The Significance of Saturday in Islam

 The Significance of Saturday in Islam

Saturday is the day of worship and Eid for Jews.  Hazrat Moosa – peace be upon him – had commanded the people of Bani Israel to appoint a day in the week to dedicate it for worshipping Allah Almighty and they chose Saturday, saying that Allah Almighty had taken rest on this day after creating everything. (Allah forbid!)

(Ajaibul Makhlooqaat p. 43)

It means that according to their corrupt beliefs, Allah Almighty takes a day’s leave and does not do anything which absolutely contrary to Islamic beliefs because Allah Almighty takes on a new endeavor every day.

Saturday has a history of deceitful events.  Hazrat Sayyiduna Anas Ibn Maalik – may Allah be pleased with him – reports, “We inquired the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – regarding different days but when we asked him about Saturday, he said, ‘It’s the day of deception.’ When asked, ‘In what manner, O the Messenger of Allah?’  He replied, ‘The people of Quraish had conspired against me in Darun Nadwah on this day.’”

(Ghunyatut Taalibeen Vol. 2, p. 73)

 

Major Historical Events on Saturday:

1. The nation of Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – conspired against him in lieu of which, they were captured in the punishment of flood:

Allah Almighty has regarded the conspiracy of Hazrat Nooh’s – peace be upon him – nation as a great deception in the Holy Quran:

وَ مَکَرُوۡا مَکْرًا کُبَّارًا ﴿ۚ۲۲﴾

And they have plotted a tremendous plot.
وَ قَالُوۡا لَا تَذَرُنَّ اٰلِہَتَکُمْ وَ لَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَّ لَا سُوَاعًا ۬ۙ وَّ لَا یَغُوۡثَ وَ یَعُوۡقَ وَ نَسْرًا ﴿ۚ۲۳﴾

And they said, ‘never leave your gods and leave not Wadd nor Suwa nor Yaghuth and Yauq and Nasr’. (idols of pagan Arabs)

(Nooh 71, Verse 22-23)

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbaas – may Allah be pleased with him – him has stated that Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – was appointed at the age of 40 and propagated the message of Allah to his nation for 900 years but just a minority of the nation accepted his Da’wah and the majority of them falsified him and called him a liar and insane and even threatened to kill him.  Allah Almighty states:

کَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَہُمْ قَوْمُ نُوۡحٍ فَکَذَّبُوۡا عَبْدَنَا وَ قَالُوۡا مَجْنُوۡنٌ وَّ ازْدُجِرَ ﴿۹﴾

The people of Nuh belied before them, they declared Our bondman to be liar and said, ‘he is a madman and scolded him’.
فَدَعَا رَبَّہٗۤ اَنِّیۡ مَغْلُوۡبٌ فَانۡتَصِرْ ﴿۱۰﴾

He therefore prayed to his Lord, saying ‘I am vanquished, do then take revenge for me.

(Al-Qamar 54, Verse 9-10)

Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – tirelessly tried to explain to his nation and said to them, “If you do not accept faith and remain firm on transgression, the punishment of Allah will descend on you which you cannot flee.”  Instead of adhering to his advice and warnings, the ill-fated nation ruthlessly responded, “If are true in what you say then make the punishment descend.”  Allah Almighty states:

قَالُوۡا یٰنُوۡحُ قَدْ جٰدَلْتَنَا فَاَکْثَرْتَ جِدٰلَنَا فَاۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾

They said, ‘O Nuh, you have disputed with us, and disputed much, then bring that which for you promise us, if you are truthful.
قَالَ اِنَّمَا یَاۡتِیۡکُمۡ بِہِ اللہُ اِنۡ شَآءَ وَمَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ بِمُعْجِزِیۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾

He said, ‘Allah will bring it to you, if He please, and you cannot get Him tired.

(Hood 11, Verse 32-33)

Allah Almighty informed Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – that rest of the nation besides the ones already believing, will not bring Imaan, therefore you should not grieve about anything.  The Almighty Allah states:

وَ اُوۡحِیَ اِلٰی نُوۡحٍ اَنَّہٗ لَنۡ یُّؤْمِنَ مِنۡ قَوْمِکَ اِلَّا مَنۡ قَدْ اٰمَنَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَفْعَلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾ۚۖ

And it was revealed to Nuh, ‘None of your people will become Muslim but those who have already believed, grieve not then at what they do.

(Hood 11, Verse 36)

Ultimately, Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – became hopeless of the nation in accepting faith and after being troubled by their mischief, he cursed them.  Allah Almighty commanded him to build an ark, because there will come a flood in which the unjust nation will be drowned and you will sailing your reliable ark.  Allah Almighty states:

وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْکَ بِاَعْیُنِنَا وَوَحْیِنَا وَلَا تُخٰطِبْنِیۡ فِی الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ۚ اِنَّہُمۡ مُّغْرَقُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾

And built the ark before Us and with Our command, and address Me not concerning the unjust, they shall necessarily be drowned.

(Hood 11, Verse 37)

It is mentioned in Hadeeth Shareef that by the command of Allah Almighty he planted trees for years and it took them 20 years to fully grow.  Absolutely no child was born during this period and the children that were already born prior to this had become adults and they too had rejected the Da’wah of Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him.  Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – who was pre-occupied with the construction of the ark, when people saw him doing that, they asked, “What are you doing, Nooh?”  He would respond, “I am building a house which will sail on water.”  Hearing this, the people would ridicule him because the area where Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – was building the ark was in a jungle where there was no trace of water for miles.  They also made fun of him by saying, “You were a Prophet before and now you are a carpenter.”  Allah Almighty states:

وَیَصْنَعُ الْفُلْکَ ۟ وَکُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَیۡہِ مَلَاٌ مِّنۡ قَوْمِہٖ سَخِرُوۡا مِنْہُ ؕ قَالَ اِنۡ تَسْخَرُوۡا مِنَّا فَاِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنۡکُمْ کَمَا تَسْخَرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۸﴾

And Nuh builds the ark, and whenever the chief of his people passed by him, they laughed at him. He said. ‘if you laugh at us, then we shall laugh at you at one time as you laugh.
فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُوۡنَ ۙ مَنۡ یَّاۡتِیۡہِ عَذَابٌ یُّخْزِیۡہِ وَیَحِلُّ عَلَیۡہِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِیۡمٌ ﴿۳۹﴾

Now then you shall know to whom comes the torment that may disgrace him, and comes down the torment that may be lasting.

(Hood 11, Verse 38-39)

Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – prepared the ark in two years.  It was 300 yards long and 50 meters wide and 30 meters high (there are different opinions as well).  There were three compartments.  The wild animals and poisonous creatures were in the bottom section, the middle middle compartment accommodated the domestic animals and the top deck was reserved for Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – and his companions.  The body of Hazrat Adam – peace be upon him – was a veil between the men and women, and there was also food etc. kept there.  The birds were also kept on the top deck.

(Tafseer Khaazin, Madaarik etc.)

Allah’s command came that he must board one pair; male and female, of each species, people of his house and the rest of the believers on the ark.  Hence, when he undertook this task, the animals were automatically drawn towards him and his right hand would board the male and the left would board the female.  Hazrat Muqaatil mentioned that the number of humans; both males and females, was 72.  Allah Almighty states:

حَتّٰۤی اِذَا جَآءَ اَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ التَّنُّوۡرُ ۙ قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِیۡہَا مِنۡ کُلٍّ زَوْجَیۡنِ اثْنَیۡنِ وَ اَہۡلَکَ اِلَّا مَنۡ سَبَقَ عَلَیۡہِ الْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ اٰمَنَ ؕ وَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ مَعَہٗۤ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلٌ ﴿۴۰﴾

Until, when Our Command came, and the Oven boiled, We said, ‘Embark in the ark a pair male and female of every kind and the members of your family except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and the rest of the Muslims.’ And Muslims were not with him but a few.

(Hood 11, Verse 40)

The time of flood finally arrived and it rained heavy from above which continued for forty days constantly and the earth also threw up water and it appeared as if the entire world was turned into a fountain.  Allah Almighty states:

فَفَتَحْنَاۤ اَبْوٰبَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٍ مُّنْہَمِرٍ ﴿۫ۖ۱۱﴾

Then We opened the doors of heaven with forceful flowing water.
وَّ فَجَّرْنَا الْاَرْضَ عُیُوۡنًا فَالْتَقَی الْمَآءُ عَلٰۤی اَمْرٍ قَدْ قُدِرَ ﴿ۚ۱۲﴾

And We made the earth flow with springs, so the two waters met to such a quantity which was already decreed.

(Al-Qamar 54, Verse 11-12)

This flood was severe that the water even surpassed the tallest of trees and houses and even over the highest peaks of mountains.  All the disbelievers were perished in it and Hazrat Nooh – peace be upon him – and his companions were protected.  Allah Almighty states:

فَکَذَّبُوۡہُ فَنَجَّیۡنٰہُ وَمَنۡ مَّعَہٗ فِی الْفُلْکِ وَجَعَلْنٰہُمْ خَلٰٓئِفَ وَاَغْرَقْنَا الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا ۚ فَانۡظُرْ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عٰقِبَۃُ الْمُنۡذَرِیۡنَ ﴿۷۳﴾

But they belied him, then We delivered him and those who were with him in the ark, and We made them successors. And We drowned those who belied Our signs, then see what the end of those who were warned was.

(Yunus 10, Verse 73)

 

2. The nation of Hazrat Saleh – peace be upon him – played a trick on him were thus captured in the punishment of Allah Almighty:

The nation of Thamood played this trick on Saturday about which Allah Almighty states:

وَ مَکَرُوۡا مَکْرًا وَّ مَکَرْنَا مَکْرًا وَّہُمْ لَا یَشْعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۰﴾

And they plotted their own plot and We made Our secret plan and they remained unaware.
فَانۡظُرْ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عٰقِبَۃُ مَکْرِہِمْ ۙ

Then see how was the end of their plot was.

(Al-Naml 27, Verse 50-51)

Hazrat Saleh – peace be upon him – was sent as a Prophet towards the nation of Thamood.  When he invited them to embrace Imaan by delivering Allah’s commands to them those nasty people demanded him to perform a miracle that he must take out a pregnant camel from the middle of mountains which must be healthy and free from all defects.

Hence, he pointed at a rock and it instantly burst and a beautiful, tall and healthy she-camel emerged from within and she was also pregnant.  She bore her infant right after coming out of it and grazed in the field with her infant.

That town had only one pond that used to fill with the spring-water from mountains around it.  He told them, “Look O people, it’s a miraculous camel and one day, she will drink all the water of the pond and then you will drink from it the next day.”  They accepted it and then he delivered the following Quranic speech in front of them:

یٰقَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنْ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ قَدْ جَآءَتْکُمۡ بَیِّنَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمْ ؕ ہٰذِہٖ نَاقَۃُ اللہِ لَکُمْ اٰیَۃً فَذَرُوۡہَا تَاۡکُلْ فِیۡۤ اَرْضِ اللہِ وَلَاتَمَسُّوۡہَا بِسُوۡٓءٍ فَیَاۡخُذَکُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۷۳﴾

‘O my people! worship Allah, you have no God other than He. Undoubtedly, there has come to you bright proof from your Lord, this is a she-camel of Allah a sign for you. So leave her that she may eat in Allah’s earth and touch her not with evil, lest a painful torment will overtake you.

(Al-A’raaf 7, Verse 73)

They were patient on the hardship for few days due to not getting water for one day, for the camel used to drink all the water of the pond, therefore, they decided to kill the camel.

Qadaar Ibn Saalif:

This man was red in complexion with brown eyes.  He was of short stature and the son of a adulteress woman.  He came forward to kill the camel with the consensual agreement of all the people.  Hazrat Saleh – peace be upon him – kept on trying to stop him but he did not listen.  He firstly cut all four legs of the camel and then slaughtered it, and then he had a dialogue with Hazrat Saleh – peace be upon him – in a very indecent way.  Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran:

فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَۃَ وَعَتَوْا عَنْ اَمْرِ رَبِّہِمْ وَقَالُوۡا یٰصٰلِحُ ائْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِیۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾

Then they hamstrung the she-camel and rebelled against the command of their Lord and said, ‘O Saleh, ‘bring upon us that which you are promising for, if you are a Messenger.

(Al-A’raaf 7, Verse 77)

The Torment of Earthquake:

Allah’s punishment descended on the nation of Thamood as a fierce roar, and then there were deadly earthquakes in which the entire town was turned upside down and everything was destroyed.  All the buildings were demolished and each and every member of the nation of Thamood fell on their knees and died.

The Holy Quran mentioned as follows:

فَاَخَذَتْہُمُ الرَّجْفَۃُ فَاَصْبَحُوۡا فِیۡ دَارِہِمْ جٰثِمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۸﴾

Then the earthquake took them so in the morning they lay prostrate in their homes.

(Al-A’raaf 7, Verse 78)

When Hazrat Saleh – peace be upon him – saw that the whole town has been destroyed with severe earthquakes and became a dump-yard of bricks and stones, and the entire nation has been killed, he became very sad.  He hated the nation of Thamood and their town so much that he turned his face on them and while he was leaving he told the dead corpse the following on his way:

فَتَوَلّٰی عَنْہُمْ وَقَالَ یٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ اَبْلَغْتُکُمْ رِسَالَۃَ رَبِّیۡ وَنَصَحْتُ لَکُمْ وَلٰکِنۡ لَّاتُحِبُّوۡنَ النّٰصِحِیۡنَ ﴿۷۹﴾

Then Saleh turned back his face from them and said, ‘O my people! Undoubtedly, I did deliver to you the messages of my Lord, and wished your good, but you do not approve the well-wishers.

(Al-A’raaf 7, Verse 79)

As a conclusion, the whole nation of Thamood was destroyed and not even one of them remained alive.  No descendant of their nation exists today on the earth’s surface.

(Tafseer Saawi Vol. 2, p. 688)

 

Lesson:

We learnt from this incident that if this was the punishment for killing the camel of a Prophet and they had to face such terrible destruction of their lives and land that no descendant of their race existed on the earth then the nation that killed the children of the Nabi- may Allah send peace and blessings upon him and his household – how can they be in peace?

Hence, history is evident that the Yazeedi Koofi and Shaamis that martyred the Ahlebait, in the rulership of Mukhtar Ibn Ubaid, they all and even their children were killed, and demolished their houses, and not a single descendant of them exists today.

140,000 Yazeedis Were Killed:

Imam Haakim Muhaddith recorded a Hadeeth that Allah Almighty sent Wahy to his beloved Messenger – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – stating that when the jews killed Hazrat Zakariyya – peace be upon him – 70,000 jews were killed in lieu of his murder, and 2×70,000 i.e. 140,000 people from Koofa and Shaam will be killed for the blood of your grandchild Husain  (may Allah be pleased with him).

Hence, Allah’s promise was fulfilled in a manner that 70,000 Koofis and Shaamis were killed in the battle fought by Mukhtaar Ibn Ubaid and then on the command of the founder of Abbasids kingdom Abdullah, 70,000 more Koofis and Shaamis were slain.  In total, 140,000 Yazeedis were killed.

(Al-Mustadrak Lil Haakim Nishapuri, Vol. 3, p. 7, Hadeeth No. 2301)

However, Allah Almighty loves all the beloved things of His loved one, therefore, it is to be remembered that whether it’s the children or wives or family members of theirs or anything else that has connection with them, by showing disrespect towards any of them brings forth Allah’s wrath in one way or the other.  Thus, everything that has a connection with Allah’s beloveds needs to be respected and revered, and any disrespect towards them is like giving a green signal to Allah’s punishment and destruction.  (May Allah protects us from that)

The Land Where Allah’s Punishment Descends is Cursed:

It is narrated that when the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – went through the ruins of the nation of Thamood’s towns on his way to the battle of Tabook, he said, “Beware!  No one is to enter this place and neither is anyone is to drink water from its wells.  You all should pass through this place of Allah’s punishment crying in the fear of Allah Almighty by keeping your faces covered, lest should the punishment descend on you.

(Roohul Bayaan Vol. 3, p. 194)

 

3. Hazrat Yusuf’s – peace be upon him – brothers cheated on him and were reprimanded:

Allah Almighty has mentioned the story of Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – as Ahsan Al-Qasas” i.e. “the most beautiful of stories”, for each chapter of his blessed life portrays the mixed emotions of sorrow, peace and happiness etc. and each and every one of them is a great means of seeking counsel and Naseeha.

Hazrat Ya’qoob Ibn Ishaaq Ibn Ibraheem – peace be upon them – had 12 sons:

1. Yahooda
2. Rubeel
3. Sham’oon
4. Lawa
5. Zabuloon
6. Yasjar
7. Daan
8. Naftaai
9. Jaad
10. Aashir
11. Yusuf
12. Banyamin

Hazrat Banyamin was the biological brother of Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – and the rest were from different mothers.  Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – was the beloved to his father than the rest of his brothers, and hence, the signs of Prophethood were apparent on his forehead therefore Hazrat Ya’qoob – peace be upon him – used to honour him and love him very much.

Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – saw a dream at the age of 7 that 11 stars, the sun and the moon were prostrating before him.  When he related the dream to his father he prevented him from relating it to his brothers under any circumstances, or else they will envy you and conspire against you.

However, the occurance was similar as predicted, his brothers began to envy him and conspired against him, and formulated a plan to trick him to take him into the jungle and push him into a well.  In order to give a practical form to this conspiracy they all gathered and went to Hazrat Ya’qoob – peace be upon him – and sought his permission to take him into the jungle, presenting the trip for hunting as an excuse, and carried him onto their shoulders from the house.

They took off his shirt and tied his hands and feet, and then threw him into a deep and dark well but Hazrat Jibreel – peace be upon him – was present in the well and sat him down on a stone and opened his hands and feet, and then made him relax which took away his fear and horror.

After throwing him into the well his brothers killed a goat and soiled his shirt in its blood, and as they reached near the house they started to loudly cry and weep, and when their father heard them cry he came outside and asked them as to why they were crying, and then he asked, “Where is my son Yusuf?  I do not see him here.”  The brothers replied while crying, “We had gone far from our camp and left Hazrat Yusuf  to guard our belongings, and a wolf came and ate him up.  Here is his shirt.”  They had soiled the shirt with blood but they had forgotten to tear it.  When Hazrat Ya’qoob – peace be upon him – took the shirt of his son in his hand which was soiled with blood and looked carefully he found that the shirt was completely safe and not torn from anywhere., and then he realized their conspiracy.  He said to them, “It was a very wise and mature wolf that although he ate my son but there is not even a scratch on his shirt.”  He made it clear, “It is all your conspiracy and mockery” and then he said the following with his sad heart:

فَصَبْرٌ جَمِیۡلٌ ؕ وَاللہُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلٰی مَا تَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾

Then patience is good; and I seek help only from Allah against what you describe.

(Yusuf 12, Verse 18)

Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – stayed in the well for three days.  The water of the well was salty but through his Barakah it had become tasty and very sweet.

Co-incidentally, a caravan that was going from Madyan to Egypt.  When a man from the caravan, whose name was Maalik, approached the well to fill water, and as he lowered his bucket in the well Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – held onto the bucket and he was rescued from it.  When he saw how handsome he was, he said:

یٰبُشْرٰی ہٰذَا غُلٰمٌ

‘Hurrah’; what a good news, this is a boy,’

(Yusuf 12, Verse 19)

And gave his fellow travellers the good news.

His brothers told them that he was their slave who ran away, and if he wanted to buy him they would sell him at a very cheap price.

His brothers sold him for only 20 Dirhams but with the condition that he must take him so far that they will never have hear about him.

Maalik Ibn Dha’r bought him and brought him in the Egyptian market, and announced his sale.  The king of Egypt in those days was Rayyaan Ibn Waleed ‘Amleeqi, and he had made his prime minister Qitfeer Misri the responsible body for the Egyptian treasury, and he was known as Azeez-e-Misr among the people.  When Azeez-e-Misr came to know that a very handsome slave has been brought in the Egyptian market for sale and people have accumulated in the market with great assets he went and bought Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – and the price that he paid was gold, silver, musk and silk equivalent to his weight.

He brought him into his house and told his wife Zulaikha to keep the slave with honour and dignity.  He was either 13 or 17 years old at that time.  Zulaikha was excited by his handsome appearance and one day, she adorned herself and locked all the doors and began to lull him in privacy.

Saying “May Allah protect” he told her, “I can never cheat behind my master’s back and forget about his favours.”  When Zulaikha went forward to hold him he ran and she grabbed his shirt from the back which got torn, and running after him, Zulaikha approached the main gate.

Azeez-e-Misr just got home at the right time and saw both of them running and chasing.  Zulaikha told Azeez-e-Misr, “The punishment for this slave is to capture him in the prison or any other punishment must be apprehended, for he intended something evil with your wife.”

Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – said, “She is telling a white lie, O Azeez-e-Misr.  She approached me with lust and when I ran to get rid of her she came after me.”

After listening to both, Azeez-e-Misr was surprised and said, “How can I believe that you are speaking the truth, O Yusuf (peace be upon him)?”

He replied, “There is a four month old baby in the house, the son of Zulaikha’s uncle, ask him what is the actual matter?”

Azeez-e-Misr said, “What will a four months old baby know and how could he speak?”

He replied, “Allah Almighty will definitely enable him to speak for my innocence, for I am innocent.”

Hence, when Azeez-e-Misr asked the baby he replied.  After listening to the testimony of the baby when he looked at his shirt he found that it was torn in the back, and then he proclaimed his innocence and saw that his shirt was torn in the back.  He found Zulaikha guilty and scolded her and then he sent him to the prison on his wife’s advice, and this is how Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – suddenly was transferred to prison from the royal palace, and he said upon reaching the prison:

“O Allah! This prison is better to me than the calamity towards which Zulaikha invited me.” He stayed imprisoned for 7 or 12 years and spread the message of Tauheed and gave them valuable Naseeha of doing good deeds.

It was a strange co-incidence that the day he entered the prison two other people; the king’s chef and the one who poured his drink, and both related their dreams to Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him.  He interpreted both their dreams and it was 100% accurate.  It is for this reason that he is also known as the “Mu’abbir”  i.e. “One who interprets dreams”.

In those days, the Egyptian king Rayyaan Ibn Waleed also saw a dream that seven fat cows are eating seven skinny cows, and he saw seven green bunches of wheat or barley and seven dry ones.  When the king asked his people for its interpretation they simply avoided to give an interpretation.  The man who poured drinks for the king had been freed from the prison and sought the king’s permission to go into the prison and find out the interpretation of his dream.  When the king gave him permission, he went to Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – and asked for the interpretation of king’s dream.  He said, “Do abundant farming for seven years and preserve all the crops, and then there will be drought for seven years so the people can survive on the preserved crops and then it will be back to normal after seven years.”

When the servant came back and related the interpretation of his dream before the king he summoned to bring him in his court.  When the messenger went to free him and bring him by the king, Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – refused to come out unless the king investigates the matter of Zulaikha and then he is not found guilty of any sin.  When the king did investigation of the matter Zulaikha admitted her sin and said that Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – was innocent.

When Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – was freed from the prison the king honoured him and made him one of his officers.  Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him requested him to hand over the responsibilities of growing crops and their preservation, and the king had gladly trusted him with the responsibility and gave him all the controls in his hands, and this is how the kingdom of Egypt came in the hands of Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him.

He then ran a farming campaign for seven years utilizing the treasury and preserved the crops until the beginning of drought.  When that happened people from all across began to come to Egypt and he was selling them the crops.

His brothers also came from Kan’aan to Egypt for purchase.  Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – recognised them at first sight but his brothers could not recognize him.  He gave them the crops and said to them, “You have one more brother, bring him along the next time you come, and if you don’t you will not get anything.

The brothers replied, “We will try to convince our father.”  Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – summoned his slaves to put their cash back in their bags, so when they go back and see the cash they will hopefully return.

Hence, when they approached their father and said, “Dear father!  What are we going to do now?  The king of Egypt said that he will not give us anything if we do not bring Banyamin the next time, therefore, you should send Banyamin with us so that we can get the share of his crops as well, and we reassure that we will protect him.”

When they opened their bags they were surprised to see that their money was in their bag.  Seeing this the brothers again requested to their father, “The Egyptian king has very good heart to treat us with generosity, so much so, that he has even returned our money, so you should not be afraid of sending Banyamin with us.”

Hazrat Ya’qoob – peace be upon him – replied, “I have once trusted you with Yusuf, and what did you do in return?  How can I trust you a second time?  I will never send Banyamin with you save if you take an oath in front of me and promise me.”

They all took oath and then he gave them to take Banyamin with them.

When they reached in the court of the Egyptian king Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – made his brother Banyamin sit on his chair and whispered in his ear, “I am your brother Yusuf, so don’t worry.”  He gave them their bags of grains and each one got their share.  When they were about to leave Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – stopped Banyamin to stay by him.  The brothers got worried thinking that they had promised and vowed before their father to protect Banyamin even if they had to sacrifice their lives for it, and here he was taken away from them.  They were in agony as to with what face should they head towards home.  Looking at the situation their oldest brother Yahooda said, “Think about the promise we made and the oath we took before our father, and we have already done injustice in the case of our brother Yusuf, which is why I will not move from this land until my father permits me to do so.  You all should go home and narrate the entire occurrence to father.”

When they reached home and related all what had transpired, Hazrat Ya’qoob – peace be upon him – said to them, “You all have conspired about Banyamin as it was the case of Yusuf.  I will therefore, make Sabr, for it is a very good thing.”  He turned his face away and began to cry.  He cried vigorously.

He said to his sons, “My sons, go and search for my sons Yusuf and Banyamin, and despair not of the mercy of Allah Almighty, for it is the attitude of the infidels to be despair of the mercy of Allah Almighty.”

However, Harzat Yusuf’s – peace be upon him – brothers left for Egypt and when they reached Azeez-e-Misr (Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him) they said to him, “O Azeez-e-Misr! A very severe calamity has befallen our family and we have come here with few counterfeit coins.  Please give us some grans as charity.”  Hearing the sad story from his brothers and their begging Hazrat Yusuf’s – peace be upon him – heart had softened and he asked his brothers, “How did you treat your brother Yusuf and Banyamin?”  His brothers asked him looking at him in disbelief, “Is this you, Yusuf?”  He replied, “Yes, I am Yusuf, and this is my brother Banyamin.  Allah Almighty has favoured us in abundance.”  Hearing this his brothers said with utmost grief and shame, “We indeed have done severely wrong, and Allah Almighty has granted you great excellence over us.”  Overwhelmed by the shame and grief of his brother Hazrat Yusuf – peace be upon him – forgave them and said, “Today, I will not rebuke you.  Go, I have forgiven you all.  May Allah Almighty forgive you!  Take my shirt and go home and put it on my father’s face, he will regain his eyesight, and then you must take all the people of the family and come to Egypt.”

The oldest of them “Yahooda” said, “I will this shirt because I was the one to soil his shirt in goat’s blood and handed it over to my father.  The way I made him sad by giving him the shirt, today, I will make him happy by giving this shirt to him.”

Hence, when Yahooda reached home with the shirt and placed on his father’s face his eyesight recovered and then Hazrat Ya’qoob – peace be upon him – made Du’a for all his children after the time of Tahajjud and this Du’a was answered, and this is how the Wahy revealed on him that all his children were forgiven.

 

4. The nation of Hazrat Moosa – peace be upon him – conspired against him and were the disgraced:

Allah Almighty has mentioned the conspiracy of Pharoah against Hazrat Moosa – peace be upon him – in the Holy Quran which occurred on Saturday:

قَالُوۡۤا اِنْ ہٰذٰىنِ لَسٰحِرٰنِ یُرِیۡدَانِ اَنۡ یُّخْرِجَاکُمۡ مِّنْ اَرْضِکُمۡ بِسِحْرِہِمَا وَ یَذْہَبَا بِطَرِیۡقَتِکُمُ الْمُثْلٰی ﴿۶۳﴾

They said, ‘undoubtedly, these both are necessarily, magicians, they desire to drive you out from your land by the strength of their magic and take away your good religion.`
فَاَجْمِعُوۡا کَیۡدَکُمْ ثُمَّ ائْتُوۡا صَفًّا ۚ وَقَدْ اَفْلَحَ الْیَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلٰی ﴿۶۴﴾

Then make firm your stratagem, then come in ranks and today he who overcame reached to his goal.

(Taha 20, Verse 63-64)

Pharaoh once arranged a big fair where he gathered all the great magicians of that time against one individual Hazrat Moosa – peace be upon Him.  Millions of people attended the fair and the magician started to play their magic.  Hazrat Moosa – peace be upon Him – alone was the opposition against all those magicians.  When they swore by the honour of Pharaoh and threw their sticks and ropes on the ground they all transformed into snakes and spread all over the floor and started to sting. The entire gathering of people started to run for their lives due to fear of the horrific scene.  The magicians began to celebrate over their tricks and at that moment, Hazrat Moosa – peace be upon Him – threw his stick in the middle of all those snakes and it transformed into such a gigantic python that it swallowed all those snakes.  Looking at this great miracle the magicians fell into prostration accepting their defeat and began to proclaim loundly:

اٰمَنَّا بِرَبِّ ہٰرُوۡنَ وَ مُوۡسٰی ﴿۷۰﴾

‘We believed in him, who is the Lord of Musa and Haroon.

(Taha 20, Verse 70)

The Holy Quran mentioned the incident in the following manner:

قَالُوۡا یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ تُلْقِیَ وَ اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ نَّکُوۡنَ اَوَّلَ مَنْ اَلْقٰی ﴿۶۵﴾

They said, ‘O Musa! either you cast or we cast first’.
قَالَ بَلْ اَلْقُوۡا ۚ فَاِذَا حِبَالُہُمْ وَ عِصِیُّہُمْ یُخَیَّلُ اِلَیۡہِ مِنۡ سِحْرِہِمْ اَنَّہَا تَسْعٰی ﴿۶۶﴾

Musa said, ‘may you cast, hence their ropes and staffs looked to him as though they were running by the strength of their magic.
فَاَوْجَسَ فِیۡ نَفْسِہٖ خِیۡفَۃً مُّوۡسٰی ﴿۶۷﴾

Then Musa got a fear within himself.
قُلْنَا لَاتَخَفْ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الْاَعْلٰی ﴿۶۸﴾

We said, ‘fear not, undoubtedly you have the dominance.
وَاَلْقِ مَا فِیۡ یَمِیۡنِکَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوۡا ؕ اِنَّمَا صَنَعُوۡا کَیۡدُ سٰحِرٍ ؕ وَ لَایُفْلِحُ السّٰحِرُ حَیۡثُ اَتٰی ﴿۶۹﴾

And cast down what is in your right hand, it will swallow their makings. That which they have made is the trick of the magician, and the magician does not prosper, anywhere he comes.
فَاُلْقِیَ السَّحَرَۃُ سُجَّدًا قَالُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِرَبِّ ہٰرُوۡنَ وَ مُوۡسٰی ﴿۷۰﴾

Then all the magicians were made to prostrate. They said, ‘we believed in him, who is the Lord of Musa and Haroon.

(Taha 20, Verse 65-70)

At the end, Pharaoh killed them mercilessly after cutting their hands and feet.

It is mentioned in the Hadeeth Shareef that when the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon Him – was travelling into the heavens in the night of Me’raj, he states, “I saw the birds of a green colour on the trees of paradise.  When I enquired about them then it became known that these were the souls of the ones whom Pharaoh had killed.

(Kitaab Al-Sab’iyyaat p. 71)

 

5. Bani Israel conspired against Hazrat ‘Isa – peace be upon him – and were cursed and disgraced:

When Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – announced his Prophethood among the jews then since, they had already studied in Torah that Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – will abrogate their religion, therefore they became his enemies.  When Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – felt that they will be persistent on their disbelief and will assassinate him then one day, he addressed the people:

مَنْ اَنۡصَارِیۡۤ اِلَی اللہِؕ

Who become my helpers towards Allah?

(Aale ‘Imraan 3, Verse 52)

12 or 19 disciples said:

نَحْنُ اَنۡصَارُ اللہِۚ اٰمَنَّا بِاللہِۚ وَاشْہَدْ بِاَنَّا مُسْلِمُوۡنَ﴿۵۲﴾

We are the helpers of the religion of God; We have believed in Allah and bear, you, witness that we are Muslims.

(Ibid)

The rest of the jews were determined on their kufr so much so that in the rage of his enmity they conspired to murder him and appointed a man by the name of Tatyanoos to assassinate him in his house.

Allah Almighty immediate sent Hazrat Jibreel – peace be upon him – with clouds, and the clouds lifted him up into the sky.  His mother cuddled him out of love and he said, “Dear mother, We will now meet on the day of Judgment.”  However, he was lifted into the sky by the clouds.  This incident took place in Bait Al-Maqdis in the blessed night of Qadr.  His age was 33 years at that time according to Allamah Jalaaludden Suyooti – Rahimahullah, and according to Allamah Zarqaani the commentator of Mawaahib, his age was 120 years.  Later on, Imam Suyooti had however changed his view to the latter citation.

(Tafseer Jumal Vol. 1, p. 427)

 

When Tatyanoos did not come out after a long time had elapsed, the jews entered the house.  Allah Almighty gave him the appearance of Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – and they murdered him thinking that it was Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him.  Later on, when his family members examined his body closely they found that only his face looked like Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – and the rest of the body was his.  They raised an objection and said that if this man is supposedly Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – then what happened to Tatyanoos and where did he disappear, and if it’s the body of Tatyanoos then where did Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – disappear?  The jews began to fight over it and started to kill one another, as a result of which, a large number of them was murdered.  Allah Almighty mentioned this incident in the Quran as follows:

وَمَکَرُوۡا وَمَکَرَ اللہُؕ وَاللہُ خَیۡرُ الْمٰکِرِیۡنَ﴿۵۴﴾٪

And the infidels plotted and Allah secretly devised for their destruction and Allah is the best of secret devisers.
اِذْ قَالَ اللہُ یٰعِیۡسٰۤی اِنِّیۡ مُتَوَفِّیۡکَ وَرَافِعُکَ اِلَیَّ وَمُطَہِّرُکَ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّبَعُوۡکَ فَوْقَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اِلٰی یَوْمِ الْقِیٰمَۃِۚ ثُمَّ اِلَیَّ مَرْجِعُکُمْ فَاَحْکُمُ بَیۡنَکُمْ فِیۡمَا کُنۡتُمْ فِیۡہِ تَخْتَلِفُوۡنَ﴿۵۵﴾

Remember, when Allah said; O Isa! I shall cause you to reach to your full life and I shall raise you towards Myself and I shall purify you from the infidels, and shall give your followers superiority over the rejectors until the Day of Resurrection then you all shall come returning to Me: then I shall decide between you concerning that wherein you dispute’.

(Aale ‘Imraan 3, Verse 54-55)

After he had been lifted into the sky, Hazrat Maryam – may Allah be pleased with her – passed away six years later.

It’s mentioned in the narrations of Bukhari, Muslim that, Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – will descend on earth when the day of resurrection will come close and will follow the Shariah of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.  He will kill Dajjaal and pig, and will break the cross, and will pass away after establishing justice in the world, and he will be buried under the green dome.

(Tafseer Jumal Vol. 1, p. 427)

 

It is also mentioned in the Holy condemning the views of Christians:

وَمَا قَتَلُوۡہُ یَقِیۡنًۢا﴿۱۵۷﴾ۙ

and undoubtedly, they slew him not.
بَلۡ رَّفَعَہُ اللہُ اِلَیۡہِ ؕ وَکَانَ اللہُ عَزِیۡزًا حَکِیۡمًا ﴿۱۵۸﴾

But Allah raised him up towards Himself, and Allah is Dominant, Wise.

(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 157-158)

And it is mentioned just before that:

وَمَا قَتَلُوۡہُ وَمَا صَلَبُوۡہُ وَلٰکِنۡ شُبِّہَ لَہُمْ

Whereas they slew him not, and neither crucified him, but one was made like him for them.

(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 157)

The conclusion is that Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – was not crucified by the jews but Allah Almighty had raised him into the sky.  One who believes that he was killed and was slew as the Christians do, is a kafir, for it is clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran that Hazrat Isa – peace be upon him – was neither killed nor was he slew.

 

6. The elders of Quraish conspired against the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – and earned the Wrath of Allah Almighty:

 

When some individuals from the tribes of Banu Khazraj and Banu Aus gave the holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – invitation to arrive Madinah Munawwarah the holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – gave the companions general permission that they should immigrate to Madinah Munawwarah forsaking Makkah Mukarramah.  Hence, firstly, Hazrat Abu Salimah immigrated and thereafter, the other companions followed one after the other.  When the infidels of Quraish were informed about it they began to put a stop to it but it continued secretly until a large number of companions had already left for Madinah Munawwarah.  The only people left in Makkah were either in prison of Makkan infidels or helpless due to their deficiency.  The holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – had not yet received the command of emigration so he, and on his command, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq and Hazrat Ali – may Allah be pleased with them – stayed in Makkah Mukarramah.

(Seerah Ibn Hishaam 191)

 

Deadly Conspiracy

When the infidels saw that the Muslims now have their helpers outside Makkah Mukarramah as well and the Ansaar have taken the immigrants in their custody, they feared that the holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – may also leave for Madinah Munawwarah and then attack on us with the army of His followers.  Hence, they organised a conference at “Darul Nadwah” in order to cease the doors of this threat.  There was no so-called wise or authoritative person of Makkah that did not participate in it, especially the leaders like Abu Sufyaan, Abu Jahl, ‘Atabah, Jubair Ibn Mut’im, Nadhr Ibn Haarith, Abul Bakhtari, Zam’ah Ibn Aswad, Hakeem Ibn Hizaam and Umayyah Ibn Khalaf were fronting.  The cursed satan had also arrived in the form of an old man enveloped in a sheet.  When he was asked about his name and lineage, he said, “I am a “Sheikh of Najd” and I have participated here to give you my advice.”  The cursed devil was thus included within.  When the conference started, Abul Bakhtari said, “You should capture Muhammad – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – in a room, tie his hands and feet, and then supply him food and water from a hole.”  “The Sheikh of Najd” (the satan) said, “It’s not a good idea.  By Lord! His faithful companions will definitely find out and free him even if it means by endangering their own lives in case if you capture him.”  Abul Aswad, Rabee’ah Ibn Umar and ‘Aamiri said, “We should banish Him from Makkah Mukarramah so that he stays in some other city, and in this way, we will get rid of his Quran recitation and the propagation of Islam.”  “Sheikh of Najd” (the satan) said in a crude manner, “To hell with this idea of yours!  If you take him out of the city he will turn all the tribes of Arabia into His followers and then preparing a massive army, he will plan an attack on you in such a way that you will be helpless to defend yourselves and then stay here as his slaves, so don’t even talk about exiling him.”  And then finally Abu Jahl, the cursed said, “In my opinion, one famous warrior from each tribe must take his stand with a sword, and plan a consensual attack in order to murder Muhammad (may Allah send peace and blessings upon him); in this way, the blame of the murder will become the responsibility of all tribes equally and the family of Banu Haashim will obviously become unable to fight with all the tribes in order to take retaliation for this murder.  They will definitely agree upon taking the blood-money and collectively, we all will pay the amount of blood-money easily.”  Listening to this deadly conspiracy of Abu Jahl, Sheikh of Najd jumped out of joy and said, “Indeed!  This is the best of plans, and there is no other suggestion worthier than this.”

However, everyone accepted this evil suggestion with a consensual agreement and returned to their homes with this poisonous intention.  Allah Almighty has mentioned this incident in the holy Quran as follows:

وَاِذْ یَمْکُرُ بِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لِیُثْبِتُوۡکَ اَوْ یَقْتُلُوۡکَ اَوْ یُخْرِجُوۡکَ ؕ وَیَمْکُرُوۡنَ وَیَمْکُرُ اللّٰہُ ؕ وَاللّٰہُ خَیۡرُ الْمٰکِرِیۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾

  And (O beloved Prophet)! Remember, when the infidels were plotting against you, to confine you or to slay you or to drive you forth. And they were plotting their own and Allah was devising His Own and Allah’s devise is the best.

(Al-Anfaal 8, Verse 30)

What was Allah’s devise?  Below you shall observe as to how He protected His beloved Messenger – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – and how He, the absolute and all Powerful Almighty Lord, dissolved the deadly conspiracy of the infidels into thin air.

(Seerah Ibn Hishaam 191-193)

 

Emigration of the Master of Both Worlds

The moment the infidels of Makkah returned to their homes having concluded their conference, Hazrat Jibra’eel – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – descended with the command of Allah, Lord of the universe, “O Allah’s Messenger!  Tonight you must not sleep in your bed but immigrate to Madinah Munawwarah.”  Hence, the holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – went to “His friend in cave”, Hazrat Abu Bakr’s house and said, “Move the people of your house aside; I need to have a meeting with you.”  “May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Messenger!  There is no one else save your wife ‘Aishah” said Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq.  Allah’s Messenger – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – stated, “Allah Almighty has granted me the permission to immigrate, O Abu Bakr.”  Hazrat Siddeq Akbar then requested, “May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Messenger!  Grant me also the honour of accompanying you in the journey.”  He – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – accepted his request.  Hazrat Abu Bakr has been preparing his two she-camels for four months by feeding them acacia-leaves so that this transportation may be useful at the time of emigration.  He requested, “Please accept one of these camels, O Allah’s Messenger.”  “I do, but I shall pay its price” said the holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.  Hazrat Abu Bakr accepted it in submission to the holy command of the Messenger – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.  Since, Hazrat ‘Aishah was still a teenager thus, her elder sister Hazrat Asma Bint Abi Bakr – may Allah be pleased with them – made preparation for the travelling needs, and tearing the girdle of her waist into two pieces she tied the food-bag with one and the tip of water-skin with the other.  It was so worthy of honour on the basis of which, she is remembered with the respectful epithet of “Dhaat Al-Nataaqatain” (The personality of the two girdles).  The holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – had hired an expert of map-reading, an infidel, namely Abdullah Ibn Uraiqat, gave him the two camels and told him to approach the cave of Thaur after three nights.  The holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – returned to his blessed house after having made all these arrangements.

(Bukhari 2/592)

 ----

Siege of the Prophetic Abode

The infidels of Makkah besieged the house of the holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – according to their plan and waited for Him to fall asleep in order to conduct the murdering attack.  There was no one else at his house besides Hazrat Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – and the holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – did not know that they had besieged His house with the intention of murder.  Although they were His worst enemies but they had so much faith in His trustworthiness and honesty that they used to keep their belongings in his trust.  There were many things kept in his trust at that time too.  He instructed Hazrat Ali, “You should sleep in my bed covering my green sheet and come to Madinah Munawwarah after returning the things to their owners.”  Although it was a very sensitive and dangerous moment but he had complete faith in his statement, “come to Madinah Munawwarah after returning the things to their owners” that he will remain alive and will definitely reach Madinah Munawwarah.  Hence, he slept very peacefully till morning in the holy Prophet’s – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – bed.  Being proud of this blessed opportunity Hazrat Ali stated in his couplets:

وَقَیْتُ نَفْسِیْ خَیْرَ مَنْ وَطِئَ الثَّرٰی              وَمَنْ طَاقَ بِالْبَیْتِ الْعَتِیْقِ وَبِالْحَجَرِ

رَسُوْلُ اِلٰہٍ خَافَ اَنْ یَّمْکُرُوْا بِہٖ                  فَنَجَّاہُ ذُوْ الطَّوْلِ الْاِلٰہُ مِنَ الْمَکْرِ

I protected the life that is much better than the ones’ walking on earth and making the Tawaaf of Ka’bah and kissing Hajar Aswad (the blessed black stone from Paradise) by endangering my life.

The Messenger of Allah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – feared the conspiracy of the infidels of Makkah but Allah the Merciful kept Him safe from their conspiracy.

(Sharah Zarqaani ‘Ala Al-Mawaahib 2/95-96)

The holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – made Hazrat Ali sleep and then taking a handful of dust he recited the first few verses of Yaseen Shareef, came out and then throwing the dust over their heads, he safely walked past the group of infidels.  Neither anyone saw Him nor did they remember anything.  Another man that was not from amongst the group, informed them that (Hazrat) Muhammad – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – had already departed from here spraying sand over your heads.  When they felt, they realized that their heads were really soiled with sand particles.

(Tabqaat Ibn Sa’d 1/176)

The merciful Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – left his house and stood by the place called “Harwazah” and looking sadly at Ka’bah Mu’azzamah he said, “O the city of Makkah!  You are beloved to me more than the entire world.  Had I not been forced to go from here I would not have left.”

(Ibn Majah 3/518)

 

7. Bani Israel made fun of the prohibition of Allah Almighty and were cursed:

Allah Almighty had forbidden the jews from catching fish on Saturdays but they played a trick with Allah’s prohibition.

It is narrated 70,000 people of the Ummah of Hazrat Dawood – peace be upon him – used to live by the place called “‘Aqabah” near the ocean in the village namely “Ela”.  They used to lead a very lavish and happy life.  Allah Almighty put them through a trial by forbidding to fish on Saturdays and kept its permissibility in the remainder days of the week but the fact that fishing was forbidden on Saturdays because the fish used to come in abundance only on Saturdays compared to other days of the week.  The devil misled them and advised them to dig a few streams from the ocean turning their ends into ponds, and when the fish enter into the pond on Saturdays then close their exit without having to fish that day, and by doing this you can fish them the next day.

They liked the manipulative strategy without thinking that if the fish are trapped by closing their exit in Saturdays then it is actually a form of hunting and fishing which was made forbidden for them.

The Jews were split into three groups that day:

1. Some abstained from fishing on Saturdays and tried the ones that were eager for it and were angry at them and cut off ties with them.
2. Some remained silent deliberately despite knowing and acknowledging that it was an evil idea but they even used to stop the first group from preaching to them to abstain from fishing saying, “Why are you advising a nation which is about to be perish by Allah’s wrath or punishment?”
3. Some were those cruel unjust people that went out against Allah’s Commands openly and went for fishing on Saturday believing in the devil’s manipulative strategy and ate the fish and even sold them too.

When the disobedient went for fishing after being stooped then the people that tried to stop them said, “We will not have any relatiponship with these transgressors.”  Hence, they divided the village into two portions by erecting a wall from the middle and also built another gate for entrance and exit.  Hazrat Dawood – peace be upon him – cursed the fishermen in the state of anger.  The effect of it was such that none of them came out the whole day.  When people crossed the wall to find out, they saw that all of them turned into monkeys.  When they opened the gate and entered their premises, they found out that they still recognized their relatives’ faces and came closer and sniffed their clothes and immensely cried, but people did not recognize the ones that were turned into monkeys.  The number of those who were turned into monkeys was 12,000.  They lived for three days and were not able to eat or drink anything during that time, and died in this state of hunger and thirst.  The group that stopped them from fishing was saved and according to authentic narrations, the ones that remained silent and considered it bad were also saved from Allah’s punishment.

(Tafseer Saawi, Vol. 1, p. 72)

 

The summary of this event is mentioned in Surah Baqarah as follows:

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ الَّذِیۡنَ اعْتَدَوۡا مِنۡکُمْ فِی السَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَہُمْ کُوۡنُوۡا قِرَدَۃً خٰسِـِٕیۡنَ﴿ۚ۶۵﴾

And, undoubtedly, you surely know, those among you who rebelled in the matter of Saturday (Sabbath). So We said to them, “Be Apes, despised.”

(Al-Baqarah 2, Verse 65)

The detailed story is mentioned in Surah A’raaf as follows:

وَسْـَٔلْہُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْیَۃِ الَّتِیۡ کَانَتْ حَاضِرَۃَ الْبَحْرِ ۘ اِذْ یَعْدُوۡنَ فِی السَّبْتِ اِذْ تَاۡتِیۡہِمْ حِیۡتَانُہُمْ یَوْمَ سَبْتِہِمْ شُرَّعًا وَّیَوْمَ لَا یَسْبِتُوۡنَ ۙ لَا تَاۡتِیۡہِمْ ۚۛ کَذٰلِکَ ۚۛ نَبْلُوۡہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَفْسُقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۳﴾

And ask them the condition of the town that was on the seashore; when they crossed the limit in the matter of sabbath, when on the day of Sabbath their fish came swimming before them, and the day that was not of Sabbath, they did not come. Thus We used to try them on account of their disobedience.

وَ اِذْ قَالَتْ اُمَّۃٌ مِّنْہُمْ لِمَ تَعِظُوۡنَ قَوْمَۨا ۙاللہُ مُہۡلِکُہُمْ اَوْ مُعَذِّبُہُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِیۡدًا ؕ قَالُوۡا مَعْذِرَۃً اِلٰی رَبِّکُمْ وَلَعَلَّہُمْ یَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۴﴾

When a group among them said, ‘Why do you admonish those whom Allah is to kill or to chastise with a severe torment’. They said, ‘as an excuse before your Lord, and that haply they may fear’.
فَلَمَّا نَسُوۡا مَا ذُکِّرُوۡا بِہٖۤ اَنۡجَیۡنَا الَّذِیۡنَ یَنْہَوْنَ عَنِ السُّوۡٓءِ وَاَخَذْنَا الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا بِعَذَابٍۭ بَئِیۡسٍۭ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَفْسُقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۵﴾

Then when they forgot what they had been admonished, We rescued those who forbade from evil, and caught the unjust in a vile torment the recompense of their disobedience.
فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا عَنۡ مَّا نُہُوۡا عَنْہُ قُلْنَا لَہُمْ کُوۡنُوۡا قِرَدَۃً خٰسِئِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶۶﴾

Then again when they rebelled against the Command of prohibition, We said to them, ‘be you apes, driven away.’

(Al-A’raaf 7, Verse 163-166)

 

Lesson:

It creates awareness for us to realize the horrific consequences of going against Allah’s Commands, and also that the curse of a Prophet can destroy anyone’s life and bring forth the wrath of Allah Almighty and he becomes disgraced in this world and in the hereafter.  We seek Allah’s refuge from this!

The heart-rendering incident of the people of Ela contains a great deal of wisdom and counsel.  May the Muslims travel the straight path of fearing Allah Almighty and they abstain from going against the Commands of Allah and Rasool – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – and gain the goodness of both the worlds. Ameen!

(Kitaabus Sab’iyyaat p. 6-27)

 

Fasts On Saturdays:

One should fast on Saturdays which is very rewarding.  The Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated, “O Muslims, fast on Saturdays and Sundays, and oppose the jews and christians.”

(Ghunyatut Taalibeen Vol. 2, p. 74)

 

Nafl Salah on Saturdays:

Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that one who performs four Rak’ats Nafl on a Saturday and recites Surah Fatiha once and Surah Kaafiroon thrice and after Salaam, recites Ayatul Kursi once, Allah Almighty writes the reward of a Hajj and Umrah in his account in lieu of each letter and also grants the reward of the fasts of a year and the worship of a year’s nights in lieu of each letter and also grants the reward of a martyr, and also get a place in shade of Allah’s ‘Arsh with the martyrs and the Prophets (peace be upon them).

(Ihya Uloomid Deen)