Youth Wave » Witnessing Truth

The Reactionary Voice of Cruelty

Youth Wave — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 06:01:42 +0000

It was a custom of Mecca to ride on a mountain and shout out some specific words if anybody faces some gravest danger or if he seeks trial to some serious matter. The prophet followed the same tradition one day to attract the attention of the Meccans. On one early morning, the prophet rode onto the top of Safa, a mountain close to the Kaba, the house of Allah. The call was then proclaimed from the solemn and sound voice of the prophet. Breaking the silence of the dawn, the words echoed from door to door across Mecca. People rushed towards Safa. When people of all the clans gathered, the prophet called each of them by the clan name and said, “O the children of Kuraish! if I say, a mighty enemy force is awaiting just opposite the mountain to loot you, will you believe me?” There was none who did not know the prophet. They knew, this truthful even man can never utter a single lie. Together they replied, “Off course, we will believe you.” The prophet then proceeded, “Listen then. I remind you of the toughest punishment of sin and anti-God activities. O the children of Abdul Muttalib, O the children of Abde Mannaf, O the children of Johra, I have been ordered by Allah to warn my people. You will not be blessed here and in hereafter unless you say La ilaha illallah.” The prophet paused. Vibrating the ether, the call of the truth echoed on every corner. The words echoed against the nearest Kaba that was still then in the grip of Jahiliyah. The words echoed from mountain to mountain. After hundreds of years, the call of the truth started its new and final journey. In the dense darkness of Jahiliyah, the sudden flash of truth struck the Meccans into silence. A reactionary voice then hit the silence. Abu Lahab shouted, “Get doomed! Is this the reason you called us for?” The reactionary voice echoed, as if, an unknown cruelty.

The Sorrow of Waraka

Youth Wave — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 06:01:45 +0000

The cave of Hera got dazzled with the light of Nabuah, the light for the whole of mankind. The prophet was blessed with revelation. Overwhelmed with unexplainable emotion, leaving the cave, the prophet came back to Khadiza’s home. Khadiza, the prophet’s better half, is also anxious. She listened all that happened in the cave of Hera. Then she told the prophet, “be happy, believe it- Allah will never let you down. You are the constant friend of your relatives, you wipes off others’ sorrow, you help the poor, you care for those who have nothing- Allah will never let you down.”
Even after saying this, Khadiza herself sought consolation. Accordingly she took the prophet to her cousin Waraka Ibn Naufel who was an expert in christian manuscripts. She said to Waraka, “Listen to your nephew what he is saying.” Waraka listened all of it from the prophet. Then excitingly he replied, “Allah is the blessed! Allah is the blessed! this is the same Namus who was sent to Moses.” The old man breathed a little, perhaps dipped deep into thoughts. Then he sounded back, “Alas! If I were a youth now! Alas! If I would be alive when your natives will force you leave the country.”
Listening to Waraka, the astonished prophet asked, “Will they force me leave my land?” Waraka replied, “Yes. It is not only you, whoever was blessed with this truth became a victim of anger of his fellow countrymen. Alas! If I remain alive that long, I will stand by you with all my efforts.”

The Caliph turns into Servant

Youth Wave — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:00:46 +0000

The palace of Caliph Mamun. A guest has arrived. The guest is a scholar, Yahya. The guest and the host are busy conversing. It is deep in the night. A candle is spreading mystic light in the room. The guest felt thirsty.
The guest was looking here and there for water. The caliph asked, “what are you looking for?” Yahya told of his thirst. The caliph stood up himself to bring water. Yahya asked the caliph with eagerness, “you could ask the servant, why are you going?”

The caliph replied, “no, no, that is not fair. you are telling me this for I am the caliph. What’s problem bringing in water? The prophet (PBUH) has told, the ruler of the nation is but a ordinary servant only.”

Yahya couldn’t answer the caliph. His head bowed down in honor to the prophet (PBUH) and the ideals he has worked for. What a great gift the creator has given us! The ideals turned the emperor into a beggar, caliph into a servant, slave and savior of the people.

Commander became Ordinary Soldier

Youth Wave — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:00:49 +0000

The battle field of Syria. Khalid is the chief commander of Muslim forces in Syria. Shaddad Ibn Aus arrived from Medina with a letter from caliph Umar (may Allah be with him). The letter says the end of Khalid’s leadership and appointing Abu Ubaida as the new commander in chief. It is in the Muslim tent. All soldiers and commanders are present. Shaddad, messenger of caliph Umar, announced the discharging of Khalid and named Abu Ubaida as the new commander. It was pin-drop silence all around. Khalid himself also heard the announcement quite silently. And walked back into the rows of ordinary soldiers. Abu Ubaida moved forward to replace his position.

Khalid, once commander in chief, got himself dissolved into the crowd of common soldiers. Did the discharge infused rage in Khalid? Did the decision turned his face violent in anger? Or did it bring tears in his eyes? No, nothing such happened to him. His sun-burnt red face, caused by frequent travelling around Syrian deserts, remained bright with the same smile, with the same soft divine glow that existed before. His head bowed down momentarily to accept the caliph’s order. The very next moment, it was raised back to its unbend position of honor where it does not indulge any shame or dishonor, neither it is touched by the pain of sorrow. Standing right in the back row, he proclaimed, “I would accept the order of the caliph and would continue jihad even if he would appoint some black slave as my leader; whereas Abu Ubaida is so honorable.”

Does the degradation cause any possible slack in Hazrat Khaled? Did he lose his spontaneity and speed? No, neither happened. The very next moment of his discharge, following the order of Abu Ubaida, Khalid joined Abdullah Ibn Jafar in a battle field, fought courageously and won.

History can replace no such example of obedience, pure intention and dedicated soul. A commander, who occupied countries after countries and achieved unconditional love and obedience of his soldiers, has accepted his discharge without any hesitation, has joined with ordinary soldiers and fought with the same dedication he had before. Such example of showing honor to leadership and military system is unprecedented, astonishing! But not that much astonishing in Islamic history, not for Muslims either, who fight only for Allah, not for property, honor or position.

Translated by Haidar Saif

Ibn Sina And An Student

Youth Wave — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:01:35 +0000

It was a wintry morning with much snow falling coupled with the blowing of a strong cold wind. It was not easy to come out in the open air. Yet one could see people rushing to their work and students with books in their hands hastening to their schools. In one of the mosques in Hamadan – Iran, religious students were assembling in order to attend a morning class. It was an important school of Islamic theology and the tutor was also a very great learned one. His discourses were indeed very thought-provoking and so were his students quite intelligent.
The tutor was none else but the world famous and a great Persian thinker and philosopher ‘lbn Sina’, popularly known in Europe as Avicenna. His lectures and writings on various science subjects had become the standard text books for hundreds of years in the universities of Europe. Students admired his deep philosophical thinking. They felt honoured to sit in his class and hear his inspiring lectures.
That cold morning, students had already assembled in the mosque and were still anxiously awaiting the arrival of their learned tutor. They were wondering if the intense cold weather that day had delayed his coming.
A few minutes had passed when suddenly the students witnessed the graceful arrival of ‘lbn Sina’, their great learned tutor. They felt very happy and stood up as a mark of reverence and respect for him. He sat down at his usual place and exchanged greetings with his students. He commenced his discourse in his usual lucid manner that held his students spellbound. He also gave satisfactory answers to their questions.
Among the students was one very young and enthusiastic by name ‘Bahman Yar’. He was much more close and attached to ‘lbn Sina’ the learned tutor. He was also the foremost among the clever and advanced students of the class. Every time he listened to the lectures of his tutor, he became more and more fascinated with his deep philosophy and knowledge on every subject. He would say to his class-mates: “I wonder why our tutor ‘lbn Sina’ does not claim to be a prophet despite his supreme intelligence and magic personality”
It is said that one day by chance ‘lbn Sina’ was standing at a baker and loaf-seller shop. His attention was drawn to a very smart young boy who was displaying signs of much intelligence. The boy was saying to the baker: “My mother is requesting for a little fire.” The baker responded: “Have you brought any pot to carry the fire?” “No! But I know how to carry it”, replied the boy instantly. So saying he applied some ash over his palm and stretched his hand to the baker who placed a piece of burning firewood over his palm. Without any hesitation, the boy took it and went home.
‘lbn Sina’ was rather amazed to see the intelligence and courage of this boy. He thought of having him for special training and education under his personal care. The proposal was communicated to the parents who agreed and entrusted the boy to his full care. Thus ‘Bahman Yar’ since then was staying at no other place except at the house of his tutor and care-taker, ‘lbn Sina’. They were all the time to be seen together. The boy being highly intelligent derived the best of the knowledge that his tutor could impart.
Years passed and ‘Bahman Yar’ grew up not only in age but also in knowledge and understanding under the patronage of his tutor. The learned tutor was also very proud of this most capable student.
It was one of the coldest nights of the wintry season. Midnight had passed and the snow-falling was very heavy. Both ‘lbn Sina’ and ‘Bahman Yar’ were sleeping in one room under warm thick blankets. The light in the room was already extinguished but the student was still asking intricate questions on some deep subjects. The tutor was replying in his usual impressive manner. Fascinated by the supreme knowledge and deep philosophy of his tutor, he again made the suggestion which he had made before:
“Oh my learned tutor!” he pleaded, “with all this high status of knowledge that you enjoy and being master of all the sciences, why not declare yourself a prophet? Sir! Don’t you think that you even excel some of the previous prophets in knowledge and your status today is unparalleled in the world! Should you decide to claim prophethood, no one would dare challenge you. Let me assure you that I shall be the first to offer my allegiance and would serve you with full faith.”
Since ‘Bahman Yar’ was still young and immature, his above proposal to his tutor was rather emotional than logical. ‘lbn Sina’ smiled but did not give any reply.
That night the cold weather had become extreme and there was heavy snow-falling. Both were already fast asleep. It was past midnight and suddenly ‘lbn Sina’ woke up and raised his head out of the warm blanket. Incidentally he was very thirsty and the water-mug in the room was empty. So he decided to wake up his student to go out and bring him some water.
“Oh ‘Bahman Yar’! My son ‘Bahman Yar’! Please wake up and bring me some drinking water from outside”, he said repeatedly.
“Why is there no water in the water-mug near your goodself, Sir?” asked ‘Bahman Yar.’
“No!” replied ‘lbn Sina.’
‘Bahman Yar’ raised his head and saw heavy snowfall outside. The thrilling sound of the strong cold wind also made him nervous to go out. Again ‘lbn Sina’ grumbled:
“Oh ‘Bahman Yar’! Why the delay? Bring me some water, I am too thristy.”
‘Bahman Yar’ dared not come out of the warm blankets to face the cold weather outside the room. He was, therefore, putting forward lame excuses to his tutor.
“Oh my respected tutor! It is harmful for you to drink water now that you have just come out of the warmth of thick blankets. It is better you go to sleep again till the early morning which is not far off”, said ‘Bahman Yar’.
“My son! Bring me water, I am too thirsty. I myself am a medical expert and know better what is harmful than you do. I am unable to sleep, please bring me some water from outside”, again appealed ‘Ibn Sina’
In response ‘Bahman Yar’ again put forward excuses and argued that he would catch cold and fall sick if he were to go out in that extreme cold weather. So saying he went back to sleep.
There was dead silence everywhere and no sound of anything was to be heard. Outside it was still pitch dark except the first light of Subhe Sadiq (true dawn) in the eastern horizon had commenced to appear. Suddenly the silence broke with a melodious voice of a muezzin – caller to prayer from the top of a minaret at the nearby mosque. After reciting some verses of the, Holy Qur’an, the muezzin in a loud voice said, “Allaho Akber” – Allah is the Greatest. “Ash-hado an la ilaha illallah” – I bear witness that there is no god except Allah.
Both the tutor and his student quietly listened to the melodious voice of the muezzin. The call to prayers then proceeded to the words “Ash-hado anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah” – I bear witness that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah. On hearing this, ‘Ibn Sina’ thought of taking the opportunity of responding to the repeated proposal made to him by ‘Bahman Yar’. He said:
“Listen to me, oh my son ‘Bahman Yar’. Now I wish to reply to your repeated suggestion”. The student sat up to hear attentively of what his learned tutor abruptly wanted to say. ‘Ibn Sina’ then proceeded:
“You have been suggesting to me several times to claim prophethood, that people would put full faith in me and that you would be the first one to do so. Now look, you have been my close student for several years and benefited from me a great deal, yet you did not think it prudent to obey me by coming out of your warm bed for a moment and bring me water that I badly needed to quench my thirst. Instead you chose to put forward lame excuses.”
“But think of this man who is now calling to prayers at the top of the minaret after coming out in the coldest weather and making ablution with cold water in the early hour of this morning. It is for no other purpose but in obedience to and respect for the command of Allah as conveyed by His apostle Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s) some four hundred years ago.
“What a great difference there is between me and that Prophet sent by Allah!”
Courtesy: Aqibul Hoque

A Martyr from Khandak War

Youth Wave — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:43:28 +0000

The historical Khandak war was already started. The leader of “AIUS” group from Madina, Saa’d Ibn Mayaz was getting prepared to join the battle. While passing by the fort of “Bonu Haresa” Saa’d’s mother said to him,
“Son, you are falling back in the group. Hurry up! Go quickly!”
During the battle Mayaz was so severely injured with discharged arrows that he could not make himself sustain at the battle ground. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought him hurriedly in his tent near a mosque. Mayaz could not get himself up for the battle from then. His condition started getting worse with time. But he did not worry for his condition. Rather he was regretting that he was in his bed instead of being a part of the war to fight against the enemies of Islam. Only one thought was chasing his mind all the time that if he dies this way, he will not be able to take part in the upcoming more crucial wars where he could give the Kafirs a perfect lesson! Nevertheless, he started to pray to Allah Subhanawa’tala,

“O my lord! Please make me stay alive if there are still more significant wars left to fight against Quarish people. I always have passions to defeat them. Because they hurt Your Rasul (PBUH), they propagated falsehood on his name and get him out from Makka. Else, if there no such intense war is left, then I don’t have regrets to die this way.”

After the Khandak war, actually there was no severe war occurred against the Quraish. During the time of taking over Makka no big collisions happened except some minor ones.

Khandak war ended finally. And Mayaz did not recover. Rather he was getting close to death. One day the moment of his last breathe came. Hearing the news of his death, Prophet (PBUH) came running to Mayaz’s tent and took his head on his lap. Hazrat Abu Bakar, the emblem of peace, truth and deep patience spoke out,

“My waist has been broken with Mayaz’s death.” Prophet (PBUH) heard his words wrapped up with pain and tried to console him,

“Don’t say like that Abu Baker!”

Lion-hearted Umar (R), sitting beside Mayaz was crying profusely. Mayaz’s mother also came in a run knowing his son passed away. With tearful eyes she mentioned firmly,

“Through heroism, patience and solidity my boy became fortunate and successful today!”

Translated by Ilham Osman
From Abul Asad’s Aamra Shei She Jati

A Martyr from Khandak War

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:25:28 +0000

“Son, you are falling back in the group. Hurry up! Go quickly!”

During the battle Mayaz was so severely injured with discharged arrows that he could not make himself sustain at the battle ground. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought him hurriedly in his tent near a mosque. Mayaz could not get himself up for the battle from then. His condition started getting worse with time. But he did not worry for his condition. Rather he was regretting that he was in his bed instead of being a part of the war to fight against the enemies of Islam. Only one thought was chasing his mind all the time that if he dies this way, he will not be able to take part in the upcoming more crucial wars where he could give the Kafirs a perfect lesson! Nevertheless, he started to pray to Allah Subhanawa’tala,

After the Khandak war, actually there was no severe war occurred against the Quraish. During the time of taking over Makka no big collisions happened except some minor ones.

“My waist has been broken with Mayaz’s death.” Prophet (PBUH) heard his words wrapped up with pain and tried to console him,

“Don’t say like that Abu Baker!”

Lion-hearted Umar (R), sitting beside Mayaz was crying profusely. Mayaz’s mother also came in a run knowing his son passed away. With tearful eyes she mentioned firmly,

“Through heroism, patience and solidity my boy became fortunate and successful today!”

Translated by Ilham Osman
From Abul Asad’s Aamra Shei She Jati