18 Sources of Barakah
May 10
(1) Tawhid, (2) Solat (Prayer), Allah SWT, Life, Marriage, Test No Comments
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How Imam Abu Hanifah Received His Kunya
Oct 25
Imam Abu Hanifah, Marriage, Women No Comments
In a delightful report about how Imam Abu Hanifah received his kunya (his original name was Numan bin Thaabit bin Zuta bin Mah), an account of why the wife is forbidden to take more than one husband is recounted. ‘Abu Hanifah’ is an unusual name because it means ‘the father of Hanifah’, and Hanifah was his daughter. It was not the custom in those days to do this. Normally, the kunya would be ‘the father of the name of a son’. How this came about is quite edifying.
One day the great Imam Abu Hanifah was asked a question that, for the first time in his illustrious career, he was unable to answer. The question was, “Why were women forbidden to marry more than one husband at a time ?”
To make a long story short, Abu Hanifah’s daughter said that she knew the answer and would solve this question if her father would make a promise to her that if she succeeded in solving this problem, he would then assure her a place in history. Abu Hanifah agreed.
So she gathered a group of women together and gave each of them a cup. Then she brought in a large bowl of milk and asked each of them to dip their cups in the milk and to fill their cups. They did so. She then asked them to pour back the milk into the bowl. They did this too. She then asked them to re-fill their cups taking back only their own milk that they had poured into the bowl. This, obviously, was impossible to do.
Hanifah had clearly demonstrated the kind of predicament that would be created if a woman had several husbands. With more than one husband, if she were to become pregnant, she would have exceptional difficulties determining who the actual father was. Identifying parentage and lineage would then be insurmountable for the offspring.
Imam Abu Hanifah was so pleased with her answer that he took the kunya ‘Abu Hanifah’, ‘the father of Hanifah’, so his daughter did indeed earn a place in history.
Hoor Al-’Ayn
May 19
Hoor Al-'Ayn, Jihad, Love, Marriage, Women No Comments
The Question
Objection to the fact that a man will have hoor al-’ayn who will share her husband with her
What happens in paradise, with a couple who have been married ? I have heard that the wife will be with her husband, but that the husband will in addition to her, have 70 women (hoor al-’ayn) at his service.
This to me does not seem like a fair concept for the women, to share their husbands in this way.
The Answer
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly :
The believer must submit to the rulings and decrees of Allaah (SWT). Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allaah (His Words, Al-Qur’an) and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: ‘We hear and we obey’. And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise)
[ al-Noor 24 : 51 ]
If the believer is confused about anything in the rulings of Allaah (SWT), and he does not know what it means or what the reason behind it is, then he must say as those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say:
We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord
[ al-‘Imraan 3 : 7 ]
It is not permissible for the believer to say that one of the rulings of Allaah (SWT) is not fair; exalted be Allaah (SWT) far above that. Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves
There is no rule that is better than the rule of Allaah (SWT). Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
Is not Allaah the Best of judges?
[ at-Teen 95 : 8 ]
Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance ? And who is better in judgement than Allaah for a people who have firm Faith ?
Secondly :
In this question there are two mistakes and a misunderstanding. The first mistake is where the questioner says that in Paradise a man will have seventy hoor al-’ayn. What is proven in the saheeh Sunnah is that the martyr (shaheed) will have seventy-two hoor al-’ayn. The least of the people of Paradise will have two wives, and some will have more than that.
Narrated by al-Miqdaam ibnu Ma’di Yakrib (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said,
The martyr has six blessings with Allaah :
- he will be forgiven from the first drop of blood shed;
- he will be shown his place in Paradise;
- he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror;
- a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, one ruby of which is better than this world and everything in it;
- he will be married to seventy-two wives from al-hoor al-‘ayn;
- and he will intercede for seventy of his relatives.
[ at-Tirmidhi, 1663; Ibn Maajah, 2799; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi ]
And more than that has been narrated. Abu Na’eem narrated in Sifat al-Jannah from Abu Hurayrah (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said :
A man will go to one hundred virgins in one day – i.e., in Paradise.
[ Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 367 ]
It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said :
The lowest of the people of Paradise in status will be a man whose face Allaah will turn away from the Fire towards Paradise, and make a shady tree appear before him. Then he will enter his house and his two wives from among al-hoor al-‘ayn will enter after him. They will say: ‘Praise be to Allah Who has created you for us and us for you.’ And he will say: ‘No one has been given the like of that which I have been given.’
[ Narrated by Muslim, 188 ]
Al-Haafiz said : The apparent meaning is that the least that will be given to each of them will be two wives.
Thirdly :
The second mistake is the questioner’s saying that hoor al-‘ayn will serve the man. This is not correct, rather the ones who will serve the people of Paradise will be boys of everlasting youth. Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
And round about them will (serve) boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls
Hoor al-‘ayn will be wives of the men in Paradise, in addition to their wives from among the people of this world. Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
So (it will be). And We shall marry them to Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes
They will recline (with ease) on thrones arranged in ranks. And We shall marry them to Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes
[ at-Thoor 52 : 20 ]
Fourthly :
The misunderstanding is when the questioner says: “This to me does not seem like a fair concept for the women, to share their husbands in this way.”
Fairness or justice is to be found in the rulings of sharee’ah, not in what a person thinks who does not know sharee’ah and its rulings, let alone the reasons behind them.
The sister who is asking this question thinks that the jealousy in her heart, and what it leads to of depression and sorrow will remain with her in Paradise, but this is not correct, and this is why there is this misunderstanding in her question.
Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world); rivers flowing under them, and they will say: ‘All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allaah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth.’ And it will be cried out to them: ‘This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do’
[ al-A’raaf 7 : 43 ]
There is nothing but joy and happiness in Paradise; there is no room for hatred and rancour in the hearts of the people of Paradise. Hoor al-‘ayn are something which Allaah (SWT) has created to honour the people of Paradise and to increase their delight. Moreover a man will be given the strength of one hundred men for intercourse, so the large number will not have any effect on a woman, and her feelings towards her co-wives and her husband’s concubines will not be like her feelings in this world.
It was narrated that Zayd ibnu Arqam (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to me :
A man in Paradise will be given the strength of one hundred men in eating, drinking, desire and intercourse.
A Jewish man said :
The one who eats and drinks will need to relieve himself.
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to him :
The way in which one of them will relieve himself will be by means of sweat which will come out through his pores, and thus the food in his stomach will be digested.
Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance ? And who is better in judgement than Allaah for a people who have firm Faith ?
[ Narrated by Ahmad, 18827; classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan, 16/443; and by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1627 ]
It was narrated from Anas (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said :
The believer in Paradise will be given such-and-such strength for intercourse.
It was said :
O Allah’s Messenger, will he really be able to do that ?
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said :
He will be given the strength of a hundred (men).
[ Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2536; classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan, 16/413; and by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 8106 ]
And Allaah knows best.
Are You Pleased To Marry This Girl ?
Apr 20
Al-Qur'an, Hoor Al-'Ayn, Jihad, Marriage No Comments
Allaah (subhaanahu-wa-ta’ala) commanded :
Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah’s Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Quran. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.
[ Surat At-Tawbah, 9:111 ]
**********
This is the famous story of Umm Ibrahim and her son.
This story was mentioned by scholars like Abu Ja’afar al-Luban. He narrates :
It is mentioned that one of the righteous women in Basra was Umm Ibrahim al-Hashimeeyah. The enemy attacked one of the Muslim towns so people were encouraged to fight. Abdul Wahid ibn Zayd al-Basri delivered a speech encouraging fighting back, and among the audience was Umm Ibrahim.
Among the things Abdul Wahid talked about was al-Hoor al-’Ayn (the women of Paradise). Umm Ibrahim stood up and said to Abdul Wahid,
You know my son Ibrahim and you know that the nobility of al-Basra wish to have him marry one of their daughters and I have not agreed to one of them yet. But I like this girl you described and I would be happy to marry her to my son. Can you please describe her again ?
Abdul Wahid then narrated a poem in the description of the Hoor.
Umm Ibrahim said,
I want my son to marry this girl and I would pay you 10,000 dinars (gold coins) as her dowry and you take him with you in this army. He might die as a shaheed (martyr) and intercede for me on the Day of Judgment.
Abdul Wahid said,
If you do so, that is great success for you and your son.
She then called her son from the audience. He stood up and said,
Yes my mother !
She said,
Are you pleased to marry this girl with the condition of giving your soul to Allah ?
He said,
Yes ! I am very pleased !
She said,
O Allah you are my witness that I have married my son to this girl from Paradise with the condition he spends his soul in your sake.
Then she went and brought back with her 10,000 dinars and gave it to Abdul Wahid and said,
This is her dowry. Take it and use it to provide for the fighters in Allah’s path.
She then purchased for her son a good horse and she armed him.
When the army started its march, Ibrahim came out with the reciters of Quran surrounding him and reciting,
Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. [ Surat At-Tawbah, 9:111 ]
When Umm Ibrahim was greeting her son she told him,
Be careful and don’t allow any shortcomings from yourself to be seen by Allah
She them embraced him and kissed him and said,
May Allah never bring us together except on the Day of Judgment !
Abdul Wahid said,
We reached the enemy’s territory and people were called to fight.
Ibrahim was in the front and he killed many of the enemy but then they overwhelmed him and killed him.
On our way back I told my soldiers not to tell Umm Ibrahim that her son was killed until I tell her.
When we entered al Basra she met me and said,
Did Allah accept my gift so I can celebrate or was it rejected so I should cry ?
I said,
Allah did accept your gift and your son died as a Shaheed.
She then prostrated to thank Allah and said,
Thank you Allah for accepting my gift.
The following day she came to me in the Masjid and said,
Rejoice !
I said,
What good news do you have ?
She said,
I saw my son Ibrahim last night in a dream. He was in a beautiful garden dressed in green clothes, sitting on a throne made of pearl and he had a crown on his head. He told me: “Rejoice my mother ! I got married to my bride !”
Source : Mashari al-Ushwaq [ page 37 ]
