One thing I love about the ahadith is the human relation factor. The Qur'an connects us to Allah, fills us with the recognition and remembrance of the Divine. The Qur'an demonstrates that Allah alone is the Creator of life, Bestower of sustenance and provisions, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Possessor of Majesty and Honour. It is only in His power to forgive and have mercy. We are instructed by the Qur'an to guard ourselves from sins out of respect and obedience to Allah and from fear of His punishment. We are His slaves. We are hungry except only if Allah feeds us. We are naked except only if Allah clothes us. If the first of us and the last of us, the humans amongst us and the jinns were to combine together against Allah, we will not succeed in reducing from His Powers just as a needle dipped into the sea cannot reduce from its water. Everything in the universe submits to Him. He has the ability to destroy, punish and vanquish. He prevails over the universe with justice. He is the Supreme Judge, all rulings belong to Him.
Naturally, reading the Qur'an brings humility in a person. Awe, worship, prostration, submission, obedience, peace, patience and graciousness are the fruits of Qur'an. It will clean you from the inside and fill you with Sibghata Allah [2:138] until you are Rabbaniyyee [3:79]. Its amazing. Its like one Hadith Qudsi says, Allah becomes the hearing with which a person hears, eyes with which a person sees, hands with which a person touches and feet which a person walks. The Qur'an can have such an effect. And life is not complete unless one has developed this closeness with Allah, the Lord Most Great and High. Nevertheless, studying hadith also comes with numerous benefits. Of them is relationship with the Prophet (s.a.w).
Ahadith are the statements, approvals and actions of the Beloved of Allah, the Chosen, the Trustworthy, the Fountain of Guidance, Mercy to the worlds.... Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). Every time I even think of Bukhari ... I feel a blanket of love around me. He (s.a.w) inspired me to seek knowledge and have faith in Allah. The revelation of Qur'an reached me though him (s.a.w.)! He (s.a.w) taught me how to purify myself for Allah and worship Allah in the right way. He (s.a.w) is my Hajj coach, my friend when I fast and my mentor when I calculate Zakkah. I learned from him how to bargain, deal with my debts and employment. If I ever want to garden, I can always ask him how to divide and cultivate the land, water the seeds and yield its fruit. He (s.a.w) encouraged me to give salam, avoid arguments and send gifts. Because of him (s.a.w) I look after my parents, neighbours, the environment and animals. He (s.a.w) is my marriage counsellor, my fashion and health guide. How can you not love him (s.a.w)?
What is incredible about Bukhari is that through it, one is not only exposed to the manners and etiquette of the Prophet (s.a.w) in various circumstances but also his psychology. Ahadith are written time capsules, anyone who reads them is taken back to the Prophet (s.a.w). His every statement is so vivid and profound that anyone immersed in their study can visualize his personality. But lets be honest, we only wish we knew Allah on a personal level and that we had an ideal relationship with Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). Even if we have attended many conferences and even attained ijazahs in Islamic theory, we fail in practical life. We listen to lectures and cry but when it comes to making decisions, we do what we feel like doing. There is no remembrance of Allah or even love for the Prophet (s.a.w). The nafs becomes number one!
I read a book on Hadith Scholars by Syed Bashir Ali, which is prefect to remedy the nafs. We need role models to discipline our excessive desires and focus our energy back to Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w). InshaAllah in this post (see links below), I will share stimulating incidents from the lives of classical hadith scholars. It is hoped that their commitment and enthusiasm for the Deen will become a lesson for us.
Allah says,
The lessons from the lives of Hadith scholars will inshaAllah endue us with understanding on how to schedule individual lives. There are so many attractive acts of worship, so many sciences of study...how does one possibly choose which ones to pursue? Just see what the scholars did. Their lives confirm a balance between Deen and Dunya. Their desperate situations and encountering dangers give us resolve to fight the challenges in the way of serving the Deen. A overly demanding family, lack of finances or health, political upheaval... anything can be persevered with a little bit of patience and consistency.
Malik bin Anas
Naturally, reading the Qur'an brings humility in a person. Awe, worship, prostration, submission, obedience, peace, patience and graciousness are the fruits of Qur'an. It will clean you from the inside and fill you with Sibghata Allah [2:138] until you are Rabbaniyyee [3:79]. Its amazing. Its like one Hadith Qudsi says, Allah becomes the hearing with which a person hears, eyes with which a person sees, hands with which a person touches and feet which a person walks. The Qur'an can have such an effect. And life is not complete unless one has developed this closeness with Allah, the Lord Most Great and High. Nevertheless, studying hadith also comes with numerous benefits. Of them is relationship with the Prophet (s.a.w).
Ahadith are the statements, approvals and actions of the Beloved of Allah, the Chosen, the Trustworthy, the Fountain of Guidance, Mercy to the worlds.... Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). Every time I even think of Bukhari ... I feel a blanket of love around me. He (s.a.w) inspired me to seek knowledge and have faith in Allah. The revelation of Qur'an reached me though him (s.a.w.)! He (s.a.w) taught me how to purify myself for Allah and worship Allah in the right way. He (s.a.w) is my Hajj coach, my friend when I fast and my mentor when I calculate Zakkah. I learned from him how to bargain, deal with my debts and employment. If I ever want to garden, I can always ask him how to divide and cultivate the land, water the seeds and yield its fruit. He (s.a.w) encouraged me to give salam, avoid arguments and send gifts. Because of him (s.a.w) I look after my parents, neighbours, the environment and animals. He (s.a.w) is my marriage counsellor, my fashion and health guide. How can you not love him (s.a.w)?
What is incredible about Bukhari is that through it, one is not only exposed to the manners and etiquette of the Prophet (s.a.w) in various circumstances but also his psychology. Ahadith are written time capsules, anyone who reads them is taken back to the Prophet (s.a.w). His every statement is so vivid and profound that anyone immersed in their study can visualize his personality. But lets be honest, we only wish we knew Allah on a personal level and that we had an ideal relationship with Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). Even if we have attended many conferences and even attained ijazahs in Islamic theory, we fail in practical life. We listen to lectures and cry but when it comes to making decisions, we do what we feel like doing. There is no remembrance of Allah or even love for the Prophet (s.a.w). The nafs becomes number one!
I read a book on Hadith Scholars by Syed Bashir Ali, which is prefect to remedy the nafs. We need role models to discipline our excessive desires and focus our energy back to Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w). InshaAllah in this post (see links below), I will share stimulating incidents from the lives of classical hadith scholars. It is hoped that their commitment and enthusiasm for the Deen will become a lesson for us.
Allah says,
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
"There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. it is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it, - a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and mercy to any who believe." [12:111]
and
وَكُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ وَجَاءَكَ فِي هَـٰذِهِ الْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"All that We relate to you of the stories of the prophets, - with it We make firm your heart: in them there comes to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder to those who believe." [11:120]The lessons from the lives of Hadith scholars will inshaAllah endue us with understanding on how to schedule individual lives. There are so many attractive acts of worship, so many sciences of study...how does one possibly choose which ones to pursue? Just see what the scholars did. Their lives confirm a balance between Deen and Dunya. Their desperate situations and encountering dangers give us resolve to fight the challenges in the way of serving the Deen. A overly demanding family, lack of finances or health, political upheaval... anything can be persevered with a little bit of patience and consistency.
Malik bin Anas
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