Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
By Hazrat
Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh)
Imam Malik (Rahmatullah
‘alaihi) had great respect and great love for Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) and Madina Munawwarah. He once wanted to perform Nafl Hajj, but
feared that he may die whilst on his journey for Hajj. …It was his deep-hearted
desire to die in Madina Shareef.
In a dream, he saw Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and told
him of his wish to die in Madina Shareef and he asked Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam) as to how long he would live. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) showed his five fingers to Imam Malik (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi).
Not understanding
the meaning of this dream, Imam Malik (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) wrote an
anonymous letter to Shaykh Ibn Sireen (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) who was the
renowned and distinguished interpreter of dreams, of the time.
On reading the
dream, Shaykh Ibn Sireen (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) said that only Imam Malik
(Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) could have had such a dream and then gave the
interpretation, saying that the dream referred to an Ayah (verse) of the Qur`aan
Shareef in which five things are mentioned which are in the exclusive knowledge
of Allah Ta’ala alone.
Allah Ta’ala
states in the Qur`aan Shareef :
“Verily Allah, with Him (Alone) is
the knowledge of the Hour (Qiyaamah), He sends down the rain, and knows that
which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow (the next
day), and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is
All-Knower, All-Aware
(He is acquainted with all
things).”
[Surah Luqman 31 : 34]
To briefly explain
these 5 things as is mentioned in this Ayah (verse):
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOUR
Ø The exact year and time remains
unknown to us.
Ø In the famous Hadeeth-e-Jibraeel,
where Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was questioned with regard to
Islam, Imaan and Ihsaan, he was also asked : “So inform me about the Hour (i.e.
Qiyamah).”
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam) replied: “The one who
is being questioned is not more knowing than the one asking the question.”
(meaning : neither do I know nor do you know.)
Ø Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) conveyed many signs, which indicate to the proximity of the last day.
These signs have been categorized as minor signs and major signs. All the minor
signs have come to pass. Soon to follow are the major signs of Hazrat Mahdi,
Dajjaal, the descension of Hazrat Eesa (‘alaihis Salaam), etc.
______________
HE SENDS DOWN THE RAIN
Ø Weather bureaus predict rainfall.
However, this is EXPECTED rainfall.
Allah Ta’ala does not talk about expected rain, but refers to the absolute and complete details of rain :
¨
The exact and precise time when the rainfall will commence.
¨
The exact details of the land, city or farm which will receive this
rain.
¨
How much of rain is going to fall i.e. the exact amount.
¨ Whether the rain will be beneficial or destructive. …If we had such detailed
knowledge, we would be able to prepare ourselves for floods and damage.
Ø All the scientific instruments of
the world cannot give us such details.
______________
AND HE KNOWS THAT WHICH IS IN THE WOMBS
Ø Whether that child will be born or
whether the mother to be will miscarry.
Ø The most science can do is inform
one as to whether the child will be a boy or girl and this too is not always
100%. Even if they advance to the level of 100 % certainty, then too, they
cannot predict details such as :
v The life span of the child and the
sustenance that he / she will receive.
v Whether the child will be black or
white, whether the child will live a life of health or a life of ill health.
Whether the child will be a doctor, Aalim, teacher, etc.
v Whether the child will be a
blessing for the parents or a curse.
______________
NO PERSON KNOWS WHAT HE WILL EARN TOMORROW
Ø The detailed knowledge of exactly
what a person will be able to do.
Ø All we can do is plan. However, we
should not trust in those plans. Anything can happen: an accident, death, war,
revolution, etc. which then changes those plans. …All plans are subject to
Allah Ta’ala’s confirmation.
Ø This part of the Ayah (verse) also
refers to wealth, i.e. exactly how much money a person will earn for that day.
______________
AND NO PERSON KNOWS IN WHAT LAND HE WILL DIE
Ø Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam)
was given the Kingdom of the world and was given the power and control to rule
over everything, even the winds and the animals.
A simple man was
once in the presence of Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam), when a stranger came
before him. The stranger stared at the person in such a manner that he was
overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. He quickly requested Hazrat Sulaiman
(‘alaihis Salaam), to send him to a distant land.
Hazrat Sulaiman
(‘alaihis Salaam) commanded the wind to take the man where he wanted to go.
The following day
Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam) met the stranger who was Hazrat Izra’eel[1]
(‘alaihis Salaam), and asked him as to why he had created such fear in a Muslim
by staring at him. Hazrat Izra’eel (‘alaihis Salaam) replied that he stared at the man in
astonishment since Allah Ta’ala had commanded him to take the man’s soul that
very day in a certain distant land and yet, he was in the Court of Hazrat
Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam). However, when he reached India, he found him there
and took his soul at the appointed time.
Ø Many people remained all their
lives in Madina Shareef or Makkah Shareef. Just before their death, they travel
to some other land where they pass away and are buried. And many people reside
elsewhere, and Allah Ta’ala creates those means whereby they reach Makkah
Mukarramah or Madina Munawwarah, pass away and are buried there.
May Allah Ta’ala
give us the understanding and acceptance of Allah Ta’ala’s Decree. Acceptance
will create calm and peace in this journey of life. Otherwise, there is
restlessness, apprehension, anxiety and worry on what is beyond a person’s
knowledge and capacity.
So many debate and
argue the knowledge of the Hour, whereas it is Allah Ta’ala’s secret. How many non-Muslims
have given away all their belongings, etc. believing that the world will come
to an end of a certain day, whereas that day came and went, and everything
continued on, as usual.
So many visit
fortune tellers and others, seeking predictions of their futures, whether they
will marry, have children, become rich, enjoy good health, etc. – Na-uzu Billah[2]. Reading
palms, looking into crystal balls, reading tarot cards, etc. are all grave and
serious sins and are Haraam. There is no one who can disclose these details to
us because this is in the knowledge of Allah Ta’ala.
Others choose a
graveyard or cemetery, where they wish to be buried, and they purchase their
graves – but it is not necessary that this will be the place of their burial.
It may be a foreign land, it may even be the sea, or in some other way,
whereby, they may not be a burial at all.
[1] Hazrat Izraeel (alaihis Salaam) : The
Angel of Death
[2] We seek
Allah Ta’ala’s Protection
