Revere the relics of the Prophets (May peace be upon them)

 

Revere the relics of the Prophets

(May peace be upon them)

 

It is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

 

And their Prophet said to them: ‘The sign of his kingdom (to be Allah’s bestowal) is that a box, carried by angels, shall come to you from your Lord, containing things for the tranquility of heart, and some sacred relics left behind by the children of Musa and Harun (Moses and Aaron). Surely, there is a great sign in it for you if you are believers.’  Surah Baqarah (2:248)

 

Shaykh Ul Islam, Imam Muhammad Anwaarullah Farooqui (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in the exegesis of the aforementioned verse of the Holy Quran:

 

It is mentioned in Tafseer Ibn Jareer and Durre Manthoor, etc. that the box (i.e. the Ark of the Covenant) had the cane of Hadhrat Moosa (May peace be upon him), some clothes, his shoes and the cane of Hadhrat Haroon (May peace be upon him), his turban and some pieces of the tablets of Torah.

 

These were the relics which gave Taloot (biblical name Saul) his victory, as it is established through the traditions that there were very few people with him.  The Holy Quran also indicates it:

 

…Many a time a small party has overcome a (very) large party by the command of Allah…Surah Baqarah (2:249)

 

It is mentioned in Tafseer Ibn Jareer that the box has been considered to be sacred since ancient times.  Its presence would help in fights as well.  When the conditions of Nation of Israil deteriorated, the disbelievers dominated them and took away the box.  They would disrespect it.  They threw it away.  The person who urinated or defecated on it would become afflicted with piles.

 

It is mentioned in Tafseer Ibn Jareer that when disease became rampant in that nation, the Prophet of that time told them:  If you desire solace, remove that box from here.  They asked him for a sign of it.  He said:  Bring 2 rebellious bulls, which have never been yoked to any vehicle.  If they bow their heads before the box, you place it in a cart and yoke them to the cart.  Then let them go wherever they want to. 

 

The people also accepted it and followed this advice.  Those bulls reached Masjid Al Aqsa.  There, they broke their ropes and ran away.

 

When Hadhrat Dawood (May peace be upon him) saw the box, he went towards it dancing.  His wife said:  What have you done?  What will people say?  Hadhrat Dawood (May peace be upon him) said:  You desire to stop me from obeying my Lord?  I don’t want you as my life partner now.  Thus, he divorced that lady.

 

The same custom of dancing is prevalent among the elders as well.  At the time of religious singing (Sama’a), when they feel the signs of blessings, they start dancing out of joy.  If their state is real and without any embellishments, it will be like the dance of Hadhrat Dawood (May peace be upon him), otherwise it will be mere imitation which has no value in religion.

 

You have seen the box which was so sacred that Allah Most High Himself would make such arrangements that such signs would be expressed which would make people respect and revere it.  What did the box contain?  The clothes and shoes of Hadhrat Moosa and Hadhrat Haroon (May peace be upon them), etc.  To look at, these things seemed ordinary.  However, when these things became related to such great personalities, they became valuable with Almighty Allah as well.  For this reason, those who disrespected it stood rejected and apostatized.  And those who respected and revered them were pious and successful.

 

Just think over it.  Where do the relics of Hadhrat Moosa and Hadhrat Haroon (May peace be upon them) stand before the relics of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?  Hadhrat Moosa (May peace be upon him) himself had the yearning to enter the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), as is established in the Hadith. 

 

If his wish were accepted, he himself would have revered and honored the relics of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) the way his nation revered and honored his own relics.  When the status of Hadhrat Moosa’s (May peace be upon him) relics is such that Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

Surely, there is a great sign in it for you if you are believers.  Surah Baqarah (2:248)

 

Then one can understand the high status of the relics of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) before Almighty Allah.

 

If anyone shows any disrespect to the relics of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), then what wonder if that person is dealt with the way the king of the disbelievers was dealt with?

 

[Excerpted from Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol. 9, Pg. No. 301]