Battle of Uhud

Battle of Uhud or Ghazwa e Uhud has a great significance in Islamic history.  After the defeat at Badr the Makkans were deeply ashamed so they gathered a huge army of about 30000 men and decided to attack Madina again. Like the previous time Muslims again were few in numbers about 700 armed men. Therefore realizing the seriousness of the situation Prophet Muhammad devised a plan and gave strict instructions to the followers of Islam. He placed fifty marksmen at the slope of the Mount of Ohod, directing them to protect the back of the Muslims against the pagan cavalry (which was led by Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed). He commanded them not to leave their position whether the Muslims defeated the pagans or the pagans defeated the Muslims. The battle began and soon Muslims gained victory over the Makkans. After beating back a flank of the Makkans army, fell on the Makkans camp without making sure that the enemy had been really defeated. They entered the pagan camps and went on collecting what they found of equipment and material without meeting any resistance from the pagans. This scene watered the mouths of the fifty marksmen and they left their post and joined the others collecting the leftovers of the non Muslims. Seizing the moment Khalid bin Waleed who came upon them and scattered them. After this mishap there went a rumor that the Prophet had been slain. This further lowered the morale of the Muslims and soon enough the victory turned into defeat. However, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) led the Muslims again in the next morning and turned defeat into victory with Makkans running from the battle field.

The Battle of Khandaq (Trench)

The destruction of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the biggest dream of Qureshite community. The defeat at Badr and half victory of Ohod had made them turbulent and violent. They bought together there tribes and asked Arab communities to join hands with them.  Within no time they were able to to mobilize four thousand fighters. . This army of about 24,000 was commanded by Abu Sufiyan and the Muslim army which numbered 3,000 was commanded by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself. Upon hearing the news of the invasion of Madina the Holy Prophet gathered his companions and held up a meeting. Hazrat Salman al-Farisi(a.r.) counselled to dig a trencharound Madina to prevent the invaders from entering it. The Prophet(pbuh&hf) commanded the Muslims to implement the plan. The number of days required to dig the trench is reported to be between six and twenty days as per different historical accounts. When the invaders saw the trench they found it impractical to cross it so they besieged the city for about twenty days. The siege was a "battle of wits", in which the Muslims tactically overcame their opponents while suffering very few casualties. Imam Ali (R.A) had outstanding achievements at this battle, in confining and removing the danger, which shook the very foundation of the Islamic state.

The Battle of Badr

The first battle between Islam and the forces of evil was fought on the battle field of Badr on 17th of Ramzan in 624 A.D about 60 miles from Madinah towards Makkah. Also known as Ghaw-e-Baddar, played a very important role in the propagation of Islam. It was the turning point for Islam for it established a benchmark of truth against wicked enemies who could never bear to see truth and believers of Allah to triumph.

The battle started when the pagans deployed their troops after the Muslims attacked a Qarashi trade convoy that was on route from Syria to Mecca, to show that the Muslims were controlling the strategic road of Quraish’s trade, and that they have become a force to reckon with. The convoy was able to flee into another road. Yet the pagans decided to attack Medina and marched until they reached a place called Badr. The Makkahans were proud because of their immense wealth and strong army and conceited themselves succeeded even before the battle. Meanwhile at the Madina Prophet Muhammad was trying to encourage the Muslims to fight but they were afraid of the well equipped army of Kufaar. In the end Prophet had to go to fight with few people who were neither well equipped nor well armed. Finally the day arrived and there stood a small group of 313 men of whom merely 60 of them wore armor, while facing them was arranged an army of one thousand warriors well armed and equipped. Quash fought hard but the signs of victory of the Muslims began to appear soon. The enemies were stricken with terror and began to flee. The Muslims, who were fighting with the help of their faith, and knew that both killing and being killed were blessings of Allah (SWT), were perfectly undaunted and nothing stopped their advance. The battle came to an end after noon. Many Quraysh fled and some were taken as captives. In this battle fourteen men from amongst the Muslims were killed. As for Quraysh seventy of them were killed and seventy others were captured. The forces of truth and falsehood faced each other for the first time in the Valley of Badr. The number of the army of truth did not exceed 313 whereas the army of falsehood was three times as big as that. The Muslims were not properly equipped. Their means of transport consisted of about seventy camels and a few horses, while the enemy had come with full strength to knock down Islam, consisting of 1000 strong men with 700 camels and 100 horses. In spite of all this, however, truth was victorious and the enemy returned to Makkah after having sustained heavy losses.

Mahr

In Islam Mahr is a fixed amount of money or possessions (or a combination of both) paid by the groom to the bride during the wedding ceremony.  It is a mandatory requirement for the wedding to take place. Mahr mostly consist of money but it can be anything such as jewelry, home goods, furniture, a dwelling etc. It is paid to the wife in honor and respect. It shows the man’s desire to marry her and sense of responsibility and obligation or effort on his part.

Allah says in the Qur'an: "And give the women their dowries with a good heart..." [Noble Quran 4:4]

And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best of mahrs is the simplest (or most affordable).” (Narrated by al-Haakim and al-Bayhaqi, Sahih al-Jaami’, 3279)

Mahr is an important part of Islamic marriage. It is obligatory unless the wife by her own will expresses to forgive him or returns it to him. If she takes the mahr then it belongs entirely to her and no one can take it from her forcibly. There are only two conditions under which mahr is forgiven i.e. either the wife has forgiven it or the marriage ended without consummation, then in that situation her guardian can also forgive the mahr on her behalf. If a husband dies without paying mahr to his wife, it will be an outstanding debt on him and it must be paid before the distribution of his inheritance among his heirs. Now a day’s Mahr and dowry are often misunderstood. There is no concept of dowry in Islam. It is a man made obligation in marriages. Dowry means money, property, household furniture, car etc that are required by the bride to bring along in her marriage as a gift for her in laws. Mahr simply means a bride gift from her husband. 

Martyrdom in Islam

The ultimate objective of a Muslim is to please Allah and do everything possible to attain high rank among the people He loves. But such noble and lofty objectives demand great sacrifices. Sacrifices come in various shapes, sizes and levels and can be performed through different conduits. The greater the sacrifice greater will be its reward and eventually highest rank in the eyes of Allah. Among the great sacrifices martyrdom (Shahadah) holds the highest rank. Martyrdom is the sacrifice of one’s soul for the sake of Allah in order to spread His religion and defeat His enemies. The Holy Prophet greatly emphasized the magnitude of shahadah as well an the concept of Jihad in his companions and the followers there and then to come.

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “I swear by the One in Whose Hands my soul is, I wish that I would fight for the sake of Allah (i.e., Jihad ) and get martyred, then return and fight again and get martyred, then return and fight again and get martyred” (Bukhari & Muslim) This ahadith shows the significance of martyrdom and a reflection of deep love and overwhelming desire; a desire to attain Shahadah, which is one of the greatest paths to Paradise. 

According to an ahadith martyr has six bounties in the life hereafter

·         He will be forgiven with the first drop of his blood that is spilt

·         He will see his place in Paradise (at the time of death)

·         He will be saved from the ‘Great Horror’ (on the Day of Judgment)

·         A Crown of Dignity will be placed on his head, which contains many corundums, each one being more precious than this life and all that it contains

·         He will have seventy two Women of Paradise

·         He will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family members (who would have otherwise gone to hell).” (Tirmidhi & Ibn Maajah).

Martyrdome is the noblest of the deaths. A Muslim should pray for such a glorified death.

Eid ul-Azha

Eid ul-Azha is celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah; right after the termination of the rites of Hajj. It is also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice” or the “Greater Eid”. It is an Islamic festival to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Ismail (AS) by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) as an act of obedience of Allah. But instead of Ismail a ram was sacrificed by Allah’s command. In remembrance and honor of this great sacrifice Muslims all over the world sacrifice a domestic animal, such as a cow, sheep, goat, or camel, by slaughter. This ritual observance lasts until sunset of the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Hajj and the great sacrifice are the remembrance of the trails, hardships and triumphs of the Prophet Ibrahim. The Quran says:

 "Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121) 

Of the many trials that Prophet Ibrahim had to face during his life time, the sacrifice of his only son Ismail was perhaps the hardest and the most difficult one. When he was given the command he didn’t think for a second and prepared himself to do it. He showed that his love for his Creator was more than anything compared. To honor his great sacrifice Allah made it customary for the Muslims to sacrifice animals on that particular day for eternity.

The meat from the sacrifice on Eid ul-Azha is be divided into three equal parts to be distributed to others. The family eats one third, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors, and the other third is given to the poor & needy as a gift. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of beneficial and close to our hearts and that nothing is more important than to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need.

Eid ul-Fitr

Ramzan ends with the festival if Eid ul-Fitr. It is an important Islamic festival like the one celebrated after Hajj. It is also known as the “festival of breaking fast”. On this great day Muslims all around the world put on their finest clothes, clean and decorate homes, cook meals and make deserts, give treats to smaller kids and enjoy the day by visiting friends and families. A sense of generosity and gratitude colors this festival. 

Anas (RA), a companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reported that when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have two festivals. On those two days they had carnivals and festivity. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked the Ansaar (the Muslims of Madinah) about it. They replied that before Islam they used to have carnivals on those two joyous days. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told them: 'Instead of those two days, Allah has appointed two other days which are better, the days of Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha.' (Hadith)

The following are the Sunnah that needs to be followed on this joyous day

Wake up early in the morning. 

·         Prepare for personal cleanliness; take care of details of clothing, etc the day before. 

·         Take a Ghusl (bath) after Fajr.

·         Brush your teeth or do maswaakh.

·         Dress up, putting on best clothes available, whether new or cleaned old ones. 

·         Use perfume (men only). 

·         Have breakfast on Eid-al-Fitr before leaving for prayer ground.

·         Pay Zakaat-al-Fitr before Salaat-al-Eid (on Eid-al-Fitr). 

·         Go to prayer ground early. 

·         Offer Salaat-al-Eid in congregation in an open place except when whether is not permitting like rain, snow, etc. 

·         Use two separate routes to and from the prayer ground. 

·         Come back home and greet everyone.

·         Eat ant sweet or desert.

·         Smile and be happy.