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ISLAM

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NOOR DECEMBER AhmadiyahAnjuman Isha’at [Lahore] , Canada

Editor: Sadiq Noor - [email protected]

The name HUDAIBIYAH denotes a grand victory for the Muslim nation. Though the Muslims in 6 AH (which corresponds to 628 AD) were by no means strong militarily, morale remained high at Hudaibiya. It had been six years since the Prophet , peace on him, and his supporters had left Makkah. The pagans of Makkah had tried to crush the rising power of Islam and attacked Muslims at Madinah three times, first at the , then at the and finally at the battle of Khandaq. The Muslims were not strong enough to launch a counterattack on such a large force at Makkah.

The Prophet, peace on him, would declare his plan to visit Makkah to perform the Umrah later that year. A large caravan of 1400 pilgrims and 70 sacrificial camels consequently headed for Makkah. The leaders of Quraish at Makkah were alarmed at this congregation, and despite the fact that Makkans were bound to allow any unarmed pilgrims to perform Umrah; they prevented the Muslims from entering the city and sent their commander Khalid bin Walid with 200 fighters to stop them. Prophet Muhammad, peace on him, changed his route to avoid confrontation and traveled to a lesser known place called Hudaibiya on the western edge of the Harem territory. A battle was out of question as it was a sacred month and they were already in a state of consecration called “ihram”.

From there, the Prophet, peace on him, then sent a message to the leadership of Makkah but they mistreated the emissary. Hulais bin Alqama, the chief of Ahabeesh, visited the Muslim camp and advised the Makkan tribe of Quraish that there was nothing to fear but his advice was ignored. Subsequently, they sent Urwah bin Massoud to negotiate, who then relayed that “I have visited the royal courts of Emperors Caesar, Kisra and Najashi (the Persian, Roman and Ethiopian courts) but I have never witnessed such respect and high esteem from followers like those of Muhammad. They have come purely for worship.” Still, the Makkan leaders were bent on preventing the Muslims from entering. As a last resort, the Prophet, peace on him, sent bin Affan, who was well-connected in Makkah, but he was detained and a rumor was spread that Uthman had been killed. Though 400km away from his city and possessing no [email protected] Page 1

proper arms to fight, the Prophet, peace on him, called on his followers to prepare for war. People rushed to pledge allegiance to the Prophet and the Makkans were soon informed that 1400 volunteers were ready to fight alongside him. Fearing them, the Makkans agreed to discuss new terms of peace with him. The Makkans released Uthman bin Affan and sent Suhail bin Amr Al-Thaqafi to negotiate the terms of a peace treaty. Though tough in his dealings, Al-Thaqafi later embraced Islam at their return to Makkah.

Terms were agreed and documented, including an armistice between the two parties for the following ten years and the liberty for any person to join the opposing side if they so wished. In addition, they had stipulated that a Makkan travelling to Madinah would be sent back to Makkah but that migrants from Madinah would be allowed into Makkah to join Quraish. This depicted the Prophet’s absolute tolerance to those rejecting his teachings and his support for freedom of choice (even where sending back converts to Makkah was concerned, the Prophet had accepted this on the basis that the convert would attempt to spread Islam within his tribe).

Furthermore, a minor whose father is still alive would not be able to join Muhammad without the consent of his guardian but that anyone from Madinah who joins the Quraish tribe would not be sent back. Finally, they had agreed that the Muslims would return to Madinah without entering Makkah but that they would enter Makkah the following year and perform the ‘Umrah’ ritual for a period of 3 days.

The Makkans attempted to deliberately provoke the Prophet through rigorous terms, but the Prophet accepted the terms in spite of that in order to maintain peace and stability. This treaty, known as the Treaty of Hudaibiya, proved to be a turning point in the history of Islam.

Very few people could visualize the long-term benefits of the treaty. The first advantage of the treaty was that a hostile Makkan leadership recognized the Prophet Muhammad, peace on him, as the head of state at Madinah. Secondly, the treaty curtailed the hostile behaviour of the Quraish against Muslims. They were now allowed to move freely and talk openly about Islam. Third, Muslims were allowed to make alliances with other tribes. Finally, the 10-year armistice with Quraish provided Muslims with a unique opportunity to preach Islam and to deal with their rivals in other parts of the peninsula. They would consequently go on to conquer the Jewish stronghold of Khyber and the tribe of Quraish could do nothing to stop this acquisition.

Following the peaceful armistice at Hudaibiya, Islam increased by leaps and bounds. Quraish had lost three battles against the Muslims and people were now beginning to foresee the eventual triumph of Islam. Thus began the conversion to Islam in the thousands. The Prophet, peace on him, entered Makkah the following year with 2000 pilgrims alongside him, an increase of 600 from the previous year. The treaty is referred to in the 48th Surah (or Chapter) of the Qur’an. Quraish would later request that the clause stipulating that converts to Islam be returned to Makkah be abrogated, as runaways did not emigrate to Madinah knowing they would be returned but instead hid at the Red Sea coast and fought the trade caravans of Quraish as they passed.

The treaty at Hudaibiya proved to be a prelude to the conquest of Makkah. As per the agreement, the tribe of Banu Bakr joined forces with Quraish and Banu Khaza’a entered into alliance with the Prophet, peace on him. Owing to a long history of enmity between the two tribes, Banu Bakr attacked Banu Khaza’a just 20 months later in the 8th year AH. Many people were killed and Quraish supported their allies with manpower and arms.

Amr bin Salem of Banu Khaza’a, along with twenty men, rushed to Madinah and told the Prophet of the situation on the ground. He consequently sent word to Quraish to pay blood money for those killed and terminate their alliance with the Banu Bakr tribe or consider the Hudaibiya Treaty void. Quraish refused [email protected] Page 2

to pay nor break their alliance with Banu Bakr and voiced their approval to nullify the terms of the treaty. Wishing to avoid bloodshed, the Prophet, peace on him, would devise a secret strategy to surround Makkah with large force so that Makkans could surrender without a fight. Indeed, the Prophet had declared his preparation for war without specifying a location.

The Muslim tribes rushed to Madinah in the month of Ramadan of the 8th year AH. Various northern tribes had entered the fold of Islam in these 20 months following the conquest of Khyber and Taima. Muslim volunteers came in the thousands. The famous tribes of Aslam, Sulaim, Ghifar, Muzaina, Ashjaa and Juhaina joined the Islamic forces. Muslim forces marched towards Makkah and camped at Marr Zahran. They then surrounded the holy city. The Quraish were perplexed by this sudden attack. The Muslims had also sealed all possible routes of escape. The Prophet, peace on him, had declared a general amnesty and the entire city surrendered to him on the 10th day of Ramadan.

It is of great significance that the arch enemies of Islam grasped the situation and embraced Islam after the Hudaibiya treaty and prior to the conquest of Makkah. These included Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet’s uncle, Abu Sufyaan of Quraish, Khalid bin Walid and Amr bin Al Aas, the would-be conqueror of Egypt. Later, Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl, Uteba bin Abi Lahab, Safwan bin Umayyah, Kaab in Zuhair, Suhail bin Amr, Hakim bin Hizam and Hindah bint Rabeeah embraced Islam. Practically, there remained virtually no enemies to Islam in Makkah. The Makkan leadership, which had previously banned his entry to the city in the 6th year following his immigration, welcomed him as their head within 22 months, thus highlighting the great achievement of the Hudaibiya treaty.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace on him, had thus achieved his divine mission. While he embraced slaves such as Bilal bin Rabah, Zaid bin Haritha and Wahshi, he was also able to cultivate the ruling elite. He addressed nine important letters to the rulers of leading empires and prominent kingdoms including King Najashi, ruler of Abyssinia, Emperor Heraclius of Rome, Emperor Chosroes of Persia, King Makawkas of Egypt, Hauza bin Ali, the ruler of Yamamah in Yemen, the ruler of Busra in Jordan, Harith bin Shammar, ruler of Damascus, Manzar bin Sawi, ruler of Bahrain and Jeefar, ruler of Oman.

All these letters were received with great ovation except for the Persian emperor, who is said to have torn it up. The empire itself disintegrated when the emperor was killed by his own son as predicted by the Prophet Muhammad, peace on him.

Such was the significance of the events that took place at Hudaibiya near Makkah. People were to visit this historical place and a mosque was to be erected at the place where the Prophet offered prayers during his stay. This mosque, near Shumaisi, lies about 20km away from Makkah on the old road leading up to Jeddah.

Hudaibiya

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R A M L A H

‘A Woman of Faith and Dignity’

We do not know the date when Umm Habiba Ramlah {Umm Habiba} continued to feel

Women Women in Islam {Ramlah bint Abu Sufyaan}, got married perturbed by the enmity between her father, Abu to the Prophet, peace on him. Most probably it was Sufyaan, who led the Makkan unbelievers in their when her father had become the chief of successive attempts to crush Islam. Yet she Makkah, who carried the responsibility of continued to hope that a change would come bringing about the downfall of Prophet about to make her father see the light of Islam. Muhammad and the message of Islam. She was This happened shortly before the Prophet, peace on in Abyssinia when the marriage took place, him, entered Makkah, putting a final end to all while her husband was in Madinah. When her aspects of idolatry in the city that has continued ever since to be the focus of all Muslims, father in Makkah heard of her marriage, he said wherever they happen to live. In fact, the Prophet, in reference to the Prophet, peace on him: “He is a peace on him, made a gesture of honor to Abu Sufyaan man of honor who brings no shame to when he declared himself a believer. The pledge anyone.” Nor do we know the date when she of security extended to the people of Makkah traveled to Madinah to join her husband. gave Abu Sufyaan the privilege of complete safety for his guests. Anyone who was in Abu Biographies of the Prophet, peace on him, assume Sufyaan’s home was safe. that she traveled when the last of those left in Abyssinia returned to Arabia. This was at the In the Prophet’s home, Ramlah conducted herself beginning of year 7, just when the Battle of with complete dignity. Among the Prophet’s Khyber had finished. To suggest that she other wives, she held her position, unwilling to be returned with this last batch is probably led by anyone. Not even Ayesha could impose inaccurate, because it is reliably accurate that anything on her. At the same time, she kept Negus, the King of Abyssinia, sent her to the herself above the rivalries that might disturb the Prophet, peace on him, with Shurahbeel ibn Hasanah. calmness in the Prophet’s home. Shortly before We know that this last batch included 16 men, her death, Ramlah called Ayesha to come over. all of whom are mentioned by name. She said: “There might have been situations Shurahbeel is not one of them, which gives a between us that could occur between any two strong indication that he returned earlier, wives. May I ask your forgiveness for those?” accompanying Umm Habiba. Ayesha willingly did so. Ramlah said: “May God forgive you and myself whatever might have Her return to Madinah was celebrated by the happened between us.” Ayesha said the same. Muslim community. In fact, Uthman ibn Affan Ramlah also did the same with Umm Salamah, held a banquet in her honor, as he was related who also prayed for their mutual forgiveness. To each of them, Ramlah said: “You have pleased to her. His father was the brother of her mother. me. May Allah give you abundant pleasure.” As he was married to the Prophet’s daughter, he Ramlah died in year 44. She has reported 65 felt the marriage joined together two of his which are related in the six authentic relatives. anthologies of .

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Could you please explain the status of Ilm-e-Ghayb in the light of the Qur’an, and the Sunnah? What does it include? A friend of mine is a keen student of Numerology. She was able to tell me some amazingly correct things about my past life, which I am sure she did not learn --- either from me or from anyone else in the past and in the present, including some very private things. She says that she worked that out from my date of birth and some other numbers. I realize that only God knows the future and He encompasses everything in His knowledge, but is numerology similar to palmistry or astrology?

G H A Y B

Islamic View On Numerology

The term ‘Ilm-e-Ghayb’ literally means “Knowledge of what is absent”. It is made of two words, the first means “knowledge”, and the second, Ghayb, means “Absent, Hidden, Kept Away, Concealed, etc.” It is often used in the Qur’an as part of God’s knowledge, who is described as “the One who knows what is absent and what is present.” Unfortunately, in Qur’anic translations, this term is often rendered as “Knowledge of the unseen”, which is a very narrow sense of the word, because Ghayb is not merely unseen. It could be absent or concealed in many different ways. Perhaps a better translation is “that which lies beyond the reach of human perception.” But even then, the term has a wider reference. Believers are described as those:

“Who believe in the Ghayb and attend to their prayers ...... ” What is clear in the Qur’an is that such knowledge is clearly reserved for God and He does not give any part of it to anyone, except to some of His messengers and prophets. Such knowledge He imparts to them to support them as they go about the discharge assigned to them of delivering God’s message to people. Thus we read in the Qur’an:

“He alone knows that which is beyond the reach of a created being’s perception, and to none does He disclose anything of His unfathomable knowledge, unless it be to a messenger whom He has been pleased to choose.” [the Jinn-72:26-27] The statement is very clear, and it occurs in the Surah entitled the Jinn, because many fortune-tellers claim that they have contacts with the jinn. This statement refutes their claims by stating that not even the jinn have such knowledge.

An example of how God gives such knowledge to His messengers is found in the opening of Surah 30, Al Room, which mentions the defeat suffered by the Byzantine Empire at the hands of the Persian armies. It then tells the Prophet, peace on him, that 1) the Byzantine will be victorious in a few years time, and 2) the believers will be delighted with victory granted by God. This Surah was revealed in Makkah when the Prophet, peace on him, and his companions were a small-persecuted minority, practically without any power. [email protected] Page 5

Within a few years, the Byzantine scored a great victory, and on the same day the Muslims won their first major battle against the idolaters, which was the Battle of Badr.

Because of this clear reference to knowledge of what is absent, which includes everything concerning the future; it is strictly forbidden to consult fortune-tellers of any type. The Prophet, peace on him, describes such people as “Liars even when they tell the truth.” They will never be able to tell all the truth. They may hit on some aspect of it, but it is always a question of coincidence. It is never based on certainty. Hence, consulting such people is a grave sin. The Prophet, peace on him, says: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller disbelieves in what has been revealed to Muhammad.”

Having said that, we go back to your other point of numerology, I do not know anything about this apart from what is taught as arithmetic and mathematics. To suggest that numbers have an effect on our lives is an exercise of fortune telling. As to how your friend was able to tell you about your past, she must have learned it from other sources.

We have clear advice from the Prophet, peace on him, and I repeat here what has been stated earlier here in above. The Prophet, peace on him, describes such people as: “Liars even when they tell the truth. They may hit on some aspect of it, but it is always a question of coincidence.”

The Prophet, peace on him, often me, ‘Mu’adh!’ I said: ‘I am at your Worship made concise statements service.’ He repeated this address that were far-reaching in three times and I replied in the same significance. He was not manner. He then said: ‘Do you know HIM given to verbosity. On the what right mankind owe to God? contrary, he always referred That they worship Him alone, Alone to broad subjects in the associating no partners with Him.’ He ALLAH With most precise and concise of traveled on for a while and then said manners. The Prophet, peace to me; ‘Mu’adh!’ I said: ‘I am at your on him, refers to this as he says, “I have been gifted service.’ He said: ‘Do you know what with comprehensive speech.” When we consider people earn from God by right if they his Hadith from the point of view of literary do that? That He would not put them merits and scope of expression, we find that his to any suffering’.” [Al Bukhari, Muslim, Al Tirmithi, Abu description is clearly accurate. Dawood]

On one occasion, he summed up the This Hadith outlines in a most precise manner relationship between God and mankind in two the essence of faith and what people merit if

short statements. Consider the following Hadith they truly believe. The fact that the Prophet, peace A Mutual Right reported by Mu’adh ibn Jabal, a famous on him, addressed Mu’adh, who was one of the companion of the Prophet: most learned companions of the Prophet, peace on “I was behind the Prophet, peace on him, three times before saying anything about him, on his mount when he said to what he wanted to say served to make the

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addressee most attentive. It was clear that the worshiped alone, without any claim assigning Prophet, peace on him, was preoccupied with partners to Him, whether in people’s minds or something of great importance. Hence, his actions; and people’s right to suffer any companion was awaiting his communication punishment. These means that when people with much interest. When the Prophet, peace on him, truly believe in God’s oneness and worship Him spoke, he certainly gave a highly important alone, they spare themselves punishment in the message, putting it is the clearest of terms. He Hereafter. This is a great prize, which all people stated something owed by all people to God, should try to achieve. The way is facilitated for and described it as a right belonging to God them by this outline the Prophet, peace on him, gives Almighty. Moreover, the Prophet, peace on him, did them. not wait for his companion to say whatever he knew the answer to his question; he gave the But what does this actually mean in practice? Is answer immediately. “People must it sufficient that people recognize God’s worship God alone, associating no oneness? The Prophet’s statement is precise. It partners with Him.” gives two qualities as owing to God: worship

This is the basic and most fundamental principle Him and believing in His oneness. This of faith, which admits of no compromise statement does not stop at mere intellectual whatsoever. A person may either believe in and theoretical ideas. The recognition of God’s God’s oneness, or he may not. If he believes that oneness has a practical manifestation in all Godhead belongs to God alone, he must worship. Proper worship is offered in the guard against any trace of polytheism, in any manner satisfactory to God, which He has made shape or form. The Prophet’s statement suggests clear to us through His messenger. His oneness that when people fulfill this condition, they means that we allow no trace of associating meet the basic requirement of faith. partners with Him, in worship, legislation or daily actions. It requires an acknowledgment of The Prophet, peace on him, left his companion to His sovereignty over both the universe and contemplate his statement for a while before he human life. put to him another question. This time he asks whether he knows the result that people could An authentic Hadith, on a different topic expect. Again the Prophet, peace on him, describes mentions that the Prophet, peace on him, used to visit this as a right which is owing to people for their Umm Haram bint Milhan, who was an aunt of fulfillment of their basic requirement. This right the Prophet, peace on him, through breast-feeding. is that God would not punish them. “On one of his visits, she gave him a meal and then she stroked his head It is a very clear and straightforward bargain, and he relaxed and slept. A short establishing mutual rights: God’s right to be while later, he woke up smiling and [email protected] Page 7

she asked him the reason for his smile, and he said: ‘I was shown in my We also find in this Hadith a basis for women dream a group of my community going out with a Muslim army to fight or to give traveling by sea, looking like kings support, even though the expedition requires a on their couches.’ She said, highly unusual effort. For the Arabs in Madinah, ‘Messenger of God, pray God to make traveling by sea was felt me one of them.’ He said, ‘You are one to be a very hazardous of them.’ He then dozed off again, and task, because they lived in woke up smiling. Again she asked a city in the midst of a him why he was smiling, and he said vast desert, far off any the same thing. Once more, she said, coastal area. When the woman felt that the ‘Pray God to make me one of them.’ Prophet, peace on him, was The Prophet, peace on him, said to her, ‘You are in the first group.’ She was very pleased with those who would be subsequently married to Ubadah ibn undertaking such a task, she requested him to pray that she would be among them. He did so, Al Samit who joined an expedition by assuring her that she would be one of them. sea and he took her with him. On the When she repeats the request after the second way back, as she was about to ride a nap the Prophet, peace on him, had with the same mule, she fell off, broke her neck and dream, he told her that she would be with the died.” [related by all six, Malik & Ahmad] first group.

This is a highly authentic Hadith from which we What the Prophet, peace on him, said to her came may deduce several rulings, such as the true. She traveled with her husband, whom she desirability of visiting a woman related by married after this particular incident. Their breast-feeding and treating her as one would expedition was by sea during the reign of the treat a blood relation of similar rank. Umm third Caliph, Othman ibn Affan. The commander Haram was an aunt of the Prophet, peace on him, and of that expedition was none other than as such she was unlawful for him to marry. Mu’aawiyah ibn Abi Sufyaan, a companion of Hence, he visited her, ate at her place and slept. the Prophet, peace on him, who was later to become She stroked his head to make him relax, and the fifth Caliph. waited upon him. She asked him why he was smiling, as would any close relative.

“Say: If you love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you, and grant you protection from your sins. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Say: Obey Allah and the Messenger; but if they turn back, Allah surely loves not the disbelievers.” [email protected] Page 8



Here’s a little

poem to read From the first ray of sun to your Until my day is all done children. I thank Allah for another day Before I sleep, to Him I pray I have been reading it, Bring us health for now and ever Bless me, my father and my mother since I wrote it, to my daughter My grandparents, uncles and my aunties and she seems Bestow Your love on us all please to like it so

Keep us away from everything bad yours might Always guide us on the right path too!

Make me good, make me wise Siddiqa Sadiq

Make me strong, and everything nice



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“Tarbiyyati” Class Page for ‘Sh’aban Al-Ahmadiyah’

The Prophet, peace on him, was always ready to address his message to all people. He never allowed the position of any person to deter him from attempting to make Islam known to him and inviting him to accept it. All people have the same nature that is receptive to the call of faith. When they listen to it with an PROPHET open mind, they are bound to respond positively to it. It is only when they let their immediate interests and concerns interfere MUHAMMAD that they might take a negative attitude. Otherwise, it is Peace and Blessings of Allah on him

ingrained in human nature that it should believe in its Creator, the Supreme Being who created the universe and conducts its As A Man affairs.

The Prophet, peace on him, never hesitated to address with his message anyone who would listen. People who had their high “Thunderbolt positions might give a response that is less than positive, but that would not deter the Prophet, peace on him. Anas reports: “The Striking the Prophet, peace on him, sent one of his companions to a man of high position to put to him the message of Arrogant” Islam and invite him to believe in God Almighty. The man said to the Prophet’s emissary: ‘What is this Lord of yours in whom you want me to believe? Is He made of iron, copper, silver or gold?’ The emissary went back to the Prophet, peace on him, and reported to him. He sent him again to the man, and the man repeated the same question. This occurred a third time and the emissary came back to the Prophet, peace on him, to report on the man’s arrogance. The Prophet, peace on him, said to him: ‘God Almighty has sent a thunderbolt which hit your man and burned him. Soon afterward a Qur’anic verse was revealed

stating: (Thunder --- “Ar-Ra’d” 13:13) َو ُي َس ِّب ُح ال َّر ْع ُد ِب َح ْم ِد ِه َوا ْل َمالَ ِئ َك ُة ِم ْن ِخي َفتِ ِه َو ُي ْر ِس ُل ال َّص َوا ِع َق َف ُي ِصي ُب ِب َها َم ن َي َشاء َو ُه ْم ُي َجا ِدلُو َن ِفي ه ِّللا َو ُه َو َش ِدي ُد ا ْل ِم َحا ِل And the thunder celebrates His praise, and the angels too for awe of Him. And He sends the thunderbolts and smites with them whom He pleases, yet they dispute concerning Allah, and He is Mighty in prowess.”

Another version of this incident mentions that when the companion went back to the Prophet, peace on him, to report on his second mission, he said: ‘Messenger of God! This man is too intransigent.’ Nevertheless the Prophet, peace on him, sent him the third time. “He repeated his address to him. As the man was speaking to him God sent a cloud over his head. It then thundered

and a thunderbolt fell of it which took away the bone of his skull.” (Al Tabarani / Al Bazzar)

While the focus of our attention here is the fact that the Prophet, peace on him, did everything he could to make the message of Islam known to all and sundry, we should not lose sight of the fact that God

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speeded the punishment of this arrogant man when he repeatedly talked about God in a derogatory way, asking from what He was made of.

Another case of Islamic advocacy during the Prophet’s lifetime was that of Abd Al Rahman ibn Auf, one of the main figures among the Prophet’s companions. Indeed he was one of the ten companions of the Prophet, peace on him, who were specifically given the happiest news of all, which is admission into heaven. Of course all the Prophet’s companions have been given this news in more than one verse of the Qur’an, but the Prophet, peace on him, singled out these ten on a particular occasion. This gives them a special distinction.

The Prophet, peace on him, called in Abd Al Rahman ibn Auf and said to him: “Get ready, as I want to send you on a mission.” This was in the month of Sh’aban in year 6 of the Islamic calendar. He sent him at the head of a force of 700 of his companions on an expedition to Doomat Al Jandal, where the Kalb tribe lived. Doomat Al Jandal was some 450 km to the north of Madinah, on the route to Syria. As they were about to leave, the Prophet, peace on him, gave them clear instructions, saying: “Fight all together in God’s cause against those who deny Him. Do not commit any injustice, or treachery, and do not disfigure any dead person. Do not kill a child. This is God’s order to you and the practice of His Prophet, peace on him, as he sets you the example to follow.” The Prophet, peace on him, then gave Abd Al Rahman the banner and he set on his mission.

When Abd Al Rahman was in Doomat Al Jandal with his men, he called on its people to accept Islam, continuing this for three days. On the third day, Al Asbagh ibn Amr Al Kalbi declared his acceptance of Islam. He was the chief of the tribe and he was a Christian. Abd Al Rahman wrote to the Prophet, peace on him, informing him of this and requesting his instructions. He sent his letter with a man from Juhaina, called Rafi’ ibn Makeeth, the Prophet, peace on him, replied telling Abd Al Rahman to marry Al Asbagh’s daughter, Tumadir. He did and she gave him a son known as Abu Salamah.

In the last few years of his life, the Prophet, peace on him, sent many missions to different tribes and areas. By that time, Madinah was secure and opponents of Islam were largely weakened. There was no danger threatening the Muslim State, particularly after the signing of the Al Hudaibiya peace treaty with the Quraish. Hence, the Prophet, peace on him, despatched his companions to address people and tell them about Islam, making it clear to them that it was God’s final message and that they were required to follow it.

One of the missions the Prophet, peace on him, sent was led by Amr ibn Al Aas, who only accepted Islam in year 7 or early in year 8. His destination was the tribe of Baliyy, because Amr’s mother belonged to that tribe which lived in north Arabia. The Prophet, peace on him, felt that they would be more responsive to Amr, considering his maternal relationship with them. As Amr arrived at a place well known as Al Salasil, near the quarters of the Judham tribe, he feared that the group with him was too small and he entertained some foreboding. Therefore, he sent message to the Prophet, peace on him, requesting support. The Prophet, peace on him, sent him Abu Ubaidah ibn al Jarrah at the head of a force that included some of the very early and most distinguished Muslims, including Abu Bakr and Omar. The Prophet, peace on him, [email protected] Page 11

told Abu Ubaidah not to allow disagreement between him and Amr. Therefore, when Abu Ubaidah joined up with Amr, the latter insisted that he was the commander, as Abu Ubaidah was sent as support. Abu Ubaidah suggested that each would command the unit sent with him, but Amr refused. Therefore, Abu Ubaidah agreed to be under Amr’s command.

This is just an example of how the Prophet’s companions, particularly the early ones, used to carry out his orders to the letter. By any standard, Abu Ubaidah should have been the commander, and it would have been honorable for Amr to be under him, particularly considering that his group included some of the most distinguished of the Prophet’s companions. But since the Prophet, peace on him, told him not to disagree with Amr, he accepted his command.

..... and the point is !!!!!!

“At this point the question may be raised that if such a stature is accepted for the Messiah and my humble self,

Then what position is left for our Leader, our Master, Leader of all leaders, the most excellent of Messengers, the seal of Prophets, Muhammad, the chosen one, on whom be the peace and blessings of Allah.

So may it be known that the Prophet’s status is such an elevated and superior one that it was only given to that person of perfect qualities; it is not possible for anyone else to reach that condition and status”. (Taudhih-i-Maram)

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Poor Sleep Tied to Kids’ Lower Academic Performance

R E U T E R S

Children who have trouble sleeping tend to do medications, including those for asthma or H E A L L A E H T H worse in school than their peers who get a good attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, can night’s sleep, a new study suggests. affect sleep. The underlying medical problems Researchers in Brazil looked at children age may also cause sleep disturbances. seven to 10 who attended Sao Paulo public schools. They found kids with symptoms of Poor sleep among children has been tied to sleep disorders or sleep breathing disorders obesity, which over the long term increases the earned lower grades than those without risk of heart disease and diabetes. And poor problems sleeping, on average. school performance has been linked to early dropout rates ---- so the new findings may have 13% of children with difficulty sleeping had implications beyond getting a good night’s failing grades in Portuguese, compared to 9% sleep, researchers said. of those without sleep problems. Likewise, 25% of kids with disrupted sleep had failing math From 1999 to 2001, the researchers distributed grades versus 8% of children without trouble 5400 questionnaires asking about symptoms of sleeping. sleep disorders and sleep breathing disorders to children in Sao Paulo public schools. “Because (symptoms of sleep disorders) and particularly (sleep breathing disorders) are highly Then they looked at the Portuguese and Math prevalent, we suggest that all health grades of 2384 children whose parents filled professionals and educators become aware of out and returned the questionnaire. The study this striking effect and take appropriate team found about 31% of the children had actions to solve or mitigate what could very symptoms of sleep disorders ---- such as well constitute a public health issue,” difficulty falling or staying asleep, or feeling researchers led by Luciane Bizari Coin de sleepy all the time ---- and close to 27% has Carvalho from the Universidad Federal de Sao sleep breathing disorders. Those students’ Paulo wrote. grades were significantly lower than the grades of kids without sleep disorder symptoms. Experts estimate that roughly one-quarter of US children have disrupted sleep at some point In Brazil, grades are based on a scale of 0 to 10, during childhood. Erratic bedtime hours and with 5 considered passing. Average Portuguese anxiety, either at school or at home, may grades were 6.6 for kids with sleep problems, contribute. Other children may have compared to 7.1 among those with no sleeping unrecognized sleep disorders, such as sleep trouble. Likewise, children with symptoms of walking, nightmares or insomnia, or sleep sleep disorders or sleep breathing disorders breathing disorders, like sleep apnea. Some earned an average grade of 6.3 in Math,

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compared to 7.1 for other children, according to decreased academic performance,” Bazil findings published in the journal Sleep said, “but it shows an association. Basically Medicine. However, the new study can’t say every category of sleep disturbance the definitively that sleep problems were to blame authors looked at correlated with decreased for poor grades, researchers said. “This study academic performance.” doesn’t prove that a sleep disturbance causes

PRAYERS FROM QUR’AN AL-KAREEM

َر َّب َنا إِ َّن َك َمن ُت ْد ِخ ِل ال َّنا َر َف َق ْد أَ ْخ َز ْي َت ُه َو َما لِل َّظالِ ِمي َن ِم ْن أَن َصا ر َ َّر َّب َنا إِ َّن َنا َس ِم ْع َنا ُم َنا ِد ًيا ُي َنا ِدي لِ ِإلي َما ِن أ ْن آ ِم ُنو ْا بِ َر ِّب ُك ْم َفآ َم َّنا َر َّب َنا ُ َفا ْغ ِف ْر لَ َنا ذ ُنو َب َنا َو َك ِّف ْر َع َّنا َس ِّي َئا ِت َنا َو َت َو َّف َنا َم َع األ ْب َرا ِر َر َّب َنا َوآ ِت َنا َما َو َعد َّت َنا َع َلى ُر ُسلِ َك َوالَ ُت ْخ ِز َنا َي ْو َم ا ْل ِق َيا َم ِة إِ َّن َك الَ ُت ْخلِ ُف ا ْل ِمي َعا َد Our Lord, whomsoever Thou makest enter the Fire, him Thou indeed bringest to disgrace. And there will be no helpers for the wrongdoers. Our Lord, surely we have heard a Crier calling to the faith, saying: Believe in your Lord. So we do believe. Our Lord, grant us protection from our sins and remove our evils and make us die with the righteous. Our Lord, grant us what Thou hast promised us by Thy messengers and disgrace us not on the day of Resurrection. Surely Thou never failest in (Thy) promise! َّ ه ْ ْ ْ َفإِن َت َول ْو ْا َفقُ ْل َح ْسبِ َي ّللاُ ال إِ َلـ َه إِالَّ ُه َو َع َل ْي ِه َت َو َّكل ُت َو ُه َو َر ُّب ال َع ْر ِش ال َع ِظي ِم But if they turn away, say: Allah is sufficient for me — there is no god but He. On Him do I rely, and He is the Lord of the mighty Throne. َوالَّ ِذي َن َيقُولُو َن َر َّب َنا َه ْب َل َنا ِم ْن أَ ْز َوا ِج َنا َو ُذ ِّر َّيا ِت َنا قُ َّر َة أَ ْع ُي ن َوا ْج َع ْل َنا لِ ْل ُم َّت ِقي َن إ ِ َما ًما And they who say, Our Lord, grant us in our wives and our offspring the joy of our eyes, and make us leaders for those who guard against evil.

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