One Story, One Miracle
Knowing the outcome
Mawlana Hayder Ali Madani
“Suhayb! Come on, take your turn!”
At his wits end, Khubayb said this and then turned to his grandfather, “I could run around our whole city in the time it takes him to think of one word!”
Grandfather smiled widely and explained, “He thinks carefully before deciding. That’s why his single word scores more than three or four of your words.”
Both brothers had earned top marks in their recent exams, and just a few days previously, their uncle brought them a gift just as he had promised. They came home after school to find their mother handing them a parcel. “This was just delivered”, she explained, “and it’s from your uncle.” They both asked her to open it for them and found it to be a board game called Scrabble.
They remembered their father explaining this game to them once. By lining up letters to make words, they could improve their vocabulary in no time. They were over the moon seeing this gift.
After playing a few times with their father, the brothers were now playing Scrabble with their grandfather. The game was not going anywhere, however, as it was Suhayb’s turn and he was deeply engaged in thought.
“You’re stuck here, but I’m already thinking of my next word”, Khubayb jested, “You’re thinking so much; you probably even know the word I’m thinking of!”
“How am I supposed to know what you’re thinking?” Suhayb retorted.
The brothers playfully went back and forth like this until the game came to an end. Grandfather asked, “How many words did you practice today?”
Khubayb replied, “I did 15, and Suhayb did about five. Altogether, we learnt and practised 20 new words.”
Grandfather then told them to put the board game back in its place and get ready for ꜤAṣr prayer.
“But there’s lots of time before azan!” Khubayb interjected.
“This is true. Why don’t you please tell us about another miracle of our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the meanwhile?” Suhayb said in support of his brother.
Grandfather began to explain, “Our Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم even knows about hidden things, so let’s talk about a prophetic miracle of his regarding this. Before this, let me ask you guys a question.”
Both brothers listened closely.
“Tell me, who is a munāfiq?”
Suhayb and Khubayb looked at one another quizzingly, until the latter said, “You tell us; we don’t know!”
Grandfather explained, “So, a munāfiq is someone who says they’re Muslim, but deep down, does not believe in Islam. We call them hypocrites in English. In the time of our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, some of these hypocrites hid themselves amongst true Muslims. By the grace and bestowal of Allah, our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knew about them.
When the Battle of Khaybar took place, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم spoke about a hypocrite by saying, ‘He is from the dwellers of Hell.’ When the battle commenced, this hypocrite fought intensely and sustained many wounds. One person said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Look at how fearlessly he is fighting.’ In reply, it was again stated about him, ‘He is from the dwellers of Hell.’
Leaving no room for doubt, the hypocrite then committed suicide due to the pain of his injuries. People then came to the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and said, ‘Allah made your words true.’ The Companion Bilāl رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was then told by the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, ‘Stand and announce to the people! Only believers shall enter Paradise, and Allah may support this religion even with a disobedient person.’[1]
Whether somebody will go to Heaven or Hell is a hidden matter we do not know about. But by the grace of Allah, our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knew this, and he even shared his knowledge with his Companions.”
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