AL-MIZAN - An Exegesis of the Quran -Vol 12

Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai - XKP

Published: 2016

Tag(s): islam

In the Name of Allãh

The All-Compassionate, The All-Merciful

Praise belongs to Allãh, the Lord of all Being;

the All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful;

the Master of the Day of Judgement.

Thee only we serve; and to Thee alone we pray

for succour.

Guide us in the straight path,

the path of those whom Thou hast blessed,

not of those against whom Thou art wrathful,

nor of those who are astray.

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O' Allãh! Send your blessings to the head of

your messengers and the last of

your prophets,

Muhammad and his pure and cleansed progeny.

Also send your blessings to all your

prophets and envoys.

Chapter   1

FOREWORD

1. The late al-‘Allãmah as-Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabãtabã’ī (1321/1904 – 1402/1981) – may Allãh have mercy upon him – was a famous scholar, thinker and the most celebrated contemporary Islamic philosopher. We have introduced him briefly in the first volume of the translation of al-Mīzãn.

2. al-‘Allãmah at-Tabãtabã’ī is well-known for a number of his works of which the most important is his great exegesis al-Mīzãn fītafsīri 'l-Qur’ãn which is rightly counted as the fundamental pillar of scholarly work which the ‘Allãmah has achieved in the Islamic world.

3. We felt the necessity of publishing an exegesis of the Holy Qur’ãn in English. After a thorough consultation, we came to choose al-Mīzãn because we found that it contained in itself, to a considerable extent, the points which should necessarily be expounded in a perfect exegesis of the Holy Qur’ãn and the points which appeal to the mind of the contemporary Muslim reader. Therefore, we proposed to the late great scholar al-‘Allãmah as-Sayyid Sa‘īd Akhtar ar-Radawī (may Allãh cover him with His mercy) to undertake this task, because we were familiar with his intellectual ability to understand the Arabic text of al-Mīzãn and his literary capability in expression and translation. So, we relied on him for this work and considered him responsible for the English translation as al-‘Allãmah at-Tabãtabã’ī was responsible for the Arabic text of al-Mīzãn and its discussions.

4. We have now undertaken the publication of the twelfth volume of the English translation of al-Mīzãn. This volume corresponds with the second half of the sixth volume of the Arabic text. With the help of Allãh, the Exalted, we hope to provide the complete translation and publication of this voluminous work.

In the first volume, the reader will find two more appendices included apart from the two which are to appear in all volumes of the English translation of al-Mīzãn: One for the authors and the other for the books cited throughout this work.

*     *     *     *     *

We implore upon Allãh to affect our work purely for His pleasure, and to help us to complete this work, which we have started. May Allãh guide us in this step which we have taken and in the future steps, for He is the best Master and the best Helper.

WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR ISLAMIC

SERVICES

(Board of Writing, Translation and Publication)

17/1/1424,

19/5/2003,

Tehran – IRAN.

Part 1

THE TABLE

Chapter   2

Translation of verses 106-109

O you who believe! Call to witness between you when death draws nigh to one of you, at the time of making the will, two just persons from among you, or two others from among others than you, if you are travelling in the land and the calamity of death befalls you; the two witnesses you should detain after the prayer; then if you doubt (them), they shall both swear by Allãh, (saying): "We will not take for it a price, though there be a relative, and we will not hide the testimony of Allãh, for then certainly we should be among the sinners" (106). Then if it becomes known that they both have been guilty of a sin, two others shall stand up in their place from among those who have a claim against them, the two nearest in kin; so they two should swear by Allãh: "Certainly our testimony is truer than the testimony of those two, and we have not exceeded the limit, for then most surely we should be of the unjust" (107). This is more pro-per in order that they should give testimony truly or fear that other oaths be given after their oaths; and fear Allãh, and hear; and Allãh does not guide the transgressing people (108). On the day when Allãh will assemble the messengers, then say: "What answer were you given?" They shall say: "We have no knowledge, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things" (109).

COMMENTARY

The first three verses deal with affairs of testimony, and the last one is not without some connection with it in meaning.

QUR’ÃN: O you who believe! Call to witness between you … "… for then most surely we should be of the unjust": The gist of the two verses is as follows: If a Muslim is on journey and wants to make a will, he must call to witness, at the time of will, two just witnesses from among the Muslims; if he does not find them, then he should call two witnesses from among the People of the Book. If the near relatives of the deceased feel some doubt about the will, the two witnesses shall be detained after the prayer, they shall swear by Allãh for their truth in witnessing, and the discord will be removed. Then if it be-comes known that the two witnesses have lied in testimony, then two other witnesses shall stand up in the place, and testify against them swearing in the name of Allãh.

This is apparently the connotation of the two verses. The phrases: "'O you who believe'", addresses the believers and the law is reserved to them. "Call to witness between you when death draws nigh to one of you, at the time of making the will, two just persons from among you": It means, witness between you is witness of two just persons from among you; there is an omitted but understood mudãf (first construct of a genitive), i.e. two just persons from among you. It means that the required number of witnesses is two; thus the masdar here gives meaning of active participle, as they say, a just man, two just men.

The phrase: "when death draws nigh to one of you," is an allusion for drawing near to you the cause for making will, because people naturally do not get involved in such things unless there appears some-thing which indicates death's nearness; usually it means serious illness which brings man nearer to death.

The clause: "at the time of making the will," is an adverbial phrase of time, related to "witness", i.e. witness at the time of making the will. The masdar, al-‘adl ( اَلْعَدْلُ ) means probity, and the context shows that it means probity and rectitude in religious affairs. This, in its turn, ascertains the "from among you" and "from among others than you" means from among the Muslims and the non-Muslims respectively, and not near relatives and clan; Allãh has mentioned "two" parallel to "two others", then has described the former as "just persons" and "from among you", while the latter has only been described as "from among others than you" without the qualification of justice. The qualification of probity or otherwise in religious affairs differs in the Muslim and the non-Muslim; there is no reason why probity in religious affairs should be necessary if the witnesses were from among the relatives or clan of the principal, but unnecessary if the witness were a non-relative.

Accordingly, the phrase: "or two others from among others than you," presents an alternative with sequence. The meaning: If there are Muslims two of them shall be made witnesses; but if there is none other than non-Muslims then two of them will be called to witness; all this is understood from the associations.

This very association makes it understood that the clause: "if you are travelling in the land and the calamity of death befalls you," is a restriction related to the words: "or two others from among others than you"; a Muslim usually lives in a Muslim society, and normally in a Muslim environment there does not arise a need to call two non-Muslims to act as witnesses; contrary to the condition of travelling when such chances or emergencies may occur and the need may arise to approach non-Muslims for witnessing, etc.

The same association, i.e. affinity between the subject and the order, joined with the taste perceived from the divine speech, proves that the word, non-Muslims, here exclusively points to the People of the Book, because the divine speech does not bestow any nobility to the polytheists.

The clause: "they shall both swear by Allãh," i.e. the two witnesses shall swear; the clause: "then if you doubt," i.e. if you are in doubt about what the executor of the will describes concerning the will, or about the property governed by the will, or about its condition; what they shall swear to, is explained in the next sentence: "We will not take for it a price though there be a relative … ," i.e. We will not accept any big or small price for testifying for the claim of the executor of the will, even if he be a relative of ours. Selling the testimony for a price indicates that the witness turns aside from the truth in his testimony for a worldly goal, like wealth, prestige or feeling of relationship; thus he offers his testimony in exchange of a worldly price, and it is a small price indeed.

An exegetes has said that the pronoun, it, [in the phrase: We will not take for it] refers to the oath, i.e. We will not take for our oath a price; but it would entail swearing twice by Allãh, and the verse does not give any such hint.

The clause: "and we will not hide the testimony of Allãh", i.e. by testifying against the reality and truth; "for then certainly we should be among the sinners," i.e. carriers of sin. This sentence is in conjunction with, "We will not take for it a price, … " as an explicative apposition.

In the possessive case: "the testimony of Allãh", ‘the testimony’ is related to "Allãh", because Allãh testifies for the reality as the two witnesses do it; therefore it is the testimony of Allãh as it is the testimony of the two witnesses; and Allãh has more right to possession; thus it is His testimony by right and primarily, and the testimony of the two witnesses follows it secondarily. Allãh has said: … and Allãh is sufficient as a witness. (4:79); . . . and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He pleases; … (2:255).

Alternatively, it may be because witnessing it a right of Allãh imposed on His servants and it is incumbent on them to offer it with truth without alteration, without hiding it. It is as we say, religion of Allãh, thus we ascribe the religion to Allãh although it is the servants who are covered by it. Allãh says: … and give upright testimony for Allãh. . . . (65:2) ;  . . . and do not conceal testimony, … (2:283).

The clause: "Then if it becomes known … "; al-‘uthūr ( اَلْعُثُور ) followed by preposition ‘alã ( عَلَى ) means to get something, to find something. This verse elaborates the law if it becomes known that the two witnesses have lied and testified wrongly.  The clause: "that they both have been guilty of a sin": Istihqãq (إسْتِحْقَاق = to be entitled; to deserve); al-ithm (الإثْم = sin); to be entitled to a sin means to commit a sin or crime; it is said: The man deserved a sin, i.e. he committed a sin; Zayd deserved a sin against Bakr, i.e. Zayd committed a crime against Bakr. That is why in the coming sentence it has taken the preposition ‘alã ( عَلَى ), as it says: two others shall stand up in their place "from among those who have a claim against them," i.e. those against whom the two witnesses have sinned by giving false testimony and perfidy. The basic meaning of istahaqqa 'r-rajul ( إسْتَحَقَّ الرَجُل ) is as follows: The man demanded that the sin or its punishment be established and confirmed against him. Accordingly it is here an extended metaphor in which demand is used for describing the thing demanded, and path is mentioned in place of destination. The word, sin, in the clause: "that they both have been guilty of a sin," is inferred from the preceding clause: "for then certainly we should be among the sinners."

The words: two others shall stand up in their place, i.e. if it is found that the two witnesses have committed perjury and perfidy, then two other witnesses shall stand in their place for swearing that the first two have committed perjury and perfidy.

The clause: "from among those who have a claim against them," denotes situation, i.e., while these two new witnesses against whom the first two had committed perfidy, and who are nearest in kin to the deceased according to the will, as ar-Rãzī has stated in his tafsīr. In short, it denotes that if it was known that the two witnesses have committed perjury and perfidy against the near relatives of the deceased, then two other witnesses shall stand up in their place from among those against whom the first two have committed that perjury, before their guilt was known.

This interpretation is based on the recital of ‘Ãsim from Hafs who has recited ustuhiqqa ( قَّ اُسْتُحِ ) in passive voice; then the apparent context would make, "the first two" the subject and its predicate would be, "two others shall stand up in their place". The meaning: If it becomes known that the two witnesses have committed perjury and perfidy against the near relatives of the deceased, then two near relatives of the deceased shall stand up in their place against whom the perfidy was committed.

In the recital of ‘Ãsim through Abū Bakr, Hamzah, Khalaf and Ya‘qūb, al-awlayãn ( اَلأَوْلَيَان ) is recited al-awwalīn ( الأوَّ لِيْن= the first ones, opposite to the last ones), and apparently it means the nearest of kin who have first claim [on the deceased's estate]; it is adjective or appositional substantive standing for "those who".

The exegetes have written much numerous modes and aspects so far as the construction of various parts of the verse is concerned; so much so that if some aspects are multiplied by the others in order to infer the full meaning of the verse, it would result in hundreds of aspects. az-Zajjãj has reportedly said that it is the most complicated verse of the Divine Book so far as its construction is concerned.

What we have written in its explanation is manifestly clear from the context, without any aberration or arbitrariness; we have avoided thoroughly looking at all the possibilities, which they have mentioned, because it would only increase the vagueness of the word, leaving a scholar bewildered.1

From the clause: "two others shall stand up in their place", sprouts the clause: "so they two should swear by Allãh;" it means the two other witnesses, nearest in kin to the deceased; they should swear by Allãh that certainly our testimony (which unmasks the falsity and perfidy of the first two witnesses) is truer than that of the first two concerning the aspects of the will; and we have not exceeded the limit against them by testifying contrary to what they had testified, other-wise, most surely we should be among the unjust people.

QUR’ÃN: This is more proper in order that they should give testimony truly or fear that other oaths be given after their oaths; … : The verse describes the underlying reason of the preceding rule. It says that this law, with the sequence prescribed by Allãh, is the safest way of arriving at the truth in this place, and is the nearest method of ensuring that the first two witnesses would not commit injustice in their testimony, as they would be afraid that, otherwise their testimony would be refuted and rejected.

Man is entangled in his desire; the desire invites him to enjoy whatever he can, and grasp to whatever he longs for, provided there is

1 If anybody wants to know those details, he should refer to the Tafsīr Rūhu 'l-ma‘ãnī, vol.7 (by al-Ãlūsī), Majma‘u 'l-bayãn (by at-Tabrisī), Mafãtīhu 'l-ghayb (by ar-Rãzī) and other detailed books. (Author's note)

nothing to divert him from it; it makes no difference whether he has any right to that desired item or not, whether it is based on justice or injustice even by nullifying someone else's right. The man desists from that transgression and exceeding the limit either because of some exterior thing which prevents him from it through punishment or chastisement, or because of some inner prohibition from his own soul; and the strongest psychological prohibitive factor is the belief in Allãh to Whom the servants have to return and Who takes reckoning of the deeds, decides with justice and awards full recompense.

If, as is supposed at this juncture, the reality about the deceased's will is unknown and the only way to find it is through the testimony of the two witnesses whom the deceased had appointed, then the strongest way of keeping their testimony nearer to truth is to compel them to swear by Allãh, and to make the nearest of kin of the deceased swear by Allãh if it transpires that the first two witnesses have committed perjury and perfidy. Thus, these two methods, i.e. their oaths in the beginning and then returning the oath to the nearest of kin, are the most effective ways to keep the first two witnesses on truth, as they would be afraid to be ignominiously exposed and their oaths refuted. These two are the strongest factors to prevent them from deviation from truth.

Then Allãh ended the speech with the admonition and warning: and fear Allãh, and hear; and Allãh does not guide the transgressing people.

QUR’ÃN: On the day when Allãh will assemble the messenger, then say: "What answer were you given?" They shall say: "We have no knowledge, surely thou art the great Knower of the unseen things.": The verse is not averse to be connected with the previous subject; al-though the end part of the preceding verse:" and fear Allãh, and hear … ,"is general, yet the context denotes that it contains prohibition of deviation, committing injustice in witnessing or disdaining the oath by the name of Allãh. Thus it is appropriate to describe what is to take place between Allãh and His messengers, who shall be witnesses over their nations, and what an excellent witnesses they are! Allãh shall ask them what answer they were given by their people, and although they knew very well what their people had done, and they were appointed by Allãh to be their witnesses, yet they will reply by saying: "'We have no knowledge, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things.'"

The matters being like this and with Allãh being the Knower of everything, it is appropriate for the witnesses to be afraid of divine majesty, and not to deviate from the truth which Allãh has given them the knowledge of; they should not conceal the testimony of Allãh, otherwise they would be one of the sinners, unjust and tyrants.

The divine words: "On the day when Allãh will assemble … ," is an adverb of time, related to the preceding clauses: "and fear Allãh … " The verse speaks of assembling of the messengers (instead of saying, when Allãh will say to the messengers), as it has more affinity with gathering of the witnesses for testimony, as shown by the words: the two witnesses you should detain after the prayer; … they shall both swear by Allãh.

As for the messengers' negating the knowledge from themselves, when they shall say: "'We have no knowledge, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things.'" They restrict the knowledge of all unseen things exclusively to Allãh, and it proves that the negated is not the knowledge per se, because the clause:" surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things", apparently aims at explaining the reason of negation; and it is understood that confinement of the knowledge of all unseen things does not entail removal of all knowledge from other than Allãh, especially so when it is a knowledge of testimony; and what will be asked, i.e. how the people answered their messengers, is related to the testimony not to the unseen.

Their reply: "'We have no knowledge'", does not negate knowledge in general; it negates the truly inside knowledge which is not without some relationship with the unseen. It is known that the knowledge discloses to the knower the reality as much as it is related to a certain affair concerning its causes and concomitants; and the reality is inter-connected with all parts present externally, whether they precede the reality in external existence or are found simultaneously; knowledge of any external affair, in true sense, does not occur except by comprehending all parts of its existence and acquiring comprehension of its Maker – far be it from His majesty that anything could ever comprehend Him, and it is an affair beyond the human power. Thus, man has not been given knowledge in this universe – the universe thinking on whose vast dimension leaves him flabbergasted, looking at the magnitude of its stars and galaxies makes him scared, if he observes its minute items his reason is bewildered, and if he wants to walk between these two extremes he becomes giddy – except a little that is needed by him in the journey of his life, just as a walker in utterly dark night carries a small candle which gives him only enough light to see where to put his next step.

What the human knowledge is connected to, adheres with its being, and attaches with its reality to its fringes and then to the fringes of the fringes and so on. All of it is unperceived by human perceptions. Knowledge, in its true meaning, cannot be attached to anything except when it is connected to all its unseen factors of existence, and this is not possible for any limited creature, be it human or something else, except Allãh, the One, the Subduer, with Him are the keys of the unseen, none but He knows them. Allãh says: … and Allãh knows, while you do not know (2:216). The verse shows that man's nature is ignorance, and he is not given knowledge except to a limited measured quantity. Allãh says: There is not a thing but its treasures are with Us, and We do not send it down but according to known measures (15:21). The same is the connotation of the ma‘sūm's reply when he was asked, "Why Allãh is concealed from His creatures?" He said: "Because surely He has built their structure on ignorance." Allãh has also said: … and   they   cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except that which He pleases; . . . (2:255). It shows that knowledge, all of it, belongs to Allãh and man comprehends out of it only what Allãh wills. Also He says: … and you have not been given the knowledge but a little (17:85). This proves that there is a multitude of knowledge, but man has not been given except a little.

So, the reality is this: knowledge, the real one, is not found except with Allãh. When the Day of Resurrection comes, the things will appear in their true forms and shapes, as the related verses show. Thus, there would not be on that day any place except for the true speech, as Allãh says:  … they shall not speak except he whom the Beneficent Lord gives leave, and he will speak the truth. That is the certain day, … (78:38-39). That is why when the messengers shall be asked, "What answer were you given?" the true reply will be to repudiate from themselves all knowledge as it will be a part of the unseen, and to affirm it to their Load, by saying: "We have no knowledge, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things."

This reply of theirs, emanates from their humility before His Grandeur and Majesty; it is a confession of their personal neediness and essential nullity vis-à-vis their True Master; keeping the manner of His audience and displaying the truth of the matter. However, it is not a final answer shutting the door to further replies, because:

First: Because Allãh has made them witnesses for their peoples, as He says in this Book: How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness, and We bring you as a witness over those (witnesses)? (4:41);… and  the  book (of deeds) shall be set up, and the prophets and the witnesses shall be summoned … (39:69). And there is no meaning of making them witnesses except that they should be witnesses over their peoples – as the witnessing should be on that day. Inevitably they will testify on that day as Allãh has ordained it. Thus, their reply, "We have no knowledge," is based on the manner of worshipful homage vis-à-vis the True King in whose hand is command and kingdom on that day. It also explains the reality of the affair, i.e. Allãh possesses knowledge by Himself, and others possess it only as much as He makes them have it; and there is no wrong if, after this reply, they disclose what knowledge they had of the conditions of their peoples. This supports what we have previously written in the first volume of this book, under the verse: And thus we have made you a justly balanced group so that you may be witnesses over mankind, and so that the Messenger may be a witness over you,  … (2:143), where we have explained that this knowledge and witnessing are not of the type of knowledge and witnessing as we understand them; rather they are of the knowledge which is particularly reserved to Allãh and which is bestowed to a group of His honoured servants

Second: Because Allãh has confirmed that a group of his nearer servants will possess knowledge on the Day of Resurrection. He says: And those who have been given knowledge and faith will say: Verily you have tarried according to the decree of Allãh till the Day of Resurrection, … " (30:56); . . . and on the heights shall be men who know them all by their marks (7:46); And those whom they invoke beside Him do not own any power of intercession, save he who bears witness to the truth, and they know the truth (43:86); and ‘Īsã son of Maryam is included in this verse, and he was a messenger; therefore he is among those who bear witness to the truth and they know the truth; And the Messenger shall say: "O my Lord! Verily my people took this Qur’ãn as a thing abandoned." (25:30). The Messenger refers to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), and his speech quoted in this verse is exactly the reply to the question contained in the verse under discussion, i.e., the divine words: "What answer were you given?" Now, it is clear that the words of the Messengers: "We have no knowledge, … " is not the final answer, as described above.

Third: Because the Qur’ãn mentions that the questioning will cover both the Messengers and those to whom they were sent. Allãh says: Then surely We shall question those to whom (Our messengers) were sent, and certainly We will also question the messengers (7:6). Also, He mentions many replies given by the people to whom the messengers were sent of many questions asked of them; and replying entails knowledge and questioning confirms it. Also, Allãh says: Certainly, you were heedless of this (day), now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight is sharp today (50:22); And could you but see when the guilty will stand before their Lord, heads hung low, (and say): "O our Lord! We have seen and we have heard; now send us back; we will do good; verily now we are convinced." (32:12). There are many verses of similar theme. Now, when the peoples – and especially the guilty among them – were having knowledge on that day, how could it be imagined that the honoured messengers would be lacking that knowledge. Thus the end result is the same as we have said.

Chapter   3

A TALK ON THE MEANING OF TESTIMONY

The society in which we live, and the interaction that takes place between our active powers in general aspects of this worldly life, pushes us willy-nilly to various kinds of discords and disputes. What one of us exclusively enjoys, often another one wants to share it with him, or even acquire it solely for himself, displacing the original owner. This made man realize that jurisprudential judgements and decrees were essential for settling such disputes.

The first requirement for judging a case is that the events and occurances should be preserved exactly as they took place and recorded in a way that no change or alteration sneaks in them, in order that the judge may decide accordingly. No body can doubt its importance.

This can be ensured only through making someone look at the event: He observes the episode and takes upon himself to convey the report truly when need arises, or records it in some other way, like writing or using other instruments which serve the same purpose [like audio or video cassettes, etc.].

There are some important differences between witnessing and other means of preservation and recording: First, The means of preservation and recording, other than witnessing, are not available generally; its most common and well known method is writing, but even today it has not covered the whole mankind, let alone the ancient times; contrary to the witnessing. Second, Rendering testimony, i.e., description with tongue by a witness through his undertaking to convey the fact truly and based on his memory, is less likely to be affected by any defectiveness and more secured against various afflictions in comparison to writing and other means of recording.

That is why we see that no nation shuns giving credence to testimony – it is true in all nations, despite their excessive discord in sociological customs, tribal and religious dispositions and progress or regress in culture and barbarism – in short every group gives some credence to testimonies.

Consideration is given in this respect to someone who is counted as a member of the nation and part of the group. That is why no importance is given to the evidence of a child below the age of discretion or to that of an insane who does not know what he speaks. The same is the reason why some barbarous nations did not recognize women's evidence, as they did not accept women as part of the society; and most of the social norms in ancient nations were based on the same thinking, like Rome, Greece and other regions.

Now, Islam is the natural religion, and as such recognizes testimony, and accepts this alone as the definite proof, while all other means of substantiation and corroboration have no value unless and until they create "Knowledge". Allãh says: … and establish the evidence for Allãh; … (65:2); … and do not conceal evidence, and whoever conceals it, then surely his heart is sinful; . . . (2:283); And those who stand firm in their testimonies (70:33).

Islam has fixed the number of two for witnesses regarding all affairs except fornication [where the required number is four] so that each supports the other. Allãh says: … then call to witness two witnesses from among your men, and if there are not two men, then one man and two women from among those whom you choose to be witnesses, so that should one of the two forgets the (second) of the two may remind the other; and the witnesses should not refuse when they are summoned; and be not averse to writing it (whether it be) small or large, with the time of its falling due. This (procedure) is more equitable in the sight of Allãh, and assures greater accuracy in testimony, and the nearest (way) to not entertaining any doubts (afterwards); … (2:282). It shows that what the verse explains and lays down in respect of the laws of witnessing, including the addition of one witness to the other to make them two, is more in conformity with justice, rendering of testimony and removal of doubt.

When Islam looks at the individual members of the society – who are the bricks to build the society – it counts woman among them, and bestows on her the right, like the men, to render the witness. At the same time, it has decided that the society created by it should be founded on understanding, rather than emotions. Woman is an emotional human being; and therefore it has given her half the right and weight of man; thus two women’s testimonies equal to that of a man, as the above-quoted verse points to: so that should one of the two forgets, the (second) of the two may remind the other. In the fourth volume of this, we have written on the right of woman in Islam, which will be useful here. Witnessing has many detailed laws, which are elaborated in the books of jurisprudence, which is beyond the limit of this discussion here.

Chapter   4

A TALK ON JUSTICE

A research scholar in Islamic Laws often comes across the word Justice; and he often finds different definitions and diverse explanations of this word, depending on diversity of the scholars and their ways.

But what is appropriate at this juncture of the Qur’ãnic discourse – in analysis of its meaning and the way of its application to the nature on which Islam is based – is that we should adopt another way of explanation. So we say:

al-‘Adãlah ( ةاَلْعَدَالَ ) is moderation and middle position between two modes of high and low, and two sides of exaggeration and short-fall. It has a real value and great weight in human societies. The via media, the moderate position, is the substantial ingredient or the core around which the social structure is built. A noble man of high rank who would be dressed in high social virtues, and represent the utmost wish of society, is not born every day; such a person appears on the scene only rarely and it is known that society is not made up of a rare person even if he be looked up as a cardinal organ wherever he be found.

On the other side is a vile and despicable person who does not uphold social rights, and who does not fulfil the average aspirations of the society. He does not have any caller inviting him to observe the general social principles on which depends the life of society; nor does he have any deterrent which would prevent him from committing social sins which destroy the society and nullify the essential mutual attraction between its ingredients; in short, no trust can be had for his being a part of the body of society, nor can one rely on his good influence and proper advice.

[We find, after leaving these two high and low ranks aside, that] the rule is exercised by the medium rank of the society on whom depends the society's structure, and who fulfil its aims and aspirations; and it is through them that its good effects take place – its ingredients and organs have not come together except for achieving this goal and enjoying it.

A member of the society cannot entertain any doubt about it when he looks at it even once.

It is self-evident to him that he, in his social life, greatly depends on some individual members of the society on whose social deportment he relies – they are covered with moderation in affairs, are cautious against being indifferent to breaking the laws or violation of prevalent customs and manners in various fields like jurisprudence, judgement and testimonies, etc.

This imperative or nearly imperative quality demanded by nature is what Islam looks for in a witness. Allãh says: … and  call  to  witness  two just men from among you, and establish the evidence as before Allãh. Thus is admonished he who believes in Allãh and the last day; … (65:2);. . . when death draws nigh to one of you, at the time of making the will, two just persons from among you, . . (5:106). Both these verses are addressed to those who believe. Therefore, the condition that the witnesses should be two just men from among them implies that they should have a moderate and medium position vis-à-vis their religious society; but as for its position vis-à-vis national or political society, Islam does not care for such non-religious relationships. Apparently, if the witnesses are on a medium position vis-à-vis the religious society, they must be from among those whose religiosity is relied upon and who do not indulge in major sins, which adversely affect the religion. Allãh says: If you avoid the major sins, which you are forbidden, We will remit from you your (minor) sins and We will make you enter an honourable entering (4:31). We have described the meaning of major sins under this verse in the fourth volume of this book.

This meaning is evident in the divine words: Those who accuse chaste women (and) then do not bring four witnesses, scourge them with eighty stripes, and do not accept their testimony forever and they are the transgressors. Save those who afterwards repent and make amends. So Allãh is Oft-forgiving, Merciful (24:4-5).

Similar to the previous verse which lays down the condition of justice and probity, is the divine word: … from among those whom you are pleased with to be witnesses, … (2:282), because the pleasure mentioned here means pleasure of a religious society; and it is known that a religious society, per se, will not be pleased with anyone unless he behaves in a manner that makes him trustworthy in religious affairs.

It is what we call in fiqh the faculty of ‘adãlah. It is other than what is called ‘adãlah in Ethics. The ‘adãlah of fiqh is the psycho-logical aspect which in common point of view prevents one from committing major sins; and the ‘adãlah of Ethics is the deep-rooted trait of character in reality.

What we have inferred from the meaning of ‘adãlah is what is understood from the madhhab of the Imãms of Ahlu 'l-Bayt (peace be upon them) as is reported through their chains:

[as-Sadūq] narrates in Man lã yahduruhu 'l-faqīh, through his chains from Ibn Abī Ya‘fūr, that he said: "I said to Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.), 'By what is known the ‘adãlah of a man among the Muslims, so that his testimony is accepted for and against them?' He said:

"'(It is) that they recognize him with covering and abstinance, and control of stomach, and genitals, and hand, and tongue; and he is known to avoid major sins for whom Allãh has threatened the Fire, as drinking liquor, fornication, interest, disobedience of parents, fleeing from jihãd and so on.

"'And it is known from the fact that he conceals all his defects, in order that the Muslims are forbidden to search for his slips and defects, and are obliged to pronounce his integrity, and declare his ‘adãlah among the people; and he is considered regular in the five prayers when he deligently prays and preserves their times with attending the Muslims' congregational prayers, and does not remain behind from their congregation in their prayer place except because of some (genuine) cause.

"'When he is like that, inseparable from his prayer-place at the advent of the five prayers; when he is asked about in his tribe and quarter, they would say: "We did not see from him except good", (he is) regular in his prayers, waiting for their times in his prayer place, then surely it would make his testimony valid, and (establish) his ‘adãlah among the Muslims. And it is because prayer is a curtain and expiation of sins. And it is not possible to testify about a man that he prays if he does not come to his prayer place and does not regularly attend the Muslims' congregation.

"'Congregation and gathering for prayer has been prescribed only for this purpose that he who prays may be distinguished from him who does not pray; and he who preserves the times of prayer from him who neglects it. And if it were not so, no one could testify for the goodness of the other, because he who does not pray has no goodness among the Muslims. Verily the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had intended to burn a group in their houses because they avoided attending the Muslims' congregations; and there were among them people who used to pray in their homes, but it was not accepted from them. Therefore, how can evidence or probity of someone be accepted among the Muslims about whom decision of Allãh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, and of His Messenger was taken to burn (him) with fire inside his house? And he (s.a.w.a.) used to say: "There is no prayer for him who does not pray in the mosque with the Muslims except because of some reason (illness)."'" (Man lã yahduruh 'l-faqīh)

The author says: ash-Shaykh has narrated it in at-Tahdhīb with some addition, which we have left out. Covering and abstinance both mean avoidance, as [Jawharī] has said in as-Sihãh. As you see, the tradition makes basic ‘adãlah a thing which is well-known among the Muslims; and shows that the effect resulting from it and which proves this psychological characteristic is avoidance of the things prohibited by Allãh, and abstention from forbidden desires; and it is recognized through avoidance of major sins; then proof of all this is seen in (his) good appearance among the Muslims, as the Imãm (a.s.) has described it in detail.

‘Abdullãh ibn al-Mughīrah narrates from Abu 'l-Hasan ar-Ridã (a.s.) that he said: "He who was born on fitrah (i.e., of Muslim parent) and is known with goodness in himself, his evidence is allowed." (ibid.)

Sumã‘ah has narrated through Abū Basīr from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "There is nothing wrong with evidence of an old (or weak) person when he is righteous and chaste." (ibid.)

[al-Kulaynī] narrates through his chain from ‘Alī ibn Mahziyãr from Abū ‘Alī ibn Rãshid that he said: "I said to Abū Ja‘far (a.s.): 'Verily, your followers are of different types; so should I pray with them all?' He said: 'Don't pray except behind him of whose religion you are confident.'" (al-Kãfī)

The author says: The tradition clearly indicates what we have explained above. There are other topics in it, which are beyond our theme here.

Chapter   5

A TALK ON OATH

What do you mean when you say: 'By my life, it is so'; or 'By my life, the thing is as I have said?' It means that you somehow attach that statement in its truthfulness to your life – which has a great position and dignity in your eyes – in such a way that they become inseparable in existence and non-existence; if you were wrong in your statement, you would nullify the dignity of your life and its honour in your eyes, and thus would fall down from the level of humanity which demands respect for life's affairs.

When you say, 'I adjure you by Allãh to do (or, not to do) this thing', it means that you have attached your order or prohibition to the dignity and honour which Allãh has in the believers' eyes; in this way if anyone goes against that order or prohibition it would be an insult to the divine position and would negate the sanctity of the belief in Allãh.

Likewise, when you say, 'By Allãh! I'll do such and such', you affect a special connection between your intention to do it and the dignity and honour which Allãh has in your eyes according to your belief in Him, so much so that if you cancel your intention it would entail a negation of the divine dignity in your eyes. Its purpose is to create a deterrent against cancellation of that plan. Thus, oath creates a special connection between a statement and another thing which has a dignity and honour in such a way that if the former is nullified, the latter too would be negated; and because the latter has such a dignity and honour that the person concerned would not be pleased by its loss of dignity or by an insult to it, therefore he is truthful in what he says and is obeyed in what he orders or forbids, or is bound to implement what he plans. So the oath results in intensified emphasis.

In some languages, there is found another kind of connection vis-à-vis oath; it connects the statement with something which has no value or importance at all in the eyes of the speaker; it is done to show the contempt or desdain of the information given or received – it is a sort of abuse and it is very rare in Arabic language.

Swearing and oath, as we know, is a prevalent custom on people's tongue, which is inherited generation after generation; and it is not particular to one language beside others. It proves that it is not something related to a language; rather man is led to it by his social life on occasions when he realizes the need to seek refuge in it and get its benefit.

Oath was always prevalent among the nations; they relied on it on various unprecise occasions, which occurred in their societies for various purposes, e.g. removal of blame, lifting a slander, making one-self happy, or supporting information. This continued at random until civil laws took it in their hands and gave it a legal stand on some occasssions, like swearing in of Presidents and Executives when they assume great responsibilities and are appointed to great and high posts, etc.

Islam gave oath full consideration when it was sworn in the name of Allãh in particular. It is not but because of the high regard that it accords to the Majesty of God, as it aims to protect the divine grandure from unbecoming attachments. That is why it has laid down special expiation for breaking the oath and dislikes frequent swearing in the name of Allãh. He say: Allãh does not call you to account for what is vain in your oaths, but He calls you to account for the making of deliberate oaths; so its expiation (for breaking an oath) is the feeding of ten poor men out of the average (food) you feed your families with, or their clothing, or the freeing a neck; … (5:89). And make not Allãh in your oaths a hindrance against that you may do good and . . . (2:224).

Islam has recognized oath in those cases of litigation where there is no proof. Allãh says: … so they two should swear by Allãh: "Certainly our testimony is truer than the testimony of those two, and we have not exceeded  the  limit, … " (5:107). And the Prophet (s.a. w.a.) has said: "The proof is on the claimant, and oath is on him who denies."

The essence of recognition of oath is that only the oath is a sufficient proof in cases where no other proof exists. The religious society is founded on individuals' belief in Allãh, and a believer is a part of this composite whole; he is the fountain-head from which spring forth the customs which are followed and laws which are enforced; in short, all signs which appear in the community and which rise from their religious condition. It is not unlike a secular society that is based on peoples' belief in their national objects, and from which the social laws and customs as well as the manners and culture are born which are found in it.

This being the case, as it is OK to rely in all social affairs, and in general concomitants of life, on individuals' oaths in various ways, then it should also be OK to rely on their oaths in cases where no other reliable proof exists – and it is the oath in cases where no proof is offered; the denier would attach his denial of the claimant's claim with his belief in such a way that if falsity of his claim becomes apparent, no reliance can be put on his belief in Allãh.

As he ties his belief and faith with that oath, he pawns his faith putting it under the control of the pawn-broker, and its return to the borrower depends on his true promise and repayment of the loan within the agreed period; otherwise the pawned property goes and he remains empty-handed.

Likewise, the one who swears is considered as if he has pawned his faith in exchange of what he has sworn for until its falsity is found out; when its falsity appears, he becomes empty-handed from faith, falls down from the height of reliability, is deprived of enjoying the fruit of belief; in other words, in the religious society he loses all social benefits; he is banished from the well-knit society; neither the sky puts him under its shadow nor the earth accepts his burden.

This discourse is supported by what used to happen at the time of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), when people openly showed their hatred for those who stayed behind from religious assemblies like congregational prayer, jihãd and so on; as it was the time when religion had total domination and authority over desires.

But what is the situation nowadays? Religion has lost its hold; base desires have seeped into hearts; we are living in a society composed of religious objectives (whose structure is weakened and people have turned away from it) and modern civilization's objectives. It is submerged in material enjoyments whose foundation is strong and general public eagerly proceeds towards it. Then there appeared severe quarrel and dispute between religious factors and modern civilization, in which constantly the latter is winning and the former retreating. The religious system that was supposed to dominate the society lost it coherence, and chaos and confusion appeared in spiritual affairs. In this condition, neither oath nor anything stronger can be of any bene-fit; there remains nothing to protect the people's rights. People have lost confidence not in the religious safeguards found in society, but even in modern laws.

However, the divine rules and sharī‘ah cannot be abrogated merely by the people's turning away from it or by their being tired of it. Verily the religion with Allãh is Islam, He is not pleased with disbelief for his servant, and if Truth had followed their desires the heavens and the earth would have perished. Certainly, Islam is a religion which deals with all conditions of human life, it explains them and describes their laws – the laws that consist of parts which are in conformity with each other, are interlinked and mutually complementary; they are alive with spirit of monotheism. If one part ails the whole becomes sick; if some portions become rotten, it adversely affects the whole – just like a human body.

If a limb of body starts ailing or becomes decayed, it is essential to preserve the healthy parts and treat the ailing one; it is not correct in reason to leave the ailing limb as it is and also neglect the healthy parts.

Islam is the True Religion, of easy laws and forgiving nature; its sharī‘ah has various vast degrees; its responsibilities are assessed according to what one has the ability to do. Its rope is stretched from secured social condition (where its laws and rules comprehensively cover all situations without exception) to individual conditions of emergency (when prayer is allowed by sign); but coming down from a high step to a lower one is conditional to emergency that removes responsibility and allows respite and extension. Allãh says: He who disbelieves in Allãh after he has believed – except he who has been forced (to do so), while his heart remains firm in faith – and opens (his) breast for dis-belief, will suffer the wrath of Allãh. For them there shall be a great torment … Then, verily your Lord – to those who migrated after being persecuted, then they strived hard and endured patiently – verily, your Lord, after that, is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (16:106, 110).

As for those who base their lives on materialistic enjoyment, then try to justify the rejection of its opposite religious factors by saying that it does not agree with prevalent customs of the present world, they merely follow the materialistic logic, and not the religious one.

There is a discourse related to this chapter that emanates from some people's claim that swearing by other than Allãh's name is a sort of polytheism, ascribing a partner to Allãh. It is necessary to ask this speaker what he means by polytheism, which he claims in this context.

Does he mean that: Swearing by other than Allãh (aggrandizement of the one sworn by and showing greatness to his affairs, as the meaning of oath is based on it) contains a sort of humbleness and worship to him, and it is polytheism? But not every aggrandizement is polytheism. It can be polytheistic only when grandeur of independent Lordship is ascribed to someone other than Allãh, with the idea that he is self-sufficient and does not require anyone's help.

Allãh has sworn [in His Book] by a lot of His creations, like the sky, the earth, the sun, the moon, the disappearing orbiting stars, and the star when it goes down; He has sworn by the mountain, the river, the fig, the olive, and the horse. Also, He has taken oath by night and day, by morning, by evening glow, by afternoon and forenoon; by the Day of Resurrection and the soul; He has sworn by the Book and the Great Qur’ãn, by the life of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and the angels, and many such things in numerous verses – while no oath can be valid without some aggrandizement.

So, what is there to prevent us from proceeding on the way Allãh has used in His speech? Why should not we show greatness of some things, which Allãh has bestowed on them, and stop at that? If such expressions were polytheistic, the divine speech should have avoided it in the first place!

Also, Allãh has shown the greatness of many things in His Book, like the Qur’ãn, the Throne, and the manners of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). He has said: … and the mighty Qur’ãn (15:87);  . . . And He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (9:129); … and surely you are on a mighty morality (68:4). He has prescribed for His prophets and messengers and for the believers rights on Himself, and has shown their greatness and dignity, as He has said: And certainly Our word has already gone forth about Our servants, the messengers, that verily they shall be helped (37:171-172);. . . and it was incumbent on Us to help the believers (30:47). Why should not we show their grandeur and follow the divine way in swearing in general? What is there to stop us from adjuring Him by something He Himself has sworn by? Or by one of the rights He has prescribed for His friends on Himself?

Of course, the jurisprudential oath that has legal effects in the fields of oath or judgement is not valid by name of other than Allãh, as is explained in fiqh, but we are not talking about that.

If the objector means to say that general aggrandizement, in any way, is not allowed for anyone other than Allãh – even if it is done through what Allãh has shown its grandeur with – then it is a claim for which there is no proof at all; rather definite proof is found against it.

Sometimes it is said that swearing by the right of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Allãh's friends, seeking nearness to them and hoping for their intercession in any way, is a worship and bestowal of an unseen authority on them. The same comments as above apply to this claim too: What do they mean by this "unseen authority"? Does it denote the independent authority, which is reserved for Allãh? If so, then no Muslim (who believes in the Book of Allãh) assigns it to other than Allãh. And if it denotes non-material authority in general (even if it is by permission of Allãh), then where is the proof that it is impossible for some chosen servants of Allãh, like His friends, to have such authority by divine permission? The noble Qur’ãn has clearly mentioned many unseen authorities, as Allãh says: … until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers (angels) cause him him to die, . . . (6:61); Say: "The angel of death will cause you to die … " (32:11); By those (angels) who drag forth violently, and those who undo (the bonds) gently, and those who glide along (swiftly); and those who go ahead with foremost speed, and those who manage the affairs (79:1-5); Say: "Whoever is the enemy of Jibrīl, verily it is he who has brought it to your heart by Allãh's command . . ." (2:97); and there are numerous verses of this theme.

And He says about Iblīs and his hosts: for he and his tribe watch you from a position where you cannot see them. Verily We have made the Satans to be the guardians of those who do not believe (7:27). Likewise, innumerable verses have been revealed about the prophets' and others' intercession in the next world, and their miraculous signs in this world.

Would that I knew what is the difference between material effects, which these people assert in these subjects without any aversion, and non-material effects, which they call unseen authority. If assertion of effect to other than Allãh were forbidden, then there should not be any difference between a material and a non-material effect, and if it is allowed by permission of Allãh, then all are equal in this respect.

TRADITIONS

‘Alī ibn Ibrãhīm narrates through his people a marfū‘ hadīth: He says: "Tamīm ad-Dãrī, Ibn Bandī and Ibn Abī Mãriyah went forth on a journey. Tamīm ad-Dãrī was a Muslim and the other two were Christians. Tamīm ad-Dãrī had a box, which contained his merchandise together with a pot with golden design and a necklace; he had taken to sell it in an Arabian market.

"Then Tamīm ad-Dãrī became very sick. With the approach of death he gave all that he had to Ibn Bandī and Ibn Abī Mãriyah, ordering them to convey it to his heirs. When they returned to Medina, they took out from the merchandise the pot and the necklace, handing over the rest to his heirs. The heirs found the two items missing. So, the family of Tamīm said to the two, 'Was our man sick for a long time in which he spent a lot of money? ' They said, 'No. He was not sick but for a few days.' (The family) said, 'Then was he robbed of something in this journey?' They said, 'No.' (The family) said, 'Then did he do some trade in which he suffered a loss?' They said, 'No.' Then, the family said, 'But (here) we find missing the best things which he had, 'A pot with golden design ornamented with gems and a necklace.' They said, 'Whatever he gave to us we have given to you.'

"The family brought the two to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), and the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) asked them to take oath; they swore and the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) let them go free. There-after, that pot and necklace appeared with them, so the heirs of Tamīm came to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) and said, 'O Messenger of Allãh! Indeed, has appeared with Ibn Bandī and Ibn Abī Mãriyah what we had claimed against them.' So, the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) waited for an order from Allãh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, about it.

"Then Allãh, the Blessed, the Sublime, revealed: O you who believe! Call to witness between you when death draws nigh to one of you, at the time of making the will, two just persons from among you, or two others from among others than you, if you are travelling in the land –Thus, Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, allowed witnessing of the People of the Book in will only when one is on journey and does not find Muslims; then He said: – and the calamity of death befalls you; the two witnesses you should detain after the prayer; then if you doubt (them), they shall both swear by Allãh (saying): 'We will not take for it a price, though there be a relative, and we will not hide the testimony of Allãh, for then certainly we should be among the sinners.' – This is the first witnessing, which the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had administered. – Then if it becomes known that they both have been guilty of a sin, – i.e. they have perjured themselves; – two others shall stand up in their place (i.e. from among the heirs of the deceased; – from among those who have a claim against them, – i.e. against the first two; – the two nearest in kin; so they two should swear by Allãh: – i.e. they should swear in the name of Allãh, that they [the two] have more right to this claim than them, and that they have perjured themselves in swearing by Allãh; – 'Certainly our testimony is truer than the testimony of those two, and we have not exceeded the limit, for then most surely we should be of the unjust.'

"So, the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) ordered the heirs of Tamīm ad-Dãrī to swear by Allãh as he directed them; they did swear and the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) took the necklace and the pot from Ibn Bandī and Ibn Abī Mãriyah, and returned them to the heirs of Tamīm ad-Dãrī. – This is more proper in order that they should give testimony truly or fear that other oaths be given after their oaths."(al-Kãfī)

The author says: al-Qummī has likewise narrated it in his at-Tafsīr; but there is in it after the clause: the two witnesses you should detain after the prayer, the word, "i.e. the afternoon prayer."

The word of the Imãm (a.s.): "who have a claim against them, against the first two": Apparently, it is in dual form, and if means the first two witnesses; it explains the Qur’ãnic word, "the first two." We have stated in the preceding commentary that it is the clearest of all probable meanings, according to this recital.

at-Tirmidhī (who has said that it was a weak tradition), Ibn Jarīr, Ibn Abī Hãtim, an-Nahhãs (in his Nãsikh), Abu 'sh-Shaykh, Ibn Marduwayh and Abū Nu‘aym (in al-Ma‘rifah) have narrated, through the chain of Abu 'n-Nadr (and he is al-Kalbī), from Bãdhãn (mawlã of Umm Hãnī), from Ibn ‘Abbãs, from Tamīm ad-Dãrī, that he said about this verse: "The people became clear of the two, except me and ‘Udayy ibn Badã’; and they were Christians frequenting to Syria before Islam. So, they came to Syria for their trade, and there came to them for trade mawlã of Banū Sahm, Badīl ibn Abī Maryam by name. He had a silver bowl, and it was his main merchandise. Then he became sick, and he appointed them as his executor of the will and enjoined them to convey what he had left to his family."

Tamīm said, "When he died, we took that bowl and sold it at a thousand dirham; then ‘Udayy ibn Badã’ and I divided it among our-selves. When we came to his family, we gave to them what was with us; but they missed the bowl and they asked us about it; we said: 'He did not leave anything else nor did he give to us any other thing.'"

Tamīm said, "Thereafter, when I accepted Islam after arrival of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) at Medina, I felt guilty about it; so I came to his family, gave them the information and paid to them five hundred dirham, and told them that a similar amount was with my companion. So, they brought him to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.); he asked them for proof which they did not find; then he ordered them to adjure him by what is held sacred by his co-religionists, and he took oath. Then Allãh revealed: O you who believe! Call to witness between you … or fear that other oaths be given after their oaths. Then ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ãsī and another man stood up and swore (to it); so five hundred dirhams were extracted from ‘Udayy ibn Badã’." (ad-Durru 'l-manthūr)

The author says: Apart from its weakness, the tradition does not conform fully to the verse, and this non-conformity is clear. as-Suyūtī has narrated from Ibn ‘Abbãs and ‘Ikrimah what is near the preceding tradition of al-Qummī.

al-Fãriyãbī, ‘Abd ibn Hamīd, Abū ‘Ubayd, Ibn Jarīr, Ibnu 'l-Mundhir and Abū 'sh-Shaykh have narrated from ‘Alī ibn Abī Tãlib that he recited mina 'l-ladhī stahaqqa (with vowel a after t), [as is the common recitation.]

Ibn Marduwayh and al-Hãkim (who has said it is correct) have narrated from ‘Alī ibn Abī Tãlib that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) recited:  al-ladhīna stahaqqa ‘alayhimu 'l-awlayãn (with a after t). (ibid.)

Ibn Jarīr has narrated from Ibn ‘Abbãs that he said: "This verse is abrogated." (ibid.)

The author says: There is no proof of abrogation as claimed here.

Muhammad ibn Ismã‘īl has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shãdhãn, and ‘Alī ibn Ibrãhīm has narrated from his father, from Ibn Abī ‘Umayr, from Hishãm ibn al-Hakam, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said about the word of Allãh: or two others from among others than you: If the man is in a town where there is no Muslim, the witness of a non-Muslim is allowed in will. (al-Kãfī)

The author says: The tradition's meaning is inferred from the verse.

[al-Kulaynī] narrates through his chain from Yahyã ibn Muhammad that he said, "I asked Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.), about the word of Allãh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty: O you who believe! Call to witness between you when death draws nigh to one of you, at the time of making the will, two just persons from among you, or two others from among others than you. He said, 'The two from among you means two Muslims; and those from among others than you, means (from) the People of the Book; and if they did not get from the People of the Book, then from the Magians, because the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had followed about the Magians the system of the People of the Book regarding jizyah.

"'And it is (like this:) When a man dies in a place away from home and does not find two Muslims, he will call to witnness two men from among the People of the Book; they will be detained after the afternoon prayer, and they both shall swear by Allãh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, (saying:) "We will not take for it a price, though there be a relative, and we will not hide the testimony of Allãh, for then certainly we should be among the sinners."' The (Imãm) said: 'And it is when the heir of the deceased feels doubt about their [the two's] testimony, then it becomes known that they both have testified falsely, he has no right to refute their testimony until he brings two other witnesses; so they shall stand up in the place of the first two witnesses, so they two should swear by Allãh: "Certainly our testimony is truer than the testimony of those two, and we have not exceeded the limit, for then most surely we should be of the unjust." If he did so, the testimony of the first two would be set aside and that of these two would be allowed [i.e. accepted]. Allãh says: This is more proper in order that they should give testimony truly or fear that other oaths be given after their oaths.'"(ibid.)

The author says: As you see, the tradition fits the earlier given explanation of the verse. There are other traditions of the same mean-ing in al-Kãfī and at-Tafsīr of al-‘Ayyãshī narrated from Abū ‘Abdillãh and Abu 'l-Hasan (peace be upon both.)

And in some traditions, the Divine Words: or two others from among others than you, have been interpreted as, 'the unbelievers'; and it is more general than 'the People of the Book', as is narrated in al-Kãfī from Abu 's-Sabãh al-Kinãnī, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.), and in at-Tafsīr of al-‘Ayyãshī from Abū Usãmah from the same Imãm (a.s.) about this verse: [I asked him:] "What (means): or two others from among others than you?" He said, "They are two unbelievers." "I said, '(What means:) two just persons from among you?' He said 'They are two Muslims.'"

Although the preceding tradition which confines it to the People of the Book is not capable of putting any restriction on this generality, according to the rules of generality and restriction because both are in positive case, yet the first tradition's context may explain the generality of the second one in a way that conforms with restriction.

as-Sadūq has narrated through his chain to Abū Zayd ‘Ayyãsh ibn Yazīd ibn al-Hasan from his father, Yazīd ibn al-Hasan that he said: "Narrated to me Mūsã ibn Ja‘far (peace be upon both), he said, 'as-Sãdiq (a.s.), said about the words of Allãh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty: On the day when Allãh will assemble the messengers, then say: "What answer were you given?" They shall say: "We have no knowledge, … "' He said, 'as-Sãdiq (a.s.), said, "They shall say, 'We have no knowledge through other than Thee.'"' He also said, 'as-Sãdiq (a.s.), said, "The Qur’ãn, all of it, is rebuke, and its interior is approximation."'" (Tafsīru 'l-Burhãn)

The author of al-Burhãn says: "Ibn Bãbawayh has said, 'The Imãm (a.s.) means that behind the verses of rebuke and threat there are verses of mercy and forgiveness.'"

The author says: What he has quoted from as-Sadūq (may Allãh have mercy upon him) regarding the meaning of the Imãm's saying: 'The Qur’ãn, all of it, is rebuke, and its interior is approximation,' does not fit on it: Neither in view of the beginning of the tradition, because the interpretation of the messengers' word, 'We have no knowledge,' as, 'We have no knowledge through other than Thee', has no relation with the Qur’ãn containing two types of verses, those of promise and those of threat; nor in view of the context of the sentence itself, i.e. 'The Qur’ãn, all of it, is rebuke, and its interior is approximation;' because this speech apparently means that the whole Qur’ãn is rebuke and the whole of it is approximation, and the matter differs from the point of view of interior and exterior; it does not mean that the Qur’ãn is divided into two categories, one is of the verses of rebuke, and another besides it is the verses of approximation.

Pondering on the Imãm (a.s.)'s talk, we come to understand that 'rebuke', inasmuch as it stands parallel to 'approximation' means its concomitant, i.e., to remove far as opposed to bring near; the Qur’ãn, all of it, is cognizance and reality; its exterior separates realities from one another and categorizes its parts, and its interior brings them nearer to each other, perfects them and unifies them. In short, it means that the Qur’ãn, in its exterior shows various realities of cognizance, which are separate one from the other, yet in spite of its multitudinousness and separateness of its components, in its interior its ingradients are quite near to each other, and its various meanings are inter-connected, until it is unified and becomes one single reality, pervading the whole body like spirit – and it is nothing but the reality of oneness, monotheism. Allãh says: A Book whose verses are firmly arranged then separated, from the All-Wise, All-Aware (11:1).

At this juncture, it becomes clear how it fits on what the Imãm (a.s.) has said at the beginning of the tradition that the messengers’ reply, 'We have no knowledge,' means: 'We have no knowledge through other than Thee.' It is because man, or any knower we suppose, knows whatever he knows, he knows it through Allãh; Allãh is known through Himself, and all other things are known through Him. In other words, when knowledge connects with anything, it connects first of all with Allãh, as deserves His sublime status and majesty, and then it connects through Him with that thing; because with Him is the knowledge of everything, He gives out of it to whomsoever He wishes from among His servants, as much as He wishes. Allãh says: … while they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except that which He wills; His throne extends over the heavens and the earth . . . (2:255). We have quoted earlier the narration of ‘Abdu 'l-A‘lã mawlã Ãl Sãm from as-Sãdiq (a.s.) and some other traditions in this regard.

Accordingly, the messengers' reply: 'We have no knowledge, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things,' would mean in the light of the Imãm's explanation, as follows: We have no knowledge of anything leaving Thee aside; we know whatever we know because of our knowledge about Thee; it is because all the knowledge belongs to Thee; and as such Thou knowest it better than us; after all, whatever we know comes out of Thine knowledge and Thou hast given us a part of it by Thine will and Thine sustenance.

Accordingly, another meaning is understood of the words: 'surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things'; and it is more sublime than the previously given explanation: Everything in this creation has an existence separate from the others' being. As such it is 'unseen' vis-à-vis the others, because its existence is limited and foreordained, it does not comprehend except what Allãh wills it to comprehend; and Allãh comprehends everything, and knows every unseen; thus nothing knows anything except through Allãh, Sublime and Glorified is He from every short-coming.

Now, we understand that division of the things into unseen and seen, actually means their division into an unseen which Allãh wills that we should comprehend it and an unseen which He has kept hidden from us. Probably, this meaning is supported by the apparent meaning of the divine words: He is the Knower of the unseen, and He does not reveal His unseen (secrets) to anyone except to the messenger whom He chooses (72:26-27), as is implied by relating the 'unseen' to the pronoun. You should deeply ponder on this matter.

Yazīd al-Kanãsī narrates from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.), that he said about the verse: On the day when Allãh will assemble the messengers … " He will say, 'What answer were you given about your awsiyã’ (successors) whom you left behind in your ummah?' They will say: 'We have no knowledge of what they (the ummah) did after us.'" (at-Tafsīr, al-‘Ayyãshī)

The author says: al-Qummī has narrated it in his at-Tafsīr, from Muhammad ibn Muslim from the same Imãm (a.s.).

[al-Kulaynī] has narrated in al-Kãfī a tradition of similar theme, from Yazīd, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.), and it is based on the principle of the flow of meaning, or gives its interior explanation.

Chapter   6

Translation of verses 110-111

When Allãh shall say: "O ‘Īsã, son of Maryam! Remember My favour on you and on your mother, when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, (so that) you spoke to the people in the cradle, and when grown up; and when I taught you the Book and the Wisdom and the Tawrãt and the Injīl; and when you made out of clay the figure of a bird by My leave, you breathed into it and it became a bird by My leave; and you healed those born blind and the lepers by My leave; and when you raised the dead by My leave; and when I held back the Children of Israel from you when you had come to them with clear signs, but then those of them who disbelieved said: 'This is nothing but clear sorcery' (110). And (recall) when I revealed to the disciples: 'Believe in Me and My messenger'; they said: 'We believe and bear witness that we are Muslims'" (111).

COMMENTARY

These two and the subsequent verses (which narrate the story of the coming down of the Table and those which describe what Allãh shall ask ‘Īsã, son of Maryam [a.s.] regarding the people's taking them as two gods besides Allãh, and the reply which he will offer), all are related with the theme of the Chapter with which it had begun: It began with the call to fulfil the covenant and give thanks for favours, and cautioning against breaking the contract and being ungrateful to divine bounties. In this way, the end of the chapter fully returns to its beginning, and unity of intended theme are preserved.

QUR’ÃN: When Allãh shall say: "O ‘Īsã,  son  of  Maryam! … and when you raised the dead by My leave: The verse counts many of the clear signs which had appeared on his hand, but it is counted in a way that shows Allãh's grace on him and his mother together. These favours are mentioned in almost similar words in the chapter of "The House of ‘Imrãn", where Allãh narrates the angels' talk with Maryam when they came to give her the good news of ‘Īsã's birth. Allãh says: When the angels said: "O Maryam! Surely Allãh gives you good tidings of a Word from Him whose name is the Masīh, ‘Īsã son of Maryam, … And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of mature age, … And He will teach him the Book and the Wisdom, and the Tawrãt and the Injīl. And (make him) a messenger to the Children of Israel: 'That I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I create for you out of clay the likeness of a bird; then I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allãh's leave; and I heal the blind and the leper, and bring to life the dead, by Allãh's leave … (3:45-49).

Meditation on the context of the verses makes it clear why the signs which apparently were exclusively connected with the Christ, have been counted as bounties bestowed on him and on his mother together, as the verses of the third chapter indicate; because good tiding is given concerning a bounty, and here the case is the same. Whatever signs and bounties were connected with Jesus, e.g. being born without a father, being strengthened by the Holy Ghost, creating flying birds, healing the blind and the leper and raising the dead to life by Allãh's permission, were miraculous signs of Maryam to the same degree as they were related to ‘Īsã (peace be upon both). They both together were bestowed the divine favours, as Allãh says: "remember My favour on you and your mother".

Also, the same is indicated by the divine words: … and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples (21:91), as He has counted both of them together as one sign, not two.

The words: "when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit (so that) you spoke to the people", apparently show that the strengthening with the Holy Spirit was the cause that enabled him to talk to the people. That is why the clause: "you spoke to the people", is attached to the preceding sentence without any intervening conjunction; it indicates that the strengthening and the speaking together constitute one action, made up of a cause and its effect. Allãh on occasions has only mentioned one of the two – either cause or its effect as is seen in the preceding verses: . . . you spoke to the people in the cradle, and when grown up … (5:110); . . . and We gave to ‘Īsã, son of Maryam, clear evidence, and aided him with the Holy Spirit… . (2:253)

Apart from that, if the strengthening with the Holy Spirit is taken to mean sending revelation through the Spirit, it was not reserved for ‘Īsã, son of Maryam (a.s.) and all the messengers shared it with him; moreover, the verse's context rejects this meaning.

The words: "and when I taught you the Book and the Wisdom and the Tawrãt and the Injīl". It may be inferred from it that ‘Īsã (a.s.) received this knowledge at one go, through a single divine command, without any graduality. Also, it may be understood from the facts that all actions have been combine together and are governed by only one adverb of time, 'when'.

The clauses:" and when you made out of clay the figure of a bird by My leave, … and you healed those born blind and the lepers by My leave;" The context, because the word 'when' is not repeated, shows that creating of the bird and healing of the blind and the lepers had happened at the same time; and mention of creation of bird contains the proviso: "by My leave", as the matter of creation is very important because it entails bestowal of life; that is why the Qur’ãn has paid special attention to this clause and mentions its being done by divine leave, although the divine leave is also mentioned at the end of the sentence. But the divine Book did not like keeping the hearers in suspense even for a few moments, lest they think for a few seconds that someone besides Allãh can independently bestow life. And Allãh knows better.

The words: "and when you raised the dead by My leave". Raising the dead alludes to making them alive. It clearly indicates that this miracle that had appeared on his hand, had involved those dead bodies, which were buried in graves, and he (a.s.) has put life into them and brought them out of the graves to this worldly life. The sentence shows that this miracle had taken place many times. Other themes connected with this verse were explained under the verses of the third chapter, and may be referred to if necessary.

QUR’ÃN: and when I held back the children of Israel from you … 'This is nothing but clear sorcery': It shows that the Israelites wanted to harm him, but Allãh held them back from it. It tallies with what Allãh has mentioned in the chapter of "The House of ‘Imrãn", in his stories: And they planned and Allãh (also) planned, and Allãh is the best of planners (3:54)

QUR’ÃN: And (recall) when I revealed to the disciples: 'Believe in Me and … that  we  are  Muslims'": It agrees with the third chapter's verse 52: And when ‘Īsã perceived their disbelief, he said: "Who will be my helpers unto Allãh?" The disciples said: "We will be Allãh's helpers: We believe in Allãh; and bear witness that we are Muslims."

It is clear from the above that the belief of the disciples, mentioned in this verse (And when I revealed to the disciples: "Believe in Me and My messenger", they said: "We believe … ")is other than their first belief in ‘Īsã (a.s.); because the above verse 3:52 apparently shows that it had happened in later days of his Call, while the disciples [who answered it] were the foremost and the first in believing in him and had remained adhered to him.

Moreover, the verse 3:52 (. . . he said: "Who will be my helpers unto Allãh?" The disciples said: "We will be Allãh's helpers: We believe in Allãh; and bear witness that we are submitting ones."), apparently shows that this Call was given to obtain their commitment for helping the divine religion, not for initial belief in Allãh. That is why the verse ends on the words: "and bear witness that we are Muslims." The word, "Muslims", here indicates that they were ready to submit to the divine order by establishing Allãh's Call and enduring the affliction in His cause. Obviously, this stage comes after the basic belief in Allãh.

Now, it is clear that this verse relates the story of taking the covenant from the disciples.

There are some other themes related to this verse, which were given in the chapter of "The House of ‘Imrãn".

TRADITIONS

[as-Sadūq] narrates through his chain from Abū Ya‘qūb al-Baghdãdī that he said, "Ibn as-Sikkīt said to Abu 'l-Hasan ar-Ridã (a.s.), 'Why did Allãh send Mūsã ibn ‘Imrãn with his shining hand, staff and magical implements, and ‘Īsã with medical implements, and Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), with speech and sermons?'

"Abu 'l-Hasan (a.s.) said, 'Verily, when Allãh, the Sublime, sent Mūsã (a.s.) magic was prevalent among the people of his time; so Mūsã (a.s.) brought to them from Allãh, the Sublime, what they did not have and was beyond their power to (bring) its like; with it he nullified their witchcraft and established through it the proof against them. And verily Allãh, the Sublime, sent ‘Īsã at a time when chronic deseases had spread and the people were in (dire) need of medicine; so he brought to them from Allãh, the Sublime, like of which they did not have, and with which he gave life to the dead and healed the blind and the lepers by Allãh's permission and established through it the proof against them. And verily Allãh, the Sublime, sent Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) at a time when lectures, talks and poetry were prevalent among the people of his time; so he brought to them the Book of Allãh, sermons and wisdom with which he nullified their talk and established through it the proof against them.'

"Ibnu 's-Sikkīt said, 'I have not ever seen as you (are) today. Now, who is today the proof against the creatures?' He said, '(It is) reason, with it is recognized he who speaks the truth about Allãh and it confirms him, and the lier against Allãh, and it refutes him.' Ibnu 's-Sikkīt said, 'This is, by Allãh, the reply.'" (Ma‘ãni 'l-akhbãr)

Muhammad ibn Yahyã narrates from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from al-Hasan ibn Mahbūb, from Abū Jamīlah, from Abãn ibn Taghlib and others, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.), that he was asked, "Had ‘Īsã ibn Maryam raised anyone after his death (so that) he ate, got sustenance for a time and begot?" He said, "Yes. Verily, he had a friend, his brother in Allãh, the Blessed, the Sublime; and ‘Īsã (a.s.) used to pass by him and be his guest; and verily ‘Īsã lost contact with him for sometime, then came to him to greet him; so his mother came out and he (‘Īsã) asked her about him; she said, 'He is dead, O Messenger of Allãh!' So he said, 'Do you like to see him?' She said, 'Yes.' And he said, 'Tomorrow I shall come to you so that I raise him to life by the permission of Allãh, the Sublime.'

"When the morning came, he came to her and said, 'Come with me to his grave.' They both proceeded until they reached his grave. So, ‘Īsã (a.s.) stood there, then prayed to Allãh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty. Then the grave opened wide and her son came out alive. When his mother saw him and he saw her, they both wept. ‘Īsã (a.s.) had mercy on them, and told him (the son), 'Do you like to remain with your mother in the world?' He said, 'O Messenger of Allãh! (Will it be) with eating, sustenance and a [fixed] period? Or without eating, sustenance and a period?' ‘Īsã (a.s.) said to him, 'With eating, sustenance and a period; you will live twenty years, will marry and beget.' He said, 'Then, yes.'"

(The Imãm) said, "So ‘Īsã (a.s.), gave him to his mother; and he lived for twenty years and begot off-spring." (al-Kãfī)

Muhammad ibn Yūsuf as-San‘ãnī narrates from his father that he said, "I asked Abū Ja‘far (a.s.), about (the verse): And when I revealed to the disciples. He said, 'They were inspired.'" (at-Tafsīr, al-‘Ayyãshī)

The author says: The word, revelation, has been used in the meaning of inspiration, in many places in the Qur’ãn. For example: And We revealed to the mother of Mūsã:  "Suckle  him … (28:7); And your Lord revealed to the bee, saying: "Make hives in mountains . . . (16:68); that your Lord revealed to her (i.e. the Earth), (99:5).

Chapter   7

Translation of verses 112-115

When the disciples said: "O ‘Īsã son of Maryam! Is your Lord able to send down to us food from heaven?" He said: "Fear Allãh if you are believers." (112). They said: "We desire that we should eat of it and that our hearts should be at rest, and that we may know that you have indeed spoken the truth to us and that we may be of the witnesses to it." (113). ‘Īsã the son of Maryam said: "O Allãh, our Lord! Send down to us food from heaven which should be to us an ever-recurring happiness, to the first of us and to the last of us, and a sign from Thee, and grant us sustenance, and Thou art the best of providers." (114). Allãh said: "Surely I will send it down to you, but whoever shall dis-believe afterwards from among you, surely I will chastise him with a chastisement with which I will not chastise any one among the nations." (115).

COMMENTARY

The verses describe the story of coming down of the table on Christ (a.s.) and his companions. Although they do not say clearly that Allãh sent it down to them, yet the last verse contains the unconditional divine promise of sending it down to them; and He has mentioned His attribute that He does not break His promise.

Some people's opinion, that they saught pardon from ‘Īsã (a.s.) when they heard the threat of unprecedented chastisement for those who would disbelieve after coming of the table, is an opinion without any proof from the Book or trustworthy hadīth.

This view has been narrated from a group of the exegetes, among them being al-Mujãhid and al-Hasan; and their or others' views are no proof at all. Even if their views were supposed to be traditions, they would be of incomplete chains of narrators, and such items are not fit as proof because of their weakness. Moreover, they are opposed by other traditions, which show that the table was sent down. Even if they were correct they would be only 'solitary' traditions, which are not relied upon except in matters of jurisprudence.

Sometimes proof is offered of not coming down of the table by the fact that the Christians do not know about it and their holy books do not mention it; had it been sent down to them there were many reasons to describe it in their books and to keep it alive in their society as they have preserved the memory of the Last Super – the Eucharist.

However, a man who knows the history of Christianity – as how it spread and how the gospels appeared on the scene – would not care about such utterances; because neither their books were written and preserved with tawãtur since the time of ‘Īsã (a.s.), nor the present Christianity reaches upto him, so that it might be useful in what they have received generation after generation, or in that which they do not know from what is attributed to the Christ's Call.

Of course, in some Gospels there is the story of his feeding his disciples and some other people with a little bread and fish. But that story does not agree with the Qur’ãnic statement in any of its particulars.

The Gospel According to St. John, chapter 6 says:

1.    After these thing Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

2.   And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3.   And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4.    And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

5.   When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6.   And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7.   Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8.    One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him.

9.   There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10.   And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11.  And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

12.  When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13.  Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve buskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

14.   Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

15.  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. (John, 6:1-15)

Moreover, if we ponder on this story as given in the Divine Book, Qur’ãn, we find in it other aspects that require contemplation. The initial question in the beginning of the story totally lacks the manners, which must be maintained vis-à-vis Allãh. And it ends at the threat which Allãh has threatened those who shall disbelieve afterwards that He would chastise them with a chastisement with which He would not chastise anyone among the nations. Its like is not found in any sign given by Allãh to His prophets, nor in any that were suggested by their people, like the suggestions of the nations of Nūh, Hūd, Sãlih, Shu‘ayb, Mūsã and Muhammad (s.a.w.a.).

Was it because the disciples, who had asked it, had shown lack of manners in their questioning, because they had used words, which show their doubt about the divine power? However, we find in the demands of the preceding nations insults to the majesty of their Lord, and mockery against their prophets, as well as what we see in the Qur’ãn of the stories of the arrogance of the people of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and of the Jews who lived at that time, is more impertinent and more disgusting than it.

Or was it because they, being believers before this question and coming down of the table, became disbelievers after its coming down and observation of clear signs, and therefore invited such severe threatening. However, although disbelief after seeing clear signs is a great haughtiness and over-stepping the limits, but it was not confined to them, as such examples are found in every nation and they were not threatened in such a harsh manner – not even those who apostasized after being placed nearer to the divine proximity, like the one whom Allãh mentions in these words: And recite to them the narrative of him to whom We gave Our signs, but he withdrew himself from them, so the Satan overtook him, so he became of those who go astray (7:175).

What may be said at this juncture is that this story, which began with a question, is distinguished with a theme that is unique among all miracles of the prophets, which they had brought because of their people's suggestion, or some other necessary requirements.

The miraculous signs narrated by the Divine Book were of various types: There were the miracles which Allãh gave to the prophets when He sent them to the peoples, in order that it should serve as the proof to support their claims of prophethood or messengership, as Mūsã (a.s.) was given the bright hand and staff; and ‘Īsã (a.s.) was enabled to raise the dead to life, create the bird and heal the blind and the lepers; and Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) was given the Qur’ãn. These signs were given, as they were needed for the Call to the true belief and for completing the proof against the disbelievers, so that he who would perish might perish by clear proof, and he who would live might live by clear proof; … [8:42].

There were the miracles brought by the prophets and the messengers as a result of the disbelievers' suggestions, like the she-camel of Sãlih; in the same category come the dreadful happenings and tormenting chastisements which appeared in the course of the prophetic Calls, like the signs of Mūsã (a.s.) against the people of Pharash (locust, lice, forgs, etc. totalling seven signs), flood of Nūh, earthquake of Thamūd, storm of ‘Ãd and similar things. These too were the signs connected to the disbelieving enemies.

There were the signs shown by Allãh to the believers for fulfil-ling their needs, like gushing forth of streams from rocks, coming down of manna and quails for the Israelites in the wilderness, raising of the mountain over their heads and opening up the river to save them from Pharaoh and his deeds. These were the signs, which appeared either to frighten the sinners and the arrogants or to show the dignity of the believers in order that the word of the Beneficent Lord is completed about them – without any suggestion put by them.

Of the same category are the promises given by Allãh in His Book to the believers for manifesting the honour of His Messenger (s.a.w.a.), e.g. the promise of the conquest of Mecca, and of victory of the Romans in a few years, etc.

These are the categories of the signs narrated in the Qur’ãn and described in divine teachings. But as for suggesting a sign after coming down of a sign, it is a fantasy which the divine teaching counts as non-sense that should not be paid attention to: For example, the proposal of the People of the Book that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) should bring for them a book from the heavens, while the Qur’ãn was present before their eyes. Allãh says: The People of the Book ask you to bring down to them a book from heaven; so indeed they had demanded of Mūsã a greater thing than that, for they said: "Show us Allãh manifestly"; … But Allãh bears witness by what He has revealed to you that He has revealed it with His knowledge; and the angels bear witness (also); and sufficient is Allãh for a witness (4:153; 166).

Likewise, the polytheists had asked the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he should bring down the angels or should show Allãh to them. Allãh says: And those who do not hope for Our meeting say: "Why not have angels been sent down upon us, or (why) do we not see our Lord?" Now certainly they are too proud of themselves and have revolted in great revolt (25:21). Also, He says: And they say: "What is the matter with this Messenger that he eats food and goes about in the markets? Why has not an angel been sent down to him, so that he should have been a warner with him? Or (why is not) a treasure sent down to him, or he is made to have a garden from which he should eat?" And the unjust say: "You do not follow any but a man enchanted." See what likeness do they apply to you, so they have gone astray; therefore they shall not be able to find a way (25:7-9). There are many verses of the same theme.

It is only because the purpose of coming down of a sign or verse is manifestation of truth and completion of proof; when it came down then indeed the truth became manifest and the proof was complete. Now, there is no sense in asking for coming down of a sign as it has already happened and the purpose achieved, and therefore such asking would only mean mockery of divine signs, play with the Lord's majesty and wavering in acceptance of reality; and it is the greatest arrogance and haughtiness.

Such behaviour, if shown by believers, would entail cruder offence and greater sin. Why should a believer ask for coming down of a heavenly sign while he is already a believer, and especially so if he is one of those who have seen the divine signs and believed after that observation? Would it not be similar to the suggestions, which the people of pleasure, surrounded with luxury, in gatherings of entertainments and assemblies of amusements, offer to the magicians and practitioners of legerdemain, in order that they should show to them the most astonishing jugglery and the most wonderous activity that they can perform?

What appears from the words: When the disciples said: "O ‘Īsã son of Maryam! Is your Lord able to send down to us food from heaven?" that they had asked the Christ (a.s.) to show them a sign which would be reserved for them; they were his disciples, attached to him; and they had seen those clear signs and manifest miracles; because he (a.s.) was not sent to his people except with miraculous signs, as is seen from the divine words: "And a messenger to the Children of Israel: 'That I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I create for you out of clay the likeness of a bird; then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird with Allãh's leave; and I heal the blind and the leper, and bring to life the dead, by Allãh's leave … '" (3:49).

And how can it be imagined about him who believed in Christ (a.s.) that he would not have seen any sign from him, while he (a.s.) in his own existence was a sign: Allãh created him without a father, and strengthened him with the Holy Ghost, and he talked with the people in the cradle as well as in matured age; and he continued to be honoured by one sign after another until Allãh raised him to Himself and ended his affairs with a wonderful sign.

When they asked to be shown a sign which they had chosen for themselves – even after seeing all those numerous sign – it was tantamount to suggesting a sign after a sign; thus they committed a great offence, and that is why ‘Īsã (a.s.) admonished them, saying: "Fear Allãh if you are believers."

And it was because of the same reason that they reinterpreted their suggestion and explained it again in such a way as to tone down the vehemence of their speech and blunt its edge; so they said: "We desire that we should eat of it and that our hearts should be at rest, and that we may know that you have indeed spoken the truth to us and that we may be of the witnesses to it." Thus they added to eating from it other reasons to explain their suggestion. They wanted to show that this suggestion was not like amusement with wonderous activities or playing with divine signs; rather there are some benefits intended, like perfection of their knowledge and removal of wrong ideas from their hearts and their being the witnesses to it.

Yet they did not omit mentioning the intention of eating from it, and that was the main offence. If they had said: 'We desire that we should eat of it so that our hearts should be at rest,' there would not have been any blame on them; but they said: " . . . eat of it and that our hearts should be at rest," The former sentence cuts at the roots of all fantasy and foolhardiness, but not the latter (i.e. present construction).

When they insisted, ‘Īsã (a.s.) agreed to their demand and asked his Lord to honour them in this way; and it was the only sign sent down to them on their suggestion in an apparently unimperative matter, and that is the believers' partaking of it. That is why he (a.s.) presented it in a manner suitable to be addressed to the Divine Majesty, so he said: "O Allãh, our Lord! Send down to us food from heaven which should be an ever-recurring happiness, to the first of us and to the last of us." Thus he dressed it in the robe of festivity; feast for a people is the day in which they get a gift or an item of pride, which is exclusively re-served, to them from among the people, and the coming down of the table has this particular attribute.

When ‘Īsã (a.s.) asked of his Lord what he asked – and far be it from him to ask for anything except what he hoped that it would be accepted, and that his Lord would not disgrace him by rejecting it; and far be it from his Lord to turn him away without accepting his invocation – his Lord accepted his prayer, but with one proviso, that whoever among his people would disbelieve afterwards, Allãh would chastise him with a chastisement that would be exclusively reserved to them, as the sign that would be given to them would be exclusively reserved to them; that is why He said: "Surely I will send it down to you, but whoever shall disbelieve afterwards from among you, surely I will chastise him with a chastisement with which I will not chastise any one among the nations." Ponder on it.

QUR’ÃN: When the disciples said: "O ‘Īsã son of Maryam! Is your Lord able to send down to us food from heaven?": 'When' is an adverb, related to an implied verb, Remember, or some similar word.

Someone has said that it is related to the words in the preceding verse, they said: "We believe in Allãh; and bear witness that we are submitting ones." It means: The disciples said: 'We believe and bear witness that we submit,' at the time when they said to ‘Īsã: "'Is your Lord able to send down to us food from heaven?'" It shows that they were not truthful in their claim, nor were they serious in asking ‘Īsã (a.s.), to bear witness that they were submitters.

COMMENT: This interpretation goes against the context. How could their belief be impure, when Allãh Himself had revealed to them to believe in Him and His Messenger? And when Allãh counts it as His favour to ‘Īsã (a.s.). Apart from that, if this verse was joined to the preceding one, it should have brought pronoun and not said: "When the disciples said."

al-Mãidah ( اَلْمَاِئدَة = plate when it contains food). ar-Rãghib has said: "al-Mãidah is the plate that contains food; and both [plate and food] are separately called mãidah; and it is said: 'Mãdanī yumīdunī', i.e. 'He fed me.'"

The wording of their question, i.e., "Is your Lord able to send down to us food from heaven?" according to its apparent meaning that comes to the mind, is such that the reason thinks it difficult that it could have been uttered by the disciples, who were companions of the Christ, and his confidants who adhered to him, were illuminated by the light of his knowledge and cognizance, and followed in his footsteps; and belief and faith – even in its lowest rank, makes man aware that Allãh has power over everything, He cannot be overcome and no disability reaches Him. So, how was it possible for them to ask their messenger whether his Lord was able to send down to them food from heaven?

That is why al-Kasã’ī, one of the seven reciters, has recited this verse as: hal tastatī‘u (second person singular) rabbaka (as an object); i.e. 'Are you able [to ask] your Lord?' Thus, implying the verb, which we have put in the brackets.

The exegetes have given different interpretations of this question, while most of them agree that it means other than what comes to the mind – that they entertained doubt about the power of Allãh – because they were far above such absurd ignorance.

The best possible interpretation is to say that ability in this verse is an allusion to demand of the underlying reason and occurance of permission; in the same way as possibility, power and ability are used metaphorically in this very meaning. For example, it is said: 'The King cannot listen to every needy person;' it means that the King's under-lying reason prevents him from it; otherwise, listening to is within his ability. Or as it is said: 'A rich man cannot give to everyone who asks,' i.e. the reason of protecting the wealth does not demand it. Or as it is said: 'A knowledgeable person cannot disseminate all that he knows,' i.e. stops him from it the welfare of religion, or welfare of the people, or the system that is prevalent among them. Or as one says to his companion: 'Can you come with me to visit Mr. X?' The question implies: 'Does it agree with your welfare and wisdom?' It does not imply his ability to go there. Think over it.

There are some other explanations given by the exegetes: -

One: The disciples had asked this question in order to acquire tranquillity through the belief resulting from observation; it was not because they were having any doubt regarding Allãh's power. In a way, it is the same mode as Allãh quotes in the story of Ibrãhīm (a.s.) that he said: "My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead." He said: "What! And do you not believe?" He said: "Yes, but that my heart may be at ease." … (2:260).

COMMENT: Although there is nothing wrong in asking for a sign for increase in belief and tranquillity of heart, but there is no reason to take their question in this meaning; and their sinlessness is not proved, like Ibrãhīm (a.s.) so that it could be an independent proof for interpreting their talk in a way free from rancour. Rather the proof is against it, because they had not said: 'We desire that we should eat of it in order that our hearts should be at ease' (as Ibrãhīm [a.s.] had said, 'Yes, but that my heart may be at ease'). Rather they had said, 'We desire that we should eat of it and that our hearts may be at ease;' thus they had counted the eating, per se, a purpose.

Moreover, this interpretation takes it for granted that their hearts were clean of any shade of doubt regarding the divine power. And the ugliness of the apparent meaning of their talk remains in its place.

Apart from that, it had been explained under the verse 2:260: And when Ibrãhīm said: "My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead." … , that he (a.s.) did not want to see the dead getting life after death. (The interpretation under Comment is based on this idea.) Because that would have meant asking for a sign after clear observation, as he (a.s.) was at that time talking with his Lord "face to face." What he had asked for was to see 'how' the dead would be raised – in the afore-mentioned meaning.

Two: They actually wanted to ask about the action, not about Allãh's power to do so; they expressed the idea metaphorically through its concomitant.

COMMENT: There is no proof for this explanation. Even if we accept it, it would negate the idea that they were ignorant of all-encompassing divine power; but the unsuitability of their talk to manners of servitude still remains in place.

Three: There is in this speech an implied word, which is omitted. The complete sentence is as follows: 'Are you able to ask your Lord to send down to us food from heaven?' This meaning is supported by the recital: 'Are you able (to ask) your Lord,' i.e. 'Are you able to ask Him without there being anyone to dissuade you from it.'

COMMENT: This supposed omission and implication cannot turn the word: 'Is your Lord able to … ' into, 'Are you able to ask your Lord;' because the verbs differ in the two recitals – in the verse it is third per-son singular, while in the implied one it is second person singular; and omission or implication does not change the third person to the second person at all.

However, if such change-over be necessary, then it would be said as follows: It ascribes the action of ‘Īsã (a.s.) to his Lord, because his action is in reality Allãh's action, or because everything attributed to him belongs to Allãh. But to begin with this explanation is wrong be-cause only those actions of prophets and messengers are attributed to Allãh which do not bring any defect or short-coming to His majesty, e.g. guidance, knowledge and things like that. On the other hand, when it comes to the concomitants of their humility and humanity, like lack of power and neediness or eating and drinking, etc., their attribution to Him cannot be justified at all. Apart from that, the difficulty of the apparent meaning of the words remains in its place.

Four: al-Istitã‘ah (ability) is used here in the meaning of al-itã‘ah (obedience); and the question means: 'Will your Lord obey you and accept your prayer if you asked Him for it.'

COMMENT: It is like jumping out from the frying pan into the fire. Obviously, the question whether Allãh would obey His messenger is more hideous and repulsive than the query about His capability.

Someone has supported this explanation as follows: al-Istitã‘ah (ةاَلإِسْتِطَاعَ) and al-itã‘ah (اَلإِطَاعَة) both are derived from the root t-w-‘(طوع = obedience) which is opposite of kurh (آُرْه = dislike); thus obey-ing an order means doing it with pleasure and free will; the paradigm of al-istif‘ãl (اَلإِسْتِفْعَال) from this stem is like that of this paradigm from the stem (jawb). In other words, as istijãbah (اِسْتِجَابَة) gives the meaning of ijãbah (اِجَابَة = to accept prayer), likewise istitã‘ah indicates itã‘ah; thus istatã‘ahu (اِسْتَطَاعَهُ) means atã‘ahu (أَطَاعَهُ = 'he obeyed him'). And 's' and 't' in both verbal nouns denote their most well known theme, and that is 'to want something'; however it is related to an implied verb which is indicated by the described verb that emanates from the omitted one; 'he is capable of doing this thing' means as follows: 'He wanted it and intended that this thing should obey him, and so it obeyed him and followed his order'; likewise he answered Zayd means: 'Zayd asked for something and wanted it to accept his call, so it answered it'.

He further says: With this fine explanation we may understand the correctness of those exegetes' opinion who have said that "Is your Lord able" here means "Will your Lord obey", i.e. Will He do this work by His own free will and pleasure, without any compulsion? In short, it means that: Will your Lord be pleased to send down to us food from heaven, when we ask Him, or when you ask it from Him on our behalf?

COMMENT:

First: All that he has done is to correlate istatã‘a with istajãbah, and give to the former the later's meaning. But using analogy in language is not allowed.

Second: That both istitã‘ah and itã‘ah are derived from taw‘ which is opposite of kurh (dislike), does not necessarily mean that the stem's meaning will be preserved in all conjugational changes; because there are many basic words which have left their original meaning as a result of the changes in conjugation, for example: dharaba (he hit) and adhraba (he went on strike); qabila (he accepted), aqbala (he came forward), qabbala(he kissed), qãbala (he encountered) istaqbala (he welcomed).

When the grammarians look at the basic stem of the verb while seeing its conjugational changes, their only aim is to find out how much of the basic meaning is sustained in all these changes; or does that meaning give way to another new one; they do not think that the original meaning should be preserved, even with all those changes. Understand it.

A word indicates the meaning that is understood from it by the live and prevalent usage, not by the literal connotation of its root-word. The word: istitã‘ah has been used in more than forty places in the Divine Book, and everywhere it gives the meaning of ability. And the word: atã‘ah is used in nearly seventy places, and everywhere it gives the meaning of obedience. Also, wherever the word: taw‘ has been used it denotes 'opposite of dislike'. Now, how can the word: istitã‘a be taken to mean itã‘a, and this in its turn be taken to mean taw‘? And how can it be then claimed that ability here means pleasure or liking?

As for ajãba and istajãba, both have been used in the Qur’ãn in the same meaning; and istajãbah has been used several times more than ajãbah – the former is found in about thirty places while the latter is not seen in more than ten. How can atã‘a and istatã‘a can be analogized with it?

As for the both words having the same meaning, it only means that two aspects of theses words fit on one place: Ajãba means that the answer went over from the answerable to the questioner, and istajãba means that the one who is answerable asked for the reply from himself and passed it on to the questioner.

It is now clear that what that exegete has explained istajãbah with, is not correct; he has said: "Istajãba means that he asked for something and wanted it to give him the reply and it replied." But the paradigm of istif‘ãl indicates demand of fa‘ala, and not demand of af‘ala. And it is clear.

Third: The context does not agree with this interpretation. If we accept that their question, "Is your Lord able to send down to us food from heaven?" only meant: 'Will your Lord be pleased that we ask Him (or you ask Him) to send down to us food from heaven?' and that their only aim from this question or from this coming down was that their faith be strengthened and their hearts be at ease, then why ‘Īsã (a.s.) should admonish them and say: "Fear Allãh if you are believers?" And why should Allãh threaten him who would disbelieve afterwards from among them with a chastisement with which He would not chastise anyone in the worlds? While the fact remains that they had not spoken except truth and had not put except a proper request; and Allãh Himself has said: … and ask Allãh of His grace; . . . (4:32)

QUR’ÃN: He said: "Fear Allãh if you are believers.": ‘Īsã (a.s.) admonished them because apparently they had questioned the ability of his (a.s.)'s Lord to send down food from heaven; this speech creates doubt in any case. However, in view of the interpretation given by us, that the actual reason of this censure which ended with the severe threatening, was that they had asked for a sign when there was no need of it, and suggested what was tantamount to playing with divine signs; add to it their ugly style of the question which apparently showed that their hearts had not firmly believed in the power of Allãh; in this back-drop, the reason of ‘Īsã (a.s.)'s admonition becomes more manifest.

QUR’ÃN: They said: "We desire that we should eat of it and that our hearts should be at rest, and that we may know that you have indeed spoken the truth to us and that we may be of the witnesses to it.": It appears from the context that they offered this excuse in order to save themselves from his censure. This talk apparently is related to their demand for a sign by sending down the food; it does not refer to any imagined doubt that they would have entertained regarding Allãh's unrestricted power. This is another evidence that they were so admonished because they had asked for a sign when it was not needed at all.

As for their words: "We desire that we should eat of it … we may be of the witnesses to it." The disciples have given four reasons for demanding this particular sign: -

First: Eating of it: They wanted to point out that they had not intended playing with the signs of Allãh; they wanted to eat of it, and it was a reasonable objective. We have said earlier that this explanation of the disciples was tantamount to their acceptance that they deserved the admonition by ‘Īsã (a.s.) and the severe threatening by Allãh to him who would disbelieve in the sign of the food.

Someone has said that they had mentioned eating in order to show their utmost need of food and that they could not find anything to satisfy their hunger.

Yet others have said that they meant to say: that we should be blessed by eating it.

However, you are aware that neither of the above reasons can be inferred from merely the word, eating. Had they intended either of the two reasons, which would really remove the censure, it was necessary for them to mention it clearly. As they did not mention any such thing in spite of its necessity in this context, obviously they had used eating in its general sense, inasmuch as it was a reasonable purpose, and it was one part of their objective in suggesting the coming down of the food.

Second: Tranquillity of hearts, that their hearts should be at rest, by the removal of notions, which were inconsistent with sincerity and presence.

Third: To know that ‘Īsã (a.s.) had indeed spoken the truth in conveying the divine message to them. Knowledge here means that certainty which comes into the heart when devilish notions and insinuations are removed from it.

Or, as someone has said, the knowledge that he (a.s.) had spoken to them the truth in what he (a.s.) had promised them as the fruits of faith, like acceptance of invocations.

However, this interpretation looks unlikely because the disciples had not asked for coming down of the food except through ‘Īsã (a.s.)'s invocation, i.e. as a miracle from him (a.s.), and they had already seen numerous signs and miracles on his (a.s.)'s hand; because he (a.s.) was always accompanied by great divine signs; he was not sent to his com-munity, nor had he (a.s.) put a call to them except with the signs of his Lord; so they were always seeing the fruits of his faith in the form of the acceptance of his invocation – if the fruit means acceptance of his (a.s.)'s invocation. But if the fruit is taken to mean acceptance of their own invocation, then [it would be against the context, because] they had not demanded coming down of the sign through their own invocation, and it did not come down but by ‘Īsã (a.s.)'s invocation.

Fourth: That they might be of the witnesses thereof, wherever witnessing would be needed, like giving witness before the disbelievers and on the Day of Resurrection before Allãh. So, witnessing here is unrestricted. Also, possibly it may refer only to the witnessing before Allãh, as appears in their talk quoted by Allãh, inter alia: "Our Lord! We believe in what Thou hast revealed and we follow the Messenger, so write us down with those who bear witness." (3:53)

In short, while pleading in their defence, they added some beau-tiful and likeable factors to their other objective, i.e. partaking from heavenly food. They did so in order to remove the ugliness from their demanding a sign after already seeing sufficient signs; then ‘Īsã (a.s.) agreed to their demand after their persistence.

QUR’ÃN: ‘Īsã the son of Maryam said: "O Allãh, our Lord! Send down to us food from heaven which should be to us an ever-recur-ring happiness, to the first of us and to the last of us, and a sign from Thee, and grant us sustenance, and Thou art the best of providers.": He (a.s.) joined his own self with them in asking for the food; and began by calling to his Lord with a comprehensive word: "O Allãh, our Lord!" They had said: "Is your Lord able … ", but he changed it so that the address would agree with the prayer.

This prayer is unique amongst all the prayers and invocations of the prophets (peace be upon them), quoted in the Qur’ãn. While all others begin with the word: 'My Lord' or 'Our Lord'; this alone begins with: "O Allãh, our Lord!" It is only because of the delicacy of the situation and the fright of appraisal. On the other hand, similar opening addresses are found in the various types of praises quoted in the Qur’ãn: Say: "Praise be to Allãh … " (27:59); Say: "O Allãh, Master of Kingdom! … " (3:26); Say: "O Allãh! Originator of the heavens and the earth, … " (39:46).

Then he (a.s.) mentioned a heading for this sent down food, which would serve as a reason for his and his companions' request that it be sent down, and it is that it should be to them an ever-recurring happiness, to him and his people. The disciples had not mentioned in their demand that they wanted it to be an exclusive festival to them. But he (a.s.) asked for it in a general style and moulded it into a good mould, in order that it would not be thought as a demand for a sign while there already were so many great divine signs before their eyes and within their observation. In this way, it would become a demand likeable by Allãh, and not in clash with His majesty and greatness; because a festival by its very nature unites the word, revives the com-munity, enlivens the celebrants and is announced whenever the grandeur of religion returns.

That is why he said: "an ever-recurring happiness, to the first of us and to the last of us," i.e. the first group of our nation and the other ones who would join them later – as the context shows. Because ‘īd ( عِيْدُ = festival) is derived from ‘awd ( عَوْدُ = return); so it would be ‘īd only if it returns time and again, in descendants after ancestors without any limit.

This festival exclusively belonged to the ummah of ‘Īsã (a.s.), and as explained earlier, this type of sign too was reserved for them.

"and a sign from Thee": First he puts up the question of ‘īd, and it was a good and beautiful thing free from all blemish; then he followed it by its being a sign from Allãh. It was an extra benefit added to the main objective; it was not intended to be the only objective. Had it been the only purpose, i.e. its being a sign asking for, it would have led to an unwanted result; because all good advantages which could be intended from it, were easily obtainable through the signs which the disciples and others were seeing from him (a.s.) every day.

"and grant us sustenance, and Thou art the best of providers": It is another benefit which he counted as resulting from that invocation of ‘īd, although it is not the intended purpose. The disciples had asked for it as the main intended purpose in itself, as they had said: "We desire that we should eat of it … " Thus, they had mentioned it as the thing intended for itself, and mentioned it before other items. But ‘Īsã (a.s.) counted it as unintended for itself and put it at the end; also, he changed the word, eating, with that of sustenance, and added after it the phrase: "'and Thou art the best of providers.'"

What they had treated as the main purpose, has been relegated by ‘Īsã (a.s.) as a resulting benefit, only. Its proof may be seen in the fact that he (a.s.) first prayed for himself and his whole ummah the granting of ‘īd, which he had added to their suggestion. In this way, its becoming a sign of Allãh and a sustenance, became two attributes which were reserved to some of them excluding the others, like a resulting benefit which is not all-encompassing.

When you will look at his (a.s.)'s fine and brilliant good manners vis-à-vis his Lord, you will be astonished. See how he (a.s.) took the wording of their demand, then added to it, omitted from it, altered the sequence and changed and preserved, until their original talk which was totally unfit to be presented before Allãh, turned into a beautiful speech containing the good manners of servitude. Just meditate on the proviso of his (a.s.)'s speech, you will be amazed.

QUR’ÃN: Allãh said: "Surely I will send it down to you, but whoever shall disbelieve afterwards from among you, surely I will chastise him with a chastisement with which I will not chastise any one among the nations.": The people of Medina and Syria as well as ‘Ãsim have recited it, munazziluhã ( مُنَزِّ لُهَا ) with intensified pronunciation, and the others have recited munziluha ( مُنْزِلُهَا ) without intensification – as has been described in Majma‘u 'l-bayãn. And the latter is more appro-priate, because inzãl (إِنْزَال) – from which munziluhã (مُنْزِلُهَ) is derived – denotes being sent down all at once, and the food was sent down in this very manner. As for tanzīl (تَنْزِيْل) – from which munazziluhã is derived – it is generally used for gradual coming down, as described earlier repeatedly.

The phrase: "Surely I will send it down to you" is an unambiguous promise to send the food down, especially when we see its structure: the original phrase literally means: I am its sender down, i.e. it uses the paradigm of nomen agentis, and not of a verb; and it inevitably means that the food was indeed sent down to them.

Some exegetes have said that it was not sent down, as is quoted in ad-Durru 'l-manthūr and Majma‘u 'l-bayãn, from al-Hasan and Mujãhid that they said: "It did not come down; because when they heard of the condition they abandoned their request and said: 'We do not want it nor do we need it'; so it did not come down."

But the fact is that the verse clearly shows that it was sent down, as it contains clear promise of its coming down, and far be it from Allãh that He should magnanimously give a clear promise when He knew that they would give up their demand so it would not be sent down; the promise given in the verse is quite clear, and the condition mentioned in it says that those who would disbelieve after its coming down would be given unparallelled chastisement. In other words, the verse contains unconditional promise of sending the food down, and then it attaches the chastisement to disbelief. It does not say that it would be sent down provided they accepted the chastisement for disbelief, so that the promise would be cancelled if they did not accept the said condition, and then the food would not be sent if they gave up their demand. Understand it.

In any case, the divine promise to send the food conjoined with severe threat of disbelievers' chastisement was not a rejection of ‘Īsã (a.s.)'s prayer, rather it apparently accepts his invocation. However, as this acceptance of the prayer, in this context, would have apparently shown that that sign would be an unrestricted mercy which would be enjoyed by the first of them and the last of them, Allãh restricted it with the attached proviso. In short, it shows that this festival, which is exclusively reserved to them, would not benefit all of them, it would be beneficial only to the believers among them who would continue in their belief, but as for the disbelievers they would be harmed by it, extreme harm.

Thus, these two verses in their style are like the verses 2:124 and 7:155-6. All these verses contain a general and unrestricted prayer and a restricted acceptance. [Those verses are as follows.] And (remember) when his Lord tried Ibrãhīm with certain words, and he fulfilled them. He said: "Surely I am going to make you an Imãm for men." He (Ibrãhīm) said: "And of my offspring?" He said: "My covenant shall not include the unjust." (2:124). "… Thou art our Guardian, therefore forgive us and have mercy on us, and Thou art the best of the forgivers. And ordain for us good in this world and in the hereafter, for surely we proceed to Thee." He said: "(As for) My chastisement, I will afflict with it whom I please, and My mercy encompasses all things; so I will ordain it for those who fear Allãh and pay the zakãt, and those who believe in Our signs." (7:155-6).

You have understood from the above that the actual reason for this threatened chastisement (which would be restricted to them) is that they had demanded a sign of a type that would be reserved to them and no other nation would share in it with them. So, when that demand was granted they were threatened on disbelieving in it a chastisement that no one else would share with them, just like the distinction granted to them.

It is apparent from it that al-‘ãlamīn ( اَلْعَالَمِيْن = worlds, nations) refers to all nations, not only those who were present at that time, because it is related to those whom they distinguished among the people; and it covers all nations, not only those who were in the days of ‘Īsã (a.s.) from among the nations of the earth.

Also, it is clear that although the sentence: "surely I will chastise him with a chastisement with which I will not chastise any one among the nations", is a very tough threat of a miserable punishment, yet the talk does not say that the chastisement would be above all punishments and retributions in hardship and agony; it rather says that the punishment would be unique which they alone would be afflicted with among the nations.

TRADITIONS

Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) explained the phrase: "Is your Lord able" in these words, "Are you able to pray to your Lord?" (Majma‘u 'l-bayãn)

The author says: This meaning has been narrated through Sunnī chains from some companions and their followers, like ‘Ãishah and Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr. It returns to the meaning which we have shown earlier, because the querry about ‘Īsã (a.s.)'s power can only be correct if it refers to his ability from the view of reason and welfare, not about his actual power.

‘Īsã al-‘Alawī narrates from his father from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) that he said, "The table (of food) that was sent to the Children of Israel was suspended by golden chains; there were nine fish and nine loaves of bread on it." (at-Tafsīr, al-‘Ayyãshī)

The author says: In another version there is nine anwãn ( أَنْوَان = plural of nūnنُون ) in place of ahwatah ( أَحْوَتَـه = plural of hūt حُوت ); both have the same meaning, fish.

‘Ammãr ibn Yãsir narrates from the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he said, "The table came (with) bread and meat. It was because they had asked ‘Īsã (a.s.) for an inexhaustible food which they would eat. He (The Prophet) said, 'It was said to them, "Surely it will stay with you as long as you do not act treacherously, do not hide it and do not lift from it; but if you did so you will be punished."' He (The Prophet) said, 'But the day did not come to its end until they hid it, lifted from it and acted treacherously.'" (Majma‘u 'l-bayãn)

The author says: [as-Suyūtī] has narrated it in ad-Durru 'l-manthūr from at-Tirmidhī, Ibn Jarīr, Ibn Abī Hãtim, Ibnu 'l-Anbãrī, Abu 'sh-Shaykh and Ibn Marduwayh, from ‘Ammãr ibn Yãsir from the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), and there is at its end the phrase: "so they were transformed into apes and swine."

Also, he writes in the same ad-Durru 'l-manthūr: Ibn Jarīr, Ibnu 'l-Mundhir and Ibn Abī Hãtim have narrated a similar tradition in another way from ‘Ammãr ibn Yãsir as a mawqūf tradition. at-Tirmidhī has said that the waqf is more correct.

What this report says that they had asked for an inexhaustible food which they would eat, does not fully agree with the verse, as appears from their words quoted herein, and that we may be of the witnesses to it, because a food that is never exhausted does not need any witness to testify for it – except if it means testifying before Allãh on the Day of Resurrection.

Also, the report of their transformation into apes and swines, as what is apparent from the context, is the punishment with which they were threatened. But here it leaves open another door of argument. Because the divine words: "surely I will chastise him with a chastisement with which I will not chastise any one among the nations", apparently show that they would be meted out with an exclusive punishment, not shared by any others; while the Qur’ãn clearly mentions that other people too were transformed into apes. Allãh says: "Be apes, despised and hated." (2:65). And it is narrated in this connection through some chains of Ahlu 'l-Bayt (a.s.), that they were transformed into swines.

al-Fudayl ibn Yasãr narrates from Abu 'l-Hasan (a.s.) that he heard him saying, "Swines were from the people of ‘Īsã, they had asked for coming down of the table and then did not believe, so Allãh transformed them into swines." (at-Tafsīr, al-‘Ayyãshī)

‘Abdu 's-Samad ibn Bandãr said, "I heard Abu 'l-Hasan (a.s.) saying, 'Swines were a community of bleachers, they denied the table, so they were transformed into swines.'" (ibid.)

The author says: It is narrated in al-Kãfī from Muhammad ibn Yahyã, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Ash‘arī from Abu 'l-Hasan ar-Ridã (a.s.) that he said, "Elephant is transformed, it was a fornicating king; wolf is transformed, it was a cuckold Bedouin; rabbit is transformed, it was a woman who was dis-loyal to her husband and did not take bath after her menstruation; bat is transformed, it used to steal dates of the people; apes and swines are groups of the Children of Israel who had exceeded the limits of the Sabbath; eel and lizard were a group of the Children of Israel who did not believe when the table was sent down to ‘Īsã son of Maryam, so they became disoriented, one group fell in the sea and another in the land; mouse is a debaucherer; scorpion was a slanderer; and bear, lizard and wasp were meat-sellers who defrauded in measure."

This tradition does not go against the preceding two traditions, because it is possible that some of them were changed into swines, while some others were changed into eel and lizard. However, it is not free from another difficulty, as it mentions that the people of the Sabbath were changed into apes and swines, while this verse as well as a similar one in the chapter seven, mention, only their transformation into apes, and their context rejects their transformation into any other shape.

Chapter   8

Trandslation of verses 116-120

And when Allãh will say: "O ‘Īsã son of Maryam! Did you say to the people: 'Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allãh'?" He will say: "Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it; Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things (116). I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with: 'That worship Allãh, my Lord and your Lord', and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou art witness of all things (117). If Thou shouldst chastise them, then surely they are Thy servants; and if Thou shouldst forgive them, then surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise." (118). Allãh will say: "This is the day when their truth shall benefit the truthful ones; they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide in them forever; Allãh is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him; this is the mighty achievement." (119). Allãh's is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is in them; and He has power over all things (120).

COMMENTARY

It is a sort of a dialogue between Allãh and His messenger ‘Īsã son of Maryam, about what the Christians say regarding ‘Īsã (a.s.). It appears that the purpose of these verses is to affirm what he (a.s.) had confessed and described about himself in his life of this world: That he had no right to claim for himself what was not 'his' anyhow; that he indeed was in the sight of Allãh, which does not sleep, nor does it turn aside; that he had never crossed the limits laid down by Allãh. He had not said except that which Allãh had enjoined him to say, and he had remained engaged in the task, which Allãh had given him – it was the subject of 'witnessing'. And Allãh has affirmed his truthfulness in what he said regarding the right of Lordship and servitude.

In this way, the verses fit the aim and objective for which this chapter was revealed; that is the description of the right laid down by Allãh over His servants, that they should fulfil the covenant they have made, and should not break it; it is not proper for them to wander around as they want, and to graze pleasantly wherever they wish. Because they have not been given such right by their Lord, nor do they have such power on their own. Allãh's is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is in them; and He has power over all things. And on this note the chapter comes to its end.

QUR’ÃN: And when Allãh will say: "O ‘Īsã son of Maryam! Did you say to the people: 'Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allãh'?": "When" is an adverb of time related to an omitted but implied verb which is understood from the context – and it indicates the Day of Resurrection; as Allãh describes: Allãh will say: "This is the day when their truth shall benefit the truthful ones;" and ‘Īsã himself shall say: "and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them".

The verse mentions Maryam with the attribute of motherhood; it says: "Take me and my mother for two gods", instead of saying: 'Take me and Maryam for two gods'. It points to their most important proof for ‘Īsã's divinity, i.e. his being born of her without a father; thus the sonship and motherhood are the basic ingredients in this matter; therefore mentioning him and his mother was more effective than the mention of ‘Īsã and Maryam.

"Dūn" ( دُوْن = low, inadequate) is used ultimately in the sense of 'besides'. ar-Rãghib says: "Dūn is used to indicate one who is unable to do something; someone has said that it is the reversed form of dunuw (دُنُو= proximity) adwan ( أدْوَن ) means danīy (دَنِى = near); Allãh says: Do not take for intimate friends from among others than your own people; . . .[3:118], i.e. he who does not attain your position in religiosity; or, in kinship; the word of Allãh: … and  forgives  what  is  besides  that . . .[4:48], i.e. lesser than that; or apart from that; and the two meanings are concomitant. And the divine words: 'Did you say to the people: "Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allãh"?', i.e. other than Allãh."

The phrase: "besides Allãh", has been used in the Qur’ãn mostly in the sense of partnership, and not for independent divinity. When it condemns taking one, two or more gods besides Allãh, it means taking someone other than Allãh a partner of Allãh in divinity – it does not mean taking someone else for a god and denying the divinity of Allãh: Surely it would be a foolish talk without any sense, because the one taken as god would be the true God and other than Him would be negated. Thus, it would turn into a verbal dispute about some attributes. For example, if someone says that God is the Christ, and negated God for Christ, it would mean that he affirms the existence of God but attaches to Him human characteristics of the Christ. Or, if he said that the idols or lords of the idols are gods and negated the existence of Allãh, then he admits that there is a god for the universe; thus he affirms the existence of Allãh, but has ascribed to Him the attributes of plurality and multitude; thus he makes partner for Allãh. Or says as the Christians say that Allãh is the third of the three, i.e., one who is three and three who is one.

Likewise, whoever says that the beginning of the world is time or nature and denies that there is a god for it, he indeed affirms that there is a Maker for the world and he is Allãh, but he has ascribed to Him the attributes of defect and transience.

And whoever denies any beginning for this wonderful system and rejects any causality and effectiveness, in spite of the clear decision of his nature, he indeed affirms that there is a world firmly fixed which is not subject of denial or non-existence at all; in other words, the world has an essential existence. Now, the protector of its existence and permanence is either the world itself – which cannot be, because its parts are subject to change and cessation – or another one – and He is Allãh who has His attributes of perfection.

It is thus clear that Allãh does not admit negation in any way, except in apparent wording that is devoid of any understandable meaning.

The basic factor in all this is that man proves the existence of Allãh because of the general need felt in the world for the One who should furnish his existence's requirements and manage the affairs of his system, and then he would affirm the particulars of his existence. Whatever he would affirm for fulfilling this need, he is Allãh. Then if he affirms another god or more gods than one, it will be seen that either he has erred in specification of His attributes and apostatized in His names, or has affirmed for Him a partner or several partners. But to deny His being and affirm someone other than Him, would be a senseless exercise.

Now, it becomes clear that the phrase, two gods besides Allãh, means two partners of Allãh beside Himself. Even if it is accepted that the phrase does not indicate partnership in any way, we shall say that its meaning does not go beyond believing in two gods who in quiddity are other than Allãh; but it is silent about its being joined with denial of Allãh's divinity or its affirmation; no word of the verse speaks about it, it is understood from outside. The Christians do not deny His divinity although they take the Christ and his mother as two gods besides Allãh.

Some people have found it hard to explain the verse because the Christians do not believe in the divinity of the virgin Maryam; and they have mentioned several points for explaining it.

But it should be kept in mind that the verse mentions their taking her as a goddess, and not that they believe in her as a goddess. Taking someone as a god is quite different from believing in his divinity – except as a concomitant. Taking someone as a god is applicable to submitting to him with humility. Allãh says: Have you then considered him who takes his base desire for his god? (45:23). And this theme is narrated from the ancients of Christians, and observed in their descendants.

al-Ãlūsī has written in Rūhu 'l-ma‘ãnī: Verily Abū Ja‘far al-Imãmī has narrated from some Christians that in the past there was a sect called Maryamiyyah; they believed about Maryam that she was a goddess.

[Rashīd Ridã] has said in Tafsīru 'l-Manãr: As for their taking the Christ as a god, it has already been mentioned in several places in explanation of this chapter; and as for his mother, her worship was agreed upon in the Eastern and the Western Churches after Constantine; then the Protestant denomination (which appeared many centuries after the advent of Islam) rejected her worship.2

This worship offered to Maryam, mother of Christ, by Christians, is of various modes: There is a salãt which contains prayer, praise, call for help and intercession; there is also a fast ascribed to her and named after her; and all this is joined with humility to her remembrance, and to her pictures and images, combined with the belief of her authority emanating from the unseen world. That authority, according to their belief, enables her to bring benefit and harm in this world and the next, either by herself or through her son. They have clearly declared that it is incumbent to worship her. However, we know not of any of their sects which would use the word, goddess, for her; of course they name her, 'Mother of god'; and some sects make it clear that it is used in its real, not metaphorical, sense.

The Qur’ãn says here that they had taken ‘Īsã and his mother for two gods, and the taking is other than naming; taking them for gods occurs when they worship them, and this certainly happens in their case. Allãh has said in another verse that they say: Surely Allãh, He is the Masīh son of  Maryam; … (5:72). But that is something else. And the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has explained the divine words: They have taken their doctors of law and their monks for Lords besides Allãh, . . . [9:31], that they followed them in what they allowed or forbade, not that they called them Lords.

The first clear declaration that I saw about the Christians really worshipping Maryam, was in the book, as-Sawã‘ī, from among the books of the Greek Orthodox, and I had seen this book in a monastry called Dayru 't-Talmīd, when I was first admitted in the educational Institute; and the Catholic declare openly and take pride of it.

al-Jazwīt had decorated in Beirut their magazine, al-Mashriq (no.9, year 7) with Maryam's picture and coloured designs, it was done as a souvenir to celebrate the Golden Jubilee at the end of fifty years since the

2 The belief that the Christ was a messenger and not a god is now spreading among American Christians these days – and it is 1958 C.E. The scholar H.G. Wells has written in his Short History: This worship renderred by general Christians to the Christ and his mother does not agree with the teachings of the Christ, because he had forbidden, as quoted in the Gospel according to St. Mark, the worship of any one other than the One Allãh. (Vide pp.526 & 539 of the said book.) (Author's note)

announcement of the Pope Pius IX that the virgin Maryam had become pregnant without pollution of sin; and in that very issue they confirmed that the Eastern as well as the Western Churches wor-shipped Maryam.

Of the same theme is the word of father Luis Shaykhū, in an article of his regarding the Eastern Churches: "Verily the worship by Armenian Church of the chaste virgin, the Mother of Allãh, is certainly a well-known affair." He also writes: "The Coptic Church is distinguished by its worship of the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of Allãh."

Then he quotes a part of an essay by father Inistas al-Karamli published in the Catholic magazine al-Mashriq (no.14, year 5) of Beirut. He writes under the heading, "Antiquity of the Virgin's worship", after mentioning the wording of Genesis, regarding the enmity of the serpent with the woman and her offspring, and interpreting the woman as the Virgin: "Don't you see that you do not find in this text anything clearly pointing to the Virgin until there came that great prophet, Elia the living, and he brought forth the worship of the Virgin from the cornor of symbolism and ambiguity to the world of clarity and explanation."

Then he interprets this clarity and explanation by what is written in the Kings III (according to the Catholic arrangement) that when Elia was with his servant at the summit of Karaml, he ordered him seven times to look towards the sea. After the seventh observation, the servant informed him that he saw a cloud about the size of a man's palm rising from the sea.

The essay-writer says: "From that rising (the first rising of the cloud^3) I say: 'Is it anything except the picture of Maryam, according to what the exegetes have established, rather it is the picture of the foetus without the original sin'." Then he says: "This is the origin of the Virgin's worship in the esteemed orient; and it goes back to the tenth century B.C.; and the excellence in this matter goes to this great prophet Elia." Again he says: "That is why the ancesters of the Karmalites were the first to believe in the Lord Jesus after the apostles and the deciples, and they were the first to establish a place of worship for the Virgin after her being taken away to the heaven with soul and body."4

3 It points to the cloud which the servant had seen rising from the sea. (Author's note)

4 We have copied it at length, because a meditating scholar may find in it the type of their 'logic' with which they affirm her  worship, and he will also see some of their recklessness in religion. (Author's note)

QUR’ÃN: He will say: "Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); … Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things: This and the next verse contain reply of ‘Īsã son of Maryam (a.s.) of the question he was asked; and he (a.s.) has adopted in it an amazing manner and etiquette:

He began by glorifying God, when he (a.s.) suddenly and unexpectedly was confronted with what was not proper to be ascribed to that Great and Sublime Being – i.e. the people taking them two gods besides Allãh, as His partners. It is a good manner of servitude that the servant should glorify his Lord whenever he hears what is not proper to be ascribed to God or what does not enter into mind in this con-nection. It is this factor that Allãh has trained His servants in the Qur’ãn: And they say: "The Beneficent God has taken to Himself a son." Glory be to Him… .(21:26); And they ascribe daughters to Allãh, glory be to Him; … (16:57).

Then he turned to refute what was implied in the question that it could be ascribed to him. That he would have told the people to take him and his mother for two gods besides Allãh. He did not only reject it in itself, but refuted its cause to put emphasis on deanthropomorphism. Had he said: 'I did not say (or do) it', it would have implied that although such an action or talk was possible but he did not do it; but when he refuted its cause and said: 'It did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say)', it refuted the basis of such talk; this refutation of such a right also more intensely refutes what depends on it. Let us suppose that a master says to his servant: 'Why did you do what I had not told you to do?' Now, if the servant says: 'I did not do it', it would refute what was expected to happen; but if he said, 'I am rather unable to do it', it would refute it by refuting its cause; it would be rejection of its basic possibility, let alone its actual occurance.

"it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say)": If the verb, mã yakūn (مَايَكُون = it does not happen) is a defective verb, then its subject is "that I should say", and the predicate is "what I had no right to (say)", and "L" ( لِى ) denotes possession. The meaning then will be: 'I do not possess what I was not given possession of, and it does not befit me to speak without any right.' On the other hand, if this verb is 'complete', then the word, 'me', is related to it, and the phrase: "that I should say … ", is its subject; and then the meaning will be: 'It does not occur to me to speak without any right.' And the former is nearer interpretation. In any case, it negates the action by negating its cause.

"if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it": It is second rejection of the question asked – not on its own but through rejection of its concomitant; because if such words were uttered, Allãh would certainly know it, because He it is from whom nothing is hidden, neither in the earth nor in the heavens, and He watches every soul as to what it earns, and He encompasses everything.

This speech of ‘Īsã (a.s.), to begin with, presents the talk with its proof, and does not offer mere claim; and then indicates that in all his talks and actions he always kept regard of Allãh's knowledge, not caring whether other creatures of Him knew it or not, as he had nothing to do with them.

In other words, asking questions is in order in a matter in which there is a possibility of being ignorant; so it is intended for removal of ignorance and imparting of knowledge – either for the asker himself, if he is ignorant of the reality, or to some other person, if the asker is knowledgeable but he intends that others too should become aware of the reality. It is this latter reason to which the type of the question found in the divine speech is attributed. ‘Īsã (a.s.)'s reply at this juncture: "if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it", turns the affair to His knowledge and indicates that he does not refer anything of his words and deeds except to the divine knowledge.

Then he said: "Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind": This indicates the purity of the divine knowledge from mixing with ignorance. Although the sentence, in it-self, denotes praise; but praise is not intended here, because it is not the place of prise; rather it is the place of getting rid of the attributions that were ascribed to Him.

His words: "Thou knowest what is in my mind," elaborates the comprehensiveness of the knowledge mentioned in the phrase: "if I had said it, Thou wouldst have known it." It shows that Allãh's knowledge of our deeds – and He is the King, the Truth on that day – is not like the knowledge of our kings about the condition of their subjects; as they receive reports from various parts of their kingdom, and consequently they know things in part and remain ignorant of other parts. Allãh is the Knower of subtilities, Aware of all things, including the soul of ‘Īsã son of Maryam in particular.

Even then, he could not fully elaborate the attributes of His knowledge. Allãh knows everything, not as one of us knows about someone else, and someone else knows about one of us. He knows what He knows by encompassing the object; while nothing encompasses Him, and they cannot comprehend anything of His knowledge. Thus He, the Sublime, is God, without any limit, and everyone beside Him is limited, determined, which cannot transcend the boundary of his limited soul. That is why he (a.s.) added to it another sentence: "Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind."

As for his words: "surely Thou art the great Knower of the un-seen things," it gives the reason of his words: "Thou knowest what is in my mind … " It removes the possible misunderstanding that the matter of knowledge in the sentence: "Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind," is confined to what is between him and his Lord, and does not encompass all things. So, by saying: "surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things," he made it clear that the complete knowledge of all unseen things is reserved for Allãh. Whatever knowledge is held by anything and is unseen by other things, it is indeed known by Allãh and He encompasses it.

It follows that nothing is aware of the unseen thing of Allãh or of other than Allãh's – which Allãh knows – because everything is created and limited and does not transcend its own phases. Thus, Allãh is the great Knower of all unseen things, and nothing besides Him knows any of the unseen things, neither whole nor in part.

Moreover, if any of the unseen things of Allãh was encompassed by a thing; now if Allãh encompasses it, then that encompassing thing would not be encompassing in reality, but it would be encompassed by Allãh: Allãh in His pleasure has given it the power to encompass some of the things owned by Him, without this latter thing going out of His possession, as Allãh says: … and they cannot comprehend any thing out of His knowledge except what He pleases; … (2:255)

If Allãh were not to comprehend what He comprehends, He would become subject to a limit, and thus would become a created thing; far exalted is He from such things!

QUR’ÃN: "I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with: 'That worship Allãh, my Lord and your Lord': After first refuting the talk in question by rejecting its cause, he now refutes it by explaining his responsibility which he had not transgressed. So, he said: "I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with … " He used restricted mode of speech through negative followed by positive, in order to give reply to the question asked, by rebutting it, i.e. the speech: 'Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allãh.' Then he elaborated what he was enjoined with by Allãh: "'That worship Allãh'"; than described Allãh saying: "'my Lord and your Lord'." It was done so that there should not remain any shade of misunderstanding and it should be clearly known that he is a servant and a mess-enger who calls to Allãh, his Lord and the Lord of all the people, alone who has no partner.

In such a clear style ‘Īsã son of Maryam (a.s.) used to call the people to monotheism, as the Qur’ãn quotes him as saying in other places too: Surely Allãh is my Lord and your Lord, therefore worship Him; this is the right path. (43:64); And surely Allãh is my Lord and your Lord, therefore worship Him; this is the right path. (19:36).

QUR’ÃN: "and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou art witness of all things: Now, he (a.s.) mentioned the second responsibility entrusted to him by Allãh, and that was to be a witness of his people's deeds, as Allãh says: … and on the Day of Resurrection he (‘Īsã) shall be a witness over them. (4:159).

He (a.s.) declares: 'I had only two responsibilities towards them, to convey the message to them and to be a witness of their deeds; as for the messengership, I performed it in clearest possible terms; and as for the witnessing, I did not transgress the task You had enjoined me with; so I am free from the blame that I might have told them to take me and my mother for two gods besides Allãh.'

"but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou art witness of all things": ar-Raqūb and ar-riqãbah (ةاَلرِقَابَ،ُوباَلرَق     = protection, preservation); in this context, it denotes preservation of deeds. The word, witness, has been changed to 'watcher', to avoid repetition because the next phrase contains this word: "and Thou art witness of all things," and there was no reason why this word especially should be used second time.

The clause: "Thou wert the watcher over them," denotes restriction. It follows that Allãh was the witness as long as ‘Īsã (a.s.) was the witness, and He continued to be witness after him. So his (a.s.)'s witnessing was a mediation in witnessing, not an independent witnessing; it is like all other divine arrangements by which He has given some servants agency of some functions, while He is the real manager of everything, like sustenance, giving life and death, preservation, call and guidance, etc. There are numerous noble verses showing this aspect, which need not be quoted here.

That is why ‘Īsã (a.s.), after saying: "but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them," added the next clause: "and Thou art witness of all things." This style was used to denote that his being a witness over his people's deeds, which he continued to per-form as long as he was among them, was a small part of the general, comprehensive witnessing, i.e. the witnessing of Allãh over a thing; because Allãh is the witness over the individual things and their activities, including the deeds of His servants together with the deeds of the people of ‘Īsã (a.s.) as long as he was among them and after his death, and He is the witness together with other witnesses and the witness without other witnesses.

It is clear from the above that the restriction is true concerning Allãh even when other witnesses offer their testimonies, because ‘Īsã (a.s.) has restricted the testimony after his death to Allãh, although Allãh had His other witnesses after ‘Īsã (a.s.)'s death among His servants and messengers, and he (a.s.) was well aware of it.

And its proof may be seen in the good news he (a.s.) gave of the advent of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), as quoted in the Qur’ãn: And when ‘Īsã son of Maryam said: "O Children of Israel! Surely I am the messenger of Allãh to you, verifying that which is before me of the Tawrãt, and giving the good news of a messenger who will come after me, his name being Ahmad;" . . . (61:6); and the Qur’ãn has clearly mentioned the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) being a witness, as Allãh says: …    and bring you as a witness over these? (4:41).

Moreover, Allãh has quoted him (a.s.) as describing this restriction: "but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them," and has not refuted it. So, Allãh is the witness, and no one else, in spite of there being witnesses. It means that the reality of witnessing belongs to Allãh, in the same way as every perfection and goodness be-longs to Allãh; whatever perfection, goodness or beauty He gives to others, it emanates from His bestowal of possession, without this bestowal making Him divested of possession or causing negation of His ownership. You should meditate on various aspects what we have said.

It is clear from ‘Īsã (a.s.)'s condition described in these two verses, that he is innocent of what had been said about him, and that he has no responsibility at all regarding their deeds. That is why he (a.s.) has ended his speech on the words: "If Thou shouldst chastise them … surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise."

QUR’ÃN: "If Thou shouldst chastise them, then surely they are Thy servants; and if Thou shouldst forgive them, then surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.": When it became clear, through his proofs, that he had no responsibility towards the people except conveyance of the message and delivery of the testimony, and that he did not do except that and did not cross the limit to what he had no right to, and thus he was not liable to what they uttered of the words of disbelief, then it is obvious that he has nothing to do with the divine judgement concerning them and their Lord. That is why he has started this new topic without any conjunctive or any indication that it branches from the preceding speech.

Thus, the verse is almost capable of being put in place of fore-going explanation. Its meaning: 'I am not responsible for the ugly poly-theism in which they fell down, and I did not interfere in any of their affairs, so that I should take part with them in the judgement between Thee and them in whatever Thou pleasest, and in Thy decree about them as Thou wishest. They alone should face whatever Thou doest about them. If Thou shouldst chastise them, as Thou hast decided about those who ascribe a partner to Thee, by sending them into the Fire, then surely they are Thy servants, and in Thy hand alone is the management of their affairs, and Thou hast the right to be angry with them, because Thou art the Master in reality, and to the master belong his servants' affairs. And if Thou shouldst forgive them, by erasing the trace of this great injustice, then surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise, to Thee belongs the right of power and wisdom, and a mighty one (the one who owns the seriousness and power, not found in others), especially if he is wise (who does not take any step except when it is proper) has the authority to forgive the great injustice; obviously when power and wisdom are joined together in anyone, do not allow any other power to stand against him, nor any obscurity in whatever he decides.'

The foregoing explanation makes it clear that: -

First: the word of ‘Īsã (a.s.): "then surely they are Thy servants," has the force of saying: 'then surely Thou art their true Master', as we see in the Qur’ãnic style that it brings the names of Allãh after describing His actions, as is seen in the end of this verse.

Second: The clause: "then surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise," is not meant for restriction; the detached personal pronoun of second person singular, and addition of al ( ال ) to the predicate are brought for emphasis. The meaning then will be as follows: 'Surely Thy Power and Wisdom cannot be doubted about, and nobody has any right to object if Thou wert to forgive them.

Third: The backdrop of this speech, where ‘Īsã son of Maryam (a.s.) was talking with his Lord, let us say, face to face, was the situation where the divine Majesty was manifest, the Majesty that nothing can stand to it; and it demanded that it should be faced with utmost humility of servitude, and the servant must avoid interference in any affair with invocation or question. That is why he (a.s.) said: "and if Thou shouldst forgive them, then surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise." Mark that he did not say: 'Thou art the Forgiving, the Merciful.' It was because the radiance of the overpowering sign of the divine Majesty and authority, which subdues everything, does not leave any way for the servant except to seek refuge in Him with all the humility of his servitude, and misery of total slavery; and to act affably in this situation is a great sin.

As for the words of Ibrãhīm addressed to his Lord: then whoever follows me, he is surely of me, and whoever disobeys me, Thou surely art Forgiving, Merciful; it is an invocation; and a servant has full right to incite the divine mercy in any way possible.

QUR’ÃN: Allãh will say: "This is the day when their truth shall benefit the truthful ones: This is the confirmation of the truth of ‘Īsã son of Maryam (a.s.) in an illusive way; Allãh has not declared his name, but it is known from the context.

This truth of the truthful ones refers to their truth in this world; because Allãh says after this sentence: they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide in them forever. Obviously, it elaborates the reward of their truth near Allãh – it is the benefit of the truth which will return to them; while the next world's deeds and conditions – including the truth of the people of the next world – will not bring any benefit as reward. In other words, no reward is given on the deeds and conditions of the next world, as it is given on this world's deeds and conditions, because there is no taklīf ( تَكْلِيْف = religious responsibility) in the next world, and reward is a branch of the taklīf. Obviously, the next world is a house of reckoning, reward and punishment, in the same way as this world is a house of action and responsibility. Allãh says: … on  the  day when the reckoning shall come to pass! (14:41); . . . today you shall be rewarded for what you did. (45:28); … This life of the world is only a (passing) enjoyment, and surely the here-after is the abode to settle.(40:39).

What ‘Īsã (a.s.) spoke about his condition in this world, contains of words and deeds, and Allãh has confirmed his truthfulness; thus the truth mentioned in this verse contains truth in deeds as it includes truth in words. Therefore, those who were truthful in this world in their words and deeds, shall benefit from their truthfulness on the Day of Resurrections, they shall have the promised gardens, and they shall be pleased [with Allãh] and pleasing [to Him], and they shall achieve the great success.

Apart from that, truth in words necessitates truth in deeds – i.e. clarity and purity of deeds from stigma of hypocrisy – and leads it to goodness. It is reported that a Bedouine asked the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) for an advice; so he admonished him not to tell a lie. Thereafter, the man narrated that adherence to what he was advised to, prevented him from all sins; because whenever a sin tempted him, he remembered that if he did it and then was asked about it, he would be obliged to confess its commission and inform the people about it; so he did not do it because of that fear.

QUR’ÃN: "they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide in them forever; Allãh is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Allãh; this is the mighty achievement.": Allãh shall be well pleased with them because of the truth which they had sent before them, and they shall be well pleased with Allãh because of the reward which He will bestow on them.

The verse has attached the pleasure with their selves, and not with their deeds, unlike the divine words: … and whose words He is pleased with. (20:109); . . . and if you are grateful, He shall be pleased with it in you; . . . (39:7). There is a difference between these two pleasures: Your pleasure with a thing means that you do not push it away with dislike; it is possible for your enemy to bring up an action which you like, although you are angry with him; and for a friend whom you love to do a deed which you do not like.

Thus, the words: "Allãh is well pleased with them", denote that Allãh likes their selves; and it is known that this pleasure cannot take place unless there appears the purpose for which Allãh has created them; and He has said: And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should worship Me (51:56). So, this servitude and worship is the divine object for which man has been created. Allãh shall be pleased with a servant's soul only when he shall become an exemplary worshipper. In other words, when his soul will be the soul of a servant of Allãh Who is the Lord of everything; he does not see his own soul, nor anything else; but he is only a slave of Allãh who is submissive to His Lordship, who does not turn except to Him and does not return but to Him, as He says about Ayyūb: … most excellent the servant! Surely he was frequent in returning (to Allãh), (38: 44); and this is their being pleased with Him.

This is one of the stations of servitude. Its concomitant is the purity of the soul from disbelief (in all its ranks) and from transgression, as Allãh says: … and He does not like ungratefulness in His servants; … (39:7); … yet surely Allãh is not pleased with the transgressing people (9:96).

It is one of the signs of this position that when servitude takes hold of a servant's soul and he sees that all that he perceives with his external eyes and internal insight is owned by Allãh and is submissive to His order, then he will be pleased with Allãh, because he will realize that whatever has Allãh given him, has given it from His Grace, so it is His generosity and bounty, and whatever He has stopped from him, He has done it for some reason.

Moreover, Allãh says about them when they shall be in the Garden: They shall have in them what they please. (16:31; 25:16). And it is known that when man gets all that he wishes, and then naturally he will be pleased. This is the utmost human bliss and felicity in his servitude, and that is why the talk ends on the clause: "this is the mighty achievement."

QUR’ÃN: Allãh's is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is in them; and He has power over all things: al-Milk (اَلْمِلْك = ownership) is a special authority on individual things, and its effect is permeation of the owner's will in the things he has the power to manage; and al-mulk ( اَلْمُلْك = kingdom) is the special authority over the system prevalent among the things, and its effect is permeation of the owner's will in the things he has the power to manage; in simple words, al-milk (ownership) relates to an individual and al-mulk (kingdom) to a group.

In as much as the kingdom, in its actions, is restricted with, or formed by, the power, therefore when the power is complete and un-restricted, the kingdom shall be all-comprehensive, not restricted with one thing besides the other, nor confined to one condition, beside the other. To draw attention to this fine point, the sentence: "Allãh's is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is in them;" is followed by the clause: "and He has power over all things."

The chapter ends on this verse, which denotes His all-encompassing Kingdom. Its correlation is clear: The chapter's objective is to exhort the servants and attract them to fulfil the covenants and agreements which have been taken from them by their Lord, and He is the absolute ruler. Thus, their only title is that they are absolutely owned servants; they have no power in whatever He orders them or forbids them except to hear and obey; nor about whatever agreement and covenant He takes from them except to fulfil it without breaking it.

TRADITIONS

Tha‘labah ibn Maymūn narrates through some of our companions from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) that he said about the words of Allãh, the Blessed, the Sublime, to ‘Īsã: "Did you say to the people: 'Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allãh'?" "He had not said it, but will soon say so; surely when Allãh knows that a thing is to happen [in future], He speaks about it as a done thing." (at-Tafsīr, al-‘Ayyãshī)

The author says: The same book narrates a similar tradition from Sulaymãn ibn Khãlid from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.). Its gist is that information of the future has been given in past tense because it is known to take place certainly; and such usage is common in the language.

Jãbir al-Ju‘fī has narrated from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) in explanation of the sentences: Thou knowest what is in my mind, I do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things, that he said, "Surely the great name of Allãh is seventy three letters; and the Lord, the Blessed, the Sublime, has kept hidden one of the letters; that is why nobody knows what is in His mind, to Whom belong Might and Majesty. Adam was given seventy two letters, so, the prophets inherited it from one another, until it reached ‘Īsã (a.s.); that is the (meaning of) the word of ‘Īsã: 'Thou knowest what is in my mind', i.e. seventy two letters of the great name; he means to say: 'Thou hast taught them to me, so Thou (certainly) knowest them; and I do not know what is in Thy mind'; he wants to say: 'because Thou hast hidden that letter, so nobody knows what is in Thy mind'." (ibid.)

The author says: We shall extensively explain about the good names of Allãh and His great name, under the verse: And Allãh's are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby; . . . (7:180). There it will become clear that the great name or the big name is not made up of alphabets; in such places name actually means the named one, i.e. the person of Allãh looked at with one of His attributes or one of the aspects; accordingly the name in words would be the name of the name, as will be explained later.

Acordingly, the Imãm (a.s.)'s words, that the Great Name is made up of seventy-three letters, and similar expressions which have come in numerous traditions of this topic, that the Great Name is made up of so many letters, and that they are scattered in such and such chapter, or such and such verse, all these are talks based on symbolism, they are parables to make the people understand what is feasible to understand of the realities; for not every reality can be explained clearly without allusion.

It will explain the meaning of the hadīth to a certain extent if we say: There is no doubt that Allãh's good names are the mediums for manifestation of the universe in its species and appearance of its innumerable occurances. Also, we have no doubt that Allãh created His creatures, because He is the Creator, Magnanimous, and Originator, for example; not because He is the Avenger and Hard-hitter. He gives sustenance to whom He sustains, because He is the Sustainer and Bestower, for instance, not because He is the Holder and Forbidding. He bestows life to the living, because He is the Living and Life giving, not because He is death giving, and returning. The Qur’ãnic verses are the most truthful witnesses of this reality, because we see the realities elaborated in a verse, are justified at the end with the divine name appropriate for that theme. Often the verse ends with one such name, and sometimes it ends with two names, which together illuminate its topic.

It appear from the above that if one of us is given the knowledge of the names, and if he knew the connections between those names and the things and understood what the divine names, individually and combined, demanded, he would know the system of the universe, with all the general laws which govern it and which are applied to its individual parts one after another.

The noble Qur’ãn, as is understood from its apparent meanings, has described many general laws regarding the genesis and the return, and what Allãh has arranged concerning the felicity and infelicity; and then it has told the Prophet (s.a.w.a.): … and We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything, … (16:89).

However, all of them are general laws, which are necessary. But they are necessary not in themselves, not by demand of their own selves; but through that necessariliness and inevitability which Allãh has bestowed on it. Now that this intellectual and definite authority comes from Allãh's side, and by His order and will, it is clear that Allãh's action cannot compel Him at all in this regard, nor would it overpower Him in His person; He, Glorified be He, is the Subduer and Predominant; how can a thing subdue Him which returns to Him from every direction, and depends on Him in its substance and effect. Understand it.

It is therefore impossible that the intellect (which decides whatever it does by Allãh's bestowal on it) or the realities (whose laws and effects do exist by His will) would have any authority over Him or demand something from Him, by the same decision and demand that Allãh Himself keeps them active and subdues them. In other words, whatever demand or decision is found in the things emanates from the transfers of ownership which Allãh has given to it; thus He, the High, is the absolute owner, and He cannot be owned in any way.

If Allãh were to give good reward to a sinner, or to punish a good-doer, or did any type of deed, which He wished, there was no harm in it, and there was nothing to prevent it – neither the reason nor any extraneous matter. But Allãh has promised us and threatened us, the felicity and infelicity, and good reward and tough recompense; and He has informed us that He does not break His promise; and He has informed us about some things by the way of revelation or through our intellect, and He has mentioned that He does not speak except truth. Thus our souls became tranquil with Him, and our hearts were at ease towards Him – without any doubt finding a way to it. Allãh says: … surely  Allãh  fails not in (His) promise. (3:9; 13:31); … and the truth do I speak. (38:84).

What Allãh has explained it is the demand of His names, as we have known by His teaching. But beyond that is the fact that He, the Sublime, is the absolute owner, He has the right and power to do what He wishes and decide what He wants. Allãh says: He is not questioned concerning what He does and they shall be questioned. (21:23). This meaning itself is one of His names which is of unknown essence; none of His creatures has any way of knowing it. It is because whatever we know of His names is what one or other of the concepts shows, and then we identify by its relationship its effects in existence. As for those effects that there is no way of identifying them, they inviolably are the effects of a name that there is no way to know its meaning. You may say that it is a name that cannot be hunted down by a concept; rather, it somehow is pointed to by the attribute of His absolute ownership.

Thus it is clear that there are some of His names to which no creature has got a way – and it is the name, which He has kept hidden. So understand it.

Chapter   9

A TALK ON THE MEANING OF GOOD MANNERS

We shall talk here in various chapters on the good manners, which Allãh has taught His prophets and messengers, peace be on them all.

1. al-Adab (the manners): is the good form on which the lawful action should take place, either in religion or near intellectuals in their society, like the manner of prayer, the etiquette of visiting the friends; or you may say, gracefulness of intellect.

It does not appear except in lawful things, not forbidden ones. There is no manner in injustice, treachery and falsehood; nor is there any manner in ignominious and ugly deeds. Also, it does not take place except in voluntary actions, which may be performed in more than one way, so that some would agree with manners, beside the others. For example, there is the manner of eating in Islam that one begins it in the name of Allãh and ends on the thanks for Allãh and that one should eat less than one's fill. Or there is the manner of sitting in salãt that one sits on one side of one's thigh, keeping the palms on thighs above the knees, and looking at the lap.

As the manners are the good form of voluntary actions and good deeds, and according to its original meaning, it denotes agreement with the aim of life. Although there is no dispute among the societies in this basic theme, yet when it comes to indentification of its substance, there appears a lot of discord, among various communities, nations, religions and denominations. It appears even in very small societies like a family, in identification of good and evil, and in manners of deeds.

Often a community observes some manners, which the others do not know about; sometimes an action is considered good by a com-munity while another group thinks it evil. For example, greeting on meeting someone: In Islam it is by saying: as-Salãmu ‘alaykum, i.e. blessed, peace and pure safety be to you from Allãh; and in some nations it is by taking off the caps, in others it is by raising the hand in front of the head, in some others it is done by prostration, or bowing down or bending with bowed head; as there are among the westerners the manners of meeting with women which Islam condemns and considers disgusting, and so on.

However, all these differences have cropped up at the stage of identification of manners; as for the basic meaning of the manners, it is unanimously agreed by all sane persons – that it is the good form in which the actions should take place. Also, there is no difference in that it is a good thing.

2.  As the goodness and beauty are among the ingredients of the good manners, as described above, and this differs from society to society according to their particular objectives, this inevitably has given rise to differences in man's sociological manners. The manner in every society is like a mirror, which reflects that general society's ethical characteristics – which have been arranged in them by their lives' objectives; and have been concentrated in their souls by their social factors and other natural or chancy agents.

Manners are not ethics, because ethics is the deeply ingrained psychological trait, which are adopted by the souls, while manners are various good forms, which affect the actions, which are done by man because of various psychological attributes – and there is a vast difference between the two.

Thus, manners sprout from the ethics, and ethics is among the demands of society in particular according to its especial objective. The objective, which man desires in his life, identifies his manners in his actions, and draws for him a line which he does not cross, when he performs an action in his life and acquires nearness from his destination.

3.  As the manner follows, in its particulars, the desired destination of the life, therefore, the divine manners, which Allah, the Glorified, teaches His prophets and messengers (peace be upon them), and trains them on, is the good form of religious actions which are in harmony with the religion's aims and objectives – and it is the servitude with differences in the true religions, according to abundance or shortage of its substance and depending on its ranks in perfection and sublimity.

As the Islam deals with all the life-affairs of the human beings, in such a way that nothing of it, big or little, great or small, goes out of its fold, therefore it has encompassed the life with manners, and laid down for every deed a good form which is in harmony with its objective.

However, it has no general objective except the belief in one God in both stages of faith and action together. It means that man should believe that there is a God, from Whom is the genesis of every-thing and to Whom everything is to return; for Him are the good names and sublime parables. Then this monotheism runs throughout the life and lives in the actions, it manifests in itself the servitude of man and all that he has to Allãh, Great is His name! In this way the monotheism per meats in its exoterics and exoterics, and the pure servitude is manifested from his words, deeds and all aspects of his existence, a manifestation where there is no veil over it, nor any cover to hide it.

In short, the divine manner – or prophetic manner – is the form of monotheism in action.

4.  The reason shows and definite experience supports that the practical knowledge – i.e. the knowledge that is acquired in order to act upon it – does not fully succeed and does not bring about its good effects if it is not put before a learner in practical way. It is because unless the general academic principles are applied to its individual cases, human soul finds it difficult to accept it and to believe in its correctness, because our soul throughout our life remains engaged with perceivable components, and it feels tired, as its second nature, from observation of intellectual general principles, which are beyond our senses. A man who affirms the goodness of bravery, per se, then he faces a dreadful situation in which the hearts tremble; now a dispute starts between his intellect (which affirms the goodness of bravery) and his feeling which pulls him towards caution against facing physical destruction and loss of fine material life; thus the soul remains oscillating between this and that, and cannot decide which of the two op-posing sides to support, and strength is found in the side of the feeling because it accompanies senses.

Thus, it is incumbent during teaching that the student is taught intellectual realities accompanied by practice, so that he gets training through action and is drilled on it, and it would erase the opposing ideas which might be hidden in cornors of his soul, and affirmation of what he learns would be firmly rooted in mind, because occurance is the best evidence of possibility.

That is why we see that an action whose real occurance is not experienced by the soul, it becomes difficult for the soul to submit to it. So, when it occurs for the first time it seems as it has turned from impossibility to possibility, and it appears to be a great affair, and creates agitation and perturbation in the mind. Then if it happens more than two or three times, it becomes easier and its severity is broken, joining the fold of usual things, which become unimportant. Surely the good is a habit as the evil is a habit.

Consideration of this style in religious teachings, and especially in Islamic religious education, is among the clearest affairs. The Law-giver of religion, in teaching the believers, has not adopted to teach intellectual generalities and over-all legislations; rather he has started with deeds and then has gone to words and verbal explanations; when a believer completes learning religious cognition and its laws, he does so and he is equipped with good deeds and furnished with piety.

Likewise, it is incumbent that the teacher and trainer must be acting on his knowledge, because knowledge has no effect if it is not joined by practice; the action shows the way exactly as the words show the way. If the action opposes the words, then it shows that there is an opposite form in the soul that opposes the words; thus it proves that the said word is a trick and a sort of deception, which the speaker uses for cheating the people and preying on them.

That is why we see that the hearts of the people do not incline, and their souls do not lean, towards a sermon and admonition when they find that the preacher or the advisor does not follow his own admonition or advice; and does not have patience and steadfastness in its path. Often they say: If his words were true, he would have acted on them. However they seem confused in drawing this result. The result in the above case is as follows: These words are not true in the eyes of the speaker, because if he believed them to be true he would have acted on them. But it does not give the result that the words are not true at all – as they sometimes draw it.

It is one of the conditions of good bringing up that the teacher and trainer himself should have the attributes which he wants the trainee to acquire; because it is impossible in practice that a coward would train a couragous and brave person, or that a well-balanced scholar should come up from the school of prejudice and stubbornness.

Allãh says: Is He then Who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you; how do you judge. (10:35); What! Do you enjoin men to be good and forget your own selves … (2:44)? And He quotes Shu‘ayb telling his people: … and I do not desire that in opposition to you I should betake myself to that which I forbid you; I desire nothing but reform so far as I am able, . . . (11:88); and there are many similar verses.

Because of all these factors it was incumbent that the teacher and trainer must have full faith in the substance of his teaching and training.

Apart from that, even a man who has no faith in what he says, even a hypocrite who covers himself with good deeds, and pretends to have pure unalloyed faith, does not train on his hand except a one who represents him in his unclean soul; even if it is possible to create separation between tongue and heart by speaking what the soul is not pleased with and the inner idea does not agree with; yet speaking is a sort of action, and action is an effect of the soul, and how can an action go against the nature of its doer?

Thus the speech, apart from its denoting the meaning for which it is made, carries the nature of the speaker's soul, like belief or dis-belief and so on. Its maker, and its conveyer to the simple soul of the student does not differentiate the aspect of its goodness – i.e. the aspect of its laid down meaning – from the aspect of its ugliness – and it is all other aspects – except the one who has the insight of the reality. Allãh says to His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) regarding the hypocrites: … and  most  certainly you may recognize them by the intent of (their)  speech; … (47:30) So, the training which brings good effect in its wake is that one in which the teacher and trainer has faith in what he presents before his students, accompanied by good deeds that agree with his knowledge, but as for the one who does not believe in what he says, or who does not act according to his knowledge, no good can be expected from such a person.

There are many and innumerable examples for this reality in the conduct of us, the orientals and especially the Islamists, in teaching and training in our official and unofficial institutes, that no effort seems to succeed, and no planning to be of any benefit.

5. To this chapter returns what we see in the divine speech that it contains pieces of divine manners which are reflected in actions of the prophets and the messengers (peace be on them) which are connected with Allãh, Glorified be He – including various facets of their worship, invocations and urgings, also those which are related to the people in their dealings and addresses; it is because bringing in the examples in education are a sort of practical teaching with evidence in practice.

Allãh says, after narrating the story of Ibrãhīm with his people, regarding the Oneness of God: And this was Our argument that We gave to Ibrãhīm against his people; We exalt in dignity whom We please; surely your Lord is Wise, Knowing. And We gave to him Ishãq and Ya‘qūb; each did We guide, and Nūh did We guide before, and of his descendants, Dãwūd and Sulaymãn and Ayyūb and Yūsuf and Hãrūn; and thus do We reward those who do good (to others). And Zakariyyã and Yahyã and ‘Īsã and Ilyãs; every one was of the good; and Ismã‘īl and al-Yasa‘ and Yūnus and Lūt; and every one We made to excel the worlds: And from among their fathers and their descendants and their brethren, and We chose them and guided them into the right way. This is Allãh's guidance, He guides thereby whom He pleases of His servants; and if they had set up others (with Him), certainly what they did would have become forfeited for them. These are they to whom We gave the Book and the Wisdom and the Prophecy; therefore if these disbelieve in it We have already entrusted with it a people who are not disbelievers in it. These are they whom Allãh guided; therefore follow their guidance… . (6:84-91)

Allãh mentions here His noble prophets (peace be on them) comprehensively, and then says that He exalted them with divine guidance; and it was the guidance to monotheism only; its proof is found in the clause: and if they had set up others (with Him), certainly what they did would have become forfeited for them; mark that He in this place contrasts His bounty of guidance which He had bestowed on them with polytheism only; thus He had guided them to the monotheism only.

However, the order of monotheism flowed into their actions, gaining ground in it. Its proof is seen in the clause: certainly what they did would have been forfieted for them; if polytheism were not flowing in the actions, infiltrating in them, it would not have caused their forfeiture. The same would apply to its opposite, the monotheism.

What is the meaning of flowing of monotheism in actions? It means that the actions' forms represent monotheism, and reflect them as a mirror reflects the image of the looker in. It is such that if monotheism were supposed to be imagined, it would be exactly those actions; and if those actions were abstracted into pure beliefs, it would be exactly those.

This meaning has many examples in psychological attributes. For example, you find that the actions of a proud person exemplify the pride and haughtiness that are hidden in his soul. Likewise, all movements and stillness of a wretched poor man expose what is hidden in his inner self of humiliation and submissiveness, and so on.

Thereafter, Allãh taught good manners to His Prophet (s.a.w.a.), and commanded him to follow the guidance of the prophets who had preceded him; he was not supposed to follow [their persons, but theirguidance]. One follows someone else in action; and not in belief, because belief is outside one's option, per se, i.e. he should choose their good actions, which were based on monotheism, and performed by them through practical divine training.

We mean by this practical training what is pointed out by the divine words: And We made them Imãms who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of the zakãt, and Us (alone) did they worship. (21:73). The genetive construction using the masdars as the first constructs in: doing of good, Keeping up of prayer and giving of the zakãt, denotes that they refer to the actual good they did, prayers they kept up and the zakãt they gave, and not only to performing the supposed deeds. Thus this revelation, which was sent to them when they were engaged in this performance, was the revelation to show the right way and to teach the manners; it was not the revelation of prophecy and legislation. Had it meant the revelation of prophecy, the sentence would have been as follows: 'And We revealed to them that you should do good deeds, keep up prayer and give the zakãt' – as we see in the verse: Then We revealed to you: Follow the faith of Ibrãhīm, … (16:123); And We revealed to Mūsã and his brother, saying: "Take for your people houses to abide in Egypt and make you houses places of worship and keep up prayer … " (10:87), and many similar verses. The revelation to show the right way means that Allãh bestows on one of His servants a holy spirit which supports and strengthens him in good deeds and in remaining cautious against evil; in the same way as the human spirit supports us in thinking about good and evil, and the animalistic spirit in choosing what we desire through willful attraction and repulsion. A detailed talk on this topic will be given later on, God willing.

In short, the clause: therefore follow their guidance, is a general divine ethical teaching to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) with the manner of monotheism, which is spread over the prophets' actions and free from polytheism.

Allãh has likewise mentioned several of His prophets (peace be on them) in the chapter of "Mary", and then said: These are they on whom Allãh bestowed favours, from among the prophets of the seed of Adam, and of those whom We carried with Nūh, and of the seed of Ibrãhīm and Isrã’īl, and of those whom We guided and chose; when the signs of the Beneficent God were recited to them, they fell down making obeisence and weeping. But there came after them an evil generation, who neglected prayers and followed the sensual desires, so they will meet perdition, except such as repent and believe and do good, these shall enter the garden, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly in any way. (19:58-60).

In this way, Allãh mentioned their general manners in their life, that they live with submission to Allãh in activities and humility towards Him in heart; their prostration and recital of Allãh's sign is the example of submission, and their weeping which emanates from soft-ness of heart and humbleness of soul is the sign of humility; and both together allude to the domination of the attribute of servitude over their souls, inasmuch as whenever they are reminded of a sign of Allãh, its effect appears on their exterior as well as it dominates their inner self. Thus they are on their divine manner, and it is the mark of the servitude when they are alone with their Lord and its mark when they mix with the people. They live on the divine manner with their Lord and with the people.

The proof that it means general manners may be found in the next verse: But there came after them an evil generation, who neglected prayers and followed the sensual desires. Prayer is paying attention to Allãh and its neglecting shows their condition with their Lord, and following the sensual desires points to their condition with the people. As these people stand parallel to the preceding group, it indicates that the prophets' general manner is that they turn to their Lord with the mark of servitude and deal with the people with the mark of servitude. It means that the structure of their lives is founded on the foundation that they do have a Lord who owns them and manages their affairs, from Him is their genesis and to Him is their return. So this is the basis of all their conditions and actions.

The exception mentioned of those who repented among them is another divine manner. It begins with Adam (a.s.), the first of the prophets, as He says: … and Adam disobeyed his Lord, so his life became evil (to him). Then his Lord chose him, so He turned to him and guided (him). (20:121-2). God willing, some talk on it will follow.

Allãh says: There is no harm in the Prophet doing that which Allãh has ordained for him; such has been the course of Allãh with respect to those who have gone before; and the command of Allãh is a decree that is made absolute: Those who deliver the messages of Allãh and fear Him, and do not fear any one but Allãh; and Allãh is suffi-cient to take account. (33:38-39).

It is a general manner which Allãh trained His prophets on (peace be upon them), and His continuously running course about them: That they should not be distressed by the life destined for them and should not be affected in any affair; they are on the nature, and the nature does not guide except to what Allãh has equipped it to acquire, which agrees to it; it does not affect to dominate what Allãh has not made it easy for it to rise to it. Allãh quotes His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: " … nor am I of those who affect:" (38:86); Allãh does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability; . . . (2:286); … Allãh does not lay on any soul a burden except to the extent to which He has granted it; . . . (65:7). As affectation is going beyond nature, it is a kind of following the sensuous desires, and the prophets are protected from it.

Allãh says – and this too is training for comprehensive manner: O Messengers! Eat of the good things and do good; surely I know what you do. And surely this religion is one religion and I am your Lord, therefore fear Me (23:51-52). Allãh taught and trained them to eat of the good things. In other words, they should use the good things from the provisions of life, and should not cross the boundary to the repulsive things towards which the healthy nature feels aversion. They should do the good deeds – those which are good for man to perform, to which the nature is inclined according to the powers with which Allãh has equipped him, and through them his life continues to an appointed time and destination. Or they should do the deeds, which may be presented at the divine presence. Both these meanings are nearer to each other. So this is the manner relating to an individual.

Then Allãh has joined it to group manner. He mentioned that the people were but a single nation – those who were sent and those to whom they were sent; they do not have except the one Lord, so they should join together in piety; in this way they should cut off the roots of grouping and divisiveness. When these two types of manners, i.e., of individual and of group, join together, they constitute a human society, protected from discord, which worships one Lord; its individuals carry on divine manner, and they refrain from evil deeds and bad actions; thus they are firmly settled on the pedestal of felicity.

This is what is gathered from another verse: He has laid down for you of the religion what He enjoined upon Nūh and that which We have revealed to you, and that which We enjoined upon Ibrãhīm and Mūsã and ‘Īsã, that keep up the religion and be not divided therein; . . . (42:13).

And Allãh has differentiated between the two types of manners in another place and has said: And We did not send before you any messenger but We revealed to him that there is no god but Me, therefore worship Me (21:25). In this way, he taught them His monotheism and trained them to base His worship on it. This was their manner vis-à-vis the Lord. Also, He has said: And they say: "What is the matter with this Messenger that he eats food and goes about in the markets; why has not an angel been sent down to him, so that he should have been a warner with him? Or (why is not) a treasure sent down to him, or he is made to have a garden from which he should eat?… (25:7-8). Then Allãh replies to it: And We have not sent before you any messengers but they most surely ate food and went about in the markets (25: 20). Thus, Allãh described that it is the conduct of all prophets – and it is their divine manner – to mix with the people, and avoid seclusion, reservation and discrimination between people; because all behaviour is repulsed by the nature. This was their manner with the people.

6. ÃDAM: An example of prophetic manners as they turn their faces to their Lord and pray to Him, is the prayer of Ãdam (a.s.) and his wife quoted by Allãh: "Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves, and if Thou forgive us not, and have (not) mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers." (7:23). This they said after they had eaten from the tree which Allãh had forbidden them not to go near; of course, this prohibition was of advisory nature, not an order of a master to his servants; and their disobedience was not of a legislative command, they only went against an advice which was given to them in order to preserve the good-ness of their condition; to maintain the felicity of their lives in the garden, safe from every type of infelicity and trouble. Allãh had told them while cautioning them against following the Iblīs: … therefore let him not drive you both from the garden so that you should be unhappy: Surely it is (ordained) for you that you shall not be hungry therein nor bare of clothing; and that you shall not be thirsty therein nor shall you feel the heat of the sun (20:117-9).

However, when they fell in the tribulation, and were over-whelmed by misfortune and the happiness of life departed from them, they were not occupied with themselves like someone who is despaired and hopeless, nor did pessimism cut off the rope that tied them to their Lord. Rather, they at once saught refuge with Allãh Who owned all their affairs, and in Whose hand was every good that they hoped for themselves. So, they adhered to the attribute of His Divinity and Lordship – which contains all with which evil is repulsed and good attracted; the Lordship is the noble attribute, which joins the servant with Allãh, the Glorified.

Then they both mentioned the evil which was threatening them with appearance of its signs, and it was the loss in life – It was as though they had bought the taste of eating for obedience to divine advice, and it became clear to them that their happiness was indeed about to fall down – and they described that they needed what would avert that evil from them. So they said: " … and if Thou forgive us not, and have (not) mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers." That is: loss in life is threatening us and towers over us, and nothing can avert it except Your forgiving the sin committed by us, and then Your covering us with Your mercy and it is the happiness and felicity; because man, rather every being who is made, perceives by its created nature that the tings which are found in the station of existence and on the path of abiding are bound to seek perfection by removal of any defect or shortcoming attached to it, and the cause to complete that defect is Allãh alone, so it is of the habit of divinity.

And for this reason, it was enough to only describe their condition, and to display the need and poverty that had afflicted the servant; and there was no need to ask for its remedy in words; rather, describing only their need was a most eloquent imploration and most fluent proposition.

And that is why Ãdam (a.s.) and his wife did not say clearly what they wanted; they did not say, 'so forgive us and have mercy on us'. As they had placed themselves in station of abasement and wretchedness because of the disobedience they had done, and now they felt that they had neither face nor any prestige, as a result of which their only course was the total and pure submission to whatever order was issued from the arena of divine power. Therefore, they stopped from all pleading and request – they just said that He was their Lord. In this way they pointed to what they hoped for and [before that, they] confessed to their injustice.

In this backdrop, the words: "Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves, and if Thou forgive us not, and have (not) mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers." mean as follows: 'We did wrong by being unjust to ourselves; thus we were on the brink of the loss which was threatening our general felicity and bliss of life; now abasement and wretchedness have covered us from all sides and we are in intense need of erasing the brand of injustice so that we may be overwhelmed by divine mercy; and this has not left us with any face and dignity with which we could ask You; so here we are submitting to Your decision, O Mighty King! In Your hand are the command and the judgement; [our only salvation lies in the fact] that You are our Lord and we are under Your lordship, we hope from You what a ward hopes from his Guardian.'

NŪH: Another example of their manners is what Allãh quotes Nūh (a.s.) concerning his prayer for his son: And it moved on with them amid waves like mountains; and Nūh called out to his son, and he was aloof: "O my son! Embark with us and be not with the unbelievers." He said: "I will betake myself for refuge to a mountain that shall protect me from the water." … And Nūh cried out to his Lord and said: "My Lord! Surely my son is of my family, and Thy promise is surely true, and Thou art the justest of the judges." He said: "O Nūh! Surely he is not of your family; surely he is (the doer of) other than good deeds, therefore ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge; surely I admonish you lest you may be of the ignorant." He said: "My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from asking Thee that of which I have no knowledge; and if Thou shouldst not forgive me and have mercy on me, I should be of the losers." (11:42-47)

Doubtlessly, it appears from the above talk of Nūh (a.s.) that he wanted to pray for his son to be saved; but meditation of the verses of the story removes the curtain from the reality in another way:

On one side, Allãh ordered him to embark on the ark with his family and the believers, saying: … "Carry in it two of every thing, a pair, and your own family – except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and those who believe." … (11:40). Thus, Allãh promised him to save his family and excepted those against whom the word had already gone forth; and his wife was a disbeliever, as Allãh mentions in the verse 66:10. Allãh sets forth an example of those who disbelieve the wife of Nūh and the wife of Lūt. But as for his son, there was not any manifestation that he did not believe in the Call of Nūh; and the report given by Allãh, of his behaviour with his father when he was aloof, shows only his disobedience to his father, rather than clear disbelief. Therefore, it was possible to think about him that he would be of the saved ones, because he was one of his sons and apparently was not a disbeliever; so he would be included in the divine promise of safety.

On the other side, Allãh had revealed to Nūh (a.s.) his decreed order about the people, as He says: And it was revealed to Nūh: That none of your people will believe except those who have already believed, therefore do not grieve at what they do; and make the ark before Our eyes and (according to) Our revelation, and do not speak to Me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they shall be drowned (11:36-37). Does the clause: those who are unjust refer to those who disbelieved in his Call? Does it include every type of injustice? Or is it vague and ambiguous and needs explanation from the Speaker?

It appears that these were the factors, which put Nūh (a.s.) in doubt about his son. Otherwise, he was not among those who would be oblivious of the position of his Lord; and he was one of the five Ulu 'l-‘Azm messengers who are chiefs of the prophets; he was not the one to forget the divine revelation: "do not speak to Me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they shall be drowned"; nor was he to be pleased with the safety of his son even if he was a disbeliever while he (a.s.) had said clearly in his prayer against his people: … "My Lord! Leave not upon the land any dweller from among the unbelievers" (71:26). If he were to agree to it for his son, he would have agreed to it for his wife too.

That is why he did not dare to beseech Allãh in clear terms; rather he put it forth like an enquiry, because he did not encompass all the factors that were there around his son. Therefore, he began by calling Allãh with name of Lord, as it is the prayer-key of the needy beseecher. Then he said: "surely my son is of my family". He wanted to say that it decides in favour of the safety of my son: "and Thou art the justest of the judges"; there is no mistake in Thy command and no ambiguity in Thy order; so I do not know what is to be the end result of his affair.

Thus, Nūh (a.s.) spoke with parental sentiment, as the word "cried out" indicates; yet he only mentioned the divine promise and did not add anything to it nor did he put forth any request.

Then the divine protection caught him up and cut short his speech. And Allãh explained to him the true meaning of "your own family" in the promise, that it referred to only the doers of good from among his family, and this son was not good-doer, and Allãh had earlier admonished him saying: and do not speak to Me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they shall be drowned. Nūh (a.s.) had taken the apparent meaning of "family" and thought that the exception was of his unbeliever wife only. Allãh then stopped him from asking that of which he had no knowledge, i.e., the request of his son's safety – as it appeared that he was about to ask for it.

Now, he refrained from asking because of that divine intervention, and started a new talk that appears in the form of repentance but actually it is thank giving for bestowing on him this manner, which is certainly a favour. So he said: "My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from asking Thee that of which I have no knowledge." Thus he saught refuge in his Lord from what he was on verge of speaking, i.e., the prayer for safety of his son when he did not know the reality of his condition.

The proof that till then he had not prayed any such thing, may be found in his words: "I seek refuge in Thee from asking". It should be noted that he had not said: I seek refuge in Thee from the question of what I had no knowledge of; as the masdar used as the first member of a genitive construction proves that the deed has already been done.

"ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge": Had he already asked for it, the prayer should have been rebutted by clear rejection, or by such admonition as: "Do not do like it again"; as we find similar modes in the Divine Book; for example: . . . he said: "My Lord! Show me (Thyself), so that I may look upon Thee." He said: "You can never  see  Me, … " (7:143). When you received it with your tongues and spoke with your mouths what you had no knowledge of, … Allãh admonishes you that you should not return to the like of it ever again . . .(24:15-17).

Another prayer of Nūh (a.s.) was the one quoted by Allãh in these words: "My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and he who enters my house believing, and the believing men and the believing women; and do not increase the unjust in aught but destruction." (71:28). Allãh quotes this prayer of his after many verses describing his com-plaint in which he explains to his Lord his endeavours in calling his people day and night for nearly a thousand years of his life, what he endured of their hardships and what he suffered of the tribulations in the cause of Allãh; he spent himself to the utmost limit and sacrificed himself in the way of their guidance, but his call to them did not cause them except fleeing, and his admonitions to them did not increase in them except arrogance.

He continued spreading among them his admonition and good sermons, and making them hear the truth and the reality; in the mean time, he was complaining to his Lord of their enmity and persistence with which they confronted him, and of their deception and trickery with which they opposed him. This continued until his feelings of sorrow were excited and the divine rage overwhelmed him, and he prayed against them, saying: "My Lord! Leave not upon the land any dweller from among the unbelievers; for surely if Thou leave them they will lead astray Thy servants, and will not beget any but immoral, ungrateful." (71:26-27)

What he says about their leading astray the servants of Allãh if He left them in the land, is what he had said in the preceding verse: And indeed they have led astray many. They had already led astray many believers; so he was afraid that they would mislead the remaining ones. The words: and will not beget any but immoral, ungrateful, declare that their loins and wombs have lost the ability to beget any believer. He described this news of the unseen through prophetic fore-sight and divine revelation.

When he cursed the disbelievers because of the divine rage which he felt, and he was the noble prophet, the first to bring a book and a sharī‘ah, and he had stood up to rescue the world from inundation of idolatry, but did not respond to him from the human society save a few – about eighty persons, according to traditions – thus it was a manner of this situation that he should not forget those who believed in his Lord and should pray for them of good upto the Day of Resurrection.

So he said: "My Lord! Forgive me": He began with his own self, because the talk was of seeking forgiveness for those who tread on His path, so he is in the forefront of them and is their Leader. "and my parents": This is the proof that they were believers. "and him who enters my house believing": They were those of his contemporaries who had believed in him. "and the believing men and the believing women": It refers to all believers, the people of monotheism, because all of them were his people, and were obliged to him upto the Day of Resurrection; he was the first who raised the call of religion in the world with the book and the sharī‘ah, and kept the standard of monotheism aloft among the people. That is why Allãh has greeted him with his best greeting when He says: Peace be upon Nūh among the nations (37:79). So peace and greetings be on him, the noble prophet, whenever believed in Allãh any believer or performed any good deed for Him, and whenever any name was mentioned for Allãh, honoured be His name! and whenever there was any trace of good and felicity among the people; because all this is from the blessings of his call and the appendant of his rising. May Allãh bless him and all the prophets and messengers together!

IBRÃHĪM: Another example was shown by Ibrãhīm (a.s.) as quoted by Allãh describing his argumentation with his community: He said: "Have you then considered what you have been worshipping, you and your ancient sires? Surely they are enemies to me, but not (so) the Lord of the worlds, Who created me, then He has shown me the way, and He Who gives me to eat and gives me to drink, and when I am sick, then He restores me to health, and He Who will cause me to die, then give me life, and Who, I hope, will forgive me my mistakes on the Day of Judgement. My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and join me with the good, and ordain for me a goodly mention among posterity, and make me of the heirs of the garden of bliss, and forgive my father, for surely he is of those who have gone astray, and disgrace me not on the day when they are raised." (26:75-87)

It was an invocation, which he (a.s.) began by praying for him-self and for his father because of a promise that he had given him. It was in the beginning of his mission when he had not lost the hope that his father would become a believer; but when it became clear that he was an enemy of Allãh, he washed his hand of him.

He began this prayer with praising his Lord beautifully, as the manner of servitude demands. This is the first detailed praise that Allãh has quoted from him (a.s.). What has been quoted before is not of this kind, like his words: "O my people! Surely I am clear of what you set up (with Allãh). Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, … (6:79-80). " . . . I will pray to my Lord to forgive you; surely He is ever Affectionate to me." (19:47).

Ibrãhīm (a.s.) has used best manner in Allãh's praise, in that he has put forward a comprehensive praise, which describes his Lord's care and attention to him from beginning of his creation until he shall return to Him; and has set himself in the station of total neediness and poverty; and has not mentioned for his Lord except absolute Self-sufficiency and pure magnanimity. He has represented himself as an abased servant, who has no power over anything, and the divine power turns him over from one condition to another; creation, then giving food and drink, then restoration of health, then causing to die, then giving life, then leading to the recompense of the Day of Judgement; while he has nothing except simple obedience and hoping for forgiveness of mistakes.

And look at the manner, which he has maintained in the above speech. He ascribes sickness to himself in the sentence: "and when I am sick, then He restores me to health"; he did so because its ascription to Allãh in this place – and it is the place of praise – would not be free from incongruity. Although sickness is an event, a happening, and as such it is not devoid of its ascription to Allãh; but the talk here is not about its happening (so that it would be ascribed to Allãh), but it aims at declaring that restoration to health after sickness is from His mercy and care. That is why he (a.s.) attributed sickness to himself and restoration of health to his Lord, claiming that nothing proceeds from Him except what is beautiful.

Then he used the same fine manner in the prayer, which he began with the name: Lord! and he confined his request to the real and abiding blessings, without looking at the adornments of this transient world; and selected from within that field what was the biggest and greatest. So, he asked for wisdom [regulation] and it is sharī‘ah, and for being joined with the good people, then asked that Allãh should ordain for him a goodly mention among posterity. It means that Allãh should send and raise after him time after time some prophets or messengers who will hold up his call and propagate his sharī‘ah. Actually, it is a request that Allãh should distinguish him with a sharī‘ah that would abide upto the Day of Resurrection; thereafter he asked for inheritance of the paradise, forgiveness for his father and not to disgrace him on the Day of Resurrection.

Allãh positively answered all his requests, as His speech shows, except his prayer for his father [about which the divine speech is silent]. But far be it from the Lord of the worlds to mention a prayer of one of His honoured servants which would have gone in vain and remained unanswered. Allãh says: … the faith of your father Ibrãhīm; … (22: 78); And he made it a word to continue in his posterity . . . (43:28); … and most certainly We chose him in this world, and in the hereafter, he is most surely among the righteous. (2:130); and He greeted him with a comprehensive greeting: Peace be on Ibrãhīm. (37:109).

Study of history after Ibrãhīm (a.s.) confirms all that the glorious Qur’ãn has mentioned of his commendable acts and praised him for them. He (a.s.) was the noble prephet who stood alone with the religion of monotheism to revive the natural religion and rose for demolition of the pillars of idolatry and breaking of the idols; and this was at a time when the signs of monotheism were obliterated, and the passage of time had effaced the sketches of prophethood; the world had forgotten the names of Nūh and other honoured prophets. So, he made the natural religion stand up, and spread the religion of monotheism among the people. The monotheistic religion uptil now – and about four thousand years have gone by since his time – is enduring in his progeny. What the world knows of the religion of monotheism is the religion of the Jews and their prophet is Mūsã, and the religion of the Christians and their prophet is ‘Īsã, and they both were from the progeny of Isrã’īl Ya‘qūb, son of Ishãq, son of Ibrãhīm (peace be upon them); and the religion of Islam which was brought by Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and he was from the progeny of Ismã‘īl son of Ibrãhīm (peace be upon both).

And among his prayer mentioned by Allãh is his speech: "My Lord! Grant me of the doers of good deeds." (37:100). He asks Allãh for a good offspring; in this affair he adheres to his Lord, and regular-izes his request (which is in a way of this world's benefit) by attaching to it the attribute of good-doing, in order that it turns towards Allãh and His pleasure.

Also, among his beseechings was what he prayed when he arrived at the land of Mecca and had settled Ismã‘īl and his mother therein. Allãh says: And when Ibrãhīm said: "My Lord! Make it a secure town and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allãh and the Last Day." He said: "And whoever disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment for a short while, then I will drive him to the chastisement of the Fire; and it is an evil destination." (2:126).

He asks his Lord to make the land of Mecca – and at that time it was a desolate tract, a valley without any agriculture – a sanctuary for himself, in order to preserve through it the religion, and it may be a sort of earthly and bodily connection between the people and their Lord, to which they would proceed for worshipping their Lord, and turn towards it in their rituals; and would maintain its sanctity among themselves. So it would be an enduring sign of Allãh on the earth, whoever remembers it will remember Allãh, whoever proceeds to it, will proceed to Him; with it direction will be pinpointed, and the word united.

The proof that he (a.s.) intends with "security", a legislative security (which is the meaning of making it a secure town), and not the physical peace and safety from the battles, wars and many other events which disturb the peace and order, and destroy the people's well-being, may be found in the divine words: … What! Have We not settled them in a safe, sacred territory to which fruits of every kind are drawn? . . . (28:57). In this verse, Allãh shows His great favour to them that He has made the sacred territory a place of safety for them; it is a place which Allãh has attached to Himself; and it is described as a safe place because the people pay respect to it, not because of any creative factor which would protect it from disturbance and murder. The verse was revealed and before that Mecca had witnessed annihilative wars between the Quraysh and the Jurhum; and likewise it had seen innumerable murders, tyranny and depravity. The same is the connotation of the divine word: Do they not see that We have made a sacred territory secure, while men are carried off by force from around them? . . . (29:67). That is, these people are not carried off from this sacred territory as the people respect it because of the sanctity We gave to it.

In short, his (a.s.) aim was that there should be for Allãh a sanctuary in the land, which his offspring were to settle in; and this could not be achieved except by building a town which the people would proceed to from every direction; so it would be a religious gathering place where they would arrive for settlement, refuge and pilgrimage upto the Day of Resurrection. That is why he prayed that Allãh should make it a secure town; and it was without any greenery, so he prayed that Allãh should give them sustenance from the fruits, in order that it should become inhabited by its residents and they should not go away from it.

Then, when he felt that his prayer for such honour includes believers and unbelievers both, he attached to it the proviso of belief in Allãh and the hereafter, and said: " … such of them as believe in Allãh and the Last Day." As for that: how will it be possible in a town inhabited by believers and unbelievers together, and they are at variance; or if it is inhabited by unbelievers only; or how will they be sustained with fruits while the land is plain and uncultivated, such questions did not occur to his mind.

In fact, it was a good manner of Ibrãhīm (a.s.) in his position of a beseecher. It would be a waste of word for a beseecher to teach his Lord as to how his request be fulfilled; or, what is the way to comply with his request; while He is the Lord, All-Knowing, Wise, All-Powerful; His command, when He intends anything, is only to say to it, 'Be', so it is.

However, Allãh wanted to fulfil his need according to the usual system of normal causality, and in this there is no differentiation between a believer and an unbeliever. Therefore, Allãh completed his prayer by adding a restriction in His speech: "And whoever disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment for a short while, then I will drive him to the chastisement of the Fire; and it is an evil destination."

This prayer which led to the legislation of the divine sanctuary; also the construction of the holy Ka‘bah, which was the first house appointed for men, the one at Bakkah, blessed and a guidance for the nations, was one of the fruits of his holy sublime endeavour, with which he has put all the Muslims under his obligation upto the Day of Resurrection.

Another of his invocations was the one he prayed in the later part of his life and which Allãh describes in the following words: And when Ibrãhīm said: "My Lord! Make this city secure, and save me and my sons from worshipping idols: My Lord! Surely they have led many people astray; then whoever follows me, he is surely of me, and who-ever disobeys me, Thou surely art Forgiving, Merciful: O our Lord! Surely I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley devoid of agriculture, near Thy Sacred House, our Lord! That they may keep up prayer; therefore make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide them with fruits; haply they may be grateful: O our Lord! Surely Thou knowest what we hide and what we make public, and nothing in the earth nor anything in heaven is hidden from Allãh; Praise be to Allãh, Who has given me in old age Ismã‘īl and Ishãq; most surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayer; My Lord! Make me keep up prayer and from my offspring (too), O our Lord! Grant me forgiveness and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!" (14:35-41).

This he had prayed in his later days when the town of Mecca was already built. See for proof, his words: "Praise be to Allãh, Who has given me in old age Ismã‘īl and Ishãq"; and the word: "make this city secure". (Note that he did not say as before: "make it a secure town" – 2:126)

His decency is noticed by his adhering to the Divinity throughout his prayers. Whenever he asks for something as reserved to his own self, he says: "My Lord!" and whenever he mentions a thing which he shares with others, he says: "Our Lord!"

Another etiquette is reflected in these prayers, in that whenever he asks for something which could be used for lawful as well as un-lawful purpose, he clearly mentions his correct and lawful purpose; this gives rise to the divine mercy, as is very clear. When he said: "save me and my sons … ", he followed it by saying: "Surely they have led many people astray"; and when he said: "O our Lord! Surely I have settled a part of my  offspring … ," he said: "our Lord! That they may keep up prayer"; and when he prayed: "… make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide them with fruits; he ended it with the hope: happily they may be grateful."

Also, it was an example of his manner that he mentioned, at the end of every need, an appropriate good name of Allãh, like: the Forgiving, the Merciful, the Hearer of prayer; and repeated the name: 'Lord', whenever he mentioned any of his needs, because the Lordship is the rope which links the servant and the Lord, and it is the key of the door of every prayer.

His manner is also seen in his speech: "and whoever disobeys me, Thou surely art Forgiving, Merciful", inasmuch as he did not curse them with any untoward thing; rather he mentioned when speaking about them two of the divine names which are the means of conveying happiness to every man, i.e. Forgiving, Merciful, in his desire for rescuing his people and spreading the magnanimity of his Lord.

IBRÃHĪM & ISMÃ‘ĪL: Another example is found in what Allãh has quoted from him and his son Ismã‘īl – and they had jointly said it: And when Ibrãhīm and Ismã‘īl raised the foundations of the House: "Our Lord! Accept from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing; Our Lord! And make us both submissive to Thee and (raise) from our off-spring a nation submitting to Thee, and show us our ways of devotion and turn to us (mercifully), surely Thou art the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful. Our Lord! And raise up in them a Messenger from among them who shall recite to them Thy signs and teach them the Book and the Wisdom, and purify them; surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise." (2:127-129)

It was their prayer when they were building the Ka‘bah, and this too, like the preceding prayers, contains beautiful manners.

Similar manners are seen in Ismã‘īl (a.s.)'s talk during the story of the slaughter, which Allãh describes as follows: So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. And when he attained to working with him, he said: "O my son! Surely I see in dream that I am sacrificing you; consider then what you see." He said: "O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allãh please, you will find me of the patient ones." (37:101-102)

At the beginning of this talk, shows Ismã‘īl (a.s.)'s manner with his father, but later parts show his attitude between him and his Lord. Moreover, showing respect to a messenger like Ibrãhīm, 'The Friend of Allãh" (a.s.), is showing respect to Allãh Himself, the Sublime.

In short, when his father told him of what he had seen in the dream (and it was a divine command as is proved by Ismã‘īl's words: "do what your are commanded"), he ordered him to consider what was his opinion. This was his (a.s.)'s manner with his son. Ismã‘īl said to him: "O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allãh please, you will find me of the patient ones." He did not say that it was his opinion, in order to show his humility vis-à-vis his father, as though he has no opinion of his own in presence of his father's. That is why he began the talk addressing him with the attribute of fatherhood; he did not say. Do it if you want it; he did so to please his father; and he said during it that it was a divine command given to Ibrãhīm, and it is un-imaginable for the one like him to hesitate or think twice about such a command without complying with it.

Also, his words: "if Allãh please, you will find me of the patient ones." is another endeavour to please his father. All this shows his good manners with his father.

And with his Lord he showed his manners, when he did not present his opinion or decision in a definite way; rather he attached it to the pleasure of Allãh; it is because definitely expressing a view without attaching it to the pleasure of Allãh indicates a claim of independent causality, and far removed from it is the arena of prophethood. And Allãh has condemned a group who decided an affair without attaching it to the pleasure of Allãh, as He has said in the story of the owners of the garden: Surely We tried them as We had tried the owners of the garden, when they swore that they would certainly cut off the produce in the morning, and they did not say, God willing (68: 17-18). Also, Allãh had taught His prophet (s.a.w.a.) in His Book to say: 'God willing', with an amazing allusion, when He said: And do not say of anything: 'Surely I will do it tomorrow,' unless Allãh pleases; … (18:23-24)

YA‘QŪB: Another example of this manner is seen in the narrative given by Allãh of Ya‘qūb's expression when his sons had returned from Egypt leaving there Benjamin and Yahuda. Allãh says: And he turned away from them, and said: "O my sorrow for Yūsuf!" And his eyes became white on account of grief, and he was a represser (of grief). They said: "By Allãh! You will not cease to remember Yūsuf until you are a prey to constant disease or (until) you are of those who perish." He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allãh, and I know from Allãh what you do not know." (12:84-86)

He says to his sons that my constant remembering of Yūsuf means that I complain my wretched condition to Allãh; and I have not despaired of the mercy of my Lord that He will return him to me un-expectedly; he said it because it is a manner of the prophets vis-à-vis their Lord that they turn to Him in all their conditions, and direct all their movements and their stillness into His way, for Allãh has clearly said that He has guided them to it on a straight path. He says: These are they whom Allãh guided, . . . (6:90); and He says especially about Ya‘qūb: And We gave to him (Ibrãhīm) Ishãq and Ya‘qūb; each did we guide, … (6:84). Then He has said that following desire is going astray from the way of Allãh: … and do not follow desire, lest it should lead you astray from the way of Allãh; … (38:26).

Thus, the prophets – who are rightly guided by the guidance of Allãh – do not follow desire at all. Their psychological feelings and inner inclinations – desire or anger, love or hate, happiness or sorrow for what is related to appearances of life, such as wealth, sons, marriage, food, dress, abode and so on – all this occurs in the way of Allãh; they do not intend from these except Allãh, Great is His Majesty! There are two ways, which are trodden, a way in which truth is followed, and another in which desire is followed. Or you may say: The way of Allãh's remembrance, and the way of forgetting Him.

As the prophets (peace be upon them) were guided to Allãh and did not follow desire, they constantly remembrered Allãh, they did not intend with movement or stillness other than Allãh, the High; nor did they knock for any need of their life any door of any cause other than His door. We mean to say that when they attached themselves to a cause, it did not make them forget their Lord, nor were they oblivious of the fact that all affairs are in His hand. It does not mean that they absolutely rebut the cause in such a way that it loses its existence in mind also, because this cannot be done. Nor is it that they look at the things and remove from them their attribute of causality, because it would cause going against the human nature. Rather it means that man does not see any independence in anything other than Allãh, and puts everything in its place where Allãh has placed it.

When the condition of the prophets was as we have described above that they totally adhere to Him, then this divine manner enabled them to watch the position of their Lord and properly attach them-selves to His divinity; thus they aim at nothing except Allãh, and do not leave anything except for pleasure of Allãh; they do not adhere with any cause without adhering with their Lord before it and with it and after it; so He is their destination in all conditions.

Ya‘qūb (a.s.)'s speech: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allãh", aims at explaining that 'my constantly remembring Yūsuf and my sorrow for him is not like you people that when one of you is inflicted by a misfortune and loses one of the favours of Allãh, he begins talking about it before someone who owns neither benefit nor harm, all this because of his ignorance; rather I address my complaint to Allãh because of the grief I feel for disappearance of Yūsuf; and it is not a request from me for something which is not to be, for I know from Allãh what you do not know.'

YŪSUF: Another example is that which Allãh quotes Yūsuf, The Truth-ful, as saying when the wife of ‘Azīz threatened him with imprison-ment if he did not do what she was telling him to do: He said: "My Lord! The prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me; and if Thou turn not away their device from me, I will yearn towards them and become (one) of the ignorant." (12:33).

He (a.s.) describes to his Lord that he now has only two alter-natives in facing these women, prison or accepting what they were asking him to do; and he because of his knowledge which Allãh has honoured him with – and it is mentioned in the divine words: And when he had attained maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge; … (12:22) – chooses prison in preference to accepting their demand; but the causes are pressing in favour of their desire and are threatening him to ignore the position of his Lord and nullify the knowledge he has got from Allãh; and there is no decision in all this except for Allãh; as he said to his fellow-prisoner: ". . . judgement is only Allãh's; … " (12:40). That is why he (a.s.) maintained good manners and did not mention any need of himself, because that is a sort of judgement. He rather alluded to the threat of ignorance by nullification of the favour of knowledge with which his Lord had honoured him. He (a.s.), also mentioned that his safety from the danger of ignorance and repulsion of their devices depended on its averting by Allãh; thus he surrendered the whole affair to Allãh and became silent.

Then his Lord accepted his [unspoken] prayer, and removed their device from him – and it was either sensual passion or prison, and Allãh protected him from both. It is understood from it that their device refers to the desire and the prison together. As for his word: "My Lord! The prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me;" it shows his inclination in case the matter remained suspended between the two; it is an allusion to his hate and hatred of indecency; it was not a prayer for imprisonment, as [Imãm Husayn, a.s.] had said:

Death is better than boarding a disgrace,

And disgrace is better than entering the Fire.

It was not as some people think that Yūsuf (a.s.) had prayed for imprisonment, so it was decided accordingly. The proof of what we have said is found in the following divine words: Then it occurred to them  after they had seen the signs that they should imprison him till a time (12:35). This verse clearly says that his imprisonment happened because of an opinion which occurred to them afterwards, and Allãh had already averted from him their device i.e., their temptation to themselves and the threat of imprisonment.

One more example of Yūsuf (a.s.)'s manner is seen in his praise of, and prayer from, Allãh, as He says: Then when they came in to Yūsuf, he took his parents to lodge with him and said: "Enter safe into Egypt, if Allãh please." And he raised his parents upon the throne and they fell down in prostration before him, and he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my vision of old; my Lord has indeed made it to be true; and He was indeed kind to me when He brought me forth from the prison and brought you from the desert after that the Satan had sown dissensions between me and my brothers, surely my Lord is benignant to whom He pleases; surely He is the Knowing, the Wise. My Lord! Thou hast given me of the kingdom and taught me of the interpretation of sayings: Originator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my guardian in this world and the hereafter, make me die a Muslim and join me with the good." (12:99-101).

A scholar should contemplate on the prophetic manner appearing from these verses. Just imagine the kingdom and absolute authority which Yūsuf was enjoying and how eagerly his parents yearned to visit him, and how much humility his brothers felt towards him, and all of the parties fully remembered his life history since they had lost him till they found him while he was the overlord of Egypt, settled on the throne of power and authority.

And then see that he never opened his month for a talk but there was a part of it, or the full talk, reserved for his Lord, except the opening clause when he told them to: "Enter safe into Egypt, if Allãh please." So he asked them to enter and declared their safety, but at once attached it to the pleasure of Allãh, lest somebody think that he was independent in this judgement, besides Allãh; while it was he who had earlier said: "judgement is only Allãh's".

Then he began praising his Lord for all that had passed on him since he had separated from them until he was gathered together with them. He started with the story of his vision and realization of its interpretation; and he affirmed in it the truthfulness of his father, not in his interpretation only, but even in what he had mentioned in the end of his talk regarding Allãh's knowledge and wisdom, penetrating deeply in the praise of his Lord, as his father had told him [in the beginning]. And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of sayings and … surely  your  Lord  is  Knowing,  Wise. (12:6), and Yūsuf now tells his father: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my vision of old; … surely my Lord is benignant to whom He pleases; surely He is the Knowing, the Wise." (12:100)

Then he pointed briefly to what had passed over him between his vision and appearance of its interpretation, and ascribed it to his Lord describing it as good – and it was beneficence from Allãh. It was a very fine manner that he indicated to all that he suffered from his brothers from the time they threw him in the pit till they sold him for a very low price of a few dirhams and accused him of theft, in a short sentence: the Satan had sown dissensions between me and my brothers [12:100]. And he continued mentioning the bounties of his Lord and praising Him, saying: "My Lord! My Lord!" until he was over-whelmed by the love and overcome by the divine attraction, and he became totally occupied with his Lord and left them as if he did not recognize them; and said: "My Lord! Thou has given me of the kingdom and taught me of the interpretation of sayings." In this way, he praised his Lord for His bounties, which were with him, i.e., kingdom and knowledge of the interpretation of sayings. Then his noble self moved from the remembrance of the bounties to the fact that his Lord who bestowed on him what He bestowed did it all because He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth who has brought forth all things from total non-existence to existence, without their being any novelty for anything on its own with which it could possess any harm or benefit, felicity or infelicity or any ability to manage any affair of itself in this world or in the hereafter.

And because He is the Originator of everything, He is the Guardian of everything. That is why he (a.s.) said after the clause: "Originator of the heavens and the earth!"  that he is a humble servant, he does not own management of his self in the world or in the here-after; rather he is under the guardianship and control of Allãh, Who chooses for him of the good what He pleases and places him in any position He wishes. So he said: "Thou art my guardian in this world and the hereafter," at this juncture he mentioned what he needed from his Lord, i.e., he should go from this world to the hereafter while he is in the state of submission to his Lord to the extent that Allãh had bestowed it on his fathers, Ibrãhīm, Ismã‘īl, Ishãq and Ya‘qūb. Allãh says: … and most certainly We chose him in this world, and in the hereafter he is most surely among the righteous. When his Lord said to him: "Submit (yourself)," he said: "I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds." And the same did Ibrãhīm enjoin on his sons and so (did) Ya‘qūb. "O my sons! Surely Allãh has chosen for you (this) faith, therefore die not unless you are Muslims." (2:130-2).

To this refers Yūsuf (a.s.) in his prayer: … make me die a Muslim and join me with the good (12:101). He prays for death on Islam and then to be joined with good servants. It was the same, which his great-grandfather Ibrãhīm (a.s.) had asked for when he said: "My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and join me with the good." (26:83). So, it was positively answered as seen in the previously mentioned verses. And on this note Allãh has ended his story; and most surely to your Lord is the destination [53:42]. This is an extremely delicate grace of the Qur’ãnic contexts.

MŪSÃ: Among the prophetic manners is what Allãh describes about His prophet Mūsã (a.s.) during his early days in Egypt, when he struck a Coptic and killed him. He said: "My Lord! Surely I have done harm to myself, so do forgive me." So He forgave him; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. (28:16).

Another example is his prayer when he fled from Egypt, reached Madyan and watered the sheep of the daughters of Shu‘ayb and retired to the shade: Then he said: "My Lord! Surely I stand in need of what-ever good Thou mayest send down to me." (28:24).

Mūsã (a.s.) in both his prayers has observed the manner, after taking refuge with Allãh and adherence to His divinity, in that he, in the first prayer, clearly mentioned what he needed, because it was concerned with forgiveness, and Allãh loves to be asked for forgiveness, as He has said: … and ask the forgiveness of Allãh; surely Allãh is Forgiving, Merciful. (2:199); and it was the factor to which Nūh and the prophets coming after him had been calling the people. But he did not pinpoint his need in the second prayer by which, as the context apparently shows, he wanted to fulfil his needs of life like food, accommodation, for example; he showed his neediness and then was silent; after all what respect has got this world in the eyes of Allãh?

You should know that Mūsã's words: "My Lord! Surely I have done injustice to myself, so do Thou forgive me", runs in confessing to have committed injustice and asking for forgiveness, parallel to the prayer of Adam and his wife, when they said: "Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves, and if Thou forgive us not, and have (not) mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers." (7:23). The injustice here means injustice against his own self, because he had done a deed that was against the welfare of his life, in the same way as it was in case of Adam and his wife.

Certainly, Mūsã (a.s.) did what he did before Allãh had sent him with His sharī‘ah which forbade slaying a man; moreover, he had slain only an unbeliever whose life was not respectable; and there is no proof that such a killing was forbidden before his sharī‘ah. And the same was the situation regarding the disobedience of Adam and his wife; they had indeed done harm to their own selves by eating from the tree, before Allãh had laid down any sharī‘ah for human beings – Allãh had established sharī‘ah – whatever it might be – after they had come down from the garden to the earth.

Mere prohibition of going near the tree does not prove that it was an authoritative order whose disobedience entails sin (in terms of fiqh); rather there are associations to show that the prohibition was of advisory nature, as appears from the verses of the chapter "Tã Hã", and we have explained in the explanation of the story of Adam's garden, in the first volume of the book.

As for Mūsã (a.s.), the Divine Book clearly says that he was a purified servant; and that Iblīs cannot seduce the purified servants of Allãh, the High; and it is evidently known that sin cannot occur with-out misleading of Iblīs. Allãh says: And mention Mūsã in the Book; surely he was one purified, and he was a messenger, a prophet. (19:51); He said: "Then by Thy might I will surely seduce them all, except Thy servants from among them, the purified ones." (38:82-83).

It appears from the above that the forgiveness, for which he had prayed, like the prayer of Adam and his wife, does not mean wiping off the chastisement which Allãh writes for the sinners – as is the case with disobedience of authoritative commands; rather it means erasure of evil consequences which come in the wake of doing harm to one-self in the course of life. In fact, Mūsã (a.s.) was afraid lest his affair be known to them and they recognize what they would consider as his sin. So, he asked his Lord that He should cover for him and forgive him; and "forgiveness" in the Qur’ãnic language is more general than wiping off the chastisement, it is rather wiping off the evil consequences whatever they might be. And there is no doubt that the authority of this all is in the hand of Allãh.

In a way, similar to it is the earlier-mentioned prayer of Nūh (a.s.): "… and if Thou shouldst not forgive me and have mercy on me, I should be of the losers." (11:47), i.e. if Thou didst not teach me Thy manners, and didst not protect me by Thy protection and safety, and didst not have mercy on me in this way, I should be of the losers. Understand it.

Another example is Mūsã (a.s.)'s prayer when revelation was sent to him for the first time and he was given the message to convey to his people as Allãh has quoted: He said: "O my Lord! Expand my breast for me; and make my affair easy for me; and loose the knot from my tongue; (that) they may understand my word; and give to me an aider from my family; Hãrūn, my brother; strengthen my back by him; and associate him (with me) in my affair; so that we should glorify Thee much; and remember Thee oft; surely, Thou art seeing us." (20:25-35).

He seriously thinks over the religious mission of which he has been given responsibility, and says to his Lord – as is inferred from the words with help of the context – "that surely Thou art seeing my and my brother's condition; that we, since our early life, love Thy glorification; tonight Thou hast burdened me with the load of messengership, and I feel that I am hot-tempered and that there is knot in my tongue – the factors which Thou knowest better; and I fear that they would accuse me of falsehood if I called them to Thee and conveyed Thy message to them; then I shall be angry and my tongue will not work; therefore expand my breast for me and make my affairs easy for me." This is the removal of harm which Allãh mentions in His speech: There is no harm in the Prophet doing that which Allãh has ordained for him; (such has been) the course of Allãh with respect of those who have gone before; . . . (33:38); "and loose the knot from my tongue (that) they may understand my word; and my brother Hãrūn's tongue is more eloquent than mine, and he is from my family, so associate him with me in this affair and make him my helper, so that we should glorify Thee much, as we loved to do so, and should remember Thee often before the gatherings of the people helping each other." This is the gist of what he (a.s.) asked his Lord for, from among the equipments of the mission and conveying. The manner which he has used here is that he clearly mentioned the aim and objective of his askings, lest it might be thought that he was asking all this for his own self; so he said: "so that we should glorify Thee much, and remember Thee oft." And he offered in proof of his claim's truth, the knowledge of Allãh Himself, by throwing their selves before Him and submitting themselves to Him; so he said: "surely, Thou art seeing us." And when the needy beseecher throws himself in his need before the wealthy and magnanimous beseeched one, it becomes the mightiest factor in inciting the feeling of mercy, because it displays the need more clearly than its verbal description could do – after all, it is not impossible for the tongue to tell lie.

Another example is when Mūsã (a.s.) prayed against Pharaoh and his chiefs, as he said: And Mūsã said: "Our Lord! Surely Thou hast given to Pharaoh and his chiefs finery and riches in this world's life, to this end, our Lord, that they lead (people) astray from Thy way: Our Lord! Destroy their riches and harden their hearts so that they believe not until they see the painful punishment." He said: "The prayer of you both has indeed been accepted, therefore continue in the right way and do not follow the path of those who do not know." (10:88-89).

The prayer was jointly of Mūsã and Hãrūn; that is why it began with the word: "Our Lord!" and it is proved by the next verse, He said: "The prayer of you both has indeed been accepted." They first cursed their riches that it should be destroyed; then they invoked Allãh against them that He should harden their hearts so that they would not believe until they saw the painful chastisement, in order that their faith would not be accepted, as Allãh says: On the day when some of the signs of your Lord shall come, its faith shall not profit a soul which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith… . (6:158).

That is, take revenge from them by forbidding the faith to them through suddenly inflicting punishment on them as they had deprived Thy servants of it by leading them astray. This was the hardest possible curse, which could be inflicted on anyone, because it is the curse for ever-lasting infelicity, and nothing is more evil than that for a man.

Curse, or prayer for evil, is different from prayer for good, be-cause the divine mercy is ahead of His wrath; Allãh had revealed to Mūsã (a.s.): "(As for) My chastisement, I will afflict with it whom I please, and My   mercy   encompasses   all   things; … " (7:156). Thus, the all-encompassiveness of the divine mercy dislikes inflicting harm or loss to any of His servants even if he is unjust. Its proof is seen in the divine bounties on them, in His covering them with His magnanimity; and in His ordering His servants for forbearance, and in His patience on their ignorance and stupidity – except in establishing an important right or in emergency in inequity when they are fully aware that a necessary underlying reason, like that of religion or people of religion demands it.

Apart from that, the more delicate and subtle the aspects of good and bliss; the more adhering it would be to the souls, by the nature on which Allãh has created people – contrary to the aspects of evil and infelicity; because man by his nature flees from knowing it, and tries not to pay attention to its root, let alone its particulars. This factor causes difference in manner between the two types of prayers, i.e. of good and of evil.

Thus, it is among the manners of prayer for evil that affairs leading to that prayer should be mentioned obliquely, and particularly about the ugly and detestable matters, contrary to the prayer for the good, because clearly mentioning such prayer factors is desirable. Mūsã (a.s.) has kept it in mind when he said: "that they lead (people) astray from Thy way," and did not give the details of the oppressions being inflicted by the people of Pharaoh.

Among its manners is augmentation of entreaty and supplication; and he (a.s.) did so by saying: "Our Lord!" and repeating it several times in such a short prayer.

Another manner is that a man should not pray for evil about someone except when he knows that it is in the interest of truth for religion or its people – without basing it on imagination or accusation. And Mūsã (a.s.) had full knowledge of it, and Allãh has said about Pharaoh: And truly We showed him Our signs, all of them, but he rejected and refused. (20:56). Probably, it is for this reason that Allãh ordered Mūsã and his brother when He informed them of the acceptance of their prayer: "therefore continue in the right way and do not follow the path of those who do not know." [10:89]. And Allãh knows better.

Another prayer of Mūsã was the one quoted by Allãh in the following verses: And Mūsã chose out of his people seventy men for Our appointment; so when the earthquake overtook them, he said: "My Lord! If Thou hadst pleased, Thou hadst destroyed them before and myself (too); wilt Thou destroy us for what the fools among us have done? It is not but Thy trial, Thou makest err with it whom Thou pleasest and guidest whom Thou pleasest; Thou art our Guardian, therefore forgive us and have mercy on us, and Thou art the best of the forgivers. And ordain for us good in this world's life and in the hereafter, for surely we turn to Thee." (7:155-6).

The actual prayer begins with the words: "therefore forgive us"; however it was an extremely hard situation, as they were inflicted by divine wrath and violant attack which nothing can stand against; and asking for forgiveness and mercy from an angry master whose master-ship has been debased and insulted, is not like asking for it from a master who is in normal condition. That is why Mūsã (a.s.) offered before that what would calm down the flare up of the divine wrath, in order that he could then proceed to the asking for forgiveness and mercy.

Thus he said: "My Lord! If Thou hadst pleased, Thou hadst destroyed them before and myself (too)." He wants to say, as the con-text shows: 'My Lord! Surely my soul and their souls all together are in Thy hand, and submissive to Thy pleasure; if Thou hast pleased, Thou wouldst have destroyed them and myself too before today, as Thou hast destroyed them and kept me alive today. Now, what shall I say to my people when I shall go back to them and they would accuse me of murdering all of them, and Thou knowest the condition of my people better than I do; this would nullify my mission and all my endeavours would be forfeited.'

Then he (a.s.) counted the destruction of the seventy as the destruction of himself and his people; and mentioned that those were the fools of his community and no importance should be attached to their deeds. Thus, he incited his Lord's mercy, as it was not His custom to destroy a community because of the deeds of some fools among them. It was but an example of the general test and trial which is always prevalent in human beings, and are led astray by it many, and are guided aright by it many, and Thou hast not dealt with them except by forgiveness and covering.

As in Thy hand is the authority of my soul and our souls, Thou canst destroy us whenever Thou pleasest; and this event is not some-thing unique in the way of Thy general trial which results in going astray of one group and being guided aright of another, and all this does not end except at Thy pleasure; therefore Thou art our Guardian, by thine order and pleasure stands management of our affairs, and we have nothing to do with it; so judge Thou about us with forgiveness and mercy; among Thy attributes is that Thou art the best of forgivers; ordain for us in this world a life secure from punishment, and it is the one that is liked by him who is overwhelmed by the divine wrath, and in the life hereafter the good by forgiveness and the garden.

This was the style used by him (a.s.) in his prayer, when had taken up his people the eathquake and covered them the misfortune. See how did he use the beautiful homage of servitude, and sought, through it, his Lord's mercy. He continued beseeching the mercy and calming down with his praises the out-burst of divine wrath until he got the response which he had not mentioned in words, at all, and it was their renaissance after the destruction, and the revelation came to him as Allãh says: He said: "(As for) My chastisement, I will afflict with it whom I please, and My mercy encompasses all things; so I will ordain it for those who guard (against evil) and pay the zakãt, and those who believe in Our signs."(7:156). Now, what do you think about Him after He said to Mūsã (a.s.) in answer to his prayer: and My mercy encompasses all things?

Allãh mentions that He had clearly forgiven them and accepted the prayer of Mūsã (a.s.) by returning them to life when they had been destroyed; and bringing them back to this world, as He says: And when you said: "O Mūsã! We will not believe in you until we see Allãh manifestly," so the punishment overtook you while you looked on. Then We raised you up after your death that you may give thanks (2:55-56). The report in the chapter of "Women" [4:153] is nearer to it.

Mūsã (a.s.) had maintained manners in his talk when he said: "Thou makest err with it whom Thou pleasest"; he did not mention that it occurred because of evil choice of those who went astray, in order to show verbally God's deanthropomorphism – as he did so in heart; thus it will be like the divine words: He causes many to err by it and many He leads aright by it; but He does not cause to err by it (any) except the transgressors (2:26). He used this style because the place prevented him from paying attention except to the fact of Allãh being the absolute Guardian to Whom only ends every management.

And in all this talk he did not mention the main issue which was in his heart, i.e., the prayer that Allãh should give them back their lives after destroying them, because the situation with all its fright and danger prevented him from elaboration; he merely pointed to it briefly by saying: "My Lord! If Thou hadst pleased, Thou hadst destroyed them before and myself (too) … "

Also, among his invocations is that which he prayed when he returned to his people from the meeting point and found that they had begun calf-worship after him; and Allãh had informed him of that misdeed, as He says: And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by the head, dragging him towards him. He said: "Son of my mother! Surely the people reckoned me weak and had well-nigh slain me, therefore make not the enemies to rejoice over me and count me not among the unjust people." (7:150). Then Mūsã (a.s.) became soft towards him and prayed for him and for himself, so they should be distinguished from the unjust people. He said: "My Lord! Forgive me and my brother, cause us to enter into Thy mercy, and Thou art the most Merciful of the merciful ones." (7:151).

Why did he want to be distinguished from the other people, and that Allãh should enter both of them in His mercy? It was only because he knew that the divine wrath was surely to overtake them because of their injustice, as Allãh describes it after the above verse: (As for) those who took the calf (for a god), surely wrath from their Lord and disgrace in this world’s life shall overtake them, . . . (7:52). The preceding explanation will show the way of good manners in his talk.

Another of his (a.s.)'s prayers – and it is in effect a curse against his people who had said when he ordered them to enter the holy land: They said: "O Mūsã! We shall never enter it at all so long as they remain therein; go therefore you and your Lord then fight you both, surely we will here sit down." (5:24); – is that which Allãh narrates in his words: He said: "My Lord! Surely I have no control (upon any) but my own self and my brother; therefore make a separation between us and the nation of transgressors." (5:25).

He (a.s.) used fine manners when he alluded to his intention of stopping to tell them and to convey to them the commands of their Lord again – after they rejected his first command in such an ugly and rude way – by his saying: "My Lord! Surely I have no control (upon any) but my own self and my brother;" i.e.: 'no one obeys my orders except I and my brother; these people have rebutted my order in such a way that now there is no hope about them; so now I desist from telling them Thy commands and guiding them to what contains their community's welfare.'

The verb translated here: "I have no control", actually means, 'I do not possess'. But the context shows that here it means 'possession of obedience'. Had it meant creative possession, he (a.s.) would not have attributed it to himself without making it clear that real possession belongs to Allãh only, and whatever he owns is only that which Allãh has given into his possession; and when he explained to his Lord his desistance and despair of their positive response to his call, he left the judgement in Allãh's hand and said: "therefore make a separation between us and the nation of transgressors."

SHU‘AYB: Of the same style is the curse, which Shu‘ayb (a.s.) did against his people, when he said: "Our Lord! Decide between us and our people with truth; and Thou art the best of deciders." (7:89).

Thus, he asks for fulfilment of the divine promise after he lost all hope of his call being effective among them; and requests Him to decide between him and them with truth, as Allãh has said: And every nation had a messenger; so when their messenger came, the matter was decided between them with justice and they shall not be dealt with unjustly (10:47).

He used the pronoun: us, because he joined the believers to himself; and the unbelievers had threatened him and the believers all together when they had said: "We will most certainly turn you out, O Shu‘ayb! And (also) those who believe with you, from our town, or you shall come back to our faith." … (7:88). So, he joined them to himself and abandoned his people in their misdeeds, and proceeded with the believers to his Lord, and said: "Our Lord! Decide between us … "

He adhered in his prayer to the noble divine name: "the best of the deciders," because, as mentioned earlier adherence to the attribute, which agrees with the text of the prayer, is an intense support tantamount to adjuration. It is contrary to the talk of Mūsã (a.s.) quoted earlier: "My Lord! Surely I have no control (upon any) but my own self and my brother; therefore make a separation between us and the nation of transgressors;" because, as we had explained, his (a.s.)'s words were not really a prayer; rather they were an allusion that he would desist from his call and return all the matters to God. So there was no reason for adjuration, contrary to the talk of Shu‘ayb.

DÃWŪD & SULAYMÃN: Another example is what Allãh has quoted of the praise of Dãwūd and Sulaymãn (peace be upon them). Allãh says: And certainly We gave knowledge to Dãwūd and Sulaymãn, and they both said: "Praise be to Allãh, Who has made us to excel many of His believing servants." (27:15)

The aspects of manner in their praise and thank, and their attribution of their knowledge to Allãh, are clear. They did not say like what is quoted from some others, as Qãrūn said to his people when they admonished him not to show arrogance in the land because of his wealth: He says: "I have been given this only on account of the knowledge I have." … (28:78); or as Allãh describes about some others: Then when their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they exulted in what they had with them of knowledge, and there beset them that which they used to mock (40:83).

There is no harm in the two prophets' praising Allãh for making them excel many of the believers, because it manifests a particular blessing and describes a fact; it is not something like showing arrogance against the servants of Allãh, which would invite condemnation. Allãh has mentioned that a group of believers had asked for excellence and has praised them for their sublime nature and high ambitions, as He says: And they who say: "O our Lord! … and make us leaders for those who are pious." (25:74).

SULAYMÃN: Another example is what has been reported from Sulaymãn in the story of the ant, as He says: Until when they came to the valley of the ants, an ant said: "O ants! Enter your abodes, (so that) Sulaymãn and his hosts may not crush you while they do not know." So he smiled, wondering at her word, and said: "My Lord! Grant me that I should be grateful for Thy favour which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I should do good such as Thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones." (27:18-19).

The ant by its talk reminded him of his great kingdom which was strengthened by subduing the wind as it flew by his order, and the jinns made for him what he wanted, and the knowledge of the birds' speech, etc. But this kingdom did not come to his (a.s.)'s mind as the brightest wish to which man arrives, as it happens in us; it did not make him forget his servitude and his poverty. It rather came to his mind as a favour that his Lord had bestowed on him. So, he remembered his Lord and His blessings, which He had bestowed especially on him and on his parents. And this remembrance from a servant like him, and in such a condition, was the most excellent of manners vis-à-vis his Lord.

He remembered favours of his Lord; although a multitude of favours and blessings were bestowed upon him, yet what he was thinking about at that time and place was the great kingdom and the over-powering authority; and that is why he mentioned good deed and asked his Lord to grant him that he should do good deed; because good deed and good character are desirable from him who sits on the throne of kingdom.

In view of all the above factors, he first asked his Lord to grant him that he should be grateful for His favour; then that he should do good; and he was not content to ask merely for good deed, but added the proviso: "as thou art pleased with"; it was because he was a servant who was not concerned with other than his Lord, and he wanted to do good deed only to please his Lord; then he completed the prayer of tawfīq for goodness of deed by the prayer for goodness of self, so he said: "and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones."

YŪNUS: Another example is in what Allãh has reported from Yūnus (a.s.). He had prayed in these words when he was in the stomach of the fish that had swallowed him. Allãh says: And Yūnus, when he went away in wrath, so he thought that We would not straiten him, so he called out among afflictions: "There is no god but Thou, glory be to Thee; surely I am of those who make themselves to suffer loss." (21:87).

Yūnus (a.s.) had asked his Lord, as the Qur’ãn narrates, to send chastisement on his people, and Allãh had accepted it; then he informed his people of that. When the divine chastisement reached almost over them, they repented to their Lord, and it was averted from them. When Yūnus saw it, he left his people and went away wandering, until he boarded a boat, and a fish blocked its way. They decided to throw to it one of them, so that it might swallow him and leaves the others alone; for this purpose they cast lot, and Yūnus's name came out. He was thrown into the river and the fish swallowed him. He was constantly glorifying his Lord in its belly until Allãh ordered it to throw him up on the bank of the river. However, it was only a divine disciplining, through which He disciplines His prophets as required by their various situations. Allãh says: But had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us), he would certainly have tarried in its belly to the Day when they will be raised (37:143-4). His turning away from his people and wandering along present the picture of a servant who was not pleased with a certain action of his master, so becoming angry he fled away and left his service and neglected his own responsibilities. Obviously, Allãh did not like this behaviour and disciplined him. He put him in an incapacious prison in which he could not move even about a finger, in utter darkness, and in that darkness he cried out: "There is no god but Thou, glory be to Thee, surely I am of those who make themselves to suffer loss." (21:87).

All of this had one aim only: To make him realize, contrary to what his condition showed, that Allãh has the power to catch and hold him wherever He wishes, and to do with him whatever He pleases, there is no escape from Him except to Him. That is why he learned in that condition in the belly of the fish to acknowledge that only Allãh is worthy of worship, there is no other like Him and nothing can escape from His servitude; so he said: "There is no god but Thou". It should be noted that he did not call Allãh by attribute of Lordship; and it is the only prayer from among the prophets' prayers, which has not begun with the name, 'Lord'.

Then he mentioned what had passed on him that he left his people when Allãh did not destroy them even after sending the punishment to them, and he affirmed injustice for himself and glorified Allãh from all that had any shade of injustice and defect, and said: "… glory be to Thee, surely I am of those who make themselves to suffer loss."

But he did not mention his [actual] need – i.e. reinstatement to his previous position of servitude – counting himself as undeserving to have any right of asking for any favour, because of intense shame and remorse. The proof that he had in mind an unspoken of request is found in the divine word coming after it: So We responded to him and delivered him from the grief, … (21:88)

And the proof that his request consisted of his reinstatement to his previous position, is found in the verses: Then We cast him on to the vacant surface of the earth while he was sick; and We caused to grow up for him a gourd-plant; and We sent him to a hundred thousand, rather they exceeded; and they believed, so We gave them provision till a time (37:145-8).

Another example is found in the story of Ayyūb (a.s.) when he said after he became chronically ill and lost all his properties and sons: And Ayyūb, when he cried to his Lord, (saying): "Harm has afflicted me, and Thou art the most Merciful of the merciful." (21:83).

The aspects of good manners are evident here as explained in earlier cases. Ayyūb (a.s.) did not clearly mention his need as was seen in the prayers of Adam, Nūh, Mūsã, and Yūnus (peace be upon them), thinking himself unworthy of attention and considering his affairs too trivial to be mentioned. The prophets' prayers, as described earlier and as will be seen afterwards, had never mentioned the requirements clearly, when they were related to worldly affairs, although they did not want any such thing because of any base desires.

From another angle: His mentioning the reason which led him to beseech, like affliction of harm, and describing the attribute found in Him Who is asked from, which incites the beseecher to ask, like His being most Merciful of the merciful, and remaining silent about the actual need, present the most eloquent allusion that it was not necessary to mention the need, because it would suggest that the above factors were not sufficient to induce the mercy of the most Merciful of the merciful, rather there was need to describe it in so many words!

Another example is of Zakariyyã (a.s.) as Allãh says: A mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant, Zakariyyã, when he called upon his Lord in a low voice. He said: "My Lord! Surely my bones are weakened and my head has flared with hoariness, and, my Lord! I have never been unsuccessful in my prayer to Thee; and surely I fear my relatives after me, and my wife is barren, therefore grant me from Thyself an heir, who should inherit me and inherit from the progeny  of Ya‘qūb, and make him, my Lord! One in whom Thou art well-pleased."(19:2-6).

What prompted him to offer this prayer and encouraged him to ask His Lord for a son was what he had observed Maryam, daughter of ‘Imrãn, in her abstinence and worship, and how Allãh had honoured her with the manners of servitude and distinguished her with sustenance directly from Himself, as Allãh describes in the chapter of "The House of ‘Imrãn": … and gave her into the charge of Zakariyyã; whenever Zakariyyã entered the sanctuary to (see) her, he found with her food. He said: "O Maryam! Whence comes this to you?" She said: "It is from Allãh." Surely Allãh gives sustenance to whom He pleases, without measure. There did Zakariyyã pray to his Lord; he said: "My Lord! Grant me from Thee good offspring; surely Thou art the Hearer of the prayer." (3:37-38)

At that juncture, he was overwhelmed by intense longing for a good and pious offspring who would inherit him and worship his Lord in a way that would please Him, in the same way as Maryam inherited ‘Imrãn and exerted herself to the utmost in worshipping her Lord, and thus got honour from Him. At the same time, he looked at himself that old age had taken his hold and his strength had gone down, and like-wise his wife was old and weak, and to top all this, she was barren even in her child-bearing age; so he was afflicted with grief of deprivation of a good and pleasing child which only Allãh could know. Yet he could not control himself and was overwhelmed by divinely zeal and reliance on his Lord; he turned to his Lord and described his condition in a way that would incite the divine mercy and affection on his situation that he had remained uninterruptedly adhered to the door of servitude and beseechment since his early age until now that his bones had weakened and his head had flared with hoariness; and he had never been unsuccessful in his prayers; and has found the Lord the Hearer of the prayer; therefore He should hear his prayer and grant him a pleasing heir.

The proof of what we have said that he had asked what he had done, under the influence of intense emotion and sorrow, is seen in his response when Allãh revealed to him that his prayer was granted: He said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son, and my wife is barren, and I myself have reached indeed the extreme degree of old age?" He said: "So shall it be; your Lord says: 'It is easy to me, and indeed I created you before, when you were nothing.'" (19:8-9). It clearly shows that when he heard about granting of his prayer, he recovered from his condition, and began wondering because of the strangeness of the prayer and its acceptance, until he asked his Lord about it in the form of a farfetched proposition and asked for a sign for himself which he was given.

In any case, the manner which he (a.s.) has used in his prayer, was that to which he was led by the feeling and sorrow which had over-powered him. That is why he preceded his prayer by describing his extreme condition in the way of his Lord, for he had spent his life in treading on the way of repentance and beseeching, until he stood at a situation in which every merciful onlooker's heart would melt for him, then he prayed for a son and supported it with the reason that He is the Hearer of the prayer.

This is the meaning of what he said as preamble of his prayer; it was not that he was trying to put his Lord under his obligation by showing his extended servitude – far be it from the status of prophethood. Therefore, the meaning of his prayer: "My Lord! Grant me from Thee good offspring; surely Thou art the Hearer of prayer." [3:38], is as follows: 'Surely I ask Thee what I have asked, not because there is any importance of my extended servitude and lengthy prayers to Thee; or because it has put Thee under any obligation to me; rather, I asked Thee because Thou art the Hearer of the prayer of Thy servants, and Thou acceptest the call of Thy destitute beseechers; and the fear of my relatives after me has compelled me to put this request before Thee and has strongly exhorted me to ask for a good offspring.'

It has been described earlier that as part of the good manner used in his prayer, he said after this fear of the relatives: "… and  make  him,  my Lord! One in whom Thou art well-pleased." [19:6]. Pleasant-ness, although by nature it denotes being pleasing to its subject, and being unrestricted it contains pleasure of Allãh and pleasure of Zakariyyã, and pleasure of Yahyã; but his words: good offspring [3:37], show that it denotes his being good and pleasing to Zakariyyã, because an off-spring is good to its progenitor, not to others.

Another example of the good manners is seen from the Christ when he asked for the table, as Allãh quotes him: ‘Īsã the son of Maryam said: "O Allãh, our Lord! Send down to us food from heaven which should be to us an ever-recurring happiness, to the first of us and to the last of us, and a sign from Thee, and grant us sustenance, and Thou art the best of providers." (5:114).

The story described in the Divine Book about the question of the disciples to ‘Īsã (a.s.) for sending down food from heaven, shows by its context that it was one of the hardest requests for ‘Īsã (a.s.); because their quoted wordings: "Is your Lord able to send down to us food from heaven?" [5:112], first, put under question the power of Allãh, and it does not agree with the manner of servitude; even if they intended to ask about the underlying reason, not the power itself, the ugliness of the wording remains in its place.

Second, it contained suggestion of a new sign, although his (a.s.)'s signs were covering them from all sides – his noble personality was a sign in itself; his speaking in the cradle was another sign, and so were his reviving dead body, his creating a bird, his restoring the blind and lepers to health, his giving information of the unseen, as well as his knowledge of the Tawrãt, the Injīl, the Book and the Wisdom were divine signs, which did not leave any room for any doubt and suspicion to anyone. In this background, their choosing a sign for themselves and asking for it was manifestly tantamount to playing with divine signs. That was why he admonished them by saying: "Fear Allãh if you are believers." [5:112]. But they insisted on it and explained their suggestion in these words: "We desire that we should eat of it and that our hearts should be at rest, and that we may know that you have indeed spoken the truth to us and that we may be of the witnesses to it." [5:113]. So, they compelled him to ask for it, which he finally did.

‘Īsã (a.s.) mended by his divinely-gifted manner the demand which they had put forth, and rephrased it in a way that it could be addressed to the arena of divine power and greatness. Firstly, he gave it the title of ‘īd which would be reserved for him and his people, because it would be a sign proposed by them and would be unique among the prophets' signs, as all their signs were sent down for completing the proof against them or because the ummah needed them, and this sign had neither attribute. Secondly, he summarized what the disciples had elaborated regarding the benefits of its coming down, that their hearts should be at ease, and they might know that he had indeed spoken the truth to them and they might be among the witnesses to it; all this was included in a single phrase, and a sign from Thee. Then, thirdly, he mentioned what they had said about eating of it; he described it at the end, although they had mentioned it before all other purposes, and he put another garb on it which was more appropriate for the divine audience and said, and grant us means of subsistence, then added to it: "and Thou art the best of providers", in order that it would support the suggestion, on one hand, and be a praise for the Sublime Authority on the other hand.

He began his prayer by calling on Allãh with the phrase: "O Allãh, our Lord!" Thus, he added on what is generally found in the prophets' prayers, as they used to say: "My Lord" or "Our Lord"; he did so because the situation was very tough, as explained earlier.

Another example of this manner will be seen in his (a.s.)'s direct talk with his Lord which is quoted in the Qur’ãn: And when Allãh will say: "O ‘Īsã son of Maryam! Did you say to the people: 'Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allãh'?" He will say: "Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it; Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of unseen things. I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with: 'That worship Allãh, my Lord and your Lord', and I was a witness of them as long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou art witness of all things. If Thou shouldst chastise them, then surely they are Thy servants; and if Thou shouldst forgive them, then surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise." (5:116-8)

He (a.s.) observed the manner in his speech, first by beginning his speech with declaring His purity from what does not fit with the glory of His arena, following the style of His speech, as He says: And they say: "The Beneficent God has taken to Himself a son. Glory be to Him."(21:26)

Second, he took his own self too humble to be imagined that he would say such a thing for himself, so that it would need rebuttal. That is why he did not say in this speech from the beginning to the end, "I did not say it" or "I did not do it." He only refuted it time and again by way of allusion and under cover; and said: "It did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say)." Thus he negated it through negation of its cause; i.e. 'I did not have any such right so that I could utter such an untoward word.' Then he said: "If I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it; … " So, he refuted it through refutation of its concomitant, i.e. 'if I had said it, Thou must surely hadst known it, because Thy knowledge encompasses me and all unseen things.'

Then he will say: "I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with: 'That worship Allãh, my Lord and your Lord.'" He refuted it by bringing forth its opposite, and restricting it with "not" and "save". He says: 'I had told them something, but it was the same which Thou hadst enjoined me to say,' i.e., 'worship Allãh, my Lord and your Lord;' then how was it possible that I should say to them, 'Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allãh.'

Then he will say: "and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them". It is further refutation of the above-mentioned idea; in a way it further completes the above speech: "I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with." Its meaning is as follows: 'I did not say to them anything that is attributed to me; what I had told them was only by your order, and it was: "Worship Allãh, my Lord and your Lord;" no other commandment was ever sent to me, and I had no relation with them except witnessing of and watching over them, so long as I was among them; and when Thou didst cause me to die, my connection with them was cut off and Thou wert the watcher over them by Thy everlasting and general witnessing, before Thou didst cause me to die and after that, over them and over every other thing.'

Now, that the talk will reach thus stage, he (a.s.) will decide to repudiate this idea from himself through another reason which would complement the above-mentioned cause, and which would absolutely deny the idea. So, he will say: "If Thou shouldst chastise them, then surely they are Thy servants; and if Thou shouldst forgive them, then surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise." He will want to say in this context as follows: 'If they had gone astray as Thou hast said, then I am cut off from them and they are cut off from me. Now Thou art to deal with Thy servants alone; if Thou shouldst chastise them, they are Thy servants; and the Master, the Lord, has the authority to chastise his servants if they disobey him and associate others with him, and they deserve to be punished; and if Thou shouldst forgive them, there is no reproof against Thee, because Thou art the Mighty, unsubdued, the Wise, who does not do any unwise and vain deed, and who always does what is more suitable.'

What we have explained, shows fine aspects of the manners of servitude in his (a.s.)'s speech. Also, ponder on the fact that whenever he uttered a sentence, he mixed it with the finest praise, in the most eloquent description and in the truest tongue.

Another example of the divine manner is seen in the words of His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) which has been quoted by Allah, and He has joined the believers of his ummah in it: The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers; they all believe in Allãh and His angels and His books and His messengers: "We make no difference between any of His messengers;" and they say: "We hear and obey; our Lord! Thy forgiveness (do we crave), and to Thee is the eventual course." Allãh does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability; for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned, and upon it is (the evil of) what it has wrought: "Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! Do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! Do not impose upon us that which we have no strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us; Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people." (2:285-6).

As you see, the divine words describe the Prophet's belief in the noble Qur’ãn in all that it contains of fundamental beliefs and divine commandments; then it joins with him (s.a.w.a.) the believers among his ummah, not only those who were present near him (s.a.w.a.), but also those were to come later, as is manifest from the context.

It then follows that what the verses contain of acknowledgement, praise of prayer, related to some of them would be the narration of the tongue of their condition although possibly their tongues; or the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) himself could have said it directly talking with his Lord on his own behalf and on behalf of the believers, because they by their faith were the branches of the tree of his blessed soul.

The two verses contain a sort of comparison and equilibrium between the People of the Book and the believers of this ummah in the manner of their acceptance of what was revealed to them in the Book of Allãh; or, in other words, with respect to their courteousness of servitude vis-à-vis the Book sent to them. Apparently, Allãh has praised these believers in these two verses and has eased their burden exactly in those aspects in which He has admonished the People of the Book and put them to shame in the verses of the chapter "The Cow". He has indeed criticised them because they differentiated between the angels of Allãh, as they hated Gabriel and loved the others; and between the revealed Divine Books, as they disbelieved in the Qur’ãn and believed in previous ones; and between the messengers of Allãh, as they believed in Mūsã (or in Mūsã and ‘Īsã) and disbelieved in Muhammad (may Allãh's blessings and peace be on him and them), and between His commands, as they believed in some commands of the Book of Allãh and disbelieved in some others; but the believers of this ummah: believe in Allãh, and His angels, and His Books, and His messengers: "We make no difference between any of His messengers".

They indeed observed proper manners vis-à-vis their Lord by submitting to the cognizence sent to them by Allãh. Then they showed the manners by positively responding to the divine commandments, when they said: "We hear and obey"; unlike the Jews who had said: "We hear and we disobey." After that they showed proper manner when they counted their own selves, the slaves possessed by their Lord, who do not own anything, and they do not try to put Allãh under their obligation because of their faith and obedience; so they said: "Thy forgiveness (do we crave)"; they were not like the Jews who had said: "He soon will forgive us"; and said: "Surely Allãh is needy and we are self sufficient"; and said: "The Fire will not touch us except for counted days", and other similar erroneous utterances.

Then Allãh said: Allãh does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability, for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned, and upon it is (the evil of) what it has wrought. It is because the divinely laid responsibility, by its disposition, follows the nature on which He has created the people; and it is known that the nature, being a sort of creation, does not invite except to what it has been equipped with; and certainly in it is found the felicity of life.

However, if the topic would be of importance which would demand more attention to itself, or if the servant who was ordered went out of the fold of nature, beyond the appearance of servitude, then it would be Ok as a secondary natural command for the master of the one having authority in his hand to give him an order beyond the usual extent of its ability; for example, he may tell him to observe precaution on mere doubt, or to avoid forgetfulness and mistake when utmost attention is given to the topic, e.g. indispensability of precaution in connection with blood, genital and property in Islamic; or to increase the inconvenience and tighten the screw the more one increases in disputation and insists in questioning, as Allãh has given us many such an information concerning the Children of Israel.

In any case, the Qur’ãnic phrase: Allãh does not impose upon any soul … , is either continuation of the speech of the Prophet (s.a. w.a.) and the believers: If so, then they must have said it as a preamble to their prayer: "Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake;" in order that it may serve as His praise, to remove a possible misunderstanding that Allãh might impose a burden in the excess of one's ability, and might lay down a disconcerting order – such ideas would be removed by asserting that Allãh does not impose a responsibility upon a soul except to the extent of its ability; and what they have asked by saying: "Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake;" refers to divine commands in their secondary aspects, resulting from the order or from the side of the servants because of their enmity, not from the side of Allãh, the High.

Or, it is the divine speech, inserted between two phrases of their prayer, which are reported here, i.e., "Thy forgiveness (do we crave),"and: "Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget … ," in order to give the above-mentioned connotation, in addition to teaching and training them under divine guidance; this too will be a sort of their speech, because they are the believers in what Allãh has sent down, and this too is from Him. In any case, this is what their speech relies on and their prayer depends upon.

Then Allãh mentions the remainder of their prayer; or you may say, the other group of their problems: "Our Lord! Do not punish us … ", "Our Lord! Do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us"; "Our Lord! Do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us", it is as though they want pardon for what they might have committed in forgetfulness or by mistake and all such reasons; "and grant us protection and have mercy on us" for all our sins and mistakes. Forgiveness here does not entail repetition al-though they had earlier said: "Thy forgiveness (do we crave)", because it quotes their speech in order to compare their condition and their manner with their Lord with the People of the Book in their dealing with their Lord and regarding their Book that was sent to them; moreover, the context of prayer does not reject repetition unlike other situations.

It is not necessary to explain how this prayer contains the manner of servitude, by adhering to the attribute of Lordship time and again, and confessing to one's being possessed and under guardianship of the owner, standing at the station of humbleness and wretchedness of servitude vis-à-vis the Mighty Lord.

The noble Qur’ãn contains divine trainings and sublime teachings to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) by various types of praise he uses for his Lord, or the beseechings he offers before Him. For example: Say: "O Allãh, Master of the kingdom! Thou givest the kingdom to whomsoever Thou pleasest, … " (3:26); Say: "O Allãh! Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen! Thou judgest be-tween Thy servants … " (39:46); Say: "Praise be to Allãh and peace on His servants whom He has chosen: … " (27:59); Say: "Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are (all) for Allãh, . . ." (6:162); ". . . and say: "O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge" (20:114); And say: "O my Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the evil suggestions of the Satans, and I seek refuge in Thee! O my Lord! From their presence." (23:97-98), in addition to numerous such verses.

All these collectively contain the fine manners, which Allãh trained His messenger (s.a.w.a.) with, and he in his turn exhorted his ummah to observe it.

7. Now, we should see how they preserved the manners towards their Lord while they talked with their people: This too is a vast chapter and it is attached to the manners of praising Allãh, the glorified. From an-other angle, it is a sort of practical tablīgh, which is not less, or rather is more, effective than the verbal tablīgh.

There are many such examples in the Qur’ãn. Allãh quotes a talk between Nūh and his ummah: They said: "O Nūh! Indeed you have disputed with us and lengthened dispute with us, therefore bring to us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful ones." He said: "Allãh only will bring it to you if He please, and you will not make (Him) incapable. And if I intend to give you good advice, my advice will not profit you if Allãh intended that He should leave you to go astray; He is your Lord, and to Him shall you be returned." (11:32-34). He (a.s.) refuted from himself what they were attributing to him, in order to show his inability in this way; he attributes it to his Lord, and shows finest manner by adding the phrase: "if He please", and then saying: "and you will not make (Him) incapable", i.e. will not make Allãh incapable. That is why he had used the word: Allãh, instead of saying, 'My Lord', because Allãh is He to Whom is the end goal of every beauty and grandeur. Also, he did not consider this much refutation and affirmation enough until he supported it by saying that his advice would not profit them if Allãh did not intend them to get its benefit. Thus he completed the refutation of power from himself and its affirmation for his Lord, and showed its reason by saying: "He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned."

This is a dialogue steeped in beautiful manners vis-à-vis Allãh; Nūh (a.s.) used this speech to address the transgressors of his ummah, disputing with them. And he was the first prophet who opened the door of argumentation in calling to the monotheism, and stood up against the idol-worship, as the noble Qur’ãn describes.

This is the greatest of the doors which lets the researcher's eyes free to look at the prophets' manners; one sees in them the finest of their characteristics which are steeped in good manner and perfection. It is because all their talks and deeds, movements and stillness, are based on contemplation and servitudal presence, although, in form, it looks like the deed of him who is absent from his Lord, and his Lord is absent from him. Allãh says: … and those who are with Him are not proud to worship Him, nor do they grow weary. They glorify (Him) by night and day; they are never languid (21:19-20).

Allãh has quoted in His Book many dialogues of Hūd, Sãlih, Ibrãhīm, Mūsã, Shu‘ayb, Yūsuf, Sulaymãn, ‘Īsã and Muhammad, etc. (peace be upon them), in different conditions of theirs, like hardship and ease, war and peace, disclosure and secrecy, good omens and warning and so on.

Contemplate on the divine speech: So Mūsã returned to his people wrathful, sorrowing. Said he: "O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a goodly promise: did then the time seem long to you, or did you wish that displeasure from your Lord should be due to you, so that you broke (your) promise to me?" (20:86). He mentions Mūsã when he returned to his people while he was filled with wrath and rage, but it did not turn him away from observation of manner while mentioning his Lord.

Also, look at the divine words: And she in whose house he was sought to make himself yield (to her), and she made fast the doors and said: "Come forward." He said: "I seek Allãh's refuge, surely my Lord made good my abode: Surely the unjust do not prosper." (12:23).

And the divine words: They said: "By Allãh! Now has Allãh certainly chosen you over us, and we were certainly sinners." He said: "(There shall be) no reproof against you this day; Allãh may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful." (12:91-92). He mentions Yūsuf in privacy wherein the woman of ‘Azīz tried to make Yūsuf yield to her; it was a situation where man forgets all understanding; yet it did not turn him away from piety, and did not distract him from observation of manners when mentioning his Lord and with others.

Also, the divine words: … Then when he saw it settled beside him, he said: This is of the grace of my Lord that He may try me whether I am grateful or ungrateful; and whoever is grateful, he is grateful only for his own soul, and whoever is ungrateful, then surely my Lord is Self-sufficient, Honoured (27:40). So, this is Sulaymãn (a.s.), and he was given of the great kingdom, effective order and amazing power, that he ordered to bring the throne of the queen of Sheba from Sheba to Palestine, and it was brought down in less than a twinkling of an eye, yet he was not taken over by pride and pompousness and did not forget his Lord, and at once offered praise to his Lord in the presence of his courtiers with best praise.

Compare it with the story of Nimrod with Ibrãhīm (a.s.), as Allãh says: Have you not considered him who disputed with Ibrãhīm about his Lord, because Allãh had given him the kingdom? When Ibrãhīm said: "My Lord is He Who gives life and causes to die," he said: "I give life and cause death." … (2:258). He said it when he ordered two prisoners to be brought before and ordered one of them to be killed and the other to be freed.

Or, it may be compared with what Pharaoh said, as Allãh has quoted him: "O my people! Is not the kingdom of Egypt mine? And these rivers flow beneath me; do you not then see? Nay! I am better than this fellow who is contemptible, and who can hardly speak distinctly: But why have not bracelets of gold been put upon him, or why have there not come with him angels as companions?" (43:51-53)

He shows his pride in the kingdom of Egypt and its rivers and a quantity of gold which was in his possession and that of his nobles; and it did not take him long to announce: 'I am your sublime lord,' and this was the same fellow who was being humiliated by Mūsã (a.s.)'s signs day after day, like flood, locust, lice and frogs, etc.

Other examples of manner: Allãh says: … when they were both in the cave, when he was saying to his companion: "Grieve not, surely Allãh is with us." . . . (9:40); And when the Prophet secretly communicated a piece of information to one of his wives … so when he informed her of it, she said: "Who informed you this?" He said: "The Knowing, the One Aware, informed me." (66:3). So, the hard situation, terror and anxiety on the day of fear did not upset him to forget his Lord who was with him, and his noble self was not affected by the threatening situation; and likewise the information which he secretly communicated to one of his wives, all this contains the good manners in referring to his Lord.

These are a few examples, and in the same style we find the finest manner and noble characteristics, which appear in their stories in the noble Qur’ãn. We have already gone beyond our self-imposed limit in this topic, otherwise we would have narrated their stories at length and described them fully.

8. Prophets' manners with the people in their dealings and talks: Samples of this manner are found in their arguments with the unbelievers which are quoted in the Qur’ãn, and in their talks with the believers; also some aspects of their life histories which are narrated.

As for the manners in talk, you will not find them in their talks with those arrogant and ignorant people ever using any word that would annoy them or any abusing, insulting or debasing remark; while their adversaries went to the extreme in abusing and taunting them and in attacking and mocking them, but they never replied to them except with best of the words and most sincere admonition; they turned away from them in peace, and when the ignorant ones talked to them they said: "Peace!"

Allãh says: But the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his [Nūh's] people said: "We do not consider you but a human being like ourselves, and we do not see any have followed you but those who are meanest of us at first thought and we do not see in you any excellence over us; nay, we deem you liars." He said: "O my people! Tell me if I have with me clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself and it has been made obscure to you; shall we constrain you to (accept) it while you are averse from it?" (11:27-28).

Also, He quotes the tribe of ‘Ãd, the people of Hūd, as saying: "We do not say aught but that some of our gods have smitten you with evil." He said: "Surely I call Allãh to witness, and do you bear witness too, that I am clear of what you associate (with Allãh), besides Him, … " (11:54-55).

They meant that some of their gods had smitten Hūd with evil, i.e., madness or idiocy, etc.

Also, Allãh quotes Ãzar as saying: "Do you dislike my gods, O Ibrãhīm? If you do not desist I will certainly revile you [or, stone you to death] and leave me for a time." He said: "Peace be on you, I will pray to my Lord to forgive you; surely He is ever Affectionate to me." (19:46-47)

Also, He quotes the people of Shu‘ayb (a.s.) as saying: The chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: "Most surely we see you in folly, and most surely we think you to be of the liars." He said: "O my people! There is no folly in me, but I am a messenger of the Lord of the worlds; I deliver to you the message of my Lord and I am a faithful adviser to you." (7:66-68).

Also, Allãh says: Pharaoh said: "And what is the Lord of the worlds?" He said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you understand." … Said he: "Most surely your Messenger who is sent to you is mad." He said: "The Lord of the east and the west and what is between them, if you understand." (26:23-28)

Also, He says quoting the people of Maryam: They said: "O Maryam! Surely you have done a strange thing. O sister of Hãrūn! Your father was not a bad man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman." But she pointed to him. They said: "How should we speak to one who is a child in the cradle?" He said: "Surely I am a servant of Allãh; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet… ." (19:27-30)

And Allãh has said consoling His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) when they accused him of soothsaying, madness and of being a poet: Therefore, continue to remind, for by the grace of your Lord, you are not a sooth-sayer, or a madman. Or do they say: "A poet, we wait for him the evil accidents of time." Say: "Wait, for surely I too with you am of those who wait." (52:29-31)

Also, He says: And the unjust say: "You do not follow any but a man bewitched." See what likeness do they apply to you, so they have gone astray; therefore they shall not be able to find a way. (25:8-9)

Add to it many other types of abuse, accusation and insult which have been quoted in the Qur’ãn; yet it has not been narrated from the prophets (a.s.) that they ever faced them with rudeness or obscenity; they rather replied to them with correct speech and good and gentle logic, in obedience to the divine instruction which had taught them good speech and beautiful manners. Allãh says addressing Mūsã and Hãrūn: Go both of you to Pharaoh; surely he has become inordinate. Then speak to him a gentle word, haply he may mind or fear (20:43-44). And He said addressing His Prophet (s.a.w.a.): And if you turn away from them to seek mercy from your Lord, which you hope for, speak to them a gentle word (17:28).

It was an aspect of their manner in talks and discussions that they took themselves to be equal in position to general people; thus they talked with every stratum of society according to the level of its under-standing. It becomes manifest if you ponder on their talks with the people with all their differences beginning from Nūh onwards. Both sects have narrated from the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he said: "Surely, we the group of the prophets have been ordered to talk with the people to the degree of their understanding."

It must be known that the sending of prophets was only based on the foundation of guidance and its explanation and support. So, it was incumbent on them to equip themselves with truth in their mission, be devoid of falsity, and remain on guard against traps of error what-ever they might be, whether it agreed with the people's pleasure or went against their liking, whether it resulted in their willingness or unwilling-ness. Allãh has ordained very strict prohibition and extreme caution in this matter for His prophets, the falsity cannot be followed in words or deeds even for helping the truth, for the falsity is falsity no matter it falls in the path of truth or not; and the call to truth does not combine with sanction of falsity even in the path of truth; a truth which is led to by falsehood and which results from untruth is not a total truth.

That is why Allãh has said: … nor could I take those who lead (others) astray for aiders. (18:51); And had it not been that We had already made you firm, you would certainly have been near to incline to them a little; in that case We would certainly have made you to taste a double (punishment) in this life and a double (punishment) after death, then you would not have found any helper against Us (17:74-75). For there is no indulgence, no close association, and no adulation in truth, and no respect for falsity.

And that is why Allãh equipped the people of His mission and guardians of His religion, i.e. the prophets (peace be upon them), with what would pave for them the path for following and helping the truth. Allãh says: There is no harm in the Prophet doing that which Allãh has ordained for him: such has been the course of Allãh with respect to those who have gone before; and the command of Allãh is a decree that is made absolute: Those who deliver the messages of Allãh and fear Him, and do not fear any one but Allãh; and Allãh is sufficient to take account (33:38-39). Allãh says that the prophets do not feel any difficulty in doing what Allãh has ordained for them; they fear only Him, and do not fear any one other than Him; there is no snag in their declaring the truth, come what may.

Then He promised them help in what they stood up to do for Him. He says: And certainly Our word has already gone forth in respect of Our servants, the messengers: Most surely they shall be the assisted ones, and most surely Our host alone shall be the victorious ones. (38:171-3). Most surely We help Our messengers, … (40:51).

That is why we find in their narrated stories that they do not care for anything in declaration of truth and the word of vericity, even if the people did not like it and found its taste bitter. Allãh quotes Nūh addressing his people: … but I consider you a people who are ignorant (11:29). And Hūd said: … you are nothing but forgers (of lies), (11:50). Also, he told them: Indeed uncleanness and wrath from your Lord have lighted upon you; what! Do you dispute with me about names, which you and your fathers have given? Allãh has not sent any authority for them; … (7:71). And He quotes Lūt as saying: … nay,  you  are  an extravagant people (7:81). Also, He quotes word of Ibrãhīm addressed to his people: "Fie on you and on what you worship besides Allãh; what! Do you not then understand?" (21:67); again He quotes Mūsã as he replied to Pharaoh's claim: "Most surely I deem you, O Mūsã! To be a man bewitched." He said: "Truly you know that none but the Lord of the heavens and the earth has sent down these as clear proofs, and most surely I believe you, O Pharaoh! To be given over to perdition." (17:101-2), i.e., prevented from believing in truth, turned out, steeped in perdition. There are many other such examples.

All of this shows observation of manners about truth and its following; and there is no desired thing more honourable than this, nor is there any sought after item more noble and more valuable. Yet sometimes it contains what goes against the prevalent manners among the people because their lives are based on following the side of desires and proceeding to the life's pleasure, by indulging the people of false-hood, and submitting to those who create disturbance in society and exceed the limit in practical policy.

In short, manner, as earlier explained, appears in palatable words and good deeds. Thus it differs with changed ways of life in societies, and the opinions and beliefs, which are settled in it and shape it. As for the divine mission, upon which the religious society depends, it only follows the truth in belief and action. The truth does not mix with falsity or depend on or get supported by it. So, there is no escape from declaring and following it. The manner that springs from it is that one should proceed on the best path of truth and dress in it with the finest robe, like opting for soft words when one has the option of speaking softly or harshly, and to choose hastening in doing good when both hastening and delaying are permissible.

It is this aspect which Allãh has ordered in His Book: And We ordained for him [Mūsã] in the tablets admonition of every kind and clear explanation of all things: so take hold of them with firmness and enjoin your people to take hold of what is best thereof; … (7:145). Then He gave good news to His servants who adhered to it: . . . therefore give good news to My servants, those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allãh has guided, and those it is who are the men of understanding (39:17-18). So there is no manner found in falsity, nor any manner in a mixture of truth and false-hood; whatever is out of the fold of pure truth is error which the Guardian of truth is not pleased with, and He has said: … and what is there after the truth but error; … (10:32)

It is this factor that led the prophets of truth to clear declaration and true language, even if on occasions it was against the demands of sycophancy and false manners that are prevalent in non-religious societies.

It was a part of their manners in their dealings and characteristics with the people that they accorded respect to the weak and to the powerful in equal degree; if there was increase and augmentation, it was for the people of knowledge and piety. For, when they built on the foundation of servitude and upbringing of human soul, it resulted in equality of judgement between rich and poor, big and small, man and woman, master and slave, ruler and ruled, leader and follower, king and subject. At this juncture, the distinction of attributes becomes ineffectual, exclusive possession of social distinctions by powerful people is negated; and division of gain and loss, deprivation and enjoyment, felicity and infelicity between the attributes of wealth and poverty, and power and weakness, becomes inoperative; the system is nullified in which the powerful and wealthy are placed at the topmost stratum, enjoy the most tender life, are given in every endeavour the easiest and most comfortable and in every responsibility the lightest; rather all people are treated equally. Allãh says: O you men! Surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honourable of you with Allãh is the one among you most  pious; … (49:13). In this way, the arrogance of the powerful because of their power, and pride of the rich because of their wealth, turns into humility for the truth, and hastening to forgiveness and mercy, racing to the good deeds, endeavouring in the way of Allãh for the purpose of Allãh's pleasure.

Thus, they accorded respect to the poor just as they did to the wealthy, and observed good manners with the weak as they did with the rich. Rather the weaker section was reserved for more magnanimity, mercy and graciousness. Allãh says teaching His Prophet (s.a.w.a.): And withhold yourself with those who call on their Lord morning and evening desiring His good will, and let not your eyes pass from them, desiring the beauties of this world's life; and do not follow him whose heart We have made unmindful to Our remembrance, and he follows his low desires and his case is one in which due bounds are exceeded. (18:28); And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, they desire only His favour; neither are you answerable for any reckoning of theirs, nor are they answerable for any reckoning of yours, so that you should drive them away and thus be of the unjust. (6:52); Do not strain your eyes after what We have given certain classes of them to enjoy, and do not grieve for them, and make yourself gentle to the believers; and say: "Surely I am the plain warner." (15:88-89).

This fine manner is seen in the dialogue between Nūh and his people as Allãh narrates: But the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: "We do not consider you but a man like ourselves, and we do not see any have followed you but those who are the meanest of us at first thought, and we do not see in you any excellence over us; nay, we deem you liars." He said: "O my people! Tell me if I have with me clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself and it has been made obscure to you; shall we constrain you to (accept) it while you are averse from it? And O my people! I ask you not for wealth in return for it; my reward is only with Allãh and I am not going to drive away those who believe; surely they shall meet their Lord, but I consider you a people who are ignorant [because of your disdaining the poor and weak servants of Allãh]: And O my people! Who will help me against Allãh if I drive them away? Will you not then mind? And I do not say to you that I have the treasures of Allãh; and I do not know the unseen, nor do I say that I am an angel [i.e. I do not claim for myself any distinction against you except that I have been sent as a messenger to you]: nor do I say about those whom your eyes hold in mean estimation (that) Allãh will never grant them (any) good – Allãh knows best what is in their souls [of the good and felicity expected from them]: – for then most surely I should be of the unjust." (11:27-31).

A similar negation of distinction is seen in the words Shu‘ayb addressed to his people, as Allãh narrates: "… and I do not desire that in opposition to you I should betake myself to that which I forbid you: I desire nothing but reform so far as I am able to, and with none but Allãh is the direction of my affair to a right course; on Him do I rely and to Him do I turn." (11:88). And Allãh says introducing His Messenger to the people: Certainly a Messenger has come to you from among yourselves, grievous to him is your falling into distress, excessively solicitous respecting you, to the believers (he is) compassionate, merciful. (9:128); And there are some of them who hurt the Prophet and say: "He is an ear;" say: "A hearer of good for you (who) believes in Allãh and believes in the faithful and a mercy for those of you who believe;" . . . (9:61); And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality (68:4). Also, He says and it gathers all preceding attributes: And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds (21:107).

Although apparently these verses describe his good characteristics, and not his manners which are something beyond that; yet a sort of manners, as described earlier, is inferred from a sort of characteristics; moreover, manner itself is a branch of characteristics.

OTHER TRADITIONS

Most of the Qur’ãnic verses, from which the Prophet (s.a.w.a.)'s noble characteristics and beautiful manners inferred are revealed in the forms of imperative and prohibitive orders. Therefore, we thought it advisable to write here some traditions about his (s.a.w.a.)'s customary usage, which contain collections of his characteristics which point to his beautiful divine manners; and they are also supported by the noble Qur’ãnic verses.

1.Ma‘ãni 'l-Akhbãr: (as-Sadūq) narrates through his chain, from AbūHãlã at-Tamīmī, from al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī (peace be upon both); and through another chain from ar-Ridã (a.s.), through his forefathers, from ‘Alī ibn al-Husayn from al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī (peace be upon all of them); also through a third chain, from a man from the progeny of Abū Hãlã, from al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī (peace be upon both), that he said:

"I asked my maternal uncle Hind ibn Abī Hãlã, who was a describer of (the attributes of) the Prophet (s.a.w.a.); and I was desirous that he should describe to me something of it in order that I should hold fast to it. So he said:

"'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was magnificent and honoured, his face radiated like the full moon on moonlit night; taller than al-marbū‘ (of medium height), and shorter than al-mushadhdhab (tall and excellent); (he had) big skull and long, straight hair; if his hair was parted it separated in the middle, otherwise his hair did not reach beyond his earlobes; of bright colour, wide forehead; his eyebrows were thin and long, lengthy from one end to the other without joining in the middle; between them was a vein; he had a light over-whelming him, if one did not ponder over him, would deem him having high nasal wind pipe, of thick beard, soft checks and wide mouth; had white teeth not tightly joined; had a thin line of hair from middle of the chest to the stomach; it seemed as his neck was like that of a deer in clarity of silver; of medium stature, plump and holding himself properly; his stomach and chest were in one level; his shoulders were wide; his bone-joints were thick; his chest was broad; when he disrobed, his body was brilliant; a thin line of hair joined his neck to the navel-pit; apart from that, his breasts and belly were without hair; there was hair on his arms, shoulders and upper chest; his wrists were long, his palms wide; his palms and soles were thick; his sides flowed, his joints were soft; hollows of his soles were deep, the feet were wide, water did not adhere to them; he proceeded ahead well-balanced, and walked in humbleness, fast-paced, when he walked it seemed as if he was going down a slope; when he turned (towards someone), turned with his whole body; kept his eyes down, he looked to the earth much longer than he looked at the heaven; most of his look was observation; he hastened to say salãm to whomever he met.'"

He said: "Then I said to him, 'Describe to me (the way of) his speaking.' He said, 'He (s.a.w.a.), was constantly in grief, always con-templating, he never spoke unnecessarily; he began his talk and ended it very eloquently; he spoke short sentences, pithy and expressive, in which there was neither any superfluous word nor any shortcoming; mild-tempered, neither vain nor insulting; exalted a bounty (gifted to him) however small it might be; he never criticized any of it; however, he never derogated nor praised any taste. When he stood for the truth nobody recognized him; nothing could stand against his anger until he obtained its right for it. When he pointed, he did so with his whole palm, and when he was astonished he turned [the palm]; when he talked he joined it and touched his right palm with inside of his left thumb. When he was angry he turned away and cast down his eyes; mostly his laugh was a smile; when he laughed his teeth appeared like hail-stone.'"

as-Sadūq says: Upto here was the narration of al-Qãsim ibn al-Manī‘ from Ismã‘īl ibn Muhammad ibn Ishãq ibn Ja‘far ibn Muham-mad; and the rest is the narrative of ‘Abdu 'r-Rahmãn upto the end.

"al-Hasan (a.s.), said, 'I did not mention the [above tradition] for a while to al-Husayn (a.s.), then I narrated it to him, but I found that he already knew it. So, I asked him about it and found that he had asked his father (a.s.) about the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) – his entry and exit, his sitting and his features – not leaving anything out.'

"al-Husayn (a.s.), said, 'I did ask my father (a.s.), about the entrance of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.). He said, "His entrance in itself was allowed to him; so when he went to his house, he divided his entry in three parts: one part for Allãh, one for his family and one for himself; then he divided his own part between himself and the people and dealt with general public through his especial people and did not keep away anything from them.

"'"And it was part of his (s.a.w.a.)'s characteristics in the part of the ummah to give preference to the people of excellence in his manners, and apportion it on them according to their superiority in religion; so among them was one with one need, another with two needs, and a third with many needs; so he remained engaged with them and kept them busy in that which was good for them, and constantly asked about the ummah and informed them of that which should be done; and he used to say: 'The one who is present must convey [the mess-age] to him who is absent;' [and he admonished]: 'Convey to me the need of him who is unable to convey it (to me); because anyone who conveys to an authority the need of him who is unable to convey it himself, Allãh will make his feet firm on the Day of Resurrection.' Nothing else was mentioned in his presence, and he did not accept from anyone any other thing; people came to him in groups and did not go out except after tasting (food), and went away as guides (to the other)."

"'And I asked him about the going out of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) how did he do it? He said, "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to preserve his tongue except from that which concerned him; he kept them united, and not to alienate them; he honoured the noble man of every community and made him their governor; he remained on watch about the people and kept guards against them, without turning his face away from anyone or showing any change in his manners; he checked conditions of his companions, and asked the people about the people. He praised the good, strengthened it, showed the ugliness of the evil, and weakened it; he was moderate in his affairs, not contradictory. He was never oblivious lest they become oblivious and incline (to one side); was never short from truth and never allowed it; those who were close to him were best of the people; the one having excellence near him was the one who was most sincere to the Muslims, and the one having greatest rank near him was the one who was best of all in beneficence and assistance."'

"He (a.s.), said, 'Then I asked him about his (s.a.w.a.)'s sitting. He said, "He never sat down or stood up except with remembrance (of Allãh); he did not reserve any seat for himself; when he reached a group, he sat down where he had arrived, and he ordered (others) to do the same. He gave each of the group his due share (of attention); and no co-participant in the gathering thought that any other person was more honoured than him (in the Prophet's eyes). Whoever sat with him, (the Prophet), patiently remained with him until he took his leave. Whoever asked him for a need, did not return except either with that thing or with sweet words. His good manners overwhelmed the people until he was (like) a father to them; and all of them were equal in his eyes in their rights. His gathering was one of forbearance, modesty, truth and trust, voices were not raised therein, nor were people's honours disgraced there. If one of them committed a mistake, it was (gracefully) amended so that no one repeated it; they dealt with each other with justice, joining together with piety, humble with each other; they respected the elder and had mercy on the younger; they gave preference to a needy person over themselves and provided safety to a stranger."'

"Then I said, 'How was his dealing with those who sat with him?' He (a.s.) said, 'He (s.a.w.a.) had always a smiling face; he was of agree-able manner and gentle hearted; he was neither rude nor rash, neither loud voiced nor obscene; neither exposer of defects nor eulogist, he ignored what he did not desire, so neither they despaired of him nor those who had hoped of him were disappointed. He freed himself from three (things): dispute, increase and what did not concern him; and freed the people from three (things): He never condemned anyone or put him to shame; never did he look for any one's slips or defects; he did not speak except about what he hoped (divine) reward; when he talked his companions bowed their heads in silence, as though there were birds on their heads; so when he became silent, they spoke; they did not dispute near him in a talk, whoever spoke they listened to him until he finished; their talk near him was one after another; he laughed at what they laughed at, and wondered at what they wondered at. He remained patient when a stranger was rude in his talk and demands until his companions fulfilled his requirements, and used to say: "When you see a needy person seeking his needs, fulfil it." He did not accept praise except for a favour he had done to him. He did not interrupt anyone's talk until he exceeded the limit, then he stopped it by forbidding it or standing up.'

He said: "Then I asked him about the silence of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) so he (a.s.) said, 'His (s.a.w.a.)'s silence was based on four (factors): forbearance, caution, estimation and meditation; as for the estimation, it was in equally looking at the people and listening to them; and as for his meditation, it was on what would abide and what would perish. Forbearance and patience were united in him; there-fore nothing would enrage or agitate him. His caution had gathered in four things: his holding fast to good in order to follow it, his abstaining from evil in order to desist from it, his deep thinking regarding the welfare of his ummah, and standing up for what is gathered for him of the good of this world and the next.'"

The author says: as-Sadūq has also narrated it in Makãrimu 'l-akhlãq, copying it from the book of Muhammad ibn Ishãq ibn Ibrãhīm at-Tãliqãnī who has narrated it through his trusted narrators from al-Hasan and al-Husayn (peace be upon both). al-Majlisī has said in Bihãru 'l-anwãr: "This is a famous tradition and the Sunnīs have narrated it in most of their books."

And numerous traditions on this theme or on some of its parts have been narrated from the Companions.

[Note: From here about two pages of Arabic book contain meanings and explanations of the difficult words and phrases of this tradition. We are omitting it here, because our English version has incorporated them fully. tr.]

2.Ihyãu 'l-‘Ulūm writes: He (s.a.w.a.) was the most eloquent in speech and the sweetest … He spoke comprehensive sentences, there was neither any superfluous word in them nor any shortcoming; it was as though his words followed one another; he paused between his speech in order that the hearer could memorize and preserve it; he was loud-voiced with most beautiful melody. (al-Ghazãlī)

3.at-Tahdhīb: (as-Sadūq) narrates through his chain from Ishãq ibn Ja‘far, from his brother Mūsã, through his forefathers from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said: "I heard the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), saying, 'I have been sent with noble ethics and the best manners.'"

4.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), was more modest than a virgin girl in her private room; and when he disliked a thing, we knew it from his face." (at-Tabrisī)

5.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chains, from Muhammad ibn Muslim that he said: "I heard Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) saying that an angel came to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) and said, 'Surely Allãh has given you option to choose that you become a servant, Messenger (and) humble or a messenger angel.' (Abū Ja‘far) said, 'So the Prophet looked at Gabriel (who) pointed with his hand that be a humble (Messenger); so he said, "(I shall be) a servant, Messenger (and) humble." The messenger (angel) said, "With (condition that) it would not decrease any-thing that you have got with your Lord." (He said), "And with it are the keys of the treasures of the earth."'"

6.Nahju 'l-Balãghah: ‘Alī (a.s.) said: "So you follow your pure cheerful Prophet … He gnawed at the world and did not lend any glance at it. He was most suffering of all inside and most empty of stomach. The world was offered to him but he refused to accept it. He knew that Allãh disliked a thing, so he disliked it, and He degraded a thing, so he degraded it. If we did not have except our love to what Allãh disliked, and our honouring what Allãh degraded, it was enough for discord with Allãh and deviation from Allãh's command.

"And the Messenger of Allãh used to eat sitting on the earth, and sat like a slave; he mended his shoes by his hand, rode an unsaddled donkey, and allowed someone to ride behind him. (Sometimes) there would be a curtain on his door with pictures on it, so he would say, 'O so-and-so! (Addressing a wife of his): Remove it from me, because whenever I look at it, I am reminded of this world and its adornments.' Thus he turned away from the world by his heart, and let its remembrance die from his soul; he liked that its adornment be wiped away from his eyes, lest he takes some equipment from it. He did not believe that it was something to abide, and did not expect to remain therein; so he turned it out of his soul, and dispatched it from his heart and removed it from his sight. In this way, whoever hates a thing, he hates to look at it and does not like it to be mentioned before him."

7.al-Ihtijãj: Mūsã ibn Ja‘far has narrated from his father, from his forefathers, from al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī, from his father, ‘Alī (peace be upon them), inter alia, in a lengthy hadīth: "He (s.a.w.a.) used to weep for fear of Allãh, the Mighty, the Great, until his place of prayer became wet – without any sin … " (at-Tabrisī)

8.al-Manãqib: "He (s.a.w.a.) used to weep until he fainted. Some-body told him, 'Has not Allãh forgiven you your past faults and those to follow?' He said, 'Well, should I not be a grateful servant?' And exactly like that were the faintings of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tãlib, his successor in his positions." (Ibn Shahrãshūb)

The author says: That question was based on the idea that the purpose of divine worship is safety from chastisement; and it has been said in traditions that it is the worship of slaves; and his (s.a.w.a.)'s reply is based on the idea that the reason is to show one's gratitude to Allãh, it is the worship of noble people, and it is another of the types of worship. It has been narrated from the Imãms of Ahlu 'l-Bayt (a.s.): "Surely among the worship is the one that is done for fear of punishment, and it is the worship of slaves; and there is the one that is done for desire of reward, and it is the worship of traders; and among them is the one that is done to show one's gratitude to Allãh." (Some traditions say: 'for love of Allãh'; some others say: 'because He deserves it'.)

We have discussed the meaning of these traditions in detail in vol.4 of the book under the "Commentary" of the verse: … and  Allãh  will reward the grateful. (3:144)5. We have explained there that gratefulness to Allãh in His worship means being sincere to Him, and that the grateful are the purified ones who are described in such wordings of Allãh as: Glory be to Allãh (for freedom) from what they describe, but not so the servants of Allãh, the purified ones (37:159-60).

9.al-Irshãd, ad-Daylamī: "Surely during the prayer of Ibrãhīm (a.s.) the wheezing sound of fear was heard from him because of fear of Allãh; and the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) too was like that."

10.Tafsīr of Abu 'l-Futūh: It is narrated from Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī that he said, "When the verse: … remember  Allãh,  remembering  frequently [33:41] was revealed, the Messenger of Allãh became engaged in the remembrance of Allãh until the unbelievers said that he had become insane."

11.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Zayd ash-Shahhãm from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to repent to Allãh every day seventy times." "I [Zayd] said, 'Was he saying: "I seek pardon of Allãh and return (repent) to Him?"' He said, 'No; but he used to say, "I return to Allãh."' I said, '(How is it that) the Messennger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to repent and did not return (to that fault) and we repent and then return?' He said, 'Allãh's help is saught.'"

12.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: (at-Tabrisī) narrates from ‘Alī (a.s.) copying from Kitãbu 'n-Nubuwwah that he (a.s.) used to say when he described the

5al-Mīzãn (Eng.), vol.7, pp.53-58. (tr.)

attributes of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.): "He was the most generous of hand, the bravest of the chest, the most truthful in speech, the most fulfilling of obligations, of the mildest nature, from the noblest family; whoever saw him all of a sudden, was afraid of him, and who-ever mingled with him knowing him, loved him; I did not see like him (s.a.w.a.) neither before him nor after him."

13.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from ‘Umar ibn ‘Alī from his father (a.s.) that he said: "It was (the style) of the swearing of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) that he said, 'No, and I seek pardon of Allãh'."

14.Ihyãu 'l-‘Ulūm: "When he (s.a.w.) was very upset, he touched his noble beard frequently."

15.Ibid: "And he (s.a.w.) was the most generous of all people; dīnãr or dirham did not remain with him; if something was left with him and he did not find one to give it to him and the night came, he did not go to his house until he found someone who needed it. He did not take from what Allãh had given to him except the food sufficient for the year from easily available dates and barley; and he put all of it in the way of Allãh.

"He was not asked for a thing except he gave it out; then he returned to the nourishment of the year – so much so that he often was empty-handed before the expiry of the year if nothing new came to him." He said, "And he enforced the truth even if it resulted in a harm to himself or his companions." He said, "And he used to proceed alone between his enemies without a guard." He said, "Nothing from world-ly affairs ever intimidated him."

He said: "He sat with poor, took food with needy; he used to respect the people of excellence in their ethics, and was on intimate terms with the people of dignity by doing good to them. He did good to his relatives, without giving them preference over one who was superior to them; he was not harsh to anyone, he accepted the apology from one who offered it."

He said: "He had some slaves and slave girls but did not rise over them in meals or dress. He never passed a time without some work for Allãh or for something, which was necessary for his welfare. He used to go forth to the orchards of his companions. He never looked down any poor with disdain because of his poverty or chronic illness. He was not awed by any king because of his kingdom; he called this and that towards Allãh in equal way."

16.Ibid: "And he (s.a.w.) was furthest from anger and nearest in pleasantness; he was most gracious of all people towards the people, the best of all for all people, and the most beneficial of all for the people."

17.Ibid: "When he (s.a.w.) was happy and pleased, he was the best of the people in pleasantness; when he admonished, he admonished seriously, and when he was angry – and he was never angry except for Allãh – nothing could stand against his anger. And he was like that in all his affairs; and when any affair occured to him, he entrusted that to Allãh, freed himself from power and strength, and invoked the guidance."

The author says: Reliance on Allãh, entrusting the affairs to Him, freeing oneself from power and strength and invocation of guid-ance from Him, all of it returns one to another, and all of it sprouts from one root, and it is this: All affairs are based on the Divine Will which is the conqueror, unconquered, and His power which is the subduer, unlimited. The Book and the Sunnah with one voice call to it. Allãh says: … and on Allãh should the reliant rely. (14:12); . . . and I entrust my affair to Allãh, . . . (40:44); . . . and whoever trusts in Allãh, He is sufficient for him; … (65:3); . . . surely His is the creation and the command; . . .(7:54); And that to your Lord is the goal, (53:42) apart from other such verses. As for the traditions they are beyond counting.

Acquiring these ethics and learning these manners is based on the fact that they apply the human activities on the proper realities, which establish them on the natural religion. It is because in reality all affairs return to Allãh, as He says: … now surely to Allãh do all affairs eventually come (42:53). It has a magnificent benefit: When man relies and depends on Allãh – and he recognizes His unlimited power and subduer Will – this factor strengthens man's will and builds the pillars of his determination; as such he is not affected by any hindrance which appears in the way, nor is he constrained by any difficulty or tiredness that faces him; his firm intention is not shaken by any seduction or Satanic whispering which may appear in his inner self in the form of imaginary significances.

Chapter   10

SOME OF HIS CUSTOMS AND MANNERS IN HIS SOCIAL RELATIONS

18.Irshãdu 'l-Qulūb, ad-Daylamī: "The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to patch his clothes, mend his shoes and milk his goat; he ate with slaves, sat on the earth and rode a donkey and allowed someone to sit behind him; he was not ashamed to carry his provisions from market to his family; he shook hands with rich and poor, and did not remove his hand from any one's hand until it was the opposite party who removed it; he greeted anyone who came before him, be he rich or poor, senior or junior; he never degraded what he was invited to even if it was date of inferior quality.

"And he (s.a.w.a.) was light of provision, noble of nature, of beautiful social relation and cheerful face; smiling without laughter, sorrowful without scowling; humble without humiliation, magnanimous without extravagance, soft-hearted, merciful to every Muslim; he never filled his stomach so that it would result in belching, and did not extend his hand to anything because of covetousness."

19.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated about the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he looked into mirror, let his hair grow long and combed it; some-times he looked into water and managed his hair in this way. He used to adorn himself for his companions more than he did for his family. And he (s.a.w.a.) said: "Surely Allãh likes from His servant when he goes out for his brethren that he should prepare and beautify himself for them."

20.‘Ilalu 'sh-Sharãi‘, ‘Uyūn Akhbãri 'r-Ridã, and al-Majãlis: as-Sadūq narrates through his chain, from ar-Ridã (a.s.) from his forefathers that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) said, '(There are) five (things) that I shall not leave them till I die: To eat (sitting) on the earth with slaves, my riding with someone, milking my goat by my hand, wearing wool(len dress), and greeting the children in order that it may be a custom after me.'"

21.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: It is narrated from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said to a man from Banū Sa‘d: "Should not I tell you about Fãtimah and myself? … So came to us the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) early in the morning, and we were under our blanket; and he said: 'Peace be on you!' But we remained silent and felt shy because of our position.

"Then he (s.a.w.a.) said: 'Peace be on you!' And we remained silent. Then he (s.a.w.a.) said: 'Peace be on you!' So we feared that if we did not respond (this time) he would go back. (And it was his custom that he would say salãm three times, and if he was given per-mission, well and good; otherwise he would go away.) So we said: 'And on you be salãm, O Messenger of Allãh! Come in.' so he entered … "

22.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Rib‘ī ibn ‘Abdillãh, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to greet (say salãm to) the women and they gave him the reply of the salãm, and the Leader of the Faithful (a.s.) used to greet the women; and he disliked to greet the young ones from among them, and used to say: 'I fear that her voice would give me pleasure and thus I would become liable to more (responsibility) than the reward I seek.'"

The author says: And as-Sadūq has narrated it as a mursal tradition; and so has done Sibt at-Tabrisī in al-Mishkãt copying from Kitãbu 'l-Mahãsin

23.Ibid: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from ‘Abdu 'l-‘Azīm ibn ‘Abdīllãh al-Hasanī, as a marfū‘ tradition. He said: "The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to sit in one of the three styles: al-Qurfusã’, i.e. he raised his legs and encircled them with his hands, holding fast to the arms with the hands; and he rested on his knees; and he doubled one leg, putting the other over it; and he was never seen cross-legged."

24.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq, copying from Kitãbu 'n-Nubuwwah: It is narrated from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), shook hand with someone, he did not remove his hand from that one's hand until it was the other man who pulled his hand away; and no one talked with him about some need of his or for some other purpose and the Prophet went away, until that man himself was the one who went away; and no one cut his talk until that man became silent; and he was never seen extending his leg before a companion.

And he was never given an option between two courses of action but he opted for the harder one; and he did not avenge himself for any injustice, until someone disgraced a sanctuary of Allãh, then he shall be angry for Allãh; he never took meal reclining (on pillow) until he departed from this world; and he was never asked for a thing and he replied in negative; no petitioner ever asked for his need, but he (s.a.w.a.) accepted it or (alternatively) talked to him in easy language; he was lightest of all in prayer, shortest of them in lecture and least of all in useless talk. When he came he was known by the good scent; when he ate with the people, he was the first to begin and last to stop his hand; when he ate, he ate from the side that was near him; however if it was dates, his hand roamed all over it; when he drank he divided it in three breaths; he used to sip the water, not flooding it. His right hand was for his food and drink, for his taking and giving, he did not take but by his right hand and did not give but by his right hand; and his left hand was for other functions of his body; he liked to begin with the right side in all his affairs – in wearing dress, shoes, and dismounting.

"When he called, he called three times, when he spoke, he spoke once, and when he sought permission, he did so thrice. His speech was in sections; whoever heard him clearly, understood him; when he spoke, it seemed as if a light went forth from between his teeth. When you saw him you would say (his teeth were) separated, but they were not.

"His observation was glancing with his eyes; he did not tell any-one anything, which he disliked; when he walked it was as though he was going down a slope. He used to say: 'Surely the best of you is the best of you in ethics (manners);' he never condemned any taste nor did he praise it; and never did the speakers dispute before him. The one describing him used to say: 'I did not see with my eye anyone like him, neither before him nor after him (s.a.w.a.)."

25.al-KãfI: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain, from Jamīl ibn Darrãj, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) divided his glance between his companions, he looked to this and to that equally." (Also he said:) "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) never spread his legs between his companions; if someone shook his hand, the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) did not remove his own hand from that man's hand until it was he who removed his hand; so when they became aware of it, the man on shaking his hand (soon) moved his hand and removed it from the Prophet's hand."

26.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) said a thing, he smiled in his speech."

27.Ibid: Yūnus ash-Shaybãnī said: "Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) said to me, 'How is your joking (and jesting) with each other?' I said, 'Very little.' He said, 'Why don't you do it?' Because joking (and jesting) is a part of good manners; and surely you introduce through it joy to your brother; and the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to jest with a man intending to make him happy.'"

28.Ibid: Abu 'l-Qãsim al-Kūfī narrates in Kitãbu 'l-Akhlãq from as-Sãdiq (a.s.) that he said: "There is no believer but there is jesting in him; and the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to joke, yet he never spoke other than the truth."

29.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Mu‘ammar ibn Khallãd that he said: "I asked Abu 'l-Hasan (a.s.) and said: 'May I be made your ransom! A man (mingles) with the people and talk among them continues, they joke and laugh?' He said, 'There is no harm (in it) as long as there is no.' (So I thought that he meant 'obscenity'.)

"Then (the Imãm) said, 'Surely, a Bedouin used to come to (the Messenger of Allãh) and bring to him (some) gift; then he used to say: "Give us the price of our gift." So the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to laugh. And when he was distressed, he used say: "What happened to the Bedouin, would that he came to us."'"

30.Ibid: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Talhah ibn Zayd, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a. w.a.) used to sit mostly facing qiblah."

31.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: "The people used to bring a small child to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), so that he should pray for blessings to him; so he used to keep him in his lap in order to honour his family members; and sometimes the child urinated on him, and if someone who saw it shouted at the child, he (s.a.w.a.) would say: 'Don't disturb the child until he finishes urinating;' thereafter, he would complete praying for him or naming him, thus heightening the joy of his family, and they never felt that he was disturbed because of their child's urine; then when they had gone back, he would wash his clothes afterwards."

32.Ibid: It is narrated that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) never allowed anyone to walk on foot with him when he himself was riding until he made him sit with him; if the man refused, then he told him: "Proceed before me and meet me at the place you intend."

33.Ibid: Abu 'l-Qãsim al-Kūfī writes in Kitãbu 'l-Akhlãq: "It has come in traditions that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) never took his revenge from anyone; rather he used to forgive and pardon."

34.Ibid: "If a man from among his brethren remained absent for three days, the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to enquire about him; if he was out of town, he prayed for him; if he was present therein, he visited him; and if he was sick, he went to see him."

35.Ibid: Anas said: "I served the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) for nine years. I have no knowledge that he ever said to me: 'Did you do such and such (thing)?' Nor did he ever criticize me for anything."

36.Ihyãu 'l-‘Ulūm: Anas said: "By Him Who sent him with truth! He never said to me about a thing, which he disliked: 'Why did you do it?' And his women never blamed me but he said: 'Leave him alone, it was only by a Book and destiny.'"

37.Ibid: It is narrated from Anas that no one from his companions or others called him but he said: "Labbayk."

38.Ibid: Anas said: "He (s.a.w.) used to call his companions with their agnomen, in order to honour them and to win their affection; and he gave agnomen to the one who did not have any, so he was called by that agnomen. He also allotted agnomen to the ladies who had children and even those who had not borne yet; and he also gave agnomen to the children thus softening their hearts."

39.Ibid: "He (s.a.w.) made a visitor sit on the cushion on which he sat; if the visitor refused to do so, he (s.a.w.) adjured him until he accepted."

40.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from ‘Ajlãn that he said: "I was with Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.); a beggar came, so he (a.s.) went to a container of dates, and taking out a handful gave it to him; then came another, so he stood up and gave him a handful; then came a third one, he asked and the Imãm stood up and taking a handful gave it to him. Thereafter came another man, and the Imãm (a.s.), said, 'Allãh is our Sustainer and yours.'

"Then he said, 'Surely nobody asked anything of this world from the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) but he gave it to him. A woman said to her son, "Go to him (the Prophet) and ask from him; if he says: 'We do not have anything', then say: 'Give me your shirt'." So, the Prophet took his shirt and threw it to him. (Another version: "gave it".) There-upon, Allãh taught him moderation and said: And do not make your hand to be shackled to your neck nor stretch it forth to the utmost (limit) of its stretching forth, lest you should (afterwards) sit down blamed, stripped off  [17:29].'"

41.Ibid: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Jãbir, from AbūJa‘far (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to eat gift and did not eat sadaqah.

42.Ibid: It is narrated from Mūsã ibn ‘Imrãn ibn Bazī‘ that he said: "I said to ar-Ridã (a.s.), 'May I be made your ransom! The people narrate that when the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) went forth by a way, he used to return by another way. Was it so?' He said, 'Yes; I do it most of the times; so you too do it.' Then he said to me, 'Well, it expands more sustenance for you."

43.al-Iqbãl: Narrates from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), used to come out after sunrise." (Ibn Tãwūs)

44.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from ‘Abdullãh ibn al-Mughīrah, from his narrator that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) entered a house, he sat in the nearest place to him on entering."

The author says: Sibt at-Tabrisī has narrated it in al-Mishkãt, copying from al-Mahãsin and other books.

45.And among his (s.a.w.a.)'s customs and manners regarding cleanliness and adornments is what has been said in al-Makãrim that when the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) washed his head and beard, he did so with [leaves of] lotus tree.

46.al-Ja‘fariyyãt: It is narrated through his chain from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from his forefathers from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to comb his hair and often he combed it with water, and used to say, 'Sufficient is water as perfume for a believer.'"

47.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: (as-Sadūq) says: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) said, 'Surely the Majūs cut off their beards and increased their mustaches; and surely we trim the mustaches and let the beards grow.'"

48.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Abū ‘Abdil-lãh (a.s.) that he said: "From among the sunnah is to clip the nails."

49.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: It is narrated that to bury hair, nail and blood is from sunnah.

50.Ibid: (as-Sadūq) narrates through his chain from Muhammad ibn Muslim that he asked Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) about hair-dye. He said: 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to use hair-dye, and this is his hair with us.'"

51.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to coat (medicine); the coater overlayed (his upper part) until when he reached below waistband, he did it himself."

52.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: "‘Alī (a.s.) said, 'Plucking out the armpit removes bad smell, and it is cleansing and sunnah ordered by the Agreeable (a.s.).'"

53.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: "He (s.a.w.a.) had a kohl-container, which he used every night; and his kohl was antimony."

54.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Abū Usãmah, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "From among the customs of the messengers is the toothbrush."

55.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: (as-Sadūq) narrates through his chain from ‘Alī (a.s.) in the hadīth of four hundred, that he said: "And toothbrush is pleasure of Allãh, and sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and cleansing of mouth."

The author says: There are very many traditions from both sects' ways about his (s.a.w.a.)'s, cleansing the teeth with toothbrush.

56.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: as-Sãdiq (a.s.) said: "Four (things) are from among the ethics of the prophets: To use scents, to cleanse [pubic hair] with razor, to shave the body with depilatory agent and going to women very often."

57.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from ‘Abdullãh ibn Sinãn, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had a holding (handle); when he performed the ritual ablution, he caught it with his wet hand; so when he came out they knew that it was the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.)."

58.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: "Never was a scent presented to him but he used it, and he used to say, 'Its air is agreeable and its load light;' and if he did not use that scent, he put his finger in it, then licked it."

59.Ibid: "He (s.a.w.a.) used to burn incense with qamarī sticks."

60.Dhakhīratu 'l-Ma‘ãd: "Any (type of) musk was the most agreeable scent to him (s.a.w.a.)."

61.al-Kãfī: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Ishãq at-Tawīl al-‘Attãr, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to spend on scent more than he spent on food."

62.Ibid: (al-Kulaynī) narrates through his chain from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Leader of the Faithful (a.s.) said, '(Applying) scent to mustache is among the prophets' ethics and is honour to the two writer angels.'"

63.Ibid: Through his chains from as-Sakan al-Khazzãz that he said: "I heard Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) as saying, 'It is the right on every pubes-cent person on every Friday to trim his mustache and nails, and rub a little scent; and when the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) did not have any scent on a Friday, he called for a veil of one of his wives, then wetting it with water put it on his face."

64.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: (as-Sadūq) narrates through his chain from Ishãq ibn ‘Ammãr, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was brought a scent on the day of ‘Īdu 'l-Fitr, he began with his women."

65.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: "And he used various types of oil," (he said), "and he generally used the oil of violet and used to say: 'It is the best of oils.'"

66.Among his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners in travelling were what are narrated in Man lã yahduruhu 'l-faqīh, through his chain from ‘Abdullãh ibn Sinãn, from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to travel on Thursday."

The author says: There are many ahãdīth of this meaning.

67.Amãnu 'l-Akhtãr and Misbãhu 'z-Zãir: The author of ‘Awãrifu 'l-Ma‘ãrif has written: "Surely when the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) travelled, he took with him five things: Mirror, kohl-container, winnowing fork, and toothbrush." (He said: "Another tradition says:) 'and scissors'."

The author says: It has also been narrated in Makãrimu 'l-akhlãq and al-Ja‘fariyyãt.

68.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbãs that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) walked, he did so in a manner which showed that he was neither weak nor tired."

69.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: Narrates through his chain from Mu‘ãwiyah ibn ‘Ammãr, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "When during journey, the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) proceeded down a slope, he said: 'Lã ilãha illa 'llãh'; and when he ascended, he said: 'Allãhu Akbar'."

70.Lubbu 'l-Lubãb, (by ar-Rãwandī): It is narrated from the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), that he did not depart from a station but prayed therein two rak‘ahs; and said: "So that it will testify for me of prayer."

71.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: He says: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) bid farewell to the believers, he used to say: 'May Allãh give you sustenance of piety, and direct you to every good, and fulfil every need of yours, and keep safe your religion and your world for you, and bring you back safely to those who are successful.'"

The author says: There are different traditions about his (s.a. w.a.)'s prayer at the time of bidding farewell, yet despite their differences, all contain the prayer of safety and success.

72.al-Ja‘fariyyãt: It narrates through his chain from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from his forefathers, from ‘Alī (a.s.) that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to say to the one arriving from Mecca: "May Allãh accept your rituals, and forgive your sin, and replenish your expenses to you."

73.Among his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners regarding dresses and what pertains to them, is what is written in Ihyãu 'l-‘ulūm: "He (s.a.w.a.) used to wear the dress that was available, be it loin-cloth or cloak, shirt or jubbah, etc. He liked green dresses, yet most of his dresses were white, and he used to say: 'Dress it to your living and shroud in it your dead.

'"He used to wear stuffed qabã’ (outer-garment) for war and at other times; he had a qabã’ of silk brocade, when he wore it, its green colour contrasted beautifully with his white colour; all his dresses were turned up above the ankles, and the loin-cloak reached above it upto middle of the leg; his shirt was buttoned up, and sometime he opened the buttons in prayer.

"He had a wrapper dyed in saffron; sometimes he prayed with the people wearing that alone; at other times he wore only the cloak without adding any other thing; he had a felt cloak which he wore and said: 'I am but a slave, I wear like slaves.' He had two dresses reserved for Fridays, separate from his dresses of the other days. Sometimes he wore one cloak alone, and tied its two corners between his shoulders; often he prayed in it with the people in funeral prayer; sometimes he prayed in his house in the one cloak wrapping it around keeping its sides crossed; and it could be the cloak which he had used during sexual intercourse; he often prayed at night in the cloak only and put on part of the dress that adjoined his fringe, and left the other portion on one of his wives and prayed.

"And he had a black cloak, then he gave it (to someone); so Umm Salamah said to him, 'May my father and mother be made your ransom! What happened to that black cloak?' He said, 'I put it on (someone).' So she said, 'I had never seen anything more beautiful than your whiteness on its blackness.' Anas said, 'And often I saw him praying with us the zuhr prayer, wearing a cloak, tying its two sides; and he used to wear ring, and sometimes he came out having tied a thread on his ring for remembering something; and he used to seal the letters with it and said, "Seal on the letter is better than insinuation."'

"And he used to wear a skull-cap under his turban, or without turban; and often he removed his skull-cap from his head and used it as a cover before him and prayed towards it. Sometimes he did not have a turban, so he tied head-band on his head and forehead; and he had a turban named sahãb (cloud), then he gifted it to ‘Alī. Sometimes ‘Alī appeared in it, then he (s.a.w.) used to say: '‘Alī is coming to you in the cloud.'

"And when he put on a dress, he began from its right side, and said: 'All praise is due to Allãh Who clothed me with what I cover my shame, and beautify myself among the people;' and when he un-dressed, he removed it from his left side; When he wore a new dress, he gave the old one to a needy person and then said: 'There is no Muslim who covers a Muslim with his worn out dress – not doing it except for Allãh – but he will be in Allãh's security, guaranty and good as long as it would cover him, dead or alive.'

"And he had a ground-spread of leather stuffed with palm-frond, its length was two arms or so, and breadth one and a half arms or so; and he had a cloak spread for him, wherever he moved, it was folded twice under him; and he slept on mat, there was nothing else under him.

"And it was among his manners to give name to his riding animals, arms and provisions. The name of his standard was ‘uqãb (eagle), and his sword, which he took with him in wars, was named Dhu 'l-Fiqãr; he had a third sword called al-Mukhdhim, and yet anothers, called ar-Rasūb and al-Qadīb; the grip of his sword was gilded with silver. He wore a leather-belt which had three silver rings; his bow was named al-Katūm, and the quiver al-Kãfūr; his she-camel's name was al-‘Adbã’, his mule was al-Duldul, his donkey was Ya‘fūr; and his milking goat, whose milk he drank was called ‘Aynah.

"He had a cleansing pot of clay, which he used for performing ritual ablution and drinking. People used to send their small children (who had reached the age of understanding) to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.), and they were not prevented from approaching him; so if they found in that pot some water, they drank from it and wiped it on their faces and bodies, seeking blessings with it."

74.al-Ja‘fariyyãt: It is narrated from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from his forefathers from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a. w.a.) wore quilted caps … He had a sheild called Dhãtu 'l-Fudūl, it had three silver links, one in front and two at the back … "

75.al-‘Awãlī: It is narrated that he (s.a.w.a.) had a black turban, in which he used to pray.

The author says: It is narrated that his (s.a.w.a.)'s turban had three, or five, coils.

76.al-Khisãl: Narrates through his chain from ‘Alī in the hadīth of four hundred that he said: "Wear cotton dresses, because it is the dress of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), and he did not wear hair or wool except during sickness."

The author says: as-Sadūq has also narrated it as a mursal hadīth; as-Safwãnī has narrated it in Kitãbu 't-Ta‘rīf; it clarifies the meaning of what was earlier said about his (s.a.w.a.)'s wearing wool, and that there is no contradiction.

77.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: Narrates through his chain from Ismã‘īl ibn Muslim, from as-Sãdiq (a.s.) from his father (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had a short spear with a crutch at its end; he leaned on it, and took it out on the two ‘īd days and (fixing it before him) he prayed towards it."

The author says: It has also been narrated in al-Ja‘fariyyãt.

78.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Hishãm ibn Sãlim from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The ring of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was from silver."

79.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Abū Khadījah that he said: "He (the Imãm) said, 'The stone of the ring is round.' Then he said, 'Like this was the ring of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.).'"

80.al-Khisãl: Narrates through his chain from ‘Abdu 'r-Rahīm ibn Abi 'l-Bilãd,  from  Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had two rings (seals), on one of them was written: Lã ilãha  illa 'llãh, Muhammadun Rasūlu 'llãh; and on the other (was): Sadaqa 'llãh."

81.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Husayn ibn Khãlid, from Abu 'l-Hasan II (a.s.) inter alia in a hadīth: "Surely the Prophet (s.a. w.a.) and the Leader of the Faithful, al-Hasan, al-Husayn and the Imãms (peace be upon them) wore the rings in the right hand."

82.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated from as-Sãdiq from ‘Alī (peace be upon both) that he said: "The Prophets used to wear shirt before trouser."

The author says: It is also narrated in al-Ja‘fariyyãt; there are other traditions on the above themes.

83.Among his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners regarding his residence and its related things are what is written in Kitãbu 't-Tahsīn (by Ibn Fahd) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), left this world and never put a brick over a brick."

84.Lubbu 'l-Lubãb: "He (a.s.), said, 'Mosques are the sitting places of the prophets.'"

85.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from as-Sakūnī, from Abū‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "When the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) came out from the house in the summer, he did so on a Thursday; and when he wanted to enter because of cold in the winter, he entered on a Friday."

The author says: It has also been narrated in al-Khisãl as a mursal one.

86.al-‘Udadu 'l-Qawiyyah (by ash-Shaykh ‘Alī ibn al-Hasan ibn al-Mutahhar, brother of al-‘Allãmah, may Allãh have mercy on both): Narrates from Khadījah, may Allãh be pleased with her, that she said: "When the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) entered the house, he used to call for a receptacle, and cleansed for prayer, then he stood up and prayed two short rak‘ahs; then he came to his bed."

87.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from ‘Abbãd ibn Suhayb, that he said: "I heard Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) as saying, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) never hatched any plan against an enemy.'"

88.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: "The bedding of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was a cloak, and his pillow was of leather stuffed with palm-fronds; one night it was folded double, when morning came, he said: 'This bedding prevented me last night from prayer;' so he ordered that it should be kept unfolded; and he had a bedding of leather stuffed with palm-fronds. Also, he had a cloak which was spread for him wherever he went and it was folded double."

89.Ibid: Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) said: "Never did the Messenger of Allãh wake up from sleep but prostrated in sajdah of Allãh."

90.Among his (s.a.w.a.) manners regarding matrimony and children was what is narrated in the tract of al-Muhkam wa 'l-mutashãbih of al-Murtadã, through his chain upto at-Tafsīr of an-Nu‘mãnī, from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said: "A group of the Companions had forbidden to themselves women, eating during the day and sleeping at night. Umm Salamah gave this news to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), so he went out to his Companions and said, 'Do you feel aversion from women? But surely I go to the women, and eat during the day and sleep at night; so whoever dislikes my sunnah is not from me … '"

The author says: This meaning is narrated in the books of both sects through many ways.

91.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Ishãq ibn ‘Ammãr, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "Among the ethics of the Prophets is the love of women."

92.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Bakãr ibn Kardam and sev-eral (others), from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) said, 'The delight of my eyes is made in prayer and my enjoyment in women.'"

The author says: Nearer to it is what has been narrated through other ways.

93.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a. w.a.) wanted to marry a woman he used to send to her someone who looked at her… ."

94.at-Tafsīr, al-‘Ayyãshī: It is narrated from al-Husayn, son of the daughter of Ilyãs, that he said: "I heard Abu 'l-Hasan ar-Ridã (a.s.) saying, 'Surely Allãh has made the night time for rest, and He has made the women means for rest; and it is a part of sunnah to perform marriage at night and give food (to people).'"

95.al-Khisãl: Narrates through his chain from ‘Alī (a.s.), inter alia, in the hadīth of four hundred, that he said: "Shave the heads of your children on the seventh day, and give, equal in weight to their hair, silver as sadaqah to a Muslim; and likewise had done the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) with al-Hasan and al-Husayn and all his children."

96.Among his manners regarding food and drink and related to the table, is what has been narrated in al-Kãfī, through his chain from Hishãm ibn Sãlim and another one, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "There was nothing more liked by the Messenger of Allãh (s.a. w.a.), than that he should remain hungry (and) afraid regarding Allãh."

97.al-Ihtijãj: Narrates through his chain from Mūsã ibn Ja‘far, from his forefathers, from al-Husayn ibn ‘Alī (peace be upon them), inter alia, in a lengthy hadīth, concerning the questions of a Syrian Jew from the Leader of the Faithful (a.s.): "… The Jew said to him, 'They believe about ‘Īsã that he was ascetic.' ‘Alī (a.s.) said to him, 'He was like that, and Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) was the most ascetic of all prophets; he had thirteen wives, apart from the slave-girls who were under his possession; and yet no table-cloth was raised for him that had a food on it; and he never ate wheat bread, nor did he eat his full three nights consequently from barley bread.' … "

98.al-Amãlī, as-Sadūq: Narrates from al-‘Īs ibn al-Qãsim that he said: "I said to as-Sãdiq (a.s.), 'A hadīth is narrated from your father that he said, "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) never ate his full from wheat bread." Is it correct?' He said, 'No, the Messenger of Allãh never ate wheat bread, and never ate his full from barley bread.'"

99.ad-Da‘awãt (by ar-Rãwandī): He said, "It is narrated that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) never ate (while) reclining except once, then he sat down (straight) and said, 'O Allãh! I am your servant and your Messenger.'"

The author says: This meaning has been narrated by al-Kulaynī, ash-Shaykh (through many chains), as-Sadūq, al-Barqī and al-Husayn ibn Sa‘īd (in Kitãbu 'z-Zuhd).

100.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Zayd ash-Shahhãm, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) never ate reclining since Allãh raised him (as Prophet) until he expired; he used to eat like a slave and sit like a slave." "I said, 'Why?' He said, 'In humility to Allãh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty.'"

101.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Abū Khadījah who said: "Bashīr ad-Dahhãn asked Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) and I was present (there), 'Did the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to eat reclining upon his right or left side?' He (a.s.) said, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) never used to eat reclining upon his right or left side, but he used to sit like a slave.' I said, 'For what [he did so]?' He (a.s.) said, 'In humility to Allãh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty.'"

102.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Jãbir, from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.), that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to eat like a slave and sit like a slave; and he used to eat on the ground and sleep on the ground."

103.Ihyãu 'l-‘Ulūm: "When he (s.a.w.) sat for eating, he gathered his knees and legs as one does in prayer, except that a knee was over the other and a foot was over the other; and he used to say, 'I am but a slave, I eat as a slave eats and sit as a slave sits.'"

104.Kitãbu 't-Ta‘rīf (by as-Safwãnī): Narrates from ‘Alī (a.s.): "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) sat on a table, he sat like a slave and he reclined upon his left thigh."

105.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbãs that he said: "The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to sit on the earth, tether the goat and accept the invitation of a slave."

106.al-Mahãsin: Through his chain from Hammãd ibn ‘Uthmãn, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to lick his fingers when he ate."

107.al-Ihtijãj: Copying from the book, Mawãlīdu 's-Sãdiqīn that he said: "The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to eat all types of food; and he ate what Allãh had made lawful for him with his family and servants when they ate; and with whoever invited him from among the Muslims for eating; and on whatever they partook of [i.e. table or plate] and when-ever they ate, except when a guest came to them, then he ate with his guest… . And the most agreeable food to him was that which was (taken) with a lot of dependents."

108.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Ibnu l-Qadãh from Abū‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) took any meal with the people, he was the first to put his hand (in the food) and the last to remove it, in order that the people should eat (their full)."

109.Ibid: Narrates through his chain to Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) that he said: "The Leader of the Faithful (peace be upon him) has said, 'The prophets' evening meal is after ‘ishã’ prayer; therefore you should not leave (neglect) evening meal, because surely leaving the evening meal ruins the body.'"

110.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from ‘Anbasah ibn Najãd, from Abū‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "No food, in which contained dates, was presented to the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) but he began with dates."

111.al-Kãfī and Sahīfatu 'r-Ridã (a.s.): Narrate through their chains from his forefathers (peace be upon them) that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) ate dates, he put the stone on the back of his palm, and than threw it away."

112.al-Iqbãl (Ibn Tãwūs): Copying from the second part of Tãrīkh an-Nãysãbūrī (in the biography of al-Hasan ibn Bashar), through his chain, that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to thank Allãh between every two morsels."

113.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain, from Wahb ibn ‘Abd Rabbih, that he said: "I saw Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) using tooth-pick. I looked at him; so he said, 'Surely the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used tooth-pick; and it makes mouth pleasant.'"

114.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated from the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that when he drank, began and said tasmiyah^6… and  he  sipped  the  water slowly without swallowing the lot; and he used to say, "Liver ailment is from swallowing."

115.al-Ja‘fariyyãt: Narrates from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from his fore-fathers, from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said: "I checked the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) several times and (found that) when he drank he breathed three times, with every breath he recited: Bismi 'llãh … to begin with, and: al-hamdu li 'llãh at the end; so I asked him about it, and he said, 'O ‘Alī! (It is) to thank Allãh with: al-hamdu li 'llãh, and tasmiyah is for (protection from) sickness.'"

116.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: "He (s.a.w.a.) did not breathe into the pot when he drank; and if he wanted to breathe, he kept the pot away from his mouth until he breathed."

117.Ihyãu 'l-‘Ulūm: "And when he (s.a.w.a.) ate meat, he did not lower his head to it; he used to raise it to his mouth properly then tore it to pieces." Then he said, "And when he ate meat especially, he washed both his hands thoroughly then wiped his face with the water left over-hand."

118.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated about the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he used to eat various kinds of food.

The author says: Thereafter at-Tabrisī has described several types of food which he (s.a.w.a.) used to eat, like, bread, meat (of various types), melon, watermelon, sugar, grapes, pomegranate, date, milk, harīsah^7, ghee, vinegar, wild chicory and cabbage. It is narrated that he liked dates; also that he loved honey; another narration says that the most loved fruit for him was pomegranate.

6  To say: Bismi 'llãhi 'r-Rahmãni 'r-Rahīm.

7 A sweet pastry made of flour, melted butter and suger. (tr.)

119.al-Amãlī, at-Tūsī: Narrates through his chain, from Abū Usãmah, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The [staple] food of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was barley when he found it, and his sweet-meat was dates, and his firewood was palm-leaves."

120.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated about the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he did not eat hot (food) until it became cold, and he used to say: "Surely Allãh has not fed us fire, certainly hot food does not have barakah."

And when he ate, he said: "Bismi 'llãh … "; and he used to eat with three fingers, and from the side that was close to him, and he did not take from that (side) which was adjacent to another person. When food was brought before him, he began before the others, and then they began. He used to eat with three fingers – the thumb, the one adjacent to it and the middle finger, and sometimes took help from the fourth. He used to eat with his entire palm, and he never ate with two fingers. And he used to say: "Eating with two fingers is the Satan's eating." And one day his companions brought fãlūdhaj and he ate (it) with them, and then said, "From what is it made?" They said, "We mix ghee and honey and it comes to this as you see." He said, "It is a good food."

And he used to eat bread made of unsieved barley floor; and he never ate wheat bread, nor did he eat his full with barley bread; and he never ate on a table-cloth until he died. And, he used to eat watermelon and grapes; and he ate dates and fed its stone to the goat; and he never ate garlic, onion, leek or the honey which had maghãfīr; and maghãfīr is a residue of the tree that remains in the bee's stomach, and it throws it into the honey; so its smell remains in the mouth.

And he never criticized any food – if he liked it, he ate it; and if he disliked it, he left it, but did not make it unlawful to others; and he used to lick out the bowl and said, "The last part of the plate is the greatest food in barakah." When he finished, he used to lick his three fingers (with which he ate) one by one; and he used to wash his hand from the food until it became clean; and he never took food alone.

The author says: The expression, the thumb, the one adjacent to it and the middle finger, shows the beautiful manner of the narrator, because he did not say, the thumb and the sabbãbah … 8 avoiding to call a finger of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) reviler or rebuker.

What is narrated here that he (s.a.w.a.) ate from the fãlūdhaj, goes against what has been narrated in al-Mahãsin, with its chain, from Ya‘qūb

8Sabbãbah = Index finger. Literally it means, the (finger) used in reviling, rebuking. It was not a good manner to call a finger of the Prophet the reviler/ rebuker. (tr.)

ibn Shu‘ayb, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "While the Leader of the Faithful (a.s.) was in ar-Rahbah with a group of his companions, a dish of fãlūdhaj was presented to him as gift. He said to his companions, 'Extend your hands;' so they extended their hands and he too extended his, then he withdrew it and said, 'I (just) remembered that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had never eaten it, so I did not like to eat it.'"

121.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: He said: "The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to drink from the bowls of glass, which were brought from Syria; and he drank from bowls, which were made from wood, hides and earthen ware."

The author says: Near to its earlier part is narrated in al-Kãfī and al-Mahãsin, and there is in it: «and he liked to drink from Syrian bowl, and he used to say: "It is the cleanest of your vessels."»

122.Ibid: It is narrated about the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he used to drink from his palm (and water was poured in it), and he used to say: "There is no vessel cleaner than hand."

123.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from ‘Abdullãh ibn Sinãn that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to slaughter two rams on the day of al-Adhã, one for himself and the other on behalf of those who did not have means from his ummah."

124.And among his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners regarding toilet is what is written in Sharhu 'n-Nafliyyah (of the Second Martyr) about the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he was never seen [engaged in] urinating or relieving bowel.

125.al-Ja‘fariyyãt: Narrates through his chain from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from his forefathers, from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said: "Verily, when the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) wanted to discard mucous he covered his head, then buried that, and when he wanted to spit, he did like that, and when he wanted to relieve bowel, he covered his head."

The author says: Constructing the toilet appeared in Arabia after Islam; before that they used to go forth to open spaces, as is inferred from some traditions.

126.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from al-Husayn ibn Khãlid, from Abu 'l-Hasan II, that he said: "I said to him, 'A hadīth has been narrated to us that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to do istinjã’9 and his ring was in his finger, and so was done by the Leader of the Faithful (a.s.); and the engraving on the seal of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was: "Muhammad the Messenger of Allãh".' The Imãm (a.s.) said, 'They speak truth.' I said, 'So we too should do (like that)?' He said, 'Surely they wore the ring (seal) in the right hand and you wear it in the left.' … "

9 Cleansing after discharge of urine and/or relieve of bowel. (tr.)

The author says: Near to it is narrated in al-Ja‘fariyyãt, and in al-Makãrim copying from Kitãbu 'l-Libãs (of al-‘Ayyãshī) from as-Sãdiq (a.s.).

127.And among his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners at the time of calamities and trials and regarding dead bodies and related matters are what are narrated in al-Makãrim: "Whenever the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) saw a pimple in his body, he saught refuge with Allãh and showed humility and fervently prayed to Him. They used to say to him: 'O Messenger of Allãh! There is no problem in it;' and he used to say: 'Surely, when Allãh wants to magnify a small thing, it becomes great, and when He wants to reduce a great thing, it becomes small.'"

128.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Jãbir, from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) that he said: "The sunnah is to carry the bier on its four sides; and whatever carrying is done in addition to it, is voluntary."

129.Qurbu 'l-Asnãd: It is narrated from al-Husayn ibn Turayf, from al-Husayn ibn ‘Alwãn from Ja‘far, from his father, that al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī (peace be upon both) was sitting and there were some of his companions with him; then a funeral procession passed from there; some of the people stood up and al-Hasan (a.s.) did not stand. When they went away, some people said to him, "Why did you not stand up? May Allãh preserve your health! Because the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to stand up for a bier when they passed with it." So, al-Hasan (a.s.) said, "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had stood up only once; it happened that a Jew's bier was proceeding and the place was con-fined, so the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) stood up and he did not like that that bier should rise above his head."

130.ad-Da‘awãt, al-Qutb: He said that when the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) followed a bier, he was overcome by grief, did much talking to him-self, and did not talk much.

131.al-Ja‘fariyyãt: Narrates through his chain from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from his forefathers from ‘Alī (peace be upon them) that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to scatter three handfuls of earth on a grave.

132.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Zurãrah, from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to do especially with someone dying from among the Hãshimites a thing which he did not do with any of the (other) Muslims; when he prayed (funeral) prayer of the Hãshimite and his grave was sprinkled with water, the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) put his palm on the grave until (the marks of) his fingers could be seen on the wet earth; so if a stranger or a traveller from the people of Medina arrived and saw a new grave with marks of the palm of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) he would ask, 'Who has died from the progeny of Muhammad?'"

133.Musakkinu 'l-Fuãd (of the Second Martyr): Narrates from ‘Alī (a.s.) that when the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) condoled, he said: "May Allãh give you (its) reward and have mercy on you"; and when he congratulated, he said: "May Allãh bless you and send His blessings to you."

134.And among his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners concerning wudū’ and bath is what is narrated in Ãyãtu 'l-ahkãm (of al-Qutb) from Sulaymãn ibn Buraydah, from his father, that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to perform wudū’ for each prayer; when it was the year of victory he prayed his prayers with one wudū’, ‘Umar said, "O Messenger of Allãh! You have done something, which you had not done (before)." He said, "Intentionally have I done it."

135.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Zurãrah, that he said: "AbūJa‘far (a.s.) said, 'Should not I relate to you the wudū’ of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.)?' We said, 'Certainly.' So, he called for a basin with some water and put it in front of him; then he uncovered his arms; then he dipped his right palm in it and said, 'Like this (will be done) when the palm is clean'; he then scooped up a handful of water and put it on his forehead, and said, 'In the name of Allãh'; and let it fall down to the sides of his beard, then he passed his hand once on his face and forehead; then he dipped his left palm and scooped up a handful and put it on his right arm, then passed his hand on his forearm until the water flowed to his fingertips; then he dipped his right palm and scooped up a handful and put it on his left arm, and passed his hand on his (left) forearm until the water flowed to his fingertips; then he wiped the front part of his head and backs of his feet with the wetness of his left hand and the residue of the wetness of the right hand."

He said: "And Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) said, 'Surely Allãh is odd and likes odd (number); sufficient then for you in wudū’ is three dippings: one for the face and two for the two forearms, and you will wipe the forepart of your head with the wetness of your right hand, and with the residue of that wetness the back of your right foot, and will wipe with the wetness of your left hand the back of your left foot.'"

Zurãrah said: "Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) said, 'A man had asked the Leader of the Faithful (a.s.) about the wudu’ of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a. w.a.) so he demonstrated to him like this.'"

The author says: This theme is narrated from Zurãrah, Bukayr and others through numerous ways; have narrated it al-Kulaynī, as-Sadūq, ash-Shaykh, al-‘Ayyãshī, al-Mufīd, al-Karãjikī and others; and traditions of Ahlu 'l-Bayt (peace be upon them) for this matter are mustafīdah, nearly mutawãtir.

136.al-Amãlī (by Mufīdu 'd-Dīn at-Tūsī): Narrates through his chain from Abū Hurayrah that when the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) performed wudū’, he began with his right side.

137.at-Tahdhīb: Narrates through his chains from Abū Basīr that he said, "I asked Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) about wudū’. He said, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to perform wudū’ with a mudd^10 of water, and take bath with a sã‘11'"

The author says: A similar tradition is narrated through another way from Abū Ja‘far (a.s.).

138.al-‘Uyūn: Narrates through his chains from ar-Ridã (a.s.), from his forefathers (peace be upon them), inter alia in a lengthy hadīth: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) said, 'Surely, we Ahlu 'l-Bayt, sadaqah is not allowed to us, and we have been ordered to perform wudū’ properly, and we do not make an ass jump on a she-ass.'"

139.at-Tahdhīb: Narrates through his chains from ‘Abdullãh ibn Sinãn, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "Gargling and rinsing the nose is among what the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) has made sunnah."

140.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Mu‘ãwiyah ibn ‘Ammãr that he said: "I heard Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) saying, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to do ghusl (bath) with one sã‘ (of water); and if one of his women was with him, he did ghusl with a sã‘ and a mudd.'"

The author says: al-Kulaynī has narrated this meaning in al-Kãfī, through his chain from Muhammad ibn Muslim from the Imãm (a.s.), and there it elaborates that both did ghusl from one vessel; and likewise is narrated by ash-Shaykh through another chain.

141.al-Ja‘fariyyãt: Narrates through his chain from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad from his father (peace be upon both) that he said: "al-Hasan ibn Muhammad asked Jãbir ibn ‘Abdillãh about the bath of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), Jãbir said, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), used to scoop water [with his hand] on his head three times.' al-Hasan ibn

10Mudd: A measure of varying quantity in various countries, in fiqh it denotes 3/4 kg.

11Sã‘: Nearly 3 kg.

Muhammad said, 'I have a lot of hair (on my head), as you see.' Jãbir said, 'O noble man! Do not say so, because the hair of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was thicker and more fragrant.'"

142.al-Hidãyah (by as-Sadūq): "as-Sãdiq (a.s.) said, 'The ghusl of Friday is sunnah wãjibah for men and women in journey and in presence … ' And as-Sãdiq (a.s.) said, 'Ghusl of Friday is purity and atonement of sins from Friday to Friday.' He (also) said, 'The reason of (laying down of) Friday bath was this: That the Helpers (Ansãr) used to work for their camels and properties; when Friday came, they came (direct) to the mosque and the people got annoyed with smell of their armpits. So, Allãh ordered the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) to take bath, and thus the sunnah was established.'"

The author says: Concerning his (s.a.w.a.)'s customs regarding ghusl, traditions have been narrated for the ghusl of the day of Fitr and similar baths in all the ‘īds and numerous other baths; probably some of them will be mentioned later on, God willing.

143.And among his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners and sunnahs concerning prayer and related matters is what is narrated in al-Kãfī, through his chain from al-Fudayl ibn Yasãr, ‘Abdu 'l-Malik and Bukayr, that they said: "We heard Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) saying, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to perform supererogatory prayers double of the obligatory, and keep supererogatory fast double of the obligatory.'"

The author says: ash-Shaykh too has narrated it.

144.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Hanãn that he said: "‘Amr ibn Hurayth asked Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.), and I was sitting there, he said, 'May I be made your ransom! Please tell me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.).' He said, 'The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to pray eight rak‘ahs of noon, and four of the first (i.e. zuhr), and eight after it and four of ‘asr, and three of maghrib and four after maghrib, and ‘ishã’ the last four, and eight tahajjud and three (shafa‘ and) witr, and two rak‘ahs (nãfilah) of fajr and dawn prayer two rak‘ahs.'

"I said, 'May I be made your ransom! If I have strength to pray more than that, will Allãh punish me for excess of prayer?' He said, 'No; but He will punish you for leaving the sunnah.'"

The author says: This tradition shows that the two rak‘ahs in sitting position prayed after ‘ishã’ prayer are not part of fifty (rak‘ahs), but with them the number, fifty-one, is completed, counting them as equal to one rak‘ah in standing position. Rather it was laid down as a substitute of the witr, in case the death came before he could stand up for witr; as al-Kulaynī (may Allãh have mercy on him), has narrated in al-Kãfī, through his chain, from Abū Basīr from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "Whoever believes in Allãh and the Last Day, should not sleep (at night) without (praying) witr." "I said, 'You mean the two rak‘ahs after the ‘ishã’?' He said, 'Yes; they are counted as one rak‘ah; whoever prayed them, then something happened to him (i.e. he died), he would die on witr; and if death did not happen to him, he would pray witr in the last period of the night.'

"I said, 'Did the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) prayed these two rak‘ahs?' He said, 'No.' I said, 'Why?' He said, 'Because the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to receive revelation, and he knew whether he would die in that night or not, while others do not know it. That was why he did not pray them, and ordered (the people) to pray them.' … "

Probably the statement that he did not pray them, means that he did not pray them regularly, rather on some nights he prayed and on others he left them, as is inferred from some other traditions. In this way, it would not go against what has been narrated that he used to pray them.

145.at-Tahdhīb: Narrates through his chain from Zurãrah that he said: "I heard Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was not praying in day time until the noon; when the shadow reached (towards the east) about half a finger, he prayed eight rak‘ahs; then when the shadow reached an arm's length, he prayed zuhr; then after zuhr he prayed two rak‘ahs, and he used to pray two rak‘ahs before the time of ‘asr; when the shadow extended to two arm-lengths, he prayed ‘asr; and he prayed maghrib after sunset; when the reddish colour (in the sky) vanished the time of ‘ishã’ came; the last time of maghrib is the end of the reddish colour; when the reddish colour vanished the time of ‘ishã’ came, and the end of the ‘ishã’ time is one third of the night.

"'And he did not pray after ‘ishã’ until midnight, thereafter he prayed thirteen rak‘ahs including the witr and two rak‘ahs of nãfilah of fajr; then at dawn-break he prayed the morning prayer.'"

The author says: This tradition does not describe fully the nãfilah of ‘asr; and it is known from other traditions.

146.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Mu‘ãwiyah ibn Wahb that he said: "I heard Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) saying, and he was describing the prayer of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.); he said, 'The cleansing (water) was brought to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), and covered (and put) near his head, and his teeth-cleansing small stick was put under his bed; then he slept as long as Allãh wished; when he awoke, he sat up, then turned his eyes in the sky, then recited some verses from [ch. of] "The House of ‘Imrãn": Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day there are signs for men who understand [3:190]. Then he cleansed his teeth and performed cleansing, then proceeded to the mosque and prayed four rak‘ahs, equal to his recitation was his rukū‘, and equal to his rukū‘  was his sajdah; he remained in rukū‘ until it was said: "When will he raise his head?" and he remained in sajdah until it was said: "When will he raise his head?"

"'Then he returned to his bed and slept as long as Allãh wished; then he woke up, and sat up; then he recited the verses from "The House of ‘Imrãn", and turned his eyes in the sky, then cleansing the teeth, he performed (ritual) ablution, then proceeded to the mosque and prayed four rak‘ahs like he did before.

"'Then he returned to his bed and slept as long as Allãh wished; then he woke up and sat up; then he recited verses from "The House of ‘Imrãn", and turned his eyes in the sky; then cleansing his teeth, he performed (ritual) ablution, then proceeded to the mosque and prayed two rak‘ahs, then went forth for prayer.'"

The author says: This meaning has also been narrated in al-Kãfī from two chains.

147.It is narrated that he (s.a.w.a.) used to make the nãfilah of the dawn prayer short, he used to pray it in the beginning of the fajr and then proceeded to the (wajib) prayer.

148.al-Mahãsin: Narrates through his chain from ‘Umar ibn Yazīd, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "Whoever, while praying witr, said in it seventy times: 'I seek parden of Allãh, my Lord, and repent to Him', and keeps doing it diligently, until he completes a year, Allãh writes him among those who seek pardon in early dawn.

"And the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to seek Allãh's pardon in the witr seventy times, and used to say seven times: 'This is the stand of him who seeks Your refuge from the Fire.' … "

149.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: "The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say in the qunūt of witr: 'O Allãh! Guide me among those whom You guided, and give me remission among those whom You remitted, and take care of me among those You cared for, and give me barakah in what You have given me, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed; surely You do decide and no one decides against You; Glory be to Thee, O Lord of the House! I seek Your pardon and return to You, and I believe in You and rely on You; and there is no strength or power except with You. O Merciful!'"

150.at-Tahdhīb: Narrates through his chain from Abū Khadījah from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "When the month of Ramadãn came, the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to increase in prayer, and I too increase; therefore, you too should increase."

The author says: The Imãm (a.s.) means by this increase, the thousand rak‘ahs of tarãwīh, the nãfilah of the month of Ramadãn, which the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to pray in addition to the fifty rak‘ahs of daily nawãfil; many traditions have been narrated as to how to pray it and how to divide it on the Ramadãn nights; and it has come through the chains of Ahlu 'l-Bayt (peace be upon them) that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to pray it without congregation, and prohibited praying it with congregation. He used to say: "There is no congregation in nãfilah."

And there are other especial prayers reserved for the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), narrated in the books of invocations; we have not copied them here because they are beyond our purpose here. Likewise, there are many prophetic sunnahs about prayers, invocations and awrãd^12, whoever wants to know about them should look in the relevant books.

151.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Yazīd ibn Khalīfah that he said: "I said to Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.), 'Surely ‘Umar ibn Hanzalah has brought to us from you the time [of prayer].' He said, 'Then he will not tell lie about us.' … And I said, 'He said that the time of maghrib (prayer) is when the disc [of the sun] disappears; but when the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was on a journey, he delayed the maghrib and combined maghrib with ‘ishã’.' He said, 'He said right.'"

152.at-Tahdhīb: Narrates through his chain from Talhah ibn Zayd from Ja‘far from his father (peace be upon them) that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), in rainy nights, used to shorten the maghrib and hasten the ‘ishã’, praying both together, and used to say: "He who does not have mercy will not be dealt with mercy."

153.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from Ibn Abī ‘Umayr, from Ham-mãd, from al-Halabī, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was on a journey, or had an urgent work, he used to combine zuhr with ‘asr and maghrib with ‘ishã’, … "  This meaning is narrated by al-Kulaynī, ash-Shaykh, Ibnu 'sh-Shaykh and the First Martyr, may Allãh have mercy on them.

154.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: Narrates through his chain from Mu‘ãwiyah ibn Wahb from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The muadhdhin used to come to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) during hot season (calling him) for the prayer of zuhr, so the Messenger of Allãh (s.a. w.a.) used to tell him: "Abrid, abrid."

12 Short invocations, (pl. of wird).

The author says: as-Sadūq interpreted the last two words as, "make haste, make haste", taking it from "al-barīd" [post]; but apparently it indicates delay, so that intense heat might go away, as points to it what is narrated in the Book of al-‘Ulã’, from Muhammad ibn Muslim that he said, "Passed from near me Abū Ja‘far (a.s.) in the mosque of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) and I was praying. Then he met me after that and said, 'Take care not to pray wãjib at that time; do you perform it in the intense heat?' I said, 'I was praying nãfilah.'"

155.Ihyãu 'l-‘Ulūm: He said: "Never sat anyone near him when he was praying, but he shortened his prayer and turned to him and said, 'Do you need something?' Then after accomplishing his work, he returned to his prayer."

156.Kitãb Zuhdu 'n-Nabī (by Ja‘far ibn Ahmad al-Qummī): He said: "Whenever the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stood up for prayer, his face turned ashen, and there was whizzing sound coming from his chest or belly because of the (Divine) fear."

The author says: This meaning has also been narrated by Ibn al-Fahd and others.

157.Ibid: He said: "And another tradition says that when the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stood in prayer (it looked) as if he was a flung away cloth."

158.Bihãru 'l-Anwãr: He said: "‘Ãishah said, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) talked with us and we talked with him, but when the (time of) prayer came then it was as if he did not know us nor we did know him.'"

159.al-Majãlis (by Mufīdu 'd-Dīn at-Tūsī): Narrates through his chain to ‘Alī (a.s.) that he wrote to Muhammad ibn Abī Bakr, when he made him the governor of Egypt: "… Then look at your rukū‘ and sujūd, because surely the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was most perfect of the people in prayer, and shortest of them in its activities."

160.al-Ja‘fariyyãt: Narrates through his chain from Ja‘far ibn Muham-mad, from his forefathers from ‘Alī (a.s.) that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) yawned during the prayer, he stopped it with his right hand."

The author says: A similar tradition is narrated in ad-Da‘ãim.

161.‘Ilalu 'sh-Sharãi‘: Narrates through his chain from Hishãm ibn al-Hakam from Abu 'l-Hasan Mūsã (a.s.), inter alia, in a hadīth that he said: "I said to him, 'For what reason it is said in the rukū‘: Subhãna rabbiya 'l-‘azīmi wa bi-hamdih, and it is said in sajdah: Subhãna rabbiya 'l-a‘ l ã wa bi-hamdih?' He said, 'O Hishãm! Surely when the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) was taken up in mi‘ r ãj, and he per-formed prayer, and remembered what he had seen of the grandeur of Allãh, his limbs trembled and he sat down on his knees and he began saying: Subhãna rabbiya 'l-‘azīmi wa bi-hamdih; then when he stood up from the rukū‘ and looked at a place still higher, he fell down on his face, saying: Subhãna rabbiya 'l-a‘ l ã wa bi-hamdih; when he said it seven times, that fear went away; therefore this began as a sunnah.'"

162.Tanbīhu 'l-Khawãtir: (of ash-Shaykh Warrãm ibn Abī Firãs) from an-Nu‘mãn that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to level our lines, as if he equalizes the arrow-shafts, until he saw that we were heedless of it. Then one day he came out and stood up until he was about to say takbīr, and he saw a man whose chest was shown ahead, so he said, 'Servants of Allãh! You should level your lines or your faces will be turned aside.'"

163.Ibid: It is narrated from Ibn Mas‘ūd that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to touch our shoulders in prayer and say, 'Be straight and be not uneven, otherwise your hearts will differ from one another.' … "

164.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: Narrates through his chain from Dãwūd ibn al-Hasīn, from Abu 'l-‘Abbãs, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) remained in seclusion (i‘tikãf) in the first ten days of the month of Ramadãn, then remained in seclusion in the middle (second) ten days of Ramdãn, thereafter he continued to remain in seclusion in the last ten days."

165.Ibid: He said: "Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) said, 'The (battle of) Badr was in the month of Ramadãn, and the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) did not remain in seclusion; so when the next year came, he remained in seclusion for twenty days: ten days for that (current) year and ten as repayment of what he had missed [of the last year].'"

The author says: al-Kulaynī has narrated this and the preceding tradition in al-Kãfī.

166.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from al-Halabī, from Abū‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that he said: "When the last ten days came [i.e. of the month of Ramadãn), the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to remain in i‘tikãf (seclusion) in the mosque, and a cupola of hair was erected for him, and he tucked up his apron, and his bed was rolled up." (Someone added): "and was detached from the women." (The Imãm) said, "As for detachment from the women, No."

The author says: This theme is narrated in many traditions; the negation of detachment from the women – as they have explained and what the traditions say – means permission of mixing with and living with them, not cohabitation.

167.And among his manners and sunnahs regarding fast, is what is narrated in Man lã yahduruhu 'l-faqīh, through his chain from Muhammad ibn Marwãn that he said: "I heard Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) saying, 'The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to fast until it was said, "He would not break the fast", and used to break the fast until it was said: "He would not fast"; then he fasted one day and broke the fast the next day; then he fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. Then he returned from it to the fast of three days in a month: Thursday at the beginning of the month, Wednesday in the middle of the month, and Thursday at the end of the month; and he (s.a.w.a.) used to say: "That is the fast of the life-time."

"'And my father (a.s.) used to say: "No one is more hated by Allãh than the man who, when it is said to him that the Messenger of Allãh used to do such and such, says: 'Allãh will not punish me for my striving in prayer and fast'; it is as if he thinks that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had left out some good work being unable to do it."'"

168.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abū ‘Abdillãh (a.s.) that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.), in the beginning of his prophethood, used to fast [continuously] until it was said: "He will not leave fasting"; and left fasting until it was said:  "He will not fast (again)"; then he left this and began fasting one day and breaking the fast the next day (and it is the fast of Dãwūd); then he left it and fasted three bright days; then he left it and divided them – one day in every ten days – two Thursdays with a Wednesday in the middle, and he (s.a.w.a.) expired and he followed the same.

The author says: There are numerous nearly mutawãtir traditions of this theme.

169.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from ‘Anbasah al-‘Ãbid that he said: "The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) kept up fast on Sha‘bãn, Ramadãn and of three days in every month.

170.an-Nawãdir (of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Īsã): Narrates from ‘Alīibn Nu‘mãn, from Zar‘ah, from Sumã‘ah, that he said: "I asked Abū‘Abdillãh (a.s.) about the fast of Sha‘bãn, whether the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) did fast it. He said, 'Yes, and he did not fast its whole month.' I said, 'How many days he broke the fast?' He said, 'He broke it.' So I repeated (the question) and he repeated it three times, without adding to the word, 'he broke it'. The next year I asked him the same question, and he replied to me in the same way… ."

171.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated from Anas that he said: "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) had a drink with which he broke the fast, and another drink for the suhūr;13 and often both were the same, and often it was milk, and sometime the drink was a bread liquified… ."

172.al-Kãfī: Narrates through his chain from Ibnu 'l-Qaddãh, from Abū‘Abdillãh (a.s.), that he said: "The first thing with which the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) broke his fast in the season of fresh ripe dates with those fresh dates, and in the season of dried dates with dried dates."

173.Ibid: Narrates through his chain from as-Sakūnī, from Ja‘far, from his father (peace be upon both), that he said: "When the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) fasted and did not get anything sweet, he broke his fast with water; and it is written in some traditions that sometimes he broke his fast with dried grapes."

174.al-Muqni‘ah: It is narrated from the progeny of Muhammad (peace be upon them) that they said: "It is mustahab to take something before the dawn, even a sip of water. And it is narrated that the best of it is date and a mush made of wheat or barley, because the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to take it."

The author says: And it is among his continued sunnahs. One of the things reserved to him was the fast of wisãl, i.e. fasting continuously for more than one day without any intervening iftãr. And he expressly prohibited it to his ummah and said: "Surely you are not strong enough to do it and surely for me there is near my Lord what feeds me and gives drink to me."

175.Makãrimu 'l-Akhlãq: It is narrated about the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he used to eat harīsah most of the times and used it for suhūr too.

176.Man lã Yahduruhu 'l-Faqīh: He said: "When the month of Ramadãn came, the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) freed every prisoner, and gave to every beggar."

177.Da‘ãimu 'l-Islãm: ‘Alī (a.s.) said, "The Messenger of Allãh (s.a. w.a.) used to roll up his bed and became very active during the last ten days of Ramadãn; and he used to keep his family awake in the twenty-third night, and sprinkled water on the faces of the sleepy ones in the night; and Fãtimah (peace be upon her) did not let anyone to sleep from her family in that night, and prepared them for it by reducing their meal during the day; and she used to say: 'Deprived is he who is deprived of its [i.e. this night's] good.'"

13Suhūr: The last meal before dawn (in fasting). (tr.)

178.al-Muqni‘: It is sunnah that the man should break his fast in al-Adhã after the (‘īd ) prayer, and in al-Fitr before the prayer.

179.And among his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners regarding recitation of the Qur’ãn and invocation are what is narrated in al-Majãlis (of ash-Shaykh) through his chain from Abu 'd-Dunyã, from the Leader of the Faithful (a.s.) that he said, "Nothing prevented the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) from recitation of the Qur’ãn except janãbah [major ritual impurity]."

180.Majma‘u 'l-Bayãn: It is narrated from Umm Salamah that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to disconnect his recitation verse to verse.

181.Tafsīr (of Abu 'l-Futūh): "He (s.a.w.a.) used not to sleep until he recited al-musabbihãt, and he used to say: 'There is, in these chapters, a verse that is better than a thousand verses.' They said, 'And what is al-musabbihãt?' He said, 'Chapters of "Iron", "The Mustering", "The Ranks", "Congregation" and "Mutual Fraud"'".

The author says: This meaning has been narrated in Majma‘u 'l-bayãn, from al-‘Irbãs ibn Sãriyah.

182.Duraru 'l-La'ãlī (of Ibn Abī Jamhūr): Narrates from Jãbir that he said: "The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used not to sleep until he recited Tabãraka and Alif-Lãm-Mmīm at-Tanzīl."14

183.Majma‘u 'l-Bayãn: "‘Alī ibn Abī Tãlib (a.s.) has narrated that the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) loved this chapter: Sabbih isma rabbika 'l-A‘lã^15; and the first to say: Subhãna Rabbiya 'l-A‘lã, was Mīkã’īl."

The author says: The first part of this hadīth is narrated in Bihãru 'l-anwãr from ad-Durru 'l-manthūr. There are other traditions about what he (s.a.w.a.) used to say at the time of reciting the Qur’ãn, or reciting (various) chapters, or especial verses. Whoever wants to know it should refer to the relevant books.

There are lectures and statements issued by him (s.a.w.a.) in which he awakens the awareness of, and prompts, the people to hold fast to the Qur’ãn and meditate on it, to be led by its guidance and be illuminated by its light. And he (s.a.w.a.) had more right than anyone else to reach, for the perfection he called the people to, and the first and quickest to reach to every good; and, according to the well-known narration, he had said:

14 ch.67 and 32. (tr.)

15 ch.87 (tr.)

"Turned my hair white the chapter of 'Hūd'."16 And it has been narrated^17from Ibn Mas‘ūd that he said: "Ordered me the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) that I should recite for him some parts of the Qur’ãn; so I recited for him the chapter of Yūnus; until when I reached the divine words: and they shall be brought back to Allãh, their true Master [10:30], I saw him and tear was trembling in his noble eyes."

These are some small bits^18 from his (s.a.w.a.)'s manners and sunnahs; there are nearly mutawãtir traditions, which have been repeatedly narrated in a lot of books of both sects, and Divine Speech supports it and does not refute any of it; and Allãh is the Guide.

16 He (s.a.w.a.) points to the Divine Words in it: Continue then in the right way as you are commanded, … [11:112] (Author's note)

17 The tradition is narrated by its meaning. (Author's note)

18 We have taken it from a booklet that we had written earlier on the sunnah of the Prophet (may Allãh's blessings be upon him and his progeny). (Author'snote)

Chapter   11

SLAVERY AND ENSLAVEMENT

The Divine Words: If Thou shouldst chastise them, then surely they are Thy slaves [5:118] explain the meaning of slavery and servitude. Although there are many verses in the Qur’ãn that have this theme, but this verse contains the rational argumentation which shows that if there were a slave it would conform with reason that his master had the right to punish him as he wished, because he was his master and owner.

The reason does not accept the permission of giving punishment, and does not allow the management that would be very hard, except after establishing that the master is allowed to have all managerial disposals. So, the master has the right to deal with his slave anyhow he wishes and with whatever he wishes; the reason has made exception of only those disposals which it disapproves because they are disgusting and ignoble, not because the slave is slave.

As its concomitant, the slave is bound to obey his master in all that he is told to do, and to follow him in his wishes. He has no authority to engage in any activity if his master does not approve of it. It is somehow pointed at by the Divine Words: Nay! They are honoured servants; they do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His command do they act (21:26-27). See also the verse: Allãh sets forth a parable – (consider) a slave, the property of another, (who) has no power over anything, and one whom We have granted from Ourselves a goodly sustenance so he spends from it secretly and openly; are the two alike?(16:75).

A full discussion of various aspects of what the noble Qur’ãn sees on the question of servitude and slavery depends on the following chapters:

Chapter   12

1. Consideration of Servitude to Allãh (s.w.t.):

There are numerous verses in the noble Qur’ãn which count the people slaves of Allãh (s.w.t.), and builds on it the root of the religious call: The people are slaves and Allãh is their true Master. Rather it crosses this limit and takes all those who are in the heavens and the earth stamped with the brand of servitude; like the reality which is called angel in their multitude, and another reality which the Qur’ãn has named jinn. The Sublime, to Whom belong Might and Majesty says: There is no one in the heavens and the earth but will come to the Beneficent God as a slave (20:93).

There is no doubt that the consideration of the servitude to Allãh (s.w.t.) is an aspect arrived at through analysis. First, we analyse the meaning of servitude to its basic components, then we decide that its reality is established after removal of its extra characteristics, which attach themselves to the basic meaning in the rational creatures. There are some people one of whom is called slave. Why? Because his person is owned by another, an ownership which allows that another person (who is his owner and master) to manage him in any way he wishes and with whatever he desires, and removes from the slave the independence of will altogether.

Meditation in this meaning leads one to decide that a human being – and if you wish, you may extend it and say, everyone who has cognizance and will – is slave of Allãh in the true meaning of servitude. The fact is that Allãh is the Owner of all that is called "thing" in the real meaning of ownership. Nothing owns – neither by itself nor through something else – any harm or benefit, nor death, life or resurrection; and nothing becomes independent in existence by its person, attribute or action except what Allãh has made it its owner – an owner-ship which does not negate Allãh's ownership, nor does it transfer the ownership from Him to someone else; rather He is the Owner of what He has made them the owner of, and has power over what He has given them the power on, and He has power over everything, and He encompasses everything.

This real authority and actual ownership is what makes it obligatory to them to obey what Allãh wants from them by His legislative will, and the religious laws and regulations which He lays down, through which their affairs are mended and their bliss and happiness in both worlds is achieved.

In short, Allãh, the Sublime, is their owner in the creative ownership, which makes them His slaves, submissive to His decree, no matter whether they knew Him or not, obeyed His commands or disobeyed. He is, also, their owner in the legislative ownership, which obligates them to listen and obey, and commands them to observe piety and worship.

This ownership and mastership in its effect is distinguished from the ownership and mastership which is prevalent among the people – and likewise its opposite, the servitude – as follows: As Allãh is the creative Owner unrestrictedly, and there is no owner other than Him, it is not permissible, in the stage of legislative servitude, to take any other master, nor to worship any other. Allãh says: And your Lord has commanded that you shall not worship (any) but Him (17:23). It is contrary to the mastership prevalent among the people, because here he who overcomes others through any means of domination enjoys ownership.

Also, as among His slaves who are owned by Him, there is no-thing which is not owned by Him, and they are not divided in their existence between owned and not owned, and as they are in their per-sons and attributes as well as in their conditions and deeds, creatively owned by Him, which is followed by legislative ownership. So, this ownership decrees that the servitude will be everlasting and will cover all that returns to them in any way. They have no latitude to worship Allãh partially, for example, that they worship Him with tongue, but not with hand. Also, they are not allowed to reserve some parts of their worship to Allãh and the other parts to someone else. It is contrary to the mastership prevalent among the people, in which the master has no rational authority to do whatever he wishes. Ponder on it.

It is this theme which leads to the unrestrictedness of the like of Divine Words: … you have not besides Him any guardian or any intercessor; … (32:4). And He is Allãh, there is no god but He! All praise is due to Him in this (life) and the hereafter, and His is the judgement, . . . (28:70). Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth declares the glory of Allãh; to Him belongs the kingdom, and to Him is due (all) praise, and He has power over all things (64:1).

In any case, the servitude considered in regards to Allãh is an analytical meaning inferred from the servitude, which rational people see in their societies, so it has a basis in human society. Now, Let us see what is its basis:

Chapter   13

2. Enslaving Human Beings and Its Causes:

Enslavement and holding people in bondage was prevalent in human society upto about seventy years before today.19 And probably it is still found in some primitive tribes in Asia and Africa. Keeping slave-boys and slave-maids was an established system among ancient nations for which no historical beginning can be fixed. It had its special system and rules and regulations, which were commonly followed, in all nations, and some special rules were found in different nations.

Its basic meaning: A human individual, in presence of some special conditions, becomes merchandise, owned like other owned items of trade, e.g. animals, vegetables, and stones, etc. When the person is owned, he is deprived of all options; someone else owns his actions and his effects that manages them as he wishes.

This was their custom concerning enslavement. However it was not based on an at random will, nor was it unrestricted or unbased on any condition. It was not possible for someone to enslave whomsoever one wished, nor could he own whomsoever he wished through trade or gift and so on. In short, the basic meaning was not based on any recklessness or foolhardiness, although contained within the laws related to it there could have been numerous foolish items, according to varying opinions and customs of the nations.

Enslavement was based on a sort of victory and domination, for example, victory in war, which gives the victor power to do with his vanquished enemy whatever he wishes e.g., killing, imprisoning and so on; and the domination of presidency which makes a tyrant president do whatever he wants in his jurisdiction; and the mutual relationship of procreation and breeding which puts the mastership of the affairs of a weakling infant in the hands of his strong father who could do with him whatever he thought fit, even selling him, gifting him, exchanging him or lending him and so on.

19 i.e. at the time of this writing, probably in 1960's. (tr.)

We have repeatedly mentioned earlier that the ownership in the human society is based on the power ingrained in human nature to utilize and take benefit from everything it is possible to utilize in any way. And man, by nature, employs other things; he employs, for continuing his life, everything he has in power, and gets benefit from his existence's beneficial things, beginning from his basic matter, then elements, then various components of solid matters, then animal kingdom until another human being who is his like in humanity.

However, as he found that he is in dire need of society and social cooperation, he felt himself obliged to accept partnership with all individuals of his species in utilization of the benefits, which are obtained from the things through their joint activities. In this way, he and all individuals of the human species together will form a society, in which every part will be reserved for one or more deeds, and the whole society will benefit from the whole benefits. You may say it in other words that the results of those activities will be divided among them, and every one of them will enjoy those benefits according to his status in social order. That is why we see that as much as a social individual gets strength and power, he negates natural sociology and begins employing people, dominating and enslaving them, and decides about their persons, honour and properties in whatever way he wishes.

Consequently, if you ponder freely on their system of enslaving people, you will find that they do not consider owning a man if he is a member of their society; rather an owned man is considered outside of society, like a fighting enemy whose only aim is to destroy the tilth and offspring; and man erases his name and trace as he is out of his enemy's society, and he has a right to destroy him through annihilation and to enslave him as he wishes, because there is no sanctity attached to him; or like a father vis-à-vis his minor children and his other dependents as he believes that being his dependents in the society they cannot be his equal, of the same status or similar, and he has the right to do whatever he likes with them, not excluding killing or selling, etc.

Possibly, the owner has some special characteristics because of which he believes that he is above the society, he is above the others in importance, and he does not share with them a benefit; rather he has the final say and definite decision; and has the right to enjoy the best of what he chooses, and to manage their persons even through owner-ship and enslavement.

It is now clear that the basic root on which man has built the custom of enslavement is the right of special domain and unconditional ownership which man believes he has, and that he does not exclude from it anyone except his partners in human society, those who are equal to him in social weight, and with whom he secures himself in the citadel of cooperation and mutual help. As for others, he does not see any hindrance in owning or enslaving them.

The main candidates for this enslavement are three groups: (i) A fighting enemy, (ii) weak children and women vis-à-vis their fathers and guardians, respectively, (iii) a vanquished demeaned person vis-à-vis the victor and dominant person.

Chapter   14

3. Origin of Enslavement in History:

Although it is not known when the system of slavery began in the society, yet most probably slaves were taken in the beginning as a result of war and domination, and then their children and women were included in it. That is why we find in the history of strong warrior nations stories and tales as well as the laws and regulations related to enslavement through imprisonment, and which is not found in other nations.

Slavery was prevalent in ancient civilized nations, like India, Greece, Rome and Iran, and among religious communities like the Jews and the Christians, as is seen in the Tawrãt and the Injīl. This was the case until the advent of Islam. Islam affirmed the basic idea but restricted its circle and ameliorated its laws; finally came the Brussels Convention some seventy^20 years ago, which resolved to abolish the slavery.

Ferdinand Total says in his Dictionary of Eminent Persons of East and West:

Slavery was widespread among the ancients and slave was taken from war-prisoners and captives and from defeated tribes. Slavery had a system well known among the Jews, the Greeks, the Romans and the Arabs in the days of ignorance and in Islam.

The system of slavery was abolished gradually: In India (1843), in French colonies (1848), in the U.S.A. after the Civil War (1865), and in Barazil (1888) until the Brussels Convention resolved to abolish enslavement; but it is still found in some tribes in Africa and Asia.

The basis of the abolition of slavery is equality of human beings in rights and responsibilities.

20 In 1890. (tr.)

Chapter   15

4. Islamic View About It:

Islam divided the slavery according to its causes: It has been explained earlier that its main causes were three: War, domination and guardianship like parentage, etc; and it abolished two of them altogether, i.e., domination and guardianship.

According to Islam all people are equally honourable, be they king or subject, ruler or ruled, commander or soldier, master or servant; it abolished all distinctions and life characteristics, and established equality amongst individuals in the respect which it accorded to their persons, honour and properties; and gave weight to their perceptions and wills – and it means full authority within the circle of respected rights – and to their actions and what they acquired, and it is their authority and control on their properties and benefit of their existence in activities. A master of affairs in Islam has authority over the people only in implementation of penal code and other laws and regarding the general welfare, which returns to the religious society. But as to what his heart desires and what he likes for his individual life, he is just like any other person, he has no special privilege among them, and his order is not implemented in what he desires, be it great or small. This abolishes the slavery based on domination, as a negative with absence of the subject.

It also regulated the guardianship of fathers over their sons; they do have the rights of nursing and protection, and they are duty bound to bringing them up and educating them, and looking after their properties as long as they are prevented from managing it because of their minority; and when they reach the age of maturity, then they are equal to their fathers in social religious rights; they are independent in their lives, and they have the option for what they do like for their own selves.

Of course, it has emphasized the enjoinment of doing good to their parents and consideration of the rights of upbringing. Allãh says: And We have enjoined man in respect of his parents – his mother bears him with fainting upon fainting and his weaning takes two years – saying: "Be grateful to Me and to both your parents; to Me is the eventual coming. And if they contend with you that you should associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, do not obey them, and keep company with them in this world kindly, and follow the way of him who turns to Me, . . ."(31:14-15); And your Lord has commanded that you shall not worship (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word. And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: "O my Lord! Have mercy on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little." (17:23-24).

And the Islamic sharī‘ah has counted disobedience of parents among major sins that lead to perdition.

As for the women, it gave them a position in society and accorded them a social weight from which the healthy reason cannot deviate a single step. In this way they became one half of the human society while hitherto they were deprived of it; they were given independent authority in matters of matrimony and property when uptil now they had no such power, or were not independent.

They participated with men in many affairs, while some affairs were exclusively reserved to them and some others were reserved to men. All this was decided considering their being's sustenance and their physiological composition; then she was given latitude in some matters while men were put under hard pressure, like providing sustenance of the family, participating in battlefields, and so on.

We have talked on this subject in detail at the end of the chapter of "The Cow" in the second^21 volume of the book and in the beginning of the chapter of "Women" in the fourth^22volume; and it was made clear there that the women enjoy in Islam more leniency vis-à-vis the men which cannot be found in any sociological system, ancient or modern.

Allãh says: … for men is the benefit of what they earn and for women is the benefit of what they earn; … (4:32); … there is no blame on you for what they do for themselves in a proper manner; … (2:234); … and they have rights similar to those against them in a just manner; … (2:228); "That I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other; … "(3:195). Then He has declared for the whole species joined together: … for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned, and upon it is (the evil of) what it has wrought; … (2:286); … and no soul earns (evil) but against itself, and no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another; . . .(6:165). Of the same import are many other unrestricted verses which treat an individual man a complete and perfect part of the society and gives him an independence with which he becomes separate from any other person in the result of his actions, be it good or evil, beneficial or harmful, without making exception of big or small, male or female.

Then He equalized them all in honour and dignity, and then He abolished all honour and dignity except the religious dignity, which is acquired by piety and deeds. Allãh says: … and to Allãh belongs the honour and to His Messenger and to the believers, … (63:8); O you people! Surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and clans that you may recognize each other; surely the most honourable of you with Allãh is the one among you most pious; (49:13).

However, Islam affirmed the third cause of enslavement, i.e. war. It means that an unbeliever who fights Allãh, His Messenger, and the believers will be arrested and enslaved. But in case the believers fight amongst themselves there is no imprisonment nor enslaving; rather that party which has crossed the limit will be fought against until it submits to the rule of Allãh. Allãh says: And if two parties of the believers fight, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allãh's command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allãh loves those who act equitably. The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and … (49:9-10).

It is because a fighting enemy whose only aim is to annihilate humanity and destroy tilth and offspring, the human nature does not entertain least doubt that he should not be treated as a part of the human society who should be allowed to enjoy the fruits of life and the societal rights; and that it is incumbent to remove him even by annihilation, if necessary. On this runs the system of human beings since they came on this earth uptil this day, and it will continue in the same manner.

Islam has laid the foundation of the society – the religious society – on the basis of monotheism and the government of Islamic religion; it has kept away a man who spurns monotheism and religious government, from being a part of human society, except as a dhimmi or under agreement. He who is outside the religion and its government or agreement is outside the human society. Islam deals with him as a non-human, whom a human being may deprive from any blessing which man enjoys in his life; it pushes him to the fringe, thus cleansing the earth from the impurity of his arrogance and corruption. In short, he is deprived of any respect in his person, his action and the results of any of his endeavours; therefore, the Islamic army may arrest him and enslave him when he is vanquished.

21al-Mīzãn (Eng.), vol.4, pp.61-83 (tr.)

22ibid., vol.7, pp.275-306 (tr.)

Chapter   16

5. What is the Way of Enslaving in Islam?

The Muslims prepare to deal with neighbouring unbelievers. They complete the proof against them and invite them to the word of truth with wisdom, admonition and argumentation in a beautiful manner. If the unbelievers respond to it positively, then they become brethren in religion, sharing in all what is for or against the Muslims. But if they reject it, and they are from the People of the Book, and accept to pay jizyah, then they are left alone to enjoy their dhimmah. Or, if they entered into agreement, no matter they were the People of the Book or not, their agreement would be honoured and fulfilled. But if there was nothing of the above, then they are given ultimatum and fought.

In such encounter, whoever among them raises a sword and enters the battle, will be killed; but will not be killed from them the weakened men, women and children; they will not be attacked at night or ambushed; water will not be cut off from them, they will not be tortured nor their organs cut off; they shall be fought against until there is no fitnah and religion becomes of Allãh; then if they desisted then there is no hostility except against the unjust.

When the Muslims vanquished them and the fighting came to its end, then whatever the Muslims brought under their control – be it their persons or properties – will become their property. The history of the wars of the Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) and his expeditions contains bright shining pages, that is full of his comportment brimming over with beautiful justice, full of chivalry and generosity, magnanimity and kindness.

Chapter   17

6. What is the Behaviour of Islam Concerning Slave-Men and Women?

When one gets enslaved, he becomes his master's property; benefits of his work are for another person [i.e. his master] and his expenses are on his master.

Islam has enjoined that the master should treat his slave as he treats his family members, and he is one of the family [members]; he/ she equally shares with them in requirements of life and its needs. The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) used to eat with his slaves and servants and sit with them; he did not give preference to himself over them in food, cloth, etc.

Islam also laid down that the slaves should not be burdened with hard labour; they should not be tortured, abused or oppressed. They were allowed to marry among themselves with permission of their masters, also free men could marry slave girls; they could give evidence like free people and could be their partners in work during slavery and after that.

Islam showed so much compassion towards them that they participated with free men in all public affairs. We find many slaves who were given governorship and military command, etc., as the history of the early days of Islam shows; among the very respected companions of the Prophet, there were some slaves or freed slaves, like Salmãn, Bilãl and others.

The Messenger of Allãh (s.a.w.a.) emancipated his slave-girl Safiyyah, daughter of Huyayy ibn Akhtab and married her; and he married Juwayriyyah daughter of Hãrith after the battle of Banu 'l-Mustaliq, and she was among the captives, and they were two hundred houses with their women and children, and this marriage became the cause of the emancipation of all the captives; and this story, in short, was written in the fourth volume of this book.23

It is evident from the behaviour of Islam that it gives precedence to a pious slave over a dissolute free man; and it allows a slave to own property and enjoy general privileges of life with permission of his master. This is in short what Islam has done for them.

Then it puts utmost emphasis on recommendation to emancipate them, and called in attractive way to remove them from the environment of slavery to the open field of freedom; and in this way their number was continuously decreasing and their group was turning free for the sake of Allãh. Not only that: It made emancipation of slave a part of atonements, like atonement of murder, atonement of missing a fast, etc. Then it allowed them to make condition with their masters, or enter into agreement of kitãbah^24 and tadbīr.25 All this meticulousness of giving them freedom and joining them with healthy human society, in a definite way, was rendered with the aim of removing from them all manners of humiliation.

23 See Eng. transl., vol.7, pp.296-300.

24Kitãbah: An agreement between a slave and his master that the slave will become free after payment of a stipulated amount. (tr.)

25Tadbīr: When a master declares that his slave will become free after the master's death. (tr.)

Chapter   18

7. Gist of the Above Discussions:

The above discussion leads us to three results.

First: Islam spared no effort to abolish the causes of enslavement, to reduce the number of and to weaken, those causes, until it stopped at the one cause which was inevitable by nature's decision, that is, allowing the enslavement of every person who fights against the religion, who opposes the human society and does not submit to the truth in any possible way.

Second: Islam used all possible means to accord respect to slaves – male and female – and in bringing their life affairs nearer to the life of the members of the free society, until they became like one of them – even if not one of them; and there did not remain on them except a thin curtain, that is, whatever they earn in excess of what is needed for their necessities of an average life, belongs to their masters, not to them. You may also say: There is no difference between a free man and a slave in Islam except permission of the master about the slave.

Third: Islam used every effective device to join the group of slaves to the society of free men: in some cases by exhortations, and in others by compulsion, like atonements, and through permission and enforcement, like tadbīr and kitãbah.

Chapter   19

8. Progress of Enslavement in History:

Scholars have said^26 that enslavement appeared, when it appeared, through capture and imprisonment. Before that, when tribes overcame in their wars and battles and captured some enemies, they killed all of them. Then they thought that it was better to leave them alive and keep them under their ownership like other war booties. It was done not for benefitting from their work, but as a good deed towards them, and for preservation of mankind and for respect of moral laws which gradually had appeared among them on the path of civilization.

This system appeared among the tribes only after they had left getting their sustenance through hunting; because upto that point they did not enjoy enough affluence which could allow them to spend on slave boys and girls; until they changed to the life of settlement and emigration, and then they could do so.

With the spread of slavery among tribes and nations – by which-ever way it was – man's social life was transformed, as first some system and decipline appeared in the societies, and second, there appeared division of labour.

Slavery, when it was prevalent in the world, was not of one manner throughout; it was not found in some regions altogether, like Australia, Central Asia, Siberia, North America, Skimos and some regions in Africa in north of Nile and south of Rambis.

Conversely, it was wide spread in Arabia, primitive Africa, Europe and South America. Also, it was prevalent among the Jews; the Torah calls the slaves to obey the masters; and the same was the case with Christianity; St. Paul in his epistle to Philemon writes that Onesimus was a defector slave whom Paul caused to return to his master, Philemon.

The Jews were most gentle with their slaves; its evidence may be seen in the fact that we have not found any towering building built by them, unlike the pyramids of Egypt and historical Assyrian buildings, which were built by back breaking labour of slaves; the Romans and the Greeks were the harshest nations to slaves.

The idea of emancipation of slaves spread in the Eastern Rome after Constantine, until slavery was abolished there in the 13th century C.E.; but it continued in Eastern Rome in another form, that is, they sold and bought farms together with the farm workers – Farming was among slaves' activity – but forced labour was abolished among them.

Slavery was widely prevalent in most of the European countries upto 1772 C.E. Shortly before that an agreement was made between England and Spain that the English would fetch to them every year four thousand eight hundred African slaves upto thirty years in exchange of a huge amount that they would pay.

Public opinion was raised among them against slavery and enslavement in 1761 C.E. The earliest group, which rose against it, was the religious sect, the Quakers. This continued until a law was passed that whoever entered the British isle would become free

However, it appeared after deep investigation in 1788 C.E. that England dealt every year in two hundred thousand slaves; and those slaves who were taken from Africa to America alone were one hundred thousand.

This continued until keeping of slaves was abolished in Britain in 1833; and the government paid slave-trading companies twenty million pounds as price of the slave boys and girls who were thus emancipated. At this time 770,380 persons became free.

Slavery was abolished in America in 1862, after tough struggles by American people. The northern and the southern states of the U.S.A. had different views on slavery. The northern states kept slave boys and girls for 'adornment', for status purpose only; not so the southern states – their main occupation was farming and agriculture, and they were in dire need of a great number of working hands; they kept the slaves for getting the benefits of their labour. That was the reason they felt restrained from accepting the general emancipation.

Slavery continued to be abolished in one kingdom after the other until the Brussels Convention of 1890 C.E. decided to abolish it completely, and the governments enforced it and it was abolished in the whole world, and in this manner millions of people were emancipated. (End of their statement, abridged)

If you look minutely you will see that this long struggle and this argumentation, then the laws of emancipation that were laid down and enforced, all of this was related to the slavery through guardianship or domination, as may be witnessed from the fact that most or all of the slaves were brought from around Africa where such slavery was practised. As for the enslavement through captivity in war (which Islam had confirmed), it was never discussed about.

26 It has been taken from: 1. Encyclopedea of Religion and Ethics, by John Hisinik [?] British ed., 2. Short History, by H.G. Wells, British ed., 3. Spirit of the Laws, by Monisque, Tehran ed. (Author's note)

Chapter   20

9. A Glance on Their Structure:

This natural independence, which we call God-gifted independence of man, (and we do not know what is the reason of depriving all other animal species of this freedom while they too are similar to man in psychological cognizance and motivating will; except that we say that it is man himself who snatches it away in order to benefit from them), does not branch out from any root except on this: that man is equiped with inner cognizance which differentiates between what he enjoys and what gives it pain, and then with a will which incites it to pull towards him what gives him enjoyment and to push away what gives it pain; thus he has the ability to choose for himself what he pleases.

Human cognizance is not restricted – that it attaches to one thing and does not attach with another in that a weak and humble man does not know what a strong and powerful man does; nor is the human will limited with a circle which prevents it from attaching to some of what it likes, or compels it to be attached with what someone else's will is attached, in order to proceed in a way that some other person benefits from it and he forgets himself. A weak and vanquished man wants for himself things similar to all that strong and victorious man wants; and there is no physical connection between the will of a weak and that of a strong person which could compel the will of the weak not to be attached with what the will of the strong one is attached; or which might make the will of the weak dissolve in that of the strong man, so that the two together would become one will acting for the benefit of the strong one; or the weak's will would follow the strong's will in a way that it loses its freedom.

In such a case, as is necessary for the laws of life to be based on the foundation of physical body, it was incumbent for man to live independent in his person and in his deeds; and from this breast has suckled the abolition of slavery.

But we should think over this God-gifted freedom to man: Whether it is prevalent in the human society in general since it began and remained in human body.

Human species – according to our knowledge – since its beginning lives in sociological condition; and it cannot do otherwise, according to its system of being, and it is impossible for a society to continue as a society even for a short period without a common system shared by all its members, no matter whether it is a national and just system, or is based on tyranny, fool-hardiness or whatsoever; this system, what-ever it is, limits the individual's freedom.

Moreover, man cannot live without some interference in the matter that ensures his continuity. This is not possible except if he attaches to himself the thing in which he interferes – the attachment which we call ownership – which is more general than the terminology of right and ownership – whatever this man wears, that one cannot wear it; what-ever this individual eates, buys or engages in, another individual cannot hold it under his control. It is nothing but putting a limit to the non-interfering person in generality of his will, a restriction to his freedom.

The humanity has always been subject to discord and dispute since it has come on the earth. Not a single day passes over these per-sons who are spread over the earth, except that the sun rises over them with their discords and sets over them with their disputes. These controversies push them to the loss of lives, despoiling of honour and plundering of properties. Had the man believed in unrestricted freedom for himself – i.e. for humanity – there would not have been any trace of these discords.

Also, the system of censure and punishment was always prevalent in various types of societies, civilized or barbaric. What is the implication of this censure? It only means that the society takes away from the guilty person somes blessings, which the creation had given him, and deprives him of some of the freedom. Now, if the society or the one who has some authority in society did not own the life of a guilty person who is punished for murder, it could not take it away from him; and if a sinner, indicted for his sin and punished for it by various kinds of chastisement and offence, like amputation, stroke and imprisonment, etc., did not know that the society owned the judgement and its implementation, which affects his life affairs and deprives him of ease and comfort, and takes away his financial authority, he would not have submitted to it. How can a tyrant transgressor be admonished not to indulge in tyranny and transgression; how can he be prevented from aggression against a person or his honour or property without depriving him of some of his freedom?

In short, what no reasonable man can have a doubt about is the fact that if the human freedom unrestrictedly remains in human society, even for a single moment, it would create disturbance in the social system at that moment. So, this get together, which also is natural for man and without which it cannot live, puts restriction on the natural freedom which is gifted to man by his natural will and cognizance. Thus, no human society can live except with some restriction to its freedom, in the same way as it cannot live with negation of freedom altogether. And the human society has always been preserving between these two boundaries this freedom which the western propaganda makes us think that it is they who have laid down its name after they had invented its meaning, and have protected it without restriction.

So, it is this natural sociology, which restricts that natural freedom, and demarcates it as all physical and non-physical powers demarcate one another. Thus, a power stops from working in consideration of some other power with which it works; like the sight, which is the basis of seeing power, goes on doing its work until the eye becomes tired, or the thinking faculty becomes wearied, and then the sight stops its work in consideration of its colleague's work; likewise the perception of taste enjoys devouring tasty meal and chewing it and swallowing it, until the jaws' muscles become tired and restrain the power of taste, thus it stops from its desired food.

So, the natural sociological demands are not completed for man except when he abandons some of his freedom in action and forgoes his enjoyment.

Chapter   21

10. What is the Amount of Limitation?

As for the amount by which this freedom, gifted by the natural get together, is limited, and by which its natural releasing is restricted, it differs with difference of human societies looking at the multitude of the laws which are prevalent in the society, and their smallness because, the restricter of freedom, after the basic get together, is the law which prevails among the people; the more the laws increase and looked minutely at their actions, the more deprivation from freedom will take place; and vice versa.

But what no sociological get together can avoid in whatever society we look at, and what is incumbent, which no social man can ignore it, is the preservation of the society's existence, because man cannot live without it, and protection of the systems, that are found therein, from any defect and breakdown. That is why you will not find any human society but there is in it a defence system which averts dangers from people and their offspring, and protects them from annihilation; and there is a guardian and overseer, who oversees their affairs, and protects from breakdown the prevalent customs and the established precedents which are respected among them, by spreading the social peace and punishing the tyrant aggressor. And the history, as we know, supports it.

This being the case, the first right laid down for the society in the natural sharī‘ah is that it should take away the freedom from the enemy of the society in the basic get together. You may say in other words: That the society should own the person and action of its enemy, who intends to annihilate its life and destroy his tilth and offspring, and do away with the freedom of his will in any way he wishes – right through killing downwards, deprive the enemy of custom and law of freedom of action, and own from him what he loses through retribution of person or property, etc.

How can a man – even an individual – believe in the freedom of an enemy who does not respect his society, (so that he might treat him as a brother and join and mingle with him) nor does he desist from destruction of his society (so that he might leave him alone)? How can the natural consideration of society be joined with leaving this enemy free to do whatever he likes? Is it anything but clearly joining two mutually contradictory things? It is only idiocy or insanity.

The above discourse clearly shows that: -

First: To base one's ideal on generalization of human freedom is contrary to the clear natural truth laid down for man, which is among the first natural rights that are laid down.

Second: The right of enslavement recognized by Islam fully con-forms to natural sharī‘ah: That the enemies of the true religion who fight the Islamic society should be enslaved. They should be deprived of the freedom of action and be taken inside the religious society and made to live as slaves, so that they should be trained with good training, and proceed gradually to emancipation; in this way they will join the free society with safety and benefit. Also, the master of the affairs has the option to purchase them and emancipate them altogether if he sees in it the good of the religious society, or to use in this respect some other way which does not lead to abrogation of divine commands.

Chapter   22

11. The End Result of the Abolition:

The big powers enforced the Brussels Convention, strictly banned slave trade, and the slave girls and boys were emancipated. Now, they are not lined up in slave-traders' shops, nor are they pulled ahead like sheep and goats; consequently keeping of eunuchs too was abolished. Today it is impossible to find slaves or eunuchs – even in small number, except what sometimes is reported about primitive nations.

However, will this much – i.e. removal of the name of enslavement from tongues, and absence of those called slaves from our sights – convince a critical scholar on this topic? Will not he ask whether it is a verbal problem in which it is enough to ban the use of the name and to call the slave a free man, even if he is deprived of the benefits of his work, and is bound to follow his master's will. Or, if the problem is related to its meaning, in which consideration is to be given to its meaning according to its reality and external effects.

Now, look at the Second World War, has not passed more than a few decades since its end; the victor nations imposed on the defeated enemy unconditional surrender, then they settled in their countries, took millions of their property and ruled over them and their children; not only that, they transferred millions of their captives to their (victors') country and they used them in whatever work they wished and in any way they desired. And the situation continues uptil now.

Would that I knew does enslavement mean something, which is not found here, even if its name is not used in it? Does enslavement mean anything except deprivation of freedom, control of (the slave's) will and work, and enforcement by the powerful dominating party of its command on the weak and humiliated party in whatever way it wished, be it justice or injustice?

By God, is it not astonishing that the Islam's judgement in the best possible way is called enslavement, and their order is not called so, while Islam uses the easiest and lightest aspect and they use the hardest and harshest one? We have experienced their love and friend-ship when they entered our country under the banner of love, help and protection. What would be the condition of those whom they dominated over by enmity and chicanery?

It is now clear that the Convention of abolition (of slavery) was nothing but a political ploy. In reality it took what it rejected. As for enslavement as a result of war and fighting, Islam enforced it and they too enforced it in practice, although they avoided uttering its name.

As for enslavement based on sale by fathers of their sons, which they banned, Islam banned it long ago. And enslavement through domination and command, Islam had banned it too 1400 years before; but these people unanimously banned it, yet we have to see whether this ban too stopped at the words like other aspects or really reached to its meaning and was supported in practice?

You may find answer to this question by looking at the history of European colonialism in Asia, Africa and America. Look at the calamities they brought there, the blood they shed, the honour they despoiled, the properties they plundered, and arbitrary decisions they took – and not by one, one hundred and one thousand.

You do not have to go far for this observation – if it be far – it is enough to think over the reports of what the people of Algeria are suffering since many years at the hand of France, how the lives are destroyed, towns wrecked and people overburdened under pressure. Also, see what the Arab countries had to bear from the English, and what the blacks and Red-Indians are suffering in America. Again look at Eastern Europe vis-à-vis the Socialist Republics. What we are suffering at the hands of these and those; all this in its words is sincerity and compassion, but in its meaning is enslavement.

It is clear from the above that when they came to the stage of practice, they took what Islam has legislated, i.e., abolition of freedom when its natural cause is found, and that is war and fighting with the one who wants demolition of society and annihilation of humanity. It is a lawful decision based on a factual basis, which never changes. That basis is that humanity for its continuation needs removal of what op-poses it in existence and continuity. Then comes another reasonable sociological basis which does not change and branches out from its real root, i.e. it is incumbent to protect the human society from annihilation and demolition.

This is what they aimed at in their action; they took it in reality and rejected it in words. However, they did not stop at the lawful type, and crossed the boundary into unlawful one. That is, they adopted enslavement through domination and control. Thus they continue to enslave thousands, nay, millions, before the talk of abolition and after it. They still sell and purchase, give in gift and lend; but they do not name it enslavement, they call it colonialism or acquisition, protection or guardianship, consideration or help; or similar other words whose only purpose is to put a veil on the meaning of enslavement; and whenever a veil becomes worn out or torn, it is discarded and another is put in its place.

Now, nothing remains from what had been abolished by the Brussels Convention – which is continuously announced to the world and its people, and of which the civilized nations are so proud – those who are the pioneers of the developed civilization and in whose hand is the banner of human freedom – except the enslavement through the sale of sons and daughters and castration. And there is not any import-ant benefit, which returns to the slaves; more over this much, is more of a personal aspect than a sociological problem. As such, its abolition is merely a verbal argument, which serves as propaganda matter in their hands, like their all other arguments, which do not go beyond words, and do not affect any meaning.

Of course, there remains here another debatable issue and it is as follows. Islam begins in its war booties, from slave or other properties (other than the land conquered by force) with individuals from its society, and divides those booties amongst them; then it ends at the government, as was done in early days of Islam, and they reserve the right of their use for the government. But it is another topic apart from the original topic of enslavement; probably we shall be helped by Allãh to fully discuss it later, God willing, under the verses of zakãt and khums; and the help is saught from Allãh.

After all this, we return to the words of the author of Mu‘jamu 'l-a‘lãm copied earlier: "The basis of abolition of slavery is equality of men in rights and duties." What is the meaning of: 'equality of men in rights and duties'?

Does it mean that they equally have rights whose consideration is necessary, even if those right are different and not equal, like the difference between the president and the subordinate, the ruler and the ruled, the commander and the subaltern, a law abiding citizen and the law-breaker, the just and the unjust, because they differ in their sociological weight?

If yes, then it is correct. But it does not mean that there is equality between a beneficial part of the society and the one who is unable to attach to the society and has no honour; he is rather like a lethal poison wherever it reaches destroys the life; it is the clear natural order that there should be difference between the two, and full freedom should be accorded to the former while the latter should be deprived of it; an enemy has no right on his enemy in his enmity, the wolf has no right over his victim, nor the lion over his prey.

Or, does it mean that because humanity is shared by all human individuals, and any individual, whoever he may be, has power to rise above in civilization, and receive happiness as others have done; so it is a right of humanity on the developing society that it should give freedom to every human being and to train and bring him up until it joins the good society?

This too is right. But sometimes training demands that the trainer should take away from the trainee the freedom of will and action for sometime until he is fully trained, and acquires expertize and the use of his will; then he will truly enjoy the bliss of his freedom; just as a sick person is treated and given unpalatable medicines for his cure; and as a child is trained in a manner which he dislikes. Exactly in the same way Islam takes away the freedom of will and action from the unbelieving people who fight against Islam; it brings them inside the religious society, trains them and gradually brings them in the arena of freedom. The preceeding statement shows that it is a sociological progress; we should look at it and its result and effect in a general and comprehensive manner; it is not an individual's matter, which may be seen individually and partially. Again, it is astonishing that they too affect an action which is followed in Islam, although they differ from it in name and the good intention, as explained earlier.

Or, does it mean that it is the right of the human freedom that it should be applied to all men, and every man should be left free to implement his unrestricted will?

But, it is clear without any doubt that it is not acceptable, nor is it feasible to do in its generality, especially about a fighting enemy – and it is the only aspect, which Islam considers for taking away the general freedom.

Apart from that, if it was true then there should be no difference between one or two and a group: Then why do they accord legal freedom to one (even in suicide) and two (in duel), yet they do not accept the right for a poor group from the humans that they should remain aloof in caves or such shelters and remain concerned with their own selves, eating the sustenance of their Lord and proceeding on the paths of their lives.

Now, remains one thing: Some one may say: Why did not Islam allow the slaves to own property, so that he could use it on necessities of his life without being a burden on his master? And why did it not put a limit on slavery by Islam, in order that the slave would become automatically free if he accepted Islam? This would remove from him the stigma of depravity, which stained him and his offspring, upto the Day of Resurrection.

But it should be realized that the order for establishment of slavery and depravity from owning a property, appears and is enforced, according to the Islamic sharī‘ah, at the first moment of his capture; and the natural order against them, the fighting enemies, allowing their depravity of freedom aims at negating their plans and taking away their power of fighting (with which they could destroy the good religious society); and there is no strength or power except through ownership; so when they would not own any work or its result, they would not get power for disputation or fighting. Of course, Islam has allowed them ownership in general by their masters' bestowing ownership on them; and it is an ownership under an ownership, and it does not carry the risk of the slaves' independent manipulation.

As for the suggestion that slaves should have become automatically free if they accepted Islam, it is a proposal that would negate the religious policy regarding the defence of Islamic territory, establishment of religious society on its feet, and religiously training these fighting groups (who have come under Muslims' control). Otherwise, they would have pretended to enter into Islam soon at coming under its authority, and just on being enslaved; in this way they would have preserved their power and armaments and then returned to their previous behaviour.

We may go looking back at the custom prevalent among nations and groups from today to the earliest era in human history that we can get any information about. We shall see that when two nations or tribes fought and one of them vanquished and subjugated the other, then it considered it as its lawful right to go on killing the enemies until they totally submitted to its rule unconditionally.

This submission did not mean that the defeated party should put its arms on the earth, and then they would be left free to do, as they liked. Nay, they must accept the control of the victorious group, and must totally submit to what they decide about them and how they manage their persons and properties.

It would be foolish to restrict this control with a condition which would destroy the effect of this open submission; and which would negate its order, pave the way for the enemy to return to his planning and deception and give him a chance to hope to return to the original point. How can the victorious group tolerate this, while it had sacrificed the souls and properties for the independence of the blessed society? Will it be anything except injustice to its own self and insult to the most precious item, which it has, and wastage of the blood, properties and endeavours?

No one can raise objection against the victors (who sacrificed their lives and properties to overcome their enemies and thus reduced them to slavery) and say: Well, their men had fought and killed and perverted, so they were arrested and deprived of their freedom; but what is the fault of the children who were born after it, who had not taken arms, drawn a sword, or entered into battlefield? But it is because they are their fathers' sacrifice.

After all this, it should not be forgotten that the Islamic government has the right to seek ways to emancipate the slaves through purchase or freeing, etc. when it finds that it is in the interest of Islamic society. And Allãh knows better.

Part 2

A TALK ON PUNISHMENT AND FORGIVENESS

Chapter   23

1. What is the Meaning of Requital?

No society is devoid of sociological responsibilities, which its members are required to respect. The only aim of the society is to maintain conformance between the members' activities, bring them nearer to one another and join one side of it to the other, in order that it all unites and combines and with its effects and results fulfils the members' needs to the extent everyone is entitled to according to his deeds and endeavours.

These responsibilities, inasmuch as they are related to voluntary affairs, a man may undertake them or leave them; and this in itself would not happen without some negation of the man's freedom of his will and action; it is not impossible for him to stay away from it wholly or partially because man by his nature inclines to freedom without restriction.

Attention to this defect in the laws, and this weakness in its structure, called the sociological man forth to complete this defect and strengthen its weakness by another means: That he should join its disobedience or neglect with some things which an adult and sane man dislikes. This exhorts him to obey the imposed law lest he is faced by consequences, which he dislikes and is hurt with.

This is the requital of the evil; and it is the right of the society or of the ruler against the disobedient ones. Parallel to it run the aspects of obedience. It is possible to keep for the obedient one something which he prefers and like as a recompense of his fulfilment of responsibilities, in order that it would induce him to perform an incumbent, or likeable deed; and it, in its turn, is the right of the obedient and submissive member of the society or the ruler; and it is the requital of the good deeds. Often the recompense of the evil is called punishment, and that of good is named reward.

On this very mode, the laws of Islamic sharī‘ah are laid down. Allãh says: For those who do good is good (reward) … (10:26); And (as for) those who have earned evil, the punishment of an evil is the like of it, . . . (10:27); And the recompense of evil is punishment like it, . . .(42:40).

Punishment and reward run to a broad spectrum, beginning from dislike and like, censure and praise, reaching to the ultimate point of good and evil. They are related to various factors: especialities of the deeds and the doers, the controller of affairs, and the extent of the benefit or harm that would accrue to the society. Probably, all this may be summarized in this way that the more consideration is given to an affair, the greater the punishment or reward for disobedience or obedience, respectively.

Between a deed and its recompense, a sort of similarity and resemblence is kept in mind, even if approximately. And the speech of Allãh runs on the same pattern. Allãh says: … that He may reward those who do evil according to what they do, and (that) He may reward those who do good with goodness (53:31). Even more clear are the divine words quoting the scriptures of Ibrãhīm and Mūsã (peace be upon both): And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for; and that his striving shall soon be seen; then shall he be rewarded for it with the fullest reward (53:39-41). And it is even more manifest in the laws of retribution. Allãh says: … retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the slain: the free for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female; … (2:178); The sacred month for the sacred month and all sacred things are (under the law of) retaliation; so whoever then acts aggressively against you, inflict injury on him according to the injury he has inflicted on you, and fear Allãh … (2:194).

Consequently, it means that the punishment or reward returns to the doer's person with something similar to what he has done. For example, when he disobeys a sociological law, and enjoys himself with what inflicts harm to the society, then he will be deprived of equal amount of the enjoyments in his self, or body, or property, or prestige, etc. which somehow returns to him.

This is to which we pointed under discussion of the meaning of enslavement, that the society or the ruler owns from the culprit his person or some of his personal affairs, which is equal to the crime he has committed, or the defects of the harms, which he has inflicted on the society. Thus, he is punished, i.e., the society, or the ruler, manipulates in relation to this ownership – i.e. the right – in the life of the culprit or in some affair of his life, and takes away his freedom to that extent.

If he killed a person – when that person had not killed anyone nor had he done any mischief in the land – in the Islamic society, the ruler would own the person of the culprit because he had brought to the society loss of a respectful life; and its penalty, i.e., killing, manipulates his life in exchange of the ownership he enjoyed. If he stole what amounts to a quarter dīnãr from a secure place, he had brought harm to the society by tearing away a general peace and security's curtain laid down by the hand of sharī‘ah and protected by the hand of trust. Its penalty is amputation^27of the hand. What is the reality of this penalty? It means that the ruler has owned from the thief, in exchange of his felony, an affair of his life, which includes his hand and does in it what he decides by taking away his freedom and its means from this aspect. You may judge by analogy various punishments in different sharī‘ahs and customs.

It is clear from above that the sociological crime and disobedience attract to themselves a sort of slavery and enslavement, for this reason a slave is the clearest example of punishment. Allãh says: If Thou shouldst chastise them, then surely they are Thy slaves; . . . (5:118).

This theme has different expositions in different customs and sharī‘ahs. Allãh mentions in the story of Yūsuf when he had put the drinking cup in the bag of his brother so that he could take him to himself: They said: "But what shall be the requital of this, if you are liars?" i.e., in your denial of the theft of the king's drinking cup:

27 In Shī‘ah sharī‘ah only four fingers are cut off. (tr.)

They said: "The requital of this is the person in whose bag it is found; thus do we punish the wrongdoers," i.e., we punish the thief by enslaving him: So he began with their sacks before the sack of his brother, then he brought it out from his brother's sack. Thus did We plan for the sake of Yūsuf … They  said: "O Chief! He has a father, a very old man, therefore retain one of us in his stead; surely we see you to be of the doers of good." This was the exchange and a sort of ransom: He said: "Allãh protect us that we should seize other than him with whom we found our property, for then most surely we would be unjust." (12:74-79)

Often the killer was taken as a prisoner enslaved; sometimes he offered in ransom one of his women like his daughter or sister, etc. Ransoming through giving in marriage was prevalant upto these days among the tribes and clans in our areas, because they treat marriage as a sort of enslavement for women.

Chapter   24

2. Is An Obedient Person Counted as Slave of the Obeyed?

Based on this idea, sometimes an obedient one is counted as a slave of the obeyed one; because by this obedience his will follows the will of the obeyed one, thus he is his slave deprived of the freedom of will. Allãh says: Did I not charge you, O children of Adam! That you should not serve the Satan? Surely he is your open enemy, and that you should  serve  Me; … (36:60-61). Have you then considered him who takes his low desire for his god, … ? (45:23).

So, the society or ruler owns the guilty one who is punished. Conversely, the obedient one who is rewarded owns from the society or the ruler the reward that is equal to his obedience, because the society or the ruler has decreased through this responsibility some of the God-gifted freedom of the obedient one.

What we have explained just now, is the secret of what is generally accepted that fulfilling the promise is incumbent, but not that of the threat. It is because the theme of promise in the arena of master-ship and slavery is the reward for obedience, while the theme of threat is punishment for disobedience. The reward, in as much as it is the right of the obedient on the ruler and is his responsibility, its fulfilment is incumbent on him, so that he may discharge his responsibility; contrary to the punishment, because it is the right of the ruler over the guilty person, and it is not necessary that man must manage his property and get the benefit of his right – it is left to his option. This topic needs further elaboration.

Chapter   25

3. Forgiveness and Pardon:

We have reached in the preceding discussion to the conclusion that it is OK to leave the punishment of disobedience, contrary to the reward of obedience. It is a natural dictate to a certain extent, and is based on the fact that meting out the punishment is the right of the ruler over the disobedient one, and it is not always necessary that one should use his right without fail.

However, as it is not always necessary to use one's right of punishment, likewise, it is not allowed to neglect this right altogether. Otherwise the natural decision of establishing the right would become null and void; there will be no sense in establishing a thing, which will have no effect at any time. Moreover, negating the right of punishment altogether would demolish the laws, which are made to protect the structure of society; if they are demolished the society would be demolished without doubt.

The decision – allow ability of pardoning a sin – is established to a certain extent; but it is an unclear proposition. If there is a reason supporting the pardon, pardoning will be allowed; otherwise retribution is compulsory to maintain the respect of the law, which would protect the society and man's bliss. To this reality point the words of ‘Īsã (a.s.): … and if Thou shouldst forgive them, then surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise (5:118).

There are found in the noble Qur’ãn two general causes of pardon which the divine wisdom endorses:

One: Repentance of the servant to Allãh, the Glorified – whether it is a return from disbelief to belief, or from disobedience to obedience, as was explained under "Repentance" in the volume four of the book.28 Allãh says: Say: "O My servants! Who have acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allãh; surely Allãh forgives the faults altogether; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return to your Lord time after time and submit to Him before there comes to you the punishment, then you shall not be helped. [This indicates the repentance from disbelief, to which applies the threat of punishment where no helper or intercessor can avail.] And follow the best that has been revealed to you from your Lord before there comes to you the punishment all of a sudden while you do not even perceive" (39:53-55).

28al-Mīzãn (Eng.), vol.8, pp.64-74. (tr.)

[This indicates the repentance from disobedience to obedience, and here the benefit of intercession is not negated.]

Allãh also says: Repentance with Allãh is only for those who do evil in ignorance, then turn (to Allãh) soon, so these it is to whom Allãh turns (mercifully), and Allãh is ever-Knowing, Wise. And repentance is not for those who go on doing evil deeds, until when death comes to one of them, he says: "Surely now I repent"; nor (for) those who die while they are unbelievers. These are they for whom We have prepared a painful chastisement. (4:17-18)

Two: Intercession on the Day of Resurrection. Allãh says: And those whom they call upon besides Him have no authority for intercession, but he who bears witness of the truth and they know (him) (43:86). There are many such verses, which deal with the topic of intercession; and we have fully discussed this topic in the volume one of the book.29 There are found in the noble Qur’ãn different occasions wherein forgiveness is mentioned without giving its cause, although by meditation, one may understand the general reason, which has been kept in sight, and it is the well-being of the religion. For example, see the divine words: … and He has certainly pardoned you, and Allãh is Gracious to the believers (3:152); Are you afraid to give in charity before your secret conversation? So when you did not do it and Allãh has turned to you (mercifully), then keep up prayer and pay the zakãt and obey Allãh and His  Messenger; . . . (58:13). Certainly, Allãh has turned (mercifully) to the Prophet and the immigrants and the helpers who followed him in the hour of straitness after the hearts of a part of them were about to deviate, then He turned to them (mercifully); surely to them He is Compassionate, Merciful (9:117). And they thought that there would be no affliction, so they became blind and deaf, then Allãh turned to them (mercifully), then many of them became blind and deaf; … (5:71). (As for) those who put away their wives by likening their backs to the backs of their mothers, they are not their mothers; their mothers are no others than those who gave them birth; and most surely they utter a hateful word and a falsehood; and most surely Allãh is Pardoning, Forgiving. (58:2). O you who believe! Do not kill game while you are in the robe of ihrãm, … Allãh  has pardoned what is gone by; and whoever returns (to it) Allãh will inflict retribution on him; and Allãh is Mighty, Lord of Retribution (5:95).

29al-Mīzãn (Eng.), vol.1, pp.221-61. (tr.)

These are various occasions of the divine pardoning, and we have explained the particular especiality of each of them under each verse in the book, which may be consulted.

Of a totally different genre is the word of Allãh: Allãh pardon you! Why did you give them leave … ? (9:43). It is a du‘ã’, like our saying: 'May Allãh pardon you! Why did you do this and this?' Similar is the case of the verses 74:18-19, although in an opposite way: Surely he reflected and guessed, but may he be cursed how he plotted. Also of a different genre are the words: Surely We have given to you a clear victory, that Allãh may forgive you your past faults and those to follow . . . (48:1-2). It is understood from the fact that the forgiveness is taken to result from the conquest of Mecca, which Allãh had bestowed on His Prophet, but there is no relationship between the forgiveness of fault (i.e. sin) and the conquest. It will be fully explained, God willing, under the exegesis of that verse.

Chapter   26

4. Forgiveness has Grades:

Forgiveness and pardon relates to sin; and sin generally attracts a sort of retribution and punishment. As you have seen, retribution has a very wide spectrum and covers various ranks; consequently pardon too has various ranks and grades. This difference does not appear in the sin itself, i.e. in the evil consequence that follows the deed (because no one can deny such difference), and the requital, whether it is punishment or reward, is weighed in that scale.

We cannot avoid here the discussion about the sin and its various grades, and the meditation into what the natural reason leads to. Although the discussion is Qur’ãnic and its aim is to arrive at what the Divine Book leads to concerning these realities, yet as the Sublime God has declared in His speech, He speaks to us according to our understanding and the natural balance with which the things are weighed in the stages of theory and practice; and we have pointed to this fact in various topics of this book; and Allah has taken the support of human understanding and thought in various places, and has strengthened with it the aims of His speech; as He has variously said: 'then do not you understand', 'then do not you contemplate', and so on.

It is inferred from correct consideration that the first factor with which human society is attached and which it respects is the practical laws and esteemed customs by which the society preserves – through its implementation – the objects of humanity, and leads it to its felicity in life; then it lays down the laws by which the one who goes against it is punished, and the obedient one is rewarded.

At this stage the name, sin, is not used except for going back on the text of the practical laws, and inevitably it stands parallel to a number of sociological rules; and this meaning is settled in our – the Muslims' – minds, and so is the import of similar words like evil, fault, wrong, misdeed, error, outrage, transgression and so on.

Not only this practical laws, when they are acted upon, guarded and preserved, pull the society to suitable characteristics and attributes conforming with the societal aims which are the ultimate destination of human togetherness. It is these characteristics that the society calls human nobilities and exhorts to it. Opposite to them are evil traits.

Although these factors differ one from another based on the difference in societies' customs and objects, yet the principle that they are the products of sociological laws cannot be ignored or refuted.

Although these good characteristics are spiritual attributes, and there is no guarantee to enforce it practically in the societies, and they are non-voluntary because they are traits; yet because their appearance follows repetition of enforcement of laid down rules in the society, or repeated neglect of those rules, the putting in practice those laws ensure their enforcement; and they are counted voluntary inasmuch as their preliminaries are voluntary, i.e. repeated actions. Among its occasions may include rational commands related to noble characteristics like bravery, chastity and justice; and likewise prevents the evil traits like cowardice, rashness, degeneration, covetousness and injustice; in the same manner may be imagined for them rational punishment and reward like praise and censure.

In short, in this way takes place a stage of the sin above the preceding one, and it is the stage of negligence of creational laws and related rational commandments.

These rational commands are not counted as command except because of mutual attachment between them and the wãjib actions, which lead to them. So, there is a judge, which establishes its incumbency and orders it, and that is the human intellect. Parallel to it the naming of rational prohibition as prohibition. And this is our way in all occasions of mutual attachment. So, whenever we enforce one side of the mutual attachments we at once order to enforce the other part and declare it as incumbent. And we consider neglecting it as disobedience to that rational command, and a sin that entails some sort of retribution.

This also makes clear another matter: As these virtues contain incumbent factors which one has to attach himself to – and likewise the evil traits contain forbidden items – and also cover recommended factors which serve as adornments and beauties in characterstics – and they are good manners with which are attached recommended rational commands. Yet when we look at it vis-à-vis ourselves, the attached manners (which are recommended in themselves) will inevitably be-come recommended rationally, following that inter-relation. For example, the environment of a Bedouin to life (who lives a bedouistic life) is removed from the average standard of the civilized life; so he is not held responsible except for the elementary laws of society and general customs which his understanding power may grasp; sometimes he commits reprehensible deeds or utters ugly words, but a civilized man ignores it putting its blame on his misapprehension and his living far away from civil environment – where repeated observation of customs and manners is the best teacher for its residents.

Again an average civilian is not held responsible for those things for which people of exceptional qualities are deemed responsible – the people of fine understanding and lofty manners. When an average man does not observe fine manners and neglects attractive words and deeds, the only excuse offered on his behalf is that it is the limit of his understanding; he does not understand the concomitants of manner more than he performs, because of his environment.

And what he does (which he should not) is what the unique people are held responsible for. Often they are blamed for an under-tone in speech, or a slight delay in movement, or missing an imperceptible moment in stillness, or turning or closing the eyes and so on – all this is counted as a fault or sin from them. But it is not a sin in the meaning of going against legislative articles, be it related to religion or to worldly affairs. It is well known that the good deeds of righteous people are the sins for the near ones.

The more the path becomes intricate and the position delicate, the more hidden sins become apparent which hitherto were unnoticed and the man had not perceived them, nor any ruler or controller was deemed responsible for them.

This, according to deep consideration, leads us to the commands, which develop in the framework of love and hate. An eye of hate – particularly in the condition of rage – sees all good deeds as condemnable sins. Conversely, a lover, when he wanders in love and is submerged in affection, deems slightest inattention towards his beloved a great sin, even if he performs all actions by limbs with all its pillars. It is only because he evaluates his deeds in the way of love according to his mind's attention and attraction of his heart towards his beloved. If it is discontinued because of heart's inattention then he has turned away from his beloved, cut himself from his remembrance, and thus negated the purity of his heart.

Until a time comes that he counts as crime and disobedience even engagement with necessities of life like eating, drinking, etc. He realizes that although the said action is a necessity which man is compelled to do, yet each one of these compulsory actions in its root is voluntary; and engagement in it is engagement with other than the beloved and turning away from him by one's own will – and it is a sin. That is why we see that one who is overwhelmed with love and affection, and likewise a grieving and depressed person and others like these neglect food and drink, etc.

On this style should be explained what has been narrated from the Prophet (s.a.w.a.): Surely desire covers my heart, so I seek pardon from Allãh every day seventy Aims. And the same may be taken to mean in a way the divine words: … and ask pardon for your fault and celebrate the praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning (40:55). Then celebrate the praise of your Lord, and ask His forgiveness; surely He is oft-returning (to mercy), (110:3).

The same will be the bearing of what Allãh has quoted from various noble prophets; like the words of Nūh (a.s.): "My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and him who enters my house believing, … " (71:28); and the words of Ibrãhīm: "O our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!" (14:41); and the words of Mūsã for himself and his brother: "My Lord! Forgive me and my brother and cause us to enter into Thy mercy, … " (7:151); and what has been quoted from the Prophet (s.a. w.a.): "We hear and obey; our Lord! Thy forgiveness (do we crave), and to Thee is the eventual course." (2:285).

So, the prophets (peace be upon them!), in as much as they were ma‘sūmīn (infallibles), could not have committed any disobedience, nor could they perpetrate any sin in the meaning of contradicting any article of religion which they were sent to invite to, and which they were engaged in conveying by words and deeds; as their obedience was obligated from Allãh, and there was no sense in obligating the obedience of one who was not assured of abstaining from disobedience, Sublime is Allãh from it.

The same will be the bearing of the confession of injustice and so on, as quoted from some of them (peace be upon them), like the words of Dha 'n-Nūn: "There is no god but Thou, glory be to Thee; surely I was of the unjust ones!" (21:87); because as it is possible that they should count some lawful deeds done by them as sin for them-selves and should ask forgiveness from Allãh, likewise it is possible to count it as their injustice, because every sin is injustice.

It had been said earlier that there might be another explanation: That injustice might indicate injustice against one's soul, as was seen in the words of Adam and his wife: "Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves, and if Thou forgive us not, and have (not) mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers." (7:23).

Beware! You should not think that when we say for a verse: It has this or that bearing, we admit that it is against its apparent meaning and then we strive to invent a meaning which could be applied to it; in other words, the Qur’ãnic verses should be reinterpreted with the aim of protecting the sectarian views. A free discussion was given in the volume two of this book^30 on the subject of the prophets' sinlessness, without relying on strange and extraneous premises.

We have explained there that the apparent speech is not restricted in its identification on common understanding confined to the sentence concerned; rather it also seeks help from associations of context and wordings, joined to it and separate from it, like a verse which throws light on another verse. These associations have definite effects on apparent meanings, especially in the divine speech, one part of which interpretes another, some portions of which testify for and affirm the other portions.

Inattention to this point has given rise among many exegetes and theologians to the idea of reinterpretation, in the meaning of turning the speech away from its apparent import, and striving to do so in the verses, which go against their particular belief. You see, they cut up the Qur’ãn into fragments, and then hold each piece to mean what a vulgar plebian understands from the talk of another vulgar person like himself. Thus, when they hear Allãh (s.w.t.) saying [about Yūnus, a.s.]: … so he thought that We would not straiten him, . . . [21:87], they take it to mean that, God forbid, he (a.s.) thought or believed that Allãh was unable to catch him; in spite of the fact that the next verse: … and thus do We deliver the believers [21:88]; counts him among the believers, and he who

30al-Mīzãn (Eng), vol.3, pp.195-204. (tr.)

entertains slightest doubt about Allãh's power is devoid of faith and belief, let alone the one who gives more weight to Allãh's [supposed] feebleness or believes Him to have no power.

And when they hear Him saying: … that Allãh may forgive you your past faults and those to follow . . . [48:2], they think that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had committed a sin and Allãh forgave it, just as one of us commits sin by going against a divine order or prohibition given by masterly authority, from which springs a law of fiqh.

They were not led by meditation even to the extent of looking at the preceding verse: Surely We have given you a clear victory [48:1]; otherwise it would have been clear to them that if this fault and the related forgiveness were like the sins committed by us, and the sub-sequent forgiveness, there was no reason to attach the forgiveness to the conquest of Mecca (as an objective is attached to its controller). Also, there was no reason to join with conjunction what follows, i.e. the words: . . . and complete His favour to you and keep you on a right way, and that Allãh might help you with a mighty help. [48:2-3]

Likewise, when they hear all those verses which, according to their view, contain the "slips" of the prophets, like those in the stories of Adam, Nūh, Ibrãhīm, Lūt, Ya‘qūb, Yūsuf, Dãwūd, Sulaymãn, Ayyūb and Muhammad (blessings of Allãh be upon him and his progeny and these prophets), they hasten to attack their esteemed status, and they do not refrain from speaking ill-manneredly about them, although they themselves deserve those insulting remarks; what defect surpasses ill manners?

Their wrong thinking and rotten outlook misled them until they exchanged their Lord, the Lord of the universe, with the Lord, which is, portrayed in the corrupted Old and New Testaments. They think that the Lord is an unseen power who has a solid body, and who turns around the mill of existence, as an arrogant person manages his kingdom, who has no aim except to satiate his desire and anger. First, they were ignorant of the status of their Lord, and then they forgot the position of the prophets effacing their noble and spiritual high grades, and actual sublime positions. This made those purified sacrosanct souls resemble the rotten contemptible souls whose only share in human nobility is its name; it destroys soul of this,31 deceives honour of that, and looks coveteously at property of that other. And with all their ignorance, they are not ready to

31 Refer to what they have narrated about Dãwūd, Sulaymãn, Ibrãhīm, Lūt and others, peace be upon them. (Author's note)

accept that a person who manages any of their worldly affairs, or the one who is given responsibility to look after their home and family, should be afflicted by such scandals. Then how do they agree to ascribe such disgraceful things to Allãh, the Glorified? And He is the Knowing, the Wise, Who sent His messengers to His servants, so that they should not have any proof after their advent. Would that I knew, what proof would be established against an unbeliever or a transgressor if it were possible for a messenger to disbelieve or transgress or invite to polytheism and idolatory, then he washes his hand of it and ascribes it to the Satan.

And when they are reminded of the divine protection enjoyed by divine prophets (peace be upon them) and shown their God-gifted positions and spiritual status, they count it as polytheism, and inordination regarding the servants of Allãh, and start repeating the verse: Say: "I am but a mortal like you!"

They, to a certain extent, are right in refuting it; because what they think about the Lord, and what attributes they ascribe to Him, is much lower than what they mention of the positions of the prophets (peace be upon them) and much below their status and honour. It is all an example of the afflictions, which Islam and Muslims had to suffer because of what the People of the Book, and especially the Jews, have inserted, in Muslim traditions. Thus they turned the hand mill of Islam around an strange pivot, and they believed about the Glorified God (like Whom there is nothing) that He is like an arrogant man who thinks that he is totally free, he is not asked about his actions while the others have to answer about their activities. According to them, when effects follow their causes, when results appear after premises, and when the existing particulars (in the form or substance) demand appearance of their effects, it all happens at random, without any real connection. And when Allãh ended the prophethood on Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and revealed the Qur’ãn to him, then He reserved Mūsã for talking and ‘Īsã for support through the Spirit, it all was not because of any particular especiallity in their noble souls, but just because He wanted to bestow on them this and that. And when Mūsã hit his staff on a rock and there appeared water streams in it, it was exactly as one of us hits his staff on a rock, but the difference is that Allãh made that to flow and does not make this to do so. And when ‘Īsã said to the dead bodies: "Stand up by the permission of Allãh", it was just as if we might announce in graveyard: "Stand up by the permission of Allãh", but Allãh gave them new life and does not give life to these. And so on.

It is not but an analogy of the creative system with the legislative system; but the latter has no natural structure except that people make it, give it a terminological name and preserve it, so it does not go beyond the area of society and does not cross the world of the societal man.

If they had used a little intelligence and meditated on the verses dealing with the affairs of fault and forgiveness (in its terminological meaning, i.e. going against the master's command and prohibition) they would have realized that there is a forgiveness that is above the well-known forgiveness.

Thus, Allãh, the Glorified, repeatedly says in His speech that there are some of His servants whom He calls 'sincere' ones [or 'purified' ones] who are protected from sin (in its usual meaning). So they do not have any sin in their account, and consequently they do not need forgiveness related to that sin. He has clearly said about several of His prophets, like Ibrãhīm, Ishãq, Ya‘qūb, Yūsuf and Mūsã that they were purified, sincere. For example, He says about Ibrãhīm, Ishãq and Ya‘qūb: Surely We purified them by a pure quality, the keeping in mind of the (final) abode (38:46); and about Yūsuf: … surely he was one of Our sincere servants. (12:24); and about Mūsã: … surely he was one purified, . . . (19:51). And Allãh has quoted their asking for forgive-ness, as the words of Ibrãhīm: "Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents … " (14:41); and the words of Mūsã: "My Lord! Forgive me and my brother and cause us to enter into Thy mercy, … " (7:151). If forgiveness were not ascribe able except to sin (in the common meaning), this invocation would not be understandable.

Of course, one may say: They (peace be upon them) count them-selves as sinners in humility before Allãh, although they had not sinned. But such a man should realize that they (peace be upon them) were not wrong in this view of theirs and there was no recklessness in their talk, because forgiveness covers them in a correct meaning and this is a serious matter.

Moreover, see that Ibrãhīm (a.s.) offers his du‘ã’ for forgiveness for all the believers: "O our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!" [14:41], which includes the sincere ones. Likewise, Nūh (a.s.) prays: "My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and him who enters my house believing, … "[71:28], and it by its generality includes the sincere ones. And there is no meaning in asking forgiveness for him who has not committed any sin, which would need forgiveness.

All this makes us realize that some sins with which forgiveness is attached are other than the sin (in its common meaning), and also some forgiveness is other than the forgiveness of common meaning. Allãh has quoted Ibrãhīm as saying: "And Who, I hope, will forgive me my mistakes on the Day of Judgement." (26:82). Probably, that is the reason that we find in the divine speech that when Allãh mentions mercy or the mercy of the next world which is the Garden, He mentions forgiveness before it. Like the Divine Words: And say: "O my Lord! Forgive and have mercy, … " (23:118); "… and forgive us and have mercy on us; … "(2:286); and He quotes Adam and his wife: "… and if Thou forgive us not, and have (not) mercy on us, … " (7:23); and quotes Nūh: "… and if Thou shouldst not forgive me and have mercy on me, … " (11:47).

The above statement proves that sin has different grades one above another and likewise forgiveness has grades parallel to the sin; each grade of forgiveness is attached to its parallel grade of the sin. Also, it is clear that it is not necessary that every sin and fault should be attached to a masterly command or prohibition, which average, man's mind would recognize; nor that every forgiveness should be attached to this type of sin.

Thus, the preceding discussion makes it clear that sin and forgiveness have four grades:

First: The sin related to masterly command and prohibition, i.e. going against a rule of sharī‘ah whether connected with its root or branch. You may also say: 'going against a legal article, whether religious or non-religious'. And forgiveness is attached to it, which stands parallel to it in rank.

Second: The sin, which is related to a creative rational command, and the forgiveness attached to it.

Third: The sin related to a mannered command (done by the one whose way of life is way of mannerism), and the forgiveness attached to it. Probably the above-mentioned two grades are not counted by common understanding among the sins and the forgiveness; an average man might treat that as a metaphorical use. But it has no relation with metaphor at all, because you have seen that real effects take place on them.

Fourth: The sin, which is pointed at by the taste of love, and the forgiveness attached to it. And the opposite is the case with hate in all grades. Average men do not count it as a grade of love; but they have erred in it; not intentionally, but because their rationality does not reach to the level of its understanding, and they do not clearly grasp its meaning.

Some one might say: It is merely the lovers' delusion or poetic imagination, which is not based on any rational reality. But they do not realize that these imaginations, although they are delusions and notions in the path of sociological life, they exactly turn into realities – and what realities – in the path of servitude, emanating from the divine love which melts the heart and distracts the reason; and it does not leave any perception to the man to perceive any other than his Lord, nor any will to wish except what He wishes.

At this stage, he realizes that even a slight attention to his self or to his desires is a great sin and a thick curtain, which cannot be raised except by the divine forgiveness. Allãh has counted sin as a curtain for the heart, which prevents man from total attention to his Lord, as He has said: Nay! Rather, what they used to do has become like rust upon their hearts. Nay! Most surely they shall on that day be debarred from their Lord (83:14-15).

This is what is understood by the serious discussion in which one does not play with the realities. Possibly, there may appear, to the friends of Allãh who in their servitude proceed on the way of His love, fine points of sin and subtle aspects of forgiveness, which cannot be reached through general discussions.

Chapter   27

5. Does Censure or Forgiveness Necessarily Mean a Preceding Sin?

If one observes the practice of society's same persons, he finds that their censure or punishment is based on voluntary responsibilities; and one of the conditions of its correctness is rationality; and there are other conditions about whose identity, quiddity and limits various societies differ among themselves, and we are not concerned here with their details.

Our concern here is only with the understanding that differentiates between beauty and ugliness, beneficial and harmful, good and evil, according to the average condition of the people in their society. The people, with their sociological outlook, think that there is an active starting point in man which has this quality; although academic discussion sometimes makes it clear that it is not one of the natural powers consigned in man, like imagination and memory; rather it is but a trait which is acquired through conformance of several powers in action, like justice.

The societies, with all their differences, think that responsibility depends on this factor, which is called understanding; and reward and punishment branch out from it, as the responsibility springs from it; so a sane person is rewarded for his obedience and punished for his crime.

However, others who lack this understanding, for example, a child, a mad person, an idiot and other weakened people, they do not deserve any reward or punishment – in their true sense – on what they do of obedience or disobedience. Yet sometimes they are awarded rewards for their acts of obedience to awaken their longing, or are held responsible and given disciplinary punishment vis-à-vis their dis-obedience. And it is commonly found in all societies, including the Muslim society.

Actually the above group, seen in the background of the felicity and infelicity, which are earned through obedience and obedience of the laid down responsibilities in this worldly life, are neither felicitous nor infelicitous, because no responsibility has been loaded on them; thus they have no reward (so they should be called felicitous) nor any punishment (so they should be called infelicitous), although some-times they are exhorted by good reward or disciplined by evil result.

As for the life of the next world, which the divine religion affirms and then divides the people into two groups (without their being any third): felicitous and infelicitious, or rewarded and punished. What the Qur’ãn describes about it is a vague statement whose details are not explained, because there is no rational way of identifying their detailed condition after leaving this world. Allãh says: And others are made to await Allãh's command, whether He chastise them or whether He turn to them (mercifully); and Allãh is Knowing, Wise (9:106). Also, He says: Surely (as for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: "In what state were you?" They shall say: "We were weak in the earth." They shall say: "Was not Allãh's earth spacious, so that you should have emigrated therein?" So these it is whose abode is hell, and it is an evil resort; except the weak ones from among the men and the women and the children who have not in their power the means nor can they find a way (to escape); so these, it may be, Allãh will pardon them, and Allãh is Pardoning, Forgiving (4:97-99).

These verses – as you see – contain the news of pardoning them and returning to them (mercifully) and there is no forgiveness where there is no sin, and it talks about their punishment, and there is no punishment on him who is not given any responsibility. However, you have known that sin, and likewise forgiveness as well as reward and punishment, have many grades: some of them are related to violation of masterly or rational responsibility; while others are related to rotten psychological forms and filth of heart which prevent man from his Lord. And these people, although they are apart from attachment of responsibility (which depends on reason), yet they are not protected from dirts of the souls and curtains of the hearts, which need enjoying the bliss of divine nearness and presence in the arena of sanctity in order to remove that dirt, and for forgiving it, covering it and pardoning it.

Probably, this is the meaning of what has been narrated in some traditions: "Surely Allãh will gather them, then He will create a fire and order them to enter it; so whoever enters it enters the Garden, and whoever refuses to enter it, enters the Fire." We shall speak about these traditions in the exegesis of the chapter of "Repentance", God willing; and some details were given in the chapter of "Women".

Of the use of pardon and forgiveness on occasions other than sin in the divine speech is what has repeatedly come on the occasion of abolishing an order, as Allãh says: … but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining wilfully to sin, then surely Allãh is Forgiving, Merciful (5:3). A similar verse is in the chapter six, "Cattle". Also, Allãh says while abolishing wudū’ when water is not available: and if you are sick, or on a journey: . . . betake yourselves to pure earth, then wipe your faces and your hands; surely Allãh is Pardoning, Forgiving (4:43). Also, He says in connection with the mischief makers in the earth: Except those who repent before you have them in your power; so know that Allãh is Forgiving, Merciful (5:34). Likewise, He says relating to the abolition of the order of jihãd from excused persons: … there  is  no  way (to blame)against the doers of good; and Allãh is Forgiving, Merciful (9:91). There are many other such verses.

And Allãh says regarding travails and afflictions falling the people: And whatever affliction befalls you, it is on account of what your hands have wrought, and (yet) He pardons most (of your faults) (42:30).

It is now clear that the attribute of pardoning and forgiving belong to Him, the Sublime, like the attributes of mercy and guidance, which are related to the affairs of creation and legislation both. Thus, Allãh, the Sublime, pardons sins and disobediences and erases them from the scroll of deeds; and He pardons the order, which reason demands its enforcement and erases it by not legislating it. And He pardons travails and afflictions, whose causes are existent; and erases them so that they do not afflict the man.

Chapter   28

6. Relationship Between Action and Recompense:

We have understood from the preceding discussion that the orders and prohibitions, i.e. the rules and laws prevalent among the sane persons give rise to fine beautiful effects on its implementation – which is called reward; and evil effects on its disobedience – which is called punishment. And that it is like a device which they use for its implementation; so their arrangement to make good recompense for obedience, is only for encouragement to the implementer, and the evil recompense on disobedience is only to put the defaulter in fear and make him cautious against transgression.

It appears from it that the relationship between deed and recompense is a relationship made and laid down by the society or the ruler; called them to it their pressing need to the action, in order that they get its benefit and fulfil with it their need. That is why you see them that when they do not have its need and their requirement of it is fulfilled, they become careless in fulfilling the promised or threatened reward or punishment.

And that is the reason that you see that the recompense differs in magnitude and paucity, and emolument changes in power and feeble-ness, depending on the difference of need to that action. The more the need to it the more the wages, and the less the need the less the wages. Thus, the instructor and the instructed, and the commander and the commanded are like the seller and the buyer both of them give some-thing and take something.

The wage and reward is like the price; and punishment is like the fine imposed on the one who ruins something and is held responsible for its price, which he has to pay.

In short, it is a matter laid down and considered like all sociological titles, orders and weights, on which the handmill of human society revolves like chiefship and subordination; order and prohibition; obedience and disobedience; obligatoriness and prohibition; possession and property; and sale and purchase, etc. The realities are the existing things found outside imagination, and the conditions covering them, whose situation does not change with richness and poverty, honour and humiliation, praise and condemnation like the earth and that which grows from it, and death and life, health and illness, hunger and satiation, thirst and its quenching.

This is how the sociological sane people behave. Allãh treats us in His speech as one of us treats others. He has moulded our bliss, to which He guides us through His religion, in the mould of sociological customs. Thus He ordered and prohibited, exhorted and cautioned, gave good news and warned, promised reward and threatened punishment; in this way we went on receiving religion in the easiest manner with which we receive the sociological laws and customs. Allãh says: … and were it not for Allãh's grace upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have ever been pure, . . . (24:21).

And Allãh has not neglected the matter of educating the soul, which are ready to comprehend the realities. Accordingly, He has pointed in several verses of His Book that, beyond these religious cognizance, which the apparent meanings of the Book and the Sunnah contain, there is a factor, which is greater, and a secret that is more precious and valuable. He says: And this life of the world is nothing but a sport and a play; and as for the next abode, that most surely is the life, . . . (29:64).

Thus He has counted the life of the world a play, which has no basis except imagination, and whose only function is to prevent man from what is important for him, and it is the next abode and eternal felicity of man which is the reality of life. If the life of the world is exactly what we call life other than the life affairs which are attached to it of property, status, kingdom, honour, nobility and so on, then its being sport and play with what we see of the realities further necessitates the life affairs to be sport and play. And if it means the life of the world with all its attachment, then the matter is clearer.

So, these sociological customs and the objects which are saught with them as honour, status, property, etc.; then those factors and aims and objects (which are contained in religious education) to which Allãh has guided us through nature, then through messengership, all these things are like a toy which a reasonable guardian, who brings up a child, puts before the small child (who does not know his good from his evil), then keeps playing it with him, in order to exercise his body and refresh his mind, so that he may prepare the child for practical purposes to make him succeed in it. Thus, the sporting event is for the child a beautiful play, which leads him to action, and for the guardian it is a serious work full of wisdom, which has nothing to do with play.

Allãh says: And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in sport. We did not create them both but with the truth, but most of them do not know (44:38-39).

Then Allãh explains how this formal upbringing leads to its spiritual aims, in a general similituate which He has given to the people: He sends down water from the cloud, then water-courses flow (with water) according to their measure, and the torrent bears along the swelling foam, and from what they melt in the fire for the sake of making ornaments or apparatus arises a scum like it; thus does Allãh compare truth and falsehood; then as for the scum, it passes away as a worthless thing; and as for that which profits the people, it tarries in the earth; . . .(13:17).

The divine speech makes it clear that there is a real relationship between deed and recompense beyond the laid down and considered relationship which the social people see between them; and the divine teaching proceeds on the same line.

Chapter   29

7. The Deed takes Relationship to the Soul:

Then Allãh explained that deed takes this relationship to the soul from the side of the psychological form, which it acquires through action and the condition, that it leads to. Allãh says: … but He will call you to account for what your hearts have earned, … (2:225); … and  whether you manifest what is in your minds or hide it, Allãh will call you to account according to it, … (2:284). And there are other verses of the same meaning.

It becomes clear from it that all the effects which emanate from deeds, whether reward or punishment, they in reality emanate from what the souls earn by the way of deeds; and that the actions have no function except mediation.

Then Allãh made it clear that what will face them of the recompense of the deeds, it will be the deeds themselves as a matter of reality; it is not as man puts a deed in his society then follows it with recompense; rather the deed is preserved near Allãh with preservation of the acting soul, then Allãh will manifest it (deed) before it (soul) on the day when hidden things will be made manifest. Allãh says: On the day that every soul shall find present what it has done of good and what it has done of evil; it shall wish that between it and that (evil) there were a long duration of time; (3:30). Also He says: Do not urge excuses today; you shall be rewarded only according to what you did (66:7). The verses are clear and many other verses join them in this meaning.

The best of the verses in indication is the word of Allãh: Certainly you were heedless of it, but now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight today is sharp (50:22). This points to the station of present recompense, and it counts him heedless of it in the world (because of the association of the word "today"; and heedlessness does not happen except of a present thing). Then He mentions removal of the veil from him; and veil necessarily demands something to be covered. It means that what he faces and sees of the recompense on the Day of Resurrection was present in the world but it was not manifested.

These verses explain other verses, which are clear about recompense and manifestation of deed and recompense, because the verses of recompense look at the stage of the laid down sociological relation-ship, while these verses look at the stage of the real relationship, as we have explained. We had touched in short this topic under the exegesis of the divine words: Allãh has set a seal on their hearts . . . (2:7), in the first volume of this book and whoever wants may refer to it. And Allãh is the Guide.

(Finish; and thanks are due to Allãh!)

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Table of Contents

Title

Chapter 1 - FOREWORD

Part 1 - THE TABLE

Chapter 2 - Translation of verses 106-109

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3 - A TALK ON THE MEANING OF TESTIMONY

Chapter 4 - A TALK ON JUSTICE

Chapter 5 - A TALK ON OATH

TRADITIONS

Chapter 6 - Translation of verses 110-111

COMMENTARY

TRADITIONS

Chapter 7 - Translation of verses 112-115

COMMENTARY

TRADITIONS

Chapter 8 - Trandslation of verses 116-120

COMMENTARY

TRADITIONS

Chapter 9 - A TALK ON THE MEANING OF GOOD MANNERS

OTHER TRADITIONS

Chapter 10 - SOME OF HIS CUSTOMS AND MANNERS IN HIS SOCIAL RELATIONS

Chapter 11 - SLAVERY AND ENSLAVEMENT

Chapter 12 - 1. Consideration of Servitude to Allãh (s.w.t.):

Chapter 13 - 2. Enslaving Human Beings and Its Causes:

Chapter 14 - 3. Origin of Enslavement in History:

Chapter 15 - 4. Islamic View About It:

Chapter 16 - 5. What is the Way of Enslaving in Islam?

Chapter 17 - 6. What is the Behaviour of Islam Concerning Slave-Men and Women?

Chapter 18 - 7. Gist of the Above Discussions:

Chapter 19 - 8. Progress of Enslavement in History:

Chapter 20 - 9. A Glance on Their Structure:

Chapter 21 - 10. What is the Amount of Limitation?

Chapter 22 - 11. The End Result of the Abolition:

Part 2 - A TALK ON PUNISHMENT AND FORGIVENESS

Chapter 23 - 1. What is the Meaning of Requital?

Chapter 24 - 2. Is An Obedient Person Counted as Slave of the Obeyed?

Chapter 25 - 3. Forgiveness and Pardon:

Chapter 26 - 4. Forgiveness has Grades:

Chapter 27 - 5. Does Censure or Forgiveness Necessarily Mean a Preceding Sin?

Chapter 28 - 6. Relationship Between Action and Recompense:

Chapter 29 - 7. The Deed takes Relationship to the Soul: