Prophet Suleiman (a.s) and the hoopoe bird

Prophet Suleiman (a.s) and the hoopoe bird Prophet Suleiman (a.s) had a very large army of men, jinn and birds. One day, he was checking the army. “And he looked amongst the birds and he said: “Why can’t I see the hoopoe bird or is he absent?” (Sura Naml, Verse 20) hoopoe bird has the duty of searching for water when the army needed it.On that day, it had left without asking for permission to do so and Prophet Suleiman (a.s) decided to punish it if it came back without a good excuse for its absence. When the bird came back, it explained to Prophet Suleiman (a.s) what it had seen: “… I come to you from Sheba with sure news. I found a woman ruling over the people, she has been given many blessings and has a mighty throne! I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah…” (Sura Naml, Verses 22-24). When Prophet Suleiman (a.s) heard about Queen Bilqis and her city in Yemen, he was very surprised and decided to find out if what the bird had said was true. He wrote a letter to her asking her and her people to accept Allah (S. W.T) as their God and to stop worshipping the sun. Then he sent the hoopoe bird to take the letter to the Queen and see what her answer was. When Bilqis read it, she did not know what to do and asked her ministers for advice. Her commanders told her that they were willing to follow her decision. Queen Bilqis knew that an ordinary king would be greedy for power and try to take over her land. She decided to test Prophet Suleiman (a.s) to see if he was a true prophet of Allah (S.W.T) or if he just wanted her wealth. She sent a group of men with gifts of gold, silver and other treasures to Suleiman (a.s) as a gift from her. When Prophet Suleiman (a.s) saw all this, he said: “What? Will you try to help me with wealth? What Allah has given me is better than what He has given you and your gifts look valuable to your eyes (not mine).” (Sura Naml, Verses 36-37) The envoy returned with all their gifts to Sheba and told Queen Bilqis all the wonders that they had seen and heard. When Bilqis heard of the grand kingdom of Ptaphet Suleiman (a.s), she realised that he was a prophet of Allah (S.W.T) who had been granted such great powers by Him. She decided to go to him and see his kingdom for herself. When Prophet Suleiman (a.s) heard of her intentions, he wanted to show her some of the favours Allah (S.W.T) had given him, so that she would believe and accept one God. He said: “O Chiefs! Which of you will bring me her throne before she arrives?” (Sura Maml. Verse 38) One of the Jinn offered to do it before Prophet Suleiman (a.s) stood up from his throne, but one of his ministers, Asef Ben Barkhia said: “I will bring it to you in the blink of an eye!” (Sura Naml, Verse 40) Queen Bilqis’s throne appeared infront of Prophet Suleiman (a.s) before he opened his eyes, even though the distance between the two kingdoms was great as Bilqis ruled over Yemen and he ruled over Palestine. Prophet Suleiman (a.s) thanked Allah (S.W.T) when he saw this! He then ordered that a palace should be built whose floor was made of clear glass. The floor itself was to be laid over a large pool of water, so that when a person walked over it, it looked like he was walking on water! When Queen Bilqis arrived, he welcomed her into this palace. As she entered the huge doors, she saw the floor and assumed it was water. Gently lifting her skirt so that it would not get wet, she put out her foot to step into the wondrous room. Prophet Suleiman (a.s) saw this and smiled. He told her she did not need to do such a thing and explained that the floor was made of glass and it only seemed that the water was on it. Queen Bilqis was a clever woman and as soon as she heard this, she realised the lesson he was trying to teach her. She understood that she had been mistaken in worshipping the sun when there was a Being who could not be seen but who was much greater than the sun – Allah (S.W.T)! Immediately asking for forgiveness, she surrendered to Allah (S.W.T) saying:”I surrender with Suleiman to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.”(Surd Naml, Verse 44)

Prophet Uzair (a.s) and the empty village

Prophet Uzair (a.s) and the empty village

(Or have you heard) of the one who, on passing through an empty and ruined town, said, “When will God bring it to life?” God caused him to die and brought him back to life after a hundred years and then asked him, “How long have you been here?” He replied, “One day or part of a day.” The Lord said, “No, you have been here for one hundred years. Look at your food and drink. They have not yet decayed. But look at your donkey and its bones. To make your case evidence (of the Truth) for the people, see how we bring the bones together and cover them with flesh.” When he learned the whole story, he said, “Now I know that God has power over all things.” (2:259)

Prophet UJzair (a.s) was sent to the Bani Isra’el after Prophet Musa (a.s). Like all prophets, he was wise and pious.
One day he decided to travel to far-off lands and see the wonders of his lord. He packed some food and water for the road, climbed on his donkey and set off.
After riding for a long time, he came across an empty village. When he stopped to have a look, he saw bones of the people who had once lived there, scattered all around!
We have been told that this village was Jerusalem and its people were Jews.
They had committed great sins and Allah (S.W.T) had punished them by sending a tyrant king, Nebuchadnezzar, over them. It was he who destroyed the village and killed its people.
He looked at the broken bones for some time and then found himself wondering, “How will Allah (S.W.T) bring these scattered bones together into bodies on the Day of Qiyamah…?”
As soon as the words came to his mind, Allah (S.W.T) caused him to die. When He brought him back to life again, a hundred years had passed!
how long did you sleep?”
Prophet Uzair (a.s) replied, “I slept for one day…” and then : thinking that was too much, he added, “or maybe half a day.”
Allah (S.W.T) told him, “You have slept for one hundred years! Look at your food and your donkey.”
Uzair (a.s) looked around and saw that his food was untouched. What a shock he got when he searched for his donkey and only found a pile of old bones!
He immediately realized that he had truly slept for a long time. It was a miracle of Allah (S.W.T) while his donkey had become dust and bones, his food was as fresh as the day he had slept!
Allah (S.W.T) told Uzair (a.s) to look at the bones and as he watched, his donkey started coming back to life! The bones began join together, then they were covered with flesh and soon the donkey stood, alive and well, where he had tied it!
Seeing this Uzair (a.s) cried out in wonder, “Surely, Allah has Power over all things!”. He returned home only to find that his own children were now a hundred years older than him! When he said he was ‘Uzair, no one believed him, so he told them to bring the Tawrat (Old Testament) and began reciting it by heart. The people were amazed because they knew that only Uzair had memorised the book and this finally convinced them.
Uzair became a sign of Allah (S.W.T)’s power. He was also proof that resurrection is a true promise and will take place.

An Enemy Ordained for a Mu’min

An Enemy Ordained for a Mu’min

 

Prophet Hud (a.s.) used to farm.  Once, a group of people came to his house to meet him.  His wife came to the door and asked:

 

“Who is it?” 

 

They replied, “We have come from such and such city, which has been afflicted with famine and we are on the verge of destruction.  We have come to Prophet Hud (a.s.) to request him to pray for the rains.”

 

The wife of Hud (a.s.) remarked, “If his prayers had been answered, he would have prayed for himself; his own crops are withering away due to lack of water.”

 

They persisted, “Where is he at present?”

 

She informed them of his whereabouts whereupon the group approached him and placed their request before him.  Prophet Hud (a.s.) offered prayers and then supplicated, after which he turned to them and said, “ You may return for it has rained over your city.”

 

But as they sought to take his leave, they asked him, “When we approached your house we had come across a lady, who said: ‘If the prayers of Hud were to have been answered, would he not have prayed for himself?’

 

Prophet Hud (a.s.) said, “That woman is my wife and I pray to God to grant her a long life.”   “Why do you pray so?” asked the people.

 

He replied, “God has not created a Mu’min except that He has also ordained an enemy for him to trouble him.  This woman is my enemy and an enemy of whom I am the master, is better than an enemy, who happens to be my master.”

Namunah-e-Ma’arif, vol. 2, pg. 612.

Qaroon and Musa (a.s.)

Qaroon and Musa (a.s.) 

Prophet Musa (a.s.), in the course of propagating his religion, had to face severe adversity and hardship from the likes of Firo’un, Bala’m, Bao’ora and even his cousin Qaroon. Qaroon was immensely rich and possessed so much wealth that several strong youths were required to carry just the keys of his treasury.  He was one of the high ranking and influential nobles, who used to oppress his inferiors.

 Musa (a.s.), in compliance with God’s orders, sought zakaat from him, but Qaroon used to say:

 “I too possess knowledge of the Torah and am not inferior to Musa in any way; why should Ipay zakaat to him?”

 Eventually, his arrogance forced him to resort to dirty tactics to try to demean Prophet Musa. He approached a woman who was of bad character but was also extremely beautiful and attractive.

 He said to her, “I shall pay you a hundred thousand dirhams provided that tomorrow, when Musa (a.s.) is delivering a sermon to Bani Israel, you shout out in front of the people that Musa has committed adultery with you.”

 The woman accepted the offer.  The next day Bani Israel had gathered and Musa (a.s.), with the Torah in hand, was engaged in preaching to them. Qaroon, in all his finery, was also present in the crowd along with his attendants.  Suddenly, the woman stood up, but as she looked at the saintly face of Musa (a.s.), she experienced a change of heart and cried out aloud:

 “O’ Musa!  Do know that Qaroon has promised me a hundred thousand dirhams if I accuse you, in front of Bani Israel, of having committing adultery with me; but (I declare that) you have never committed such an act and God has protected your holy personality from such uncleanness.”

 When he heard this, Musa (a.s.) was devastated and heartbroken, and he cursed Qaroon by saying, “O’ Earth! Seize Qaroon and take him within you.”

 
Upon Divine orders, the ground underneath split apart and Qaroon and all his wealth fell in.

 According to another report, Musa had been preaching the people about his Sharia’h when, in the course of his lecture, he said:

 “A person who does not have a spouse and indulges in adultery shall be punished with one hundred lashes and a person who possesses a spouse and (yet) commits adultery, shall be stoned to death.”

 At that moment, Qaroon stood up and remarked, “(Would this be true) even if you were to commit such an offense?”

 “Yes,” replied Musa.

 “The Bani Israel are under the impression that you have committed adultery withsuch and such woman.”

 
“Bring the lady here,” demanded Musa. “If she testifies to this claim, you are at liberty to act according to the law.”

 The woman was brought before Musa (a.s.) who, placing her under oath to speak the truth, asked her:

 “Have I committed adultery with you?”

 The woman suddenly began to experience a change in her thinking and gave an answer which was opposite to what she had intended.

 “No! They lie”, she said. “Qaroon paid me such and such amount in order that I level this accusation at you.”

 Qaroon stood humiliated while Musa (a.s.) began weeping, fell down in prostration and supplicated:

 “O’ God!  Your enemy has hurt me and sought to disgrace me by means of calumny.  If I am Your Prophet, grant me ascendancy over him.”

 Then he cursed Qaroon whereupon Divine punishment overtook him and the earth consumed him

Hikaayat-ha-e-Shanidani, vol. 5, pg. 122; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 13, pg. 253.

E’sa (a.s.) and the Farmer

E’sa (a.s.) and the Farmer

 

It is reported that once, Prophet E’sa Ibn Maryam (a.s.) had been sitting and intently observing a farmer who, with a spade in hand, was hard at work in his field.

 

At that moment Prophet E’sa prayed to God:

 

“O’ Lord! Take away from him his hopes and aspirations.”

 

Suddenly, the person flung his spade aside and sat down in a corner.

 

“O’ Lord! Return his hopes and aspirations back to him” E’sa (a.s.) prayed once again.

 

The man moved from his place, picked up the spade and began working again. 

 

E’sa (a.s.) approached him and asked, “Why did you behave in such a way?”

 

The farmer answered, “I said to myself: ‘You are an old man whose life has almost come to an end; how much more do you wish to work and exert yourself?’  And so I flung the spade aside and sat down in the corner.  But after a while, I said to myself: ‘Why don’t you work?  You are still alive and in need of livelihood’ and so, picking up the spade, I returned to my work.”

Namunah-e-Ma’arif, vol. 1, pg. 298; Majmua’-e-Warraam.