The Beauty of the Righteous & Ranks of the Elite
Hilyat-ul Awliya Wa Tabaqat al-Asfiya
By Imam Abu Na'im al-Asfahani (948-1038 C.E.)
Trans. by Shaykh Muhammad Al-Akili
© 1996-2008 Pearl Publishing House
All praises belong to Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universes, and the unfathomable Lord of grace. Preface
May we all delve to join the everlasting praises His angels and the blessed ones are constantly celebrating, and may His eternal and most effulgent blessings shower upon His last messenger and the seal of His prophets, Muhammad (sal), upon whom and upon all of God's prophets and messengers be peace.This is the first attempt to bring the work of the renowned 10th century Imam al-Hãfiz Abu Na'im al-Asfahãni, God bless his soul, into English, and I am extremely thankful to my Lord for allowing me to share these jewels of testimonies of the chosen ones and the elite, the blessed companions of God's messenger (sal), upon whom be peace, whose knowledge, testimonies, and deeds are the true map for those aspiring for the eternal gardens of bliss.
The sincere godly reader will surely recognize this work as a guidebook for the seekers on God's path, a shield to win the battle against the trials and adversities of this world, and a strong warning for the heedless and the innovators, to spare themselves the just and afflictive eternal punishment in hell-fire.The knowledge of the enclosed over 1000 accounts, prophetic traditions, and sayings of the blessed companions was given to their hearts by none other than God's messenger (sal), upon whom be peace, himself, a task he was sent by Almighty Allah, blessed be His Name, to deliver to humanity. Having delivered the divine message to his companions, in turn, God's messenger (sal) also asked them to disseminate the revelation to all nations. Hence, these testimonies, which represent an important episode of human history, were first transmitted through oral traditions by the illustrious companions, and then by the scholars, the shaykhs, and the pious ones who remain to this day our strong link to the blessed era of the last and final divine revelation, and therefore, our path becomes illumined and most inspiring by their commitment and love for their Lord, and by their continuous efforts to deliver the authentic divine message to humanity until the last day.
This work represents a drop in the ocean of knowledge the blessed companions cherished, and their testimonies will surely help polish a tarnished heart, as well as they will beautify a pious one. In fact, although the legacy of our righteous predecessors (salaf sãlih) is unique and their devotion surpasses the common, yet, their wisdom, example, and teachings will surely fill a yearning heart with the love and grace of Allah.
The exalted model (sunna) of our righteous predecessors provides us with a most awe-inspiring high moral standards, and therefore, it is our duty and responsibility to learn from their testimonies, and to pay homage to such blessed and rare human beings, and pray for their souls to ever remain exalted in Allah's pleasure. Furthermore, once we have learned and acted upon what we have learned, it is our duty to pass on this exalted and unadulterated knowledge to our children, and as much as possible, we must share it in our immediate circles through good example.
Hamïd bin Anas narrated that God's messenger (sal), upon whom be peace, said: "With this knowledge, Allah will raise some people in stations, and He will make them eminent leaders and illustrious models. Their work will become widely known, and it will be admired and studied by others for ages. The angels will seek their company and huddle around them, and the angels' wings will constantly rub against their shoulders. (Cf. Account #966)
The events reported in this book took place over fourteen hundred years ago, and they helped change the course of history, as well as they were the answer to the prayers of God's messenger (sal), upon whom be peace.
On this subject, it is reported that God's Messenger (sal) once saw a young boy called Ibn 'Abbãs, and he prayed for him: "O Allah, endow him with the knowledge of understanding and correct interpretation (Allãhumma 'Allimhu 'Ilma-Ta'weel)." At another occasion, God's Messenger (sal) prayed for him, saying: "My Lord, strengthen him with the holy spirit, (Allãhumma Ayyidhu bi-Rühil Quds, e.g. the comfort and strengthening support of the archangel Gabriel, upon whom be peace). Hence, Ibn 'Abbãs grew up to become the most renowned interpreter of the Qur'anic revelation and of the prophetic sayings (hadith).God willing, and as long as we are inclined to allow our hearts to hearken to this divinely inspired and most exhilarating guidance, we will become the embodiment of its blessings, and we pray that such advantage saves our souls, those of our children, and future generations from an awesome day of exact and just reckoning that will infallibly come.
Upon reading this most valuable reference book, ( this manual of faith, blessed traditions, and high moral code, ) God willing, one can draw a concise map of the environment of the sacred city of light, Medina, as it emerged over fourteen hundred years ago during the blessed time of the divine revelation, and then, one's heart can travel back in time to meet the blessed teacher, God's messenger (sal), upon whom be peace, and his beloved students, the companions, God be pleased with all of them. Thereat, one's questions will receive over one thousand answers relating to his or her spiritual quest, he will learn about the advantages of the life of a believer, the ultimate salvation of one's soul and that of his family and children, and moreover, one will learn how to conquer the constantly rebelling mind, he will discover the correct medicine to cure his weaknesses and attachment to this world, and he will learn how to dispel its darkness to reveal the light of divine guidance.
Once this knowledge becomes the embodiment and guiding light of one's life, one will also recognize his birthright, his true worth in the sight of his Maker, and it will reveal the reality and purpose behind his ephemeral existence in this world, and how to effect one's destination in the permanent life to come.
In closing, I pray to Allah, the Almighty Lord of the universe, the Lord of the divine Throne, Who has no partner or helper, and Who controls and manages every atom in existence, to help us reap the benefits of this reading, and I implore Him to forgive us our sins, those we commit knowingly, and those we commit in ignorance, to grant us His good pleasure in this world and in the life to come, to guide us, and to make our last actions in this life pleasing to Him, to make the conclusion of our lives in this world blessed by Him, and to make the best of our days the day we meet Him.
Lord, I seek refuge in You from the withdrawing of Your gracious bounty, I seek refuge in You from Your sudden retribution against the heedless, and the loss of our good fortune which You bestow upon us. Lord, I seek refuge in You from the pit of wretchedness, from the alteration of Your favors towards us, and from any evil destination. Lord, I seek refuge in Your protection from all calamities and afflictions, and I beseech You to grant us Your bounteous eternal gifts.
Lord, cure our sick, remove our infirmity, have mercy upon our dead, grant us healthy bodies and engage them in Your service. Lord, expand our understanding, guide our affairs in this world and protect our children. Lord, veil our sins, help us correct our actions and thoughts, guide our forgetful ones, bring back safely to You our loved ones, keep our faith in You strong, and grant us to be rightly guided.
Lord, grant us the benefits of good deeds in this world, the reward of good deeds in the life after, and save us from punishment in Hell-fire. Amen.
Al-Faqir Muhammad al-Akili al-Rifa'i
Ý(YOU CAN FIND MORE ABOUT The Beauty of the Righteous Cmpanions of God's Messenger (UWBP) IN THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!)
© 1996-2008 Pearl Publishing House
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