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`Ashura and the Sacrifices of Sayyidina Muhammad (s)

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

30 October 2014 Fenton Zawiya, Michigan

Welcome to everyone. You have to remember to have remembrance. Drum therapy or singing therapy is nice to have your mind relax, to do every evening is nice or even better do it every day, and in reality, you have to do twice a day. In any case, we remember our Lord by reciting “Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illa-Llah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadu ‘r-Rasoolullah.”

A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytani ‘r-rajeem. Bismillahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem.

Nawaytu 'l-arba`een, nawaytu 'l-`itikaaf, nawaytu 'l-khalwah, nawaytu 'l-`uzlah,

nawaytu 'r-riyaada, nawaytu 's-salook, lillahi ta'ala al-`Azheem fee hadha 'l-masjid.

أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ

Atee`oollaha wa atee`oo 'r-Rasoola wa ooli 'l-amri minkum.

Obey Allah, obey the Prophet, and obey those in authority among you. (Surat an-Nisa, 4:59)

Allah Gives Life through Rivers and Prophets, Awliyaullah Give Us Spiritual Life

As salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Every week we have a meeting like this and in the meeting whatever Allah inspires in the heart, I speak or someone else speaks, and in every word and sentence there is a benefit. Like this is water, it has life. Can you as a person, a body, live without it? [No.] You live on this water and it is small but gives you life. Anything that gives you life, it means it is praising Allah (swt). Without glorifying and praising, it does not have life. Allah gives life! We have been made from water, it is not purified but spring water.

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاء كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ

Wa ja`alnaa min al-maa'i kulla shay’in hayy.

We made every living thing from water. (Surat al-Anbiyaa, 21:30)

These three rivers are coming , no one knows from where but they are coming--small rivers, streams--water is coming. Everyone needs to live near them in order to get from them. Allah says, “We made from water everything alive,” so when water goes in the body, it refreshes the body. Without these huge rivers and small streams no one can claim he can live. Also, these rivers give hayaat, life, and guidance of awliyullah and prophets is giving hayaat to the Ummah. Without the Sahaabah (r) we would not know anything about Islam! Without Prophet (s) no one would know anything!

Prophet (s) Gave More to His Ummah than Any Other Prophet

Sahaabah (r) knew because they took from Prophet (s) who is a live river, not a destroyed river, and every moment of your life this river of Prophet (s) is giving life, giving to the Ummah from its barakah, from it’s mercy. Every prophet gave to his Ummah just as our Prophet (s) gave to our Ummah, but he gave more than anyone: he gave shaheed after shaheed, is it not? When Prophet (s) was on his deathbed, when he began to feel sickness, Allah (swt) sent Sayyidina Jibreel (a) and he was sent only for Prophet (s). He came for shoora, suggestion, to consult Prophet (s), he did not come with an order because he cannot order Prophet (s); Prophet (s) orders Jibreel (a) as no one is above Prophet (s) except Allah (swt)! Allah ordered praises and glory on Prophet (s). So Jibreel (a) came to consult or suggest, a shoora, and he said, “Yaa Muhammad (s), Allah is sending you His greeting.” When Allah says He is sending greetings, what kind of greetings? Is it like our greeting to each other? Allah sent greetings to Prophet (s), and how big is that? What was He showing him? For `Eid al-Fitr we send a greeting card, but what greeting did Allah (swt) send?

When we come to visit someone, we bring flowers or chocolates and candy as you can’t come empty-handed. What did Jibreel (a) come with? What did Allah (swt) give and what did Prophet (s) ask for? What he asked is oceans! Allah (swt) sent on him...we have seven oceans that we know, but there are oceans in the universe we don’t know. He sent him maa laa `aynun ra’at, what eyes had never seen, wa laa udhunun sami`at, nor ears had ever heard, wa laa khatari `alaa qalbi bashar, and no one thought about what Allah gave to Sayyidina Muhammad (s). We can say at least that He (swt) greeted Prophet (s) with maghfirah to the Ummah, that Allah (swt) gave him the Ummah, as Prophet (s) was always asking, “Yaa Rabbee, I want my Ummah!” Allah said, “Take them, I am giving them to you!” but with that came difficulties.

All Prophets Paid a Heavy Price to Save their Nations

Allah (swt) is al-Khaaliq. The Prophet (s) said he was the most abused prophet. What happened to Sayyidina Zakariyya (a)? When they chased him, he entered the tree and that was his miracle; no one did that except for him, when they came after him. Then they sawed the tree and it was dripping blood. That was a prophet and we must learn from the stories of the prophets and their miracles and how much they suffered for their nations, how much knowledge they gave of love and moderation, of peace and harmony, tolerance and acceptance, extended their hands to everyone, to all religions. All of Sayyidina Zakariyya’s body was bleeding and he died when they sawed him in the tree.

Today, in the beginning of Muharram, these first ten days of the Islamic year are filled with suffering. In these days, whom Allah (swt) wanted to save, He saved them from the cruel hands of their nations. He saved their prophets, but it cost them a lot. When Prophet Muhammad (s) entered Madinat al-Munawwarah, like these days, he saw the Jews fasting on `Ashoora, as it is known by this name, “`ash an-noora,” from two words, but they took out the Arabic letter Noon and it became “`Ashoora”.

The letter Noon is a secret:

ن وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُنَ مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِي

Noon. By the Pen and what the (angels) write. You (O Muhammad) are not, by the Grace of your Lord, a madman. And verily, for you will be an endless reward (for) you are of the Most Exalted Character.

(Surat al-Qalam, 68:1-4)

`Ashoora means “lived in light”: `asha means “living” and nura is “light”. On that day, Allah (swt) saved His prophets from many problems. So when Prophet Muhammad (s) entered Madinat al-Munawarra, he saw the Jews fasting that day and he was told they are fasting because on that day Musa (a) and his people were saved from Pharaoh and they were successful. Prophet (s) said, “We have more rights to Musa,” as he is one of the main prophets, so he ordered the Sahaabah (r) to fast that day, and anyone who fasts that day all their sins of the past year will be waived, you will be clean because of the power of that day. And Prophet (s) later said, “If Allah gives me life, next year I will fast two days for `Ashoora.”

Allah (swt) saved Adam (a) that day and forgave him that day from his disobedience. Allah saved Nuh (a) from the flood that day. Allah saved Ibrahim (a) from the fire of Nimrod that day. Allah saved Musa (a) on that day. Allah saved Dawud (s) from Taloot (Goliath) that day. Allah saved `Isa (a) that day by raising him up from his people. Allah (swt) saved all of them from their heavy loads because they could not carry them, and He gave all that to Prophet (s), who is carrying that load! That is why Allah (swt) said in Holy Quran:

Bismillahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem.

أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ

Alam nashrah laka sadraq wa wada`na `anka wizrak

Have We not opened your heart and relieved you of the burden? (Surat al-Inshiraah, 96:1)

“We put the load on you, O Prophet (s), and then took it away; We took away your sins as We put the load so heavy on you!” That is why Prophet (s) was standing in prayer for hours and hours throughout the night until his feet were swollen and Sayyida `Ayesha (r) asked him, “Yaa Rasoolullah! Why, when all your sins are forgiven?”

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى انْتَفَخَتْ قَدَمَاهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَتَتَكَلَّفُ هَذَا وَقَدْ غُفِرَ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَفَلاَ أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا ‏"‏

Allah's Messenger (s) performed salaat until his feet were swollen, so it was said to him, “You burden yourself like this, while your past and future sins have been forgiven?” He said, “Shouldn't I be a thankful servant?'" (Tirmidhi)

“I want to be a thankful servant.” O Muslim Ummah, all nations and all human beings! We have to thank Allah of what He gave us of life! Our life is through Prophet (s); the life of the Ummah is through Prophet (s); the life of all humanity is through Prophet (s); the life of this universe is through Prophet (s) as everything has been created from the Nur of Prophet (s) that Allah dressed him with! When Allah created him first, from that Light Allah (swt) created Creation, so he (s) is in everyone: he is the water, the ocean! What the Prophet (s) carried with his Family (a) is carrying the whole Ummah! Sayyidina Husayn (a) was carrying the whole Ummah. If one of Prophet’s grandchildren is able to carry the whole Ummah, what do you think of Prophet (s)?

Prophet (s) saw in the future that his grandsons will be killed. He (s) said, “They are the Masters of Paradise.” He did not tell Sayyidina Husayn (a), but he knew. Prophet (s) stayed in sajda with them on his back not moving until they did. He (s) is the Most Loving One! He (s) is the One Who Covers with his cover (`abaya). Allah (swt) said in Holy Qur’an:

قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى

Qul laa as'alukum `alayhi ajran illa al-mawaddata fi 'l-qurbah.

Say (O Muhammad), "I do not ask you for a reward except the love of my Family." (Surat ash-Shoora, 42:23)

Sayyidina Husayn (a) was Killed Because He Honored His Word to Give the People Baya`

Why was Sayyidina al-Husayn (a) killed? For a simple reason he was ostracized and killed, and we will not go deep in the matter, but for what? People wanted him to give them baya`; he went to the people in Baghdad because they wanted him to carry them. But what did they do when he arrived? They ran away. He stayed with 72 of his family in Karbala. He was like a lion, not afraid of anyone! Many people told him to go back, saying, “They will kill you,” but he did not surrender, he stood and fought, because he knew that he will go as a shaheed, he will carry the Ummah of the Prophet (s), so he surrendered but not to them! He fought until he was cut to pieces in front of his children, in front of his Family (a). That is the grandson of the Prophet (s)! They were only 72 people and the enemy was 10,000 mounted on horses.

Sayyidina al-Husayn (a) knew he was going to be killed, but he still went. He surrendered, saying, “This is Allah’s Will, therefore I am accepting.” They killed his son in front of him, they killed his Family (a) in front of him, and only two or three survived. One son tried to cover Sayyidina al-Husayn (a) and he killed 50 of the enemy, until he was killed. Sayyidina al-Husayn (a) saw all this and he came into the fight and one person, no need to say the name to give importance, killed him with his spear. When Sayyidina al-Husayn (a) fell down they jumped on him, cutting him into pieces and then took his head to Yazid. Can you imagine cruelty worse that that, killing the grandson of the Prophet (s), Sayyidina Husayn (a) for baya`? We understand that the reality cannot be changed, history is history. Allah (swt) knows what you did and what the Family (a) of Prophet (s) did and how much we need to respect and praise them! It is our duty.

Look at the love between them. When Prophet (s) was on his deathbed and Jibreel (s) came for consultation, and gave him Allah's greeting, and said, “Yaa Rasoolullah, Allah is sending His Salaam, Greetings to you. He is asking, do you like to stay? I am coming with the Angel of Death and Allah left that matter in your hands, you decide. If you want, the Angel of Death will go back and Allah will extend your life.”

Prophet (s) said, “No, I left dunya for Akhirah. I want to be near Allah (swt) with the Highest Company. Take my soul,” and by his permission, Sayyidina Israfil (a) took his soul.

Before that, when the Prophet (s) was continuously sweating, Fatimah (a), the Mother of all the Ummah, was crying at her father's deathbed.

Prophet (s) asked her, “Why are you are crying?”

She said, “Because you are on your deathbed.”

He called her to him and whispered in her ear, and she began smiling and laughing so much by what he said. She left and he took his last seven breaths and the Angel of Death took his soul, but Fatimah (a) was happy and smiling.

Sayyidah `Ayesha (r), her stepmother wanted to know what she was told by her father so that she too could be happy and asked her, but Fatimah (a) said, “It is a secret between me and my father. Not until after they bury him and pray on him, after some time I will tell you.” `Ayesha (r) was so frustrated because she wanted to know. Then Fatimah (a) told her that Prophet (s) said, “Do not worry, you will be the first to follow me,” and six months later she died.

See the love between the Family (a); the love of the daugher to her Prophet (s) and the love of the mother to her children and how, alhamdulillah, she did not have to see her children die before she died!

May Allah (swt) make the day of `Ashoora a day of taking away our sins and a day of condolences. `Ashoora is a day of remembrance of the life of Prophet (s) and the life of Ahlu ‘l-Bayt (a). We are eating and drinking, we all have refrigerators filled with food and still we are not happy and complaining. May Allah (swt) take away our complaining and take away our sins for the sake of Prophet (s), Sayyida Fatimah (a), Sayyidina al-Hasan (a), Sayyidina al-Husayn (a), and for the sake of `Ayesha (r), Khadijatu ’l-Kubra (r) and all Sahaabah (r)!

Bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, bi hurmati 'l-Fatihah.

Imagine 72 people facing 10,000 people. Sayyidina Husayn (a) never put down the sword until he died. He is the lion! He is the son of Asadullah al-Ghalib, Sayyidina `Ali (a), and he is Prophet's grandson! He was cut into pieces and Sayyidina Hasan (a) was killed before him, he was stabbed in the back. Also Sayyidina `Umar was killed by a poisoned sword, Sayyidina `Uthman was killed by a sword and Sayyidina `Ali was killed by a spear. This is what happened to Sahaabah (r) and they are the four khulafah. May Allah forgive us and keep us with them dunya and Akhirah.

Bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, bi hurmati 'l-Fatihah.

[Baya`.]

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