Aminah Bint Wahab - Mothers Of The Ahl Al-Bayt (A) - 2nd Ramadan 1443/2022
'A'udhu bi-Llahi as-Sami'i al-Aleem, min al-Shaytan al-la'in al-rajim. Bismi-Lahi Al-Rahman Al-Rahim. Al-hamdulil-Lahi Rabbi al-‘Alamin, nahmaduhu wa nasta'eenu bihi wa natawakkalu 'alayh. Wa as-salat wa as-salam 'ala asharafi al-khalqihi, wa khatam al-Anbiya'i, wa Sayyid al-Mursaleen, habib Ilah Al-A'lamin. Sayyidina wa habibi qulubina, wa shafi'i dhunubina Abi 'l-Qasimi Muhammad. [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'aali Muhammad]. Wa 'ala Aali Baytihi at-Tayyibin, at-Tahirin, al-Ma'sumeen, al-Mutahharin, al-Mukarrameen. Alladheena adhaba Allahu anhum ar-rijz wa tahharahum tat-hira [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad]. Qala Allahu Al-Adheem fi Kitabih al-Karim, wa Huwa ahsanu al-qa'ilin wa Asdaqu as-sadiqeen. Bismi-Llah, Al-Rahmani, Al-Rahim. "Wa man yuti'a Allahi wa Ar-Rasul, fa ulayka ma'a alladheena an'ama Allahu alayhim min an-Nabiyyina, wa as-siddiqina, wa ash-shu'ada'i, wa as-sahlihin, wa ahsuna ula'ika rafiqa" (4:69). Ammana Bi-Llahi. Sadaqa Allahu Al-Aleem al-Adheem.
For the purification of the souls, the enlightenment of the hearts, the acceptance of the deeds, and for the hastening of the reappearance of the awaited Saviour Ajal Allahu Ta'ala farajahu al-shareef, enlighten your souls, purify your hearts with the recitation of Salawat upon Muhammad Wa'li Muhammad [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad].
Respected scholars, elders, sisters and brothers, salamun alaykum Wa-Rahmatu-Lahi Ta'ala wa barakatu [Wa alaykum as-salam, wa Rahmatullah]. Lady Aminah Bint Wahab was the mother of the greatest human being, and the best of God's creation, al-Rasul al-'Adham, wa an-Nabiy al-Akram Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad], and an individual that perhaps many Muslims have at least come to her, her name. In other words, she is not alien to many people. Yet, unfortunately, her life has not been discussed, and has not been placed before many people to admire her legacy and her excellence.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Aminah Bint Wahab is one of the most outstanding females in Islamic history. I tell you, when you and I are taught from a younger age to respect parents, to understand the status of parents in Islam where Allah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala says: "wa qadha Rabbuka alla ta'budu illa iyah. Wa bi 'l-walidayni ihsana" (17:23). Be righteous towards your parents, honour your parents. What about the parents of the best of God's creation? In other words, how should you and I look at and admire the mother and the father of the individual that the Holy Qur'an says has what? has authority over ourselves and over our family members and everything that we have.
In other words, the status of Aminah and Abdullah, the parents of the Holy Prophet of Islam, is without a shadow of a doubt, something that many of us would have no hesitation to honour. Yet, hundreds of millions of Muslims today believe they are Kafir. Unfortunately, the recognition that emerges today is when it comes to Aminah, when it comes to Abdullah, the illustrious, honourable, pure parents of the Messenger of God, there is a sizeable number of Muslims throughout history until today, who come forward, categorically declaring that they died disbelievers. And therefore, the subject of the biography and the life of Aminah is of the utmost importance.
Number one, to honour her and to honour the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his Holy progeny, but at the same time to recognise what a special status she had in order for Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala to choose her to carry, and to be the womb, indeed that brings into this existence, as far as the Dunya is concerned, the Holy Prophet peace and blessings be upon him and his Holy Progeny.
Aminah, salamu Allahi alayha, only lived for 30 years. When she died, she was 30 years of age. According to narrations, she was born 76 years before the Hijra of the Messenger of God, and she died 46 years before the Hijra. Her family originally were from Medina, Yathrib. She was from the Bani an-Najjar tribe, yet of course she is considered to be from Quraysh. She was an individual from the tribe of Quraysh. Quraysh attained its name from an incident at the time of the grandfather of Aminah by the name of Qusay Ibn Kilab. Qusay was the grandfather of Aminah. How?
He was her grandfather from her father's side, Wahab. Qusay was the one who is attributed to have brought Quraysh back together. In other words, they were dispersed, and Qusay was the individual who gathered them, bought them all together in Makkat ul-Mukarrama. What is interesting is that Qusay had a brother by the name of Zahra. Yes, this Zahra was what? Was the grandfather of whom? Wahab, whereas Qosay was the grandfather of the Prophet of Islam. In other words, you find that Abdullah, the husband of Aminah as well as Aminah herself, all link back to whom? All link back to the same grandfather.
When it came to the upbringing of Aminah, Aminah was brought up in a household which was practicing Tawhid, monotheism, worshipping Allah and Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala alone. This is established in historical narrations in the idea that she was known for her purity, for her chastity. In Makkatul Mukarrama, she was recognised as an individual from a household of nobility. They would worship Allah and Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala alone. This is something that of course today the school of Ahl ul-Bayt stands to defend. Abdul Muttalib, Abu Talib, Hashim... When it comes to Abdullah, when it comes to Aminah, Fatimahh Bint Asad, these great individuals never bow down to an idol. These great individuals were people who worshiped Allah, despite a time of Jahaliyyah, backwardness, despite people worshiping idols in Mecca and in the Arabian Peninsula.
In fact, the Messenger of God, the Rasul al-'Adham, wa an-Nabi al-Akram, Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad], highlights this reality. Some people may question, do we need to prove this and go through evidence highlighting that Aminah, salamu Allahi alayha, was a muwahida? That she worshiped Allah and Allah alone? Yes, because sadly the realisation is, Muslims today differ in this regard. They have difference of opinion whether Aminah should be honoured, whether Amina should be what? Should be praised.
I remember watching a clip on a TV channel known as Huda TV. I deliberately mentioned the name so that you recognise and be aware. A particular sheikh in this Huda TV, he was asked about for example, Abu Talib, he was asked about Abdullah, he was asked about Aminah. What is the opinion of the Muslim schools of thought regarding these individuals? I saw him reply in that particular clip he said: "I pray to Allah that they are in hell, I pray that they are in hell". Yes! The recognition therefore is that the Messenger of God, in Al-Amali of Sheik Al-Saduq he mentions the following, there is a narration from the 6th Imam that says, The Messenger of God was asked, Where were you, aina kunta wa Adamu fi 'l-Jannah? When Adam was first created? Where were you? The Prophet responds, kuntu fi sulbih. I was in his loins. Wa habuta bi ila al-ardh fi sulbih, and when Adam descended on the earth, I descended with him in his loins. Wa rakibtu as-Safinata fi sulbi abi Nuh, and I also ascended the ship of my father Nuh with him, Wa quthifa fi fi 'n-nari fi sulbi Abi Ibrahim. When Ibrahim was thrown towards the fire, I was also with him in his loins.
And then he continues and says, wa lam yazil Allah yanquluni min al-aslab at-tayyiba 'ila al-arham al-mutahhara, and therefore subsequently, God the Almighty, passed me from pure loins and pure wombs from one individual to another. Hadiyan, Mahdiya, guided, guiding others. Then he comes towards the end of the narration and says, Shukka li Isman min Asma'i al-Husna until he Subhana wa Ta'ala, chose a name for me that is derived from His glorious names. Fa dhul 'arshi Mahmudun wa 'ana Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad]. That Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, one of his name is Mahmoud and I was given the name Muhammad. Therefore, the recognition is that this lady was indeed of the noble character who worshipped the Almighty Subhana wa Ta'ala.
Now back in Mecca, what do you find? In Mecca you find that Abdullah was an individual who was the son of Abdul Muttalib, Ridhwanu Allahi Ta'ala 'alaihim ajma'in. When it came to Abdullah, the narrations tell us that in Mecca he was known as the man with light in his face. The individual that had radiating light in his face. To the extent that many women would seek him for marriage, many wanted to get married to him. Yes. We are told in narrations 'Allama Al-Majlsi in Bihar tells us this very interesting story regarding how Aminah, salamu Allahi alayha, married Abdullah. Please pay attention to this, it may be the first time you hear this.
The story is told that there are some of their script writers, Ahbar of the Jews. They were in Sham. When they were in Sham they came to one of their leaders, one of their scholars. Said, we are disturbed. We are reading that the time of the arrival of the individual who will lead mankind and will be the final Messenger has come. And we are told there is an individual in Mecca who is claiming to be that person. What do we do? We need to stop him, because he has to be from us, not the Arabs. The scholar tells them, when God the Almighty decrees, you cannot change anything, you cannot alter with this, you cannot play with this, this is determined.
They left the gathering. They saw another one of the rabbis. That individual said to them, you are actually able to change this. Go to Makkah and stop this particular child from being born. Stop him from coming into this existence. They went to Mecca disguised as tradesmen. When they arrived in Mecca, they were searching for the father of the Prophet. They were looking for a man who had the hallmarks as described in their scriptures to be the father of the last and the final Messenger.
In the meantime, Abdullah, salamu Allahi 'alayh, the father of the Holy Prophet, saw a dream. The dream disturbed him. He went to Abdul Muttalib salamu Allahi 'alayh his father. He said to him, father, I saw a dream that disturbed me. Abdul Muttalib said, tell me what is the dream. He said Once I was walking in the desert and all of a sudden I saw monkeys with swords seeking to attack me, seeking to kill me. All of a sudden I saw a Thunder strike. A what? Some kind of punishment that fell from the skies towards them and it killed them all. What is the interpretation of this dream?
Abdul Muttalib said to him, Just wait. When this dream was told to Abdul Muttalib, he told his son Abdullah, let's go and tell the people of Mecca about this dream. So when they left where they were the house of Abdul Muttalib, the first area that they went to is where these Ahbar, the scripture writers from the Jews were gathered, Abdul Muttalib begins to narrate the dream of his son Abdullah. Those individuals, now they see Abdullah for the first time they see he must be the father of the final Messenger. Therefore they plot to kill him. They said, how are we going to kill him?
They asked one of their slaves to follow him to follow Abdullah. And Abdullah had a habit, he would go out hunting. He would seek some wildlife in the deserts. One day the slave came and said to these individuals, this is your moment, he is alone, you can go and kill him and achieve what you wish to achieve. They got themselves ready. They went to the desert. They followed Abdullah until they found him to be in one particular spot. He had captured an animal, he had spotted a particular animal. They began to approach him. Abdullah looked at them and began to ask them, who are you? What are you seeking to do? They began to run towards Abdullah with their swords. Abdullah, who is on a horse, was what? Was an excellent Archer. He began to shoot them with arrows, killing a number of them. They realised that by the time they get to him, all of them will be killed. They stopped and called him, oh, Abdullah, why are you killing us? We are not here to hurt you. Abdullah dismounted from his horse.
He came towards them and said, what is your story? They said, we lost a slave of ours and we thought you were that slave, we thought that we have found you here. You have already killed a number of us. Please do not harm us, we are not here to hurt you. Abdullah was suspicious of them. Yet, he began to walk away from them. The moment they began to walk away, after a bit of a distance, they what? behind him, began to run. They were determined to kill the father of the Messenger of God, because they knew he had not yet got married. The moment they surrounded him, Abdullah began to fight them. But who emerged at that moment? a number of individuals from Quraysh. A number of people from Quraysh emerged, including Abdul Muttalib, including whom? Including Wahab, Yes Wahab. Abdul Muttalib and others would come to the help and aid of Abdullah. And they would save him from this particular what? Ambush and attempt to assassinate him.
When Wahab, who is the father of Aminah, went back to his house, he had a discussion with his wife. His wife, her name was Barra. He said to her, Oh Barra, this man Abdullah is from a noble family. He is from a very respected, honourable family. I wish that we can marry our daughter Aminah to him. Barra said, everyone is seeking Abdullah, He is the man with light radiating from his face, do we stand a chance? Can we really be individuals who grant our daughter Aminah towards this man? Wahab said, Why don't you go to the house of Abdul Muttalib and see if this is possible. Barra takes the journey, goes to the house of Abdul Muttalib. She finds Abdul Muttalib, salamu Allahi 'alayh, outside the house talking to a few men describing what has just happened, the saving of the life of whom? Of Abdullah. She stands there.
Abdul Mutallib greets her and says to her, we would like to thank you and your husband for joining us, and saving the life of Abdullah, is there anything we can do for you? Barra thinks this is a great moment to ask for Abdullah to marry my daughter. She says, oh Abdul Muttalib, you are an esteemed individual. Your family is what? Is very much revered and respected. We wish that our daughter Aminah would marry your son Abdullah. Abdullah at that moment did not dismiss the idea. He did not say this is impossible, this could not happen. Who is standing close to him? His son Abdullah. Abdul Muttalib looks at the Abdullah and what? And asks him, he says to him, ma taqulu ya bunai? The father asks the son, what do you say, oh my son. For Allah, listen to this, this is now a description of Aminah in the words of the grandfather of the Messenger of God.
He says, fa Wa Allahi ma fi banati Mekkata mithliha. Wa Allah, there is no girl, female in Mecca like her. Li 'annaha muhtashimatun fi nafsiha, she is chaste. Tahiratun, mutahhara, she is pure, and has been purified. 'Aqilatun dayina, she is intelligent and she practices her faith. Abdullah became silent when Abdul Muttalib said to him this Abdullah did not respond. Abdul Muttalib recognized that his silence means acceptance, and immediately said to Barra, we have accepted your invitation and your request. This was the beginning of the agreement of the marriage, yes, that would certainly bring forth as a result the greatest human being.
The first area to look at very briefly, as far as the contemporary lessons, many a times when we speak about the biography of Sayyida Khadijah, what do we told? We are told that she was the one who sought the Prophet. Do you agree? Many times, we are told that she said to her slave, go and ask for the hand of the Prophet and that Khadijah was the one who asked first, yes? Similarly, when it came to the mother of the Prophet, she was the one who requested. She, her family, was the one who actually asked for the hand of the Prophet, 1400 years ago or more, today this is difficult for some people. Back in the time it was even harder. The way they viewed females, the way society would what? Would not accept the notion of a female asking the hand of a male. Yet, the Prophet of Islam, both his mother and his wife are involved in this practice.
And today we have a problem. Today we are also hesitant to allow our daughters or our wives or our mothers to go and request and ask whether an individual is seeking to get married and whether they want to get married to their own daughter. In many communities, many cultures, many societies, you speak to them, you say, for example, your daughter is in the 30s, she is seeking to get married. She is waiting for somebody to propose to her, why don't you become active? Why don't you yourself seek particular individuals? Yes. Who are matching your criteria or her requirements. Why is it that we are in the mindset that females must wait for a male to approach and what? And ask for her hand? Why couldn't she or her family be Proactive in seeking someone for their marriage? They are fulfilling what? An obligation they are securing half of their faith. This requires time.
But Interestingly, it was something that happened, what? At the time of the Messenger of God for the Messenger's mother and father himself. And of course, the celebration and the wedding was a momentous occasion in Mekkaat ul-Mukarama narrations tell us that Abdul Muttalib, salamu Allahi 'alayhi, would hold the feast for four days. He would wear the best of clothes, he gave a famous sermon. Time does not allow us to go through this particular sermon, where he would indeed praise the families and would say that Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, had honoured this particular marriage.
Likewise, what are we told? Fatimah his wife, Fatimah is Who? Is the wife of Abdul Muttalib. Yes, the grandmother of the Prophet of Islam. Fatimah goes to see Aminah just to, you know, prepare everything for their marriage. When she comes back, she says to Abdullah the following: Ya waladi mafi banati al-'Arabi mithluha abada. I have not seen in the daughters of the Arabs anyone like her. Wa laqad irtadhaytuha wa inna Allaha la yuwadhdhi'uha illa fi mithli hadha. I am so pleased with her, Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala will not place the light that is within you, except within her. Notice these individuals, they knew, they had recognition. They had ma'rifa and knowledge of what is about to happen out of this blessed relationship between Aminah and Abdullah, salamu Allah alayhim ajma'in.
Now when they get married, what happens? According to my study of the historical years that followed the marriage, it seems likely that they only lived together for about a year or two. Abdullah's marriage with his beloved wife, Aminah only lasted for a year or two, why? Because Abdullah would go on the journey that Quraysh would undertake. Yes. Ilafihim "Rahlata ash-shita'i wa as-saif" (106:2). They would go during the summer and during the winter, he would go to towards Sham. On his way, he went to Yathrib. He would constantly go to Yathrib, yes. He fell ill in Yathrib and he sadly passed away, where in Yathrib? Modern day Medinat ul-Munawwara. The Prophet of Islam had not yet been born, according to many historians, the Prophet of Islam was what? Not yet born. Yet, Aminah was of course pregnant with the Messenger of God.
And this without a shadow of a doubt was something that placed grief and sadness in her heart. And in indeed we find narrations that Abdul Muttalib himself was very much saddened by this. The narrations tell us therefore, that Aminah, salamu Allahi alayha, would give birth to the Holy Prophet Al-Rasul Al-'Adham, wa An-Nabi al-Akram, Muhammad Al-Mustafa, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad]. And this happened in the morning, Fajr time of Friday the 17th of Rabi' Al-Awwal in the year known as the year of the Elephant. Without going into the description of the details of what happened during that illustrious birth, that moment that the heavens indeed would shine with light, that the idols would fall and break, that the fire of the Zoastrians and those worshiping other than Allah will be extinguished. We are told this honourable lady with what? Would bring forth the Messenger of God. When she would bring forth the Messenger of God she would breastfeed him, according to some narrations for two days, other narrations I found four days. Maximum nine days, maximum nine days.
Now, many of the stories that you have on the mimber regarding what happened next, may be subject to fabrication. Please pay attention to this because the Tarikh, the history, the Sirah al-Nabawiyya is what? Is unfortunately one that did not become saved from the hands of Bani Ummaya and Bani al-Abbas when it comes to distortions. One of the likely distortions in the story of the Prophet of Islam, from the first days of his birth is the story of Halima as-Sa'diya, Ridhwan Allahi Ta'ala alayha. What do we mean? We are told that Halima, this righteous woman, she came to where? She came to Mecca, seeking work, she was a wet nurse, she wanted to feed someone. When the narration tells us she wanted to feed someone, the only person that was left was the baby who is known as Muhammad, but she was hesitant. The narration says because what? Because the family were poor they would not have money, yes? And therefore others were taken, and the only one who was left was the Prophet and therefore she would accept the Prophet.
This is likely to be a false story, a false narration, why? Abdul Muttalib, Abu Talib, the tribe of Bani Hashim were well off. They were what? Well established in Mecca. They were not individuals who are destitute and poor, number one. Number two, the decision to make Halima the wet nurse of the Prophet was not a decision of Halima, and it was not a decision of Abdul Muttalib, neither was a decision of Aminah. It was a decision of Allah Subhana wa Ta'la, this was all planned. Yes you say to me where is the proof? This is a narration that we have in a number of our books. Yes. Halimah comes to Mecca, she sees Abdul Muttalib solving the problems of the people. She looks at him and says, I want to suckle a baby. Yes, but I specifically want to take your grandson Muhammad. He said to her, if he comes to you, then yes, only if he accepts you. She goes to Aminah, she says to Aminah, fa qalat ismi Halimah, my name is Halimah. Fa qalat Aminah Na'am, yes. Listen to this, anti man umirtu an ussalimu waladi laha, you are the one I was commanded to give my son to.
Not everything you hear from a mimbar and you read in books of history regarding the Sirah of Al Nabawi, you take to be what actually happened. Be very careful, yes, because sometimes, yes, these narrations are taken as established, or the stories, people are quite confident with their authenticity. But more investigation is actually required. And thereafter, Aminah would hand over the Prophet of Islam to Halimah, and Halimah would say, I don't want any payment. Aminah says, but we have to honour you. Abdul Muttalib showers her with gifts and remunerates her. Halimah asks Aminah, how has been the first few days and how was your pregnancy? Listen to the words of Aminah. Aminah said, when I was pregnant with this child during the darkness of the night, I do not, did not need any candles or any light. Wherever I went, the path would illuminate for me. And she would describe the beautiful, what? story of the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam. Now, this particular lady Halimah, would take the Prophet, some narration says, two years, maximum four years.
Why? Some people say, why? Number one, because the dialect in Mecca was something that sometimes was adulterated or distorted, the Arabic dialect, due to the presence of tribes who would come from different parts of the world, in order to trade, and therefore it was common practice for children to be raised where? Outside Mecca, would be raised in areas which were less cosmopolitan, less populated. That's particularly one reason. Another is the purer air that existed outside Mecca. And a third that it was common, it was something that everybody did, [they] would raise the children outside the main city but the main reason was that Allah, Subhana wa Ta'ala, wanted this to happen and without a shadow of a doubt, without going into reasons or evidence, we believe Halimah as-Sa'dya, ridhwanu Allah Ta'ala 'alayha, whose grave today still exists and is marked what? Or Mu'minin are able to find it, although it is unmarked in Jannatul Al-Baqi' in Medinat ul-Munawwara was monotheistic. She never worshipped any other than Allah, Subhana wa Ta'ala, because she would breastfeed the Messenger of God, and she would raise the Prophet of Islam in such an honourable, wonderful way.
She herself would see a number of miracles. Narrations tell us that she witnessed a number of miracles. She was not able to suckle the Prophet from her left side. The moment she obtained the Prophet, she would have milk from her left side. She herself says that there was a tree, a palm tree that I would constantly go and pluck some dates to give to some children. One day what I would normally do is pluck some dates and when the young Muhammad would be asleep, when he would wake up, I would give him these dates. Yes, but one day I have forgotten to give him the dates, and instead, I gave it to the other children. When he woke up, he was hungry. I saw him with my own eyes, he walked towards that palm tree and spoke to it and said, O palm tree, I ask you by my status in the eyes of Allah to kneel down and the palm tree knelt down. The Prophet plucked some dates from it and it went back up again. She said, I saw these particular miracles, and I recognised that this child was not the normal child. He was certainly destined to become an individual who was great. When she handed over the Prophet to Aminah at the age of four, the Messenger of God was back with his own mother.
What was it that Aminah, salamu Allahi alayha, would do on an annual basis? She would go and visit the grave of her husband in Yathrib. There is a grave for Abdullah, salamu Allah Alayh, in an area known as Dar un-Nabikha. Dar un-Nabikha is where they buried Abdullah. Aminah would take the Prophet, would make the journey from Mecca to Medina, or Yathrib at that time, and would pay her respects to her husband. Every single year, she would go and what? And would visit this particular grave. And then narrations tell us, the Prophet of Islam in one instance spent one month in that house next to the grave of his own father Abdullah. When the Prophet was six years of age, when Aminah left the grave of her husband, beloved husband Abdullah, on her way back to Mecca, 23 miles approximately outside Medina, she fell ill and she passed away.
Narrations tell us that she left this world at the age of 30. What is interesting is till today her grave can be found in an area known as Abua'. Please pay attention to this. Not many people go to visit the mother of Aminah. Who is it that established the Ziyara of the grave of Aminah, salamu Allah alayha? It was none other than the Prophet of Islam, ar-Rasul Al-'Adham Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad]. Because narrations tell us from the Hajjat ul-Wida', when the Prophet of Islam performed the final pilgrimage on his way back to Medina, he went to the grave. He sat next to the grave and he would then say words that would make everybody cry. Fa baka wa abka. The narration is found in Mustadrak al-Sahihayn, al-Hakam Naishapuri says it is Sahih, this narration, as well as a number of other historians and narrators of Hadith, they all come forward and say that the Prophet performs the Ziyara of the grave of his beloved mother Aminah.
And what did he recite, I wonder that made others cry? Because today when we recite Masa'ib, there are Muslims who say, where did you come from? How is this allowed in Islam? I ask them, the Prophet when he was next to the grave of his own beloved mother, what did he recite that made others cry? It is just to create the emotion in order for people to be able to connect to that particular individual.
Now an important subject that we must end with, is this idea that exists today in the Muslim world. Our brothers from the Ahl us-Sunnah fall into three categories when it comes to Aminah and Abdullah. Please pay attention to this so that you understand where we stand, and how the Muslims view the fathers and the mothers of the Ma'sumin peace and blessings be upon them.
The first group of our brothers from other Muslim schools of thought, say they are believers, and the reason why they say they are believers, is they have a narration that says the Prophet of Islam went to the grave of Aminah, and went to the grave of Abdullah, and asked Allah to bring them back to life again. They were brought back to life and they both testified to the oneness of Allah and the Messengership of the Prophet of Islam. So they say that they both died as believers.
However, a good number, a good mean sizeable number of Muslims, headed by the likes of for example, Allama Hafidh, for example, individuals like Fakhrudin Ar-Razi, Ibn Taymia and others, they believe that they are definitely Kafir. That they died as disbelievers. You ask me what is the evidence that they have? They have two Hadiths in Sahih Muslim and Bukhari. Yes. One of the Hadiths in the Sahih literature, says that when the Prophet of Islam saw an individual who asked him, Ya Rasul Allah, is my father in hell? The Prophet said yes. The man was upset, so he walked away. The Prophet called him back and says, do not worry, my father is also in hell. Another narration, yes, Sahih Muslim says in one occasion the Prophet of Islam came forward and said what? He said, istadhantu Rabbi an astaghfira li ummi, I asked Allah Oh Allah, allow me to seek forgiveness for my mother. Fa lam ya'dhen le, he did not allow me. Wa stathantuhu an azura qabraha fa'dhina li, he said to me, I asked him, Ya' Allah, at least let me visit her grave. He allowed to me. This is where? In Sahih Muslim.
How do we respond to this? Very briefly, if you look at the first narration, there is an important individual you must know the narrator of this particular Hadith. His name is Hammad Ibn Salama. Hammad Ibn Salama narrates that the Prophet of Islam said, my father is in hell. Hammad Ibn Salama was what? An individual who married a female, a lady who already had a son, his son was Ibn Abi al-Awja'. If those who know the biography of the sixth Imam imam Al Sadiq, alayhi as-salam, will not be alien to the name Ibn Abi al-Awja'. Ibn Abi al-Awja' was one of the Zanadiqah, Ibn Abi al-Awja', was a Mulhid, he was an Atheist. Now what happened later on this particular individual, Hammad who is a narrator of Hadith, widely utilised in the Sahih literature would forget the narrations, and therefore he would give the books of Hadith to this adopted son of his, whom? Ibn Abi al-Awja'. Ibn Abi al-Awja' was later convicted, of what? Of being a atheist by the Bani Abbas. Abbasides said, we have to kill you. When he was about to be killed for this, he came forward and said, this is recorded in Muslim literature. He said, I have fabricated 4000 narrations and I have made halal what is haram, and I have made haram what is halal. So the source of this fabrication is an individual who was himself, what? An atheist.
Similarly, if you look at the second narration, what is the problem with the second narration? They say that the Prophet said, Ya Allah, I want to do istighfar for my mother, but Allah says no. But the Qur'an comes forward and does not allow the what? The visiting of the graves of the mushrikeen. In chapter nine, verse 113, Allah says: "Ma kana li an-Nabiyyi wa alladhina amanu an yastaghfiru, li 'l mushrikeen" (9:113), that they cannot do istighfar for the mushrikeen. And later Allah says in another verse: "wa la taqum 'ala qabrih" (9:84), do not go and visit the graves of mushrikeen. How is it then that the Prophet would go and visit the grave of his own mother if she was a mushrik? God forbid.
But I leave you with an outstanding narration which points to the fact that these honourable individuals were indeed monotheistic, were honourable they are role models and exemplary. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad]. This narration is beautiful, listen to it.
"Inna Allah awha ila an-Nabi", Allah revealed to the Holy Prophet. "Inni harramtu an-nara a'la sulbin anzalak", I have made hell haram, forbidden, for the loin that brought you into existence. "Wa batnin hamalak" and the womb that carried you. "Wa hijjrin kafalak" and the what? Individual who looked after you. "Wa ahla baytin awuk", and a family, that what? Protected you. Who are these? The loin that bought you, is Abdullah. The womb that carried you, is Aminah. The individual who looked after you, is Abu Talib and the family that protected you is Fatimah Bint Asad, ridhwan Allah Ta'ala 'alayhim. This narration and much more, highlights their nobility, their excellence, the fact that were indeed believers from day one, and that the Prophet of Islam loved them, and indeed prayed for them.
Finally, the spiritual tip for today is the following. That many a times in the month of Ramadhan we are recite this Du'a, recite this Du'a. We are indeed, presented with so many beautiful supplications in the month of Ramadhan. It is the month of Du'as without shadow of doubt. But what we need to get out of, is what I call the robotic tick zone, RTZ, yes, robotic tick zone. Which means what? Which means we have a sense that I must recite a number of Du'as every day just so that I have recited them. No problem, recite them, it is great, there is benefit. But there are those who say which Du'a should we focus more in the month of Ramadhan. The answer is: the Du'a that you understand and connect with the most. The Du'a that you feel what? Your heart tending softer the most. That Du'a that indeed makes you aware and cognisant of the presence of Allah, Subhana Wa Ta'ala. Recite that Du'a frequently during the month of Ramadhan, and especially when it comes to the night of Qadar.
Finally, the Fiqhi ma'sa'la, some Mu'imnin have said our lips are dry in the month of Ramadhan. Are we allowed to use this lip balm? Yes, that is used to somehow moisten the lips? There is no problem, as long as we are not using the tongue to take any of this away and indeed swallow it or ingest it. There is no problem there. Toothbrush and brushing the teeth in the month of Ramadhan, is that something that is permissible or not? It is permissible, provided we can be sure that we do not swallow the toothpaste or the water used during the process. That we must make sure that everything is what? Is taken out.
What about the final ma'sa'la, and that is intravenous fluids. Injections are allowed, yes, there is no problem in having injection. For example, if you have not yet had the covid vaccine, please have the covid vaccine. Yes. Even when you are fasting, there is no problem in doing so. But what about, if somebody is healthy and totally fine, goes to the hospital and says, I want IV fluid, please because I feel weak. Is this allowed? What do you think? Yes? No? Most people are happy that it is a no. It is allowed! Do not all of you rush to hospital, please! Yes. It is allowed because what is forbidden is what is ingested, what is taken in the mouth. Yet, if you have IV fluid, it does not break your fast.
May Allah, Subhana Wa Ta'ala accept our fast and grant us success in Dunya and Akhira, and allow us to follow in the footsteps of the great ladies in Islam, especially Aminah Bint Wahab with the Baraka of Salawat a'la Muhammad wa 'Aali Muhammad [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad].
