Part 4 : A Brief Survey: Was Prophet (sal Allau alayhi wasallam) given the Knowledge of Unseen?

Imam al-Qadhi Yusuf an-Nabhani q.s.(1849-1932 ce)

From the Layman’s Desk: Islamic Article No.18:

Part 4 : A Brief Survey: Was Prophet (sal Allau alayhi wasallam) given the Knowledge of Unseen?

In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, and blessings and peace of Allah upon His Prophet and Messenger Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam), his Family and all his Companions.

As we pointed out before, Al-Qad.i `Iyad. said in al-Shifa': "His (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) knowledge of the unseen counts among those miracles of his that are known categorically and definitely, coming to us through mass transmissions with a vast number of narrators and congruent meanings. 

After having mentioned many ahadith in previous parts, let us check out some more ahadith that throw light on the Prophet’s (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) knowledge of the Unseen.  It may be noted that there are Hadiths that not only mention the successors of Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) or the ones who shall govern after him,  but also fortell the names of people who shall be the inheritors of Paradise and who among them would be martyred.  From his 900-page compendium which Shaykh Gibril Haddad has compiled from the work of Yusuf al-Nabhani’s The Miracles of the Prophet entitled HUJJATULLAH `ALA AL-`ALAMIN FI MU`JIZAT SAYYID AL-MURSALIN, (1317/1899) it will be relevant to quote some of the hadiths on Prophet’s (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) knowledge of the unseen. We learn from this translation that Qadi Yusuf al-Nabahani said: First of all, you should know that knowledge of the unseen is the priviledge of Allah Most High, and that its appearance on the tongue of the Messenger of Allah and others comes from Allah (swt) either through revelation or through inspiration. The Prophet said in the h.adith: “I swear it by Allah! Truly I know nothing except what my Lord taught me.”1[]  So everything that came to us from him consisting in news of the unseen is nothing other than the Divine disclosure to him as a proof for the actuality of his Prophethood and its truth.

Now to quote from the above translations of Shaykh Gibril Haddad (whose works have greatly benefited the English-knowing Muslims of Ahlus Sunnah.  May Allah (swt) grant him immense rewards here and in the hereafter):  

“HIS   TELLING OF UNSEEN MATTERS RELATED TO SOME OF HIS COMPANIONS (RA)

ABU BAKR RADYALLAHU `ANH

The Two Masters [al-Bukhari and Muslim] narrated from `A'isha radyAllahu `anha that the Prophet   said to her: "Call your father and brother [`Abd al-Rahman] here so I will put something down in writing, for truly I fear lest someone forward a claim or form some ambition, and Allah and the believers refuse anyone other than Abu Bakr."[1]

Al-Hakim narrated - declaring it sahih - from Ibn Mas`ud radyAllahu `anh who said the Prophet   said: "A man from the dwellers of Paradise is about to come into your sight." Whereupon Abu Bakr came and sat among them.[2] The Prophet   had already given him the glad tidings of Paradise before that occasion. Meaning: When he   said: "Abu Bakr is in Janna, `Umar is in Janna, `Uthman is in Janna, `Ali is in Janna, Talha is in Janna, al-Zubayr [ibn al-`Awwam] is in Janna, `Abd al-Rahman ibn `Awf is in Janna, Sa`d [ibn Abi Waqqas], Sa`id [ibn Zayd ibn `Amr] is in Janna, and Abu `Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah is in Janna."[3]

ABU BAKR AND `UMAR RADYALLAHU `ANHUMA

Ibn Majah and al-Hakim narrated from Hudhayfa radyAllahu `anh that the Prophet   said, "Take for your leaders the two who come after me: Abu Bakr and `Umar."[4]

ABU BAKR, `UMAR, AND `UTHMAN RADYALLAHU `ANHUM

Abu Nu`aym, al-Bazzar, Abu Ya`la, and Ibn Abi Khaythama narrated from Anas radyAllahu `anh who said: "I was with the Prophet   inside an enclosed garden when someone came and knocked on the gate. He said, 'Anas, let him in, give him the glad tidings of Paradise, and tell him he shall be my successor.' Lo and behold! It was Abu Bakr. Then another man came and knocked on the gate whereupon the Prophet   said, 'Let him in, give him the glad tidings of Paradise, and tell him he shall be my successor after Abu Bakr.' Lo and behold! It was `Umar. Then another man came and knocked on the gate whereupon the Prophet   said, 'Let him in, give him the glad tidings of Paradise, and tell him he shall be my successor after `Umar - and that he shall be killed.' Lo and behold! It was `Uthman."[5]

Al-Hakim narrated - declaring it sound - and also al-Bayhaqi, from Safina radyAllahu `anh who said: "When the Prophet   built the Mosque Abu Bakr brought a stone and put it down; then `Umar brought a stone and put it down; then `Uthman brought a stone and put it down. Whereupon the Prophet   said, 'These are the ones that shall govern after me.'"[6]There is in this narration an allusion to their order of succession - Allah be well-pleased with them! Indeed, it was mentioned explicitly in some narrations that he   was asked about it and replied, "These are the successors after me" while another narration has, "These are the ones who shall govern after me." Imam Abu Zur`a [al-`Iraqi] said, "Its chain is free of harm, and al-Hakim narrated it in the Mustadrak and declared it sound.[7]

Al-Bayhaqi and Abu Nu`aym narrated from `Abd Allah ibn `Amr ibn al-`As radyAllahu `anhuma who said: "I heard the Prophet   say: 'There shall be among you twelve caliphs. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq shall not tarry but little after me, while the Master of the Arabs shall live a blameless life and die a martyr.' Someone asked, 'Who is he, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied, '`Umar ibn al-Khattab!' Then he turned to `Uthman and said,'As for you, they shall ask you to cast off a shirt that Allah vested you with. By the One Who sent me with the truth! Truly, if you cast it off, you shall not enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of the needle.'"[8]

Ibn `Asakir narrated from Anas radyAllahu `anh who said: "The delegation of Banu al-Mustalaq instructed me to ask the Messenger of Allah  , 'If we come next year and not find you, to whom should we remit our [obligatory] sadaqat?' I conveyed him the question and he replied, 'Remit them to Abu Bakr.' I told them his answer but they said, 'What if we do not find Abu Bakr?' I conveyed him the question and he replied, `Remit them to `Umar.' They asked again, 'What if we do not find `Umar?' He said, 'Remit them to `Uthman, and may they perish the day they kill `Uthman!'"[9]

Abu Ya`la narrated with a sound chain from Sahl radyAllahu `anh that [Mount] Uhud trembled while the Messenger of Allah  , Abu Bakr, `Umar, and `Uthman were on it, whereupon the Messenger of Allah   said: "Be firm, Uhud! There is none on you but a Prophet, a Siddiq, and two martyrs!" After that, `Umar and `Uthman were killed as martyrs and Abu Bakr died radyAllahu `anh.[10]

Al-Tabarani narrated from Ibn `Umar radyAllahu `anha that the Prophet  was inside an enclosed garden when Abu Bakr sought permission to enter. He said, "Give him permission and give him the glad tidings of Paradise." Then `Umar sought permission and he said, "Give him permission and give him the glad tidings of Paradise and martyrdom." Then `Uthman sought permission and he said, "Give him permission and give him the glad tidings of Paradise and martyrdom."[11]

The Two Masters narrated from Abu Musa al-Ash`ari radyAllahu `anh that the Prophet   was inside [the garden of] the well of Aris one day and sat on the stone promontory of the well, in the middle, baring his shanks. "I [Abu Musa] said to myself: `Surely, today I shall be the Prophet's doorkeeper.' Then Abu Bakr came so I told him, `Wait,' and went to tell the Prophet  , `This is Abu Bakr asking permission to enter.' He replied, 'Give him permission and give him the glad tidings of Paradise.' Whereupon he entered and sat next to the Prophet   on the edge, dangling his legs. Then `Umar came and I said, 'This is `Umar asking permission to enter.' He replied, 'Give him permission and give him the glad tidings of Paradise.' Whereupon he entered and sat next to the Prophet   on his left, dangling his legs. Then `Uthman came and I said, this is 'Uthman asking permission to enter.' He replied, 'Give him permission and give him the glad tidings of Paradise after a trial that shall befall him.' He entered but found no room to sit on the edge of the well, so he sat opposite them on the other side of the well and dangled his legs." Sa`id ibn al-Musayyib said: "I saw in this an allusion to their graves."[12]

Al-Tabarani and al-Bayhaqi narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam radyAllahu `anh who said: "The Prophet   sent me out, saying, 'Go and see Abu Bakr. You will find him sitting inside his house wrapped up in his cloth with his legs drawn up (muhtabyan). Give him the glad tidings of Paradise. Then go to the mountain until you find `Umar riding a donkey and his tall frame looming in the distance. Give him the glad tidings of Paradise. Then go to `Uthman, whom you will find in the market selling and buying, and give him the glad tidings of Paradise after a harrowing ordeal.' I went and found them as the Messenger of Allah   had said, and I told them."[13]

ABU BAKR, `UMAR, AND `ALI RADYALLAHU `ANHUM

Al-Hakim narrated - declaring it sound - from Jabir radyAllahu `anh who said: "I walked with the Prophet   to [the house of] a woman who slaughtered a sheep for us. At that time he   said: 'Behold! A man from the people of Paradise is about to enter.' Whereupon Abu Bakr came in. Then he said: `Behold! A man from the people of Paradise is about to enter.' Whereupon `Umar came in. Then he said: 'Behold! A man from the people of Paradise is about to enter. O Allah, if You wish, let it be `Ali.'Whereupon `Ali entered."(14:) 2[14]

ABU BAKR, `UMAR, `UTHMAN, AND `ALI RADYALLAHU `ANHUM

Ahmad, al-Bazzar, and al-Tabarani in al-Awsat narrated from Jabir ibn `Abd Allah radyAllahu `anhuma who said: "The Prophet   went out to visit Sa`d ibn al-Rabi`. [There,] he sat down and we sat down with him. Then he said,'A man from the dwellers of Paradise is about to come into your sight.' Whereupon Abu Bakr came. Then he said, 'A man from the dwellers of Paradise is about to come into your sight.' Whereupon `Umar came. Then he said, 'A man from the dwellers of Paradise is about to come into your sight.' Whereupon `Uthman came. Then he said, 'A man from the dwellers of Paradise is about to come into your sight. O Allah, if You wish, let it be `Ali.' Whereupon `Ali came."[15]

ABU BAKR, `UMAR, `UTHMAN, `ALI, TALHA, AND AL-ZUBAYR RADYALLAHU `ANHUM

Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayra radyAllahu `anh that the Messenger of Allah was on Mount Hira' together with Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman, `Ali, Talha, and al-Zubayr when the rock moved, whereupon the Prophet   said:"Be still! There is none on top of you but a Prophet, a Siddiq, or a martyr."[16]

Indeed, they all were killed as martyrs except Abu Bakr al-Siddiq - Allah be well-pleased with all of them! The trembling of the mountain repeated itself when he   was on top of it with some of his other Companions.

HIS   TELLING OF UNSEEN MATTERS RELATED TO SOME OF HIS COMPANIONS (RA)

`UMAR - ALLAH BE WELL-PLEASED WITH HIM

Ibn Sa`d and Ibn Abî Shayba narrated from Abû al-Ashhab, from a man from Muzayna [near Madîna], that the Prophet   saw `Umar wearing a certain shirt whereupon he asked him, "Is it new or has it been washed already?"'Umar replied, "It has been washed already." The Prophet   said, "`Umar! wear new clothes, live a blameless life, and die a martyr!" This is a mursal report:[1]

The Two Masters narrated that `Umar ibn al-Khattâb asked one day: "Which of you remembers what the Messenger of Allâh   said concerning the dissension that shall surge like the waves of the sea?" Hudhayfa said: "You need not worry about it, Commander of the Believers! For between you and it there is a gate closed shut" `Umar said: "Will the gate be opened or broken?" Hudhayfa said: "Broken." `Umar replied: "That is more appropriate than that it be let open." Later, Hudhayfa was asked who that gate was and he said: "That gate was `Umar." They asked him, "Did `Umar know that?" He replied, "Yes, as surely as night precedes day, and I was speaking to him unambiguously."[2]

Al-Bazzâr, al-Tabarânî and Abû Nu`aym narrated from `Uthmân ibn Maz`ûn - Allâh be well-pleased with him - who said: "I heard the Messenger of Allâh say of `Umar: 'This is the bolt of dissension (ghalqu al-fitna). There shall not cease to stand between you and dissension a strongly shut gate as long as this man lives among you.'"[3]

Al-Tabarânî also narrated from Abû Dharr that the Prophet   said: "No dissension can reach as long as this man is among you," meaning `Umar.[4]

Khâlid ibn al-Walîd addressed the people in al-Shâm one day and a man said to him: "The dissensions have appeared!" Khâlid replied: "As long as Ibn al-Khattâb is alive then no! That shall only happen after his time."[5] Khâlid would not say such a thing of his own opinion, so it appears he heard it from the Prophet   or from whoever heard it from him.

`UTHMAN - ALLAH BE WELL-PLEASED WITH HIM

Al-Tabarânî narrated from Zayd ibn Thâbit who said that he heard the Prophet  say: "`Uthmân passed by me while one of the angels was with me and the latter said, 'This is a martyr, his people will kill him. Truly he puts us to shame.'"[6]

Al-Hâkim - declaring it sound - and al-Bayhaqî narrated from Abû Hurayra that he said at the time `Uthmân was besieged: "I heard the Messenger of Allâh   say: 'There shall be a dissension and strife.' We said, 'O Messenger of Allâh! What do you order us to do then?' He replied, 'Stay with the leader and his friends,' pointing to `Uthmân."[7]

Ibn Mâjah, al- Hâkim - declaring it sound-, al-Bayhaqî, and Abû Nu`aym narrated from `A'isha - Allâh be well-pleased with her: "The Messenger of Allâh   summoned `Uthmân and then spoke to him confidentially, whereupon the face of the latter changed. The Day of the House [= when he was besieged] we told him, `Will you not put up a fight?' He said, `No! The Messenger of Allâh   took a covenant from me [not to fight at the time of my martyrdom] and I shall fulfill it"[8]

Ibn `Adî and Ibn `Asâkir narrated from Anas who said: "The Messenger of Allâh   said: 'O `Uthmân! You shall be given the caliphate after me but the hypocrites will want you to renounce it Do not renounce it but fast on that day so that you will break your fast with me.'"[9]

Al-Hâkim - declaring it sound - and Ibn Mâjah narrated from Murra ibn Ka`b who said: "I heard the Messenger of Allâh   mention a trial, at which time a man cloaked in his garment passed by. He said: 'This man, at that time, shall follow right guidance.' I went to see him and it was `Uthmân."[10]

Al-Hâkim narrated from Ibn `Abbâs - Allâh be well-pleased with both of them - who said that the Prophet   told them that drops from the blood of `Uthmân shall fall on the verse (and Allah will suffice thee (for defense) against them( (2:137); and this is what took place.[11]

The hadîth Master al-Silafî narrated from Hudhayfa who said: "The beginning of dissensions is the murder of `Uthmân and the last of them is the coming out of the Anti-Christ:[12]

By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! None shall die with a mustard seed's worth of love for the killers of `Uthmân except he shall follow the Anti-Christ if the latter comes in his lifetime and, if not, he shall believe in him in his grave." It is evident that Hudhayfa heard this from the Prophet   for it is not something that can be said on the basis of opinion.

Al-Tabarânî narrated with a sound chain from [Abû] Mas`ûd who said: "We were with the Prophet   in some campaign at which time distress befell the people. I saw in their faces the signs of dejection while I saw happiness in those of the hypocrites. Seeing this, the Messenger of Allâh   said: 'I swear by Allâh that the sun shall not set before Allâh first brings you some sustenance.' `Uthmân understood that Allâh and His Prophet   would most certainly be confirmed, so he bought fourteen mounts loaded with food and conveyed nine of them to the Prophet  . The signs of joy could be seen on the faces of the Muslims and those of sadness on the faces of the hypocrites. I saw the Prophet   raising his hands until one could see the whiteness of his arm-pits, supplicating on behalf of `Uthmân with a supplication I never heard him say for anyone before him."[13]

Al-Bayhaqî narrated from `Urwa that when the Prophet   alighted at Hudaybiyya he sent `Uthmân to the Quraysh saying, "Tell them that we have not come to fight but only for the Minor Pilgrimage and invite them to Islâm." He also ordered him to visit all the male and female believers of Makka and give them the glad tidings of impending victory and to tell them of the near appearance of his Religion in Makka, if Allâh wills so that the faith should no longer be derided there. He went to see the Quraysh and told them this but they refused and declared that they would fight. Then the Messenger of Allâh   summoned people to pledge their loyalty, whereupon someone called out: "Lo! Truly the Holy Spirit has descended upon the Messenger of Allâh" Then the Muslims pledged to him that they would never desert him. Allâh frightened the idolaters with this event so they released all the Muslims they had previously held and asked for a truce and treaty. The Muslims said, while at Hudaybiyya and before `Uthmân got back, that the latter had reached the Ka`ba and circumambulated it The Prophet   said: "I do not think that he circumambulated it while we are under siege."When `Uthmân returned they told him, "You circumambulated the House." He replied, "Perish your thought! By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, even if I had taken up residence there for one year with the Messenger of Allâh   at Hudaybiyya, I would not have circumambulated it until the Messenger of Allâh  did. The Quraysh invited me to circumambulate it but I refused." The Muslims said, "The Messenger of Allâh   is truly the most knowing of Allâh among us and the one with the best opinion."[14]

`ALI - ALLAH BE WELL-PLEASED WITH HIM

Al-Tabarânî narrated from Salmâ the wife of Abû Râfi` - Allâh be well-pleased with both of them - who said: "I can see myself with the Messenger of Allâh  when he said: 'A man from Paradise is about to come into your presence.' Lo and behold! I heard the sound of footsteps and there was `Alî ibn Abî Tâlib (kw)."[15]

Al-Hâkim and al-Bayhaqî narrated from Abû Sa`îd al-Khudrî who said: "We were with the Messenger of Allâh   one time when his sandal-strings broke, so `Alî stayed behind, mending them, after which the Prophet   walked a little and said: 'In truth there shall be, among you, one who shall fight over the interpretation of the Qur'ân just as I fought over its revelation.' Abû Bakr asked, `Am I he?' The Prophet   said no. `Umar asked: `Am I he?' The Prophet   said: 'No, but the sandal repairman (khâsif al-na`l).'"[16]

Abû Ya`lâ and al-Hâkim - who graded it a sound report - narrated from Ibn `Abbâs - Allah be well-pleased with both of them - that the Prophet   said to `Alî: "In truth, you shall certainly experience great hardship after me." He asked: "With my Religion safe?" The Prophet   said yes.[17]

Al-Tabarânî narrated from `Alî who said: "The Prophet   took my pledge that I must fight traitors, deceivers, and renegades (al-nâkithîn wal-qâsitîn wal-mâriqîn)."[18]

Al-Humaydî, al-Hâkim, and others narrated from Abû al-Aswad [al-Du'alî] who said: "`Abd Allâh ibn Salâm came and said to `Alî as the latter had his foot in the stirrups: 'Do not go to the people of Iraq! If you do, the sword-blades shall fall on you there.' `Alî replied: `I swear it by Allâh: the Messenger of Allâh told me the same before you did.'"[19]

Abû Nu`aym narrated from `Alî who said: "The Messenger of Allâh   told me:'There shall be dissensions and your people shall argue with you.' I said, 'What do you order me to do?' He replied: 'Rule by the Book.'"[20]

Al-Bayhaqî narrated from `Alî who said: "Fâtima's hand was asked in marriage from the Messenger of Allâh   [but he refused], so a freedwoman that belonged to me at the time said to me: 'Did you hear that Fâtima's hand was asked in marriage? Then what prevents you from going to see the Messenger of Allâh   about it?' So I went to see him, and the Messenger of Allâh  possessed great majesty and presence, so when I stood before him I froze. By Allâh! I could not say a word. The Messenger of Allâh   said: 'What brings you?' I stayed silent He said: 'Perhaps you came to ask Fâtima's hand?'I said yes."[21]

Al-Hâkim - he declared it sound - and Abû Nu`aym narrated from `Ammâr ibn Yâsir - Allah be well-pleased with both of them - that the Prophet   said to `Alî: "The most criminal of all people is he that shall strike you here" - indicating his temple - "until blood soaks this" - indicating his beard.[22]

Abû Nu`aym narrated something like it from Jâbir ibn Samura and Suhayb. Al-Hâkim narrated from Anas who said: "I went in with the Prophet   to see `Alî who lay sick while Abû Bakr and `Umar were visiting him. One of them said to the other, 'I do not think that he will survive,' whereupon the Messenger of Allâh   said: 'In truth, he shall not die other than murdered and he shall not die until he is filled with bitterness.'"[23]

Al-Hâkim narrated from Thawr ibn Mijzâ'a who said: "I passed by Talha on the Day of the Camel as he was [lying on the ground and] about to expire. He said to me: 'What side are you on?' I replied, 'With the friends of the Commander of the Believers.' He said, 'Stretch out your hand so that I may pledge my loyalty to you.' I stretched my hand and he pledged his loyalty to me. Then his spirit came out I went back to `Alî and told him. He said, 'Allâh is greatest! The Messenger of Allâh   said the truth: Allâh would not have Talha enter Paradise except firmly bound by his pledge of loyalty to me.'"[24]

Al-Bayhaqî narrated through Ibn Ishâq who said: "Yazîd ibn Sufyân narrated to me from Muhammad ibn Ka`b that the scribe of the Messenger of Allâh  at that truce - meaning the truce of al-Hudaybiyya - was `Alî ibn Abî Tâlib, at which time the Messenger of Allâh   told him: 'Write: These are the terms of the truce between Muhammad ibn `Abd Allâh and Suhayl ibn `Umar.' `Alî stalled and would not write anything less than 'Muhammad the Messenger of Allâh' Whereupon the Messenger of Allâh   said: 'Write it, for truly you shall suffer something similar, and be treated unjustly.'"[25]

This is what took place after the battle of Siffîn when the pact of arbitration was drawn between him and Mu`âwiya - Allâh be well-pleased with both of them and with the rest of the Companions of the Messenger of Allâh  . `Abd Allâh ibn Ahmad narrated in the appendices to the Musnad as well as al-Bazzâr, Abû Ya`lâ, and al-Hâkim from `Alî who said: "The Messenger of Allâh   said to me: 'There is in you is a similarity to `Isâ - upon him peace: the Jews hated him to the point that they calumniated his mother, and the Christians loved him to the point that they gave him the rank which is not his.'"[26]

`Alî said: "Two types of people shall perish concerning me: a hater who forges lies about me, and a lover who over-praises me."[27]

Al-Tabarânî and Abû Nu`aym narrated from Jâbir ibn Samura who said, "The Messenger of Allâh   said to `Alî: 'You shall be given leadership and caliphate; and truly, this shall be dyed red with this,' meaning his beard with [the blood from] his head."[28]

The Two Masters narrated from Salama [ibn `Amr] ibn al-Akwa` who said: "`Alî stayed behind due to ophtalmia when the Messenger of Allâh   was in Khaybar. He said: 'How can I stay behind and not go with the Messenger of Allâh  ?' So he went out and caught up with him. The eve of the victory granted by Allâh the Messenger of Allâh   said: 'I swear that, tomorrow, I shall give the standard to a man whom Allâh loves and also His Messenger, by means of whom Allâh shall grant victory.' Then, lo and behold! There was `Alî among us unexpectedly. They said, 'Here is `Alî!' so he gave him the standard and Allâh granted victory through him."[29]

[Al-Bukhârî and] Muslim also narrated it with a different wording from Salama ibn al-Akwa`[30] adding to the above: "Then he spat into his eyes and he was cured." Al-Hârith and Abû Nu`aym narrated it with yet another wording from Salama adding: "Then `Alî took it [the flag] and planted it right under their fort, whereupon one of the Jews looked down at him from the top of the fort and said: 'Who are you?' He replied: ``Alî' The Jew said: 'You will overcome (`ulûtum), by the [Book] revealed to Mûsâ!' `Alî did not return until Allâh granted victory at his hands."[31]

Abû Nu`aym said: "There is in it a sign of the advanced knowledge of the Jews, thanks to their books, as to who is sent to fight against them and shall be granted victory." The account was also narrated from Ibn `Umar, Ibn `Abbâs, Sa`d ibn Abî Waqqâs, Abû Hurayra, Abû Sa`îd al-Khudrî, `Imrân ibn Husayn, Jâbir, and Abû Laylâ al-Ansârî. Abû Nu`aym narrated all of them, and they all contain the account of the spitting into the eyes and their healing.[32]

Al-Bayhaqî and Abû Nu`aym narrated from Burayda that the Messenger of Allâh   said: "I swear that, tomorrow, I shall give the standard to a man who loves Allâh and His Messenger, and who shall take it by force" at a time `Alî was not there yet. The Quraysh competed for it then `Alî arrived on his camel, eyes inflamed with ophtalmia. The Prophet   said: "Come near" then spat into his eyes - they were never sore again until he died - and gave him the flag.[33]

Ahmad, Abû Ya`lâ, al-Bayhaqî, and Abû Nu`aym narrated from `Alî who said: "My eyes were never sore nor inflamed ever again after the Messenger of Allâh spat into my eyes the day of Khaybar."[34]

Ibn Ishâq narrated from `Ammâr ibn Yâsir - Allâh be well-pleased with him - who said: "I and `Alî ibn Abî Tâlib were teaming up in the expedition of al-`Ushayra. When the Messenger of Allâh   alighted there we saw people from the Banû Midlaj working near one of theirs springs and in a date orchard. `Alî ibn Abî Tâlib said, `Abû al-Yaqzân, what if we went to see those people and look at them working?' I said, 'If you like.' So we went to them and looked at them work for a while. Then we became sleepy so I and `Ali went away until we found a low-lying sand-dune where we lied down. There, we slept By Allâh! Nothing woke us except the Messenger of Allâh   himself, moving us with his foot, and we were all covered in sand from the spot where we had slept That day, the Messenger of Allâh   said to `Alî ibn Abî Tâlib: `Abû Turâb! (Sand-Man)' - for he saw him covered in sand - then he said: 'Shall I not tell you of the two wickedest people ever?' We said, 'Do, O Messenger of Allâh!' He replied: 'The whitish man of Thamûd who hamstrung the she-camel, and the man who shall strike you on this, O `Alî' - he placed his hand on `Alî's temple - `until this gets soaked from it' - he touched `Alî's beard."[35]

Later, what the Prophet   had said took place and Allâh Most High ordained the killing of `Alî in the exact way mentioned by the Messenger of Allâh   at the hand of the most wretched of latter-day men, `Abd al-Rahmân ibn Muljam al-Murâdî. Al-Bayhaqî narrated from `Alî who said: "The Prophet   said: 'A boy shall be born to you after me whom I am giving my name and cognomen (kunya)'" - meaning Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya.[36]

FATIMA - ALLAH BE WELL-PLEASED WITH HER

It was mentioned in the Sîra, as narrated from Ibn `Abbâs - Allâh be well-pleased with both of them - who said: "When the Sûra (When comes the Help of Allah, and Victory( (110) was revealed, the Messenger of Allâh  summoned Fâtima and said, 'My funeral was just announced,' whereupon she wept. Then he said to her, 'Do not weep, for you shall be the first to follow me,' whereupon she laughed. Some of the wives of the Prophet  saw her and asked her, 'O Fâtima, we saugh you cry then laugh?' She replied, 'He told me that his funeral had just been announced, so I cried. Then he said to me, Do not cry, for you shall be the first to follow me, so I laughed.'"[37]Fâtima - Allâh be well-pleased with her - lived on for six months after the Prophet   according to the most authentic reports.

AL-HASAN IBN `ALI - ALLAH BE WELL-PLEASED WITH HIM

Al-Bukhârî narrated from Abû Bakrah who said: "The Messenger of Allâh  said of al-Hasan: 'This son of mine is a leader of men (sayyid) and Allâh may use him to reconcile two great factions of the Muslims.'"[38] This took place exactly as foretold. When `Alî was killed, people pledged their loyalty to al-Hasan to the death. Their number was more than forty thousand and they were more obedient to him than they had been to his father - Allâh be well-pleased with both of them. He remained caliph for about seven months in Iraq, Khurasân, and Transoxiana, after which Mu`âwiya marched against him. When the two armies met near al-Anbâr, al-Hasan realized that eventual fighting would wipe out a great number of the Muslims and so did Mu`âwiya. A group of people sued for peace among the two and they reached an agreement. Thus did Allâh stem the blood of the Muslims and thus did Allâh bring to pass the saying of His Prophet   : "This son of mine is a leader of men and Allâh shall use him to reconcile etc."[39]while another wording states [as above]: "and Allâh may use him to reconcile two great factions of the Muslims."40[]

AL-HUSAYN IBN `ALI - ALLAH BE WELL-PLEASED WITH HIM

Al-Hâkim and al-Bayhaqî narrated from Umm al-Fad.l bint al-Hârith (? who said: "I went in to see the Prophet   one day, carrying al-Husayn, whom I placed in his lap. Then when I turned to look at him again, lo! I saw the eyes of the Messenger of Allâh   brimming with tears. He said: 'Gibrîl just came and told me that my Community would kill this son of mine, and he brought me a handful of his resting-ground - red earth.'"[41]

Ibn Râhûyah, al-Bayhaqî, and Abû Nu`aym narrated from Umm Salama - Allâh be well-pleased with her that the Messenger of Allâh   lay down one day and woke up sluggish, holding a handful of read earth in his hand and turning it this way and that I said: "What is this earth, O Messenger of Allâh?" He replied: "Gibrîl informed me that this one - meaning al-Husayn - would be killed in the land of Iraq, and this is his resting-ground."[42]

Abû Nu`aym narrated from Umm Salama (ra) who said: "Al-Hasan and al-Husayn were playing in my house when Gibrîl descended and said, 'O Muhammad, verily your Community shall kill this son of yours,' signaling to al-Husayn and bringing him [some of] his resting-ground; he smelled it and said, 'It smells of hardship (karb) and affliction (balâ').' Then he said, 'If this soil turns to blood, know that my son has been killed.' So I kept it in a jar."[43]

Ibn `Asâkir narrated from Muhammad ibn `Amr[44] ibn Hasan who said: "We were with al-Husayn at the river of Karbalâ'[45] when he looked at Shimr ibn Dhî al-Jawshan and said, 'Allâh and His Messenger were right! The Messenger of Allâh   said: "I can see a spotted dog drooling over the blood of the people of my House."' Shimr was a leper."[46]

Ibn al-Sakan, al-Baghawî, and Abû Nu`aym narrated from Anas ibn al-Hârith who said, "I heard the Messenger of Allâh   say: 'Truly this son of mine' - meaning al-Husayn - shall be killed in a land called Karbalâ'. Whoever among you is present then, help him!' Hence, Anas ibn al-Hârith went to Karbalâ' and was killed there with al-Husayn."[47]

Al-Tabarânî narrated from `A'isha - Allâh be well-pleased with her that the Prophet   said: "Gibrîl told me that my son, al-Husayn, would be killed after me in the land of al-Taff [between Syria and Iraq], and he brought me this earth and told me that in it would be his resting-place."[48] Ahmad and Ibn Sa`d narrated it from `Alî in the wording: "We feel he shall be killed on the shore of the Euphrates."[49]

Al-Baghawî narrated in his Mu`jam as reported from Anas ibn Mâlik who said: "The Angel of rain asked permission of his Lord to visit the Prophet   and he obtained it. He came to visit him during the day he usually spent with Umm Salama. The Prophet   said: "Umm Salama, keep the door closed and let no-one disturb us." As she reached the door, al-Husayn darted in and ran to the Prophet   who began to hug him and kiss him. The angel said to him, "Do you love him?" He said yes. The angel continued: "Truly, your Community shall kill him and, if you wish, I shall show you the place where he shall be killed." He showed it to him and brought him some reddish earth [from it], which Umm Salama took and put in her robe. Thâbit al-Bunânî - its narrator from Anas - said: "We considered that it was Karbalâ'."[50]

In the narration of Mullâ al-Mawsilî Umm Salama says, "The Prophet  handed me a handful of red earth, saying: 'This is from the ground on which he [al-Husayn] shall be killed. When it turns to blood, know that he has been killed.'" Umm Salama said that she placed it "in a jar that I had, and I used to apprehend the terrible day when it would turn to blood."[51] Al-Husayn was martyred as he   had said, in Karbalâ', in Iraq, near al-Kûfa, in a place also known as al-Taff. This hadîth contains another stunning miracle of his   , namely, the disclosure that Umm Salama would live beyond the time when al-Husayn would be killed, as took place.

Wa Sallallahu `ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa Alihi wa Sallama Taslima.”

Continued in Part 5….

NASIR