PART 12: VISITING THE GRAVES IS THE SUNNAH OF PROPHET [sal Allahu alayhi wasallam] AND NOT GRAVE WORSHIP!

From the Layman’s Desk-14.

Part 12: Continued… TAWASSUL BY THE JEWS:

Next, it is also significant to know that advent of Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) was already foretold in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures.  Tawassul through the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wassallam) used to be  invoked by the Jews in Arabia who were expecting his (s) emergence in Arabia. 

The Jews were GOD Almighty's chosen people:  "We did aforetime grant to the Children of Israel the Book the Power of Command, and Prophethood;  We gave them, for Sustenance, things good and pure; and We favoured them above the nations.  (The Noble Quran, 45:16)"  But after they utterly failed with GOD Almighty and His Messengers (Not Moses ever liked their actions, nor Jesus ever liked them and their killings of the Prophets):    As per the Holy Qur’an, “then because of their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelieving in the revelations of Allah, and their slaying of the prophets wrongfully, and their saying: Our hearts are hardened - Nay, but Allah set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so that they believe not save a few -  (An-Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse 155).  Jesus said to the Jews: "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.  (From the KJV Bible, Matthew 21:43)" They became cursed, and GOD Almighty removed His Kingdom from them and gave it to another nation.  According to the Apocalypse of Peter, this nation would come from the Arabs.  That nation is none other than the "blessed" Muslims who came from the "blessed" Ishmael.   "Also mention in the Book (the story of) Isma'il: He was (strictly) true to what he promised, and he was an apostle (and) a prophet.  (The Noble Quran, 19:54)"  Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) has a direct blood relationship with Prophet Ishmael (peace be upon him). The Holy Qur’an says: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” (Surah Fath, 48:29); and “Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets; and Allah is ever Aware of all things” (Al-Ahzab, 33:40); and  “We did not send you, O Muhammad, except as a mercy, that is, to [give] mercy, to all the worlds, [the worlds of] mankind and jinn through you” (Surah Anbiya, 21:107).

The Jews of Madinah were expecting a powerful Prophet to arise among them. The Jews believed that a Powerful Prophet would arise. Several Jewish rabbis and scholars knew of this. In fact it is said by Ibn Sad one Jewish Rabbi came to Muhammad when he was a baby and looked at him. What he said was amazing: He added: "Verily the Jews are his enemies, and he is the Prophet of these people; he is an Arab and the Jews are jealous of him wishing that he should have been an Israelite. So guard your brother's son." [Ibn Sa’d Volume 1 page 177 ]

There was a Jewish Rabbi named Abdullah bin Salam. Abdullah was very knowlegedgable on the Torah and the Jewish religion. When he heard that Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam)  was forced to leave Mecca and came to Madinah he came rushing to Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) . He wanted to see if Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) was a true Prophet or not.  To see if he was truthful or not, Abdullah asked Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) three questions which nobody knows except if he is a real Prophet from God.  

The following Hadith shows this: Narrated Anas:  'Abdullah bin Salam heard the news of the arrival of Allah's Apostle (at Medina) while he was on a farm collecting its fruits. So he came to the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam)and said, "I will ask you about three things which nobody knows unless he be a prophet. Firstly, what is the first portent of the Hour? What is the first meal of the people of Paradise? And what makes a baby look like its father or mother?'. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam)said, "Just now Gabriel has informed me about that." 'Abdullah said, "Gabriel?" The Prophet said, "Yes." 'Abdullah said, "He, among the angels is the enemy of the Jews." On that the Prophet recited this Holy Verse:--"Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel (let him die in his fury!) for he has brought it (i.e. Qur'an) down to your heart by Allah's permission." (2.97) Then he added, "As for the first portent of the Hour, it will be a fire that will collect the people from the East to West. And as for the first meal of the people of Paradise, it will be the caudite (i.e. extra) lobe of the fish liver. And if a man's discharge preceded that of the woman, then the child resembles the father, and if the woman's discharge preceded that of the man, then the child resembles the mother."

On hearing that, 'Abdullah said, "I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that you are the Apostle of Allah, O, Allah's Apostle; the Jews are liars, and if they should come to know that I have embraced Islam, they would accuse me of being a liar." 

In the meantime some Jews came (to the Prophet) and he asked them, "What is 'Abdullah's status amongst you?" They replied, "He is the best amongst us, and he is our chief and the son of our chief." The Prophet said, "What would you think if 'Abdullah bin Salam embraced Islam?" They replied, "May Allah protect him from this!"  Then 'Abdullah came out and said, "I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah." The Jews then said, "Abdullah is the worst of us and the son of the worst of us," and disparaged him. On that 'Abdullah said, "O Allah's Apostle! This is what I was afraid of!"  (Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 7). 

To put it briefly, the Jews knew that Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam)was the prophet they were expecting according to their Torah and verily his attributes and qualities are clearly mentioned in the Torah, but they were jealous of him.

So the Holy Qur'an mentions:

"And when there cometh unto them a Scripture from Allah, confirming that in their possession) which accords with that which is in their possession (though before that) before Muhammad (pbuh) (they were asking for a signal triumph) through Muhammad and the Qur'an (over those who disbelieved) of their enemies: the tribes of Asad, Ghatafan, Muzaynah, and Juhaynah (and when there cometh unto them that which they knew) of his traits and description in their Book (they disbelieved therein) they denied it was him. (The curse of Allah) His wrath and torment (is on disbelievers) the Jews."

(Qur'an 2:89 Tafsir Ibn Abbas)

Tafsir al-Jalalayn too practically gives the same tafsir:  "When there came to them a Book from God, confirming what was with them, in the Torah, that is the Qur’ān — and they formerly, before it came, prayed for victory, for assistance, over the disbelievers, saying: ‘God, give us assistance against them through the Prophet that shall be sent at the end of time’; but when there came to them what they recognised, as the truth, that is, the mission of the Prophet, they disbelieved in it, out of envy and for fear of losing leadership (the response to the first lammā particle is indicated by the response to the second one); and the curse of God is on the disbelievers."

(Qur'an 2:89)

Imam Qurtubi related the tradition through Ibn ‘Abbas: The Jews of Khaybar were often at war with the Ghatafan (tribe). When they confronted each other (in battle) the Jews were defeated. They attacked again, offering this prayer, “(O Lord,) we beg You through the mediation of the Unlettered Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) about whom You have promised us that you will send him to us at the end of time. Please help us against them.” Ibn ‘Abbas adds: whenever they faced the enemy, they offered this prayer and defeated the Ghatafan (tribe). But when the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) was sent, they denied (him). So Allah the Exalted revealed the verse: “And before that they themselves had (prayed) for victory (through the mediation of the last Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Book revealed to him) over the disbelievers,” that is, through your mediation, O Muhammad.[Tafsir Qurtubi, al-Jami li Ahkam al-Quran, Volume 002, Page No. 89-90, Under the Verse 2:89]  

According to Ibn Jareer Tabari (who was also one of the Mujtahid Imams), the Jews made this supplications: “O Allah! Send down a Prophet who shall make justice between us and the people,” and those people used to gain victory and help against others through this mediation. (Tafseer Ibn Jareer).  Ibn Kathir reported that before the birth of Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wassallam) the Jews of Al-Ghatafan tribe who were believers at that time, used to pray by means of Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wassallam) for victory over non-believers.  Ibn al-Qayyim has mentioned in his Jami al-Fareed that the Jews of al-Ghatafan tribe prayed with the Wasila of the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wassallam) for the victory against the unbelievers and that this is also mentioned in Surah Baqara, Verse 89 of the Holy Qur’an. 

Then, it is stated in Durre Manthur that Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Abbas ® states that when the Jews wished to gain victory over their enemies they would make this supplication: “O Allah! We beseech You through the mediation of the Unlettered Prophet that You may grant us victory over those polytheists.”

In his book al-Jami` al-Fareed, page 493, Ibn Qayyim comments on the following hadith of Ibn 'Abbas ®:  "In the time before the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) the Jews of Khaybar were fighting with the Ghatafan tribe. When the battle ended the Jews were defeated. They prayed to Allah asking Him, 'for the sake of Muhammad (bi haqqi Muhammad), the Prophet whom you are sending in the last days, make us defeat this tribe." When they met again with Ghatafan they defeated them. Allah mentioned that event in the Qur'an when He said: "From of old they had prayed for victory against the unbelievers" (Baqara, 89), which means they [the Jews] were asking for your sake, O Muhammad, to defeat the unbelievers."

Ibn Kathir reported that before the birth of Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) the Jews of al-Ghatafan tribe who were believers at that time used to pray for victory over non-believers by means of Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam), therefore making wasila of Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) and other friends of Allah after their physical lives for Acceptance of prayer or right wish to be fulfilled is permitted.

In his Urdu work, Tareekh-e-Najd-O-Hijaz, Mufti Abdul Qayyum Qadri points out that ibn Wahhab Najdi who denied the Wasila of the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wassallam) saying that he had passed away, in fact became dumbfounded when he was confronted with the tradition narrated by Hadhrat  Abdullah ibn Abbas ® according to which the Jews used to pray through the Wasila of the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) and that their prayers used to be answered even before the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) was born and which fact is also mentioned in the Qur’an. 

 “The Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) is the Wasila of all mediations, even the Wasila for Hadhrat Adam (a.s.)” (Tafseer Saadi). As we mentioned in the previous post, apart from the fact that the prophets are the mediators for their community, we also know that Adam (a.s.) sought the Wasila of the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wassallam) before Allah, and as such our Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wassallam) is also the Wasila for the Anbiya (a.s.). 

In  Daf’u Shubahi man Shabbaha wa-Tamarrad (“The Repelling of the Sophistries of the One Who Rebels and Likens God to Creation”) in which  Shaykh Taqi al-Din al-Hisni (1351-1426 c.e.) has detailed the many Damascene mischiefs (Fitan) of Ibn Taimiyya, he also said:

Whoever denies the use of the Prophet as intermediary (al-tawassul bihi) and the use of him as intercessor (al-tashaffu‘ bihi) after his death, or claims that his sanctity ended with his death, has announced to the people and proclaimed against himself that his state is worse than that of the Jews, who used him as intermediary before he appeared into existence…

To continue, Insha Allah…

NASIR