Friday, April 11, 2014

Children in the company of the Prophet Muhammad,(sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)

Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was compassionate and gentle towards all people. He used to treat everyone in a good way and he always wished goodness for them. His noble manners are an example for us all. Allaah praised him saying (what means): And verily, you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) are on an exalted standard of character. [Quran 68:4]
The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was known of being very kind and affectionate towards children. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to carry them, kiss them, and even weep when they died. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to instruct his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, to be kind to them, choose good names for them when they are born, and bring them up well. The children also used to love the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) to the extent that Zayd Ibn Haarithah preferred living with him than living with his parents.
Ever since the very beginning of the Islamic call, many children were bright and influential during the lifetime of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. For example, 'Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleases with him, embraced Islam when he was only ten years old. Zayd Ibn Thaabit, may Allaah be pleased with him, was one of the scribes who used to write down the Quran while he was still young. Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, was the servant who was entrusted him with the secrets of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, although he was just ten years old.
Many children later became caliphs, commanders and scholars thanks to the Prophet's, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, constant encouragement, care for their talents, and guidance to the straight path.
· 'Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him:
His full name was `Ali Ibn Abu Taalib Ibn `Abdul-Muttalib, may Allaah be pleased with him. He was the cousin of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He was brought up in the Prophet's house, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, because `Ali's father was poor and he had a large number of children.
The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, wanted to alleviate the burdens of life from Abu Taalib so he took `Ali to live with him. `Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, remained in the Prophet's house until his mission and he was one of the first three people to embrace Islam.
Ever since he was young, `Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, was strong and courageous. When the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, migrated from Makkah to Madeenah, `Ali slept in the Prophet's bed although he knew that the Quraysh fighters were waiting outside the house to kill the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He also knew that if they were able to enter the house, they would kill him thinking that he was the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
`Ali Ibn Abu Taalib participated in the Battle of Uhud with the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. In the Battle of the Trench, he fought the best horseman and fighter in Quraysh, `Amr Ibn `Abd Wud and `Ali stabbed him causing his death.
In the Battle of Khaybar, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, gave him the banner, and said: "I will give the banner to somebody who loves Allaah and His Messenger and is loved by Allaah and His Messenger. [Ahmad]
`Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, was famous for his eloquence, rhetoric and profound knowledge of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He was one of the ten people given the glad tidings that they would enter Paradise. He married Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with her, the daughter of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and she gave birth to Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, may Allaah be pleased with them, who were the reasons for the continuity of the progeny of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. 'Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, became caliph after the martyrdom of `Uthmaan Ibn 'Affaan, may Allaah be pleased with him. 'Ali's caliphate lasted for four years after which he died as a martyr in 40 A.H.
Usaamah Ibn Zayd, may Allaah be pleased with him:
He was born in Makkah in the fourth year following the Prophet's, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, mission. He was born Muslim and he did not know any other religion except Islam. His father was Zayd Ibn Haarithah, may Allaah be pleased with him, who was one of the first people to embrace Islam. Ussamah, may Allaah be pleased with him, was brought up in the Prophet's house, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, where his parents lived.

Usaamah, may Allaah be pleased with him, was a courageous fighter ever since he was young. He used to love engaging in Jihaad in the cause of Allaah. When he was fourteen years old, he marched out with the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, for the Battle of Uhud but the Prophet, out of mercy and love, commanded him to return to Madeenah because he was too young. Later on, after he became stronger, he participated in the Battle of the Trench. He also participated in the Battle of Mu'tah under the command of his father who fell as a martyr during that Battle.
When Usaamah, may Allaah be pleased with him, was eighteen years old, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, appointed him as commander of the army marching towards Levant in order to impose discipline on some tribes. There were some of the senior migrants and Ansaar (residents of Madeenah) in Usaamah's army. This army did not march except after the death of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and the army returned victorious to Madeenah.
The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, loved Usaamah as he had loved his father Zayd, may Allaah be pleased with them, to the point that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, made him and just like one of his family.
He,sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to say about him and Al-Hasan Ibn "Ali, may Allaah be pleased with them: "O Allaah, love them for I love them". [Al-Bukhaari]
Usaamah Ibn Zayd , may Allaah be pleased with him, died in 54 A.H.
'Abdullaah Ibn 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him:
He embraced Islam along with his father when he was a young boy in the sixth year of the Prophet's Mission. At that time, he was approximately seven years old. He migrated to Madeenah before his father.
'Abdullaah Ibn 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, was brought up in a pious house. He loved Jihaad ever since he was a child. He tried to participate in one of the battles with the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, but the latter did not allow him along with some other young children because they were still too young. The first battle in which he fought with the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was the Battle of the Trench. He also participated in the Battle of Mu'tah, the Battle of Yarmook and the conquest of Egypt.
Ibn 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, was known for his close following of the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He narrated many Prophetic narrations and was one of the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, who narrated the most number of narrations. He died in 73 A.H.
'Abdullaah Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him:
He was a cousin of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He was born in Makkah three years before the migration to Madeenah. Along with his father, he migrated to Madeenah before the conquest of Makkah in 8 A.H. He accompanied the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, for two and a half years and narrated many Prophetic narrations.
Among these narrations is the following famous one:
"One day I was riding behind the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, when he said: "O young boy! I wish to instruct you with some words. Adhere to (the orders of Allaah) and safeguard His commandments, Allaah will be watchful over you. Safeguard His rights and He will ever be with you. When you beg; beg of Him alone; and if you need assistance; supplicate Allaah alone for help. Remember that if all the people desire to benefit you, they will be unable to bestow anything upon you except that which Allaah has preordained (for you) and if all of them united to do you harm, they will not be able to afflict you with anything except that which Allaah has predestined for you". [At-Tirmithi]
Since his childhood, Ibn `Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, was very studious in seeking knowledge. His intelligence and good manners attracted people's attention to him. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, invoked Allaah to endow him with religious knowledge and understanding. When the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, died, Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, was thirteen years old. He started a long journey in order to acquire religious knowledge and jurisprudence at the hands of senior companions, may Allaah be pleased with them. He became a great scholar when he was still young.
'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, used to invite him to attend his meetings with the prominent companions and to consult him in problematic issues that required deep understanding and wise judgement. 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, used to tell him: "You have indeed acquired deep knowledge that we did not."
Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, was famous for many titles such as the "Grand Scholar of the Nation", and the "Interpreter of the Quran" because of his extensive knowledge of the Quran.
Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, died in At-Taa'if in 68 A.H. when he was seventy one years old.
Zayd Ibn Thaabit, may Allaah be pleased with him:
He embraced Islam when he was still young. He was eleven years old when the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, migrated from Makkah to Madeenah.
Although still young, he liked Jihaad and he was enthusiastic in seeking religious knowledge. He wanted to participate in the Battles of Badr and Uhud but the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, refused because he was too young. The first battle in which he fought was the Battle of the Trench. During this battle, he carried sand to help prepare the trench.
Zayd Ibn Thaabit, may Allaah be pleases with him, accompanied the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, ever since he arrived in to Madeenah.
His family brought him to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and said: "This boy has memorized seventeen chapters of the Quran. When he recited the Quran to him, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, admired him. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, asked him to learn the Syriac which was the written language of the Jews in Madeenah so that the Muslims could be aware of the evil plots of the Jews. Zayd Ibn Thabit, may Allaah pleased with him, learnt it in a short period".
He used to write in this language the massages that the prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to send to the Jews, and he also used to write down the Quran that was being revealed to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Whenever one verse or more was revealed to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, he would send to Zayd Ibn Thaabit, may Allaah be pleased with him, to come and write it down.
When the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, died, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, commanded Zayd Ibn Thaabit, may Allaah be pleased with them, to compile the Quran into one book. This was a very difficult task which could only be shouldered by the most intelligent of men. Zayd, may Allaah be pleased with him, performed the task in an excellent way and he succeeded in compiling the Quran in one book that we recite until now.
Zayd Ibn Thaabit, may Allaah be pleased with him, died in 45 A.H. When he died, Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said about him: "Today, the best man in the Muslim nation has died. May Allaah make Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, an excellent alternative to him."
*Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him:
He was born ten years before migration to Madeenah. When the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, migrated to Madeenah, Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, started to serve him at that young age.
He continued to serve the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, until the latter died. Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said:
"I served the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, for ten years, and he never hit me, insulted me, or frowned in my face."
The first advice the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, gave to Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, when he started to serve him, was to keep the secrets and never disclose them. Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, adhered to this and nobody ever managed to make him disclose any of the Prophet's, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, secrets.
Anas Ibn Malik, may Allaah be pleased with him, grew up under the supervision of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, learnt much and his manners were greatly affected by the noble manners of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He narrated about two thousand Prophetic narrations and he was known as the "Narrator of Islam".
Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, witnessed Al-Hudaybiyyah Treaty with the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and he participated in the conquests of Makkah, Hunayn, Taa'if, and Khaybar. He lived long after the death of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). It is said that he is the last companion to die. Some hold the opinion that he died in 91 A.H.
Al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him:
His father is `Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, and his mother is Faatimah Az-Zahraa', , may Allaah be pleased with her, the daughter of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He was born in Ramadhaan in the third year after migration.
He was brought up under the close supervision of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who used to carry him, cuddle him and play with him along with his brother Al-Husayn
It is narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was delivering a speech, when Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, may Allaah be pleased with them, came stumbling, wearing red shirts. He came down from the pulpit, carried them and ascended it and lapped them saying: "I saw both of them, stumbling in their shirts and I could not bear it so I descended the pulpit and carried them." [An-Nasaa'ee]
Al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him, was brought up in a Prophetic environment. He had excellent manners, never uttered obscene words, was eloquent, generous, and a courageous fighter.
When `Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, was a martyred people chose his son Al-Hasan, may Allaah be pleased with him, as the next caliph. Many events happened and Al-Hasan waived this position to Mu`aawiyah out of the sole wish to unite the Muslims.
The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "This son of mine is a Sayyid (i.e. a master) and perhaps Allaah will reconcile two sects of Muslims thanks to him." [Al-Bukhaari]
Al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him, stayed in Madeenah where he was highly respected and honoured owing to his generosity. He died in 50 A.H.
Al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him:

He was born in Sh`aban in the fourth year after migration. Al-Husayn and Al-Hasan, may Allaah be pleased with them, were the most beloved persons in the family by their grandfather, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, could not stand to stay away from them. He would either go to them or order someone to bring them to him. Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, may Allaah be pleased with him, used to climb on the back of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and play with him several times.
Sometimes, they did so while he would be prostrating in prayer and he would prolongate his prostration until they got down.
Alike his brother, Al-Husayn, may Allaah be pleased with him, liked horsemanship and courage. He participated in Jihaad in the cause of Allaah during the caliphate of `Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him. He participated in the armies that fought the Romans in Morocco.
In 30 A.H., he participated with the army commanded by Sa'd Ibn Abu Waqqaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, in the Asian battles and in the conquest of Tubrstan

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