CULTURE OF ISLAM

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

Imtiaz Muhsin 22-Jun-12

The main objective of these talks (and therefore the scripts of these talks), is to stimulate thinking. Sensible, rational and logical thinking. So, my message, think, think & think! Be sensible, be rational and be logical.

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

Please Note
1. I have had the great privilege, (since Aug 2010), of presenting talks on the weekly Radio Program Culture of Islam [Every Friday 8 to 8.30 pm, Radio Sri Lanka - FM 97.4] 2. Since these are Radio Talks, I refer to, or address the audience as listeners 3. I am well aware that the audience to these talks would consist of people belonging to a variety of faiths. So as to make people of all faiths feel included, I very often use words and names that are common to all religions. 4. For these reasons, I use the name GOD, as well as Abraham, Moses, Jesus etc as well as the names Allah, Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam), Moosa (Alaihis Salaam), Easa (Alaihis Salaam) etc 5. Muslims by habit usually say Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam, when the name of Prophet Muhammad is mentioned, and Alaihis Salaam' when the name of a Prophet is mentioned. However, in these series of talks I have reduced the use of these prayers & sayings to the bare minimum. 6. Muslims, also by habit, use a number of Arabic prayers or sayings, such as Alhamdulillah, Insha Allah and so on. Again, I have reduced the use of these prayers or sayings to the bare minimum. 7. Sometimes I have to write Arabic words in the English script. I have devised my own way of writing Arabic in English, as follows;

th TH

s Ss SW

DHL DHZ

H h

Gh GH

Information on these talks along with all download links can be found on my on my Blog (http://imtiazm.wordpress.com/) The dates or the schedules of these talks can be viewed on the Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/ImtiazMuhsin786) The Scripts of these talks can be downloaded from www.ScribD.com (www.ScribD.com Author Imtiaz Muhsin) The audio files of these talks can be downloaded from YouTube (YouTube Channel Imtiaz Muhsin) The YouTube Link to this talk is at

All Praise and Thanks is due to Allah and Allah alone Alhamdulillah! P.S. The Picture on the Cover shows a Mosque which is located in a remote village in the Puttlam District, in Sri Lanka

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

Dear Friends, Assalamu Alaikum, Last week I discussed three questions. One of them was; Why is it that our description of what a good Muslim should be, would meet with everyones approval, whilst the Prophet and his close companions, who were the best of all Muslims, faced abuse, aggression and had to migrate? Anyone would give an answer, but these are reflex answers, on contemplation these answers do not seem convincing. The more we think about these answers the less convincing they appear. I had to do some research to find out more. One exercise I attempted was to find out more about the stories of the Prophets. There are a number of Prophets mentioned in the Holy Quran, and Allah has also given us quite a few Aayaths describing events in their lives. These Aayaths are obviously teeming with lessons. In the Holy Quran we find certain Surahs describing the stories of Prophets. Surah No 12 or Surah Yusuf is a good example it gives the story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) We also have Surahs named after other Prophets as well. We have Surah Nuh, Surah Yunus, Surah Ibrahim we also have a Surah called Surah Muhammad Now, I got a little curious and I began to categorize all Aayaths that dealt with the stories of the Prophets I am sure I would have missed some too, but I took the obvious ones. I divided these Aayaths in to 4 categories. 1. What Allah told the Prophets 2. What the Prophets told Allah 3. What the Prophets told their people 4. What the people told the Prophets. I found this to be a very enjoyable, a mind stimulating exercise. Today I want to discuss some points from the category What the people told the Prophets as all you listeners would realize there are many lessons to be learnt. In this category I was able to select 218 Aayaths. Again, I must mention that there has to be more Aayaths, but I took only those Aayaths that were obviously describing what people were telling the Prophets. Now what took me by surprise was, that there were a number of Aayaths where Allah praises the Prophets, for example S 11 A 75 (11:75) Surely, Ibrhm is forbearing, very penitent, ever-turning to Allah.

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

But where people are concerned, out of the 218 Aayaths, I could find only 4 Aayaths where people or a person praises a Prophet or a Messenger (Rasool). I am sure there are more, but it was only these 4 that caught my untrained eye. We have 2 instances in Surah Yusuf where Yusuf (AS ) is praised by the ladies. Instance No 1 (12:31 - part) So when they saw him, they found him great, and (were so stunned that they) cut their hands and said, Oh God! He is no human being. He is but a noble angel.

However, when we read this we get the feeling that this statement was made with ulterior intentions Allah knows best. Instance No 2.

(12:51) He (the king) said, What was your case, O women, when you seduced Ysuf? They said, Allah forbid, we know of no evil in him. The governors wife said, Now the truth has come to light. I did seduce him, and he is surely truthful.

Instance 3 is with regard to Moosa (AS), and this was 8 years or maybe 10 years before he was informed of his mission. (28:26) One of the two women said, Dear father, hire him; the best man you can hire is someone who is strong, trustworthy.

The fourth instance is in Surah Yaseen, here it is about a person defending a group of Messengers (Rasools). I think it is best described by reading the Aayaths to you.

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

The section is covered from Surah Nos 20 to 25, I will just read to you the 1st two Aayaths (36:20) And there came a man rushing from the farthest part of the city. He said, O my people, follow the messengers. (36:21) Follow those who do not claim any reward from you, and who are on the right path. And in Aayath No 26 and 27, what does Allah tell us (36:26) it was said to him, Enter the Paradise. He said, Would that my people knew (36:27) how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honoured ones!

So we have 218 Aayaths, describing the scoldings the Prophets heard, and just 4 instacnes where people praise the Prophets. Isnt it obvious that there are many lessons for us to learn? So the foundation question What were the people scolding the Prophets for, and why??? These Aayaths would make more sense if I first described to all of you a great contrast. What is the contrast? What we face now. Let me explain. I have been attending 52 Jummah sermons every year for the last so many years. During the month of Ramazan I listen to Bayans after the late evening Taravih prayers. I have also listened to a number of Talks delivered by reputed Islamic Scholars. I now shall read to you some of the points that are discussed or extolled to the Congregatrion.

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

1. Believe in Allah 2. Pray 5 times a day 3. Fast in the month of Ramazan 4. Pay Zakaath 5. Give Sadaqa (charity) 6. Give Hadhiya (gifts) 7. Go for Haj 8. Go for Umrah 9. Help in building or renovating Mosques, Madrassahs 10. Read the Quran 11. Educate your children 12. Practice modesty especially, especially with ladies 13. Help in social causes 14. Integrate with the majority community, whilst maintaining our identity 15. Perform Sunnath and Nafl Salath 16. Perform Sunnath and Nafl Fass 17. Help the poor the orphans the needy 18. Learn the Shariath injunctions on inheritance 19. Respect elders 20. Help your neighbor 21. Visit the sick 22. Attend Janazas 23. Avoid Haraam 24. Look after your employees 25. Be loyal to your employers 26. Avoid Riba or interest and so on, of course there are many more, but this list should suffice. Now if I were to show this list to anyone, say to those who lead our country, say to leading members of the Cabinet, lets say to leading film stars and sports personalities, to leading academicians and professionals, they would all say Very good, this is how a Muslim should be I am sure if I were to show this list to say Mahatma Ghandhi or even to Albert Einstein they would both say Very good, this is how a Muslim should be Then I ask the question, if this is such a nice set of logically good set of deeds, then why the Prophets scolded, abused, persecuted even threatened with stoning to death? Why? Surely something has to be missing in our deeds?

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

Let us now see what people told their Prophets, as explained to us in the Holy Quran. 1 He is Mad (Majnoon) S al Hijr (15:6) They say, O you to whom the Dhikr (the Qurn) has been revealed, you are surely insane. S al Muminoon [023:025] (And some said): "He is only a man possessed: wait (and have patience) with him for a time." S Was Saaffaath (37:36) and used to say, Are we really to leave our gods because of an insane poet? S Ad Dhukhan(44:14) Then they turned away from him, and said, (He is) tutored, crazy. S At Tatfiff (83:29) Indeed those who were guilty used to laugh at those who believed,

1a

1b

1c

1d

1e

1f

S At Tatfiff (83:30) and when they passed by them, they used to wink at one another, S At Tatfiff (83:31) and when they went back to their family, they went enjoying their mockery,

1g

This is Magic 2 2a This is Magic (Sihr) S Was Saafaath (37:15) and say, This is nothing but an open magic. S Az Zukhruf (43:30) But when the truth came to them, they said, This is magic, and we totally disbelieve in it.

2b

2c

S Saad (38:4) part - And the disbelievers say, This is a magician, a sheer liar.

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

They were (humiliated) mocked at; 3 Mocked at (humiliated) them

3a

S Al Anaam (6:10) part - Those who laughed at them were, then, besieged by what they used to ridicule (Sakhiru).

3b

S Al Furqaan (25:41) When they see you, they take you only as a laughing stock, (saying) Is this the man whom Allah has sent as a messenger? S Al Hijr (15:11) No messenger came to them but they used to mock at him (yasthaHzi-oon). S Ya Seen (36:30) part - No messenger came to them, but they have been mocking at him (yasthaHzi-oon). S Az Zukhruf (43:7) No messenger came to them, but they used to mock at him (yasthaHzi-oon). S Az Zukhruf (43:47) So, when he came to them with Our signs, they at once started laughing at them.

3c

3d

3e

3f

Tales of the Ancients; 4 Tales of the ancients 4a S Al Qalam (68:15) When Our verses are recited to him, he says, (These are) the tales of the ancient.

You are in clear error; 5 In Clear Error 5a S Al Araaf (7:60) The chiefs of his people said, Indeed we see you in an obvious error.

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

You are liars; 6 Liar S Al Araaf (7:66) Said the chiefs of his people who disbelieved, Indeed, we see you in folly, and we believe you are one of the liars. S Ash Shurah (26:186) You are no more than a human like us, and in fact we consider you to be one of the liars. S al Muminoon (23:38) He is nothing but a man who has forged a lie against Allah, and we are not going to believe in him.

6a

6b

6c

They pretend too much purity; 7 They pretend too much purity S Al Araaf (7:82) The answer of his people was no other than to say, Expel them from your town. They are a people who pretend too much purity.

7a

They are losers; 8 Losers S Al Araaf (7:90) The chiefs of his people who disbelieved said, If you are to follow Shuaib, then you will be utter losers. S Al Muminoon (23:34) If you obey a human like yourselves, then you will be absolute losers. S Hud (11:87) They said, O Shuaib, does your Salh (prayer) command you that we should forsake what our fathers used to worship or that we should not deal with our wealth as we please? You pretend to be the only man of wisdom and guidance.

8a

8b

8c

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

We shall expel you; 9 We shall expel you

9a

S Al Araaf (7:88) The chiefs of his people, who were arrogant, said, O Shuaib, we will expel you and those who believe with you from our town, or you shall have to turn to our faith. He said, Even if we hate it?

We would have stoned you; 10 We would have stoned you S Hud (11:91) They said, O Shuaib, we do not understand much of what you say, and, 10a in fact, we see you are weak among us. But for your clan, we would have stoned you. And to us, you are not a man of respect.

Names of some of the Prophets who were threatened with death and / or attempts were made to kill them; Nuh (AS) Ibrahim (AS) Shuhaib (AS) Moosa (AS) Easa (AS) Muhammad (Sal)

You are Power Hungry 11 Power Hungry S Muminoon (23:24) So, said the disbelieving chiefs from among his nation, This (man) is nothing but a human being like you. He wishes to impose his 11a superiority over you. Had Allah willed, He would have sent down angels (instead of him). We have not heard of such a thing among our forefathers.

10

83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets

How people ridiculed them with questions 11 The Hereafter S Muminoon (23:35) Does he promise you 11a that, when you die and are turned into dust and bones, you are to be brought forth?

S Muminoon (23:36) Far too improbable is 11b what you are being promised.

S Muminoon (23:37) There is nothing but 11c our worldly life. We die and we live, and we are not to be raised again.

So, dear listeners and dear readers, all these Aayaths are being pointed out to us so that we would begin thinking, and thinking deeply. We call ourselves Muslims. We say our Religion is Islam. But then, by relating to these stories to these examples, we can ask ourselves the troubling questions; Are we true Muslims? Are we folowong Islam the way it should eb followed? It is a challenge we must find out we must discover. It is an adventure we must find out we must discover. I hope that all you enjoyed listening to this talk as much as I enjoyed preparing for it and then presenting it to you. May Allah Taaalah guide us all and accept us all! Jazza Kalla Khairan! Assalamu Alaikum

Imtiaz Muhsin Colombo Sri Lanka crescent786@hotmail.com

You Tube Channel - HaneefanMusliman

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83 Learning from the Stories of Prophets