Year 8 Islamic Cycle 4

Belief and Akhira: Events of the Day of Judgement

• Overview of the Day of Judgement:

  • The Day will come upon humankind suddenly, causing a shock even to those informed of the signs.

  • The standing in fear and trepidation may last as long as $50,000$ years, though for a pious person, it might feel as short as the time required for $2$ rakahs of prayer.

• Sequence of Ten Key Events:

  1. Blowing of the Trumpet: A single, horrendous blast will turn mountains and earth to dust. A second blowing will cause everyone who ever lived to stand up, shocked.

     • Quran citation: "And when the trumpet is blown with a single blast… then on that Day shall the (Great) Event befall." ($69:13-15$).

  2. The Standing: Humanity will be resurrected from bones and body parts. People will be barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised. Deeds will determine the experience. The sun will be brought within a distance of $1$ mile, causing people to perspire according to their deeds.

  3. Al-Hawdh (The Cistern): A huge lake of pure, thirst-quenching water belonging to the Prophet (SAW). Its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey; its smell is better than musk. Drinking vessels are as numerous as the stars. Those who drink from it will never thirst again. People who innovated and strayed from the Sunnah will be pushed away.

  4. Waiting for What is to Come: A period of intense distress, confusion, and fear under an eerie light where the sun and moon are brought together. The heavens will be rent asunder.

  5. The Prophets (Intercession): People will rush to various Prophets (Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa) begging for judgement to start. Each will say "Myself, myself" due to fear of Allah's anger. Finally, Muhammad (SAW) will intercede.

  6. Heaven and Hell Brought Close: Hell will be dragged forth by $70,000$ reins, each held by $70,000$ angels ($4.9 \times 10^9$ total angels). Paradise will be brought near to the pious to temper their fear.

  7. Scales of Justice: Every deed, even an atom's weight, will be weighed. Good conduct is the heaviest thing on the balance. Good deeds are rewarded $10$ times their weight.

  8. Book of Deeds: Angels record every action. The book is received in the right hand (for an easy reckoning and joy) or the left hand/behind the back (leading to a blazing fire).

  9. The Accounting: The first question asked will be regarding the quality of prayer. Voluntary prayers may compensate for shortages in obligatory prayers. Questions will cover five areas: life, youth, earning wealth, spending wealth, and knowledge. Body parts (tongue, hands, feet, skin) will testify against the sinner.

  10. Crossing the Sirat: A bridge sharper than a sword and thinner than a hair. People cross at different speeds (lightning, falling star, running horse) based on their inner light/piety. Hooks on the bridge snare those destined for Hell.

• Categories of People Shaded by Allah (When there is no other shade):

  1. A just leader.

  2. A person whose heart is attached to the mosque.

  3. A person raised to obey Allah.

  4. Two people who love each other solely for the sake of Allah.

  5. A person who mentioned Allah in private and wept.

  6. A person who gave charity so secretly the left hand did not know what the right gave.

  7. A person who resisted temptation by the opposite sex due to fear of Allah.

Concept and Hadith of Intercession (Al-Shafa‘ah)

• Definitions:

  • Intercession: To make a plea on behalf of someone else.

  • Arabic Terms: Al-Shafa’ah or Al-Wasila.

• Order of Intercession Requests:

  1. Adam (AS): Title: The First of man; First to be created. Reason for refusal: He ate from the forbidden tree.

  2. Ibrahim (AS): Title: Friend of Allah (Khalil al-Rahman). Reason for refusal: He misled a tyrant king by calling Sarah his sister in Islam.

  3. Musa (AS): Title: The one who spoke directly to Allah (Kaleem Allah). Reason for refusal: He accidentally killed a Qibti man.

  4. Isa (AS): Title: The soul created by Allah and His word (Ruh Allah wa kalimatuh). Reason for refusal: People began to worship him after he was taken to the heavens.

  5. Muhammad (SAW): Title: Beloved of Allah (Habib Allah). He accepts by saying, "I am for that."

• The Four Levels of Intercession (People freed from Fire):

  • Level 1: Those who have faith equal to the weight of a barley grain.

  • Level 2: Those who have faith equal to the weight of a small ant or a mustard seed.

  • Level 3: Those who have faith equal to the lightest, lightest mustard seed.

  • Level 4: Those who said, "None has the right to be worshiped except Allah."

• Link to the Adhan:

  • The Prophet (SAW) stated that whoever recites the specific dua after the Adhan (asking Allah for Muhammad the right of intercession/Al-Wasila and the station of praise/Maqaman Mahmuda) will be granted his intercession on the Day of Resurrection.

The Caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)

• Early Life & Background:

  • Son of Abu Talib. Grew up in the household of Rasulullah (SAW) because Abu Talib was poor at the time.

  • Wife: Fatima (RA).

  • Titles: Abu Turab (given because he liked resting on the floor).

  • Notable Battles/Expeditions: Badr (fought Walid in a duel), Uhud (cleaned Prophet's wounds), Khaybar (conquered fortress of Naim; fought warlord Marhab; had an eye infection before the battle), Tabuk (stayed in Madina; Prophet said he was to him like Haroon was to Musa).

• Expertise in Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence):

  • Case of the 6-month Pregnancy: A woman was accused of adultery after giving birth at $6$ months. Ali (RA) proved her innocence using two Quranic verses:

    • Verse A: "The bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months." ($46:15$).

    • Verse B: "Mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years ($24$ months)." ($2:233$).

    • Calculation: $30$ months total minus $24$ months of suckling equals $6$ months for pregnancy.

• The Independent Judiciary (Story of the Armour):

  • Ali (RA) lost his armour and found it with a Jew. He took the matter to court. The judge (Qadi) treated Ali as a regular plaintiff and asked for witnesses. Ali offered his servant Qanbar and his sons Hasan and Hussain. The judge rejected the testimony of his sons (as family cannot witness for each other in that context). Ali accepted the loss, which so impressed the Jew that he accepted Islam.

• Political Challenges and Battles:

  • Election: After Uthman's assassination, rebels insisted on a new Caliph within $24$ hours. Ali was chosen despite initial refusals, as he was seen as the most pious and brave.

  • Change of Governors: Ali replaced provincial governors to address state weakness. He was warned against deposing Mu’awiyah (Syria), but proceeded. This led to conflict.

  • Battle of the Camel (Jamal): Ayesha, Talha, and Zubair sought revenge for Uthman's blood. Negotiations were sabotaged by mischief-makers, leading to battle. Talha and Zubair were killed. Ali treated Ayesha with honor and sent her home.

  • Battle of Siffin: Conflict with Mu’awiyah. It lasted months. When Ali's army was near victory, Mu’awiyah’s soldiers tied Qurans to their lances to force a ceasefire. This led to Arbitration (Abu Musa Ashari for Ali; Amr bin Aas for Mu’awiyah).

  • The Khawarij: A breakaway group that rejected the arbitration, believing only Allah can decide. They became a major threat.

  • Battle of Nahrawan: Ali defeated the Khawarij (killing nearly all of the $4,000$ except a few dozen), but this victory diverted resources from the Syrian campaign.

  • Fall of Egypt: Amr ibn al-Aas re-conquered Egypt for Mu’awiyah, further weakening Ali's state.

• Assassination:

  • Ali (RA) was attacked and captured. He instructed that his attacker be treated fairly. He died in $40$ AH. He narrated $586$ hadith.

The Charter of Madinah and Early Society

• Context of Madinah:

  • Old name: Yathrib. Full name: Madinat al-Nabi.

  • Demographics: Ansar (Helpers/Madinans), Muhajireen (Migrants from Makka), Jews (Banu Nadhir, Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Qurayza), Mushrikeen (Idol-worshippers), and Munafiqeen (Hypocrites led by Abdullah bin Ubayy).

• Brotherhood (Muwakhah):

  • The Prophet (SAW) paired $45$ immigrants with Madinan families. They shared property and even originally had inheritance rights (later abrogated by blood kin laws).

  • Example: Sa’d bin Rab’i offered Abdul Rahman bin Auf half his wealth and one of his wives (after divorce). Abdul Rahman declined, asking only for the location of the market, where he successfully supported himself as a merchant.

• Key Articles of the Charter:

  • The Ummah: Muslims and tribes signing the treaty form one distinct nation (Ummah).

  • Blood Money/Ransom: Payment for prisoners and blood money follows past tribal practices.

  • Unity Against Crime: All three communities unite against criminals/rebels, even if they are their own offspring.

  • Religious Autonomy: Jews and Muslims live as separate nations with their own religious affairs and finances.

  • Joint Defense: All parties must defend Madinah from external attack. No one can aid the Quraysh.

  • The Prophet as Arbiter: All major disputes among the groups are referred to Allah and His Messenger.

The Event of Karbala

• Prelude (Part 1):

  • Ahl al-Bayt: The family of the Prophet (SAW). Includes his wives, children (Fatima), children of Ali (Hasan and Hussain), and the children of Abbas, Aqeel, and Jafar.

  • Hasan’s Abdication: After Ali's death, Hasan was Caliph for $6$ months before resigning in $41$ AH to avoid further Muslim bloodshed. He signed an agreement with Mu’awiyah.

  • Yazid’s Succession: Mu’awiyah nominated his son Yazid (from Banu Umayya) to be the next Caliph. This was contested because many senior Sahaba (Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Zubair, Hussain) were alive.

• The Uprising in Kufa (Part 2):

  • Hussain (RA) refused to give Bay'at (oath of allegiance) to Yazid in Madina and fled to Makka. Kufans sent over $60$ letters inviting him to lead a rebellion.

  • Muslim ibn Aqeel: Hussain’s cousin sent to scout Kufa. He received allegiance from $12,000$ representatives (spanning $30,000 – 40,000$ supporters).

  • Yazid’s Response: He appointed Ubaydillah ibn Ziyaad (age $28$) as governor of Kufa to crush the uprising. Ibn Ziyaad used a spy (posing as a Syrian supporter with gold) to find Muslim ibn Aqeel.

  • Betrayal: Ibn Ziyaad bribed the tribal leaders. Muslim's supporters dwindled from $4,000$ to zero by nightfall. Muslim was captured, pushed from the palace roof, and killed on the Day of Arafat ($9$ Dhul-Hijja, $60$ AH). Hani ibn Urwa was crucified.

• The Journey and Battle (Parts 3 & 4):

  • Warnings: Senior Sahaba (Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Jabir ibn Abdillah) warned Hussain against Kufa, reminding him of their betrayal of his father. Hussain proceeded, partly because the children of Muslim ibn Aqeel sought revenge.

  • Interception: Hussain's group of roughly $100$ (including women/children) was intercepted at Karbala on $3$ Muharram $61$ AH by Umar ibn Sa’d and an army of $4,000$.

  • Negotiations: Hussain offered three options: 1. Let him return to Makka. 2. Send him directly to Yazid in Damascus. 3. Send him into exile. Ibn Ziyaad (via the barbaric warrior Shamir) refused all, demanding unconditional allegiance to Ibn Ziyaad himself.

  • The Massacre (10 Muharram 61 AH): Hussain's small group ($70-80$ people) faced the army. Most were killed, including many Ahl al-Bayt. Hussain was the last to fall. Sinan ibn Anas and Shamir dealt the final blows and beheaded him.

  • Survival: The only male survivor was Ali ibn Hussain (Zain al-Abideen), who was ill.

• Impact and Sects:

  • Tawwaboon: A group of Kufans who later felt guilty for abandoning Hussain and sought revenge.

  • Zaidi Shias: Loyal to the grandson of Hussain, Zaid ibn Ali. They respect Abu Bakr and Umar and do not believe Imams are sinless.

  • Ithna Ashari (Twelvers): Follow $12$ Imams and believe they are infallible.

Hajj Summary: Dates and Rituals

• Key Vocabulary:

  • Miqaat: Boundaries where one enters Ihraam.

  • Ihraam: Special unscented clothing and the state of sanctity.

  • Tawaaf: Circling the Ka’ba.

  • Saee: Going between Safa and Marwa.

  • Halq: Shaving the hair.

• Hajj Schedule:

  • 8th Dhul-Hijja (Yawm al-Tarwiya): Pilgrims arrive in Mina by Dhuhr and pray $5$ prayers.

  • 9th Dhul-Hijja (Yawm al-Arafa): The most important day. Pilgrims stand in prayer at Arafat until sunset, then move to Muzdalifa for the night.

  • 10th Dhul-Hijja (Yawm al-Nahr/Eid al-Adha): Muslims return to Mina. Four actions: Stoning the Jamaraat (Shaytaan), sacrifice, cutting hair, and Tawaaf al-Ziyara.

  • 11th – 12th Dhul-Hijja: Stoning the Shaytaan in Mina after midday (Zawaal).

  • 13th Dhul-Hijja (Optional): Final stoning before returning to Makka.