The Prophetic Biography: lesson 20-"the year of grief" by his immense Dr Muhammad Rateb Al-Nabulsi    

Translated by: Basel Hennawi

Country: Syria

City:  Damascus

All praise to Allah the lord of all worlds, blessing and peace be upon our master Muhammad the truthful in what he had promised and the trustworthy.  O Allah we have no knowledge apart from what you have taught us, for you are the all knower and the all wise, so teach us what is beneficial to us, and let us benefit from what you have taught us and increase our knowledge, and let us see truth as it is and make us comply with it, let us see falsehood as it is and make us avoid it, and let us be among those who listen to what had been said and follow the best of it, and let us be under your mercy with your righteous servant.  Take us out of the darkness of ignorance and illusion to the light of knowledge, and from the mud of lusts to the gardens of obedience.

Dear honorable brothers, today we shall start with a new lesson of the prophetic biography, and it is quite clear for you -o honorable brothers- that the objective of these lessons is to deduce from the acts of the prophet of Allah (pbuh) and from his biography the rules of dealing [with people], yet the events that took place in the time of the prophet (pbuh)-which were meant to be- happened so that the prophet (pbuh) would react according to it in a perfect manner that demonstrates a behavior that pleases Allah exalted he is, because when a fact is expressed in a behavior then it would have a greater impact.

Furthermore the prophetic biography has another aspect, which is the imaginary idealism; of which one would not consider, claiming that it is not realistic and that's the painful truth. 

[Human] self avoids both imaginary idealism and detestable realism.

However the prophetic biography combines idealism and realism, we can truly call it ideal realism or realistic idealism.

People do not learn through hearing only but though vision as well, perhaps the practical attitude of the prophet (pbuh) is the most evident sign of his understanding of the divine scripture (Qura'an) rather than his speech, the practical attitude is restrictive, but speech may convey different interpretation.

My opinion about a certain subject, in regard to speech, may convey different interpretations, while if it was in regard of behavior, then it is restrictive, thus the great value of the prophetic biography was from this very point.

The prophet (pbuh) -as you know- is a legislator in his speech, act, approval [of any thing took place and the prophet (pbuh) said nothing about, to condemn it]   and his characters, hence if we want to [truly] embrace this great religion then we have to stick to the prophet's (pbuh) biography.  Thus we are learning a lot from the prophetic biography, for Allah almighty said:

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad [pbuh]) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the last day, and remembers Allah much.

Surat Al-Ahzab  verse:  21

Allah had made him such good example, therefore He made him experience everything, He made him poor, A'ishah (the prophet's wife may Allah be pleased with her) said:

The prophet (pbuh) entered [the house once], he asked do you have anything to eat? I said:  no, he said:  then am fasting [the day]    .

Muslim

He (Allah) made him rich as well:

A man asked the Prophet (pbuh): to whom this valley- full of cheeps belongs?  The prophet (pbuh) said:  it is yours. 

The man said:  are you making fun of me?

The prophet (pbuh):  No am not.

The man said:  you give [charity to people] as you don't fear poverty, so I do witness that you are the messenger of Allah.

Narrated by Muslim

He made him feel frustrated in Al-Ta'ef  [when he (pbuh) went there to call people of that area for Islam since people of Mekkeh rejected his new religion] but they denied his call and made fun of him, and encouraged their children to hurt him, yet he said his known supplication [to Allah]:

O my Lord, whom have you entrusted me with, to [people] who frowned upon me?  Unless you are angry with me nothing else matters [after all the harm done], for you may reproach [me] until you are pleased.

The Prophetic Biography of Bin Hisham

He (Allah) made him feel what is like to be victorious in the conquest of Mekkeh, the prophet (pbuh) asked the people of Mekkeh:

What do you think I will do to you?

They said:  you are our honorable brother and the son of our honorable brother

The prophet (pbuh) said:  you are free to go [no one shall bee harmed].

The Prophetic Biography of Bin Hisham.

He (allah) made feel [the bitterness] of losing his own son, the prophet (pbuh) said:

Our eyes are watering and we are brokenhearted, yet we say nothing but what pleases the Lord. We are so much grieved to be parted with you, O Abraham.

Narrated by Al-Bukhari from Anas (may allah be pleased with both of them).

He made him feel what is like to lose his wife, and the divorce of his daughters.  He made him immigrate [to another city], Allah had made him experience everything so his attitude was perfect [in everything]

Honorable brothers, I'd like to point out this crucial fact, it isn't heroic not to be afflicted by a calamity, some people would describe the one who escape each calamity as jinni, but it is heroic to react perfectly right when a calamity occurs.

The prophet (pbuh) taught us how to face calamities in a perfect attitude.

We will move now in his biography (pbuh) to two tragic painful incidents took place in the tenth year [after revelation was brought down on him]-this year was called the year of grief in the book of his biography- for the prophet (pbuh) lost two people, one of them was his inner support (his beloved Mrs KHadijeh), and his outer support (his uncle Aba Taleb who backed him in Mekkeh.

Dear brothers the prophet said:

This life is a winding road not a straight one, and a place of grief not of joy, he who knows it [well], won't be happy for being affluent, nor be sad for a difficulty.  Allah exalted he is had created this world as a house of calamity and the hereafter as house of recompense, so He made a calamity of this life as a reword in the hereafter, and the reword of the hereafter is a payback from the calamity of life. So He takes [from someone, for instance; money, a child, any kind of possession] and put [someone] under test In order to reword [this person].

Narrated by Dailami from Bin Omar

Honorable brothers, as believers, when prepare your selves that this life is a place of calamity and unease, when we realize this fact then we won’t be surprised [with any thing may happen].

A pilot was captured as a prisoner once after he bombarded a city, he was shown the devastation he caused, then he smiled saying that this war, but war is not like that.

You as a believer should know for certain that you shall surely be afflicted with calamity.

Our master Al-Shafi'I was asked once, shall we ask Allah for calamities or empowerment?

He smiled and said:  you won't be empowered unless you are inflicted by a calamity.

There are three phases in the life of a believer: either it is distinct or overlapped, the phase of discipline, the phase of calamity and the phase of honoring.

Sometimes a difficulty would come as discipline for a violation or a short coming or exceeding the limit or aggression, for we are [believers] under the extensive care of the lord of all worlds, and we are at a level of understanding  Allah.

I always tell you that the one who is overwhelmed with his sins and disobediences, will be out of the extensive care of Allah, yet he is damned and discarded [by Allah]; so be happy when you stumble [commit something that displeases Allah] and when you are being disciplined, this means that you are looked forward to, you are wanted for [something promising], that you may return back to the Lord.

It is exactly as some patient went to a doctor [for a test of his health condition], then it appears that he has a malignant tumor spreading all over his body.

If this patient asked the doctor:  what shall eat? He will tell:  eat everything.

What shall I do?  Do what ever you like. 

Can I travel? Yeah.

For he is finished any way, hopeless case and, no cure,

However if a doctor told a patient that he has a severe stomach infection, then he will  give him a long list of what's not to eat as a diet, to insist upon and put a pressure on him not to ignore this list.

Why doctor insisted strongly [to stick to the diet] , because there is a hope for this patient to recover.

By God, I cheer may self up and you as well, that once you have committed a sin or exceeded the limit or remised or stumbled or diverted form Allah's path, then punishment came along [to let you know that you have something wrong]  or a it maybe a difficulty you path through, know that you are under the mercy and extensive care of Allah, and that's a fact.

Therefore adversities are of several kinds.  The prophet (pbuh) passed through two of them in tenth year of immigration, but he (pbuh) was always trying to teach us when he said once:

Abdullah Bin Masood heard the prophet (pbuh) saying:

If I had taken a bosom friend [from amongst you], I would have taken Aba Baker, for he is my brother and companion, but I have taken Allah your and my bosom friend.

Narrated by Muslim

The truth is quite evident that only God shall remain a life permanently, and nothing stays the same, every creature shall [surely] die, nothing will remain but the one of exaltation and omnipotent [Allah].

Poem:

No matter how long the night last, dawn shall surely shine

No matter how long you live, know that you're a grave dweller

No matter how sound a man is, shall be carried in a leveled box

So if you carry one to the grave, know that soon you shall be carried too

As I said mentioned earlier, it isn't heroic not to be afflicted by a calamity, but heroism is to react perfectly right when a calamity occurs.  So the master of all creation and Allah's beloved one passed through two adversities, the loss of two people, one of them was his inner support (his beloved Mrs KHadijeh), and his outer support (his uncle Aba Taleb who backed him in Mekkeh, yet he faced both of the tragedy with a great composure, for believers are afflicted by calamities, Allah exalted He is said:

And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss, of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient)

Who, when afflicted with calamity, say:  "Truly to Allah we belong and truly, to Allah we shall return."

They are those on whom are the salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.

Surat Al-Baqarah verses:  155-156-157

Calamities that believers are afflicted with are either to push them or to upgrade their ranks in [heavens].

For instance, lack of eagerness, lack of submission in one's prayer, the loss of sensation upon hearing the recitation of Qur'an, at such point an adversity occurs to urge her/him to exert the effort, then connection with God almighty is established, and by that s/he would have taken more and more steps [seeking the pleasure of Allah], so when ever s/he slows down the wheels, another difficulty comes along from the Lord in order to boost the mach forward and to strengthen the will to move to Allah with hasty steps, this type of calamity is to push you  forward.

It has been said:

"Allah had revealed to this life to become difficult and unpleasant to His pious slaves, so that they would to meet Him [when they die]".

By God dear brothers, a man had greatly gone astray form the path of Allah, he was hit by a heart attack and admitted to hospital in the intensive care, he got panicked  when he realized that he was about to die.  So he implored to the Lord saying:

O My Lord, I do not wish to meet you naked without any good deed, give a chance to meet you with some good deeds.

Allah has extended his life time and he committed himself to a [regularly held] lesson to learn [more about Islam] in our mosque.

He regretted [wasting his life time being away from Allah] and cried a lot and was so much touched.

He told me:  Once I was supplicating to my Lord:

O Allah, you have given me all this happiness in the aftermath of this chronic disease, how come you did not made me infected with this disease ten years ago? This is how happy he was.

The Hand of Allah [metaphorically speaking] is merciful yet magnanimous; it does the work in the unseen.  For He may give you something but to deprive you [of something else that is much more valuable], and He deprive you of something [to give you something else that is much more valuable].

The dolorous are under the patronage of Allah, and exposed to His mercy. Allah loves broken hearted people, sorrow makes you innovative, it makes heroism and glory, where as affluence, wealth and health [unless used for a great cause] do nothing to mankind.

The other type of calamity that believers are afflicted with is to become higher in rank according to God that s/he could not reach with her/his own good deeds,

[In another word] s/he is not entitled to reach such standing with her/his deeds.

Allah had caused her/him to be in such adversity so if s/he was patient, then would be promoted to such level.

When you say that a believer is afflicted by a calamity, it is either to push her/him forward or to raise the standing of this believer, the verse is about believers:

And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss, of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient)

Who, when afflicted with calamity, say:  "Truly to Allah we belong and truly, to Allah we shall return."

They are those on whom are the salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.

However, the disobedient, the ones who have gone astray, infidels and disbelievers, they have two calamities:

The first is the smashing type; the second is the deterrent type.

So if there is a possibility 1 out of a million that deterrent calamity would work [then Allah predestine it], but if He knew that it won't work then the smashing calamity is destined.  Allah ravages infidels and disbelievers until they are totally terminated.

Allah said:

And it was revealed to Nuh (Noah):  "None of your people will believe except those who have believed already.  So be not sad because of what they used to do"

Surat Hud  verse:  36

There are calamites of prophets and messengers, these are of revealing type. They are the elite of mankind, in them selves they conceal perfection that is never revealed in ordinary situation, as if you have a 250 house power vehicle, and most vehicles are from 15 to 20 horse power.  The 250 horse power vehicle surpasses the other ordinary vehicles by ten times, you may not see the power of such vehicle on a straight road or going down on a slope, but when you drive it up the read you will know the value of it driving  at top speed.  So you won't find the value of a powerful engine in normal condition.

Calamities of prophets (pbut) are to reveal their perfection.

A human being   walking on  his feet not in Al-sham region [Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon]but in Al-Hijaz [Saudi Arabia], where the temperature is up to 56 c and no plant, only deserts and mountains, the heat is unbearable.

By God, in the season of pilgrimage, if you go out from an air-conditioned house, as if you are in an oven, at ten pm. 

In such harsh hot environment he (pbuh) walked on his feet, not in an air-conditioned car, to Al-Ta'ef, how many km did walk?  80 km, the same distance to Alnabk [a town up north of Damascus] there were high mountains and rugged ways, nevertheless he reached there expecting them to believe and support him especially after the death of his uncle and wife, on the contrary; they disbelieved and made fun of him, and encouraged their kids to beat him [till he (pbuh) bled, it was the toughest day of his life (pbuh) as he said in one if the Hadithes], they made him resort to a grove.

He (pbuh) asked his Lord this known supplication:

O my Lord, to whom have you entrusted me with?  To [people] who frowned upon me?   Unless you are angry with me nothing else matters [after all the harm done], for you may reproach [me] until you are pleased. And the health that you have provided me with is much vaster than anything.

Then the angle that is in charge of mountains came to him, and said:

O Muhammad-at this monument he had been given the authorization of vengeance- if you wish; I would crush them with both [surrounding] mountains.

If a man was able to crush someone who provoked him, he would certainly do it, but the prophet (pbuh) said:

O Allah bestow your guidance upon my people for they know not, perhaps Allah may bring out of their offspring who profess in His unity.

He (pbuh) did not relinquish his own people, yet he supplicated and apologized for them, and asked a good offspring for them. In such situation it is a calamity to be called a liar, to be mocked and beaten.

But it occurred to me once that how come Allah allowed those lads to beat the master of all creatures (pbuh), His beloved one, the master of Adam's offspring, the one who Allah swore by his precious life time, the one who reached Sedrat Al-Mountaha [it’s a standing no man has reached even the rest of the prophets them selves (peace and blessing be upon them all) when Gabriel took him at one night on Al-buraq (more like a mule that could fly) to Palestine (the so-called Israel) to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem wherefrom he was elevated to the seventh heaven to Sedrat Al-Muntaha which is like tree on which Allah revealed His light upon that made it look inconceivably beautiful. The Lord taught His messenger (pbuh) how to perform prayers.  Such event shows how important praying to Allah is, and it's (the elevation) an essential thing in our Islamic creed that each and every Muslim ought to believe in]?

Because if the one who calls people to Allah gets hurt or beaten shall have the prophet (pbuh) as a model till the Day of Judgment,  if the master of all creation was beaten so any one who works for the sake Islam will have hardship or loses his freedom will have the prophet as a good example.

How come Mrs A'ishah was accused of the most precious thing that a woman has [her honor], because if any believing woman was wrongly accused [of adultery] while she is innocent, shall have Mrs. A'ishah as a good example.

O brothers, as I mentioned calamites are to push the believers forward or to make them in higher ranks, and they are to worn of smash the disbelievers, and they are to reveal the qualities that the messengers and the prophets of Allah have.

In the life of a believer there is [something] called the disciplinary phase, and another called calamity phase, for instance, a student answers a question correctly

The teacher will tell him:  are you sure?

The student says:  no am wrong.  He is being tested whether he knows what he is saying, or probably heard form a friend of his.

Calamites are not necessarily preceded by a sin; it could be a test of one's credibility,

So at one phase the believer is being disciplined, another one s/he is tested, the third is to be honored. These phases are either overlapped or distinct, but I would like to assure you that if a believer was being disciplined by God and got back to His order, and the one who was under His test  and passes it, her/his life shall continue with honor, this what Allah meant when He said:

Whoever works righteousness- whether male or female- while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islam Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. paradise in the hereafter).

Surat An-Nahl  verse no:  97

 This what He also meant:

But for him who fears the standing before his Lord there will be two Gardens (i.e. Paradise)

Sutar Ar-Rahman   verse:  46

This is what some scholars say:  "in his life there is a paradise, if anyone did not live it then s/he will not admit the paradise of the hereafter" this is what Allah meant:

Those who believed (in the oneness of Allah-Islamic monotheism), and whose hearts find ret in the remembrance of Allah:  verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.

Surat Ar-Ra'd  verse:  28 

You will find the same meaning in the poem of someone who is a deeply-knower of Allah:

If you had seen the beauty that they [the righteous] have seen, you wouldn't have gone to someone other than Him (Allah)

If your ears had heard [deeply] the good speech (of Allah), you would have taken off the dress of arrogance and came [humbly] to Him.

If you have tasted [what is equal to a] grain of His compassion, then you wouldn't blame the one who's willing to die for His love.

If you were close enough to feel His breeze, then you would wish to drop dead missing to be close to Him.

These calamites have wise reason behind them, and such procedures are destined for the safety of the believers, the disciplinary phase, the testing phase, the honoring phase.

However, dear brothers, precisely speaking; we badly need Allah exalted He is, the magnanimous, the kind. The merciful said in a holy hadith [saying] your heat would melt [loving Him when you hear it].

Allah the Almighty said in narration by His messenger (pbuh):

I do not hesitate-Allah never hesitate-in anything I am the doer of it [the way] I hesitate when I take the soul of my Muslim slave, who hates death, and I hate to displease him but his death is inevitable

Documented by Al-Bukhari from Abu Hurrairah

Before our Lord exalted He is takes the soul of His believing servant He hesitate as mentioned, Allah Almighty is merciful.

Thus when Allah destined a calamity for someone then it must be very necessary, therefore Allah exalted guides you rhetorically as you are healthy having your senses, a house, family and a wife not having any problem.  He makes you hear an Islamic topic, or if you attending the Friday prayer the preacher will clarify something, or while you are sitting in the mosque you may attending a lesson you may hear an Islamic rule, or a stance of a great companion. This is rhetoric guidance.  The most perfect stance to such rhetoric guidance is respond to Allah:

O you who believe!  Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) messenger when he (pbuh) calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allah comes in between a person and his heart (i.e. He prevents an evil person to decide anything) and eerily to Him you shall (all) be gathered.

Surat An-Anfal  verse:  24

If we did not respond [obeyed] then Allah shall subdue us under disciplinary procedure:

And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities, etc.) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam).

Surat As-Sajdah  verse:  21

 The most perfect response to such discipline is to repent to Allah, but if you don’t then Allah shall subdue you to a third procedure, which is the enticed honoring.

So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they given, all of a sudden, We took them (in punishment), and Lo!  They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows.

Surat Al-An'am  verse:  44

So if you did not remember and got back to Allah's (order) then the forth procedure is inevitable, which is a snap.

Starting by a rhetoric guidance, then disciplinary action, then enticed honoring, then a snap.  I ask God for me and you to be [categorized] under the first phase, the rhetoric guidance.

The calamity of the Prophet (pbuh) was very tough on him with the death of his Uncle Abu Taleb, and his wife Mrs Khdijeh Bent Khwailed the mother of the faithful (may Allah be pleased with her) at the end of the tenth after he was revealed (pbuh), after the Muslims left, and after the boycott that lasted three years, during which, Abu Taleb surrounded the prophet (pbuh) [with his care and protection] and would get angry for him, but the one thing that I don not like to mention is that in spite of Abu Taleb's effort to take care of the prophet (pbuh) and to defend him, to enhance his position, he did not embrace Islam.
This is a crucial point, if a good deed is worthless if not based on faith.

No man had served the master of all creation (pbuh) at his early days of revelation as his uncle Abi Taleb had, nevertheless he did not become a Muslim.

Quraish had great respect for him, the heads of Quraish came to him while he was on his death bed to instigate him to cleave to Latt and Al-Uzzah [these are names of famous idols that people of Quraish used to worship] and not to embrace Islam.

However the prophet (pbuh) offered him to become a Muslim insistently asking him to [at least] utter the two witnessing phrases [to say: I witness that there is no God other than the Lord and Muhammad is His messenger.  By the way all you need to become a Muslim is to say these words, just as simple as that] in order to witness [before God] for him on the judgment day, but his uncle replied to him saying:  "Quraish would disgrace me for that saying: he did that because of his dread, other than that I would have gladden you [saying it].

He refused to say the testimony and I do not wish to continue talking about it.

There is a great and wise reason [behind it], that is one's [good] deed is as worthless as a speck unless based on believing in God.

Does it make sense that a person dies [without believing in God], while this whole universe utters [metaphor, meaning full of sign] of His existence, unity and perfection, Allah exalted He is had made this incident, He says:

Verily you (O Muhammad [pbuh] guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.  And He knows best those who are the guided.

Surat Al-Qasas  verse:  56

So if there is amongst us, O brothers, a believer of the creator of the all universes then he is in a great grace.  There are some people who can not [even] say the testimony when death occurs, s/he remembers the thing that was involved with in her/his life.

So s/he who spent life playing with dice, will not remember anything but dice, and s/he who spent life committing sins [disobeying Allah], will not remember any thing but her/his sins.

Regretfully, there are many narrations that contradict [what I'm saying] that have no authentication. 

That they both [the prophet (pbuh) and his uncle] were resurrected, and he became a Muslim, and other narrations that are not documented and untrue.

We have nothing to do with that, its Allah's job to do what ever He wills with him.

But we are greatly in pain [that he did not embrace Islam] and wish that this man who protected, supported and defended the prophet (pbuh) with everything he owned that Allah would accept his good deed.

Do not worry; the evaluation of servants of God [people] is Allah's job solely.

Regarding to what Bin Isaac said that Al-Abbas [the prophet's other uncle] that he saw him mumbling, he said to the prophet:

O my nephew, By God I saw him saying what you have ordered him with [saying the testimony], the prophet (pbuh) said:  I did not hear him saying that.

So it is not true for sure.

We do not want a comforting illusion, but we want he bitter truth, the comforting illusion is worthless.

For instance, what is happening nowadays? 

Someone who had never performed prayers, and never address him self to Al-Qa'abeh [where Muslims face it themselves as they pray], his earnings are not of legal source [according to the Islamic jurisprudence] and was a heavy drinker of alcohol.

This person dies, then his family says:  we saw him illuminating [as a good tiding] wearing a white dress. 

This is not right; do not involve your self evaluating people, it is God's job, when you do that then you are being impudent to Allah.

The prophet (pbuh) was at one of his companion's place who died-his name was Abu Al-Sa'eb, he heard a woman saying:  congratulation Aba Sa'eb, for Allah has honored you.

If the prophet (pbuh) said nothing then she would be right, but he asked her:

How do you know that? You should say:  I wish that Allah may honor him.  I am a prophet, who is brought down from Allah, yet I do not know what is going to happen to me nor to you.

He is the master of all creation [but he did not know anything unless he had been informed by God]. To falsely predict what Allah is going to do to someone as described by scholars, claiming that someone is a paradise dweller.

Who are you to say that this person is a paradise or hell dweller? Who told you that?

He may precede you if he had repented, as mentioned; to judge people what is going to happen to them in the future is being impudent to the Lord.

However older scholars (may Allah have mercy on their souls) would say if they were told to judge someone:" we recon he is a righteous person (if they know him), but we do not praise anyone over the Lord's judgment"

When our master Abu Baker (may Allah be pleased with him) handed over the caliphate to Omar Bin Al-Khattab, some of the companions warned him that Omar is tough fellows, Abu Baker said:

Are you frightening me?

By God if Allah asked me on the Day of Judgment: why did you choose Omar as their caliph?  Then I will say:

O my Lord, I have chosen the most merciful amongst them to become their caliph, but if he (Omar) changed (in a way that displeases the Lord) then this beyond what I know, this is the unseen, of which I know nothing.

Be polite with Allah; do not give the titles of doom or faith [by claiming that Mr. so and so is the prince of heaven or the prince of hell; for instance] on those who surround you,

But say:  I recon he is a righteous person, but I do not praise anyone over the Lord's judgment"

If you see a disobeying person, he disobeys (Allah) now, but he may repent and preceded me.  However there some people who make religion unreasonable, sometime they consider the one who drinks alcohol as righteous man, but we do not know.  He is not righteous; he drinks alcohol [for god's sake].  These people are predicting His action, which is not their right.

For example; Imam Al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on his soul) -this great man who used to perform prayers while people were asleep- was seen in one of his student's dream after he died.

He was asked:  O imam, what did Allah do to you?

He said:   My deeds did not do me any good- his good deeds were as great as mountains- but Allah had forgiven me for letting a tiny fly (a little being, that is less than one of a hundredth of a millimeter, a dark dot moving on the book) drink from the ink of a word I wrote, so I waited for it, therefore Allah had mercy on me.

His had written a lot of books, had great work and immigrated to convince you that [one's commitment to] religion is not [evaluated] by work, but the truth is that we [by God's willing] shall enter paradise by Allah's mercy and will divide it with our work.

Those whose lives the angles take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from all evil, and worshipping none but Allah alone) saying (to them):  Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be on you) enter you paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do (in the world).

Surat An-nahl  verse:  32

This means get your share in heaven according to your [good] deeds, but the admission of heaven is by the mercy of Allah.

The prophet (pbuh) lost his great support with the death of his uncle. His family Banu Hashem were not yet ready support him as much, because of the physical and the psychological harm there were in as a result of the boycott [Quraish decided to boycott them the family and relatives of the prophet (pbuh) for three years so deserted their houses to the outskirts of Mekkeh at the foot of a mountain where they had nothing to eat but the leaves of trees, this period was very tough for them].

Mrs. Khadijeh Bent Khwailed was a giant woman indeed, she could teach all women how a wife [should] be.  Do not forget that the prophet (pbuh)-  when the conquest of Mekkeh he was invited by its leaders to stay at their place- but he said: set me a tent at Khadijeh's grave (his partner in victory), he raised the banner of triumph by her grave for the whole world to know that the woman in this grave is his partner in triumph.

Mrs. Khdijeh Bent Khwailed (may Allah be pleased with her) died three years prior to the prophetic emigration to Al-Madineh, in the same year of the death of his uncle Abu Taleb him self, she was the most believing person in him.

Honorable brothers, there is one unbelievable character in this lady.  When the prophet (pbuh) received revelation, he went back home panicking.

What did she say to him?

She did not hear a word out of this revelation.

She said:  by God, Allah will never degrade you, for you feed the hungry, clothe the bare, you support the burdened, honor the guest, you keep tides with your kinship, help when misfortunes occur.  How did she know all that? 

This is innate.

Dear brothers, by God, I'm counting on no one but Allah.  Any believing straight young man must be optimistic no matter how difficult circumstances are.

Is then he who is a believer like him who is a Fasiq (disbeliever and disobedient to Allah)?  Not equal are they.

Surat As-Sajdah  verse:  18

Shall We then treat the Muslims (believers of Islamic monotheism, doers of righteous deeds) like the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)?

What is the matter with you?  How judge you?

Surat Al-Qalam  verses:  35,36

Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah-Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death?  Worst is the judgment that they make.

Surat Al-jathiyah  verse:  21

Pay close attention to what I'm going to say:  It is more than impossible that a straight person will be treated as a perverted one, an honest as a liar, a trustworthy as traitor and fair person as an unfair one [or an oppressor], those [good men] are not in the level as the others.  

[If they are equal then] this would not merely contradict with God justice, but it would contradict with His existence, in any time or any place or any difficult circumstance or state of confusion you were, you [as a believer] have a special treatment.

So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress.  And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allah, abstain from evil and work righteousness).

Surat Al-Anbiya'  verse:  88

The prophet asked Mu'ath Bin Jabal:  O mu'ath- he was ridding with him on a mule- what is Allah's right upon his slaves?

Mua'th said:  Allah and his messenger know best.

The prophet repeated the question:  what is Allah's right upon his slaves?

Mu'ath said:  Allah and his messenger know best.

Then Mu'ath asked him: what is Allah's right upon his slaves?

The prophet (pbuh) said:  Allah's right on His slaves is to worship Him, and to never associate anything with Him [in terms of worship]-now pay attention- what is the right of slaves upon God if they worshiped Him?

Mu'ath said:  Allah and His messenger know best.

He asked him twice then three times.

The prophet (pbuh) said:  the right of slaves upon God if they worshiped Him is not to torment them.

Muslim

So do not worry, if you worship Allah, then you have the right upon Him not to torment you –by God willing –

Thus we save the believers [from torment]

And indeed We did send Messengers before you (O Muhammad [pbuh]) to their own peoples.  They came with clear proofs, then, We took vengeance on those who committed crimes (disbelief, setting partners in worship with Allah, sins); and (as for) the believers, it was incumbent upon Us to help (them).

Surat Ar-Rum  verse:  47

Honorable brothers, we shall move –if Allah wills- in the next lesson to the journey of the prophet (pbuh) to Al-Tae'f, [we are currently talking about] the tenth year [known as], because the prophet (pbuh) had lost the inside and the outside support, so scholars of the prophetic biography called it the year of grief, thus; the prophet (pbuh) is a good example to be followed.