Sayyiduna Tameem Daari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ

A Muslim trader from Syria was heading towards Madinah. His goods contained lamps, oil and ropes. The day of Thursday was about to end and he entered blessed Masjid-un-Nabawi. His slave unpacked the goods as per his order and took out the lamps and then hung them from the pillars. He then put oil and water into them and then put yarn threads into them. As the sun set, the trader ordered his slave to light the lamps. Every day as the sun would set, the Masjid would get dark. Some light would be managed by burning the dry date leaves, but that day the light of lamps was illuminating Masjid-un-Nabawi. Seeing this beautiful scene the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, ‘Who has illuminated our Masjid?’ The blessed companions رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم humbly replied, ‘One of your devoted and faithful companions, Sayyiduna Tameem Daari رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ has illuminated this Masjid today.’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم made this Du’a, ‘O Tameem Daari! You have beautified Islam by decorating a Masjid, may Allah Almighty illuminate both your world and Hereafter.’ (Wafa-ul-Wafa, vol. 1, pp. 596; Al-Istee’aab, vol. 2, pp. 242)

Why was he called ‘Daari’?

Dear Islamic brothers! The full name of Sayyiduna Tameem Daari رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ is Abu Ruqayyah Tameem Bin Aws Bin Kharijah, whereas he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ was called ‘Daari’ in relation to his Mooris-e-A’la (ancestor) ‘Abdud Daar’ [عَبْدُ الدَّار]. (Al-Istee’aab, vol. 1, pp. 270)

Saw Dajjaal

Before embracing Islam he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ was a perfume seller. (Balaghaat-un-Nisa li Ibn Tayfoor, vol. 1, pp. 128)

For selling perfume, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would travel to different countries. Once he was on a sea voyage, he lost his way and continued to wander in the sea for one month. Finally, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ reached a desolate island where Dajjaal was imprisoned. Having seen him and talked to him the truth about Islam was revealed to him. On 9^th Hijri, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ along with 10 members of his tribe went to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and related the whole incident and embraced Islam. (Sahih Muslim, pp. 1204, Hadees 7386)

Continued to give gifts

He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would give different gifts to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Once he gave an expensive horse named ‘Al-Ward’, (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 4, pp. 227) and once he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ presented Munaqqa (large raisin). (Al-‘Aqd-ul-Fareed, vol. 7, pp. 301)

He got the village as a gift

Once he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ humbly said like this, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Allah Almighty is revealing your honour and greatness and glory of Risalat all over the world. Therefore bestow a nearby village of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, Bayt-e-Lahm upon me.’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘That village is yours’ and then a document for that village was prepared and handed over to him. When Muslims achieved victory over Syria, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ went to the court of Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ with the same document. Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ handed that village over to him.[1] Remember, this is the same sacred village in which Sayyiduna ‘Isa عَلٰى نَبِيِّـنَا وَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام, the chosen Nabi of Allah Almighty, was born. (Al-Amwaal lil-Qaasim, pp. 288, Hadees 682)

Passion for reforming Ummah

When Sayyiduna Tameem Daari رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ asked for permission from Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ for delivering Bayan in the Masjid, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ asked, ‘What will you deliver?’ He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ humbly replied, ‘I will recite the Holy Quran in front of the people. I will persuade them to perform virtuous deeds and will forbid them from evils.’ Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ said, ‘It is a profitable dealing.’ He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would continue to deliver his Bayan on Friday until Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would come to lead Friday Salah.  When he took further permission to deliver Bayan, Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ gave him one more day. Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ added one more day to the Silsilah of Bayanaat in his reign of Khilafat. In this way, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ started to deliver Bayan thrice a week. (Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq, vol. 3, pp. 109, Raqm 5415; Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 11, pp. 80)

Duties of Imamat

He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ is one of those fortunate people who was appointed as Imam for leading Taraweeh Salah with Jama’at by Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ. (Muwatta Imam Maalik, vol. 1, pp. 120, Hadees 256)

Special arrangement for worship

He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ was a great worshipper and ascetic person. He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would wear nice clothes at the time of Salah. Sometimes it also happened that he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would go out for Salah after covering himself with an expensive chador that was worth 1000 dirhams. When night would grow darker, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would clean his mouth by using Miswak and then would make himself fragrant by using perfume and would start offering Salah. He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would make more arrangement for Tahajjud and would offer Tahajjud Salah after wearing a special dress.

Expensive dress

He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ had an expensive and nice dress which was worth 4000 dirhams. So the night he presumed to be Layla-tul-Qadr, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would especially wear that dress and would spend the whole night doing Zikr and performing worship. (At-Tahajjud wa-Qiyam-ul-Layl li Ibn Abid Dunya, vol. 1, pp. 311)

Punished his Nafs

One night he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ could not offer Tahajjud Salah, so he decided to punish his Nafs and stopped sleeping at night and spent the entire one-year offering Salah in the night. (Ibid, vol. 1, pp. 371)

Yearning for recitation

He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would complete one Holy Quran in seven days. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 379) Sometimes it also happened that he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would recite one Holy Quran completely only in one Rak’at.

(Az-Zuhd li Ibn Mubarak, pp. 452)

Why should I mention my virtuous deed?

Once someone asked him: How much Holy Quran do you recite daily in the night? He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ replied: Perhaps you are one of those who after reciting the Holy Quran keep on saying this to people, ‘I recited the Holy Quran last night’. He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ then said: I (forgetfully) like to offer three Rak’aat Nafl Salah, but I do not like reciting the Holy Quran during the whole night and then mentioning it to people in the morning.’ (Ibid, pp. 471)

Divine fear

Sometimes, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would repeat one Ayah in a Salah and cry until dawn would break.

(Az-Zuhd li Ahmad, pp. 201)

Hospitality

After Salah whoever he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ would meet in the Masjid on his right and left, he would hold his hand, take him to his home and would greatly entertain him with different kinds of dishes.

(Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 11, pp. 78)

His residence and place of demise

He رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ continued to live in Madinah Munawwarah, but after the martyrdom of Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ he went to Syria and lived there for the rest of his life. (Jaami’-ul-Usool, vol. 12, pp. 326)

In 40 Hijri, he رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ departed this life. 18 blessed Ahadees which have been narrated by him are still today the beauty of books of Ahadees. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 87)

In the history of Islam, ‘Allamah Mulla ‘Ali Qaari رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, great Islamic jurist, Hanafi Muhaddis and Mufassir [commentator], is mentioned in golden words.

Name and Nasab [genealogy]

His name is ‘Ali Bin Sultan Muhammad, the Kunyah is Abul Hasan and the title is Nooruddin. He رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was born in Herat (the present city of Afghanistan).

(Al-A’laam liz-Zarkali, vol. 5, pp. 12; Tazkirah Mujaddid-e-Deen-e-Islam, pp. 301)

Early education

He رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه gained the knowledge of Tajweed from Shaykh Mu’eenuddin Bin Haafiz Zaynuddin Harwee رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه in Herat. (Tazkirah Mujaddid-e-Deen-e-Islam, pp. 301)

Hijrah [migration] to Makkah Mukarramah

When Sultan Bin Haydar, known as ‘Shah Isma’eel Safawee’ occupied Herat and started martyring Muslims and spreading Bad-Mazhabiyyat [heresy], a large number of Muslims migrated to Makkah Mukarramah. ‘Allamah ‘Ali Qaari رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was one of them who also migrated with them and made Makkah Mukarramah his homeland. (Tazkirah Mujaddid-e-Deen-e-Islam, pp. 301)

Cause of becoming famous from Qaari

Due to having expertise in the knowledge of Qira`at, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه became famous by the title, Qaari.

(Mirqat-ul-Mafatih, vol. 1, pp. 7)

Source of income

He رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would write a copy of the Holy Quran with his hand every year and would also write an explanatory note on it. Whatever amount of money he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would get from it, it was sufficient for him to live his life for the whole year. (Al-A’laam liz-Zarkali, vol. 5, pp. 12)

Reviver of the time

By virtue of his religious services, Islamic scholars have declared him to be the reviver of the 10^th Century. (Tazkirah Mujaddid-e-Deen-e-Islam, pp. 304)

Teachers

‘Allamah Ibn Hajar Haytami, Shaykh Muttaqi Hindi, Shaykh Muhammad Sa’eed Meer Kilaan, Shaykh Abdullah Sindi, Shaykh Qutbuddeen Makki رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی. (Muqaddamah Sharh Fiqh-e-Akbar, pp. 3; Tafseer Mulla ‘Ali Qaari, vol. 1, pp. 6; Mirqat-ul-Mafatih, vol. 1, pp. 8)

Literary services

He رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has written a large number of books. Few of them are mentioned below:

1.         Mirqat-ul-Mafatih: It is the best scholarly and research-based commentary on Mishkat-ul-Masabih, a famous book of blessed Hadees. He رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has himself mentioned the reason for writing it. The summary of it is as follows: ‘Amongst the books of Ahadees ‘Mishkat-ul-Masabih’ is the most comprehensive and beneficial book. Most of those who have written its commentary are Shaafi’i. Therefore they have mentioned the rulings derived from this book according to their school of Islamic jurisprudence and have presented arguments to prove their point of view by the apparent meaning of blessed Ahadees. I chose to explain the arguments and rulings related to Ahnaaf through blessed Ahadees so that those who do not know about jurisprudential arguments do not have this presumption that the rulings related to Ahnaaf are against the correct arguments. I name this book, ‘Mirqat-ul-Mafatih li Mishkat-il-Masabih’ [مِرْقَاۃُ الْمَفَاتِیْحِ لِمِشْکَاۃِ الْمَصَابِیْحِ].’ (Mirqat-ul-Mafatih, vol. 1, pp. 35)

2.         Anwaar-ul-Quran wa-Asraar-ul-Furqan: It is a concise commentary containing the sayings of Islamic scholars and Sufis. It consists of five volumes.

3.         Sharh-ush-Shifa: It is the commentary on ‘Ash-Shifa’, a world-famous book of Qadi ‘Iyaad Maliki رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, which is full of devotion to Rasool (صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم). Like other Islamic scholars, A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه also gained benefits from it in his books.

4.         Sharh Musnad Abi Hanifah: It is the commentary on ‘Musnad Abi Hanifah’ a collection of the narrations by Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه consisting of one volume. In this commentary, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has mentioned the introduction to narrators, literal arguments and the explanation of the words of ‘Hadees’ very briefly. Moreover, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has also mentioned, in this commentary, the narration of Sihah Sittah as a Shaahid[1].

5.         Jam’-ul-Wasail fi Sharh-ish-Shama`il [جَمْعُ الْوَسَائِل فِی شَرْحِ الشَّمَائِل]: It is the commentary on ‘اَلشَّمَائِلُ الْمُحَمَّدِيَّةُ وَالْخَصَائِلُ الْمُصْطَفَوِيَّةُ’, a famous book of Imam Tirmizi consisting of two volumes. He رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, as per his habit, has mentioned the Ahadees of Sihah Sittah at some places along with the lexical difference of different Nuskhahs [copies] of the [original] text and the life history of narrators and literal arguments to support his point of view.

6.         Al-Mawrid-ur-Rawee fil Mawlid-in-Nabawi [اَلْمَوردُ الرَّوِی فِی الْمَولِدِ النَّبَوِیِّ]: It is an authentic and research-based book on blessed Meelad. In this book, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has mentioned: We have heard that when Abu Ishaaq Ibraheem Bin ‘Abdur Raheem رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was in Madinah Munawwarah, he would get food prepared and serve it to people on the occasion of Meelad-un-Nabawi and would say, ‘I would arrange the gathering of Meelad every day throughout the month if I had the power’. I (i.e. ‘Allamah ‘Ali Qaari رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه) say: When I cannot give an apparent invitation and hospitality, I have written these pages so that on behalf of me it may become scholarly and Noori hospitality which should always remain in the pages of history and should not be specific to only any year or month. Moreover, I have named this book, ‘Al-Mawrid-ur-Rawee fil Mawlid-in-Nabawi’. (Al-Mawrid-ur-Rawee fil Mawlid-in-Nabawi, pp. 34)

Further works

(1) ‘اَلْاَثْمَارُ الْجَنِيَّةُ فِی اَسْمَاءِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ’ (2) ‘اَلْفُصُوْلُ الْمُهِمَّةُ’ (3) ‘بِدَايَةُ السَّالِك’ (4) ‘شَرْحُ مُشْكِلَاتِ الْمُؤَطَّا’ (5) ‘اَلْحِرْزُ الثَّمِیْنُ لِحِصْنِ الْحَصِيْنِ’   (6) ‘نُزْھَةُ الْخَاطِرِ الْفَاطِر’ (Seerat-e-Ghaus-e-A’zam) (7) ‘فَتْحُ الرَّحْمٰنِ بِفَضَائِلِ الشَّعْبَان’ (8) ‘مُصْطَلَحَاتُ اَھْلِ الْاَثْرِ عَلٰی نُخْبَةِ الْفِکْرِ’ (9) ‘مِنْحُ الرَّوْضُ الْاَزْھَر فِی شَرْحِ فِقْەِ الْاَکْبَر’.

Blessed demise

This luminary of knowledge and awareness passed away on Shawwal-ul-Mukarram, 1014 Hijri and was laid to rest in the graveyard of Makkah Mukarramah named, ‘Ma’lah’ [مَعْلَاۃ]. (Mirqat-ul-Mafatih, vol. 1, pp. 9)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy on him and forgive us without accountability for his sake!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم