During the landmark construction of Masjid An-Nabawi ﷺ, the greatest souls took up the task of establishing its bricks with their own hands. Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ placed the first brick with his own blessed hands, followed by Sayyidinaa Abu Bakr, Sayyidinaa Umar, Sayyidinaa Uthmaan and Sayyidinaa ‘Ali رضی الله عنهم أجمعین
Watch to see how this beautiful scene unfolded, and how we too can rise to the challenge to be amongst them, Ameen!
Will you rise to challenge? Will you strive to be amongst them?
Time to find out: https://www.bmacademy.org.uk/bricks-challenge/
#1: The Blessed Lineage
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ وَ الصَّلوٰةُ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلىٰ اَطْيَبِ خَلْقِ اللهِ نَسَبًا وَ حَسَبًا وَ صَهْرًا , سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلىٰ آلِهِ وَ صَحْبِهِ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّمْ
Journey to Ramadhan in the Shade of the Seerah
As the days draw closer to the blessed month of Ramadhan, it becomes increasingly imminent to raise an inner-awareness of its impending arrival, whilst we begin spiritually and mentally preparing ourselves to seek maximum benefit and transformation in the month of mercy. Imaam Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali Rahmatullahi Alayhi mentions that the blessed Sahaabah would begin supplicating for Ramadhan six months prior to its arrival (Al-Lataaif Al-Ma’aarif). With this intention we embark upon this beautiful series to help us count down the last 50 days to Ramadhan with daily articles based on the life of Our Beloved Master Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, to journey through the foundations upon which Islam was formed, and the central themes which are embedded at the very core of the blessed month.
#1: The Blessed Lineage
Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aala has created Our Beloved Master Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam in the purest and greatest of forms above all His creation and aided him with the clearest and utmost manifest miracles. From among these miracles is the absolutely pure lineage of the Pure One – peace and blessing be upon him and his family – for creation bears no lineage as pure and preserved as his lineage.
A light descended through the Sajideen
Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aala informs us in the Glorious Qur’aan:
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٢١٧﴾ الَّذِي يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ ﴿٢١٨﴾ وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِي السَّاجِدِينَ ﴿٢١٩﴾
“And rely on the Almighty, the Merciful, Who sees you when you rise up and your descending among those who fall prostrate in worship” (Surah Al-Shu’ara 26:217-219)
وَأخرج الْبَزَّار وَالطَّبَرَانِيّ وَأَبُو نعيم من طَرِيق عِكْرِمَة عَن ابْن عَبَّاس فِي قَوْله تَعَالَى {وتقلبك فِي الساجدين} قَالَ مَا زَالَ النَّبِي صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم يتقلب فِي أصلاب الانبياء حَتَّى وَلدته أمه ؛ وَأخرج أَبُو نعيم من طرق عَن ابْن عَبَّاس قَالَ قَالَ رَسُول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم لم يلتق ابواي قطّ على سفاح لم يزل الله ينقلني من الأصلاب الطّيبَة إِلَى الْأَرْحَام الطاهرة مصفى مهذبا لَا تتشعب شعبتان إِلَّا كنت فِي خيرهما
Ikrimah narrates from the great companion Sayyidinaa Ibn Abbas Radhiyallahu Anhu regarding the above-mentioned verse: “This blessed verse is in reference to the descent of the Blessed Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam through his pure ancestors, all of whom were men of upmost piety. This light of Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam passed through each generation, from pure loins to blessed wombs transmitted only through those who fell prostrate to Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aala” (Bazzaar, Abu Nu’aym, Tabarani)
Both his paternal and maternal ancestry consisted of only the purest of families, tribes and individuals, as confirmed by Our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam in the beautiful hadith:
خَرَجْتُ مِنْ نِكَاحٍ، وَلَمْ أَخْرُجْ مِنْ سِفَاحٍ مِنْ لَدُنْ آدَمَ إِلَى أَنْ وَلَدَنِي أَبِي وَأُمِّي، لَمْ يُصِبْنِي مِنْ سِفَاحِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ شَيْءٌ
“I was born from my mother and father without being marred by any of the evils of the period of ignorance. From Adam (a.s) to my mother and father every preceding member of lineage was conceived by none other than religiously, legal marriages, and never through fornication” (Abu Nu’aym, Dalaa-il An-Nubuwwah)
Suffice to say, it is a clear miracle that not only did Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aala preserve his lineage like non other in history (not even the other Prophets, Alayhim As-Salaam) but decreed even further to select only those most pious and pure to bear and transmit his pure light through the generations until we – the final nation – were blessed with him in our lives and hearts, Subhaanallah!
The Delicately Chosen One
When we look deeper into beautiful title of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam: “Al-Mustafa” المصطفى (The Delicately Chosen One), we see a further indication which shows just how precisely and selectively Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aala filtered through those that were the purest and best in each generation and fraction to bear His Habib Al-Mustafa, Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, as narrated in the beautiful hadith:
إِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰى كِنَانَةَ مِنْ وَلَدِ إِسْمَاعِيْلَ، وَاصْطَفٰى قُرَيْشًا مِنْ كِنَانَة، وَاصْطَفٰى هَاشِمًا مِنْ قُرَيْش، وَاصْطَفَانِي مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ
“Indeed, Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aala chose Isma’eel Alayhi Salaam from among the sons of Ibrahim Alayhi Salaam, and He chose the (the clan of) Kinanah from among the descendants of Ismail Alayhi Salaam, and He chose the tribe of Quraysh from among the sons of the Kinanah, and He chose the sons of Hashim from among tribes of Quraysh, and the sons of Abdul-Muttalib from among the sons of Hashim; and me from among the sons of Abdul-Muttalib” (Sahih Muslim, Tirmidhi)
The Pure One
He Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam was the purest one sent forth by Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aala, through the purest of generations as mentioned in the Glorious Qur’aan when Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aal declares:
لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۭ مِّنْ أَنْفَسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from the purest amongst you.
Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance]
and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:128)
عنْ اَنَسٍ رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَرَأَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم {لَقْدْ جَاءَكُم رَسُوْلٌ مِنْ أَنْفَسَكُم} بِفَتْح الْفَاءِ وَقَالَ اَنَا اَنْفَسَكُمْ نَسَبًا وَصَهْرًا وَحَسبًا
Sayyidinaa Anas Radhiyallhu Anhu narrates that Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam would read the above verse with a “Fathah” on the letter ف“Faa” of أَنْفَسِكُمْ “Anfasikum” and then would declare: “I am the purest amongst you all in lineage, family, and honour” (Al-Khasaais Al-Kubra)
The Lineage of Our Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam:
Paternal Lineage:
The noble lineage of Our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam from the Paternal side is:
Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, ibn Abdullah, ibn Abdul Muttalib, ibn Hashim, ibn Abd Manaf, ibn Qusayy, ibn Kilaab, ibn Murrah, ibn Ka’b, ibn Lu’ayy, ibn Ghalib, ibn Fihr, ibn Maalik, ibn Nadhr, ibn Kinanah, ibn Khuzaymah, ibn Mudrikah, ibn Ilyas, ibn Mudar, ibn Nizar, ibn Ma’d, ibn Adnaan, —-, ibn Isma’eel Alayhi Salaam, ibn Ibrahim Alayhi Salaam.
Maternal Lineage:
The noble lineage from the maternal side is:
Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, ibn Aaminah, , ibnt Wahb, ibn Abd Manaf, ibn Zuhraa, ibn Kilaab, ibn Murrah, ibn Ka’b, ibn Lu’ayy, ibn Ghalib, ibn Fihr, ibn Maalik, ibn Nadhr, ibn Kinanah, ibn Khuzaymah, ibn Mudrikah, ibn Ilyas, ibn Mudar, ibn Nizar, ibn Ma’d, ibn Adnaan, —-, ibn Isma’eel Alayhi Salaam, ibn Ibrahim Alayhi Salaam.
Both the paternal and maternal lineages of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam meet and converge at Kilaab ibn Murrah.
The lineage of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam was preserved authentically until Adnaan and has been presented here as per the narrations of Sahih Al-Bukhari, Ibn Hisham and At-Tabari. Beyond Adnaan the lineage has not been reliably preserved, although there are reports with a varying number of names in each that complete the gap in between Adnaan and Sayyidinaa Isma’eel Alayhi Salaam.
From amongst these reports one such lineage presents itself thus:
Adnaan, ibn Add, ibn Humaisi‘, ibn Salaman, ibn Aws, ibn Buz, ibn Qamwal, ibn Ubai, ibn ‘Awwaam, ibn Nashid, ibn Haza, ibn Bildas, ibn Yadlaf , ibn Tabikh, ibn Jahim, ibn Nahish, ibn Makhi, ibn Ayd, ibn ‘Abqar, ibn ‘Ubaid, ibn Ad-Da‘a, ibn Hamdan, ibn Sanbir, ibn Yathrabi, ibn Yahzin, ibn Yalhan, ibn Ar‘awi, ibn Ayd, ibn Dishan, ibn Aisar, ibn Afnad, ibn Aiham, ibn Muksar, ibn Nahith, ibn Zarih, ibn Sami, ibn Mazzi, ibn ‘Awda, ibn Aram, ibn Qaidar, ibn Ismail Isma’eel Alayhi Salaam, ibn Ibrahim Alayhi Salaam
And from thereafter:
Ibrahim Alayhi Salaam, Ibn Tarih (Aazar), ibn Nahur, ibn Saru‘, ibn Ra‘u, ibn Falikh, ibn Abir, ibn Shalikh, ibn Arfakhshad, ibn Sam, ibn Nooh Alayhi Salaam, ibn Lamik, ibn Mutwashlack, ibn Akhnukh, ibn Yarid, ibn Mahla’il, ibn Qainan, ibn Anusha, ibn Sheeth Alayhi Salaam, ibn Adam Alayhi Salaam. (Ibn Hisham)
The Poem of Sayyidinaa Al-Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu
When Our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam returned to Madinah Al-Munawwarah from gaining victory and success in the expedition of Tabook, his blessed uncle Sayyidina Al-Abbas Radhiyallahu Anhu requested permission to recite a few stanzas of poetry in his praise to which the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam responded:
قُلْ، لَا يَفْضُضِ اللهُ فَاكَ
“Go ahead. May Almighty Allah keep your mouth well.”
This is what Sayyidinaa Al-Abbas Radhiyullahu Anhu said:
مِنْ قَبْلِهَا طِبْتَ فِي الظِّلَالِ وَفِي … مُسْتَوْدَعٍ حَيْثُ يُخْصَفُ الْوَرَقُ
“Before you came to this world, you were excellent in the Shadows (of Paradise) and in the repository (i.e. loins of Adam Alayhi Salaam) in the time when they covered themselves with leaves
ثُمَّ هَبَطْتَ الْبِلَادَ لَا بَشَرٌ … أَنْتَ وَلَا مُضْغَةٌ وَلَا عَلَقُ
Then you descended into a world (in the loins of Adam Alayhi Salaam) when there was no other human, nor foetus, nor embryo,
بَلْ نُطْفَةٌ تَرْكَبُ السَّفِينَ وَقَدْ … أَلْجَمَ نَسْرًا وَأَهْلَهُ الْغَرَقُ
Rather you embarked on the ship (of Nooh Alayhi Salaam) navigating it and protecting it whilst others drowned,
تُنْقَلُ مِنْ صَالِبٍ إِلَى رَحِمٍ … إِذَا مَضَى عَالِمٌ بَدَا طَبَقُ
You descended through the ages from pure loins to blessed wombs,
وَأَنْتَ لَمَّا وُلِدْتَ أَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَضَاءَتْ بِنُورِكَ الْأُفُقُ
When you were born, the earth shone, and your light illuminated the horizons
فَنَحْنُ فِي ذَلِكَ الضِّيَاءِ وَفِي النُّورِ وَسُبْلِ الرَّشَادِ نَخْتَرِقُ
We traverse in that illumination and in the light and in the paths of right guidance“
(Al-Khasaais Al-Kubra)
And as time traversed through those generations that passed and the purest of souls
amongst each of them transmitted his blessed light, we reach that remarkable moment
in the pinnacle of history, when our horizons were illumined by his presence…
Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam
To find out more about this beautiful moment… join us tomorrow for the next article: “The Blessed Birth”
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