(week 1)
The Hadeeth of Jibreel (عليه السلام)
As an introduction to Imaan, this lesson will look at parts of the hadeeth of Jibreel (عليه السلام) and its many benefits.
عن عمر رضي الله عنه…
قال بينما نحن جلوس عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم إِذْ طلع علينا رَجُلٌ شديد بياض الثياب شديد سواد الشعر… جلس إلى النبي ﷺ فأسند ركبتيه ووضع كفيه على فخذيه وقال يا محمد أخبرني عن الإسلام… قال فأخبرني عن الإيمان قال أن تؤمن بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله واليوم الآخر وتؤمن بالقدر خيره وشره قال صدقت… قال فأخبرني عن الساعة قال ما المسئول عنها بأعلم من السائل… ثم انطلق… ثم قال يا عُمر أتدري من السائل قلت الله ورسوله أعلم قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ جبريل أتاكُمْ يُعلمكُم دينكم) ( مسلم )
‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab‘
said, “One day we were sitting with Allah’s Prophet ﷺ when a man appeared before us dressed in pure white clothes and his hair was pure black … The man sat in front of the Prophet ﷺ , placed his palms on his thighs and said, ‘Muhammad, inform me about Islam.’…
The man said, ‘Inform me about Iman (faith).
The Prophet ﷺ replied,
‘That you affirm your faith in Allah ﷻ , in His angels in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Judgment and you affirm your faith in Qadar both the good and the bad of it.’
The man said, ‘You have told the truth…
The man again said, ‘Inform me about the hour of Judgment.’
The Prophet ﷺ remarked, ‘The one who is asked knows no more than the one who is asking.’ Then the man went away…
The Prophet ﷺ then said to me ” ‘Umar, do you know who that man was?” I replied, “Allah and His Prophet know best.”
The Prophet ﷺ remarked, ‘He was Jibreel. He came to teach you your religion.” (Muslim)
This is a paraphrased summary of a part of the hadeeth known as ‘The Hadeeth of Jibreel'(عليه السلام)
According to Ibn Hajar, this incident took place at a time close to the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ The questions asked by the Angel Jibreel (عليه السلام) summarized the mission of the Prophet ﷺ namely,
- To spread the message that only Allah ﷻ should be worshipped and to spread the other pillars of Islam.
- To teach the people that they should have belief in certain things even though the human eye cannot see them.
- The hadeeth shows the difference between a Muslim and a non-Muslim.
What we learn from the lesson:
- Muslims must be clean and well dressed.
- They should ask questions politely.
- It is important to ask good questions.
“Discussion:”
- Write the pillars of Iman in the order given in “The Hadeeth of Jibreel”.
Belief in Allah ﷻ
This lesson focuses on the first Pillar of Iman (Faith).
- Belief in Allah ﷻ means Tawheed. The linguistic meaning of Tawheed is ‘unifying’. However when using the word Tawheed in reference to Allah ﷻ , it means to believe that He is One, without any partners and that He is the Creator and Provider of everything. It also means that Allah ﷻ has unique Names and Attributes. Tawheed means to worship Allah ﷻ alone. Belief in Allah ﷻ is the first Pillar of Iman. The name ‘Allah’ has been attributed by Allah ﷻ to Himself.
Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan:
إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ (سورة طه ١٤)
“Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for my remembrance.” (Soorat Taa Haa:14)
- The word ‘deity’ means something worthy of worship. So when Allah ﷻ says “There is no deity except Me” then this means that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ . Believing in Allah ﷻ means to believe that He has no children, no wives and no equals.
- He does not eat, sleep or get tired. He is the only Creator, Sustainer and Provider. Allah ﷻ is the First, with no beginning, which means Allah ﷻ was not born. He is the Last, with no end, which means He will never die. Allah ﷻ sees, hears and knows everything. There is nothing like Him and He is perfect in every way.
- It is important for us to understand the Names and Attributes of Allah ﷻ as in the same way as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions understood them.
- The Companions NEVER asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ‘HOW?’ Not once did they ask, ‘HOW does Allah ﷻ see?’ or ‘HOW does Allah ﷻ hear? There is no hadeeth talking about HOW. The Companions accepted the fact that Allah ﷻ sees, hears and knows everything without discussing things like ‘HOW’ or ‘WHY’.
- The Companions accepted the verse in the Qur’aan:
فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌۭ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ (سورة الشورى ١١ )
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Ever-Hearing, the Ever-Seeing. (Soorat ash-Shooraa:11)
What we learn from the lesson:
- Allah ﷻ is One.
- Allah ﷻ calls Himself by the name ‘Allah’.
- There is nothing like Allah ﷻ .
- Allah ﷻ sees and hears in a manner that befits His Majesty.
“Discussion:”
- List four things that make Allah different from His creation
- Discuss the meaning of Tawheed
Soorat al-Qiyaamah: The Resurrection (Part 1)
This part of the soorah describes the Day of Resurrection
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
| 1. | Laaa uqsimu bi yawmil qiyaamah | I do call to witness the Resurrection Day; | لَا أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ |
| 2. | Wa laaa uqsimu bin nafsil lawwaamah | And I do call to witness the self-reproaching spirit: (Eschew Evil). | وَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ |
| 3. | Ayahsabul insaanu al lan najm’a ‘izaamah | Does man think that We cannot assemble his bones? | أَيَحْسَبُ الْإِنْسَانُ أَلَّنْ نَجْمَعَ عِظَامَهُ |
| 4. | Balaa qaadireena ‘alaaa an nusawwiya banaanah | Nay, We are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers. | بَلَىٰ قَادِرِينَ عَلَىٰ أَنْ نُسَوِّيَ بَنَانَهُ |
| 5. | Bal yureedul insaanu liyafjura amaamah | But man wishes to do wrong (even) in the time in front of him. | بَلْ يُرِيدُ الْإِنْسَانُ لِيَفْجُرَ أَمَامَهُ |
| 6. | Yas’alu ayyyaana yawmul qiyaamah | He questions: “When is the Day of Resurrection?” | يَسْأَلُ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ |
| 7. | Fa izaa bariqal basar | At length, when the sight is dazed, | فَإِذَا بَرِقَ الْبَصَرُ |
| 8. | Wa khasafal qamar | And the moon is buried in darkness. | وَخَسَفَ الْقَمَرُ |
| 9. | Wa jumi’ash shamsu wal qamar | And the sun and moon are joined together,- | وَجُمِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ |
| 10. | Yaqoolul insaanu yaw ma ‘izin aynal mafarr | That Day will Man say: “Where is the refuge?” | يَقُولُ الْإِنْسَانُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَيْنَ الْمَفَرُّ |
| 11. | Kallaa laa wazar | By no means! No place of safety! | كَلَّا لَا وَزَرَ |
| 12. | Ilaa rabbika yawma ‘izinil mustaqarr | Before thy Lord (alone), that Day will be the place of rest. | إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمُسْتَقَرُّ |
| 13. | Yunabba ‘ul insaanu yawma ‘izim bimaa qaddama wa akhkhar | That Day will Man be told (all) that he put forward, and all that he put back. | يُنَبَّأُ الْإِنْسَانُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ |
| 14. | Balil insaanu ‘alaa nafsihee baseerah | Nay, man will be evidence against himself, | بَلِ الْإِنْسَانُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ |
| 15. | Wa law alqaa ma’aazeerah | Even though he were to put up his excuses. | وَلَوْ أَلْقَىٰ مَعَاذِيرَهُ |
- The first word (لا) in verses 1& 2 is intended to be a refutation of shirk and the rejection of faith of the disbelievers and the Day of Judgment.
- Allah ﷻ takes an oath by the Day of Resurrection. He mentions al-Lawwamah which refers to the soul that will worry on the Day of Resurrection and will have deep regret for past deeds.
- There are generally three types of souls and here Allah ﷻ mentions one. The one He mentions is al-Lawwamah which is the soul that blames all the time.
- The disbeliever, because he does not believe in the unseen, thinks that he will never be resurrected after his death.
- Allah ﷻ will not only resurrect everyone but will even put their fingertips together in perfect proportion.
- On the Day of Resurrection, the general existence will have a change in its order.
- There will be no difference between night and day. Some people will be humiliated and there will be no escape.
- Humankind will see the rewards of their actions on that day.
