THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME WITH PROPHET MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF ALLAH 068 AFTER HUNAIN by Khadeijah A. Stephens Copyright © 1984-2012 by Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com Khadeijah A. Stephens Bismillah Ir Rahman Ir Raheem After Hunain The Birth of the Prophet’s Son The last few days of Lady Maryam's pregnancy were upon her and the entire City anxiously awaited the arrival of the baby. Salma, who had been the midwife to Lady Khadijah was now elderly, offered to assist when the time came and now moved near to Lady Maryam's home in readiness for the blessed event. At the dawn prayer the long awaited announcement was made that a son had been born to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and Lady Maryam and the congregation were told that the baby had been given the name Abraham. Shortly after the prayer, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) went to greet Lady Maryam and see her and his darling son. It was a very touching moment as he held his son for the first time and thanked Allah for his safe delivery and the well being of Lady Maryam. Everyone was excited and delighted by the news, especially the wives of the Prophet, (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam). Offers of help abounded from every quarter and in particular for the favor of nursing the infant. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) chose the wife of a blacksmith to be Abraham's nurse as she lived near Lady Maryam's house. The Aftermath of Hunain Abi Aamir Al-Ashari was the uncle of Abu Musa Al-Ashari. After the battle of Hunain, the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, sent Abi Aamir and Salama Al Akwa’s son after those who had fled. When Abi Aamir and Salama caught up with fugitives they found them grouped together. Abi Aamir killed nine brothers but before fencing with them he called each to Islam when they refused Abi Aamir said, “O Allah, bear witness to him.” However, as Abi Aamir was about to supplicate against one of the men, the man said, “O Allah do not bear witness!” Thereupon Abi Aamir demonstrated the height of Islamic ethical behavior and refrained from engaging the man in combat and he escaped. Sometime later the man became a Muslim and the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) would say when he saw him, “This is the one waived by Abi Aamir” The two sons of Al Harith Al’laa’ hurled objects at Abi Aamir and killed him whereupon his nephew Abu Musa Al-Ashari retaliated and fought until they were killed. When the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) heard the news he supplicated saying, “O Allah forgive Abu Aamir and make him to be among the highest in my nation in Paradise.” The Tribe of Tayy In one of the earlier expeditions, Ali had been sent to destroy the temple of the pagan god, Manat, at Kudayd near the Red Sea. The mission had been successful and now that the second of the three most revered pagan temples had been destroyed only that of al lat in Ta'if remained. In a place called Fuls, which is to the north-east of Medina on land belonging to the tribe of Tayy, there was another pagan temple of lesser standing. However, the people of Tayy were not all pagans, some were Christians and Ali was sent once again to destroy the pagan temple. Upon the death of Hatim, the chieftain and poet of renown of the tribe of Tayy, his son Adi had risen to the rank of chieftain. Like his father before him, Adi was also a Christian. When news reached the tribe of Ali's advance, Adi and his family, with the exception of one of his sisters, fled. The Honoring of Noble Characteristics in Non-Muslims The pagan temple was destroyed and many of the Tayy were taken captive, including Adi's sister. Adi’s sister asked to speak with the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and as she stood before him she told him she was the daughter of an honorable chieftain whose name was Hatim Al Tayy, the generous, and was fearful that when other Arab tribes learned of her predicament they would gloat. She told the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) that during his lifetime her father had been well known for feeding the hungry, defending his family, freeing captives and never refused those in need. Upon hearing these honorable qualities the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) was heartened and smiled as he told her that her description of her father befitted that of a Muslim, and indeed, if her father had been a Muslim he would have asked Allah to have mercy on him. Then, without the slightest hesitation the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) not only released her so that she might return to her people, but returned her possessions and gave her a gift of a fine robe as well as a camel. When the Companions saw the noble act of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) they too released their captives from the tribe and returned their shares. Adi was not only relieved but delighted to see his sister safe and well, and amazed to see that not only his sister but the rest of her tribesmen had been returned with their possessions – something which was completely unheard of in the days before Islam. She told her brother of her experience and encouraged him to go to Medina and see for himself. Adi was so impressed by his sister's account that he wasted no time and rode off to Medina. A Civilized Society Never Before Known with Balanced Spiritual & Materialistic Values Upon his arrival in Medina Adi could not help but be overwhelmed by the sight that met his eyes. There before him were Arabs from all corners of Arabia living in love and harmony with one another. The degree of organized civilization, combined with spirituality, culture and materialistic values was indeed to be marveled. Thoughtfulness, sincere love and care for one another was everywhere, but what impressed him most was the love they all shared for Allah and His Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam). It was far beyond anything he had ever encountered and it had never entered his mind that such devotion existed or could even exist. He realized that the civilization now greeting his eyes pivoted upon the great love and obedience to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and the worship of Allah, the One and only God. He reflected upon how, until only a few years before, the tribes of Arabia had been so uncivilized. Very many Arabs at that time demonstrated few scruples about taking the life of another. Senseless blood feuds were not only perpetuated but a way of life and perhaps the most despicable act of burying their innocent, newly born baby daughters alive then returning to their wives and enjoying the intimacy of intercourse was something so depraved that it was beyond all comprehension and decent human values. A Time for Self-Examination, Christianity minus Idolatry It was time for the self-examination of Adi’s own Christian belief and for the first time it occurred to him that his belief in the Trinity was parallel to that of idolatry. He reflected upon his knowledge of previous prophets and recognized the pattern that all, without exception, had preached the Oneness of the Creator. He realized that over the passage of time the religion he thought he was following had become corrupt but more importantly the Book given to Jesus no longer existed and only fragments of his teachings remained. It also dawned upon him that Christianity was reprehensible because, unlike the pagan idolaters, it had in earlier times received Divine Guidance entrusted to Jesus, whereas the pagans had not. He reflected upon the creation of Adam and Eve and the fact that neither had parents, yet no one had ever attributed to them an association or kinship with Allah. There was no doubt in his mind that it would have been absolutely impossible for such a pure person as Jesus to claim that he was anything else except a prophet, born of a virgin mother. It was then that Adi rejected the notion of the deity of Jesus and recognized the fact that Jesus, like Adam and Eve, were all miracles from Allah, the One and only Creator. “Truly, the likeness of (Prophet) Jesus with Allah, is as the likeness of Adam, He created him from dust Then He said to him ‘Be” and he was.” Koran 3:59 Adi’s sister’s description was unable to do justice to what he now witnessed and so he went directly to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) converted and pledged his allegiance. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) welcomed him into the fold of Islam and told him that he was to remain as the chief of the Tayy. The noble treatment of the Holy Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and his Companions had already deeply affected the former captives from Tayy. The news of Adi and his sister was upon the tongues of every tribesmen and thereafter they too inclined to Islam and embraced it. The Death of a Righteous Man Who Followed Prophets Jesus and Muhammad peace be upon them Eleven months after the Opening of Mecca, at the beginning of Rajab, the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and informed him that As-hamah son of Al-Abjar, Negus of Abyssinia who had embraced Islam had passed away. After the obligatory prayer had been offered the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) informed the congregation of his passing saying, "A righteous man has died. Arise and pray for your brother As-hamah." Thereupon, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) led the congregation in the absent funeral prayer, and many reflected upon the Negus' justice and kindness towards them not only after he became a Muslim but before when they sought refuge in his country many years before. After Hunain 068 Back Cover Subtitles The Birth of the Prophet’s Son The Aftermath of Hunain The Tribe of Tayy The Honoring of Noble Characteristics in Non-Muslims A Civilized Society Never Before Known with Balanced Spiritual & Materialistic Values A Time for Self-Examination, Christianity minus Idolatry The Death of a Righteous Man Who Followed Prophets Jesus and Muhammad