The Life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) , Part 29

The Prophet’s Death

One Night, shortly after his return to Medinah, the Prophet(pbuh) woke
up at midnight and asked his servant‟ Abd Allah to saddle his mule. They
then left the house and went to the Baqi al-Gharqad, the burial ground of
the Muslims. There the Prophet (pbuh) stood in the front of the graves
and, as though he could see the Muslims buried in them, spoke to them
and prayed over them. Later, ‟Abd Allah reported, ‟The Prophet (pbuh)
told me that he was ordered to pray for the dead and that I was to go with
him.‟
After the Prophet (pbuh) had prayed he turned to „Abd Allah and said,
„I can choose between all the riches of this world, a long life and then
Paradise, or meeting my Lord and entering Paradise now.‟ „Abd Allah
begged him to choose a long, rich life, followed by Paradise, but the
Prophet (pbuh) told him that he had already chosen to meet his Lord now
rather than remain in the world. The following morning the Prophet
(pbuh) awoke with a terrible headache, but despite this he had led the
prayers at the mosque. From what he said afterwards to the people
assembled there, they understood that his death was near. The Prophet
(pbuh) praised his best friend, Abu Bakr, who had begun to weep, and
told everyone that he knew they would all meet again at a pool in
Paradise. He added, however that although he was sure they would
always worship Allah alone, he feared that the pleasures of the world
would attract them, and they would begin to compete with one another
for material possessions, forgetting spiritual things. Soon after the
Prophet (pbuh) requested that he be moved to the room of A‟isha, one of
his wives. As the days passed his fever grew worse, until one day he was
so ill that he could not even get to the mosque, which was next to where
A‟isha lived. The Prophet (pbuh) told A‟isha to tell the Muslims to let
Abu Bakr, her father, lead the prayer, which made them very sad for this
was the first time anyone had taken the Prophet's place.
Later, on the 12th day of Rabi al-Awal, in the 11th year of Islam (June
8
th
632 A.D.), the Prophet (pbuh) heard the voices of the people in prayer.
With great effort he got up and looked from his door at all the Muslims
who were assembled in rows behind Abu bakr; he smiled with great
satisfaction. Abu Bakr saw him and stepped back to give the Prophet
(pbuh) his place. The Muslims were happy, thinking he was going to pray
with them as before, but the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who looked
radiantly beautiful that day signaled to them to continue on their own. He
prayed in a sitting position at the right of Abu Bakr, after which he went
back inside and lay his head on 'A'ishah's lap. He was in such pain that
his daughter Fatimah cried out in pity. Then the Prophet (pbuh) said,
'There is no pain for your father after this day; truly, death has appeared
to me. We must all suffer it till the Day of Judgement.' As he lay there,
A'ishah remembered that he had once said, Allah never takes a Prophet to
Himself without giving him the choice.' Then she heard the Prophet
(pbuh) speak. His last words were, 'Nay, rather the Exalted Communion
of Paradise.'
A‟ishah then said to herself, 'So, by Allah, he is not choosing us!'
When the people in the mosque heard that the Prophet (pbuh) was dead,
they were filled with grief. „Umar could not, and would not, believe it,
and exclaimed that it was not true. Abu Bakr then went out and spoke
gently to the people, saying 'All praise belongs to Allah! 0 people,
whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. But for him who
worships Allah, Allah is living and never dies.'
He then recited this verse from the Qur'an which had been revealed after
the battle of Uhud:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
“Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have
passed away before him. Will it be that, when he dies or is slain, you will
turn back on your heels? He who turns back does no hurt to Allah, and
Allah will reward the thankful. No soul can ever die except by Allah's
permission and at a term appointed.
Who so desires the reward of the world, We bestow on him thereof;
and whosoever desires the reward of the Hereafter, We bestow on him
thereof We shall reward the thankful”. (Qur'an 3.144-145)
After this the people pledged their loyalty to Abu Bakr, whom the
Prophet (pbuh) had chosen to lead the prayer. Abu Bakr accepted and
concluded what he had to say with these words: 'Obey me so long as I
obey Allah and His Messenger. But if I disobey Allah and His
Messenger, you owe me no obedience. Arise for your prayer, Allah have
mercy upon you!' The people rose and asked him; 'Where will the
Prophet (pbuh) be buried?' Abu Bakr remembered that the Prophet (pbuh)
had said, 'No Prophet dies who is not buried on the spot where he died.'
And so the Prophet (pbuh) was buried in a grave dug in the floor of
A'ishah's room, in the house next to the mosque. The spot became known
as the Haram al-Nabawi and Muslims from all over the world go there to
pray and to give their blessings and greetings of peace the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh). And Lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing. And
Lo! thou art of a tremendous nature. (Qur'an 67. 3-4)

The Life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) , Part 28

The Farewell Pilgrimage

The Prophet (pbuh) had become the most powerful leader in the whole of
Arabia. After the idols in the Ka'bah had been smashed and Quraysh had
become Muslim, most of the other tribes of Arabia came to declare their
Islam. The year in which they came was later to be called the Year of
Deputations. As each tribe joined Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
sent his men to teach them about their new religion. Many people also
came to Medinah to question the Prophet (pbuh) himself. One tribe sent a
man called Dimam, who was large and strong. On arriving in Medinah,
he went straight to the mosque, where the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was
sitting with some of his companions, and stood over the Prophet (pbuh).
In a loud, rough voice he asked, 'Which of you is the son of 'Abd al-
Muttalib?' When the Prophet (pbuh) answered him Dimam went on, 'I am
going to ask you a hard question, so do not misunderstand me. I ask you
to swear by Allah, your Allah, the Allah of those before you and the
Allah of those who will come after you, has He sent you to us as a
messenger?' 'Yes, He has', replied the Prophet (pbuh). 'Has Allah
instructed you to order us to serve Him; to pray these five prayers; to pay
alms; to fast; to make the pilgrimage and to follow the other laws of
Islam)?' continued Dimam. When the Prophet (pbuh) answered that Allah
had indeed instructed him in this way, Dimam became a Muslim and, as
he left, added, 'Then I will do the things we are told to do and avoid the
things we are forbidden-no more and no less.` As Dimam mounted his
camel to leave, the Prophet(pbuh) told the people around him, 'If this man
is sincere, he will go to Paradise.' When Dimam reached his people they
all thought he had gone mad but by nightfall, after he had finished
speaking, there was not among them that had not accepted Islam.
When the time came for the yearly pilgrimage, it was proclaimed that
the prophet (pbuh) would be going to Mecca. The Muslims flocked to
Medinah from all over Arabia to join him on his journey to the Ka‟bah.
As the tribes arrived they camped around the city until they finally
numbered more than thirty thousand.
The Prophet (pbuh) went out with his family and friends to
pilgrimage, but before setting off, he led all the Muslims in prayer. After
the prayers, the Prophet (pbuh) got on his camel and headed towards
Mecca followed by the pilgrims, all of whom, for the first time in
centuries, worshipped Allah, the One God. The Prophet (pbuh) and his
companions were deeply moved by the sight of the huge number of
Muslims accompanying them to Mecca, carrying no arms, and fearing no
one. They could not help but remember their original flight from Mecca
when they had been so few in number and were forced to leave in order
to avoid the anger of Quraysh. Throughout the journey the Muslims
repeated a prayer taught to them by the Prophet (pbuh) which he in turn
had received from the Archangel Gabriel. This prayer, the talbiyah, has
been part of the Hajj ritual ever since. It is in answer to the call Abraham
was commanded to make when he and Ishmael finished building the
Ka‟bah.
Labaik Allahumma labaik, labaik la sharika laka labaik in alhamd
wa al-ni'amatu laka wal-mulk, la sharika laka. Here I am, O
Allah, at Thy service. Here I am, Thou art without partner, here I am. All
Praise and blessings are thine, and Dominion! Thou art without partner!
After ten days the pilgrims marched at sunset through the same pass
by which they had entered on the Day of Conquest of Mecca. When they
reached the Ka‟bah, the Prophet (pbuh) stood before it in prayer, then he
and all the Muslims walked around it seven times saying their prayer
aloud. Next, just as Abraham had done, they went towards the Mount of
Mercy at 'Arafah, which the Prophet (pbuh) ascended on a camel. From
the mountain he led the people in prayer and then spoke to them as they
stood assembled on the vast plain below.
What the Prophet (pbuh) said is known as the „Farewell Sermon‟,
because it was the last speech the Prophet (pbuh) made before he died. He
said, 'surely you will meet your Lord and He will question you about your
works.' He asked the Muslims to take their guidance from the Qur'an and
from his own example. This, he said, was the best way to live. He ordered
them to cease living in the way they had before Islam.
Revenge, one of the oldest traditions in Arabia, was ended forever;
usury was prohibited; property was to be respected. Things which
previously were forbidden during the four sacred months of the year were
now forbidden at all times. He then commanded, 'Know that every
Muslim is a Muslim's brother', which was a completely new idea to the
tribes who had so often quarreled in the past. He also said, 'Allah has
given everyone his due-exactly what each one deserves. After each point
the Prophet (pbuh) asked, 'Have I explained it well? Is it perfectly clear?'
Everyone answered, 'Yes.' For these were the people who would have to
pass on the Prophet's message and instructions to those who were unable
to be present that day and to future generations. The Prophet (pbuh) said,
'I have left you two things. If you hold on to them you will be saved.
They are Allah's Book and the words of your Prophet.' He then asked,
'Have I not conveyed the message?' The multitude shouted out, 'By Allah,
yes!' The Prophet (pbuh) ended, '0 Allah! Bear witness to that.'
“… This day those who disbelieve are in despair of (ever harming)
your religion; so do not fear them, but fear Me! This day I have perfected
your religion, for you, and I have completed My favor unto you, and have
chosen for you as a religion AL-ISLAM”. (Qur'an 5.3) Many Muslims
started to shed tears, knowing that if the Prophet (pbuh) had completed
his message, his life must be near its end.
After spending the rest of the day of „Arafah in prayer and
contemplation, the Muslims began to complete the pilgrimage by
returning to Mecca with the talbiyah prayer still on their lips. The first
night of the return journey was spent at Muzdalifah. Here they gathered
pebbles, which they carried with them the next day to Mina. There they
stood before a huge rock and stoned it in remembrance of Abraham's
meeting with the Devil in that very place. When Abraham received the
order from Allah to sacrifice his son Ishmael as a test of his faith, the
Devil had tried to convince him not to do it. He came to Abraham at
Mina, as he was on his way to carry out Allah's command, but Abraham
took some stones and hurled them at the Devil to drive him away since
the casting of stones at Mina on the Prophet's 'Farewell Pilgrimage', this
has become another ritual which Muslims perform on the annual
pilgrimage to remind them that they, too, must continue to drive the Devil
away when he tries to prevent them from being obedient to Allah. After
throwing the stones, the pilgrims sacrificed sheep and camels and gave
the meat to the poor. In this way the great faith of Abraham was
remembered, for when he had been ready to sacrifice Ishmael, Allah had
sent a sheep in his place. The Muslims then completed the pilgrimage by
again circling the Ka‟bah seven times. They then cut their hair and nails
and changed out of their white clothes to show they had returned to their
daily lives. Before returning to Medinah, the Muslims spent three nights
in the valley at Medinah where the final preparations were made for the
journey home.
As for the Prophet (pbuh), he made one final visit before leaving
Mecca. This was to the grave of his devoted wife, Khadijah, who had
been the first person to believe in Allah's Revelation through him. The
Prophet (pbuh) knew that this would be the last time he would see the
grave, or Mecca, because during the pilgrimage he had received the
chapter of the Qur'an called 'Help', form which he knew that his death
was not far away.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
“When Allah's help and triumph comes And thou seest, mankind
entering the religion of Allah in troops, Then hymn the praises of thy
Lord, and seek forgiveness of Him. Lo! He is ever ready to show mercy”.
(Qur'an 110.1-3)

The Life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) , Part 27

Tabuk-The Test Of Faith

News of the growing power of the Muslims, as more and more of Arabia
followed the Prophet (pbuh), eventually reached Heraclius, Emperor of
the Eastern Roman Empire. The Romans saw the uniting of the Arabs in
Islam as a possible threat to their Empire and the Emperor's advisors and
generals, therefore, decided that the best thing to do would be to attack
the Muslims from the north and east at the same time and destroy Islam
once and for all.
Two years had passed since Heraclius had told them of the Prophet's
letter asking them to submit to Islam, but just as then, they were in no
mood now to listen to such ideas. When the Prophet (pbuh) heard of the
Romans' plans, he decided that it would be better to meet the Roman
army in Tabuk, some 500 kilometers form Medinah on the route to Syria,
than to await an attack on Medinah. One reason for this decision was that
the Prophet (pbuh) felt that if the Muslims were defeated at Medinah, the
city as well as the army would be taken, which would mean the end of
Islam. This was a very hard decision for him to make because not only
was Tabuk a very long way away, but it was also harvest time and a
particularly hot year. Added to this was the fact that the enemy had an
enormous army. Now at this time there were some people living in
Medinah who were not true believers. They were called 'hypocrites'
because they pretended to believe but hid what was truly in their hearts.
When the Prophet (pbuh) everyone to war, these hypocrites tried to create
fear and doubt among the Muslims, saying 'How can we hope to defeat
the Romans whose great empire stretches over vast areas of the world?
And even if we could, we will not get the chance because the long
journey and the heat will defeat us first. In any case, our crops and fruits
are ready to be harvested; how can we leave them? We will be ruined if
we do!'
All that the hypocrites said severely tested the Muslims. Who would
continue to fight for his religion against such odds? Who would have the
courage to give his wealth to help equip an army? This test of faith would
indeed show who the true Muslims were. On this question, Allah revealed
the following verse:
“O you who believe! What aileth you that when it is said unto you:
Go forth in the way of Allah, you are bowed down to the ground with
heaviness. Do you take pleasure in the life of the world rather than in the
Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is but little in the
Hereafter”. (Qur'an 9.38)
To form and equip an army the Prophet (pbuh) needed a great deal of
money and despite all that the hypocrites had said, many Muslims,
especially the Prophet‟s close friends, were willing to help. 'Uthman Ibn
„Affan, for instance, generously provided horses and arms for ten
thousand soldiers and Abu Bakr gave all that he had in the world. „Umar,
too, gave a great deal, and in this way the Prophet (pbuh) was able to
equip an army of forty thousand soldiers.
Finally everything was ready but just as they were about to leave,
seven more men came to the Prophet (pbuh) to ask if they could go with
him. Unfortunately, he had to refuse because there were no animals for
them to ride. The seven men were so upset that they wept as they left.
With nothing more to be done, the army moved off, but just then several
spare camels were found. On learning of this, the Prophet (pbuh) sent for
the seven men, who were overjoyed to find that they could join him in his
fight.
By now the Romans had heard that the Muslims were coming out to
meet them. They felt even more sure of victory when they heard this
because they believed that it would be quite impossible for an army to
cross a waterless desert in the scorching summer sun. Even if by some
miracle the Muslims succeeded, they would be so exhausted that it would
be easy to defeat them.
As it happed the heat was so intense and the journey so difficult that
several Muslims did turn back. The Prophet (pbuh) and most of the
others, however, continued until they finally ran out of water. The
expedition now seemed hopeless as the men grew thirstier and thirstier.
The Prophet (pbuh) prayed to Allah for help and, as he finished his
prayer, the first drops of rain came splashing down. The rain continued to
fall until all the Muslims had drunk their fill. That night they slept
soundly for the first time in days, refreshed by the water and confident
that Bilal would wake them as usual for the dawn prayer. But Bilal slept
so deeply that he did not wake up. It was the first time that the Muslims
had missed a prayer and they were very upset. The Prophet (pbuh),
however, was not angry with Bilal and told the Muslims that they need
not be upset because they had not intentionally missed the prayer.
The Prophet (pbuh) and his army continued their trek across the desert
and finally arrived at the oasis of Tabuk. When they got there, however,
they were surprised to find that the Roman army had retreated in fear on
hearing of the miraculous crossing of the desert by the Muslims. The
Prophet (pbuh) waited at the oasis for a while but when it became
apparent that the Romans were not going to fight, he gave the order to
return home. The enemy was not pursued because the Prophet (pbuh)
only fought when attacked. The long march to Tabuk had been yet
another test of faith for the Muslims. Even so, there were still some
among those who made that heroic journey who were hypocrites,
pretending to be sincere while being enemies of Islam in their hearts. No
one could have suspected that anyone who had made that journey across
the desert with the Prophet (pbuh) would be an enemy of his.
Realizing this, several hypocrites plotted to kill the Prophet (pbuh) by
pushing him off the top of a high, rocky passage that ran between the
mountains of „Aqabah. Before the army reached this rocky passage,
however, Allah warned the Prophet (pbuh) about this wicked plan. The
Prophet (pbuh), therefore, ordered the entire army to travel through the
valley while he and his two guards went by way of the cliff. As the
plotters approached, he shouted to them so that they could see that he
knew of their plan, whereupon they quickly ran back to the army and
tried to hide among the rest of the soldiers.
Later, the Prophet (pbuh) gathered his followers around him and told
them what had happened. He picked out the men who had plotted against
him and even told them the exact words they had spoken to each other.
Some of the Prophet's companions said that these men should be killed,
but the Prophet (pbuh) forgave them. As soon as he arrived back in
Medinah, the Prophet (pbuh) went to the mosque and prayed. Many of the
hypocrites and the lukewarm who had not gone with him to Tabuk came
to give their reasons for not having done so. Three men of spiritual value
who had not joined the army were subjected by the Prophet (pbuh) to the
discipline of waiting for Allah's forgiveness. For fifty days no one spoke
to them. Finally, Allah revealed a verse to the Prophet (pbuh) which
declared that these three men were forgiven:
“Allah hath turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and
the Ansar who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a
party of them had almost swerved aside, then He turned unto them in
mercy. Lo! He is full of Pity, Merciful. And to the three also (did He turn
in mercy) who were left behind, when the earth, vast as it is, was
straitened for them, and their own souls were straitened for them till they
understood that there is no refuge from Allah save toward Him. Then He
turned unto them in mercy that they (too) might turn (repentant unto
Him). Lo! Allah! He is the Relenting, the Merciful. O you who believe!
Be careful of your duty to Allah, and be with tile truthful”. (Qur'an 9.117-
119)

The Life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) , Part 26

The Lesson Of Pride At The Valley Of Hunayn

Islam flourished in Mecca and the Muslims became stronger and
stronger. But south of Mecca lived a tribe of warriors called Hawazin,
who had not become Muslim. They made an agreement with another tribe
from Ta'if, called Thaqif to fight the Muslims and destroy them before
they could spread their religion throughout Arabia. The Thaqif, who were
known for their courage, soon won the support of other tribes living
around the Ta'if area, especially when such tribes were told: „Look what
has happened! If Quraysh, the largest tribe of all, have fallen to
Muhammad, it is only a matter of time before the same will happen to the
rest of us. We should strike now before the Muslims are established in
Mecca and have the support of Quraysh.' The Chief of one of these tribes,
a fearless warrior called Malik Ibn „Awf, was chosen as the leader. He
put forward a plan: 'You should all go out to battle accompanied by your
families, your tents, your sheep and goats, for with all your belongings at
stake, none of you will dare give up the fight.'
Everyone agreed with Malik except an old, blind man called Dorayd.
He had been a great warrior in his day and because of his experience and
valuable advice still accompanied the men into battle. 'I don't like Malik's
plan', he insisted. 'If a man is so cowardly as to leave a battle, then he will
leave his family as well. The women and children will be a great worry to
us and if we are defeated all our wealth will fall into enemy hands.' But
Malik ignored this advice and stuck to his original plan. When the
Prophet (pbuh) heard what the enemy tribes were planning, he found
himself forced to fight and ordered his army towards Ta‟if. He had twelve
thousand men and the enemy only four thousand. The Muslims were
proud of their strength and as they looked around at their number, said to
themselves, 'We will never be defeated!' On hearing this the Prophet
(pbuh) knew that the Muslims had become too proud and because of this
would not succeed.
He warned them, 'Look to Allah and not to your own strength.‟
The time for battle came. The Muslim army advanced along the
Hunayn path, a narrow way in the rugged mountains, towards the valley
where the Hawazin and the other tribes were waiting. It was very early
morning and not yet light. The Muslims were unaware that, under cover
of darkness, the Hawazin warriors had already climbed up the mountain
and were waiting for them. As soon as all the Muslims were trapped in
the narrow passage-way below, the Hawazin ambushed them. First they
threw rocks down upon them and then attacked with arrows and swords.
In surprise and fear, the Muslims started to retreat. The Prophet
(pbuh) was bitterly disappointed to see them fleeing in terror but he
stayed firmly in his place with Abu Bakr, 'Ali, his uncle al-„Abbas, and a
few companions at his side. Al-'Abbas then called to the Muslims to
return and not to abandon the Prophet (pbuh). Ashamed at what they had
done, and seeing the Prophet (pbuh) facing the enemy almost alone, the
Muslims quickly returned to fight. Then Allah sent His angels-the hosts
ye cannot see-to their aid. A fierce battle followed. The Muslim warriors
advanced, attacking furiously, driving the Hawazin back from the path
into the valley, where the fighting went on long and hard. At the end of
the day the Muslims won but not before having learned a hard lesson
about the danger of pride.
Just as the old man had predicted, the defeated enemy fled, leaving
their families and possessions to be captured. Later all the leaders of the
tribes except one came to ask for them back and to declare their
acceptance of Islam. The Prophet (pbuh) forgave them and returned their
families to them, but not their belongings. The one exception was the
leader of Hawazin. He fled to Ta'if, where he sought protection in the
castle, but the Muslims pursued him and surrounded the city, which they
besieged for about three weeks.
They tried to break into the castle but after losing many men in the
attempt the Prophet (pbuh) ordered a withdrawal. The story did not end
there, however, for shortly afterwards Hawazin and most of the other
tribes came to Mecca and declared themselves Muslim, including Malik
Ibn Awf, who had led them in battle and whom the Prophet (pbuh) now
made their leader.
After the battle of the Hunayn Valley, the Prophet (pbuh) distributed
what goods had been taken between the people of Quraysh and the other
Bedouin tribes. The Ansar from Medinah, who had been his only support
during the long hard years before the conquest of Mecca, received
nothing. They felt angry about this and went to the Prophet (pbuh) to
complain. He said to them, what is this I hear of you? Do you think badly
of me? Did I not come to you when you did not know the truth and Allah
guided you; when you were poor and Allah made you rich; when you
were enemies and Allah softened your hearts? Are you covetous for the
things of this world that I must use to gain people's trust so that I can then
lead them to Islam? Surely for you Islam is enough? Are you not satisfied
that while some men take away flocks and herds you take Allah's
Messenger back with you to Medinah?' On hearing this, all the men felt
very contrite and began to weep then with great humility and reverence
their spokesman said: 'We are indeed well pleased to have Allah's
Messenger as our gift in this life.‟ Perhaps we could ask ourselves the
same question. Are we not blessed to have the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and the Book, guiding us in what really matters for ever and ever?
Is this not so much more important than thinking about the momentary
pleasures of the day?
Shortly after this the Ansar left for Medinah accompanied by the
Prophet (pbuh). He could have stayed among his own people and lived
out his days in Mecca, but he returned as he had promised, to live among
the people of Medinah, which was a great blessing for them.
“Allah gave you victory on many fields and on the day of Hunayn,
when you exulted in your great numbers it was of no help to you, and the
earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you; then you turned back in flight;
Then Allah sent His peace of reassurance down upon is Messenger and
upon the believers, and sent down hosts you could not see, and punished
those who did not believe. Such is the reward of disbelievers. Then
afterwards Allah will relent toward whom He will; for Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful”. (Qur'an 9.25-27)

Shrine of Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him)

This is the resting place of Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) in Karbala. He was the son of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). 

(more to follow)

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray towards a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)

The Life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) , Part 25

Entry Into Mecca

Despite the improved relations between Mecca and Medinah after the
signing of the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, the ten-year peace was to be broken
by Quraysh who, with their allies, the Bani Bakr, attacked the Khuza‟ah
tribe. Now Khuza‟ah were allies of the Muslims and when the Prophet
(pbuh)heard of the attack he immediately ordered his men to prepare for
war. When they were ready he told them that their destination was Mecca
and, as he did not want any fighting within the walls of the city, he told
them they must move quickly and take the enemy by surprise. In this way
the Meccans would not have time to prepare for war and, being
surrounded would have to surrender. The Muslims would then be able to
take the city without injury or loss of life to anyone.
When the Muslim army, which numbered ten thousand, set out for
Mecca it was the month of Ramadan in the eighth year of the Hijrah.
Many of the men kept the fast, even though they were not obliged to
because they were travelling. Everyone was jubilant because they were
going to Mecca, especially as some of them had not seen their homes in
the city for eight long years. In the meantime, the Prophet's uncle, al-
'Abbas, had decided that the time had come for him and his wife to leave
Mecca and join the Prophet (pbuh) in Medinah. They did not, however,
have to go far as after a distance of only twenty-five kilometers they
came across the Muslim camp. When the Prophet (pbuh) saw them he
said, 'Uncle, your emigration is the last emigration. My prophecy is the
last prophecy.' Al-'Abbas then joined the army and his wife went on to
the safety of Medinah.
Night fell and the Muslims made fires to light their camp. The
Meccans, looking out of the city, were amazed to see the many fires, and
Abu Sufyan went all over Mecca trying to find out whose camp it was.
Suddenly he saw al-„Abbas riding towards him from the direction of the
fires. He was returning as a messenger of peace from the Prophet (pbuh)
and said to Abu Sufyan, 'The Muslims have come with a large army.
They do not wish to fight, only to enter the city. It would be better to
surrender and not fight. Come under my protection and meet the Prophet
(pbuh).' Abu Sufyan agreed, and got up behind al-Abbas, who was riding
the Prophet‟s white mule. It was still night as they entered the Muslim
camp. Each time they passed a fire, someone would call out, 'Who goes
there?' None of them recognized the stranger as the leader of their enemy
but all knew al-„Abbas and so let them through. As they passed by 'Umar,
however, he immediately recognized Abu Sufyan and yelled out, 'Abu
Sufyan! The enemy of Allah!' He ran after them intending to kill his
enemy but al-„Abbas made the mule go faster. They reached the Prophet's
tent just before „Umar who rushed in after them quite out of breath.
'Umar begged the Prophet (pbuh), '0 Messenger of Allah, let me end the
life of Abu Sufyan, this enemy of Islam, who has led the Quraysh armies
in their attacks on us!' Al-„Abbas interrupted, saying, 'I have sworn to
protect him during his time here whereupon the Prophet (pbuh) told his
uncle to take Abu Sufyan to his tent for the night.
In the morning Abu Sufyan was taken to the Prophet (pbuh) who said,
'Abu Sufyan! Have you not yet realized that there is no divinity but
Allah?' To this Abu Sufyan replied, 'If there had been another he surely
would Have helped me by now.‟ „Shame on you, Abu Sufyan', responded
the Prophet (pbuh), 'it is time you realize that I am truly Allah's
Messenger.' After a moment or two, Abu Sufyan, who remembered how
„Umar had not been allowed to kill him, replied: 'I can see you are a
generous and forgiving man but I still cannot be sure of that.' At this, al-
„Abbas, who had been standing nearby turned to him and said: „Believe
as I do now.' Abu Sufyan stood quietly for a moment, then in a calm,
clear voice swore in front of everyone, there is no divinity but Allah, and
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.'
The Prophet (pbuh) then told Abu Sufyan to go back to Mecca and
tell the people that the Muslims would enter the city the next morning.
Before he left, however, al-'Abbas suggested to the Prophet (pbuh) that as
Abu Sufyan was a proud man, it would be good to give him an honorable
position. The Prophet (pbuh) took this advice, saying to Abu Sufyan, 'Tell
the people that when we enter, anyone seeking refuge in your house will
be safe.' This was a great honor for Abu Sufyan.
In addition, the Prophet (pbuh) told him to assure the Meccans that
those who remained in their own homes or at the Ka‟bah would also be
protected.
Abu Sufyan returned quickly to the city. He made straight for the hill
Hagar had climbed in her search for water and from which the Prophet
(pbuh) later spoke, and called upon Quraysh to come to him. Abu Sufyan
then spoke to the people, '0 people of Mecca, the fires we saw all around
us were the camp fires of Muhammad and his men. He has come with a
strong army and there are too many for us to fight. It is best, therefore, to
surrender. Anyone who stays in my house, or in his own home, or at the
Ka'bah will be safe.'
Early next day, the Muslims entered Mecca from all sides. They had
been ordered to cause no harm unless anyone tried to stop them entering.
When the Prophet (pbuh) arrived, he got off his camel, bowed down on
the ground and thanked Allah for this victory. When the unbelievers saw
this, they knew that the Prophet (pbuh) had come in peace. People began
leaving their homes and running towards the Ka‟bah. When they arrived
there, they found the Prophet (pbuh) performing the ritual encircling of
the Ka'bah, the tawaf on his camel, surrounded by the Muslims. When he
had finished, he said, 'There no divinity except Allah and He has no
partner. Men and women of Quraysh be not proud for all are equal; we
are all the sons of Adam, and Adam was made of dust.' Then he recited
this verse to them:
“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have
made you nations and tribes so you may know each another. Surely the
noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is
All-knowing, All-aware”. (Qur'an 49.13)
After this he said to them: 'O Quraysh, what do you think I am going
to do to you?' The people thought carefully before answering because
they knew that according to the laws of war they could all be taken
prisoner. They also knew, however, that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
was generous, so they replied, „You will treat us as a kind nephew and a
generous brother would.'
To this he replied with the words used by the Prophet Joseph when his
brothers came to Egypt: 'God forgives you and He is the Most Merciful of
the merciful.' Later the Prophet (pbuh) went to the hill of Safa and there
the crowd followed him and surged forward, taking his hand one by one,
to declare themselves Muslim. He then turned to the Ka'bah and, pointing
his staff at the three hundred and sixty-five idols which were placed there,
recited from the Qur'an:
“… Truth has come and falsehood has vanished away. Lo! Falsehood
is ever bound to vanish”. (Qur'an 17.81)
At this, each idol fell over onto its face. Together with his followers
the Prophet (pbuh) then proceeded to purify the Ka'bah, after which he
ordered Bilal to climb on top of it and perform the call to prayer. Since
then the call to prayer has been heard five times a day in Mecca.
The Ka'bah, the House of Allah, has served the purpose for which it
was built by Abraham thousands of years ago, as a sanctuary for the
worship of Allah, our Creator, and Mecca continues to be the spiritual
centre of Islam.
On the day Mecca was conquered, the Prophet (pbuh) addressed the
people saying: 'Allah made Mecca holy the day He created heaven and
earth and it is the Holy of Holies until the Resurrection Day. It is not
lawful for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to shed blood
therein, nor to cut down trees therein. It was not lawful for anyone before
me and it will not be lawful for anyone after me.
Indeed it is not lawful for me except at this time, only Allah's anger
against his people makes it permissible. Mecca has now regained its
former holiness. Let those here now go forth and tell others.'

Karbala

Karbala is the location of a battle fought in 61 AH between a small group of supporters and relatives of Hussain bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and a much larger force of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph.

from wikipedia

The Shrine of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (Arabic: مقام الامام الحسين‎‎ Urdu: آستان عالیہ حضرت امام حسین) is the mosque and burial site of ImamHusayn Ibn Ali, the third Imam of Shia Islam, in the city of Karbala, Iraq. It stands on the site of the Mausoleum of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, the second grandson of Muhammad, near the place where he was martyred during the Battle of Karbala in 680 C.E..^[1][2] The tomb of Imam Husayn ibn Ali is one of the holiest places for Shias outside of Mecca and Medina, and many make pilgrimages to the site. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the city to observe Ashura, which marks the anniversary of Imam Husayn ibn Ali's death.^[3]

The Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs prevented construction of the shrines and discouraged pilgrimage to the sites.^[4] The tomb and its annexes were destroyed by Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil in 850-851 and Shi'a pilgrimage was prohibited, but shrines in Karbala and Najaf were built by the Buwayhid emir 'Adud al-Daula in 979-80.^[5]

The boundary wall of the shrine surrounds wooden gates covered with glass decorations. The gates open into a courtyard separated into smaller rooms or precincts with many "Iwans" along the walls. The grave of Imam Husayn ibn Ali is enclosed within a metal-mesh like structure, found directly beneath the golden dome. On 5 March 2013 the process of replacing the zarih (metal mesh like structure) over the tomb of Imam Husayn Ibn Ali (a.s.) was completed and the new zarih inaugurated.^[6] Al Abbas Mosque is located nearby.

History of Karbala[edit]

The old zarih of the shrine

Old picture of Hussain Mosque

Karbala, a city in Iraq is located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad at 32.61°N, 44.08°E. It was at first a desolate place and did not witness any noteworthy activity, although it was rich in water and its soil was fertile. When Imam Husayn arrived at Karbala and was surrounded by the forces of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, he inquired about the name of the place. Someone replied it is Aqr - meaning ‘harsh’. Imam Husain then said: we seek refuge with Allah from Al Aqr. He once again asked the name of the village. Then one of the attendants replied, its name is Karbala. Imam Husain spontaneously declared: land of Karb and Bal’a meaning (land of) “torture and trial”. In the time of Imam Husain, the place was also known as al Ghadiriyah, Nainawa, and Shat ul Furat. Imam Husain bought a piece of land, after his arrival at Karbala from Bani Asad. He and his Ahl al Bait are buried in that portion, known by as Hair, where the Shrines are presently located. The history of destruction and reconstruction of the Shrines of Karbala is long. Both the Shrines were greatly extended by successive Muslim rulers, but suffered repeated destruction from attacking armies. Karbala's development was strongly influenced by the Persians.

History has recorded the names of several rulers who shared the honor of extending, decorating and keeping the Shrines and its precincts in good condition. Among them is Fateh Ali Qajar, who in 1250 (A.H) ordered the construction of two Shrines, one over Imam Husain’s grave and the other over the grave of his brother, Imam Abul Fazlil Abbas ibn Ali. The first dome is 27 meters high and completely covered with gold. At the bottom, it is surrounded with 12 windows, each of which is about 1.25 m away from the other, from the inside, and 1.30 m from the outside. The Shrine has an area of 59 m / 75 m with ten gates, and about 65 rooms, well decorated from the inside and outside, and used as class rooms for studying. As for the grave itself, which is in the middle of the precinct, it is called the Rawzah or garden and it has several doors. The most famous one is called al Qiblah or Bab al Zah’ab.

Karbala consists of some places like Ganj E Shaheedah where all the Followers of Imam Hussain were buried and Qatl Gaah where Imam Hussain and his followers fought with the Syrian Army

Quran[edit]

Some Shias consider this verse to refer to Shia sacred sites of Najaf and Karbala since the Islamic view of Lot claims Lot lived in Ur which lies in present-day Iraq.^[7]

But we delivered him and his nephew Lut and directed them to the land which we have blessed.

— Qur'an, ^{[Quran 21:71]}

Hadith[edit]

The mosque stands on the site of the grave of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, where he was martyred during the Battle of Karbalā in 680.^[1][2] Up to 8 million pilgrims visit the city to observe ‘Āshūrā, which marks the anniversary of Imam Husayn ibn ‘Alī's death. But the main event is 40th of Arba'een of Imam Husayn ibn Ali where up to 22 million visit the holy graves and most of the pilgrims travel barefooted from all around Iraq and more than 56 countries.^[8] There are many Shī‘ah traditions which narrate the status of Karbalā:

“Karbalā, where your grandson and his family will be killed, is the most blessed and the most sacred land on Earth and it is one of the valleys of Paradise.”^[9]

— The archangel Gabriel

“God chose the land of Karbala as a safe and blessed sanctuary twenty-four thousand years before He created the land of the Kaaba and chose it as a sanctuary. Verily it [Karbalā] will shine among the gardens of Paradise, like a shining star shines among the stars for the people of Earth.”^[10]

— ‘Alī Zaynul ‘Ābidīn

“Not one night passes in which Gabriel and Michael do not go to visit him [Husayn].”^[11]

— Ja‘far as-Sādiq

Also there are many Sunni traditions which narrate the status of Husayn ibn Ali :

Abu Huraira narrated: The Prophet looked toward Ali, Hasan, Husain, and Fatimah, and then said: "I am in war with those who will fight you, and in peace with those who are peaceful to you."^[12][13]

Also it is narrated that: "The Messenger of Allah said: "Husain is from me and I am from Husain."^[14][15]

Also: The Messenger of Allah said: "He who loves al-Hasan and al-Husain, has loved me, and he who makes them angry has made me angry."^{[16][17][18][19]}

Thus the tomb of the martyred Imam has acquired this great significance in Shia tradition because the Imam and his fellow martyrs are seen as models of jihad in the way of God.

Karbala: origin and meaning[edit]

Imam Husayn Mosque (before the renovations in 2008)

Entry gate to the grave of Husaynwithin the mosque.

Shia pilgrims make their way to the Imam Husayn Shrine in 2008.

Inside the mosque

There are many opinions among different investigators, as to the origin of the word "Karbala". Some have pointed out that "Karbala" has a connection to the "Karbalato" language, while others attempt to derive the meaning of word "Karbala" by analyzing its spelling and language. They conclude that it originates from the Arabic word "Kar Babel" which was a group of ancient Babylonian villages that included Nainawa, Al-Ghadiriyya, Karbella (Karb Illu. as in Arba Illu [Arbil]), Al-Nawaweess, and Al-Heer. This last name is today known as Al-Hair and is where Imam Imam Hussain ibn Ali’s grave is located.

The investigator Yaqut al-Hamawy had pointed out that the meaning of "Karbala" could have several explanations, one of which is that the place where Imam Hussain ibn Ali was martyred is made of soft earth - "Al-Karbalat".

According to Shia belief, the true meaning of the name Karbalā was narrated to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel as being, "the land which will cause many agonies (karb) and afflictions (balā)."^[20]

Buried within the Mosque[edit]

The grave of Imam Husayn is found in the middle of the precinct, and is called the "Rawda" or "Garden" and it has several entry gates. The most famous one is called "Al-Qibla" or "Bāb al-Dhahab". When it is entered, one can see the tomb of Habīb ibn Madhahir al-Asadī, to the right hand side. Habīb was a friend and companion of Imam Husayn since their childhood and was honored with martyrdom at theBattle of Karbala.

Within the shrine of Imam Husayn can also be found a grave of all the 72 martyrs of Karbalā. They were buried in a mass grave which was then covered with soil to the ground level. This mass grave is at the foot of Imam Husayn's grave. As well, beside Imam Husayn's grave are the graves of his two sons: ‘Alī al-Akbar and the 6-month old, ‘Alī al-Asghar. Also buried within the mosque Ibrāhīm Mujab (son of the seventh Twelver Shī‘ah Imām, Imam Mūsā al-Kādhim), who spent his life preaching about Karbalā.

Martyrdom and popularity[edit]

Karbalā was at first an uninhabited place and did not witness any constructional activity, although it was rich in water and its soil fertile.

From the time of Imam Husayn ibn ‘Alī's death in 680, pilgrimages to commemorate the massacre have often been repressed.^[4]

Despite many attempts by successive rulers, such as Al-Rashīd and Al-Mutawakkil, to put a restriction on the development of this area, it has nonetheless spread with time to become a city.

Early development and specifications[edit]

The historian Ibn Kuluwayh mentioned that those who buried Imam Husayn ibn ‘Alī, made a special and rigid construction with signs above the grave.

Higher and bigger constructions above the grave started during the ruling of al-Saffah, but heavy restrictions were put in place to prevent people from visiting the grave during the rule of Hārūn al-Rashīd.

At the time of al-Mā'mūn, construction around the grave resumed until the year 850, when al-Mutawakkil ordered the destruction and digging of the grave, and then filling the pit with water. His son who succeeded him al-Muntasir, allowed people to visit the grave site, and since then building the precinct to the grave increased and developed step by step.

On the other hand, the historian Ibn al-Athir, stated that in the year 371 AH, ‘Adhud ad-Dawlah became the first to largely lay the foundations for large scale construction, and generously decorated the place. He also built houses and markets around the precinct, and surrounded Karbalā with a high boundary wall turning it into a strong castle.

In the year 407 AH, the precinct caught fire due to the dropping of two large candles on the wooden decorations. The state minister at the time, Hasan ibn Fadl, rebuilt the damaged sections.

History has recorded the names of several ruler who shared the honor of widening, decorating or keeping the precinct in good condition. Amongst them is Fat'h ‘Alī Shāh Qājār, who in 1250 AH ordered the construction of two domes, one over Imam Husayn ibn ‘Alī's grave and the other over his brother Imam ‘Abbās ibn ‘Alī.

The first dome is 27 m high and completely covered with gold. At the bottom, it is surrounded with 12 windows, each of which is about 1.25 m away from the outside.

The mausoleum has an area of 59 m / 75 m with ten gates, and about 65 rooms, well decorated from the inside and outside, used as classrooms for studying.

Timeline[edit]

The following events are in chronological order, stating instances that widely involved the shrine, impressing its construction, renovation and series of extremist activities that reduced its structure and killed pilgrims from time to time.

Year		Event
AH	CE
61	680	October 10: Husayn is said to have been buried on this day. It was Bani Asad who, after the departure of Ahl al Bait, assembled at the grave of Imam Husayn. Historical accounts provide little light on the first builder of the Shrine. It is assumed that Bani Asad also the first, who erected a tent upon the grave of Imam Husayn. A Shaikh of Bani Asad lighted a candle at the grave of the Imam and planted a berry tree a few feet away from the side of the head of the grave, to indicate the grave of Husayn.
65	684	A mosque was built by Mukhtar ibn Abu `Ubayd ath-Thaqafi on the spot and a dome was created over the grave. Over the dome he fixed a green flag. Two entrance gates were made for the mosque. He also settled several families around the enclosure.
132	749	Another dome was erected over the mosque and additional two gates for entrance were made at the mausoleum during the reign of Abbasid Caliph as-Saffah.
140	763	During the reign of Caliph al-Mansur, the roof along with the domes were destroyed.
158	774	The demolished roof was rebuilt during the reign of Caliph al-Mahdi.
171	787	During the reign of Caliph Harun ar-Rashid, the mausoleum was destroyed and the Berry tree that stood besides the grave of Husayn was cut down. Even then people kept visiting the grave of Imam Husayn, guided by the traces of the ‘Tree of the Berry’, which covered the grave. Harun al-Rashid could not tolerate this, and ordered the tree to be cut off from the roots, with the intention to wipe out the sign of the grave of Husayn and stop the practice of visiting the grave.
193	808	The mausoleum was reconstructed during the reign of Caliph al-Mamun.For political advantage against Al - Amin
236	850	Caliph al-Mutawakkil destroyed the mausoleum and ordered the nearby land, including the grave, to be ploughed. Shrine of Imam was destroyed four time From 232 hijri until 246 hijri
247	861	Caliph al-Muntasir reconstructed the shrine with an iron pillar build a roof over the grave. Under instruction of Al Muntasir, new houses were built around the Shrines.
273	886	Once again the mausoleum was destroyed.In order of Talah ibn Jafar Mutwakil al-maruf al-muktafi bi-lah
280	893	The shrine was rebuilt by the Alid council and two minarets were constructed on either side of the grave. Two entrance gates for the shrine were also constructed.
307	977	A sepulcher was constructed within the shrine using teak wood, by the Buwayhid emir ‘Adhud ad-Dawlah. Surrounding galleries were also constructed. He also constructed the city of Karbala by making houses and the city boundary. ‘Imrān ibn Shahin at that time also constructed a mosque adjacent to the shrine.
407	1016	Fire destroyed the shrine. The vizier Hasan ibn Fadl rebuilt the structure.
620	1223	The sepulcher was renovated by an-Nasir li-Din Allah.
757	1365	The dome and walls of the shrine were reconstructed by Sultan `Uways ibn Hasan Jalayiri. He also raised the walls of the enclosure.
780	1384	The two minarets were reconstructed of gold by Sultan Ahmad ibn `Uways. The courtyard was also extended.
920	1514	The Safavid shah of Iran Ismail I, constructed a sarcophagus of inlaid glass work over the real grave.
1032	1622	Abbas Shah Safavi renovated the sarcophagus with brass and bronze and also the dome with Kashi tiles.
1048	1638	Sultan Murad IV whitewashed the dome.
1155	1742	Nadir Shah Afshar decorated the shrine and offered expensive gems to the treasury of the shrine.
1211	1796	Aghā Muhammad Shāh Qājār covered the dome with gold. He also decorated the Min’ar and gold plated it.
1216	1801	Wahhabis attacked Karbala, damaged the shrine and looted the sepulchre.[21]
1232	1817	Fat'h ‘Alī Shāh Qājār reconstructed the screens by plating with silver. He also replated the dome with gold and therefore repaired the damage caused by the Wahhabis.
1283	1866	Nāsir ad-Dīn Shāh Qājār broadened the courtyard of the mausoleum.
1358	1939	Syedna Taher Saifuddin, of the Dawoodi Bohra community presented a set of solid silver screens with gold which were attached to the shrine. This set is made of 500 gold coins (each coin consisted 12 grams weight) and 200 thousand coins of silver, beautified with precious gems.
1360	1941	The western minaret was rebuilt by Dr Syedna Taher Saifuddin. He spent a considerable amount gold plating all the Min’ar.
1367	1948	A road was built around the shrine by the then administrator of Karbala City, Sayyid Abd al-Rasul al-Khalsi. He also broadened the courtyard of the shrine.
1411	1991	Major damage to the shrine occurs as the city experiences violent reprisals by the army of Saddam Hussainafter an uprising against his regime following the Persian Gulf War.
1415	1994	Repairs to the shrine from the damage done in 1991 are completed.[22]
1425	2004	2 March: At least 6 explosions[23] occurred during the ‘Āshūrā' commemorations, killing 178 people and wounding 500.[24][25]
1425	2004	December 15: A bomb detonated near the gate of the shrine, killing at least 7 people and injuring 31 others.[26][27]
1426	2006	January 5: Suicide bombers among the crowd between the two shrines, killed at least 60 people and injured more than 100.[28][29]
1428	2007	April 14: A suicide attack 200 m from the shrine killed at least 36 people and injured more than 160 others.[30][31]
1428	2007	Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited the shrine from 21–27 May as an ambassador from Art of Living. He accepted the invitation from Iraqi Government, and during the visit stressed the sacredness of holy city and urged people not to use arms and ammunitions around shrine.[32]
1428	2007	December: Construction work began on building a roof over the courtyard of the mosque, with hopes of creating a second floor and expanding the mosque.[33]
1429	2008	17 March: A female suicide bomber detonated herself in the market near the shrine, killing at least 42 people and injured 58 others.[34][35]
1429	2008	11 September: A bomb was detonated 800 m from the shrine, killing one woman and injuring 12 others.[36]
1430	2009	12 February: A bomb blast killed 8 people and wounded more than 50 others during the commemoration ofArba‘een.[37][38]
1431	2010	Attacks aimed at pilgrims attending the commemoration of Arba‘een: 1 February: A female suicide bomber detonated herself, killing 54 people and injuring more than 100 others.[39] 3 February: A bomb blast killed at least 23 people and injured more than 147.[40] 5 February: A double bomb-blast,[39] or a combination of a bomb-blast and mortar attack[39][40] killed at least 42 people and left 150 injured.[40]
1433	2012	Construction of a roof covering the courtyard around the mosque was completed, as pilgrims are increasing every year measures to enhance their experience are being taken.[41]