A Thursday to Remember
By Br. Ali H Dabaja
ahdabaja@umd.umich.edu

Ibn Abbas cries. Tears flow down his cheeks and unto to the ground, saturating the soil with disbelief. [1] The earth accepts his tears as a reward for his hereafter, and mourns along with him. Why does a close companion to the prophet grieve so bitterly? Why are there so many tears? Ibn Abbas mourns for Rasool Allah (s) (Prophet Muhammad). He grieves for the Muslim Ummah as a whole. His grieving comes as the result of a tragedy that tore the Muslim Ummah apart. A tragedy that took place on a Thursday, a Thursday that all Muslims must know of, and remember.

Prophet Muhammad (s) lies in his bed, knowing he would soon depart from this life, and anticipate the hereafter. A life that had treated him so wrongfully: A life in which stones bruised his holy body. The same life where he ascended to experience a taste of hell and mourned for his people, who would deviate and face the wrath of Allah (swt). A life where he had heard the screaming of names which made his heart quiver with pain. But an even greater pain still awaits him, as he lay there in his bed. When a simple request will be denied. When the words of guidance given to his closest companions will be rejected!
Lying in his bed, Rasool Allah (s) calls upon his companions and says, “Bring me ink and paper so I may remove all doubt in your minds.” Some companions look at each other in confusion yet many know what the Prophet’s (s) last will to his people would be. Rasool Allah (s) continues with his request: “Bring me ink and paper so I may write you something that will forever protect you against straying after I am gone from this life.” What powerful words would he write to protect his Ummah from straying off the right path? Many of the men in the room look at each other in confusion, yet Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph of Islam proclaims, “Leave this man, for he is talking nonsense; the Book of Allah is sufficient for us.”[2] Prophet Muhammad, the seal of all prophets, speaks nonsense? How could anyone dare speak to the Messenger of Allah (s) in this manner? Rasool Allah (s) was ready to offer to his people much more than the Holy Quran, so many companions knowingly side with the second caliph, while others stand there speechless and astounded. They soon began to quarrel, and the unbearable noise and chaos was too much for the Prophet to handle, so the Prophet (s) says, “Leave me, it is not proper to become angry near me.” Then he utters, “Leave me, for I am in a better state than what you are asking [of] me.” [1]

The Calamity that took place on that Thursday (18th of Safaar), three days before the departure of our beloved Prophet (s), was a shameful event. Tears should flow from all our eyes when we hear of this calamity. Rasool Allah (s) was prevented from writing a will, which was intended to keep his people from going astray! The leader and prophet of the Muslim Ummah denied a right that all Muslim have; the right to have a written will. Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran, “Nor does he [the prophet] speak out of his desire. [What he says] is naught but a revelation that is revealed.” (Quran 53:3-4). Allah (swt) reiterates this by also stating, “It is the speech of an eminent Messenger, not of a poet; little do you believe; nor is it the speech of a priest; little do you remember; it is but the Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.” (Quran, 69:40-43) Therefore, the words uttered by Rasool Allah (s), must be considered as guidance and direct orders emanating from Allah (swt). Our beloved Prophet (s), though, was called ‘delirious’ by the second caliph, in order to prevent him from writing down (or have a companion write down for him) clear evidence for guidance.

Rasool Allah (s) lies in his bed, desirous of writing down those words that had repeatedly left his tongue. Knowing that if only these words could be written down, that his Ummah shall never ever go astray. These were the words that would preserve the integrity and sanctity of the religion of Islam. He only desires that his community would not question a matter that even to this day is in dispute: The succession. Who would keep the Muslims of his community on the straight path? Who would they look to in the matter of dispute? There was only one man who attained that knowledge and guidance, one purified family (Quran, 33:33) whom would never deviate off the path of the Holy Prophet (s), and one group that was loved and preferred by the Seal of all Prophets: Imam Ali-Ameer al-Moumineen, and our beloved and purified Ahlul Bayt (a).

Indeed, Rasool Allah (s) many times willed to his people what he desired to write down. He said, “Verily, I am leaving behind two precious things (thaqalayn) among you: the Book of God and my kindred (itrah), my household (Ahlul Bayt: i.e., Fatima, Imam Ali and their purified children), for indeed, the two will never separate until they come back to me at the fountain of al­Kawthar (on Judgement Day).” [3] This saying is recorded by numerous companions on many different occasions, proving that it had been repeatedly stated due to its enormous importance. Rasool Allah (s) never expressed that the Holy Quran was sufficient for the salvation of humanity. He did, however, indicate that for his people, he leaves behind (i.e. wills) the Holy Quran and his Holy Household, which would provide everlasting guidance, and would decipher between any disputes. Yet to believe that the Quran is sufficient for us, as many believe today, must be refuted. Allah (swt) explains in the Holy Quran: “O ye who believe! Obey God (his words, the Quran) and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority from among you…” (4:83). We must believe in the words of Allah (the Quran), our beloved Apostle (s), and those who were chosen and vested with authority from among the Muslim Ummah, our Ahlul Bayt (a). Are they not the ones who were purified (Quran 33:33) and protected by Allah (swt) in his Holy book?
Many still believe that our beloved Prophet (s), being the Mercy onto the Worlds, would leave mankind without final guidance. That the Holy Prophet (s) would never will anything to humanity. Can we even fathom the thought that he would leave his fragile Ummah without a final blessing? An Ummah which rose from idol worshipping to the belief in one God and his Scripture in a matter of years. Never! It is inconceivable that Rasool Allah (s) left this world without safeguarding humanity. It is also implausible to believe that he departed from this world without performing an obligation that Allah (swt) commands all Muslims to fulfill: a written will. It is apparent that his will and words were clear and concise. And till this day, a majority of humanity has been selfishly deprived from that final blessing of Rasool Allah (s) and from Allah (swt), when he was denied paper and ink. Paper and ink that would have willed to all of his people the words that could have lived in their hearts of all Muslims. Sadly, preventing the Holy Prophet (s) from writing his will on that Thursday has caused a rift between the Muslim Ummah, and numerous disputes among us. It was that Thursday that has had an undoubtedly lasting effect on all. A Thursday, that all Muslims must never forget.
Reference:
1. Sahih al-Muslim: Book 13, Number 4014-4016,
2. Sahih al-Bukhari: Volume 1 Book 3 Hadith 114, Volume 7 Book 10 Hadith 573, Volume 9 Book 92 Hadith 468.
3. Sahih al-Muslim: Book 31 Number 5915, Book 31 Number 5920, Book 31 Number 5923. This hadith is also recorded in al-Tirmidhi's Sahih, and in al-Hakim's Mustadrak al-Sahihayn, in Ahmad's Musnad and many other sources.
4. Al-Hakim, Mustadrak, Volume 3, page 124, and it is also recorded by al-Dhahabi in his Talkhis.


 

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