Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Four Elements

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There are numerous miraculous events that occurred in the time of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) with regard to the four elements of nature, namely water, fire, earth and wind. These events illustrate to us the power and honour that Allah Ta’ala has granted to His Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Hereunder we will discuss a few of those incidents to refresh our Imaan and to increase our love for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) In Sha Allah.

Water

There are numerous miracles of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) with regard to water. Looking just at the miracle of rivers flowing from the blessed fingers of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), from the Hadith it becomes apparent that it occurred approximately thirteen times. Hereunder one of these thirteen incidents is being narrated.

At Hudaibiyah in 6 AH, the Sahaabah were in dire need of water as the well of Hudaibiyah had been made dry by the large number of people present. This prompted Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to place his blessed fingers in a bowl, causing water to flow from his blessed fingers. 1500 people then performed wudhu, ghusl, drank, made their animals drink and filled their water-bags with this water, and when he lifted his fingers away, the flow of water stopped. After the people had asked Hazrat Jaabir (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) of the number of individuals that were present, he replied, “1500 people were present, yet the water was so much that it would have sufficed for even 100 000 people.” [Mishkaat Shareef ]

With regard to this incident Ala Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (Radiallahu Anh) states in one of his Naaths:

Ungliya Hain Faiz Par Toote Hain Pyase Jhoom Kar

Naddiya Panjaabe Rahmat Ki Hain Jaari Wah Wah

As his blessed fingers are granting blessings, the thirsty come in a state of ecstasy to quench their thirst, Five rivers of mercy are continuously flowing SubhanAllah

From this incident we see the Aqeeda and belief of Hazrat Jaabir (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), that when he was asked, he did not only answer about how many people used the water, but in order to remove doubt from anyone who might have thought that the water was getting finished, he replied that even if 100 000 people were present it would have sufficed for them. SubhanAllah, this is the power and authority that Allah Ta’ala has granted to His Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

Fire

Amongst the miracles of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is that fire cannot burn anything that has been connected to him.

It is stated by Imam Qurtubi (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that the fire which encircled Madinatul Munawwarah in 654 AH, predicted by Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), appeared in close proximity to the mountains where the Banu Quraizah tribe used to live. When it continued to the Haram of Madina, it encountered a rock whose one half was in the precincts of the Haram and the other half was outside. On reaching it, the fire was able to burn the portion of the rock outside the precincts of the Haram but immediately became extinguished upon reaching the half inside. [Al Kalaamul Mubeen]

It is stated in Naseemur Riyaadh that Adeem bin Taahir Alawi had approximately 14 strands of the blessed hair of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and presented this to the governor of Halb as a gift, who in return showered him with respect and granted gifts to him as well. When Adeem bin Taahir went to visit him for a second time however, the governor of Halb spoke to him in a very harsh manner. Enquiring the reason for this, the governor replied, “People have told me that the strands of hair that you have given me are not proven to be those of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).” Thus Adeem bin Taahir asked for these Mubarak strands of hair to be brought back to him, as well as for a fire to be lit. After placing the strands in this blazing fire, instead of them becoming singed as per normal hair in flames, their lustre became more apparent within. This caused the governor to fall down and kiss the feet of Adeem bin Taahir and he once again showed respect and honour to him. [Al Kalaamul Mubeen]

Similarly, the tablecloth of Hazrat Anas (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) is also renowned for not being able to burn in the fire as Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to wipe his Mubarak hands and feet with it. [Mathnawi Shareef ]

Earth

There was a Christian who became a Muslim and began to live in the company of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), reading Surah Baqarah and Aale Imran, and was also a scribe of Wahi for being a calligraphic writer. However, he later forsook Islam to become a Christian again and then said, “Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has knowledge of only what I had written and given him.

This wretched person fell target to the anger of Allah Ta’ala by being spat out of the earth after his death. No matter how deep a grave his fellow Christians could place him in, he was always thrown out, with the burying of the body and its emergence occurring approximately three times. This caused the Christians to deduce that the spitting out of the earth was not of the power of man, and thus they placed his body on the ground and left without burying it. [Bukhari Shareef ]

Wind

The Battle of Khandaq also referred to as the Battle of the Trench took place in 5 AH. This is the battle in which Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and his illustrious Companions dug a trench around Madina, to protect the city from the enemies, since the Kuffaar and Arab tribes had joined forces to fight against the Muslims. The punishment of Allah Ta’ala later descended upon the Kuffaar in the form of a severe storm, causing their cauldrons and pots to overturn and their tents to take flight, and the bewildered Kuffaar could not do anything but flee.

With regard to this storm, Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Qur’an, “O Believers! Remember Allah’s favour upon you when some armies came against you, then We sent on them a strong wind and an army (of angels) which you did not see. And Allah sees your deeds.” [Surah 33, Verse 9]

With regard to this storm, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has said, “I have been helped by the easterly wind, while the people of Aad have been destroyed by the westerly wind.”

These incidents teach us about the honour that Allah Ta’ala has granted to His Habeeb (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the consequences of showing disrespect and enmity to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to have utmost love and respect for Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, Allahumma Ameen.

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