Books revealed by Almighty Allah
Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anha) says that he in-quired from Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallamj aboutthe number of books revealed by Almighty Allah. Rasulul-lah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) replied, "One hundred booklets and four books. Fifty booklets were revealed to Hadhrat Sheeth (Alaihis salaam) (peace be upon him), thirty to Hadhrat Idrees (Alaihis salaam), ten to Hadhrat Ibrahim (Alaihis salaam) and ten to Hadhrat Musa (Alaihis salaam) before the Torah. In addition. four books, i.e., the Torah, the Bible, the Psalms and the Holy Qur'an have been revealed by Almighty Allah." Hadhrat Abu Zar (Rad-
hiyallaho anho) enquired about the contents of the booklets revealed to Hadhrat Ibrahim (Alaihis salaam). Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) replied that they consisted of proverbs, e.g., "0,you strong and proud king! I did not ap-point you to hoard wealth, but to prevent the complaint of the oppressed from reaching me by redressing it before-hand, because I do not reject the complaint of the op-pressed person, even though he may be a disbeliever." The author states that whenever Rasulullah (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) deputed any of his Companions as an ameer or governor, in addition to giving other advice, he used to emphasize:
hiyallaho anho) enquired about the contents of the booklets revealed to Hadhrat Ibrahim (Alaihis salaam). Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) replied that they consisted of proverbs, e.g., "0,you strong and proud king! I did not ap-point you to hoard wealth, but to prevent the complaint of the oppressed from reaching me by redressing it before-hand, because I do not reject the complaint of the op-pressed person, even though he may be a disbeliever." The author states that whenever Rasulullah (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) deputed any of his Companions as an ameer or governor, in addition to giving other advice, he used to emphasize:
Beware of the invocation of the oppressed because be-tween him and Allah
there is no veil or intermediary.
As a Persian verse goes:
"Beware of the sigh of those oppressed, when they Pray Divine acceptance readily greets them. These booklets also mentioned that it is incumbent on a wise man, unless he is deprived of sanity, to divide his
time in three parts: one for worship of his Lord; one for self-reckoning to consider what acts, good or bad, he did and one for his lawful earning of livelihood. It is also in-cumbent upon him to watch of his time and be thoughtful about improving his conditions and to guard his tongue against unnecessary and useless talk. Whoever keeps a check on his own speech, his tongue will indulge less in useless talk.Also, a wise man should not travel except for three purposes. viz., for making provision for the life Hereafter,or in search of livelihood, or for such recreation as is per-missible.Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) then enquired about the contents of the booklets revealed to Hadhrat Musa (Alaihis salaam). Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasal-lam) said, "They contained monitions only, such as 'I am astonished by one who finds pleasures in anything in spiteof his faith in the certainty of death.' (Naturally when a person becomes sure of his sentence of hanging, and mounting the gallows, he can never find pleasure in any-thing). 'I am astonished by one who laughs in spite of his faith in certainty of death'. 'I arn astonished by one who ob-
serves accidents, changes and revolutions of the world all the time, and still finds satisfaction in it.' 'I am astonished by one who believes in predestination, still suffers from grief and hardship.' 'I am astonished by one who believes that he will soon be required to render an account and still does no good deed."
Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) goes on saying that he asked for more advice. Rasulullah (Sallailaho alaihewasallam) advised that he should cultivate fear of Allah,because it is the root and basis of all spiritual actions.Hadhrat Abu Zar (Kadhivdllaho anho) then begged for more advice. Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallaln) said, "Be consistent in recitation of Qur'an and remembrance of Allah, because it is a noor in this world and a provision in Heaven." Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhivallaho anho) again
sought further advice and was told. "Abstain from too much of laughter, because it causes the heart to wither, and the face loses its lustre." (Too much of laughter is injurious both for the outward and inward disposition of man.) Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) sought further advice, whereupon Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said, "Stick to jihaad because this is the rahbaaniyyat of my ummat." (Rahbaan - singular raahib - were those people of previous ~ ~ ~ n m who severed all their worldly connec-ats tions and turned towards Allah.)Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) asked for more advice and Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said,"Associate yourself with the poor and the needy, be friendly with them and sit in their company." When Hadh-rat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) requested further advice,Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said, "Look to-wards those who rank below you (so that you may get used to being thankful) and do not look at those who rank above
you, lest you should despise the favours of Allah upon you."When Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) again asked for more advice, Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasal-lam) said, "Let your own faults prevent you from criticiz-ing others and do not try to find fault with others, because you commit those faults yourself. It is enough to prove you guilty that you should find in others such faults as you yourself possess, though you may not be aware of them,and that you should find in others such misdeeds as you
yourself commit." After this, Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihewasallam) patted the chest of Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho)with his loving hand and said, "0, Abu Zar! there is nowisdom better than prudence, nor any piety better than re-fraining from the unlawful, nor any nobility better than polite manners."
(In stating the contents of this long hadith, the gist and meaning has been kept in view, in preference to the literal translation.)
time in three parts: one for worship of his Lord; one for self-reckoning to consider what acts, good or bad, he did and one for his lawful earning of livelihood. It is also in-cumbent upon him to watch of his time and be thoughtful about improving his conditions and to guard his tongue against unnecessary and useless talk. Whoever keeps a check on his own speech, his tongue will indulge less in useless talk.Also, a wise man should not travel except for three purposes. viz., for making provision for the life Hereafter,or in search of livelihood, or for such recreation as is per-missible.Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) then enquired about the contents of the booklets revealed to Hadhrat Musa (Alaihis salaam). Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasal-lam) said, "They contained monitions only, such as 'I am astonished by one who finds pleasures in anything in spiteof his faith in the certainty of death.' (Naturally when a person becomes sure of his sentence of hanging, and mounting the gallows, he can never find pleasure in any-thing). 'I am astonished by one who laughs in spite of his faith in certainty of death'. 'I arn astonished by one who ob-
serves accidents, changes and revolutions of the world all the time, and still finds satisfaction in it.' 'I am astonished by one who believes in predestination, still suffers from grief and hardship.' 'I am astonished by one who believes that he will soon be required to render an account and still does no good deed."
Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) goes on saying that he asked for more advice. Rasulullah (Sallailaho alaihewasallam) advised that he should cultivate fear of Allah,because it is the root and basis of all spiritual actions.Hadhrat Abu Zar (Kadhivdllaho anho) then begged for more advice. Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallaln) said, "Be consistent in recitation of Qur'an and remembrance of Allah, because it is a noor in this world and a provision in Heaven." Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhivallaho anho) again
sought further advice and was told. "Abstain from too much of laughter, because it causes the heart to wither, and the face loses its lustre." (Too much of laughter is injurious both for the outward and inward disposition of man.) Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) sought further advice, whereupon Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said, "Stick to jihaad because this is the rahbaaniyyat of my ummat." (Rahbaan - singular raahib - were those people of previous ~ ~ ~ n m who severed all their worldly connec-ats tions and turned towards Allah.)Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) asked for more advice and Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said,"Associate yourself with the poor and the needy, be friendly with them and sit in their company." When Hadh-rat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) requested further advice,Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said, "Look to-wards those who rank below you (so that you may get used to being thankful) and do not look at those who rank above
you, lest you should despise the favours of Allah upon you."When Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) again asked for more advice, Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasal-lam) said, "Let your own faults prevent you from criticiz-ing others and do not try to find fault with others, because you commit those faults yourself. It is enough to prove you guilty that you should find in others such faults as you yourself possess, though you may not be aware of them,and that you should find in others such misdeeds as you
yourself commit." After this, Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihewasallam) patted the chest of Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho)with his loving hand and said, "0, Abu Zar! there is nowisdom better than prudence, nor any piety better than re-fraining from the unlawful, nor any nobility better than polite manners."
(In stating the contents of this long hadith, the gist and meaning has been kept in view, in preference to the literal translation.)
