Requesting the Help of Parents

prophetic miracle

Requesting the help of parents

Maulana Arshad Aslam Attari Madani

Khubayb and Umm Habibah went into grandfather’s room. Suhayb followed them in too.

‘There must be a reason for you children to have come here yourselves,’ said grandfather whilst looking up at the children.

‘Yes, grandfather!’ said Umm Habibah, ‘We have come to listen to a miracle of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’

Grandfather replied: ‘Well, this is a good thing. So, tell me, which miracle would you like to know about?’

Khubayb said: ‘Grandfather, you once told us that Prophet Isa الـسَّـلَا مَ عَـلَيْـهِ brought the dead back to life. Could our Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمalso do the same?’

‘Yes,’ he responded, ‘The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had many miracles like this.’

Khubayb immediately said: ‘Quick, please tell us about this, grandfather.’

Grandfather said: ‘I will, but always remember one thing: through Allah’s giving, our Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم could perform all the miracles which the previous prophets performed. Allah Almighty also gave him miracles that no other prophet was given.’

Suhayb said: ‘Like how no other prophet split the moon and joined it together.’

Grandfather smiled and said: ‘Wow Suhayb! You remembered that miracle, well done! Now, let us learn more about this miracle. Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was a beloved companion (Sahabi) of our Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. All of you know what we mean by companion here, right?’

Suhayb replied: ‘Yes, grandfather! The companions are the Muslims who saw or were present with the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’

Grandfather continued: ‘One day, Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُthought of inviting the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمfor a meal. In those days, people would raise goats and other animals. When they had guests, they would slaughter an animal and serve it to their guests. Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُdid this too by slaughtering a goat. His two young sons were watching how their father slaughtered the goat. They both left and went to the roof of the house.

The older brother said to the younger brother: “Come, I will slaughter you the same way father slaughtered the goat.”’

The three children said in unison: ‘O Allah have mercy!’

Umm Habibah asked: ‘Did the older brother slaughter the younger brother?’

‘Yes’, replied grandfather, ‘Perhaps he was thinking it was a game or joke. Now, listen to me carefully. Children should never carry out the tasks of elders. Do not cut any fruit yourself; ask your parents to cut it for you. The same goes for when you need to warm up any food. Likewise, do not switch on any electrical appliances. Instead, ask your mother, father or another adult in the home to do this for you. If you use these things yourself, you may injure yourself or suffer an electric shock.’

Umm Habibah asked, ‘Grandfather! What happened after that?’

He replied: ‘Their mother went to the roof to do something. When the older son saw his mother, he ran away in fright. Suddenly, he fell off the roof and also passed away.’

Grandfather fell silent. The children were upset too.

Nonetheless, he continued: ‘Sayyiduna Jabir’s wife رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was very patient. When her children died, she did not scream or wail. Instead, she quietly went back inside and continued preparing food for the invitation that was given.’

Umm Habibah said: ‘Grandfather! When children pass away, their parents cry a lot. Why did their mother not cry?’

Grandfather answered: ‘Because guests were going to visit their home, and that too the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Those people took great care of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. They would never do anything that would cause him difficulty or make him worry. This is why they did not cry.’

‘And then what happened? ‘asked Khubayb.

Grandfather continued: ‘After a short while, Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwelcomed the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمinto his home. He was very happy that the final Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمwas his guest. He quickly laid out the dining mat and prepared food. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم loved children dearly. He told Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُto go and bring his children so that they too could eat with him. So, Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُimmediately left the room and asked his wife where the children were as the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمwas calling them to eat.

She replied, “The children are not here.”

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: “It is the command of Allah Almighty that the children be brought quickly.”

Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwent to his wife again and asked about the children. This time, she started crying and said: “Our children have passed away. Now, I can never bring them.”

As Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwent to bring the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to his home, he had been unaware that his children passed away. Therefore, when he heard this news, he too began to cry. They carried their children and placed them next to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

At that particular time, Allah Almighty sent an angel to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمwho said: “It is the command of Allah Almighty that you supplicate, and Allah Almighty will bring them back to life.”

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمsupplicated. Immediately, Allah Almighty brought them back to life.’^[1]

Umm Habibah said: ‘Grandfather! Our Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمwas truly amazing. We were upset after hearing what happened to Sayyiduna Jabir’s رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُchildren. However, now we are happy, as Allah Almighty brought them back to life because of the Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمsupplication.’

Grandfather added: ‘There is also a miracle about the goat of Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.’

Before grandfather could mention the second miracle, he had to attend to a phone call, and so the children left the room.