“I certainly do not want our friendship to end. You’re my brother.” Abdul said. He took another toke of the blunt and passed it to Jason.
Jason gave a thin smile. “But yo man... I’m really glad that you decided to marry her. I ain’t gon’ hold you DuL. But marriage is really important to Allah.
Abdul turned towards his friend. “I agree completely.”
“Fornication is a major sin.” Jason continued.
“Our father Ibrahim AS, he had to marry the black slave girl Hajjar first, before he could have a son with her.” Jason said as he grabbed the blunt and took a hit.
Abdul was in awe. He was shocked. Everything that Jason was saying was 100% true.
“That is true.” Abdul said in a low voice.
“Whe-where did you learn that?” Abdul asked his friend.
Jason looked at Abdul and smiled politely. “Shaykh ‘YouTube’”. Jason said.
“Come again?” Abdul asked.
“This guy named Mufti Menk. He told me the entire story of Ibrahim AS. How he grew up in Iraq and his father Aazr tried to kill him. This guy, Mufti Menk, his head is like a plethora of Qur’anic knowledge. Have you heard of him?” Jason asked.
Abdul calmly nodded his head with a straight look on his face.
“I have. Yes. And I have gained a lot of beneficial knowledge from him as well.”
Jason looked at Abdul with a despondent look on his face. He knew that Abdul had something in his mind that was hard for him to say.
“Do you recommend me to continue receiving knowledge from him?” Jason asked Abdul.
Abdul paused for a second. Then he blinked. “Yes. Absolutely! He is an upright Muslim.”
“But just keep in mind brother. The Shaytaan, is a clear enemy. Just like how knowledge is widespread, so is ignorance. And Allah is All Knowing and clear from any imperfection.” Abdul said as he looked Jason deep in his eyes.
Jason stared back at Abdul. He knew his friend was trying to tell him something.
“Yes.” Jason said and slowly nodded his head.
Abdul continued. “BIDAH is Haraam!” Abdul said without blinking.
“What is... Bidah?” Jason asked.
“Bidah is change. Innovation in the Religion.” Abdul said sternly.
“If you change the Religion of Islam in any way. Different from how the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, gave it to us. If you do that, then you have committed a great sin and have incurred the wrath of Azzawajal upon you. May Allah have mercy on this Ummah. We have to take refuge with Allah, from Him.”
Abdul said and he held his hands out and raised them up. He began to pray silently. His eyes were closed.
Jason didn’t interrupt. He let Abdul finish. After about ten minutes Abdul opened his eyes. He closed his hands and looked down to the floor. A single tear welled up in his left eye. It didn’t drop. It just remained there. As if it was waiting to fall.
“But do you know what else is Haraam and a major sin?” Abdul turned to Jason and asked. The tear was still there welled up in the corner of his left eye socket. As Jason looked closer at it he saw that it was very translucent, barely opaque.
“What is?” Jason asked.
Abdul waited for a second. “Gheebah.” He plainly said.
“What is Gheebah?” Jason asked.
“Gheebah is backbiting. Gossiping. Saying something about your Muslim brother or sister in his/her absence that he/she would not like to be said about them if they were present.” Abdul said.
Jason didn’t say nothing for a while. “Re-really? But nobody really cares DuL.”
“They’re just words. It doesn’t mean nothing.”
Abdul turned towards Jason. “Would you like to eat your brother’s dead flesh?”
Jason didn’t say nothing for a while. Then he twisted his face and gave Abdul a quizzical look.
“Eew, no DuL. What type time you on bro?” Jason asked.
Abdul gave a soft chuckle. “This Religion Jason... It’s a brotherhood. We love and respect every other Muslim member. We don’t do or say nothing to tarnish or disparage the name of our fellow Muslims. Don’t you know that Allah loves the Muslim more than He does the Ka’ba?” Abdul said as his face lit up.
“Is that a fact?” Jason asked.
“YES! YES! ABSOLUTELY!” Abdul said as he grasped Jason’s knees.
“The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said so, and he was truthful.” The tear fell.
“He never told a lie. Before and after having received Prophethood.”
Abdul continued. “The veracity of Muhammad is undebatable. Even the non Muslims will tell you the same thing.”
Jason could tell that this specific subject matter meant a lot to him. This “Muhammad” guy. Who was he? Why did he have the same name as the oldhead? Jason knew that he was a big deal. The Shahada, in which you have to utter to enter the pale of Islam. The second part of it consists of testifying that you believe in him to be a Prophet and a Slave of Allah.
Jason paused for a second. He then turned his head to face Abdu. Then he placed his hand on his leg.
“Tell me more... please.” Jason said.
A wide smile appeared on the face of Abdul. Then he nodded his head.
“Muhammad… the son of Abd Allah, the son of Abdul Mutallib. The son of Hashim. the son of Abde Manaaf, the son of Qusay, the son of Kilaab, the son of Murrah, the son of Ka`ab, the son of Luway, the son of Ghalib, the son of Fahar, the son of Maalik, the son ofNadhar, the son of Kinanah, the son of Khuzaymah, the son of Mudrikah, the son of Ilyaas, the son of Mudhar, the son of Nazaar, the son of Ma`ad, the son of Adnaan.” Abdul said while smiling.
“Did he have any children himself?” Jason asked.
“Yes.” Abdul answered.
“He had seven children. Six of which died in their infancy.”
“What about the seventh?” Jason asked.
“Fatimah bint Khadijah. She lived. Allah also took her life six months after her father died. Allah is Mumit.” Said Abdul.
Jason nodded his head and stared at his friend as he spoke. Abdul then stopped and smiled at Jason, he knew he had questions. He nodded his head slowly towards Jason.
“Two questions DuL. What does ‘bint’ mean? And how do you know all of this?”
“Bint just means ‘daughter of’. I am not the only one who has this knowledge. Millions of people across the world know this man Muhammad. And they know for a fact that he is a Messenger of God. He’s a vicegerent. He is the best of the creations. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad.” Abdul said. He closed his eyes and opened his palms and raised them up. He began praying again.
“Allahumma Salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin.” Abdul said in a low tone of voice.
Jason wanted to ask him what that meant. He waited for him to finish.
“Where was he born?” He asked instead.
“Makkah. In the sixth century. The tribe of Quraysh.” Abdul answered.
“Did he have parents? Brothers and sisters?”
“His father’s name was Abdullah. His mother was Aminah. Abdullah passed away before Muhammad was born. Aminah too when he was six years old. He did not have any brothers or sisters.” Said Abdul.
“How long was he in Makkah for?” Asked Jason.
“He stayed therein until he was 50 years old. Then he received Wahiy from Allah to migrate to Medina. That is where he died. He passed away at the age of 63.” Abdul said.
Jason paused for a second. “What is… wahiy?” He asked his friend.
“Wahiy is revelation. Divine revelation from God to His chosen Prophets.” Abdul answered.
“Did our father Ibrahim AS receive Wahiy from Allah to marry Hajar?” Jason asked.
“No, he did not receive Wahiy to marry our mother Hajaar. That is something that he wanted. Because he wanted to have a son. And also it was his current wife at that time “Sarah” who proposed for Ibrahim to marry Hajaar.”
“Why did she do that?” Jason asked quizzically.
“Because Sarah was barren. Allah did not give her the ability to bear children. Allah gives and He takes.” Responded Abdul.
“Did he love her?” Jason asked.
“YES OF COURSE!” Abdul responded quickly.
“You are obligated to love your wife and take care of her.”
Jason paused for a second. Then he nodded his head slowly.
“So that would mean that he had two wives now correct? Isn’t that Haraam?” Asked Jason.
“Yes. No.” Said Abdul.
“Polygamy is highly recommended in Islam for the man. The Prophet Muhammad SAWS at one point had nine wives.” Abdul said this and held up nine fingers.
“But… you have to be able to take care of them individually. And the woman is not like the man.” Abdul said. His phone began to ring.
He looked at the screen to see who was calling. It was Shay. Abdul pressed ignore and turned back towards Jason.
“Islam is a Religion of peace and stability. Allah doesn’t burden a soul more than it can bear. He doesn’t make it hard for you, and He doesn’t want you to make it hard for yourself. The Prophet Dawood Alayhi Sallam had 100 wives. But he was a king and he was able to take care of all of them.” Abdul added.
His phone rang again. It was Shay. Abdul reached over for the phone and turned it off and removed the battery. Then he quickly turned towards Jason.
“Allah is Wahhid!” Abdul said.