STARTLING CONFESSIONS

Research on approach and understanding of Islamic History, Sunna and Hadith.
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Dr. Shabbir
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STARTLING CONFESSIONS

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STARTLING CONFESSIONS
Let us examine the personal confessions of some of the most ancient and foremost "Imams" ('Canonical' authorities) who narrated History, Hadith, laid down Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and did Tafseer (explanation) of the Qur’an.
IMAM RAZI'S HORRIBLE CONFESSION:
Most Muslims have heard of one of the most ancient and famous Tafseer-e-Kabeer (The Great Exposition of the Qur’an) by Imam Fakhruddin Razi. This tafseer is one of the tops being followed by our Mullahs till this day. After writing his 300 volumes, the great and authoritative Imam confesses: "All my intellectual and supposedly logical statements in the explanation of the Qur’an turned out to be lame. All the explanations of the Qur’an done by the so-called Imams (Tabari, Zamakhshari, Ibne Kathir, Bukhari, Muslim etc) are misguided and misleading. All of us were the tools of Satan. Our souls were polluted by our physical desires. Our efforts of this world promise to bring us nothing but torture and doom."

• (Hadith-Ul-Qur’an by Allama Inayatullah Khan Al-Mashriqi, 1954 edition p190)
IMAM TABARI'S STRANGE CONFESSION:
“I am writing this book as I hear from the narrators. If anything sounds absurd, I should not be blamed or held accountable. The responsibility of all errors or blunders rests squarely on the shoulders of those who have narrated these stories to me.” So, Tabari wrote nothing but hearsay.
Tabari's Tareekhil Umam Wal Mulook (The History of Nations and Kings) popularly called "Mother of All Histories" is the first ever "History of Islam" written by 'Imam' Tabari (839-923 CE) at the junction of the third and fourth century AH. He died in 310 AH, 3 centuries after the Prophet (S). What were his sources? Not a scrap of paper! "He told me this who heard it from him who heard it from so and so," and so on. By compiling his 13 volume History and his 30 volume Exposition of the Qur’an under royal patronage, he became the Super Imam. The later historians until this day have persisted in following the trails of the Super Imam.
IBN KATHIR'S CONFESSION:
Had Ibn Jareer Tabari not recorded the strange reports, I would never have done so. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Khilaafat-e-Mu'awiya-o-Yazeed, Mahmood Ahmed Abbasi)
IMAM AHMAD BIN HANBAL'S CHASTISEMENT:
Allama Shibli Nomani, on page 27 of his Seeratun Nabi has given a startling quote of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (780-855 CE, d. 241 AH), "Three kinds of books are absolutely unfounded, Maghazi, Malahem and Tafseer.” (The exalted Prophet's Battles, Dreams and Prophecies, and Expositions of the Qur’an).
IBN KHALDOON'S THRASHING: The Muslim historians have made a mockery of history by filling it with fabrications and senseless lies. (Muqaddama)
SHAH ABDUL AZIZ'S CRITIQUE: Six pages of Ibn Khaldoon's History have been deliberately removed since the earliest times. These pages had questioned the most critical juncture of Islamic history i.e. the Emirate of Yazeed and the fiction of Karbala. [Even the modern editions admit in the side-notes that those pages have been mysteriously missing from the ancient original book. Khilaafat-e-Mu'awiya-o-Yazeed, Mahmood Ahmed Abbasi]
SHAH WALIULLAH'S CHASTISEMENT: Imam Jalaluddin Sayyuti's Tarikh-ul-Khulafa is the prime example of how our Historians, Muhaddithin and Mufassirin, each has played like Haatib-il-Lail (One who collects firewood at night not knowing which piece is good and which one is bad).
IMAM RAGHIB'S PROTEST: Tabari, Waqidi, Mas'oodi, Sayyuti pasted any reports they got hands on. Moreover, Abu Mukhnif, Lut bin Yahya and Muhammad bin Saaeb Kalbi (in whose names the civil wars within Islam during the times of Hazraat Ali, Mu'awiya and Yazeed are reported) never existed. Their names have been concocted and narratives in their names have all been invented by one man, the Zoroastrian "Imam" Tabari bin Rustam.
"The True History of Early Islam" by Shabbir Ahmed has been compiled by carefully sifting through scores of ancient books. The author's Criterion of the Right and Wrong has been what it must be and that is the Authentic Qur’an. Hence, I have accepted only those accounts of History and Hadith that are in harmony with this Noble and Unassailable Criterion, the Book of Allah. Thanks to my respected readers around the world, I have had the advantage of having access to numerous hard to find or concealed books.


MY CONFESSION:

Like all other humble works of mine, this book is based on research by a life-long, fallible student, Shabbir Ahmed. It has taken much time and labor as the discerning readers and writers can tell. While the author assures the reader of his intellectual honesty, he is always liable to make mistakes and projects no claims whatsoever. The reader may not agree with any part(s) of this book or even in its entirety. The strength of this work may indeed dwell in the fact that it leaves plenty of room for the reader's own research, rationale and judgment to accept or dismiss any statements made by this author or the ancient "authorities". Criticism from any quarters will always be welcome and appreciated, and any errors will be corrected in the next edition with sincere gratitude.

SOME REVOULUTONARY VOICES
Imam Nafees Sheristani of Arabia (395-461) – crucified.
Imam Ash-Shaikh Muhammad Tahir Al-Makki (417-460) – burned alive.
Imam Ahmad Amin Tahir Al-Masri (1883-1953) - tortured to death in prison.
Imam Moinuddin Al-Ash'Ari of Iraq (313-363) - crucified.
Imam Shariq Alawi Mu'tazali of Palestine (407-457) - hanged.
Imam Raghib Al-Isphahani of Persia (1327-1409) - beheaded.
Imam Abdullah Zanjani of Arabia (459-610) – crucified.
Jamaluddin Afghani of Iran/Afhanistan (1830 to 1899)
Mufti Muhammad Abduh of Egypt (1849 to 1906)
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817 to 1898)
Allama Iqbal (1877 to 1938)
Allama Muhammad Asad of Austria/Gibraltar (1907-1997)
Dr. Maurice Buccaille (Abus Salam) of France (1911-1989)
Allama Inayatullah Mashriqi of indo-Pak (1888-1965)
Imam Mufti Vehbi Ismael of Albania (1917-2006)
Mujtahid Imam Al-Husseini of Iran (1919-?)
Allama Ubaidullah Sindhi of India (1865-1935)
Allama Tamanna Imadi of Indo-Pak (1895-1961)
Allama Habib-ur-Rahman Kandhalwi of Indo-Pak (1887-1957)
Allama Aslam Jairajpuri of Indo-Pak (1890-1955)
Fazil Uloom Dinyah Masooduddin Usmani of Indo-Pak (19013-1986)
Fazil Diniyaat Ghulam Jeelani Barq of Indo-Pak (1901-1983)
Allama G.A. Parwaiz of Indo-Pak (1903-1985)
Allama Rasheed Ridha of Iran (1887-1941)
[Note]






THE EXALTED PROPHET MUHAMMAD
THE IDEAL PROPHET

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS:

570 CE : Muhammad, the exalted, born in Makkah. His father, Abdullah dies before the Prophet is born.
576 : Mother Amena dies. Grandfather Abdul Muttalib becomes the guardian.
578 : Grandfather dies. Abu Talib, a paternal uncle, assumes guardianship.
582 : First trading journey to Syria with Abu Talib.
595 : Marriage to Khadijah r.a.
605 : Muhammad (S) helps rebuild Ka'bah after a flood.
610 : Angel Gabriel visits Muhammad (S) - The First Revelation
613 : The Message of Islam begins reaching the community. Persecution of Muslims begins.
615 : The Prophet orders some Muslims to migrate to Ethiopia-Abyssinia.
617 : Persecution increases. The Prophet (S) and his followers are boycotted by Makkans. Many people of the far away town (270 miles North) Madinah embrace Islam and invite the Prophet and his followers to live among them.
619 : Khadijah and Abu Talib die.
622 : The Prophet migrates to Madinah. Islamic State established. New Constitution declared.
623 : The Prophet (S) marries Ayesha r.a.
624 : The Battle of Badr - The Turning Point
626 : The Battle of Uhud
627 : The Battle of the Trench or Clans (Khandaq or Ahzab)
628 : The Treaty of Hudaibiyah
628 : Invitation to Emperors
630 : Conquest of Makkah
632 : Last pilgrimage to Makkah and the Farewell Address
632 : The greatest man departs


YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT 570 CE:

Muhammad (S), the greatest man ever to set foot on earth, was born in Makkah in the year 570 CE commonly referred to as 'Aam-il-Fil (Year of the Elephant). He belonged to Quresh that were the most honored tribe of Arabia for being the custodians of Ka'bah, the holiest shrine in the land.

Note: Scholars have agreed that even after the most diligent research, it is almost impossible to determine the exact days and dates of events during Muhammad's (S) lifetime.

Muhammad (S), like all Arabs, belonged to the progeny of Ismail a.s. Ibrahim a.s. on Allah's Command, had settled his elder son, teenager Ismail a.s. (Ishmael) to reside permanently in Makkah along with his mother Haajirah. Contrary to the Biblical statement, Hagar was not a bondwoman. She was the daughter of the Egyptian king. Abraham kept traveling between his second wife Haajirah (Hagar) in Makkah and first wife Sarah in Can'aan (Syria-Palestine). Ismail married a woman from the Qahtani Tribe of Jurham and became the ancestor of Musta Ribah (Arabianized Tribes or the Arabs.)

So the Arabs are, interestingly, descendants of a Hebrew father, Ishmael and a Qahtani Jurham mother, Wasiqa. They had twelve sons in their long and happy married life. The Qahtanis are still abundantly found in the Arabian Peninsula. They were a wandering tribe in Southern Arabia who had settled around Makkah before Ismail a. s.

The “Wilderness of Beer-Sheba” of Genesis 21:14, embraces Southern Palestine and Hijaz (roughly, the land between and around Makkah and Madinah). Therefore, the Bible and the Qur’an are in agreement concerning where Hazrat Ismail and his mother Haajirah had settled after moving from Can'aan.

This history also explains why the Qur’an repeatedly asserts that the Arabs had not received any Scripture before the Qur’an. Obviously, the Arabs became a community long after their ancestor, Ishmael had passed on.


THE KINGDOM OF SHEBA:

In Yemen had collapsed in 115 B.C. They were overtaken by the Himairis who ruled until 300 CE when other tribes overtook the control of Yemen. They were in turn defeated by the Christian Kingdom of Ethipoia-Abyssinia when they invaded Yemen in 525 CE. The kingdom appointed Abrahah as the Viceroy of Yemen.


ABRAHAH PLANS TO DEMOLISH KA'BAH:

The Roman and the Abyssinian Christians longed for converting the idolaters of Arabia to Christianity. They also sought control of the trade routes between Arabia, Syria, Persia and the Western Roman Empire. They saw Ka’bah in Makkah as a hindrance to their imperialistic and religious designs. Abrahah, the Viceroy of Yemen, made a smart move. Between 550 and 555 CE he built a gorgeous cathedral Ekklesia in San’aa, Yemen and invited his people and neighboring nations to come for pilgrimage there instead of going to Makkah. But Ekklesia remained unpopular and Abrahah decided to invade Makkah to demolish the Ka’bah and its surroundings.
Anticipating the presence of hostile tribes en route, he came up with a 60,000 strong army aided by thousands of horses, camels and thirteen elephants.
I agree with the research of Hamiduddin Farahi, 'Maulana' Amin Ahsan Islahi and Allama G.A. Parwez on what eventually happened. As Abrahah’s army approached Makkah, the Makkans who had been alerted by some travelers beforehand, saw flocks of birds that normally fly over caravans in search for food. The Makkans mounted the hills around and threw stones on the troops. The elephants, and in turn, other rides panicked and trampled the soldiers. This incident took place in 570 CE, the year when the exalted Messenger was born. The event carried such significance that the Arabs marked “Year of the Elephant” (‘Aam-il-Fil) as a point of reference in history.

THE ARABIAN PENINSULA
WHAT MUHAMMAD (S) SAW IN HIS FORMATIVE YEARS

As a little bright youngster, he observed with dismay many wrongs in the society. All of Arabia was divided into warring tribes and there was no rule of law. In the absence of organized government and courts of law, total chaos in political, social, economic and moral arenas was the obvious consequence.


SOCIAL INEQUITY:

A few elite were extremely wealthy while the vast majority lived in abject poverty and humiliation. These rich people were ruthless in their behavior to the poor. Slavery was rampant therefore, those in power owned slaves and concubines. The laboring slaves were beaten with whips for little or no reason. No one cared for their welfare or emancipation.


STATUS OF WOMEN:

Women were primarily the objects of pleasure and subservience and they were exempted from all human rights. The concubines served their masters and were sexually molested frequently. The free women were expected to obey men, be objects of sensual pleasure for them and pour wine in their company, labor within and outside the home and bear children. Some Arabs respected women especially those who had born children, and possessed knitting, weaving and cooking skills. Some women were hired or forced to sing and dance in public and in social gatherings. The birth of a girl was considered a matter of disgrace so much so that some Arabs buried their daughters alive. Men and women both were immodest. Disrobing in public was considered fashionable and they circled around the Ka'bah naked. As an exception, the wives of tribal leaders enjoyed a high status in the society and their jewelry, garment design, hairstyle, and mode of conduct became a fashion only to be dreamed by the poor majority. These "noble wives" wielded significant influence on their husbands, families and their own tribe. A tribe would be proud of a beautiful, smart, fashionable and artistic woman and she was seen as a prized potential booty by the adversary tribes.


ALCOHOL AND GAMBLING:

Alcohol was rampant and quality drinks were considered as a status symbol. People got drunk, lost self-control and misbehaved; as a result, bloody feuds were a daily occurrence. Gambling was a part of everyday life. One who avoided alcohol and gambling was labeled a berm, meaning outcast. No person would befriend a berm. Men would put their wives as stakes in gambling and betting. If a person lost in gambling or could not pay his debt, he became a slave often along with the women of his family.


THAAR (CHAIN REVENGE):

Tribes fought endless wars in chain revenge on menial issues such as a goat or camel having grazed at someone else's field. Aggression was considered to grant dignity and superiority to a tribe and its leader. Looting and raiding other tribes was considered honorable. There was total disregard for other people's life, honor and property. Seeking revenge was a sacred duty and people took revenge even for their remote ancestors.


SUPERSTITIONS:

A vast majority of the Arabs were pagans. The society as a whole was ridden with superstition. They believed in good and bad omens, wild interpretation of dreams, magic, clairvoyance, evil spirits, demons and witches, evil eye, arrows of good and bad luck, lucky and ominous stars, stones, days and numbers. Each family and tribe had their own special "gods". The fear of unseen creatures was common. Poets, fortune-tellers, soothsayers, diviners, and religious leaders easily exploited them.


MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD:

Raising herds of livestock, camels, goats, sheep, cows, owning date palm trees and orchards, vineyards, parts of oasis, and looting were the common ways of making a living. Barter and trade were popular but honesty was unknown. Usury was rampant making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Big businessmen sent trade caravans to distant lands. The trade caravans were frequently looted. The proud rich wasted a lot of resources. They would kill their camels in competition. If one killed some camels the other would slay twice as many just to impress others.


DIVERSITY OF RELIGIONS:

Although most inhabitants were pagans, it was a diverse, albeit peaceful, society. Jews and Christians in the Arabian Peninsula numbered quite a few thousands. There were among them Sabians (Nature worshipers), those who believed only in Yahya a. s. (John the Baptist), Agnostics, and followers of Deen-e-Hanif (Strict Monotheists that followed the remnants of Hazraat Ibrahim and Ismail's teachings).

This society was devoid of a government and any rules or standards of conduct. Immorality and corruption was an accepted part of life. "Might is Right", was the order of the day to solve all disputes. These were the circumstances when the exalted Prophet would herald the greatest Mission ever.
Wassalam,
SA
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