ALMISKEENAH

“Sire, when in thousands the lips of thousands sing the praise;

From thy side one blessed silence answers all.”

 *

“Where my silence can convey the exceeding love that fills this overflowing heart,

Let silence prevail.”

Once a Tabi’e, Muhammadibn Ubaidullah ibn Amr Al-Atabi visited the grave of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. After the greeting at the grave he sat down in one part of the Masjid and saw a person, appearing to be a desert Arab saying: “O you most honoured of all Messengers; Allah has revealed to you the verse:

If only they had come to you when they wronged themselves, and begged Allah’s forgiveness, then the Messenger would have asked forgiveness for them and they would have found that Allah accepts repentance and is most merciful. (4:64)

Then this person cried bitterly and read this poem:

O thou, best of those buried in the earth,

Through whom that very earth became honoured;

May my life be sacrificed for that grave

Wherein thou dwellest,

For therein lies virtue and therein lies

Generosity and goodness.

After this he begged for forgiveness and departed. Muhammad Al-Atabi says further: thereafter I fell asleep on that spot and in a vision saw the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. He said to me: “Go and find that person and tell him that through my intercession Allah Ta’ala has forgiven him.” (Shifa al-Asqam, Mawwaahib) The poem above is mentioned by several writers. Hazrat Iman Nawawi is his book ‘Manasik’ added another couplet:

Thou art the intercessor, whose intercession is desired,

On that bridge when feet are sure to slip;

As for your two companions, them shall I never forget,

Salam to you dear Rasulullah for as long as pens can write.

Iman Nawawi Rahmatullah alaihi states that among the Adab of Madinah it is also required that the visitor should at all times be mindful of the sanctity of the city and that this indeed is the place chosen by Allah Ta’ala for the repose of His Beloved Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam after his flight from Makkah. Here then is the place where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to tread on.

Iman Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihi writes: “When first you set eyes on Madinah let this come into your mind that this is the city which Allah Ta’ala had chosen for His Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and to which he was to flee for safety. This is the city where Allah Ta’ala revealed to him the obligatory duties of a Muslim. He set forth the Sunnah of his Deen and here is the place from where he had to fight against the enemies. Here is the place where his Deen became victorious and here her strove until his death overtook him. Here he lies buried and also his two successors. Here at every step one finds the places where his feet trod. Proceeding forward step lightly in a dignified manner thinking that you are now treading on the soil where surely lie the footprints of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Keep in mind the description of his walk and gait as explained in the Hadith. Keep in mind his greatness and his elevated position. He whose name Allah Ta’ala has connected to His own. Fear for yourself that there is those hallowed surroundings you do not commit such acts which are evil and whereby your good deeds are all wiped out.

Regarding this Iman Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihi actually referred to the verse of the Qur’an:

O you believers, do not raise your voices above the Prophet’s, do not raise your voice when speaking to him as you do to one another, or your good deeds may be cancelled out without you knowing. (49:2)

Iman Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihi continues: Then think about the time when the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum used to be with Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam looking at him, listening to him and benefitting from him.

When in the garden, on the branches,

A beauteous rose did bloom

Thousands were the nightingales around

With sweetly voice,

When came the day of parting as the

Rose ceased to bloom,

Long was the cry of lamenting:

‘Here was the rose.’”

Thereafter feel sorry that before now you have been deprived of the blessing to have visited Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum. This is the position here in this world. What will be the state in the Hereafter? Will we be allowed to come before Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam with all the excitement and exultation or will you be denied this honour and turned away in disgrace? Will evil deeds deprive you of the pleasure of being in his presence?

Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “On the Day of Qiyamah some people will be turned away from me.”  I shall say: “But these are my people.” To which shall be replied: “You are unaware of what they did after you.”

Thus dear reader, if you acted against the commands of the Shariah of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then be not unmindful of your position. Do not be at ease thinking that your evil deeds will not come between you and Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

At the time of entering Madinah have the hope that just as Allah Ta’ala had brought you from far off lands to the door of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam so also is it not  too much to hope that Allah Ta’ala in his mercy will not deprive us in the Hereafter meeting him, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

May Allah Ta’ala grant this meeting to you and I, and the entire Ummah, through the Waseelah of our Blessed Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

The following are incidents and stories describing visits our illustrious predecessors made to the Abode of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, may they serve as examples to intending visitors. Insha’Allah I will eventually post more, along with other relevant information regarding visiting this City of Radiance and Light.

Uwais Qarni Rahmatullah alaihi was a famour Tabi’e who was known as the best of the Tabi’een. He lived during Rasulullah SallAlahu alaihi wasallam’s lifetime but because he had to serve his mother he could not meet Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam himself called him; “the best of the Tabi’een” and said of him: “If he should take an oath that something should happen then Allah Ta’ala will let that come to pass, and if anyone should meet him let him pray for your forgiveness.” And Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to Umar and Ali RadhiAllahu anhuma: “Let Uwais pray for forgiveness on your behalf.”

When he came to Madinah after Hajj he entered the Masjid where someone pointed out to him the resting place of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Beholding it he became so deeply affected that he fell down unconscious. On regaining his senses he exclaimed: “Take me forth from this city for never will I find rest in this place where lies buried the most Beloved Rasul of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

His virtues were great. He died in the Battle of Siffeen fighting on the side of Ali RadhiAllahu anhu.

Once one of the Bedouins visited the grave of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and said: “O Allah you have commanded that slaves be set free. Here lies Your most Beloved Messenger and here stands your slave at the final resting place of Your Messenger. I beseech You, set this humble slave free from the Hell Fire.”  From the unseen came a voice: ‘For yourself alone did you ask for freedom. Why not on behalf of all mankind? We have set you free from the Fire.’

Hasan Al-Basri Rahmatullah alaihi says: “Hatim Asam Balkhy was an ascetic sufi who secluded himself in a vault for thirty years. He did not speak to anyone except when it was of dire necessity. When he visited the grave of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in MAdinah he merely said: ‘O Allah, we have come to the grave of Your Beloved. Do not send us away from here with desires unfulfilled.’ A voice was heard from Heaven saying: ‘Indeed We have granted you the favour of visiting the grave of My Beloved so that your greatest wishes will be granted. Go forth now, We have forgiven you and your companions and all those who are present here.’”