AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.* *Part 54* *THE YEAR OF SADNESS*
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*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 54*
*THE YEAR OF SADNESS*
THE DEATH OF ABU TĀLIB: Abu Tālib's illness became so serious and finally, it claimed his life. But scholars hold two views on his death. Some of them maintain that he died in Rajab, the year of Prophethood, six months after getting out of the gulch. Others say that he died in Ramadān, three days before Khadījah's demise.
It is reported in the Sahih of Al-Bukhāry that when Abu Tālib was in his death throes, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) visited him and said: "O my uncle! Say, 'there is no god but Allāh' to intercede for you by it with Allāh." Then Abu Jahl and 'Abdullāh Ibn Abu Umayya (who were with Abu Tālib) said: "Will you renounce the faith of 'Abdul-Mutallib, Abu Tālib?" They continued to say so till he said: "I am a follower of the faith of 'Abdul-Mutallib as his last word." Upon this the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said: "I will plead Allāh to forgive you unless I am forbidden from this." Allāh says:
Surah At-Taubah, Verse 113:
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ
It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allāh's Forgiveness for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allāh) even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).
And He says also:
Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 56:
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
Verily! You (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) guide not whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.
We don't need to talk about Abu Tālib protection and defence for the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). Surely, he was the bastion that protected and shielded the Islamic calling from the attacks of dignitaries and silly people alike. But, regretfully, he stuck to the faith of his ancestors and forefathers, polytheism. It is reported in the two Sahīhs on the authority of Al-Abbās Ibn 'Abdul-Mutallib that he said to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him): "You could give no benefit to your uncle (Abu Tālib) who was protecting and safeguarding you." The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said: "He is in a shallow place in the Fire. But for me, he would have settled in the lowest level of the Fire." (Narrated by Al-Bukhāry) Abu Sa'īd Al-Khudri reported the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) as saying (when his uncle was once mentioned in his presence): "I hope that my intercession for him will be beneficial on the Doomsday so that he will be put in a shallow place in the fire that reaches his heels." (Narrated Al-Bukhāry).
KHADĪJAH'S DEMISE
Nearly two months or three days after the death of Abu Tālib, Lady Khadījah (R.A.), the greatest mother of Believers died. This happened in Ramadān, the tenth year of Prophethood. She was then sixty five years old, according to the truest views of biographers. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) was then fifty years of age.
She was a grand help and blessing that Allāh bestowed upon the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). She lived with him for twenty five years supporting him at his bad times, helping him to communicate his Message, sharing him with his difficult struggle and backing him with her soul and money. So the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) used to say about her: "She believed me when others belied me and regarded me as truthful when people disbelieved me. She made me a partner in her wealth at the time when people deprived me of any. Also Allāh made me be blessed with a male child from her while I was deprived of the male child (through marriage to other women)."
Abu Huraira was reported to have said: "Gabriel came to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and said to him: "O Allāh's Messenger! Khadījah will come to you holding a bowel of condiments, foods or water. When she arrives, send to her the greetings of her God and give her the glad tidings that she will have a home of hollow pearl posts in Paradise and there will be neither noise nor trouble in it."
THE PROPHET'S GRIEFS PILE UP
These two events took place within a few days, which filled the Prophet's heart with sadness and groans. To increase his trouble and grief, polytheists, on their side escalated their attacks and infringement upon him immediately after his uncle's demise. So he decided to go to At-Tā'if so as to find those who might listen to his calling and support him. But they gave no help. They, instead, harmed and offended him more brutally than his people used to do.
Meccans also reverted to persecuting the Muslims as they did the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) but in a crueler way. Thus Abu Bakr found himself obliged to emigrate from Mecca to Abyssinia. When he reached Barkul-Ghimād, Ibn 'Ad-Dughunna persuaded him to return under his protection.
Ibn Is'hāq said: "When Abu Tālib died, Quraish mounted their attacks more severely and audaciously than they did during his life. One day a foolish one of the polytheists met the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and covered his head with dust. He (the Prophet) entered his house with dust piling over his head. One of his daughters removed it and cried. But the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said to her: "Don't cry, my dear daughter. Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala), indeed, protects your father." Ibn Is'hāq added: "The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said also: "Quraish increased their attacks on me when Abu Tālib died."
Because of all these successive griefs, this year came to be known as the Year of Sadness.
HIS MARRIAGE TO SAWDAH
Sawdah bint Zam'ah was among the early Muslims who made the second immigration to Abyssinia. Her husband was As-Sakrān Ibn 'Amr who reverted to Islam and immigrated to Abyssinia too. It is reported that he died while he was in Abyssinia or after returning to Mecca. So when Sawdah spent her waiting period, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) proposed to her and married her. She was the first woman he married after Khadījah. His marriage to her was in Shawwal of the same year.
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 54*
*THE YEAR OF SADNESS*
THE DEATH OF ABU TĀLIB: Abu Tālib's illness became so serious and finally, it claimed his life. But scholars hold two views on his death. Some of them maintain that he died in Rajab, the year of Prophethood, six months after getting out of the gulch. Others say that he died in Ramadān, three days before Khadījah's demise.
It is reported in the Sahih of Al-Bukhāry that when Abu Tālib was in his death throes, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) visited him and said: "O my uncle! Say, 'there is no god but Allāh' to intercede for you by it with Allāh." Then Abu Jahl and 'Abdullāh Ibn Abu Umayya (who were with Abu Tālib) said: "Will you renounce the faith of 'Abdul-Mutallib, Abu Tālib?" They continued to say so till he said: "I am a follower of the faith of 'Abdul-Mutallib as his last word." Upon this the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said: "I will plead Allāh to forgive you unless I am forbidden from this." Allāh says:
Surah At-Taubah, Verse 113:
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ
It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allāh's Forgiveness for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allāh) even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).
And He says also:
Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 56:
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
Verily! You (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) guide not whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.
We don't need to talk about Abu Tālib protection and defence for the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). Surely, he was the bastion that protected and shielded the Islamic calling from the attacks of dignitaries and silly people alike. But, regretfully, he stuck to the faith of his ancestors and forefathers, polytheism. It is reported in the two Sahīhs on the authority of Al-Abbās Ibn 'Abdul-Mutallib that he said to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him): "You could give no benefit to your uncle (Abu Tālib) who was protecting and safeguarding you." The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said: "He is in a shallow place in the Fire. But for me, he would have settled in the lowest level of the Fire." (Narrated by Al-Bukhāry) Abu Sa'īd Al-Khudri reported the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) as saying (when his uncle was once mentioned in his presence): "I hope that my intercession for him will be beneficial on the Doomsday so that he will be put in a shallow place in the fire that reaches his heels." (Narrated Al-Bukhāry).
KHADĪJAH'S DEMISE
Nearly two months or three days after the death of Abu Tālib, Lady Khadījah (R.A.), the greatest mother of Believers died. This happened in Ramadān, the tenth year of Prophethood. She was then sixty five years old, according to the truest views of biographers. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) was then fifty years of age.
She was a grand help and blessing that Allāh bestowed upon the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). She lived with him for twenty five years supporting him at his bad times, helping him to communicate his Message, sharing him with his difficult struggle and backing him with her soul and money. So the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) used to say about her: "She believed me when others belied me and regarded me as truthful when people disbelieved me. She made me a partner in her wealth at the time when people deprived me of any. Also Allāh made me be blessed with a male child from her while I was deprived of the male child (through marriage to other women)."
Abu Huraira was reported to have said: "Gabriel came to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and said to him: "O Allāh's Messenger! Khadījah will come to you holding a bowel of condiments, foods or water. When she arrives, send to her the greetings of her God and give her the glad tidings that she will have a home of hollow pearl posts in Paradise and there will be neither noise nor trouble in it."
THE PROPHET'S GRIEFS PILE UP
These two events took place within a few days, which filled the Prophet's heart with sadness and groans. To increase his trouble and grief, polytheists, on their side escalated their attacks and infringement upon him immediately after his uncle's demise. So he decided to go to At-Tā'if so as to find those who might listen to his calling and support him. But they gave no help. They, instead, harmed and offended him more brutally than his people used to do.
Meccans also reverted to persecuting the Muslims as they did the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) but in a crueler way. Thus Abu Bakr found himself obliged to emigrate from Mecca to Abyssinia. When he reached Barkul-Ghimād, Ibn 'Ad-Dughunna persuaded him to return under his protection.
Ibn Is'hāq said: "When Abu Tālib died, Quraish mounted their attacks more severely and audaciously than they did during his life. One day a foolish one of the polytheists met the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and covered his head with dust. He (the Prophet) entered his house with dust piling over his head. One of his daughters removed it and cried. But the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said to her: "Don't cry, my dear daughter. Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala), indeed, protects your father." Ibn Is'hāq added: "The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said also: "Quraish increased their attacks on me when Abu Tālib died."
Because of all these successive griefs, this year came to be known as the Year of Sadness.
HIS MARRIAGE TO SAWDAH
Sawdah bint Zam'ah was among the early Muslims who made the second immigration to Abyssinia. Her husband was As-Sakrān Ibn 'Amr who reverted to Islam and immigrated to Abyssinia too. It is reported that he died while he was in Abyssinia or after returning to Mecca. So when Sawdah spent her waiting period, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) proposed to her and married her. She was the first woman he married after Khadījah. His marriage to her was in Shawwal of the same year.
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