Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 3

206 THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH @,m> (Vol-3)
Certainly those who hide (from people) the clear things and guidance
which We have revealed after We had explained it to them in the Book
for the people; such people (those who hide these things) are cursed by
Allaah and by all those who (are commanded to) curse (such as the
angels, humans, Jinn, animals). (This applies to all such people) Except
those who repent, correct (the wrong they did) and clarify (what they
hid). These are the ones whom I will forgive, for verily I am The
Greatest Acceptor of repentance, The Most Merciful. {Surah Baqarah,
verses 159, 160)(11
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah B,Gw
once said, "People complain that Abu Hurayrah
narrates too many Ahadeeth. I was a person who stuck with Rasulullaah @% to
have my belly filled because it was a time when I was unable to eat leavened
bread, wear silk or have slaves in attendance. Because of extreme hunger, I
would press my stomach against stones (so that the coolness of the stones
would alleviate the burn of the hunger).I would ask a person to recite a verse of
the Qur'aan for me although I knew it only so that (as we engaged in discussion)
he may (offer to) take me home for meals. The person who treated the poor best
was Ja'far bin Abi Taalib ?&GW3. He would take us home and feed us everything
he had in his house. In fact, he would even take out for us a (honey or butter)
container that was empty, wipe out whatever remained (stuck to the sides and
bottom) and then give this to us to suck." (2)
The True Meaning of Knowledge and
what the Word Knowledge Refers to when
Used in a General Context
Narrations from Rasulullaah &%k! Concerning the
True Meaning of Knowledge
Hadhrat Abu Moosa Ash'ari B,m narrates that Rasulullaah @$% said, "The
example of the guidance and knowledge that Allaah has sent me with is like a
drenching rain that falls on a particular piece of ground. While a part of the
ground is fertile and absorbs the water to grow grass and an abundance of
vegetation, another portion of the ground is hard and holds the water. However,
Allaah still allows it to benefit people because they drink from it, give their
animals to drink from it and also irrigate their fields with it. The rain also falls on
another portion of the ground that consists of a rocky terrain which neither
holds the water nor grows any grass. Such is the example of a person who has a
deep understanding of the Deen of Allaah. That which Allaah has sent me with
benefits him, because of which he becomes knowledgeable and teaches others as
well. It is also the example of the person who pays no heed to it and refuses to
accept it." (3)
(1) Bukhaari (Vol. 1 Pg.316).
(2) Bukhaari, as quoted in Targheeb wat Tarheeb(Vol.5 Pg.175).
(3) Bukhaari and Muslim, as quoted in Mishkaatul Masaabeeh (Pg.20).