Dr. Bilal Philips' Blog

The souls of the righteous believers will also be in Paradise, but in the form of birds and not inside birds. Yet these souls will not be free to roam as those of the martyrs. Ka‘b ibn Maalik related that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “The believer’s soul [becomes] a bird which feeds upon the fruits of the trees in Paradise, until Allaah returns it to its body on the day he is resurrected.” On the other hand, the soul of the disobedient believers are held in their graves and punished for minor and major sins. Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that the Prophet (PBUH) passed by the graves of two men and commented: “Surely, they are being punished right now, and not for major offenses. One of them was not careful to protect himself from the splash of his urine, and the other used to spread rumors.” Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 141, no. 215 and Sahih Muslim, vol. 1, pp. 171-172, no. During the Prophet’s ascension, he was shown a liar with a man standing over him continuously tearing down one side of his mouth to the nape of his neck, and then the other, until the Day of Resurrection. Adulterers and adulteresses were seen naked in an oven-like pit with a fire blazing under them. The one who dealt in interest was seen in a river of blood. Whenever he attempted to climb out, a large stone was thrown in his mouth, causing him to fall back in the river. See Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 262-265, no. 468.

Those believe in One Unique God, without partners or offspring, and do righteous deeds [according to the above-mentioned principles] become the crown of creation. That is, although humankind is not the greatest creation of Allaah, they have the potential to become the best of His creation. In chapter al-Bayyinah, Allaah states this fact as follows: “Surely, those who believe and do righteous deeds are the best of creation.” Qur’aan, 98:6

Almighty Allaah said: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and discuss with them using that which is better.” Soorah an-Nahl (16):125. Hikmah here refers to the Qur’aan. That is, Muslims are instructed to use Qur’aanic arguments and proofs when discussing with disbelievers. During discussion, Muslims should not sink to the level of their opponents who may curse and use foul language or gestures. Sahl ibn Sa‘d related that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “By Allaah, it is better for you that Allaah guide one person [to Islaam] through your efforts than [to have] the most valuable possessions.” Collected by al-Bukhaaree (Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 122-3, no. 192).

Before dying, everyone should write or dictate a will giving away up to one third of their wealth to those who would not inherit from them based on the inheritance laws. This recommendation was instituted by the Allaah to protect the rights of non-inheriting relatives and friends. It is under this principle of waseeyah that Muslims may leave wealth for non-Muslim relatives or receive wealth from dead non-Muslim relatives. According to Islamic law, wealth obtained by waseeyah is not considered to be inheritance. Islaam considers inheritance to be the portions of the deceased’s wealth which the law assigns to various family members in the absence of a will. According to the system of Islamic inheritance laws (Faraa’id), non-Muslims cannot be classified as heirs of Muslims. Likewise, Muslims have no right to take portions of their dead non-Muslim relatives’ wealth allotted by non-Islamic systems of inheritance. The Prophet (PBUH) was reported to have said, “A Muslim must not inherit from a disbeliever, nor should a disbeliever inherit from a Muslim.” Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.8, p.498, no. 756 and Sahih Muslim, vol.3, p.852, no. 3928. Consequently, the Prophet (PBUH) encouraged Muslims to record a will and keep it as soon as the need arises. “It is not right for a Muslim who has something to bequeath to pass two nights without having it in writing with him.” Reported by Ibn ‘Umar and collected in all of the six books of hadeeth. Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.4, p.1, no.1, Sahih Muslim, vol.3, p.863, no.3987, Sunan Abu Dawud, vol.2, p.805, no.2856, Mishkat Al-Masabih, vol.1, p.656, and Muwatta Imam Malik, p.329, no.1449.

Ibn ‘Abbaas related that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best women of paradise are Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint ‘Imraan, and Aasiyah bint Muzaahim, the wife of Pharaoh.” Collected by Ahmad, al-Haakim and at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer [S.J.S. 1135]. Mishkat Al-Masabih, vol. 2, no. 1361. MARYAM BINT ‘IMRAAN: The mother of Prophet Jesus (PBUH). She is referred to as “the daughter of ‘Imraan” in the Qur’aan, 66:12, and the “sister of Aaron” in 19:28, and her mother is referred to as “the woman of ‘Imraan” (3:35). AASIYAH BINT MUZAAHIM: The wife of the Pharaoh to whom Prophet Moses (PBUH) was sent and with whom he battled. She is identified in the Qur’aan as a true believer (66:11). Tafseer books mention that Pharaoh had her killed. See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, vol. 4, p. 420.

Ibn ‘Abbaas related that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best women of paradise are Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint ‘Imraan, and Aasiyah bint Muzaahim, the wife of Pharaoh.” Collected by Ahmad, al-Haakim and at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer [S.J.S. 1135]. Mishkat Al-Masabih, vol. 2, no. 1361. FAATIMAH BINT MUHAMMAD: The youngest of the Prophet’s daughters. She married the Prophet’s cousin, ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib, whose father raised Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after the death of his parents and grandfather. She died in Madeenah in 633 CE, a few months after the Prophet’s death, leaving behind two sons, al-Hasan and al-Husayn, and two daughters, Zaynab and Umm Kulthoom.

Ibn ‘Abbaas related that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best women of paradise are Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint ‘Imraan, and Aasiyah bint Muzaahim, the wife of Pharaoh.” Collected by Ahmad, al-Haakim and at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer [S.J.S. 1135]. Mishkat Al-Masabih, vol. 2, no. 1361. KHADEEJAH BINT KHUWAYLID: The first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). She was a rich Makkan noblewoman who hired Muhammad (PBUH) to manage her trading business due to his reputation for being trustworthy. After observing his honesty in handling her financial affairs, she proposed marriage to him. Muhammad (PBUH), who was twenty-five at that time, accepted her proposal in spite of her being a widow fifteen years his senior. When he began to receive revelation fifteen years later, Khadeejah was the first to believe in him and support him. She died at the age of sixty-five in Makkah during the economic and social boycott imposed on the Muslims by the Quraysh. She bore the Prophet (PBUH) two boys, al-Qaasim and at-Tayyib, both of whom died in infancy, and four daughters, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom and Faatimah.

“The best of people is he whose life is long and his deeds are good; while the worst of people is he whose life is long and his deeds are evil.”

Collected by Ahmad, al-Haakim and at-Tirmithee [S.J.S. 3297]. See Mishkat al-Masabih, vol. 2, p. 1094.

“Glorify the praises of your Lord.” Qur’aan, 110:3. In glorifying God, man chooses to be in harmony with the rest of creation which naturally glorifies its Creator. Allaah addresses this phenomenon in many chapters of the Qur’aan. For example, in chapter al-Israa Allaah states: “The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them glorify Him and there is nothing which does not glorify His praise. However, you do not understand their glorification.”

A sheet of cloth large enough to cover the whole body of the deceased should be drawn over body. This was the approved practise of the Prophet (PBUH) and the recorded practise of the Prophet’s companions. Jaabir said, “After the Battle of Uhud, my father – who had been mutilated – was brought and placed in front of the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH). He was covered in a cloth and I wanted to uncover him, but the people forbade me. The Prophet (PBUH) instructed that he be uncovered and when the cloth was lifted, he heard the voice of a woman crying. He asked, ‘Who was that?’ They replied that it was ‘Amr’s daughter or sister and he said, ‘Don’t cry, for the angels were shading him with their wings until [his soul] was lifted up.’” Saheeh Sunan an-Nasaa’ee, vol.2, p.397, no.1738. ‘Aa’ishah reported that a striped Yemeni cloak was drawn over the Prophet’s body [when he died]. In the case of someone who dies in a state of Ihraam during Hajj or ‘Umrah, neither the head nor face should be covered by a sheet.

Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “While a man was standing at ‘Arafah, he fell off his horse and his horse trampled him to death. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Wash him with water and lotus blossoms, wrap him in his two sheets of cloth but do not put perfumed oil on him, nor cover his head and face, for verily Allaah will resurrect him on the Day of Resurrection making Talbeeyah ’.”