Dr. Bilal Philips' Blog

The Prophet (PBUH) strictly forbade wailing and screaming, or the hiring of mourners. Furthermore, he identified such practices as acts of Kufr (disbelief), because they indicate displeasure with what Allaah has decreed. Eemaan (faith) includes the belief that Allaah is the source of all good and all of His actions are wise. Proper Eemaan would never allow those who possess it to commit such acts of ignorance. Aboo Hurayrah quoted the Prophet (PBUH) as saying, “There are two practices found among people, both of which indicate Kufr: ridiculing the ancestry (of others) and wailing over the dead.” Sahih Muslim, vol.1, p.44 no. 128. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar also reported that Hafsah cried when ‘Umar died and he said to her “Take it easy. Don’t you know that the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said, “Verily the dead are punished in their grave by the wailing of their family over them.” collected by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. The dead will suffer due to the wailing of relatives in two cases : (a) When the deceased requested mourning prior to his death. (b) If the deceased knew that it was the practice of the people and he did not request that they do not do so over him. Hafsah was one of the Prophet’s wives and daughter of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab, the second caliph.

Although the angels are made from light, as previously indicated, it cannot be said that they appear as light, as some have supposed, because they have not been described as such in either the Qur’aan or the authentic Sunnah. In their natural state they are invisible to human eyes. This is proven by the fact that Angel Gabriel used to bring revelations to the Prophet (PBUH) while he was in the company of his companions, and none of them would see Gabriel. Aboo Salamah quoted ‘Aa’ishah as saying, “Allaah’s Messenger (PBUH) [once] said to me, ‘O ‘Aa’ishah, here is Gabriel greeting you with peace.’ I said, ‘And may Allaah’s peace and mercy be upon him. For you see what I cannot.’ ” Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 5, p. 75, no. 112. However, angels are visible to some animals. Aboo Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “If you hear a rooster crow, ask Allaah for His grace, for it has seen an angel.” Al- Bukhaaree (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 332, no. 521).

“Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib stated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “When a believer is leaving this world and entering the next, angels with faces shining brightly like the sun descend from the heavens carrying a shroud and embalming fragrance from Paradise, and [then they] sit down within sight-range. The Angel of Death then approaches, sits by his head and says, ‘O good soul, come out to Allaah’s forgiveness and pleasure.’ It will then come out like a flowing drop of water from a water-skin, and he will catch it. But, within the blinking of an eye after he catches it, they will take it and put it in the shroud and fragrance. There will then come from the soul a fragrance like that of the sweetest musk found on the face of the earth. They then ascend with it and every group of angels they pass ask, ‘Who is this good soul?’ to which they reply, ‘So-and-so, the son of So-and-so,’ using his best names by which people called him on earth. They then bring him to the lowest heaven and ask that the gate should be opened for him. This is done, and from every heaven its archangels escort him to the next heaven until he is brought to the seventh heaven, and Allaah, Most Great and Glorious, says, ‘Record the book of My servant in the ‘illiyyoon’ [register of the righteous] and take him back to earth, for I created mankind from it, and I shall return them to it, and from it I shall bring them forth again.’ His soul is then restored to his body…” Authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ as-Sagheer, vol. 1, pp. 344-346, no. 1676. This statement coincides with the following Qur’anic verse: “From it We created you, into it We will return you, and from it We will bring you forth again.” Qur’aan, 20:55.

Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said, “While I was sleeping, I saw myself standing at a well over which there was a bucket. I pulled out as many buckets of water as Allaah wished from it. Ibn Abee Quhaafah then took the bucket from me and pulled out one or two full buckets, but there was weakness in his pull – may Allaah forgive him. Then the bucket turned into a very large one and ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab took it. I have never seen any person draw water with such strength as ‘Umar did, until the people [drank to their satisfaction and] watered their camels to their fill; whereupon the camels sat beside the water. ” Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.9, p.122, no.148. The kunyah [pet name] of Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq’s father was Aboo Quhaafah. That is, the name Ibn Abee Quhaafah [the son of Aboo Quhaafah] refers to Aboo Bakr. The symbolism in the Prophet’s dream indicated that Aboo Bakr would lead the Muslim state during trying times, for one or two years; while ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab would lead them in times of prosperity for a number of years.

‘Awf ibn Maalik narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best of your leaders are those whom you love and they love you; you pray for them and they pray for you. And the worst of your leaders are those whom you anger and they anger you; you curse them and they curse you.” Collected by Muslim (Sahih Muslim, vol. 3, p. 1033, no. 4573) [S.J.S. 3258].

Women are allowed to avoid all forms of beautification as a sign of mourning for their husbands, children or relatives. This does not contradict the recommendations for patience, as long as the mourning does not exceed three days for her child or relative and four months and ten days for her husband. Zaynab bint Abee Salamah reported that when she went to see Zaynab bint Jahsh after her brother died, she asked for some perfume. After wearing it, she said, “I don’t need any perfume, except that I heard the Prophet (PBUH) say: It is not allowable for any woman who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to mourn for the dead for more than three (days), except in the case of her husband, in which case she may do so for four months and ten days.” ahih Al-Bukhari, vol.2, p.207, no.370. Zaynab bint Jahsh was The Prophet’s wife and cousin.

Aboo Umaamah reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Nothing is dearer to Allaah than two drops and two marks: a tear drop which falls due to the fear of Allaah and a drop of blood shed in the path of Allaah. As for the two marks, they are a mark received in Allaah’s path and a mark caused by observing one of the compulsory duties set by Allaah.” Authenticated in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmithee, vol. 2, p. 133, no. 1363. For example, the darkened skin on the forehead from prostration during prayer or the darkened skin on parts of the feet from sitting on them in prayer. (“a mark received in Allaah’s path” for example, a wound or callous during fighting for the sake of Allaah.)

Seeing oneself enter a door or a gate in a dream, may refer to the successful completion of a project, or the winning of an argument, according to the following verse from the Qur’aan. “Enter upon them through the gate. For when you enter, victory will be yours.” Soorah al-Maa’idah (5):23 (Sharh as-Sunnah, vol.12, p.221.). Opening a door in a dream may refer to the acceptance of a supplication or the need to make one, according to the derivation of the word istiftaah, used in the following verse from the Qur’aan. “If you ask for a judgement, the judgement has come.” Soorah al-Anfaal (8): 19. (Sharh as-Sunnah, vol.12, p.220.)

Among aerial jinn are those who eavesdrop on the angels in the lowest heaven. The jinn then convey this information to some fortunetellers. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas related an incident told to him by another companion of the Prophet. He said that while they were sitting at night with Allaah’s Messenger (PBUH), a falling meteor gave off a dazzling light, so the Prophet (PBUH) asked them, “What did you say in pre-Islamic days about such occurrences?” They replied, “Allaah and his Messenger know best [the truth], but we used to say that on such a night a great man was born and a great man died.” Allaah’s Messenger (PBUH) then said, “These [meteors] are not sent at either the death or birth of anyone. When Allaah, the Exalted and Glorious, decides to do something, He issues a command. Then the angels bearing the throne and those in the heavens next to them glorify and praise Him, until the glorification of Allaah reaches those in the heaven of this world. The angels near the throne-bearers then ask them [i.e., the throne-bearers], ‘What has your Lord said?’ They inform them of what He has said, and those in the heavens [below] seek and relay information from them [i.e., the angels near the throne-bearers] until it reaches the heaven of this world. While the information is being transferred, [the jinn] snatch what they manage to overhear and carry it to their friends. When the angels spot the jinn, they attack them with meteors. If they [i.e., the jinn] were to narrate only what they overhear, it would be all correct; however, they add to it and mix it with lies.” Collected by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

Calamities are the foundation on which the higher spiritual quality of patience is developed. Consequently, it is not surprising to find that the righteous are subject to many tragedies and difficulties in their lives. Sa‘d reported that he asked the Prophet (PBUH) who among mankind had the most trials and he replied, “The prophets, then those most like them and then those most like them. Man is tested according to the level of his faith. If his faith is firm, his trials increase in severity, and if there is weakness in his faith, he will be tried accordingly.” Authenticated in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmithee¸vol.2, p.286, no. 1956. True patience is the product of complete trust in God at the time of calamity. Trust in one’s Lord is an important aspect of worship and the natural consequence of real faith. Since belief in Allaah means accepting that nothing takes place in the universe without His permission, then only Allaah deserves humankind’s complete trust. For, it is only God’s promise which is never broken. No matter how righteous a human being may be, he or she is capable of error. Humans will always let each other down due to their erring nature.