Mutual Respect

A woman from Delhi had the habit of frequenting the home of her parents. Her husband, who was not in favour of her leaving his home on a regular basis, finally issued her a warning, "In future, if you go to your father's home, you are divorced from me.

Soon thereafter, her father passed away and they were left in a precarious situation. She could neither proceed to the funeral home for fear of being divorced from her husband, not could she absent herself from her father's funeral.

Her husband presented his case before a leading scholar of the time, Shah 'Abdul 'Azeez رحمه الله. He explained, "If your wife proceeds to her father's home, she will certainly be divorced from you."

Upon hearing the answer, the husband felt totally despondent and began to weep.

Incidentally, Qadi Thana'ullah Panipati رحمه الله, a student of Shah 'Abdu 'Azeez رحمه الله, was present and listened to the discussion intently. After hearing his teacher's explanation he respectfully said, "Most honourable teacher, I think that the divorce will not take place, since the passing of her father has caused the ownership of the house to be transferred to his children. Since he no longer owns the house, she will not be divorced by entering it."

Shah 'Abdul 'Azeez رحمه الله was amazed with the variant opinion of his student and accepted it with a smile on his face.[Jawahir Pare, vol 1, p 223]

1) Couples need to be cautious with regards to their choice of words. A few moments of uncontrolled anger can easily result in a lifetime of regret.

2) Differences amongst intellectuals are natural. When such differences are based on authentic knowledge, sincere intentions and respectful presentation, they are a source of strength and goodness. However, when such differences are based on paltry knowledge, insincerity or presented in an impolite manner, they fuel the fires of enmity and conflict. [Pearls from the Path]

Gateway to Quran

Character of the Great Imam (Hazrat Imam e Azam Abu Hanifah (R.A)

This is a story relating to the latter period of Imam Abu Hanifah’s (R.A) life, where due to old age Imam Saab found it extremely difficult to walk.

Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A)’s house was situated on high ground, with a fair number of steps to climb to reach the entrance. One particular afternoon Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) had just managed to climb up the steps and entered his house. He (R.A) had just sat down with the intention of lying down to rest, when somebody called out to him from the bottom of the steps:

“I wish to ask you a question, please come down”. Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) came down and asked, “What is the question that you wish to ask?” The person replied, “Oh! Just as you had reached the last two or three steps I forgot!”

Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) said, it is of no consequence. “When you remember, you may ask”, and Imam Saab went back up the stairs. Just as Imam Saab was about to lie down to rest, this person called out again, “I've remembered! Come down”

This time, too, it was the same story: The person said, “I had remembered, but just as you reached the last step, I forgot!”. In this way he made Imam Saab climb up and down six or seven times! Then finally, when Imam Saab had climbed down and enquired, “What is the question?” this person replied, “Yes! Yes! Now I remember! I want to know what is the taste of faeces?”

Imam Saab responded very calmly, “It depends. What type of faeces are you enquiring about, the taste of fresh faeces, or the taste of stale faeces?”

The person said, “Well… Both!” Imam Saab answered, “The taste of fresh faeces is sweet, whereas the taste of stale faeces is bitter.” The person said, “What...., did you taste each of them?”

Imam Saab replied, “There is no necessity for one to taste each in order to determine these qualities. There are some signs and indications which will equally lead us to this conclusion. I have noticed that flies tend to settle on freshly passed faeces, flies are attracted by sweetness. So, one can conclude that freshly passed faeces taste sweet. Flies do not settle on stale faeces, bitterness repels flies. So, again, one can conclude that stale faeces are bitter!”

The person said, “What you have stated is absolutely correct!” Imam Saab, in turn, asked him, “Why do you say so?” The person explained, “I knew the answers beforehand!” He explained further, “We were a few people sitting together, having a discussion, and the question came up: In this present age, who is that person who possess and acts upon his knowledge? And who would undergo personal inconvenience for the sake of others? It was our unanimous opinion that it was you”.

I came specifically to put you to the test, so that I could see for myself whether our unanimous opinion was correct or not! I confirm it was correct.

Often we acquire knowledge but fail to implement the teachings. As the Great Imam has shown, we should show patience at all times and practice what we preach.

Gateway to Quran

STORY OF OWAIS (R A)- An Unseen companion of Prophet (SAWS)

Owais (R A) was the only man who was mentioned by name by the Prophet(SAWS) without him having met him. He became a companion without seeing the prophet (SAWS), Owais (R A) was given the honor of being his Companion in Paradise! SubahanAllaah

One day, Omar ibn Khattab, Abu Bakr, Ali and other companions (RadhiAllaahu Anhum) were sitting with the Prophet(SAWS) at the Masjid when the Prophet(SAWS) said to them, “Tomorrow, a man will enter from this door to pray among you and he will be from the people of Paradise.”

Abu Huraira (R A) relates that the next day he hurried to Fajr prayer at the Masjid and lined up in the first row in hopes that he would be the man that the Prophet(SAWS) was referring to the day before.

There were many other Companions standing alongside him who also had the same idea. The Prophet (SAWS) conducted Fajr prayer and sat down. The Companions were eager to know who this man of Paradise was, but it didn’t seem the Prophet was going to mention it. So they sat and waited for a while and some of them had to go, but others still waited. These included Abu Huraira, Abu Bakr, Ali, and Umar ( RadhiAllaahu Anhum).

Just then walked in a man, who was so poor his clothes were dirty and torn. The Prophet(SAWS) immediately stood up and smiled from ear to ear and welcomed the man. The man asked the Prophet to pray for him. The Prophet(SAWS) raised his hands in duaa and said, “Oh Allaah please grant this man a position in the highest levels of Paradise, Al Firdous, with me.” So then when the man left, Abu Huraira (R A) asked the Prophet(SAWS) ,”Was that him?!” “Yes,” replied the Prophet .

“But oh Messenger of Allaah , he is nothing more than a poor slave, how can that be him?” asked Abu Huraira(R A) . “Oh Abu Huraira,” said the Prophet. “What can I do for him if his fate in this world is to be poor? His position on the Day of Judgment is that of a king. Abu Huraira(R A) , the ones that have the most value to Allaah are those that are pure, starving, whose faces are dusty, who are not known on this Earth, but known in the skies.