YOUR KHALIL: A DOG HONOURED

Bismil Laahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatul Laahi wa barkaatuhu brothers and sisters in Islam. Alhamdu lil Laah for everything that He has done for us and for everything that He has deprived us. Whatever He does is perfect and may He favour us with contentment in this Dunya and the Akhira. Aameen.

There are a number of ahaadith in which the Prophet talks about the virtues of reading Surah al-Kahf, the Cave, Chapter 18. Among them is this;

Ibn Umar radiyal Laahu anhum said; ‘The Messenger of Allah suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam said: ‘Whoever reads surah al-Kahf on the day of Jum’ah, a light will shine for him from beneath his feet to the clouds of the sky, which will shine for him on the Day of Resurrection and he will be forgiven his sins between the two Fridays.’

This is enough motivation to get you grabbing the opportunity. May Allah azza wa jal make it easy for us to do this. Aameen.

Companionship

So I was reading this book and when talking on companionship, the author had made a heart-stabbing analysis. I have never ever thought about it in that regard. In a very popular hadith, the Prophet suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam makes a parable of how our companions influence us. He says;

‘The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows. So as for the seller of musk, either he will grant you some or you buy some from him or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows, either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.’

Bukhari and Muslim

And there are many instances where the Prophet suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam stressed on the importance of good companionship and the dangers of bad ones.

Dhikrul Laah (Zikrul Laah, the Remembrance of Allah)

We ask the question; ‘How is the remembrance of Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aalaa possible in the company of one who does not care about the dos and don’ts of Allah azza wa jal?  Yet at any point in time, whether alone or in a gathering of two or more, one should endeavour to be remembering Allah ar-Rahmaan in one way or the other. This is possible when you choose the right companions who will constantly remind you of Allah, enjoin you to that which is good and discourage you from that which is bad. In a hadith Qudsi, Allah azza wa jal says;

‘I am as my servant thinks I am. I am with him when he mentions Me. If he mentions Me to himself, I mention him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly greater than it. If he draws near to Me a hand’s length, I draw near to him at an arm’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.’

Bukhari

Subhaanal Laah! Alhamdu lil Laah! Allaahu Akbar! Laa haula wa laakuwwata illaa bil Laah! Hasbunal Laahu wa ni’amal wakeel! Laa ilaaha illaa huwa, wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd wahuwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in qadeer! Laa ilaaha illal Laah! Yaa Salaam! Yaa Mujeeb! Yaa Hayyu! Yaa Qayyum! To Him belongs the most beautiful names so let us call Him by them.

How extremely rewarding it will be for Allah azza wa jal to remember us within Himself and even more in an assembly far greater. What are you waiting for? You should know what you should be doing right now? And if you are going to be remembering Allah in a gathering or an assembly, then your companion should be like-minded.

The Prophets’ Wives Who Perished

Clearly, the wives of Prophet Nuh and Lut alayhimas salaam are among the unluckiest beings in this Dunya and the Akhira. Imagine that their companions should have been among the finest of humans yet they chose to seek companionship elsewhere: with the people who had earned Allah’s anger. So Allah al-Adl sends them to Jahannam along with their companions. Allah says;

‘Allah sets forth an example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were under two of our righteous slaves but they both betrayed them. So they (the Prophets) availed them not against Allah and it was said; ‘Enter the fire along with those who enter.’

Surah at-Tahreem, the Prohibition, Chapter 66 ayah 10

Yet a Dog is Honoured

The Prophet suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam does not encourage much the keeping of dogs except for some particular purposes. So it is interesting to note that because the wives of Prophets (as mentioned above) chose bad companions, Allah mentions them with them; ‘Enter the fire along with those who enter.’ Yet a dog is mentioned in this same Qur’an with people of great honour. A number of youth who have been set forth as an example for us; those who hope to dodge the harsh realities of our era. The dog was mentioned among the companions of the cave; ashaabul kahf, who run away from the evil that had engulfed their people in order to seek the pleasure of Allah.

‘Do you think that the people of the Cave and the Inscription were a wonder among our signs? Remember when the young men fled for refuge from their disbelieving folk to the Cave. They said; ‘Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself and facilitate for us our affair in the right way! Therefore We covered up their hearing (causing them to go into deep sleep) for a number of years. Then we raised them up that We might test which of the two parties was best at calculating the time period that they had tarried. We narrate to you their story with truth: Truly, they were young men who believed in their Lord and We increased them in guidance. And We made their hearts firm and strong when they stood up and said; ‘Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any illah (god) other than Him. Why do they not bring for them a clear authority? And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah.’

Surah al-Kahf, the Cave, Chapter 18 ayah 15

The aayaat above shows us clearly that type of companionship that the young men had. They drew one another closer and closer to Allah and He favoured them. Could we say the same about our friends? We must indeed ponder. And we are told by the Supreme, Allah, how their dog had enjoyed this bliss with them because he was their Khalil (friend). Allah says in ayah 18 of that same surah that;

‘And you would have thought them awake, whereas they were asleep. And We turned them on their right and on their left sides, and their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the entrance. Had you looked at them, you would certainly have turned back from them in flight and would certainly have been filled with awe of them.’

We can see clearly in what context the wives of the Prophets and the dog is mentioned. Those women would forever be remembered with the evil of their companionship and the dog will forever be remembered with the honour that Allah azza wa jal placed on these youth. To the pondering mind, this is something that should not be brushed aside at all. 

Keep thinking deeply and always remember me and all others in your du’a. Love fiisabi lil Laah and may Allah love us more. Aameen.

Jazaakumul Laahu khair always!

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatul Laah

RMRS, www.mmahajia.blogspot.com