AS'HABU SABT (PEOPLE OF SABT ) AND THE LESSONS TO LEARN

AS'HABU SABT (PEOPLE OF SABT ) AND THE LESSONS TO LEARN.

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FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL
- Prophet Musa (A) had taught the Bani Israa'il (Jews) to
designate one particular day for the worship of Allah . On
that day they were to abandon all their business or leisure
activities. Originally, the day of Friday was specified, but at
the request of the Bani Israa'il, it was changed to Saturday.
This day, the Sabbath, became a holiday for the Jews and
on Saturdays Prophet Musa (A) used to address a special
congregation and preach to the people. For many years
after Prophet Musa (A), the Sabbath was faithfully observed
as a religious day.

DURING PROPHET DAWOOD PERIOD.
- However, in the time of Prophet Dawood
(A), one group of the Bani Israa'il, who lived at the seaport
of Ela, broke the Divine rule. The people of Ela were mainly
fishermen and fished the seas everyday except Saturday.
Allah tested their faith by making the fish become very easy
to catch on Saturdays.

ALLAH SAYS:
- The Holy Qur'an says:
And (O Muhammad) ask them about the (people of the)
town which was beside the sea; when they exceeded (the
limits) in the Sabbath when their fish came to them on the
day of their Sabbath, appearing on the surface of the water;
and on the day they did not observe the Sabbath, they (the
fish) did not come unto them. Thus did We try them, for they
were transgressing. And when a part of them said, "Why do
you preach to those whom Allah would destroy or punish by
a severe torment?" They replied, "To be free from blame
before your Lord, so that perhaps they may become
pious."  (Quran 7:163-164)

THE GREAT TEMPTATION
- The fishermen were tempted by the easy catches to be made
on Saturday and they thought of a plan to get around the
Divine restriction. They decided to dig trenches and canals
to divert the fish. On Saturdays, the canals were opened and
the fish would swim into them in large numbers. At night,
before the fish could return back to the sea, the canals were
dammed. Then on Sundays the fishermen would easily
catch all the trapped fish.

THE WISE AMONG THEM
- The wise and pious people of the tribe advised these greedy
fishermen not to violate the command of Allah . They
considered it their duty to guide those who were in error,
because otherwise they would also be to blame for the
consequences.

So the first group spoke out against the disobedience
that was taking place for two reasons: One, so that they
would be pardoned by Allah because they tried to hold back
the transgressors. And two, so that perhaps the
transgressors may listen to the reminder and turn back to
Allah. It was only this group that survived: “So when they
forgot the remindings that had been given to them, We
rescued those who forbade evil, but We seized those who
did wrong with a severe torment because they used to rebel
(disobey Allah).” (Qur’an, 7:165)

It is the nature of a human being to feel the need to do
good or feel the drive to indulge in evil. But as for our
Ummah, it should be our characteristic to do only good. And
we should not only do good ourselves, but we must
encourage others to do good - we must be the driving force.
And we should not only distance ourselves from vice, but
we must forbid others from doing it also - we must be the
obstacle.

If we all had Muslim identification badges, and the
badge was valid, the description that would go on the badge
would read: This man/woman commands good and forbids
evil, for this is how Allah described us: “You (true believers
in Islam) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind;
you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in
Allah.” (Qur’an, 3:110)

- Characteristics of one who encourages good and forbids
evil:
1. Knowledge (worldly and religious),
2. Patience,
3. Hikmah - having wisdom,
4. Kindness,
5. Observing justice (not forgetting the good that that
person still has).

THE FOOLS AMONG THEM
- The second group of people are those who encourage
others towards evil and stop them whenever they see them
doing acts of virtue. These are the hypocrite men and
women who Allah shall shun:

“The hypocrites, men and women, are from one
another; they enjoin (on the people) evil and forbid (people)
from good and they close their hands (from giving alms in
Allah’s cause). They have forgotten Allah, so He has
forgotten them. Verily, the hypocrites are the Fasiqun
(rebellious, disobedient to Allah).” (Qur’an, 9:67)

- When a people fail in their duty to command the good
and forbid the evil, their invocations will cease to be
accepted.

- Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “(I swear) by
Him who holds my soul in His Hands, you shall indeed
command the good, and you shall indeed forbid the evil,
otherwise Allah shall rain down upon you a punishment.
Then you shall attempt to invoke Him and your
(invocations) shall not be answered.” (Ahmad ibn Hanbal
and Al-Tirmidhi).

- However, the fishermen continued
disobeying the Divine commandment and even boasted
about their cleverness.

AND THE PUNISHMENT OF ALLAH CAME.
- Finally, the punishment of Allah came down and their faces
were transformed into those of animals. After three days
and nights all the sinners were destroyed.

ALLAH SAYS:
- The Holy Qur'an
says:
And indeed you know of those amongst you who
transgressed on the Sabbath, so We said unto them,
"Become apes, despised and spurned!" And We made it a
lesson for (those of) their own times and those (of their
posterity) who came after them and a guidance for those
who guard against evil.  (Quran 2:65-66)

Compiled By: Adeyanju J.O (Abu Nasir)
For TariQ Consult Nigeria (TCN).