Welcome Friends: Ahlan wa sahlan!
We continue on the subject of the Battle of Uhud. Read about it.
COMMENTS:
1. Our Reading starts with a statement regarding death, and then a beautiful description of the Prophet’s leniency, peace upon him, and his relationship with his companions:
“It is by the Mercy of God that you were lenient (لِنتَ) with them, for had you been stern and harsh-hearted (literally: thick-headed/obstinate)[1] غليظ القلب they would have broken away from you, so pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter, then when you have made your decision, put your trust in God for God loves those who put their trust in him.”[2]
The Qur’an tells us of Prophet Muhammad’s character, peace upon him, and of how he dealt with his followers; that he was lenient with them, and accepted their counsel, and that they would not have followed him had he been otherwise.
It seems apparent however, that they were indeed worthy of counsel, which is why God tells him to consult with them. And since None can support us except God, it is Him that the Faithful should trust, and upon Him they should depend.
As to the Prophet’s leniency, Yusuf Ali’s note 471 reminds us beautifully of the verse which says (HQ21:107): “We have sent you but as a mercy to the Worlds (Peoples) ‘alameen’. Muhammad Asad’s note 121 tells us that the Prophet did not even reproach those who had deserted their posts at Uhud!
Interestingly, the word ‘lenient’ and the Arabic ‘linta’ are alike in meaning and very similar phonetically; the English term derived from Latin: leniens– first appeared in the early 1600’s related to Medicine.[3] As usual, Etymology ignores its Arabic origins despite the fact that the word entered the language through medicine at a time when the most esteemed Medical books being taught at universities were written by Arab/Muslim physicians such as Abul Qasim al-Zahrawi (11th C.) whom Europeans named ‘Albucacis,’ and the Andalusian physician Ibn al-Khatib of 14th C. Granada.[4]
2. Verses 161-163 tell us that no prophet “could be false to his trust/it is inconceivable that a prophet would deceive” (Ali/Asad). Muhammad Asad relates the deception to false pretenses; no prophet would say he was receiving revelation from God when he wasn’t. Yusuf Ali speaks of ‘unworthy motives’ in his note 472.
3. Verse 164 stands alone, a testimony to the Great Favor God had bestowed on the Faithful by raising amongst them a Messenger. His Message would bring them much benefit, and they would grow in Purity (يزكيهم “yuzakkeehim” from the root verb ‘zaka’).
Much can be said about this verse which not only shows God’s great Favor upon the Faithful of that time, but speaks to us, showing us His great Favor upon us today; it gives us incentive to be deserving of His favor and to strive for that title, no matter how far behind we see ourselves on the Path to Him:
Weren’t the Prophet’s Companions -the original holders of the title ‘Al Mu’minoon’- once in manifest error ‘fee Dhalaal mubeenفي ضلالٍ مبين-?’
4. Faith alone does not bring about victory; (see Asad’s note 127). There are other considerations such as obeying command! Other preparations are power and arms, as mentioned in HQ8:60:
“Hence, make ready against them whatever force and war mounts you are able to muster, so that you might deter thereby the enemies of God, who are your enemies as well, and others besides them of whom you may be unaware, [but] of whom God is aware; and whatever you may expend in God’s cause shall be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged. (60) But if they incline to peace, incline thou to it as well, and place thy trust in God: verily, He alone is all-hearing, all-knowing! (61)”
5. Verses 167-168 mention the 300 ‘fighters,’ the Hypocrites, who had deserted the battle before it had even begun (see Asad’s note 129).
- The next beautiful verses are among the most quoted when one is referring to Those Who are Killed in God’s Way, those who are not dead, but indeed alive, being sustained in the presence of their Lord. Those Who rejoice in the bounty provided by God, and rejoice in the glad tidings of those yet to follow them, that upon them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
Now perhaps is the best time to speak of the Arabic term ‘Shaheed’ which has been commonly understood to be reserved as an exclusive honorific title for Those Who are Killed In God’s Way. It is not so at all.
In our study so far, we have already come across the root-verb ‘shahada’ and its derivations 19 times.
‘Shahada/shahida/شَهَد’ is the Arabic word for ‘to witness.’ If you studied the Arabic you’d find out that:
- We are Shuhadaa/witnesses that God is our Lord-Sustainer. We say the Shahaadah all the time. Each of us is a ‘shaheed.’
- The imperative verb ‘istash-hid,’[5] calls for a witness to be summoned. We’ve already covered the (longest) Qur’anic verse relating to loans, which includes this statement:
“… and ‘call to witness/istash-hid’ two ‘witnesses/shaheed’ of your men, then if they weren’t men then one man and two women whom you accept as ‘witnesses/ shuhadaa’…..”
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The Qur’an being precise, honors Those Who are Killed in God’s Way by bestowing on them the honorific title they’ve earned by their final act: الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ / ‘Those Who were Killed in God’s Way’.
That is their title, exclusive to them alone, not just to ascertain -but also to specify- what exactly they were killed for (as in 2:154; 47:4).
They were not specifically given the title Shuhadaa, which is shared by so many of us. We now honor them even more greatly. As God is their Witness, they have earned the honorific title of being ‘Those Who were Killed in His Way.’ THAT is their amazing unrivalled distinction.
As for us, we are Shuhadaa inshaAllah, each of us a Shaheed. This knowledge will reflect very heartwarmingly for us on so many verses:
Shahaadah is about life, being LIVE witnesses.
This also makes us honor, even more greatly, those who had earned, as God is their Witness, the honorific title of being Those Who were Killed in God’s Way. THAT is their amazing unrivalled distinction.
Note:
Was it surprising to learn that ‘shaheed’ means ‘witness’ in Arabic, and that common usage changed the concept from its original Qur’anic and Arabic definition? If not, then perhaps it would surprise you to learn that etymologically,[6] the word ‘martyr’ also meant ‘witness’ before common usage changed the concept from its original! This topic alone -the evolution of the ecclesiastic term ‘Martyr/Shaheed’- would be a useful research paper for peace-builders to uncover how/when this change came about in both Christian and Muslim terminology (was it the Crusades 1095-1291?).
- Verses172-173 mention the suffering of those who were already afflicted after the battle of Uhud, yet answered the call to continue in readiness despite their injuries. Most commentators take this to refer to another expedition they had to go on despite their exhaustion. Despite them not being victorious[RH1] at Uhud, there was good in it. Muhammad Asad explains in note 130, Ali in note 479: ‘strengthened by the accession of new adherents to their cause.’
Enough said!
Tomorrow’s Reading is from HQ 3:174-186.
Peace unto all!
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[1] /قلوب قلب
‘Qalb/quloob (pl.) (although commonly interpreted as ‘heart’) is indicated in the Qur’an as being the site of active comprehension/ يعقلون, which we understand as being related to the mind, and have therefore been calling it the Heart/Mind: The heart being related to the mind is very clear in verse, HQ7:179, which says ‘…those who have quloob by which they comprehend not, and have eyes by which they see not, and have ears by which they hear not, such are alike to cattle or even further astray, such are the heedless.’ The action of ‘aql’ is related to knowledge (HQ 2:75; 29:43).
We knew that, however, we couldn’t understand the compound concept of ‘Heart/Mind’ scientifically. UNTIL NOW.
What we have recently learnt from a paper published by the National Library of Medicine helps us not only understand, but also conclude that our interpretation was indeed correct inshaAllah: Qalb is the Heart/Mind!
“Dr. Armour, in 1991, discovered that the heart has its “little brain” or “intrinsic cardiac nervous system.” This “heart brain” is composed of approximately 40,000 neurons that are alike neurons in the brain, meaning that the heart has its own nervous system. In addition, the heart communicates with the brain in many methods: neurologically, biochemically, biophysically, and energetically. The vagus nerve, which is 80% afferent, carries information from the heart and other internal organs to the brain. Signals from the “heart brain” redirect to the medulla, hypothalamus, thalamus, and amygdala and the cerebral cortex. Thus, the heart sends more signals to the brain than vice versa.”
[2] IMPORTANT NOTE about the Qur’anic statement فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ…..
From experience, we found this to be the best statement to make when we want to do something, seeking God’s help at the same time, so many who have done the Blog a while ago are practicing it. It’s quite helpful!
Have you heard of Mel Robbins’ 5 Second Rule? We know something similar from many Arabic sayings. Listen to what she says, because it is true:
“It is simple. If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill it. The moment you feel an instinct or a desire to act on a goal or a commitment, use the Rule. When you feel yourself hesitate before doing something that you know you should do, count 5-4-3-2-1-GO and move towards action. There is a window that exists between the moment you have an instinct to change and your mind killing it. It’s a 5 second window. And it exists for everyone.”
So, here we have it: If you feel the urge to do a good deed or take on a commitment, act upon it as you recite this Qur’anic statement and inshaAllah you’d be on your way before the end of your sentence! If you want to say it in English, that’s fine too. Just repeat to yourself:
“Decide and then trust in God, for God loves those who trust in Him.” That’s 5-seconds; God bless you!
[3] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=lenient
[4] http://www.islamicspain.tv/Arts-and-Science/The-Culture-of-Al-Andalus/Medicine.htm
[5] على وزن استفعل في اللسان العربي والذي يفيد الطلب.
NOT at all related to ‘martyrdom/Getting killed for a higher cause,’ as is the current usage of the word!
[6] “Old English martir, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek martur ‘witness’ (in Christian use, ‘martyr’).”