Pleasant voice of Sayyiduna Dawood عليه الصلوۃ والسلام

Dear Madani children! Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has blessed His every Nabi with a pleasant voice.^[1] Let’s read about the pleasant voice of one of the blessed Ambiya, Sayyiduna Dawood عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام.

Pleasant voice – A favour from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated:

وَ لَقَدْ اٰتَیْنَا دَاوٗدَ مِنَّا فَضْلًاؕ-

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: And indeed We gave Dawood the great excellence from Us.

(Part 22, Surah Saba, Ayah 10)

According to an opinion, “great excellence” in this Ayah refers to the pleasant voice and Sayyiduna Dawood’s other unique qualities. (Khaazin, vol. 3, pp. 517)

Marvels of charismatic voice

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ had bestowed “blessed Zaboor” upon Sayyiduna Dawood عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام.^[2] When Sayyiduna Dawood عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام would recite Zaboor, human beings, jinns, animals, birds, etc., would gather for listening to the recitation^[3], and the wind would stop.^[4] Many people would depart this life, being overwhelmed by the pleasure [they gained] from his voice.

Sayyiduna Wahb Bin Munabbih رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: Everything which would listen to the recitation of Zaboor in Sayyiduna Dawood’s voice would start swaying. (Mawsu’ah Ibn Abid Dunya, vol. 3, pp. 244, Raqm 372)

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا has stated: Sayyiduna Dawood عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام would recite Zaboor in 70 recitation styles. His Qira`at [recitation] would have such [great] effect that even a person suffering from fever would start swaying out of happiness. (‘Umda-tul-Qaari, vol. 13, pp. 566)

Listening to the pleasant recitation of Sayyiduna Dawood عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام, the animals, birds and even mountains would start doing Tasbih.^[5] When the mountains would do Tasbih, clear voice of Tasbih would come [from them]. (Qurtubi, Juz: 14, vol. 7, pp. 195)

When the Heaven dwellers will enter Heaven, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will say to Sayyiduna Dawood عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام, ‘O Dawood! I order you to stand on the Mimber (pulpit) and recite ten Surahs of Zaboor to My beloved bondmen!’ Therefore, Sayyiduna Dawood عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام will come on the Mimber and recite [Surahs]. The Heaven dwellers will gain such great pleasure by listening to that recitation which they will not have gained even by listening to the poems [recited] by the Hoors [Houris] of Paradise. The Heaven dwellers will start swaying with pleasure [gained] from the recitation. In [terms of] pleasantness, the voice of Sayyiduna Dawood عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام will be equal to the sound of 90 flutes. (Qurra-tul-‘Uyoon, pp. 407)

Madani pearls

Dear Madani children! When the speechless animals and lifeless mountains can do Tasbih of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, we should also do Tasbih (i.e. state the glory of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ) frequently. Let’s make an intention that as far as possible, we will refrain from useless conversation and remain busy doing Wird of ‘اَللہ اَللہ’, ‘سُبْحٰنَ اللہ’, ‘اَلْحَمْدُلِلّٰہ’, ‘اَللہُ اَکْبَر’ and Salat-‘Alan-Nabi, etc., اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

Zikr-o-Durood her ghari Wird-e-zaban rahay

Mayri fuzool go`ee ki ‘aadat nikal do

(Wasail-e-Bakhshish, pp. 305)

When the blessed day of Eid arrives, excitement and wonderful feelings prevail everywhere.  Children get ready and wear especial Eid clothes. The boys accompany their fathers for performing Eid Salah whereas the girls give a helping hand to their mothers in household chores. Everybody says ‘Eid Mubarak’ to one another. Children get Eidee too, and there is a feeling of great joy everywhere. But dear Madani children keep away from 5 things on this blessed occasion of happiness.

1. Don’t ask for more Eidee

You should accept happily what amount of Eidee you receive from your mother, father, elder brother, uncle or from any relative, and do not pass any comment like this, ‘This is very small amount comparatively, you have given such and such amount of Eidee to our so-and-so cousin, whereas father has given us a lot of Eidi.’ Dear children! Good children do not say such things rather you should be thankful to them and should say: ‘جَزَاکَ اللہُ خَیْرًا’.

2. It is not good to eat everything

On the day of Eid, edible items such as ice-cream, Qulfi (frozen dairy dessert), Chana Chaat (chick pea salad food item), Gola Ganda (ice-based dessert), chips etc., are most likely sold in every street and spot. Most of these food items are substandard and hazardous to health. Tasting each item is not a good thing as it might pose a serious health risk to you, and lest you may have to spend the lovely Eid days on your bed.

3. Do not regard anyone’s clothes as inferior

If someone comments like this for our clothes, ‘your clothes are not good, they are so dirty’ it will be so hurtful to us! Similarly, if we give such bad remarks for anyone’s clothes then obviously he will be hurt.

4. Do not insist on buying toys

On Eid day, children love to buy new and big toys. It is not a bad idea to play with good toys but showing stubbornness, despite the refusal of parents, is not a good practice. Whatever the toys your parents buy for you, play with them, and you should not even touch the toy pistol, as children should keep away from it because it carries many disadvantages: Sometimes small plastic balls, used as bullets for toy pistols, cause serious eye injuries to children and can even lead to blindness. Similarly, do not buy the musical toys because listening to music is an act of sin as well as do not buy such type of toys too which cause trouble to others such as noisy toys, and water pistol, used for sprinkling water on others. In addition to them, refrain from rubber toy scorpion and snakes etc., used for scaring others.

5. Do not show greediness before the guests

During Eid days, guests visit you and you too visit others being the guests. So, on such occasions, you should not become greedy while eating and drinking. Do not start eating and drinking until your parents do.

O our Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Enable us to celebrate Eid in a graceful manner!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

One day a person came to his living room and found a cat sitting in a corner. The servant of that person went to make it run away but he stopped him saying, ‘Let it stay there! Let’s see what does she do?’ That cat stayed there until after ‘Asr [Salah]; to the extent that just before the sunset (Maghrib), a mouse appeared (from somewhere) and the cat jumped on it and caught it. Observing this, that person said, ‘One who wants to do something, should keep himself engaged in it with consistency like this cat, he will (surely) achieve success.’ (Al-Azkiya li Ibn Jawzi, pp. 285; summarized)

Dear Madani children! Through this story, we have learnt the lesson that if any work is done with consistency and punctuality, then you will attain success in it. We normally perform abundant of virtuous deeds in the blessed month of Ramadan but as soon as the blessed month of Ramadan comes to an end, we lose our interest in performing good deeds. This shouldn’t be the case. The way we perform the acts of worship such as Salah, Siyam (fasts), recitation of Glorious Quran and other noble deeds in Ramadan, we should also continue performing these virtuous acts with punctuality and consistency even after the blessed month of Ramadan so that by the blessings of steadfastness, we could seek the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, and succeed in attaining Jannah full of blessings. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ enable us to perform righteous deeds with steadiness!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Umar said to his classmate Danish: ‘I will observe Sawm (fast) tomorrow.’ Danish was surprised to hear that.

Danish: You are 10 years old, how will you be able to observe Sawm? I am 12 years old but my mother says, ‘Observe fast when you grow up’.

Umar: My grandfather says, ‘When a child gains in strength and there seems to be no harm in observing Sawm then he should do so’.

Danish: During Sawm, one feels terrible thirst and hunger.

Umar: My mother will make me observe Sawm in such a way that I will feel less hunger and thirst.

Danish: How is it possible?

Umar: I do not know! My mother knows.

At noontime, Umar humbly asked his mother: ‘Mom!  I won’t feel hungry during Sawm, will I?’

Mother: You do not worry! Keep talking to us till late night and watch TV channels, and then go to your bed after Sahari meal. Wake up late at 12.00 or 1.00 pm, busy yourself in playing games one or one and half an hours then I will switch on TV for your favourite cartoons, so, further two and a half or three hours will pass. Thereafter you can spend some time hanging out outside with your friends or play video games. Before guests arrive, I will dress you in new clothes and new cap and will put garland of flowers around your neck.

Having listened to his mother, Umar became happy. When the grandfather of Umar came to know in the evening that Umar was going to observe Sawm next day, he became pleased but when Umar told him about his Sawm schedule, he became worried.

Grandfather: O my dear son, Umar! Your schedule contains such sinful^[1] and futile acts too which should not be the part of it. Watching cartoons and playing games waste our time and such acts also lose the spiritual essence of Sawm. Staying hungry and thirsty from dawn to dusk is not the real purpose of Sawm, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘Sawm is a door of worship’. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 146, Hadees 2415)

So, we should perform the acts of worship, Zikr, Salat, recitation [of the Holy Quran] and other righteous deeds abundantly.

Umar: Then how will I be able to prevent the feeling of thirst and hunger.

Grandfather: One attains reward for bearing thirst and hunger. If you want to feel less hunger and thirst then you should avoid running, playing games and going out in sunshine unnecessarily as well as another thing is that we gain power and strength when we make up our mind to please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, it is for the reason, despite having delicious food items and sweet drinks, we do not eat and drink anything.

Umar: Do we really gain such strength?

Grandfather: Yes my son! This is exactly what happens. So now, tomorrow do as I ask you. Umar nodded.

Next day, after having Sahari meal, Umar accompanied his grandfather to Masjid for performing Fajr Salah. After Salah, he recited Glorious Quran then kept reciting Salat-‘Alan-Nabi. Afterwards, he, along with his grandfather, came out of Masjid, reached home and slept. When Azan of Zuhr Salah was called out, the grandfather woke him up, after performing Salah, he recited Glorious Quran; thereafter with the intention of gaining Islamic knowledge, he watched Madani Channel. Having performed ‘Asr Salah, he kept doing Zikr and reciting Salat-‘Alan-Nabi. When Iftar time approached, Umar, wearing new dress, new cap and garland of flowers around his neck was standing before the guests. Everybody was congratulating him but he was thinking that by the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, his Sawm remained safe from the sinful and futile acts. While eating Iftar meal, he felt as if he had attained the mercy of Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ; together with, tears started flowing from his eyes.