall protect me and keep me away from their evil." He then went out to the mosque until he reached Maqam Ibrahim (a few meters from the Kabah). It was dawn and the Quraysh were sitting around the Kabah. Abdullah stopped at the Maqam and began to recite:


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"Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Ar-Rahman. Allama-l Quran. Khalaqal insan. Allamahul bayan... (In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. The Merciful God. He has taught the Quran. He has created man and taught him the clear truth...)"

He went on reciting. The Quraysh looked at him intently and some of them asked: "What is Ibn Umm Abd saying?" "Damn him! He is reciting some of what Muhammad brought!" they realized.

They went up to him and began beating his face as he continued reciting. When he went back to his companions the blood was flowing from his face.

"This is what we feared for you," they said. "By God," replied Abdullah, "the enemies of God are not more comfortable than I at this moment. If you wish. I shall go out tomorrow and do the same." "You have done enough," they said. "You have made them hear what they dislike."

Abdullah ibn Masud lived to the time of Khalifah Uthman, may God be pleased with him. When he was sick and on his death-bed, Uthman came to visit him and said:

"What is your ailment?"

"My sins."

"And what do you desire?"

"The mercy of my Lord."

"Shall I not give you your stipend which you have refused to take for years now?"

"I have no need of it."

"Let it be for your daughters after you."

"Do you fear poverty for my children? I have commanded them to read Surah al-Waqiah every night for I have heard the Prophet saying, "Whoever reads Al-Waqiah every night shall not be afflicted by poverty ever."

That night, Abdullah passed away to the company of his Lord, his tongue moist with the remembrance of God and with the recitation of the verses of His Book.

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MAY ALLAH BLESS U N UR FAMILY........

[shano]

Abu Musa al Ashari

In the major campaigns against the powerful Sasanian Empire Abu Musa's role was outstanding. In the great Battle of Tustar itself, he distinguished himself as a military commander.

The Persian commander, Hormuzan, had withdrawn his numerous forces to the strongly fortified city of Tustar. The Caliph Umar did not underestimate the strength of the enemy and he mobilized powerful and numerous force to confront Hormuzan. Among the Muslim forces were dedicated veterans like Ammar ibn Yasir, al-Baraa ibn Malik and his brother Anas, Majra'a al-Bakri and Salamah ibn Rajaa. Umar appointed Abu Musa as commander of the army.

So well fortified was Tustar that it was impossible to take it by storm. Several attempts were made to breach the walls but these proved unsuccessful. There followed a long and difficult siege which became even more testing and agonizing for the Muslims when, as we saw in the story of al-Baraa ibn Malik, the Persians began throwing down iron chains from the walls of the fortress at the ends of which were fastened red-hot iron hooks. Muslims were caught by these hooks and were pulled up either dead or in the agony of death.

Abu Musa realized that the increasingly unbearable impasse could only be broken by a resort to stratagem. Fortunately, at this time a Persian defected to the Muslim side and Abu Musa induced him to return behind the walls of the fortified city and use whatever artful means he could to open the city's gates from within. With the Persian he sent a special force of hand-picked men. They succeeded well in their task, opened the gates and made way for Abu Musa's army. Within hours the Persians were subdued.

Abu Musa continued to remain neutral in the conflict which was ended by Ali when he made a treaty with Muawiyah confirming him as the one responsible for governing Syria and Egypt.

Abu Musa himself left for Makkah and spent the rest of his life near the Sacred Mosque. During his life he had remained devoted to the noble Prophet and his righteous successors. During the life of the Prophet, the Prophet had appointed him and Muadh ibn Jabal as governor of Kufah.
In ibadah, he showed a great deal of strength and endurance. On days when the heat was intense and almost unbearable, Abu Musa would be found fasting and he would say: "Perhaps the thirst of the midday heat would prove to be quenching for us on the day of Qiyamah."

As his end drew near, the words which he kept saying were words which he was wont to repeat throughout his life as a believer:

"Allahumma anta-s Salaam Wa minka-s Salaam. "O Lord, You are the Source of Peace And from You comes Peace...

[shano]

Abu Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarrah

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Scanned from: Companions of The Prophet, Vol.1, By Abdul Wahid Hamid
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His appearance was striking. He was slim and tall. His face was bright and he had a sparse beard. It was pleasing to look at him and refreshing to meet him. He was extremely courteous and humble and quite shy. Yet in a tough situation he would become strikingly serious and alert, resembling the flashing blade of a sword in his severity and sharpness.

He was described as the "Amin" or Custodian of Muhammad's community. His full name was Aamir ibn Abdullah ibn al-Jarrah. He was known as Abu Ubaydah. Of him Abdullah ibn Umar, one of the companions of the Prophet, said:

"Three persons in the tribe of Quraysh were most prominent, had the best character and were the most modest. If they spoke to you, they would not deceive you and if you spoke to them, they would not accuse you of Iying: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Uthman ibn Affan and Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah."

Abu Ubaydah was one of the first persons to accept Islam. He became a Muslim one day after Abu Bakr. In fact, it was through Abu Bakr that he became a Muslim. Abu Bakr took him, Abdur Rahman ibn Auf, Uthman ibn Maz'un and al-Arqam ibn abi al Arqam to the Prophet, upon whom be peace, and together they declared their acceptance of the Truth. They were thus the first pillars on which the great edifice of Islam was built.

Abu Ubaydah lived through the harsh experience, which the Muslims went through in Makkah, from beginning to end. With the early Muslims, he endured the insults and the violence, the pain and the sorrow of that experience. In every trial and test he remained firm and constant in his belief in God and His prophet. One of the most harrowing experiences he had to go through, however, was at the battle of Badr.

[shano]

CALIPH UMAR'S SON MARRIES A MILKMAID

One night, Caliph Umar as usual went in disguise with his companion Ibn Abbas to see the condition of the people. They strolled from one quarter to another. At last they came to a colony where poor people lived.

While passing by a small house, the Caliph heard a whispering talk within. The mother was telling her daughter that the amount of milk fetched by her for sale that day was very little. She told her that when she was young, and used to sell milk, she always mixed water with milk, and that led to considerable profit. She advised her daughter to do the same.

The girl said, "You *****erated milk, when you were not a Muslim. Now that we are Muslims, we cannot *****erate milk." The mother said that Islam did not stand in the way of *****eration of milk. The daughter said, "Have you forgotten the Caliph's order? He wants that the milk should not be *****erated." The mother said, "But the Caliph has forgotten us. We are so poor, what else should we do but *****erate milk in order win bread?" The daughter said "Such a bread would not be lawful, and as a Muslim I would not do anything which is against the orders of the Caliph, and whereby other Muslims are deceived."

The mother said, "But there is neither the Caliph nor any of his officers here to see what we do. Daughter you are still a child. Go to bed now and tomorrow I will myself mix the milk with water for you." The girl refused to fall in with the plan of her mother. She said, "Caliph may or may not be here, but his order must be obeyed. My conscience is my Caliph. You may escape the notice of the Caliph and his officers, but how can we escape the notice of Allah and our own conscience." Thereupon the mother remained quiet. The lamp was extinguished and the mother and the daughter went to sleep.
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The next day, Caliph Umar sent a man to purchase milk from the girl. The milk was un*****erated. The girl kept her resolve. CaliphUmar turned to his companion and said, "The girl has kept her resolve in spite of the exhortation of her mother. She deserves a reward. What reward should I give her? She should be paid some money," said Ibn Abbas. Caliph Umar said, "Such a girl would become a great mother. Her integrity is not to be weighed with few coins; it is to be measured in the scale of national values. I shall offer her the highest award in my gift, and which shall also be in the highest interest of the nation."

The Caliph summoned the daughter and the mother to his court. The mother trembled as she stood before the mighty ruler. But the girl faced the Caliph boldly and with great equanimity. She was beautiful, and there was an impressive dignity about her. Then before the gathering, Caliph Umar related how he had overheard the mother and the daughter, and how in spite of the exhortations of the mother the daughter had kept her resolve.

Someone suggested that the mother should be taken to task. The Caliph said that ordinarily he would have punished the mother, but he had forgiven her for the sake of her daughter. Turning to the girl the great Caliph said, "Islam needs daughters like you and as a Caliph of Islam it devolves on me to reward you by owning you as a daughter." The Caliph called his sons, and addressing them said, "Here is a gem of a girl who would make a great mother. I desire that one of you should take this girl as wife. I know of no better bride than this girl of sterling character. In matters of wedlock, it should be the character and not the stature in life that should count."

Abdullah and Abdur Rahman the elder sons of the Caliph were already married. Asim the third son was yet unmarried, and he offered to marry the girl. Thereupon with the consent of the milkmaid and her mother Asim was married to the girl, and milkmaid became the daughter-in-law of the Caliph.

From this union was born a daughter Umm Asim, who became in due course the mother of Umar bin Abdul Aziz. Umar bin AbdulAziz was elected as Caliph and served for a short period during 717 - 720.
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While other Caliphs of the Ummayad dynasty reveled in luxury, Umar bin Abdul Aziz as a Caliph set up standards for austerity and simplicity following in the footsteps of Caliph Umar, the second Caliph of Islam. It is said that if ever there was a noble Caliph after the first four Rightly guided Caliphs,such a man was Umar bin Abdul Aziz. And he inherited the noble qualities of the milkmaid who married the Caliph's son, and those of Caliph Umar Farooq who had the eye to discern the nobler qualities of sterling character in a poor girl.

[shano]

CALIPH UMAR'S ADDRESS AFTER JERUSALEM

After receiving the surrender of Jerusalem and completing the tour of Syria when Caliph Umar was returning to Madina he led the prayer at Jabiah. On this occasion he delivered an address which is preserved in history. The major part of his address was

O ye people I counsel you to read the Quran. Try to understand it and ponder over it. Imbibe the teachings of the Quran. Then practise what the Quran teaches. The Quran is not theoretical; it is a practical code of life. The Quran does not bring you the message of the Hereafter only; it is primarily intended to guide you in this life. Mold your life in accordance with the teachings of Islam for that is the way of your well being. By following any other way you will be inviting destruction. Fear Allah (The One True God), and whatever you want seek from Him. All men are equal. Do not flatter those in authority. Do not seek favors from others. By such acts you demean yourself. And remember that you will get only that is ordained for you, and no one can give you anything against the will of God. Then why seek things from others over which they have no control Only supplicate God for He alone is the sovereign.

And speak the truth. Do not hesitate to say what you consider to be the truth. Say what you feel. Let your conscience be your guide. Let your intentions be good, for verily God is aware of your intentions. In your deeds your intentions count. Fear God, and fear no one else. Why fear others when you know that whatever sustenance ordained for you by God you will get under all circumstances And again why fear when you know that death is ordained by God alone and will come only when He wills

***************"Allah has for the time being made me your ruler. But I am one of you. No special privileges belong to ruler. I have some responsibilities to discharge, and in this I seek your cooperation. Government is a sacred trust, and it is my endeavor not to betray the trust in any way. For the fulfillment of the trust I have to be a watch-man. I have to be strict. I have to enforce discipline. I have to run the administration not on the basis of personal idiosyncracies; I have to run it in public interest and for promoting the public good. For this we have the guidance in the Book of God. Whatever orders I issue in the course of day to day administration have to conform to the Quran. God has favored us with Islam. He sent to us His Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh). He has chosen us for a mission. Let us fulfil that mission. That mission is the promotion of Islam. In Islam lies our safety; if we err we are doomed."

[shano]

Abbad bin Bish’r (raa)
httpislamicvoice.comnovember.2003child.htm#abb

Abbad bin Bish’r combined multiple attributes within his personality. He was a warrior, a renowned reciter of the Holy Quran and a devout worshipper who would not spare a night without devoting a part of it in standing and remembering Allah. Hazrath Ayesha, the beloved wife of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh), had once described him one among the three sahabis from Ansars who were distinguished by the scholarship and nobility. The other two were Saad bin Muaz and Usaid bin Hazeer.

Abbad bin Bish’r was a debonair youth of Madinah before he joined the growing tribe of Muslims at the urging of Masa’b bin Umair who had been deputed by the Holy Prophet prior to his migration from Madinah. Masa’b bin Umair’s recitation of the Holy Quran cast a spell on the young Abbad. He instantly decided to join the swelling ranks of the new faith. He shared several of his personal traits with Masa’b bin Umair. This became the natural glue between them. He himself learnt the Quran with extreme devotion and his sonorous voice lent it a rare magnetic charm. Once the Prophet recognised his voice at the dead of the night and prayed for his special forgiveness.

Abbad participated in all the battles during the Prophet’s lifetime. Once the Prophet was returning from the battle of Zatur Riqaa. It was night time and he ordered the army to camp at the base of a hill. The Muslim army had taken several prisoners. Among them was a woman whose husband was not a participant in the war from the enemy’s side. When he heard about his wife being taken a prisoner, he vowed to take revenge and to slay a couple of men from the Muslim army.

The Prophet appointed Abbad and Ammar bin Yasir on the night guard of the camp. They, between themselves, agreed to take turns and Abbad began to make rounds. As Ammar slipped into deep slumber, Abbad stood in prayers and began to loudly recite the verses of the Quran. He was through surah Kahaf.

The man who had vowed to avenge for his wife’s imprisonment, was out on the prowl. Abbad was deeply immersed in intonation. Finding Abbad alone, he launched the first arrow. It got pierced into Abbad’s body. Abbad quietly pulled it out and threw it away. The second and third followed. The third pierced deeper into the flesh. A fountain of blood oozed out. Abbad could take it no more and inched close to Ammar and woke him up. But by then the enemy got alarmed with the presence of yet another person on the night watch. He took to his heels.

But the tenacity of Abbad astounded Ammar. He queried as to why he kept silent despite being hit by two arrows. Abbad’s reply was My only concern was to finish surah Kahaf. By God! I wouldn’t mind sacrificing life, but for the grand responsibility of maintaining vigil entrusted to me by the Holy Prophet.

Abbad participated in the battle against apostates led by Museelamah during the reign of Abu Bakr. The battle went on for several days with fortunes of the Muslim army waxing and waning each day. A stage came when the Ansar and Muhajireen began to shift the responsibility for the stalemate in the war on each other. Meanwhile, Abbad saw in his dream that he had fallen a martyr.

Next day, as the sun rose on the eastern horizon, Abbad went over a hillock and called the Ansar to gather around him. Nearly 400 of them flocked around him. They included veteran companions of the Prophet such as Baraa bin Malik, Abu Dujana and Sabith bin Khais. He then led a powerful assault on the enemy. Penetrating deep into the ranks, he inflicted huge casualties against the enemy. Finally he was cornered near the wall of an orchard and martyred by the enemy. His body bore countless wounds inasmuch as it was unrecognisable. But finally someone recognised him and he was laid to rest there itself. May Allah be pleased with Abbad

[Majbeen]

Really wonderful sharing....God bless u!!!

[shano]

Abdullah Bin Umme Maktum (raa)
Islamic Voice - SHABAN 1424 H


The Holy Quran does not name any among the men and women contemporary, who lived in the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) except Hazrath Zaid (bin Haritha) and Abu Lahab in its text. But a few like Abdullah bin Umme Maktum and Hazrath Ayesha are two companions who were fortunate enough to have verses revealed about them. About Hazrath Ayesha, the beloved wife of the Prophet, Allah revealed a verse where her chastity was sworn to. But about Hazrath Abdullah bin Umme Maktumm, a chapter narrates his plight when the Prophet showed a bit of indifference towards him in preference to the leading lights of the Quraish.

Abdullah bin Umme Maktum was related to the Prophet through his first wife Khadijah to whom he was a cousin. His father was Qais bin Zaid and mother Athika bin Abdullah. Abdullah bin Umme Maktum was born blind and hence was known as Abdullah Maktum.

Visually handicapped, Abdullah Maktum knew his limitations as far as his contributions to the Islamic movement were concerned. He therefore made it a habit to join the company of the Holy Prophet and gather as much as of Quranic verses and wisdom being disbursed by the Prophet.