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ISLAMIC MANNERS OF

E AT I N G

  

‘Aādāb-e-Ta’ām’

Shaykh-ut-Tariqah, Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, the Founder of Dawateislami,


the Honourable, Allama, Maulana, Abu Bilal
MUHAMMAD ILYAS ATTAR QADIRI RADAWI

RENDERED INTO ENGLISH BY MAJLIS-E-TARĀJIM


(Da’awat-e-Islāmī)
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any manner
without the explicit permission of the publisher, except in the case of
quotations with complete citations.

Islamic Manners of Eating


Copyright © 2009 Maktaba-tul-Madina

MAKTABA-TUL-MADINA

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TRANSLATOR’S NOTES

A
SSALĀMUALAIKUM DEAR READERS, Da’awat-e-Islāmī’s Majlis-e-
Tarājīm, a department responsible for reproducing Amīr of Ahlus-
Sunnah, Hazrat Allamah Maulana Muhammed Ilyās Attār Qādri’s
works into various languages of the world, is proud to present this renowned
work “Aādāb-e-Ta’ām” in English.

Although any translation is inevitably a form of interpretation, we have


tried our level best to convey the thoughts of the author in its true form, using
a choice of words which help maintain the interest of the reader and drive the
point home. Our hope is to pass on some flavour, which is a captivating and
distinctive feature of the original text. For the ease of the reader and correct
pronunciation of Arabic letters, we have also provided a transliteration chart
which can be found in the subsequent section.

In our translation, we have tried to maintain the originality of the


literature by using Islamic terms as is, and to an extent together with their
translations in square brackets. A complete list of these Islamic terms and
their translation is also provided in the Glossary A. Da’awat-e-Islāmī also has
its own terminology. We have retained some of those words whereas
translated and integrated others into the text. Terms used in the Environment
of Da’awat-e-Islāmī are provided in Glossary B. The meaning of Arabic
phrases used in the book have been given in Glossary C. Often you will see
some English words followed by a word in square brackets; those are the
Arabic / Urdu words that we have retained from the original text to maintain
the originality as at times no English words can be found that are equivalent
in meaning to their Arabic and Urdu counterparts.

For the citations of the various sources, we have used the APA citation
style, though we have suppressed the name of the author and have used the
title of the book instead. The “pp” and “p” in the citation stands for the page
number, “vol” is volume. The Bibliography at the end of the page is in
Chicago style as the APA suppresses the full names to just initials.

One unique feature of this book is that the author uses many different
titles for the Prophet         
     
  to highlight many of his qualities
and his high status. We have tried doing the same by incorporating their
English translations in the text. For a non exhaustive list of the titles in
English and their Urdu counterparts, please refer to Glossary D.

We have used the words Sunnah and Prophetic Practice interchangeably


depending on the flow and readability of the text. However, we have
included the word Sunnah in square brackets where ever we have used the
phrase “Prophetic Practice”. We have translated the Urdu word
“dastarkhuwān” as dining-mat. Near the end of the book we have also
provided supplemental chapters on the virtues of reciting Durūd and how to
deliver Dars.

  !
By the Grace of Allah Almighty   ", by the favour of His Beloved

Prophet          
     
  and the spiritual support of our great Sheikh,
founder of Da’awat-e-Islāmī, Hazrat Allamah Maulana Muhammed Ilyās
Attār Qādrī       $% & '
  #  (
, we have completed this translation after a lot of
hard work and diligence. If you find any shortcomings in this work, it may be
a manifestation of our own deficiencies and not the author of the original
work. Therefore, if you discover any mistakes or shortcomings in this book,
please notify us at the following address and or email:

Majlis-e-Tarājim (Translation Department)


International Madanī Markaz, Faizan-e-Madina
Muhallah Saudagran, Old Sabzi Mandi,
Bab-ul-Madinah, Karachi, Pakistan.
Phone: (92-21) 3492-1389, 90, 91
Email: translation@dawateislami.net
CONTENTS
TRANSLATOR’S NOTES

CHAPTER 1
THE MANNERS PERTAINING TO FOOD

An Amazing Angel ..................................................................................... 1


Consumption of Food is Also Worship ....................................................... 2
Virtues of a Halāl Morsel ........................................................................... 3
What Intentions should One Render when Eating? .................................... 3
How Much Food Should be Consumed? .................................................... 4
The Significance of Intentions ................................................................... 4
Why was Kohl [Surma] Used?.................................................................... 4
43 Intentions of Eating .............................................................................. 5
More Intentions of Eating Collectively ............................................... 8
Wudū [Ablution] before Eating Does Away with Destitution .............. 9
Wudū [Ablution] before Eating Augments Good in the Home ............ 9
The Reward for Doing Wudū [Ablution] before Eating ..................... 10
Protection from Satan, The Accursed ...................................................... 10
Remedies that Prevent Illness ................................................................. 10
Sudden Death of a Truck Driver ...................................................... 11
Eating in the Marketplace ....................................................................... 12
Bread from the Market ........................................................................... 12
There is no Blessing in the Food from the Marketplace ........................... 13
Is it Appropriate to Eat at Restaurants? ................................................... 13
It is Wājib [Compulsory] to Refrain from the Sounds of Music ................. 14
Cover the Auditory Canal of the Ear with the Fingers ............................... 14

I
CONTENTS

Move Away, if the Sounds of Music are Heard ........................................ 15


The Benefit of Giving Dars at Home......................................................... 15
A Means to Safeguard Our Īmān [Faith] .................................................. 17
Light in the Grave ................................................................................... 17
The Graves will be Radiant ...................................................................... 18
Rectify the People within the Household ................................................. 18
The Marvels of a Booklet Published by “Maktaba-tul-Madinah” ...... 19
Blessing [Barakah] in Eating Food Collectively ......................................... 20
Means of Being Satisified [Sair] ............................................................... 20
Virtues of Eating Collectively ................................................................... 21
Cure for the Stomach When Eating Collectively ....................................... 21
The Food for One is Sufficient for Two .................................................... 21
Instructions for Contentment .................................................................. 21
Where did the Dessert Come From? ....................................................... 22
A Word of Caution for Things that are Endowed [Waqf] .......................... 23
Forgiveness for the Eater ........................................................................ 23
It is not Sunnah to Eat on a Dining Table ................................................. 24
Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali Aāzmi States ..................................... 24
What Type of Dining-Mat [Dastarkhuwān] is Sunnah? ............................. 24
Żikr of Allah on every Morsel .................................................................. 25
The Proper Manner of Reciting on Every Morsel ..................................... 25
Madanī Qāfilah Looked After by a Saint .......................................... 26
The Saint in the Shrine Came to Help ...................................................... 27
The Saints Benefit Others Even After They Have Passed Away ................. 29
Which Food is Illness? ............................................................................. 29
The Food Becomes Halāl for the Satan .................................................... 30
Save the Food from Satan ....................................................................... 30

II
CONTENTS

Protection from Satan ............................................................................. 31


Solution to Arguments at Home .............................................................. 31
What if One Forgets to Recite Bismillah? ................................................. 31
Satan Threw Up! ............................................................................. 32
Nothing is Hidden from the Blessed Vision of the Prophet............... 32
My Bedridden Mother’s Recovery ................................................... 33
17 Pearls of Wisdom of Supplication ....................................................... 35
The Prophetic Manner of Sitting during Meals ........................................ 38
Benefit of Raising the Knee When Eating ................................................. 39
Eating and Overlay Oneself ..................................................................... 39
To Eat Seated at a Table .......................................................................... 40
Cause of a Broken Marriage .................................................................... 40
How I Joined Da’awat-e-Islāmī ........................................................ 41
The Virtues of Modest Attire ................................................................... 43
Fashion Enthusiasts Beware! ................................................................... 43
What are ‘Clothes of Publicity’? .............................................................. 43
A Matter of Concern for the Trendy Generation ...................................... 44
The Virtues of Patched up Attire ............................................................. 45
How is it to Eat While Standing?.............................................................. 45
Medical Harms of Eating While Standing ................................................. 45
Eat and Drink with the Right Hand .......................................................... 45
Satan’s Practice ...................................................................................... 46
Offer and Receive with the Right Hand .................................................... 46
Why is the Left Hand Used for Everything?.............................................. 46
May Your Right Hand Never Rise..................................................... 47
May Your Face Be Disfigured .......................................................... 48
Oh Allah! Make Sabāhī Blind ........................................................... 49

III
CONTENTS

Saint’s Inspiring Others from His Grave ................................................... 50


A Pony Gifted in a Dream ........................................................................ 52
Eat Only from Your Side .......................................................................... 53
Don’t Eat from the Center ....................................................................... 53
Do You Eat from the Center of the Plate? ................................................ 53
Do Not Embarrass Others ....................................................................... 54
Explanation of Blessings Descending in the Center .................................. 54
Five Acts Sunnah Pertaining to Eating ..................................................... 55
Defense Against Nightmares ................................................................... 55
A Platter of Different Dates ..................................................................... 56
Eating with Five Fingers is the Practice of the Illiterates ........................... 56
Satanic Manner of Eating ........................................................................ 57
Proper Manner of Eating with Three Fingers ........................................... 57
Account of Eating with a Spoon............................................................... 58
When is it Permissible to Eat with a Spoon? ............................................ 59
Medical Benefits of Eating with Hands .................................................... 59
Appendicitis was Cured................................................................... 59
A Conscious Person Undergoes Surgery .......................................... 60
Martyrdom of His Son ............................................................................. 62
Generosity of Sayyidunā Urwah .............................................................. 62
To Eat while Resting [Your Back] Against a Support is not Sunnah ........... 63
Do not Eat While Resting Against a Support ............................................ 63
What does ‘Resting Against a Support Mean? ......................................... 63
The Medical Harms of Resting Against a Support While Eating ................ 64
Respect Bread......................................................................................... 64
Repent from Wasting Food ..................................................................... 65
The Definition of ‘Wasting’?............................................................ 66

IV
CONTENTS

Virtues of Being Slim ............................................................................... 67


A Non-Muslim Accepts Islam .......................................................... 68
Don’t Forgo a Sunnah Just Because You are Embarrassed........................ 69
Personally Inspire People Towards .......................................................... 70
Another Non Believer Embraces Islam ............................................ 71
Protection of Children From Being Mentally Inept ................................... 72
A Solution to Eradicate Poverty ............................................................... 72
Don’t Forgo any Sunnah Due to Embarrassment ..................................... 73
44 Actions that Cause the Deprivation of Blessings:................................. 73
Virtues of Eating a Fallen Piece of Bread.................................................. 76
Narrative about a Piece of Bread............................................................. 77
Madanī Outlook ...................................................................................... 77
Lay the Dining-Mat ................................................................................. 78
When I read the booklet “Dreadful Camel” ..................................... 78
Distribute Booklets ................................................................................. 80
It is Sunnah to Lick the Fingers Clean ....................................................... 81
We Do not Know which Part of the Food Possesses Blessings .................. 81
How should One Reap the Lessings of Food? ........................................... 81
Order of Licking the Fingers Clean ........................................................... 82
It is Sunnah to Lick the Fingers Clean Three Times ................................... 82
It is Sunnah to Wipe the Utensil Clean ..................................................... 82
There are More Blessings at the End ....................................................... 82
Utensil Supplicates for Forgiveness ......................................................... 83
Wisdom in Wiping the Plate Clean .......................................................... 83
A Faith Enlightening Statement ....................................................... 84
The Blessings of Sunnah .......................................................................... 84
The Reward of Freeing a Slave ................................................................ 84

V
CONTENTS

Drinking from the Dish ............................................................................ 84


Drops of Water ....................................................................................... 85
Medical Benefits of Drinking the Water from the Dishes ......................... 85
How The Kidney Stones Dissolved? ......................................................... 86
Hot Food is Not Allowed ......................................................................... 87
How Cool Should the Food Be? ............................................................... 87
Hazards of Hot Food ............................................................................... 87
If a Fly Falls in Ones Food ................................................................ 88
What does Modern Scientific Research Ascertain? .................................. 88
Chew the Meat ....................................................................................... 88
Remoe the Black Strands from the Chicken’s Leg..................................... 89
Long Lost Brother Found After 2 Years! ........................................... 89
Wisdom in Duā not Being Accepted ........................................................ 90
Picking One’s Teeth [Khilāl] ..................................................................... 91
Kirāman Kātibīn & Those Who Don’t Pick There Teeth! ........................... 92
Those Who Eat Paān Should Pay Heed .................................................... 93
Fragile Teeth ........................................................................................... 94
Which Type of Toothpick Should be Used? .............................................. 94
Seven Intentions for Picking One’s Teeth [Khilāl]: .................................... 95
How to Properly Rinse the Mouth ........................................................... 96
Medical Benefits of Khilāl ........................................................................ 96
Gum Cancer ............................................................................................ 97
The Dangers of Fake Kattha ............................................................ 97
The Cause of Gum-bleeding .................................................................... 98
Miswāk is the Best Remedy for the Teeth ................................................ 98
Fourteen Pearls of Wisdom Pertaining to Miswāk: .................................. 99
Four Pearls of Madinah Pertaing to Healthy Teeth ................................ 100

VI
CONTENTS

A Remedy for Bad Breath ...................................................................... 101


A Spiritual Cure for Bad Breath ..................................................... 101
How Should We Recite In a Single Breath .............................................. 102
Five Fragrant Mouths ............................................................................ 102
Heavy Rain............................................................................................ 103
Food Stains on One’s Hand ................................................................... 104
Danger of a Snake ................................................................................. 105
Is it Appropriate to Use Other People’s Utensils? .................................. 105
25 Practices (Sunnah) of the Prophet    ٖ           Pertaining to Food ......... 106
92 Pearls of Madinah Pertaining to Food ............................................... 109
Render Intentions Prior to Consuming Food .................................. 109
Habitualize Yourself to Overlay [Parday main Purdah] ................... 110
Continue to do Żikr while Eating ................................................... 111
Make a Habit of Eating with Three Fingers .................................... 112
Breaking the Crust of the Bread .................................................... 113
Intestines are not a Substitte for the Teeth ................................... 113
Fruits Should be Consumed First ................................................... 114
Do not Find Defects in Food .......................................................... 114
It is More Despicable to Find Defect in Fruits ................................ 115
Converse Virtously While Eating ................................................... 115
Spare and Give up Good Pieces of Meat to Others ........................ 116
The Virtues of Eating Grains that have Fallen Down ...................... 116
Is it Impermissible to Blow on the Food? ....................................... 117
Learn How to Sip the Water When Drinking .................................. 117
Taste Lasts Only until the Root of the Toungue ............................. 118
Wipe the Utensils Clean ................................................................ 118
What should One Do after Putting Water in the Utensils? ............. 119

VII
CONTENTS

It is Sunnah to Anoint Certain Parts of the Body after Eating ........ 120
Previous Sins are Forgiven ............................................................ 120
How Much Should One Eat? ......................................................... 122
It is Sunnah to Take a Siesta [Qailulah] .......................................... 122
Actions that Cause the Deprivation of Blessings [barakah] ............ 123
Is it Permisible to Eat Fruit From Tree Belongs Another Person? .... 123
How is it to Eat without Permission? ............................................. 124
The Heart of a Chicken .................................................................. 125
Do not Eat Blood Vessels .............................................................. 125
Do not say ′′Bismillah karo [Do Bismillah]′′ .................................... 125
It is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to Eat Rotten Meat ....................... 126
Green Chilies ................................................................................ 126
What should One Do with the Left Over Bread? ............................ 126
How is it to Eat Crab or Small Shrimps? ......................................... 126

CHAPTER 2
FOODS OF JINNS

The Virtues of Durūd ............................................................................. 128


Delegation of Jinns Visited the Prophet ................................................. 128
Population of Jinns ............................................................................... 129
Jinns at the Dining-Mat of the Muslims ................................................. 129
Private Whispers of a Snake with the Prophet ....................................... 129
Dark Jinns ............................................................................................. 130
Jinns are Apprehensive of Lemons ........................................................ 131
Jinns Fear White Roosters ..................................................................... 131
Fodder for the Animals of the Jinns ....................................................... 131
Jinns Can Abduct People As Well! ......................................................... 132

VIII
CONTENTS

Protection from Jinns and Magic ........................................................... 133


Jinns Also Kill ........................................................................................ 134
My Spinal Cord Compresion Got Cured ......................................... 136
Staying Blind is Fine with Me................................................................. 138

CHAPTER 3
NINETY NINE PARABLES

Virtues of Durūd [Blessings on the Prophet] .......................................... 140


1. Three Birds ....................................................................................... 140
Saving Things for the Next Day...................................................... 141
2. The Goat Rose From the Dead Twitching its Ear ................................. 141
3. Children Rose from the Dead ............................................................ 143
4. Seven Dates ...................................................................................... 145
5. I would Watch Two Movies Everyday ................................................ 147
6. Blessing in Just Little Food ................................................................. 148
7. Blessing of Sweets for Celebration of the Blessed Birth ...................... 149
8. Father is Relieved from the Torment ......................................... 150
9. Three Hundred Men Metamorphosed into Swine .............................. 151
Does the Wudū become Invalid by Saying the Word ‘Swine (Pig)’? ........ 155
10. Where Did the Third Piece of Bread Go?.......................................... 155
Sayings of the Saints Demeaning Wealth....................................... 157
11. An Admirer of the Prophet .............................................................. 159
12. Blisters formed on the Hands .......................................................... 160
13. Have a Heart ................................................................................... 161
14. Mending Shoes ............................................................................... 161
15. Savory Falooda ................................................................................ 162
Accountability [Hisāb] tantamount to the Blessings [Nai’mah] ............... 162

IX
CONTENTS

Types of Blessings [Nai’mah] and Questioning on the Day of Judgment . 163


When does Mubāh [Permissible] become Ibādah? ................................ 164
Acting on Mubāh [Permissible] Deeds for Pleasure................................ 165
A Reduction by a 100 Parts in the Hereafter .......................................... 165
16. The Dancing Party was Underway When… ............................... 166
Earthquakes Strike Because of the Sins ................................................. 166
17. A Living Baby Girl Boiled in a Pressure Cooker ......................... 167
18. A Severed Head............................................................................... 167
19. Blessings of Writing “Yā Rasūl-Allah    ٖ               ! "” ............................ 168
20. A Difficult Valley .............................................................................. 169
We Should not Complain ...................................................................... 169
21. Duā of the Distressed ..................................................................... 170
22. Welcome! Oh Starvation! ................................................................ 171
Leave Unnecessary Worries Aside ......................................................... 171
23. An Unusual Patient ......................................................................... 172
Blessing of Hiding Adversity (hardship).................................................. 173
24. Narrative of Donating One’s Reward to Sayyidatunā ‘Ayeshaĥ ......... 174
One Should Donate Rewards [Iīšāl of Šawāb] to Everyone ............. 175
25. Old Lady’s Faith Enhancing Dream........................................... 176
Madanī Revolution among the Islamic Sisters........................................ 177
26. A Miraculous Handkerchief ............................................................. 178
27. Abū Hurairah’s Provisions for the Journey ....................................... 179
28. Karāmt of Sheikh Syed Muhammad Na’īmuddīn Murādabādi .. 181
29. The Crippled Should Get Their Share. .............................................. 182
30. The Name Can Also Work Wonders ................................................. 183
31. The Tube-light Stopped Flickering ........................................... 183
Wheat Infestation and Headaches are Prevented .................................. 184

X
CONTENTS

32. Dough was given to the Beggar ....................................................... 185


Giving Sadaqa Does not Decrease Wealth ............................................. 185
Wealth keeps increasing ....................................................................... 186
The Retribution (punishment) of Not Giving Zakāt ................................. 186
33. A Korean Comes Into the Fold of Islam ............................................ 187
34. Became a Muslim by looking at the Glowing Face ............................ 189
35. Judge’s Yeast................................................................................... 189
36. Karāmat of Imām Ahmad Bin Hanbal ....................................... 191
37. The Reward of Respecting ............................................................... 191
38. Shoes of Gold .................................................................................. 191
39. Forgiveness Granted on Every Strike of the Whip ............................ 193
40. A Thief Instructs to be Patient ................................................. 194
Bounties of Allah    !  " on His Auliyā ...................................................... 195
41. Brain Tumor Vanished ............................................................. 195
42. Knew What Was in Their Heart of Hearts ......................................... 197
43 Did Hussayn Bin Mansūr say Anal-Haqq ............................................ 197
44. I was an Alcoholic & a Thief ............................................................. 199
Keep Calling others to Join the Qāfilah .................................................. 201
Punishment of One Sip of Alcohol ......................................................... 201
45. & 46 Could Not Recite the Kalmaĥ ................................................... 201
Medical Harms of Alcohol ............................................................. 202
47. A Blind Drunkard ............................................................................. 203
48. Cloth was Woven by Itself ............................................................... 204
49. He Sells Watermelons ..................................................................... 204
Spritual Rulers ...................................................................................... 206
356 Saints of Allah ................................................................................ 206
Abdāl .................................................................................................... 207

XI
CONTENTS

50. Pleas of the Hungry Students .......................................................... 210


Appeals are heard by the Holy Prophet    ٖ           .................................... 211
51. Cured from Hepatitis C ............................................................ 212
52. An Enlightened Baker ...................................................................... 213
53. A Jewel in Rags ................................................................................ 213
Three are Concealed Among Three Things ............................................ 214
54. How Did I Get Rid of My Wicked Habits? ................................. 215
The First Madanī Markaz [center] of Da’awat-e-Islāmī ........................... 216
55. A Narrative about “The Orator of Pakistan” ..................................... 218
56. An Enlightening Narrative About the Aid of the Prophet .................. 219
One Should not Judge after Hearing Only One Side ............................... 221
Talebearer Will Not Enter Paradise ....................................................... 221
Things that Diminish one’s Prestige ....................................................... 222
What are the Signs of a Pious Person? .................................................. 223
57. The Shaykh Assisted From His Tomb........................................ 224
Who Grants Death ................................................................................ 225
58. Saints are Alive [Hayāt-ul-Auliyā]: .................................................... 226
59. Adherence of Imām Ahmad Razā to Sunnah: ................................... 227
It is Sunnah to Eat Dates and Cucumber ................................................ 228
60. I Vow Not to Eat for 15 Days............................................................ 229
Elders should Begin Eating First ............................................................. 229
Redemption for Putting the Left Shoe on First ....................................... 230
61. I was Fortunate to Travel to Madinaĥ ...................................... 230
62. Grits made from Barley ................................................................... 231
Frivolously Spending is a Means of ........................................................ 232
Deprivation of Blessing ......................................................................... 232
The Du’a of Three Types of People is not Answered .............................. 233

XII
CONTENTS

Nothing can be done............................................................................. 235


A Cause of Obesity ................................................................................ 236
15 Examples of Putting Oneself in Dangerous Situations ....................... 236
63. How do you Get your Food? ............................................................ 239
64. Baked Bird ...................................................................................... 239
65. Good news: A baby-girl will be born ................................................ 241
Two Minor Miracles [Karāmat] were Certified ....................................... 242
Abu Bakr Siddique had ‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb ............................................ 242
66. Good News of the Birth of a Baby Boy ............................................. 243
67. A Delicious Drink ............................................................................. 244
Better than 12 Months’ Worship ........................................................... 245
The Prophet’s Hunger ........................................................................... 246
68. Reward of Charity on the Day of ‘Ashurāĥ ....................................... 247
Prominence of ‘Ashurāĥ ............................................................... 248
5 Prophetic Narrations on the Significance of Muharram .............. 249
Guard Against Ailments ........................................................................ 250
A Devastating Earthquake in Pakistan ................................................... 250
619 Truckloads of Aid ........................................................................... 251
69. Staring Twice at the Face of Death.................................................. 251
70. A Piece of Dry Bread........................................................................ 253
An Invitation from the Prime Minister ........................................... 253
Success in Both Worlds ......................................................................... 254
71. The Vision of the Noble Prophet Seventy-Five Times ....................... 254
72. Why the Naat Reciter was Deprived ................................................ 255
73. The Troubles of the Royal Dining-Mat.............................................. 256
One Third of the Deen Goes Away......................................................... 257
The Disapproval of Flattery ................................................................... 258

XIII
CONTENTS

74. My Aunt Received the Ŝawāb [Rewards] Even For the Malīdah ........ 258
75. A Single Grape................................................................................. 259
76. Blessings of A Blow in a Dream ........................................................ 259
77. Unique Princess .............................................................................. 261
78. Imām Bukhārī’s Teacher .................................................................. 262
There is Dignity in Contentment ............................................................ 263
Leave the Materialistic World ............................................................... 263
Do not Rely on the Wealth of Others..................................................... 263
It is Better Not to Take the Wealth from Others .................................... 264
Don’t be Dependent on Others ............................................................. 264
The Stomach is Small ............................................................................ 265
Sand of the Grave will Fill the Stomach ................................................. 265
79. 100 Pieces of Bread ......................................................................... 265
80. Allergies Were Cured ...................................................................... 266
What is the Tarbiyatī Course? ....................................................... 267
Virtues of Teaching Quranic Recitation.................................................. 267
Character Enrichment in the Tarbiyatī Course ....................................... 268
81. Ten for One ..................................................................................... 269
82. Favor Returned ............................................................................... 271
Serving a Walī Bears Fruit ..................................................................... 273
Three Heaven Dwellers ......................................................................... 273
83. Strange traveller of the Madanī Qāfilah. .................................. 274
84. A Trader in the City of Baghdad ....................................................... 276
Awful Suspicions of a Wicked Heart ...................................................... 277
85. The Punishment of a Bad Suspicion ................................................. 277
Bad Suspicions are Harām ..................................................................... 278
86. Cry When You See Someone Crying ................................................. 279

XIV
CONTENTS

87. Nine Non-Believers Accepted Islam ................................................. 279


88. Šurīd and Delicious Stew ................................................................ 281
89. Stew & Halvaĥ................................................................................. 282
90. Crippled Boy Started to Walk .......................................................... 284
Cure in the Leftovers of a Muslim.......................................................... 285
91. Paralysis was Cured Right Away .............................................. 285
Can one Hire a Sayyid as a Worker? ...................................................... 286
92. Who can Harm the One Allah    !  " Protects? ................................... 287
93. Source [Wasīlaĥ] of Sustenance....................................................... 289
If You Get Without Asking Then............................................................. 289
Gift or Bribe .......................................................................................... 291
94. A Container of Apples ..................................................................... 291
Who Shouldn’t Take Gifts and From Which People? ...................... 292
To Borrow a Motorcycle or Car ..................................................... 294
Two Kinds of Gatherings ............................................................... 295
Two Stories of Returning the Gifts ................................................ 299
95. They were Buried Alive ................................................................... 300
Consequence of Disobedience .............................................................. 302
96. A Wise King ..................................................................................... 302
97. The State of Ibn Tūlūn in the Grave ................................................. 303
98. The One Who Made Duā’ of Forgiveness ......................................... 304
Was Forgiven ........................................................................................ 304
99. A Human Carcass after 70 Days. ...................................................... 305

CHAPTER 4
MADANĪ MUŻAKRAH

Virtues of Durūd [Salutations and Peace] .............................................. 307

XV
CONTENTS

Measure the Food when You Dish out ................................................... 308


Six Hundred Thousand Prisoners ........................................................... 308
Mann and Salwā ........................................................................... 309
Why the Food Began to Spoil? .............................................................. 309
Twelve Springs Gush Forth .................................................................... 310
Is it Permissible for an Employee to Offer Nafil? .................................... 311
You are a Trustee of Every Grain ........................................................... 311
Grave Torments of Defrauding Others................................................... 312
Reasons for Food Wastage in the Madrassah ........................................ 312
Proper Method of Freezing Food .......................................................... 313
Preserve Raw Meat for Several Days ..................................................... 314
What should We do If the Biryānī Rots? ................................................ 314
It is Harām to Eat Rotten Meat .............................................................. 314
Use of Milk that has Turned to Curd ...................................................... 315
Margarine............................................................................................. 315
For A Healthy Life in Old Age ................................................................. 315
Cooking Without Oil.............................................................................. 315
How to Protect the Sewer ..................................................................... 316
Pebbles and Weevils ............................................................................. 316
Don’t Add a Whole Kidney to the Food ................................................. 317
An Airborne Fish ................................................................................... 318
Eat Little Quantity of Fish ...................................................................... 318
Who was Jālīnūs?.................................................................................. 319
Parts of the Meat that are forbidden..................................................... 319
Blood .................................................................................................... 320
Spinal Cord ........................................................................................... 320
Tendons ............................................................................................... 320

XVI
CONTENTS

Lymph Glands ....................................................................................... 321


Testicles ............................................................................................... 321
Tripe [Stomach] .................................................................................... 321
How should one identify Harām thing? ................................................. 321
Eating Bread Made by the One who does not Offer Salāh ...................... 322
It is a Privilege to Serve Students........................................................... 323
O Allah   , Forgive Me for the Sake of the Students ........................... 323
 !  "

How to Register a Complaint ................................................................. 324


Who is Responsible if the Food is Burnt? ............................................... 325
Oven Bread and Baking Soda ................................................................ 325
How to Tenderize Hard Meat ................................................................ 326
The Meat that Does Not Cook ............................................................... 326
Signs of Good Meat .............................................................................. 327
Abuse of Animals .................................................................................. 327
How is it to Slaughter Camel from Three Places? ................................... 329
The Camel was Hit with a Metal Rod! .................................................... 330
Caution for the Meat Vendors ............................................................... 331
Prohibition of Selling by Guessing the Weight ....................................... 331
Beef Samosas Sold in the Marketplace .................................................. 332
Dead Chickens ...................................................................................... 333
Slaughtering a Goat at the Brink of Death ............................................. 333
Forgot to Say Allah’s    !  " Name at the Time of Slaughter ...................... 333
Can We Eat Bones or Not? ............................................................ 334
Pearls of Wisdom for Using Bones for Cures .................................. 335
Benefits of Poultry Meat ....................................................................... 335
Can We Eat the Bones of Chicken? ........................................................ 336
Can One Eat Fish Bones? ....................................................................... 336

XVII
CONTENTS

Can we Eat the Skin of Fishes or Not?.................................................... 336


Eat and Sell Crab ................................................................................... 337
What to Do if the Stew is Burnt? ........................................................... 337
How can We Improve Our Digestion? .................................................... 337
Two Madanī Cures for Indigestion ................................................ 338
Medicinal Cure for Constipation ................................................... 339
Students Drop Food and its Remedy ..................................................... 339
Proper Way of Breaking Bread .............................................................. 340
How to Use the Leftover Bread ............................................................. 340
Fallen Food Specks on the Dining-Mat ................................................... 341
How Do We Render Intentions for Eating? ............................................ 341
Precautions of Drinking Tea .................................................................. 341
Art of Making Tea ................................................................................. 342
Can We Take Honey with Tea? .............................................................. 342
Dental Hygiene ..................................................................................... 343
Cleaning Yellow Teeth ........................................................................... 344
If You Wish to Stay Healthy, Then… ....................................................... 344
Schedule for Meals at Jāmi’a-tul-Madinaĥ............................................. 345

CHAPTER 5
LETTER OF ATTAR

The Heart Rejoices ................................................................................ 346


Advice for Everyone Pertaining to Food................................................. 348
Eat Twice a Day..................................................................................... 350
Get Your Blood Tested .......................................................................... 350
Those Who Have High Levels Cholesterol .............................................. 351
Should Refrain from These Foods .......................................................... 351

XVIII
CONTENTS

Uric Acid ............................................................................................... 352


Uric Acid Patients Should Avoid.... ......................................................... 353
Foods with Moderate Amounts of Purine .............................................. 353
Water a Cure for Uric Acid Patients ....................................................... 353
Madanī Advice .............................................................................. 354

CHAPTER 6
HAJI MUSHTAQ ATTĀRĪ

Virtues of Durūd [Salutation and Peace] ................................................ 355


Haji Mustaq Attārī Embraces the Madanī Environment ......................... 356
Haji Mushtaq Became the Nigrān of Shūrā ............................................ 356
The Prophet Embraced His Devotee Mushtaq ....................................... 357
Awaiting the Arrival of Haji Mushtaq ..................................................... 357
The Funeral of Haji Mushtaq ................................................................. 359
A Plethora of Iīšāl of šawāb [Donating Reward] ..................................... 359
Some Highlight of Haji Mushtaq’s Character.......................................... 360
Desires come to fruition in Haji Mushtaq’s Court................................... 361
Magic was repelled ............................................................................... 362

SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTERS

CHAPTER 1
VIRTUES OF DURŪD AND SALĀM

Forty Prophetic Narrations .................................................................... 363


Eight Propetic Narrations Regarding the Censure .................................. 369
For not Reciting Durūd .......................................................................... 369
Five Sayings of the Sahaba .................................................................... 370

XIX
CONTENTS

CHAPTER 2
METHOD OF DELIVERING DARS

Delivering Dars ................................................................................ 372


Duā of Attar .................................................................................... 375

GLOSSARY OF VARIOUS TERMS USED IN THE BOOK

Islamic Terms........................................................................................ 376


Da’awat-e-Islāmī’s Terms ...................................................................... 377
Arabic Phrases ...........................................................................................378
Titles for the Prophet ............................................................................ 379
Transliteration Chart ............................................................................. 381
Index .................................................................................................... 382
Bibliography ......................................................................................... 387

XX
Satan the accursed, may use every trick of the trade to keep you
from reading this book, but you should counter his every
deception and make an ardent effort to read this book in its
entirety. Perhaps you may come to learn and understand the
manners and etiquettes of eating.
CHAPTER 1
THE MANNERS PERTAINING TO FOOD

AN AMAZING ANGEL

T
HECOMFORTER OF HEARTS, THE NOBLE PROPHET
         
      
has stated, “Undoubtedly, Allah    ! "
 
has stationed an angel on my grave who has been
Granted the power to hear the voice (or sound) of every
creation. Hence, whosoever, until the Day of Judgment, recites
Durūd [Blessings on the Prophet] upon me, [this angel]
presents that person’s name and his father’s name to me. The
angel says, ‘A certain son of a so-and-so person has recited
Durūd [Blessings on the Prophet] upon you.’” (Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp.
251, vol. 10, ḥadiš. 17291)

      
 1    
/0   .*     - 
  + ,
Subhān-Allah     ! "! [Glory be to Allah     ! "] How fortunate
indeed is the person who recites Durūd [Blessings on the
Prophet] that his name, along with his father’s name, is
presented in the court of the Holy Prophet              
  . I
would like to bring your attention to a noteworthy and faith
enlightening word of wisdom that the foregoing Hadiš brings
forth: the angel stationed at the glorious grave of the Holy
Prophet         
     
  , has been Granted such enormous
hearing powers, that in one single instance, he can
simultaneously hear the recitation of Durūd [Blessings on the
1
Islamic Manners of Eating

Prophet] of millions of Muslims around the globe and also


gains knowledge of the name of the reciter and name of the
reciter’s father. In other words, he has also been Granted
‘Knowledge of the Unknown’ [‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb]. If this is the state
of the faculty to hear and the ‘Knowledge of the Unknown’
[‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb] of the angel who is a servant of the Holy
Prophet          
     
  ; just imagine the greatness of the
Authority and ‘Knowledge of the Unknown’ [‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb] of
His Excellency The Prophet               
  himself! Why
then would the Immaculate Prophet               
  not be
cognizant (aware) of his followers and listen to their pleas for
assistance and help them, with the divine permission of Allah
   !
 "?

I would sacrifice myself on this mode of assistance


When I invoked, “Yā Rasūl-Allah          
     
  ”, He rose for
assistance

Mayn qurbān is adāye dast gīrī par mayray āqā


Madad ko āgaye jab bhī pukārā Yā Rasūl-Allah          
     
 

CONSUMPTION OF FOOD IS ALSO WORSHIP


Dear Islamic Brothers! Food is a great bestowment [na’mat] of
Allah. He has provided many different flavours and tastes for
us to relish. It is rewarding [šawāb] to eat Halāl [Lawful] food,
in conformity to the Shari’ah and the Prophetic Ways [Sunnah],
with good intentions. The Renowned Exegitist of the Quran,
Hakīm-ul-Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yār Khān 2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
   has
stated, “Eating is also a form of worship [of Allah] (performed
by) the believer [momin].” He further said, “Marriage [nikah] is a
Sunnah of the Prophets  89   
 :  . However, Sayyidunā Yahya
 89 
   and Sayyidunā ‘Īsa Rūh-u-llah  89 
 :    
 :   never married.
On the other hand, eating is a Sunnah, which has been
practiced by every Prophet from Sayyidunā Adam Safiy-u-llah
 89 
 
 :   to The Beloved Prophet Muhammad-ur-Rasūl-u-llah

2
The Manners Pertaining to Food

         


        
.
It is also noted that a person who dies of

hunger, as a result of a hunger strike, has indeed died a Harām
[Forbidden] death.” (Tafsīr Na’ īimī, pp. 51, vol. 8)

Our Holy Prophet      


     
     
  has stated, “A grateful
[shakir] eater is like a patient [sabir] person who fasts.” (Jāmi’
Tirmiżi, pp. 219, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 2494)

VIRTUES OF A HALĀL MORSEL


There are many blessings for us in eating according to the
Sunnah of the Beloved of Allah                  
  . Sayyidunā
Imām Muhammad Ghazāli  -   5 6 7      , in his second volume of
“Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm” cites the following aphorism attributed to a
pious predecessor: “When a Muslim eats the first morsel of
Halāl [Lawful] food, he is absolved of the sins he committed in
the past. [Furthermore,] the one who goes to a place of
humiliation1 in search of Halāl [Lawful] food, his sins fall like
leaves fall from a tree.” (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 116, vol. 2)

WHAT INTENTIONS SHOULD ONE RENDER WHEN EATING?


It is Sunnah to eat only when one is hungry. One should have
the intention that ‘I am eating to attain strength to worship
Allah     ! ".’ One should not eat just to relish the taste.
Sayyidunā Ibrahīm bin Shaybān 2 
 3 4 5
 6 7 
   states, “I have not
eaten anything merely for the satisfaction of my carnal desires
[nafs], for eighty years.” (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 5, vol. 2 ) One should also
intend to eat less than the appetite, as the intention for eating to
gain strength to worship Allah    ! " can only be true if one
lives up to the former intention (that is to eat less). Gluttony is
only a hindrance in worship. Furthermore, eating less food is
conducive to good health, and such a person rarely needs to
visit a doctor.

1 A place that is normally considered inferior in rank

3
Islamic Manners of Eating

HOW MUCH FOOD SHOULD BE CONSUMED?


The Compassionate and Immaculate Prophet          
      
 
has stated, “A person does not fill a container worse than his
stomach. Merely a few morsels are sufficient for a person to
maintain a straight back. If he cannot adhere to this, then one
third (1/3) [of the stomach] should be for food, one third for
water and one third for air.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 48, vol. 4, hadiš. 3349)

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INTENTIONS


The very first Hadiš in the authentic book of Bukhāri is
‫ل   ﻨﻴ‬

  ‫ ﻧ  ﻤ‬that “actions are dependent upon intentions


  ‫ﻻ  ﻋ ﻤ‬
(Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 5, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 1) .”One gets reward [šawāb] for an
action [‘amal] that is carried out to please Allah    ! ". On the
other hand, if that same action is carried out for the purpose of
ostentation [riyā] it will engender sin. Contrary to both of the
positions above, if the action is performed without an intention,
one will not reap reward [šawāb] nor will he gain any sins,
provided that the action itself is Mubāh [Permissible]. For
example, if one does not make an intention before consuming
something Halāl [Lawful], like ice cream or dessert, one will not
be rewarded [šawāb] nor will he be punished (sin). However, on
the Day of Judgment, there will be accountability for the
actions. As The Authority [Mukhtār] and Master [Mālik] of
Both Worlds, Prophet         
       has declared
 

 ‫ ﻣ ﻋ  ﻘ‬


  ‫ ﺣﻼ ﻟ ﺣ ﺴ‬that “There is accountability [hisāb] in its
  ‫  و‬
Halāl [Lawful] and punishment [‘ażāb] in its Harām
[Forbidden].” (Firdaus –bima’ Šaur-ul-Khitāb, pp. 283, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 8192)

WHY WAS KOHL [SURMA] USED?


The Rai-son D’e-tre of Creation, The Traveller of the Heavens,
The Noble Prophet          
     
   
has warned us that,

4
The Manners Pertaining to Food

“without doubt, on the Day of Judgment, a person will be


asked about every action, even about the use of kohl [surma] in
the eyes.” (Ḥilyat-ul-Awliyā, pp. 31, vol. 10, ḥadiš. 14404) Therefore, one’s
well-being lies in rendering righteous intentions before carrying
out any Mubāh [Permissible] action. A sheikh has stated, “I
prefer to render an intention before every act including eating,
drinking, before sleeping and even before going to the lavatory
(bathroom).” (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 126, vol. 4) The Mercy for Both
Worlds, The Sultan of the Prophets, Noble Prophet
         
     
   
has stated,” A Muslim’s intention is better
than his actions.” (Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 185, vol. 6, ḥadiš. 5942)

It should be noted that intention is defined as the purpose


in one’s heart, towards an action. It is not incumbent to utter it
with the tongue. However just verbal utterances without a
willingness of the heart will not be valid. If the heart is devoid
of the intention, one will not be rewarded, as he has not
fulfilled the necessary condition. Here are 43 examples of
intentions that can be rendered for the consumption of food. It
should be noted that the list of these examples is by no means
exhaustive, and those who are cognizant of the science of
intention can use these as a guide to render many other
righteous intentions. The more intentions one makes, the more
reward [šawāb] one will attain.

43 INTENTIONS OF EATING
I will:
1. Make Wudū [Ablution] prior to, and
2. Subsequent to the consumption of food2.

I will consume food, to gain strength to:

2 Unlike the Wudu [Ablution] for Salāh, the Wudu [Ablution] for eating is to wash the
hands, rinse the mouth and do gargles.

5
Islamic Manners of Eating

3. Worship
4. Recite the Holy Quran.
5. Assist my parents.
6. Acquire religious knowledge.
7. Travel in the Madanī Qāfilah in order to learn the
Prophetic Ways [Sunnah],
8. Partake in the tour to call people towards righteousness.
9. Reflect on the matters of the hereafter and,
10. Seek Halāl [Lawful] sources of sustenance.

(Note that these former intentions can only be beneficial if one consumes less
than his appetite. Conversely, eating excessively only engenders indolence
(laziness) towards worship, inclination towards sin, stomach ailments and
disorders.)

I will eat in the following manner:


11. Sit on the floor.
12. Sit on a dining-mat according to Sunnah.
13. Overlay (with the kurta or the shawl).
14. Sit according to the Sunnah.

15. Recite ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬


 and other Supplications [Duā] prior to
consuming food.
17. Eat with three fingers.
18. Eat small morsels.
19. Properly chew the food before swallowing.

20. Recite ‫وﺟﺪ‬


 ‫ ﻳ‬with every morsel (or will recite ! ‫ ﺴ ﻢ‬
and ‫وﺟﺪ‬
 ‫ ﻳ‬prior to the consumption of every morsel and
 ‫  ﻟ‬at the end.)
% ‫ﺤ ﻤﺪ‬

6
The Manners Pertaining to Food

21. Pick up and eat the grains of food that may fall on to the
dining-mat.
22. Break the bread above the container of curry (so that
every bread crumb falls into the container.)
23. Wipe3 (lick) the bones and spices (like cinnamon and
cloves) clean before throwing them away [so that no
particles of food remain].
24. Eat less than the appetite.
25. Wipe the plate clean with the intention to practice upon
the Sunnah.
26. Lick the fingers clean, three times, with the same
intention as above.
27. Clean the plate and drink4 from it to earn the reward of
freeing a slave.
28. Not get up unnecessarily from the dining-mat until it is
picked up (this is also Sunnah), unless I am required to do
so.
29. Recite the Traditional Supplications [Masnūn Duā] after
eating5.
30. Pick my teeth (use floss or a toothpick) [khilāl].

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

3 By the means of fingers to gather the food particles on your finger and then lick the

finger clean
4 Pour some water into the plate so that you can easily remove the particles of food that

have clung to the plate.


5 This includes the recitation of the Durūd [Blessings on the Prophet] prior to and

subsequent to the Supplication [Duā].

7
Islamic Manners of Eating

MORE INTENTIONS OF EATING COLLECTIVELY


I will:

31. Not begin eating before a scholar or an elder, if they are


present on the dining-mat.
32. Seek the blessings [barakah] of the company of Muslims.
33. Please others by offering them the various items from the
cuisine to eat or drink. (Remember that it is disrespectful
to place food in other people’s plate without their
permission. Perhaps at that moment, they do not desire
the edibles that you put into their plate).
34. Reap the reward [šawāb] of giving Charity [Sadaqah] by
smiling upon others.
35. Recite the Supplication [Duā] upon observing someone
smile.

(The following Supplications [Duā] should be recited upon


observing someone smile:

3 ◌    ;
; < =  
“May Allah    !  "
always keep you smiling”.
(Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 403, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 3294)

36. Inform others of the various intentions that should be


rendered at the time of eating food.
37. Inform others of the various Sunnahs.
38. Recite the Supplications [Duā] prior to eating in an
audible tone so that others can repeat.
39. Recite the Supplications [Duā] subsequent to eating in an
audible tone so that others can repeat.

8
The Manners Pertaining to Food

40. Give [Iīšār] the finer portions (more pleasing to one’s


taste) of the cuisine to others and guard myself from
greed [hirš].
The Master of Madīnah, The Holy Prophet         
     
  has
stated, “Whosoever gives others the things that he needs for
himself, Allah    ! " forgives that person.” (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn,
pp. 770, vol. 9)

41. Gift others floss/toothpick so that they may clean their


teeth.
42. Gift others a rubber band so that they may bind the two
fingers (pinkie and the ring finger) not used to eat and
make a habit of eating with three fingers.

43. Recite ‫وﺟ ﺪ‬


 ‫ ﻳ‬in an audible tone so that others can be
reminded to do the same, prior to the consumption of
every morsel.

WUDŪ [ABLUTION] BEFORE EATING DOES AWAY WITH


DESTITUTION (DEPENDENCE)
It has been reported on the authority of Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah
ibn Abbās   3 "    
 ? 7 that The Master of Madīnah, Noble Prophet
   
  
     
     
  has stated, “Performing Wudū [Ablution] [of
6

eating] before and after eating does away with destitution


[mohtāji (dependence)], and this is a Sunnah of the Prophets
 89    :   (Mu’jam Awsaṭ, pp. 231, vol. 5, ḥadiš: 7166). ”

WUDŪ [ABLUTION] BEFORE EATING AUGMENTS GOOD IN THE


HOME
Sayyidunā Anas   3 "   
 ? 7 narrates that The Merciful [Karīm] and
the Impeccable Prophet          
      
  stated, “Whosoever

6 See footnote. 2 on pp. 5.

9
Islamic Manners of Eating

prefers that Allah    ! " augment goodness [khair] in his house,


should make Wudū [Ablution] when food is served and when
it is taken away (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 9, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 3260).”

THE REWARD FOR DOING WUDŪ [ABLUTION] BEFORE EATING


The Mother of the Faithfuls, Sayyidatunā ‘Ayesha Siddiqah
 
 :3 "  
 ? 7 has narrated that The Holy Prophet         
    
 
has stated, “To make Wudū [Ablution] before eating is one
good deed and to make Wudū [Ablution] after eating is two
good deeds.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 574, ḥadiš. 9682)

Dear Islamic Brothers! One should not be lazy in washing the


hands before and after eating. By Allah    ! "! The importance
of a ‘single good deed’ will only be apparent on the Day of
Judgment, especially to the one who will be in dire need of a
single good deed, and none of his relatives would be prepared
to grant (transfer) that single good deed to him.

PROTECTION FROM SATAN, THE ACCURSED


The Renowned, The Acclaimed, and Prominent Prophet
         
      
  has stated, “Performing Wudū [Ablution]
before and after eating (meaning washing the hands and
mouth) augments one’s sustenance [rizq] and keeps Satan
away.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 106, vol. 15, ḥadiš 40755)

REMEDIES THAT PREVENT ILLNESS


Dear Islamic Brothers! The Wudū [Ablution] prescribed for
eating is not the same as the Wudū [Ablution] for Salāh. Unlike
the Wudū [Ablution] for Salāh, in Wudū [Ablution] for eating
you wash both hands up to the wrists and wash and rinse your
mouth. Mufti Ahmad Yār Khān Na’iīmī 2 
 3 4 5
 6 7 
   states that,
“In Book of Torah, people were ordained to wash their hands
and mouth twice; once before eating and once after. However,
10
The Manners Pertaining to Food

the Jews erased the former and only preserved the latter. The
wisdom in washing the hands and mouth before eating is that
these parts of the body [used while eating] are prone to dirt and
filth as the daily activities and chores are carried out. Similarly,
after the food is consumed, the hands and mouth are stained
with food. Therefore, hands and mouth should be washed on
both occasions. Gargling, rinsing and washing the mouth
protect one from the likes of pyorrhoea. Furthermore, a
habitual user of Miswāk in Wudū [Ablution] remains safe from
various teeth and stomach ailments. Moreover, one should
make it a habit of urinating immediately after eating as this
prevents the occurrence of various diseases related to liver and
kidney. This has been observed to be highly effective.” (Mirāt-ul
Manājīḥ, pp. 32, vol. 6)

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

SUDDEN DEATH OF A TRUCK DRIVER


Dear Islamic Brothers! Undoubtedly, there is grace in Sunnah. It
not only embodies great reward [šawāb], but it also engenders
worldly benefits for the one who acts upon it. Washing the
hands up to the wrists is a Sunnah. One should act upon this
Sunnah as hands come in contact with many objects that are
laden with dirt, filth, germs and bacteria. This will keep one
clean and safe from various ailments of the body. Furthermore,
one should also wash and rinse the mouth. Remember, that one
should not wipe the hands dry when he washes them before
eating as the towel may be full of germs. It was reported that a
truck driver once ate at a certain restaurant, and soon after died
in a state of agony. Many others had also eaten at that same
place, but nothing happened to them. After investigation, it was
concluded that the truck had run over a poisonous snake and
the tires were laden with poison. The truck driver had checked
his tires with his bare hands, and continued on to eat without

11
Islamic Manners of Eating

washing his hands. As a result, he consumed poison with his


meal and died.

With the Blessing of Allah    !  " , in Sunnah lies dignity


With our commitment to it, in it there is safety.

Allah    !  "
kī rahmat se hay sunnat mayn sharāfat.
Sarkār kī sunnat mayn hay hum sab kī hifāzat.

EATING IN THE MARKETPLACE


Sayyidunā Abū Umāmah   3 "     ?
 7 has narrated that, The
Compassionate, The Beneficent and the Benevolent Prophet
         
        
has stated that, “It is despicable to eat in the

marketplace.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 184, ḥadiš. 3073)

Maulāna Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Alī A’azamī @-  A 5 6 7     
has stated, “It is Makrūh [disliked] to eat on the road or in the
marketplace.” (Bahar-e-Sharī’at, pp. 19, part. 16)

BREAD FROM THE MARKET


Sayyidunā Imam Burhān-ud-Dīn Ibrahīm Zarnūji @-  A 5 6 7     
has stated, “Sayyidunā Imām Muhammad bin Fadal       5 6  7
never ate food from the market while he was seeking his
education. Every Friday, his father would bring food for him
from the village. Once, his father brought some food and
noticed that the bread in his son’s room was from the
marketplace. He was very upset with his son because of this,
and refused to speak to his son due to anger. His son
apologetically replied that he had not bought the bread, but
that one of his friends had bought the bread without his
permission. After hearing this, his father rebuked him and said,
‘If you had been pious [taqwā], your friend would never have
dared to do this.’” (Ta’līm-ul-Muta’allim, p. 67)

12
The Manners Pertaining to Food

THERE IS NO BLESSING IN THE FOOD FROM THE MARKETPLACE


Dear Islamic Brothers! Did you see how strictly our pious
predecessors would adhere to asceticism [taqwā], and how
meticulous they were in educating their children so much so
that they would not let their children eat food from the
restaurant and marketplace? Sayyidunā Imām Zarnūji         5
 6
 7
has stated, “if it is possible, one should refrain, from non-
beneficial food and food from a market, because that food will
take one closer to filth and fraud [khiyānat], and distance one
from the Żikr of Allah    ! ". The reason for this is that since this
food catches an eye (attracts attention) of the poor and destitute
and as these poor people cannot afford this food, they are
disheartened, which further results in the deprivation of
blessings [barakah] from the food.” (Ta’līm-ul-Muta’allim, p. 88)

      
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IS IT APPROPRIATE TO EAT AT RESTAURANTS?


Those who are in the habit of eating at restaurants relishing
fancy and delicious cuisine should indeed learn from the
parable above. If eating at a the marketplace is despised, then
how despicable would it be to eat and drink in restaurants
where there is a prevalence of music and various other
irreligious, sinful activities. Regardless of whether music is
played or not, the ambience in the restaurants generally
promotes heedlessness. It is a demeaning environment for
nobles and righteous in society. If one is in dire need of food
and finds no other alternative venue other than the restaurant,
then one should purchase the food and eat at a private place.
However, a person who is helpless [majbūr] is certainly excused
[ma’żūr]. However, if the restaurant does have loud music then
one should refrain from going there, as it is a sin to deliberately
listen to music. The following should elaborate the point further.

13
Islamic Manners of Eating

IT IS WĀJIB [COMPULSORY] TO REFRAIN FROM THE SOUNDS OF


MUSIC
Sayidunnā Allāmah Shāmi         5
 6
 7 has narrated that: “To
dance (in a wiggling manner), to make fun of others, to clap, to
play the strings of the sitar [Indian guitar] or harp [burbat] or
violin [and it’s like], to play the flute [qānūn], to ring bells, or to
blow the bugle are all Makrūh Tahrīmī [Close to being
Forbidden] because these are all customs of the disbelievers.
Listening to the flute and other such [musical] instruments is
also Harām [Forbidden]. If one hears them suddenly or
unknowingly, then he is excused. However, it is Wājib
[compulsory] upon him to make an ardent effort to avoid
listening to the music further.” (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 651, Vol: 9)

      
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COVER THE AUDITORY CANAL OF THE EAR WITH THE FINGERS


Dear Islamic Brothers! Fortunate are those who listen to
the Words of Allah    ! " [Quran], Praise of the Prophet
         
      
  [Na’at], and the Sunnah-Inspiring speeches,
and when they hear songs or music, with the righteous
intention of gaining good deeds, they cover the auditory canal
of the ear with their fingers and immediately move away from
that place. Sayidunnā Nafa’e once stated   3 "   
 ?
7 , “(When I was
young) I was going somewhere with Sayidunnā ‘Abdullah bin
‘Umar   3 "    
 ? 7 . Along the way we heard the notes of a flute;
‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar   3 "    ? 
 7 put his fingers in his ears and
moved to the other side of the road. After moving he asked,
‘Nafa’e   3 "    
 ? 7 ! Can the sound [of the flute] still be heard?’ I
replied, ‘Not anymore.’ Then he said, ‘One time I was travelling
somewhere with the Master of Makka-tul-Mukarramah and
Madina-tul-Munawarah    
  
        and he did, just as I
     
have done now.” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 367, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 4924)

14
The Manners Pertaining to Food

MOVE AWAY, IF THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC ARE HEARD


We learnt that we should cover the auditory canal in our ears
with our fingers and move away from the source of sound as
soon as we hear music. If we cover the auditory canal of our
ears with the fingers, but remain there sitting or standing and
do not move, or move slightly to the side, then we will not be
able to guard ourselves from the music. It is Wājib
[compulsory] to make an ardent effort to avoid music, weather
we cover our ears or not.
Woe! Woe! Woe! Nowadays; anywhere you go; in cars,
in buses, in planes, at home, in shops, on the streets, and in
restaurants, you can hear music and musical ringtones in
cellular phones. If an ‘Aāshiqān-e-Rasūl [Devotee of the
Prophet] blocks his ears with his fingers to distance himself
with a righteous intention of avoiding sins; he is taunted and
ridiculed.
Devotee of the Prophet is disdained
Every hand has a stone aimed

Wo daur ayā ke dīvān e nabā kay liye


Har aik hāth mayn patthar dikhai deta hay.

Dear Islamic Brothers! Embracing the Righteous Madanī


Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī’ brings immeasurable and
astounding changes in one’s life. Many individuals have been
reported to have wished that only if they had been introduced
to the Righteous Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī’ earlier!
Here is a glimpse of the marvel [barakah] of Da’awat-e-Islāmī’s
Environment.

THE BENEFIT OF GIVING DARS AT HOME


An Islamic brother from Agolah, a state of Maharashtra (India),
has narrated the following story: “Due to the company of the

15
Islamic Manners of Eating

apostates (the ones who have a corrupt beliefs [bad mazhabs]),


my family was not only engaged in sinful activities, but was
also influenced by the corrupt belief system and principles.
Once while the entire family was watching TV, my seventeen-
year-old brother, who had begun to partake in Da’awat-e-
Islāmī’s Ijtimā’ [Congregation], entered the house. He then
entered the room, where we were watching television, with his
back towards the television. He took something from the
wardrobe and left in the same manner as he had entered the
room. Infuriated with this strange and unusual behaviour, I
yelled, ‘What is wrong with you today; you are acting childish?’
He went into another room without responding to me. My
mother then explained that my younger brother had told her
that he had sworn never to watch television ever again. In
anger, I stopped talking to him. He then got all the people of
the household together and began to give a Dars from Faizān-e-
Sunnat. Initially, I did not sit in these sessions, but one day I
decided to sit nearby and listen to what he was saying in the
Dars. When I heard the Dars, I was touched and began to
attend the Dars at home regularly. Slowly, my heart began to
enlighten, and I started attending the weekly Sunnah Inspiring
Ijtimā’ [Congregation]. Al-Hamdulillah    ! " I regained my
senses; I refrained from the company of the apostates [bad
mazhab] people, and began to grow a beard, and trashed all
speech recordings that professed the corrupt believe system
that had led me astray. Instead, I began to listen to the Sunnah-
Inspiring speeches sold by Maktaba-tul-Madinah (Da’awat-e-
Islāmī’s publishing house). We had televisions in all four rooms
of the house, which we decided to remove with consensus.

Abstain from bad company, seek company of the good,


Acquire the Righteous Environment.

You will enjoy your life, come closer and look,


Inquire the Righteous Environment.

16
The Manners Pertaining to Food

Buri suhbaton say kināra kashī kar


Aur achon kay pās ā kay pā madanī māhaul
Tumhay lutf ā jaegā zindagī kā
Qarīb ā kay daykho zarā madanī mahaul

A MEANS TO SAFEGUARD OUR ĪMĀN [FAITH]


Giving Dars, at home, can be a powerful way to guard ones
Īmān [Faith] and foster a change within one self, as it was in the
account above. Similarly, one of the activities sanctioned by
Da’awat-e-Islāmī’ is for brothers and sisters to fill out the
Madanī In’aāmāt daily while practicing Fikr-e-Madīnah [Self
Reflection], which is a powerful tool to learn good morals and
build character. The 11th question in the Madanī In’aāmāt [Self
Analysis Questionnaire] is about giving or listening to two
Dars’, one of which is “a Dars in the household”. I humbly
request that the reader start giving Dars among members of the
household.
Grant us a passion to do good deeds, Oh My Allah    !  "

Guard us from sins and bad deeds, Oh My Allah    !  "
May we be fortunate to give Dars of Faizān-e-Sunnat
Twice a day, every day, Oh My Allah    !  "

‘Amal kā ho jazbah atā yā-ilahi    !  "


Gunāhon se mujh ko bachā yā-ilahi    !  "


Sa’ādat mile dars-e-Faizān-e-sunnat


Ki rozāna do martabaĥ yā-illahi    !  "

LIGHT IN THE GRAVE


Now let’s take a look at the virtues of delivering Dars and
Speeches. Allāmah Jalāl-ud-Dīn Suyūti Shāfi’ī       5
 6
 7 has
narrated in ‘Shar-hus-Sudūr’ that Allah    ! " sent a revelation
   B-C
to Sayyidunā Mūsa 8 9      3DE F   , “Learn the good [bhalāī]
   

17
Islamic Manners of Eating

and teach others about good, and I (Allah) will enlighten the
graves of those who learn and teach good, so that they may not
have any fear.” (Ḥilyat-ul-Awliyā, pp. , 5, vol. 6, ḥadiš. 7622)

      
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THE GRAVES WILL BE RADIANT


The foregoing narration refers to the reward for learning and
educating others of righteousness. Those who deliver Sunnah-
Inspiring speeches and Dars will surely be blissful and,
Inshā-Allah    ! " [Allah    !  " willing] their graves will be radiant.
Furthermore, they will not be under any fear. Inshā-Allah    ! "
the graves of those who call upon others to give the Call to
Righteousness, constantly engaging in efforts to inspire others
towards righteousness, travel in the Madanī Qāfilah, inspire
[targhīb] others to practice on Fikr-e-Madīnah [Self Reflection]
by filling their Madanī In’aāmāt, call others to the Sunnah-
Inspiring Ijtimā’ [Congregation], and lend an ear to the calls of
the Preacher, will all be radiant for the sake of the Nūr (light) of
the Holy Prophet                
  .

In the Grave until Qiyāmah, rays of light will flow clear


When the Blessed face of the Prophet          
     
  will appear

Qabr main lehrāenge tā hashr chasmay nūr kay


Jalvah farmā hogī jab tal’at Rasūl-Allah          
     
  ki

      
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RECTIFY THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD


Dear Islamic Brothers! It is imperative that we rectify our family
and ourselves. Allah     ! " Says in the Quran in Surah-ul-
Tahreem, Juz 28, Verse 6.

18
The Manners Pertaining to Food

 H
P ,   Q
B 7 O F   L  N    L 9 M  F  -ٓ K  - 3(   J  I   :H ٓ H
 3 N  - K    7
“O People who Believe! Save yourselves and your families from the fire, the
fuel of which is men and stones”
(Qurān)(Surah-tut-Tahrīm, juz. 28, āyah. 6) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

Al-Hamdulillah    ! " [By the Grace of Allah    !  " ], One can fulfill
the commandment of rectifying oneself and their families by
giving the Dars in the household. In addition to delivering
Dars, it would also be beneficial to read and listen to various
booklets published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah and to play the
various recorded speeches and Madāni Muzākra [question and
answer sessions]. Al-Hamdulillah    ! " there have been many
incidents reported in which people have fostered a change
inspired by a speech or a booklet. Here is one such account.

THE MARVELS OF A BOOKLET PUBLISHED BY


“MAKTABA-TUL-MADINAH”
An Islamic brother from Bahawalpur (Punjab) reported: “Due
to the vile company at school, my obsession with movies had
reached a state of addiction. I would travel to distant cities, like
Lahore, Karachi and Okara, just to watch movies. I would
follow hijabless girls from college because of the profane and
sexually provocative movies. I would habitually shave my
beard off every day. I was infatuated by an obsession to work
in theaters, circuses and the circle of death7. My family was
extremely worried and concerned. One day, my father spoke to
one of the people in charge of Da’awat-e-Islāmī in our local
area and decided to send me to a Madanī Qāfilah with the

7 In which a motorbike is ridden on the inside edge of a deep well like structure; which
is extremely dangerous.

19
Islamic Manners of Eating

Devotees of the Prophet On the last day, the Amīr gave me a


booklet entitled ‘Black Scorpions’ to read. When I read this
booklet, I trembled due to fear. I immediately repented and
decided to maintain a beard. On my return, I also took part in
the weekly Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’ [Congregation] and
purchased the cassette entitled ‘dhal jaegi ye javani’ (You Will not
Stay Young) from Maktaba-tul-Madinah. When I returned home
and heard the speech, my entire world changed.

Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", I began to pray punctually and began to


call people towards righteousness and to take part in the
Madani Activities commissioned by Da’awat-e-Islāmī.
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", (as of this report), I am performing the
activities sanctioned by Da’awat-e-Islāmī’ as a Madanī
Qāfilah in-charge in my city.”

      
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BLESSING [BARAKAH] IN EATING FOOD COLLECTIVELY


The second caliph, Sayyidunā ‘Umar   3 "    ?
 7 narrated that
Beloved Rasool of Allah          
     
    once stated, “Eat
collectively (together). Do not eat separately, as blessing is with
the group [jama’at].” (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 21, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 3287)

MEANS OF BEING SATISIFIED [SAIR]


Sayyidunā Wahshī bin Harb         5
 6
 7 narrated from his
grandfather that the blessed companions 2  - =  %    :   said to the
Holy Prophet                  
 “Oh Prophet of Allah

     
[Ya Rasūlallah]            
 ! We eat, yet we are not

satisified.” The Holy Prophet                
    , asked, “You
must be eating individually (alone)?” The companions replied,
“Yes.” The Compassionate Prophet    
  
          
  then said,
“Sit together to eat and recite ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 and blessing [barakah]

20
The Manners Pertaining to Food

will be granted to you in your food.” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 486, vol. 3,
ḥadiš. 3764)

VIRTUES OF EATING COLLECTIVELY


Glad tidings are for those who eat collectively (together) on one
dining-mat. Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik         5
 6 7 has narrated
" "
Allah   ! is pleased the most when He   ! sees a Muslim on
a dining-mat sitting with his wife and children to eat. When
they sit together to eat, Allah    ! " looks at them with mercy
and forgives them before they separate (Tanbīh-ul-Ghāfilīn, p. 343).

CURE FOR THE STOMACH WHEN EATING COLLECTIVELY


A professor of pathology has stated that when everyone sits
together to eat, all the bacteria of the people is mixed in the
food. These bacteria destroy other pathogenic bacteria that are
capable for causing disease. At times, even healthy bacteria are
found which are very beneficial to combat diseases within the
stomach.

THE FOOD FOR ONE IS SUFFICIENT FOR TWO


Sayyiduna Jābir         5  6 7 has narrated that The Highly Extolled
Prophet    
     
        
  has stated, “The food of one (person)
is sufficient for two (people). The food of two is sufficient for
four and the food of four is sufficient for eight (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp.
1140, ḥadiš. 2059).”

The Holy Prophet         


     
  has said, “The food of
two is sufficient for three and the food of three is sufficient for
four.” (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 346, vol. 6, ḥadiš. 5392)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTENTMENT


The Renowned Exegitist [Mufassir] of the Quran, Mufti Ahmad
Yār Khān Na’iīmī 2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
  , commenting on this Hadiš has

21
Islamic Manners of Eating

stated, “If the food is less and there are a lot of people eating,
three people should be content with the food for two, and four
people should be content with the food for three. Even though
they may not be full, they will attain sufficient energy to
worship properly. This Hadiš contains noteworthy lessons of
contentment and showing regard for others.” (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp.
16, vol. 6)

WHERE DID THE DESSERT COME FROM?


This is a story from the times when Sayyidunā Abu Bakr
Siddique   3 "    
 ? 7 was the caliph. Once, his wife expressed the
desire of eating halvah8, but he did not have enough money to
buy it. She suggested that she would save a little money from
her daily expenditures to buy halva. He agreed to do so.
Therefore, she started saving the money, after a few days, when
she gave the money to him for buying the halva, he submitted it
back to the Bait-ul-mal (state treasury) instead of buying the
halva and got the extra amount reduced from his monthly
salary. (Al-Kāmil Fit-Tārīkh, pp. 271, vol. 2)

Dear Islamic Brothers! After reading the above parable


we should not present mere customary accolades or ceremonial
praises, but should learn lessons of piety [taqwa] and
contentment. Those at various authoritative positions;
government officers, the Imām of Masājid, the teachers of
religious schools and those Muslim brothers who are associated
with various religious organizations, should use this parable as
a deterrent from their devious ways. They should learn many
pearls of wisdom from this parable as it contains lessons to
embrace contentment [qanā’at], build self respect [khuddāri],
create averseness to greed [hirs] and covetousness [tamā’], and
make a better afterlife.

8 A dessert, a sweet confection

22
The Manners Pertaining to Food

If only, we could be content with earning little income and long


for the accumulation of good deeds [naiki], instead of whining,
for the mere gratification of our desires [nafs], on the variance of
income that others make and refrain from making statements
such as the following, “if only I earned as much as he did”.
Here is another account on Sayyidunā Abu Bakr Siddique
  3 "    
 ? 7
that shows his piety and his averseness to the worldly
affairs.

A WORD OF CAUTION FOR THINGS THAT ARE ENDOWED [WAQF]


Imām of a High Station, Imam of an Exalted Stature, Sayyidunā
Imam Hassan Mujtaba   3 "    
 ? 7 has narrated that just before his
demise, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Siddique   3 "    ?
 7 stated the
following to his daughter, Mother of the Faithfuls, Sayyidatunā
‘Ayesha Siddiqah  :3 "   
 ? 7 , “’Listen! This camel, whose milk we
drink; this bowl, in which we eat; and this shawl, which I wear;
have all been taken from the state treasury. We can only use
these as long as I hold the office of the caliphate [of Muslims].
When I pass away, give all of these items to Sayyidunā ‘Umar
  3 "    
   ?
7 .’ When Sayyidunā Abu Bakr Siddique   3 "     ?
7 passed
away, as per his will, all of these things were returned to
Sayyidunā ‘Umar   3 "    ?
 7 . When the Companion Sayyidunā
Umar   3 "    ?   "
 7 took these, he   3 "   
 ?
7 said, ‘May Allah   !
shower him with Mercy. Abū Bakr has certainly exhausted
those who will come later.’” (Tarīkh-ul-Khulafā, p. 60)

FORGIVENESS FOR THE EATER

Any righteous action should be initiated by reciting ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬, as it


is Sunnah to do so. Similarly, it is Sunnah to recite ! ‫  ﺴ  ﻢ‬prior
to eating and drinking as this contains many virtues. Sayyidunā
Anas   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that The Authority [Mukhtār] and
Master [Mālik] of Both Worlds          
     
  has stated,

23
Islamic Manners of Eating

“[As] food is placed in front of a person he is forgiven before it


is taken away. The reason for this is that when it is placed in
front of him, he recites ! ‫  ﺴ  ﻢ‬and when it is taken away, he
recites % ‫ ﻟ ﺤ ﻤﺪ‬.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 122, ḥadiš, 197)

IT IS NOT SUNNAH TO EAT ON A DINING TABLE


Sayyidunā Anas   3 "    
 ? 7 has stated that The Splendid and The
Dignified Prophet    
  
     
     
  , “did not eat on a table, nor
did he eat in small bowls, [furthermore,] thin bread was not
prepared for him.” When Sayyiduna Qatādah   3 "    ?
 7 was
asked asto what they would eat on; he   3 "   
 ?
7 replied that they
ate on a dining-mat. (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 532, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 5415)

MUFTI MUHAMMAD AMJAD ‘ALI AĀZMI STATES


Even though it is not a sin to eat on a dining table, it is not a
Sunnah. Sadr-ush-Shariah Allāma Maulāna Amjad ‘Ali A’zami
@- A  5
 6 7  
   in the 16 part of Bahar-e-Shariat states, “High
th

eating stations like a table were used by the rich so that they
would not have to bow down while eating. This was the
custom of those who were arrogant and conceited. Certain
people who use a table while eating perform the same action
today. Eating in small plates was also the custom of the rich as
it was customary for them to place various different foods in
small bowls or plates.” (Bahar-e-Sharī’at, pp. 12, part. 16)

      
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WHAT TYPE OF DINING-MAT [DASTARKHUWĀN] IS SUNNAH?


The Renowned Exegetist [Mufassir] of Quran, Mufti Ahmad Yār
Khān Na’iīmī 2     stated, “It is sunnah to bow down a little
 3 4 5
 6 7   
in front of the food, to eat. The Holy Prophet         
     
  ate
on three types of dining-mats; made from cloth, animal skin or

24
The Manners Pertaining to Food

from leaves of palm trees (date trees). A dining-mat used to be


placed on the floor and the Holy Prophet          
     
   

would sit on the floor near it.” (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 13, vol.6)

Dear Islamic Brothers! It is not a sin to dine on a table but


it is Sunnah to lay a dining-mat on the floor and eat on that
dining-mat. Remember there is dignity and grace in following
the Sunnah. It is unfortunate that in this day and age, Muslims
in large, have forgone this Sunnah. Even those who seem to be
religious have been observed to dine on a table. Dining on
tables is very commonplace nowadays, especially in weddings,
where chairs are no longer used and people have been
observed to gather around the table and eat while standing!
Alas! When will this graceful practice [Sunnah] return?

Oh Prophet          


     
  , May we propagate the
prophetic ways [Sunnah]
Attain righteousness, and activate the Islamic traits.

Sunnatain ‘ām karain deen ka hum kām karain


Naik ban jaen muslamān madine wale

ŻIKR OF ALLAH ON EVERY MORSEL


It has been reported on the authority of Sayyidunā Anas   3 "    
 ? 7
"
that, “Allah   ! is pleased with the one who praises [hamd]
Allah    ! " when he consumes a morsel of food, and praises
Allah    ! " when he drinks water.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1463, ḥadiš. 2734)

THE PROPER MANNER OF RECITING ON EVERY MORSEL

Subhān-Allah    ! "! [Glory be to Allah    ! " ] What a wonderful


and a simple way to attain the pleasure of Allah    ! "! By Allah,
there is nothing more important than His     ! " Pleasure.
Whosoever He    ! " is pleased with; He will bless that person

25
Islamic Manners of Eating

with His    ! " sight. Furthermore, Allah    ! " will make him
enter paradise. Therefore, make an effort to habitualize yourself
to invoke the name of Allah    ! " every time you eat and drink
so that the time you spend eating is not spent in heedlessness. If
possible, make an effort to recite '‫ﺤ ﻤﺪ ﻟ  (ﻠ‬ ‫ ﻟ‬, ‫وﺟ ﺪ‬ ‫ ﻳ‬and ! ‫ ﻢ‬
 ‫ﺴ‬  in
between every two morsels. In this way, every morsel will
begin with ! ‫ ﻢ‬
 ‫ﺴ‬  and ‫وﺟ ﺪ‬
 ‫ ﻳ‬and will end with the praise of
Allah    ! " that is % ‫ﺤ ﻤ ﺪ‬
 ‫[  ﻟ‬By following this] In’sha-Allah    ! "
you will gain extensive good deeds and rewards [šawāb]. It is
stated in the booklet entitled ‘40 Spiritual Cures’ (which is
available from Maktaba-tul-Madina) that whosoever recites
 ‫ ﻳ‬with every morsel, Inshā-Allah    ! ", that morsel will
‫وﺟ ﺪ‬
become Noor (light) in his stomach and ailments will be
eradicated.

Grant us utter devotion in Your love Oh Allah    !  "



Grant us Your Pleaure, Oh Allah    !  "

Kar ulfat mayn apnī fanā yā-Ilahi    !  "


Ata karde apni Razā yā-Illahi    !  "


Dear Islamic Brothers! Keep aspiring to travel in the Madanī


Qāfilah with the Devotees of the Prophet and you will
continuously learn and practice the manners [Sunnah]
pertaining to food. At times, you will see blessings [barakah] of
the food manifest immediately. Here is an account of such a
manifestation of food filled with blessings [barakah].

MADANĪ QĀFILAH LOOKED AFTER BY A SAINT


The Madanī Qāfilah was residing inside the Masjid at the shrine
   5
of Dātā Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajwayrī       6 7 in the city of
Markaz-ul-Auliyā, Lahore for three days. They were learning
Sunnah’s while acting upon the schedule accordingly, when a

26
The Manners Pertaining to Food

person came during the study circle [halaqah]. He met them


with open arms, and continued on to say, “Al-Hamdulillah    ! ",
I was fortunate last night as Dātā Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajwayrī
   5
      6 7 appeared to me in a dream and said, ‘The Madanī
Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī is staying in my Masjid for three
days. Prepare food for them.’ Therefore, I have prepared food
for the participants of the Madanī Qāfilah. Please accept it. “

Why should we restlessly run around?


When we have your court sound, Oh Ganj Baksh
People fill their baskets aplenty, day and night.
My hopes may also come to actuality (fulfillment), Oh Ganj Baksh

Kiyā garaz dardar phirūn mayn bhīk lenay ke liye


Hai salāmat āstānā āp ka datā piyā
Johliyān bhar bhar ke le jāte hayn mangte rāt dīn
Ho merī umīd kā gulshan harā datā piyā.

      
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THE SAINT IN THE SHRINE CAME TO HELP


Subhān-Allah    ! "! The saints, while in their blessed shrines,
help the visitors. Hujja-tul-Islām Sayyidunā Imām Muhammad
Ghazāli  -    5 6 7       has narrated that a Shaafi’ee caretaker of a
shrine once stated that there was once a poor person in Egypt
who had just become a father. The destitute contacted one of
the social workers, who took the newborn’s father to several
people for financial assitance, but no one, provided any
financial help. In the end, they went to a certain shrine and the
social worker beseeched, “Ya Sayyidi, May Allah    ! " bless
you. In your visible life, you used to give a lot. Today we asked
several people for the newborn, yet no one gave anything.”
After imploring a while longer, the social worker gave the

27
Islamic Manners of Eating

newborn’s father half a dinār9 as a loan and said, “Whenever


you are able to repay this loan, you may repay it.” After that,
both of them went their separate ways.
That night the social worker saw the same saint in his
dream. The saint said, “I have heard whatever you said to me.
At that time I was not permitted to reply. Go to my family and
ask them to dig underneath the stove. There they will find a
pouch filled with 500 dinār. Give this entire amount to the
newborn’s father.” Hence, the social worker went to the saint’s
family and told them of all that had taken place. The family dug
underneath the stove where they found the pouch, which they
gave to the social worker. In response, the social worker said,
“All this was just a mere dream, what is the certainty of my
dream. All this belongs to you.” They replied, “When our elder
is being generous even after leaving this world, why should we
not be!” They then gave the entire amount to the social worker,
who then gave it to the newborn’s father after informing him of
the events that had transpired.
That poor man took half a dinār to repay his debt and
only took another half a dinār from this money and said, “This
is sufficient for me.” He then gave the rest of the money to the
social worker instructing him to distribute it among the poor
and destitute.” The narrator went on to state his confusion as to
which one of the two men was more generous. (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp.
309, vol. 3)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

The Saint has never returned the servant empty handed


Oh Servant just ask open handed
They fill the baskets of the beseecher
and say “Oh Allah    !  "
Grant good to the Seeker”

9 Currency used at that time

28
The Manners Pertaining to Food

Khālī nahīn phaira hi nahīn apnay gadā ko


Aai saailon mango to żarā hum hāth barhā kar
Khud apnay bhikārī ki bharā kartay hayn jhaulī
Khud kehte hayn yā Rab mayray mangtā kā bhalā kar

      
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THE SAINTS BENEFIT OTHERS EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE


PASSED AWAY
Dear Islamic brothers! Our predecessors looked up to the Saints
with reverence and would go to them to seek help. They knew
that the saints would be able to help and assist them by the
permission of Allah    ! " with the blessing of Allah    ! ", the
saints  
    
 : 6
7 are alive in their graves; they listen to those
who visit them, they counsel and help, and are aware of their
families. It is for this reason that the Saint of the Shrine        5
 6
 7
guided the social worker in his dream and helped the father of
the newborn child.
  5
‘Allāma ibn Aābidīn Shāmi Al-Hanafi      6
 7 has stated, “The
saints are at various stations (levels) in the court of Allah    ! "
and are able to help the visitors according to their inner
knowledge and awareness.” (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 604, vol. 1)

Saints of Allah    !  " , we love them all


Insha Allah, we will not fall.

Hum ko sāre auliyā se piyār hai


Insha-Allah    !  "
apna bera pār hai

WHICH FOOD IS ILLNESS?


Sayyidunā Uqbah bin ‘Āmir         5
 6
 7 has narrated that the
        
Noble Prophet         
  
has stated, “The food upon

29
Islamic Manners of Eating

which Allah’s    ! " is not recited is an illness and there is no


blessing in that food. The atonement (for not having started in
Allah’s name) is to recite ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 and eat something if the
dining-mat has not been yet picked up. If the food mat has been
picked up then recite ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 and lick the fingers clean.” (Al-
Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 294, ḥadiš. 6327)

THE FOOD BECOMES HALĀL FOR THE SATAN


Sayyiduna Huzayfah   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the Immaculate,
Noble Prophet         
     
  has stated, “Food upon which
! ‫ ﻢ‬
 ‫ﺴ‬  is not recited; becomes Halāl for Satan (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp.
(In other words, by not reciting ! ‫ ﻢ‬
1116, ḥadiš. 2017).”  ‫ﺴ‬  , Satan
also joins in on the consumption of food.)

      
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SAVE THE FOOD FROM SATAN

There is no blessing in food which has not had ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬  recited


over it before eating. Sayyidunā Abū Ayyūb Ansārī    3"  
  ?
7 has
narrated, “We were in the blessed company of the Holy
Prophet          
     
   
when the Food was served; in the
beginning of the meal there was so much blessing that we had
never seen the likes of this blessing before, but near the end we
observed the deprivation of blessing. We asked the Noble
Prophet of Allah                 
  ‘Ya Rasoolullah [O Prophet
of Allah], what is the reason behind this?’ He answered, ‘All of
us had recited ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 prior to eating, then a person who had
not recited ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 sat down to eat, that is when Satan also ate
with him.” (Sharaḥ-us Sunnah, pp. 62, vol. 6, ḥadiš. 2818)

30
The Manners Pertaining to Food

PROTECTION FROM SATAN


Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsi   3 "    
 ? 7 narrated that The Mercy for
the Universe, Leader of the Sons of Adam, His Eminence, The
Noble Prophet          
     
   
said, “Whoever desires that
Satan does not eat with him, does not join him in his siesta
(noon nap), nor does he spend the night with him should say
salām when entering his house and recite ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬  prior to
eating.” (Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 240, vol. 6, ḥadiš. 6102)

      
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SOLUTION TO ARGUMENTS AT HOME


The Renowned Exegitist of the Quran, Hakīm-ul-Ummah,
Mufti Ahmad Yār Khān Na’iīmī 2 
  3 4 5
  6 7 
    stated, “When
entering the house, one should recite Bismillah ﷽ and
enter with the right foot first, then say Salām to everyone in the
house. If no one is present in the house, one should say
' 4 5‫ و ر ﺣ ﻤ ﺔ! و ﺮ‬.- / ‫ﻟ  ﺴ ﻼ م ﻋﻠ ﻴﻚ ﻳ ﻟ ﻨ‬2 Some saints have been observed to recite
﷽ and Surah-Ikhlās [! ‫  ﻮ‬8 ‫ ] ﻗ ﻞ‬as they entered their
homes in the beginning of the day. This creates harmony in the
household and augments blessing in sustenance [rizq].” (Mirāt-ul
Manājīḥ, pp. 9, vol.6)

WHAT IF ONE FORGETS TO RECITE BISMILLAH?


The Mother of the Faithfuls, Sayyidatunā ‘Ayesha Siddiqah
 
 :3 "  
 ? 7 has narrated that the Holy Prophet           
    
has stated, “When a person eats, he should take the name of
Allah    "
 ! that is recite ! ‫ ﻢ‬
 ‫ﺴ‬  . If he forgets to recite ! ‫ ﻢ‬
 ‫ﺴ‬  in
  ‫' و‬ ‫ ﻢ !و ﻟ‬
the beginning, he should recite ‫ﮦ‬ <=  ‫ﺴ‬
 .” (Sunan Abī
Dāwūd, pp. 487,vol. 3, ḥadiš. 3767)

31
Islamic Manners of Eating

SATAN THREW UP!


Sayyidunā Umayyah bin Makhshī   3 "    
 ? 7 stated,” there was a
person who began to eat without reciting ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬. There was
only a single morsel left when he recited ‫ﮦ‬ <=   ‫' و‬ ‫ﺴ ﻢ !و ﻟ‬
 . The
  
Holy Prophet                
  
began to smile and said, ‘Satan
was also eating with this person. When he mentioned the name
of Allah    ! ", Satan spewed the contents of his stomach.” (Sunan
Abī Dāwūd, pp. 356, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 3768)

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM THE BLESSED VISION OF THE PROPHET


Dear Islamic brothers! One should recite ﷽,
whenever one eats food. Whosoever eats without reciting this, a
Satan named “Qarīn” also joins him in the meal. It is evident
from the Hadiš (Prophetic Narration) narrated by Sayyidunā
Umayyā bin Makhshī   3 "  
  ?
7 that the eyes of the Holy Prophet
        
       saw everything, which is why He
 
              
  smiled upon seeing Satan’s dismay.

The Renowned Exegetist of the Quran, Hakeem-ul-Ummah,


Mufti Ahmad Yār Khān Na’iīmī 2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
   has stated, “The
Holy Prophet          
     
   
is able to see even the most
hidden creation. The Hadiš is very explicit in its meaning and
does not require elaboration or interpretation. For example, we
would not eat a meal in which a fly has fallen (we would be
disgusted). Similarly, Satan cannot digest food on which the
name of Allah    ! " has been taken. Even though the food
thrown up by Satan is of no value to us, but Satan (the
accursed) falls sick, remains deprived of food, and the departed
blessing from our food returns. Thus, there is an advantage for
us and two disadvantages for Satan. It is also possible that
Satan may not even eat with us in the future with the
apprehension that perhaps we might recite ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬and he

32
The Manners Pertaining to Food

would have to again vomit the food he has eaten. [I would like
to point out one thing here] The person mentioned in the Hadiš
may have been eating alone. Had he been eating in the company
of the Holy Prophet          
     
   
he would not have
forgotten to recite ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬because the people present there used
to recite ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬aloud and would instruct others to do the
same.” (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 30, vol. 6)

Dear Islamic brothers! Al-Hamdulillah    ! "! One has the


opportunity to learn and recite Duā’s extensively in the
Righteous Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī, especially in the
Madanī Qāfilah. What can be said about the marvels of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī? Here is an amazing story of a brother from
Baab-ul-Madina, Karachi.

      
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MY BEDRIDDEN MOTHER’S RECOVERY


My mother had fallen so ill that she was unable to rise from the
bed. Doctors had declared that there was nothing that could be
done. I had heard that the prayers of those who travel with the
Devotees of the Prophet in the Madanī Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-
Islāmī are answered and illnesses are cured. I decided to take
part in this journey as well. I made my way over to the
luminous headquarters [markaz] of the Madani Training Center
where I expressed my intention to travel in a Madanī Qāfilah
for three days. The Islamic brothers instantly made arrangements.
In the company of the Devotees of the Prophet our Madanī
Qāfilah reached a village near Sahra-e-Madina of Bab-ul-
Madina, Sindh. During the journey, I informed the brothers of
my ailing mother and her condition, upon which they comforted
me and showered her with an excess of Supplications [Du’ā].
With his efforts to inspire others towards righteousness, the

33
Islamic Manners of Eating

Amīr of the Qafilah fondly encouraged me to travel in a


Madanī Qāfilah for another 30 days for which I made the
intention instantaneously. Throughout those three days, I would
pray for my mother, weeping and beseeching for her recovery.
On the third day, I saw a pious man in my dream whose face
was shining profusely. He said, ‘Do not worry about your
mother, Inshā-Allah    ! " she will get better.’ I returned home
after completing the three days. As I knocked, the door opened,
I was astonished to see my bed-ridden mother opening the
door. I kissed her feet out of joy and told her of the dream. I
then left with the Devotees of the Prophet in the Madanī
Qāfilah for 30 days after seeking her permission.

For the ailing mother, for the loans from another, for the grief and
dither, let’s go to the qafilah
Bow down before your Allah    !  " , entreat beseech and implore, May
He Bless and Open the door, let’s go to the qafilah.
May the filth of heart wash away, and our decadent ways go awaylet’s
all set on our way, let’s go the qafilah.

Mān jo bimār ho qarz ka bār ho ranj o gum mat karayn


qafileh mayn chalo
Rab    !  "
ke dar par jhuken iltijaen karayn babe rehmat khulayn
qafileh main chalo
Dil ki kalak dhule marze isyān talay āo sab chal parayn
qafileh main chalo

      
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Dear Islamic Brothers! The deteriorating condition of the
mother was alleviated by the blessings of the Qāfilah. What can
we say about the greatness of Supplications [Du’ā]? Sayyidunā
 
‘Ali   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the Holy Prophet   
  
     
     
 
said,
34
The Manners Pertaining to Food

 097-F J  H/   0"  J ( - 4  V8  W /  


R 7 S   T-    U  
“Duā is the shield of a Believer, a pillar of faith and a Light for the earth and
heavens.”
(Musnad Abū Ya’lā, pp. 615, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 435)

Now let us briefly look at the Pearls of Wisdom pertaining to


Supplications [Duā].

      
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17 PEARLS OF WISDOM OF SUPPLICATION


(Most of these Pearls of Wisdom have been abstracted from the
book titled, “Ahsan-ul Wiā’ lī ādaāb-id’ Duā’ ma’ Sharhi Zaylul
mud’Duā’ lī Ahsan-ul Wiā” which could be purchased from
Maktaba-tul-Madinah in Bab-ul Madinah, [Karachi, Pakistan])

1. It is Wājib [Compulsary] to make Supplications [Duā] at least


20 times a day. Al-Hamdulillah    ! "! those who perform
Salāh regularly, do this by reciting Surat-ul-Fātihah because
both of the following Ayahs are Supplications [Duā].

a. “Guide us on the Straight Path” > ‫ط‬


 @‫ﻟ‬  8  
  ‫ﺪﻧ‬
 B‫ ﻟ  ﻌ ﻟﻤ‬
b. “All praise is to Allah, the Creator of the worlds” A  ‫ ﻟ‬
‫ ر‬% ‫ﺤ ﻤﺪ‬
(Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, pp. 123-124)

2. Do not ask for anything that is beyond your limitation. For


example, asking for the same status as of the Noble Prophets
 89 
  :   or to climb the skies [Heavens.] It is also forbidden
to ask for every good and every excellence of both the
worlds because ‘all excellences’ also entail the ranks
bestowed on the Prophet  89   
 :  , and one cannot attain
them. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, pp. 80-81)

35
Islamic Manners of Eating

3. Do not ask for something which is impossible or nearly


impossible: So to ask to never become sick or never be
troubled by anything during ones entire life is to ask for the
nearly impossible; Similarly, a tall person should not ask to
become shorter, nor should a person with small eyes ask for
big eyes as these matters have been [Divinely] predetermined
(Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 81)

4. One should not ask for sin as such a Duā is itself a sin. For
example, to ask to attain others’ wealth. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 82)
5. One should not make Duā to break up relationships or to ask
that certain families be broken up [or end up in a rift.] (Aḥsan-
ul Wi’aā, p. 82)

6. Do not ask Allah    ! " for just lowly (inferior) things because
Allah    ! " is All Gracious. Concentrate towards Allah    "
 !
and ask Him for everything. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 84)
7. If you are going through sadness and anxiety, do not ask for
death. Bear in mind that one should not ask for death if one
is going through worldly problems. It is only permissible to
ask for death if there is danger of protecting one’s faith
[Imān.] (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, pp. 85-87)

8. Without a valid religious reason, one cannot ask for the


death or the devastation of someone. If however, one is
certain or fairly certain that a certain Non-Muslim will never
accept Islam and he is a danger to the religion. Similarly, if
one believes that a certain oppressor will never refrain from
oppression or repent and his death or destruction would be
a great favour to humankind, then it is permissible to curse
this person. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, pp. 86-89)

9. It is not permissible to make Duā that a certain Muslim


becomes a disbeliever because, according to some Scholars,
making such a Duā is considered as Kufr [Infidelity] in itself.

36
The Manners Pertaining to Food

However the consensus amongst the scholars is that if the


person made Duā thinking and considering Islam as bad and
Kufr [Infidelity] as good, then there is no doubt that making
such a Duā is kufr, otherwise it is a grave sin because it is
asking for the devastation of a Muslim which is a major sin.
Asking for the obliteration of someone’s faith [Imān] is the
worst of all the perils. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 90)
10. Do not curse a Muslim and do not call him a ‘cursed one’ or
a rejected one nor curse any Non-Muslim by name whose
death on Kufr [infidelity] is not certain. It is also not
permissible to curse things like mosquitoes or the wind and
the other non-living things like stones, etc., and other living
animals. However, some animals like the scorpion, etc. have
been cursed in the Hadiš. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 90)
11. Do not curse any Muslim by saying, “May the wrath of
Allah    ! " be upon you and may you enter the fire of Hell”
as such has been prohibited in the Hadiš. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 100)
12. It is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] and an act of Kufr
[Infidelity], to seek forgiveness for a non-Muslim, who died
on his disbelief. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 101)
13. It is not permissible to ask Allah    ! " to forgive every sin of
every Muslim as this is rejection of the various Hadiš
[Prophetic narrations] in which it is stated that certain
Muslims will enter the Hell. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 106). However, it
is permissible to ask that the ummah [nation] of the Holy
Prophet         
     
  be for given or ask that all Muslims
be forgiven. (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 102)
14. Do not curse oneself, friends, family, wealth and one’s
children, as one does not know in which instance the
Supplications [Duā] are readily accepted, as one would
regret it if the effects of the curse were to manifest. (Aḥsan-ul
Wi’aā, p. 107)

37
Islamic Manners of Eating

15. One should not ask for that which he already has. For
example, a male should not pray, ‘O Allah    ! ", make me a
male’ as this is mockery. However, it is permissible to ask for
something, even if the obtaining of that matter is certain.
Like the matters: which enable one to obey the laws of Islam;
which show humility and servitude; which rekindle the love
for Allah    ! " and His Prophet                
   
; which
display admiration of the religion and the people of the
religion; or which instill a dislike for Kufr [Infidelity] and the
Non-Muslim. For example, asking for recitation of Durūd
[Blessings on the Prophet], asking for maintaining
intercessors [wasila], asking for staying on the righteous
path or praying for the wrath on the enemies of Allah    ! "
and His Prophet         
     
  . (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 108 & 109)

16. Do not limit your Duā for example, “O Allah    ! ", have
mercy only on me” or “O Allah    ! ", only have mercy on
me and my certain friend.” (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 109) It is better to
include the entire Ummah in your Duā. One benefit of this
is that if the seeker is not worthy of a certain thing he is
asking in the Duā, he will attain it because of those pious
Muslims who were also included in the Duā.
17. Hujjat-ul-Islām, Sayyidunā Imām Muhammad Ghazālī
 -  5
  6 7  
  
has stated, “Ask with absolute belief and be
certain in its acceptance.” (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 770, vol.4)

THE PROPHETIC MANNER OF SITTING DURING MEALS


To lift the right knee, folding the left leg and sitting on it is one
of the Prophetic Manner [Sunnah] to sit while one eats food.
Another Prophetic Manner [Sunnah] manner to sit is highlighted
by the following Hadiš which has been narrated by Sayyidunā
Anas   3 "   
 ? 7 . The Companion has said, “I once saw the Holy
Prophet               
  eating dry dates. The Holy Prophet
        
     
  was sitting on the floor in such a manner that

38
The Manners Pertaining to Food

both of his blessed knees were raised.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1130, ḥadiš:
2044)

BENEFIT OF RAISING THE KNEE WHEN EATING


Dear Islamic Brothers! Sitting on the floor with both knees
raised and the bottoms [buttocks] touching the floor prevents
over-eating, thereby saving one from many illnesses. Sitting by
raising the right knee and sitting on the left leg prevents spleen
problems. This also makes the thigh muscles stronger. Whereas,
sitting cross-legged increases obesity and causes the belly to
buldge out. Sitting cross-legged also increases the possibility of
colic and constipation. A person once said, “I once saw an
Englishman eating something sitting on the floor, on his bottom
with both his knees raised. I curiously asked him as to why he
was sitting in that position. Rubbing his belly, he replied, ‘To
flatten my belly.”

      
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EATING AND OVERLAY ONESELF
While eating according to Sunnah, Islamic brothers and sisters
are also requested to cover the area from the knee to the toes
properly with the shawl. If the kurta [shirt] is long enough,
then one can use that to cover the specific area. Not Overlaying
makes it extremely difficult for others, sitting down with you,
to guard their gaze. Even when one is alone, one should
Overlay oneself as we should be most modest before Allah    ! ".
If you have the intention of being modest before Allah    ! " you
will, Inshā-Allah     ! ", earn great rewards. While sitting with
others one can make the intention to assist others in guarding
their gaze. One should strive to make righteous intentions; the
more the intentions, the more the reward. The Holy Prophet
        
     
  has stated, “Intentions of a Muslim are better
than his actions.” (Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 185, vol. 6, ḥadiš. 5942)
39
Islamic Manners of Eating

TO EAT SEATED AT A TABLE


Imām Ahmad Razā Khān J  6 %   5 6 7      has stated, “It should be
noted that if one is eating on the floor wearing his shoes in the
absence of a dining-mat underneath, then only one preferred
Sunnah has been forgone. However, it would have been better
to take off the shoes. On the other hand, it is the practice of the
Christians to set the food on the table and eat while sitting on a
chair with shoes on. Therefore, one should refrain from this
action as the Holy Prophet                has stated,
 
 ‫ ﻮ‬
‫ﻣ ﻨ  ﻢ‬  F ‫ ﺸ‬H ‫ﻦ‬
  ‫ ﻓ‬E ‫'  ﻘ ﻮم‬ ‫ ﻣ‬that is “Whoever resembles a people, he is
of them.” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. , vol. 4, Pg: 62, ḥadiš. 4031)

CAUSE OF A BROKEN MARRIAGE


Dear Islamic Brothers! Tragically, it has become a part of our
life to imitate the Christians and the Jews in many ways.
Marriage is indeed a very graceful Sunnah, yet even in this,
many Farāidh [obligations] and Sunnahs are forgone. The
marriage ceremonies now consist of activites such as playing
music, dancing, movies, and women playing drums.
Ma’aāż-Allah    ! ", Is there any act of Harām [strictly forbidden]
that is not a part of the weddings today? Even before the
wedding, the fiancé places a ring on the finger of his fiancée.
They go for outings and excursions. Marriages are held with
ceremonies consisting of various sinful practices. Men are
called to make videos [of the events] of the women. The food is
served on the table and chairs. Some people don’t even use
chairs; they just walk around a table, buffet style, taking what
they want from the table and just stand around and eat. This is
certainly not Sunnah [Prophetic Way].

Does marriage really bring more joy and harmony to the


homes today? More often than not, couples complain of their
discords and troubled relationships at home. What if these are

40
The Manners Pertaining to Food

the punishments of these un-Islamic actions, carried out while


acting upon such a benevolent act and a Sunnah, as blessed as
marriage? How severe will the punishment of the hereafter be if
our Allah    ! " is displeased with us? May Allah    ! " protect
us against adopting western fashions and customs and make us
an embodiment of the Prophetic Ways [Sunnah].
    ٖ             
X   Y
  ( S    Z  [  \  X 
  (
      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,
Dear Islamic brothers! Embrace the company of the Righteous
Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī’. Inshā-Allah    ! " you will
reap many blessings. A Preacher of Da’awat-e-Islāmī narrated
the events that inspired him to embrace Da’awat-e-Islāmī. Here
is the story in my own words.

HOW I JOINED DA’AWAT-E-ISLĀMĪ


An Islamic brother from Mundon Garh in the district of
Ratnaghari in the state of Maharashtra [India] once said, “In the
year 2002, due to bad company, I had joined a local gang of
thugs. I quickly began to swear, curse, and even assault people.
I would intentionally start fights. If there was any new fashion,
I was the first to adopt it. I would change my clothes several
times a day and jeans were the only pants I would wear. I used
to hang around with irresponsible and negligent friends, who
instilled bad habits in me. Going home in the middle of the
night and sleeping well into the day, was an everyday routine.
My father had already passed away and when my mother
would try to counsel me, I would rudely answer back to her.
Once, I met a “turban wearing” Islamic brother from
Da’awat-e-Islāmī who gifted me a booklet titled ’King of Jinns’,
which is published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah. I read the booklet
and was very inspired.

41
Islamic Manners of Eating

During the month of Ramadān, I had the opportunity to go to


the Masjid where I happened to see a calm and collected young
man wearing a green turban and white clothes. I found out that
he happened to be a Mu’takif [a person who abides in the
Masjid in Ramadan.] When he started the Dars from the book
‘Faizān-e-Sunnat’, I also sat down to listen. After the Dars, he
ellaborated on the blessings entailed in the Righteous Madanī
Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. His attire was very simple
laden with patches at some places. The food that came for him
from his home was very simple as well. I was highly impressed
by his simplicity and came to admire it dearly. I began to visit
him regularly. Coincidently, after Eid-ul-Fitr, it was his Nikāh
(marriage), and though he was very poor and financially
unsound, he neither implied, nor explicitly asked for any
financial assistance. His contentment, the auspiciousness of
Righteous Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī and the simplicity
of those associated with it, highly inspired me. By the
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", the admiration for Da’awat-e-Islāmī
immersed my heart so much that I travelled in the Madanī
Qāfilah with the Devotees of the Prophet for eight days.

My heart had gone through a total transformation, as I had


experienced a Righteous Madanī Transformation within myself.
I sincerely repented for all my past sins and embraces Da’awat-
e-Islāmī. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", today I am diligently working for
the propagation of the religion as a dedicated Nigrān [Local
Incharge] of Da’awat-e-Islāmī in my locality.

If you want simplicity, and modesty, let’s run, let’s go to qafilah


Let’s learn self-respect, and good character, come let’s learn, let’s go to qafilah.
Devotees of the Prophet Carry pearls of Sunnah, come, to earn, let’s go to qafilah.

Sādghī chāhiye, ājizī chāhiye, āpko gar calain, qāfilāy mayn chalo
Khūb khuddāriyān, aur khush akhlāqiyān, āye sīkh lain qāfilāy mayn chalo
Āshiqāne rasūl, lae sunnat ke phool, āo lenay chalayn, qāfilāy mayn chalo

42
The Manners Pertaining to Food

Dear Islamic Brothers! It is not necessary to wear trendy clothes


and beautiful turbans to spread the religion. One can also
propagate the religion in tattered clothes and a simple turban.

THE VIRTUES OF MODEST ATTIRE


If those who imitate the non-believers [kāfir], adopt trendy
fashions, and remain elegantly dressed in designer wear; adopt
modesty and humility, they would be content in this world and
the hereafter. Hence, the Noble Prophet of Madinah
        
     
  has stated, “Despite having the means to wear
good clothing if one avoids them out of humility, Allah    ! "
will clothe them with the attire of Karāmat [heavenly attire.]”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 326, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 4778)

FASHION ENTHUSIASTS BEWARE!


If a person has the wealth and can afford elegant apparel, but
adopts humility and wears simple clothes to please Allah    ! ",
then he will be granted a heavenly attire. Whoever is robbed
with attire of Heaven, he will undoubtedly, enter into the
Paradise. Those who wear attractive, elegant, and dazzling
dresses to impress others, or to merely satisfy their own
personal desires, or to show-off their wealth, should indeed
read the following and regret upon their actions.

Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ibn Umar   3 "    


 ?
7 has narrated that the
Leader of Madinah         
     
  has said, “Whoever wears
clothes of [for] publicity in this world, Allah    ! " will make
him wear the clothes of disgrace on the Day of Judgment.”
(Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 163, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 3606)

WHAT ARE ‘CLOTHES OF PUBLICITY’?


The Renowned Scholar of Islam, Exegitist of the Quran, Muftī
  5
Ahmad Yār Khān      6
 7 elaborates on the meaning of

43
Islamic Manners of Eating

‘Clothes of Publicity’ while commenting on the Hadiš, “To


wear an attire which indicates that the person is rich or pious,
are both considered as ‘Clothes of Publicity’. In short, if you
wear attire with the intention that others regard you in a higher
status, then this would fall under the category of ‘Clothes of
Publicity’. The compiler of the book ‘Mirqāt’ has stated, “To
wear funny clothing which makes people laugh are also
considered as ‘Clothes of Publicity.’” (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 109, vol. 6)

Dear Islamic Brothers! Undoubtedly, this is a difficult situation.


It is imperative that we carefully consider our clothing and
avoid ostentation [show off]. Those who adopt simple clothing,
turbans and shawls so that others admire them for their piety
are also show-offs, and deserve Hell Fire. Thus, we should ask
Allah    !  " to Grant us sincerity [ikhlās.]

May, my every deed be for you; Grant me such sincerity O Allah    !  "
!

Save me, from ostentation and iniquity O Allah    !  "


!

Mayra har amal bus tera wastay ho; kar Ikhlās aeisa, atā Ya-Illāhī    !  "

Riyākāriyoon say, Siyahkariyoon say; Bachā Yā Illāhī, Bacha Yā-Illāhī    !  "


A MATTER OF CONCERN FOR THE TRENDY GENERATION


Those who change their clothes everyday according to the latest
fashion trends, and those who consider it an insult to wear
slightly old clothes or to wear patched clothing (due to a slight
tear) should read the following narration over and over again.

Sayyidunā Abū Umāmah Iyās bin Ša’laba   3 "    


 ?
7 has narrated
that the Holy Prophet         
     
  said, “Do you not listen?
Do you not listen? The aging of attire is part of Imān [faith]?
Without doubt, the aging attire is part of Imān.” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd,
pp. 102, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 4161). Commenting on this Hadiš, Sayyidunā
Shah ‘Abdul Haq Muhaddiš Dihlavī @- A  5 6 7       has stated,

44
The Manners Pertaining to Food

“To refrain from adornments [zinat] is a part of good manners


[akhlaq] of a Muslim.” (Ash’at-ul-Lam’aāt, pp. 585, vol. 3)

THE VIRTUES OF PATCHED UP ATTIRE


Sayyidunā ‘Amr bin Qays   3 "    
 ? 7 said that the Leader of the
Believers, the Valiant, Sayyidunā Alī   3 "    
 ? 7 was once asked,
“Why do you put patches on your shirt?” He   3 "    
 ? 7 replied,
“Because they keep the heart soft and the Muslim follows it [i.e.
the heart] (meaning that the heart of a Muslim should be soft.)”
(Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 409, vol. 6)

HOW IS IT TO EAT WHILE STANDING?


Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik  3 "   
 ? 7 once narrated that the
Merciful [Karīm] and Compassionate Prophet          
      
 
prohibited eating and drinking while standing. (Majma'-u-Zavāid,
pp. 23, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 7921)

MEDICAL HARMS OF EATING WHILE STANDING


A famous Italian dietician has stated, “Eating while standing,
causes spleen and heart diseases. It also creates psychological
disorders. Sometimes [in severe cases], a person reaches such
levels of insanity [and amnesia] that he fails to recognize those
who are close and dear to him.”

EAT AND DRINK WITH THE RIGHT HAND


The Prophetic Manner [Sunnah] is to eat and drink with the
right hand. Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar  
 3 "  
 ? 7 has
narrated that the Beloved and Dear Prophet of Allah
      
     "
     ! has stated, “When someone eats, he should eat
with his right hand and when he drinks, he should drink with
his right hand.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1117, ḥadiš. 2174)

45
Islamic Manners of Eating

SATAN’S PRACTICE
Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the

Nobel Prophet of Madinah          
     
  once stated, “No
one should eat or drink with their left hand because to eat and
drink with the left hand is the practice of Satan.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp.
1117, ḥadiš. 2174)

OFFER AND RECEIVE WITH THE RIGHT HAND


Sayyidunā Abū Hurrairah   3 "   
 ? 7 narrated that the Master of
Madina, Tranquality of the Hearts    
  
     
     
  said, “All of
you should eat, with the right hand and drink, with the right
hand; and receive, with the right hand and offer with the right
hand because Satan eats, drinks, offers and receives with the
left hand.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 13, Vol: 4, ḥadiš: 3266)

WHY IS THE LEFT HAND USED FOR EVERYTHING?


Dear Islamic Brothers! Unfortunately, today we are so
engrossed in worldly affairs that we do not pay attention to the
Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet of Allah          
      
  .
Remember! It is clearly stated in a Hadiš that Satan floats with
the blood in the human arteries. (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1197, ḥadiš. 2174) It
is obvious that Satan will not let us follow the Sunnah. It is
often observed that some do eat only with the right hand, but
they also peck a few grains using their left. Another common
observation is that people eat with the right hand and since
their right hands are stained with food, they drink water with
their left! Some people when drinking tea (using a cup and a
saucer) tend to hold the cup in their right but sip the tea from
their saucer which is in their left hand! It is also common place
to pass items during a meal with the left hand. When we give
water to someone, the jug is in our right hand and the glass is in
the left handing over the glass with the left hand! “Hayaat-e-

46
The Manners Pertaining to Food

Muhaddith-e-Azam” [Life of the Grand Hadith Master] states


on page 374 that, the Grand Muhaddith [Master of Hadith] of
Pakistan, Maulānā Muhammad Sardār Ahmad Qādirī
Chishti @-  A 5 6 7      has said, “One should practice to give and
take with his right hand. This practice should become so
profoundly embedded in you that on the Day of Judgment,
when your record of deeds is given to you, you stretch out your
right hand due to this deep rooted habit. This will certainly
make you successful.”

Dear Islamic Brothers! Ponder and deliberate at how


much our beloved Prophet         
     
  disliked the use of
the left hand while eating and drinking.

MAY YOUR RIGHT HAND NEVER RISE


Sayyidunā Salama bin Akwa’   3 "    ? 
 7 has narrated the
following: “A person once ate in front of The Beloved of Allah
               
   
with his left hand. The Noble Prophet
           
   
  
advised him, ‘Eat with your right hand.’ He
replied, ‘I cannot eat with my right hand.’ Our Master, The
Prophet who is Gifted by Allah with the ‘Knowledge of the
Unknown’ [‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb]                
   
, understood that
this person was saying this merely out of pride and arrogance,
therefore he           
  replied, J
       ‫ ﻄ ﻌ‬L ‫ﺳ‬
‫ ﻻ‬, which means,
may you never have the power to do so (that is may you never
be able to lift your right hand). That person refused to eat with
his right hand due to his pride but afterwards he never had the
ability to use his right hand.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1118, ḥadiš. 2021)

The tongue that everyone calls the key, to the Divine Order of “Be”
Thousands of salutationson its established authority

Wo Zabān jis ko sab kun kī kunjī kahayn


Uski nāfiz hukūmat pa lākhon salām

47
Islamic Manners of Eating

MAY YOUR FACE BE DISFIGURED


Dear Islamic Brothers! The exaltedness of the blessed tongue of
the Revered Prophet    
  
     
     
  is that whatever he says,
comes to pass! Indeed the status of the Holy Prophet
        
     
  is very high. Here is an account that shows the
status of one of his servants and devotee.
It is reported that a woman used to always peep, to catch a
glimpse at the famous Companion, Sayyidunā Sa’d bin Abi
Waqqās  3 "   
 ?
7 The companion asked her several times to
stop, but she did not pay heed. One day when she peeped yet
once again, these words came out from his blessed mouth,
  ‫ﺟ‬
‫ ﻚ‬  (that is may your face be disfigured). Immediately,
‫ﺷ  ﮦ و‬
her face turned towards the back of the neck. (Jami’ Karāmāt-e-
Awliyā, pp. 112, vol. 1)

Oh Master          


     
  ! Guard me from the blasphemer,
And protect me from disrespect, forever!

Mahfūz Shah rakhnā sadā bay adaboon say


Aur mujh say bhi sarzad na koi bay adabī ho

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,
The immediate result of the words of Sayyidunā Sa’d bin Abi
 
  3 "  
 ? 7 was indeed due to the blessed Duā made for him by the
Seal of Prophethood, and the Beloved of Allah               "
     ! .
It has been recorded in Jāmi’ Tirmiżī and other books of Hadiš
that the Esteemed Prophet                 
  once made Duā,
 ‫  ذ د ﻋ‬R‫ﺳ ﻌﺪ‬
≈  S   ‫( ﻟ (ﻠ ﻢ‬Oh Allah    ! "! Whenever Sa’d makes
 ‫ﺠ‬L ‫ﺳ‬
Duā accept it.) (Jāmi’ Tirmiżi, pp. 418, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 3772) The
Muhaddišīn  
     
 : 6
7 (commentators of Hadith) have said,
“Whenever Sayyidunā Sa’d bin Abi Waqqās   3 "    
 ? 7 made Duā,
it was accepted.” (Jami’ Karāmāt-e-Awliyā, pp. 113, vol. 1)

48
The Manners Pertaining to Food

Dressed in acceptance; Crowned with grace


Marched like a bride; Duā of Muhammad    ٖ            
Embraced by approval; Departed with style
Procession of words; Duā of Muhammad     ٖ            

Ijābat ka sahrah, ‘ināyat ka jořā


Dulhan ban ka niklī Duā-e-Muhammad    ٖ            
Ijābat nay jhuk kar gallay say lagāyā
Bařhī naz say jub Duā-e-Muhammad    ٖ            

Dear Islamic Brothers! Indeed the blessed Companions


2  %   
 - =  :   have very high prestige. Even those who are their
servants, the Auliya [Friends of Allah]  
    
 : 6
7 hold very high
ranks.

OH ALLAH! MAKE SABĀHĪ BLIND


The Eminent Muhaddiš (Scholar of Hadiš) and a great scholar
Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah bin Wahb       5
 6  7 knew one hundred
thousand Hadiš by heart. When the governor of Egypt, Ubbād
bin Muhammad wanted to appoint him as a judge, he       5
 6
 7
went into seclusion to keep from taking up any judicial
position. A person named Sabāhī, who was jealous of the great
shaykh, went to the governor and fabricated lies saying,
   5
“Abdullah bin Wahb       6
 7 disclosed to me that he wanted to
become a Qazi [Judge], but now he is purposely hiding just to
disobey you.” The governer was thus enraged and had the
house of Sayyidunā Abdullah bin Wahb       5
 6  7 demolished.
When Sayyidunā Abdullah bin Wahb     5 6   7 heard of this,
being upset he made a Duā to Allah  , “Oh Allah    ! "!

  !
 "
Make Sabāhī blind.” As a result, on the eighth day after the
incident, Sabāhī lost his eyesight.

Sayyidunā Abdullah bin Wahb         5


 6 7 always remained
"
fearful of Allah   ! . One day, while listening to the

49
Islamic Manners of Eating

descriptions of the Day of Judgment, he         5  6


 7 fell
   5
unconscious. After regaining consciousness, he       6
 7 lived
for only a few more days and passed away in 197 Hijri. During
his consciousness he did not converse with anyone. (Tażkirat-ul-
Ḥuffāẓ, pp. 223, vol.1)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Whoever disrespects the Friends of Allah    !  "



Upon him rains the wrath of Allah    !  "

Auliyā kā jo koi ho bay adab


Nazil us per hota hay Qaher o Gazab

O Rab (Creator) of The Chosen Prophet            "
     ! ! Bless
us with the true respect and reverence for Your Beloved
Prophet               
  , of his noble Companions, and Your
  !
dignified Saints [Auliyā Allah]      
 : 6
7 . O Allah   "! Guard
us from the evil of those who disrespect them and protect us
from committing any blasphemy and disrespect against them.
Make us the true and sincere devotees of Your Beloved Prophet
        
     
  .

May I stay weeping with Your fear, Oh Allah    !  "



Make me a devotee of your Prophet Oh Allah    !  "

Ya Rabb    !  "
Mayn terray khauf say rotā rahūn har dum
Diwānā Shah e Madinah ka banā day

SAINT’S INSPIRING OTHERS FROM HIS GRAVE


Dear Islamic Brothers! Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", the Saints of
Islam are well regarded in the righteous environment of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī. Truely, By the Grace of Allah    ! ", Da’awat-
e-Islāmī has flourished due to the blessings of these Saints
[Auliya.]

50
The Manners Pertaining to Food

An Islamic Brother has narrated this faith strengthening


  5
experience that he had with a Saint [Wali] of Allah      6
 7 who
inspired a brother, from his grave, to continue traveling with
the Madanī Qāfilah. The following is an account of that Islamic
Brother’s story, in my own words:

Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", a Madanī Qāfilah of Devotees of the


Prophet travelled from Chaqwal (Punjab, Pakistan) to
Muzaffarabad and surrounding villages, to convey the message
of Sunnah. They stopped at a place called “Anwaar Shareef”.
Four Islamic brothers from the area also decided to join the
Madanī Qāfilah for three days. Amongst them was an Islamic
brother who was a descendant of a saint       5
 6 7 whose tomb is
in “Anwār Sharīf”.

While pursuing the Call to Righteousness, the Madanī


Qāfilah reached a place called ‘Gařhī Dūpaťah.’ When the three
days of travel ended for the brothers from Anwaar Shareef, the
descendant of that blessed Saint  
     
 : 6
7 said, “I will not
return with you [to Anwar Shareef], because last night I saw
my ancestor (the Saint) in my dream and he told me, ‘Son! Do
not return home, travel further with the Madanī Qāfilah.’”
   5
The news of the Great Saint’s       6 7 inspiration sent a
wave of joy through the Madanī Qāfilah. Everyone’s courage
and ambitions were uplifted, and all four Islamic brothers from
Anwaar Shareef decided to travel further with the Madanī
Qāfilah.

Auliya Shower their blessings indiscriminately;


Let’s reap their grace; Let’s go in Qāfilah
Their kindness, you will surely get
Let’s all travel together; Lets go in Qāfilah

Datay hain faiz e ām, Auliyā kirām


Lootnay sab chalain, Qāfilay maun chalo

51
Islamic Manners of Eating

Auliyā kā karam, tum per ho la jazum


Mil kar sub chal parain, Qāfilay mayn chaloo

A PONY GIFTED IN A DREAM


Dear Islamic Brothers! One should not be astonished by the
Saint’s post demise assistance. With the Divine Permission of
Allah    ! ", the pious people are capable of doing many things.
Khwaja Amīr Khurd Kirmaanī         5
 6
 7 wrote that
Sayyidunā Mahbūb-e-Ilāhī Nizam-ud-Dīn Auliyā         5
 6
 7 has
narrated, “Before moving to Giyāspūr [India], every Friday I
used to walk to a Masjid in Kyalū Kharī for Jumu’ah, which
was 3km [1.86 miles] away. Once I was fasting. While I was
walking to the Masjid gusts of warm air were blowing. I felt
dizzy and I sat down near a shop. I began to think that if I had
some means of transportation, it would be a lot easier. I then
recited a couplet written by the great Sheikh Sa’di      5
 6
 7

For our friendship, we walk on our heads making them the feet,
As they do not advance, who walk in this path on their feet

Dostān dar talab sar Kunaym az mā qadam


Raft bā qadām hark ah burd bajāī rāh

Then I repented for wishing an easier means of travel. After


three days, Caliph Malik Yār Parān brought me a female pony
and said, ‘Continuously for the past three nights, I have been
seeing my Sheikh [my spiritual teacher] in my dream
instructing me to give a pony to a certain person; therefore,
please accept this gift.’ I replied, ‘Your Sheikh has indeed
ordered you, however, as long as my Sheikh does not instruct
me to do so, I cannot accept this gift.’ That very night, I saw my
Sheikh, Sayyidunā Bābā Farīd-ud-Dīn Ganj Shakar       5
 6
 7 , in
  5
a dream, and he      6
 7 told me, “Accept the pony to gratify
Caliph Malik Yār Parān.’ The next day when the pony arrived, I

52
The Manners Pertaining to Food

  !
accepted it, considering it as a gift from Allah   ".” (Siyar-ul-
Auliyā, p. 246)

EAT ONLY FROM YOUR SIDE


It is Sunnah to eat from your side if there is only one type of
food in a plate. Sayyidunā ‘Umar bin Abī Salama   3 "   
 ? 7 , the
son of Sayyidatunā Umm-e-Salamā  :3 "   
 ? 7 born from a
previous marriage, has narrated, “When I was young; being
cared for by the Master of Madina         
     
  . While
eating, I placed my hand all over on the plate. The Holy Prophet
         
  instructed me, Recite ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
     
[Bismillah], eat with
the right hand, and eat from the section of the plate that is
nearest to you.” (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 521, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 5376)

DON’T EAT FROM THE CENTER


Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbās   3 "    
 ? 7 has narrated that The
Merciful [Karīm] and The Compassionate Prophet         
     
 
has stated, “Indeed blessing descends in the center of the plate,
therefore, eat from the sides and not from the middle.” (Jāmi’
Tirmiżi, pp. 316, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 1812)

DO YOU EAT FROM THE CENTER OF THE PLATE?


Dear Islamic Brothers! Do you practice this Sunnah? It is my
personal observation that most of the Sunnah-Abiding brothers
tend to ignore the aforemention Sunnah! Virtually everyone
begins from the center of the plate. It is quite possible that Satan
leads our hands to the center of the plate to deprive us of this
great blessing. Undoubtedly, Satan unflinchingly tries to deprive
Muslims from reaping the virtues and mercy. Ellaborating on
the Hadiš Muftī Ahmad Yār Khān 2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
   has said, “The
Mercy of Allah    ! " descends in the center of the container. To
eat from the center of the plate is a sign of greed which deprives

53
Islamic Manners of Eating

people from Allah’s    ! " Mercy.” Furthermore, this Hadiš also


illustrates that the Mercy of Allah    ! " descends when Muslims
are eating especially when the food is being eaten with the
intention of abiding by the Sunnah. (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 33-34, vol. 6)

DO NOT EMBARRASS OTHERS


Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ibn Umar 0 :  3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the
Leader of the Prophets, the Mercy for the Universe
        
     
  has stated, “When the dining-mat is laid, each
one of you should eat from your side [of the plate, when eating
in the same plate] and do not eat from the sides of others.
Avoid eating from the center of the plate [because blessings
descend there.] No one should get up and leave before the
dining-mat has been lifted and do not stop eating before
everybody else has done so, even though you have had enough.
Stay there with everyone because if you stop eating, others
might be induced to also pull back and stop eating even though
they wish to eat more.” (Shu’bul Īmān, pp. 83, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 5864)

      
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EXPLANATION OF BLESSINGS DESCENDING IN THE CENTER


Muftī Ahmad Yār Khān 2 
 3 4 5
 6 7 
   has stated, “Eat from the side
[of the plate] near you [when eating together in the same plate.]
Don’t eat from the center because blessing descends in the
center of the plate and spreads towards the edges. If you eat
from the center, then perhaps, the blessings will stop
descending. The source of descending of blessings is different
from the site of collecting them.” (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, p. 63. vol. 6)

I would like to point out here that, if one container is filled with
various varieties of foods like spicy rice [Biryānī], sweet rice
[Zardā] and pickles all in one dish; it is permissible to eat from
various parts of the plate.
54
The Manners Pertaining to Food

FIVE ACTS SUNNAH PERTAINING TO EATING


Dear Islamic Brothers! Five Acts of Sunnah pertaining to the
consumption of food are narrated in the above mentioned
Hadiš:

1. Eat from [the section of plate] in front of you.


2. If someone is eating with you, do not eat from his side.
3. Do not eat from the center of the plate.
4. The dining-mat should be picked up first and then the
people should get up. (Sadly, nowadays, the trend is
completely the opposite; people get up first and then the
dinner-mat is picked up.)
5. If others are eating with you, do not stop eating until
everyone has finished. It is so ironic that today we hardly
find anyone abiding by this Sunnah.

To learn the Sunnah and to eliminate the hesitation when


acting upon them in public one should travel with the Madanī
Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. During these travels you will get
an opportunity to practice on these Acts of Sunnah. Inshā-Allah
   !
 ", by the blessings of travelling with the Madanī Qāfilah,
you will fing confidence and courage to act upon the Prophetic
ways.
DEFENSE AGAINST NIGHTMARES
Blessings of Madanī Qāfilah are beyond expression! Here is a
summarized account of the real life experience of an Islamic
brother who frequently had nightmares. He said, “I travelled
with the 30-Day Madanī Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī, to learn
the Sunnah. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", with the blessing of this
Madanī Qāfilah, the nightmares stopped. I even dreamt of the
adorable city of Madinah. Now I dream of performing Salāh or
dream of reciting the Holy Qur’an.”
55
Islamic Manners of Eating

Heavy hearted or scared in dreams;


See the splendor; and sweet dreams; Lets go in Qāfilah
Problems will be solved; Lets go in Qāfilah
Gather peace and ease; Lets go in Qāfilah

Khuwāb mayn dar lagay, bojh dill pay lagay


Khūb jalway millayn, Qāfilay mayn chaloo
Hoon gi hal mushkilayn, Qāfilay mayn chaloo
Paoo gay rahatayn, Qāfilay mayn chaloo

Dear Islamic Brothers! At bed time, recite U V‫ ﻜ‬L ‫ﻣ‬


 ‫ﻳ‬
[Yā-Mutakabbirū] 21 times, with a Durūd [Blessings on the
Prophet] prior to and subsequent to the litany. Inshā-Allah
   !
 ", the nightmares will stop.

A PLATTER OF DIFFERENT DATES


Sayyidunā Ikrāsh   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated, “Šurīd was served to
10

the adorable Prophet of Allah, the Remarkable Son of Aminah


        
     
  . We started eating with him. I was eating from
all over the plate. The Esteemed Prophet                 
 
commented, ‘Oh Ikrāsh! Eat from one side because this contains
all the same kind of food.’ Afterward we were served with a
platter which had different varieties of fresh dates. The blessed
hand of the Holy Prophet               
  stretched towards
different variety of dates and then He               
  said,
‘Oh Ikrāsh! Eat from wherever you wish because these [dates]
are of different varieties.’ (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 15, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 3274)

EATING WITH FIVE FINGERS IS THE PRACTICE OF THE ILLITERATES


Sayyidunā Abdullah ibn Abbās 0 :  3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the
Esteemed Final Prophet         
     
  pointed towards the

10 Šurīd is a dish made with pieces of bread mixed with stew and gravy sauce. It could

also be prepared with vegetables instead of meat.

56
The Manners Pertaining to Food

thumb and the index finger and said, “Do not eat with these
two fingers but (add the middle finger and) eat with three
fingers because this is the Sunnah. Avoid eating with all five
fingers because this is the practice of the illiterates [and the
unsophisticated people].” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 115, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 40872)

SATANIC MANNER OF EATING


Sayyidunā Abū Hurrairah   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the Master
of Mankind, the Revered Prophet         
      
  has said, “To
eat with one finger is the practice of Satan, to eat with two
fingers is the practice of the arrogant and to eat with three
fingers is the practice of the Glorious Prophets  89   
 :  .” (Al-
Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 184, ḥadiš. 3074)

However, occasionally, The Master of Madinah, Tranquality of


the Hearts, the Holy Prophet          
      
  would eat with
four fingers. (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 250, ḥadiš. 6942)

PROPER MANNER OF EATING WITH THREE FINGERS


Dear Islamic Brothers! Eating with three fingers will allow you
to eat small bites and will make it easier for you to chew your
food properly. Well-chewed bites will be mixed well with the
digestive enzymes in your saliva, and will aid in the digestion.
  5
Sayyidunā Mullah Ali Qarī      6
 7 states, “Eating with five
fingers is the sign of a greedy person.” (Mirqāt-ul Mafātīḥ, pp. 9, vol. 8)

It is not difficult to eat bread with three fingers. You just


have to be conscientious. However, eating rice with three
fingers can be a challenge but not for those individuals who
have the Righteous Madanī mindset, and a devotion to
adapting the Sunnah. Surely there is grace in acting on every
Sunnah. In order to make habit of eating with three fingers one
should bind the middle finger and the little finger with a rubber
band or take a small piece of bread and hold it down on the

57
Islamic Manners of Eating

palm with the little finger. If one is sincere, Inshā-Allah    ! ",


these tips will help one get into the habit of eating with only
three fingers. Once this becomes a routine practice, there will be
no need to rely upon the techniques mentioned above.

If rice grains are well separated and it is completely


impossible to eat this with three fingers, one may use four or
five fingers. However, make sure that neither the palm nor the
base of the fingers is stained with food.

      
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ACCOUNT OF EATING WITH A SPOON


It is against the Sunnah to eat using a knife and a spoon. Our
pious predecessors used to refrain from using a spoon because
the Revered Prophet of Madinah         
     
  would eat
with three fingers. Sayyidunā Ibrahīm Bājūri       5
 6
 7 has
narrated, “Once food was served to the Abbasid Caliph,
Māmūn Rashid with a spoon. At that time, the chief justice
[Qadi-ul-Qudā], Sayyidunā Imām Yusuf       5 6  7 said, ‘Allah
   ! "
 has stated in Surah Banī Isrāiīl,

ٓ  &  3( %  ^ / A 



 ]
“And no doubt, We honoured the children of Adam”
(Qurān)(Surah Banī Isrāiīl, juz 15, ayah. 70) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

Oh Caliph! Commenting on this verse, your grandfather


Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ibn Abbas 0 :  3 "   
 ? 7 has stated, ‘We have
made fingers for them with which they eat.’ From thereon he
refrained from using a spoon and ate with his fingers.” (Mawāhib-
ul-Ladunyah, p. 114)

58
The Manners Pertaining to Food

WHEN IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO EAT WITH A SPOON?


Dear Islamic Brothers! It is permissible to use a spoon in the
following conditions: If food cannot be eaten with the fingers
nor can it be drunk (e.g. foods like yoghurt); or if the hand is
injured; or if the hands are dirty and water is not available [to
wash them.] Similarly, it is permissible to use a knife to cut
large pieces of food (e.g. large portions of cooked meat).

MEDICAL BENEFITS OF EATING WITH HANDS


Dear Islamic Brothers! Medical practitioners have admitted that
when a person eats with his fingers, certain digestive enzymes
are secreted by the fingers which assist in digestion. This also
inhibits the deficiency of insulin, in addition to aiding the
diabetics. Licking the fingers clean after eating insures that
digestive enzymes are properly consumed and swallowed into
the stomach which helps the eyes, the brain and the stomach.
This is a great cure for various stomach ailments, brain diseases
and heart problems.

APPENDICITIS WAS CURED


Dear Islamic Brothers! In order to habitualize yourself of the
Prophetic ways and Sunnah travel in the Madanī Qāfilah.
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", many misguided individuals have
fostered a change by being inspired by the Madanī Qāfilah. An
Islamic brother from Matrah (India) says that:

“I was once a fashionable youngster. I would often watch


movies. This one time I happened to listen to a speech released
by Maktaba-tul-Madina titled ‘The Perils of Television’, which
completely transformed me and I embraced the Righteous
Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. I was diagnosed with
appendicitis and was advised to undergo an operation in order
to treat the disease and hence was terrified. Convinces and

59
Islamic Manners of Eating

inspired by another Islamic brother, I travelled in a 3-Day


Madanī Qāfilah for the very first time in my life. Al-Hamdulillah
   !
 ", with the blessings of the Madanī Qāfilah, I was treated
automatically without the need for an operation. Al-Hamdulillah
   ! ", I got an uncanny inspiration and now I travel in the 3-
Day Madanī Qāfilah regularly, every month. Furthermore, I
diligently submit the Madanī In’aāmāt every month and practice
upon Sadā-e-Madinah [Waking others up for Fajr] by waking
up Muslims for Salāt-ul-Fajr every morning.”

Non-followers, become adherants of the prophetic way


Oh My Brother! Travel In the Madanī Qāfilah
Pious company may bring Joy your way,
If Only, You would Travel in the Madanī Qāfilah

Bay amal, bā amal bante hayn sar basar


Tu bhī ay bhai kar qafile mayn safar
Acchi suhbat se thandā ho terā jhigar
Kāsh kar le agar qafile main safar.

      
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A CONSCIOUS PERSON UNDERGOES SURGERY


Dear Islamic Brothers! Did you see the blessings of travelling
with the Madanī Qāfilah? Remember that being sick or being
afflicted by troubles is a means of Mercy for Muslims. You
heard in the aforementioned narrative, that the Islamic brother
had appendicitis and travelling with the Madanī Qāfilah
became a means for his cure, which in turn caused him to
embrace the Righteous Environment. Furthermore the fact that
he became steadfast in his association to the Righteous
Environment, is indeed another great blessing for him.
If problems and afflictions come your way, endure them
with patience and earn great reward. The manner in which our
60
The Manners Pertaining to Food

predecessors’  
     
 : 6
7 would manifest patience and the
passion that they had to reap rewards is indeed marvelous and
highly inspiring. Here is an account that shows a glimpse of
such magnificence.
   5
Allama Maulānā Muftī Sharīf-ul-Haq Amjadī      6
 7 writes
the following in Nuzha-tul-Qārī Fī Sharah Sahīh Bukhārī:
“Sayyidunā Urwah   3 "   
 ? 7 was the son of the famous Ansārī
Companions of the Holy Prophet                 
  , namely
Sayyidunā Zubair bin Awwām   3 "   
 ? 7 and Sayyidatunā Asmā
bint Abū Bakr 0 :  3 "    
 ? 7 . He    3 "  
 ? 7 was also the nephew of
Sayyidatunā ‘Āyeshah Siddiqah  :3 "   
 ? 7 and the blood brother
of Sayyidunā Abdullah bin Zubair 0 :  3 "    
 ?
7 . He    3 "  
 ? 7 was
one of the seven great jurists of Madinah. He   3 "   
 ? 7 was a
pious, upright and righteous individual. Every day, he   3 "   
 ?
7
would recite a quarter of the Holy Qur’an by reading it and
would recite a quarter every night [by heart] in Tahajjud. The
caliph Walīd bin Abdul Malik used to say that if anyone wished
to see a heaven dweller, they should see Sayyidunā Urwah
  3 "   
 ? 7 .

Once, he [Sayyidunā Urwah]   3 "   


 ?
7 travelled to meet the
caliph. During this journey he suffered from a severe infection
which rots ones feet. The caliph advised him to undergo an
operation but he   3 "   
 ? 7 disagreed. The disease spread to his
shins and the caliph, out of concern, advised him that if his leg
was not cut off, there was a danger that the disease would
spread to his entire body. The great saint   3 "   
 ?
7 finally agreed
for the surgery. The surgeon arrived and advised him to drink
some alcohol so that he would not feel any pain. He   3 "   
 ?
7
replied, ‘I cannot achieve peace with something which has been
made Harām [strictly forbiden] by Allah    ! "‘. The surgeon
then recommended that Sayyidunā Urwah   3 "   
 ? 7 take some
medicine that would put him to sleep. He   3 "   
 ? 7 replied, ‘I
wish to experience the pain when that part of my body is cut off

61
Islamic Manners of Eating

so that I get an opportunity to be patient and thus gain reward.’


He   3 "   
 ? 7 was then asked if a few individuals could hold him
down. He   3 "   
 ?
7 replied that there was no need for this.

Finally, the flesh was cut and then the bone was cut with a
saw. Amazingly, he   3 "    
 ? 7 never uttered a word of complaint.
All the while, he   3 "    
 ? 7 continued to do the Żikr of Allah’s
Blessed Names. When the open wound was cauterized with hot
iron and olive oil, he    3 "   
 ? 7 fainted due to extreme pain. After
regaining consciousness, he   3 "    ?
 7 began to wipe off the
perspiration from his face. He then picked up the severed leg,
tossing it around from one side to the other, and then said, ‘By
God! Who made me travel upon you; I never used you to walk
towards any sin.’ During the entire procedure the Caliph was
busy in conversation and was not aware that Sayyidunā
‘Urwah was undergoing the procedure [despite being close by.]
The Caliph only noticed when he smelt the smell emanating
from the cauterization process.” (Nuzha-tul-Qārī, pp. 213-215, vol. 2)

MARTYRDOM OF HIS SON


Another test for Sayyidunā Urwah   3 "   
 ?
7 on this journey was
that one of his beloved sons was martyred by one of the
animals in the royal stable of the caliph. When he returned to
Madinah, he     3 "    
 ? 7 recited the following part of the 62 Ayah
nd

of Surah Al-Kahf,

OEC F I N   F% M   J(   3DA  / A 


“We have no doubt faced great hardship in this Journey.”
(Qurān)(Surah Al-Kahf, juz 15, ayah. 62) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

GENEROSITY OF SAYYIDUNĀ URWAH


It is stated that when the harvesting season for fruit
approached Sayyidunā Urwah would open the gates of his
62
The Manners Pertaining to Food

orchard to allow people to eat and take away the fruits.


Whenever he would visit his orchard, he would repeatedly
recite the following part of the 39th Ayah of Surah-Al-Kahf,

 e & S    B- K  S  f


f  a  b S - 
  e   Wcd  (  '
 K  _
` Z  '
“And why it was not so that when you entered in your garden then you
would have told, as Allah wills, we have no power but the help of Allah”
(Qurān)(Surah Al-Kahf, juz 15, ayah. 39) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

      
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TO EAT WHILE RESTING [YOUR BACK] AGAINST A SUPPORT


IS NOT SUNNAH

The Master of Masters, the Authority and Master of Both


Worlds, The Venerable Emperor          
      
  has said, “I
do not eat while resting [my back] against a support.” (Kanz-ul-
’Ummāl, pp. 102, vol. 15, ḥadiš. 40704)

DO NOT EAT WHILE RESTING AGAINST A SUPPORT


Sayyidunā Abū Dardā  3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the Noble
Prophet, Beloved of Allah            "
     ! said, “You should
not eat while resting against a support” (Majma’uz Zawāid, Vol: 5, Pg:
22, Hadith: 7918).

WHAT DOES ‘RESTING AGAINST A SUPPORT MEAN?


The following four sitting positions are considered to be
“resting against a support” positions. It is not recommended to
sit in these positions while having food:

63
Islamic Manners of Eating

1. Recline on one side of your body and eat.


2. Sit cross-legged.
3. Place one hand on the floor and lean against it.
4. Rest the back against a support like a chair or a wall.

The proper postures of eating, according to Sunnah, are to sit in


a folded legged position (as in Salāh) or to sit with both knees
raised upwards. These positions are also physically beneficial
for the body. However, it is improper to eat while standing.
(Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 12, vol. 6)

THE MEDICAL HARMS OF RESTING AGAINST A SUPPORT


WHILE EATING
Dear Islamic Brothers! It is not Sunnah to eat with your back
resting against a support. There are three major medical harms
that could be engendered if this great Sunnah is not practiced.
1. One will not be able to properly chew the food. Hence
sufficient saliva, with the essential digestive enzymes will
not properly mix with the food. Thus, the digestive
system will suffer.
2. The Stomach expands as a result of eating while resting
against a support. This allows more food to enter your
stomach and thus affects the digestive system.
3. Liver and Intestines can also be harmed.

Hujja-tul-Islam, Sayyidunā Imām Muhammad Ghazali


 -  5
  6 7  
   has stated that drinking while resting against a
support harms the stomach. (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 5, vol. 2)

RESPECT BREAD
It is Sunnah to pick up and eat a piece of bread that has fallen
on the ground. Sayyidatunā ‘Āyeshah Siddiqah  :3 "    ?
 7 has

64
The Manners Pertaining to Food

narrated that the Mercy for the Universe, Prophet


         
      
  entered the blessed house and saw a piece of
bread which had fallen on the floor. He               
  picked
it up, cleaned it, and ate it. He    
     
        
  then said, “Oh
: 3 "    ? 7
‘Āyeshah   ! Respect that, which is good because when
this (meaning the bread) has left a nation, it has never
returned.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 50, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 3353)

      
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REPENT FROM WASTING FOOD


Dear Islamic Brothers! Everyone today is complaining on the
failure to make their ends meet and the deprivation of blessings
they have. Who knows, perhaps the reason for the scarcity in
our resources is our disrespect for food. You would hardly find
a Muslim today who does not waste bread [and food.]
Everywhere, whether it is in a wedding ceremony or the
commemorative congregations [urs] of saints, you will find
people disrespecting food. A lot of food is also dropped on the
dining-mat without any concern or regard for it. It is actually
quite tragic that we waste food is this manner
After eating, remnants of food and meat still remain on the
bones and on other large pieces of spices, which are then
carelessly thrown away. Most people do not even think of
saving leftovers and ultimately the food ends up in the garbage.
Dear Islamic Brothers! Repent from the food that you may
have wasted and vow never to waste a single speck of food
ever again. By God! On the Day of Judgment, you will be held
accountable for every speck of food you wasted. No one has the
power to bear the accountability process on the Day of
Judgment. Repent Sincerely. Recite Durūd and plead, “Oh
Allah    ! "! I seek forgiveness from all the food I have wasted
and from all my minor and major sins. With Your Grant and
65
Islamic Manners of Eating

Assistance [Taufeeq] I will strive to guard myself from all sins in


the future. Oh Allah    ! "! Forgive me without holding me
accountable.”
   ٖ            
X   Y
  ( S    Z  [  \  X 
  (
For the Sake of your Beloved    ٖ             , do not put me on trial
Pardon me without examination, I am guilty and frail

Sadqa Piyāray kī hayā kā na lay mujh say hisāb


Baksh bay pūche lajāy ko lajāna kiyā hay.

In Surah A’rāf, Ayah 31, Allah    "


 ! says,

   h  S    F -ٓ g % 9    S  - & % d   -  $


 g% 9 4  *
X
“And eat and drink and do not cross the limit. Undoubtedly, the persons
crossing the limit are not liked by Him.”
(Qurān)(Surah Al- A’rāf, juz 6, ayah. 31) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

THE DEFINITION OF ‘WASTING’?


The Renowned Exegitist of the Quran, Muftī Ahmad Yār Khān
2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
   ellaborates in Tafsīr Na’iīmī (Vol: 8, Pg: 390) on the
various aspects and meaning of the term wasting [isrāf]. He
stated, ‘wasting’ [isrāf] is:

1. Regarding Halāl [permissible] as Harām [strictly forbidden].


2. Using things that are Harām [strictly forbidden].
3. Eating, drinking or wearing more than one’s requirements.
4. Eating, drinking and wearing whatever the heart desires.
5. Eating and drinking repeatedly during the day and night.
This engenders illness and damages the stomach.
66
The Manners Pertaining to Food

6. Eating and drinking things which are harmful to the


body.
7. Always having concerns about what one will eat or drink
next. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, pp. 154, vol. 3)
8. Eating to become heedless.
9. Eating with the intention of committing sins.
10. Habitualizing yourself to eat and drink exquisite foods
and wear fancy clothes, to such a state that one is not able
to eat or drink ordinary and simple things.
11. Eating exquisite food and thinking that one has attained
this as a result of his own accomplishments and
acheivements.
As you can see now that there are many aspects that could
constitute wasting. Sayyidunā ‘Umar   3 "    
 ?
7 has stated, “One
should gaurd oneself from a state where one is always full
because this causes illness in the body, damages the stomach
and engenders indolence in worship. Adopt the path of
moderation in eating and drinking as this is a cure for many
diseases. Allah    ! " does not like an obese person.” (Kashf-ul
Khifā, pp. 221, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 760)

It is also stated that whosoever allows his desire to


overpower his religion; will be doomed. (Ruḥ-ul-Ma’aānī, pp. 163, vol.
4) (Tafsīr Na’ īimī, pp. 390, vol. 8)

VIRTUES OF BEING SLIM


Dear Islamic Brothers! Eating less, reducing the intake of sugar
fatty foods as per the advice of a doctor helps the digestive
system and decreases the weight of a person. The belly returns
to its original state and a person looks more handsome.
Furthermore, Allah    ! " is pleased with a slim person and with

67
Islamic Manners of Eating

one who eats less. Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas 0 :  3 "   
 ? 7
narrates that The Merciful [Karīm], The Compasionate and
Beneficent Prophet         
     
  has stated, “The most liked
by Allah    ! " amongst you is the one who eats less and has a
slim body.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 20, ḥadiš. 221)

Dear Islamic Brothers! Inorder to instill a passion to act upon


righteous deed, it is imperative that one embraces the righteous
Madanī environment. Even without the Madanī environment
one may still gather the passion to act upon righteous deeds,
but it is extremely difficult to sustain that passion and be
steadfast. One should therefore make it a habit of travelling in
Madanī Qāfilah with the Devotees of the Prophet!
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", with the blessings of Da’awat-e-Islāmī,
there is a vigorous campaign to spread and propagate the
Sunnah. Here is a thought provoking and magnificent example
which will enlighten your heart and mind.

A NON-MUSLIM ACCEPTS ISLAM


An Islamic Brother from Tehsil Nānda Zila Ambayed,
Karnagar, UP India said that he was a Non-Muslim. This one
time someone gave him [Amīr of Ahlus-Sunnah Maulānā Ilyās
Qādri’s] a booklet, entitled ‘Respect of a Muslim’. After reading
it he was appalled and astonished by the information and
realized that the religion of Muslims he had always hated and
resented, professed peace and harmony. He was touched by the
words in the book and the love of Islam intensified
exponentially in his heart.
One day he was travelling in the bus and a group of people
with turbans and beards came on board. He realized that these
gentlemen were Muslims, and thus he stared at them with
admiration. One of the brothers from amongst them began
reciting Na’at [poetry] in the Honor of the Highly Revered
Prophet      
     
     
  . He found their style very appealing.

68
The Manners Pertaining to Food

Seeing signs of interest, one of the brothers approached him


and they started to have a conversation. The brother inferred
that he was a non Muslim and thus in a very courteous manner
urged him to embrace Islam. In addition to being inspired by
the brothers’ modesty and humiliy, he had been already
captivated with Islam as a result of reading ‘Respect of a
Muslim” and so he could not refuse the brothers request.
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", he has been a Muslim for four months
now and he regularly offers the daily Salāh and intends to
maintain a beard. Furthermore, he have also embraced the
Righteous Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī and travels in the
Madanī Qāfilah.

Call the infedels and call the non-believers to Islam, Lets go in Qāfilah
Spread the word, come all together, Lets go in Qāfilah

Kafiron Ko Chalen, Mushrikon Ko Chalen, Dawat-e-deen dain


Qafileh Main Chalo
Deen Phelaien, Sab Chalain Aaaen, Mil ke saare chalain,
Qafileh Main Chalo

DON’T FORGO A SUNNAH JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE EMBARRASSED


The beloved Companions 2  %   
 - =  :   [of the Prophet] would
remain engrossed in the love of The Higly Celeberated, The
Sovereign of Madinah, The Leader of the Prophets
        
     
  . Nothing, neither the lure of the fleeting things
of this world nor any regard for any member of the society,
would ever stop them from practicing the Sunnah. Sayyidunā
Hassan Basri   3 "   
 ?
7 has narrated that Sayyidunā Ma’qil bin
Yasār   3 "   
 ? 7 (who was the leader of the Muslims of that area)
was once eating when one morsel of food fell on the ground.
Hepicked it up, cleaned it, and then ate it. The people sitting
around casted a scornful eye at him and glanced at each other
ridiculing him on his action. Someone said, “May Allah    ! "

69
Islamic Manners of Eating

Grant you many favours. Oh our Leader! These people are


looking at our leader in an amusing manner because he has
food from the floor even though there is more food available.”
He   3 "   
 ? 7 replied, “I cannot forgo what I have heard from the
Holy Prophet         
     
  merely because of these Ajamis
[non-Arabs]. We would advise each other that if a morsel [a
bite] of food falls down, it should be cleaned, eaten and not left
for Satan [to comsume].” (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 17, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 3278)

Soul of Faith, Heart of Quran, Strength of Deen


Is the Love of Rahmat-al-lil-Aalameen    ٖ            

Rūh-e-īmān Magz-e-Quran Jān-e-Dīn


Hast Hub-e-Rahmat-ul-lil-Ālamīn    ٖ            

PERSONALLY INSPIRE PEOPLE TOWARDS


Dear Islamic Brothers! So you see, in the previous account, how
an eminent companion such as Sayyidunā Ma’qil bin Yasaar
  3 "    ?  
 7 admired the Sunnah. He   3 "     ?
7 was not at all
concerned about what the Ajamis [non-Arabs] thought of him
and continued to practice upon the Sunnah unflinchingly. Sadly
today though, there are Muslims who actually refuse to keep a
beard thinking that in this modern era it is actually wise to do
so. A true act of wisdom would be to keep a beard, wear a
turban and robe oneself according to the Prophetic attire, no
matter how alienating the environment is. One should strive to
adopt the prophetic lifestyle, and eat according to the Sunnah.
Furthermore, one should also strive to call people towards
righteousness by engaging in such efforts. Inshā-Allah    ! ", the
truth will prevail, Satan’s influences will weaken and the
Sunnah will enlighten us. Those who love the fleeting things of
worldly life will become sincere Devotees of the Prophet
                  
. The Noor [enlightment] of the Prophet
        
       
will enlighten every household.


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The Manners Pertaining to Food

Will the sun make the darkness disappear?


My household will enlighten when you appear
Only he will quench his thirst at the fountain of kausar
Who will, to the cup of madina in his hands, adhere

Khāk sūraj say andhayron kā ujālā hogā


āap āen to mayray ghar may ujālā hogā
hogā sayrāb sāray kosar o tasnīm vahi
jis ke hathon mayn madinay ka piyalā hoga

      
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Here is an account that shows the fruit that personal inspiration
bears. Hence:

ANOTHER NON BELIEVER EMBRACES ISLAM


A 92-Day Madanī Qāfilah from the world headquarters of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī at Faizan-e-Madinah Bab-ul Madinah,
Karachi [Pakistan] was visiting Colombo. The day on which the
Madanī Qāfilah intended to travel to the district of Aero for 30
days, an Islamic brother brought a young non-Muslim to the
Amīr [designated leader] of this Qāfilah. The Amīr of the
Madanī Qāfilah invited the young man to embrace Islam after
highlighting some outstanding stories and examples of the
behaviour and character of the Respected and Honorable
Prophet         
     
  . The young man asked some questions
which were answered and Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", after an hour of
trying to inspire the young man towards righteousness, the
young man accepted Islam.

Disbelievers will join, Path to God will they find herein


Insha-Allah    !  "
, Let’s travel in Qāfilah
May the lies fade away, and the Truth lead the way,
Insha-Allah    !  "
, Let’s travel in Qāfilah

71
Islamic Manners of Eating

Kāfir ā jāenge, rāhe haq pāengay, Insha-Allah    !  "


,

chalayn Qafilay mayn chalo


Kufr kā sar jhukay, dīn ka danka bhajay Insha-Allah    !  "

chalayn Qafilay mayn chalo

      
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PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM BEING MENTALLY INEPT


The Beloved of Allah, The Knower of the unseen matters and
hidden secrets [‘ilm-ul-Ghayb], The Immaculate Prophet
        
     
  said, “Whoever picks up grains of food which
have fallen on the dining-mat , he will live a life of ease [farākhī]
and his children and the children of his children will be
protected from mental ineptitude [lack of intelligence].” (Kanz-ul-
’Ummāl, pp. 111, vol. 15, ḥadiš. 40815)

A SOLUTION TO ERADICATE POVERTY


Eminent Master of Hadiš, Muhaddiš Sayyidunā Hudbah bin
  5
Khālid      6
 7 was once invited by the Caliph of Baghdad,
Māmūn-ur-Rashīd. After eating, the Muhaddiš began to pickup
and eat the grains of food that had fallen down. The caliph was
extremely astonished and asked, “Oh Sheikh! Are you not full
   5
yet?” He       6  7 replied, “I am certainly full but I have heard a
Hadiš from Sayyidunā Hammād bin Salamah   3 "   
 ? 7 who has
narrated, ‘Whoever picks up and eats fallen grains of food from
the dining-mat, he will be free from the fear of poverty.’ I (the
Shaykh) am merely practicing upon this Hadiš.” The caliph was
highly impressed with him and ordered a servant who brought
forward a pouch in which there were a thousand dinars [gold
coins] and gave it to Sayyidunā Hudbah bin Khalid       5
 6
 7 as
a gift. The eminent Muhaddiš said, “Al-Hamdulillah    ! "! The
Hadiš has come to fruition, right away.” (Šamarāt-ul-Awrāq, pp. 8, vol. 1)

72
The Manners Pertaining to Food

DON’T FORGO ANY SUNNAH DUE TO EMBARRASSMENT


Dear Islamic Brothers! It is evident from the account above that
our pious predecessors and eminent Saints  
    
 : 6
7 would
never forgo a Sunnah under any circumstance. They showed no
concern, even if they were in the company of the rich and
influential members of the society. This story should be a lesson
for those Islamic brothers who leave acts of Sunnah merely
because of what people might say or simply because they wish
to be part of a crowd, and thus forgo the magnificent crown of
the turban and refrain from maintaining a beard. There is no
doubt that practicing upon the Sunnah is a privilege that will
bear fruit in both worlds. At times the acts immediately
manifest their blessings, like in the case of Sayyidunā Hudbah
   5
bin Khalid       6 7 who immediately received a thousand
dinars, making him affluent.

Sunnah in their hearts, who keep


Blessings from Allah    !  "
in both worlds, they reap

Jo apnay dil ke guldastay mayn sunnat sajātay hayn


vo bayshak rahmatayn donon jahān kī pātay hayn.

Dear Islamic Brothers! There are actions that bring blessing


to ones sustenance, as there are actions that may cause the
deprivation of these blessings. Refraining from actions which
limit the sustenance will bring extensive blessings. It would be
beneficial if one is aware of those actions that bring forth
destitution. Here are 44 such actions that can bring forth
destitution and poverty.

44 ACTIONS THAT CAUSE THE DEPRIVATION OF BLESSINGS:


1. Eating without washing hands.
2. Eating without covering the head.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

3. Eating in the dark.


4. Eating and drinking at the doorstep.
5. Eating near the deceased.
6. Eating before one has done Ghusl [Major Purifcation
Bath] (after a sexual intercourse or nocturnal emission
(release of semen)).
7. Delaying eating after the food is dished out [and served.]
8. Eating on a bed without placing a dining-mat.
9. Eating on a bed in such a manner that you sit on the side
of the pillow and the food is placed where your feet
would be, when you sleep on this bed.
10. Bitting the bread off with the teeth instead of breaking it
with the hands (those who eat burgers should also keep
this in mind).
11. Using broken ceramic or clay containers. (It is Makrūh
[reprehensible] to drink from the side of a cup that is
broken. Do not use containers that are cracked as those
cracks may house many germs and bacteria that could be
very harmful for one’s health).
12. Not cleaning used dishes.
13. Washing hands in the container that was used for eating.
14. Swallowing the particles of food, that were stuck in the
teeth and have been removed by flossing or toothpick etc.
15. Leaving food containers or jugs uncovered. One should
recite ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬and cover these containers because if left
uncovered, misfortune descends into this food and drink
which causes illness.

74
The Manners Pertaining to Food

16. Placing food in places where it would be considered


disrespectful and can easily be trampled upon, like
throwing on the streets. (Sunnī Bahishtī Zaiwar, pp. 595-601)

The following are the actions that Sahykh Sayyidunā Burhān-


  5
ud-Dīn Zarnūjī      6
 7 has identified:

17. Sleeping in excess. (This can also cause ignorance)


18. Sleeping naked.
19. Urinating without any shame. (Those who urinate in
public should pay heed.)
20. Being lazy in picking up fallen crumbs of food from a
dining-mat.
21. Burning the peels of onion and garlic.
22. Sweeping the house with clothes.
23. Sweeping at night.
24. Leaving trash [garbage] inside the house.
25. Walking ahead of the Mashāykh [Scholars and Saints.]
26. Calling parents by their first names.
27. Washing hands with mud and sand.
28. To lean on a door on one side.
29. Making Wudū [Ablution] in the lavatory.
30. Sowing clothes while wearing them.
31. Wiping one’s face with the clothes one is wearing.
32. Leaving spider web formations inside the house.
33. Being lazy in performing Salāh.
34. Hastily leaving the Masjid after performing
congregational Fajr Salāh.

75
Islamic Manners of Eating

35. Going to the market, very early in the morning.


36. Coming back from the marketplace late.
37. Cursing children. (Women have often been observed
cursing their children. Then they go on to complain of the
lack of resources or of blessings [barakah] in their
sustenance!)
38. Commiting sins, specifically lies.
39. Putting out a lamp (candle or lantern) by blowing at the
flame.
40. Using a broken comb.
41. Not making Duā [Supplication] for the well being of
parents.
42. Binding the turban while sitting.
43. Wearing pants or pyjamas while standing.
44. Delaying performing good deeds.
(Ta’līm-ul-Muta’allim, pp. 73-76)

VIRTUES OF EATING A FALLEN PIECE OF BREAD


Dear Islamic Brothers! The Mercy of Allah    ! " is indeed
limitless. At times, an action may seem insignificant, but its
virtue is great. Sayyidunā Abdullah bin Umme Harām   3 "    
 ? 7
has narrated that the Sultan of Both Worlds, Mercy for the
Universe, The Splendid Prophet          
     
   
has said,
“Respect food as it is from among the blessings of the Heavens
and earth. Whosoever eats a fallen piece of bread from the
dining-mat will be forgiven.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 88, ḥadiš. 1426)

Subhān-Allah    ! ", Dear Islamic brothers! I hope we do away


with the hesitation we have with eating the fallen grains of
bread and be entitled to this great virtue of forgiveness.

76
The Manners Pertaining to Food

I seek forgiveness for I have erred, O Allah    !  "



Pardon me for the Sake of Mustafa    ٖ            
, O Allah    !  "

Tālib-e-Maghfirat hūn yā-Allah    !  "


Baksh de behre Mustafā    ٖ             yā-Rab    !  "


NARRATIVE ABOUT A PIECE OF BREAD


One day Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar 0 :  3 "    
 ?
7 saw a fallen
piece of bread. He   3 "    
 ?
7 instructed his servant to pick it up,
clean it, and to store it. The same evening when breaking the
fast [iftār], he   3 "    
 ? 7 asked his servant for that same piece of
bread. His servant informed him that he had already eaten it.
Upon this he   3 "    ? 
 7 said to his servant, “Go! I set you free
because I once heard the Mercy for the Universe, Prophet
         
     
    say, ‘Whoever eats a fallen piece of bread,
Allah    ! " forgives that person before it reaches his stomach.’
So how can I keep that person in servitude who has become
entitled to forgiveness?” (Tanbīh-ul-Ghāfilīn, pp. 348, ḥadiš. 514)

MADANĪ OUTLOOK
Subhān-Allah    ! ", what an amazing Madanī Outlook our
eminent predecessors had. Since the servant was entitled to
forgiveness by Allah, the master did not deem it proper to keep
that person as his servant.
  !
Oh Allah   " ! For
the sake of Your Chosen Prophet
   
  
        , Bestow
     
upon us the Madanī Outlook as well
as the true love and devotion for the Sunnah. If we ever see
fallen piece bread, grant us the privilege to pick it up, kiss it (in
respect), clean it and eat it. Oh Allah    ! ", may our hesitancy
of acting upon the Sunnah go away and May we be forgiven.

   ٖ            


X   Y
  ( S    Z  [  \  X 
  (

77
Islamic Manners of Eating

Grant Me Love of the Sunnah


For the sake of my Murshid, O Allah    !  "

Sunnaton se mujhay muhabbat day


Mayray murshid kā wāsta yā-Rab    !  "

      
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LAY THE DINING-MAT
It has always been the practice of the eminent Saints  
     
 : 6
7
that when they finished eating, they never used to say “remove
the mat” but rather “lay the mat” or “augment the food”. This
would be, in essence, a Duā [supplication] for Abūndance in
food and for blessings and prosperity. (Sunnī Bahishtī Zaiwar, p. 566)

WHEN I READ THE BOOKLET “DREADFUL CAMEL”


Dear Islamic Brothers! In order to be prosperous in both
worlds, abide by the Righteous Environment of Da’awat-e-
Islāmī. What can be said about the blessings of Da’awat-e-
Islāmī! Here is an account of an Islamic brother from Calcutta
(India):
“I was very far from the Prophetic way of life [Sunnah]
and was considered a fashionable young man. One night as I
was returning home, I noticed that there was a group of Islamic
brothers adorned with Green Turbans. On further inquiry, I
came to know that a Madanī Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī had
arrived from Bombay with the Devotees of the Prophet and they
were going to have a Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’ [Congregation]. I
thought to myself that since these Islamic brothers had travelled
so far to come to our city of Calcutta, the least I could do was go
and listen to them. Therefore I joined them and attended the
Ijtimā’ [Congregation]. After the Ijtimā’ [Congregation], they
began to hand out booklets published by Maktaba-tul-Madina. I
was fortunate to receive a booklet as well.
78
The Manners Pertaining to Food

The title of the booklet was “A Dreadful Camel”. When I


arrived home, I put the booklet away thinking that I would
read it tomorrow. I prepared to go to sleep. Before going to bed,
I opened up the booklet just to get a glimpse of what was
inside. As I turned the page, I saw the first sentence, ‘No matter
how lazy Satan makes you feel, read this booklet in its entirety.
Inshā-Allah    ! " you will foster a Madanī transformation
within yourself.’ This sentence inspired me, I said to myself that
indeed that Satan will not let me read this, why delay? I should
not wait to commit a good task.

By Allah    ! " before whom everyone will have to give an


account of their deeds, on the Day of Judgment, my eyes filled
with tears as I read about the heartfelt narratives describing the
oppression and hardships faced by the Holy Prophet
         
     
   
from the non-believers. The heart-rending
accounts took away my sleep and I wept for a long time. That
night I rendered a firm intention that I would travel in a
Madanī Qāfilah the next morning. The next day I sought
permission from my parents, who happily agreed and I became
a traveler of the Madanī Qāfilah for three days with the
Devotees of the Prophet. The Islamic brothers of the Madanī
Qāfilah inspired me to change from what I was to what I am
today. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", when I returned, I was now
meticulous about performing Salāh. I had begun to wear the
auspicious green turban, and also robe in the attire of Da’awat-
e-Islāmī [white clothes]. When my mother saw me, now a
different person, she was extremely pleased and showered me
with many Duās [supplications.] Even my relatives were
extremely pleased with me. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", nowadays I
serve as a Nigrān [in charge] of a local district [Mushāvirat] and
I am propagating the Sunnah.”

      
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Islamic Manners of Eating

Devotees of the Prophet, Carry pearls of Heaven, Come to gather them,


let’s go to Qāfilah
Don’t run here and there, Do come here, Will be Granted Paradise, let’s
go to Qāfilah

Āshiqāne rasūl, lae Jannat kay phūl, āo lenay chalayn,


Qafileh mayn chalo
Bhagte hain kahān Aābhi jaen yahān pāenge Jannatain
Qafileh main chalo

DISTRIBUTE BOOKLETS
Dear Islamic Brothers! Look at how the Righteous Environment of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī transformed this fashionable young man. The
episode above also brings forth the importance of distributing
booklets published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah. By merely reading
this one single booklet, the young man was inspired to travel in
the Madanī Qāfilah, and thus motivated to adopt the Sunnah.

Purchase the Sunnah-Inspiring booklets or the various


pamphlets of the Pearls of Wisdom and disctribute them on
occasions during the commemorative congregations of the
saints [urs], at various congregations [Ijtimā’āt], at weddings
receptions, during funerals processions, at gatherings of Mīlād11
and other such occasions; to pass along the reward [Eīšāl of
šawāb] to your deceased loved ones. One can also add a booklet
in the envelope, with the wedding invitations. If someone is
inspired (by this booklet) to offer Salāh and practice the
Sunnah, you will Inshā-Allah    ! " prosper in both worlds.

Twelve booklets a Month; whoever is the distributor


Allah-Willing, in both worlds he will prosper

11 Mīlād or Mawlid an-nabī Celebration is the observance of the birthday of Prophet


        
Muhammad            which occurs in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the
Islamic calendar.

80
The Manners Pertaining to Food

Har mahinay Jo koi bārah Risālay Bānt day


Inshā-Allah    !  "
do jahān mayn us kā bayřā pār hay.

IT IS SUNNAH TO LICK THE FINGERS CLEAN


Sayyidunā Aāmir bin Rabi’ah   3 "   
 ?
7 has narrated that the Best
of Creation, Traveller of the Heavens, Noble Prophet
   
  
     
     
  would eat food with three fingers and would
lick them clean when finished. (Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp. 23, vol. 5, ḥadiš.
7923)

WE DO NOT KNOW WHICH PART OF THE FOOD POSSESSES


BLESSINGS
Sayyidunā Jābir   3 "    ?
 7 has narrated that the Master of
Madinah, The Highly Extolled and Praised Prophet
         
      
  ordered to lick fingers and wipe dish clean
(use your fingers to gather the remnants of food on your finger
and then lick your fingers), and said, “You do not know which
particle of food has blessings.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1122, ḥadiš. 2023)

HOW SHOULD ONE REAP THE LESSINGS OF FOOD?


Dear Islamic Brothers! Having observed how Muslims eat
today, it seems that very few people are fortunate enough to eat
according to the Sunnah and thus are able to reap its benefits.
In the above Hadiš, it is clearly stated that we are not aware of
the particles of the food which contain blessings. We should
therefore make every effort to conserve every morsel of food.
We should consume all the meat and the edible particles of
food on the bones so that no remnants remain. We should also
shake the bone so that edible particles from inside the bone can
come out and then consumed. We should also consume spices
such as cardamom, chilies, etc. which are found in the food, Inshā-
Allah    ! ", it will also benefit us. However, there is no sin if

81
Islamic Manners of Eating

these items cannot be eaten. Rather than discarding the green


chilies from the food one should preserve them for re-use.
Many people throw away the skin of the fish; one should eat
this as well. In short, all harmless edibles in our food should be
consumed, including the remnants of food on the fingers and
those that are in the plate.

ORDER OF LICKING THE FINGERS CLEAN


Sayyidunā Ka’ab bin Ujrah   3 "    ?
 7 has narrated,” I saw the

Holy Prophet     
  
     
     
  eating with his thumb, his index
finger and the middle finger. Then I saw that he         
     
 
licked his fingers clean before washing them; first the middle
finger, then the index, and finally the thumb.” (Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp.
29, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 7941)

IT IS SUNNAH TO LICK THE FINGERS CLEAN THREE TIMES


Dear Islamic Brothers It is Sunnah to lick the fingers clean three
times. If remnants of food still remain, lick the fingers a few
more times so that the remnants disappear. It is stated in
“Shamail-e-Tirmiżī” that the Sultan of Both Worlds, the Holy
Prophet          
     
   
would lick his fingers clean three
times after eating. (Shamail-ut-Tirmiżī, pp. : 61, ḥadiš. 138)

IT IS SUNNAH TO WIPE THE UTENSIL CLEAN


The Master of Makkah, the Sultan of Madinah, Prophet
         
        

has stated, “Whoever licks his fingers and

[wipes] the eating utensil after eating, Allah    ! " will keep
him satisfied in this world and the next.” (Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 261, vol.
18, ḥadiš. 653)

THERE ARE MORE BLESSINGS AT THE END


The Sovereign of Madinah, The Noble Prophet         
     
 
has stated, “The eating dish should not be taken up until the

82
The Manners Pertaining to Food

person has wiped it clean or given it to another to wipe it clean,


as there are more blessings at the end.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 111, vol.
15)

      
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UTENSIL SUPPLICATES FOR FORGIVENESS


Sayyidunā Nubayshah   3 "    
 ? 7 has narrated that the Authority
[Mukhtār] and Master [Mālik] of Both Worlds (with the
permission of Allah    ! "), the Master of Makkah and Madinah,
the Beloved of Allah, Prophet                 "
      ! has stated,
“Whoever wipes the plate clean after eating, that plate will make
Duā for his forgiveness.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 14, vol. 4, ḥadiš 3271)

In another Prophetic narration it is mentioned that the utensil


says, “Oh Allah    ! "! Grant him freedom from Hell, as he has
freed me from Satan.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 111, vol. 15, ḥadiš. 40822)

The Renowned Commentator of the Quran [exegesist], Muftī


Ahmad Yār Khān 2 
 3 4 5
 6 7 
   has stated that the untensil is licked
by Satan if particles of food remain on it.” (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 52,
vol. 6)

WISDOM IN WIPING THE PLATE CLEAN


In the same book Muftī Ahmad Yār Khān 2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
   has stated,
“Wiping the plate clean after eating infers respect and
conservation of food. Leaving plates with food remnants on it
cause the flies to settle on it. Furthermore, leftover food is,
Ma’āż-Allah    ! ", usually thrown into garbage which is a
highly disrespectful practice. If every person left a small part on
his plate every day, it would amount to pounds upon pounds
going to waste daily. In short, there are many pearls of wisdom
in wiping the plates clean.” (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 38, vol. 6)

83
Islamic Manners of Eating

A FAITH ENLIGHTENING STATEMENT


The Noble Prophet         
     
  has stated, “It is dearer to
me to wipe the bowl clean than to give an entire bowl of food in
charity.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 111, vol. 15, ḥadiš. 40821) (The reason for
this is that the act of wiping the plate shows humility, which is
more superior in reward than the reward for giving food in
charity.)

THE BLESSINGS OF SUNNAH


The Leader of the Prophet          
     
   
has stated,
“Whoever wipes the plate and licks his fingers clean, Allah
   !
 " will satiate his appetite (stomach) in this world and in the
next.” (In other words, he will be saved, in this world and the
next, from starvation and will be granted refuge from Hell;
because no ones stomach will be satisfied in Hell.) (Mu’jam Kabīr,
pp. 261, vol. 18, ḥadiš. 653)

THE REWARD OF FREEING A SLAVE


Hujjat-ul-Islam Sayyidunā Imām Muhammad Ghazālī
 -  5
  6 7  
  
has stated, “The one who wipes the dish clean after
eating, then drinks the water (as if to procure any remaining
particles) from that dish receives the reward of freeing a slave.”
(Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 7, vol. 2)

DRINKING FROM THE DISH


Dear Islamic Brothers! One should not only wipe the plates
clean but should do the same with any container that is used to
cook, eat or store food; like the glasses that are used to drink
liquids (juices, milk shakes, tea etc.) bowls, pots, frying pans,
kettles, eating and serving spoons. Food remnants in large pots
are usually overlooked and thus wasted. Make every effort to
conserve every speck of food. One can also conserve the [soap

84
The Manners Pertaining to Food

less] water used to rinse the container, for later use in cooking.
These practices are only possible by the Divine Favour from
Allah    ! ".
When no particles of food remain on the plate or cup,
only then it can be said that the container is clean. It has been
observed that rinsing the container once is usually not sufficient
to procure all remnants of food; therefore, it is a better practice
that in addition to using water one uses the fingers to procure
the food particles and thus thoroughly cleanse the dish; after
which one should drink that water [or conserve it for later use].

DROPS OF WATER
[It has been observed that] Even after one drinks water from
the plate, some drops of water often remain in the plates and
bowls. Therefore, one should use the fingers to gather those
drops of water so that it is easier to drink them. Similarly, upon
finishing the drink, a closer look will reveal that there are drops
running down the glass or bottle which accumulate at the
bottom. One should drink those aswell. It is reported in a
Hadiš, mentioned earlier, that one does not know which
particles of food contain blessings.

I wish that the glasses we drink from or the cups we sip


our tea from are so clean (after we are done) that one cannot
distinguish them from the un-used clean ones.

MEDICAL BENEFITS OF DRINKING THE WATER FROM THE DISHES


Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", there is not as single Prophetic Practice
[Sunnah] that lacks substance and wisdom. Scientific research in
this area reveals that vitamins, especially the vitamin B
complex, are mainly found at the bottom of the meal, rather
than at the surface. Furthermore, essential salts are only found
at the bottom which can be obtained by using your fingers to

85
Islamic Manners of Eating

wipe the utensil and/or rinsing the utensil and drinking the
water from it.

HOW THE KIDNEY STONES DISSOLVED?


Many complications are relieved, by the blessings of the
Madanī Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. An Islamic brother
narrates his own experiences, “Upon returning from our 12-
Day Madanī Qāfilah we stopped at a [train] station in
Baluchistan. The brothers in the Qāfilah were occupied in their
efforts to inspire someone towards righteousness, during which
we met an Islamic brother who informed us of the blessings
that he personally had reaped in the Madanī Qāfilah. He
explained to us that he was in severe pain because of stones in
his kidney. Doctors had recommended surgery. During that
time, he met an Islamic Brother who encouraged him to travel
in the Madanī Qāfilah. The Islamic Brother informed him of the
many benefits of travelling and that Duā’s [supplications] are
answered when one is on a journey. The Islamic Brother
reminded him that Allah    ! " will ease his problems. The
Islamic Brother’s polite manner won him over and he made a
firm intention to travel in the Madanī Qāfilah for three days.
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", within the three days, the stones had
dissolved. Doctors were astonished as the only cure that they had
proposed was surgery.

If you are sick and have kidney stones,


You’ll attain good health, let’s go in Qāfilah
If you are destitute and have conflicts in your home
You’ll obtain good wealth (blessings), let’s go in Qāfilah

Gar chay bīmāriyān, tang karayn pathriyān, pā-o-gay sayhatayn


Qāfilay mayn chalo
Ghar mayn nāchaqiyān hon yā tangdastiyān pā-en-gay barkatayn
Qāfilay mayn chalo

86
The Manners Pertaining to Food

HOT FOOD IS NOT ALLOWED


Sayyidunā Jābir   3 "    ?
 7 has reported that the Merciful
[Karīm], the Great, and the Compassionate Prophet
         
     
   
has said, “Allow your food to cool before
eating, as there is not blessing in hot food.” (Al-Mustadrak, pp. 132,
vol. 4, ḥadiš. 7125)

      
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HOW COOL SHOULD THE FOOD BE?


Sayyidatunā Juwayriyah  :3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the
Benevolent Prophet, the Embodiment of Nūr, the Sovereign of
the both Worlds, the Highly Extolled Prophet         
     
  ,
disliked the consumption of food until the steam had completely
emanated from it. (Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp. 13, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 7883)

HAZARDS OF HOT FOOD


Dear Islamic Brothers! Food should be cooled before one
consumes it. However, not to an extent that it becomes
tasteless. One should allow the steam to stop emanating from it.
The Renowned Exegesist of the Quran, The Sage of the Ummah,
Muftī Ahmad Yār Khān 2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
   has stated that the somewhat
[natural] cooling down of food, and not blowing air from the
mouth to cool it down; are two means of attaining blessings [in
the food.] Furthermore, it is easier to eat that way. (Mirāt-ul
Manājīḥ, pp. 52, vol. 6)

It is highly probable that eating extremely hot food or


drinking steaming tea or coffee can cause blisters in the mouth
and the throat and gastritis [inflammation of the stomach.]
Drinking very cold water, right after a hot beverage or food,
harms the gums and the stomach.

87
Islamic Manners of Eating

IF A FLY FALLS IN ONES FOOD


It is a sin to throw out food or a drink if a fly falls into it, as that
is considered wasting. In this case, submerge the fly completely
in the drink or food then take it out and continue with your
meal, without hesitation. The Best of the Healers from Allah’s
Creation, The Beloved of Allah, The Wise One    
  
     
     
 
has asserted, “When a fly falls into food, submerge the fly
completely, and throw the fly away, as one of its wing has cure
while the other has disease. When it falls into food, it first sets
in the wing that has disease, therefore dip it in completely [so
the wing that contains cure nullifies the effect of the other
wing.]” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 511, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 3844)

      
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WHAT DOES MODERN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ASCERTAIN?

Dear Islamic Brothers! The Beloved Prophet              
 
gave us such an accurate foresight. Science has now ascertained
what our Benevolent and Kind Prophet         
     
  had
seen long before. Scientists now proclaim that one of the wings
has a dangerous virus and the other wing has the anti-virus.
When a fly falls into food or drink like tea, milk, water, etc, it
falls on the wing containing the virus. Therefore submerging
the fly completely destroys the virus making the food harmless.

CHEW THE MEAT


Mother of the Believers [Umm-ul Mu’mineen], Sayyidatunā
‘Ayesha Siddīqah  :3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that the Prophet of
Mercy, The Intercessor, The Master of all Prophets and the Seal
of Prophethood         
     
  has put forth, “Do not cut the
meat with the knife when eating it, as this is the practice of the
non-Arabs [‘Ajamī]. Bite the meat with your teeth, for this is

88
The Manners Pertaining to Food

more tasteful and delicious.” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 511, vol. 3, ḥadiš.
3844) However, one can use the knife to cut large portions of
meat [especially when eating] like roasted lamb legs etc.

REMOE THE BLACK STRANDS FROM THE CHICKEN’S LEG


According to AlaHazrat Imām Ahmad Razā’s      5 6  7 research
there are 22 things which are Harām [strictly forbidden] to eat
in the Zabīha12. Amongst these things is the spinal cord which
is a white thread like strand which extends from the base of the
brain through the length of the backbone.
Similarly, tendons and lymph glands [also called lymph
nodes] are also Harām [strictly forbidden] to eat. Tendons are
two bands of dense, tough, inelastic, white, fibrous tissue, on
both sides of the neck, which serve to connect the shoulder
muscles to the neck; these don’t become tender even after
cooking well. Moreover, the blood remaining inside the meat,
though pure, is not permissible to consume. [It is not difficult to
identify these strands as] they turn black when cooked.
Therefore one should carefully inspect the pieces of the meat in
which blood normally accumulates, for example, remove the
black thread like strands from the neck, the wings, and the legs
of the cooked meat. One should also avoid the tendons and
spinal cord of the chicken.

LONG LOST BROTHER FOUND AFTER 2 YEARS!


Dear Islamic Brothers! Make an ardent effort to routinely travel
in the Madanī Qāfilah with the Devotees of the Prophet to learn
the Sunnah. Inshā-Allah    ! ", your wordly complications and
problems will be resolved. Furthermore, you will gather many
pearls of knowledge of the religion. Here is an account that is a
testament to the above:

Zabīha is that permissible, halal, animal which is slaughtered in the proper Islamic
12

way

89
Islamic Manners of Eating

A Madanī Qāfilah traveled to Sabz Pūr (Harī Pūr, Sarhad,


Pakistan). One of the Islamic Brothers from the Qāfilah
reported, “My elder brother had gone out of the country to
make a living. It had been 12 years since we last heard from
him. His children and their mother were all under my care and
thus I struggled to support them financially. I travelled in the
Madanī Qāfilah with Devotees of the Prophet intending to
make Duā [supplication] for the easement of my extreme
circumstantial hardship.”

A week after the conclusion of the Qāfilah that same Islamic


brother attended a Madanī Mushwara13. His face was gleaming
with signs of happiness and relief. His sentiments were very
highly inspiring. He told us, as tears of joy ran down his cheeks,
“Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", I was blessed because of travelling in the
Madanī Qāfilah. I finally received a phone call from my elder
brother, who had been missing for nearly 12 years. He has also
sent us 125 thousand rupees.”

Those that are lost will find their ways


Insha-Allah    !  " , let’s go, let’s go in Qāfilah
Allah will Wless and liberae you from the difficult days
Those who are in grief, let’s go in Qāfilah

Jo mafqūd ho who bhī maujūd ho


Insha Allah    !  "
Chalayn Qāfilay mayn chalo
Dūr hon sāray ghum hogā Rab    !  "
kā Karam
Ghum kay māray sunayn Qāfilay mayn chalo

WISDOM IN DUĀ NOT BEING ACCEPTED


[I would like to shed light upon a necessary aspect of Duā’s not
being accepted]. Al-Hamdulillah    ! " there are many instances

13Madanī Mushwara is a meeting to discuss and review the righteous activities of


Da’awat-e-Islāmī.

90
The Manners Pertaining to Food

of Duā’s being readily accepted in the Madanī Qāfilah. However,


there may be many others whose desires may not have been
satisfied. If one does not see signs of a Duā being accepted, one
should still be content with the Will of Allah    ! ". Often what
we ask for is in fact not in our best interest.

The father of Alā Hazrat, Shaykh Allamā, Maulanā Naqī ‘Alī


  5
Khān      6
 7 in his book “Ahsan-ul-Wiā’” has stated, “There
are times when, out of your ignorance, one will ask Allah    ! "
for something and Allah    ! " with His infinite Wisdom and
Mercy, may not fulfill your Duā because that matter is not in
the best of your interest. For example, you might seek wealth,
but obtaining it will put your Imān (faith) in jeopardy or you
may seek good health and that health is not good for the
hereafter in the Infinite Divine Knowledge of Allah     ! ".
Hence, It is better that these Duā’s remain unfulfilled. Consider
this Ayah,

 L   kl a  - N    OjDd  - N % L  2  iٓ "


“It may be that you love a thing which is bad for you.”
(Qurān)(Surah Al- Baqarah, juz 2, ayah. 216) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

Thank Him for not fulfilling those supplications [Duā] which


are not in your interest. At times, the virtues [šawāb] of the Duā
are destined for you in the hereafter. You ask for the meager
wealth and the fleeting thing of the world and Allah    ! " has
destined the treasures of the hereafter [Akhirah] for you. This
should be an occasion of joy, not of sorrow.”

PICKING ONE’S TEETH [KHILĀL]


It is a Sunnah to pick your teeth with a toothpick or a small
stick. Some people use one end of the matchstick and throw

91
Islamic Manners of Eating

away the the combustible end of the matchstick. In this way


they waste the matchstick. It is therefore better to use a
toothpick, instead.

One can find several Prophetic narrations that convey the


importance of picking one’s teeth [khilāl]. Thus, it is narrated by
the Companion of the Prophet, Abū Hurrairah   3 "   
 ?
7 that the
Prophet         
     
  has said, “Whoever eats [and if some
remnants of food are lodged in the teeth], if he takes it out by
using a toothpick [khilāl] he should spit it out and if he takes it
out using the tongue he should swallow it. Whoever does this
has done well, and if he does not do it; there is no harm.” (Sunan
Abī Dāwūd, pp. 46, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 35)

      
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KIRĀMAN KĀTIBĪN & THOSE WHO DON’T PICK THERE TEETH!


Sayyidunā Abū Ayub Ansāri   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that once the
Holy Prophet              
   approached us and delivered,
“How admirable are the ones who do pick their teet [Khilāl].”
The dear Companions 2  %   
 - =  :   asked, “Ya Rasool-Allah
          "
     ! ! Do Khilāl, with what?” The Holy Prophet
     
                
  replied, “The ones who do Khilāl during
Wudū [ablution] and the ones who do Khilāl after eating. Khilāl
in Wudū is to rinse the mouth, to sniff water into the nostrils, to
interlace the fingers14 whereas the Khilāl of eating is [picking
one’s teeth] after eating. There is nothing more disturbing to
Kirāman Kātibīn15 than to see a person (to whom they have
been assigned to) performing his Salāh with something stuck
between his teeth.” (Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 177, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 4061)

14 so that the webbing between the fingers are also washed


15 the two angels who record the deeds of a person

92
The Manners Pertaining to Food

THOSE WHO EAT PAĀN16 SHOULD PAY HEED


Imām of Ahl-u-Sunnah, Mujaddid of the Ummah, Reviver of
the Sunnah, Destroyer of Bid’at, Scholar of Sacred Law, Guide of
Spirituality, Fountain of Blessing, Allamah, Maulānā, Al-Hāj Al-
Hafiz, Al-Qāri Ash-Shah Imām Ahmed Razā Khan        5 6  7 has
stated, “It has been observed that particles of Paān and Betel
Nut are embedded (stuck) in between the teeth and gums,
especially if there are gaps in between their tooth, for those who
eat Paān in excess. Even if these people rinse their mouth three
times or even ten times, it is not sufficient (to remove these
particles of Paān from their teeth). These cannot even be
removed by toothpick or even by Miswāk [brushing] and can
only be removed by rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water
multiple times and each time moving the water around to
release the particles of Paān and betel nut. Rinsing the mouth in
this way cannot be limited to a fixed number.

It should be known that cleanliness has been highly


emphasized [in Islam]. In has been stated in various Prophetic
Narrations that when a person offers Salāh, the angels place
their mouth on the person’s mouth. The recitation that he recites
transfers into the mouth of the angel. If the person has particles
of food in this mouth, it is extremely troublesome to the angels.
Nothing causes more trouble to the angles than this [i.e. the
food particles.]”

His Eminence, The Leader of the Sons of Adam, The


Munificent Prophet          
     
   
has stated, “Whoever
amongst you awakens for Salāh at night should use a Miswāk
because when you recite the Quran during the Salāh, angels
place their mouth on your mouth and whatever [recitation] comes

16 Paān is made using leaves of Betel pepper, chewed with tpically a filling of small
pieces of betel [areca] nut. May also be filled with tobacco. Primarily served in the
Indian Sub-Continent.

93
Islamic Manners of Eating

out of the mouth of the person enters the mouth of the angels.′′
(Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 319, vol.9)

Imam Tabarāni         5


 6
 7 has recorded in the book ‘Kabīr’
that Sayyidunā Abū Ayub Ansāri   3 "    
 ?
7 has said that there is
nothing more unpleasant to both angels than to see their
companion offering Salāh with particles of food stuck between
his tooth. (Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 177, vol. 4) (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 624-625, vol. 1)

      
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FRAGILE TEETH
Companion Sayyidunā ibn Umar 0 :  3 "    ?
 7 has stated, “The
food which stays in the root weakens the tooth.” (Majma'-u-
Zavāid, pp. 32, vol. 5, ḥadiš: 7952)

WHICH TYPE OF TOOTHPICK SHOULD BE USED?


Dear Islamic Brothers! Always remember to pick your teeth
[khilāl] after eating. Preferably the toothpick should be made of
margosa [neem] tree as its strong bitter taste is good for
cleaning the mouth and gums. The toothpicks usually available in
the market are not so strong as they easily break. Several good
toothpicks can also be prepared from the veins of coconut palm
leaves or a straw from the date palm leaf.

Often times, strands of meat are embedded in the corners of


the mouth, between the teeth, which are extremely difficult to
remove. One can purchase dental floss and use them to remove
the stuck food particles. One could also use dental curved sickle
scalars made of stainless steel [instrument used by dentists] but
one has to be overly cautious when using these instruments and
also learn their proper usage, as their improper use could
severly hurt the gums.

94
The Manners Pertaining to Food

SEVEN INTENTIONS FOR PICKING ONE’S TEETH [KHILĀL]:


It has been stated in Hadith, that The Mercy for both worlds,
The Holy Prophet    
  
     
     
  has stated, “The intention of
a Muslim is better than his actions. (Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 185, vol. 6, ḥadiš:
5942)

Therefore, one should render the following intentions


before using a toothpick [or flossing, Khilāl.] You could also
render these intentions before starting a meal. In any case reap
multitudes of rewards by affirming them:

1. I will act upon the Sunnah of khilāl (using a toothpick)


after eating.

2. I will recite ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬


 , before using the toothpick [khilāl].
3. I will use toothpick as a supplement to Miswaāk [tooth-
brushing stick, Sewak]. (When food gets stuck in the
gums, it tends to rot and weaken the gums and then it
becomes difficult to do miswaāk).
4. I will use toothpick as a supplement to rinsing the mouth
during Wudū [Ablution]. (The entire mouth should be
thoroughly washed, including the areas around the teeth
and the gaps in between them. It is Sunnat-e-Mu′akkidah
[Emphasized Sunnah] to rinse the mouth three times
during Wudū. It is Fard [obligatory] to rinse the mouth
once and Sunnah to rinse it three times during Ghusl
[purificatory bath]).
5. I will strive to protect the mouth against any disease
thereby gaining strength to worship. (The reason being,
that when the toothpick is used, leftover food particles
are removed and this inturn protects the gums against
any disease. Thus healthy teeth engender more strength
for worship.)

95
Islamic Manners of Eating

6. I will strive to protect myself from bad breath and thus


maintain the sanctity to visit the Masjid. (There is no
doubt that the food stuck in between the teeth eventually
rots, which leads to bad breath and when one has a foul
breath, it is Harām [strictly forbidden] to enter the
Masjid).
7. I will guard myself against causing trouble to the angels.
(Having strands of food stuck in the mouth during the
Salāh discomforts the angels).

HOW TO PROPERLY RINSE THE MOUTH


The proper manner of rinsing the mouth in Wudū [Ablution] is
that the water reaches every corner of the mouth including the
spaces between the teeth. During Wudū it is Sunnah to rinse
the mouth, in the manner described above, that is three times.
In Ghusl [purificatory bath] it is Fard [obligatory] to rinse
the mouth once and Sunnah to rinse it three times. One should
also gargle during the bath, provided that he is not fasting. It is
imperative to remove all the particles of food and strands of
meat that may be stuck in the teeth. If the strand of meat or
piece of betel nut is so finely embedded that it is not coming out
despite your efforts then don’t be too harsh on the teeth as you
will hurt the gums, then in that case the one who is helpless
[majbūr] is certainly excused.

MEDICAL BENEFITS OF KHILĀL


Our Beloved Prophet          
     
   
had stressed the
importance of cleaning the teeth to remove the food particles
and prevent [the teeth and gums from] diseases, 14 centuries
ago. Scientists have only now begun to stress the importance of
doing so. Doctors say that after eating, particles of food are
stuck in between the teeth and gums. If they are not removed,
these particles rot and form a film of some special type of

96
The Manners Pertaining to Food

plasma on the surface of the teth, which weakens the teeth and
results in the inflammation and degeneration of the gums and
other tissues surrounding the teeth. Gums recede from the
teeth; teeth loosen, and eventually fall. Furthermore, one may
be afflicted with gum disease called Pyorrhea, which results in
the discharge of pus from the gums. This pus then mixes with
the food and enters the stomach and gives rise to many fatal
diseases.

GUM CANCER
Those who plan to reduce the intake of food should also pay
attention to reducing the consumption of Paān17, Tea and
Coffee. You would not want to be deceived by your ‘self’ [Nafs]
by compensating on cutting back on foods but increasing the
consumption of coffee, tea and paān etc. This will lead into
bigger problems.
Teas [and Coffee] are harmful for the kidneys. For ones own
good, one should also strive to eliminate the habit of consuming
Paān, chewing tobacco [gutka], flavoured Supari mixes
[betelnut pieces mixed with fennel seeds and flavors] and
sweetened Supari [betelnut] pieces. People who use these in
excess are often prone to gum, mouth and throat cancer as these
substances are carcinogens. Excessive use of Paān causes the
mouth to become red which causes the pus to go unnoticed.
Since the release of pus is not accompanied by pain, it usually
ends up in the stomach. By the time one becomes aware the
disease has already spread.

THE DANGERS OF FAKE KATTHA


It is highly likely that khatta18 is not produced in Pakistan and
because certain people are heedless when it comes to the

17 See footnote number 16 on page 94


18 Kattha ia a red coloured liquid substance that is used in pān.

97
Islamic Manners of Eating

hereafter, they add red colouring to sand and try to pass it off
as khatta. As a result, poor people from Pakistan become
victims and are prone to sickness and disease. Do not consume
fake khatta intentionally. Those who sell this fake product and
those who sell this type of Pāan with its fake product should
repent sincerely. Those who intentionally eat this sand should
also desist from it. According to Islamic law, there is no harm in
eating a little sand; however, it is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to
eat kattha in a quantity that would harm someone. (Rad-dul-
Muḥtār, pp. 364, vol. 1) , (Bahar-e-Sharī’at, pp. 63, vol. 2)

THE CAUSE OF GUM-BLEEDING


There are times when the use of Miswāk causes bleeding in the
teeth, which perhaps also goes into the stomach with food. One
reason for this could be ailments of the stomach. Such people
should seek treatments for ailments like constipation. One
should refrain from consuming food which creates a lot of gas
and fat. In addition, one should eat less than ones appetite and
not eat at unnecessary times. The other reason for this is the
buildup of tartar on the teeth, which forms due to ones
carelessness when it comes to the cleansing of the teeth. One
should visit a dentist. If the doctor is righteous and self-
respecting then he will scale (remove tartar and other build up
in your teeth with instruments) your teeth in a single visit
otherwise he may call you for multiple sessions in order to mint
money from you.

      
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MISWĀK IS THE BEST REMEDY FOR THE TEETH


If Miswāk is used properly, Inshā-Allah    ! ", teeth will be free
of ailments. You might think that you have been using miswāk
for many years, yet both your teeth and stomach are bad. My

98
The Manners Pertaining to Food

dear naive Islamic Brothers! This is not the fault of the Miswāk,
but rather your own. From my experience, there are only a few
people amongst a thousand who actually use the Miswāk
properly. We brush (using Miswāk) in rush. In other words we
don’t use Miswāk but fulfill its formality.

      
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FOURTEEN PEARLS OF WISDOM PERTAINING TO MISWĀK:

1. Miswāk19 should be as thick as the little finger (also


known as the pinky).
2. Miswāk should not be longer than your hand span20.
Satan sits on anything longer than this.
3. The strands of the Miswāk should be soft otherwise they
might hurt your gums and may cause your teeth to move
away from each other, hence creating space between the
teeth.
4. If Miswāk is not fresh, then place it in a glass of water to
make it soft.
5. Trim the strands every day because the strands are only
beneficial when they still possess some bitterness in them.
6. Brush your teeth horizontally with Miswāk.
7. Always brush your teeth with Miswāk three times.
8. And wash it after every use.
9. Hold the Miswāk with the right hand and allow the
middle three fingers to be on top, the thumb at the

19 For details on Miswāk please refer to Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 2, Page 17-18


20 Hand span is defined as follows: hand is placed palm down on a flat surface. The
fingers are outstretched as far as possible. Measure the linear distance between the
outside of the thumb to the outside of the little finger.

99
Islamic Manners of Eating

beginning (near the soft strands that are used to brush the
teeth) and the little finger underneath.
10. First brush (with Miswāk) the upper jaw starting from
the right and then the left. Thereafter, clean the lower jaw
again starting from the right and then the left.
11. Using Miswāk while one is lying on his back can cause
the spleen to enlargen.
12. Holding the Miswāk in the fist can cause piles when
brushing your teeth with.
13. Miswāk is considered as Sunnat-e-Qabliyyah [Sunnah
that is done prior to] in Wudū [Ablution], however, it
becomes Sunnat-e-Mu′akkidah [emphasized Sunnah] if
foul smell emanates from the mouth. (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad
īd), pp. 223, vol. 1)

14. Do not merely throw away the used strands of the


Miswāk or a used miswāk anywhere as it is an instrument
that is used to act upon a Sunnah. Rather, keep it
respectfully away, bury it or throw it into the sea.

FOUR PEARLS OF MADINAH PERTAING TO HEALTHY TEETH


1. After eating or drinking anything, one should thoroughly
rinse one’s mouth. Thoroughly rinse every part of your
mouth and let the water remain in the mouth for at least
half a minute before spitting it out.
2. Whenever one has the opportunity, one should rinse
one’s mouth daily on different times. Allow the water to
remain for a few minutes before spitting it out.
3. The use of warm salty water is much more beneficial.
Regular use will Inshā-Allah    ! " cause all particles of
food stuck in the mouth to be removed. The particles will

100
The Manners Pertaining to Food

therefore not rot in the gums as they won’t be around


long enough. Moreover, the teeth won’t bleed either.
4. Rubbing olive oil on the teeth helps the gums and makes
the teeth stronger.

      
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A REMEDY FOR BAD BREATH


If a person has bad breath or foul smell emanating from his
mouth, one should chew on coriander. One may also cleanse
his teeth with petals of rose. Inshā-Allah    ! " the foul odour
will go away. However, if the causes of the foul smell are the
ailments of the stomach, then one should eat less and guard
himself from gluttony. Eating less will Inshā-Allah    ! "
alleviate; aches and pains from the legs and various parts of the
body, constipation, acid reflex, blisters in the mouth, colds and
coughs, sore throat, bleeding gums and many more illnesses
including bad smell from the mouth. Eating less can alleviate or
cure 80% of the illnesses. For further elaboration on this, one
may refer to the book entitled “Pait Ka Qufle Madinah (The
Excellence of Hunger)”. If our Carnal Desires [Nafs] are
overpowered, we would automatically alleviate and cure many
illnesses.
Razā, the Nafs is your Enemy, Do not be Mislead
You are yet to see the wayfarers

Razā nafs dushman hay dum mayn na ānā


Kahān tum nay dekhe hayn chandrānay walay

A SPIRITUAL CURE FOR BAD BREATH


One should read the following Durūd [Salutations and Peace],
whenever possible, 11 times in one single breath. Inshā-Allah
   !
 ", this would eliminate bad breath.

101
Islamic Manners of Eating

% N m 
 Y    Z       
   
     : e  

HOW SHOULD WE RECITE IN A SINGLE BREATH


In order to recite the above Durūd [Salutations and Peace] in
one breath, one should close the mouth and breathe slowly
through the nostrils. Try and fill as much air into the lungs as
possible. Practicing this a few times will enable a person to read
the Durūd [Salutations and Peace] 11 times in one single breath.
It is very beneficial for the health to hold ones breathe inside for
as long as possible and then exhale it slowly form the mouth.
One should do this repeatedly during the day especially in
open places. A senior Hakim [Doctor of Herbal Medicine] once
told me that he can hold his breath anywhere from a half hour
to two and during this time; he is able to recite his various
litanies [wazāif]. He also mentioned that there are certain
experts who can hold their breaths for a very long time; they
inhale in the morning and exhale in the evening.

FIVE FRAGRANT MOUTHS


Here is an account of one of the many miracles manifested at
the hands of the Noble Prophet          
     
   
, in which
mouths of five female companions J :  3 "    ?  7 [sahaabiyaat]

became fragrant forever.

Sayyidah ‘Umairah bint-e-Mas’ūd Ansāria  :3 "   


 ?
7 has
narrated that she and her four sisters J :  3 "   
 ?
7 once came to the
Leader of the Sons of Adam, The Munificent and Eminent
Prophet         
     
  to swear allegiance. At that moment,
the Holy Prophet               
  was eating a piece of dried
meat . The Holy Prophet                    
  then chewed a piece
21

of meat to make it soft and then gave it to her. The female

21 Commonly known as (beef) jerky today

102
The Manners Pertaining to Food

companions distributed that amongst themselves and ate it. Till


the day they died, their mouths were always fragrant. (Al-Khaṣāiṣ
ul-Kubrā, pp. 105, vol. 1)

Sayyidunā Abu Umamah has narrated that there lived in


Madinah a shameless women that would utter obscene and
profane language. Once, she passed by the Holy Prophet
         
       
  . The Prophet           
     
  was eating a
piece of dried meat (aka. beef jerky). She also requested a piece
of meat from Him                
    . The Holy Prophet
         
         then broke a piece and handed it to her. She

refused to take it and requested that he give her a piece from
his blessed mouth that He was chewing. He                 
 
then handed over a piece from his blessed mouth. She then
swallowed the piece of meat and after this incident; she was
never heard uttering words of profanity. (Al-Khaṣāiṣ ul-Kubrā, pp. 105,
vol. 1)

HEAVY RAIN
Dear Islamic Brothers! Embrace the Righteous Environment of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī, and partake in the Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’
[Congregation]. Inshā-Allah    ! ", you will reap many blessings
in the hereafter and many of your worldly problems will also be
resolved. Furthermore, supplications [Duās] will be accepted in
the proximity and company of the Devotees of the Prophet.
Amīr-ul-Mo’minīn, The Valiant Ali-ul-Murtada   3 "    ? 
 7 has
narrated that the Master of Makkah and Madinah, The Authority
[Mukhtar] and Master [Malik] of Both Worlds    
  
     
     
 
has said,

 -09 7-F   JH/   0"    J( n 4  V 8   W /  


R 7 S   T     
′′Duā is an armour for the Muslim, a pillar of religion and a Nūr
[Light] in the heavens and earth.′′ (Musnad Abū Ya’lā, pp. 215, vol. 1,

103
Islamic Manners of Eating

ḥadiš. 435) Duā is not dismissed especially when one is in travel


and if that journey is a Madanī Qāfilah with Devotees of the
Prophet. Here is an account that is a testament to the above.
A Madanī Qāfilah was once on a journey in the district of
Nikyāl (Kashmir). The locals asked them to make Duā
[Supplication] for rain as it had not rained there for a very long
time. The travellers of Madanī Qāfilah then made Duā
[Supplication] in a congregation, in which many locals also took
part. It was daytime and the sun was shining hard in its full
glory. The Islamic Brothers in the Madanī Qāfilah pleaded
sincerely. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", suddenly the rain clouds
emerged in the sky from allover it began to rain heavily. The
clamour of the locals could be heard in the streets as they
rejoiced in delight and drenched in the rain. The locals were
highly inspired and their hearts were instilled with the love and
respect for the Devotees of the Prophet in the Madanī Qāfilah.
Many locals embrace the Righteous Environment of Da’awat-e-
Islāmī and the mission of Da’awat-e-Islāmī flourished in that
community.
Travel in the Qafilah and make your Duā,
Heavy rains will pour, Let’s go in Qafilah
Devotees of the Prophet gather the Pearls of Sunnah
As many as you procure (get), Let’s go in Qafilah

Qāfilay mayn zarā, māngo āa kar Duā


Hongī khūb bārishayn, qafilay mayn chalo
Aashiqānay rasūl lay lo jo kuch bhī phūl
Tum ko sunnat ke dayn qāfilay mayn chalo

FOOD STAINS ON ONE’S HAND


Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ‘ibn Abbās   3 "  
 ? 7 has narrated that the
The Guide for Allah’s Creation, The Intercessor of the Day of
Judgement, Beloved of Allah, the Prophet                 "
      !

104
The Manners Pertaining to Food

has stated, ′′Whosoever spends the night in this condition that


there are signs of oil (or fat from food) on his hands and an
affliction befalls on him, he should not blame anyone for this,
but himself.′′ (Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp. 33, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 7954)

DANGER OF A SNAKE
Dear Islamic Brothers! One should thoroughly wash one’s
hands with soap and then dry them with a towel after eating; so
that no signs of food oil or fat remain. Remains of food on your
hands would discomfort others when you would shake hands
with them. The Renowned Exegetist of the Quran, Hakīmul
Ummah, Mufti Ahmed Yār Khan 2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
   has elaborated on
the meaning of this hadiš. He has said, ′′The affliction that is
stated in this hadiš, refers to the biting of a snake or biting of a
rat, as both of these animals are attracted to the smell of food; or
it could also mean the danger of being afflicted with
leukoderma22, as the hands stained with food come in contact
with another part of the body, after coming in contact with
perspiration; there is a possibility that the area could develop
this disease.′′ (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 38, vol. 6)

Shaykh Mufti Muhammed Khalīl Khan Barkātī  -    5 6 7      


has explained, ′′If a person, after eating, goes to sleep without
washing the hands; Satan licks the hand (of the person). Ma’aāż-
Allah    ! "! This can engender Leukoderma.′′ (Sunnī Bahishtī Zaiwar,
p. 607)

IS IT APPROPRIATE TO USE OTHER PEOPLE’S UTENSILS?


If food has come from another person’s house, one should
immediately empty the container and return it. If one cannot
immediately return the container, one should keep it away as
an entrustment [amānat] as one is not permitted to use another

22 Partial or total loss of skin pigmentation

105
Islamic Manners of Eating

person’s utensil. (Sunnī Bahishtī Zaiwar, p. 607) If one has done this in
the past, one should immediately ask the owner of the utensils
to pardon him and also seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah
   !
 ".

      
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25 PRACTICES (SUNNAH) OF THE


PROPHET   ٖ           PERTAINING TO FOOD

1. The Noble Prophet          


     
   
would never eat
while resting (his back) against any support. (Sunan Abī
Dāwūd, pp. 488, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 3769)

2. He          


      
  never ate on a table. (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp.
24, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 55386)

3. He          


      
  would eat whatever was available.
(Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1134, ḥadiš. 2052)

4. He    
  
     
     
  never asked people in his household
for any food and never wished for any specific food but
would eat what ever was served. He would eat and drink
whatever edibles were served. (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp. 248,
vol. 8)

5. At times, He         


     
  would get the food himself.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 4, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 3846)

6. He          


      
  would eat from the section right in
front of him. (Shu’bul Īmān, pp. 79, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 5846)
7. He    
  
        ate with three fingers. (Muṣannaf Ibn Abī
     
Shaybah, pp. 559, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 3)

8. At times, He          


     
   
would eat with four
fingers. (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 250, ḥadiš. 6942) However, He

106
The Manners Pertaining to Food

   
  
     
     
 
never ate with two, as He    
 
     
     
 
has affirmed that it was the practice of Satan (that is to eat
with two fingers). (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 249, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 6940)
9. He          
     
   
would eat bread made from non
sifted Barley (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 531, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 5410).

10. Most of the times His    


  
    
     
  blessed food were
dates and water. (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 23, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 55380)

11. He          


     
   
would consume milk and dates
together and used to say that these two were exquisite
substances. (Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp. 385, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 15893)

12. His          


     
   
favourite food was meat. (Jāmi’
Tirmiżi, pp. 533, vol. 5, ḥadiš.178)

13. He         


     
  used to say that meat intensifies the
power of the faculty of hearing and that it was the king of
foods in this world and in the next. He         
     
 
declared, ′′If I had asked the Almighty to bestow meat
upon me everyday, He would have Granted it.′′ (Itḥaf-us-
Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp. 238, vol. 8)

14. The Holy Prophet          


     
   
, would mix bread
with squash and meat, inclusive of the gravy, and eat
(Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp. 239, vol. 8).

15. Holy Prophet          


      
  would never lower his
head to eat meat but would always lift his hands to the
mouth and then bite the meat. (Jāmi’ Tirmiżi, pp. 329, vol. 3,
ḥadiš.1842)

16. The Prophet          


      
  liked meat from the leg
and shoulder area of the goat (male and female). (Jāmi’
Tirmiżi, pp. 330, vol. 3, ḥadiš.1842/1844)

107
Islamic Manners of Eating

17. The Holy Prophet         


     
  never liked eating the
kidney because it was near the place of urine. (Kanz-ul-
’Ummāl, pp. 41, vol. 7, ḥadiš. 18212)

18. He         


     
  resented eating the spleen, even
though He         
     
  did not declare it Harām
[strictly forbidden] (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp. 243, vol. 8).

19. The Holy Prophet    


  
     
     
  would use his fingers
to wipe the utensils clean; He          
     
   
would
then lick his fingers clean and used to say that ′′there is
more barakah at the end′′. (Shu’bul Īmān, pp. 81, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 5854)
20. Among fresh fruits, He         
     
  liked grapes and
melon the most. (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 41, vol. 7, ḥadiš. 18200)
21. He          
      
  would eat melon with sugar and
bread. (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp. 236, vol. 8)
22. At times, He    
       
     
  would eat melon with ripe
dates. (Jāmi’ Tirmiżi, pp. 332, vol. 3, ḥadiš.1850)
23. He         
     
  would use both of his hands. Once, He
        
     
  was eating ripe dates. The dates were in

His                
  right hand and the seeds were in His
        
     
 
left. A goat passed by. He               
 

signalled the goat with His                
  left hand that
contained date seeds. The goat approached and began to
eat the seeds from His               
  left hand while He
        
      
  continued to eat with His            
    
right hand. This continued until He                   
 
finished, thereafter, the goat also left. (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn,
pp. 237, vol. 8)

24. The Holy Prophet          


     
   
never ate raw
(uncooked) onions, raw garlic or leek. (Tarīkh-u-Baghdād, pp.
262, vol. 2)

108
The Manners Pertaining to Food

25. He         


     
  never spoke badly about any food. If
He         
      
  liked it, He               
  would
eat it and if not, He         
              
would withdraw his
hand. (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 11411, ḥadiš. 2064)

      
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92 PEARLS OF MADINAH PERTAINING TO FOOD

RENDER INTENTIONS PRIOR TO CONSUMING FOOD


1. One should not eat for merely relishing the taste or
fulfilling the desires, but should have intend to attain
strength and energy to worship Allah    ! ". Bear in mind
that the above intention can only be true if one also
intends to eat less than his appetite because gluttonizing
is only a hindrance (makes one lazy) in worship. One
should only eat when he is hungry as it is Sunnah to do
so. Eating when a person is not hungry only poses health
risks and hardens the heart. Sayyidunā Shaikh Abū Tālib
   5
Makkī       6 7 has stated, ′′In one narration it is stated
that to eat when one is full engenders leukoderma.
(Quwwat-ul-Qulūb, pp. 326, vol. 2)

2. Use a dining-mat that does not have any alphabets, words,


statements, names and logos of the companies inscribed
on it.
3. It is Sunnah to wash both hands upto the wrists prior to,
and subsequent to eating. One should also rinse the mouth
and wash the lips. Furthermore, do not wipe the hands
before eating. The Prophet          
     
  has stated,
“Performing Wudū [Ablution] before and after eating
(that is washing the hands and mouth) augments one’s
sustenance [rizq] and keeps Satan away.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp.
106, vol. 15, ḥadiš.40755)

109
Islamic Manners of Eating

4. It is improper to say that one has forgone a Sunnah if


another has not washed his mouth before eating. (Bahar-e-
Sharī’at, pp. 16-18)

5. While eating; one should either fold the left leg (that is
thigh on the lower leg) on the ground and raise the right
knee, or raise both knees with your buttocks on the
ground, or sit with both legs folded as in Salāh (that is
thighs on the lower leg). You will have acted upon the
Sunnah if you sit in any of the ways described above.

HABITUALIZE YOURSELF TO OVERLAY [PARDAY MAIN PURDAH]

6. All brothers and sisters should Overlay [Parday Mayn


Purdah] their lower half of the body with the front part of
the kurta or a shawl, otherwise it will be extremely difficult
for another person to guard his eyes against committing a
sin if you are wearing skin-tight garments or if the front
portion of the kurta is not properly covering the shalwaar
or the pyjamas. If it is not possible for a person to Overlay
[Parday Mayn Purdah] then one should sit in a folded
legs position (that is thighs on the lower leg). This will
serve two purposes; one that you will automatically cover
your legs and the groin area and the other that you will
be sitting in a manner that is Sunnah to do so while
eating.
7. It is not Sunnah to sit cross-legged while eating. This
causes the belly to bulge.

8. Recite Bismillah ! ‫ ﻢ‬
 ‫ﺴ‬  prior to the first morsel, Bismillah-
hir-Rahmān ‫ﻟ ﺮ ﺣ ٰﻤﻦ‬
 ! ‫ ﻢ‬
 ‫ﺴ‬  prior to the second and Bismillah-
hir-Rahmān-ir-Rahīm ﷽ prior to the third.

9. Recite Bismillah ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬


 in a tone audible to others so they
may be reminded to do the same.

110
The Manners Pertaining to Food

10. Recite the following Duā [Supplication] prior to eating.


Even poisoned food will not affect you, Inshā-Allah    !
 ".
(Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 109, vol. 15, ḥadiš.40792)

 e &  f 
  r ( % s H S  @ I   f
R 7 S  o  Wk p  d ٖ q  
e  9 &
-   K  H p t   H Wc0 9 
 o S 
“I begin with Allah’s    !  " name, with the blessing [barakah] of who’s name
nothing of the earth nor the skies can cause detriment.”

  ‫' و‬ ‫ ﻢ !و ﻟ‬


11. Recite Bismillahi-Awwalahū-wa-Ākhirah ‫ﮦ‬ <=  ‫ﺴ‬

during the consumption of food if one forgets to recite
Bismillah ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 at the beginning.

CONTINUE TO DO ŻIKR WHILE EATING

12. Whosoever reads Yā Wājidū ‫وﺟﺪ‬


 ‫ ﻳ‬with every morsel of
food he eats; that morsel would become light (noor) in his
stomach and illnesses will be eliminated.

13. Recite Allahū ! or Bismillah ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬


 with every morsel
you eat so that the desire for food does not make you
oblivious of Allah’s Żikr. In between two morsels, one
should recite Alhamdulillah '‫ ﻟ ﺤ ﻤﺪ ﻟ  (ﻠ‬, Yā Wājidū ‫وﺟﺪ‬
 ‫ ﻳ‬and
Bismillah ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬in this order. This way you would be
reading Bismillah ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬prior to eating every morsel of
food, reading Yā Wājidū ‫وﺟﺪ‬
 ‫ ﻳ‬in between and giving
thanks to Allah at the and by reciting Alhamdulillah
 ‫ ﻟ‬.
% ‫ﺤ ﻤﺪ‬

14. It is virtuous to eat in containers made of clay as, “angels


visit the home of the person who has clay utensil made in
it.” (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 495, vol. 9)

111
Islamic Manners of Eating

15. Do not place a bowl of curry or chutney (sauce and its


like) on top of the bread. (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 495, vol. 9)
16. Do not wipe the hands or knives clean with bread. (Rad-
dul-Muḥtār, pp. 495, vol. 9)

17. It is Sunnah to eat on a dining-mat on the floor. Do not


eat in the following manner:
• resting against a support
• bear headed
• reclined on a hand placed on the floor
• lying down
• sitting cross-legged.
18. If bread is served on the dining-mat before the curry; one
should commence eating the bread and not wait for the
curry to be served. (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 490, vol. 9)
19. Eat a little salt or something salty prior to and subsequent
to eating food as this guards against seventy diseases.
(Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 491, vol. 9)

20. Do not break bread with one hand as this is the practice
of the arrogant.
21. Hold the bread in your left hand and break the bread
with your right as this is Sunnah. Habitualize yourself to
break the bread on top of the plate or container so that the
grains of bread fall on the food, otherwise the grains will
go to waste if they fall on the dining-mat.
22. Eat with your right hand as it is Satan’s practice to eat,
drink, take and give with the left.

MAKE A HABIT OF EATING WITH THREE FINGERS


23. Eat using three fingers; the middle finger, the index finger
and the thumb as this is the Sunnah of the Prophets
112
The Manners Pertaining to Food

 89 
  :  .
In order to make a habit (of using three fingures)
you may do the following: bind the third finger and the
little finger together with a rubber band (or its like) or
hold a piece of bread between the two fingers and the
palm. Once you are used to it, you would no longer need
to adhere to either of the techniques described above.
Sayyidunā Mulla ‘Ali Qārī  -   5 6 7      has said that it is
the practice of the greedy to eat using five fingers (Mirāt-ul
Manājīḥ, pp. 9, vol. 8). However, one may use four or five
fingers to eat if the grains of rice are separated and it is
impossible to use three fingers.

BREAKING THE CRUST OF THE BREAD


24. It is considered wastage [isrāf] to leave the outer crust
(harder part) and only eat the soft part from the center of
the bread. However, it is permissible to break off and not
eat the crust (sides or corners of the bread) if the crust is
not properly cooked and one deems it to be injurious to
health. It is also permissible to break them off if others are
likely to eat them and one is absolutely certain that these
pieces of crust will not go to waste. The same rule applies
if some areas of the bread are fluffier and softer than
others and one is tempted to eat the fluffed areas and
leave the rest.

INTESTINES ARE NOT A SUBSTITTE FOR THE TEETH


25. Eat small morsels, avoid chomping (chewing or biting
noisily), and chew properly. If you do not chew the food
properly the intestines would have to do more work.
Remember intestines are not a substitute for your teeth.
26. Do not stretch out your hand nor pick up the next morsel
until the first has been completely swallowed, as this is
sign of greediness.

113
Islamic Manners of Eating

27. It is highly despicable to break the bread with the teeth.


This practice is also a cause for the deprivation of blessings
[barakah]. Moreover, to eat in a standing position is the
practice of the Christians (Sunnī Bahishtī Zaiwar, p. 565).

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,
FRUITS SHOULD BE CONSUMED FIRST
28. It is commonplace to eat fruits after the consumption of
food but to the contrary of the above Sayyidunā Hujjatul
Islam, Imam Muhammed Ghazāli        5
 6 7 has stated, “if
you have fruits, serve them before the food as eating them
before food is more beneficial from the medical point of
view. The fruits digest faster; therefore they should be in
the lower end of the stomach. Moreover even in the
Glorious Quran, fruits have been mentioned first as in the
20-21 ayah of the Surah-Alwāqiyah:

 H  v  l
‫ ۝‬2 - : `y w      ,  ‫ ۝‬2  l  u ` H  v  5w :^  g

“And fruits that they may like. And meat of birds that they may wish."
(Qurān)(Surah Al-Wāqiyah, juz 28, ayah. 20-21) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran]) (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 21, vol. 2)

Imam Ahmad Razā         5


 6
 7 has sated, “Eating water melon
before food eradicates diseases from the root and purges the
bowels (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 442, vol. 5).”

DO NOT FIND DEFECTS IN FOOD


29. Do not make any derogatory remarks on food. For
example, “it is not tasty”, “it is still raw”, “it does not
have enough salt”, “it is too spicy”; if you like it; eat it, if
not; leave it alone. However if one intends to advise the

114
The Manners Pertaining to Food

cook on the shortcomings one may do so in a private


conversation.

IT IS MORE DESPICABLE TO FIND DEFECT IN FRUITS


30. Finding faults with natural fruits is more despicable as
compared to the food cooked by humans as there is more
human involvement in the prepariton of food while the
case is not the same in the growing of fruits.
31. Do not scoop out the food from the center of the container
as blessing [barakah] descend in the center.
32. Eat from the side of the plate (container) that is closest to
you and do not stretch out your hand everywhere in the
plate.
33. However, if one container contains many items, one may
stretch out to scoop out the items.

CONVERSE VIRTOUSLY WHILE EATING


34. It is the practice of the Zoroastrians to remain quiet while
eating considering it a good deed. However, it is
permissible to stay quiet if one does not feel like talking.
Furthermore, it is not appropriate, at all times, to talk
frivolously (useless conversation), therefore have
conversations that are virteous and righteous, while eating.
For example, whenever one is eating collectively with
others; one should iterate the various Sunnah’s of the
Prophet         
     
  pertaining to food. I wish that the
photocopies of these pearls of wisdom regarding eating be
displayed at the dining area in the form of frames or in any
other proper way and be read aloud, from time to time at
meal times.
35. Do not utter remarks that would disgust (gross out) others,
for instance talking about vomit, diahorria, stool (botany)
etc.
115
Islamic Manners of Eating

36. Do not stare at the food others are eating.

SPARE AND GIVE UP GOOD PIECES OF MEAT TO OTHERS

37. Some people commit disgusting acts while eating. For


instance, taking the good pieces of meat for oneself, or
eating big morsels hurriedly while eating collectively
fearing that you might remain hungry, or taking more
food to your side or depriving others in any way. All
these are the practices of the inconsiderate and the
greedy. Manifesting any behaviours that show your lack
of concern for others, the practice of the greedy and
incosiderates. If you leave good things for the benefits of
others with the intention of sacrificing for the sake of
others, you will be, Inshā-Allah    ! ", greatly rewarded.
The Holy Prophet has stated that Allah    ! " forgives a
person who gives to another, things that he needs for
himself (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp. 779, vol. 9).

THE VIRTUES OF EATING GRAINS THAT HAVE FALLEN DOWN

38. If grains or morsel of food fall while you eat; pick them
up, wipe them clean and eat them as there are glad
tidings of forgiveness for the one who does that.
39. The Immaculate Prophet          
     
   
has said,
“Whoever picks up grains of food which have fallen on
the dining-mat and eats it, he will live a life of ease
[farakhi] and his children and the children of his children
will be protected from mental ineptitude (lack of
intelligence). (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 111, vol. 15, ḥadiš. 40815)

40. Sayyidunā Hujjatul Islam, Imām Muhammed Ghazāli


   5
      6 7
has narrated, “Gather and eat the grains and
particles of bread, Inshā-Allah    ! ", you will be blessed
with the joys if life. The children will be born safe and

116
The Manners Pertaining to Food

without physical defects. Furthermore, the grains of bread


will be dower [mahr] for the Hūrs (maiden) in Jannah.”
(Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 7, vol. 2)

41. It is permissible to kiss (with respect) the bread that may


have fallen down.
42. It is permissible to feed the grains and particles of food on
the dining-mat to chicken, birds, cows etc. One can also
gather them and put them in a place where ants can
consume them.

IS IT IMPERMISSIBLE TO BLOW ON THE FOOD?


43. One should not blow on hot steamy food or tea to cool it
as this removes blessing [barakah] from sustenance. One
should not eat very hot food and should wait until the
food cools down (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 491, vol. 9).
44. One should use the right hand to drink liquids even while
eating. People can easily be tempted to use the left and
only touch the glass with their right (as the right is
stained with food) in formality; thinking that one is
actually using the right.

LEARN HOW TO SIP THE WATER WHEN DRINKING


45. One should recite Bismillah-hir-Rahmān-ir-Rahīm
﷽ while drinking water or any other drink.
Furthermore, drink little at a time. One should sip in the
drink making sure that one is not making a loud sound
while doing so. Drinking large amounts at once, can
damage the liver. When you are finished, you should say
Al-hamdulillah '‫ ﻟ ﺤ ﻤﺪ ﻟ  (ﻠ‬. It is unfortunate that these days, it
is very difficult to find someone who is practicing on the
Sunnah of siping the water while drinking. Lay, this to
heart! Practice, and adopt this Sunnah.

117
Islamic Manners of Eating

46. One should stop eating, while he is still hungry (that is


not fully satiated).

TASTE LASTS ONLY UNTIL THE ROOT OF THE TOUNGUE


47. It is not Sunnah to eat execessively. If one still craves food
he should remind himself that the taste can only be
savored until the root of the toungue and once the food
reaches the throat the taste is no more. It is not wise to
forgo a Sunnah just for relishing the taste that only lasts
for a few instances. Thus, as a result of gluttonizing,
one feels bloated, lazy [in worship], damages the
stomach, and may become obese. The risks of being
inflicted with constipation, gas, diabetes and heart related
diseases also increase.
48. One shoud lick the three fingers clean after eating, namely;
the middle finger; the index finger and the thumb (in the
same order). The Holy Prophet         
     
  would lick
his blessed fingers clean, thrice after eating (Shamail-ut-Tirmiżī,
pp. 61, ḥadiš. 138).

WIPE THE UTENSILS CLEAN


49. Also wipe the utensils clean (use your fingers to remove
any remnants there after licking your fingers clean). It is
stated in a Hadiš that whosoever wipes the plate after
eating, the plate makes the following Duā [Supplication]
for that person declaring that, ′′May Almighty Allah    ! "
absolve you from the fire of hell as you have absolved me
from Satan (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 111, vol. 15, ḥadiš. 40822).” In
another narration it is stated that the utensil seeks
forgiveness on his behalf. (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 14, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 3271)
50. After finishing your food, once you lick your fingers and
wipe untensils clean, pour some water into the container
and drink that water (so that remnants of food, that still
118
The Manners Pertaining to Food

remain, can be collected and consumed). One shall reap


the reward of emancipating a slave (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 7, vol. 2).

WHAT SHOULD ONE DO AFTER PUTTING WATER IN THE UTENSILS?


51. Make sure that no remnants of food remain in the
untensils after you have licked them clean and drunk the
water that you poured into them. One should pour water,
and then rinse the utensil making sure that all corners
have been covered. Repeating this two or three times will
ensure that no particle of food remains in your utensil.
52. Once one has drunk the water, he should use the fingers
to gather the drops of water that may have clung to the
untensil and then drink them. This will ensure that any
particle of food does not go to waste as that particle may
be the source of blessing [barakah] as it is stated in one
Hadith that “you do not know which portion of the food
contains blessings [barakah] (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 11123, ḥadiš.
1023).”

53. One should also practice upon the above mentioned


technique with other utensils like pots and pans, cups,
glasses and jugs that contain curry, tea, coffee and juices,
etc; and reap many blessings [barakah].
54. It is wasteful [isrāf] to throw away left over water that has
been used by a Muslim (provided that the left over water
is still useable); as wasting is Harām [strictly Forbidden]
(Sunnī Bahishtī Zaiwar, p. 567).

 ‫  ﻟ‬at the end. In


55. One should recite Alhamdulillah % ‫ﺤ ﻤﺪ‬
addition to the above, one should also recite the various
traditional supplications that are mentioned in the Quran
and Hadiš.
56. Wash your hands with soap so that the oils and smell are
effectively washed away.

119
Islamic Manners of Eating

IT IS SUNNAH TO ANOINT [MASSAH] CERTAIN PARTS OF THE BODY


AFTER EATING

57. It is stated in a Hadiš that after eating, the Prophet


        
     
 
washed his hands and then anointed his
wrists, mouth and head with wet hands and uttered these
glorious pearls to his companion “Oh Ikrāsh! This is the
Wudū after eating things that the fire has touched
(meaning the food that was cooked using the fire).” (Jāmi’
Tirmiżi, pp. 335, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 1855)

58. It is Sunnah to to pick one’s teeth [khilāl] in order to clean


them after eating.

PREVIOUS SINS ARE FORGIVEN


59. The Prophet    
  
          has stated,”whosoever eats
    
food and utters the following words; all of his previous
sins are forgiven.” The words are as follows:

Bw -  K S    ]  t  (     
  0    @ I  fe / 0 , 
  (  {w -  l | J  Z K z7   I N ]
“All Praise is due to Almighty Allah    !  " who has fed me and has Granted
me sustenance without my own skill and strength”
(Tirmidhi, Vol: 5, Pg: 284)

60. Recite the following Supplication after eating.

   
 09 (   3    FA      30    @ I  fe / 0 , 
X
“All Praise is for Almighty Allah    !  " Who fed us and provided for us to
drink and has made us from amongst Muslims”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 513, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 3850)

61. If someone has provided for the food, one should recite
the following supplication:

120
The Manners Pertaining to Food

 A  J (   ~   ] 0    J (  


 } 
       : e  
“O Allah    !  "
! Feed him who has fed me and provide him to drink who has
made me drink”
(Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 136, ḥadiš. 2055)

62. Also recite the following supplication after eating:

 l a    7  & : e  
 O 30     g 3  
  3( 
“Oh Allah    ! ", Grant Barakah in this food for us, and feed us better food
than this”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 475, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 3730)

63. Recite the following after drinking Milk:

  3(  F z     g  3   &


 7  : e  
“Oh Allah    ! "! Grant us Barakah in this, and Grant us more than this”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 475, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 3730)

64. The Prophet          


     
   
liked halwa (a type of
dessert), honey, vinegar, date, water melon, cucumber
and squash very much.
65. He liked the pieces of meat taken from the shoulders,
neck and loin areas of the animal.
66. At times, the Holy Prophet          
      
  would eat
dates with water melon, or dates with cucumber or dates
with bread.
67. The Prophet    
  
     
     
  liked the semi-burnt food
23

very much.

23 Normally found at the bottom of the pot, usually stuck to the pot.

121
Islamic Manners of Eating

68. The Prophet          


     
   
loved surīd24, in which
pieces of bread are mixed with gravy.
69. It is the practice of Satan to eat with one finger and the
practice of the arrogant to eat with two fingers. However
eating with three is the practice of the Prophets  89 
  :  .

HOW MUCH SHOULD ONE EAT?


70. One should divide one’s hunger into three parts. One part
should be for food, one for water and one for air. For
example, if one becomes full with three slices of bread,
one should suffice with one slice (which will satisfy 1/3
of the hunger), drink water to fill 1/3 and leave the rest
for air. It is not a sin and it is permissible to eat a stomach
full, however, there are many benefits and blessings
[barakah] of eating less. Try it and see for yourself; to your
astonishment you will become healthier. May Allah    ! "
Grant us the assistance [taufīq] to observe Pait ka Qufl-e-
Madina [Excellence of hunger], which is to guard the
stomach from Harām [strictly forbidden] and gluttonizing
(excessive eating).

IT IS SUNNAH TO TAKE A SIESTA [QAILULAH]


71. Take a siesta after the midday meal, which is known as
Qailulah. It is Sunnah to take a siesta; especially for those
who do vigils in night for worship, as it helps them
concentrate on the worship vigils. It is also beneficial to take
a walk after dinner. Doctors advise people to walk atleast
150 steps after dinner.

 ‫ ﻟ‬
72. It is imperative that you recite Al-Hamdulillah % ‫ﺤ ﻤﺪ‬
after eating.
73. Do not rise before the dining-mat has been taken away.

24 See footnote number 10 on page 57

122
The Manners Pertaining to Food

74. Wash your hands thoroughly after eating and wipe them
dry. One can also use soap.
75. It is prohibitted to wipe your hands dry with paper.
76. It is permissible to wipe your hands clean with a towel;
however, one should not use the clothes that he is
wearing.

ACTIONS THAT CAUSE THE DEPRIVATION OF BLESSINGS [BARAKAH]


   5
77. Sheikh Mufti Muhammed Khalil Khan Barakati       6
 7
has said, ′′Barakah is removed from the food if one
washes his hands in the same untensil that he used for
eating, uses his kurta, pants (pyjamas) or his sleeve to
wipe his hands dry.” (Sunnī Bahishtī Zaiwar, p. 578)
78. One should not heavily excersize, or lift heavy objects, or
do physically challenging activities right after the
consumption of food. This may cause appendicitis,
intestinal problems, and one’s belly to bulge.

 ‫  ﻟ‬in an audible tone to others,


79. Recite Al-Hamdulillah % ‫ﺤ ﻤﺪ‬
only when every body has finished eating, otherwise,
recite it quietly (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 490, vol. 9). The same
applies for the Duās recited after eating, as the other
person(who is still eating) may be embarassed if you
recite the Duās [Supplications] in a loud tone.

IS IT PERMISIBLE TO EAT FRUIT FROM A TREE THAT BELONGS TO


ANOTHER PERSON?
80. One is not allowed to eat fruits without the permission of
the owner if one enters an orchard and sees fruits on the
ground. There are two types of permissions. One is
explicit, where as the other is implicit. In the first case, the
owner grants permission in clearly stated terms. In the

123
Islamic Manners of Eating

second case, the permission is implied, that is, it’s


customary for the visitors to eat fruit that has fallen on
the ground and the owner does not stop them from doing
so.
It is not permissible for one to pluck and eat the fruit directly
from the tree. However, if the fruits are aplenty and it is
understood that the owner will not be discontent (offended); it
is permissible to pluck the fruit, but one is still not allowed to
transport the fruit out of the orchard (Fatāwah Alamghīrī, pp. 229, vol.
5). In all the situations above, the customary nature (the fact that
an action is commonplace) of the behavior should be taken into
account. If the behavior is not commonplace or if the owner will
be offended; it is not permissible to eat the fruit even if they
have fallen onto the ground.

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

HOW IS IT TO EAT WITHOUT PERMISSION?


81. If one enters the house of a friend and takes the liberty to
eat food without his permission, or enters the orchard of a
friend and plucks a fruit and then eats it; if he knows that
his friend would not be offended, then it is permissible to
eat. However, one should be aware, that often times one
may think that his friend will not be offended but he will
be ofended in actuality (Fatāwah Alamghīrī, pp. 229, vol. 5).
82. It is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to eat the spinal cord of
the sacrificed animals [zabīha]. One should carefully
remove these from the neck area, and the back bone
before preparing food.
83. There is no harm, if the spinal cord of the chicken remains
in the food while cooking as it is very thin and extremely
difficult to remove. However, it should not be consumed.

124
The Manners Pertaining to Food

Similarly, one should also not eat the neck muscle and
black veins which are commonly found around the neck
area of a chicken.
84. It is also Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to eat the glands of
sacrificed animals [zabīha]. One should therefore remove
them before cooking.

THE HEART OF A CHICKEN


85. Do not waste [isrāf] the heart of a chicken. One should cut
it open, thoroughly clean the blood inside, and include it
in food.

DO NOT EAT BLOOD VESSELS


86. The blood that remains in a sacrificed animal [zabīha] is
pure [pāk], however, it is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to
consume it.

Thoroughly inspect and clean the areas of the meat where


blood is most likely to remain, for example, the neck and the
drumsticks of the chicken. These blood vessels turn black when
cooked.

DO NOT SAY ′′BISMILLAH KARO25 [DO BISMILLAH]′′


87. Let’s say, a person A is consuming food, another person B
enters. Person A asks person B to join in the meal. It has
often been observed that the person B normally replies
saying ′′Bismillah karo′′. Instead of saying this, since it is
strictly impermissible, one should utter the words of Duā
[Supplication] such as ′′May Allah    ! " give you barakah
(Bahar-e-Sharī’at, pp. 32, part. 16)′′.

25 This is an expression that is commonly used in Urdu speaking people.

125
Islamic Manners of Eating

IT IS HARĀM [STRICTLY FORBIDDEN] TO EAT ROTTEN MEAT


88. It is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to eat rotten meat.
Similarly, one can not eat food that has turned bad
(rotten).
If food has turned frothy, or foul smell emantes from it, or
fungus has grown; then most likely the food has gone bad.
Curries made of lentils can rot quicky.

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,
GREEN CHILIES
89. Learn to re-use the green chillies and other spices, cloves
and cinnamon (one should separate and store them
immediately after preparing the food) instead of throwing
them way after one use (if it is possible to do so). One can
also grind and re-use them.

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

WHAT SHOULD ONE DO WITH THE LEFT OVER BREAD?


90. Throwing away left over food or bread is (Israf) wasting.
Feed this to the fowls, sheep and cows. One can also mix
this bread with gravy and cook, which happens to be an
elegant cuisine.

HOW IS IT TO EAT CRAB OR SMALL SHRIMPS?


91. Aside from fish, all other animals found in water are
Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to consume. If a dead fish is
found floating in the water, it is Harām to eat this fish. It
is also Harām to eat crabs. Scholars differ on their opinion
on shrimps though. It is however, permissible to consume
126
The Manners Pertaining to Food

them (shrimps) but one should refrain as it is better to do


so.
92. A dead locust is Halāl. Fish and Locust is Halāl; one is not
required to slaughter them.

O CREATOR OF THE PROPHETS    ! "! Forgive us. Grant us the


taufiq of reading this book as many times as it would take us to
memorize the prophetic practices and the manners pertaining
to food. Also grant us the taufiq to act upon them.

   ٖ    


X   Y
  ( S     Z  [  \  X 
  (
      



      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

% M  € `  .   - & - 

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

127
CHAPTER 2
FOODS OF JINNS 26

THE VIRTUES OF DURŪD

S
ULTAN OF BOTH WORLDS, THE MERCY FOR THE UNIVERSE,
the Noble and Highly Glorified Prophet         
    
  
said, “Whoever recites one hundred Durūd [Blessings on
the Prophet] upon me, on a Friday, Allah Almighty    ! " will
fulfill one hundred of his needs [wishes]. Out of these, seventy
will be fulfilled in the hereafter and thirty shall be fulfilled in
this world (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 256, vol. 1, ḥadiš: 2239).”

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

DELEGATION OF JINNS VISITED THE PROPHET


Sayyidūnā ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ūd     3 "    
 ?
7 has narrated that a
delegation of jinns came to the Merciful Prophet, the Shafi’
[Intercessor] of the Ummah, The Master of all Prophets
         
      
  and requested that [humans in] his ummah
refrain from using bones, dung, or charcoal for cleansing [the
genital and perineal areas] after relieving themselves, because
bones, dung and charcoal have been designated as their [jinns’]
sustenance by Allah. Thereafter, the Merciful [Karim] Prophet
         
     
   
prohibited their use [for cleaning] (Sunan Abī
Dāwūd, pp. 48, vol. 1, ḥadiš: 39).

26 Creation of Allah    !  " made of smokeless fire

128
Islamic Manners of Eating

POPULATION OF JINNS
Dear Islamic Brothers! Jinns are a creation of Allah    ! ". They
have been created from fire. They eat, drink, and even get
married. Their population is nine times that of humans.
Sayyidūnā Amar Bikālī   3 "    
 ? 7 has stated, “Whenever humans
have a [new-born] child, jinns have nine (Jāmi’-ul-Bayān, pp. 85, vol.
9, ḥadiš. 24803).”

JINNS AT THE DINING-MAT OF THE MUSLIMS


Shaykh Jalāl-ud-Dīn Suyūtī Ash-Shafaī         5
 6
 7 has quoted
from a Taba’ī [Companion of the Sahāba],”Jinns live on the
roofs of the Muslims’ homes. They come down from the roofs
to eat, as the dining-mat is laid in the afternoons and in the
evenings (as the family members sit to eat) and join with them.
Allah    ! " deters the wicked Jinns because of their presence
(Luqt-ul Marjān, p. 44).”

PRIVATE WHISPERS OF A SNAKE WITH THE PROPHET


Sayyidūnā Jābir bin Abdullah   3 "   
 ? 7 has stated, “I was with
the Prophet of Allah             !
     
      ", when suddenly a
snake came and stood next to him and then drew his mouth
closer to the Prophet’s         
     
  blessed ear and started
to whisper something privately to him. The Merciful [Karīm]
and Compassionate Prophet               
  replied, “That’s
fine!” Then the snake left. I inquired about the snake, and the
Master of the Prophets               
  informed me, “That
was a jinn and he urged me to order my ‘ummah [Muslim
community] to avoid using old bones and dung for cleaning
after relieving themselves, as this has been made their (the
Jinns’) sustenance by Allah    ! ".” (Luqt-ul Marjān, p. 46)

Dear Islamic Brothers! These narrations show us that even the


jinns would come to our Master         
     
  for solutions

129
Foods of Jinns

to their problems. These accounts also show that bones and


dung are food for the jinns. It is Makrūh [disliked] to use bones,
dung, and charcoal for cleansing, [after relieving oneself]. The
following is yet another narrative in the same context.

DARK JINNS
Sayyidūnā ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ūd   3 "    
 ?
7 narrated that once
before the Hijrah [the Prophet’s migration to Madinah] the
Renowned Prophet    
  
     
     
  went near the outskirts of
Makkah. The Highly Exalted Prophet                 
  drew a
line for me and instructed, “Do not speak to anyone until I
return to you, and do not be afraid when you see something.”
He then walked a few steps and sat down. Suddenly, a group of
dark men came to him (who seemed to be Ethiopians). They
came in the appearance as Allah Almighty    ! " has described:

/O E       2 -  F- L H   $


“It was night that those Jinn may crowd upon him.”
(Qurān)(Surah-Jinn, juz. 29, āyah.19) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation
of Quran])

Then they began to depart from the Master of Mankind


         
      
  .
could hear them saying, “Ya Rasūl-Allah
         
     
  
,
our journey is long and we shall now leave.
Bestow us with some food for our journey. The Compassionate
Master, the Leader of the Humans and Jinns         
     
 
said, “Dung is your food. The bones that you touch shall have
meat on them for you, and the dung that you go near will
transform into dates for you.”
When they departed, I asked who those people were?’ The
Mercy of the Worlds         
     
  replied, “They were Jinns
from the city of Nasībīn. (Luqt-ul Marjān, p. 47)”

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Islamic Manners of Eating

Rich and poor; Jinn, Men and Auliya Allah


All live on your endowments, Ya Rasool Allah    ٖ            

Shahansha o gadā jin o bashar aur auliyā


Hayn sab kā taray tukron par guzārā Ya Rasool Allah    ٖ            

JINNS ARE APPREHENSIVE OF LEMONS


It is stated in Qādī ‘Alī Bin Hasan Khalīl’s “Savānah-e-
Hayāt” that Jinns would visit him. Then the Jinns stopped
visiting him for a long period of time. When Jinns were asked
about the reason for their long absence, they explained, “You
had lemons in your home and we do not visit homes which
have lemons (Luqt-ul Marjān, p. 103).”

JINNS FEAR WHITE ROOSTERS


Here are two Exalted Sayings of the Beloved Prophet              
  :

• “Keep a white rooster for, neither Satan nor magician would


come near the home [with the white rooster] or its
surrounding homes (Mu’jam Awsaṭ, pp. 1201, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 677).”
• “Do not speak ill of the white rooster as I am its friend and
it is mine. Its enemy is my enemy. The Jinns are deterred
away as far as its voice reaches.” (Luqt-ul Marjān, p. 165)

FODDER FOR THE ANIMALS OF THE JINNS


When the delegation of Jinns came to visit The Highly
Respected Prophet, The Master of Guidance for the Mankind,
His Eminence         
     
  and requested for provisions for
themselves as well as for their animals, they were told, “For
you there is the bone upon which the Exalted name of Allah
  !
  " is taken, that is it must be from a halal and pure animal.
And for you, the bare bones will become as they were when
they had meat on them, in your hands. And all dung is feed for
131
Foods of Jinns

your animals.” Then He         


     
  ordered the humans,
”Do not use bones or dung for cleaning [after relieving
yourself] as these are provisions for your brethren (Muslim
Jinns).” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 236, ḥadiš. 450)

JINNS CAN ABDUCT PEOPLE AS WELL!


 
An Ansari27 Companion   3 "    ? 7 of the Prophet         
    
  was
abducted by Jinns one night as he left his home for Isha prayers.
He was kept in captivity for several years. When he returned to
Madinah, The Leader of the Believers, Sayyidūnā Umar Al-
Farūq-ul-Azam   3 "    ?
 7 asked him what had happened. The
Ansari    3 "   
 ? 7 told his story:

“[Non-believing] jinns had abducted me. I was in their


captivity for a long time. Thereafter, Muslim Jinns made jihad
[and fought] against them. I was one of the many captured [by
the Muslim Jinns]. The Muslim Jinns counseled amongst each
other saying that this human is a Muslim and that it was not
appropriate to hold me in captivity. Thereafter, they gave me
an option either to stay with them or to return to my family. I
chose to return to my family, so they brought me back to
Madinah.”

Sayyidūnā Umar Al-Farūq-ul-Azam   3 "    ?


 7 then inquired
about their foods, to which the Ansari Companion   3 "    ? 
 7
informed,
“They would eat Laubia [a type of bean] and those foods upon
which the name of Allah    ! " is not recited.” [i.e., the food
consumed by someone without reciting Bismillah ! ‫]  ﺴ ﻢ‬

Sayyidūnā ‘Umar   3 "    


 ? 7 inquired about their drinks. The
Companion   3 "    
 ? 7 replied, “Jadaf.” ‘Jadaf’ either refers to a

27Companions of the Prophet              


      who lived in Madinah known for their
help to the Companions who migrated from Makkah

132
Islamic Manners of Eating

kind of Yemini grass which quenches the thirst as it is eaten or


it refers to that container of water etc. which is left uncovered
(Ḥayāt-ul-Ḥaywān-ul-Kubrā, pp. 295, vol. 1).”

      
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PROTECTION FROM JINNS AND MAGIC


Dear Islamic brothers! These narratives reveal that the Jinns eat
Laubia [beans], the foods upon which Bismillah ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬has not
been recited, and the food and drinks from containers that are
left uncovered (with food in them). Furthermore, we also
learned that Jinns can also abduct humans. This is indeed
troubling [to know] because whole army battalions and
weaponry are not useful in safeguarding oneself from them. As
a result, four ‘Madani Guards’ are presented to safeguard
ourselves from the wickedness of Jinns. These are relayed from
the pocket-size booklet, ‘Forty Spiritual Cures’28, which is
published by Maktabat-ul Madinah:

1. Yā-Muhayminu ‫ﻦ‬   ‫ﻣ  ﻴﻤ‬


 ‫ ﻳ‬: Anyone who recites this 29 times
daily (at any time during the day) will be guarded from
calamities and tragedies, Inshā-Allah    ! " [Allah    !  "
Willing]

2. Yā-Wakīlu ‫ﻞ‬ ‫وﻛ ﻴ‬  ‫ ﻳ‬: Anyone who recites this seven times, at
Asr time, will be protected from calamities and tragedies,
Inshā-Allah    ! ".

3. Yā-Mumītu J  ‫ﻣﻤ  ﻴ‬
 ‫ ﻳ‬: Magic will not have any effect upon
anyone who recites this seven times daily, Inshā-Allah
   !
 ".

28 Written by by Ameer of Ahlus Sunnah, Maulana Muhammad Illyas Attar Qadri

133
Foods of Jinns

4. Yā-Qādiru ‫ﻳﻗد ر‬: Anyone who makes a routine of reciting


this while washing, during Wudū [ablution], cannot be
abducted by their enemies (from amongst humans and
jinns), Inshā-Allah    ! ".
(Continue to recite Durūd [Blessings on the Prophet] during
Wudū, as it is a Mustahab [preferable] practice, along with
reciting Yā-Qādiru ‫ﻳﻗد ر‬.) Recite the litanies for protection as
well as, those granted by your Shaykh [Spritual Leader]29 for
your protection.

      
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JINNS ALSO KILL


At times, Muslim Jinns also punish wicked humans, as recorded
by Ibn ‘Aquīl in his book ‘Kitāb-ul-Funūn’:

“We had a house. Anyone who would go there to spend


the night would be found dead in the morning. Then, a Muslim
[who had moved from the western areas] bought this house. To
the surprise of his neighbors, nothing happened to him the first
night, he slept there. In fact, he lived in this house for a period
of time before he moved away to a different place.
When he was asked about the house (and his well being in
that house), he replied, ‘During the night I would recite the
Holy Quran after the Isha prayer. Once a young man came out
from the well [near the home] and greeted me with Salām. I

29Ameer of Ahlus Sunnah       #  $% & '


 (
has written the Shajrah Qadariyyah Razaviyyah
Attariya [Book of Invocations and Advices from the Shaykh.] It lists several litanties for
protection. This Shajrah has been translated into many languages such as Arabic,
Sindhi, Hindi, Gujrati, English, and French. Ameer of Ahlus Sunnah       #  $% &  ' (
has
given all his mureeds and talibeen [disciples] permission to read the litanies contained
therein. This pocket size Shajrah may be purchased from any branch of Maktabat-ul
Madinah.

134
Islamic Manners of Eating

was afraid but the young man asked me not to be. He requested
me to teach him the Quran. I began teaching him. Then I asked
him about this house. He revealed to me that, ‘We are Muslim
Jinns and we recite the Quran and pray Salāh [daily ritual
prayers]. Usually, alcoholics and wicked people would come to
stay here; therefore we would suffocate them to death.’ I told
him that I was somewhat scared of him and requested him to
visit during the day. He assured me that he would do that.
Thereafter, he would come out from the well during the day.
One day while I was teaching him the Quran, an exorcist came
to our neighbourhood announcing that he had invocations for
curing snake bites, warding off the evil-eye, and repelling black
magic.
The Jinn asked, ‘Who is this man?’ I said, ‘He is one who
recites invocations and blows on people [to relieve them of
afflictions.]’ The Jinn said, ‘Bring him here.’ So I called him
over. Suddenly, the Jinn turned into a serpent (snake). The
exorcist read something and blew towards him causing the
snake to come falling down onto the center of the house. The
exorcist captured him and entrapped him in his basket. I
stopped him, but he said, ‘This is my prey! I will take him.’ I
offered him a gold coin and he left him behind.
After the exorcist left, the snake turned back into a jinn, but
he had turned pale. I inquired, ‘What happened?’ He replied,
‘The exorcist recited the Holy Names and blew towards me
causing this condition. I have very slim chances of surviving.
When you hear screams from the well, abandon this place.’”
Ibn ‘Aquīl continues that the man said,
“I heard the screams during the night, and I left the home for
good, in the morning (Luqt-ul Marjān, p. 105).”

Dear Islamic Brothers! This narrative illustrates that at times


mere joking can turn quiet costly. It seems that the Jinn turned

135
Foods of Jinns

into the monstrous snake only to tease the exorcist [reciter of


invocations], but the skilled exorcist recited the Holy Names
and blew on the snake which in turn resulted in the loss of the
Jinn’s life. Therefore, we should refrain from teasing anyone or
underestimating their abilities.
This narrative also serves as a lesson that the abomination
and nuisance of sins at times could bring troubles to us in this
world, like the death of the alcoholics and sinners at the hands
of the Jinns. Those who watch movies and TV programs and
are engaged in sinful activities should take heed from this
parable, lest any Jinn may overcome them because of their
transgressions.
Another lesson this narrative affirms is that the worship and
recitation of Quran avert difficulties away from us. Like the
Jinn in this narrative, who became the student of the Muslim,
who prayed Salāh and recited Quran. Therefore, keep your
homes fragrant with prayers, Quran recitations, and Naats
[Praises of the Prophet         
     
  .] Keep them devoid of
  !
movies and songs. Inshā-Allah   " you will reap great
blessings from this act.

To learn how to refrain from sins and to learn the


proper ways of worship, make a conscious effort to travel in the
Madanī Qāfilah regularly with the Devotees of the Prophet. In
this way, Inshā-Allah    ! ", you will reap countless virtues for the
hereafter and you will also be guarded from worldly calamities.

MY SPINAL CORD COMPRESION GOT CURED


An Islamic Brother from Bab-ul Madinah, Karachi [Pakistan]
had spinal cord compression which caused severe pain. He had
tried several modes of treatments but none were successful in
curing him. Doctors told him that an operation was the only
option, but there was no surety about the success of the

136
Islamic Manners of Eating

operation. Then, he was encouraged to travel in a thirty (30)


day Madanī Qāfilah, by the efforts of an Islamic Brother. Al-
Hamdulillah    ! " [By the Grace of Allah    !  " ], his spinal cord
compression was healed without an operation and was relieved
from severe pain.
Have any illness, to find easiness; Let’s go in the Qāfilah
Have any aches, to find wellness; Let’s go in the Qāfilah

Gar koi marz hay to merī arz hay


Paoogay rāhatayn Qafilay mayn chalo
Dard-e sar ho agar yā ho dard-e-qamar
Paoogay sayhatayn Qafilay main chalo

Dear Islamic Brothers! How blissful is the Madanī Qāfilah.


I would like to clarify here that there is no assurance
that every illness is cured by travelling in the Devotees of the
Prophet, as these matters are in the control of Allah Almighty
   !
 ". Although people have no surety of being cured, they still
spend tens of thousands of dollars on these treatments. This fact
does not discourage them from spending more on these
treatments. Some even die despite having top notch treatments,
yet no one speaks ill of those treatments. Therefore, if the illness
does not go away by travelling with the Madanī Qāfilah, then
one should not be deceived by the Satanic deceptions [was-
wasah]. [Remember!] Your purpose for travelling with the
Madanī Qāfilah should not only be to seek solutions to your
worldly problems but should also entail the intentions of
seeking knowledge of our religion and acquiring reward
[šawāb] for the hereafter. Keep in mind that cure is a blessing,
and illness is also a means of mercy. Therefore, we should be
patient in every state. There are several virtues for the person
who faces illness and difficulty. The fortunate believers earn
multitude of rewards by being patient through these trials.
Here is an account that exhibits these virtues.
137
Foods of Jinns

STAYING BLIND IS FINE WITH ME


  3 "    
The Companion Sayyidunā Abū Bashīr  ? 7 was blind. He
has stated,
“Once I visited Sayyidunā Imām Bāqr   3 "    ?
 7 . He
passed his hands over my eyes and I was able to see. Then, he
passed his hands over my eyes again and I became blind
again.”
He asked me,
“Which condition would you prefer, being able to see
but on the Day of Judgment be accountable for this blessing of
sight and all your other deeds; or remaining blind but entering
Paradise, without any questioning?”

   3 "   
Sayyidunā Abū Bashīr  ? 7 replied,
“I prefer an entry into Paradise without any questioning
and am willing to stay blind. (Shwāhid-un-Nubuwwah, p. 241)

      
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Dear Islamic Brothers! You just heard of the power [karāmat]
given to the righteous servants of Allah    ! ". They are
bestowed with the ability to give sight to the blind and glad
tidings of an entry into Paradise without questioning to the true
believers. Furthermore, this narration reaffirms the virtues of
patience for the blind, as they are relayed in this Hadiš ul-
Qudsī30. The Mercy of the Worlds, the Highly Exalted Prophet
      !"
  
        said, “Allah   says, ‘I will grant Paradise
     
to my servant whose sight I took away, and he remained
patient. (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 6, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 5653)

30Classified as a Prophetic narration, in which the Prophet relays the exact words of
Allah    ! " .

138
Islamic Manners of Eating

Calamities though they may befall


Waver not, be patient through ‘em all
O Muslim, hold the lips from complain
This is the Sunnah, in trials and pain

Tutay jo sar payh kohay balā, sabr kar


Ay Musalmān! Na tu dagmagā, sabr kar
Lab pay harf-e shikayat na lā, sabr kar
Kay yeh Sunnat-e Shah-e Abrār hay

      
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139
CHAPTER 3
NINETY NINE PARABLES

VIRTUES OF DURŪD [BLESSINGS ON THE PROPHET]

K
NOWER OF THE UNKNOWN [Dānā-e-Ghūyūb], The Blessing
for the Universe [Rahmat-ul-lil-‘Alamīn], The Intercessor
of the Sinners [Shafī’-ul-Mużnibīn], The Confidant of the
Poor [Anīs-ul-Gharībīn], The Glimmer of the Mystics [Sirāj-us-
Sālikīn], The Beloved of the Creator of the world [Mahbūb-i-
Rabbil-‘Aālamīn]         
     
  has said, “When the day of
Thursday approaches, Allah    ! " sends his angels, who have
Scribes made of Silver and pens made of gold. They inscribe the
names of those who extensively recite Durūd [Blessings on the
Prophet] on the day of Thursday and the night of Friday.” (Kanz-
ul-’Ummāl, pp. 250, vol. 1, ḥadiš: 2174)

      
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1. THREE BIRDS
   3 "   
Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik  ? 7 has narrated,
“Three birds were gifted to the Imām-ul-Mutawakilīn, Sayyid-
ul-Qāni’īn, The Blessing for the Universe [Rahmat-ul-lil-‘Alamīn],
        
      
  , from which He             granted one
    
to his maid to consume. The Next day, the servant brought the
bird with her, upon which the Prophet               
  said,
‘Did I not order you not to save anything for tomorrow.

140
Islamic Manners of Eating

Undoubtedly, Allah    ! " Grants the sustenance [rizq] for every


day to come (Shu’bul Īmān, pp. 118, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 1347).’”

SAVING THINGS FOR THE NEXT DAY


Dear Islamic Brothers! The Prophet’s                 
  level of

trust [tawakkul] in Allah Almighty   ! is certainly regarded as "
the most highest among the creation. The Holy Prophet
   
  
     
     
  never saved anything for tomorrow. He never
gave Zakāh [alms] because he never accumulated any wealth.
The renowned commentator of the Quran, Hakīm-ul-Ummah,
Mufti Ahmad Yār Khan 2 
 3 4  5
 6 7 
   has stated, “[The Prophet]
Sayyidunā Ibrāhim Khalillulah ran a knife over the neck of his
son. [The Saint Ibrāhīm Bin] Adham made Duā to Allah    ! "
for his son Ibrahim, ‘O Allah    ! "! Grant him death because I
became negligent of You for a moment when I kissed him.”
This was the enthusiasm and love that these eminent
personalities possessed. “Eliminate that which keeps one from a
friend” was their testament. Sayyidunā Abu-zar Ghifāri   3 "  
  ?
7
was an ascetic [zahud] of the highest degree. The following
couplet is a reflexion of his sentiments.

Korī na rakh kafan ko, taj dāl māl o dhan ko


Jis nay diyā hay tan ko daigā vahi kafan ko.

Bear in mind that it is not Harām [Forbidden] to accumulate


wealth that was earned lawfully. The Honorable Mufti       5
 6
 7
further states that it is Halāl [Lawful] to accumulate wealth (and
property) and to leave property after one dies as long as Zakāh
[Alms], Fitrah, Slaughtering [of an animal] and the rights of the
people were fulfilled when due. (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 88-89, vol. 3)

2. THE GOAT ROSE FROM THE DEAD TWITCHING ITS EAR


   3 "   
Sayyidunā Kaā’b Bin Mālik  ? 7 has narrated,

141
Ninety Nine Parables

“Sayyidunā Jābir Bin Abdullah   3 "    


 ? 7 came into the Holy
Presence of The Embodiment of Nūr, The Intercessor on the Day
of Reckoning, The Honorable and Noble Prophet                
  .
He noticed weakness from his facial expressions. He
immediately went home and told his wife, ‘Today I have noticed
a change on the blessed face of the Prophet               
  , and
I believe it is because of hunger. Do you have anything?’ She
replied, ‘By God, nothing except for this goat and a little flour’.
He   3 "    
 ? 7 immediately slaughtered the animal and ordered his
wife to prepare the meat and bread in haste. When the food was
finally prepared, he served it to the Prophet               
  in a
large bowl. The Mercy for the Universe, the Embodiment of Nūr,
the Leader of the Sons of Adam, the Eminent Prophet              
 
commanded Jābir   3 "    ? 
 7 , ‘Oh Jābir, gather your nation
(people)’. Sayyidunā Jābir   3 "    ? 
 7 gathered the people
accordingly. The Highly Extolled Prophet    
  
     
     
  then
ordered, ‘Send them to me in small groups.’ They [guests] began
to eat; when one group would finish another would take its place
until all the people ate. The quantity of food that was before any
one began to eat remained the same even after everyone ate. The
Noble Prophet    
  
     
     
  would order [the people] to eat
but not to break the bones. The Prophet                 
  then
gathered all the bones in the centre of the container, positioned
his blessed hand on top and recited something which I did not
hear. The Goat that we just ate rose from the dead, twitching its
ear. The Prophet                 
  said, ‘Take your goat back’. I
then returned the goat to my wife. She [astonishingly] said,
‘What is this?’ I replied, By God, this is the same goat that we
slaughtered. Allah    ! ", Granted it life with the Duā of the
[Noble] Prophet         
     
  .”

The narrator goes on to say that his wife proclaimed


spontaneously, “I bear witness that He               
  is indeed
the Prophet of Allah         
       ".” (Al-Khaṣāiṣ ul-Kubrā, pp.
       !
112, vol. 2)

142
Islamic Manners of Eating

3. CHILDREN ROSE FROM THE DEAD


The well known devotee and admirer of the Noble Prophet
          
     
  the Great
Scholar, Allama Abdur-Rahmān Jāmi
     5 6 7
 has narrated that,

“Sayyidunā Jābir   3 "    


 ? 7 sacrificed a goat in the presence of
his children. When he left, after the conclusion of the chore, his
children went on to the roof. The elder brother told his younger
brother ‘Come let’s imitate our father and I do with you what he
did with the goat.’ The elder brother then restrained the younger
brother, ran the knife over his throat, and beheaded him, holding
the head in his hands. When their mother became aware of what
had happened, she ran after the elder son; the child thus ran
away from his mother in apprehension, fell down from the roof,
and died. The amazing women showed extreme resilience and
did not scream nor did she wail as she did not want to disturb
her distinguished guest, The Noble Prophet                
   

[who was to come later]. She shrouded the two young bodies
with repose and resoluteness, not notifying any person,
including her husband Sayyidunā Jābir               
  . Though
her heart was shedding tears of blood, she still maintained a bold
face; fresh and glimmering. In these trying moments she still
managed to prepare food. The Prophet                 
  then
arrived and the food was served. That very moment, Angel Jibrīl
[Gabriel]  89       came in to the presence of the Highly Revered

Prophet’s                    and said, ‘Ya-Rasūl-Allah (Oh
Prophet of Allah)       "! Allah    ! " commands
                 !
     
you to order Jābir   3 "    
 ? 7 to bring his children out so that they
may also be privileged to break bread with You. The Prophet
        
      
  ordered Jābir   3 "    ? 7 to bring his children forth.
Sayyidunā Jābir   3 "    
 ? 7 immediately went forth and asked his
wife where the children were. She asked him to inform the Noble
Prophet    
  
        that the children were not present. The
     
Prophet                 
  insisted that it was the command of

143
Ninety Nine Parables

Allah    ! " and that they (the hosts) immediately call the
children. Sayyidunā Jābir’s   3 "    ? 
 7 lamenting wife burst into
tears informing him that she could not bring the children.
Sayyidunā Jābir   3 "    
 ? 7 replied, ‘What is the matter? Why are
you weeping?’ His wife took him inside and informed him of
what had befallen and lifted the shroud to uncover the dead
bodies of their children. Sayyidunā Jābir  3 "    
 ? 7 began to shed
tears as he was unaware of their death. Hence, Sayyidunā Jābir
 
  3 "  
 ? 7 placed both the corpses before the Prophet              
  .
Clamors of people lamenting and weeping began to emerge from
the house. Allah    ! " sent Angel Jibrīl  89        stating, ‘Oh Jibrīl

 89  
   ! Inform my Beloved          
         (Prophet) that his

Rab (Creator) states that Oh My Beloved                
   

(Prophet)! You supplicate and I will Grant them Life.’ Hence The
Embodiment of Nūr, The Leader of the Sons of Adam, His
Eminence, The Munificent Prophet    
     
        
  supplicated
and both children rose from the dead with the command of
Allah    ! " (Shwāhid-un-Nubuwwah, p. 105) and (Madārij-un-Nubuwwah, pp.
199, vol. 1)

Revitalise my dead heart, Oh My Master     ٖ            


!
And instill your Devotion, Oh My Master     ٖ            
!

Qalb-e-murdah ko maire ab tu jila do āqā


Jām-e-ulfat ka mujhay apni pilā do āqā

Dear Islamic Brothers! How extolled and high the status of our
Prophet    
  
        is? Little food fed many; the quantity
     
of food remained unchanged at the end, and the goat rose from
the dead twitching its ear when the recitation was made; not to
forget that Sayyidunā Jabir’s                
   
children were
brought back to life with the permission of Allah    ! ".

He revives the deceased and gratifies the grieved.


He sets the things in order, and causes the stress to be relieved.

144
Islamic Manners of Eating

He provides others; food to nourish, and water to replenish.


He accommodates both the Sultan and the Impoverished.

Murdon ko jilātay hayn roton ko hansāte hayn


Alām miťāťe hayn bigři ko banātain hayn
Sarkār khilāteain hayn sarkār pilātain hayn
Sultan o gada sab ko sarkār nibhāte hayn

      
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4. SEVEN DATES
   3 "   
Sayyidunā Arbās bin Sāriyah  ? 7 has narrated,
One night, during the expedition to Tabūk, the Holy Prophet
     
  
     
     
  asked Sayyidunā Bilāl   3 "     ? 7 , ‘Oh Bilāl   3 "     ?
7 !
Do you have anything to eat?’ Sayyidunā Bilāl   3 "    
 ?
7 replied,
 
‘Oh Prophet of Allah     ٖ               ! " ! I swear by Allah    ! "
that we have emptied our bags (that is, he could not find
anything).’ The Munificent Prophet    
  
     
     
  then replied,
‘Look carefully and empty your bags properly, perhaps
something may come out.’ At that time, there were three of us
and when everyone had emptied their bags, seven dates were
found. Placing the dates on a surface, The Holy Prophet
         
      
  positioned his blessed hands over them. He then
said to us, ‘Recite the Bismillah and eat.’ We then began to eat,
retrieving the dates from beneath the blessed hands of the Holy
Prophet               
  .

Sayyidunā Bilāl   3 "   


 ? 7 adds that he (Bilāl) kept the seeds in
his left hand and when he counted them, he saw that there
were 54 seeds in his hand alone. The other two companions also
ate until they were full.
Sayyidunā Arbās bin Sāriyah   3 "    ?
 7 further stated that
when they had finished eating, the Holy Prophet               

145
Ninety Nine Parables

raised his blessed hands from above the dates. The companions
2  %   
 - =  :   were surprised to see that all seven of the dates still
remained. The Highly Respected Prophet    
  
     
     
  then
turned to Sayyidunā Bilāl   3 "    
 ? 7 and ordered, ‘O Bilāl    3 "  
 ? 7 !
Keep them away and do not allow anyone to eat. These dates
will be useful later on.’

Sayyidunā Bilāl   3 "   


 ? 7 added that they did not eat them.

Sayyidunā Arbās bin Sāriyah   3 "   


 ? 7 continues that the next
day at mealtime, the Holy Prophet               
  again called
for the dates and he did the very same thing; that is, positioned
his blessed hands over the dates and commanded us to recite
“Bismillah” and eat. On that day, ten of us joined in to eat and
we all were satisfied. When He              
  lifted his blessed
hands, the seven dates still remained. He                
  then
said, ‘O Bilāl   3 "   
 ?
7 ! If I did not feel Hayā [humility] before
my Creator, we would have continued to eat from these very
same seven dates until we reached Medina.’ The Holy Prophet
        
     
  then gave these dates to a young boy who ate
them while he was leaving. (Al-Khaṣāiṣ ul-Kubrā, pp. 455, vol. 2) (Al
Khasā-isul Kubrā. Vol: 2. Pg: 455)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Dear Islamic brothers! Lay this to your Heart. What


immense authority Allah    ! " has Granted his Beloved Prophet
         
      
  , that despite the fact that they were a number of
companions present and that they were only seven dates; all
were fully satisfied.

He does not keep anything, though He is the Master of the worlds.


In his empty hands, He possesses things of both worlds.

Mālik e kaunaynn hayn go pās kuch rakhtay nahīn


Do jahān ki nai’matain hain un ke khālī hāth mayn.

146
Islamic Manners of Eating

5. I WOULD WATCH TWO MOVIES EVERYDAY


Dear Islamic Brothers! Stay associated with the Righteous
Environment of the Non-political Movement for propagation of
Quran and Sunnah, Da’awat-e-Islāmī. Al-Hamdulillah    ! " [By
the Grace of Allah    !  " ], Da’awat-e-Islāmī has brought about a
Madanī reformation in so many people. One Islamic brother of
Attarabad [as fondly called by Islamic brothers] (Jacobabad, a
city of Pakistan) of Bab-ul-Islam Sindh [a province of Pakistan]
told his story of coming into the Righteous Environment. He
says,
“I was immersed in sins. Often, I would watch two
movies a day and always had a walkman with me. I would sell
the old walkmans (for music) and get the latest models. Even
while going to bed, I would play the radio until I fell asleep
around two in the morning which my mother would then turn
off.
One of the Thursdays in the Holy month of Ramadaan
(1416 Hijrah), on my visit to Hayderabad [a city of Pakistan], a
friend of mine took me to the Weekly Sunnah Inspiring Ijtimā’
[Congregation] where we heard your Amīr Ahlusunnah
Maulānā Ilyas Qadri’s) speech live relayed by telephone from
Bab-ul-Madinah Karachi. That speech really moved me. I wept
over my sins in fear of Allah    ! ", and from that point on I
associated myself with the Righteous Environment Da’awat-e-
Islāmī. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", an Islamic Brother even inspired
me to adorn my face with the beard of fistful length.”
I was unwise as I voluntarily committed acts that were abase.
My Saviour saved me, saved me from disgrace.

Mayn to nadān tha danistā bhī kiyā kiyā na kiyā


Laj rakh lee mayray Lajpāl nay ruswa na kiyā

      
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Ninety Nine Parables

6. BLESSING IN JUST LITTLE FOOD


Sayyidunā Suhaib   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated,

“I had some food prepared for the Master of Madinah


         
      
  .
When I went to invite him, he was with his
Sahaba [Companions] at the time which is why I was not able
to say anything [as I would not be able to accommodate
everyone there]. When the Master of Madinah    
        
     
 
looked towards me, I signalled with my hands requesting him
to come to our home to eat. He asked, ‘These people?’ I replied,
‘No.’ The Renowned Prophet               
  became quiet as I
stood there. The Merciful Prophet                
    again
looked towards me and I again signalled my request. He asked
again, ‘These people?’ I said, ‘No.’ The second or third time I
said that it would be great [for then to accompany you], but I
told Him that I have little food which was cooked only for you.
The Master of the People         
     
  came with His Sahaba
[Companions] 2  %   
 - =  :  . Everyone ate to their satisfaction and
yet there was still food left. (Al-Khaṣāiṣ ul-Kubrā, pp. 82, vol. 2)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Dear Islamic Brothers! The Noble Prophet is undoubtedly


the source of blessings for us. The invitation was only for
Merciful Prophet          
      
  as there was little food in
that Companions home, but by the blessing of the Master of
Paradise, the Distributor of Blessings                 
   
little
food was sufficient for the many people there. In fact, there was
food left over.
Having heard of your Generosity, the world is at your Feet.
Bestow your Mercy for we are thirsty, for the sake of Your Grandsons
we seek.

Yeh sun kar sakhi āp ka āstānā, hay daman pasāray huway sab zamānah
Nawasūn ka sadqa nigah-e karam ho, tayray dar pay teray gadā āgae hain

148
Islamic Manners of Eating

Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", such is the greatness of the Master of


Madinah’s    
  
     
     
  Miracles (Major) [Mu’jizāt], and by the
blessing of devotion to Him, even The Prophet’s devotees show
Minor Miracles [Karāmāt]... Hence,

7. BLESSING OF SWEETS FOR CELEBRATION OF THE BLESSED BIRTH


In Murādabad, Al-Hind [India], one devotee of the
Prophet would zealously celebrate the Blessed Birth [of Prophet
          
     
   
] every year. He would organize a grand
Gathering of Mīlād (Maulūd) which would be attended by
Sadr-ul-Afādhil Allama Maulana Syyid Muhammad Na’īm-ud-
Dīn Murādābādi         5
 6
 7 , Spiritual Successor [Khalīfah] of the
Imam of the Fourteenth Hijrah, Imām Ahmad Raza Khan      5 6  7 .
One year, more people than usual came. In the end, when the
traditional Indian ladoos [sweets] were being distributed like
every year, nearly one-fourth of a kilogram per person, it
seemed that they would only be enough for half the people. The
worried host informed the Shaykh        5
 6
 7 of the shortfall. The
Shaykh       5 6   7 told the host as he took his handkerchief from
his pocket, ‘Put this on the dish of ladoos31,’ emphasizing to
distribute the sweets from underneath the handkerchief
without looking. After this, the sweets were distributed. When
the handkerchief was removed, the quantity of sweets was the
same as before the distribution. (Abstracted from Tarīkh-e-Islam ki Azīm
Shaksiyyat Sadr-ul-Afādhil, Pg: 343)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

With their signals they can change the course of the world.
When the devotees have such greatness how will their Master Be?

Chahaiin to ishārūn say apnay kāyā hī palat dain dunyā kī


Yeh shān hay khidmatgaroon ki sardār ka ā’alam kiyā hogā

31 This is a sub-continental sweet. It is prepared with flour, made into balls and dipped

into sugar.

149
Ninety Nine Parables

8. FATHER IS RELIEVED FROM THE TORMENT


Dear Islamic Brothers! The ones coming into the Righteous
Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī with righteous intentions,
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", are blessed with the goodness of both the
worlds. An Islamic Brother has told,
‘I was privileged to travel with the Devotees of the Prophet
in the Madanī Qāfilah a day after Eid. During the Madanī
Qāfilah, I saw my father in a dream. He had passed away two
years earlier. He was in a blissful state, so I asked, ‘Abbu [term of
endearment for fathers in Urdu], what happened after your
passing?’ He said, ‘I was punished for my sins for some time, but
then the torment was removed. Son, never leave the Righteous
Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī as it was by its’ blessing that I
was acquitted.’

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Dear Islamic Brothers! The Mercy of Allah    ! " is indeed


great. Pious children are Perpetual Charity [Sadaqah Jāriyah]
(means of continuous virtue), and their Duās [supplications] are
a source of comfort for the deceased parents. The Madanī
Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī is the best way to make your
children righteous.
Islamic brothers are all brothers
Filled with love is the Madanī Environment
In it, the Sunnah are Learned
Brings Fear of Allah    !  "
the Madanī Environment
To Shed Tears in Love of the Prophet    ٖ            
Come! You shall learn in the Madanī Environment

Hayn islami bhai sabhī bhai bhai


Hay bayhad muhabbat bharā madanī mahaul
Yahān sunatayn sīkhnay ko milayngī dilaega khauf-e khudā madanī mahaul

150
Islamic Manners of Eating

Nabī    ٖ             ki muhabbat mayn raunay ka andāz


Tum ājāo sikhlaega madanī mahaul

      
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9. THREE HUNDRED MEN METAMORPHOSED INTO SWINE


The Companions [Hawariyyūn] said to the Prophet Sayyidunā
   B-C
‘Īsā Rūhulllah 8 9      3DE F   , ‘Would your Rab (Creator)
   
  !
  " bestow us with foods from the heavens for us, by your
Duā?’ Sayyidunā ‘Īsā Rūhulllah 8 9    B-C      3DE F    replied, ‘Do
   
not ask such questions. Fear Allah    ! ", Do not ask for Miracles
[Mu’jizāt] for yourself. Abstain from this if you are believers.‘
They said, ‘O Your Excellency, we do not ask of this Miracle
[Mu’jizāh] because of any doubt in your Prophethood or in
doubt of the absolute power of Allah    ! ", rather there are four
purposes for this.
The first, is so that we eat the heavenly foods, seek its
blessings, enlighten our hearts, and get closer to Allah    ! ".
The second is so that we have ‘Ain-ul Yaqīn [belief by
having seen it with our eyes] of the glad tidings that You have
given that we are Maqbool-ud Duā [the ones whose prayers are
answered] and that our Creator    ! " listens to us so that our
hearts may have comfort and that we can be at peace of being
complete in our Faith.
The third is so that we can have ‘Ain-ul Yaqīn [having
seen it with our eyes] of your Truthfulness.
The fourth is so that we see this heavenly miracle, bear
witness for others and so that this story of ours can be a means
of completion of the Faith for people till Qiyāmah [Day of
Judgment]

151
Ninety Nine Parables

Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsī, ‘Abdullāh Ibn ‘Abbās, and the


majority of exegetists [mufassirīn] 2  %   
 - =  :   have said that,
‘When the Companions [Hawāriyyūn Of the Prophet ‘Īsā
Rūhulllah] were able to show that this request for heavenly
food was not for mere pleasure, instead they had righteous
intentions, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā Rūhullāh 8 9    B-C       3DE F    robed
    
himself in a tattered cloak made of jute and wept as he made
du’ā.

 O5 H    F% a     3  S  /O  "  3  2 - L  W c0 9 
 J (  OB/ ‚c (  3D  { !  F  c 3&  7  :  
  
 3(
X  Kz %   l   a  '  F    3Kz 7
   _
'O Allah our Rab    !  " , 'send down to us a tray of food from the heaven so
that it may be an occasion of rejoicing for us, for the first and the last of us
and a sign from You, and provide for us and you are the best of Providers.’
(Qurān)(Surah-tut- Mā`idah, juz. 7, āyah. 114) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

Hence, red dining-mat descended covered by the clouds,


which all people could see. This dining-mat slowly descended
with the clouds until it was positioned in the center, where the
people were. The Prophet Sayyidunā ‘Īsā Rūhullāh
8    B-C
9      3DE F    wept much upon seeing this dining-mat and
   
did Duā, ‘Oh Master, make me from amongst the thankful. Oh
My Rab     ! ", make this a blessing for the Companions
[Hawariyyūn], not a torment.’
The Hawaris smelled such a fragrance from it that they had
never sensed anything like it before. Prophet Sayyidunā ‘Īsā
   B-C
Rūhullāh 8 9      3DE F   and His Companions bowed down
   
to perform Sajdah of Shukr [Prostration of thanks]. Since the
dining-mat was covered with a red cloth, Prophet Sayyidunā
‘Īsā Rūhullāh 8 9    B-C      3DE F    asked, ‘Who will open it?’. All
   
of his companions requested that he 8 9    B-C      3DE F   uncover
   

152
Islamic Manners of Eating

it. He made a fresh Wudū [ablution], prayed Nawāfil


[supererogatory prayers], made duā’ for a long time, and then
removed the cover.

The following things were laid on the dining-mat:

Seven fish and seven pieces of bread; the fish neither had
any scales, nor any bones inside. Oil was dripping from it.
Vinegar was placed by the fish’s heads and salt by the tail.
Along the sides vegetables were lined up. It is stated in some
narrations that there were five fish.

One piece of bread had olives on it, the second had honey,
the third had butter, the fourth had cheese, and the fifth had
fried meat on it.

Sham’ūn, one of the companions [hāwaris], asked, ‘O


   B-C
Rūhullāh 8 9       3DE F   , are these foods of the earth or
    
heaven?’ He 8 9    B-C      3DE F    replied, ‘These foods are neither
    
from earth nor heaven, they are simply from nature.’

First, the ill and the poor, the starving, the ones who had
leprosy and the disabled were called. He 8 9    B-C      3DE F    said,
   
‘Say Bismillah and eat this, this is blessed for you and a calamity
   B-C
for the non-believers. Then He 8 9      3DE F   said the same to
   
the others. Hence, Seven thousand three hundred people ate the
food on the first day. Then that dining-mat ascended and as
people watched, it flew away and disappeared. All the ill were
cured and the poor became wealthy. This dining-mat descended
for forty days continuously, or every other day and people ate
from ate. His Excellency Prophet ‘Īsā 8 9    B-C      3DE F    then
   
received a revelation [wahī] that now only the poor would eat
from it not the wealthy. When this was announced, the wealthy
became upset and claimed that this was only magic. Those who
rejected numbered three hundred; when they went to sleep in
their homes with their families in the night, they were fine and

153
Ninety Nine Parables

well, but when they woke up in the morning, they had been
turned into swine.
These swine would run around in the streets and eat filthy
faeces. When the people saw their state, they came running to
        3D E F    and wept. The swine also gathered
   B-C
Prophet ‘Īsā 8 9
around him crying. Prophet ‘Īsā Rūhullāh 8 9    B-C      3DE F   
   
would call them by their name and they would move their
heads in response but could not speak. They lived in this
humiliating condition for three days. On the fourth day, they all
perished. There were no women or children among them. All
the nations that were metamorphosed into animals perished.
Their lineage did not continue as this is the law of the nature.
(Tafsīr Kabīr, pp. 423, vol. 4)

It is stated in a Hadiš [noble Prophetic saying] of Tirmiżi that


The Merciful Prophet, The Beloved of Allah               "
       !
has said, ‘The khwān of bread and meat was sent from the
skies. It was decreed that there should not be any breaching in
it or any saving of the food for the next day. But the people did
breach in the food and they did save for the next day so they
were changed to monkeys and swine. (Jāmi’ Tirmiżi, pp. 44, vol. 5,
ḥadiš: 3072)

These people had been told not to hide or save anything for the
next day but some did and they were turned into swine.

Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Umar   3 "   


 ? 7 has said, ‘There will
be severe punishment for those Christians [the nation of Prophet
‘Īsā] related to the dining-mat [dastarkhwān] [incident], the
supporters of the Pharaoh in the nation of Prophet Mūsā], and
the Hypocrites [Munāfiqīn]. (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšur, pp. 237, vol. 3)

      
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Islamic Manners of Eating

DOES THE WUDŪ [ABLUTION] BECOME INVALID BY SAYING THE


WORD ‘SWINE (PIG)’?
Dear Islamic Brothers! Did you see the greatness of Prophet ‘Īsā
      3DE F    that Allah    !
   B-C
Rūhullāh 8 9       " sent a māidah full
of blessings because of his du’ā [invocation]. The na’mah
[blessing] that we receive often comes with zahmah [difficulty
and trial] as well. Those who are thankful, flourish; while those
are not, don’t. The fate of those who turn to wrong-doings is
often gloomy as we can see from this Quranic story that 300
wrong-doers were turned into swine (khinzīr), after which they
hopelessly roamed around for three days, and perished on the
fourth. We ask Allah’s    ! " refuge from His wrath and
displeasure.
Some people have the misconception that by saying the
word ‘pig’ or ‘swine’ or khinzīr [Arabic for swine] their tongues
become impure and the Wudū [ablution] becomes invalid. This
is not true. The word ‘khinzīr’ is also mentioned in the Qurān,
so saying it does not make the tongue impure nor does it
invalidate the Wudū [ablution].

10. WHERE DID THE THIRD PIECE OF BREAD GO?


One man came to Prophet ‘Īsā Rūhullāh 8 9    B-C      3DE F   said,
   
‘I would like to acquire your company and learn the knowledge
of the sharīa’ah [divine law] from you. He 8 9    B-C         3DE F   

permitted the man to stay. As they walked, when the two
reached a river, He 8 9    B-C      3DE F    said, ‘Let’s eat.’ He
   
8    B-C
9      3DE F    had three pieces of bread, when both had
   
each eaten one bread Prophet ‘Isā Rūhullāh 8 9    B-C         3DE F   

went to drink water from the river. During this time, the man
had hidden the third piece of bread. When He 8 9    B-C      3DE F   
    
returned, he asked, ‘Where did the third piece of bread go?’ The
man deceivingly said, ‘I do not know.’ He 8 9    B-C      3DE F    did
    

155
Ninety Nine Parables

not say anything. After some time, Prophet ‘Īsā Rūhullāh


8    B-C
9         3DE F    said, ‘Let’s move forward.’ Along the way,

they came across a deer which had two fawns. He
8
9         3D E F    called one of them, which He 8
   B-C         3D E F   
   B-C
9
then slaughtered, fried, and both of them ate it together. After
they finished eating, He 8 9    B-C      3DE F    collected the bones
   
and said, ‘   .’ (Rise by the order of Allah    ! "), the deer
! ‫ن‬ ‫ذ‬
  ‫ﻢ‬
‫ﻗ‬
stood up and returned to its mother. He 8 9    B-C      3DE F    said
   

to the man, ‘By Allah   ! ", who gave me the power to show
this Miracle (Major) Mu’jizah. Tell the truth. Where did that
third piece of bread go?’ The man again replied, ‘I do not
   B-C
know.’ He 8 9      3DE F   said, ‘Let’s move forward.’
   

As they walked further, they reached a desert? Prophet ‘Īsā


   B-C
Rūhullāh 8 9        3DE F   piled up some sand and addressed

it, ‘Oh pile of sand, turn to gold by the order of Allah    ! ".’ It
immediately turned into gold of which He 8 9    B-C      3DE F   
   
divided it into three parts and said, ‘One part is mine, the other
is yours, and the third part is for the one who took that third
piece of bread.’ Upon hearing this, the man hastily said, ‘Oh
   B-C
Rūhullāh 8 9         3DE F  , it was me who had taken the third

piece of bread.’ Upon this He 8 9    B-C      3DE F    said, ‘Take all
   
this gold’, and left the man behind.

The man wrapped the gold inside a sheet he had, and went
his way. He came across two men who plotted to kill and rob
him upon becoming aware that he possesses gold. Recognizing
the danger, the man said to them, ‘Why do you have to kill me,
we can divide this gold into three, one for each person.’ This
seemed to satisfy the other two men. He then said, ‘One of us
should go to the nearby city and buy something for us to eat
after which we can distribute the gold.’ So one of them went,
but on the way back his greed got to him and thought of
poisoning the food so that both of the other men die and all the
gold would be his. So he bought poison and mixed it with the

156
Islamic Manners of Eating

food. While he was doing this, the other two had already
plotted to kill him when he returned so that they could divide
the gold between each other. When he returned, they both
murdered him. After this, they happily ate the food, after which
the poison began to show its effects. These two could not bear
the poisonous food and they too died in anguish.
When ‘Īsā Rūhullāh 8 9         3D E F    returned, accompanied
   B-C
by some men; he came across the dead bodies, He
8    B-C
9      3DE F    pointed to the gold and the bodies of the
   
three men and said, ‘See, this is the state of the dunyā
[materialistic world]. It is obligatory upon you to save yourself
from it. (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp. 735, vol. 9)

Dear Islamic Brothers! You can see that the love for wealth and
its greed leads to sins, takes you hopelessly from one place to
the other, and takes you nowhere but dead ends. Alas, many a
men take the life of another while quarrelling over it and even
then cannot find the comfort that they were seeking. It is for
these reasons that our Righteous Saints were so cautious in the
matters pertaining to wealth. Here are some sayings of Saints
that demean wealth (dunyā).

SAYINGS OF THE SAINTS DEMEANING WEALTH


[MATERIALISTIC GREED]:
  5
Hujjat-ul-Islām Imām Muhammad Gazālī      6 7 quotes:

   5
• Sayyidunā Hasan Basri       6 7 has said, ‘By God    !
 ",
whoever respects the dirham (that is wealth), Allah
disgraces him.’
• It is said, ‘When the first Dirham and Dinār [coins of gold
and silver] were made, the Satan collected them and put
them on his forehead and kissed them. He looked at them
and said, ‘Whoever loved you is my slave.’ (We ask
Allah’s    ! " refuge.)
157
Ninety Nine Parables

   5
• Sayyidunā Samīt bin ‘Ijlān       6
 7 has said, ‘The Dirham
and Dinār [coins of gold and silver] are reins of the
Hypocrites [Munāfiqīn], they will be taken by these reigns
and dragged into the hell-fire.’
• Sayyidunā Yahyā bin Muāż  3 "   
 ?
7 said, ‘Dirham (or
money) are scorpions, if you do not know how to cure
their poison then do not touch them in case they bite you,
their poison will take your life.’ He    3 "   
 ?
7 was asked,
‘What is the cure?’ He   3 "   
 ? 7 replied, ‘To earn the wealth
from Halāl [Lawful] sources and to give the Wājib
[Compulsory] dues of it.’
• Shaikh Sayyidunā ‘Alā’ bin Ziyād         5
 6
 7 has said, ‘The
dunyā [world] came to me all adorned. I said, ‘I ask refuge
of Allah    ! " from your evil.’ The dunyā [world] replied,
‘If you want to protect yourself from me, you must abhor
the Dirham and Dinār [money] as it is by them that man
amasses all kinds of dunyā [possessions, etc.]. So the one
who is patient when it comes to the dirham and dinār
[money], that is, stays away from them, will be patient
with dunya [by adopting simplicity].’
• Sayyidunā Imām Muhammad Gazālī         5
 6
 7 has quoted
some Arabic couplets, the translation of which is, ‘I have
found the secret and you should not think different from it
either. Do not think that taqwā [piety] is in the Dirham, So
when you have forgone the dunyā though you could have
taken it. Know that your taqwā [piety] is the taqwā [piety]
of a Muslim, Do not just be impressed by the patches on
someone’s long shirt or that their shalwār [loose pants] is
above the ankles or by the mark of the sajdah [prostration]
on them, See if they love the dirham [wealth] or stay away
from it.’ (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 288, vol. 3)
Save me from the love of the Dunya, O Allah    !  "

Make me your devotee, O Allah    !  "

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Islamic Manners of Eating

Hubb-e dunyā say tu bachā Yā Rab    !  "


Apnā shaidā mujhe banā Yā Rab    !  "


11. AN ADMIRER OF THE PROPHET


Dear Islamic Brothers! Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", many instances
have been observed where thieves and robbers were lead to the
right path by the blessed Righteous Environment Da’awat-e-
Islāmī. In order to properly function around the globe, Da’awat-
e-Islāmī has sanctioned many Majālis (committees) all around
the world, as part of its organizational structure. Amongst its
many functional committees is what we call ′Majlis-e-Rābita bil
Ulamai wal Mashā′ikh′ (a public relation committee for creating
ties with the various Islamic scholars), which primarily consists
of Scholars. One of its members went to a famous religious
academy known as ‘Madrasah Jāmia Rashidiyah’ in Pīr Jo Goth,
Bāb-ul-Islam; in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. During the
conversations with the Shaykh-ul-Hadiš, the contributions of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī in prison came up. The Honourable Shaykh-ul-
Hadiš shared one of the splendid stories about Da’awat-e-
Islāmī’s work in the prison, which he had personally
experienced. He stated that in the neighbourhood of Pīr Jo Goth
(a village in the province of Sindh Pakistan), he knew a robber
who was known for his antics. The thief would be constantly
running and hiding from the police, and was also apprehended
many times but would always find his way out of the prison due
to his connections with many influential people. Eventually the
thief was apprehended for a crime in the city of Babul Madinah,
Karachi; for which he was convicted, and sent to prison. After
serving his sentence, the thief came by to visit him. At first
glance, the Shaykh did not recognize the thief, as he was always
bareheaded and beardless. Now, the thief’s face was illuminating
as he had maintained a beard, and his head was gleaming as he
was crowned with a green turban; showing extreme devotion
and love for the Beloved Prophet         
     
  . Marks of

159
Ninety Nine Parables

Sajdah [prostration] on his forehead were indicating his


adherence to Salāh.

To end the Shaykh’s surprise, the thief said that during his
imprisonment, Al-Hamdulillah    ! " he was introduced with
Da’awat-e-Islāmī which he then embraced. The thief further
stated that with the efforts and help of Islamic Brothers he was
able to break free from the shackles of sins and become an
Admirer of the Noble Prophet         
     
  .

12. BLISTERS FORMED ON THE HANDS


Sayyidunā Suwaid bin Ghaflah   3 "   
 ? 7 has narrated that he
was once present before Amīr-ul-Mo’minīn Sayyidunā Ali Al-
Murtada   H% L    :        f  e  %  ^ in the Capital city of Kufa. Sayyidunā
Ali   H% L     :       f 
    e   %  ^
had bread made of barley and a cup of
milk before him. The bread was so dry and hard that he

  H% L
  
 :        f  %  ^
e  had to break it with his hands and sometimes
keeping it over his knees. Observing this, I asked his    3 "   
 ? 7
servant Fidda  :3 "   
 ? 7 , ‘Do you not have any compassion for
him?’ This bread has husk, you should sift the barley and make
soft bread for him so that it is easier for him to break. Fidda
  L
  
 :3 "  
 ? 7 replied that Amīr-ul-Mo’minīn   H%  :    
   f 
e  %  ^
had
made her swear that she would never prepare bread for him
with sifted barley (separated from husk). Meanwhile, Amīr-ul-
Mo’minīn   H% L    :        f e  %  ^
turned towards me and asked, ′O
ibn Ghaflah   3 "   
 ? 7 ! What are you asking this servant? I then
informed him about everything I had said, and pleaded to him
that ′O Amīr-ul-Mo’minīn   H% L    :       f  ^
 e  %  , please have mercy for
yourself and do not put yourself in difficulty.’ He   H% L    :        f   e  % 
^
replied, ′O ibn Ghaflah    ! The Authority and Master of 3 "    ?  7
both the worlds, the Master of Makkah and Madinah, Beloved
of Allah        " and his family neither ate wheat
              !
     
bread with satiation for three continuous days nor was bread
made with sifted flour for them. Once in Madinah Munawarah

160
Islamic Manners of Eating

when the hunger was unbearable, I set out to look for some
work (so that I can earn and feed my self). On my way, I saw a
lady who wanted to soak some sand in water. I talked to that
lady and she agreed to pay me a single date/per bucket of
water used. I used sixteen buckets of water to soak that pile of
sand. As a result of doing this, blisters formed on my hands. I
took those dates to His Eminence, The Embodiment of Noor,
the Leader of the Sons of Adam, the Intercessor [Shafi’] for his
Ummah, Munificent Prophet               
  and told him the

entire story. The Prophet          
     
  also ate some of the
dates.’ (Safīna-e-Nūḥ, pp. 99, vol. 1)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

13. HAVE A HEART


Dear Islamic Brothers! We should hold ourselves ransom to the
simplicity of His Excellency, Amīr-ul-Mo’minīn Sayyidunā Ali
Al Murtada   H% L     :    
    f 
e  %  ^
. Despite facing the hardship he
would never express dissatisfaction (complain), not even a single
word. He led an idyllic (simple) life wearing simple attire and
eating simple food. This one time he was asked as to why he
patched up his attire, to which he replied that this [act] softens
the heart, and a Mo’min [Believers] obeys it (meaning that the
heart of a Muslim should be soft). (Ḥilyat-ul-Awliyā, pp. 124, vol. 1)

14. MENDING SHOES


Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas  
  3 "  
 ? 7 has narrated,
“Once I went before the Valiant Sayyidunā Ali Al Murtada
 L
  H%    :    
   f  %  ^ and saw that he  L
   :     %  ^ was mending
e    H%    f 
e 
his shoes. I expressed my amazement, to which he   H% L    :       f   e  % 
^
replied that the Prophet                 
  would mend his
blessed sandals and his blessed clothes and would allow
another person to ride with him. (Safīna-e-Nūḥ, pp. 98, vol. 1)

161
Ninety Nine Parables

May Allah    ! "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

May somebody say, that Hasan has been besieged by things devilish
Oh Valiant Ali, Bring your blade of steel and make the evil perish

Kehde koi Ghairā Hay Balaon Ne Hasan Ko


Ae Sher-e-Khuda Behr-e-Madad Taige Bakaf Ja

15. SAVORY FALOODA32


Once a savory Falooda was served to the Valiant Amīr-ul-
Mo’minīn Sayyidunā Ali Al Murtada   H% L    :    
   f 
e  %  ^. He said,
‘How pleasant is its taste, colour and smell? I do not wish to
make my inner-self [nafs] become habitual to something which
it is not used to. (Hilyat-ul-Awliyā, pp. 123, vol.1, Hadiš. 247)

ACCOUNTABILITY [HISĀB] TANTAMOUNT TO THE


BLESSINGS [NAI’MAH]
Dear Islamic Brothers! How incredible is the Valiant Amīr-ul-
Mo’minīn Sayyidunā Ali Al Murtada’s   H% L    :    
   f 
e  %  ^
, strive
against his inner self [nafs]. I wish we as Muslims remember this
marvellous and faith enlightening parable when we intend to eat
Ice Cream, or have colds drinks in extreme hot weather.
Remember, the more habitual our inner-self becomes of the
luxuries the more demanding and imprudent it will become.
When the fan was not invented, people were still able to live
without it; whereas now some cannot live without air-
conditioning. Similarly, those individuals that cannot live
without fancy and exquisite cuisine have antipathy against
simple food. So much so that when simple food is prepared at
their homes they quarrel with their wives and mothers and thus
engage in the grave sin of causing grief to others. If you [the

32Falooda is a drink; in this age, primarily made by mixing rose syrup with vermicelli
and/or tapioca seeds along with either milk or water. Other ingredients may also be
added. Though it may have been made differently in Arabia in that time

162
Islamic Manners of Eating

reader] have committed such a grave sin, you should repent and
also ask those people to forgive you, whom you have hurt or
disheartened; otherwise we will greatly regret it if Allah    ! " is
displeased with us. Remember!
The more elegant the blessing is in this world, the more
severe the accountability will be on the day of judgement. The
accountability is based on the elegance of blessing and the
elegance is based on personal likes and dislikes. For example,
bread is a more elegant [of higher value] blessing than rice for
the one who likes bread more than rice. Therefore, the
accountability pertaining to bread will be more severe. This
applies to everything. Allah    ! " says in the Quran:

-   8  $   „
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“Then, on that day, you will surely be questioned regarding the favours.”
(Qurān)(Surah Al-Takāsur, juz. 30, ayah. 4) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

      
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TYPES OF BLESSINGS [NAI’MAH] AND QUESTIONING ON THE
DAY OF JUDGMENT
Commenting on this Ayah, the renowned exegitist of the
  5
Quran, Mufti Ahmad Yār Khān Na’iīmī      6
 7 has said:

‘This questioning will be regarding every blessing


[nai’mah], bodily or spiritual; whether the thing was needed or
wanted (desired). Questions will also be asked regarding cold
water, shade of a tree, and sleep. The word ‘Na’iīm’ in the Ayah
also means this. Other Ahadis also present the same meaning. [In
short] Anything that was attained without merit is a blessing
[nai’mah]. Everything granted by Allah    ! " is a blessing
[nai’mah] whether it is bodily or spiritual.’
163
Ninety Nine Parables

He continues,
‘There are 2 types of blessings [nai’mah]. One is “Kasabī”
and the other is “Wahabī”. “Kasabī” blessings [nai’mah] are the
ones that we reap due to our efforts; for example, wealth.
“Wahabī” blessings [nai’mah] are simply granted by Allah    ! ";
like our body parts, moon and the sun. Three questions will be
asked regarding “Kasabī” blessings. First, where did you get it
from? Second, where did you spend it? Third, how did you offer
your thanks? The last two questions will be asked regarding the
“Wahabī” blessings [nai’mah]. (Nūr-ul-‘Irfān, p. 956)

Forgive the sinners as your name is Rahmān Oh Allah    !  " ,


Conceal my faults on the day of judgment as your name is
Sattār Oh Allah    !  "

Forgive me with out questioning as your name is Ghafār Oh Allah    !  "

Lāj rakh lay gunah gāron kī, nām Rahmān hay terā Yā Rab    !  "

‘Aib meray na khol mahshar mayn, nām Sattār hay terā Yā Rab    !  "

Bay sabab baksh day na pooch amal, nām Ghaffār hay terā Yā Rab    !  "

      
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WHEN DOES MUBĀH [PERMISSIBLE] BECOME IBĀDAH?


Dear Islamic Brothers! If a righteous intention is made when
performing an act that is Mubāh [Permissible] (an act that does
not entail reward nor sin), that act becomes an act that entails
reward [šawāb]. The more righteous intentions one renders the
more reward one can reap. Keep in mind that the intention
should be related to the hereafter. The famous book of Fiqh
Hanafī entitled “Ashbāhu-Wanazāir”states that, ‘the case of
Mubāh acts is based on the intentions, if the purpose of carrying
out those acts is to gain strength to worship Allah    ! ", then that
Mubāh act becomes Ibādah’. (Al-Ashbāh wan-Naẓāir, pp. 28, vol. 1)

164
Islamic Manners of Eating

ACTING ON MUBĀH [PERMISSIBLE] DEEDS FOR PLEASURE


One should make an effort to include as many righteous
intentions as one can when acting upon deeds that are Mubāh
[Permissible], so that one may reap many rewards. Though a
person acting on a Mubāh [Permissible] act for just pleasure
(without any righteous intentions) is not sinning; however,
   5
Hujjat-ul-Islām Imam Ghazālī       6 7 has stated, “the person
will be questioned and the one who did evil deeds will be
punished.” A person who uses Mubāh [Permissible] things in
the world, though he won’t be punished for doing so , the
blessings [nai’mah] on the day of judgment will be reduced
equal to the Mubah [Permissible] thing.” Take this to heart!
What a big loss! That a human being shows haste in acquiring
the fleeting and temporal things of the world and suffers a
grave loss in the blessings [nai’mah] of the hereafter”. (Ihyā-ul-
‘Ulūm, pp. 98, vol. 5)

A REDUCTION BY A 100 PARTS IN THE HEREAFTER


The consumers of pizzas, parathas, kabobs, samosas,
pakoras, ice cream, cold drinks, delicious falooda, other fancy
and exquisite cuisine; seekers of palaces, spacious and huge
houses, fancy and expensive attire, all luxuries in life; the
wealthy; business tycoons; possessors of happiness; the healthy;
the seekers of public office for furthering their own agendas
and pockets; should take this to heart and think seriously.
Sayyidunā Fudail Bin Ayyād         5
 6 7 has stated, “when one is
granted a blessing [nai’mah] in the world; 100 parts are reduced
in the hereafter. The reason for this is that, in the hereafter one
will only reap what he sowed in the world; therefore it is a
person’s choice to choose reduction in the hereafter or an
increase. Do not make a habit of expensive attire and fancy
cuisine in this world, because you will be deprived in the
hereafter”. (Tażkirat-ul-Awliyā, pp. 175, vol. 1)

165
Ninety Nine Parables

For the Sake of your Beloved    ٖ            


, do not put me on trial
As I am already ashamed, Forgive me, without trial

Sadqah piyāre ki haya ka na ley mujh say hisāb


Baksh be puche lajāe ko lajāna kiyā hai.

Dear Islamic Brothers! All pleasures of the world will come to


an end. I just hope that our desire to hold on to things comes to
an end before we die. Alas! The attractions of this world and
the empty lives of the people who are enchanted by it! Let me
tell you a deterrent story. Is there anyone who can learn a
lesson from it?

16. THE DANCING PARTY WAS UNDERWAY WHEN…


It is said that on the 3rd of the Holy month of Ramadan 1426H (8th
Oct-2005), in the highly resented Margalla Towers of Islamabad
[Pakistan] few Muslims, who were fans of the western culture,
were holding a drinking and dancing party. Totally heedless of
the respect of the Holy month of Ramadan, they were partying
with some Jews and Christians. May Allah    ! " save us from
that.
While these people were busy in there detested sins,
oblivious of the ramifications, a horrifying earthquake struck
the area and vanquished all their entertainments. All their
pleasures and enjoyments instantly came to an end.
Remember! Death will come unexpectedly
And all your passions will come to an end, instantly.

Yād rakhū! maut achanak āaygy


Sāry masty khāk mayn mil jaygy

EARTHQUAKES STRIKE BECAUSE OF THE SINS


My Dear Islamic Brothers! Imām of Ahl-u-Sunnah, Mujaddid of
the Ummah, Revivalist of the Sunnah, Destroyer of Bid’ah,

166
Islamic Manners of Eating

Scholar of Shariah, Guide of Tarīqah, Fountain of Blessing,


Allamah, Maulānā, Al-Hāj Al-Hafiz, Al-Qāri Ash-Shah Imām
Ahmed Razā Khān        5
 6
 7 has said, ‘The real reason (for
earthquakes) is the sins of the people’. (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp.
93, vol. 27) Aah! The flood of sins is sweeping through our
societies. No one cares about saving oneself from the sins. The
land is virtually shrinking for the one who wants to gather
virtues and adapt the Sunnah. Aah! Aah! Aah! On Saturday
Ramadan 3rd 1426 A. H., October 8, 2005, several people were
busy in various immoral deeds and suddenly a horrifying
earthquake devastated the eastern part of our dear [country of]
Pakistan. Here are some stories, experienced firsthand by the
Devotees of the Prophet who were travelling in Madanī Qāfilah.
Repent after reading this.

17. A LIVING BABY GIRL BOILED IN A PRESSURE COOKER


It is said that in a certain part of Kashmir one person had
five daughters and a sixth child was due. One day he told his
wife, “If you give birth to another girl, I will kill you along with
the newborn girl. On the third night of Ramadan, once again a
baby girl was born. In the morning, despite the screams of the
mother, the merciless father put the cute little newborn alive in
the pressure cooker and put it on the stove. [May Allah    ! "
save us from this.] Suddenly the pressure cooker exploded and
the horrifying earthquake struck! Abruptly that barbaric man
was buried alive. The injured mother of the girl was rescued.
She probably disclosed this horrendous incident.

      
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18. A SEVERED HEAD


In the rubble of the earthquake stricken Margalla Towers in
Islamabad, [Pakistan] a head was found separated from its

167
Ninety Nine Parables

body. The body could not be located. Few people recognized


this unfortunate person and revealed that when the sounds of
Ażān [Call for Prayers] would be heard, he would turn up the
volume of music.
Dear Islamic Brothers! Except for a few parts of Punjab, this
awful earthquake caused major devastation in the western
portion of Pakistan. The range of destruction also extended to
Kashmir and the North Western Frontier Province of Sarhad.
Hundreds of thousands of people died, and there is no count of
those who were injured.
Da’awat-e-Islāmī is a non-political propagational movement
of Quranic teachings and Sunnah. Several Madanī Qāfilah’s of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī went missing in these earthquake stricken
areas. They were all found alive afterwards. Read one of such
Qāfilah’s delightful accounts [Madanī Bahar].

19. BLESSINGS OF WRITING


“YĀ RASŪL-ALLAH   ٖ               "”
 !

Seven Islamic brothers from Landhi area in Babul Madinah,


Karachi [Pakistan] were travelling in a 30-day Madanī Qāfilah.
They narrated their incident somewhat like the following:

“We were staying in Jamia Masjid Ghosia in Abbasspur in


the Tahseel [district] Nakar Balla in Kashmir. On the 3rd of
Ramadan 1426 A. H. (8-Oct-05) after offering Fajr Salāh [Daily
Ritual Prayer] and performing Ishrāq etc. the members of the
Qāfilah were resting, according to the Qāfilah schedule.
Without warning the [Mosque] began to rock by an intense
tremor. Everyone woke up and before they could fully get a
grip on the matters, the two walls of the Mosque started to
crumble with a loud uproar. May our lives be sacrifices for the
proclamation of “Ya Rasūl Allah             !
    
       "”! The
south wall of the masjid, which had the words “Ya Rasūl Allah

168
Islamic Manners of Eating

            !


    
       "”
inscribed on it, did not fall. The roof
fell and rested at an angle against this wall, Al-Hamdulillah    ! "
we were barely saved, and we came out of the rubble alive.
Homes were devastated all around. Pleas of the injured filled
the air. People were trapped under the rubble. Several had
passed away, while some others were taking their last breaths.
We joined the locals and started the rescue efforts. We were
also able to rescue a year and a half old baby girl from under
the wreckage. [In such circumstances,] we managed to pray
Janāzah prayers for several martyrs [shuhada] and took part in
their burial. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", despite the havoc, the locals’
appreciation for Da’awat-e-Islāmī was admirable.

“Ya Rasūl Allah    ٖ             ”, this slogan we love to call.
Whoever proclaims this; will not fall.

Ya Rasūl Allah    ٖ             kay n‘aray say hum ko piyar hay
Jiss nay yea n’ara lagaya ūs ka beyřa par hay

20. A DIFFICULT VALLEY


Sayyidunā Abū Dardah   3 "   
 ? 7 was once, sitting with his
friends. His wife came by and said, “You are sitting here with
these people, and By Allah    ! " we don’t even have a fistful of
flour in our house.” He replied, “Why are you forgetting that
we have to face the difficult valley which can only be passed by
those with light weights.” After hearing this, she gladly went
back. (Raud-ur-Riyāhīn, p. 110)
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

WE SHOULD NOT COMPLAIN


Dear Islamic Brothers! Did you observe! How content
Sayyidunā Abū Dardah   3 "   
 ? 7 was, with what he had and how
obedient his wife was. When hearing the God-fearing words

169
Ninety Nine Parables

from her husband, she happily returned home. She did not
complain, despite having nothing to eat in the house. Instead of
getting distressed and complaining about the shortage of wealth
or family related issues, one should always refer ones problems
to Allah    ! " and try to be content with His    ! " Will.

Tongues never complain under distress


Prophets followers don’t take stress

Zaabān par shikwāe ranj o alum layā naĥi kartay;


Nabī kay nām leyvā ghum say gĥabrāyā naĥi kartay

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21. DUĀ OF THE DISTRESSED


One man requested a sage, “Fending for my family worries me.
Make Duā [supplication] for me.” The saintly sage replied,
“Whenever your family complains about shortage of bread and
flour, make Duā to Allah    ! " at that very time, because your
Duā at that time is closest to being accepted”. (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 11)

Dear Islamic Brothers! Naturally when the shortage is at its


peak, the person affected will be highly grieved and distressed,
and the Duā [supplications] of the distressed are readily
accepted. On Page 111 of his book entitled “Ahsanal Wee’a Li
Ādāb e Duā”, Shaykh Maūlānā Muftī Naqī ‘Alī Khān         5
 6
 7
has listed people whose Duā gets accepted. The very first in his
list are the “the distressed” (meaning one who is saddened by
worries). Elaborating on this, in the footnotes on the same page,
Imam of the Fourteenth Hijrah, Imām Ahmad Raza Khān
  5
     6 7 has annotated, “even a Quranic verse reaffirms that the
Duā of the grieved and suffering is readily accepted.”

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Islamic Manners of Eating

  † y L H  [    b %  m s  4 *


W- 9 (
  …   J  
“Or He Who answers the prayer of the helpless when he invokes Him and
removes the evil”
(Qurān)(Surah-tun-Naml, juz. 20, āyah. 62) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

22. WELCOME! OH STARVATION!


A pious person’s family once complained, “Tonight, we don’t
have anything to eat.” He replied, “We are not at a station yet
where Allah    ! " would starve us! He saves that status for His
friends [Auliyā].” Amongst our pious predecessors, some were
in such a state that when they had shortage of resources [and
wealth] they would say, “Welcome! Oh traits of the Pious!”
(Meaning poverty and starvation is welcome because they are
the traits of the friends of Allah    ! ". (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 11))

Those, who do not encounter tribulations and trials,


Cannot attain the real taste of love for Allah    !  "

Woh ‘Ishq-e haqīqī ki lażżat naĥī pa sakta


Jū ranj o musībat sey dochār naĥi ĥotā

LEAVE UNNECESSARY WORRIES ASIDE


Dear Islamic Brothers! Several morals can be extracted from
these narrations. The impatient that preoccupy themselves with
unnecessary worries should specifically lend an ear. When their
girls are very young they start worrying about their weddings
and unnecessarily stress themselves over this. Even though Hajj
becomes Fard [Obligatory] on them [according to Islamic law],
they deprive themselves of this blessing and give lame excuses
that first they want to fulfill their “Fard” of getting their
daughters married! Life has no guarantees. No one knows if

171
Ninety Nine Parables

they will live to see their daughter’s weddings. There is no


certainty that their daughters shall climb up the stairs of youth
before they fall on the doorsteps of death.
ALAS! Several people depart from this world yearning for
the materialistic possessions, but they fail to gather anything for
the hereafter. Muslims should have confidence [in Allah    ! "]
and be firm in their faith. Why should the matters of the two
worlds bother us when the Creator    ! " of Both the Worlds is
our Sustainer.
Never complain; Hardships, you should caress
Allah    !  "
, tests His servants in times of distress

Masaib mayn kabĥy herfy shikayat lab paĥ mut lana


Mūsībut mayn Khuda    !  "
bandūn ko Āzmata ĥay

23. AN UNUSUAL PATIENT


Sayyidunā Yūnus 8 9    B-C
         3DE F    told Angel Jibrīl (Gabriel)

   B-C
8 9 
      that he wished to see the greatest worshiper on the
face of this earth. Angel Jibrīl (Gabriel) 8 9    B-C     took him to a
   
person whose arms and legs had severely decayed and had
withered off from the body because of leprosy. The man uttered
these words, “O Allah    ! "! You gave me the benefit from these
body parts as You Willed, and took them back as You Willed.
You kept my hopes centered with Yourself. O my Creator, You
are my only goal. Only You.” Sayyidunā Yūnus 8 9         
   B-C 3D E F   
 8 9   
 B- C
said “O Jibrīl (Gabriel)     ! I requested you to show me   
  
one who prays Salāh and fasts excessively.” Angel Jibrīl (Gabriel)
   B-C
8 9         replied, “He was in this state before this adversity

[and ailment]. Now I have been ordered to take away his eyes.”
Therefore Jibrīl (Gabriel) 8 9    B-C         pointed the finger at his

eyes and his eyes popped out. But still that man uttered these
words with his tongue, “O Allah    ! "! You gave me the benefit
from these eyes as You Willed, and took them back as you

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Islamic Manners of Eating

Willed. You kept my hopes only with Yourself. O my Creator,


You are my only goal. Only You.” Sayyidunā Jibrīl (Gabriel)
   !
 " told the worshipper, “Lets make Duā [supplication]
together that Allah    ! " may return your eyes and limbs so that
you worship Allah    ! " as you did before.” That man replied,
“No not at all!” Jibrīl (Gabriel)    ! " replied, “But why not?” That
man replied, “If my Allah    ! " is pleased with this [state], then I
don’t need my health back.” Sayyidunā Yūnus 8 9    B-C      3DE F   
    
commented, “Certainly, I have not witnessed anyone who is a
greater worshiper than this man.” Sayyidunā Jibrīl (Gabriel)
       remarked, “There is no path better than this [patience]
   B-C
8 9
for seeking the Pleasure of Allah    ! "”. (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 110)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

If my Allah    !  " is pleased with my adversity


Let’s incinerate, my tranquility

Jey Suĥna miray dukĥ vich razi;


Myn sukĥ nūo chullĥay pavaain

BLESSING OF HIDING ADVERSITY (HARDSHIP)


Dear Islamic Brothers! Did you observe! Patience should be like
what was faced by the sage. Despite all physical hardships, he
stood resilient. He even lost his eyesight but his patience was
unwavering. There was no change in his position [despite the
circumstances.] He was at a high station of being “content with
the Divine decree.” He was not even willing to ask Allah    ! "
for a cure. His outlook was that if Allah    ! " has Willed to
make him ill then he did not want to be cured. Al-Hamdulillah
  !
  ", This [outlook] was his unique trait. Similar people [with
such patience] assert ‫ﻟ ﺪﻧ  ﻴﻟ ﻨ ﻌ ﻢ‬
- ‫ﻞ‬  ]‫ ﻼ ء ﻛ ﻤ‬F  ‫\ ح ﻟ‬
 8 ‫\ ح‬  _ ‫ﻦ‬
 ‫ﺤ‬
 ‫ﻧ‬, that is,
“We are as pleased with receiving adversity and calamities, as
the materialistic people are pleased with receiving worldly

173
Ninety Nine Parables

fortunes.” Remember! Sometimes, hardships are a mercy for the


believer as they provide an opportunity for him to be patient
and thus enable him to earn an entry into paradise. Sayyidunā
Ibn ‘Abbās  
  3 "  
 ? 7 has narrated that the Master of All
Mankind, Intercessor on the Day of Judgment, the Generous
Prophet         
      has said, “Whoever suffered a
 
hardship in his wealth or his health, was patient and did not
disclose, Allah    ! " has a right to forgive him”. (Majma'-u-Zavāid,
pp. 450, vol. 10, ḥadiš. 17876) It is narrated in another Prophetic
narration, “Whatever hardship a Muslim faces due to ailment,
worries, sadness, harm or calamity, even if he is poked by a
thorn, Allah     ! " makes this [adversity] as an atonement
[kaffaraĥ] for his sins”. (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 3, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 5641)

If you are silent, gems is what you attain


If you are patient, pearls is what you gain
Like the insane, if you cry and complain
Neither pearls nor gems, you obtain

Chup kar syn tayn moty milsun; sabr kartayn ĥeyray


Pa galayn vangoyn roola pavyn nayn moty nayn ĥeyray

      
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24. NARRATIVE OF DONATING ONE’S REWARD TO


SAYYIDATUNĀ ‘AYESHAĤ
Imam Rubbānī, Alf Thānī [Shaykh Fārūq Sirhindī] has stated,
“Whenever I cooked food I would donate the reward [Iīšāl of
Šawāb] to the blessed souls of Master of Mankind, to the Valiant
Sayyidūna Alī   H% L     :    
    f 
e  %  ^, to the lady of heaven
Sayyidatunā Fatima-tuz-Zaĥra  :3 "    ? 
 7 , and to Imam Hassan
and Imam Hussain 0 :  3 "    ? 
 7 . I never included the names of
Ummuĥa-tul-Mo′minīn [Mothers of the Believers] J  :  3 "    
 ?
7 . One

174
Islamic Manners of Eating

night, I saw a dream that Prophet                 


  is present, I
approached him and greeted him with Salam. He    
  
     
     
 
did not pay attention to me and turned his blessed face away
from me. He    
  
     
     
  then said to me, ‘I eat at the home
of ‘Ayeshaĥ (Siddyqaĥ). Whoever wants to send me food should
send it to her house.’ I immediately understood why the Prophet
   
  
     
     
  did not pay attention to me; because I was not
including Sayyidatunā ‘Ayeshaĥ  :3 "   
 ? 7 in the “Donating of the
rewards” [Iīšāl of Šawāb]. After this incident I began to include
‘Ayeshaĥ Siddyqaĥ  :3 "    
 ? 7 and the names of all the Ummuĥa-
tul-Mo′minīn [Mothers of the Believers] J  :  3 "    ? 
 7 and all the
members of the Prophet’s blessed household. I also now ask
Allah    ! " for their sake [wasīlah].” (Maktūbāt, pp. 85, vol. 2)
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

ONE SHOULD DONATE REWARDS [IĪŠĀL OF ŠAWĀB] TO EVERYONE


Dear Islamic Brothers! It is clear from this narrative that when
rewards are donated [Iīšāl of Šawāb] to someone; he actually
does receive them. Another lesson we learned is that instead of
donating [Iīšāl of Šawāb] to a selected few saints, we should send
it to all of the Muslims.33 Everyone we donate the reward [Iīšāl
of Šawāb] to, will get the same amount [without division] and
we will not lose anything either. Furthermore, we also learned
that Sayyidatunā ‘Ayeshaĥ Siddyqaĥ  :3 "   
 ? 7 is very dear to
Our Master               
  . When returning from “Ghuzvaĥ
Salasil”, Sayyidunā ‘Aumro bin al-‘Aas  :3 "   
 ? 7 inquired, “Ya
Rasūl Allah             !
     
      " who do you like the most
amongst the people?” The Prophet               
  replied,
‘Ayeshaĥ’, He then inquired, ‘And amongst men?’ The Prophet
         
      
  replied, ‘Her father (Sayyidunā Abū Bakr
  3 "   
 ? 7` ).’ (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 519, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 3662)

33For more information purchase and read the booklet entitled “Method of Fatiha”
published by Maktaba tul Madina.

175
Ninety Nine Parables

 ٖ 
Daughter of Siddīq  :3"   
 ? 7 ; Joy of the Prophet            

Bundles of Blessings upon that sanctified soul
In Quran, Surah Nur is proof of her piety
Bundles of Blessings upon her illuminated face

Bint-e-siddīq ārām-e-jān-e-nabī
Us harīm-e-barā’at pay lākhon salām
Ya’nī hay surah nūr jin kī gawāh
Unkū pur nūr sūrat pay lākhon salām

      
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25. OLD LADY’S FAITH ENHANCING DREAM


  !
Al-Hamdulillah   ", the people of Da’awat-e-Islāmī are
showered with the rain of Allah’s    ! " Mercy. The tour to call
people towards righteousness has exceptional blessings. Here is
an account of an Islamic brother from Birmingham (U.K.) He has
reported that once they were touring to call people towards
righteousness in an area called Small Health, which is call
“Makki Halqa” in the Righteous Environment. This area has an
extensive Muslim population. During their tour, while they were
going from house to house, they knocked on a door. An old lady
answered who was originally from Mirpur (Kashmir) and
understood neither Urdu nor English. Therefore, they bowed
their heads down and presented the Call to Righteousness in
[her native language] of Punjabi and asked her to send the men
of the house to the Masjid. She then asked the men to also listen
to her. The brothers were pressed for time so they all moved
along, except for one brother who stayed back. She said, “Few
days ago, I saw this blessed dream in which I saw the Master of
Madinah         
     
  wearing a green turban, leaving the
Masjid-un-Nabavī surrounded by several men who were all
34

This is the Prophet’s          


     
  Mosque in the City of Madinah.
34

176
Islamic Manners of Eating

wearing green turbans. It is Allah’s     ! " Divine power, that


today men with green turbans have visited my house.”
She was then invited to attend the sister’s weekly Ijtimā’
[Congregation]. Now she regularly attends the sister’s weekly
Ijtimā’ [Congregation] with other women of her house.

Surrounded by the slaves is the Full Moon (Prophet)


Madina is surrounded by light & Nūr

Hayn Ghulamoyn kay juĥrmut myn Badruddujaĥ


Nūr hiy Nūr hur sū Madinay myn hay

      
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MADANĪ REVOLUTION AMONG THE ISLAMIC SISTERS


My Dear Islamic Brothers! Did you observe the benevolence of
our Master, Master of all Mankind                
   
for the
people of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. Along with the Islamic brothers,
the Islamic sisters are also involved with the Madanī work.
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", thousands of sisters who were leading
their lives according to the latest fashions and trends, have
repented from their sins and have devotedly adopted the ways
of the Ummuĥa-tul-Mo′minīn [Mothers of the Believers] J  : 3 "   
 ?
7
and of Sayyidatunā Fatima  :3 "    ?
 7 , the daughter of the
Prophet         
     
  .

Some women used to hang only a scarf [dupatta] around their


necks. Those who use to visit shopping malls, entertainment
centers, night clubs and cinema theatres, have made Madanī
Burqaĥ35 an inseparable part of their attire, following the
footsteps of the great granddaughters of the Prophet
         
     
   
. Al-Hamdulillah    !
 ", several Madrassa-tul-

35 Madani Burqa is a loose black robe that covers the body from over the head to toe.

177
Ninety Nine Parables

Madina [for girls] have been established to educate girls and


women to memorize the Quran [hifz] and learn the proper
recitation of Quran [nazirraĥ.] Furthermore, they can further their
education at Jami’a-tul-Madinah36 to become female-Scholars
[‘Aalimaĥ]. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", the number of Memorizers of the
Quran and Scholars are on the rise, in the environment of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī.
All my sisters, may they wear the Madanī Burqa
Grant them piety, Oh Prohet of Madinah     ٖ            

Mery jis qadr hyn Beĥnyn, Sub ĥy Madany Burqa Peĥney;


Inhyn nayk tum banana Madanī Madinay waley    ٖ            

26. A MIRACULOUS HANDKERCHIEF


Sayyidunā ‘Abbās bin ‘Abdus Samad   3 "    
 ? 7 has narrated,
‘One day we went to the home of Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik
    3 "    
 ? 7 . Upon his orders, his maid laid down the dining-mat.
She was also asked to bring the handkerchief. The handkerchief
she brought needed to be washed. He    3 "   
 ?
7 instructed her to
put it in the tandoor . She put in the burning tandoor. When
37

the handkerchief was taken out of the fire after some time, it
was as white as milk. We were amazed and asked, ‘What is the
secret in this?’ Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik    3 "   
 ? 7 replied, ‘This
is the handkerchief that the Embodiment of Nūr, The King of
the Modest Ones, The Noble Prophet                 
  would
wipe his luminous face with. Whenever we need to wash it, we
just put it in the fire like this, because anything that touches the
blessed faces of the Noble Prophets [Ambiyā]  89     :   can not
be burned by fire. (Al-Khaṣāiṣ ul-Kubrā, pp. 134, vol. 2)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

36 Islamic University for Women


37 A cylindrical clay oven

178
Islamic Manners of Eating

Dear Islamic Brothers! After writing this great parable Maulanā


  5
Rūmī      6 7 has stated in his ‘Mašnawī Sharīf’,

O Heart, who fears the punishment of Hell, Why do you not get near
the holy lips and hands?
That made a lifeless handkerchief so great that the fire could not burn it
So why will Hell touch the one who truly loves him

Ay Dil-e Tar Sindah Az Nāwar-o Ażāb Bā Chunan Dast-o Lab-e Kun Iftirāb
Chun Jamaway Rā Chunā Tashrīf Dād Jān- A’shiq Ra Chhā Khwād Kashād

O Hell, Know that I am the Slave of Beloved Rasool, My Prophet,


How Can He Burn Who is the Slave of the Madani Prophet

Aqā ka Gada hun, Ay Jahannam Tū Bhee Sun Lai


Who Kaysee Jalay Jo Kay Ghulām-e Madanī Ho

      
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27. ABŪ HURAIRAH’S PROVISIONS FOR THE JOURNEY


Sayyidunā Abū Hurairah   3 "   
 ?
7 has said,”In one Gazwah
38

the army had nothing to eat. The Beloved Rasūl of Allāh, The
Son of Sayyadah Aminah               
  asked me, ‘Do you
have anything? I said, ‘I have some dates in my provisions for
the journey (suitcase).’ He               
  said, ‘Bring it.’ I
brought it. There were about 21 dates all together. Our Master
   
  
        put his blessed hands on them and made du’ā,
     
then said, ‘Call ten people.’ I called ten people, they came and
ate to their satisfaction and left. Again, I was ordered to call ten
people, they too ate and left. People continued to come in
groups of ten and would eat to their satisfaction and would
then leave until the whole army ate. Regarding the dates that
were left He         
     
  said to me left, ‘O Abū Hurairah,

         


     
A battle in which Rasūllāh   was present
38

179
Ninety Nine Parables

put them in your bag and eat from it when ever you like, but do
not empty out the bag.”

Sayyidunā Abū Hurairah   3 "   


 ?
7 continues,” I ate dates
from that bag in the time of The Sovereign of the Creation,
Sayyidunā Muhammad Mustafā         
     
  , up to the
eras of Sayyidunā Abu Bakr Siddique, Sayyidunā U’mar Farūq-
e-Azam, and Sayyidunā U’šmān Ganī’s 2  -  = %   
 :   Khilāfat
[rule]. And I gave about fifty wasq of dates Fī Sabī lillāh [in
39

the way of Allah] and ate more that two hundred wasq. When
Sayyidunā U’thmān Ganī   3 "   
 ? 7 was martyred that bag was
stolen from my home.“ (Al-Khaṣāiṣ ul-Kubrā, pp. 85, vol. 2)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Kaun daitā hay dainay ko munh chaheeay


Dainay wala hay sachā hamāra nabī
(Hadāiq-e Bakhshish

      
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Dear Islamic Brothers! A wasq is sixty sa’ and one sa’ is 270
tola40. According to this, from those twenty-one original dates,
nearly one thousand tonnes of dates was eaten. This is all
Allah’s    ! " gracious bounty that He    ! " has bestowed upon
His Beloved         
     
  with so many powers and great
miracles. Indeed the Leader of the Two Worlds               
 
is highly exalted. Because of him                       
, His servants
are also given many powers. Hence, here is karāmat [minor
miracle] of the Shaykh Sadr-ul Afādil       5  6
 7 who was the
Khalifah of Imām of Ahl-us-Sunnah, Maulanā Shah Ahmad
Razā Khān       5
 6
 7 .

39 Unit of measurement
40 Tola is aunit of measurement used int the sub continent. It is approximately 12 grams

180
Islamic Manners of Eating

28. KARĀMT OF SHEIKH SYED MUHAMMAD


NA’ĪMUDDĪN MURĀDABĀDI
Sayyidunā Maulanā Manzūr Ahmad Ghauswī witnessed and
thus narrated that the Exegetist [Mufassir] of the Quran, Sheikh
Syed Muhammad Na’īmuddīn Murādabādi         5 6
 7 would
routinely offer the Fajr Salāh with the congregation [jamā’at] in
the Mosque. Before he would leave, a huge tea pot would be
placed over the fire at his behest. The tea would be ready on his
return. People, in large numbers, would come to meet him.
Usually there would be almost from 50 to 200 people in the
gathering. Occasionally, the room and the adjacent hall would
overflow with enthusiasts. A cup of tea with a biscuit would
immediately be served by his servants as he would sit down in
   5
the room. The Shaykh       6
 7 would pick the cup of tea and
give it to the first person sitting to his right and with his own
hands. He would personally serve about five or six cups in this
manner and would let the servants serve the rest. All
enthusiasts would eat and so would the Shaykh         5  6
 7 . This
was the Shaykh’s breakfast; a cup of tea and one cookie.
  5
Sayyidunā Maulanā Syed Manzūr      6
 7 continues with
certitude, that one pot of tea would be sufficient for all the
attendants despite the variance in the amount of adherents
present. Never has it happened, that more tea had to be
prepared in case many people happened to show up.
It is evident from this account by Sayyidunā Maulanā Syed
  5
Manzūr      6
 7 that this is indeed one of the many daily
Minor Miracles [karāmat] exhibited at the hands of Shaykh Syed
Muhammad Na’īmuddīn Murādabādi       5
 6
 7 .(Tārīkh-e-Islām-kī
Aẓīm Shakhsiyat Sadr-ul-Afāḍil, pp. 333-334)

May Allah    "


 ! bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Oh Attar! Sunni Scholars, We love them all


Insh-Allah, in both worlds, we will not fall

181
Ninety Nine Parables

Humain ae attār sunni ālimon se piyār he


Insha-Allah    !  "
dojah ān main apan berā pār hai.

      
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29. THE CRIPPLED SHOULD GET THEIR SHARE.


Hakīm Muhammad Ashraf Qadri Chisti of SardarAbād
(FaisalAbād) writes,
“I was not blessed with any children for a long time
after my marriage. I sought for a cure in the form of medicines,
recited many litanies, and also did Duā; but I still remained
childless. Eventually, I urged the Honourable Grand Muhadith
of Pakistan Sayyidunā Maulanā Sardar Ahmed Khan       5
 6
 7
to do Duā on my behalf. A few days later, my neighbour
Chaudhry Abdul Ghafūr informed me that, for the last three
days an honourable Shaykh       5
 6
 7 had been constantly
appearing in his dreams; and that I was standing before the
Shaykh holding a baby boy. The Shaykh       5
 6
 7 said that
Hakīm should give a goat in Saqadah [charity] and that the
crippled should also get their share from it. Hence, I mentioned
the dream to the Honourable Shaykh Sardar Ahmad Khan
  5
     6
 7 and opined to sacrifice a goat and give it to the Jami’a
Radhaviya (this is a school for Islamic scholars under the
auspices of the Honourable Sheikh Sardar Ahmad Khan) to
which he replied, ‘Oh Mr. Hakīm! Allah    ! " has continuously
showered countless blessings on this school. Many sacrificial
goats are brought for charity here. It would be better that you
prepare the meat and bread in your home on Friday, recite
Fātihā and then after the Friday prayers, distribute the food
amongst the poor. The crippled should get their share as well as
yourself and your wife (i.e. you should also eat the food in
addition to distributing to the crippled and the impoverished)’.
The noteworthy point here is that while informing the

182
Islamic Manners of Eating

  5
Honourable Sheikh Sardar      6
 7 about the dream, I did not
share the “crippled should get there share” bite of information
with him. The Honourable Shaykh       5
 6
 7 mentioned it
himself [out of his own awareness] and this is indeed a Minor
Miracle [karāmat] manifested at his hands that he himself
informed me of the Unknown [Ghaib]. At the Shaykh’s behest,
we did exactly what he laid out for us. Later on, Allah    ! "
Granted me a son; with His Infinite Mercy, and for the Sake of
the Duā [supplication] of the Honourable Grand Muhaddith of
Pakistan.“(Hayāt-e-Muhaddiš-e-Azam, p. 260)

30. THE NAME CAN ALSO WORK WONDERS


Dear Islamic Brothers! The teacher of teachers, Spiritual Guide,
His Excellency the Grand Muhaddith of Pakistan Maulanā
Sardar Ahmad Qadri Chisti       5
 6
 7 was an erudite Scholar.
Many renowned Scholars have graduated under his patronage
and guidance. Many miracles have been manifested at his
hands. Hence, Maulanā Karam Dīn (Khatīb of Masjid Chuck
Number 356) says, “Once time I was travelling to another city
to purchase a bull. I was afflicted with migraine. I finally
reached the destination (sharaqpūr) but both of his sons were
not available. On my return the pain became severe. As I was
walking along the banks of the river, I came across a piece of
paper. I picked it up and inscribed the name of His Excellency
the Grand Muhaddith of Pakistan Maulanā Sardar Ahmad
  5
Qadri Chisti      6
 7 on it. I made an amulet [tāwīż] and tied it
to the area affected by pain. Al-Hamdulillah     ! ", the pain
immediately mitigated, and I regained my vitality.” (Hayāt-e-
Muhaddiš-e-Azam, p. 261)

31. THE TUBE-LIGHT STOPPED FLICKERING


Dear Islamic Brothers! Just imagine, how miraculous the words
of a Saint would be if only their name can work wonders? Here

183
Ninety Nine Parables

is an account that speaks volumes of the magnificent words of a


Saint. His Excellency, the Grand Muhaddiš of Pakistan Maulanā
Sardar Ahmad Qadri Chisti       5 6
 7 was addressing the crowd
in a Maulūd Congregation in Jhang Bazār Ghanta Ghar. The
Subject of his speech was the Light (Nūr) of the Prophet
        
        6
  . He     5  7 had been speaking for about half an
hour when his attention was diverted by a flickering tube-light.
He turned towards the tube-light and addressed the tube-light
saying, “Oh tube-light, you are flickering, where as the whole
world was enlightened by the Nūr of the Embodiment of Nūr
the Noble Prophet               
  . [Therefore,] why are you
being so ungrateful? I warn you! If you continue to flicker, then
……..” Clamours of the slogan “Ya Rasūl-Allah” could be heard
all around. All the people there witnessed that the tube-light
remained on and did not flicker for the remainder of the
program. (Hayāt-e-Muhaddiš-e-Azam, p. 263)

      
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WHEAT INFESTATION AND HEADACHES ARE PREVENTED


Dear Islamic Brothers! How exalted are the practicing Scholars?
Therefore we should always seek the blessed company of the
Scholars of Ahlusunnah. His Excellency Sayyidunā Kamāl-u-dīn
Adamairī       5
 6
 7 states that, “I have learnt this from some
erudite scholars that if the seven magnificent names of the seven
jurists (Fuqaha) of Madinah are written on paper and placed in
flour or wheat; that flour will be prevented from the infestation
of weevils. If the names are tied to the area of the head that is
affected by a migraine, or if these names are recited and blown
upon the affected area, then the headache will Inshā-Allah    ! "
[Allah    ! " Willing] mitigate. Here are those seven names:

 a    ˆ 

 7    ˆ%L &- & ˆ/
ˆ20   Kˆ[ % " ˆf
e /   +

  ◌   
 : 6
7

(Ḥayāt-ul-Ḥaywān-ul-Kubrā, pp. 53, vol. 2)

184
Islamic Manners of Eating

Dear Islamic Brothers! It is evident that great blessing lie in the


names of the pious. If their names can bring bliss, then how
august would their books, speeches, company, visiting the
shrines and the food attributed to them (distributed when
sending rewards to the deceased) would be.

32. DOUGH WAS GIVEN TO THE BEGGAR


A beggar once knocked on the door of the great Saint
Sayyidunā, Sheikh Habīb Ajamī’s       5
 6
 7 house. His wife had
gone to the neighbour’s house to make arrangements to light
the fire, so that she could cook bread; leaving behind the dough
which she had prepared. The Sheikh       5  6  7 gave that dough
away in charity to the beggar. When she came back, the dough
was missing. On inquiry, the Sheikh       5  6  7 said it was taken
away to bake bread. On her insistence he finally revealed that
he had given it in charity. She replied, ‘Subhān-Allah     ! "!
[Glory be to Allah    ! " ]! This is indeed a very benevolent act, but
we also require some food.’ Immediately a person brought
some meat and bread. The Sheikh       5  6  7 said look how
quickly it was returned to you, along with an additional
prepared meat gravy. (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 152)

GIVING SADAQA DOES NOT DECREASE WEALTH


Dear Islamic brothers! Things given in charity [sadaqa] for the
sake of Allah    ! " do not go to waste. One is indeed entitled to
reap great rewards in the next life, however sometimes one is
rewarded with something better in the world also. There is no
doubt that giving something in the path of Allah    ! " does not
decrease one’s wealth but augments it.

Hence Sayyidunā Abu Hurairah   3 "   


 ? 7 has stated that The
Authority [Mukhtar] and Master [Malik] of Both Worlds, the
Master of Makkah and Madinah, the Beloved of God, the

185
Ninety Nine Parables

Exalted Prophet         


     
  has said, “Sadaqa, does not
decrease wealth. Infact, Because his servant forgives, the
Almighty increases the status of the servant. [Furthermore,]
whosoever adopts humility to please Allah    ! "; The Almighty
   !
 " Grants him elevation.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1397, ḥadiš: 2588)

WEALTH KEEPS INCREASING


The renowned exegetist of the Quran, Mufti Ahmad Yār Khan
   5
      6 7 says, it has been observed that the Zakāt of a person,
keeps increasing every year. A farmer who plants seeds in to
the ground apparently empties his sack but actually fills it with
more seeds (after the season.) For example, if you take buckets
of water from the well, the water in it rises back to its previous
levels and does not decrease. (Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 93, vol. 3)

THE RETRIBUTION (PUNISHMENT) OF NOT GIVING ZAKĀT


Dear Islamic Brothers! Take this to heart; as there are many
rewards for the one who gives Zakāt. Similarly there are severe
punishments for those who do not. Imām of Ahl-u-Sunnah,
Mujaddid of the Ummah, Reviver of the Sunnah, Destroyer of
Bid’ah, Scholar of Shariah, Guide of Tarīqah, Fountain of
Blessing, Allamah, Maulānā, Al-Hāj Al-Hafiz, Al-Qāri Ash-
  5
Shah Imām Ahmed Razā Khan      6
 7 has summarized the
punishments stated in the Quran and Hadith. Fatāvah Razaviya
states, “The Zakāt of Gold and Silver that was not given will be
seared (heated) on the day of judgement. The gold will then be
used to brand the person’s forehead, sides and his back.
Burning stones from Hell will be placed on his head and breast,
which will pierce the breast and emerge from the shoulders.
When placed on the shoulders, it will pierce through the bones
and emerge from the breast; it will pierce the back and emerge
from the sides; it will pierce the neck and emerge from the
forehead. The wealth from which Zakāt is not given will morph

186
Islamic Manners of Eating

into a fierce serpent and will chase the person; the person will
then try to stop the serpent with his hands. The serpent will
devour (eat voraciously) the hand and will then coil around the
neck. It will then, devour the mouth by taking hold of the
persons mouth with its own and declare that ‘I am your
wealth’, I am your treasure’, as it will devour the whole body.
(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 153, vol. 10)

Admonishing the reader, Sheikh Imām Ahmed Razā         5 6 7


then further states, “Oh my friend! Do you think that these
exalted sayings of Allah    ! " and his Prophet    
  
     
     
 
are just for amusement? Do you consider the punishments easy
to bear on the Day of Judgement, which will be equivalent to
50,000 years? Sear a coin in the fire of this world and brand
yourself with it. Alas! There is no comparison between the fire
(of this world) and the blazing inferno (of the next); between a
small coin and the wealth accumulated during your lifetime;
between the reality of time in this world and the timelessness in
the next; between the branding with a small coin and bone
piercing punishment in the next. May Allah    ! " Guide the
Muslims? (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 175, vol. 10)

Dear Islamic Brothers! Embrace the Righteous Environment


Da’awat-e-Islāmī, Inshā-Allah    ! "; you will continue to learn
the fundamentals and laws of shariah pertaining to Zakāt and
Sadaqah [Charity]. You will also be inspired to act upon Islam.
Here is an account to increase the level of one’s devotion and
admiration to Da’awat-e-Islāmī.

33. A KOREAN COMES INTO THE FOLD OF ISLAM


A Madanī Qāfilah of Devotees of the Prophet travelled to a
locality in South Korea. A Non-Muslim Korean national
approached the Islamic Brothers and asked them if they were
Muslims. The brother replied in affirmative. He then asked as

187
Ninety Nine Parables

to what they were wearing on their heads. The brothers


explained that it is a turban; a dignified practice [Sunnah] of the
Noble Prophet         
     
  . He then inquired about the
beard. Again the brothers replied that it was also a dignified
practice [Sunnah] of our Noble Prophet               
  . The
Korean National then said, “I had only read about Islam in
books but had not seen anyone practicing it with my very eyes.
This is the first time I have witnessed Islam personified; which
is very inspiring. Kindly, make me a Muslim.”

Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", a Non-Muslim accepted Islam by observing


the gleaming turbans and beards of the Devotees of the Prophet
in the Madanī Qāfilah.
Devotee of the Prophet appears in wonderful flair
Wearing a turban, a beard and Prophetic hair

Un kā Diwānā Imāmāh aur zulf o resh main


Vah dekho to sahi lagta hai kitnā shāndār

Dear Islamic Brothers! Muslims today have adopted a wicked


lifestyle. It is very sad that Muslims attire and appearance
reflects the cultures of Non-Muslims. Do not let Satanic whispers
deceive you by infusing the notion that people will distance
themselves from you if you wear the turban or have a beard.
People are not repelled by turbans and beards, but by corrupt
behavior, immoral character, and vile slander. You should
therefore adhere to the Sunnah and become a reflection of it.
Refine your character, keep your tongue away from slander, and
be courteous and polite. By refining one’s character, one will see
how people come closer to them and how they admire them.
In the account above, you just heard as to how the attire and
the politeness of Devotees of the Prophet inspired a Non-
Muslim to revert to Islam. Here is yet another account that
further illustrates the blessings [barakah] of travelling in the
Madanī Qāfilah.
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Islamic Manners of Eating

34. BECAME A MUSLIM BY LOOKING AT THE GLOWING FACE


In 1425 Hijri (January 2005), the Nigrān of Da’awat-e-Islāmī’s
Markazi Majlis-e-Shūrah (The Main Governing Body) and a few
members of Majlis Bain-ul-Aqwāmī Umūr (the Foreign Affairs
Committee) travelled in a Madanī Qāfilah to South Africa from
Bab-ul Madinah, Karachi [Pakistan]. The Qāfilah went to see a
land for the construction of Faizān-e-Madinah Masjid). The
brothers already present there at the land site welcomed them
enthusiastically. Inspired by the blessed and glowing faces, the
owner of that piece of land, a Christian, came forward to the
Nigrān of Shurah and told him that he wanted to revert to
Islam. He was immediately asked to repent and recite the
Declaration of Faith. Islamic brothers were overwhelmed with
joy, and their chanting “Allah, Allah” filled the atmosphere.

Wear a Beard and Turban as part of your garment


It is not Bad but Great, Madanī Environment
Indeed king of fate, who opted for encirclement
Embraced by the privileged, Madanī Environment

Tu Dhari Barhale Imaama Sajale


Hey Accha, Neheen hai bura Madanī Mahol
Yaqeenan Muqadar Ka vo hai Sikandar
Jise khair se mil gaya Madanī mahol

      
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35. JUDGE’S YEAST


Shaykh Salih    5
      6
 7 , the son of the Imām of millions of
Hanbalites41, His Excellency Shaykh Sayyidūnā Imam Ahmed

41 Followers of Hanbali School of Islamic law, founded by Shaykh Sayyidūnā Imam

Ahmed bin Hanbal     5 6  7 .

189
Ninety Nine Parables

bin Hanbal         5 6


 7 , was the Qadi [Judge] of Isfahān, [Iran].
This one time, Imām Ahmad’s servant prepared bread with
yeast, which he had taken from the Kitchen of his son Shaykh
   5
Salih       6  7 . When he served the bread to Imām Ahmad Bin
Hanbal         5 6  7 , the shaykh asked as to why it was very soft
and fluffy. The servant revealed that he had taken some yeast
from his son’s kitchen. The Shaykh said, “Why did you take
yeast from my son’s kitchen? He is the Qadi [judge] of Isfahān.
Now, I will not consume this bread.” He then commanded the
servant to give the bread to a beggar and instructed him to
inform the beggar that the bread included yeast that belonged
to a judge. Coincidently, no beggar came to beg for 40 days; as a
result the bread went bad. The servant then fed bread to the
fish in the Tigris River. Imām Ahmad bin Hanbal         5
 6
 7 ,
from thereon, never ate any fish from that river. What
magnificent level of Taqwa [piety] the Great Imām possessed!
(Tażkirat-ul-Awliyā, p. 198)

Dear Islamic Brothers! How elegant was the piety and


asceticism [taqva] of Shaykh Imām Ahmad bin Hanbal         5
 6
 7 ?
He abstained from the food that belonged to his own son just
because his son was a judge. Remember, that even though the
livelihood that is earned by a judge is not Harām [forbidden],
however it is extremely difficult for a judge to uphold justice in
an equitable fashion. Even if he is able to do justice equitably, the
judge is an employee of the government; and governments
usually entail some elements of corruption. Governments may
also be oppressive at times and appropriate funds, which go into
the treasury, through oppressive means. Therefore, Shaykh
Imām Ahmad Bin Hanbal        5
 6
 7 showed extreme caution in
eating bread cooked with yeast that belonged to a judge, and also
abstained from consuming fish from the Tigris River because
there was this outside chance that the fish fed on that bread. This
exemplifies his high levels of asceticism [taqwa] and piety.

190
Islamic Manners of Eating

36. KARĀMAT OF IMĀM AHMAD BIN HANBAL


Shaykh Sayyidunā Imām Ahmad Bin Hanbal       5
 6
 7 was very
gracious. It is stated that a woman’s limbs were paralyzed. She
sent her son to the Shaykh       5
 6
 7 to request him to make duā
[supplicate] for her. After he heard of her condition, he
performed Wudū [Ablution] and began to offer Salāh. The
young lad returned home. When the lad reached his house his
mom opened the door herself and had regained her health and
vitality. (Tażkirat-ul-Awliyā, p. 196)
It is great reward to respect the righteous and pious servants
of Allah. Hence

37. THE REWARD OF RESPECTING


A person saw a deceased person in a dream and asked him,
 ‫“ ﻣﻓ ﻌ‬What did Allah    ! " command for you?” He
‫ﻞ !  ﻚ‬
replied, “Allah    ! " forgave me!” That person asked, “Which
deed helped you?” He replied, “Once Shaykh Sayyidūnā Imam
Ahmed bin Hanbal       5
 6
 7 was performing Wudū [Ablution]
on the riverbank. I sat down for Wudū but when I noticed the
Great Imam       5
 6
 7 downstream from me, out of respect, I
moved down the river. This deed of “moving [downstream]
because of respect” was the cause for my salvation and
forgiveness.
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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38. SHOES OF GOLD


The Renowned Muhaddiš [Master of Prophetic narrations]
  5
Shaykh Sayyidūnā Muhammad bin Khuzymaĥ      6
 7 said, “I
was deeply saddened when Shaykh Sayyidūnā Imam Abū

191
Ninety Nine Parables

‘Abdullah Ahmed bin Hanbal       5 6  7 passed away. One night
I saw him in a dream [after his death], taking steps in a
gracefully dignified manner. I asked him, “What kind of
[walking] style is this?” He replied, “Dwellers of Paradise, walk
  !
like this.” Then I asked him, ‫ﻞ !  ﻚ‬  ‫“ ﻣﻓ ﻌ‬What did Allah   "
command for you?” He replied, “Allah   ! " forgave me and
crowned me and gave me shoes of gold. He told me, ‘O
Ahmed! These [luxuries] are all because you defined the Quran
as My (Allah’s) [uncreated] Divine Word. Allah the Exalted
  !
  " further said, ‘Ask me the same Duā [supplication], you
used to ask me in the world.’ I [Imam Ahmed] then made the
Duā, ‘O my Allah    ! ", the Exalted! Everything …’, When I
had only said these words, Allah    ! " said, “Everything is
provided for you.” Upon this I said, ‘Everything is because of
Your Mighty Authority.’ Allah Almighty    ! " replied, ‘You
have said the truth.’ Then I requested, ‘O Allah! Forgive me
without any questioning.’ Allah     ! " declared, ‘Forgiven!’
Then Allah    ! " further said, ‘O Ahmed! This is the paradise.
Enter herein.’ When I entered, I saw Sayyidūnā Sufyān Šoury
  5
     6
 7 , he was already there and he had two wings. He was
flying from one date tree to another and was chanting ‘All
praise is due to Allah    ! " who made His promise come true
and made us inheritors of the heaven. We abide herein
wherever we wish and the reward for the people who commit
good deeds is certainly excellent.’ I asked him, ‘How is Shaykh
Sayyidūnā ‘Abdul Waĥāb Warrāq       5  6
 7 ?’ He told me, ‘I left
him at the Sea of Nūr [enlightenment.]’ I then inquired about
Shaykh Sayyidūnā Beshr Hāfī       5 6  7 . He informed, ‘He is in
the Divine Presence. In front of him is a dining-mat and Allah’s
special attention is towards him and He    ! " is telling him,
‘One who avoided drinking and eating! Now eat and enjoy in
this world.” (Sharaḥ-us Ṣudūr, p. 289)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

39. FORGIVENESS GRANTED ON EVERY STRIKE OF THE WHIP


Dear Islamic Brothers! Allah’s pious servants pass on from this
world facing hardships for their religion [dīn] and Allah    ! "
Grants them prestigious rewards for their hard work. Yes Sir!
The leader of thousands of Hanbalites42, Shaykh Say'yidūnā
Imam Abū ‘Abdullah Ahmed bin Hanbal       5
 6
 7 suffered
severe agony and torture, just for upholding the truth. Once the
Abbasid Caliph, Mu’atasim Billaĥ ordered one of his
executioners to whip him with lashes. Imam Ahmed bin
  5
Hanbal      6
 7 began to bleed as the whips rained down on
his bare back. The skin was being plucked off from his wounds
with the severe lashing. During this beating, his pajamas43
started to slip, so he made Duā [supplication], “O Allah    ! "!
You know I am on the truth. Save my private parts from being
exposed. Al-Hamdulillah    ! "! The pyjama stopped to slip and
after this the Imam fainted. All the while he was in a state of
consciousness, with every strike of the whip he would
announce, “I forgive Mu’atasim’s mistakes.”

Afterwards, when he was asked about this he commented,


“Mu’atasim is the descendant of Sayyidūnā Abbas   3 "   
 ? 7 , the
uncle of the Holy Prophet         
     
  . [If I do not forgive
him] I fear of being told that Ahmed bin Hanbal did not forgive
the descendants of the uncle of the Holy Prophet              
  .”
(Ma’dan-e-Akhlāq, pp. 37-39, vol.3)

Say'yidūnā Fuzayl bin ‘Ayad         5  6 7 has reported that


Sayyidūnā Ahmed bin Hanbal        5
 6 7 was kept in captivity
for continuously 28 months (over two years). During this time
he was lashed every night till he fainted. He was lacerated by a
sword, and was trampled upon. Despite facing so many

42 Followers of Hanbali School of Islamic law, founded by Shaykh Sayyidūnā Imam

Ahmed bin Hanbal     5 6  7 .


43 South Asian loose fitting trousers

193
Ninety Nine Parables

gruesome punishments he was still unwavering [on his stance.]


His steadfastness is really exemplary. (Ṭabqāt-ul-Kubrā, pp. 79, vol. 1)
Shaykh Sayyidūnā Hāfiz ibn Jūzy        5
 6
 7 has narrated from
  5
Muhammed Bin Ism’ail      6
 7 that, “Among the whips
lashed at the Imam, 80 whips were such that if an elephant was
lashed with them it would have screamed but the patience of
the Imam is really marvellous. (Ma’dan-e-Akhlāq, pp. 106, vol. 3)

Birds flutter without moving their wings


Abiding to the manners of the King’s Presence

Tařpnā iss tarĥa bulbul, kay bāl o per na ĥillyn


Adab ĥay lāzmiy Shāhoon kay Āstānay kā

      
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40. A THIEF INSTRUCTS TO BE PATIENT


During this time of agony and anguish, Allah, the Exalted    ! ",
helped Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal         5
 6 7 through a man
named, Abul Ĥayshum ‘Ayyār.” One day when the Imam was
presented for his daily lashing sessions, this man approached
   5
him and said, “Ahmed      6
 7 ! I am so-and-so thief, and I was
whipped with eighteen thousand lashes so that I would confess
to the robbery and theft. I knew I was at fault but I did not
admit to my crimes. Your stand is legitimate. Don’t get scared
of these lashings.” From there on, whenever the Imam felt pain
from the whippings he used to recall the words of that thief.
   5
Afterwards, the Imam       6
 7 would always make Duā of
mercy for him. (Ṭabqāt-ul-Kubrā, pp. 78-79, vol. 1)
  5
Shaykh Sayyidūnā Bishr bin al-Hāriš      6
 7 said: “He [the
Imam] was put in the furnace (i.e. jail) to be tested, and he came
out as shining gold (because of his superior determination).
(Ṭabqāt-ul-Kubrā, pp. 81, vol. 1)

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Islamic Manners of Eating

BOUNTIES OF ALLAH   
! " ON HIS AULIYĀ

Dear Islamic Brothers! From this parable we learn that, Allah’s


 !
  " special blessings are showered upon those who endure
hardships in Allah’s    ! " path, with a smiling face. Further, we
learn, from the above mentioned parables, how Allah     ! "
bestowed his bounties upon Shaykh Sayyidūnā Beshr Hāfī
     5  6
 7 because he chose hunger and thirst to please Allah
   ! "
 rather than his inner desires [nafs].

Even our Ghous A’zam, Shaykh Sayyidūnā Abd al-Qadir


Jilanī       5
 6
 7 used to suppress his inner desires [nafs] and stay
averse from eating and drinking. A Saint and a Devotee of the
Rasūl Allah                 6
  , Imam Ahmed Raza     5  7 ,

while describing the bounties of Allah   ! " upon the Master of
Baghdad, Ghous Pak, Shaykh Sayyidūnā abd al-Qadir Jilanī
  5
     6
 7 , writes this couplet addressing the Shaykh:

Rab    !  "
insists and feeds you assertively;
Your Loving Allah    !  "
, who likes you immensely.

Qasmyn day day kay khilātā ĥay pilāta ĥay tujĥy;


Piyārā Allaĥ    !  "
teyrā, chāĥnay valā teyrā.

Dear Islamic Brothers! Stay attached to the Righteous


Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī to gather such pearls of
knowledge and Inshā-Allah    ! " you will gain several blessings
of both, our religion and of this world [dunyā]. Listen to the
next faith enlightening narrative, which provides a glimpse of
the blessings of the Righteous Environment.

41. BRAIN TUMOR VANISHED


One brother from Balbaĥer in District Chandurpūr,
Maharashtra (Hind) [India], explained in his own words how
he joined the Righteous Madanī Environment of Da’awat-e-

195
Ninety Nine Parables

Islāmī: “About 7 years ago, my left eye got injured by a stone.


Treatments eased the pain but my eyesight got weaker and
weaker. Instead of learning a lesson from this injury, I became
careless. My heedlessness overcame and I started listening to
music and going to dancing clubs. The bright and glamorous
lights there further deteriorated my vision. Finally, I started
having severe pain in my left eye. Analysis revealed a brain
tumor. We visited several hospitals for treatment but my
condition worsened. My neck tilted to one side and it became
difficult for me to even have meals. My family was very
troubled with my condition. During this time one Madanī
Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī visited our village. Delivering the
Call to Righteousness, they invited all of our family’s male
members to come and listen to the speech in a nearby masjid.
We all excused ourselves, by telling them our situation. But at
home we could all hear the speech of the Preacher, quiet
clearly. My family members were very touched by the speech
and decided to attend the upcoming Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’
[Congregation] in Durug. In this Ijtimā’ [congregation] the
bayan [speech] was followed by an overwhelming Duā session.
After returning from the congregation when I went for my
scheduled CT Scan, they found that the brain tumor had
completely vanished, even though previous tests had confirmed
the presence of it. My family was so moved by this incident that
they themselves put a [green] turban on my head.

Gift of the Prophet of Allah          


     
  , this Madanī Environment;
Blessing of Ghous and Raza, this Madanī Environment.
If you’re ailed by sin,
You will get the treatment, come join this Madanī Environment.
Salvation in Judgment, God-Willing,
Keep yourself attached to this Madanī Environment.

‘Attaey Habybe Khudā          


     
  , Madany Mahool;

Ĥay fayzāne Ghouš o Razā, Madany Mahool.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

Aey bymaray ‘aisyān tū ājā yahān per;


Ghunāĥoon ky dey ga davā, Madany Mahool.
Suavar jāay gi ākhiret inshāa Allaĥ;
Tum apnāy rakĥo, Madany Mahool

      
 1    
/0    .*     -
  + ,

42. KNEW WHAT WAS IN THEIR HEART OF HEARTS


Data Ganj Baksh Shaykh Sayyidūnā ‘Alī Ĥajwayry       5  6  7 has
said, “We were three friends, and we were on our way to visit
  5
Shaykh Ibnay ‘Allā      6
 7 , in his village called Ramllaĥ. On
our way, we decided that each one of us would keep a wish in
his heart. I wished that Shaykh Ibnay ‘Allā       5
 6
 7 would
teach me the couplets [ash’aār] and Du’a [supplication] of
Hussayn bin Mansūr Hallāj       5
 6
 7 . My other friend wished
that his diseased spleen would be cured, and the third one
wished to eat Halvah Sābuny44 (Burfī). When we all arrived, the
Shaykh had already had someone write the Couplets] [karāmat
[ash’aār] and Du’a of Hussayn bin Mansūr Hallāj       5 6  7 , for
me. He handed it to me as we walked in and then rubbed his
hand over the abdomen of the other friend and his spleen was
cured. Then he addressed the third friend and said, ‘Halvah
Sābuny (Burfī) is exquisite food of the kings but you are
wearing the dress of the Sufis! Adopt one of the two.” (Kashf-ul
Maḥjūb, p. 384)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

43 DID HUSSAYN BIN MANSŪR SAY ANAL-HAQQ


Dear Islamic Brothers! By the blessings endowed by Allah
   !
 ",
the Saints [Auliyā Allah] can also be aware of the

44 Called ‘Burfī’ in Urdu. A dessert made by cooking milk with sugar.

197
Ninety Nine Parables

thoughts of others, that is why Shaykh Ibnay ‘Allā         5


 6
 7
knew the wishes of Data Ganj Baksh Shaykh Sayyidūnā ‘Alī
   5
Ĥajwayry       6 7 and his friends and that is why he fulfilled
the wishes of two friends and explained to the third friend the
flaw in his wish. This parable also portrays Hussayn bin
Mansūr Hallāj         5
 6 7 in a positive manner. It is widely
thought that he claimed, “Anul-Haqq” literally translated as “I
am Haqq45 (God.)” Removing this misconception my Master,
Ala Hazrat, Imam Ahl sunnat, Maūlana As-Shah Imam Ahmed
Raza Khan      5 6 7 has said:

“Shaykh Sayyidūnā Hussayn bin Mansūr Hallāj       5


 6
 7
was popularly known as ‘Mansūr’, but this is his father’s name.
His name is Hussayn. His ancestors were amongst the
ecstatics46 [Ahl-e-Hāl]. One of his sisters was higher than him, by
several ranks, in saintliness [wilāyat] and in M’arifat [the
knowledge about the Divine] She used to go to the jungle in the
last hours of the night and engross herself in the Remembrance
of Allah    ! " [Żikrullaĥ]. One night he woke up and did not
find her in the house. He became suspicious about his sister. So
the next night he pretended to be sleeping and as usual his
sister got up in the middle of the night and went on her way.
He quietly followed her. He saw that a Sard47 [Yāqut] goblet
descended from the sky attached to a gold chain. When it
reached close to her lips, she started drinking from it. Hussayn
bin Mansūr Hallāj       5
 6
 7 was anxious to have some of this
heavenly beverage, so he called out, ‘Sister! By Allah    ! ",
leave some for me.’ She left a sip for him. As soon as he drank
that sip, he started hearing a call from every plant and herb,
from every wall and door, ‘Who is more worthy of getting

45 Al-Haqq, one of the attributes of Allah   !". Means The Truth, The Reality, The Just

and Correct, and The Truly Existing.
46 Those who are overwhelmed by an overpowering emotion of the love of the Lord

(Allah) while contemplating about divine things during fits of ecstasy [hāal].
47 Translucent reddish-brown gemstone. Sometimes also referred as carnelian.

198
Islamic Manners of Eating

killed in Our Way?’ He started replying, ‫( ﻧ  ﻻ  ﺣ ﻖ‬Ana La


Ahaqq) that is ‘I am the most deserving of this punishment.’
People heard it as “Anul haqq” (I am Haqq (God.)) and thought
that he was claiming to be God. This phrase (i.e. claiming to be
God) is a statement of disbelief [kufr] and proclamation of such
a phrase by a Muslim is apostasy [Murtad.] Punishment for
apostasy is the death penalty. It is stated in Sahīh Bukhārī
Master of all the Prophets, Mercy for all Mankind, Master of
Both the Worlds, the Beloved of Allah             !
    
       "
said, ‘Kill who ever converts from his [Islamic] faith.” (Fatāwā
Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 400, vol. 26)

Al-Hamdulillah    ! "! Associating oneself with the Righteous


Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī and travelling in the Madanī
Qāfilah is the best way to refine one’s deeds [character] and
beliefs.
44. I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC & A THIEF
An Islamic Brother from Bombay, (India) [Mumbai, India]
has said: “I had bad company of friends and from a very young
age I was addicted to drinking and gambling. I was considered
a master of smuggling diamonds and gold into the country.
Some brothers of Da’awat-e-Islāmī used to organize a Sunnah-
Inspiring Ijtimā’ [congregation] every Friday, in our area. My
mother used to tell me to join them, but I always ignored her.
Once due to the efforts of a brother I finally obliged and
attended the Ijtimā’ [Congregation]. I liked the style of delivery
of the Preacher but could not fully comprehend his speech.
After the Ijtimā’ the Preacher approached me and through his
efforts tried to convince me to attend the Sunnah-Inspiring
weekly Ijtimā’ [Congregation] in ‘Govandi’, which is a part of
Bombay city, and I agreed.
That night of the Ijtimā’ [Congregation] I went to the bar
with some of my friends. That night for some reason, I did not

199
Ninety Nine Parables

feel like drinking. I just ordered a soft drink. My friends looked


at me with surprise. I told them that someone had invited me to
the Ijtimā’ [Congregation] and I had to go there to attend a
sermon. Upon hearing this my friends burst into laughter. [One
of them said,] ‘My friend this is not the month of Muharram.
Sermons are held in Muharram. I think someone has played a
joke on you.’ I was partially convinced, but decided that I will
go and if there is no Ijtimā’ [Congregation] I will just come
back. I stepped outside got into a taxi [rickshaw48] and went
straight to the Ijtimā’ [Congregation]. The overwhelming Duā
there made me burst into tears. While weeping I repented from
all my sins. After the Ijtimā’ [Congregation] one of the Preacher
asked me to travel in the Madanī Qāfilah. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ",
I had the pleasure of travelling with the Devotees of the
Prophet in the Madanī Qāfilah. There I made intentions to grow
a beard on my face and to wear a turban. I quit the company of
the drunkards and gamblers and joined the Righteous
Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. I also had an eye disease,
which made me feel as if I had a pebble in my eye.
Al-Hamdulillah     ! ", by the blessings of the Righteous
Environment I was relieved from this ailment as well.”

Give up cursing and forget drinking


Let’s all repent; Let’s go in Qāfilah
Alcoholics come, Gamblers you join too
Rid your bad habits; Let’s go in Qāfilah

Chĥoor day nūvshiyān, mut bako gāliyān


Āaū taubaĥ karyn, Qāflay myn chaloo
Āay Sharāby tū Āa, jūary tū āa
Chūtyn buad ‘aādatyn, Qāflay myn chaloo

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,
48 Also called Auto rickshaw, is a small three wheeled vehicle for hire.

200
Islamic Manners of Eating

KEEP CALLING OTHERS TO JOIN THE QĀFILAH


Dear Islamic Brothers! By the Sunnah-Insipiring speech and
efforts of the Preacher an alcoholic and a gambler repented and
joined the Righteous Environment. You should also keep
inviting others to the Madanī Qāfilah.
In the parable above you heard about an alcoholic. It is so
saddening that there are a number of Muslims who are plagued
with the bad influence of drinking. While we are at it, let me
mention something about drinking [and alcoholism.], as well.

PUNISHMENT OF ONE SIP OF ALCOHOL


The Crown of Prophet-hood, the Benevolent Prophet, the
Beloved of Allah      " has said, “Allah    !
 ",
  
              !
     
the Exalted, has sent me as a mercy and guidance for all the
Worlds. I was commissioned to do away with the musical
instruments and the affairs of [the pre-Islamic period of]
ignorance. My Rab    ! " Mighty and Majestic swears by His
Own Name that, ‘Whoever from among my servants drinks one
sip of alcohol, I will make him drink the likeness of that sip,
from the boiling waters of Hell and whoever abstains from
drinking alcohol because of [God] wariness, I shall give him the
drink (of pure wine) in the Heavens, in the company of good
friends (Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 198, vol. 8, ḥadiš. 7803 & 7804).’”

45. & 46 COULD NOT RECITE THE KALMAĤ


Dear Islamic Brothers! It is likely that those who drink and play
chess might not get a chance to recite the testimony of faith
[Kalimaĥ] at the time of their deaths. In this context hear the
next two parables:
1) One man used to sit in the company of alcoholics. When
he was near his death, someone tried to remind him to recite
the Kalimaĥ but he replied, “You drink and give me some too.”
201
Ninety Nine Parables

Ma’aāż-Allah    ! ", that person died without voicing his


testimony of faith [Kalmaĥ]. (Just the company of alcoholics
could bring such misery, what would happen when one drinks
himself?) (Mu’jam Kabīr, p. 103)
2) A chess player was reminded of the Kalimaĥ, close to his
death but he replied, “Your king!”, and then passed away
(Mu’jam Kabīr, p. 103).

MEDICAL HARMS OF ALCOHOL


Dear Islamic Brothers! Islam has forbidden alcohol, and there are
several wisdoms entailed in its prohibition. Non-Muslims are
now recognizing its ill-effects also. A Non-Muslim researcher
claims that, in the beginning the body accommodates to the
intake of alcohol and the drinker enjoys it, but after some time [of
regular intake] its effects tend to be more prominent. It weakens
the ability of self-endurance and poses several long term effects.
The liver takes the hardest hit from this habit. Over time it starts
to shrink. The kidneys bare extra burden which could eventually
lead to their failure. Besides these, drinking also causes the
swelling of the brain and other parts of the body. As a result, the
body parts get weakened and sometimes have to be amputated.
Heavy alcohol consumption also causes swelling inside the
stomach and weakens the bones to a point that they may get
fractured. Alcohol also depletes the vitamins in the body
specially vitamin B and C. If one smokes in addition to
consuming alcohol, then the harms of alcohol are even worse. It
increases the chances of high blood pressure, paralysis and heart
stroke. A heavy drinker feels tired, has headaches, feels
nauseated, and feels very thirsty. If alcohol is drunk in a large
quantity, it could cause the heart and the lungs to fail, which
leads to an instant death.
Drunkards come, tame yourselves;
Such is intoxication of the Madanī Environment.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

If bandits, thieves join;


They ‘ll turn good, in the Madanī Environment.
Those who do not pray;
Certainly convert to devouts, in the Madanī Environment

Gar āay sharābī, miťay ĥer kharābī


Chřĥāay gā aysā nashaĥ, madany mahool
Agar choř ďakū bĥiy ājāiyn gay tuo
Sudĥer jāiyn gay gar millā, madny mahool
Namāzyn jo pařĥtay naĥy, uon ko lārayb
Namāzy ĥay dayta bnā, madny mahool.

      
 1    
/0   .*     -
  + ,

47. A BLIND DRUNKARD


I [The author, Amīr Ahlusunnah Maulana Ilyas Qadri says]
distinctly remember a young workingman, who was quiet
humorous and funny. He was known for his strong built and
his witty replies. Then he got blind and was left depressed and
begging for money. Afterwards, I learned that he was an
alcoholic and once he drank some spoiled [putrid] alcohol
which caused a complete loss of vision.

Repent, and quit drinking;


Or your worlds will be hurting;
Gambling and drinking alcohol;
Lead to torment of Hell for body n soul

Kar lay taubaĥ, mut pīy sharāb,


Hūon gay warnaĥ teray doo jaĥan kharāb,
Joo jūa khelay, peay nadān sharāb,
Qabr o hashr o nāar mayn pāey ‘azāb

      
 1    
/0       -
  + ,
.*
203
Ninety Nine Parables

48. CLOTH WAS WOVEN BY ITSELF


Shaykh Sayyidunā Ahmed Nahervānī       5
 6
 7 , a spiritual
disciple [murīd] of Shaykh Sayyidunā Qadī Hammīd-ud-Dīn
  5 6
Nāgorī      7 , was a highly spiritual and a God-gifted person.
Shaykh Sayyidunā Baĥauddīn Zakkariyā Multanī       5
 6
 7 was
seldom impressed by anyone but he opines that if Shaykh
Sayyidunā Ahmed Nahervānī’s       5
 6
 7 devotional practices
were weighed, they would equal the worships of ten Sufis
combined.
Shaykh Sayyidunā Ahmed Nahervānī       5
 6
 7 used to
weave clothes for a living. Sayyidunā Shaykh Nasīr-ud-Dīn
Mahmūd       5
 6
 7 has reported that at times, while weaving
cloth at his home, Shaykh Nahervānī would be overwhelmed
by an overpowering emotion [of the love of Allah    ! " while
contemplating about divine things]. During these ecstatic
periods the cloth would continue to weave by itself . One his
Spiritual Teacher [pir] Shaykh Sayyidunā Qadī Hammīd-ud-
Dīn Nāgorī       5  6
 7 came to visit him. Before departing his
shaykh asked, “Ahmed! For how long will you continue to do
this work [of weaving]?” Shaykh Sayyidūnā Ahmed Nahervānī
  5
     6
 7 immediately got up to stop the weaving machine but
his hand got caught in the machine and his hand broke. After
this incident he quit weaving altogether and turned completely
to his devotional practices. His blessed shrine is a source of
blessing and enlightenment in Badāyūn (Hind) [India.]

May Allah    !  "


have Mercy upon them and forgive us for their sake.
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

49. HE SELLS WATERMELONS


Dear Islamic Brothers! Scholars and Saints have always been
present amongst the Muslims, in every race and occupation and
this will be true till the Judgment Day [Qiyāmat.] Mercy of Allah
204
Islamic Manners of Eating

   !
is not limited to any one nation or race. Allah  
 "  "
 ! blesses
whoever He Wills.
There are several Saints [Auliyā Allah] always present on the
face of this earth, and the order of this world carries on because
of their blessings.
Someone complained to Shaykh Sayyidūnā Shāĥ ‘Abdul
Aziz Muhaddiš Dehlvī      5
 6
 7 “Why are the matters of Delhi
so ‘laid back’?” He replied, “These days the [spiritual] in charge
here [the abdāl of Delhi] is laid back [and an easy going person.]”
The Complainer asked, “Who is he?” He replied, “He is so-and-
so fruit seller who sells watermelons in such-and-such market.”
That person visited the abdāl and saw that he was selling
watermelons. He requested to cut a slice off of one of the
watermelon [as if to check it before purchasing] and rejected it.
Then he asked for a slice of another, and yet another. The man
kept on rejecting everyone of the seller’s melons and putting it
back on his cart. Despite the loss of several melons, he still did
not utter any words of complain or resentment.
After some time that person noted that the order of Delhi
was restored. He inquired about the current in charge person.
The Shaykh informed, “He is a person who hauls water and
sells it at the ‘Chāndnī Chowk,’ but he sells every glass for a
chaĥhdām49.” This man took a chaĥhdām to this person and
asked for a glass of water. He got the water and threw it and
said give me another. The abdāl asked, “Do you have another
chaĥhdām?” The man said, “No!” Then the abdāl slapped him
across the face and remarked, “Did you think I am like the one
who sells watermelons?” (Sachchi Hikāyāt, pp. 97, vol. 3)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

49 A chaĥhdām is a quarter of a penny.

205
Ninety Nine Parables

SPRITUAL RULERS
Dear Islamic Brothers! Saints are the real rulers and by the
   5
bounties of Allah       6
 7 they are aware of the unseen matters’
[‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb] [gaib.] It is not essential that every saint [wali] gets
popular. These people are among all walks of life. Sometime a
Saint is a common laborer, sometimes vegetables or fruits seller,
sometimes a businessman, and sometimes is an employee,
working as a security guard or a construction worker. Everyone
cannot recognize them. Therefore, we should not consider any
Muslim as inferior.
Some saints are well integrated into the “spiritual order” of
things. Hence...

356 SAINTS OF ALLAH


Shaykh Sayyidunā Ibn Mas’ūd   3 "   
 ?
7 has narrated that the
Master of Madinah, the Leader of Mecca               
  has
said, “300 of Allah’s Servants [Auliyā] are always on the face of
the earth, such that their heart’s state mimics the heart of
Prophet Sayyidunā Adam Safi-ullah 8 9    B-C      3DE F   , 40 of
   
them have a heart like the heart of Prophet Sayyidunā Mūsā
Kalīm-ullah 8 9    B-C       3DE F   . Whereas 7 have hearts that
   
resemble the heart of Prophet Sayyidunā Ibrahim Khalil-ulllah
8    B-C
9         3DE F    and 5 peoples’ hearts imitate the heart of

Sayyidunā Jibrāīl 8 9    B-C    . Further, 3 peoples’ state of their
   
hearts mimic the heart of Sayyidunā Mīkāīl 8 9    B-C
      , and 1

person’s heart follows the heart of Sayyidunā Isrāfīl
8 9    B-C      . When one, from amongst this group, dies Allah

  !
  " appoints from a group of ‘three’ and when one from these
‘three’ passes away He    ! " appoints from a group of ‘five’.
When one from amongst these ‘five’ dies then Allah     ! "
appoints from ‘seven’ and when one from these ‘seven’ passes
away He    ! " appoints from a group of ‘forty.’ When one from
amongst these ‘forty’ dies then Allah    ! " appoints from a
206
Islamic Manners of Eating

group of ‘three hundred’ and when one from these ‘three


hundred’ passes away, Allah     ! " appoints one from the
Muslim masses. Through them [wasīlah], people get life and
death, and rains. Through their blessing plants grow and
disasters are warded off.”
Sayyidūnā Ibn Mas’ūd   3 "   
 ? 7 was asked, “How do people
get life and death through them?” He replied, “They make Du’a
[supplication] for the Ummah [Muslim community] to be
plentiful and so the Ummah becomes abundant [i.e. grows in
numbers.] They make Du’a against the tyrants thus the tyrants’
influence deteriorates. They ask for rain and it rains, and the
earth sprouts out vegetation for the people. [Through their
supplications] Different disasters are averted from the people.”
(Ḥilyat-ul-Awliyā, pp. 40, vol. 1, ḥadiš.16)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

ABDĀL50
Shaykh Sayyidūnā Imām Muhammed bin ‘Alī Hakīm Tirmizī
  5
     6 
 7 has narrated from Abū Dardaa’   3 "    ?
7 , “Certainly the
prophets [ambiya] are ‘Awtād’51 [pegs] of this earth. After the
chain of prophets finished [Khatme Nabūvaĥ], Allah    ! " the
Exalted made a group of people from the followers [ummah] of
Ahmed         
     
  who are called “Abdāl.” These people
rise in ranks of spirituality not only because of their fasts,
prayers, and their devotional litanies and glorifications [tasbih]
but also because of their superior character [akhlāq], their true
piety and god-wariness [taqva], their purity of intent, aloofness
of their hearts from the hatred of Muslims, their gentleness for

Members of the spiritual hierarchy of saints, in Islamic methodology. Abdāl literarily


50

means “substitutes.”
51 A rank or order of saints, in Islamic methodology. “Awtād” literarily means a stake,

which is a post used as a marker, fence pole, or tent peg, usually to hold something
down to the ground or retain its weight.

207
Ninety Nine Parables

solely pleasing Allah    ! ", their patience and wisdom, their


humility despite having no weakness, and because of their
good-will towards all fellow Muslims. Thus they are the
  !
successors of the Prophets  89   
 :  . Allah   " has chosen 40
Siddiqīn [Truthfuls] and bestowed them with His knowledge
52

[‘ilm] and His Satisfaction [Razā]. Amongst them there are 30


such people that their firmness of faith parallels the faith of the
Dear Friend [Khalīl] of Allah     ! ", the Prophet Sayyidūnā
   B-C
Ibrahim 8 9      3DE F   . Through the intercession [wasīlah] of
    
these Abdāls disaster are averted, hardships of the people are
vanquished, rains shower [the lands], and sustenance is
dispersed. Before one of them dies, another is appointed by
Allah, the Majestic    ! ". They neither curse anyone, nor do
they hurt or beat their subordinates, or consider them any
inferior to themselves. Further, they don’t envy those who are
higher than them in ranks, nor do they lust for worldly things.
Furthermore, they do not exhibit silence to show off, nor are
they arrogant and they do not display their humbleness to
impress others. They are the nicest people to talk to and their
piety comes truly from their inner-selves [nafs.] Generosity is an
innate part of their character.

They consistently always refrain from all acts, our pious


predecessors [aslāf] disliked. They are not erratic such that one
day they are very pious and the next day they are totally
heedless rather they are unwavering in their state [of devotion.]
These Abdāls have a special [spiritual] connection with God.
Neither the gushing winds nor the fastest horses can catch up
to them [or their speeds]. Their hearts rise enthusiastically
towards the sky by pleasing Allah    ! ".”

The Prophet         


     
  then recited this verse:

52 A rank or order of saints, in Islamic methodology. Literary means "truthful" in Arabic.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

  e ! t  2  ‰  f 
 e ! t  _
jٓ 
< M 4   N  f 
‫ ۝‬2-
  
“This is Allah’s fold. Do you hear? It is Allah’s fold that is successful.”
(Qurān)(Surah-tul-Mujādilah, juz. 28, āyah.22) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

The narrator asked Abū Darda’a   3 "   


 ? 7 , “From the traits
you have just described, which is the hardest for me to adopt?
And how would I know if I have achieved it [i.e. the rank of an
Abdāl]? He explained, “You will be in the middle ranks when
you dislike the worldly things [dunyā]. When you hate the
materialistic worldly things [dunyā], you will feel the love of the
next world [ākhirah] getting closer to you. The more you try to
distance yourself from worldly matters, the greater you will
develop the love of the life after death and then you will judge
your deeds for their benefits and losses [of the hereafter.]” He
further added, “Whoever has the sincere quest for the
knowledge of his Allah    ! ", Allah    ! " grants him correctness
in his deeds and speech and takes him in His    ! " Protection.
This is affirmed in His Book (the Holy Quran).” Then the
companion recited this verse:

   e 2  
391    N  J  HI    - A  J  HI  r (   f 
‫ ۝‬2-
“No doubt, Allah    !  "
is with those who fear and do good.”
(Qurān)(Surah-tun-Nahl, juz. 14, āyah. 128) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

And he continued, “When we saw this verse (in the Holy


Quran), then we realized that there is nothing more delightful
than seeking Allah’s Love and pleasing [and obeying] Him.”
(Nawādir-ul-Usūl, p. 168)

      
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Ninety Nine Parables

50. PLEAS OF THE HUNGRY STUDENTS


Famous Muhaddiššīn [Masters of Prophetic Narrations] Shaykh
Sayyidunā Imām Tabarānī, Shaykh Sayyidunā ‘Allāmaĥ ibn ul-
Muqrī and Shaykh Sayyidunā Abush-Shaykh  
       : 6 7 were
studying in Madina, the Enlightened, (May Allah    ! " increase
its respect and purity.) There came a time when all three of
them were faced with severe starvation. They all started fasting,
but the pangs of hunger left them weak and exhausted. So
finally all three of them went to visit the pristine grave of the
Prophet                and pleaded, “Yā Rasūl Allah
 
            
  
! Aljū’! O, the Prophet of Allah         
     
    !
Hunger! After saying this Imām Tabarānī       5
 6  7 remained
seated by the grave and said, “I will not get up from here, either
I will get food or I will embrace death at this [sanctified] place.”

I will stay on these steps;


Resolutions will come my way
Surely I’ll bump into his grace;
Food will also come this way

Myn un kay dur per přā ĥiy rahoon gā


Přay ĥiy rehnay say kām ĥo gā
Nigaĥĥay Rahmat zaroor ĥogy
Tu’am kā aintizam ĥo gā

Shaykh Sayyidūnā ‘Allāmaĥ ibn ul-Muqrī and Shaykh


Sayyidūnā Abūsh- Shaykh  
  ◌   0
: 6
7 returned to their home.
After a little while, someone knocked on the door. When they
answered, there was a saintly man with two of his slaves and
they had brought food. Explaining, he said, “You had
complained about your hunger and Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", the
Prophet         
     
  ordered me, in a dream, to bring food
for you. Therefore, whatever I could arrange right away, I have
brought for you. I request you to accept this.”

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Islamic Manners of Eating

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Beggars come to Madinah


Everywhere you see them, flocking
There is one distributor
The Whole world is lined up, begging

Ĥer taraf Madinay myn bĥeeř ĥay faqeeroon kiy


Aik deynay valā ĥay kul jahan sūvaly ĥay.

      
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APPEALS ARE HEARD BY THE


HOLY PROPHET   ٖ          
Dear Islamic Brothers! We just learned that our predecessors
[Aslāf] endured immense hardships to acquire the knowledge of
religion [dīn]. They starved, yet diligently and zealously
compiled their works and writings and left them for us, as a
bouquet of flowers, to benefit from. Woe, but sadly today,
Muslims do not care to gain any benefit from these volumes of
works. They were passionate about gathering deeds for the Day
of Judgment and these days majority of the Muslims are only
obsessed about accumulating wealth.
From the above parable we also learn that when our pious
ancestors were confronted with hard times, they whole
heartedly requested the Holy Prophet    
  
        for help.
     
The pleas which resonate from the heart, are always heard by
our Dear Master         
     
  . My master and true devotee
of the Prophet, Ala Hazrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan       5
 6
 7
writes in Hadāiqe Bakhshish:

By Allah    !  " , he will hear and come to comfort;


Should someone sigh “Ah” from the heart.

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Ninety Nine Parables

Wallaĥ voĥ sūn lyn gay furyād ko poĥnchyn gay


Itnā bĥi tuo ĥo koiy jo “Āĥ” karay dil say.

By the Grace of Allah, Our Master, the Master of all Prophets


and men    
  
     
     
  , heard the pleas of the students and
immediately aided them by sending food.

What did you not get from Beloved?


No one left Madina empty handed!

Darey Rasūl say aiy Rāz kiyā naĥi miltā?


Koiy palat kay naĥ khālī gayā Madinay say.

Dear Islamic Brothers! One way to acquire the knowledge of


our religion [dīn] is to travel with the Devotees of the Prophet in
the Madanī Qāfilahs of Dawat-e Islami. Along with attaining
knowledge, one’s worldly problems are also resolved [by such
travels.]

51. CURED FROM HEPATITIS C


One man was bed ridden by Hepatitis C. Doctors had given up
hope on his recovery. His son travelled with the Devotees of the
Prophet in the Madanī Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī and made
sincere Duā for his ailing father. When he returned from his
journey he was joyous to see his father happily strolling. His
father had recovered from the disease.
Father is ailing, or upset wearily;
Will recoup and heal! Let’s go in Qafila.
Rains of mercy and worries washed away;
Regain happiness and joy! Let’s go in Qafila.

Bāp bymār ho, sakht byzār ho;


Paey ga seĥatayn, Qafilay myn chalo;
Waĥ ĥoon bābae kerum, dūr hoon sāray ghum;
Pĥir say khushiyān milleyn, Qafilay myn chalo.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

52. AN ENLIGHTENED BAKER


Shaykh Sayyidunā Saĥal bin ‘Abdullaĥ Tushtary      5
 6
 7
once disclosed that a certain baker in Basra, was a saint [wali.]
One of the Shaykh’s Murīd [Disciple] set out, to meet this saint.
When he reached Basra, he located that baker’s shop and when
he got there, the saint was baking bread in a clay oven. To
protect his beard from fire, he had covered it with a piece of
cloth. (Back then, almost all Muslim men wore a beard53 and it
was common practice for bakers to cover their beards for
safety.) The Shaykh’s disciple thought that if he would be a
Saint [wali], he would not need to protect his beard because his
hair would not catch fire. When he approached the baker, he
greeted him with salaam, and then wanted to talk. The baker,
who was enlightened with spiritual insight [kashf], said, “You
thought of me as feeble [and weak in faith], so now you can not
benefit from my words.” Then the baker refused to converse
with him. (Ar-Risālat-ul-Qushairiyyah, p. 63)
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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53. A JEWEL IN RAGS


We learnt from the above parable that for a person to be a
saint [wali] one does not have to have posters published with
their names, lots of publicity, exceptional robes and turbans,
and long lines of devotees. Allah    ! " favours whomever He
wills. Allah     ! " has concealed His Saints [Auliyā Allah]
amongst the people; therefore we should respect every pious
person as we do not know who may be a saint [wali] in hiding!
[The author, Amīr Ahlusunnah Maulānā Ilyas Qadri says:]
Once I was travelling with the Devotees of the Prophet in the

53 ‘To wear a beard’ means to grow and keep a beard.

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Ninety Nine Parables

Madanī Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. A beardless skinny boy


was sitting across from us. Dressed in simple clothes, he
seemed unappealing as he sat there indulged in his own
thoughts.
The train stopped at one of its station for two-minutes.
The boy got off the train and sat down on one of the benches at
the station. We all began to pray Asr Jamā’at [Congregational
Salāh.] We had hardly finished a single Raka’at [cycle] when we
heard the whistle [as the train was about to leave]. People
started shouting that the train was leaving. We discontinued
our Salāh and were about to dash for the train when this boy
got up and sternly ordered me to pray. We again started our
Jamā’at. Amazingly, the train stood there until we had finished
our prayers and were boarded back on the train. That boy was
still sitting there, gazing around, as our train left the station. I
reckoned that he must be a person lost in Divine meditation
[Majżūb], who was holding back the train with his spiritual
powers.
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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THREE ARE CONCEALED AMONG THREE THINGS


Spritual successor [khalifaĥ] of Ala Hazrat, Faqih e ‘Azam,
Shaykh Abu Yusuf Muhammed Sharif Kotlavy       5
 6
 7 has

  !
 "
said, “Allah  , has concealed three things in three things:
1. His pleasure in His worship,
2. His displeasure in His disobedience and
3. His friends [wali] amongst the people.

Therefore, we should strive for every good deed and make an


effort to avoid every sin because we do not know which deed

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Islamic Manners of Eating

might be a source of attaining His pleasure and which sin


entails His displeasure. Indeed, we should avoid every sin, no
matter how minute it seems to us, like using someone’s smallest
things like a toothpick or using neighbor’s sand without their
permission. It is possible that the Displeasure of our Allah    ! "
is in this very sin, which we consider insignificant and minute.
(Aklāq-us-Sālihīn, p. 56)

My Dear Islamic Brothers! In order to plant the seeds of the


love of the Saints of Allah [Auliyā Allah]  
    
 : 6
7 in your
hearts, stay connected to the Righteous Environment. Regularly
attend the weekly ijtimā’ [congregation] in your city and then
see how it effects you. Here is an account of the benefits of the
ijtimā’, to inspire you to attend

54. HOW DID I GET RID OF MY WICKED HABITS?


This is a summary of a narrative of a young man from Bāb-
ul Madinah, Karachi: “I was arrogant because of my good
physique and young age. I use to get my clothes tailored
according to the latest fashions and trends. On my way to
college, I would to ride the bus, but would not pay the fare.
When the money collector would ask me to pay the fare I
would act like a hooligan [and ride for free.] Staying out late
and wasting money on gambling, was normal for me. Sins had
become a part of my character and personality. After repeatedly
trying to make me understand, my parents were fed up with
me. My mother would weep and supplicate for me, but I did
not care. An Islamic brother, would casually invite me to the
Sunnah-inspiring weekly Ijtimā’ [congregation], and I would
turn a deaf ear to his requests. Once on the night of the Ijtimā’,
he politely insisted, ‘Today you have to go with me.’ I tried to
excuse myself but he was persistent. Next thing I know, he
stopped a taxi [rickshaw54] and requested me to go along with

54 Also called Auto rickshaw, is a small three wheeled vehicle for hire.

215
Ninety Nine Parables

him. Finally, I yielded to his perseverance and hopped in the


rickshaw. We went to Jām’a Masjid Gulzar-e-Habib, which was
the first Madanī center of Da’awat-e-Islāmī.
When the lights were switched off, for the Zikr and Duā
session, I assumed that the Ijtimā’ had finished and got up to
leave. Little did I know that staying for that session would
change my life forever. The Islamic brother, my well-wisher,
explained the situation and made me stay. During the Zikr, the
uproar of the rhythmic chanting had a deep impact on me. I
swear by Allah    ! "! I had neither heard nor seen such
spirituality in my entire life. This was followed by the inspiring
Du’a. All one could hear were the sobbing and weeping sounds
of the attendees. The [energy in the] Ijtimā’ even melted my
hard heart. I cried out my heart, as I repented from my past sins
and joined the Madanī Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī.

Enjoy the real taste of life;


Come close and see, the Madanī Environment.
Those who were in deep pits;
Were set back on track by the Madanī Environment
He is the king of his destiny;
Whoever found the prosperous Madanī Environment

Tumĥyn lutf ājaiy gā zindagy kā;


Qareeb āakay dekho zarā, Madanī mahool.
Tanazzul kay gharay gearay myn thay un ky;
Tarraqiy kā bāis banā, Madanī mahool.
Yaqeenan muqaddar kā wooh hay sikander;
Jissay khayr say mil gayā, Madanī mahool.

THE FIRST MADANĪ MARKAZ [CENTER] OF DA’AWAT-E-ISLĀMĪ


Dear Islamic Brothers! The above incident is of the beginning
era of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. When the Madanī work of Da’awat-e-
Islāmī started in 1401 Hijri, we did not have a suitable place
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Islamic Manners of Eating

where we could conduct our weekly Ijtimā’ [Congregation].


During that time, I [meaning, the author, Amīr Ahlusunnah
Maulana Ilyas Qadri] would visit different scholars and shaykhs
[ulama o mashaikh] of Ahl-u-Sunnah, in Bab-ul-Madinah, Karachi
[Pakistan] and request them for their support and cooperation. I
had a passion; an obsession to establish a broad network of
righteous Madanī efforts to preserve the faiths of fellow Muslims
and to rectify and improve their conditions and deeds. My
zealous enthusiasm can be best reflected by this phrase:

“I must strive to rectify myself and the people of the whole world,
Inshā-Allah    ! "”

Anyway, in this context, I went to visit the eloquent Orator


of Pakistan, and true Devotee of the Prophet              
  and
his family, Shaykh Hafiz Muhammed Shafi’ Okařwī     5 6   7 at
his residence. When I told him about Da’awat-e-Islāmī, he was
extremely delighted and handed me a personally signed letter,
advocating the cause of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. His devotion for [the
propagation of] Ahlus-Sunnaĥ is highly commendable! He was
gracious enough to offer the Jam’ae Masjid Gulzār-e-Habib for
our weekly Ijtimā’ [congregation]. This Masjid is located in the
heart of Karachi and was managed under his supervision. Thus,
Jam’ae Masjid Gulzār-e-Habib became the first Madanī Markaz
[center] of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. For several years, during his
lifetime and even after his death, we conducted our weekly
Ijtimā’ [congregation] at this Masjid. The number of Devotees of
the Prophet kept growing day by day and they soon outgrew
  !
the capacity of the Masjid. Allah   " supplied for the
provisions. With the diligence of the Islamic brothers we were
able to collect 22.5 million rupees in donation with which we
purchased about 10,000 square yards [over 2 acres] of land,
near the old Produce Market [Subzī Mandī]. Then we further
collected millions in donations to construct the magnificent
International Headquarters of Da’awat-e-Islāmī [‘Almi Madanī

217
Ninety Nine Parables

Markaz.] which includes a grand splendid Masjid, several


offices to run Madanī affairs, and another building which
facilitates Jāmi’a-tul-Madinah [an institution for learning higher
level Islamic theology.] From here thousands of Muslims avail
“Faizān-e-Madinah” [endowments of Madinah.]

Sunnah sprang forth, from Faizān-e-Madinah;


As the Mercy of the Allah    !  "
hovered over Faizān-e-Madinah

Sunnat ky bahār āey ai Faizān-e-Madinah may;


Rehmat ky ghata chaiy Faizān-e-Madinah may.

55. A NARRATIVE ABOUT “THE ORATOR OF PAKISTAN”


The Orator of Pakistan, Shaykh Maulānā Muhammed Shafi’
  5
Okařwī      6  7 was an extraordinary ‘Aāshiq-e-Rasūl [Devotee
of the Prophet.] In 1418 Hijra, a resident of Madinah city, Haji
Ghulām Shabbīr has narrated to me, this faith enlightening
incident, that once the respectable Shaykh Syed Khurshid
Ahmed Shah told him that once The Orator of Pakistan Maulānā
Muhammed Shafi’ Okařwī       5  6  7 approached him in tears,
while they were in Madinah, and requested, ‘Will you go with
me to the grave [of the Holy Prophet]? I have to ask forgiveness
from our Master                 
  !’ When he was asked the
reason for this need, he said, ‘Yesterday in the Holy Masjid of the
Prophet         
     
  , one disrespectful speaker insulted the
Prophet         
     
  so I reprimanded him. Matters got out
of hand and his supporters came and treated me harshly.
Because of this harshness I was deeply disheartened. At night,
the respected Prophet               
  visited me in my dream
and said, ‘You could not even bear little harshness for me!’
‘Shaykh Shafi’ Okařwī further explained, ‘The real reason is that,
I was ridding on a little pride and considered [their] little
disrespect as my belittlement and derogation. Therefore the
Pristine Prophet               
  cautioned me. Now I want to

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Islamic Manners of Eating

go in the presence of the Holy Prophet         


     
  and beg
his forgiveness, for my doubtfulness.’”
Perished in love, I attained relaxation
Love of the Prophet         
     
  is my prescription

Khak ho kar ishq myn aram say sona milla


Jaan ki ikseer hay ulfat rasul ul llah ki

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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56. AN ENLIGHTENING NARRATIVE ABOUT THE


AID OF THE PROPHET
Subhān-Allah    ! "! the true devotees are treated with great
indulgence! We learned from the above parable that the Master
of Masters, the Master of Madinah, Our Prophet              
 
is always aware of the thoughts and affairs of his devotees, and
by the powers vested in him by Allah    ! ", he         
     
 
at times even visits them in their dreams to assist them and to
rectify their shortcomings. Let’s hear an enlightening narrative
in this context:
Sayyidunā Shaykh Yusuf bin Ismail Nabhāni       5
 6
 7 has
narrated a parable about a man from Khorasān who would
travel to Makkah for Hajj [pilgrimage], every year. After Hajj
when he went to Madinah he use to visit an ‘Alavī saint,
  5
Shaykh Sayyidunā Taĥir bin Yahyā      6
 7 and gift him with
some money. Once, he met a jealous envier of the Shaykh who
told him not to waste his money on Shaykh Taĥir       5
 6
 7
because the Shaykh spends all his gifted money inappropriately.
Therefore, for the next two years, the Hajji (the person
performing the Hajj) did not gift anything to the Shaykh. The
third year, as he was making preparations for his journey, he

219
Ninety Nine Parables

was visited by the Beloved of Allah                 
  in a
dream. The, The Knower of the unseen [dānāy-ghuyūb],
Prophet         
     
  , said in admonition, “How sorry on
your part! You paid attention to the critic and ended your
kindness and terminated your relationship with Taĥir. Now
make up to him and in the future guard yourself from severing
relationships with others.”
That Hajji from Khorasān was deeply regretful that he had
listened to one side of the story and formed an opinion against
the Shaykh. So this year when he reached the enlightened city
of Madinah, he went straight to visit the Saintly Shaykh,
Sayyidunā Taĥir bin Yahyā       5 6
 7 . As soon as he entered the
Shaykh said, “If the Beloved of Allah               
  had not
told you to come, you were not ready to meet me. You
discontinued your generosity by listening to a one sided story
from my opponent and formed an opinion against me until the
Beloved of Allah                
  came and warned you!”
Hearing this, the Hajji was overwhelmed and in utter surprise
he inquired, “How do you know all this?” He replied, “I knew
from the very first year and the second year when you avoided
[coming to] me. I was deeply dejected. Then the Pristine
Prophet         
     
  visited me in my dream and consoled
me. He also told me what he had told you in your dream.”
The Hajji gifted a lot of money to the Shaykh and kissed his
hands and forehead. He then pleaded for forgiveness for
causing grief to him by forming a negative opinion based on
mere suspicion.
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Why shouldn’t I proclaim “Beloved please aid”


With his name every misfortune is bound to fade
Allah    !  " informed you; fully disclosed
Whatever is in the universe, hidden or revealed.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

Nah kuyoon kahoon Ya habibi agissni


Issy naam say har musibaat talli hay
Kudda nay kiya tujhe ko agah sub say
Do aalaam myn jo kuch khafy o jalli hay

      
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ONE SHOULD NOT JUDGE AFTER HEARING ONLY ONE SIDE


Dear Islamic Brothers! From this parable we realize that our
Master          
      
  is well aware of the affairs of his
followers. Sometimes he consoles those who are depressed,
rectifies those who have shortcomings, orders sinners to repent
and brings closer those who have grown apart [because of
suspicions.] The Hajji from Khorasān indulged in suspicion
after listening to the talebearer and formed a negative opinion
of the Shaykh. The Prophet               
  cautioned him in
his dream.
Furthermore, it is obvious that we should neither get involved
in tale-bearing55 nor should we form opinions about others
merely by listening to a one sided story. Best course of action
would be to completely avoid listening anything about our
fellow Muslims altogether, unless where Islamic Law [shariah]
permits us to do so. In this way we can Inshā-Allah    ! ", avoid
several major sins which can lead us into the hellfire. Sins like
backbiting, tale-bearing, suspicion about others, laying blames
on others and hurting others’ feelings.

TALEBEARER WILL NOT ENTER PARADISE


Master of Madinah         
      has warned us,
 
“Talebearer will not enter Paradise (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 115, vol. 4, ḥadiš:

55 Also termed as: “Tattling”; or “Telling on others”; Namima in Arabic and; Chuglli in Urdu.

221
Ninety Nine Parables

6056).And in another Prophetic narration it is stated: “Indeed


the acts of tale-bearing and malice will take one to Hell.” (At-
Targhīb wat-Tarhīb, pp. 324, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 5)

THINGS THAT DIMINISH ONE’S PRESTIGE


Shaykh Sayyidunā Muhammed bin Qurtubī         5
 6
 7 was
asked, “Sayyidī! Which habits diminish one’s prestige?” He
replied: “Excessive talking, disclosing secrets, and believing
everyone’s comments (about others).” (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp.
352, vol. 9)

Shaykh Sayyidunā Hassan Basrī       5


 6
 7 has stated, “Whoever
comes to you telling tales of others, also goes to others telling
tales about you.” Hujjat-ul-Islām, Shaykh Sayyidunā Imām
Muhammed Ghazālī       5
 6
 7 said, that this [fact] emphasizes
that the talebearer should neither be appreciated nor relied
upon. He should be shunned because he does not give up lying,
backbiting, deceiving, embezzling, hating, maintaining malice
and jealousy, and having hypocrisy. He does not forgo causing
trouble and deceiving others and is among those who disobey
Allah    ! " to draw people apart from each other, instead of
drawing them closer. (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 193, vol. 3)

Allah    "
 ! says in the Quran:

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“The blame is only against them who oppress mankind and rebel in the
earth without right.”
(Qurān)(Surah-tus-Shūrah, āyah. 42) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

Talebearers also fall under the ruling of the above mentioned


verse. The Prophetic narration reinforces this. Hence,

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Islamic Manners of Eating

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A PIOUS PERSON?


Master of all Mankind and Jinns          
      
  said,
“Amongst the people those are indeed bad, who are avoided by
others just because they want to save themselves from their
wickedness. He further said, “Allah’s    ! " pious people are
those, if one looks at them he remembers Allah    ! " and the
impious ones are those who are talebearers, who separate
friends and try to find faults of the pious people.” At another
instance he warned, “Beware! Lying turns your face black and
tale-bearing is a cause for the torments of the grave.”
Yet in another Prophetic narration, it is relayed, “Those who
are involved in backbiting, taunting others, tale-bearing and
finding faults with the innocent will be raised by Allah    ! ",
the Exalted (on the Day of Judgment) with dog-like faces.” (At-
Targhīb wat-Tarhīb, pp. 325, vol. 3)

   !  "          


     
O Rab (Creator) of Muhammad   ,
adorn me with piety
Relieve me from my load of sin and immorality
I refrain from backbiting and tale-bearing
Help me to kick off all habits of transgressing
May I avoid idle talk, gossip and chating
Teach me the art of silence and suppressing

Ya Rabb e Muhammad mujhey naik bana day


Amraz gunahoon kay meray saray mita day
Myn gibat chugli say rahoon duor hamesha
Har khaslat e baad say mra pecha tu chura day
Myn faltoo baton say rahoon door hamesha
Chup rahnay ka Allah    !  "
tariqa seekha day

      
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57. THE SHAYKH ASSISTED FROM HIS TOMB


Here is an anecdote that took place over 700 years ago. This
incident has been reported by the Sultan of the Māshāikh
Sayyidunā Mahbūb-e-Ilāhī Nizam-ud-Dīn Auliyā       5
 6
 7 . The
Shaykh has said that Maulānā Kathaylī once reported that a
famine befell on the city of Dehli. He acquired some food as he
was starving. With a passion and desire to help others, he
though of inviting another person to break bread with him. As
he was thinking, a righteous individual, robed in a tattered
cloak, caught his eye as he came into his view. Maulānā
Kathaylī asked that pious person to join. Both of them sat down
to break bread and during their conversation, he mentioned to
the pious man that he was in debt of 20 rupees. The person
exclaimed, ‘I will make that available for you.’ Maulānā
Kathaylī thought to himself, that this person appears to be
destitute, how will this person make 20 rupees available? After
the meal, the pious person made Maulānā Kathaylī accompany
him to the Mosque. Adjacent to the Mosque was a shrine. They
paid homage to the shrine. The individual stood beside the
shrine, softly grazed the grave twice with his staff, and pleaded
in this fashion, ‘My friend needs 20 rupees. Kindly, grant him
the 20 rupees’. The person than turned towards him and said,
‘sir, you may leave now. Inshā-Allah    ! " you will receive 20
rupees’. Maulānā Kathaylī says that he paid homage to the
individual by kissing his hands, and then left for the city. The
notion as to where he would get the 20 rupees from was
puzzling him. Maulānā Kathaylī had a letter as an entrustment
[amānat], which he had to deliver to someone. He then reached
the destination to deliver the letter. A Turkish man was sitting
on his balcony in his house. He saw Maulānā Kathaylī and
ordered his servants to escort him inside. The servants
respectfully led him to the upper floor of the house. The
Turkish fellow was very polite and greeted graciously. The
Turkish fellow tried hard to recall, but could not recognize him.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

The Turkish fellow repeatedly said, ‘are you not the same
fellow who was very nice and gracious to me at such and such
place?’ Maulānā Kathaylī replied that he was still unable to
recall their meeting. He said, ‘why are you trying to conceal
your self? Worry not! I do recognize you.’ He then brought the
20 rupees and very courteously, placed them into his hands.”
(Fawāāid-ul-Fuwād, p. 124)

WHO GRANTS DEATH


Dear Islamic Brothers! Sultan of the Māshāikh Sayyidunā
Mahbūb-e-Ilāhī Nizām-ud-Dīn Auliyā has       5
 6
 7 vitalized
our faith by narrating this parable. In essence, we have now
learnt, that we can ask the Saints of Allah for help, by visiting
their shrines, even after their deaths (passing away) just as we
can, when they are alive in this world. One should however
realize that the real and the absolute provider is indeed Allah
  !
  ", and the reference made to the Saints is not literal. For
example the real and absolute provider of cure is Allah    ! ",
but people normally say, “Oh doctor! Make me better.”
Similarly the true giver of death is Allah    ! ", but the Angel
Sayyidunā ‘Izrāiīl has been ordained by Him     ! " to give
death. This fact is stated in the Quran in 11th verse of Surat–us-
Sajdah.

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“Proclaim, ‘The angel of death, who is appointed over you, causes you to die
and then towards your Rab (Creator) you will return.’”
(Qurān)(Surah-tus-Sajdah, āyah. 11) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

Dear Islamic Brothers! The Saints of Allah    ! " can also


posthumously appear to others and even converse with them.
Hence,

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Ninety Nine Parables

58. SAINTS ARE ALIVE [HAYĀT-UL-AULIYĀ]:


Shaykh Sayyidunā Shāh Wali-Yullah Muhaddith Dahlawī
  5
     6
 7 has narrated from Shaykh Sayyidunā Shāh ‘Abdul-
Rahīm         5
 6
 7 narrated he once visited the shrine of Sayyidunā
Khuwājā Qutbuddin Bakhtiyār Kākī       5
 6
 7 , with this notion
that he would stand at a distance from the shrine as he did not
want to violate the sanctity of the shrine with his sins. At that
very moment, the Shaykh’s soul appeared and instructed him
to come forward. He moved forward accordingly and saw four
angels descend with a throne on with Shaykh Sayyidunā Bahā-
ud-Dīn Naqshbandi       5
 6
 7 seated on it. Both of the Shaykhs
began to converse secretly. He could not hear their conversation.
The angels then carried the throne into the heavens. Sayyidunā
Khuwājā Qutbuddin Bakhtiyār Kākī       5
 6  7 turned towards
him and said, ‘come forward’. He then moved a few steps
forward. The Shaykh repeatedly asked him to come forward
and he complied, until he was very close to the honourable
Shaykh. The Shaykh then asked him, ‘What do you say about
couplets?’ He replied, ‘A couplet is a poetical expression; a
couplet that is good, is good; and the one that is bad, is bad.’
The Shaykh said, ‘Bārak-Allahu Fīh [May Allah    ! " Grant
Blessings], What do you say regarding having a pleasant
voice?’ He replied, ‘This is a Grace of Allah    ! "; Granted by
Him    ! " to whomever he wills'. The Shaykh said, ‘Bārak-
Allahu Fīh [May Allah       5  6
 7 Grant Blessings], So then, what
do you say if, a good couplet and a pleasant voice come
together?’ He said, ‘That is superb, Allah     !  " Grants to
whomever He Wills.’ The Shaykh replied, ‘, ‘Bārak-Allahu Fīh
[May Allah    ! " Grant Blessing], What ever we do now; was
not done before. You should also, at times, listen to one or two
couplets’ He replied, ‘Your honour, why did you not instruct
me in the presence of His Excellency Sayyidunā Bahā-ud-Dīn
Naqshbandi         5
 6
 7 ?’ The Shaykh either said that it was due to
‘respect’ or due to ‘prudence.’ (Anfās-ul-‘Arifīn, p. 44)

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Islamic Manners of Eating

A festival is taking place at the honourable court


At his court, there is a strange pleasure in the bestowments.
When has anybody been deprived from this source?
For everyone, are his endowments

Dar-e-wālā pay ik maylā lagā hay


‘Ajab is dar ke ťukron may mazā hay
Yahān se kab koi khālī phirā hai
Sakhi dātā kī daulat sirā hai

      
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59. ADHERENCE OF IMĀM AHMAD RAZĀ TO SUNNAH:


Imām of Ahl-u-Sunnah, Mujaddid of the Ummah, Reviver of
the Sunnah, Destroyer of Bid’ah, Scholar of Shariah, Guide of
Tarīqah, Fountain of Blessing, Allamah, Maulānā, Al-Hāj Al-
Hafiz, Al-Qāri Ash-Shah Imām Ahmed Razā Khan       5
 6 7 was
once invited for a meal. The food had been served but all
people present there were waiting for Imām Ahmad Razā
   5
      6 7 to begin eating. He picked a piece of cucumber and ate
it. Then he ate the second and the third. All the guests followed
suit, and as they stretched their hands out towards the container
of cucumber, the Shaykh stopped them from proceeding and
asked for the cucumber to be given to him all. Hence, he ate all
the cucumber on the dinning-mat. The Shaykh was known to
eat very little, therefore when the Shaykh ate all the cucumber,
the guests were astonished. The guests inquired as to why he
ate all the cucumber. The Honorable Shaykh replied that the
first piece was bitter, and so were the second and the third.
Since eating cucumber is a Sunnah of the Noble Prophet
        
     
  , and this cucumber was bitter, he did not want
anyone to spit out the bitter cucumber.

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

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Ninety Nine Parables

          


     
Sunnahs of the Prophet of Allah   , I love them all.
In both worlds Inshā-Allah    !  "
, I will not fall.

Mujh ko mithay mustufā kī sunnaton say piyār hai.


Inshā-Allah do jahān main apnā berā pār hai

IT IS SUNNAH TO EAT DATES AND CUCUMBER


Dear Islamic Brothers! See how much admiration Imām Ahmad
   5
Razā       6 7 had for the Prophet    
  
     
     
  . Indeed, an
admirer venerates everything that is associated with the one he
loves and admires. That is why this Shaykh had so much
reverence for the cucumber (as the Prophet                 
 
liked to eat cucumber) that he ate it despite its bitterness.
Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah Ibn Ja’far    3 "   
 ?
7 has narrated, “I have
seen the Master of Makka-tul-Mukarramah and Madina-tul-
Munawwarah         
     
  eat; cucumber with dates.” (Saḥīḥ
Muslim, pp. 130, hadiš 2043)

The renowned exegitist of the Quran, Mufti Ahmad Yār Khān


        5  6 7 has stated, “The dates have a natural tendency of
causing warm effects whereas cucumbers have calming (cold)
effects. Mixing both of them together makes them more
effective. At times, the Prophet                 
  ate dates and
cucumber together (that is he chewed them together), and at
times he ate them separately (that is he chewed them
separately). Occasionally, the Prophet                
   
ate
watermelon and dates together. Eating the two together is very
beneficial for the health. Mother of the Faithfuls, Sayyidatunā
‘Aishah has stated , ‘ My mother tried to make me healthier so
that I could gain some weight before marriage to the Prophet
         
      
  so she fed me, dates and cucumber. (Sunan Ibn
Mājah, pp. 38, vol. 4 ,hadiš. 3324) ‘The Prophet    
  
     
     
  liked
both dates and cucumber. Some Shaykhs served dates,
watermelon and cucumber, in addition to other foods when
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Islamic Manners of Eating

they would arrange congregations to donate the šawāb [Iīšāl of


šawāb]. The basis for their actions is the above Hadiš.” (Mirāt-ul
Manājīḥ, pp. 20-21, vol. 6)

      
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60. I VOW NOT TO EAT FOR 15 DAYS


Shaykh Sayyidunā Abu ‘Abdullah Bin Khafīf         5
 6 7 was
invited somewhere for a meal. A starving Murīd [Disciple]
stretched his hand out towards the food before the Shaykh.
Another Murīd [Disciple] angrily, placed some food before the
starving Murīd [Disciple]. The starving Murīd [Disciple]
immediately realized that he had done something wrong; that
is he violated the proper manners and practices pertaining to
food. To discipline the Nafs [Inner-Self], he vowed not to eat for
15 days, and in this way he devised an action to seek forgiveness,
even though he was starving. (Al-Risālat-ul-Qushairiyyah, Vol: 179.)

ELDERS SHOULD BEGIN EATING FIRST


Dear Islamic Brothers! When eating collectively, if an elder is
present, the proper practice is to wait until that elder begins to
eat. Remember that the word elder used here, is used in terms
of higher rank due to knowledge and righteous deeds, not in
terms of age. Therefore if a person older in age and a young
Scholar, both, are present in the same collective; the Scholar
should begin eating first. The actions of the righteous sometimes
seem strange, like the starving Murīd [Disciple] of Shaykh
   5
Sayyidunā Abu ‘Abdullah Bin Khafīf      6
 7 , who himself was
righteous but disciplined himself just for being disrespectful,
though he had not begun to eat; he had only stretched his hand
out. In order to discipline his Nafs [Inner self] he vowed not to
eat for 15 days. The Pious often devise strange disciplinary
actions for themselves. Hence,
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Ninety Nine Parables

REDEMPTION FOR PUTTING THE LEFT SHOE ON FIRST


Kīmīyā-e Sa’ādat states that, “A Shaykh once put his left
shoe on first instead of the right by mistake. He was extremely
displeased with himself as a Sunnah was forgone and thus gave
away two sacks of wheat in charity.” Dear Islamic Brothers! It
was only those righteous individuals that were creative when it
came to disciplining themselves. If Only! We would tread along
the standards crafted by the righteous Shaykhs. In order to
learn Sunnahs and the Practices one should travel in the
Madanī Qāfilah with the Devotees of the Prophet regularly as it
brings many felicities. Here is one such incident.

61. I WAS FORTUNATE TO TRAVEL TO MADINAĤ


Da’awat-e-Islāmī, has divided areas into districts to effectively
spread the message of Islam. An Islamic Brother, designated to
serve in the Madanī In’aāmāt Majlis [Committee], from one
such district in the city of Shaykhupūrā, once wrote a letter to
me. I (Amīr of Ahlusunnah) will summarize the contents here:

‘Al-Hamdulillah    ! " in 1424 Hijri, I was fortunate to travel


to Madinaĥ for ‘Umrah [Visitation]. I met a Qārī who was from
Qusūr, Pakistan. The Qārī said that, ‘I participated in Da’awat-
e-Islāmī’s 3-day Annual Ijtimā’ [Congregation] in Sahrā-e-
Madinaĥ, Madīnat-ul-Auliyā Multan. In the Ijtimā’ we were
instructed to travel in the Madanī Qāfilahs and make Duā
[supplication]. We were told that the Duās [supplications]
Inshā-Allah    ! " be accepted. I was thus inspired to do so and
embarked on the blissful journey. There, I earnestly pleaded
that I be blessed with a trip to the Holy city of Madinaĥ. When I
returned home, and as usual went to teach the Quran to
children at someone’s house; the head of the household was
very courteous and asked me if I wanted anything since I was
the teacher of their children. At first I tried to evade him, but
eventually gave in due to his insistence. I finally made my
230
Islamic Manners of Eating

desire, to visit the Holy city of Madinaĥ, known to him. The


head of the household immediately granted me the finances
needed for the trip and in this way I was fortunate to embark
on this glorious journey to Holy city of Madinaĥ. Due to the
Blessings I reaped in Madanī Qāfilah, I was blessed with this
honour.’
May a sinner like me, stay in Madinaĥ
As a guest of the Prophet, stay in Madinaĥ
I remember the word of the people of Madinaĥ
That, If one wants to be alive, one should stay in Madinaĥ
Oh A’azam, I leave my life and my heart, proclaiming this
‘I am coming back; let my belongings remain in Madinaĥ’

Mujh gunāhgār sā insān madinay mayn rahay


Ban ke sarkār ka mehmān madinay mayn rahay
Yād ātī hay mujhe ahle-e-madinah ki wo bāt
Zindah rehnā hai to insān mdinay mayn rahay
Jān o dil chaur kar ye keh ke chalā hun a’azam
Ā raha hun mirā sāmān madinay main rahay

62. GRITS MADE FROM BARLEY


Sayyidunā ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul-‘Aziz   3 "   
 ? 7 was informed that
the daily food expense for the army General was 1000 dirham.
He was very displeased with this and decided to do inspire the
army general and personally inculcate him to change his ways
and reduce the expenses. He invited the general to a meal at his
humble abode. He instructed his servants to prepare grits from
barley in addition to a fancy cuisine. When the General arrived,
he purposely delayed serving the food. The general began to
starve. He, Amīr-ul-Mu’minīn, asked the servants to serve the
grits first. The general was already starving and as soon as the
grits were served, he began to eat unsparingly. By the time the
fancy cuisine was brought on to the dining-mat the general was
already full. The wise caliph of Islam pointed towards the fancy
231
Ninety Nine Parables

cuisine and stated, ‘eat! Your food has just been served.’ The
general informed the caliph that he was already full. Amīr-ul-
Mu’minīn said, ‘Subhān-Allah     ! "! Grits are such an
extraordinary food. Grits fill the stomach in addition to being
very cheap; one dirham’s grits are sufficient for ten people.’
Continuing his words of wisdom, Amīr-ul-Mu’minīn then said
,’ When you can suffice on grits, then why do you spend 1000
dirhams every day on your food? Oh General! Fear Allah    ! ",
and do not be amongst those who spend excessively
(frivolously). The excessive money that you spend for food,
should be spent on feeding the hungry, or be given to the
destitute and the needy in order to please Allah    ! ".’ The
General was thus inspired by the pious caliph and vowed to
lead and idyllic life and spend less. (Mughnī-yul-Wā’iẓīn, p. 491)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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FRIVOLOUSLY SPENDING IS A MEANS OF


DEPRIVATION OF BLESSING
Dear Islamic Brothers! If we feed our Nafs [inner self] with
delicious and savoury cuisine; it will continuously demand for
more exquisite and pleasant food. People often complain of not
having blessings, and being dissatisfied due to the inflation in
economy. Virtually, every individual has been observed to
complain that they are unable to meet their expenses.
Undoubtedly, one major cause of the continuous rise in prices,
the deprivation of blessings, and destitution is; frivolous
expenditures. So, if frivolous expenditures continue, and we
continue to be drawn towards fancy cuisine, expensive
housing, expensive interior designs, elegant and expensive
apparel; then, naturally, we will always need sufficient finances
to support our decadent lifestyles. Thus, the constant ravings
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Islamic Manners of Eating

about being ‘unable to meet our expenses’ and the ‘lack of


blessings’ will continue. Sayyidunā Imām Ja’far Sādiq   3 "    
 ? 7
has stated,” the one who loses his wealth by frivolously
spending; and then says, ‘Oh Allah    ! "! Grant me more.’
Allah    ! " says (to that person), ‘Did I not order you to have
moderation? Had you not heard this [Ayah of the Quran]?

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‘And those who when they expend neither exceed the limit nor they are
straitened and remain in between the two on the middle path’
(Qurān)(Surah-tul-Fuqān, āyah. 67) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran]) (Ahsan-ul-wi’aā li Ādāb-i-du’ā, Pg: 75.)

Anyways, if one suffices with cheaper foods in addition


to being content [qanā’at] and simple, lives in a humble and
modest housing unit, refrains from needless interior designing,
and abstains from pretentious display by holding extravagant
social gatherings; then the rising prices will fallback and
destitution will automatically be done away with. But what can
be said of our servitude to Nafs-e-Ammārah [Desires].

THE DU’A OF THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE IS NOT ANSWERED


The Embodiment of Noor, the Intercessor on the Day of
Judgement, the Master of Madinaĥ, the Knower of the
Unknown [Ghaib] with the Divine Permission, the Beloved of
Allah, Prophet         
     
  has stated, “There are three
types of people whose Duā Allah    ! " does not accept. Firstly,
the one who takes shelter in a deserted place; secondly, the one
who camps on the paths [(roads)] used by travellers, that is, he
camps right on the road, not on the side; and thirdly, the one
who lets his animal loose and then asks Allah    ! " to restrain
it.” (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 73)

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Ninety Nine Parables

Elaborating on this Hadith, Alā-Hazrat Imām of Ahl-u-


Sunnah, Mujaddid of the Ummah, Reviver of the Sunnah,
Destroyer of Bid’ah, Scholar of Shariah, Guide of Tarīqah,
Fountain of Blessing, Allamah, Maulānā, Al-Hāj Al-Hafiz, Al-
Qāri Ash-Shah Imām Ahmed Razā Khan       5  6
 7 has stated,
“With the assistance of Allah    ! ", I say, that the meaning here
is that the Duā [supplication] is not accepted only regarding
that matter or subject (context). This does not mean that any of
his Duās [supplications] regarding other matters will not be
accepted. The reason as to why the Duās (regarding these
specific matters) are not accepted when a person is in one of the
states defined above is because he has brought this onto
himself. For example, when a person seeks shelter in a deserted
house, he is aware of the potential dangers of doing so. There is
a high risk that he may be robbed by someone or harmed by
Jinns. So why is he making Duās [supplications] for protection
from these harms as he has brought this on to himself by taking
shelter in the house on his own free will. Similarly, if one
chooses to camp along the road or along the side of the road,
where the camp is easily accessible for a thief to wreck havoc,
for a snake to bite him, or for a draft animal (used for
transportation) to run the camp over; he has brought this onto
himself. The Prophet               
  has stated, ‘Do not stop
over on the road at night, as Allah   ! " Grants permission to
anyone and/or anything from his creation that He wills, to use
the road.’ Similarly, letting the animal loose and then doing
Duā for its restraint; is certainly stupefying. Are you testing
Allah    ! " ? or Ma’āż-Allah    ! " , consider Allah    ! " subservient
to you? Someone asked Sayyidunā ‘Iīsā 8 9    B-C      3DE F   , If
   
you trust Allah    ! " (his power), jump from this mountain.
Sayyidunā ‘Iīsā 8 9    B-C      3DE F    replied, ‘I do not test my Rab
   
(Creator).’” (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, pp. 73 - 74)

      
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Islamic Manners of Eating

NOTHING CAN BE DONE


Dear Islamic Brothers! There is a Persian adage, ‘khud kardaĥ
rā’ilā jay nīst‘, that is, there is no cure for those who have
created troubles [for themselves] by their own doings. For
example, if someone continuously bangs his head into the wall,
and repeatedly says that, ‘I bust my head open, please help me’.
Clearly, that blockheaded person will be told not to bang his
head into the wall, and the head will not bust. Similarly, many
foolish individuals eat virtually anything and everything they
get a hold of. They eat excessively and thus get bulky, a bulged
belly, constipation, and indigestion; and then spend money on
doctors and medicine to find a cure, but cannot find a cure.
Why can they not find the cure? Well, because they themselves
posses the cure to their problems, which is to stop gluttonizing;
only eating when one is hungry, and eat less and follow the
practice as it is stated in Hadith. They should minimize their
intake of junk foods like pizza’s, burgers, parathas56, whip
creams, butter, cake, pastries, seekh kabobs, samosas57, pakora58
and other fried, fatty and heavily sweetened foods. Avoid ice-
cream, soft drinks, and keep the intake of tea and coffee to a
minimum. Refrain from smoking, chewing tobacco, eating
paan59, and betel-nut60. Inshā-Allah    ! " one will be slim, have a
flat stomach, have a healthy metabolism, and be healthy.

      
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56 Flatbread, originated in the Indian-subcontinent, that is usually pan fried and often

stuffed with vegetables and other stuffing.


57 A snack that is, It is made with triangular shaped pastry shells and savory fillings of

vegetables, meat etc., and is deep fried.


58 Made with various ingredients, usually vegetables; dipped in a batter of gram-flour;

and deep fried.


59 A breath freshener made of fillings wrapped in a triangular package using
leaves of betel pepper.
60 Seeds of the Betel-nut tree.

235
Ninety Nine Parables

A CAUSE OF OBESITY
Follow my Madanī recommendation for just 40 days and
observe the astonishing changes that it will bring to your
health. First, have your laboratory test done that includes
cholesterol and lipid profile; and seek advice from a health
professional. Then start following the recommendations with a
righteous intention that, ‘by attaining good health, I will attain
more strength to worship.’ Take the above precautionary
measures and reap the benefits. Remember, that drinking water
after having food engenders obesity and weight gain. Therefore,
drink little water after food. One should however, drink water
(taking small sips) during the meals as it is beneficial. If one
gulps water in large amounts right after food and that person
becomes obese, then that person should not look for solace
medicines but should rectify his eating and drinking habits.

For an ignorant sick person, even candy is poisonous


The truth is the that best medicine is avoidance

Na samajh bīmār ko amrat bhī zeher āmayz hay


Sach yahī hay ke so dawa ki aik dawa parhaiz hay

      
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15 EXAMPLES OF PUTTING ONESELF IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS


There are situations that if you put your self into, Duās are not
accepted. Aĥsan-ul-wi’aā li Ādāb-i-du’ā states many such
examples.
1. A person steps out of the house, without having any reason to
do so, in the wee hours of the night when people are normally
sleeping and one can hardly find anybody on the streets. A
Hadith clearly states the impermissibility of this action, as
calamities descend in those hours. Therefore, if one is
robbed or harmed by jinns, he should blame only himself.
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Islamic Manners of Eating

2. One leaves the door open in the night, or shuts the door
without reciting Bismillah ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 . Remember that Satan can
open the door in this case, and if Bismillah ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬is recited;
Satan does not have the power to open the door.
Furthermore, when a person recites Bismillah ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬and
enters his abode with the right foot; Satan remains outside.
Therefore, if you forget to recite Bismisllah ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬and
Satan enters the home with you; only you are to blame.
How do you expect your Duā to be accepted?
3. One covers the pots, pans and other containers without
reciting Bismillah ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 . Calamities descend and then mix
with the food which brings illnesses to the fore. Wicked
(harmful) Jinns use containers that are filled with food if
one covers them without reciting Bismillah ! ‫  ﺴ ﻢ‬. Duās
will not be accepted in this case either, as he, himself,
opened the doors for calamities and illnesses to afflict him.
4. Take the children out at the time of Maghrib. Satan’s
progeny spread at this time. If one takes his children
outside between Maghrib and ‘Ishā and jinn causes harm
to it, one is to blame. Why did one take his children out in
the first place?
5. One sleeps after eating the food without washing hands.
Satan licks the hand, which can engender leprosy.
6. Urinates in the bathing area (bathtub etc), as this causes rise
to Satanic deceptions [waswasah].
7. One sleeps on the edge of the roof (in which they are no
fences to guard) and falls down by rolling over.
8. Begin the consumption of food without reciting Bismillah.
Satan joins to eat the food if Bismillah is not recited. As a
result, food that would have been sufficient for a few
people may now be insufficient.

237
Ninety Nine Parables

9. Urinates in small holes on the earth. Holes may be


inhabited by snakes, jinns etc which could cause harm.
10. One likes something, either his or his friend’s, and does not
recite the Duā that protects one from an evil eye [nazar], as the
evil eye is true (meaning that it can afflict someone). This
affliction of an evil eye can put a man into his grave, and a
camel on the fire (to be cooked.) The Duā for protection
from and evil eye is as follows:

 K e Wcd ( [ٗ %  s  S       


 e &S   B-   S  f
 f    7 &   : e  
“Oh Allah    ! ", Shower Blessings upon this (thing) and no
harm should afflict it. What ever Allah    ! " wills only that
happens. Without the assistance of Allah, one does not have the
power to do good deeds.”
Remember, that if one does not remember the Duā, he
can also recite Mashā-Allah or Bārak-Allah. Mufti Ahmad Yār
Khān Na’iīmī has stated that if one recites Mashā-Allah or
Bārak-Allah upon seeing a thing that he likes, evil eye will not
afflict that thing. If one just astonishingly looks at that thing or
expresses words of astonishment but does not recite Mashā-
Allah or Bārak-Allah; then an evil eye is afflicted on that thing.
(Mirāt-ul Manājīḥ, pp. 244, vol. 6)

11. Travel alone, as wicked men and jinns can cause harm.
Furthermore, hurdles and difficulty come ones way for
everything that he does.
12. Drink water while standing, as this can engender problems
in the liver. Note, it is mustahab to drink the water of
zamzam and the water leftover from wudhū [ablution]
while standing.
13. Enter the lavatory without reciting Bismillah or the Duā, as it
is likely that one may come to harm caused by wicked jinns.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

14. Acquires the company of sinners, transgressors, those who


have deviant Islamic beliefs. Even if one is not influenced by
the company, he still may get a bad reputation (infamy).
15. Urinate in public and or public places. Will get public
indignation (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, pp. 76 - 77)

      
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63. HOW DO YOU GET YOUR FOOD?


   5
Shaykh Sayyidūnā Bāyazid Bustāmī       6 7 once entered a
Masjid to join the Jamā’at [Congregational Salāh.] After
completing the Salāh the Imām asked, “Bustāmī, How do you
get your food? [meaning, how do you afford it?]” He replied,
“Wait a minute, first let me repeat the Salāh we just prayed.
When you are in doubt about the Sustainer of the people    ! ",
then how would it be permissible to pray behind you?” (Rauḍ-ur-
Riyāḥīn, p. 155)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Dear Islamic Brothers! Indeed Allah    ! ", the Creator of the


Worlds, is the Sustainer and Provider of provisions. When the
Imam asked the question, “How do you get your food?” It
proved to the Shaykh, the weakness of Imām’s faith and thus
the Shaykh repeated his Salāh. Shaykh Sayyidūnā Bāyazid
   5
Bustāmī       7 was a great saint of Allah    !
 6  " and [he did
not have to repeat his Salāh but] he did it because of his high
level of piety [taqwa.] People often ask these kinds of questions
and there is no sin in doing so, according to the Islamic Law.

64. BAKED BIRD


   5
Abul Hassan ‘Alawi        6 7 has narrated, “Once I desired
to eat a certain bird. I requested that the bird be left in the oven

239
Ninety Nine Parables

to be baked and that I would eat it when I returned home. Then


   5
I left to visit Shaykh Sayyidūnā J’afar Khuldī       6 7 . He
offered me to stay at his place and spend the night at his
residence but my heart still desired to eat that bird, so, I
excused myself and went home. When the fully baked steaming
bird was laid on the dinning-mat, all of a sudden a dog entered
the house and snatched away the bird and ran away. The maid
was bringing the leftover gravy sauce when she tripped over
her own clothes and spilled all the gravy. Afterwards, in the
morning, when I visited Shaykh Sayyidūnā J’afar Khuldī      5 6  7 ,
as soon as he saw me he commented, ‘whoever does not respect
the wishes of the Shaykhs, a dog is assigned to hurt his
feelings.’ (Ar-Risālat-ul-Qushairiyyah, p. 3)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Dear Islamic Brothers! From this parable we realize that it is


better for us if we oblige to the wishes of the Saints of Allah
[Auliyā Allah]  
      : 6 7 instead of giving them mere excuses,
as our cunningness is futile before them. We also learned that
the saints could have God-Gifted knowledge, of our unseen
matters [‘ilm-ul-Ghayb.] When the saints have such splendid
blessing of Allah    ! ", just imagine the grade of blessings
endowed upon the Companions of the Prophet               
     
[who are obviously higher in rank.] After this realization, who
can envision the immense endowments Allah    ! " has Granted
to the Leader of All Prophets, His Beloved and Chosen Prophet
         
     
    ! Imām Ahmed Razā Khan addressing the
Prophet               
  has said:

Your walkway reaches the High Throne


Your Cognition encompasses our heart’s desires
Your rule covers the Lands and
Your knowledge encompasses the Kingdom of the Allah    !  "

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Islamic Manners of Eating

Seray ‘arsh per ĥay terī guzar, dil-e-farsh per ĥay terī nazar
Malakoot-o-mulk myn koiy shay naĥyn, wooĥ jo tujĥ paĥ ‘ayan naĥi.

65. GOOD NEWS: A BABY-GIRL WILL BE BORN


There are several examples listed in books, when the
   
Companions 0 :  3 "   
 7 of the Prophet          
?      
 ,
disclosed the knowledge of the unseen matters [‘ilm-ul-Ghayb.]
The leader of thousands of Malikites61, Shaykh Say'yidūnā
Imam Malik bin Anas         5
 6
 7 stated in his famous collections
of Hadith entitled, “Muatā Imām Mālik”:
“Shaykh Say'yidūnā ‘Aurvah bin Zubair 0 :  3 "    ?
 7
narrates from Say'yidūtunā ‘Aaishaĥ Siddīqaĥ  :3 "    ?
 7 , that
she stated that the Successor of the Rasūl [Khalīfa-tur-Rasūl],
Say'yidūnā Abū Bakr Siddīq   3 "    
 ? 7 instructed her during his
fatal ailment, ‘Dear Daughter! All my belongings are now your
inheritance so you distribute it according to the rules laid out in
the Holy Quran, among your two brothers [‘Abd ur-Rehmān &
Muhammed         5
 6  7 ] and your two sisters.’ Upon hearing this
she asked, ‘I have only one sister, Asmā! Who is my other
sister?’ He   3 "    ? 
 7 said, ‘She is in the womb of (your step
mother) Habibaĥ bint Karijaĥ  :3 "    
 ? 7 . I think she is a girl.’”
(Muaṭā Imām Mālik, pp. 270, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 1503)

Commenting on this very hadith Shaykh Say'yidūnā


‘Allamaĥ Muhammed Bin Abdul Bāqī Zurqānī         5
 6
 7 stated,
“Hence, this came to pass and a baby-girl was born and she was
named ‘Umme Kulthūm.’” (Sharaḥ-uz-Zarqāni ‘Alal-Mauṭā, pp. 61, vol. 4)
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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61Followers of Malki school of Islamic law, founded by Shaykh Say'yidūnā Imam Malik
  5
bin Anas      6
 7

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Ninety Nine Parables

TWO MINOR MIRACLES [KARĀMAT] WERE CERTIFIED


Dear Islamic Brothers! On the above narration, Shaykh
  5
Say'yidūnā ‘Allamaĥ Tāj-ud-Dīn Subkī      6
 7 stated that this
proves two minor miracles [karāmat] at the hands of Say'yidūnā
Abū Bakr Siddīq    3 "   
 ? 7 :

He   3 "    ?
 7 knew before his death, that he would die
during this ailment, therefore, he said that ‘my property is now
your inheritance’;

The new born would be a girl. (Ḥujjat-ul-lahi ‘Alal-‘Ālamīn, p. 614)

ABU BAKR SIDDIQUE HAD ‘ILM-UL-GHAYB


This narration also clarifies that by God’s Gifts bestowed upon
Say'yidūnā Abū Bakr Siddīq   3 "   
 ? 7 , he knew what was in the
mother’s womb. To understand this fully, listen carefully to the
following Quranic verse and its commentary [tafsīr.] Allah    ! "
says in Juz 21, Last Ayah of Surah Luqmān:

 t 7 S   o  (    H


“… and (Allah    !  "
knows what is in the wombs of the mothers …”
(Qurān)(Surah-tul-Luqman, āyah. 34) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation
of Quran])

Commenting on this verse, Khalifaĥ [successor] of Ala-Hazrat,


Sadr-ul Afāzil ‘Allāmaĥ Maūlāna Syed Muhammad Na’eem-ud
   5
Dīn Muradābadī       6 7 , in his Quranic tafsīr entitled
“Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān” has stated:

“Only Allah    ! " has the [absolute] knowledge of the


‘unseen’ and hidden secrets [‘ilm-ul-Ghayb] and the knowledge
of the unseen [‘ilm-ul-Ghayb] attained by Prophets and Saints
of Allah, is through Allah’s Gifts via Miraculous Teachings. The

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Islamic Manners of Eating

Prophets and Saints’ having this knowledge, does not negate


His     ! " knowledge. Several Quranic Ayahs [verses] and
Prophetic narrations attest to this fact. Some examples of the
Knowledge of the unseen are: the time of rain; the sex of the
child before birth; or what will one do the next day; or the place
of death etc. Numerous Saints of Allah [Auliyā Allah]  
    
 : 6
7
have given such news and this fact is certified by several verses
of the Quran and Prophetic narrations. Angels told Prophet
Ibrahim Khalīl-ullah 8 9    B-C         3DE F   , about the birth of

Say'yidūnā Ishāq 8 9    B-C 
       3DE F   . Prophet Zakkariyā
8    B-C
9      3DE F    was foretold about the birth of Say'yidūnā
   
Yahyā 8 9    B-C        3DE F    by the angels, likewise Respectable

Maryum [Mary]  :3 "   
 ? 7 was informed about the birth of
Say'yidūnā ‘Isā 8 9    B-C        3DE F   . Since the angels informed

these individuals, it proves that the angles knew what was
hidden in the wombs and these individuals also knew the sex
of the child before their births. The verse [says ‘only Allah    ! "
know what is in the wombs,’] refers to the fact that only Allah
   !
  " has the knowledge of what is in the wombs of the
mothers, which means that without Allah     ! " informing
them, no one else can find out. To imply from this verse that no
one knows even if Allah    ! " tells them, would be contradicting
several Quranic Verses and Prophetic traditions. Dear Islamic
Brothers! With the bounties of Allah    ! " bestowed upon them,
indeed the saints can also tell us the gender of the unborn
child.” (Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, p. 66)

66. GOOD NEWS OF THE BIRTH OF A BABY BOY


Shaykh Sayyidūnā Shāĥ Walī-ul-lah Muhaddith Deĥlvy
   5
      6 7 has narrated from his father, Shaykh Shāĥ ‘Abdul
Rahīm         5
 6 7 , “Once I went to visit the shrine of Shaykh
Sayyidūnā Khwajaĥ Bakhtiyār Kākī       5
 6 7 . His soul appeared
and told me, ‘You will have a baby boy, name him Qutbuddīn
Ahmed.’ Because my wife was quite old at that time I figured
243
Ninety Nine Parables

that my son would have a son and this name was suggested for
him (i.e. my grandson.) Shaykh Sayyidūnā Khwajaĥ Qutbuddīn
Bakhtiyār Kākī         5
 6 7 read my heart and responded right
away, ‘I am not referring to your own son.’” Shāĥ Walī-ul-lah
   5
      6 7 further reported, “After some time my father married
another women and then I, the author of these words, was
born. By then he [my father] had forgotten this incident so I was
named Walī-ul-lah         5 6
 7 , but later on when he recalled this
incident he gave me another name (according to the wish of
Shaykh Sayyidūnā Khwajaĥ Qutbuddīn Bakhtiyār Kākī       5 6
 7 )
of Qutbuddīn Ahmed.” (Anfosu ‘Arifīn, Pg: 44.)
Dear Islamic Brothers! It has been a trend among our pious
predecessors to visit the shrines of Saints of Allah [Auliyā Allah]
 
     
 : 6
7 . We also come to recognize from the above narrative
that the Saints can come to know the secrets of the hearts and
can relay the news of the future, even after their deaths, with
God-gifted bounties. Like, Shaykh Sayyidūnā Khwajaĥ
Qutbuddīn Bakhtiyār Kākī       5
 6
 7 gave Shaykh Shāĥ ‘Abdul
Rahīm     5 6  7 the news of a boy.

Here everyone gets their wishes, at the open door


My Master! Why should I go chasing door to door
And be turned away, I am not crazy seeking another door.

Yahein patay hain sub apna mutlab


Har aik kay wastay yae daar khulla hay
Main dar dar kuyn phiroon, dur dur sunoon kyoon
Meray Aaqa! Mera sar phira hay!

67. A DELICIOUS DRINK


Shaykh Sayyidunā Sālh Marī       5
 6 7 has stated, “I sent a sweet
beverage made of barley [satu] mixed with honey and clarified
butter [ghee] for two consecutive days, to Shaykh Sayyidunā
   5
Atta Sulaemī      6 7 but the second day he returned it back to

244
Islamic Manners of Eating

me. I was disappointed and inquired from him, “Why did you
return my gift?” He replied, “Please do not be offended, the
first day I drank the beverage, but the second day as I was
about to drink it I remembered this verse:

 J (    '
w    -N  (    w2  (    $ J (  T - 4     H ٗ €9 H    H  S ٗ " %  P ` H
   
‫‘ ۝‬k  |  ٖ
 k I  ‚
7  
“He will take its draught little by little with difficulty and there shall be no
hope to swallow it, and death shall come to him from all sides, but he shall
not die. And there is a terrible torment after him.”
(Qurān)(Surah-Ibrāhīm, āyah. 17) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

Shaykh Sayyidūnā Sālh Marī       5


 6
 7 stated that upon hearing
this I began to weep and thought to myself that I am from a
different valley and he is from a different valley [meaning he is
of a higher calibre]. (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 116, vol. 3)

BETTER THAN 12 MONTHS’ WORSHIP


Dear Islamic Brothers! Our pious predecessors even avoided
the lawful Jāaiz [Allowed] things, to prevent from satisfying
their own desires. How wonderful would it be if we could also
follow their footsteps! When we wish to wear nice clothes or
crave delicious cuisine, we skip them just to seek the pleasure
of Allah    ! ". For example, on a hot day when we are craving
for a cold glass of Lassi [yogurt milkshake] or when we are
starving and we feel like eating Karahi Ghosht62 and we have
the means to afford it, still if we give it up to seek the pleasure
of Allah    ! ". That would be truly great. Ponder of the benefits

62Karahi Ghosht is dish made by simmering meat in oil or butter with tomatoes and
spices.

245
Ninety Nine Parables

of avoiding temptations of the self [nafs.] Shaykh Sayyidūnā


   5
Abū Sulemān       6
 7 stated, “It is more beneficial for the heart
to ignore any desire of the self [nafs], than to fast for 12 months
during the days and worship during its nights.” (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp.
118, vol. 3)

Hujjat-ul-Islām, Shaykh Sayyidūnā Imām Muhammed


   5
Ghazālī       6 7 stated, “Neither should we leave the reigns
loose on the self [nafs] for everything lawful nor should we
follow its every desire. The more one follows his self’s desires
and devours exquisite cuisines, the more he should fear because
it will be said to the non-believers on the Day of Judgment:

 
    F/    L  t   o   L ` +    `+N b 
 :&   ` `0 `
“… ‘You have already exhausted your pure things in your wordly life and
have enjoyed them …”
(Qurān)(Surah-Ahqāf, āyah. 20) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

THE PROPHET’S HUNGER


Commenting on this verse, Khalifaĥ [successor] of Ala-Hazrat,
Sadr-ul Afāzil ‘Allāmaĥ Maūlāna Syed Muhammad Na’eem-ud
Dīn Muradābadī         5
 6 7 , in his Quranic tafsīr titled “Khazāin-
ul-‘Irfān” has stated that, “In this Ayah [Quranic verse] Allah
   !
 " has admonished the non-believers; yet the Prophet
     %   
  
        and his Companions 2
       - =  :   refrained from
the worldly pleasures. A Prophetic narration is relayed in
Bukharī and Muslim that, up until his death, the Benevolent
Prophet    
  
     
     
  and his family never ate bread made
from barley for two consecutive days. It is also reported that a
whole month would pass by and they would not use fire [(to
cook,) in the Prophet’s house.] They lived only on dates and
water.
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Islamic Manners of Eating

The Companion, Sayyidūnā Umar Farooq ‘Azam   3 "   


 ?
7
stated, ‘If I wanted to, I could wear better [attire] than you and I
could eat better than you, but I prefer to preserve my luxuries
for the hereafter.’” (Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, p. 802)

Simple meal, thick bread made from coarse barley


Eating less not day after day. Salutations and Peace
Master of the worlds, distributor of the blessing
Master of Masters prefers starvation lingering. Salutations and Peace

Khana to dekho jao ki roti, bay chana atta, roti bhi moti
Who bhi shikum bhur roz na khana, sallalalho alihi wassallam
Kon o makan kay aaqa ho kar, dono jahan kay data ho kar
Faqay say hyn shah do aalam, sallalalho alihi wassallam

      
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68. REWARD OF CHARITY ON THE DAY OF ‘ASHURĀĤ


On the day of ‘Ashurāĥ63 in the city of Rey [Iran], one man
approached the judge [Qadi] and requested, “I am a very needy
family man, for the sake of the day of ‘Ashurāĥ! Please give me
2 kg of bread, 5 kg of meat and 10 Dirhams. May Allah    ! "
bless your reputation and reverence.” Qadi instructed him to
come after Zuhr Salah. When he returned, the Qadi told him to
come back after Asr. When that poor man came back after Asr,
he was again turned away. This broke his heart. Dejected and
depressed he approached a Christian and pleaded, “Give me
something for the sake of this [blessed] day.” He inquired,
“What day is today?” He informed him that it was the day of
‘Ashurāĥ and he further went to elaborate some of the blessings
[fadayl] of this day. That man said, “You have asked for the sake
of a great day. Tell me what do you need?” The needy man told

63 Tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram

247
Ninety Nine Parables

him his requirements. The Christian gave him 10 sacks of


wheat, 100 kgs of meat and 20 Dirhams and then he added,
“These [quantities of] provisions are your monthly allowance
for you and your family, for the sake of this great day.”
That night the Qazi had a dream in which someone was
telling him to look upwards. When he looked up he saw two
beautiful palaces; one was made of silver and gold bricks and
the other was made of red Sard64 gemstone [Yaqūt.] The Qazi
inquired about the owner of those two palaces and he was told
that if he would have helped the needy man they would have
been his, but since he did not help him despite his repeated
visits, these palaces were granted to so-and-so Christian. In the
morning the Qazi was troubled, he went to visit the Christian
and asked him, “What ‘deed’ did you carry out yesterday? He
asked, “How do you know?” The Qazi told him all about his
dream and offered him one hundred thousand Dirhams, if he
would sell his ‘deed’ to him. The Christian said that he would
not sell it, even if he was offered the wealth of the entire world.
He further announced, “Allah’s    ! " Mercy and Grants are
spectacular. I am hereby accepting Islam [as my religion] and
then he recited [the testimony of faith], that ‘I bear witness that
there is no deity [worthy of worship] but Allah    ! ", and I bear
witness that Muhammad          
     
   
is His [special]
Servant and Apostle.’ (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 152)

PROMINENCE OF ‘ASHURĀĤ
Dear Islamic Brothers! The grandson of the Prophet, the son of
Fatima, the exalted Imām, Sayyidunā Imām Hussain   3 "    
 ? 7 ,
along with his closest friends and relatives, was deprived of
water and food. On the day of ‘Ashurāĥ, meaning the tenth day
of Muharram, he was brutally martyred. There are several other
important events which happened on this day, as well. In Islam,

64 Translucent reddish-brown gemstone. Sometimes also referred as carnelian

248
Islamic Manners of Eating

the day of ‘Ashurāĥ and the month of Muharram are quite


significant. After Ramadan, the day fasts of Muharram are the
most rewarding.

      
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5 PROPHETIC NARRATIONS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE


OF MUHARRAM

1. The Master of Masters, the King of the worlds, the Mercy


upon the universes         
     
  has stated, “After Ramadan,
the day-fasts of Muharram are the most praiseworthy and after
the Fard [Obligatory salah] the most praiseworthy is the Salat-
ul-layl (meaning the night vigil Nafil [Supererarogatory]
Salaah).“ (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 591, ḥadiš. 1163)
2. The Prophet of Mercy, the Master of all Prophets, the Seal of
Prophethood         
     
  has stated, “Every day-fast in
Muharram is equal to one month of day-fasts [in reward] .”
(Mu’jam Ṣaghīr, pp. 71, vol. 2)

3. The Mercy for the World, the embodiment of Nur, Master of


Mankind, His Eminence         
     
  has stated, “Whoever
fasted for three days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, during
the month of Muharram, he will be rewarded with two years’
worth of worship.” (Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp. 438, vol. 3,ḥadiš. 5151)
4. The Master of Mankind         
     
  “Fast on the Day of
‘Ashurāĥ and oppose the Jews by fasting a day before or after
it.” (Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp. 518, vol. 1,ḥadiš. 2154) Therefore, whoever
fasts on the 10th of Muharram, should either fast on the 9th or
the 11th as well.
5. The Master of Madinah, The Revered Prophet              
 
stated: “Whoever generously provides sustenance [rizq] in his
house on the Day of ‘Ashurāĥ, Allah    ! " will expand his
sustenance for the whole year.”
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Ninety Nine Parables

GUARD AGAINST AILMENTS


The renowned commentator of the Quran, Hakīm ul Ummaĥ,
Shaykh Muftī Ahmad Yār Khān Naī’īmī         5
 6
 7 has stated,
“Whoever fasts on the 9 and 10 of the venerated month of
th th

Muharram, will attain a huge reward. Whoever provided good


wholesome food for his family on this day, Inshā-Allah    ! ", he
shall have blessings in his house for the rest of the year. It is
better to make Khichrah65 [gumbo] and do Iīšāl of Šawāb
[Donating rewards] to the deceased] to the Martyr of Karbala,
Sayyidunā Imām Hussain   3 "    ?
 7 . The act of doing this has
been observed to be highly effective [in achieving blessings
throughout the year]. If one takes a bath on this day, Inshā-Allah
   !
 ", he shall be guarded from all ailments during the entire
year because the water from [the well of] Zamzam reaches all
waters on this day. (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān, pp. 142, vol. 4)

The Master of Masters, Prophet         


     
  has stated
in a narration: “Whoever applies a Kohl called ‘Ismad’, in his
eyes on the Day of ‘Ashurāĥ, then his eyes shall never hurt
(Shu’bul Īmān, pp. 367, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 3793).”

      
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A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN PAKISTAN


Dear Islamic Brothers! In the Righteous Environment of
Da’awat-e-Islāmī, an international, non-political movement for
propagating the teachings of Quran and Sunnah, one is
inculcated to help people in times of need. Up until this writing,
the worst earthquake to date, struck at 8:45 a.m. in the morning,
on Ramadan 3rd 1426 A. H. (October 8th 2005), devastating the
northern-western parts of Pakistan. This quake hit major parts

65 A cuisine mostly found in the sub-continent. Lentils and meat are cooked until lentils
liquefy, resulting in thick liqified form.

250
Islamic Manners of Eating

of North-West Frontier Province [Sarhad], Kashmir and some


parts of Punjab province as well.
According to a report, more than two hundred thousand
people died; however, the truth of the matter is that no one
knows the number of the dead! Complete villages, localities
and several cities were obliterated into mere heaps of rubble.
Whole mountains were uprooted and collapsed on villages.
God knows how many smiling faces were buried alive. How
can anyone fathom the lives lost? It is my wish that before we
indulge ourselves in sins we ponder on the possibility that
while we are busy in this sin an earthquake can strike
completely obliterating us, in a blink of an eye. (We seek our
well being from Allah    ! ".)

619 TRUCKLOADS OF AID


Numerous Islamic Brothers of Da’awat-e-Islāmī participated
heavily in the relief efforts of this quake. Almost 619 truck loads
of basic necessities were distributed and about 120 million
rupees were spent in this massive relief effort.
Several Madanī Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī went missing in
these earthquake stricken areas. They were all found well and
alive afterwards. Hereby, read one of such Qāfilah inspiring
account.

69. STARING TWICE AT THE FACE OF DEATH


Nine Islamic Brothers from Drig Colony and Malir (Babul
Madinah, Karachi, Pakistan) were residing in a Masjid in Qadir-
Abad District of Bag (Kashmir.) Devotees of the Prophet told
their story in the following words:
We had a break for rest, five of us were resting and the four
of us had gone outside the masjid. It was the 3rd of Ramadan
1426 H and 8:45 a.m in the morning when all of a sudden we
251
Ninety Nine Parables

felt the jerks of the quake. Islamic brothers panicked and


jumped off of a 5 foot wall and started running fanatically
towards the road. Sounds of concrete falling on concrete could
be heard from all directions. When we turned around to see
what was going on, we witnessed an unbelievable occurrence;
the mountain had fallen over this area from both the sides.
When the cloud of dust settled there was no Masjid or houses
[everything had vanished]. All the beautiful buildings were
turned to rubble. Havoc and devastation was all over the air. I
think no one from that locality had survived. Devotees of the
Prophet made their way to a nearby town of Nazarabad. The
Earthquake had caused devastation there too. When our senses
were restored we took part in the aid efforts. We broke our
day-fast [iftar] there. Then we performed Maghrib Jamā’at
[Congregational Salāh] in the section of a Masjid, which was
left intact after the devastation.
As we left the Masjid after completing our prayers, another
quake rocked the area and the remainder of that Masjid
collapsed on the floor. Al-Hamdulillah    ! " the Devotees of the
Prophet were saved twice from the face of death. One
newspaper named “Qomi Akhbaar” narrated this incident and
then added, “Probably this Madanī Qāfilah travelled with a
good intent (to spread the call to righteousness) which is why
Allah    ! " saved them.”

Even if quakes rock, and causes devastations


Fear Allah    !  " , and Let’s travel in Qafilah
Earthquake created, every where destruction
Take heed from this, and Lets travel in Qafilah

Zalzala aai agar, Aa kay cha jai gar


Sirf haq say darayn, Qaflay me chaloo
Zalzala Aam tha, Har suu kohram tha
Iss sayloo ibratayn Qaflay main chaloo

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Islamic Manners of Eating

70. A PIECE OF DRY BREAD


A Prophet from the court of the Amīr [Ruler] Sulaimān bin Alī,
ruler of Ahwās, came to the sagacious Scholar, Sayyidunā
  5
Khalīl Basrī      6
 7 with a message that the King desired that
he teach the King’s two sons. Sayyidunā Khalīl Basrī       5
 6
 7
replied by showing the Prophet a dry piece of bread and said,
‘As long as I have this dry bread [this simple way of life], I do not
need to be a servant in the King’s court.’ (Rūḥanī Ḥikāyāt, pp. 106, vol. 1)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Why should we go here and there to look for wealth


We are comfortable with the endowments of our Prophet          
     
 

Jusjatajū main kiyun phirain mal ki maray maray


Ham to Sarkar kay turkroon pay pala kartay hain

      
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AN INVITATION FROM THE PRIME MINISTER


Dear Islamic Brothers! You can see how the righteous servants
  !
of Allah   " distance themselves from those in power.
Whereas, if we were to receive any such invitation from the
Prime Minister or the President, we would postpone all are
chores and engagements, travel thousands of kilometres if
needed, put on our best attire, and be the first to stand in the
long lines of the Assembly Hall. AH! This is the love for our
nafs [self]. To run behind leaders and ministers only for the
sake of materialistic benefits and notoriety when there, in fact,
is no necessity to do so; to partake in parties alongside them; to
receive medals and accolades from them, to have pictures taken
with them; to save them and show them to others; to frame
them and hang them in the homes and offices, Ma’aāż-Allah
  !
  ". These acts surely have many adversities but lack any

253
Ninety Nine Parables

benefits and blessings. It would be understandable however, if


we have to go for important religious benefits or to protect
ourselves from their wrong-doings as one would be helpless
and excused in such a case.
The poorest man is the one who goes to the ruler’s door.
The best ruler is the one who goes to the poor mans door.

SUCCESS IN BOTH WORLDS


The trap of Satan is indeed dangerous. At times, he will bring
you to the feet of politicians by disguising materialistic worldly
desires of the nafs [the self] as religious duties. It was for this
reason that the righteous and heedful servants of Allah    ! "
felt safe in keeping their distance from people in power. The
one who is content with what one has, rather than going after
others’ wealth is successful in both the world and the next. The
following story will show how much the righteous servants of
Allah     ! " despised rulers, oppressors, and justices [who
misused their power]. Hence,

71. THE VISION OF THE NOBLE PROPHET SEVENTY-FIVE TIMES


Sayyidunā Allama Abdul Wahāb Sha’rānī        5
 6  7 has reported
  5
that Sayyidunā Alī Khas      6
 7 saw a letter written by
Allamāh Jalāl-ud Dīn Suyutī Ash-Shafaī’       5
 6  7 in the hands
of one of his companions, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Shāzālī       5
 6  7
which was written as a response to a man who had written a
letter to Allamāh Jalāl-ud Dīn Suyutī Ash-Shafaī’       5
 6
 7
requesting him to go before the king to ask for him on his behalf.
In response, Allamāh Jalāl-ud Dīn Suyutī Ash-Shafaī’   5
     6
 7
wrote:
“My brother, Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", I have gone before
the Noble Prophet          
     
   
seventy-five times until
now [in the spiritual state]. Had I not feared that I would no

254
Islamic Manners of Eating

longer meet the Merciful Prophet, the Generous and Affectionate


   
  
     
     
  , I would have surely gone to the fort and ask
the king on your behalf, for you.
I am a humble servant of Hadith [Prophetic sayings]. I go to
the Revered Prophet          
      
  for authentication of
those Hadith which have been considered weak by the
Muhaddišūn [Narrators of the Prophetic sayings], and the
benefits of this honour are far greater than your own personal
benefit.” (Mīzān-ush-Sharī’a-tul-Kubrā, p. 48)

Dear Islamic Brothers! You can see the level of deprivation of


spiritual insights which can result from visiting rulers.

The next parable shows this even more clearly. Hence…

72. WHY THE NAAT RECITER WAS DEPRIVED


Sayyidunā Allāmah Abdul Wahāb Sha’rānī       5
 6
 7 has said
that it is well known that Sayyidunā Muhammad bin Tarīn,
Praiser of Rasūlullāh               
  [Naat Reciter] would
often see His Excellency, The Sovereign of Prophet-hood
        
     
  in the state of being awake. Once, when he
visited the Shrine, the Merciful Prophet               
  spoke
to him from the Grave. He enjoyed these favours from the
Merciful Prophet               
  until one day when he went
to a ruler to ask something on somebody’s behalf. He       5 6
 7
went and interceded. The governor gave him his own seat to sit
in. After this incident, he was no longer able to have such
visions of the Prophet               
  . He would often plead
[make istigāšah] in the court of the Prophet               
 
but was not able to have the vision again.
Once he recited some verses of Naat [Praise] upon which He
  5 6
saw Rasūlullāh [the Prophet of Allah]              
     7  "
       !
from afar. The Prophet         
     
  said, ‘You would like

255
Ninety Nine Parables

to see me though you have sat at the seats of the oppressors,


there is no such way [that both these things cannot happen].
Sayyidunā Ali Khwās         5
 6
 7 said, “We do not come to
know whether he had the vision of The Sovereign of the
Prophethood          
      
  ever again; and then he passed
away. (Mīzān-ush-Sharī’a-tul-Kubrā, p. 48)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Dear Islamic Brothers! Those who follow leaders and politicians


for their personal [materialistic and impermissible] benefits,
and come running if ever given the opportunity to come before
a President or Minister; hang pictures of there meetings with
these influential folks and show them off to others! If you think
that this is a great honour, then you should take heed from this
parable.
An indication is sufficient for the wise.
O Master, There is no shortage in your way
The World and the Hereafter is in your way
They do not even spit near the thrones of kings
Those who have camped in your way

Kis chīs ki kami hay maulā terī galī main


Dunyā terī galī main ‘uqbā terī galī main
Takht-e-sikandarī par wo thukhtay nahī hain
Bistar laga huwa hay jin ka teri gali main

      
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73. THE TROUBLES OF THE ROYAL DINING-MAT


Sayyidunā Qādi Sharīk       5
 6
 7 was a righteous and dignified
scholar and Muhaddiš [narrator of the Hadith, the Prophetic
  5
traditions]. He      6
 7 refrained from meeting people of the
ruling class.
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Islamic Manners of Eating

Once the Khalifa [Governor] of Baghdad, Mahdī Abbāsī,


invited him and insisted that He       5
 6
 7 chose from three
things; accept the position of the Qādi [Judge], teach the King’s
sons, or join the King for one meal. After some contemplating,
  5
He      6
 7 said, ‘It seems that to join you in one meal would
be the easiest.’ So he       5
 6
 7 accepted the governor’s invitation.

The governor asked the chef to make the most delicious of


   5
foods. Hence, Sayyidunā Qādi Sharīk       6
 7 ate at the royal
dining-mat. The chef said to the Shaykh         5
 6 7 , ‘Your
Excellency, no goodness shall come of this as you are know
stuck in the ‘royal’ trap from which there is no freedom.’
This is exactly what happened as after eating that one
  5
meal with the governor, He      6
 7 eventually began teaching
the King’s children and accepted the office of judge as well.
(Tarīkh-ul-Khulafā, p. 221)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

ONE THIRD OF THE DEEN GOES AWAY


Dear Islamic Brothers! One is better off staying away from the
ruling and wealthy people. The risks of accepting their
invitations and gifts is too grave as it is then difficult to abstain
from praising them and agreeing with everything they say.
It is stated in the Hadith [Prophetic Traditon] that, ‘One
third of the dīn [religion] goes away when one is self-effacing
[or humble, the Arabic root word used was tawādu] in front of
a wealthy person because of their wealth (Kashf-ul Khifā, pp. 215, vol.
2, ḥaḍiš. 2442)

Imam Ahmad Raza Khan       5


 6
 7 commenting on this
Hadiš has said that, The tawādu’ [humility] for the wealth of
the dunyā [materialistic world] is not done for Allah    ! " which
makes it Haraam [forbidden].’ (Żailul Muddā’ Li-Aḥsanil Wiā’, p. 12).

257
Ninety Nine Parables

THE DISAPPROVAL OF FLATTERY


This means that tawādu’ [showing humility] to any wealthy
person solely for their wealth is without any permissible Sharai’
[religious] cause, is Haraam [forbidden]. Sadly, this sin is very
common. A wealthy person is a trial for people as their wealth
puts people at awe, even if they do not give one penny. People
needlessly become impressed and act very humble aiming to
flatter them. The Father of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan      5
 6
 7 ,
    
   5 67
Allāmah Maulana Naqī Khān    has written:
It is in a Hadiš that a Muslim does not flatter.
Praises, that are not in that person is even worse since:
one, it is flattery; second, it is lying; and third, it is putting the
praised in trial as praising someone in front of them has been
likened to cutting their throat in a prophetic tradition. It is
further stated ‘Throw dirt in the face of the ones who praise
people on their faces.’ It is worse if the one being praised is a
fāsiq [open sinner] as it is stated in the Hadiš ‘When a fāsiq
[open sinner] is praised, Allah    ! " becomes displeased and
His Arsh [throne] shakes.’ (Aḥsan-ul Wi’aā, p. 153)

      
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74. MY AUNT RECEIVED THE ŜAWĀB [REWARDS] EVEN


FOR THE MALĪDAH66
   5
A Shaykh       6 7 has said that he saw his paternal aunt in a
dream and asked how she was upon which she answered, ‘I am
well as I received the rewards of all my deeds even for the
šawāb of the malīdah [the sweet bread] which I had one day
given to the poor to eat.’ (Sharaḥ-us Ṣudūr, p. 278)
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

66 Sweet Bread

258
Islamic Manners of Eating

75. A SINGLE GRAPE


Dear Islamic Brothers! You can see that Allah    ! " gives
reward for every bit of goodness. It is for this reason that one
should never refrain from any good deed even if it seems to be
minute.
Umm-ul Mu’minīn Sayyidatunā Ā’ishāh  :3 "    ? 
 7 once
gave a single grape to a needy person. An observer surprisingly
asked about this, to which she replied, ‘Many particles can be
taken from this (grape) Allah    ! " says in the Quran in the 7th
Ayah of Surat-ul-Zilzāl, the Chapter of Earthquake,

[ % H Ol a  Bw 7  b {
A’(   0   H J 0 g
‘Then whosoever has done good of a weight of an atom, shall see it.’
(Qurān)(Surah-Zilzāl, āyah. 7) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

To feed any hungry person malīdah or any halal, permissible


and pure food for the pleasure of Allah    ! " is indeed very
virtuous. The Master of the Sacred Makkah, the Sultan of the
Illuminous Madinah         
     
  has said, “Whoever fed a
poor person to their satisfaction, Allah    ! " will give them the
shade underneath the Arsh [the Divine Throne].” (Makārim-ul-
Akhlāq, p. 272)

      
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76. BLESSINGS OF A BLOW IN A DREAM


Dear Islamic Brothers! In order become passionate about
feeding the hungry and to start living a sunnah inspired
lifestyle make habit of routine travels in the sunnah-inspiring
Madanī Qāfilah of Da’awat-e-Islāmī with Devotees of the

259
Ninety Nine Parables

Prophet. Inshā-Allah    ! ", you will be enriched with enormous


spiritual and physical insight. Hence…

An Islamic brother relayed his own account, somewhat like


this:
“My sister’s son [my nephew] was in severe pain because of
stomach ulcers. The doctors were unable to treat him. He
travelled with the Devotees of the Prophet in the Madanī
Qāfilah to learn Sunnah. During the Journey, his health
deteriorated even further. It was unbearable for us to watch
him suffer. My nephew had intended [before travelling in the
Qāfilah] to neither request for special food nor for any extra
breaks because of his ailment, during the Madanī Qāfilah. Thus,
he ate whatever was served, whether spicy or not.’”

The Islamic brother further added,


“When my nephew went to sleep that night, he saw an
old-aged pious Muballig [preacher] of Da’awat-e-Islāmī in his
dream. The Muballig said, ‘I am very pleased with you.’ Then
he politely inquired about his health, to which my nephew
complained about his agonizing pain. The Preacher then placed
his finger on the youth’s chest and blew over him. When my
nephew woke up the next morning, Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", he
was completely cured.

There is Cure; So Great, So Peaceful


Take a Look Yourself; Let's travel in the Qāfilah
Seek the Mercy; Seek the Blessings
See Good Dreams; Let's travel in the Qāfilah

Hay Shifah hi Shifa; Marhaba! Marhaba!


Aakay khud dekh lain; Qafilay main chaloo.
Loot lain rahmatain; Khub lain barkatain,
Khwab achay dekhain; Qafilay main chaloo

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Islamic Manners of Eating

77. UNIQUE PRINCESS


  5
Shaykh Sayyidunā Shāh Kirmānī      6
 7 received a marriage
proposal for his daughter when she reached the age of
marriage, from the neighboring country’s king but he       5
 6
 7
turned it down. Then he went from one Masjid to another
Masjid searching for a pious young man. Finally he saw a
young man who prayed Salāh in a proper manner and then
pleadingly made Duā [supplication.] The Shaykh asked him,
“Are you married?’ The young man replied, “No.” Then the
Shaykh inquired, “Would you like to get married? The girl
reads Qurān [regularly], and punctually performs Salāh and
keeps Saum [day-fasts], and she is of a super character.” The
young man said, ‘Who will marry me [as I am not wealthy?]”
The Shaykh said, “I will give you my daughter in marriage,
here take these Dirham [silver coins] and go buy bread from
one dirham, stew from another, and some fragrance from the
third.
In this manner Shaykh Shāh Kirmānī       5
 6
 7 conducted
the Nikāh [marriage] ceremony of his righteous daughter.
When the bride came to the house of the groom, she saw that
there was piece of bread lying on the flask of water. She asked,
“What bread is this?” The groom replied, “This is yesterday’s
left-over bread. I had saved it for my iftār [break-fast.]” Upon
hearing this, she began to leave. Seeing this, the groom said, “I
knew that Shaykh Shāh Kirmānī’s       5
 6
 7 daughter would not
be able to live with a poor man like me.” The Bride replied, “I
am going back not because of your lack of wealth, but because
of your apparent lack of faith in the Providence of the Creator
of the Universes    ! " . Otherwise, you would not have saved
the bread from yesterday. I am surprised that my father
described you as pious. The groom was embarrassed upon
hearing this and said, “I apologize for this weakness of faith.”
Then the bride said, “Your weakness is for you to rectify. Now,
either I stay in this house or this bread.” The groom immediately
261
Ninety Nine Parables

gave the bread away in charity and thanked Allah    ! " for
having such a saintly wife and indeed a one of a kind princess.
(Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 103)
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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Dear Islamic Brothers! Did you realize how refined are the
thoughts of the Mutawakilīn [those who have resigned to the
Will of Allāh    ! "]. Although she was a princess, she had such
faith in Allāh’s    ! " Providence [tawakkul] that she did not
desire to save any food for the next day. This was a result of her
stout belief in the fact that if God    ! " provided us sustenance
today, He can very well provide for us tomorrow.
What do the birds and animals save? It is not in their nature
to save food for the next meal. Look at the faith in the Divine
Providence [tawakkul] of the chicken. If you give it water to
drink, it will drink whatever she needs and then will step on
the bowl causing the water to spill onto the floor. One can say
that the chicken is a “Silent Preacher” [preacher!] She is
advising us with her ways that, ‘O People, you are not at peace
even after saving enough to last for years to come! Whereas, I
don’t even worry about the next time after drinking water once,
the One [Allah] who has given me to drink right now, will also
provide for me later.’

78. IMĀM BUKHĀRĪ’S TEACHER


A prince and his servants from some mountainous terrains once
came to visit His Excellency Sayyidunā Qubīsah bin Uqbah
  5
     6
 7 , the teacher of Imām Bukhārī       5
 6
 7 . Sayyidunā
Qubīsah         5
 6
 7 took some time in coming out. The servants of
the prince heralded, “Your honour, a prince of the Malik-ul-
Jibāl (king of the mountains) is standing at your doorstep and
262
Islamic Manners of Eating

you are not stepping out to receive him.” At this, Sayyidunā


  5
Qubīsah      6
 7 stepped outside carrying some dry slices of
bread in his hands and said, “What would a person want from
the king of the mountains, when he is content with this
[showing those dry pieces of bread] and these suffice his needs?
By God! I will not even talk to him.” Then he shut the door.
(Tażkirat-ul-Ḥuffāẓ, pp. 274, vol. 3)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

THERE IS DIGNITY IN CONTENTMENT


Dear Islamic Brothers! Those who are austere and simple, wear
plain clothes and eat simple foods do not require wealth, nor
are they dependent on the wealthy, whereas the greedy people
are never satisfied and thus at a loss. They are afflicted by a
wealth acquiring-mania and constantly seek to gather wealth
until their death comes to pass. Hence, The Valiant Sayyidunā
‘Alī-ul-Murtada   3 "   
 ? 7 said, “The one who is content [with
Allah’s Endowed Provisions] is dignified; and the one who is
greedy is disgraced.” (Rūḥanī Ḥikāyāt, pp. 106, vol. 1)

LEAVE THE MATERIALISTIC WORLD


Sayyidunā Abū Hurrairah       5
 6
 7 has narrated the Merciful
Prophet, The Intercessor of the Ummah, Master of the Prophets
        
      
  as advising him, “O Abū Hurrairah    3 "  
 ? 7
when you are starving, survive on a piece of bread and a bowl
of water and say that, ‘I distance myself from the [materialistic]
world and its seekers.’” (Al-Kāmil Fī Ḍu’fā-ir Rijāl, pp. 183, vol. 8)

DO NOT RELY ON THE WEALTH OF OTHERS


Companion of the Prophet, Sayyidunā Abū Ayyūb Ansārī
  3 "    ? 
 7 narrated that a villager approached the Prophet
         
      
  and asked him for some advice. The Prophet

263
Ninety Nine Parables

          


      
 
said, “When you offer Salāh, regard it as the
last Salāh of your life; and do not say anything due to which
you have to seek an apology later; and do not be dependent on
what others have.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 455, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 4171)

IT IS BETTER NOT TO TAKE THE WEALTH FROM OTHERS


Dear Islamic Brothers! Do not depend on others’ wealth. Even if
the other person admires you and has repeatedly offered his
help to you; don’t let his notion drive you to seek help when
ever you need it. These expectations are just a mere façade and
false hopes because the heart of a person constantly changes.

Anyways, [even if he helps you] remember that the one who


“gives” can never be influenced or inspired by the one who
“takes.” However, if someone comes to give you [a financial
gift] and you refuse to accept it; the giver will certainly be
inspired by you. Hujjat-ul-Islām Imām Ghazālī        5
 6 7 has
stated, “The luxuries only last for a short while. Then they come
to pass. Things will change in a few days. Be content with
Allah’s endowed provisions and you will be happy. Suppress
your desires and you will live a free life. Death often comes (at
the hands of robbers) who come to rob the gold, sard (a gem
stone), and pearls.” (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 294, vol. 3)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

DON’T BE DEPENDENT ON OTHERS


   5
Sayyidunā Muhammad Bin Wāsi’       6 7 would soak dry
bread in water, eat it and then comment, “One who is content
with this shall never be dependent on anyone.” (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp.
295, vol. 3)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

THE STOMACH IS SMALL


Sayyidunā Sumait bin Ajlān         5
 6 7 said, “Oh man, your
stomach is only a hand-span [very small]. Why should it lead
you to hell? Someone asked a wise man, ‘What is your wealth?’
He replied, ‘To appear in a decent appearance in public, and to
have modesty in private; and not to have my hopes on others
belongings.” (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 298, vol. 3)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Our Master, Our helper and our intercessor on the Judgment


Day, the Beloved of Allah         
       " said, “As a man
       !
grows old, two of his characteristics grow younger; his greed for
wealth, and his greed for age.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 521, ḥadiš. 1047)

SAND OF THE GRAVE WILL FILL THE STOMACH


The Prophet    
  
    
     
  said, “If a person had two valleys
of wealth, he would wish for a third one. Only the sand of the
grave can fill his stomach and Allah accepts the repentance of
the person who repents.” (Sahīh Muslim, pp. 522, hadiš. 1050)

Millionaire was plotting about multiplying his wealth.


“Return your life sir!” Came hurling his death.

Saiťh jī ko fikr thī ik ik key das das kijiye


Maut ā phonchī keh mister jān wāpis kijiye

79. 100 PIECES OF BREAD


When Hāfiz-ul-Hadiš, Shaykh Sayyidunā Hajāj Baghdādī
   5
      6 7 embarked on the journey to seek the knowledge of
religion, his mother packed a 100 pieces of breads in a churn
made of clay. To seek knowledge of the Dīn the Shaykh sought
the company of the great Master of Hadith, Sayyidunā

265
Ninety Nine Parables

   5
Shabābah       6
 7 . His mother had already given him bread,
but he had to make arrangements for the curry, which he did.
He chose a curry that remained always fresh and was full of
blessings. What was that exclusive curry? It was the water from
the Tigris River! Every day he would consume a piece of bread
by soaking it in the water from the river and would diligently
learn his lessons. When the 100 pieces of bread finished, he had
to ask for a leave. Thus, unwillingly he sought permission from
his teacher to depart. (Tażkirat-ul-Ḥuffāẓ, pp. 100, vol. 3)

Dear Islamic Brothers! In previous times, our scholars made


countless sacrifices to learn the Dīn [religion?] On the other
hand, we are in such turbulent times in which despite the
luxuries of lodging and dining people are still not prepared to
learn Dīn. Indeed religious learning will benefit us in both the
worlds. If one cannot enrol in an Islamic University to become
a scholar, he should at least enrol and complete the “Tarbiyatī
Course” offered at the Madanī Tarbiyat Gah. Completing this
course has several benefits. An account follows elaborating
some of them.

80. ALLERGIES WERE CURED


An Islamic Brother stated, “I was allergic. I would suffer pain in
the cold and out in the sun. Rain would [trigger the allergies]
thus cause agonizing pain. A Devotee of the Prophet
        
     
  advised me to enrol in the ‘Tarbiyatī Course.’
Therefore, I enrolled in the course that started on 19th of
November, 2004. I was astonished that the illness, on which, I
had spent a lot of money; seeking cures and visiting doctors,
was cured due to the blessing of the company of the Devotees
of the Prophet         
     
  , in the 63-Day Tarbiyatī Course.

Da’awat-e-Islāmī be prevalent in both the Worlds, I am longing


And every child would join, O Allah    !  "
! Fulfill my earnest yearning

266
Islamic Manners of Eating

Dawateislami kī qayyūm, donon jahān mayn much jae dhūm.


Is pai fidā ho bacha bacha, Ya Allah    !  "
meri jholī bhar dai.

WHAT IS THE TARBIYATĪ COURSE?


The Tarbiyatī Course is so beneficial for the hereafter that every
Muslim who is considerate about our religion would yearn to
enroll in this 63 day course once he is enlightened with its
details and its curriculum, Inshā-Allah    !  ". Al-Hamdulillah
   !
 ", Besides Bab-ul-Madinaĥ, Karachi [Pakistan] this course is
offered in several cities around Pakistan.
The curriculum entails many sciences of knowledge some of
which are Fard [Obligation] on every adult and sane Muslim,
according to sacred law [shariah]. There are many virtues of
seeking the knowledge of the Dīn. Hence it is narrated that the
Prophet          
      
  said,”Whoever seeks knowledge of
Dīn [Religion]; this becomes a redemption [kuffarah] for his
previous sins.” (Jāmi’ Tirmiżi, pp. 295, vol. 4, ḥadiš 2657)

Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", Wudū [Ablution], Ghusl [Purification


Bath] and the proper manners of Salāh are taught in this course.
The curriculum also includes learning how to give Ghusl
[Purification Bath] to a deceased; manners and practices of their
burial and shrouding their bodies. Further, one learns how to
perform Funeral Salāh for the deceased [Janāzah] and the
method for Salāt-ul-Eid [Eid prayers]. Furthermore, the proper
manners and pronunciation for the Quranic recitation are also
taught. Students are encouraged to memorize the last 20 Surah
of the Holy Quran. There are many virtues of learning the
Quran. Here is one.

VIRTUES OF TEACHING QURANIC RECITATION


The Sultan of Both Worlds, Splendid and Dignified Prophet
        
     
  said, “Whoever teaches his child how to recite

267
Ninety Nine Parables

the Quran; all of his previous and future sins are forgiven.”
(Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp. 344, vol. 7, ḥadiš. 11271)

In another narration the Prophet          


      
  said,
“Whoever learns the Quran in his youth, Quran gets into his
flesh and blood. [Furthermore] there are two rewards for
whoever learns the Quran in old age and despite forgetting it,
continues to learn it.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 267, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 2378)

CHARACTER ENRICHMENT IN THE TARBIYATĪ COURSE


The following aspects of a personal character are also stressed:
• Honesty.
• Soft-heartedness.
• Patience.
• Humility.
• Forgiveness.
• Politeness
• Perils of back-biting.
Furthermore, the following things are also taught:
• How to create a Madanī [Righteous] environment in your
homes.
• How to prepare a Madanī Qāfilah and to conduct it in
accordance with the [prescribed] schedule.
• How to deliver Dars.
• How to deliver Bayān [speeches].
• Manners pertaining to the tour to call people towards
righteousness.
• How to do inspire someone towards righteousness.
• How to habitualize yourself to implement the deeds
discussed in the Madanī In’aāmāt booklet and to fill the
Madanī In’aāmāt accordingly.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

During the course, Islamic brothers also travel in three “3-Day


Madanī Qāfilah’s” and one 12-Day Madanī Qāfilah which
usually takes place near the end of the course. Upon the return
from the 12-Day Madanī Qāfilah a spare day is given to prepare
for the examination, which is held the next day. On the last
day, the course ends on Duā and Salat-o-Salām [Sending Peace
and Blessings on the Prophet          
      
  .] Numerous
other things are also taught in the course. In addition to all the
above, people are blessed with a good company of the righteous
Islamic brothers.
Upon the completion of the course, Al-Hamdulillah    ! ",
many individuals have vowed to offer Salāh regularly and have
opted to become good Muslims. They have become righteous
and have earned respect in their communities.
Therefore, whoever gets the opportunity; should learn the
knowledge of the Dīn by enrolling in this [highly informative]
course. The Prophet    
  
     
     
  has said, “On the Day of
Judgement the person with the most remorse will be the one
who had the opportunity to acquire knowledge of Dīn (in this
world) but did not avail it, and another [with the most regret is
one] who gained the knowledge and others heard from him
and benefited [by acting upon it] and he did not gain any
benefit from it [by acting on his knowledge].” (Mu’jam Ṣaghīr, pp. 69,
ḥadiš. 1058)

For those individuals who cannot enrol for 63 days should


talk to the authorities and try to work around the 63 days.

81. TEN FOR ONE


  5
An Abdāl67 of his time, Sayidunā Abu-Ja’far bin Khatāb      6 7
has said, “Once a beggar came to my doorstep and asked for

67Members of the spiritual hierarchy of saints, in Islamic methodology. Abdāl literarily


means “substitutes.”

269
Ninety Nine Parables

help. I asked my wife as to what we could offer. She replied


that they only had four eggs. I asked her to give them to the
beggar [in charity.] She complied and the beggar then left with
the eggs. After a little while a friend of mine sent me a basket
full of eggs. I asked my wife as to how many eggs were in the
basket. She replied that there were 30 eggs. I asked, ‘You gave
four eggs to the beggar then what is the mathematics behind
the 30 eggs.’ She replied, ‘There 30 unbroken eggs and 10
broken ones.’”
  5 6 7
Elaborating on this incident, Sayyidunā Shaykh Yāfa’ī    
of Yemen said, “Out of the [four] eggs that were given to the
beggar, one was broken where as 3 were unbroken. Allah    ! "
gave 10 in lieu of each of the eggs. Broken eggs in lieu of broken
ones, and unbroken eggs in lieu of unbroken ones. (Rauḍ-ur-
Riyāḥīn, p. 151)

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Dear Islamic Brothers! How Merciful is Allah    ! "! He shall


grant us rewards in the hereafter but He also endows blessings
upon us in this world. At times He shows clear signs for people
to be inspired and motivated, like he did in the above story.
Allah    ! " says in the Quran, Surah Al An’ām,

 “ ’(  % y " ٗ  g 5 39 , &  Wc  J (


“For one who brings one good deed, are ten like it”
(Qurān)( Surah Al An’ām, āyah. 160) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

Commenting on this Ayah [Quranic verse], Maulānā Sayyid


  5
Na’eem-ud-Dīn Murādābādi      6
 7 has stated the following:

“One good deed will be rewarded with the reward of ten


deeds. However, the reward is not limited to 10, but is merely

270
Islamic Manners of Eating

dependent on Allah’s    ! " Will. He may grant 700 times or


may grant countless rewards [for that one action]. The fact of
the matter is that the reward of a good deed is based on the
Mercy and Blessing of Allah    ! ". (Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, p. 241).

      
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82. FAVOR RETURNED


  5
Sayyidunā Shaykh Abū Bakr Shiblī      6
 7 once travelled
outside of the limits of the city of Baghdad with forty of his
disciples [Murīd]. At one point he said, “Oh People! Allah    ! "
is the Provider of sustenance for His servants.”

Then he recited the following portion of the second and the


third Ayah of Surah Al-Talāq:

  $- ` H J (   *  


  t  J (  Kz % H   ‫ ۝‬O %  ”  ٗ    …  f 
 9 •h  S  – e ~ ` H J ( 
 e  
ٗ  E9 t  - : g f 
“And whoever fears Allah    !  " – Allah    !  " will create for him a way of
deliverance. And will provide him sustenance from a place he had never
expected; and whoever relies on Allah    !  " – then Allah is Sufficient for
him.”
(Qurān)(Surah-Talāq āyah. 2-3) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

After reciting the Ayah he went somewhere alone leaving his


disciples behind. All the disciples remained there starving for
three days. The fourth day the Shaykh returned and said, “Oh
People, Allah    ! " has granted permission to the servants to
seek sustenance [rizq]. Hence, Allah    ! " says in the 15th verse
of Surah Al-Mulk:

271
Ninety Nine Parables

ٖ Kz 7  J(  -  $   :E^  3(  o  - y (  g S-   L     @ I   - N
O   b R 7 S 
“It is He Who subjected the earth for you, therefore tread its paths and eat
from Allah’s    !  " sustenance.”
(Qurān)(Surah-Al-Mulk, āyah. 15) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

Then he asked the disciples to send someone from amongst


then stating that he believed that, that person would bring
some food. The disciples sent a poor person into the city of
Baghdad. He roamed from street to street but could not find
any [source of] sustenance. Eventually, he sat down to rest near
a clinic that belonged to a Christian physician. That physician
was an expert pulse reader and would diagnose the illness
accurately just by reading a person’s pulse rate. When all of his
patients left; the physician called in this poor man thinking that
he was one of his patients. Then he read his pulse rate and
handed him some bread, curry and halva and said, “This is the
cure for your illness.” The poor man replied, “There are forty
other patients like me that are afflicted with the same illness.”
The Physician ordered his servants to bring food enough for
forty people and gave it to the poor man to take it with him.
The Physician then followed this poor man, secretly.
When this food was presented to Shaykh Abū Bakr Shiblī
   5
      6 7 ,
without touching it, he said that there was a hidden
mystery in this food. The poor man who had brought the food
iterated the whole event that had taken place. The great Shaykh
then said, “This Christian has been so nice to us, shouldn’t we
give him something in return for his kindness?” The disciples
replied, “What do poor people like us have to offer?” The
Shaykh said, “We could at least make Duā for him, before
eating this food.” Hence, they made Duā. The Christian
physician was secretly listening to their conversations. The
Duā’s blessings were immediately manifested and the Christian
272
Islamic Manners of Eating

had a revolutionary effect on his heart. He came out into the


open and approached Shaykh Abū Bakr Shiblī         5
 6 7 . He
then repented and proclaimed the Testimony of Faith [kalimah]
and thus came into the fold of Islam (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 81).
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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SERVING A WALĪ BEARS FRUIT


Dear Islamic Brothers! How unique are the ways of the Saints,
in calling people towards righteousness. A person who serves
them, is not left empty handed. From this parable we also learn
that we should make Duā for the one who is polite and
courteous to us. Even if a non-believer [kafir] does us a favour,
in return we should at least make Duā that he may be guided to
the right path [Islam]. The effects of the Duā of Sayyidunā
   5
Shaykh Abū Bakr Shiblī       6
 7 and his disciples manifested
instantly and the Christian embraced Islam.

Supplications of Saint showed its effect


I saw numerous people’s change of fate

Duā e wali mayn voh tasir dekhi


Badalti hazaaron ki taqdir dekhi

THREE HEAVEN DWELLERS


The Christian physician gave the food to the poor man and was
blessed with the gift of faith [imaan]. If a Muslim feeds the poor,
he is entitled to Paradise. Hence, the Sultan of both worlds,
Master of Madinah, Mercy for both worlds, The Splendid
Prophet         
      
  has said, “A bite of bread and a
handful of dry dates or their like by which a poor [miskeen]
person is benefited; Allah makes three people enter Paradise:

273
Ninety Nine Parables

One, the host who ordered the food [to be prepared]; Second,
his wife who prepared it; And the third, their servant who
delivered it to the poor [miskīn].” The Prophet       5
 6
 7 then
said, “All Praise for Allah    ! " who did not even leave out our
servants [in giving reward.” (Mu’jam Awsaṭ, pp. 89, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 5309)]

Here are five more prophetic narrations on the virtues of


feeding others:
1. “The better person from amongst you is the one who feeds
others (Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp. 241, vol. 9, ḥadiš. 2398).”

2. “Amongst the acts which make forgiveness wājib


[compulsory] are to feed [others] and to make common place
the greetings of Salam (Makārim-ul-Akhlāq, pp. 371, ḥadiš. 158)

3. “The angels continue to shower blessings until the Dinning-


mat [dastarkhuwān] is spread [on the ground] (Shu’bul Īmān, pp. 99,
vol. 7, ḥadiš. 9626).”

4. “Allah    ! " forgives whoever prepares food for alleviating


the hunger of a Muslim brother and feeds him until the brother
becomes satisfied (Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp. 344, vol. 7, ḥadiš. 11271).”

5. “Whoever feeds the hungry, Allah    !


will grant him a "
place under the shadow of His Throne (Makārim-ul-Akhlāq, p. 373).”

Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", in the Righteous Environment of


Da’awat-e-Islāmī, one is inspired to learn the Prophetic ways of
eating and feeding others and also gains knowledge of the Din.
Furthermore, many non-Muslims embrace Islam by the blessings
of the Devotees of the Prophet. Here is one such account.

83. STRANGE TRAVELLER OF THE MADANĪ QĀFILAH.


An Islamic Brother from Bandrah, India stated, “I was walking
along a street when I saw a group of individuals gathered on

274
Islamic Manners of Eating

one side of the road, along the walking path. Upon getting
closer I saw one of them giving Dars from a book, titled
“Faizan-e-Sunnat.” I took a listen and found the text to be
extremely captivating. Upon the conclusion of the session, one of
the brothers approached me and greeted me very courteously.
He then invited me to travel in the Madanī Qāfilah. His words
were still resonating with me and I thoughtlessly agreed to
travel with the Devotees of the Prophet. During the Madanī
Qāfilah I found a sense of peace and harmony that is beyond
words. Finally, I revealed my true identity to them, that I was
not a Muslim, and that I was lost in the dark seas of disbelief
[kufr]. The Dars, Inspirational efforts, the travel in the Madanī
Qāfilah and the superior character of the brothers had highly
inspired me. I requested them to do me another favor and make
me a Muslim. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", I took the Shahadah and
entered the fold of Islam.”
The brother from India goes on to say, “This incident took
place in December of 2004, and now in March of 2005 [at the
time of this narration] I have grown a beard and I crown myself
with a turban, all day. Currently, I am travelling in the 63-Day
Madanī Qāfilah with the Devotees of the Prophet to learn and
adopt the Sunnah.
Come Devotees, together lets propagate, to the non-Muslims,
let’s go in Qāfilah.
May the Sunnah Propagate, and the righteous deed prosper, let’s strive,
let’s go in Qāfilah.

Aao ay ashiqeen mil ke tableegh-e-din,


Kaafiron ko karin, qafileh mayn chalo.
Sunnatian aam hon, aam naik aam hon,
Sab karain koshishain, qafileh mayn chalo.

      
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Ninety Nine Parables

84. A TRADER IN THE CITY OF BAGHDAD


A trader in Baghdad had malice and hatred against Saints
[auliyā Allah]  
      
 : 6
7 in his heart. One Friday he saw
Sayyidunā Bishar Hāfī       5
 6
 7 leave the masjid right after the
Juma Prayers. He thought to himself that this person (Bishar
  5
Hāfī      6
 7 ) acts as if he is a saint but he has no inclination to
remain in the masjid and pray, that is why he is leaving. Thus
he decided to follow the honorable Shaykh to see where he
would go. Along the way, Sayyidunā Bishar Hāfī       5
 6
 7
bought some bread from a bakery and marched out of Baghdad.
This action enraged the trader and the notion came to his mind
that the Shaykh left the masjid to eat a piece of bread and will
eat it in the shade of a tree. Then he decided that as soon as the
Shaykh rests to eat under a shade, he will ask him if this is how
a Saint should behave, and leave the masjid for a piece of bread.
He kept on marching behind the honorable Shaykh as he
entered a masjid inside a small village. Here (in the mosque),
lay a sick person. The Shaykh sat besides him and fed him with
his own hands.
The trader was astonished at this act. The trader then left the
mosque to see the village. When he returned to the mosque the
sick person was still there but the Shaykh had left. He asked the
sick person as to where the Shaykh was? The sick person
replied that he had left for the city of Baghdad. He then asked
as to how far was Baghdad and the sick person replied that it
was at a distance of 40 miles from this place. He thought to
himself that he was now in trouble and did not even realize
how far he had come following the great Shaykh [karāmat. He
then asked, ‘When will the Shaykh come here again?’ The sick
person informed him that the Shaykh would come back next
Friday. Hence, he decided to stay there for a week as he had
nowhere to go. The following Friday Sayyidunā Bishar Hāfī
   5
      6 7 came to visit the person again and fed him as usual.

276
Islamic Manners of Eating

Sayyidunā Bishar Hāfī         5


 6
 7 asked the trader as to why he
had followed him. The trader regretfully realized and
acknowledged his mistake. The Shaykh ordered him to stand
up and follow him again. The trader thus followed the Shaykh
and reached Baghdad in a little while. By witnessing the Minor
Miracle [Karamat] manifest at the hands of Sayyidunā Bishar
   5
Hāfī       6 7 , the trader repented and became a humble
devotee of the Saints (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 137).
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

AWFUL SUSPICIONS OF A WICKED HEART


Dear Islamic brothers! It is Harām [strictly forbidden] to carry a
bad suspicion [baad gumānī] against a Muslim. Imam Ahmad
  5
Raza Khan      6
 7 has stated, “A bad suspicion arises from a
wicked heart (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 400, vol. 22).”
One should not consider the righteous inferior. These pious
individuals’ acts entail sincerity and their hearts care for the
creation of Allah    ! ". Furthermore, these pious people can
travel long distances in a twinkling of an eye. Furthermore, at
times the retribution for a bad suspicion is seen immediately in
this world.

85. THE PUNISHMENT OF A BAD SUSPICION


Once during a severe cold, Sayyidunā Shaykh Abul Hassan
   5
Nuri’s       6 7 maid Zaytunah brought him bread and milk.
There was some coal lit up to keep him warm. He was moving
around some pieces of charcoal. His hands were still blackened
by the coal when he began to eat. The fire suddenly ignited and
milk began to flow on his hands. The maid thought to herself
that this saint [wali] does not care for his cleanliness.
Later, she left his house to run some chores. Another woman
grabbed her and accused her of stealing her bundle of clothes

277
Ninety Nine Parables

and thus dragged her to the police station. When Sayyidunā


Shaykh Abul Hassan Nuri       5
 6
 7 came to know of this, he
went to the police station to vouch for her and bail her out of
trouble. The police officer informed that he could let her go as
she was accused of robbery. While this conversation was going
on, another maid entered the police station with the stolen
bundle of clothes. This bundle was returned to the rightful
owner and Zaytunah was released. The Shaykh asked Zaytunah
whether she would still carry bad suspicions against the saints
   5
of Allah      6
 7 [that they do not care for cleanliness.] Zaytunah
replied that she had learnt her lesson and has repented from
such bad suspicions [bad gumānī] (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 136).
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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BAD SUSPICIONS ARE HARĀM


Dear Islamic Brothers! This story teaches us that the woman
was immediately punished for having a bad suspicion about a
saint. A person should fear Allah    ! " regardless of whether he
is punished in this world or not as it is strictly forbidden
[Harām] to have bad suspicions. Imam Ahmad Raza Khan
   5
      6 7 has stated that, “A bad suspicion arises from a wicked
heart (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 400, vol. 22).”

Allah    "
 ! says in the 36th verse of Surah Bani-Israel:

O S n 9 (   3"  2


$  _   2  ™ ‫ ط‬k    ٖ & _
jٓ ˜   $  n M    % C E  r 0 9  — D  (  † A   S
“And go not after that thing of which you know not. No doubt the ear and
the eye and the heart are all to be questioned of.”
(Qurān)(Surah Banī Isrāīl, āyah. 36) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

278
Islamic Manners of Eating

In another verse in Surah Hujrāt, Allah    "


 ! says:

k „™ J ‹   š &  ‹ (   H


  2   z J   J   O l ’^  - EZ `   -3 (   J  I   :H ٓ H
“O believers! Avoid most suspicions; verily some suspicion is a sin… ”
(Qurān)(Surah-Al-Hujrāt, āyah. 12) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

Once the Noble Prophet          


      
  said, “Have you
split his heart to come to know [what is in it.]” (Abu Dawud, Vol: 3,
Pg:63, Hadith 2643.)

And he          


      
  further said [as stated in another
narration,] “Protect yourself from ill-suspicions [baad gumānī],
because forming these negative opinion is the greatest lie (Saḥīḥ
Bukhārī, pp. 446, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 5143).”

86. CRY WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE CRYING


   5
Sayyidunā Makhul Dimishqi      6
 7 once said, “When you see
someone weeping, join him in crying. Don’t have ill suspicions
that he is doing this to show-off. Once I had an ill-suspicion
against a Muslim who was crying; because of this, as a
punishment, I could not weep for one whole year.”(Tambih-ul-
Mughtarin, pg: 122.)

      
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87. NINE NON-BELIEVERS ACCEPTED ISLAM


Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", Madanī Qāfilahs of Da’awat-e-Islāmī
entail several blessings. While the sinful Muslims find
encouragement for self-correction and rectification, sometimes
the non-Muslims are blessed with faith and acceptance of the
Truth.
279
Ninety Nine Parables

An Islamic Brother has reported:


“About five years ago, I gave my fellow non-muslim
student a few audio cassettes and booklets released by
Maktabatul Madinah, as a gift. One of the cassettes had the
recitation of Surah Yāsīn [Surah 36] along with its Urdu
translation, from Kanzul Iman. Other cassettes had speeches
[bayan].
On January 5, 2006 while travelling with the Madanī Qāfilah
in ‘Sakrand’ (Babul Islam, Sindh, Pakistan) I ran into the same
class-fellow. He was with a group of his friends and they were
all in all 15 in number. I asked him about the cassettes and he
told me that when he listened to the recitation of Surah Yāsīn
and its translation, he experienced such [inner] peace likes of
which he had never experienced ever in his entire life. He
further added that since that time he had made it a habit to
listen to the Quranic recitation outside the Masjid, in Ramadan,
during Tarawih68 prayers. He also told me that he had listened
to the speeches and read the booklets as well. All this had a
profound impact on him.”
The Muballig [preacher] continued:
“Then I invited him to accept Islam. He was already
impressed with the teachings of Islam but was not yet ready to
convert. The Preacher tried to persuade him with all his
Inspirational Efforts. Finally he succeeded, and right away nine
of them embraced Islam and the rest them told him that they
would contemplate on adopting Islam.”

Scholars you also come, let’s spread true belief


Let’s all work together, let’s go in Madanī Qaflah
Let’s enlighten the dark alleys of dis-belief
Let’s all strive, Lets travel in Madanī Qafilah

68 Tarawih Prayers are prayed in Ramadan after Isha Prayer in congregation. It is

customary to complete the recitation of the whole Quran during these prayers.

280
Islamic Manners of Eating

Aao Ulmaay deen, behray tablig dain


Mil kar saray chalyn, Qaflay myn chalo
Dur tariqiyaan hoon kufr hoon mian
Aao koshish karyn Qaflay myn chaloo

      
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88. ŠURĪD AND DELICIOUS STEW


Sayyidunā Shaykh Allamaĥ Yafi’aī         5  7 once reported,
 6
“During a journey our caravan arrived in a village. One of us
went and borrowed a cooking pot from the villagers and
cooked a dessert [halvah] in it. Everyone ate it, except one man
who was not present. That man had some flour with him, so he
went around the village to find someone who would bake him
some bread from it. He could not find anyone. During his
search for a cook he came across an old blind man so he gifted
the flour to the old man, with the intention of getting rewarded
for it by Allah    ! " . (This situation should be analyzed from
the perspective: As if the Divine wisdom was addressing him
and saying that the flour was destined for that old man;
Whereas We had something else in store for you, from our
treasures.)
Allah’s    ! " Mercy is phenomenal! After a while, a man
from the village approached the caravan and from all the
people he called on that very man and took him to his house and
fed him with delicious a stew and šurīd69 (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 153).
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", giving food in charity never goes to


waste rather, sometimes one is rewarded right away in this
world while the virtues are still preserved for the hereafter.

69 Šurīd is a dish made with pieces of bread mixed with stew and gravy sauce. Could

also be prepared with vegetables instead of meat.

281
Ninety Nine Parables

89. STEW & HALVAĤ


A Saint reports this story that once there was a rich businessman
sitting in a masjid. Nearby a beggar raised his hands and began
making du’a [supplicating] “O Allah    ! "! Feed me meat stew
and halvaĥ [dessert]!” When the business man heard this he
said to himself, “He is just saying this so that I would hear him.
By Allah    ! "! If he would have directly asked me I would
have fed him, but now I will not.”
After a little while that beggar went to sleep. Meanwhile a
man entered the masjid with a tray, covered with a piece of
cloth. The man started looking around the masjid and when he
found that beggar he put his tray down in front of him. Then he
woke the beggar up and with due respect said, “Here is meat
stew and halvaĥ [dessert] for you, please eat it.” The beggar ate
some from it and returned the rest to him. The businessman
was astonished by this episode so he asked the man about it.
The man explained, “I am laborer. For some time my family
wanted to eat meat stew and halvaĥ [dessert], but our means
did not allow us to buy them. Today after a long time I got paid
one Mišqāl [4.374 grams] of gold, for my work. So we prepared
this stew and halvaĥ.
I took a nap for a little while, as I slept, my destiny was
revitalized, I saw the beautiful face of the Beloved of Allah
            !
     
      ". As I was engrossed in looking at the
Master of Masters, the Holy Prophet               
  , he began
to utter these glorious words: ‘There is a saint in your masjid
who wants to eat stew and halvaĥ [dessert]. Take this stew and
dessert to him. He will eat some and return the rest to you.
Allah    ! " will place His Blessings in the leftover, and in return
for this [deed] I will take you to Paradise.’ Therefore [the man
continued], I brought our food here right away.” The
businessman said, “How much did you spend on this food?” The
man replied, “One Mišqāl.” The businessman offered, “Take 10
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Islamic Manners of Eating

Mišqāl [about 44 grams of gold] from me and give me a share in


this deed.” He refused, so the business man offered 20 Mišqāl
[approximately 88 grams of gold.] He still turned down his
request, therefore the businessman increased his offer to 50
Mišqāl [about 219 grams of gold.] Upon this the man replied, “I
will not make you a partner in the deal that I made with the
Prophet of Allah         
       " even if you give me all
       !
the treasures of this world. If this was in your destiny you
would have beaten me to it, but Allah    ! " bestows His Mercy
on whomever He wills.” (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 153)

      
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Dear Islamic brothers! We learned from the above parable that
the saints follow the commandments of Allah    ! " and Allah
  !
  " fulfils their requests. We also learned that when one is
drowned in the intoxication of this worldly wealth he looks
down upon the true servants of Allah    ! ", and thus he is
deprived of the Mercy of Allah    ! " and the compassion of the
Prophet of Allah             !
    
       ". Furthermore, we also
learned that the Prominent Prophet                 
  is endowed
with the God-Gifted knowledge of our unseen matters and
hidden secrets [‘ilm-ul-Ghayb], that is why he               
 
recognized the beggar and blessed the man in his dream and
ordered him to go feed the beggar.
Your walkway reaches the High Throne
Your Cognition encompasses our heart’s desires
Your rule covers the Lands and
Your knowledge encompasses the Kingdom of Allah    !  "

Seray ‘arsh per ĥay terī guzar, dil-e-farsh per ĥay terī nazar
Malakoot-o-mulk myn koiy shay naĥyn, wooĥ jo tujĥ paĥ ‘ayan naĥi.

Dear Islamic brothers! We also realized that sometimes holding


an ill-opinion [or a suspicion] against another Muslim can lead

283
Ninety Nine Parables

to remorse and regret. Holding an ill-opinion against another


Muslim is harām [strictly forbidden] under the sacred Islamic
law.
      
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90. CRIPPLED BOY STARTED TO WALK


A gang of pirates set out on a looting spree. They stayed at an
inn and disguised themselves as warriors of the path of Allah
  !
  ". The owner of the inn was a pious person and with the
intention of pleasing Allah    ! " he served them exceptionally
well. In the morning those pirates went somewhere and returned
back in the evening to that very inn, after their robbing venture.
The crippled boy that they had seen limping the night
before was now roaming about freely. Amazed and surprised,
they asked the inn owner, “Is he not the same crippled boy we
saw yesterday?” He relied respectfully, “Yes!” They asked,
“How did he get cured?” The inn owner replied, “This is all the
blessings of the warriors of the path of Allah    ! ". What
happened is, I fed your leftover food [from yesterday] to my
boy with the intention of curing him. And I massaged his body
with your leftover water. Allah    ! " cured my son with the
blessing of your leftovers. When the robbers heard this they
were overwhelmed and started to weep and said, “This is all
because of your good opinion [husn-e-zan] towards us; we are
grave sinners. We are not warriors, we are pirates! Allah’s    ! "
display of His immense blessing has changed our outlook of the
world. We make you witness and we hereby repent from all our
[past] sins.” Then they all adopted the path to righteousness and
stayed firmly on it for the rest of their lives (Kitāb-ul Qalyūbī, p. 20).
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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Islamic Manners of Eating

CURE IN THE LEFTOVERS OF A MUSLIM


The foregoing parable contains a faith-refreshing account of
Allah’s graciousness; we also learnt that if we keep a positive
opinion [husn-e-zan] about others, it could be beneficial for us.
Another point worth noting is that there is a cure in the leftover
of the Muslims. Yet another lesson which can be driven from
this parable is that one should keep an unwavering faith to reap
the blessings for example if one keeps doubting that if I visit
such-and-such saint’s [wali’s] shrine will I gain any benefit, he
can’t gain any benefit. Also, that there is no time frame for the
blessings to flow through, it depends on one’s destiny.
Sometimes the blessings shower right away and sometimes it
takes years before one’s issues are resolved. But one should
stick to one door for the source of blessing, as the saying goes
[in Persian]: “Yek der geer, muh-kum geer.” Meaning, hold on to
one door and hold firmly.

Someone came, got and left; others took a lifetime to get


My Allah    !  "
there is no complaint to you. This is just fate.

Koī āayā pā kay chalā gayā, koī umer bher na pā saka


Miray Maulā tujh say gillah nahi, yeh tu apnā apnā naseeb hay

      
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91. PARALYSIS WAS CURED RIGHT AWAY


Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", in the Righteous Environment of Da’awat-
e-Islāmī, which is an international non-political movement of
propagation of Salah and the Prophetic ways, during the last
ten days of Ramadan arrangements are made for a Collective
I’tikāf [abiding in the Masjid.] Several Sunnahs are taught and
adopted during these days. Corrupt individuals repent from
their sins and start their lives anew. Sometimes, during these

285
Ninety Nine Parables

days glimpses of Allah’s    ! " Powers are clearly observed.


During one such I’tikāf, in Ramadan in 1425 Hijri, at the
International Headquarters of Da’awat-e-Islāmī, Faizān-e-
Madinaĥ, Bab-ul Madinaĥ, Karachi [Pakistan] there were about
2,000 Islamic brothers residing in the Masjid. Amongst them
was a 77 years old Hafiz, Muhammad Ashraf, from the
Chakwaal District (of Punjab, Pakistan.) His hands and tongue
were paralyzed and his hearing was almost impaired but his
faith was marvellous. One day during iftār [breaking fast] meal,
he requested for the leftover from one of the Preacher and ate it
with good faith. He also requested the Preacher to blow on him
[ruqya, dum.] His positive opinion [husn-e-zan] [regarding the
Preacher] paid off. Allah’s    ! " Mercy descended upon him
and Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", his paralysis was cured. He narrated
his incident of getting cured, on stage, in front of thousands of
people in Faizān-e-Madinaĥ and the entire ambience was
electrifying by the joyous clamour of [zikr] of Allah    ! ", Allah
   !
 ", Allah    !
 ", Allah    !
 ". Several newspapers also
published this news, in the followings days.

Da’awat-e-Islāmī be prevalent in both the Worlds, I am longing


And every child would join, O Allah    !  "
! Fulfill my yearning

Da’awat-e-Islāmī ki Qayoom, Dono jahan main much jai dhoom


Iss pay fida ho bucha bucha, Ya Allah meri jholi bher day

CAN ONE HIRE A SAYYID70 AS A WORKER?


Dear Islamic Brothers! We learnt from this parable that the
company of the Devotees of the Prophet is very beneficial and
that their leftover has so much blessing that it can cure the sick.
While discussing the calibre of the progeny of the Prophet
[Sayyid] and the blessings encompassed in the leftover of the

        


     
A descendent of the Prophet  
70

286
Islamic Manners of Eating

Muslims Our Imam A’la Hazrat, Imam of the Ahl-us Sunnah,


The Mujaddid [Revivor] of the Dīn, the Protector of the Sunnah
[Prophetic Tradition], the Eraser of the Wrong Bid’ah [Wrongful
Innovation], the A’lim of the Shari’ah [Islamic Law], The
Shaykh of Tariqah, Hazrat A’llāmah Maulana Al-Hāj Al-Hāfiz
Al-Qārī Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Razā Khān         5
 6
 7 has
narrated: “It is neither Jāaiz [not allowed] to make a member of
the Progeny of the Prophet perform some degrading task nor is
it Jāaiz [i.e. not allowed] to hire them to do so. One can hire
them for a job which does not entail any degrading tasks.
Teachers should completely refrain from beating a student who
is from the progeny of the Prophet. [And] the issue about eating
the leftover of a Muslim, it is not degrading at all. [In fact] it is
termed as Shiffā [cure] in a Prophetic narration (Kashf-ul Khifā, pp.
384, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 1403). “

If a Sayyid asks for one’s leftover, one should give it to him


with this intention (that Muslim’s leftover is cure) but not with
the intent that, I am giving him my leftovers (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah
(Jad īd), pp. 568, vol. 22).

92. WHO CAN HARM THE ONE ALLAH   !


  " PROTECTS?

   3 "   
Shaykh Sayyidunā ‘Ali Bin Herb  ? 7 has narrated:

“I was riding in a boat in Mosul [Tigris River] with


some young men. When the boat reached the middle of the
river one fish jumped out off the water and landed in our boat.
We all decided to cook the fish and eat it. We anchored our
boat on the bank of the river. As we started collecting wood in
the deserted area, to light a fire, we saw a horrifying scene.
Amongst the wilderness we saw old ruins and remains of
ancient buildings, and we saw a man lying down with his
hands tied behind his back. Besides him was another man, who
had apparently been slain. Nearby we also saw an ass, laden

287
Ninety Nine Parables

with merchandise. We asked the tied man about the incident.


That man said, ‘I rented this ass from this slain dead man, and
he led me here and [when he got an opportunity] he tied up my
hands. Then he told me that he would kill me. I requested him
to let me go for God’s sake and I also told him, not to take the
[burden of] sin of my murder on his neck. I offered him to take
all my belongings and merchandise as a gift and that I will not
complain about you, to anyone.’ But he was determined on his
decision, he tried to pull out his well tucked dagger from his
waist but it did not come out. When he forcefully pulled on his
dagger, it came out with a jerk and struck him on his own
throat. With his throat slit, he wiggled writhingly and then
passed away. After hearing his story we freed the man. He took
his merchandise and left for his home. We returned to our boat
to cook the fish and discovered that the fish had jumped back
into the river (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 139).

My Dear Islamic Brothers! Indeed! No one can hurt the one


who Allah     ! " guards. His Grace and Benevolence is so
magnificent that the thief got slain by his own hands and got
what he deserved. On the other hand, the tied up man was
saved by a fish jumping onto the boat and the riders wishing to
eat it. But the fish was not destined to be eaten by them, it was
just there to bring help for the tied up man and to show a
  !
glimpse of Allah’s   " Splendor and to appreciate His
enormous Grandeur.
Your Signs, all around; be it garden, sand [or sea]
Your Mercy flows like gushing river, Glory be to yee

Jalway tery gulshan gulshan, stuwat terri sehra sehra


Rahmei darya darya, Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah

May Allah    !  "


bless them and forgive us for their sake.

      
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Islamic Manners of Eating

93. SOURCE [WASĪLAĤ] OF SUSTENANCE


There was a man in Masjid ul Harām (in the revered city of
Makkah), who would worship during the night and fast during
the day. Every evening a man brought him two pieces of bread.
He would break his fast with that bread and would get back to
his devoted worship. One day a thought crossed his mind: “I
have relied upon a man to give me bread instead of relying
upon the Provider of the Worlds [Allah    ! "]. Is this entrusting
in the Divine Providence [tawakul]?” That evening when the
other person brought the bread, he returned it. Three days
passed away [in hunger] and when his hunger intensified he
pleaded to Allah    ! ". That night he saw in his dream that he
was in Allah’s    ! " court and Allah    ! " asked him: “Why did
you turn away what I had sent to you, through that man?” The
worshiper replied: “A thought occurred in my mind that I have
relied upon a man, instead of relying entirely upon You.” Allah
   !
 " replied, “Who sent you the bread?” The worshipper
replied, “O Allah    ! "! You are the one who sent it.” Then the
man was ordered, “Next time when I send you the bread, do
not turn it away.”
In the same dream he saw the other man [who used to bring
the bread] in the Presence of Allah    ! " and he was being
asked, “Why did you stop giving bread to the man?” He
replied, “O Allah    ! "! You know well.” Then Allah    ! "
asked him, “O Servant! Who did you give those breads?” He
replied, “To you (meaning in Your Path.)” He was then
instructed, “You continue your action. Paradise is your reward
in return [for this deed] (Rauḍ-ur-Riyāḥīn, p. 68).”

IF YOU GET WITHOUT ASKING THEN....


The saints of Allah    ! " have their own ways and Allah    ! "
Bestows His Special Favours upon them and sometimes
provides for them from unknown [and unimaginable] sources.
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Ninety Nine Parables

One may accept a gift if all the following conditions are met:
There is neither greed to acquire it by the acceptor [tam’a] nor
greed by the giver to hold on to it [hirs]; the giver is not among
those people who would keep reminding their favour over and
over again; there are no chances that the giver might think that
the acceptor of gifts is inferior; at the time of getting the gift the
giver nor an observer might think any less of the acceptor; and
no Islamic Laws are compromised.

Companion of the Prophet, Sayyidunā Khalid bin ‘Adi


Juhhanni   3 "    ?
 7 has narrated that he heard the King of
Prophethood, the Guiding Light of Prophecy    
  
     
     
 
saying: “Whoever gets something from his brother without
asking, or greed [by him to hold on to it, hirs], may accept it
and [he should] not return it because it is the sustenance Allah
   !
 " has sent to him (through someone.) (Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp.
276, vol. 6, ḥadiš. 17958).”

So, we learn that there is no problem in accepting things


from others as long as we have not asked for them nor do we
have greed to hold on to them [hirs.] Although if one is already
well-endowed [ghanī] then he may accept it, to please the other
person and after accepting it, if he does not need it he may offer
it to another as a gift or in charity. Companion Sayyidunā
‘Aāyd bin Umro   3 "    ? 
 7 has narrated that the Merciful and
Compassionate Prophet and the Beloved of Allah
         
     
   
       !
 " stated: “Whoever gets from his
sustenance [rizq] without asking and without greed [hirs],
should accept it from the bottom of his heart and if he is well-
endowed [ghanī] (then after accepting it) he may pass it along
to someone who is in a greater need [of it] than himself.”
(Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp. 362, vol. 7, ḥadiš. 2673)

      
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Islamic Manners of Eating

GIFT OR BRIBE
Dear Islamic Brothers! There is no doubt that accepting gifts, is
a Sunnah, but one should keep in mind that gifts can fall into
different categories and to accept every kind of gift is not the
Prophet’s            
      
  way. Shaykh Sayyidunā Imām
  5
Bukhārī      6
 7 has devoted a whole chapter entitled: “The
chapter about One who did not accept a gift due to some
reason,” in his “Sahīh Bukhārī.” In this chapter Sayyidunā
Imām Bukhārī       5  6
 7 has narrated a hadith, without a chain
of narrators, that Sayyidunā Umar bin Abdul ‘Aziz   3 "   
 ?
7

stated, “In the time of the Prophet                
  a gift was a
gift and now it is a bribe.” (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 174, vol. 2)

      
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94. A CONTAINER OF APPLES


While explaining this narration, Shaykh Badr-ud Dīn A’inī
Hanafī       5
 6
 7 cites an incident on the authority of Sayyidunā
Furāt bin Muslimabout Sayyidunā U’mar bin A’bdul A’zīz
 
  3 "  
 ? 7 wanting to eat apples but there were nothing in the
house that he could trade to buy apples with. Sayyidunā Furāt
bin Muslim       5
 6
 7 says, ‘We went out with him, along the
way we came across some boys by the village who were
holding a container of apples (to give as gifts). Sayyidunā
U’mar bin A’bdul Azīz       5
 6
 7 picked up one box and even
smelled it but then returned it. When I asked as to the reason
why he returned them. He replied, ‘I am not in need of this.’ I
said, ‘Did Sayyidunā Rasūlullāh               
  , Sayyidunā
Abū Bakr   3 "    
 ? 7 , and Sayyidunā U’mar Farūq-e Azam    3 "  
 ? 7
not accept gifts?’ He said, ‘They were indeed gifts for them but
for the governors after them (the rulers and their ministers) it is
bribery.’ (‘Umdat-ul-Qārī, pp. 417, vol. 9)

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Ninety Nine Parables

WHO SHOULDN’T TAKE GIFTS AND FROM WHICH PEOPLE?


Dear Islamic Brothers, did you see? Sayyidunā U’mar bin
A’bdul Azīz   3 "    
 ? 7 did not even accept apples as gifts. He
realized that he was being given gifts as the Khalifah of the
time. He thought that had he not been the Khalifah, why would
someone have offered them to him?
Every sensible person knows why people give gifts to
ministers, assemblymen, congressmen, other government and
elected officials, judges and police and why they arrange
special dinners for them. It is apparent that this is done so that
they can get something in return or so that it is easier to have
access to them in the future. To give gifts or to have parties for
them for these two reasons falls under bribery and the one who
gives and the one who takes bribery are worthy of hell. In these
instances, mere words that these gifts are being given as gifts of
E’īd, or just as sweets or refreshments, or out of happiness, or
out of love; cannot save one from the sin of bribery.
Even if these gifts are given with righteous intentions and
they do not fall under bribery, it is still putting oneself in a
place of slander (if you accept them an onlooker might think
that a bribe is being taken and given to an elected official or
authority). It is the saying of the Master of Makkat-ul
Mukarramah, the Sultan of Madinat-ul Munawwarah
        
      " and the
   , ‘The one who believes in Allah   !
hereafter need not stand in a place of slander (Kashf-ul Khifā, pp. 227,
vol. 2, ḥadiš. 2499). It is for this reason that it is obligatory for us to
stay away from places of slander which is why it is
impermissible to give and take bribery.
If, however, there was the tradition of giving and taking gifts
and special parties before taking office among colleagues or
friends, then, there is no harm, but if it is was less before and
now there is more, then, this increase [in gifts] is impermissible.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

If the one giving is now wealthier than before which is why he


is giving more, then there is no problem. By the same token, if
the inviter has increased the number of special parties after one
has taken office then this is impermissible as well. If the one
giving is żawil arhām, that is, blood relative then there is no
problem in giving and taking. (Parents, siblings, grandparents,
offspring, parents’ siblings, etc. are mahram [blood relatives]
whereas spouses of parents’ siblings, spouses of siblings,
children of parents’ siblings (cousins), etc. Do not fall in the
żawil arhām category). For example, if one’s son or nephew is a
judge and their father or uncle gave them a gift or had a special
party for them then it is permissible to accept. However, if the
case of the father is going before a son who is a judge then it is
impermissible because of being in a place of slander.
These rulings are not only for government officials; they are
also for people of all civil, political, and religious positions.
Even all the nigrāns [overseers] of all the organizational majālis
[committees of Da’awat-e-Islāmī] and responsible brothers
cannot accept gifts and special parties from their subordinates.
The junior nigrān can accept from the senior nigrān. For
example, a member of the Markazī Majlis-e-Shurā [Central
Consultative Committee] can accept from the Nigrān-e-Shurā
[Overseer of the Consultative Committee] but not from others
of Da’wat-e Islāmī [because he is in a position of leadership]
and the Nigrān-e-Shurā cannot accept from anyone of Da’wat-
e-Islāmī under him. The teacher cannot accept gifts from their
students or their patrons without permissible sharī [in
accordance to religious law] cause.
Giving presents to U’lamā and Shuyūkh [Scholars and
Saints] because of their knowledge and greatness does not
qualify as bribery as this act is commonplace and it does not fall
under being in a place of slander.

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Ninety Nine Parables

Dear Islamic Brothers! There are some important questions


regarding bribery. If possible, try to read or listen to them at
least three times.
QUESTION: Is it not a Sunnah [Prophetic tradition] to accept gifts?

ANSWER: Indeed, it is a Sunnah [Prophetic tradition] to accept


gifts but there are conditions as Hadrat Badr-ud Dīn A’inī
Hanafī       5
 6  7 has explained, ‘The Prophet of Rahmah [Mercy],
the Intercessor for the Ummah [His Nation], the Mālik [Patron]
of Jannah [Paradise], the Distributor of Na’mah [Blessing],
        
     
  says, ‘Exchange gifts amongst each other as
this will increase love (Majma'-u-Zavāid, pp. 260, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 6716).’
This is for those who have not been given any leadership
over Muslims. However the one who has been given any
position over Muslims like a Qādi [Judge] or a Wālī [Governor]
must refrain from accepting gifts, more so if one did not receive
gifts before because these gifts are bribery and impure. (Bināyah
Sharah-ul Hidāyah, pp. 244, vol. 7)

      
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TO BORROW A MOTORCYCLE OR CAR


QUESTION: Can one in a higher position take a loan or borrow
the car, motorcycle, or bicycle of those under them? Also kindly
let us know, can they buy something from those under them
cheaper by any way?
ANSWER: An office holder can neither take a loan from the one
under him nor do any dealings that would be aside the norm or
borrow something from them even if the one under him offers
it himself. Allāmah Shāmī       5
 6
 7 has said, ‘It is also harām
[forbidden] for one in position to take any loans or borrow
something from the people that he is not allowed to take gifts
from.’ (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 47, vol. 8)

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Islamic Manners of Eating

   5
QUESTION: Has Imam Ahmad Razā       6
 7 written on this
subject [of taking gifts]?
ANSWER: Our Imam A’la Hazrat, Imam of the Ahl-us Sunnah,
The Mujaddid [Revivalist] of the Dīn, the Protector of the
Sunnah [Prophetic Tradition], the Eraser of the Wrong Bid’ah
[Wrongful Innovation], the A’lim of the Shari’ah [Islamic Law],
The Shaykh of Tariqah, Hazrat A’llāmah Maulana Al-Hāj Al-
Hāfiz Al-Qārī Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Razā Khān       5
 6
 7
says, ‘I say that their (the people of higher position) example is
like the tribal leaders who have control and power over those
under them because these tribal leaders receive gifts due to
their trouble making and/or [expected] traditions. (Fatāwā
Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 446, vol. 19)

TWO KINDS OF GATHERINGS


QUESTION: What are ‘special gatherings’?

ANSWER: A special gathering is a gathering which is held


especially and specifically for someone, that is the gathering
will not take place if that person does not come.

QUESTION: Also tell us, what is a general gathering?

ANSWER: A general (public) gathering is that gathering which is


not held for anyone in particular, that is, the gathering would
not take place if a particular person does not come.

QUESTION: Is it still nā-jāiz [impermissible], if a subordinate held


a special gathering for his superiors and made the intention to
have an ‘Giyārahvīn Sharīf’ [Program dedicated for the Niyāz
of Gauš-ul Azam, Shaykh Abdul Qādir Jīlānī       5
 6
 7 ] program?

ANSWER: Yes, as it is evident in this case that if the office holder


does not accept the invitation then there will be no Niyāz [food
or sweets served with intention of presenting the reward of

295
Ninety Nine Parables

feeding Muslims to a Shaykh] of the Giyārahvīn Sharīf. If,


however, it is understood that Niyāz will be held with or
without him and the superior is only among the invited as this
would be considered a ‘general gathering.’ But it would be nā-
jāiz [impermissible] if the ‘superior’ is given special treatment
such as better and fancy foods compared to others.

QUESTION: Can a subordinate accept gifts from his superiors?

ANSWER: Yes he can. If you read or listen to the fatwā [verdict]


issued by Our Imam A’la Hazrat, Imam of the Ahl-us Sunnah,
The Mujaddid [Revivor] of the Dīn, the Protector of the Sunnah
[Prophetic Tradition], the Eraser of the Wrong Bid’ah [Wrongful
Innovation], the A’lim of the Shari’ah [Islamic Law], The
Shaykh of Tariqah, ‘Allāmah Maulana Al-Hāj, Al-Hāfiz Al-Qārī
Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Razā Khān         5
 6
 7 , at least three
times attentively, Inshā-Allah    ! " you will understand the
difference between gift and bribery.

  5
Our Imam A’lā Hazrat      6
 7 writes:

‘Anyone who by himself or on behalf of anyone holds a


position of authority by which he has some power over people,
even if he does not himself control them or pressure them even
if he does not give the final or non-final decisions like a police
officer, collections officer or, village registrar, village elders; are
all not allowed to take gifts or accept special invitations (those
parties which have been held only for him that is if he does not
go then the there would be no party) at all except for in three
cases:
First, from his superior over whom he has no authority and
it would not be thought that this party or gift is so that the
organizer can get special treatment.
Second, from the one who would give gifts or invite him
before their acquisition of position with the condition that it is

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Islamic Manners of Eating

the same amount now otherwise the increase is not jāiz


[permissible]. If for example, the value of the gifts is now much
greater than earlier or there is an increase in the number or in
the frequency of gift giving; in these instances the increase is
there but the permissibility is not [that is there is no permissible
way for this kind of giving] except for if the giver’s wealth has
increased accordingly from which one can say that the increase
is not because the receiver has acquired a position but because
of the giver’s increase in wealth.
Third, from the close Mahāram such as parents, children,
and siblings not the sons [and children] of uncles and aunts
[paternal or maternal] as they are not Mahāram although they
are also commonly called brothers (in reality they are not).’

He furthermore says,
‘Wherever there is prohibition it is because of slander
and the chance that the receiver will as a result be lenient [in
dealing with matters of the giver]. In reality, this ‘leniency’ is
not the only cause of prohibition. The matters of the dunyā
[world] are on hope, when person of position will accept the
gifts and invitations, then surely the giver will think that now it
should have an effect on him as the ‘effect’ of free gifts has been
observed, if not this time it will surely have an effect in the
future. And to say (as an excuse) that this party is out of
affection not because of the position, well the Prophet
        
     
  has rejected this idea, ‘When one man was sent
with the duty of collecting the Zakāh, he returned with the
Zakāh collections and separated some of the māl [wealth] for
himself. Rasūlullah                
   
said, ‘You should have
stayed at your mother’s home to see how many gifts you
receive! That is to say that you have received these gifts because
of your position, had you stayed at home who would have
come to give you anything?’ (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1019, ḥadiš 1832)
(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 170-171, vol. 18)

297
Ninety Nine Parables

QUESTION: Can a professor/teacher accept gifts from his


students?
ANSWER: Teachers of Qurān, Dars-e Nizamī [Study of traditional
Islamic Sciences], and other sciences should be very careful
when it comes to accepting gifts because Mudarrith [religious
teachers] are also like wālī’s [leaders] over the Muslims [ex.
their students].

Explaining what it means to be in a ‘position’, A’llāmah


   5
Shāmī       6 7 has said, ‘Amongst the people of ‘position’ are
the people of position in the markets and cities, those handling
endowments and trusts, and every such person who is in
position of matters related to the Muslims (‘Aābīdīn Shāmī, Rad-dul-
Muḥtār, pp. 50, vol. 8).‘

In light of this quote, a teacher is also in a type of a position


as students often need the affection of the teachers to remain
enrolled in the madarsah [schools of Islamic sciences]: the
teacher can withdraw students from the grade as a result of the
student’s misbehavior or even withdraw their admissions or
request their withdrawal. Similarly, releasing questions of
exams before their time, to give good grades or to fail the
students is also in the hands of the teacher. At times, there are
many students who have little aspiration to learn but are very
much involved in ill-mannered behaviors, so as they are not
able to please the teacher by their ability, they at times present
gifts and have dinners for them so that they are not ejected
from the schools and are not failed.
It is for this reason that teachers should not accept gifts and
invitations from such students and if it is found out that the gift
or the invitation given is only so that these kinds of students
can get favours and the teacher can in fact do something or can
get something done then it will be harām [forbidden] and an
action that will lead to punishment in hell.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

‘Shāmī’ furthermore states, ‘Similarly, when an ā’lim [scholar]


is given a gift so that he can make appeals on the giver’s behalf
or to use his influence to get rid of oppression, then this is also
bribery. The ruling that was mentioned for the mudarris
[teacher] also applies to any organizer of any center or
organization whether it is religious or political as in one way or
the other these people are in authoritative and decision making
positions in matters of the Muslims and that by their pen or
tongue many can benefit or be hurt which is why they must be
very careful in accepting gifts and invitations.’ (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp.
607, vol. 9)

TWO STORIES OF RETURNING THE GIFTS


Hujjat-ul-Islām, Sayyidunā Imām Muhammad Gazālī         5
 6
 7
has cited that Shafīq Balkhī         5
 6 7 said, “I gave Sayyidunā
   5
Sufyān Ŝawrī       6 7 clothes as a gift but he returned them. I
said, ‘O Sayadī [Our Master], I am not your student.’ He said,
‘But your brother has heard Hadiš from me, I am afraid that my
heart might become more soft for your brother than for the
other students.’ (Ḥilyat-ul-Awliyā, pp. 3, vol. 7, ḥadiš. 9302)

This one time Sayyidunā Sufyān Ŝawrī’s       5


 6
 7 friend’s
son gifted some money which he accepted but called the
friend’s son back and insisted that he take it back. This was
because his friendship was for the sake of Allāh    ! " and he
became afraid that this present might become the (materialistic)
return for the friendship which was for the sake of Allāh    ! "!
Sayyidunā Sufyān Ŝawrī’s       5
 6
 7 son, Sayyidunā Mubārak
  5
     6
 7 asked him, ‘O Father!’ What has happened to you?
When you had already accepted it, you should have kept it for
us!’ He       5
 6
 7 replied, ‘O Mubārak       5
 6
 7 ! You will happily
and gleefully spend it but it is I who will have to answer for it
on the Day of Qayāmah.’ (Ihyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 408, vol. 3)

299
Ninety Nine Parables

QUESTION: If a subordinate gives dates from Madinah or water


of Zam Zam to his superiors, should they accept it?
ANSWER: They should accept as there is no cause for slander
here. Similarly, there is no problem in accepting Rasāil
[Pamphlets], CDs or Cassettes of Speeches, and other material
of da’wah or the Auspicious Na’l [Design of the Blessed Shoe of
the Prophet    
  
     
     
  ] Card, or an inexpensive Tasbīh
71

or a pen worth a few dollars as these are not the kinds of gifts in
which one would face slander. Similarly, there is a tradition of
giving gifts upon returning from Hajj or Madinah or on
occasions such as marriage and birth of a child, the people of
position can accept these gifts on these occasions from those
under them.
However, if it is more than what is commonly given
then it is not permissible to accept. For example, if it is common
to give a $100 gift and one gave $500 or $1200 as gift or a
garland made of money72, then it will be impermissible because
of being in a circumstance of slander.
Dear Islamic Brothers! Keep close to the Madani Environment
of Da’wat-e-Islāmī, the non-political worldwide movement of
propagating Qurān and Sunnah and take the opportunity to
travel in the Madanī Qāfilah with the ‘Aāshiqān-e-Rasūl
[Devotees of the Prophet]. One will learn various Islamic laws
and principles.
To instill a passion of traveling in the Madanī Qāfilah, read
on to see the Madanī Marvels of the Madani Qāfilah…

95. THEY WERE BURIED ALIVE


An Islamic Brother has reported, ‘A Qafilah of 12 ‘Aāshiqān-e-
Rasūl [Devotees of the Prophet] was staying in the Jami’ Masjid

71 beads put on a thread used to count while doing żikr


72 It is common in the sub-continent to give a garland made of money.

300
Islamic Manners of Eating

of Nind Rāī of the ZILA’ Bāg of Kashmīr for learning the


Prophetic Ways [Sunnah]. According to the Jadwal [schedule of
the Qāfilah], on the morning of the 3rd of Ramadan 1426 Hijri,
it was time for the morning ‘Madanī Mashwarah’ after the
‘small break for rest.’ Upon the instruction of the Amīr of the
Qāfilah, eight Islamic brothers were getting ready for the
halaqah whereas four brothers including myself were still
laying down out of laziness in the madarsah connected to the
Masjid. Suddenly, it felt like we were on a train and we were
being shaken up and down. Frightened, we got up, all the walls
were shaking, and we ran. The earth beneath us cracked open
and we fell on our faces. We did not have time to even recover
when all of a sudden the roof and walls fell upon us and
darkness befell all around us. ALAS! The four of us had been
buried alive! We started to recite the Kalimah [Declaration of
Faith] and cried for help. It seemed that we would not come out
alive. An Islamic Brother somehow managed to kick and push a
rock which created an opening for the rays of light to come in
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", one by one we all managed to come out
from that opening.
By the blessings of following the Amīr without delay, the
eight other Devotees of the Prophet were able to come out from
the Masjid safely before us.

You will be granted protection from the earthquake, by the


Creator of the Worlds
Let’s all make supplications, let’s go to Qafilah.
If the earthquakes come our way or storms run astray
Let’s steadfastly stay (have patience), let’s go to Qafilah.

Zalzalay say amān dayga rab-e jahan


Sab Duāin karain qafilay main chalo
Ho bapa zalzalay garchay āndhi chalay
Sabr kartay rahin qafilay main chalo

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Ninety Nine Parables

CONSEQUENCE OF DISOBEDIENCE
We can see from this that the by the blessing of following
Qafilah’s Jadwal [Schedule], the eight Islamic brothers did not
get hurt and got out safely. Whereas, the other four Islamic
Brothers stayed in their resting places out of laziness and were
buried alive in a Grave although they too were able to come out
safely by the blessing of the Madanī Qāfilah.

Allah    ! " shows signs this way that some can be right at
the brink of death and come out safely whereas sometimes one
can be secure in many forts but death still comes and takes him
away. There is no way to escape death. Hence, Allah    ! " has
said in Surat-ul Jumua’h in Juz 28, Ayah 8, ‘

 L  K8 (  ٗ  F g  3(  2  % M  @ I   T


- 4 2    K
“Proclaim (O dear Prophet Mohammed          
     
  – peace and
blessings be upon him), Indeed death which you run away from will surely
confront you...”
(Qurān)(Surah Jumua’h, āyah. 8) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

96. A WISE KING


The Wise King of Egypt, Ahmad bin Tūlūn was eating with his
companions in a deserted place when he saw a poor man
wearing torn clothes. The king sent him a piece of bread, fried
chicken, meat, and faloodah through his servant.

The servant returned and said, ‘Your highness, he was not


happy with the food.’ Upon hearing this, the king called him.
When he came, he asked him some questions which he
answered elegantly and showed no signs of nervousness as one
normally would, before a king.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

The Wise King said, ‘You seem to be a spy.’ The King then
called the official whipper to punish him. Seeing this, the poor
man admitted that, ‘Indeed, I am a spy.’
Seeing this a man among them said, ‘Your highness, it’s
like you did magic.’
The wise king replied, ‘This is not magic, I caught him
by my acute judgment because the food sent to him was so
delicious that even the one who had eaten a full meal would
desire this meal upon seeing it but this poor man did not want
it even though he seemed needy. Moreover, a normal man
becomes frightened when he is in the court of a king, but he
was talking to me without any fear. Seeing this, I felt that he
was a spy (as spies are often trained to have such confidence).’
(Ḥayāt-ul-Ḥaywān-ul-Kubrā, pp. 350, vol. 1)

      
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97. THE STATE OF IBN TŪLŪN IN THE GRAVE


Dear Islamic Brothers! Ahmad bin Tūlūn at times was quite a
wise, just, brave, humble, kind-mannered, friend of knowledge,
and a generous king. He was a Hāfiz of the Qurān and he
would recite the Quran with a very soothing voice. With all of
these good qualities he was also oppressive to the extent that
his sword was always ready for blood. It has been said that the
people that he killed and the ones that died in his prisons were
nearly eighteen thousand in number. After his death, a man
would recite the Qurān daily at his grave side. One day Ahmad
bin Tūlūn appeared in the man’s dream and said, ‘Do not recite
the Qurān at my grave!’ The man asked, ‘Why?’ Ibn Tūlūn
replied, ‘Whenever an Ayah is recited by me, I am hit on the
head and asked, ‘Did you not hear this Ayah.’ (Ḥayāt-ul-Ḥaywān-ul-
Kubrā, pp. 460, vol. 1)

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Ninety Nine Parables

ALAS! The consequence of oppression is indeed very


gloomy. It is very difficult to save oneself from the oppression
and injustice of the rulers which is why it is safer to distance
ourselves from the fancy offices of the government and
ministries.
We can also see that the Hāfiz of the Quran must act upon
the principles prescribed in the Qurān. May Allāh    ! " forgive
us, those who are being punished in the grave, and all of the
ummah.

98. THE ONE WHO MADE DUĀ’ OF FORGIVENESS


WAS FORGIVEN
Dear Islamic Brothers, we should make duā’ of forgiveness for
the Muslims. There is benevolence for us in this; the more
people we make duā’ of forgiveness for, the more virtues and
reward we will earn. The Intercessor on the Day of Reckoning,
The Master of Madinah, The Knower of the Unseen by the
Permission of Rab    ! " , The Beloved of Allāh               "
       !
has said, ‘The One who will ask for forgiveness for all the men
and women believers, Allāh    ! " will write one virtue for him
for every man and woman believer.’ (Mu’jam Ṣaghīr, pp. 513, ḥadiš. 7419)

When we will desire good for others, Inshā-Allah    ! " will


come our way as well. Hence, Allāmah A’bdur Rahmān Safūrī
   5
      6 7 has quoted that, “One Pious man appeared in
someone’s dream. The dreamer asked the Pious Man, ‘What
did Allāh    ! " do with you?’ He replied, ‘Allah    ! " forgave
me and gave me a palace the size of so and so palace even
though I had done more i’bādah [worship] than him but he
overtook me in goodness because he had one habit which I did
not which was that he used to make du’ā, ‘Oh Allāh    ! ",
forgive all of the Muslims from the past, present, and future.’
(Nuzha-tul-Majālis, pp. 3, vol. 2) (Nuzhat-ul Majālis, Vol. 2, Pg. 3.)

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Islamic Manners of Eating

          


     
For the Sake of Your Beloved   , Forgive All
We fear the Punishment of Hell, O’ Our Allah    !  "

Ilāhī wasitah piyaray          


     
  ka sab ki magfirat farmaday

Ażāb-e nār say ham ko khudaya khauf atā hai

      
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99. A HUMAN CARCASS AFTER 70 DAYS.


Al-Hamdulillah     ! ", we get the chance to comfort fellow
Muslims in pain and take the blessings of the world and the
hereafter in the Righteous Environment of the non-political
movement of the propagation of Quran and Sunnah, Da’wat-e-
Islāmī. Many a people are finding comfort in the Madani
Environment of Da’wat-e Islāmī. Da’wat-e Islāmī is the dear
movement of Ahl-ul-Haq [the people of the right way].

Let me tell you one great marvel of the blessings of the


Madani Environment of Da’wat-e-Islāmī, ‘There was a massive
earthquake in Pakistan on Saturday, the 3rd of Ramadan 1426
Hijri (8.10.05). Hundreds of thousands of people perished in
this massive earthquake. Among the perished was a nineteen
year old martyr; Nasrīn Attāriyyah [daughter of] Ghulām
Mursalīn of Mīratasoliyān in Muzaffar Abād (Kashmīr), who
used to attend the weekly Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtema’ of Da’wat-
e-Islāmī. Her father and other family members opened her
grave on Monday night at 10 o’ clock of 7th Zul Qa’dah 1426
hijri (10.12.05) for some reason. Upon opening the grave, those
present smelled the pleasant fragrance emanating from her
grave. Nasrīn Attāriyyah’s shroud was still in its original state
and her body was still fresh even seventy days after her
martyrdom.
May Allah    !  "
bless them and forgive us for their sake.

305
Ninety Nine Parables

Bestowed by the Beloved of Allah          


     
  , this Madanī
Environment
It is the Faidān of Gauš and Razā, this Madanī Environment
May it Flourish O Allah    !  " , this Madanī Environment
May it always be safe from the evil eye, this Madanī Environment
O Islamic Sisters, for you as well
Listen! It is very beneficial, this Madanī Environment
The orders of Sunan and Hijāb
Will teach you, this Madanī Environment
Your hereafter shall become a garden
Stay a part of this Madanī Environment

Atā-e-Habīb-e khudā madanī mahaul


Hay faidān-e-gauš-o-Razā madanī mahaul
Salāmat rahay yā khudā    !  "
madanī mahaul
Bachay nazar-e bad say sadā madanī mahaul
Ay islamī bhanoon! tumharay liee bhī
Suno! hay buhut kām ka madanī mahul
Tuhmhe sunatoon aur parday kay ahkām
Yeh ta’līm farmayga madanī mahul
Sawar jaegī ākhirat inshā allāh    !  "

Tum apnāey rakhoo sada madanī mahul

O RAB OF MUSTAFĀ             !


     
      " Bestow us with the
true love of Dear Mustafā               
  , the Noble Amibyā
[Prophets]  89   
 :  , the Revered Sahaba [Companions]
2  %   
 - =  :  , the Ahl-ul-Bayt [Family of the Prophet], and the
Great Auliyā [Friends of Allah]. Guide us in their footsteps, and
by their blessings protect our Imān [faith]. Grant us peace in
both worlds. Forgive us. Grant us an abode in Jannat-ul-Firdaus
without any accountability, and Grant us a place in the
neighborhood of the Madanī Prophet               
  .

      
 1    
/0    -
  + ,
.*
306
CHAPTER 4
MADANĪ MUŻAKRAH73

To gain essential and interesting information and guidelines about


eating read on...

T
HE FOLLOWING INFORMATION is equally beneficial for
Chefs and for those who consume the food. Satan the
accursed may use every trick of the trade to keep you
from reading this chapter. Try to counter his deceptions and
make an ardent effort to read this chapter in its entirety. Reap
many rewards by giving Dars in the Masjid and at home.

VIRTUES OF DURŪD [SALUTATIONS AND PEACE]


The Guide for Allah’s creation, the Intercessor on the Day of
Judgment, the Noble Prophet            
      
  has stated,
“Angels will continue to seek forgiveness [Istighfār] for,
whoever write Durūd] [Salutations and Peace] on me in a book;
until my name remains in it.” (Mu’jam Awsaṭ, pp. 497, vol. 1, hadiš. 1835.)

      
 1    
/0    .*     -
  + ,
A Madanī Mushwarah [meeting] took place on Friday night,
the 19th of Rabī’-un-Nūr 1423 A.H. This meeting was held for
the caretakers and the chefs of Da’awat-e-Islāmī’s Madrassah
[Islamic schools] and Jami’a-tul-Madinah [Institutions for

73 Madanī Mużakrah is a term used in Da’awat-e-Islāmī for a question and Answer

session with Amīr of Ahlus-Sunnah

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Islamic Manners of Eating

Scholarly Islamic theology.] Many students also participated.


After the traditional recitation of the Quran and Na’āt, Amīr of
Ahlus-Sunnah, The Honourable, ‘Allāmah, Maulānā, Abul Bilāl
Muhammad Ilyās Attār Qādirī Radavī       #
 $% & '(
 delivered
many pearls of wisdom. He urged the listeners to offer the
Salāh with a Congregation in a Masjid [Jamā’at], to join the
congregation in the first raka’ [Takbīr uūlā], to partake in the
Weekly Sunnah-Inspiring Congregation [Ijtima’] from the
beginning to the end, to travel in the Madanī Qafilah for three
days every month, and to fill and turn in the Madanī In’aāmāt
at the end of every [Islamic] month.

MEASURE THE FOOD WHEN YOU DISH OUT


QUESTION: How do we preserve food from getting wasted?

ANSWER: Measure the ingredients when cooking food and also


measure the quantity when distributing it. For example, a chef
has to prepare Biryānī for ninety two students and
approximately eight people can be fed with one kilogram of
rice. Therefore, he should prepare Biryānī with twelve kilograms
of rice.
Give everyone enough quantity of food that they are
satisfied and the food is completely consumed. This will,
Inshā-Allah    ! ", be very convenient and you will be able to
minimize the wastage of food. If you do not measure your
ingredients while cooking, you might cook too much or too
little than the required quantity. Leftover Biryānī can easily go
stale, thus losing its relishing taste.

SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND PRISONERS


QUESTION: When did the food first began to rot?

ANSWER: Since the time of Banī Israīl [Children of Israel]. [Let


me tell you] what happened. After Pharaoh perished in the

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Madanī Mużakrah

River Nile, following Allah’s    ! " orders Prophet Sayyidunā


Mūsā [Moses] 8 9    B-C      3DE F   , along with 600,000 of his
   
people, embarked on a journey towards the “Bey-tul-
Muqaddas74” to fight against the tribe of “‘Amālqah. When they
reached closer to their destination, Prophet Mūsā’s  89   
 :  
people backed off and denied to fight; telling Prophet Mūsā
 89 
  :   to fight against this tribe alongside his God. Prophet
Mūsā  89   
 :   was disheartened and dismayed.

This group of 600,000 were therefore trapped [and wandered


in this wilderness] on a plane area for forty years. This plane
was spread on an area 30 miles long and 27000 yards [9 Kaus]
wide. They would start walking in the morning and find
themselves at the same very place, where they started from, in
the evening. This plane was called “Tīh”, which means “the
place where people are lost.” (Tafsīr Na’ īimī, pp. 336-351, vol. 6)

MANN AND SALWĀ


It is stated in “Ruh-ul-Bayān” that, “While the Prophet
Sayyidunā Mūsā Kalīm-ullah  8 9    
 :   was residing in the
Planes of Tīh along with 600,000 people from his nation
[Ummah], Allah    ! " had two foods descend for them from the
sky. One was called “Mann” and the other “Salwā.” “Mann”
was a type of dessert which looked like white honey or it was
white honey, which would drizzle down from the skies.
“Salwā’ was cooked Quail that would descend with the
northern winds.

WHY THE FOOD BEGAN TO SPOIL?


Prophet Sayyidunā Mūsā [Moses] Kalīm-ullah75  89   
 :   [and
His nation] was ordered by Allah    ! " not to save any of this

74 Also known as al-Aqsa Mosque, is an Islamic holy place in the Old City of Jerusalem.
75 Title of Moses

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Islamic Manners of Eating

food for the next day. Some of the weak-faith people from his
nation [Ummah] feared that they would starve to death in this
barren plane, if someday Mann and Salwā would not descend.
Therefore, they began to save and conceal this food for the next
day. As a result of disobeying a Prophet, all the food that those
people had saved for the next day began to rot and the food
ceased to descend from the heavens [skies] as well (Ruḥ-ul-Bayān,
pp. 142, vol. 1).

The Beloved of Allah    ! ", The Knower of the Unknown


[‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb], The Immaculate Prophet [Munazahun-ănil-
ăuyūb]         
     
  has stated, regarding this that, if it had
not been for the Banī Israīl [Children of Israel], neither the food
would spoil nor would the meat ever rot. Meat began to rot
from that day onwards. Before that time, neither would the food
spoil nor would the meat rot. (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 439, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 3399)

TWELVE SPRINGS GUSH FORTH


Did you observe how disobeying a Prophet brought calamity
upon the people of Banī Israīl? It has been recorded that those
who were more than twenty years old, died in those very
planes of “Tīh.”
Since, Prophet Sayyidunā Mūsā  89   
 :   was residing
amongst them, Mann and Salwā descended upon these people
as a special favor of Allah    ! ". He  89 
  :   struck a rock with
his blessed staff and twelve springs of water gushed forth. They
drank water from these springs and also used it to bathe. The
attire that they wore during this time did not get dirty neither
did it get old and tattered. Their nails and hair did not grow,
which meant that they had no need for barbers. A pillar,
emanating light, would appear during the night which served
as their light source. During the day, a cloud would hover
overhead to shelter them from the sun. If a child was born
amongst them, he would be covered by a shell-like dress, which
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Madanī Mużakrah

resembled our nails and this covering continued to grow as the


child grew. During this imprisonment, all of these bounties
were bestowed upon them because of the Blessing [Barakah] of
Prophet Sayyidunā Mūsā [Moses] Kalīm-ullah  89 
 
 :  . (Ruḥ-ul-
Ma’aānī, pp. 383, vol. 6) .

IS IT PERMISSIBLE FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO OFFER NAFIL?


From this incident we come to realize that troubles come our
way, in this world, due to our sins and transgressions. Those
Islamic Brothers, who are chefs, should strive to complete their
work and assigned tasks in a proper manner. Many employees
today do not properly complete their duties as they do not have
a righteous Madanī mindset (outlook). They deliberately do not
complete their work, yet demand full wages and in this
manner, they pollute their earnings. Remember! An employee
cannot even offer Nafil [Supererogatory] Salāh without the
permission of his employer. If one tends to become weak while
fulfilling his duties, he cannot even keep a Nafil
[Supererogatory] day-fast without the permission of his
employer (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 97, vol. 9). However, the employer has
no power to restrict an employee from performing his Fard
[Obligation] Salāh with congregation or stop him from fasting
during the month of Ramadān.

YOU ARE A TRUSTEE OF EVERY GRAIN


QUESTION: Is the chef a trustee of “Jami’a-tul-Madinah’s” kitchen?

ANSWER: Yes, if a single grain is used without a valid reason,


you will be accountable for it, on the Day of Judgment. May
Allah    ! " Grant us the strength to protect the property of
others and save it from embezzlement and defrauding others.
There is severe punishment for those who defraud others when
trusted with something. Hujjat-ul-Islam, Imām Muhammad

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Islamic Manners of Eating

   5
Ghazālī       6
 7 has recorded the following in “Mukāshifat-ul-
Qulūb”:

GRAVE TORMENTS OF DEFRAUDING OTHERS


“On the Day of Judgment, a person will be brought before the
court of Allah    ! ". He will be asked, ‘Did you return the
entrusted [amānat] article of such and such person?’ He will
reply negative. On orders, the angel will steer him towards
Hell. He will see that entrusted article [amānat] in the depths of
Hell and he will fall towards it. He will reach it after seventy
years, after which he will pick that article up and climb towards
the top. As he is close to the edge of Hell, he will slip and thus
fall into the depths of Hell again. He will continue to climb and
fall until he is showered with Allah’s    ! " Mercy through the
Intercession [Shafā’at] of the Noble Prophet          
      
 
and the owner of that entrusted article is pleased with him.

REASONS FOR FOOD WASTAGE IN THE MADRASSAH


[Amīr of Ahlus-Sunnah Maulana Ilyās Qādri asked the
chefs,] “Tell me, is more food wasted in restaurants or in
Madāris76?” The chefs replied, “In Madāris!” Amīr of Ahlus-
Sunnah then said, “Actually, the restaurant owner has to spend
money from his own pocket and also has to earn a profit on it,
which is why he personally overlooks the matters pertaining to
his restaurant and uses utmost caution (so the least food is
wasted). Whereas, the religious institutions are run by the
public donations, neither the caretakers nor the chefs have to
pay out anything from their own pockets. Thus, they are very
careless. At times the whole carcass of a slaughtered animal
that was donated in Sadaqah [charity] rots due to the
negligence of the caretakers. How tragic is it that the charity
donations given by Muslims are wasted in such ruthless manner.

76 Plural of Madrassah [Islamic schools]

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Madanī Mużakrah

We could be punished on the Day of Judgment because of this.


All caretakers of Religious and Social institutions should lay this
to their hearts that we will be accountable for every grain on the
Day of Judgment. Allah    ! " states in the Glorious Quran:

‫ ٗ[ ۝‬%  H %O d  Bw 7  b  {


A’(    0  H J (  ‫ ٗ[ ۝‬% H l a  Bw 7  b  {
A’(   0  H J 0 g
O
“So whoever does a good deed equal to the weight of the minutest particle,
will see it. And whoever does an evil deed equal to the weight of the minutest
particle, will see it.”
(Qurān)(Surah-tut-Zilzāl, āyah. 7-8) (Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of Faith)[Translation of
Quran])

PROPER METHOD OF FREEZING FOOD


QUESTION: Kindly, share with us some Pearls of Wisdom on
how to preserve meat and food?

ANSWER: Make sure that the freezer is working properly. In the


summer because of voltage fluctuations the temperature rises
inside the freezer, thus the chances of the food rotting also rise.
In these conditions, the food can also be left in the open air.
Meat can remain fresh if it is hung in open air. When you put
some gravy in the freezer, make sure that the container is open
so that the food can freeze properly. It is better to keep it in
small containers and plastic bags. Food in large containers can
spoil because the food may not freeze properly.

Khichřā77 and Dāl78 tend to spoil faster than other types of


food. Similarly cooked food made from tomatoes and other
sour ingredients also tend to spoil faster than other foods.

77A cuisine made of wheat, minced meat, lentils and spices. This dish is slow cooked to
a pastelike consistency.
78 Lentils

313
Islamic Manners of Eating

PRESERVE RAW MEAT FOR SEVERAL DAYS


QUESTION: Is there a way to preserve raw meat so that it remains
edible for longer periods of time?
ANSWER: If you put raw meat, in large containers in the freezer,
it is likely that the meat will not freeze properly as the central
part of the meat may remain unfrozen. Therefore, one should
place a layer of ice at the bottom of the container, top that with
a layer of meat and then another layer of ice, then another layer
of meat and put it into the freezer. In this way, all parts of the
meat will properly freeze and thus the meat will, Inshā-Allah
   !
 ", last longer.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF THE BIRYĀNĪ ROTS?


QUESTION: What are the signs of food spoiling?

ANSWER: Rotting cases a sour [foul] smell to emanate. One can


also see froth develop in foods that have gravy. If sour smell
begins to emanate from Biryānī or Pulāo or Qormah, then take
the pieces of meat from it wash it and re-use it as the softer
ingredients in a cuisine begin to rot first, (provided that the
meat has not gone bad). Do not purposely throw away the meat
if it has not gone bad.

IT IS HARĀM TO EAT ROTTEN MEAT


QUESTIONS: What shall we do if the meat rots?

ANSWER: Throw it away. It is stated in “Al-Ashbāh wan-Nazāir”


that, “The food that rots (to the extent that it would harm the
consumer) is impure and it is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to
consume it. Similarly it is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to
consume rotten Milk, Oil and Clarified Butter. (Al-Ashbāh wan-
Naẓāir, pp. 418, vol. 1)

314
Madanī Mużakrah

USE OF MILK THAT HAS TURNED TO CURD


QUESTION: How should one use milk that has started to turn
into curd?
ANSWER: It is very easy to use milk that has started to turn into
curd. Mix honey or sugar with it and cook it on a stove. Wait
for the water to evaporate. Then eat the remaining as that is
very delicious.

MARGARINE
QUESTION: Is it Permissible to Eat Margarine [Vegetable Ghī]?

ANSWER: It is permissible to eat margarine; however, it is often


unhealthy because people mix unhealthy ingredients in it.
Many people have upset stomach today; one of the reasons for
this is the use of unhealthy margarine. If healthy margarine is
not available, then use cooking oil. Corn oil is better, olive oil is
even better.

FOR A HEALTHY LIFE IN OLD AGE


QUESTION: Kindly, enlighten us with your pearls of wisdom so
that [the use of] margarine, butter and oil are not injurious to
our health?
ANSWER: It takes longer to digest oil, margarine and their likes.
Extensive use of them engenders obesity and bad health. If one
limits the use of oily foods and sugar when young, he will
Inshā-Allah    ! ", enjoy a healthy life in his old age. I humbly
urge you to reduce the intake of oil, salt and spices in your foods
by half. You will quickly experience its benefits. However,
patients should follow the recommendations of their doctor.

COOKING WITHOUT OIL


QUESTION: Is it possible to cook food without oil?

315
Islamic Manners of Eating

ANSWER: Of course, it is. Some foods can be cooked without oil,


like plain rice, Dāl curry [lentils], and curd curry. It is not
necessary to add oil to Pāyā (a dish in the subcontinent),
because the fat on the bones melts and functions as oil.
In fact all types of food can be cooked without food. Grind
Hara Masalah79, you could also blend with it your favorite
vegetables with it. Now cook the gravy with this paste, adding
water, yogurt, green chilies and Garam Masalah80 according to
your taste. You will get used to it after cooking it a few times,
Inshā-Allah    ! ".

HOW TO PROTECT THE SEWER


QUESTION: Kindly guide us on how to keep the kitchen clean?

ANSWER: It is imperative that you keep the kitchen clean. Clean


the stains on the walls and the floors. Remnants of food remain
in the kitchen and eventually rot, which then leads to germs
and bacteria. It is therefore, necessary to use germ killing
detergents to clean the kitchen. Remember to protect your drain
(and sewer) from food and oil otherwise your drainage pipes
may clog. Clean the oil and spices clung to the pots and pans
before you wash them, which will keep the drainage from
being clogged.

PEBBLES AND WEEVILS


QUESTION: Pebbles and Weevils are sometimes cooked with rice.
What if they are eaten?
ANSWER: Separate the pebbles and the weevils from the rice and
lentils before cooking. Remember that it is Harām [Strictly
Forbidden] to eat sand to the extent that it becomes harmful.
Similarly it is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to purposely eat a

79 A mixture of coriander leafs, mint and similar green vegetables.


80 A grinder mixture of cloves, green, cardamom, cinnamon and other spices

316
Madanī Mużakrah

weevil. If the weevils are accidently cooked with the meal; take
them out later. If one is oblivious, lazy and purposely leaves the
weevils and pebbles in the food then the cook, who was
responsible for taking those pebbles and weevils out, will be a
sinner.

DON’T ADD A WHOLE KIDNEY TO THE FOOD


QUESTION: What is the Islamic ruling regarding the blood that
comes out of the animal when it is being slaughtered? Is it
permissible to place the whole kidneys in the food, when
preparing it?
ANSWER: One should take extreme caution when cooking meat.
The blood that comes out, when the animal is slaughtered is
impure and is Harām [strictly forbidden] to eat it. Therefore,
wash the meat thoroughly so that all the blood is drained. Do
not put whole kidneys into the food; cut them open, wash them
and then add them.

QUESTION: Is it permissible to eat the spleen and the kidney?

ANSWER: Yes it is permissible; however, the Noble Prophet


         
      
  did not like to consume these organs. Hear
these two Prophetic Narrations [hadiš]:

1. The Prophet disliked the consumption of the kidney as it


was closer to the area of urine. (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 41, vol. 7, ḥadiš.
18212)

2. The Prophet          


      
  detested the consumption of
the spleen, but he did not declare it Harām [strictly
forbidden.] (Itḥaf-us-Sādat-il-Muttaqīn, pp. 243, vol. 8)

QUESTION: So, should we refrain from the consumption of


Kidney and Spleen?

317
Islamic Manners of Eating

ANSWER: The true love and devotion would certainly demand


you not to eat them, but do not pick on those who consume it as
it is Halāl [permissible.] It has been narrated on the authority of
Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar  3 "   
 ?
7 that the Prophet
   
  
     
     
  has stated, “Two dead animals and two bloods
have been made Halāl for us. The two dead are fish and locusts
and the two bloods are the spleen and the liver.” (Musnad Imām
Aḥmad, pp. 415, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 5727)

QUESTION: So are all types of fish Halāl?

ANSWER: If the fish has naturally died and has turned over
upside down and is floating on the water, it is Harām [Strictly
Forbidden]. However, it is not Harām [Strictly Forbidden], if
one kills a fish and then it begins to float upside down.

AN AIRBORNE FISH
Let me tell you an interesting parable about a fish. Inshā-Allah
  !
  ", you will learn interesting facts from it. Hence, the Caliph
Hārūn-ur-Rashīd once let his falcon, used for hunting, loose
into the air. The falcon disappeared, and after a while it
appeared with a fish in its beak. The Caliph was astonished, so
he asked a great scholar of that time Sayyidunā Muqātil
  5
     6
 7 (about its edibility) to which the great Shaykh replied,
“Your ancestor Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbās   3 "   
 ? 7 said,
‘Many different creatures live in the air, from which some are
white coloured. They give birth to fish like creatures, which
have arms but no wings.’” Sayyidunā Muqātil       5
 6  7 then
gave permission to consume that fish, and his ruling was then
respected. (Ḥayāt-ul-Ḥaywān-ul-Kubrā, pp. 157, vol. 1)

EAT LITTLE QUANTITY OF FISH


   5
Imam Burhānuddin Ibrāhīm Zarnūjī       6
 7 has stated that,
“There is a saying of Hakīm Jālīnūs that there are many benefits

318
Madanī Mużakrah

in pomegranate and many disadvantages in fish, but eating a


little fish is better than eating several pomegranates.” (Ta’līm-ul-
Muta’allim, p. 42)

WHO WAS JĀLĪNŪS?


QUESTION: Who was Jālīnūs?

ANSWER: His real name was “Claudius Galen.” He lived in times


before the coming of the Prophet    
  
     
     
  . He was born
in the year 131 and died in 201. He was the greatest physician
in ancient Greece and surpassed all the physicians of his time,
in knowledge. He was such a great physician that even today
after 1800 years, he is still well known.

PARTS OF THE MEAT THAT ARE FORBIDDEN


QUESTION: Which parts of the zabīha [slaughtered animal]
should not be eaten?
ANSWER: Replying the same question, Ala Hazrat Imām Ahmed
   5
Razā Khān       6 7 says, 'All the parts of a Halal animal are
Halal except a few ones which are either Haram or prohibited
or Makruh. They include veins blood, gall bladder, bladder, the
private organs of the male and the female animals, testicles,
glands, tendons that stretch from the neck to the shoulders,
liver-blood, spleen-blood, meat-blood emanating from meat
after the slaughter, heart-blood, bile, nasal fluid, anus, tripe
[stomach], intestines, sperm, the sperm turned into blood, the
sperm turned into a piece of flesh and the one turned into a
complete animal and was born dead or born alive but died
before the slaughter. (Fatawa-e-Razavia, v-20, p-240,241)

Knowledgeable butchers usually separate some forbidden


parts of the animal but even they are unaware of some other
forbidden parts or they do not take care. Therefore, I identify

319
Islamic Manners of Eating

some of the forbidden parts of the animal that are usually


cooked with the meal because of lack of knowledge.

BLOOD
The blood that oozes out at the time of zibah [slaughtering] is
called “Dam-e-Masfūh.” This blood is impure just like urine,
and it is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to consume it. Though the
blood that remains after slaughtering in some organs like the
neck, heart, spleen, liver, small veins in the meat, is not impure;
however, it is still Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to consume it.
Therefore one should thoroughly clean these organs before
adding them to the food. There are very small veins in the meat,
which contain blood. It is extremely difficult to identify them.
These small veins turn black after the meat is cooked. If you
identify these black strands while eating, remove them.
Do not cook the whole heart of a chicken. Cut it open first,
and clean the blood inside.

SPINAL CORD
Spinal Cord is a white thread like strand which extends from
the base of the brain through the length of the backbone [spine.]
Experienced butchers take out the spinal cord. However, some
spinal cord still remains due to their laziness and is cooked
with our food. Therefore, separate the spinal cord when
washing and preparing the meat for cooking. The spinal cord is
also found in birds and chicken and is extremely difficult to
remove as it is very thin; therefore, remove it before you eat.

TENDONS
Tendons are two bands of yellow fibrous tissue, on both sides
of the neck, which serve to connect the shoulder muscles to the
neck. It is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to consume this tendon
tissue. You can easily spot these tendons on large animals but it
320
Madanī Mużakrah

is difficult to find them on small animals like the chicken.


Remove them when you are eating. If you do not know, then
ask someone who does.

LYMPH GLANDS
Around the neck, throat, and also in fat, you can find these
reddish lymph glands [also called lymph nodes], which in
Arabic are called “Ghaddah.” It is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to
consume them. Remove them before cooking and if you spot
them in cooked meat remove them then.

TESTICLES
Testicles are called “Khusyah”, “Fautah”, “Baydah”. It is Harām
[Strictly Forbidden] to consume them. You can easily see the
testicles on male animals, like goat and cattle. In chicken they
are located behind the intestine, and are small minute egg-like
structures, remove them [while cleaning the meat.]
Tragically, “Katā kať” is a commonly sold cuisine in
restaurants which is made with the livers and hearts. It also
contains goat and cattle testicles. This is prepared on a large
iron griddles, and I guess the reason why it is called “Katā kať”
is because it is prepared right before the customer using some
utensils that make a sound of “kat”, “kat” when it hits against
the iron griddle.

TRIPE [STOMACH]
Tripes contain rubbish. It is Harām [Strictly Forbidden] to
consume the guts and tripe [stomach] of the animal. Tragically
several Muslims relish it.

HOW SHOULD ONE IDENTIFY HARĀM THING?


QUESTION: How can one learn more details about Harām
[Strictly Forbidden] things that you just identified?

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ANSWER: All chefs and all Islamic Brothers should read pages
234 to 241 of the 20th volume of “Fatāwā Razawiyyah.” Consult a
scholar, if you do not understand any part of it. Then ask a
butcher to identify those organs. Theoretical knowledge is very
important, but observation and experience is even better.

EATING BREAD MADE BY THE ONE WHO DOES NOT


OFFER SALĀH
QUESTION: Some people do not eat bread baked by the one who
does not offer Salāh. Our chefs are sometimes lazy in offering
their Salāh?
ANSWER: It is permissible to eat bread made by the one who
does not offer Salāh. It is all right, if the righteous and pious do
this, as an act of censure, to rectify the chef who does not offer
Salāh. However, the chefs that are present in this gathering
work in Madrassah [Islamic schools] and Jami’a [Institutions for
Scholarly Islamic theology.] Many of these institutions are
adjacent to a Masjid. These chefs should not only offer the Fard
[obligations] but also the Nafil [Supererogatory] prayers like
Awābīn81, Taĥjud [Night Vigil Salaah], Ishrāq and Chasht82.
You are not stopped (in our Madrasah’s) from offering these
Nawāfils [Supererogatory prayers] when on duty.

REMEMBER! No one is allowed to forgo their Fard


[obligations] Salāh. As soon as you hear the Durūd [Salutations
and Peace] recited before the Azān [Call for Prayers], turn all
the stoves off. Prepare to go towards the Masjid to offer the
Salāh joining the Congregation in the first Rak’a [Takbīr Uūlā],
in the first Saf [Row]. I urge the dedicated “Khaīr Khūwah”

81Awābīn is Nafil [Supererogatory] Salāh offered after the Maghrib Salāh, typically six
raka’ [cycles] of Salāh.
82Ishrāq and Chāsht are both prayers which are Nafil [Supererogatory] and can be
prayed from about twenty minutes after sunrise till before Zawal time, when the sun is
overhead. Chāsht is also known as Salātut Duhā.

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Madanī Mużakrah

[Well Wishers]83 Islamic Brothers to also call the chefs from the
kitchen, as they make their rounds to call the students of the
Madrassah [Islamic schools] to come to the Masjid for Salāh.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE STUDENTS


QUESTIONS: Are the chefs not fortunate that they have a
privilege to serve Seekers of Knowledge [Students]?

ANSWER: Indeed, they are fortunate. My Dear Chefs!


Undoubtedly, you are very fortunate “Memorizers of the Quran”
[hifz] and “Seekers of Knowledge” (who are showered with
blessings) eat food that is prepared by you. These students [of
Islamic sciences] have indeed a high status. When Sayyidunā
Abu’ Dardah  3 "   
 ? 7 would see a student, he would say
“Marhabā [Welcome], The Prophet         
      had
 
specifically advised regarding you (to be kind with you).” (Sunan
Dārimī, pp. 111, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 348)

Undoubtedly, the young students are very fortunate that


they are spending time learning rather than playing games. They
have devoted their teen-age years to seek Islamic knowledge.

O ALLAH   !
  ", FORGIVE ME FOR THE SAKE OF THE STUDENTS

QUESTION: What are your feelings about the students of Jāmi’at-


ul Madinah?
ANSWER: I deeply love the students of Da’wat-e-Islāmī’s Jāmi’ahs
and Madarsahs. I also make du’a for my forgiveness by their
sake. Although there are some misbehaved students amongst
them, but after all they are children......... No matter how
misbehaved children are, they are dear to their parents. We

83In the righteous environment of Da’wat-e-Islāmī the brothers that are sanctioned to
usher and call the brothers for Sālāh and Dars are called “Khaīr Khūwah” [Well
Wishers].

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Islamic Manners of Eating

can’t generalize all students in a single category just because


some misbehave. Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", our students also pray
the Nafil [superogatory] prayers along with their Fard Salāh
[obligatory]. Many students make arrangements to congregate
for Salāt-ut-Taubah, Tahajjud [night vigil salāh], Ishrāq, and
Chāsht. Thousands of students also turn in their Madanī
In’aāmāt, many of them travel in Madanī Qāfilah, there are also
numerous students who have responsibilities of righteous
Madanī Work of Da’wat-e Islāmī in nearby localities of these
Jāmi’ahs and Madrasahs.
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", they are serving in many Masajids and
are keeping the Mosques populated. O’ Allah    ! ", increase
this and increase this and then increase this more.

HOW TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT


QUESTION: The chef Islamic brothers do not give importance to
the students’ complaints!
ANSWER: Look, chefs also have self-respect, it is hurtful to them
if people just complain whenever they feel like and disturb
them at inappropriate times. It is understood that one or two
chefs can not satisfy all the students of the Jāmia’h. Dear
students, remember that the one who repeatedly complains
loses his respect and the effect of his complain is devalued. That
is why the complaints must be done with affection and in a
courteous manner. Written complaints prove to be more
effective as compared to the oral ones in these matters. I can say
from experience that it is more effective if it is written as
apposed to just telling someone, in these kinds of situations.
Many students are still immature and when they complain they
sometimes end up making the situations worse. Therefore, it is
advised that no student should make the complaint directly to
the chefs. Anyone who has a complaint should write to the
brother who is responsible for the Jāmiat-ul Madinah or

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Madanī Mużakrah

Madarsat-ul-Madinah’s kitchen. (The chefs were very pleased


with this answer of Amīr of Ahlus-Sunnah Maulana Ilyās Qādri
     $% & '(
  #  )

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE IF THE FOOD IS BURNT?


QUESTION: Are the chefs excused if they burn the food?

ANSWER: No, the chef is being paid for cooking and it is his
responsibility [to attentively avoid burning of food.] The
scholars of Islamic jurisprudence [Fuqhā]  
     
 : 6
7 have ruled
that, “If the chef ruins the food or burns it or leaves it
uncooked, they will have to pay the penalty [from their own
pocket, for the loss] (Dur-ru-Mukhtār, pp. 22, vol. 9).”

Responsible brothers should really think about this issue as


they cannot turn a blind eye just because it is paid for by public
endowments. If it were your personal money, then maybe you
would make absolutely sure that you got every penny back, to
make up for the losses. In any case, the chef must pay the
penalty [damān] for any loss of money because of ruining the
food.
One can not just say “From now on, I will be mindful of
this” and be relieved of any penalties of the past. It is necessary
to account for and pay for anything that he might owe from the
past.

OVEN BREAD AND BAKING SODA


QUESTION: Sometimes there is too much baking soda in the
food, is this not harmful?
ANSWER: It is important to do everything in moderation. The
bread will not be tasty if there is too much baking soda. Overuse
of the baking soda spoils the taste and hurts the body, as well.

QUESTION: What is the method to boil Chickpeas?

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ANSWER: If you want to boil chickpeas84, it is better to soak them


in water for about eight hours [before boiling them.] You could
also use some baking soda [while boiling] to soften them and
cook them quickly.

HOW TO TENDERIZE HARD MEAT


QUESTION: How should we tenderize meat of an old animal?

ANSWER: If one mixes in papaya85 fruit with hard meat from an


older animal it will cook faster. Raw papaya fruit is also used
with spices in barbeque. Those who enjoy the Nihari [Indo-Pak
dish] at hotels are usually served meat from old camels or cows
or buffaloes that have stopped giving milk or retired farm
buffaloes. This is all magic of the papaya fruit that the hard
meat becomes soft. Sugar, peppermints, and betel-nuts are also
used for cooking meat. Letting it cook on the stove also softens
the meat.
When you cook stew or Pulaoo [rice Pilaf] put in small
pieces of chicken or meat so that the meat gets cooked all the
way to the inside. In instances when the meat is put in larges
pots or pans the meat becomes cooked because of the heat.

My Madanī suggestion is that one should also put some


squash for barakah [blessing] in the stews [as squash was
dearly liked by the Noble Prophet         
     
  ]. Another
benefit of putting vegetables in the meat is that they get rid of
the negative effects of the meat.

THE MEAT THAT DOES NOT COOK


QUESTION: What to do with the meat that does not tenderize at
all?

84 Chickpeas are also called Garbanzo Bean or Kabuli Chana.


85 Also called pawpaw or papaw

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Madanī Mużakrah

ANSWER: There is no solution for it. My Master, ‘Alā-Hadrat


  5
Imām Ahmed Razā Khān      6
 7 said, “The meat of the
‘Khunthā (animal which has both male and female parts, it
urinates from both places, and there is no sign that would
conclusively make it a male or a female) does not cook in any
way.
If one were to zabh [slaughter] it according to the Sharia’
and eat the uncooked meat, that is Halāl. However, its’ sacrifice
[qurbani] is not jāaiz [permissible]. (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp.
255, vol. 20)

SIGNS OF GOOD MEAT


QUESTIONS: What are the Signs of Good Meat?

ANSWER: Meat of an old animal is red whereas that of a younger


animal is brownish and usually has less fat. Brownish meat is
better. It is beneficial to buy the last of the meat because the
meat vendors try to sell the fat and bones quickly and the meat
remaining in the end tends to have more meat86! It is quite the
opposite when it comes to vegetables and fruits because the
fresh ones sell quickly and the rotten and old ones remain.

Seeing this, the saying is very true…’Buy the fruits and


vegetables in the beginning and the meats in the end.’

ABUSE OF ANIMALS
QUESTION: Did any Sahabi [Companion of the Prophet] sell
meat?

ANSWER: Yes, Sayyidunā A’mar bin A’as   3 "   


 ? 7 and Sayyidunā
Zubair   3 "    
 ? 7 sold animal’s meat. May all meat vendors follow
the footsteps of these Noble Sahaba.

86 Common in the subcontinent, where meat is not processed unlike the west

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Islamic Manners of Eating

These days, many sins are committed in this business. The


animals raised for the acquisition of meat are cruelly treated
right from the beginning, but it cannot express its pain. No
doubt, slaughtering the animal is permissible, but these days, the
animal is oppressed to such an extent during this permissible act
that one feels frightened when sees the helplessness of the
oppressed animal.
QUESTION: Advise us of things to be mindful of during the
zabah slaughtering of animals so that they feel the least amount
of pain.
ANSWER: Find the direction of the Qibla before bringing the cow
to the ground as it is very painful to drag this animal, which
cannot speak, to switch directions on the rocky earth. All four
veins should be cut or at least three of them during the zabah
[slaughtering]. Not more than this should be cut to the extent
that the knife goes all the way to the neck joint as this is
unnecessary pain. After this, do not cut the legs or take off the
skin until the animal has completely stopped trembling. Until
the soul has not departed, do not put the knife or even the hand
on the slit throat.
Just imagine, how painful would it be if someone put
their fingers or hands on your wound! Many peel-off the skin
at the neck and pierce the knife through the veins of the heart to
stop the animal from shaking quickly or break the neck of the
goat, animals should not be abused like this. Whosoever has the
power should stop those who are abusing animals.
Bahār-e Shari’at states, “It is worse to abuse animals
than it is to abuse zimmi non-believers (at this time all non-
believers are harbī), and it is worse to abuse zimmi non-
believers than it is to abuse Muslims. The abuse of the animals
is more severe because they have no one to help them except
Allah    ! ", who will save these poor animals from this abuse?”
(Bahar-e-Sharī’at, pp. 259, vol. 16)

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Madanī Mużakrah

QUESTION: How is it to look at the animals being zabhed


[slaughtered] for pleasure?
ANSWER: One should be affectionate towards these animals that
cannot speak rather than making their zabh [slaughtering] a
spectacle. Just think, if you were being slaughtered, what
would be your condition. To be affectionate with the animal
during its zabh [slaughtering] is a virtuous deed as a Sahabi
 
  3 "  
 ? 7 once commented to Rahmat-ul Lil A’alamīn [Mercy of
the Worlds], ‘Yā Rasulallāh         
       " I feel mercy
       !

for the goat at the time of its zabh.’ He                
  said, ‘If
you have mercy on it, Allah    ! " will have mercy on you.‘ (Al-
Mustadrak, pp. 327, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 7636)

This Hadith mentions of having mercy when the animal is


being slaughtered according to the laws of shariah. So if an
animal is abused then do you think it is proper to make a
spectacle out of the abuse.
If it is possible, one should explain to the abuser of his
wrong-doings and prevent him from abusing the animal. If one
cannot do this, then one should at least feel in his heart that this
abuse is wrong and go away from that place. One should not
look needlessly when the animals is being slaughtered. Making
this a spectacle is a sign of heedlessness.
We should respect the goat, as it is ordered to us in a
Prophetic narration that ‘respect the goat and clean the dust or
dirt on it as it is an animal of paradise.’ (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 88, vol. 1,
Ḥadiš. 1421)

      
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HOW IS IT TO SLAUGHTER CAMEL FROM THREE PLACES?


QUESTION: Nowadays, the camel is slaughtered from three
places, is this permissible?

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ANSWER: It is wrongful to slaughter the camel from three places,


one place is enough. In fact, it is Sunnah to do the “Nahr.” To
thrust a spear (or a sharp pointed knife, etc.) at the base of the
neck, so one severs the veins87 is called Nahr. There is no need
to use a knife if the Nahr is done properly.

THE CAMEL WAS HIT WITH A METAL ROD!


May Allah    ! " grant all of us the assistance to perform Hajj
pilgrimage and to visit Madina repeatedly. Alas! Such sad
incidents were seen during the Hajj pilgrimage of 1422 A.H.
that a merciful person would faint at the sight of it. How the
innocent camels were being treated! One tall African young
man, who was holding a heavy metal rod with both his hands,
would swiftly strike the camel with his rod. The innocent camel,
caught by surprise, would collapse on the floor, screaming. Then
three butchers would come and slaughter it in three places.

In some places, they would perform the Nahr on a standing


camel and streams of blood would gush forth, the camel would
then try to run upon which it would be hit with heavy medal
rods because of which it would collapse on the floor, in severe
pain. Then it would be slaughtered in three places.

I did not see these heart-wrenching incidents myself, the


Islamic brothers who went to do the Qurbānī [sacrifice] for the
members of our “Chal Madina” Hajj group in 1422 A.H.,
relayed it to us as they returned from the slaughter house.

(It is Sunnah [a Prophetic tradition] to offer the Qurbānī


[sacrifice] in Mina88 but nowadays the designated slaughter
areas are located in Muzdalifah [at the outskirts of Mina]).

87 At least three of the four veins: the gullet; the windpipe and; both the carotid arteries.
88Mina, Saudia Arabia is the ground where pilgrim camp out during the annual Hajj
pilgrimage.

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Madanī Mużakrah

CAUTION FOR THE MEAT VENDORS


QUESTION: Please provide some Pearls of Wisdom for the meat
vendors.
ANSWER: Many meat vendors do many wrong-doings, increasing
their sins and ruining their sustenance. In brief, to sell meat
from the freezer as “fresh meat”; to sell the old cow’s meat by
calling it “young cow’s meat”; to put some pieces of young
cow’s meat on the old cow’s meat to give the impression that all
the meat is from a young cow; to add bones and things not
eaten as a part of the meat to increase its weight and thus the
price; to sell meat by just guessing the weight without actually
weighing it (for example, someone asked for a pound of beef
and the vendor just grabbed a fistful and sold it as one pound),
etc. These are all sinful and Harām actions that could lead to
Hell-fire.

      
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PROHIBITION OF SELLING BY GUESSING THE WEIGHT


QUESTION: You just relayed the prohibition of guessing the
weight of the meat. This is matter of grave difficulty for sellers
and buyers as it is a common practice to sell by guessing the
weight. Is the buyer also a sinner?
ANSWER: Yes, the buyer is also a sinner if the thing was bought
by weight and the seller guessed the weight.

One way to save oneself from this is to not ask for those
items which are sold by weight without actually weighing, but
by price. For example, say ‘give it to me for 5 dollars or 12
dollars,’ so now whatever he gives will be permissible to take
and both the seller and buyer will be saved from sin [as the deal
was not made based on the weight of the item].

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Islamic Manners of Eating

BEEF SAMOSAS SOLD IN THE MARKETPLACE


QUESTION: Can we eat ground beef without washing it?

ANSWER: If you are not aware of any impurities on it, you can
eat it, although it’s better and safer to wash it. Those who eat
Samosa89 from the marketplace and at receptions should pay
heed. Usually, the Samosa vendors do not wash the meat; they
claim that washing the meat affects the taste of the kabob and
samosa.
At times! Tripe [stomach] and blood are mixed with the
meat, to give it a red color. Ma’aāż-Allah    ! " [Allah    ! " be our
Refuge from such acts.] Sometimes [when making ground beef],
ginger and garlic are also minced with the beef so there is no
way these vendors wash it (because it would wash away the
ginger and garlic as well.) Then they just add seasonings and
spices to the beef and make Samosa from it, before they sell it.
There is always a chance of being served ground beef curry,
from this kind of meats, at restaurants.
Pakora [Indian vegetable dumpling] shouldn’t be bought
from these kinds of unhygienic kabob and Samosa vendors, as
they use the same frying pan and this impure dirty oil.
I am not saying that, God-forbid, every meat vendor
does these acts, nor does every Kabob and Samosa vendor use
impure meat. Undoubtedly, good ground beef, without any
impurities is also sold. The reason I mentioned these was to
make your aware that this happens out there and that you
should purchase beef, meat and kabob and Samosa from a trust-
worthy Muslims. Furthermore, those Muslims who are involved
in these kinds of [deceiving and evil] practices should repent.

      
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89 A triangular fried Indian turnover filled with seasoned vegetables or meat.

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Madanī Mużakrah

DEAD CHICKENS
These days, there are many deceptive practices prevalent [in
our society.] It is said that whenever there is an illness among
the chickens, the wicked minded individuals deceitfully supply
the dead chickens to restaurants and kabob and Samosa vendors.

SLAUGHTERING A GOAT AT THE BRINK OF DEATH


QUESTION: If a goat is near death, can it be slaughtered?

ANSWER: Yes, but there are several things that you have to be
mindful of. If a sick goat was slaughtered and only its mouth
moved which means that its mouth opened then it is Harām
[strictly forbidden] but if it closed the mouth then it is Halāl
[permissible]; if it opens the eyes it is Harām, if it closed the
eyes then it is Halāl; if it spreads its’ legs then it is Harām and if
it closes the legs then it is Halāl; if the hairs did not stand up it
is Harām and if the hairs did stand up then it is Halāl.
That is to say, if one is not sure of the goat being alive then
one should rely on these signs and if one is sure of the goat
being alive then one must not worry about these signs and the
animal should be considered Halāl (Fatāwah Alamghīrī, pp. 286, vol. 5).

FORGOT TO SAY ALLAH’S    ! " NAME AT THE


TIME OF SLAUGHTER
QUESTION: Is the animal Halāl if a Muslim recites only %
[Bismillah-i-rahmān-i-rahīm] the time of slaughtering the animal?
And what is the ruling, if one forgot to say the name of Allah
   !
 " completely?

ANSWER: Yes, the animal is Halāl. It is necessary to say the name


of Allah    !
 ", at the time of zabh [slaughtering], but it is better
to read U  V‫  ﻛ‬b ! ! ‫ﺴ ﻢ‬
 [Bismillah-i-Allāhu Akbar]. If one says the

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Islamic Manners of Eating

name of Allah    ! " in any other language besides Arabic, it


will be Halāl [acceptable] as well (Fatāwah Alamghīrī, pp. 286, vol. 5).

Even if one forgets to take the name of Allah    ! " during


the slaughtering, the animal would still be permissible to
consume [Halāl.] However, if the person intentionally did not
say it, then the animal would be Harām [strictly prohibited].
For further information on this topic, read “Bahar-e-Sharī’at”
(Volume 15.)

CAN WE EAT BONES OR NOT?


QUESTION: Can we eat the bones of animals which have been
slaughtered?
ANSWER: Yes. My Master, ‘Alā-Hazrat Imām Ahmed Razā Khān
   5
      6 7
has stated: “The bones of Halāl animals are not
prohibited in any way, unless there is harm in consuming them
(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 340, vol. 20).”

The white bones which are elastic like plastic are often soft
and tasty. Similarly, the rib bones and the white pair of bones
near the flat bones of the hands are also soft. The windpipe
which is above the lungs should be pierced and cleaned along
the length.
The bones of the breast area, which are white, can also be
eaten after they are cooked. There is also a black bone with it,
which is crisp and tasty as well.
Nearly all the young animal’s black bone is crisp. Chew it
well and spit out the dry portions. One also sucks these broken
bones which cannot be eaten. So, as long as one is enjoying the
taste, take benefit from the blessings of Allah    ! " and place
the remainders on the dining mat.

QUESTION: We haven’t seen the black bone on uncooked meat


before!
334
Madanī Mużakrah

ANSWER: It is the reddish bone which becomes black when


cooked. In fact, when blood is cooked, it becomes black as well.

PEARLS OF WISDOM FOR USING BONES FOR CURES


Question: Tell us about the benefits of bones.

ANSWER: Bones are also blessings of Allah    ! " which also


serve as food. Those people who buy boneless meat deprive
themselves and their family from a blessing.
Indeed, Allah    ! " has not created anything unnecessarily.
Bones also provide medicinal benefit along with being sustenance
for us. Doctors advise people to drink bone soup. There are
many of you who have probably drunk it before. Probably,
though, no one has drunk only soup consisting of just meat!
Bones are very important. The liquid extract from bones is used
in injections, as well.

The one suffering fever every fourth day, Allah    ! " willing,
makes recovery if he eats food mixed with the crushed horns of
a cow. The mixture of water and burnt hair of a cow removes
toothache. (Ḥayāt-ul-Ḥaywān-ul-Kubrā, pp. 219, vol. 1)

The pigeon which is a Halāl bird, if one burns its’ bones and
applies it to a wound, the wound will heal by the Graciousness
of Allah    ! ". (Ajāi’b-ul Ḥaywānat, p. 147)

BENEFITS OF POULTRY MEAT


QUESTION: Kindly highlight some benefits of chicken.

ANSWER: Eating chicken strengthens the memory. It is also


highly beneficial for stomach problems. It is better to eat the
rooster or hen [desi chicken.] These days it is hard to find a
rooster or hens as some vendors colour the feathers of the
smaller white baby-chickens which are widely available. These

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Islamic Manners of Eating

baby chickens are mass produced in poultry farms, their eggs


are also smaller. Roosters and hens are leaner and have a small
stomach. Chicken which are produced in poultry farms are
fatter and have more meat.

CAN WE EAT THE BONES OF CHICKEN?


QUESTION: Is it permissible to eat the bones of chicken?

ANSWER: Yes. It has been my habit from a young age to eat the
whitish bones of chicken. There is however a perception among
the people that consuming the bones of chicken can cause harm
to you. I did once confer with a qualified dietician on this
aspect of eating the bones of chicken who had even written a
book on this subject, and he was of the opinion that eating these
bones causes no ill effects or damage. (Allah    ! " and His
beloved Prophet         
     
  know best).

CAN ONE EAT FISH BONES?


QUESTION: Can we eat the bones of the fish?

ANSWER: We can eat these bones as well. However, the bones of


fish are normally hard and cannot be easily eaten. Some of
them are however soft and fleshy. These are normally found in
ocean fish and red fish whose bones are soft and tasty. If one
cannot swallow these bones, one should make sure that he
chews them properly and then spits out the chewed leftovers.

CAN WE EAT THE SKIN OF FISHES OR NOT?


QUESTION: Can one eat the skin of fish?

ANSWER: Yes. People normally throw away the skin before


cooking or after cooking. One should not do this. If there are no
problems or restrictions, one may also eat the skin of fish. Some
fish have very tasty and delicious skin.

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Madanī Mużakrah

EAT AND SELL CRAB


QUESTION: How is it to eat crab?

ANSWER: It is Harām [prohibited]. Any animal of the sea besides


the fish is Harām. It is for this reason that it is also impermissible
to sell crabs. Islamic Scholars, providing their legal opinion
[based on Sacred Law] have stated: “The selling of any animals
of the sea besides the fish; like the frog, crab, etc. and insects
such as the flies, ants, mice, musk-rats, lizards, crickets, iguanas,
snakes, and scorpions is not allowed (Fatḥ-ul-Qadīr, pp. 58, vol. 6)

WHAT TO DO IF THE STEW IS BURNT?


QUESTION: What are we to do if the stew is burnt?

ANSWER: One should first remove the whole spices and meat
from the top of the container. In another container one should
fry some onions. When the onions are goldenish brown, add
these spices and meat to the new container and then add half a
cup of milk. Inshā-Allah    ! ", the milk will get rid of the burnt
smell.

HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR DIGESTION?


QUESTION: How should we improve our digestion?

ANSWER: By being careful in what you eat and drink. Excessive


eating messes up the stomach and ruins one’s digestive system.
It is not a Sunnah to eat until one is not hungry. Whenever you
do eat, divide up your ‘hunger’ into three parts; one for food,
one for water and one [left empty] for air.

Do not sleep for at least one and a half hour to two hours
after eating. Eat less meat and more vegetables and fruits. Walk
for one hour or at least half an hour daily. Walk 150 steps after
eating dinner. Inshā-Allah    ! ", those illnesses of the stomach

337
Islamic Manners of Eating

that do not go away even with medicine will be gone.


Inshā-Allah    ! ", you will be safe from at least 80% of the
illnesses that we face today, such as heart attacks, hemiplegia,
paralysis, facial paralysis, mental disorders, pain in the
ligaments, pain in the throat, mouth blisters, illnesses of the
chest and lungs, heart burns, diabetes, high blood pressure,
ailments of the liver and gall bladder, etc.

TWO MADANĪ CURES FOR INDIGESTION


1. Whoever suffers from indigestion could recite this Quranic
Ayah [verse] and then blow on his hands and rub his hands on
his abdomen. He could also blow on his food after reciting this
Ayah. Inshā-Allah    ! ", his complain of indigestion will be
gone. Allah Almighty    ! " says in the 43rd and 44th Verse of
Surah Mursilaat (Juz: 29):

  I^   F  ‫ ۝‬2 -  0     `Z ^    ۢ  OjD3 N  - & % d   -  $
 39< 4  @! œ  _
‫۝‬X

“Eat and drink pleasantly, the reward of your doings. Undoubtedly, thus We
recompense the righteous.”
(Qurān)(Surah-Mursilāt, juz. 29, āyah. 43-44)(Kanzul Īmān(Treasure of
Faith)[Translation of Quran])

2. Imām Kamāludīn Damīrī        5


 6 7 narrated from a few
eminent scholars that, “If a person has eaten something and is
fearful of indigestion, he should read the following [Arabic]
phrase three times while rubbing his hands over his abdomen.

  % A   f  
  e / E " ž   @ /   J " f 
   e ?  % ^  H @ /  "   5    5   
7   
“O my stomach, tonight is the night of my Eid celebration and may Allah    !  " be
  5
well pleased with our master, Shaykh Abū Abdullah Qarashī90      6
 7 .” I

   5
90 Shaykh Abū ‘Abdullah Qarashī Haashimī       6
 7 was among the eminent saints of

Egypt. During the time of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī       5
 6
 7 he was 17 years old.

338
Madanī Mużakrah

If it is during the day, the person should say ‫ ﻟ  ﻴ ﻮ م ﻳ ﻮ م‬instead of


‫ﺔ ﻟ ﻴ ﻠ ﺔ‬
 ‫(  ﻟ ﻴ ﻠ‬Ḥayāt-ul-Ḥaywān-ul-Kubrā, pp. 460, vol. 1)

MEDICINAL CURE FOR CONSTIPATION


There are several cures for indigestion and constipation.

1. Skip a meal or two. Inshā-Allah    ! " this shall relieve the


intestines and the stomach will get some rest as well.
2. Take 2-3 spoons of Psyllium Husk [Isabgol] with a full glass
of water. If this does not help increase the quantity of the husk.
If constipation is reoccurring, you should repeat this twice or
thrice a week.
3. Add half tea spoon of finely ground green tea to water and
drink it before sleeping. Do this for at least four months.
Inshā-Allah    ! ", besides constipation, you will also be
protected from various other illnesses. This is also beneficial in
enhancing memory.

      
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STUDENTS DROP FOOD AND ITS REMEDY


QUESTION: While eating, many students drop several grains of
food. Please provide a remedy for this?
ANSWER: This is not limited to students only; several people are
guilty of this in the modern times. [I think] there may be only
one Muslim out of thousands who does not waste one grain of
food. Students should be extra careful that they do not waste
any speck of food. The management of the Madrasah91 should
be vigilant that every bit of food is eaten by the students
because our Madrasahs are run on public endowments [waqf].

91 An institution where students are taught Quranic recitation & Islamic sciences

339
Islamic Manners of Eating

During meal times some students should be dedicated


“Khaīr Khūwah” [Well Wishers] who walk around. They should
teach: Prophetic manners of eating and drinking; encourage
students to render proper intentions of eating; and also lead
them to make Du’ā [supplications] of eating. They should
politely make the students pickup and eat the bits and pieces of
rice and bread which they might have dropped on the dining-
mat.

PROPER WAY OF BREAKING BREAD


QUESTION: Please inform us of the proper way of breaking the
bread?
ANSWER: It is a Sunnah to hold the bread in the left hand and
break it off with the right hand. In order to avoid dropping
bread crumbs on the dining-mat, one should make a habit of
breaking the bread by extending his hand to the middle of the
plate and then breaking off a piece of the bread so that all the
crumbs fall in the plate. Same precaution should also be taken
when eating Samosas, biscuits, cookies, [cakes] and any other
food items which are flaky. Finish all pieces of a slice of bread
before starting the next bread.

HOW TO USE THE LEFTOVER BREAD


QUESTION: What should we do with the leftover pieces of bread?

ANSWER: The charitable donations for the Madrassah [Islamic


schools] can only be used for the Madrassah and not for
anything else. Without a proper excuse granted by the Sacred
Islamic Law, these leftover pieces of bread cannot be used for
any other purpose, but to feed the students.
Store the leftover bread either in a freezer or spread them
out in an open area to dry them out. After two or three days
cook them with curry, Inshā-Allah    ! " these will make a

340
Madanī Mużakrah

delicious meal. Distribute small portions to students and they


would Inshā-Allah    ! " relish it.

FALLEN FOOD SPECKS ON THE DINING-MAT


QUESTION: What should we do with the bits and pieces of food
which fall on the dining-mat?
ANSWER: Pick them up and eat them. At home, instead of
wasting the leftover [or fallen] bits and pieces of food feed them
to the cows, goats, birds, fowls, chickens or cats. In this way,
you can safeguard yourselves from the offence of disrespecting
and wasting food.

HOW DO WE RENDER INTENTIONS FOR EATING?


QUESTION: You urged us about rendering intentions before eating
a meal but how are we suppose to render these intentions?
ANSWER: Muslims should render good and pious intentions
before performing any lawful and permissible act, Inshā-Allah
  !
  ",
they will be rewarded for every wholesome intention.
Therefore, while eating, one should have the intention of gaining
strength, to aid in worship. However, this intention would only
be valid if you eat less than your required appetite. Over-eating
causes laziness, let alone aiding in worship. (For further
elaboration on the intentions of eating, refer to chapter 192.)

PRECAUTIONS OF DRINKING TEA


QUESTION: Please tell us the precautions for drinking tea.

ANSWER: Tea is harmful for people who have kidney problems


or have an ailment in their urinary system. In any circumstance,
its use should be curtailed. There are several prerequisites for

92 Look up “intention” in the index at the end of the book.

341
Islamic Manners of Eating

making a good cup of tea: Milk and tea should be of good


quality; the sugar, the tea, the cooking pot and the strainer, all
should be kept away from the aromas and smoke of the
kitchen. If one pot is used for making tea and you need to make
some more tea right away, wash the pot properly before re-
using it. Utensils for making tea should be washed separately.
The container used for storing tea should be tightly closed [air-
tight] otherwise its original aroma will fade away.
The tea should be drunk shortly after it is prepared. Reheating
it, changes its taste. The skin-like film which forms on the tea
should be removed. It is said that if this tea’s film from 100 cups
is fed to a cat, it would die because of its poisonous [caffeine]
content.

ART OF MAKING TEA


QUESTION: Please also tell us how to make tea.

ANSWER: If you wish to drink ‘Creamy Milk-Tea’ [dūdhpattī],


adequately cook milk with sugar in a pot. Next, add enough
black tea that it turns goldenish brown. Let it come to a boil.
Keep stirring with a spoon. Boil it two or three times. Now take
it off the stove, strain (sieve) and serve.
If you wish to have ‘Regular Milk-Tea’ [chāi] then adequately
cook water with milk and sugar in a pot. Add black tea, and
follow the steps mentioned above [for dūdhpattī].
If you like you can also add small green cardamoms.

CAN WE TAKE HONEY WITH TEA?


QUESTION: Can we take honey with tea?

ANSWER: Sure you can, in fact, if you have the means, you
should use honey instead of sugar. Usually people add a lot of
sugar to their tea and like it really sweet. This kind of extra-

342
Madanī Mużakrah

sweet tea is extremely harmful for those individuals who are


used to drinking several cups of tea, as this habit could result in
Diabetes. Those who love cold drinks and ice cream usually
become patients of Diabetes as well. One cold drink contains
about seven tea spoons of sugar and ice cream is a “sugar
bomb” in itself. Allah    ! " and His Beloved Prophet
        
     
  know best.

If you cannot add honey to your tea, then just reduce the
amount of sugar by half.

DENTAL HYGIENE
QUESTION: Teeth are usually stained yellow because of drinking
tea. Is there a remedy?

ANSWER: After drinking tea, wait a few minutes and then pour
some water in the cup and stir the water [to clean the cup from
the inside.] Then take a sip. Use this sip of water to rinse the
inside of your mouth by rolling it around and then drink it.
Repeat these steps two to three times, till all the water and tea
are finished from the cup. In this way, not a single drop of tea is
wasted; the cup is rinsed clean and the teeth are protected from
the yellow stains. If you do not feel like drinking the water after
rinsing your mouth, you may spit it out.

The reason why I told you to wait a few minutes before


rinsing your mouth is because drinking cold water right after
having hot tea is very harmful for your teeth. The quantity of
water you use to rinse the cup and drink, should be very little.
If you are able to do this after eating [or drinking] everything,
Inshā-Allah    ! ", your oral hygiene would be maintained and
your gums will be guarded from diseases as well.

Bleeding gums is a common problem these days. One cause


of this is that the food particles get deposited in the gums and

343
Islamic Manners of Eating

harden like a rock. Thereafter, using Miswāk93 [tooth-stick],


biting and chewing causes the gums to bleed. If the mouth is
rinsed every time [in the manner explained above] after eating
Inshā-Allah    ! ", your teeth will remain clean and you will be
guarded from bleeding gums and other gum and tooth diseases.

Eating too much usually upsets the stomach, which is a


source of several ailments including bleeding gums for some
people. If you start eating in moderation Inshā-Allah    ! ",
amazingly your chronic illnesses will go away and the bleeding
gums will be healed. My experience is that the medicines
provide a temporary relief and then the disease keeps recurring
[and prevention is a permanent solution.]

CLEANING YELLOW TEETH


QUESTION: What should a person do whose teeth are already
stained yellow?

ANSWER: He should properly use Miswāk [tooth-stick, to clean


his teeth]. Mix equal weights of salt and baking soda and rub
this mixture very carefully on the teeth so that it does not rub
off on the gums. Inshā-Allah    ! ", your teeth will be amazingly
clean. Do not repeat this exercise for several days in a row.
Those who have weak or bleeding gums should completely
refrain from this cleaning exercise.

      
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IF YOU WISH TO STAY HEALTHY, THEN…


Dear students! I strongly urge you to reduce the use of spices
and oil in half and to reduce the amount of sugar in your tea in

Natural tooth-stick made from a twig of a tree. Typically made from peelu, olive or
93

walnut tree. Also called Siwāk.

344
Madanī Mużakrah

half too. Inshā-Allah    ! ", this would aid in your good health
which in turn would assist in fulfilling your righteous Madanī
ambition of gaining Islamic education.

      
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SCHEDULE FOR MEALS AT JĀMI’A-TUL-MADINAĤ

DAY BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER


Dāl-Meat Curry Dāl-Spinach, Bread
FRIDAY Tea & Rusk
& Bread & Tea
Mixed Vegetables
Chickpea94 Curry, White Rice/
SATURDAY (like loki96, potatoes,
Bread & Tea Meat Pulao95
turnips etc) & Bread

Chickpea Curry, Dāl-Loki Curry Vegetable Curry,


SUNDAY Bread & Tea Bread & Tea
& Bread

MONDAY Chickpea Curry, Dāl Curry &


Biryānī & Tea
Bread & Tea Bread

Mixed
Chickpea Curry, Dāl-Loki Curry,
TUESDAY Vegetables &
Bread & Tea Bread & Tea
Bread

Chickpea Curry, Curry & Rice/ Loki-Potatoes, Bread


WEDNESSDAY
Bread & Tea Dāl Curry & Rice & Tea
Barley Porridge/
Potato Curry and Laubia Beans, Bread
THURSDAY Potato-Meat
Bread, [& Tea] & Tea
Curry

94 Chickpeas are also called Garbanzo Bean or Kabuli Chana.


95 Indian pilaf
96A vegetable from the gourd family which is also reffered to as fresh green squash or
long squash.

345
CHAPTER 5
LETTER OF ATTAR
This letter was addressed to his son, and is a collection of Pearls of Wisdom
for a healthy lifestyle.
One who follows these “flowers” will not have to visit the doctor
Inshā-Allah    !  " [Allah    !  " Willing]

THE HEART REJOICES

C
OMPANION, SAYYIDUNA ABŪ HURRAIRAH  
  3 "  
 ? 7 narrated,
“I once said ‘O Prophet of Allah         
      
when I

see you, my heart rejoices and my eyes are cooled. (O
Master,) please give me the knowledge of all things.’ He
        
     
  replied, ‘Everything has been created from
water.’ I then asked, ‘Inform me of that [act] which can lead me
to Paradise.’ He               
  replied, ‘Feed others, spread
[the greetings of] Salām, be kind to others [and mend relations]
and perform the (Nafil, Supererarogatory) Salāh at night while
everyone else is sleeping, and you will enter Paradise, in
peace.’” (Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp. 174,vol. 3,ḥadiš. 7919))

%
I [the author Amīr Ahlusunnah Maulana] Muhammad
Ilyas Qadri 3"  Ÿ", greet the Muballig [preacher] of Da’awat-e-
Islāmī, my sweet and beloved son, Al Hāj, Abū Usaid Ahmed
‘Ubaid Raza Attari Madinī. I present you with greetings which
have toured the streets of Karbala, greetings which have kissed

346
Islamic Manners of Eating

the dome and minaret of the tomb of the Eminent Imam97,


greetings loaded with the blessings of the Month of Muharram,
a delightful and fragrant Salam,
It is narrated in a Hadiš [Prophetic Narration]: Companion
of the Prophet, Sayyidunā Jarīr bin Abdullā   3 "    
 ? 7 stated, “I
took a pledge with the Master of Prophets, the Holy Prophet
         
      
  on these matters that I would establish Salāh
[and continue performing it regularly]; I would pay Zakāh; and
I would be a well-wisher for the common Muslims (i.e. I would
seek their well being (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 48, ḥadiš. 97).)”

Al-Hamdulillah    ! " [By the Grace of Allah    ! " ], with the intent
to indulge myself in the ‘well-wishing’ of the fellow Muslims
and reaping its rewards I herby present to you some Pearls of
Wisdom for a healthier lifestyle, along with my Duā.
If you intend to live healthy just to enjoy the worldly
adornments, then stop reading this letter right here. However,
if your plan is to lead a healthy lifestyle to gain strength to
worship Allah    ! " and to propagate the Sunnah, then
continue reading this letter and complete it till the very end.
Before that though, recite Durūd [Blessing upon the Prophet]
and with good intentions at heart, read on:
May Allah Almighty    ! " forgive me, you and our family
and the entire Muslim community [Ummah.] May He    ! "
bestow us with health and prosperity so that we may
consistently serve Islam, by being a part of the Righteous
Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī. May Allah    ! " alleviate all
our physical ailments and make us ecstatic in longing to go to
Madinah [Bīmār e Madinah.]
   ٖ    
      
 X   Y
  ( S     Z  [  \  X 
  (

  3 "    
Referring to Imam Hussain  ? 7 , who was martyred in the Month of Muharram,
97

in the battlefield at Karbala.

347
Letter of Attar

I need you for the righteous Madanī activities of Da’awat-e-


Islāmī. Please do not be careless and neglectful of your health,
because sometimes a simple bruise turns into a deep wound
and then into a major annoyance and eventually becomes fatal.
It has been repeatedly observed that where medicine does
not work, mere precaution delivers amazing results. Once new
clothes are washed, it is impossible to regain their originality or
their original value. When a person continues to take medication,
his physical body also becomes like the “washed clothes”.
Therefore wisdom dictates that whenever possible, instead of
medication, one should use food treatments and dietary
precautions. Sometimes medications also have side effects.

For the un-wise patient, poisonous is the potion pure


An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure

Na Samjh bimar ko amrat bhi zehar aamaze hay


Such hay kay soo dawa ki aik dawa perhaze hay

      
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ADVICE FOR EVERYONE PERTAINING TO FOOD


While preparing any food, reduce the use of oil, chillies, salt
and spices [garam masalah], in half. Increase the use of
vegetables. Beef stew should be eaten only twice a week and
that too in small quantities. If stew is cooked regularly in your
home then make a habit to only eat one piece of meat.
Do not eat until you are hungry. Properly chew your food,
intestines are not a substitute for the teeth. Stop eating before
you have fully satisfied your hunger. Alleviate the habit of
eating till you are fully satisfied. Avoid fruit juices that have
artificial sweetness or have sugar mixed in them. Limit the use
of foods which contain fats, starch, and sugar. Also refrain from

348
Islamic Manners of Eating

ice creams, cold drinks, fried foods, commercially cooked


dishes and fast foods. Furthermore, safeguard yourself from
eating toffees, chocolate candies, Paān98, Supari mixes [betel nut
pieces mixed with fennel seeds and flavors], and sweetened
Supari [betel-nut] pieces. Also avoid smoking cigarettes and
chewing tobacco [gutkā.]
If you wish to drink tea, drink only half a cup, [not more
than] two or three times a day. Use honey instead of sugar, If
you have to use sugar, cut its quantity in half. Make desserts
and sweet dishes using honey instead of sugar. If you cannot
afford honey, than add sugar but only a quarter of the amount
normally used.
Diabetes is almost unavoidable for those individuals who
relish drinking sugar sweetened tea, desserts and love to drink
cold drinks. (Those who are suffering from Diabetes or Blood
Pressure should follow the guidelines of their doctors.)
Walk for an hour everyday and if not possible than walk for
at least half an hour. Inshā-Allah    ! ", your Lipid Profile99 and
your weight will get within the normal range. Further more,
your bulging belly will go away, your digestive system will be
restored and you will be protected from several other ailments
Inshā-Allah    ! " those ailments which remain will also get cured.
Allah-Willing    ! " you will find yourself more alert and active
in performing righteous Madinī tasks and in your personal
worship. In the beginning these [recommendations] might be
hard to enact on your carnal desires [Nafs], but once you get into
these habits, Inshā-Allah    ! " they will be easy to follow.
REMEMBER! The taste only lasts till the end of the tongue.
Once your bite moves beyond that it is all the same be it dried

98Paān is made using leaves of Betel pepper, chewed with typically a filling of small
pieces of betel [areca] nut. May also be filled with tobacco. Primarily served in the
Indian Sub-Continent.
99 Measure of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

349
Letter of Attar

barley bread or luscious spicy rice Biryānī. Barley bread will


make your life easier and Biryānī might repeatedly take you to
the doctor’s office.
(When an overweight person starts to lose weight sometimes they
might suffer from increased levels of uric acid [in the blood and
urine], however, this quickly recedes back to normal levels. Still it is
recommended to get the uric acid levels checked every six weeks.
Drinking excess water also reduces uric acid levels.)

EAT TWICE A DAY


If it is possible, instead of eating thrice a day, eat only twice a
day. With the intention of putting Qufl-e-Madinaĥ of the
Abdomen [guarding the stomach from excessive eating], do not
eat until you are full and withdraw your hand from the food
while you are still hungry. In between meals, do not eat any
unnecessary fast foods. If you feel hungry, eat an apple or some
fruits. Even though fruits normally increase body’s weight, they
also have tremendous benefits [for the body.] Those who have
Diabetes or high levels of triglycerides should strictly refrain
from sweet fruits, dried fruits, nuts and root vegetables (that is
vegetables that grow underground such as carrots, reddish,
potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets etc.) Follow the advice and
directions of the doctor.

For please Allah    ! " make a habit of the “Fasts of [Prophet]


   B-C
Daūd 8 9      3DE F   ” that is fast on alternate days, this
   
would solve many problems caused by eating and drinking.

GET YOUR BLOOD TESTED


Even though many of these food items are necessary, eating
them in excess can be harmful for your health. My advice is that
all Muslim brothers and sisters should have the following blood
tests done.

350
Islamic Manners of Eating

1. Lipid Profile. (This also contains a cholesterol test and is


typically taken after fasting for at least 12 to 14 hours.)
2. Glucose. (If this reveals increased levels when performed on
an empty stomach than also get it tested after a meal.)
3. Uric Acid.
4. Serum Creatinine. (This test diagnoses kidney damage and
alerts against causes of kidney failure, so proper treatment
can be performed in time. This should be monitored seriously
because these days cases of kidney failure are on the rise.)

For the Pleasure of Allah    ! ", keep a day-fast [roza] and


have these various tests performed after Asr Salāh. Or you
could eat dinner early in the evening and then have these tests
performed before breakfast, the next morning.
Show the reports to your doctor. A healthy person should
have these tests performed at least once every six months.
Those who are ill should strictly follow the directions of their
doctors and get these tests and any others recommended by
their physicians, promptly.
It’s not wise to avoid these tests just to avoid the troubles of
treatment and dietary precautions, in case some ailment is
revealed. Being neglectful is not a solution for ailments.
Remember, that several perfectly healthy looking young
individuals suffer sudden heart failures. One reason for this is
their high levels of lipid profile [in their blood.]

THOSE WHO HAVE HIGH LEVELS CHOLESTEROL


SHOULD REFRAIN FROM THESE FOODS
1. All types of fats
2. Foods made from shortening & cooking oil
3. Egg-yolk

351
Letter of Attar

4. Salted Snacks [nimko]


5. Confectionery and Bakery items.
6. Beef
7. Pizzas
8. Paratha [Bread fried in oil]
9. Fried foods such as omelette, cutlets [fried kebabs],
samosa [fried turnovers], pakora etc.
10. Cream
11. Butter
12. Ice creams etc.
(Increased cholesterol levels directly affects the heart therefore
consult a doctor as well.)
There is no harm in eating chicken, fish and using little
amounts of corn oil in cooking. If the doctor allows, there is no
harm in eating mutton or lamb meat but remove the fat.
According to one medical research, olive oil is helpful
against cholesterol as it removes the bad [LDL] cholesterol from
the blood stream.
If there is an increase in triglycerides within the blood, then
refrain from all sweet dishes and shrimps.

URIC ACID
If the level of uric acid increases, then besides increasing the
sickness and joint pain, it could also damage the kidneys and
the brain. High levels can also lead to liver cancer. Ma’aāż-Allah
   !
 ".

According to medical research, uric acid increases in blood


from those foods which have concentrations of purine. Alcohol
based medications, urine inducing tablets and obesity increase
purine concentrations.
352
Islamic Manners of Eating

URIC ACID PATIENTS SHOULD AVOID....


One who has high concentration of uric acid should avoid all
food items which contain excessive purine. Purines are found in
high concentration in all types of meat and meat products, meat
extracts, fish, shrimps, [seafood], Masoor Dāl [lentils], asparagus,
beans, green peas, dried peas, [mushrooms], spinach,
cauliflower, cabbage etc.

FOODS WITH MODERATE AMOUNTS OF PURINE


Milk and dairy products, eggs, sugar, wheat and wheat based
foods, [wheat bran, wheat germ, oatmeal], margarine, vegetable
shortening, clarified butter, ghee, fruits and its juices, salads,
most vegetables (besides a few), tomatoes, cold drinks etc. all
have moderate amounts of purines.

Some doctors maintain that beef is the most harmful for


patients who suffer from high concentration of uric acid.
Mutton, Lamb, Poultry and Fish are also harmful relative to
there order stated above..

WATER A CURE FOR URIC ACID PATIENTS


Drink 40 glasses of water during a day and night. Do not worry
even if the water comes to the neck and stomach is full. Soon it
will be passed out through urine. Inshā-Allah    ! ", within one
day, you will see its benefit. For example, if the normal range of
uric acid is between 3 and 7 and your level is at 8. Then drink
40 glasses of water in a day and night and it will come down to
7, Inshā-Allah    ! ". If you further continue this procedure, it
will decrease your uric acid level by one unit per day. Drinking
more water will temporarily increase your urine. In this way, it
would clean the stomach, urinary bladder, and the kidneys etc.
consequently it would also remove various impurities within
our system.
353
Letter of Attar

There is no harm in eating, on the day u do this treatment but


remember that drinking water immediately after eating causes
obesity and increases body weight. Therefore, it is advised to
delay drinking water till at least 2 or 3 hours after eating.
(Consult an expert and well qualified doctor.)

MADANĪ ADVICE
Please paste this letter in your dairy. Gather your family
members or Islamic brothers and read this letter to them. Advise
them to get those tests done. As needed, make copies of this
letter and gift it to others and earn many virtues.

Read the pages 68 through 111 from the chapter of


Faizān-e-Sunnat entitled, “The spiritual Lock of Madina on
Your Stomach (Pait Kā Qufl-e-Madinah).”

Was salaam ma’al ikraam


MUHAMMAD ILYĀS QADRI
22 Muharramul Haraam 1427

      
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354
CHAPTER 6
HAJI MUSHTAQ ATTĀRĪ

VIRTUES OF DURŪD [SALUTATION AND PEACE]

A
UTHORITY AND MASTER OF BOTH WORLDS, Beloved of
Allah, Guide for Allah’s Creation, Knower of the
Unknown, Merciful Prophet           
      
  has said
that, “Whoever recites Durūd [Salutation and Peace] upon me, a
100 times, on Friday; When he comes on the Day of Judgment, he
will be accompanied by a Nūr [light] that would be sufficient for
all the creation if distributed.” (Ḥilyat-ul-Awliyā, pp. 49, vol. 8, ḥadiš. 11341)

      
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The Reciter of Na’at, The Preacher of Da’awat-e-Islāmī, Al Hāj,
Abu ‘Ubaid Qārī Muhammad Mushtāq Ahmad Attārī         5
 6 7
son of Maulānā Akhlāq Ahmad was born on a Sunday, 18th of
the Month of Ramadan, 1386 Hijri (Approx. 01/01/1967.), in
Banūn (Sarhad Pakistan.). Before permanently moving to
Karachi, he lived in Faisalabad. He was an Imām at the
Madinah Masjid, Aurangī Town, Karachi. Since 1995 until his
death, he also served as an Imām and Speaker in Ja’ma Masjid
Kanz-ul-Imān. (Bab-ul-Madinah, Bābrī Chawk) He had
memorized 8 Juz’s of the Quran. He was an excellent Qārī.
He had finished 4 years of Dars-e-Niżāmī but his religious
Knowledge was no less than a qualified erudite Scholar. He
worked as an auditor for the government for many years. He
taught English language in Jā’amiāt-ul-Madinah (Sabz Market,
355
Islamic Manners of Eating

Bab-ul-Madinah, Karachi.) Al-Hamdulillah    ! " [By the Grace of


Allah    !  " ] he was privileged to do Haj and Visit the Holy City
of Madinah four times.
From me, all the thing of the worlds are taken
But never, from my heart, Your Devotion Oh Prophet, weakens

Agar chay daulat dunya mirī sab chīn li jāe


Meray dil say na har giz Ya Nabī tayri wila niklay.

HAJI MUSTAQ ATTĀRĪ EMBRACES THE MADANĪ ENVIRONMENT


Haji Mushataq Attārī was already close to religion before
embracing Da’wat-e-Islāmī’s Righteous Environment. He had a
beard and was a Na’at reciter with a very pleasant voice. He
narrated his life changing event to me (the author of this book);
how and when he embraced the Da’wat-e-Islāmī’s Righteous
Madanī Environment. He reported that, “When I came to
Da’wat-e-Islāmī’s Sunnah-Inspiring Congregation at its first
head quarters at Gulzār-e-Habīb Masjid for the first time, I
began to leave at the end of the congregation just as other
brothers. As I was leaving and Islamic Brother with a beard
approached me and shook my hands. I was moved by the
courteous and polite manner with which he greeted me. With
his Inspirational Efforts he made arrangements to meet with
you (Amīr of Ahlussunah.) I was very influenced by you and
Al-Hamdulillah    ! " embraced Da’wat-e-Islāmī’s Righteous
Environment.

      
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HAJI MUSHTAQ BECAME THE NIGRĀN OF SHŪRĀ


   5
Allah    ! " had blessed Haji Mushtaq       6
 7 with a very
pleasant voice. He began to recite Na’at in large congregations
and thus inspire the Devotees of the Prophet.

356
Hajī Mushtaq Attarī

He was also an excellent Preacher, and had a passion to


work for Islam. Allah    ! " Granted him with higher ranks and
in 2000 he was appointed as the Nigrān of Bab-ul-Madinah
Karachi, with the approval of all the Nigrāns of Karachi. In the
same year in the month of October he was appointed as the
Nigrān of Markazī Majlis-e-Shūrā.

We are content with the pleasure of Allah    !  "


, and are your Devotees.
         
     
Make our hereafter better, Ya Rasulallah  

Ridā par rab kī rādī hayn tumhare hum bhikārī hayn


Hamārī āakhirat behter banadon Ya Rasulallah.

THE PROPHET EMBRACED HIS DEVOTEE MUSHTAQ


Before Haji Mustaq’s       5
 6 7 death, an Islamic Brother sent me
a letter the contents of which were something like this: “I saw
myself in a dream before the Golden Gates of the Prophet’s
         
     
    Tomb. When I peeped through one of the
three holes in the Golden Gate, I saw a faith enlightening sight.
I saw that the Prophet              
  accompanied by Sayyidunā
Abu Bakr   3 "     
 ? 7 and Sayyidunā Umar       5  6
 7 . I saw Haji
    
   5
  also appear. The Prophet        
6 7          
Mushtaq   
embraced (hugged) him and said something, which I don’t
remember. Then, I woke up.”

When will the desire to die in your feet Yā-Mustafā              
 
Come to fruition, for this dependent and the helpless.

Āp ke qadmon say lag kar maut ki Yā-Mustafā               
Ārzū kab āaegī bar baykas o majbūr kī

AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF HAJI MUSHTAQ


Haji Mushtaq was severely ill. I gave a letter to him which was
sent by an Islamic Brother. I am positive that The Embodiment

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Islamic Manners of Eating

of Nūr, The Leader of the Sons of Adam, His Eminence, The


Intercessor on the Day of Judgment, The Noble Prophet
        
     
  , had bestowed special endowments on him.
The letter contained the following content, which I have
  !
summarized: “Al-Hamdulillah   ", in the night between
Tuesday and Wednesday, I saw the following dream that the
Prophet                 
  was seated in Masjid-un-Nabawī.
Other Prophets  89     :  , The Four Caliphs, Imam Hasan and
Hussain, and many Saints  :  3 "   
 ? 7 were gathered around him.
The air was silent. The Prophet                
  turned to
Sayyidunā Abū Bakr   3 "   
 ? 7 and said, ‘Muhammad Mushtaq
Attārī     5 6   7 is about to come. I will shake hands with him
and so should you. He will come here and recite Na’ats.’ Then I
woke up.”
In the morning, which was the 15th of Sha’bān, 1423 Hijrah, I
  5
heard that Haji Mushtaq      6 7 had passed away.

Sounds of Na’at on my lips, were there yesterday and is today


My relationship with my Prophet          
     
  , was there yesterday
and is today.

Lab par na’at-e-pāk ka nagma kal bhi thā aur āaj bhi hay
Meray nabi say mera rishta kal bhi thā aur āaj bhi hay.

      
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My Dear Islamic Brothers! One can form a positive opinion that


Haji Mushtaq Attārī         5  6 7 attained an exalted status in the

court of the Prophet          
     
  as a Na’at reciter, which is
why glad tidings of “awaiting his arrival” and “hearing of
Na’at” were heard.

Yahi āarzū ho sar khurū mile do jahān kī āabrū


Mayn kahun ghulām hun āap kā voh kahayn ke hum ko qubūl hay.

358
Hajī Mushtaq Attarī

THE FUNERAL OF HAJI MUSHTAQ


The funeral prayers of Haji Mushtaq       5
 6
 7 were offered in
Nishtar Park, Karachi. I (Amīr of Ahlusunnah) have participated
in many funeral prayers but have never seen as many people as
I saw in his funeral. Many touching sights were witnessed,
people who dearly loved him were crying hard. Haji Mushtaq
  5
     6
 7 was buried in Sahrā-e-Madinah (Toll Plaza, Karachi),
where clamours of people crying had saddened the whole
environment.
Mushtaq Attārī is very dear to Attar.
          
     
Give him the same news, Yā-Rasulallah   .
         
     
(That he is dear to you Yā-Rasulallah   )

Shahā attār kā piyārā hay mushtaq attārī


Yahi muzhdah isay tum bhi sunado Ya-Rasulallah          
     
 

      
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A PLETHORA OF IĪŠĀL OF ŠAWĀB [DONATING REWARD]


An Iīšāl of Šawāb congregation was held in Faizān-e-Madinaĥ
on the third day. Many Islamic Brothers took part. A non
exhaustive list of some of the Iīšāl of šawāb that was donated
by brothers from many cities is as follows: Recitation of:

• Quran, 13919 times.


• Various Juz’s 5613.
• Surah Al- Yāsīn, 1038 times.
• Surah-tul-Mulk, 1140 times
• Surah Al- Rahmān, 165 times.
• Surah Muzzammil, 10 times.
• Ayat-ul-Qursi, 33592 times.

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Islamic Manners of Eating

• Various Surah’s, 93186 times.


• Durūd [Blessings on the Prophet], 13888087 times.
• Kalimah Tayyibah, 348400 times.
• Various Tasbihaat, 357200 times.

Oh My Allah    !  "
, Grant death under the shadow of the Green Dome.
May Attars funeral (Janazah) be in Madinah.

Ilāhī    !  "
maut āae gumbad-e-khadarā ke sāye mayn
Madinay mayn janāzah attār kā dhūm say niklay

      
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SOME HIGHLIGHT OF HAJI MUSHTAQ’S CHARACTER


An Islamic Brother gave some of his opinions, in a letter, on
   5
Haji Mushtaq’s       6 7 character based on his personal
observations and experience. They are as follows:

• I lived for Six years in Aurangi Town, When Haji Mushtaq


   5
      6 7 was in Aurangi Town, Karachi and was a local Nigran
over there. I never saw him commit back-biting, and I never
saw him rebuke or scold someone

• No matter how important issue would come our way, he


would always solve it with wisdom and kind manner.

• “Disheartening comments” by anyone would never even


create a frown on his face.

• He was very punctual.

• Whenever he would be called for a Congregation or to


conduct someone’s marriage ceremony, he would be offered a
ride by the hosts, but he would always refuse saying that he
had a motor bike and would come on his own.
360
Hajī Mushtaq Attarī

• He would never take any money from the host for the travel.
If he would be offered he would kindly refuse.

• I was married on the 19th of December, 1996. Mushtaq Attari


   5
      6 7 came all the way to Landhi (which is very far from
Aurangi town). He conducted my marriage ceremony in
addition to reciting the Sehra (poem of Duā’s for the bride and
the groom.) On this return, my family insisted the he take a ride
in the groom’s car back to his home, but he kindly refused and
travelled in bus.
Mushtaq Attari, We love him, tall
Insha-Allah    !  "
, we will not fall.

Hazrat-e-Mushtaq Attari say hamayn piyaar hay


Insha-Allah    !  "
apna bera paar hay

      
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DESIRES COME TO FRUITION IN HAJI MUSHTAQ’S COURT


Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", Haji Mushtaq      5
 6
 7 is buried in Shera-
e-Madinah Karachi, Many Muslims visit his Shrine and reap
endowments. An Islamic Brother has narrated his own
experience. He said, “My wife was expecting a child. According
to the doctors the child to be born was a girl. Since I already
had a girl, I desired that the second child be a boy. I came to the
Shrine of Haji Mushtaq       5
 6
 7 and did Duā over there.
Al-Hamdulillah    ! ", the medical report proved to be wrong
and with the Mercy of Allah    ! " my wife gave birth to a boy.

Whoever is a devotee of Mustafa.


Mercy is continuously showered upon him.

Mustufa ka hay jo bhi diwana


Us pay remat mudaam hoti hay

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Islamic Manners of Eating

MAGIC WAS REPELLED


An Islamic Brother has reported that he was under the influence
of magic. He visited the shrine of Haji Mushtaq       5
 6
 7 with
other brothers and did Duā over there. He felt like something
had taken a hold of him, but after a while that feeling
diminished and Al-Hamdulillah    ! " he attained better health.

Listen! All pious people


Are worthy of your respect.

Sun lo ha aik naik shakhsiat


Qabil ihtiraam hoti hay

OH RAB OF BELOVED MUSTAFA             !


     
      "! Forgive

me, Haji Mushtaq     5 6
 7 , all Brothers and Sisters of Da’awat-
e-Islāmī and all the Muslims.

   ٖ       Y    Z  [  \  X 


      
 X
  ( S    (

      
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362
SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTERS
CHAPTER 1
VIRTUES OF DURŪD AND SALĀM

T HIS CHAPTER contains various Ahadiš of the Prophet


   
  
     
     
  regarding the vitues and excellence of reciting
Durūd.

FORTY PROPHETIC NARRATIONS

1. “Whoever recites one Durūd100 upon me, Allah    ! ", the


Exalted sends ten blessings upon him.” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 166, vol. 1)

      
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2. “The person closest to me on the Day of Judgement will be


the one who would have recited the most Durūd upon me in
this world.” (Jāmi’ Tirmiżī, pp. 64, vol. 1)

3. “Whoever recites one Durūd] upon me; Allah    ! ", the


Exalted sends ten Blessings upon him and writes ten good
deeds in his Book of Deeds.” (Jāmi’ Tirmiżī, pp. 64, vol. 1)

4. “While a Muslim recites Durūd upon me, the Angels


continuously pray for him. Now, [after knowing this] it is the
person's choice whether he recites less or more.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah,
p. 65)

100Durūd [Salawat, in Arabic] specific phrases said as an invocation of blessings for the
Beloved Prophet          
     
 

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Islamic Manners of Eating

5. After Salāh, a person glorified Allah    ! " then recited


Durūd. The Beloved Prophet          
     
   
said to him
“Supplicate! It will be accepted. Ask! It will be granted.” (Sunan
Nasāiī, pp. 189, vol. 1)

6. Jibrīl [Angel Gabriel] said to me that Allah    ! ", the Exalted


says, “O Muhammad    
  
     
     
  Are you not happy with
[the fact] that when one of your follower sends one Salām
[Salutations] upon you, I send one hundred Salām [mercies]
upon him.” (Sunan Nasāiī, pp. 191, vol. 1)

7. “Whoever recites one Durūd upon me; Allah    ! ", the


Exalted sends ten blessings upon him, forgives ten of his
[minor] sins and increases his) status by ten ranks.” (Sunan Nasāiī,
pp. 191, vol. 1)

8. “Whoever recites ten Durūd upon me, Allah    ! ", the


Exalted sends one hundred blessings upon him.” (At-Targhīb wat-
Tarhīb, pp. 322, vol. 2)

9. “Whoever recites a hundred Durūd upon me, Allah    ! ",


the Exalted inscribes between his eyes that 'This person is free
from hypocrisy and the Hell-fire; and he will be raised with the
martyrs on the Day of Judgement.” (Majma’-uz-Zawāid, pp. 253, vol. 10)

10. “Whoever recites one thousand Durūd upon me, he will not
die until he sees his place in Paradise.” (At-Targhīb wat-Tarhīb, pp. 328,
vol. 2)

11. “Out of love and affection for me, whoever recites three
Durūds upon me in the day and three times in the night, then
he has a right [Haq] that Allah    ! " may forgive his [minor]
sins of that day and night.” (At-Targhīb wat-Tarhīb, pp. 328, vol. 2)

12. “Recite Durūd upon me wherever you are, as it reaches me.”


(Mu’jam Kabīr, pp. 82, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 2829)

364
Virtues of Durūd and Salām

13. “Indeed your names are presented to me, along with your
identity; therefore recite Durūd upon me with beautiful
words.” (Muṣannaf ‘Abdur-Razzāq, pp. 214, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 3111)

14. “Indeed Jibrīl [Angel Jibril] gave me glad tidings that


whoever recites Durūd upon you, Allah    ! ", the Exalted sends
blessings upon him and whoever sends Salām [salutations] upon
you, Allah    ! " sends peace [Salām] upon him.” (Musnad Imām
Aḥmad, pp. 407, vol. 1)

15. Companion Ubaye bin Ka'ab  


  3 "  
 ? 7 said that, [Apart from
my Fard obligations etc.] I will devote all my time in reciting
Durūd. Upon this, The Master of Madina         
     
  said
to him, “This will be sufficient to drive away your worries and
shall be redemption for your [minor] sins.” (Jāmi’ Tirmiżī, pp. 207,
vol. 4, ḥadiš. 2465 )

16. “Whoever recited ten Durūd upon me in the day and ten in
the ngiht will receive my intercession [shafa’at] on the Day of
Judgement.” (Majma’-uz-Zawāid, pp. 45, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 6383)

17. “Recite Durūd upon me in abundance, undoubtedly this is


cleansing [Tahārat] for you.” (Musnad Abū Ya’lā, pp. 45, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 6383)

18. “When two Muslims meet each other, who love one another
for the sake of Allah     ! ", recite Durūd upon the Noble
        
     
  when they meet and shake hands will have
their previous and future [minor] sins forgiven before they
part.” (Musnad Abū Ya’lā, pp. 95, vol. 3, ḥadiš.2951)

19. “My intercession is compulsory [wājib] for the one who read
  ‫ﻟ (ﻠ ﻢ ﻧ ﺰ  ﻟ ' ﻟ  ﻤ ﻘ ﻌ ﺪ ﻟ  ﻤ‬.”
Durūd upon me and then recited ‫  ﻋ  ﻨ ﺪ ≈ ﻳ ﻮ م  ﻟﻘ ﻴ ﻣ ﺔ‬c
(Mu’jam Awsaṭ, pp. 279, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 3285)

20. “Whoever writes Durūd [Blessing] upon me in a book,


angels will continue to seek forgiveness [make Istighfār] for him

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Islamic Manners of Eating

as long as my name remains in it.” (Mu’jam Awsaṭ, pp. 497, vol. 1, ḥadiš.
1835)

21. “O’ People! Indeed, the person to receive quick relief from
the anxieties and accountability on the Day of Judgment
[Qiyāmat] will be the one who would have recited Durūd upon
me in this world, in abundance.” (Firdaus –bima’ Šaur-ul-Khitāb, pp.
471, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 8210)

22. “Read Durūd upon me in abundance, undoubtedly this will


be forgiveness for your sins.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 87, ḥadiš. 1406)

23. “Whoever recites one Durūd upon me Allah    ! " writes the
reward of one Qirāt for him and one Qirāt is the size of Mount
Uhud101.” (Muṣannaf ‘Abdur-Razzāq, pp. 51, vol. 1, ḥadiš. 153 )

24. “Undoubtedly, Allah    ! " has stationed an angel on my


grave who has been Granted the power to hear the voice of
every creation. Hence, whosoever, until the Day of Judgment,
recites Durūd upon me, [this angel] presents that person’s
name and his father’s name to me. The angel says, ‘A certain
son of so-and-so has recited Durūd upon you.’” (Majma’-uz-Zawāid,
pp. 251, vol. 10, ḥadiš. 17291)

   !
 " [Glory be to Allah 
Subhān-Allah     ! "
]! How
fortunate indeed is the person who recites Durūd [Blessings on
the Prophet] that his name, along with his father’s name, is
presented in the court of the Holy Prophet               
  . I
would like to bring your attention to a noteworthy and faith
enlightening word of wisdom that the foregoing Hadiš brings
forth: the angel stationed at the glorious grave of the Holy
Prophet         
     
  , has been Granted such enormous
hearing powers, that in one single instance, he can hear the
recitation of Durūd of millions of Muslims around the globe

101 Mount Uhud is a mountain near Madina. This site was very dear to Our Nabi
         
     
 
as recorded in narrations.

366
Virtues of Durūd and Salām

and also gains knowledge of the name of the reciter and name
of the reciter’s father. In other words, he has also been Granted
‘Knowledge of the Unknown’ [‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb]. If this is the state
of the faculty to hear and the ‘Knowledge of the Unknown’
[‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb] of the angel who is a servant of the Holy
Prophet          
     
  ; just imagine the greatness of the
Authority and ‘Knowledge of the Unknown’ [‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb] of
His Excellency The Prophet               
  himself! Why then
would the Immaculate Prophet                not be
 
cognizant (aware) of his followers and listen to their pleas for
assistance and help them, with the divine permission of Allah
   !
 "?

  !
25. “Whoever desires that Allah   " is pleased with him when
he is presented in His Court, should recite Durūd upon me in
abundance.” (Firdaus –bima’ Šaur-ul-Khitāb, pp. 183, vol. 4, ḥadiš. 6083)

26. “Perform your Fard [obligatory] Hajj pilgrimage.


Undoubtedly, its reward is greater than participating in twenty
Gazwah and reciting one Durūd upon me, equals that [in
reward].” (Firdaus –bima’ Šaur-ul-Khitāb, pp. 607, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 2484)

27. “Whoever recites one hundred Durūd [Blessings] upon me,


during a day, Allah    ! " will alleviate one hundred of his
needs of which thirty shall be in this world and seventy will be
in the hereafter.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. . 256, vol. 1, ḥadiš: 2229)

 ‫ ﻠ‬8  ‫ ﻮ‬8‫  ﻣ‬R‫ﺤﻤﺪ‬


28. “Whoever said, '  ‫ﺟﺰ! ﻋ ﻨ‬
 ‫ﻣ‬  seventy angels will
write good deeds for him for one thousand days.” (Mu’jam Kabīr,
pp. 165, vol. 11, ḥadiš. 11509)

29. “Recite Durūd upon me, Allah    ! " will send blessings
upon you.” (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšur, pp. 654, vol. 6)

30. “When you recite Durūd upon the Prophets  89 


 
 :   also
recite Durūd upon me, indeed I am the Prophet [Rasūl] of your

367
Islamic Manners of Eating

Rab (Creator)    "


 ! for all the universes.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 256, vol.
1, ḥadiš: 2241)

   !
31. “Whoever recited the Holy Quran, glorified Allah   ",
recited Durūd on the Prophet         
     
  and asked Allah
  " for forgiveness; found goodness from its place.” (Ad-Dur-rul-
  !
Manšur, pp. 698, vol. 8)

32. “Enha your gatherings by reciting Durūd [Blessings] upon


me as this will be Nur [light] for you on the Day of Judgement
(Firdaus –bima’ Šaur-ul-Khitāb, pp. 417, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 3148).’

33. “On the shining night [Thursday night] and the bright day
[Friday], recite Durūd upon me in abundance because your
recitation is presented to me.” (Majma’-uz-Zawāid, pp. 381, vol. 2, ḥadiš.
3025)

34. “Recite Durūd upon me in abundance on Friday night


[which begins after sunset on Thursday] and the day of Friday
because whoever does this, I will be his witness and intercessor
on the Day of Judgement.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 87, ḥadiš. 1405)

35. “When the day of Thursday approaches, Allah    ! " sends


his angels, who have scribes made of Silver and pens made of
gold. They write the names of those who recite Durūd in
abundance on the day of Thursday and during Friday night
[which begins after sunset on Thursday].” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. 250,
vol. 1, ḥadiš: 2174)

36. “Recitation of Durūd upon me is Nūr [light] for you on the


bridge of Sirāt102. Whoever recites eighty Durūd upon me on
the day of Friday, eighty years [worth] of his [minor] sins will
be forgiven.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp. 320, ḥadiš. 5191)

102This bridge is built over Hell. Everyone who wishes to enter the heavens has to
successfully cross it. It is said to be sharper than a sword and finer than a hair.

368
Virtues of Durūd and Salām

37. “Whoever recites Durūd upon me on the day of Friday, I


will intercede for him on the Day of Judgement.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl,
pp. 255, vol. 1, ḥadiš: 2236)

38. “Whoever recites a hundred Durūd upon me on Friday; when


he comes on the Day of Judgment, he will be accompanied by
such a Nūr [light] that will be sufficient for all the creation if [it
were] distributed.” (Ḥilyat-ul-Awliyā, pp. 49, vol. 8, ḥadiš. 11341)
39. “Whoever recites a hundred Durūd upon me on Friday
night [which begins after sunset on Thursday] and on the Day
of Friday, Allah    ! " will alleviate a hundred of his needs of
which seventy shall be of the afterlife and and thirty    ! " shall
be of this world.” (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšur, pp. 654, vol. 6)
40. “Whoever recites two hundred Durūd upon me on the day
of Friday, his two hundred years [worth of minor] sins are
forgiven.” (Kanz-ul-’Ummāl, pp. . 256, vol. 1, ḥadiš: 2238)

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

EIGHT PROPETIC NARRATIONS REGARDING THE CENSURE


FOR NOT RECITING DURŪD

1. “People who part a gathering without the Remembrance of


Allah    ! " [Żikrullah] and without reciting Durūd upon the
Noble    
        
     
  , they part on the foul smell of a [rotting]
corpse.” (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšur, pp. 653, vol. 6)

2. “Whoever has forgotten to say Durūd upon me has forgotten


the way to Paradise.” (Majma’-uz-Zawāid, pp. 255, vol. 10, ḥadiš. 17307)

3. “Dust be upon the nose103 [an Arabic expression used for


admonition] of the man who does not recite Durūd upon me

103 i.e. dishonoured

369
Islamic Manners of Eating

when I am mentioned in his presence.” (Al-Mustadrak, pp. 247, vol.2,


ḥadiš. 2060)

4. “The stingiest person among you is he who hears my


mention but does not recite Durūd upon me.” (At-Targhīb wat-
Tarhīb, pp. 332, vol. 2)

5. “Those people who sit in a gathering but do not Żikr


[remembrance] of Allah    ! " and do not recite Durūd upon the
Noble Prophet    
  
     
     
  will feel remorse on the Day of
Judgement when they see its reward even if they enter Paradise
[Jannah].” (Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp. 489, vol. 3, ḥadiš. 9972)

6. “Whoever heard my name mentioned in his presence and


did not recite Durūd upon me committed an injustice.” (Muṣannaf
‘Abdur-Razzāq, pp. 142, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 3129)

7. “Whoever heard my name mentioned in his presence and


did not recite Durūd upon me is unfortunate.” (Al-Jami’us-Ṣagīr, pp.
526, ḥadiš. 8678)

8. “Those people who sit in a gathering but do not Żikr


[rememberence] of Allah    ! " and do not recite Durūd upon
the Noble Prophet         
     
  will feel remorse over those
"
gatherings. If Allah   ! Wills, He will punish them and if He
Wills, He will forgive them.” (Jāmi’ Tirmiżī, pp. 247, vol. 5, ḥadiš. 3391)

      
 1   
/0 .*     -
  + ,

FIVE SAYINGS OF THE SAHABA


1. First Khalifa, Leader of the Believers, Sayyidunā Abu Bakr
Siddique   3 "   
 ? 7 has stated reciting Durūd upon the Prophet
        
     
  removes mistakes better than cold water [puts
out fire], and sending Salām upon the Prophet               
 
is better than setting slaves free. (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšur, pp. 654, vol. 6)

370
Virtues of Durūd and Salām

2. Mother of the Believers, Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah  :3 "    ?


 7
stated, “Adorn your gatherings by reciting Durūd upon the
King of Prophets.” (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšur, pp. 655, vol. 6)

3. Second Khalifa, Leader of the Believers, Hazrat U’mar


  3 "    ? 
 7 said, “Supplications are suspended between the
heavens and the earth until you recite Durūd upon the Prophet
        
     
  .” (Jāmi’ Tirmiżī, pp. 64, vol. 1)

4. Fourth Khalifa, Leader of the Believers Hazrat Ali     3 "    


 ?
7
said, “Supplication is veiled until the one making the
supplication recites Durūd upon Prophet Muhammad
        
     
  .” (Majma’-uz-Zawāid, pp. 247, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 17278)

5. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar bin Aas   3 "   


 ?
7 said, “Whoever
recites one Durūd upon the Holy Prophet         
     
  ,
Allah    ! " and His angels send seventy blessings upon him.”
(Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp. 614, vol. 2, ḥadiš. 6766)

      
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/0 .*     -
  + ,

371
CHAPTER 2
METHOD OF DELIVERING DARS

THIS CHAPTER contained the method on how to deliver Dars as


sanctioned by the Righteous Environment of Da’awat-e-Islāmī.

DELIVERING DARS104
Say the following three times:

“Please come closer”


Then overlay [purday mayn purdah] yourself, sit in the folder
leg position (as in Salāh) recite the follwing:

   
   %  4 /    89
X   B 8C  ؕ ◌ X   4  
  7 fe / 0 , 
   9 &   J   & b -"  g ./&( 
  t%   J6 %   
ؕ  ؕ     %   Jm  y (     

Then make the attendees of the dars repeat the following Durūd:

f 
e *  +t H _
&<     
   _ f 
e { -  7 H _   B -C
     8 9 
e 7 -  F H _
f  &<     
   _ f 
e Y   F H _   B -C
     8 9 

If you are in the Masjid, then say:

 `" S 
ƒ  '   H- F
3  '
Translation: I make the intention of Sunnat Itikaaf

104 You have to read aloud anything that is italicised and arabic

372
Islamic Manners of Eating

Then say the following:


“My Dear Islamic Brothers! Come closer and in respect of the Dars,
try and sit in the folded leg position as you sit in the Salāh. If you get
tired then sit in any comfortable position. Lower your gaze and listen
to the Dars from Faizan-e-Sunnat with full concentration because by
looking here and there, by playing on the floor with your finger, or by
messing around with your clothes, body or hair, it's possible that you
may not reap all the blessings105.”
After saying this, mention a virtue of Durūd from Faizan-e-
Sunnat
After the virtue read this aloud so that all brothers can recite
Durūd

      
 1    
/0 .*    -
  + ,
Next begin the Dars by reading this book. You should only read
the translation of Arabic text. Do not give your own explanation
of any Qur'anic verse or Hadiš as this is Harām.

After the Dars, say the following:

“Al-Hamdulillah [By the Grace of Allah    ! " ], Sunnahs


are taught and learnt excessively in the Righteous Environment
Da’awat-e-Islāmī. (Mention the location of the weekly Ijtimā’
[Congregation] in your locality.) The weekly gathering of
Dawat-e-Islami in Karachi takes place every Thursday evening
in Faizan-e-Madina, Old Sabzi Mandi. It is a Madani request
that you participate in this Ijtimā’ [Congregation] and make an
effort to spend the night in Faizan-e-Madina if possible. Make it
a habit, to travel with Devotees of the Prophet in the Madanī
Qāfilah in order to learn Sunnahs of the Prophet              
  ;
and to fill in your Madani In'aamaat card and to hand it in to

105 Try and say something like this at the beginning of your Bayan also.

373
Method of Delivering Dars

your area Zimadaar within the first ten days of the new Islamic
  !
month (practice Fikr-e-Madina). Inshā-Allah   ", with the
blessing of this we will start acting upon the Sunnahs of the
Prophet         
     
  , have a resentment for sins and will
safeguard our Imān. Every Islamic brother make the intention
that, I must strive to rectify myself and the people of the whole
world. Inshā-Allah    ! ". To rectify ourselves we will act upon
the Madani In'aamaat and to rectify the people of the whole
world we will travel in the Madanī Qāfilah Inshā-Allah    ! ".”
Finally with absolute humility and humbleness, you should
raise your hands and make the following Duā without adding
anything and without leaving something out:

   e /
   %  4 /     89
X   4  
  ؕ X
   B 8C   7  f   0
 ,
 

“Oh Allah    ! "! For the sake of the Prophet              
 
forgive us, our parents, and all the Muslims. Oh Allah   ! "!
Forgive all our sins, give us the passion to become practising
Muslims and make us obedient to our parents. Oh Allah    ! "!
Make us your sincere devotees and of your Beloved Prophet
        
     
  . Cure us from the illness of sins. Oh Allah
 !
  "! Give us the ability to act upon the Madani In'aamaat,
give us the ability to travel on the Madanī Qāfilahs. Give us the
ability to invite others and inspire them to act upon the Madani
In'aamaat and travel on the Madanī Qāfilah. Oh Allah    ! "!
Free every Muslim from disease, debt, unemployment,
wrongful court cases and every type of worry. Oh Allah    ! "!
Bless every Muslim with obedient children. Oh Allah     ! "!
Grant us death with Imān in the beautiful city of Madina-tul-
Munawwara and while lost in the visions of your Beloved
Porphet               
  . Make our place of burial in Jannah-tul-
Baqi and make us companions of your Beloved                

in Jannah-tul-Firdous. Oh Allah    ! " for the sake of the cool
and fragrant air in Madina, accept all our lawful Duā’s.”

374
Islamic Manners of Eating

Then read the following couplet

“Whoever proclaims Yā-Rab    !  "


for his supplications.
Fullfill his Duā’s and relieve him of all his complications.”

Jis kisī nay bhī Duā’ kay wāstay yā Rab    "


 ! kahā
Kar day pūrī ārzū har bay kas-o-majbūr kī

Next, read the following verse as part of the Duā:

  ‚ ¢ (   f 
‫ ۝‬0 

    Z    2 -  C H   `L
O 9  - 0        -    - 3(   J  HI   :H   H Y  e 2  
Read any Durūd
Read the following verse to finish your Duā:

     
 ‫ ۝‬X  % 4     k 8   ‫ ۝‬2-
 4     7  f   / 0 ,    ‫ ۝‬X M C H 0  " B !    7  _
& 7  2
<  E
In trying to achieve maximum benefit from the Dars given,
sit down and warmly meet everyone. New Islamic brothers
should be brought nearer. You should also encourage them to act
upon the Madanī In’aāmāt and travel in the Madanī Qāfilah.

DUĀ OF ATTAR

O ALLAH    ! ", Grant me the strength to give at least 2 Dars


everyday from Faizan-e-Sunnat at schools, Masjids, homes and
busy intersections and with the blessing of this, forgive me and
those that listen to this lesson and make us well mannered.
Ameen

375
GLOSSARY OF VARIOUS TERMS USED IN THE BOOK

A
ISLAMIC TERMS
Ażān Call for Prayers
Duā Supplication
Durūd and Salām Blessing and Salutation on the Prophet
Durūd Blessings on the Prophet
Fard Obligation
Ghusl Purificatory Bath
Hadiš Prophetic Tradition
Halāl Lawful
Harām Strictly Forbidden
I’tikāf Abiding in the Masjid
Iīšāl of Šawāb Donating Reward to the deceased
Iqāmaĥ Call to Congregational Prayer
Jāaiz Allowed
Jamā’at Congregational Salāh
Makrūh Tahrīmī Close to being forbidden
Makrūh Tanzih Reprehensible
Masjid Mosque
Murīd Disciple
Na’at Poetry Complementing the Prophet
Nafil Supererarogatory
Not Jāaiz Not Allowed
Raka’at Cycles
Sajdaĥ Prostration
Salāh Daily Ritual Prayer
Sayyidunā Leader
Shaykh Spritual Leader
Taĥajjud Night Vigil Prayer
Takbīr-e-uūla First Rak’at
Wājib Compulsary
Wudū Ablution
376
B
DA’AWAT-E-ISLĀMĪ’S TERMS

‘Aāshiqān-e-Rasūl Devotees of the Prophet


Dars Reading Passages aloud to a group of
individuals
Fikr-e-Madinah Self Reflection
Ijtimā’ Congregation
Ilāqa-i-Dorah Barā-e-Naikīkī The tour to call people towards
Da’wat righteousness
Infirādī Koshish Efforts to inspire someone towards
righteousness
Jāmi’a-tul-Madinah An Institution for Scholarly Islamic
theology
Madanī In’aāmāt Self Analysis Questionnaire
Madanī Māhaul Righteous Madanī Environment
Madanī Qāfilah Outreach Travels
Madrassa-tul-Madinah for Quranic Recitation class
Adults
Muballigh Preacher
Naykī kī Da’wat Call to Righteousness
Qufl-e-Madinah of the Guarding the Stomach from excessive
Abdomen eating
Sadā-e-Madinah Waking other up for Fajr
Madanī Phūl Pearls of Wisdom
Madanī Muzākrah Question and Answer Session
Purday Mayn Purdah Overlay

377
C
ARABIC PHRASES

   ! "
Mentioned after the name or title of Allah
   !
 " and is translated as “Exalted is He.”
Mentioned after the name or title of Prophet
          Muhammad          
        
    
   and is
translated as “Allah’s    ! " Bless him and
Grant him peace.”
Mentioned after the Names of Prophets  89    :  
   B-C
8 9    
   and is translated as “Allah’s    ! " Blessing

and Peace Upon him.”
Mentioned after the name of a Companion of
  3"   Prophet Muhammad           
      
  and
 
 ? 7
is translated as “Allah    ! " be pleased with
him.”
 : 3"  
 
 ? 7
Same meaning as above except that is is used
for females
Mentioned after the name of a pious Muslim
  5
     6
 7 and is translated as “Allah’s    ! " Mercy b
upon him.”
  5
 :      6
 7
Same meaning as above except that is used for
females
     $% & '(
  # 
May their blessings continue

378
D
TITLES FOR THE PROPHET

Authority and Master of Both Do Ālam Kay Mālik Aur Mukhtār


Worlds

Beloved of Allah Allah Kay Mahbūb, Mahbūb-e-Dāwar


Comforter of the Hearts Rahat-e-Qalb-O-Sīnah

Compassionate / Benficient Raūf Aur Rahīm


Prophet

Embodiment of Nūr Nūr-e-Mujassam, Sarāpā Nūr, Hudūr-e-


Pur Nūr

Guide for Allah’s Creation Khalq Kay Rehbar

Highly Celebrated Prophet Āqā-e-Nāmdār


His Eminence Rasūl-e-Mohtasham

Immaculate Prophet Munazahun ‘Anil ‘Uyūb

Intercessor on the Day of Shāfi’-e-Mahshar, Shāfi’-e-Yaumun


Judgment Nushūr

Knower of the Unseen Dānā-e-Ghūyūb

Last Prophet Nabī-e-Ākir-uz-Zamān

Leader of the Prophets Rasūlon Kay Salār

Leader of the Sons of Adam Shāh-e-Banī Ādam

Master of Madinah-tul- Sarkār-e-Madina-tul-Munawwarah


Munawwarah

Master of Makkah and Makkī Madanī Sarkār


Madinah

379
Master of Makka-tul- Sarkār-e-Makka-tul-Mukarramah
Mukarramah
Merciful Prophet Nabī-e-Karīm

Mercy for the Both the Rahmat-e-Ālamyān


Words

Mercy for the Universe Rahmat-e- Ālam


Munificent Prophet Hudūr-e-Akram

Pristine Prophet Rasūl-e-Pāk

Renowned Prophet Sarkār-e-Nāmdār


Soothe Qarār-e-Qalb-O-Sīnah

Sovereign of Madinah Madīnay Kay Tājdār

Splendid / Dignified Sarwar-e-Żīshān


Prophet

Sublime Prophet Rasūl-e-Ażīm

Sultan of Both Worlds Sultān-e-Do Jahān, Do Ālam Kay Sultān

Sultan of the Prophets Nabyon Kay Sultān

The Noble Prophet of Sarkār-e-Madinah


Madinah

The Rai-son D’e-tre of Sāhib-e-Laulāk


Creation

Traverser of the Heavens Sayyāh-e-Aflak

Venerable Emperor Shahanshah-e-Abrār

380
TRANSLITERATION CHART

W A/a
‫ڑ‬ Ř/ř
{ L/l

 A/a
z Z/z
 M/m

 B/b
¤ X/x
2 N/n

¥ P/p
Q S/s
 V/v

T T/t
¦ Sh/sh
‫ہ §ة‬ Ĥ/ĥ

‫ٹ‬ T/t
ª S/s
‫ھ‬ H/h

¬ Š/š
R D/d
@ Y/y

­ J/j
® T/t
‫ے‬ Y/y

° Ch
± Zz
◌ A/a

V H/h
² ‘
◌ U/u

³ Kh/kh
´ Gh/gh ◌ I/i

D/d
ƒ F/f
‫ہ‬/ ( Ū/ū

‫ڈ‬ D/d
¶ Q/q
‫ہ‬/ · Ī/ī

b Ż/ż
 K/k
‫ہ‬/ ( Ā/ā

7 R/r
¸ G/g
◌

381
INDEX
‘Ashurāĥ ...................................................... 247 in food ............................................................. 119
significance of ................................................. 249 in sustenance ..................................................... 31
‘ilm-ul-Ghayb ....................................... 242, 283 Kasabī .............................................................. 164
‘Ilm-ul-Ghayb ..............................2, 47, 206, 367 on the Prophet 1, 128, 140, 307, 355, 365, 367,
abdāl ................................................... 205, 207 368, 369
who are they? ................................................. 207 Wahabī ............................................................ 164
accountability .............................................. 4, 5 blood .......................................................... 317
affliction ...................................................... 105 bones .......................................................... 128
befall ............................................................... 105 benefits of ....................................................... 335
patience ............................................................ 60 booklet
Ahmed bin Hanbal ................ 190, 192, 193, 194 benefits of distributing ...................................... 78
ākhirah ............................................... 4, 5, 209 bribery ........................................................ 291
alcohol burnt food................................................... 337
medical harms of ............................................. 202 charity .. 150, 185, 258, 259, 262, 270, 281, 282,
punishment of ................................................. 201 312
alcoholic ...................................................... 203 chess ........................................................... 202
Ali chicken
life of ....................................................... 160, 161 benefits of ....................................................... 335
Allah Congregation
displeasure of .................................................... 41 blessings of ...................................................... 147
Mercy of .......................................................... 274 contentment . 22, 28, 140, 158, 169, 181, 254,
pleasure of ...............................................4, 21, 25 261, 263, 264
praise of ............................................................ 25 with the Will of Allah 173
Żikr of ................................................................ 25 curd ............................................................ 315
amānat ........................................................ 105 Da’awat-e-Islāmī
animal creation of ....................................................... 216
abuse....................................................... 328, 330 dancing ....................................................... 166
atonement .................................................. 174 Dars
attire at home ............................................................. 19
fashionable ........................................................ 41 benefits of ....................................................... 275
heavenly ............................................................ 43 virtues of ........................................................... 17
of publicity ........................................................ 43 Day of Judgement ................................ 4, 5, 209
patched ............................................................. 45 death .......................................................... 302
simple.......................................................... 42, 43 deprivation
Auliyā of blessings ...................................................... 232
are alive........................................................... 226 of spirituality.................................................... 255
help ................................................................. 224 desires
kashf................................................................ 213 carnal ................................................................... 3
authority destitution
of the Prophet ................................................. 146 causes of ............................................................ 73
awtād .......................................................... 207 doing away with .................................................. 9
Ażān ............................................................ 168 digestion ..................................................... 337
bacteria ......................................................... 21 dining-mat
bad breath types of .............................................................. 24
cure of ............................................................. 101 disobedience
spiritual cure of ............................................... 101 of Allah ............................................................ 154
Bishar Ḥāfī ................................................... 276 of the Prophet ................................................. 310
Bismillah ...................................................... 145 donate the reward
blessing ......................................................... 53 to the deceased ....................................... 174, 175
augmentation of................................................ 31 dower
deprivation of ................................. 13, 30, 32, 123 for the Hūrs ..................................................... 117

382
dua .............................................................. 272 entrustment ................................................ 105
accepted in travel ............................................ 103 evil eye........................................................ 238
after drinking milk: .......................................... 121 favors
after eating.............................................. 120, 121 of Allah ............................................................ 310
food provided by others ................... 120 fear
before eating ................................................... 111 of Allah............................................. 49, 151, 169
for the muslims ............................................... 304 Feed ............................................................ 346
of the auliya .................................................... 191 feeding the poor ......................................... 273
of the distressed.............................................. 170 fish .............................................................. 318
of the Prophet ................................................... 47 airborne ........................................................... 318
of the Ṣaḥābī ..................................................... 48 flattery ........................................................ 258
when entering the home ................................... 31 food
when one forgets to read Bismillah when eating blessings in ........................................................ 21
.......................................................................... 31 illness ................................................................. 29
when seeing someone smile ............................... 8 preservation ............................................ 308, 313
when u forget to trecite before eating ............ 111 rot .................................................................... 314
why are they not accepted? ............................ 233 stains on one's hand ........................................ 105
wisdom in not being accepted........................... 91 wastage ........................................................... 312
dunyā ........................... 157, 158, 209, 263, 283 why does it rot? ............................................... 308
Durūd ............... 1, 101, 140, 355, 366, 368, 369 forgiven ...................................................... 118
reward of ............................. 1, 128, 366, 367, 368 forgiveness.................................................... 76
earthquake .................................................. 167 foster a change ............................................. 20
earthquakes Friday ................................................... 128, 367
reason for ........................................................ 167 fruits ........................................................... 114
eat Galen Claudius ............................................ 319
collectively .................................................. 20, 21 generosity ................................................ 28, 62
fallen grains ............................................72, 76, 77 gift .............................................................. 291
from the side ..........................................53, 54, 56 when is this a bribe? ........................................ 291
in the marketplace ...................................... 12, 13 good opinion ............................................... 284
lick the fingers clean .................................... 81, 82 grateful ........................................................... 3
three times ......................................... 82 grave ........................................................... 303
on a dining-mat ................................................. 24 enlightened........................................................ 18
on a table .................................................... 25, 40 greed ................................................... 113, 290
resting against a support ................................... 63 for age ............................................................. 265
science of eating with hands ............................. 59 for wealth ........................................................ 265
temperature of food ......................................... 87 guarding
while standing ................................................... 45 the gaze ........................................................... 110
wipe the dish clean .......................... 81, 82, 83, 84 Halāl
freedom fron hell ................................ 83 actions ................................................................. 4
wisdom in ......................................... 83 food ................................................................. 2, 3
with a spoon................................................ 58, 59 handed
with family ........................................................ 21 charity.............................................................. 272
with four fingers ................................................ 57 Harām
with the left hand ........................................ 46, 47 actions ................................................................. 4
with the right hand...................................... 45, 53 death ................................................................... 3
with three fingers .............................................. 57 hardships .................................................... 173
eating hatred ......................................................... 276
how to sit while ............................................... 110 health ......................................................... 315
the spinal cord is haram .................................. 124 good .................................................................... 3
eating less ................................................... 247 heart
elder soft .................................................................... 45
definition of..................................................... 229 help
emancipating a slave ................................... 119 asking the Prophet ........................................... 211
embezzlement ............................................. 311 humility ......................................................... 43
employee .................................................... 311 for wealth ........................................................ 257
endowed property......................................... 23 Hussayn bin ManSūr Hallāj ......................... 197

383
did he say anulhaq? ......................................... 198 Madanī Qāfilah ........................................... 187
Iīšāl of Šawāb ........................ 174, 175, 250, 359 benefits of ........................ 71, 78, 86, 90, 230, 259
Ijtimā’ beneits of ......................................................... 104
benefits of ....................................................... 215 blessings of ................. 55, 137, 150, 168, 189, 212
ill-suspicion.................................................. 283 Blessings of Traveling ............................. 26, 51, 60
ill-suspicions ................................................ 279 diseases are cured ............................................. 33
Imān .............................................................. 44 Majżūb ........................................................ 214
Īmān malice ......................................................... 276
protect .............................................................. 17 Mann and Salwa ......................................... 309
Infirādī Koshish manners
benefits of ......................................................... 69 good .................................................................. 45
intention................................................ 95, 164 marriage
definition ............................................................. 5 standards of ..................................................... 261
examples of ......................................................... 5 martyrs ....................................................... 169
good .................................................................... 2 materialism ................................................. 172
righteous ......................................................... 3, 5 materialistic ................................................ 256
science of ............................................................ 5 merciless ..................................................... 167
significance of ..................................................... 4 mercy
Jālīnūs.......................................................... 319 of Allah ............................................................ 137
jinn Miracle, Major (of the Prophet) .. 102, 142, 144,
food................................................................. 130 145, 149, 178, 179
jinns Miracle, Minor( of the Saints) ..... 138, 149, 181,
abduct humans ............................................... 132 183, 184, 197, 276
afraid of ........................................................... 131 Miswāk ............................................ 93, 98, 100
bones .............................................................. 129 in Wuḍū ............................................................. 11
food................................................................. 131 Mu’jizā (of the Prophet)102, 142, 144, 145, 149,
kill people ........................................................ 134 178, 179
population ....................................................... 129 Muharram ................................................... 249
protection from ............................................... 133 Mushtāq Ahmad Attārī ............................... 355
wicked ............................................................. 129 music .......................................................... 201
karāmat.138, 149, 181, 183, 184, 197, 204, 276 covering the ear ................................................. 14
kidney .......................................................... 317 moved away from sounds .................................. 15
knowledge ................................................... 211 Naat Recitor ................................................ 255
seek ................................................................. 269 Nafil
seeking .................................................... 265, 267 fasts ................................................................. 311
Knowledge of the Unknown .......2, 47, 206, 367 nafs ...........................3, 162, 195, 232, 245, 253
leaders......................................................... 253 discipline .......................................................... 229
learning nightmares
good .................................................................. 17 litany to stop...................................................... 56
leftover ........................................................ 286 obesity .......................................................... 67
leftovers ...................................................... 285 causes of .......................................................... 315
leukoderma ................................................. 109 oppressive .................................................. 303
lick the fingers clean .................................... 118 oppressors .................................................. 256
lies ................................................................. 49 ostentation ..................................................... 4
locusts ......................................................... 318 pass along the reward ................................... 80
love path of Allah ............................................... 284
of the Prophet ................................................. 142 patience 3, 61, 62, 137, 138, 143, 158, 173, 194
of the the world .............................................. 157 Patience ...................................................... 173
of wealth ......................................................... 157 people of power ......................................... 254
Madanī In’aāmāt Pharaoh ...................................................... 308
questions ........................................................... 17 piety ............................................................ 190
Madanī Māḥaul place of slander........................................... 292
Benefits of ......................................................... 42 praise
blessings of ...................................................... 195 of Allah .............................................................. 25
marvel of ........................................................... 15 praising
a fasiq(open sinner) ......................................... 258

384
Prophet of Dātā Ganj Bakhsh .......................................... 26
Blessed Vision ................................................... 32 shukr ............................................................... 3
how did he eat ................................................ 106 siesta .......................................................... 122
protection sincerity ........................................................ 44
from mental ineptitude ................................... 116 sins
punishment ..................................................... 4 absolved .............................................................. 3
questioning forgiveness .............................................. 9, 21, 24
on the day of judgment ................................... 163 slaughtering
Quran animals ............................................................ 328
the virtues of ................................................... 268 slaves
Qurān freeing them ...................................................... 77
recitation at the grave ..................................... 303 slim person
recite virtues of ........................................................... 68
Alhamdulillah slogan
after eating ......................................... 24 Ya Rasūl Allah................................................... 168
Bismillah ............................................................ 53 spending
entering home .................................... 31 execessively ..................................................... 232
protection from satan......................... 31 spinal cord .................................................. 124
when eating .............. 20, 23, 24, 30, 110 spiritual order ............................................. 206
Surah-Ikhlās spleen ......................................................... 317
entering home .................................... 31 starvation.................................................... 171
ya-wājīdū Status
when eating ....................................... 26 of the Auliya .................................................... 192
respect sunnah
the auliya ........................................................ 191 benefits of practicing ......................................... 72
riyā .................................................................. 4 do not forgo ................................................. 70, 73
ruqya ........................................................... 286 importance of .................................................... 70
sabr ................................................................. 3 Sunnah ............................................... 2, 55, 230
sacrifice ................................................... 9, 116 blessings in .......................................................... 3
ṣadaqa .. 150, 185, 258, 259, 262, 270, 281, 282, forgone .............................................................. 25
312 How to sit while eating ...................................... 38
Saint love of .............................................................. 227
are alive in graves .............................................. 29 practicing it ...................................................... 188
are aware .......................................................... 29 suspicion ...................................... 220, 276, 277
can help....................................................... 27, 29 punishment of (bad) ........................................ 277
help ................................................................... 28 sustenance .................................................. 141
Saints how to augment ................................................ 10
desrespecting .................................................... 49 swine .......................................................... 155
disrespecting them ............................................ 49 talebearing .................................................. 221
help ................................................................... 51 Taqwa ......................................................... 190
respect ............................................................ 240 Tarbiyatī Course .......................................... 267
salām tawakkul .............................................. 262, 289
when entering the house .................................. 31 tea
Salām........................................................... 346 green ............................................................... 339
satan ............................................................. 46 regular ............................................................. 341
joins in the meal ................................................ 32 teaching
named Qarin ..................................................... 32 good .................................................................. 18
protection from ................................................. 31 teeth
spews the food .................................................. 32 cleaning
Sayyid .......................................................... 286 science of ............................................ 96
science gum disease ....................................................... 97
of eating together ............................................. 21 picking ......................................................... 91, 94
Seeking help from thank
saints ................................................................. 28 Allah ................................................................ 152
show-off ...................................................... 279 Tīh ............................................................... 309
Shrine trade

385
dishonesty in ................................................... 332 averseness to the world..................................... 23
transgressions ............................................. 136 worship
trust Allah ................................................................ 2, 3
in Allah ............................................. 141, 262, 289 gluttony ............................................................... 3
trustee ......................................................... 311 hindrance............................................................. 3
valley Wudū .......................................................... 155
difficult ............................................................ 169 after eating (how to) ........................................ 120
vegetables how to,when eating ....................................... 5, 10
in meat ............................................................ 326 Miswāk .............................................................. 11
wasīlah ........................................................ 175 of eating .......................................................... 109
Wasīlaĥ........................................................ 289 protection from satan ........................................ 10
wasq the reward of ..................................................... 10
definition of..................................................... 180 wisdom in .......................................................... 11
wasting ................................... 65, 113, 119, 125 Yā Wājidū .................................................... 111
definition of....................................................... 66 Zakāh ................................................... 141, 186
wealth.................................................. 157, 211 punishment of not giving ................................. 186
accumulation................................................... 141 Żikr
weevils ........................................................ 184 distance one from .............................................. 13
well-wisher .................................................. 347 of Allah ........................................................ 25, 62
worldly Zoroastrians ................................................ 115

386
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