Al-Huda
Foundation, NJ U.S.A.
the Message Continues ... 4/170
HOME - NEWSLETTERS - BOOKS - ARTICLES
Article 1 - Article 2 - Article 3 - Article 4 - Article 5 - Article 6 - Article 7 - Article 8 - Article 9 - Article 10 - Article 11 - Article 12
SURAH HAL-ATA'
It is generally believed that
this Surah was revealed in
Madinah or otherwise the
beginning Ayahs about the
“Righteous People” was revealed
in Madinah. There are 31 Ayahs
in this Surahs. Other names of
this Surah are al-Dahar (Time)
and al-Insan (Man). This Surah
depicts deep, varied, and
comprehensive themes consisting
of:
Man's creation, guidance and
free-will, reward offered to the
Righteous – Ahlul Bayt, merits
for the reward, the importance
and manner of conducting the
principles of the Glorious
Qur'an, and the dominance of
Allah's will.
Ayah 5 to 11:
“Verily,
the Righteous drink of a cup;
the mixture of which is (like)
camphor. A fountain, where
servants of Allah drink, flows
in abundance (where ever they
wish). They fulfill their vows
and fear a Day, the chastisement
of which is widespread. And they
feed for the love of Allah, the
indigent, the orphan, and the
captive. (Saying): We feed you
for the sake of Allah alone: no
reward do we desire from you,
nor thanks. We only fear from
Allah for Day, frowningly
severe. Therefore, Allah will
guard them against the evil of
that Day, and will grant over
them a Light of Realty and a
(blissful) joy.”
The occasion was an event of
great evidence of superiority
and excellence of “Ahlul Bayt
(a.s.)”
As per Ibne Abbas young Imam
Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn
(a.s.) fell sick. The Noble
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) and few of
his companions came to see them.
He (s.a.w.a.s.) suggested to the
Commander of the Faithful Imam
Ali (a.s.) to vow for their full
recovery. So Imam Ali (a.s.),
Lady of the Paradise Sayyida
Fatima Zahra (s.a.), and Lady
Fizzah (their house-helper) took
a vow that if Imam Hasan (a.s.)
and Imam Husayn (a.s.) would
recover, they would fast for
three days.
After a short while, both of
them recovered. Therefore, the
family fasted for the first day.
Imam Ali (a.s.) borrowed some
barley and Sayyida Fatima (s.a.)
ground one-third of it into
flour and baked some bread. In
the evening, when they were
preparing to break their fasts,
an indigent (poor) person came
to their house and said: “Peace
be upon you, the Household of
Muhammad, I am a needy Muslim,
so please give me some food. May Allah
bestow upon you, in kind, from
divine sustenance.” All of them
gave priority to him and gave
him their share of bread. That
night, they broke their fast
with only water.
The following day they fasted
again, but, like the previous
day, in the evening, an orphan
came to the door and requested
for food. Once again they gladly
offered their bread and ate
nothing but drank water only.
The next day, they fasted the
third time. On this day, a
captive came to their house and
they repeated their charity and
gave their share of bread to the
captive and drank only water.
On the fourth day, Imam Ali
(a.s.) took Imam Hasan (a.s.)
and Imam Husayn (a.s.) to the
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). When
he (s.a.w.a.s.) saw their
condition; they were trembling
with hunger. He (s.a.w.a.s.)
said: “It grieves me to see you
in this condition.” When he
walked with them and came to
their house, he (s.a.w.a.s.)
found Sayyida Fatima Zahra
(s.a.) praying. Her stomach was
sunk into her back-bone and her
eyes were sunken too.
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)
was greatly affected by her
condition. At this moment
Archangel Jibra'il descended
and said: “O' Muhammad, receive
this Surah, Allah congratulates
you for having such a family.”
In the beginning of the Surah,
the Righteous Persons referred
are the Panjetan in whose honor
this Surah was revealed. The
characteristics of the
“Righteous Persons” described in
this Surah are: Fulfill their
vows, they fear about Qiyamat,
they are sacrificial in that in
spite of their own hunger, they
prefer Allah's creatures and
give their food to them, do not
remind about their favors to
others, nor they expect any
thanks or gratefulness in
return. |
DISCLAIMER:
All material published by Al-Huda.com / And the Message Continues is the sole responsibility of its author's).
The opinions and/or assertions contained therein do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of this site,
nor of Al-Huda and its officers.