[14].Surah Ibrahim {A.S} [Abraham (PBUH)]: Ayat 45

Ayat 45. "And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and it was clear to you how We had dealt with them. And We put forth (many) parables for you."

Hazrat Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: When the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) and his Companions reached Al-Hijr, the dwellings of the Thamud people, he admonished his Companions (saying), "Do not pass by these people who are being tormented, without weeping, lest the punishment should befall you as it had befallen them.''

Another narration is: Hazrat Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said: When the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH)  passed near Al-Hijr, he said, "Do not enter without weeping, the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, lest the same chastisement should fall upon you as it had fallen upon them.'' Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) then covered his head and sped up until he crossed the valley of the tormented people.

[Al-Bukhari Book 04, Chapter 55, Hadith # 564]. 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Ibrahim {A.S} Ayat 45. "And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves,." The Thamud were the people to whose guidance Allah sent Prophet Salih. They lived between Al-Madinah and Syria. In 10 A.H. when the Prophet  [SAWW](PBUH) went to the Syrian border for the Tabuk expedition, he also passed through this ruined territory. This Hadith is related to the address which he gave to his Companions on the occasion. Here is an instruction that when we happen to pass through the territory of a nation destroyed in the past as a result of Divine wrath, we are advised to quicken one's pace. That is why we have been commanded to avoid the company of the corrupt and the wrongdoers, lest we meet their bad end, too. As the Qur'an says: "And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you.'' (11:113)

May Allah save us from it!

[14].Surah Ibrahim {A.S} [Abraham (PBUH)] : Ayat 44

Ayat 44. And warn (O Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them; then the wrong-doers will say: "Our Lord! Respite us for a little while, we will answer Your Call and follow the Messengers!" (It will be said): "Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter). 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Between the two Blowing of the Trumpet there will be an interval of forty.'' The people said, "O Abu Hurairah! Do you mean forty days?'' He said, "I cannot say anything.'' They said, "Do you mean forty years?'' He said, "I cannot say anything.'' They said, "Do you mean forty months?'' He said, "I cannot say anything. The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) added: `Everything of the human body will perish except the last coccyx bone (end part of the spinal cord), and from that bone Allah will reconstruct the whole body. Then Allah will send down water from the sky and people will grow like green vegetables'.''

[Al-Bukhari Book 06, Chapter 60, Hadith # 457]. 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Ibrahim {A.S} Ayat 44. "Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter).

1. When Israfil blows the Trumpet the first time, by Allah's Leave, all those who are in the heavens and on earth will swoon away, except him whom Allah will. This will be the first Blowing. Then, it will be blown a second time, they will become alive and will emerge from their graves. These Blowings are known as the `Blowings of Fainting and Rising'. As regard the interval between these two Blowings, the narrator of the narration, Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him), could not say anything when he was asked about it; as he himself did not know it. But in other narrations the interval has been mentioned as forty years.

2. The earth eats away the whole body of humans except the bodies of the Prophets. However, only the end part of the spinal cord remains intact. How it remains intact is known to Allah, but from it mankind will be created again.

3. Bodies will rise from the earth as vegetation springs out from the earth after the rainfall.

[14].Surah Ibrahim {A.S} [Abraham (PBUH)]: Ayat 42-43

Ayat 42. Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.

Ayat 43. (They will be) hastening forward with necks outstretched, their heads raised up (towards the sky), their gaze returning not towards them and their hearts empty (from thinking because of extreme fear).

 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Do not ask me unnecessarily about the details of the things which I do not mention to you. Verily, the people before you were doomed because they were used to putting many questions to their Prophets and had differences about their Prophets. Refrain from what I forbid you and do what I command you to the best of your ability and capacity". [Al-Bukhari Chapter 92, Hadith # 391]. 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Ibrahim {A.S} Ayat 42. "He gives them respite up to a Day." To be unnecessarily inquisitive and create differences and confusion in the Injunctions of Allah and His Prophet  [SAWW](PBUH) leads to destruction. The safest course lies only in following the Orders of Allah and His Prophet  [SAWW](PBUH) without `ifs' and `buts.' Hairsplitting in religious issues falls in this category. It opens the door for chaos and conflict and paves the way for disunity and separation. May Allah give sense to the Muslim Ummah to abandon this road and take the Right Path which ensures peace and security. Let it be absolutely clear that the Right Path is one and one alone. There cannot be multiple right paths, it is one and singular. Once a community leaves the Straight Path, it is sure to go astray.

[14].Surah Ibrahim {A.S} [Abraham (PBUH)]: Ayat 40-41

Ayat 40. "O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation.

Ayat 41. "Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established."

 

Hazrat `Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) saying: "One who performs `Isha' prayer in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat for half of the night. And one who performs the Fajr prayer in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat the whole night.'' [Muslim]

The narration of At-Tirmidhi says: `Uthman bin Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he had heard the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) saying: "He who attends `Isha' in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat for half of the night; and he who attends `Isha' and Fajr prayers in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat for the whole night.'' At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 221]. 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Ibrahim {A.S} Ayat 40. ""O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat" This Hadith tells us that the reward of performing `Isha' and Fajr prayers in congregation is so great that it equals the worship of the whole night.

[14].Surah Ibrahim {A.S} [Abraham (PBUH)]: Ayat 38-39

Ayat 38. "O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah.

Ayat 39. "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Ismail (Ishmael) and Ishaque (Isaac). Verily! My Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations. 

Hazrat Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him), reported: Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger  [SAWW](PBUH), his emigration will be for Allah and His Messenger  [SAWW](PBUH); and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he emigrated for".

[Al-Bukhari Book 01, Chapter 01, Hadith # 01 and Muslim Book 20, Chapter 45, Hadith # 4692]. 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Ibrahim {A.S} Ayat 22. "O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal." According to some Ahadith, the reason for this Hadith is that a person sent a proposal of marriage to a woman named Umm Qais, which she turned down saying that he should have to emigrate to Al-Madinah for it. Accordingly, he did it for this specific purpose, and the two were married there. On account of this event, the man came to be known among the Companions as Muhajir Umm Qais. On the basis of this Hadith, 'Ulama' are of the unanimous opinion that the real basis of one's actions is Niyyah (intention) and everyone will be requited according to his Niyyah. It is true that Niyyah is founded in one's heart, that is to say, one has first to make up one's mind for what he intends to do and he should not express it verbally. In fact, the latter is a Bid`ah (innovation in religion) because no proof of it is found in Shariah. The point which becomes evident from this Hadith is that Ikhlas (sincerity) is a must for every action. In other words, in every righteous deed, one should seek only the Pleasure of Allah; otherwise, it will not be accepted by Allah.

[14].Surah Ibrahim {A.S} [Abraham (PBUH)]: Ayat 37

Ayat 37. "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Kabah at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.  

Hazrat Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) saying, "If three men in a village or in the desert, make no arrangement for Salat in congregation, Satan must have certainly overcome them. So observe Salat in congregation, for the wolf eats up a solitary sheep that stays far from the flock.''

[Abu Dawud Hadith # 547]. 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Ibrahim {A.S} Ayat 37. "O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them" This Hadith also stresses the importance of offering Salat in congregation and mentions the disadvantages of offering it individually. One who remains aloof from the congregation, is like the sheep which is separated from its herd and becomes a victim of the wolf. One who lives alone is easily overpowered by satanic doubts.