Category: Hadiths
What is the meaning of this hadeeth: "My nation will not leave o four aairs of jahiliyah: Pride in noble descent,
cursing the lineage, seeking rain through the stars, and wailing over the dead."
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
what is the meaning of this hadeeth:
"My nation will not leave o four aairs of jahiliyah: Pride in noble descent, cursing the lineage, seeking rain
through the stars, and wailing over the dead."
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from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in condentiality.)
Answer:
Practices days of Ignorance
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can
misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one
(no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we
bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Abu Malik alAsh'ari reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "Four practices of the Jaahiliyah (pre-Islamic days of
Ignorance) will continue to be practiced by my Ummah:
1. taking pride in one's parentage,
2. giving a person a father other than his own genealogical father (ie. cursing of ones lineage),
3. believing that rain is caused by some stars,
4. and wailing over the dead."
Related by Muslim and Ahmad.
Your Question: what is the meaning of this hadeeth:
Each of the above four practices and characteristics which are absolutely despised and abhorred by Allah Subhanah
were prevalent amongst the pagans and the disbelievers in one form or another before the advent of the Divine
Guidance of Islam. These evil feelings and beliefs were so ingrained and seemed so natural, that the Messenger of
Allah (saws) warned the believers that if they were not careful and strove earnestly to remove and abstain from
them, manifestations of these feelings, acts, and beliefs would remain and be found even amongst those who had
professed belief in Allah and the Last Day.
Ref 1: taking pride in one's parentage,
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 5097 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
The Prophet (saws) said: Allah, The Most High, has removed from you the pride of the pre-Islamic period and its
boasting in ancestors. One is only a pious believer or a miserable sinner. You are all sons of Adam, and Adam came
from dust. Let the people cease to boast about their ancestors! They are merely fuel in Jahannam; or they will
certainly be of less account with Allah than the beetle which rolls dung with its nose!
Sahih Muslim Hadith 164 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud
The Messenger of Allah (saws) observed: He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not
enter Paradise. A person (amongst his hearers) said: Verily a person loves that his dress should be ne, and his
shoes should be ne. He (the Prophet (saws)) remarked: Verily, Allah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride is
disdaining the Truth (out of self-conceit) and contempt for the people.
There are many amongst mankind who are proud of their ancestry and pedigree, call and consider themselves
because of their ancestry as blue-blooded and above other men in general. The religion of Truth Al-Islam guides that
Allah Subhanah will not judge one according to ones ancestry, or lineage, or the works done by their forefathersbut
rather the Lord Most Just will judge each individual according to their deeds in the Hereafter. Thus regardless if one
is a descendant of a Prophet, a King, nobleman, or a Nobel Prize winner.they need not behave arrogantly towards
other men, for their pride and arrogance and status in this world is absolutely worthless in the Sight of Allah if their
deeds are evil and impious.
Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 49 Surah Hujurat verse 13:
O mankind, We created you from one man and one woman, and then divided you into nations and tribes so that
you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most
pious of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Ref 2: giving a person a father other than his own genealogical father (ie. cursing of ones lineage),
Sahih Muslim Hadith 128 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
The Messenger of Allah (saws) observed: Two (things) are found among men which are tantamount to unbelief:
slandering one's lineage and lamentation on the dead.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 5:
5 Call them by (the names) of their fathers: that is juster in the sight of Allah
The guidance of Islam commands that every person be known and recognized by the name of their fathers, as
blood-relations have closer personal ties in the Sight of Allah Subhanah. Some people in the Days of Ignorance
would intentionally drop the names of their fathers and tribe from their names in shame, and instead falsely align
themselves and take on the name of a noble tribe or family and thus present a false impersonation. Every type and
manner of falsehood was absolutely abolished by Islam, and it was made known that calling oneself or aligning ones
name to anyone other than ones own biological father was an abhorrent crime and sin in the Sight of Allah
Subhanah.
separation."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.391 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar
Sad bin 'Ubada became sick and the Prophet (saws) along with 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Auf, Sad bin Abi Waqqas and
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud visited him to inquire about his health. When he came to him, he found him surrounded by
his household and he asked, "Has he died?" They said, "No, O Allah's Messenger (saws)." The Prophet wept and
when the people saw the weeping of Allah's Messenger (saws) they all wept. He said, "Will you listen? Allah does not
punish for shedding tears, nor for the grief of the heart but he punishes or bestows His Mercy because of this." He
pointed to his tongue and added, "The deceased is punished for the wailing of his relatives over him."
Even after being warned in such strong terms by Allah and His Messenger (saws), all these four practices which
were prevalent in the Days of Ignorance before the advent of the Truth of Islam, are found even today in some
form or the other amongst the believing Ummah.
Whatever written of Truth and benet is only due to Allahs Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
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