Transcript Lecture eight - WordPress.com

LECTURE EIGHT
Dar Al Arqam and Negotiations with the Muslims
Who won? Sumayyah or Abu Jahl?
Who won, the Muslims being tortured, or the
disbelievers of Quraysh?
True that some died like Sumayya…
But her belief was too strong for Abu Jah to co-exist
with –so he had to get rid of her. It was the only
way—not “co-exist but eradicate and replace”
This might sound cheesy today—but truth always
prevails, and evil is always short lived—truth and
falsehood are like 2 currencies.
The fake one circulates in the market for a while,
eventually its fakeness surfaces.
We must educate our children that truth and goodness
always win at the end—bedtime stories are
extremely important to solidify Allah’s justice on
earth.
We always should hang on to …
TRUTH and HONESTY—in everything?
If we cheat as students, we continue for the rest of our
lives to be like the “fake currency.”
If we steal to get rich, and become millionaires, for
the rest of our lives we live like the “fake currency.”
Media that circulates lies, is like a fake currency. It
circulates, but eventually the truth surfaces.
We should always hang onto the truth…
Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an in Surat Al Ra’ad (Thunder) "He
sends down water from the skies, and the channels flow,
each according to its measure: But the torrent bears away to
foam that mounts up to the surface. Even so, from that (ore)
which they heat in the fire, to make ornaments or utensils
therewith, there is a scum likewise. Thus doth Allah (by
parables) show forth Truth and Vanity. For the scum
disappears like forth cast out; while that which is for the
good of mankind remains on the earth. Thus doth Allah set
forth parables. (13:17)
In the end, truth always prevails . . .
Pay close attention to this important concept; all that is
good and benefits people always lasts on earth.
Observe history, it teaches us that no matter how for
how long you win, selfish intentions and personal
interests bring about your end, while goodness
survives to rule.
Isn’t this the picture today . . .
It is imperative to note that although the companions
were the ones being tortured, they were calm and
composed.
Meanwhile, the non-believers were perverse and
vicious.
We are in year 6 . . .
What did the Prophet (SAWS) do to lift his
companions’ spirits? Many of the companions
were humiliated, tortured, or witnessed the murder
of a beloved family member—Ammar ibn Yasser,
Uthman bin Affan . . .
Solution . . . .
The Prophet (saw) introduced a ground-breaking and
incredibly innovative concept . . .
Support Group & Training course . . .
He conducted a training course for the companions to
strengthen their faith, lift their spirit, encourage
unity, provide a safe haven to turn to, and to give
them much needed moral support.
Dar Al Arqam Ibn Abi Al Arqam
Was the training centre for Muslims in Makkah for
three years. Over 1400 years ago, Muslims started
this innovative approach of support groups and
training sessions to handle their situation—today we
have the same concept, don’t we? AA etc.
why conduct the training sessions in the
17-year-old Al-Arqam’s house?
Prophet (saws) selected Al-Arqam’s house for Quraysh
would have never suspected it, due to the AlArqam’s young age—if it was done in one of the
giants in the Ummah like the Prophet or Abu Bakr
they would easily be sought out. We don’t know
much about Al-Arqam except that he gave his
house for Islam!
Unique location of Arqam’s house
It was constructed in the middle of Al-Arqam’s own
tribe, which offered the Muslims protection.
Breaking into it, would mean facing the whole of AlArqam’s tribe.
Participants excelled . . .
Main products of these training sessions were its
MEMBERS! Quality Muslims.
These companions were the ones who ultimately
excelled, especially during the battle of Hunayn
when many deserted the Prophet (saw).
A comprehensive training course . .
In it the Prophet (saw) taught values that included:
1)
building team spirit—to learn to work as a team
2)
brotherhood and sisterhood—to genuinely feel that
they are so [the rich and poor, different classes, tribes,
color etc. ]
3)
loving one another for the sake of Allah—not for
favors or personal interests.
4)
purifying one’s heart
more . . .
5) striving to be close to Allah (SWT)—learning about
Allah.
6) loving one’s land and community—to do good no
matter whay.
7) and gaining a better understanding of world
affairs.
Lessons derived from Qur’anic revelations
Team spirit was encouraged in Surat Al-Asr Allah (SWT)
says, " By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily
Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do
righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual
teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. "
(103: 1-3)
Awareness of world affairs
Promoted in Surat Ar-Rum (The Romans) where Allah
(SWT) says, "Alif, Lam, Mîm. The Roman Empire has
been defeated- In a land close by; but they, (even)
after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victoriousWithin a few years. With Allah is the Decision, in
the past and in the Future: on that Day shall the
Believers rejoice- " (30: 1-4).
Establishing a solid connection to Allah…
(purifying one’s heart promoted in Surat Al-Anaam (The
Cattle) where Allah (SWT) says, " With Him are the
keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knoweth but
He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in
the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge:
there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the
earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered),
but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can
read). " (6: 59).
Love of their land, and be patient . . .
Avoid calls of revenge in Surat Hud that illustrates the
stories of the prophets and what they had to go
through stressing the importance of patience and
endurance.
Love of land and humankind . . .
Moreover, Surat Yusuf (Joseph) that describes how
Prophet Yusuf (AS) was wrongfully imprisoned, yet
how he agreed to help those who imprisoned him
for the sake of his land and people. We should try
to learn from Prophet Yusuf (AS) who did not seek
revenge or retribution when he had a chance to.
Qur’an should continue to inspire you
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Qur’an should light your path—it is a guidance
You should learn from the lessons embedded in the
ayahs.
its message never expires with time—it should
always inspire you.
What do we know about Al-Arqam?
Do we know anything about him, except for his house?
2.
Was there anything else mentioned about him?
3.
What else did he do?
4.
What was he good at?
5.
Was he a military leader?
6.
Was he a scholar?
At the time of the training course Ibn-Al-Arqam was only 17 and he lived
until the time of Uthman Ibn-Affan—long life. He was an arrow that
was shot and hit the target.
1.
What was unique about him?
Nothing, but his house. He offered his house and
donated it for Islam that made him unique.
Out of gratitude . . .
when the Prophet (saw) immigrated from Makkah to
Madinah he bought a house for Al-Arqam there—
the other companions stayed with other people.
Prophet (saw) stayed in a tent.
What to offer to your community, to
Islam, to your people, to humankind?
Al-Arqam had nothing else to offer but his house, and
he did. What about you? Being actively involved in
your community should not be limited to charity
work. It can also extend to participating in the
revival of the Ummah through excelling in science,
technology, media, science, and education—doing
well in school, having good manners etc.
Al Arqam found pleasure in giving . . .
It extends your life to that of every life that benefits
from your benevolence—when you give you live on
in others . . . your meter is running even when you
are gone!
Today, idea of Dar Al Arqam . . .
Is indeed an example that should be followed today
to guide the young to new horizons—good idea for
how to have our youth spend their summers.
Should be taken into consideration for youth centers,
summer camps, youth Islamic centers . . .
Surat AL Mutaffifin is revealed
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This is an interesting timing, and one cannot help but wonder
what this Surah has to do with the current situation of
Muslims.
This Surah speaks of fair trade and cheating in commerce
where Allah (SWT) says, “Woe to those that deal in fraud,Those who, when they have to receive by measure from
men, exact full measure, But when they have to give by
measure or weight to men, give less than due.” (83: 13)—HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY!
Is a way of life . . .
Allah (SWT) is sending a message that development
and revival are not only through worship and
prayer. Islam’s message is to fix everything in the
society through a comprehensive viewpoint that
offers wide-ranging remedies for ailments
plaguing nations and communities.
Quraysh is suffering from ideological
starvation . . .
Despite Quraysh’s desperate attempts to stop the
spread of Islam, the number of Muslims kept
increasing –now about 300.
Furthermore, the fact that Muslims were gaining
strength filled Quraysh with frustrations—so more
plans are devised.
So, their plan was . . .
New maneuver consisting of:
1)
negotiations,
2)
temptations,
3)
and bargaining . . .
People differ in tolerance . . .
1)Some people can withstand torture when struggling for
their beliefs, but cannot stand strong against
temptations—money, privilege, popularity, fame etc.
2) Some are easily confused and jaded in negotiations
and lose track of what they should hang on to—esp.
when they don’t have firm principles.
They were the best of the best . . .
Allah (SWT) tested the companions in all sorts of
trials; torture, bargaining, and temptations. Why?
To see how dedicated they can be. They actually
remained steadfast to pave the way for their
personal success and for that of their great nation.
Quraysh is ideologically bankrupt…
1)
2)
Battle of wills:
Quraysh their bargaining partner is supposedly
strong, yet broke in essence for they have no ideology
to enrich them.
Muslims, on the other hand, are supposedly the weak
party, though they are actually rich with their belief.
Quraysh tried bargaining with Abu-Taleb
Prophet’s (saw) uncle and strongest ally. Some of them then
went to see him once more taking with them a youth called
‘Amarah bin Al-Waleed bin Al-Mugheerah, and said, "O
Abu Talib! we have brought you a smart boy still in the
bloom of his youth, to make use of his mind and strength and
take him as your son in exchange for your nephew, who has
run counter to your religion, brought about social discord,
found fault with your way of life, so that we kill him and rid
you of his endless troubles; just man for man."
Abu Talib replies . . .
Abu Talib’s reply was, "It is really an unfair bargain.
You give me your son to bring him up and I give you
my son to kill him! By Allah , it is something
incredible!!"
Their reasoning . . .
Al-Mut‘im bin ‘Adi, a member of the delegation,
interrupted saying that Quraish had been fair in
that bargain because "they meant only to rid you of
that source of hateful trouble, but as I see you are
determined to refuse their favors." Abu Talib, of
course, turned down all their offers and challenged
them to do whatever they pleased.
Abu Taleb speaks to the Prophet …
Asks Aqeel to summon the Prophet (saw).
Abu Taleb said, "Save yourself and I, and do not
ask of me what I cannot handle".
What was the Prophet’s response?
The Prophet (saws) firmly told him, "By Allah, if they
put the sun on my right and the moon on my left to
leave this matter, I would not, until Allah shows me
otherwise or I die trying for its sake“ [this is a week
narration]
A stronger narration is? Meaning is the same
though.
To non-muslim families . . .
Although Abu-Taleb never became a Muslim himself,
he was very supportive and committed. If you have
a family member defending the truth, would you
do what Abu-Taleb did and be there for him?
We are lacking this! Hence many of our new
Muslims suffer a lot after accepting Islam . . .
Quraysh negotiates with Prophet (saws)
The leaders of Quraysh chose to send ’Utbah IbnRabee’ah to the Prophet where he usually was, by
al-K’aba. Note here how the Prophet (saws) was
actively present and involved in society, and not
hiding or avoiding public life.
Utbah Ibn-Rabee’ah
1)
2)
3)
4)
praising his lineage.
confessed that Islam has caused division in their community.
he offered money, prestige, power, or marriage to the
prettiest girl in Makkah, if that was what the prophet could
was aiming for by his message.
He also offered him medical insurance for whatever
ailment the Prophet (saws) was suffering from that was
making him propagate this new belief.
Prophet’s manners . . .
During the negotiations, the Prophet (saws) was
extremely polite and civilized. He listened to what
’Utbah had to say patiently, without getting
offended by his offers.
If you want to be heard, then listen first.
Before he started, Prophet (saw) asked
Are you done? Will you hear from me?
Then he read to him verses from Surat Fussilat (Expounded) where Allah
(SWT) says, "Ha, Mîm.. A successive sending down from The AllMerciful, The Ever-Merciful. A Book whose ayat (signs) have been
expounded, an Arabic Qur’an for a people who know, Bearing good
tidings and a warning; yet most of them veered away, so they do
not hear. And they have said, “Our hearts are under lids from what
you call us to, and in our ears is an obstruction, and between us and
you is a curtain; so do (according to your belief); surely we are
doing (according to ours).”
Say, “Surely I am only a mortal like you. To me it is
revealed that your God is only One God; so go
straight to Him, and ask for His forgiveness; and woe to
the associators, Who do not bring the Zakat, (i.e., pay
the poor-dues) and they are the ones (who are)
disbelievers in the Hereafter. Surely the ones who have
believed and done deeds of righteousness will have a
reward bountifully unfailing.”
Say, “Is it true that indeed you surely disbelieve in (The
One) Who created the earth in two days, and do you
set up compeers to Him?” That is The Lord of the worlds.
And He made therein anchorages (i.e., mountains) from
above it, and He blessed it, and determined therein its
nourishments in four days, equal to the questioners.
Thereafter He leveled Himself (How He did so is
beyond human understanding) to the heaven (while) it
was smoke then said to it and to the earth, “Come up
willingly (Or: in obedience ) or unwillingly!” They (both)
said, “We come up willingly.” So He decreed them as
seven heavens in two days, and He revealed in every
heaven its Command. And We have adorned the lowest
heaven with lamps, and (set Angels) preserving them.
That is the determining of The Ever-Mighty, The EverKnowing. Yet in case they veer away, then say, “I warn
you of a (stunning) thunderbolt like to the (stunning)
thunderbolt of Aad and Thamûd" (41:1-13).
Utbah was terrified . . .
As the Prophet (saws) was finishing the last of the
ayahs ’Utbah put his hand to the Prophet’s mouth
out of true fear that what the ayahs were promising
will take place as he was profoundly moved by the
ayahs.
Utbah’s goes back different . . .
Abu-Sufyan saw ’Utbah coming back different.
’Utbah repeated what Al-Walid Ibn-AlMugheerah once said regarding the beauty and
grandeur of the words of the Qur’an. ’Utbah said
that they were words unlike any he had ever heard
before, words that were neither poetry nor magic.
Utbah advises Quraysh . . .
1Leave Muhammad (saw) alone for he predicted that
Muhammad (SAWS) will be a great figure in the future.
’Utbah tried to reason with them saying:
1)
they should let him deliver his message to all other
tribes.
2)
If he is killed, then Quraysh will get rid of him,
3)
and in case he wins then Quraysh, being his tribe, will
share the victory with him.
It had to be a spell !
However, the leaders of Quraysh suspected that
’Utbah fell under what they claimed to be
“Muhammad’s spell” and thus refused to follow his
advice.
Does the end justify the means?
Prophet (saw) could have accepted and being the
king of Makkah:
1)
the companions would rule the land and make
Islam the ruling religion.
2)
He could use his authority to force his ideology
3)
If they did not agree, throw them in jail.
Islam never spread with force . . .
The Prophet (saws) did indeed plan his response with
wisdom—He is a messenger, the earth and
everything in it is the source of the message, so I will
do my part and leave the rest to Him (SWT).
7 leaders of Quraysh negotiate . . .
Those who formed the parliament, Dar Al-Nadwa,
decided to pay the Prophet (saws) a visit and to
negotiate with him one more time.
The Prophet (saws) said to them, "I did not come to
take your money, nor did I come to be your leader,
nor do I want dominion among you, I only came to
deliver a message to you from the Lord of the
worlds. If you accept, then you are blessed in this
life and the hereafter. And if you refuse, then I will
be patient until Allah decrees between you and I.”
So, now started debates . . .
They asked him who is better of the three:
1)
Muhammad,
2)
his father Abdullah,
3)
or grandfatherAbdul-Mutalib.
Tricky !
Their point was that if the father and the grandfather
are better, then why abandon the Gods they
worshipped.
Plus if claims that he is better than his father and
grandfather, then he should state that clearly so
that they let every one know.
No response . . .
The Prophet (saws) left without saying a word. The
lesson here is to know when to speak and when
not to. Sometimes it is best not to be provoked and
speak. The Prophet (saws) walked away from them
reading Surat Fussilat.
Ideologically bankrupt . . .
They offered to worship Muhammad’s God for one
day while he worships their Gods for another. Surat
Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers) was revealed . . .
On the authority of Ibn Jareer and AtTabarani
“The idolaters offered that Muhammad [saw] worship
their gods for a year, and they worship his Lord for
a year. In another version, they said: "If you accept
our gods, we would worship yours."
Ibn Ishaq related that Al-Aswad bin Al- Muttalib, AlWaleed bin Al-Mugheerah, Omaiyah bin Khalaf and
Al- ‘As bin Wa’il As-Sahmy, a constellation of influential
polytheists, intercepted the Prophet [saw] while he was
circumambulating in the Holy Sanctuary, and offered
him to worship that they worshipped, and they worship
that he worshipped so that, according to them, both
parties would reach a common denominator.
They added . . .
"Should the Lord you worship prove to be better than
ours, then it will be so much better for us, but if our
gods proved to be better than yours, then you
would have benefit from it." Allah , the Exalted, was
decisive on the spot and revealed the following
Chapter:
Surat Al Kafirun . . .
Allah (SWT) says, "Say, “O you disbelievers, I do
not worship what you worship, Nor are you
worshiping what I worship, Nor am I worshiping
what you have worshiped. Nor are you
worshiping what I worship. To you is your
religion, and to me is my religion!”" (109: 1-6)
Leaders said they will enter Islam . . .
their condition: poor Muslims leave the religion as it is
not befitting of them to be members of the same
religion as Bilal and Ammar Ibn-Yasser who used to
be slaves.
"They wish that you should compromise (in
religion out of courtesy) with them, so they (too)
would compromise with you." [68:9].
Allah (SWT) responds to them . . .
Allah (SWT) then revealed verses refusing the offer
and stressing the need to accept Islam for what it is
and with no conditions. This is a religion of fairness
and freedom; it is inclusive, and excludes those who
motto is exclusivity!
So, asked for miracles . . .
Next strategy was to ask for miracles in order for
them to believe. They asked Muhammad (saws) to
ask his Lord to grant them rivers, or to send them
one of their grandfathers from the dead, or an
angel to vouch for the authenticity of the message
of Islam.
Allah responds to them . . .
Allah (SWT) says in Surat Al-israa’, “And they have said,
“We will never believe you till you make a fountain to
gush forth from the earth for us; Or (till) you have a
garden of palms and vine(s); then you make rivers to
erupt forth amidst it abundantly. Or you make the
heaven to fall down, as you have asserted, on us in
lumps, or you come up with Allah, and the Angels and
their (dependent) tribes . . .
No miracles . . . gone is that time. . .
The Prophet (saws) refused by saying "I am not one to
ask my Lord that ". Miracles were present in Islam
to strengthen the belief of the believers and the
Prophet (saws), and not to convince people to
enter Islam.
Or you have a home of wonderful decoration, or you
ascend into the heaven, and we will never believe
your ascent till you keep sending down on us a book
that we (can) read.” Say, All Extolment be to my
Lord! Have I been anything except a mortal, as
Messenger?” (17:90-93).
Who is winning and who is losing?
Who is making the other suffer? Who is spending
effort, time and resources? Who is worried day in
and day out?