Page 12 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 7 Page 13 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 7 Zignee (a delicious and extremely hot-spiced dish from Ethiopia) Ingredients: - 1 chicken (cut in serving pieces) - 1 large onion (diced) - 3 tbls hot red pepper (chili powder) - 2 tbls oil - 4-5 tomatoes blended (enough to cover chicken in pot) - 4 hard-boiled eggs (pierce eggs with sharp knife to make small hole) - Salt to taste - Little water Preparation: 1. Fry onions in oil very well until translucent. 2. Add red chili powder and a little water and fry some more. 3. Next add your chicken and continue frying until chicken becomes brown. 4. Add the blended tomatoes and lower heat to simmer. 5. Salt to taste and continue cooking till done. 6. When chicken is done, add the hard-boiled eggs to the pot and let the eggs absorb the red chili sauce. Serve and enjoy an authentic Ethiopian dish! To The People of ‘Ad Hud was the Prophet sent to the Bani ‘Ad for their reformation. His lineage genealogy joins with the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) and his sons. Nuh had 3 sons who were saved from the flood-- Sam, Ham, and Yafith. The children of Sam were scattered in the Arabian Peninsula. Sam had a son named Iram. And one of Iram’s sons was ‘Ad. So they named the town after his son--the city was named ‘Ad. The town of ‘Ad was very dusty and located near Ahqaf, near Hadramout in Yemen. Who were these people of ‘Ad? They were the people that God sent to them the Prophet Hud. They lived near Hadramout, which is now in Yemen. There they built palaces, erected temples and worshipped deities and stars. “Seest thou not how Thy Lord dealt with the ‘Ad (people), of the (city of) Iram, with lofty pillars, the like of which were not produced in (all) the land?” (Qur’an 89:6-8) The names of their chief deities were Saqi’ah, Salimah, Raziqah and Hafizun. This worshipping of statues came after a time when the people of ‘Ad once believed in the one God. “(Remember also) the ‘Ad and the Thamud (people): clearly will appear to you from (the traces) of their buildings (their fate) Satan made their deeds alluring to them, and kept them back from the Path, though they were Keen-sighted.” (Qur’an 29:38) The people of ‘Ad were tall in stature and were skillful masons. God had given them abundance of wealth, cattle, children and gardens. They had attained a considerable degree of civilization. Among them flourished the famous king Shaddad. He built a magnificent palace near ‘Aden. It was known as the Garden of Iram. He was a mighty king and his conquests extended to Syria, Iraq and the frontier of Sub- continent of Indo-Pakistan. These people were proud of their achievements and considered themselves to be invincible. They were indulged in sins and committed acts of injustice and violence. Instead of expressing a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty God for the favors He had bestowed upon them, they became transgressors and showed disobedience to Him. God sent to these people and to the city of ‘Ad a man named Hud. Since he was a man from amongst them, it was certain that they would be more inclined to listen to him. The people of ‘Ad used to call Hud a crazy man. There was one man in particular, named Abu Thamud, who used to call the people to listen to Hud speak. He wanted to prove to the people that Hud had indeed become crazy. The people asked Abu Thamud, “We know that Hud does not come to our gatherings nor does he believe in our gods. What has happened to him that he does not mingle with us?” Abu Thamud replied (mocking) that Hud declares that God sent him as a prophet and as a warner to the people of ‘Ad. And unless they stop believing in statues, that a grievous punishment from God would occur. The people of the city then decided to go to Hud and hear what he wanted from them. Hud replied that he did not want anything from them except that they believe in the One God. The people of the in Madinah. She was not a Muslim. Her mother brought her gifts of raisins, clarified butter and qaraz (pods of a species of tree). Asmaa at first refused to admit her into her house or accept the gifts. She sent someone to Aishah to ask the Prophet (pbuh), about her attitude to her mother and he replied that she should certainly admit her to her house and accept the gifts. On this occasion, the following revelation came to the Prophet (pbuh): “God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: For God loves those who are just. God only forbids you with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.” (Qur’an Al- Mumtahanah 60: 8-9) For Asmaa and indeed for many other Muslims, life in Madinah was rather difficult at first. Her husband was quite poor and his only major possession to begin with was a horse he had bought. She described these early days: “I used to provide fodder for the horse, give it water and groom it. I would grind grain and make dough but I could not bake well. The women of the Ansar used to bake for me. They were truly good women. I used to carry the grain on my head from az-Zubayr’s plot which the Prophet (pbuh) had allocated to him to cultivate. It was about three farsakh (about eight kilometers) from the town’s center. One day I was on the road carrying the grain on my head when I met the Prophet (pbuh) and a group of Sahabah. He called out to me and stopped his camel so that I could ride behind him. I felt embarrassed to travel with the Prophet (pbuh) and also remembered Zubayr’s jealousy--he was the most jealous of men. The Prophet (pbuh) realized that I was embarrassed and rode on.” Later, Asmaa related to Zubayr exactly what had happened and he said, “By God, that you should have to carry grain is far more distressing to me than your riding with (the Prophet).” Asmaa obviously then was a person of great sensitivity and devotion. She and her husband worked extremely hard together until their situation of poverty gradually changed. At times, however, Zubayr treated her harshly. Once she went to her father and complained to him about this. His reply to her was: “My daughter, have sabr (patience) for if a woman has a righteous husband and he dies and she does not marry after him, they will be brought together again in Paradise.” Zubayr eventually became one of the richest men among the Sahabah but Asmaa did not allow this to corrupt her principles. Her son, al- Mundhir once sent her an elegant dress form Iraq made of fine and costly material. Asmaa by this time was blind. She felt the material and said, “It’s awful. Take it back to him.” Al- Mundhir was upset and said, “Mother, it was not transparent.” “It may not be transparent”, she retorted, “but it is too tight-fitting and shows the contours of the body.” Al-Mundhir bought another dress that met with her approval and she accepted it. If the above incidents and aspects of Asmaa’s life may easily be forgotten, then her final meeting with her son, Abdullah, must remain one of the most unforgettable moments in early Muslim history. At that meeting she demonstrated the keenness of her intelligence, her resoluteness, and the strength of her faith. Abdullah was in the running for the Caliphate after the death of Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah. The Hijaz, Egypt, Iraq, Khurasan and much of Syria were favorable to him and acknowledged him as the Caliph. The Ummayyads, however, continued to contest the Caliphate and to field a massive army under the command of Al- Hajjaj. Relentless battles were fought between the two sides during which Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr displayed great acts of courage and heroism. Many of his supporters however could not withstand the continuous strain of battle and gradually began to desert him. Finally he sought refuge in the Sacred Mosque at Mecca. It was then that he went to his mother, now an old blind woman, and said: “Peace be on you, Mother, and the mercy and blessings of God.” “Unto you be peace, Abdullah,” she replied. “What is it that brings you here at this hour while boulders from Hajjaj’s catapults are raining down on your soldiers in the Haram and shaking the houses of Mecca?” “I came to seek your advice,” he said. “To seek my advice?” she asked in astonishment. “About what?” “The people have deserted me out of fear of Hajjaj or being tempted by what he has to offer. Even my children and my family have left me. There is only a small group of men with me now and however strong and steadfast they are they can only resist for an hour or two more. Messengers of the Banu Umayyah (the Umayyads) are now negotiating with me, offering to give me whatever worldly possessions I want, should I lay down my arms and swear allegiance to Abdul Malik ibn Marwan. What do you think?” Raising her voice, she replied: “It’s your affair, Abdullah, and you know yourself better. If however you think you are right and that you are standing up for the Truth, then persevere and fight on as your companions who were killed under your flag had shown perseverance. If however you desire the world, what a miserable wretch you are. You would have destroyed yourself and you would have destroyed your men.” “But I will be killed today; there is no doubt about it.” “That is better for you than that you should surrender yourself to Hajjaj voluntarily and that some minions of Banu Umayyah should play with your head.” “I do not fear death. I am only afraid that they will mutilate me.” “There is nothing after death that man should be afraid of. Skinning does not cause any pain to the slaughtered sheep.” Abdullah’s face beamed as he said: “What a blessed mother! Blessed be your noble qualities! I have come to you at this hour to hear what I have heard. God knows that I have not weakened or despaired. He is witness over me that I have not stood up for what I have out of love for this world and its attractions but only out of anger for the sake of God. His limits have been transgressed. Here am I, going to what is pleasing to you. So if I am killed, do not grieve for me and commend me to God.” “I shall grieve for you,” said the ageing but resolute Asmaa, “only if you are killed in a vain and unjust cause.” “Be assured that your son has not supported an unjust cause, nor committed any detestable deed, nor done any injustice to a Muslim or a Dhimmi and that there is nothing better in his sight than the pleasure of God, the Mighty, the Great. I do not say this to exonerate myself. God knows that I have only said it to make your heart firm and steadfast.” “Praise be to God who has made you act according to what He likes and according to what I like. Come close to me, my son, that I may smell and feel your body for this might be the last meeting with you.” Abdullah knelt before her. She hugged him and smothered his head, his face and his neck with kisses. Her hands began to squeeze his body when suddenly she withdrew them and asked: “What is this you are wearing, Abdullah?” “This is my armor plate.” “This, my son, is not the dress of one who desires martyrdom. Take it off. That will make your movements lighter and quicker. Wear instead the sirwal (a long under garment) so that if you are killed your ‘awrah will not be exposed.” Abdullah took off his armor plate and put on the sirwal. As he left for the Haram to join the fighting he said: “My mother, don’t deprive me of your du’a (prayer).” Raising her hands to heaven, she prayed: “O Lord, have mercy on his staying up for long hours and his loud crying in the darkness of the night while people slept....”O Lord, have mercy on his hunger and his thirst on his journeys from Madinah and Mecca while he fasted....”O Lord, bless his righteousness to his mother and his father....”O Lord, I commend him to Your cause and I am pleased with whatever You decree for him. And grant me for his sake the reward of those who are patient and who persevere.” By sunset, Abdullah was dead. Just over ten days later, his mother joined him. She was a hundred years old. Age had not made her infirm nor blunted the keenness of her mind. Prophet Hud (pbuh)
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