Sayings of the Salaf » The Companions

Graffiti of the Salaf

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:34:14 +0000

Here is a picture of what is considered (to date) the oldest dated Islamic inscription, from 24H, when the Rightly Guided Caliph ‘Umar b. Al-Khattâb – Allâh be pleased with him – was assassinated. It is located at Al-’Ulâ in present day Saudi Arabia. It is one of a number of ‘graffiti’ inscriptions made by travelers and pilgrims from the first few centuries of Islâm.

UNESCO included this amazing archaeological find in its Memory of the World Register of Documentary Collections. An update entry states:

Saudi Arabia – Earliest Islamic (Kufic) Inscription. This very well preserved inscription is located on a red sandstone block of rock south of Qa’a al Muatadil, north of Sharma in al-Ula, northwest of Saudi Arabia on the ancient trade and pilgrimage route connecting the early Islamic city of al-Mabiyat with Madain Saleh. It is the oldest Islamic inscription found so far. It mentions the date of the death of the second Caliph of Islam, Omar bin al-Khattab and reads as follows: “In the name of God, I Zuhair wrote the date of the death of Omar the year four and twenty (Hegrah)”. Caliph Omar bin al-Khattab died on the last night of the month of Dul-Hajj of the year 23 Hegrah, and was buried next day on the first day of Muharram of the new year 24 Hegrah (corresponding to 644 AD).

Note: The discoverers and local experts say the script is Hijâzî, not Kufic.

Here’s a trace of the text:

What it says

The inscription can be translated as follows:

In the Name of Allah

I, Zuhayr, wrote [this] at the time ‘Umar died, in the year four

and twenty [24H]

Next to this inscription, it reads:

I am Zuhayr, Mawlâ of the Bani Salamah [tribe]

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

The Sweetest Words [Ikhlas]

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:20:30 +0000

It is reported that the son of Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said to his father:

Father! How sweet (beautiful) the speech of the Companions is! [Al-Fudayl] said, “Son, do you know why it was so sweet?” He replied, “No father, I do not.” He said, “Because they sought Allâh the Exalted when they spoke.”

Al-Bayhaqî, Shu’ab Al-îmân 2:299

Four Distinctions of Abu Bakr

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 22:46:43 +0000

It is reported that Al-Sha’bî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

Allâh the Exalted distinguished Abû Bakr Al-Siddîq – Allâh be pleased with him – with four qualities He did not distinguish anyone else with: He called him Al-Siddîq (the true believer), and He never named anyone else Al-Siddîq; [Abû Bakr] was the companion of Allâh’s Messenger – praise and peace of Allâh be upon him – in the cave, and his companion during the Migration (Al-Hijrah); and Allâh’s Messenger – praise and peace of Allâh be upon him – told him to lead the prayer in the presence of the rest of the Muslims.

Abu Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-’Ilm article 2815.

The Sahabah on Leaving the Salah

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:39:23 +0000

‘Abdullâh b. Shaqîq Al-’Uqaylî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

The Companions of Allâh’s Messenger – Allah’s praise and peace be upon him – did not consider the leaving of any action to be kufr (unbelief), except the prayer (salâh).

Al-Tirmidhî, Al-Sunan hadîth 2622. Graded sahîh by Al-Albânî in his edition of Sunan Al-Tirmidhî.

The Best of then and Now

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:07:07 +0000

It is reported that Mujâhid – Allâh have mercy on him – said: Those who strive and exert themselves (al-mujtahid) amongst you today are like those who used to play around amongst those before you. Wakî’ b. Al-Jarrâh, Al-Zuhd article 221. More: Knowledge transforms the student The Age of Knowledge Actions speak louder Start studying [...]