Hadith - Little but sufficient

"What is little but sufficient is better than that which is abundant but causes heedlessness"

 (Ibn Ḥibbān)

"How did he die?"

It's really given me big jolt. One of my dear friends back in UTM, Malaysia, and Deeni bro, Abdur Rahman from Gaza passed away last night. He was one of the most selfless characters I've seen among my friends. He's the kind of a guy you would call in any need, any time of the day, any day of the year. He'd be there for you. The kind of a person with a perpetual smile on his face; a companion in all the jokes and jibes friends throw at each other. It's really hard to find such an active, selfless and joyful bro like him. He was about 30 I guess.

I think I know what you're thinking. 'How did he die?'. Yeah, that's what everyone thinks of when he hears of someone else's death. So if I answer that he died in the sea, pulled away from the strong arms of his dearest friends completely out of sight for hours, only to be found floating on the surface the next morning, we feel like 'oh yeah that's why he died'. As if he wouldn't die if he was sitting at his home, drinking a cup of tea, or just sleeping in his own bed. It's really amazes me, and makes me angry too, that despite always saying with our mouths that death could come to us at any moment, at any situation, we really don't mean it do we? When someone dies, we always look for the apparent reason. We can't accept that we will just die. Period.

What we should be more concerned about is what's happening to the person right now. We feel like with his death, it's all over for him. We'll not get him back again, that's what makes us sad. But do we imagine that by this time, the person has already faced the questions of Imaan. He's been raised in his grave bed, he's been asked the most important questions that a person can ever face. So what's his result? Did he pass? The events of the grave that we've always read and heard from The Quran and Hadith, have already come to pass for him. What's it like for him now?? These are the questions that should come to our mind when someone from us passes away. If they don't, isn't it time we re-think our state of Imaan?

May Allah SWT grant my friend His absolute mercy. May Allah SWT give us all death with Imaan.

Hadith - Avoiding Dawah is Belittling Oneself

Abu Said Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: "None of you should belittle himself."

The Sahabah asked: "O Rasulallah! How can anyone of us belittle himself?"

He said: "He, who sees a matter concerning Allah about which he should say something, but he does not speak  —  Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, will ask him on the Day of Resurrection: What prevented you from saying anything about such and such? He would say: Out of fear of people. Then Allah will say: Rather it is I whom you should have feared more." (Ibne Majah) 

This Hadith is very important for those of us who have anyone over whom we have some level of responsibility. That may be our son, younger brother, a nephew or niece; it may even be someone like a close friend or cousin. People who we would give advice to any other matter, like studies, financial problems, family issues etc. If we are so close as to care for them in matters of Dunya, then why would we keep ourselves from advising them regarding Aakhirah, which is the most important issue of all! But sometimes, we feel like encouraging them in matters of Deen would make us seem different from them; we fear that Dawah would cause a dent in the relationship, and out of the fear of being hurt, we don't say anything. Although we must remember, that Dawah, particularly to those who are close to us, should be done with Hikmah, accompanied by Dua. May Allah give us Tawfique to practice Dawah as Allah would be pleased with.

Quote - Arrogance

"If you are aware of your humility, then you are arrogant."

-Ibn Ata'Illah

[From @LostIslamicHist]

[Video] High Ambitions and Success by Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf

Importance of becoming a Da'ee in the current times

Strong words by Da'ee Shaykh Muhammad Hoblos. May Allah give us the Tawfique to practice.

About Valentine's Day and Other Pagan Customs

[From Jamiatul Ulama]

There is a group of practices that we can consider as the twin sister of bid’ah (innovation). Like bid’ah they flourish on the twin foundations of ignorance and outside influence. Like bid’ah they entail rituals. But unlike bid’ah the rituals have not been given an Islamic face. They are followed because they are considered an acceptable cultural practice or the hottest imported “in” thing.

Most of those who indulge in them do not know what they are doing. They are just blind followers of their equally blind cultural leaders. Little do they realize that what they consider as innocent fun may in fact be rooted in paganism. That the symbols they embrace may be symbols of unbelief. That the ideas they borrow may be products of superstition. That all of these may be a negation of what Islam stands for.

Consider Valentine’s Day, a day that after dying out a well deserved death in most of Europe (but surviving in Britain and United States of America) has suddenly started to emerge across a good swath of Muslim countries.

Who was Valentine? Why is this day observed?

Legends abound, as they do in all such cases, but this much is clear: Valentine’s Day began as a pagan ritual started by Romans in the 4th century BC to honour the god Lupercus. The main attraction of this ritual was a lottery held to distribute young women to young men for “entertainment and pleasure” – until the next year’s lottery. Among other equally despicable practices associated with this day was the lashing of young women by two young men, clad only in a bit of goatskin and wielding goatskin thongs, who had been smeared with blood of sacrificial goats and dogs. A lash of the “sacred” thongs by these “holy men” was believed to make them better able to bear children.

As usual, Christianity tried, without success, to stop the evil celebration of Lupercalia. It first replaced the lottery of the names of women with a lottery of the names of the saints. The idea was that during the following year the young men would emulate the life of the saint whose name they had drawn. (The idea that you can preserve the appearance of a popular evil and yet somehow turn it to serve the purpose of virtue, has survived

Look at all those people who are still trying, helplessly, to use the formats of popular television entertainments to promote good. They might learn something from this bit of history. It failed miserably. Christianity ended up doing in Rome, and elsewhere, as the Romans did.

The only success it had was in changing the name from Lupercalia to St. Valentine’s Day. It was done in CE 496 by Pope Gelasius, in honour of some Saint Valentine. There are as many as 50 different Valentines in Christian legends. Two of them are more famous, although their lives and characters are also shrouded in mystery. According to one legend, and the one more in line with the true nature of this celebration, St. Valentine was a “lovers’” saint, who had himself fallen in love with his jailer’s daughter. Due to serious troubles that accompanied such lottery, French government banned the practice in 1776. In Italy, Austria, Hungry, and Germany also the ritual vanished over the years. Earlier, it had been banned in England during the 17th century when the Puritans were strong. However in 1660 Charles II revived it. From there it also reached the New World, where enterprising Yankees spotted a good means of making money. Esther A.Howland, who produced one of the first commercial American Valentine’s Day cards called – what else – valentines, in the 1840s, sold $5,000 worth -when $5,000 was a lot of money – the first year. The valentine industry has been booming ever since.

It is the same story with Halloween, which has otherwise normal human beings dressing like ghosts and goblins in a re-enactment of an ancient pagan ritual of demon worship. Five star hotels in Muslim countries arrange Halloween parties so the rich can celebrate the superstitions of a distant period of ignorance that at one time even included the shameful practice of human sacrifice. The pagan name for that event was Samhain (pronounced sow-en). Just as in the case of Valentine’s Day, Christianity changed its name, but not the pagan moorings.

Christmas is another story. Today Muslim shopkeepers sell and shoppers buy Christmas symbols in Islamabad or Dubai or Cairo. To engage in a known religious celebration of another religion is bad enough. What is worse is the fact that here is another pagan celebration (Saturnalia) that has been changed in name – and in little else – by Christianity.

Even the celebration considered most innocent might have pagan foundations. According to one account, in pagan cultures, people feared evil spirits -especially on their birthdays. It was a common belief that evil spirits were more dangerous to a person when he or she experienced a change in their daily life, such as turning a year older. So family and friends surrounded the person with laughter and joy on their birthdays in order to protect them from evil.

How can anyone in his right mind think that Islam would be indifferent to practices seeped in anti-Islamic ideas and beliefs? Islam came to destroy paganism in all its forms and it cannot tolerate any trace of it in the lives of its followers.

Further, Islam is very sensitive about maintaining its purity and the unique identity of its followers. Islamic laws and teachings go to extra lengths to ensure it.

Salat (Prayers) is loathed at the precise times of sunrise, transition, and sunset to eliminate the possibility of confusion with the practice of sun worship. To the voluntary recommended fast on the tenth of Muharram, Muslims are required to add another day (9th or 11th) to differentiate it from the then prevalent Jewish practice. Muslims are forbidden to emulate the appearance of non-Muslims.

A Muslim is a Muslim for life. During joys and sorrows, during celebrations and sufferings, we must follow the one straight path – not many divergent paths. It is a great tragedy that under the constant barrage of commercial and cultural propaganda from the forces of globalization and the relentless media machine, Muslims have begun to embrace the Valentines, the Halloween ghost, and even the Santa Claus.

Given our terrible and increasing surrender to paganism the only day we should be observing is a day of mourning. Better yet it should be a day of repentance that could liberate us from all these days. And all this daze.

Be a nice guy, It's a Sunnah!!

Muslim Students in Universities - Part 1 - Intention and Acceptance

Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, many of us are studying in various universities across the globe in widely varying fields. Whether these studies are purely Islamic or seemingly unrelated to Islam, irrespective of our field of education, as Muslim students (or soon to be students) of universities, we have our own unique set of responsibilities which separate us from the rest of the flock. Recently I've been listening to some lectures by respected scholars of Islam about the duties and responsibilities of Muslim university students. I'll share some of the things I've learned in this post. 

• Intention matters most:  First point is to make a firm, pure intention (Niyyah) for the studies. Intention is what sets apart a true Muslim student, from an average student who doesn't understand Deen. 


• • We should always keep in mind that the studies that we're doing is not our goal, but only a means to achieve the goal, which is the pleasure of Allah (SWT) in the Duniya and the Hereafter.  Zaid ibn Thabit Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates, I heard Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying, "He whose objective is the world, Allah (SWT) scatters his affairs (he faces worries and anxieties in every aspect) and places the fear of poverty before his eyes; and he receives only that which has been preordained for him. And he whose intention (objective) is the Hereafter, Allah makes all his affairs easy, and  enriches his heart, and the world comes to him humiliated." (Ibn Majah) 
• • The best intention -  to benefit all humanity. 
  • Intention to provide for self, family and neighbors.
  • Our intentions must never be to earn respect from people. Abu Hurairah (R) narrates that Rasulullah (S) said, "He who seeks worldly things, though in a lawful way, to boast, to acquire too much, and to show off, will meet Allah (SWT) such that Allah (SWT) will be very angry with him. And he who seeks worldly things in a lawful way, to keep away from begging, and striving for his family and behaving kindly towards his neighbours, will meet Allah (SWT) on the Day of Resurrection with his face shining like the full moon. (Baihaqi) 

• Seek acceptance from Allah (SWT): Some of us maybe studying in a field in which it doesn't seem possible to benefit humanity like some other fields like medicine. If we make a strong intention to benefit humanity through the knowledge Allah (SWT) has given us, but we don't know how to use it in a beneficial way, we must keep praying to Allah, and be steadfast on Deen. Allah will make a way for us Insha-Allah. 


• • Two things (words) come from the same root, Qaabiliyyah (ability) and Qubooliyyah (acceptance). We must strive to achieve both, but the latter is more important. 
  • The Pharaoh (during the time of Prophet Musa 'Alayhis Salaam) had the ability, but he didn't have acceptance, so he was humiliated. 
  • Prophet Muhammad (S) prayed to Allah (SWT) so that Allah serves Islam through one of the two 'Amr's, meaning Hazrat Umar (R) and Abu Jahl, which shows that they both had ability. But Umar (R) also had acceptance, so he was chosen by Allah (SWT) for the service of Islam, while Abu Jahl was defeated and humiliated, like the Pharaoh. 
  • We must pray to Allah (SWT) that He accepts our abilities. The proof of acceptance would be that Allah (SWT) would make it possible for us to use those abilities for the benefit of the world surrounding us. And that includes ourselves, our families, neighbors, general muslims, non-muslims and even animals.

• 
  

• Insha-Allah we will discuss about the importance of productivity in the life of a Muslim student in the next part. May Allah (SWT) give us the Tawfique to practice upon whatever we've learned, and also to spread the message to our brothers as well. 

My Favorite Lectures on YouTube

Assalaamu alaikum! Hope you're in fine Imaan and health. Just wanted to share the link to my YouTube channel with you today. No, I don't have any uploads of my own. The only purpose of my channel is to share some great lectures from various respected Shaykhs. Personally I've found these lectures to be very much beneficial for myself in learning about our Deen directly from the Shaykhs. I would love to attend their gatherings in person instead of watching a video, may Allah (SWT) give me that chance soon and often. But till then, YouTube must do!

Here's the link to the channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AsifTheWizard/videos. Insha-Allah I'll gradually add more lectures as I discover them. 

Don't Misrepresent Islam

On the last day of a 3-day Jamaat at the Tongi Ijtema Maidaan Masjid in Dhaka, the respected Imaam of the masjid gave some short but invaluable advice for those who are returning home after spending some time in the path of Allah.

To the young guys he said that after returning home, they should try their best in serving their parents. They should wash the clothes for them, and if they say, 'No son you don't have to', they should insist and say, 'No mom, please let me. This is Deen'. And those who are in a responsible position in the family, i.e. the husbands, fathers, elder brothers, upon returning to their families, they should never live among them as Zaalims (oppressors), but should live as the Mazlums (oppressed). They should never treat their family members with scolding, should never be ignorant to their children. And if anyone has any sort of bad relation with another family member, they should learn to forgive them, for the sake of Deen.

He quoted Maulana Enamul Hasan (R) who said that 'No one has any right to misrepresent the Deen (Islam) with their bad behavior'. For those to whom Allah has given some sense of Deen, and have given the privilege to spend time for the sake of Islam, should always try to represent Islam correctly with their attitude, with their behavior towards others.

May Allah give us the strength to act upon these important words. 

Hadith Sanad of Maulana Tariq Jameel

Mashallah, Maulana Tariq Jameel Saab (DB) describes the complete sanad (line of narrators) of Hadith.

Hadith: Balance in Life and Worship

In our youth, there's always an added sense of enthusiasm in whatever we do. So when a Muslim brother in his youth gives much time in learning the Deen and the ways of The Prophet (S) and the Sahaba (R), he becomes prepared to strive for the cause of Deen and go through any amount of hardship. The spirit of Islam drives away their sleep, they stay up each night in Salat, many fast regularly and keep themselves involved in Deeni works all day. Many young muslim brothers become so much enthusiastic that they lose all sorts of interest in worldly matters like studies, jobs, business, family affairs etc. But it's the Sunnah of The Beloved Prophet (S) to maintain a fine balance between all these things, not to abandon them totally. This can be clearly understood from a beautiful hadith from the Sahih Bukhari:

Anas ibn Malik Radiyallahu Anhu narrates that a group of three (men) came to the house of the wives of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam asking about the worship of Allah by Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam. So when they were informed, it seemed less (than their expectation). They said: Where are we, compared to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam when Allah has forgiven his past and future sins. So one of them said: As for me, I will offer Salat throughout the night forever, and another said: I will fast forever and I will not break my fast. And another said: I will forsake woman, never to marry. Then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam came to them and said: Are you the ones who have said such and such? Behold. By Allah! Indeed I am the one who fears Allah most amongst you, and the most pious amongst you. Yet (is spite of that) I fast, and break fast, and offer Salat and I sleep (at night) and I marry women, so whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me! (Bukhari)

On the Path of Revival - Part 2

Ibn Abbas Radiyallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam said: Today you listen to me about Deen; tomorrow you will be heard. And then it will be heard from those, who heard from you. (Abu Dawud) 

 Although I’ve been acquainted with Tabligh for several years now, but only after going in this jamaat that I finally got to see and participate in the Dawah activities in full swing. The effort that is going on in the name of ‘Dawat-e-Tabligh’ in every corner of the globe now is the effort to re-establish the missing bond among Muslims. Deen cannot be rejuvenated in the hearts of the Muslims without the proper understanding of Allah Subhanu Ta’ala. So our Dawah consisted of just that, to remind the people of Allah’s identity as the controller of the whole creation. The goal of the Dawah is not to preach to others and give Hidaayat, but to acquire Hidayat from Allah for ourselves by preaching the very words that we want to set in our own hearts. Once this purpose of Dawah is clear, you’ll never be disappointed or grow tired in calling people towards Allah. The urge to improve your own Imaan and set your Yaqeen straight will drive you onwards.
So wherever we went in Khulna, we got totally blended in with the local people. We stayed in a total of twelve masjids in and around the main Khulna town, so that’s a dozen different localities. In the period of forty days, me and my Saathis (it’s a norm in Tabligh to call another fellow Tablighi a ‘Saathi’ which means companion in the dialect of the subcontinent) got acquainted with numerous people, and we truly got acquainted with them. I mean we didn’t only get to know their names and whereabouts, but they truly became our brothers. Even when we changed a masjid and went over to the next one, the connection with the people of the previous area were not hampered, we would often visit them, keep in touch over the phone, and often they would come over to our current masjid to join us for lunch or dinner. Even now after almost two months, I call many of them back in Khulna regularly, and they call me as well.
In each of the areas we visited, there was a great stir in the place due to our work there. Thanks to Allah, all the members of our jamaat spent a lot of time in Gasht (preaching walks), talking to people in all sorts of places. Houses, tea stalls, shops, student dorms, you name it, we’ve been there. So within the very first day of our arrival at an area, the local people were well aware of our presence. And I must admit, I loved the people of Khulna. The hearts of the people are much softer compared to the stone cold people of Dhaka that I’ve come to see for all these years. In attitude they are much more cordial and polite, and more importantly they are eager to listen whenever the words of Allah and Islam are spoken to them. The foundation of our bond with the people of those areas was the Dawah towards Allah, and when you love someone for the sake of Allah alone, the bond that’s created is the strongest. So we totally blended into the lives of those people, who were just a few days ago total strangers to us. This is indeed a very basic necessity of Dawah, to create a true brotherly connection with the Ummah. Once that happens, the work of Dawah becomes much easier and fun, and the effect becomes more prominent. Thanks to Allah, through our work there, twenty four people returned with us to Kakrail for the purpose of spending time on the path of Allah at the end of our time in Khulna. Among them were brothers from varying levels like students, businessmen, government officers and even a renowned Mufti of Khulna. So, we went to Khulna sixteen men, and came back forty!

On the Path of Revival - Part 1

How can we correct ourselves if we don’t know what to correct? How can we adhere to Deen Islam if we don’t know what it asks from me? How can we follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (S) if we don’t understand its importance? How can we obey Allah if we don’t love Him? How can we love Allah if we don’t even know Him?

It’s not possible to understand the value of something if there’s no effort behind it. Those who are brought up in rich families don’t understand how precious food is, because they never had to struggle for it, they never knew hunger.

We claim nowadays that just because we have recited the Kalima we’ve become Mu’min. But how strange is our Imaan that it cannot prevent us from an action which we ourselves know is a grave sin, in what level is our Imaan that it cannot improve our behavior, doesn’t make us humble, kind and soft hearted. What kind of Imaan do we posses that makes us arrogant and selfish? What sort of Imaan do we have that it cannot take us to the masjid when the muazzin calls? It is thus evident that the faith that we claim to have is not enough to keep us in the path of Deen, in the path of Allah’s satisfaction. The reason behind this miserable frailty of our Imaan is the simple fact that we have never struggled for it, never put effort for its betterment. Striving in the path of Allah, struggling against diversities to uphold the order of Allah makes our Imaan stronger, and that’s the very thing that we lack. And that’s why it is absolutely necessary now to spend some time in the path of Allah for the improvement our own faith and correct the concepts that we have towards Allah and the Deen Islam.

Since I’m acquainted to Tabligh for several years now, I’ve been raring to go out on a Jamaat for a long period for quite a while. The completion of my BSc presented the opportunity I was looking for. So after getting over my exams and dealing with the thesis papers, I left home for the sake of Deen on 22 March.
The first step is always the most difficult one. And I felt it on the early morning of that day. I got to Kakrail Masjid, which is the Markaz (center) of the Tabligh movement in Bangladesh (and one of the three major centers of the world), and enlisted myself in a Jamaat of 16 men. I have never met any of the other guys in my life, so the first moments were a bit uneasy I must admit. Our Jamaat was designated to work in Khulna city, due south.

Mathematical Miracles of The Quran - Tested in Video

I've read about many mathematical miracles that can be found on The Holy Quran, but I've never actually seen a video or presentation that actually tests them. These two videos test some of the mathematical miracles in ways that you can perform yourself.





I would like to draw particular attention to the last example of the 2nd part. That one proves that addition or removal of any Ayat (verse) from The Holy Quran would hamper the code. So those who dare to say that The Quran has some Ayats that have been added by man, are proved wrong. Subhanallah.

A Boy Against the Bandits

Ghabah was a small village at four or five miles from Madinah. The Prophet's (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) camels were sent to that place for grazing. Abdur Rahman Fazari, with the help of a few disbelievers. killed the person looking after the camels and took them away. The bandits were riding their horses and all of them were armed. Salmah bin Akwah (Radhiyallaho anho) was going on foot in the morning with his bow and arrows, when he happened to see the bandits. He was only a boy but he ran very fast. It is said that he could beat the fastest horse in race. He was also a very good archer. No sooner did he see the bandits than he climbed up a hill and shouted towards Madinah to raise an alarm. He then chased the bandits and, on approaching near them, started sending arrows one after the other. He did this so swiftly and incessantly that the I bandits thought they were being chased by a large number of people. If any of the bandits happened to turn his horse towards him, he hid behind a tree and inflicted wounds on the animal with his arrow. The bandits at once retreated at full speed to escape from being captured. Salmah (R) says:
"I kept on chasing the bandits till all the camels taken away by them were behind me. Besides, in their flight they left behind 30 spears and 30 sheets of cloth of their own: Meanwhile, Uyainah bin Hisn (another bandit) and his party arrived on the scene to reinforce the bandits. They had meanwhile come to know that I was all
alone. They now chased me in large concentration and I was compelled to climb up a hill. As they were about to approach me I shouted, 'Stop. First listen to me. Do you know who am I? I am Ibnul Akwah. By Him who has given glory to Muhammad (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), if anyone of you chases me, he cannot catch me. On the other hand, if I run after any of you he cannot escape me.' I kept on talking to them in that strain to beguile them till, I thought, help would reach me from Madinah. 1 looked anxiously through the trees, as I talked to them when at last, I noticed a group of riders headed by Akhram Asadi (R) coming towards me. As Akhram approached the bandits, he attacked Abdur Rahman and cut one leg of his horse. Abdur Rahrnan, as he fell down from the horse, attacked Akhram and killed him. Abu Qatadah (R) had meanwhile arrived. In the combat that ensued. Abdur Rahman lost his life and Abu Qatadah his horse."
It is written in some books of history that when Akhram was going to attack Abdur Rahman, Salmah advised him to wait till the rest of his people had joined him. But he did not wait saying: "I wish to die as a martyr in the path of Allah."
He was the only person killed from among the Muslims. The bandits lost a good number of their men. Then more reinforcement reached the Muslims, and the bandits took to their heels. Salmah (R) sought the Prophet's (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) permission to pursue them saying: "O Prophet of Allah! Let me have one hundred men, I shall teach them a lesson." But the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: "No. They would have by now reached their bases."
Most of the historians say that Salmah (R) was hardly 12 or 13 at that time. Look how a boy of such a small age was able to chase so many bandits single-handed. He recovered all the plunder and besides took a considerable booty from them. This was the outcome of Imaan and Ikhlaas, with which Allah had imbued the hearts of those blessed people.

[From Hikayat-e-Sahaaba]

No Place for Salaat

Last Friday I had Iftar with a couple of varsity friends and three of their school friends. We went to a recently popular and expensive place in Dhaka. One thing really hurt me in that place. They have made arrangements for Iftar, so that people can break their fast after having their stomachs empty for the whole day for the sake of Islam, while we were sitting there, recitation from the Holy Quran was playing, how religious minded this all may seem. But shockingly, they have no place for Salaat (Namaaz). The Maghrib azaan went off, everyone started eating, they've stayed hungry all day to fulfill a Farz of Islam, and yet 3 rakaats of Farz Salaat was going away begging, and no one seemed to care. Me and my friend had to take an almost 10 minute walk to the mosque to perform our prayers. Really shocking to see the lack of knowledge and negligance about the Salaat within the common people. That only brings back the blame on us, those who understand, because it was our duty to make them understand, and we're not even trying.

A Remarkable Conversation

The following post is taken from Hikayat e Sahaba, part of Fazail e Amal. This conversation is one of my favorite reads of all time. It shows the steadfastness of the righteous upon the path of Allah, even in the face of imminent death, and the truthfulness even in front of the sword of the executioner.

The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) has said: "To utter truth in the face of a tyrant is the best Jihad."
This is a story of Jihad of that type. At that time, Hajjaj bin Yusuf, the notorious blood-shedder was in power.
Hajjaj's harshness and tyranny are well known in human history. The rulers in those days, in spite of their
shortcomings, never lagged behind in propagating the faith, yet we treat them as the worst among rulers
because of the contrast with the just and God-fearing rulers. He was the viceroy of king Abdul Malik bin
Marwan for Hijaz and Iraq. The king lived in Damascus and Hajjaj had his headquarters at Koofah. Saeed
bin Jubair had fought against Hajjaj on the side of Ibnul Ash-ath. After the defeat, Saeed (Rahmatullah alaih)
ran away and took asylum in Mecca. The Government posted a very stern person as the Governor of Mecca,
with instructions to' arrest Saeed. The Governor assembled all the people of Mecca and read before them the
order of Abdul Malik, which said:
"Any person who gives shelter to Hadhrat Saeed [Rahmatullah alaih) shall meet the same fate as Hadhrat
Saeed (Rahmatullahi alaih) himself."
He then announced to the people:
"By Allah, I must kill the person who gives shelter to Hadhrat Saeed (Rahmatullah alaih). His and his
neighbours houses shall be razed to the ground."
Hadhrat Saeed (Rahmatullahi alaih) was arrested with great difficulty and sent to Koofah. When he was
brought before Hajjaj, the following conversation took place:

Hajjaj: "What is your name?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "My name is Saeed (lit. auspicious)."
Hajjaj: "What is your father's name?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "Jubair (lit. Trimmed)."
Hajjaj: "No, you are in fact Shaqi (lit. wretched) son of Kusair (lit. a broken thing)."
Hadhrat Saeed: "My mother knew my name better than you do."
Hajjaj: "You are wretched and your mother is also wretched. "
Hadhrat Saeed: "The Knower of the hidden things is someone else"
Hajjaj:"Look! I am putting you to sword."
Hadhrat Saeed: "Then my mother was right in giving me this name. "
Hajjaj: "I shall send you to Hell."
Hadhrat Saeed: "If I knew that you had that power. I would have taken you as my god. "
Hajjaj: "What is your belief about the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "He was an apostle of Mercy and a Prophet of Allah, sent with the best Guidance for the
whole creation."
Hajjaj: "What do you say about the Khalifas?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "I am not a' warder over them. Everybody is responsible for his own actions."
Hajjaj: "Who is the most exalted of the four Khalifahs?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "The one who had been able to please Allah more than the rest. "
Hajjaj: "Which of them had been able to please Allah more than the rest?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "This is known only to Him Who knows what is hidden in the bosoms and what the hearts
conceal."
Hajjaj: "Is Ali in Paradise or in Hell?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "I can answer only after I visit the two places and meet their dwellers."
Hajjaj: "How shall I fare on the Day of Judgement?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "I am not fit to receive the knowledge of the unseen"
Hajjaj: "You do not intend to tell me the truth."
Hadhrat Saeed: "But I did not tell a lie either."
Hajjaj: "Why do you never laugh?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "I do not see anything to laugh at; and indeed why should one laugh, who is created from
dust, who has to appear on the Day of Judgement, and is always surrounded by tribulations.
Hajjaj: "But I do laugh."
Hadhrat Saeed: "Allah has created us with different temperaments. "
Hajjaj: "I am now going to kill you."
Hadhrat Saeed: "The time and mode of my death have already been decreed."
Hajjaj: "Allah has preferred me to you."
Hadhrat Saeed: "Nobody can be proud of his relation with Allah unless he knows his position; and Allah is
the only knower of the unseen."
Hajjaj: "Why should I not be proud of my relation with Allah. when I am with the Amir-ul Mominin and you
are with the rebels."
Hadhrat Saeed: "I am with the other Muslims. I myself shun mischief. but nobody can change the decree of
Allah."
Hajjaj: "What do you say about what we collect for Amir-ul-Mominin?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "I do.not know what you collect for him."
Hajjaj sent for gold, silver and dresses from the treasury and showed these to Saeed.
Hadhrat Saeed: "These are useful, provided you are able- to obtain with them the things that may provide you
peace on the Day of Consternation (Day of Judgement), when every nursing mother will forget her
nursing, and every pregnant one will be delivered of her burden, and when nothing but good will be of any
avail."
Hajjaj: "Are our collections not good?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "You have collected them, and you are the best judge."
Hajjaj: "Do you like any of these things for yourself?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "I only like the things which Allah likes."
Hajjaj: "Woe to you!"
Hadhrat Saeed: "Woe is for the person who is deprived of Paradise and is made to enter Hell."
Hajjaj: (Annoyed): "Say how should I kill you?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "As you would like to be killed."
Hajjaj: "Should I forgive you?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "Allah's forgiveness is real. Your forgiveness is of no value."
Hajjaj: (To the executioner): "Kill this man."
Hadhrat: Saeed laughed while he was being taken for execution. Hajjaj was informed of this. He called him
back.
"What made you laugh?"
Hadhrat Saeed: "Your boldness with Allah, and His clemency to you."
Hajjaj: "I am killing a person who has caused dissent among the Muslims. (To the executioner) Kill him in
front of me."
Hadhrat Saeed: "Let me say my Salaat of two rakaats."
After finishing Salaat, he faced Qiblah and recited:

"Verily, I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and earth, as one by nature
upright, and I am not of the idolaters" (VI: 80).

Hajjaj: "Turn him from our Qiblah and let him face the Qiblah of the Christians, who also caused dissension
and dispute among their community."
His face was immediately turned to the other direction.
Hadhrat Saeed:

"And wither-so-ever you turn, there is Allah's countenance" (11: 115), Who is knower of the hidden
thoughts.

Hajjaj: "Make him lie on his face. We are only responsible for appearance."
Hadhrat Saeed (Rahmatullahi alaih) was made to lie on his face.
Saeed:

"Thereof We created you, and thereunto We return you, and thence We bring you forth a second
time." (XX: 55).

Hajjaj: "Kill him"
Hadhrat Saeed: I call you to witness what I recite:
"I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, who is all alone and Who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) is His slave and His Prophet."
He was then beheaded (lnna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raaj-oon).
After the execution, too much blood came out from Hadhrat Saeed's (Rahmatullahi alaih) body. Hajjaj
himself marvelled greatly at it. He inquired the reason from his doctors, who said:-
"His tranquillity and composure at the time of death had kept his blood in its original form. Generally, people
to be executed are so much scared and afraid of death that their blood curdles and does not flow profusely."
There are many such incidents in the annals of the Taabi'een. Hadhrat Imam Abu Hanifa, Hadhrat Imam
Malik, Hadhrat Imam Ahmad bin Harnbal and other divines had to undergo trials and tribulations because of
their truthfulness; but they remained steadfast in the righteous path.

Which is The Right Path?

Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat: The majority of Muslims who adhere to the Holy Prophet (S) and that of His Blessed Companions (R).

The Holy Prophet (S) said,

"My Community will split into seventy-three sects. All of them will be in the fire except one group. They asked: Who are they, O Messenger of Allah? He said: Those that follow my way and that of my companions." (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, al-Darimi)

The Muslim world is now divided into numerous sects or divisions, as predicted in the above mentioned Hadith. But success belongs only to them, who follow the ways of the Prophet Muhammad (S) and His Companions (R). Now, commonly the question arises that almost each and every sect claim that they are the true followers of The Prophet (S) and the Sahaabis (R), and the other sects are not. So under these circumstances, how can we identify which group is following the Right Path? Which one is the only sect which will be saved from the fire? The following Hadiths show us that it is the group or congregation consisting of the majority of Muslims.

1. The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Allah will never allow my Ummah to unite upon misguidance and incorrect beliefs. Allah's mercy, blessings and protection are with the largest group of Muslims. And he who deviates from this largest group of Muslims will be thrown into Hell." (Tirmizi)

2. The Holy Prophet (S) said: "He who deviates from the largest group of Muslims, even as much as a hand span, has himself cut off his connection with Islam". (Abu Dawud)

3. The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Follow the way of the largest group of Muslims! For, he who deviates from this group will be thrown into Hell!" (Ibn Majah)

4. The Holy Prophet (S) said: "In the period prior to the Day of Judgement, false and deceitful groups will emerge. They will say things to you, which neither you nor your forefathers will have ever heard before. Stay away from these deceitful people and do not let them come near you! Do not be misguided by them and do not let them cause strife amongst you!" (Sahih Muslim)

It is also mentioned in the Hadiths that the majority of the Muslims will not agree on a wrong conception:

1. "My Community shall never agree upon misguidance, therefore, if you see divergences, you must follow the greater mass or larger group." (Ibn Majah)

2. "You have to follow the Congregation for verily Allah will not make the largest group of Muhammad's Community agree on error." (Ibn Abi Shayba)

3. "Verily Allah will not make my Community agree on error." (Tirmidhi)

In the current time of deviation and misguidance among Muslims, The Blessed words of The Beloved Prophet (S) show us the Right Path, so that we may save ourselves from being diverted away from the Path to Jannat. These diversions and sects are all conspiracies of Satan, who is always looking to guide us away from Heaven. But Allah Subhanu wa Ta'ala has given us exact directions so that we may not get lost on the way. May Allah keep us among the Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat and may we not stray away from the Right Path. Ameen.