Protecting ourselves from harm

*Summary of Iṣlāḥī Majlis by Shaykhul-Ḥadīth Ḥaḍrat Mawlāna Ādam ibn Yūsuf Ṣāḥib دامت بركاته*

11th October 2020 | 24th Ṣafar 1442AH

‎مولاي صلّ وسلّم دائمًا أبدًا

‎على حبيبك خير الخلق كلّهم

*عن عبدالله بن عباس: أنَّهُ ﷺ كانَ يأمرُ بقتلِ الحيّاتِ وقالَ من ترَكَهنَّ خشيةَ ثائرٍ فليسَ منّا* (رواه في شرح السنة)

_Abdullah Ibn 'Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) said that the Messenger ﷺ commanded that snakes should be killed, and he would say: "if anyone spares them fearing a retalliation, then he does not belong to us." (He does not eliminate a harmful animal and does not rely on Allah)_ (Sharḥ as Sunnah)

This Ḥadīth is narrated by Ibn 'Abbās رضي الله عنهما. We learn from this Ḥadīth that the Messenger ﷺ ordered the killing of snakes. This was because during the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, people believed that if killing a snake would somehow lead to its partner finding the person and retaliating. They believed that if a male snake was killed, a female would retalliate, and vice versa. Some communities still have this belief today.

By nature, a snake is such that it presents enmity to both humans and other animals; it harms everyone it comes across. The Messenger ﷺ ordered for them to be killed for the safety of others.

Killing harmful snakes is part of our Dīn, even if it means breaking one's ṣalāh to kill the snake. However, if one fears for their life or fears being overpowered by the snake, they are allowed to save their life.

Generally, the sunnah of Rasūlullah ﷺ has both physical benefits as well as spiritual benefits. For example, The Messenger ﷺ would thoroughly clean his mouth upto the throat when using a miswak .

*Sunnah of gargling with water after drinking milk*

وعَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَرِبَ لَبَنًا فَدَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَمَضْمَضَ وَقَالَ ‏ "‏إِنَّ لَهُ دَسَمًا " (متفق عليه)

Abdallah b. ‘Abbas (R.A) said the Messenger ﷺ drank some milk and rinsed his mouth saying, “It contains greasiness.”

Nabi ﷺ would drink milk and then gargle his mouth because milk contains fat. Today, experts in the medical field advise the same because after a few years, the fat gathers and leads to further complications. It has been mentioned in the books of medicine that one should gargle thrice with warm water after drinking milk. SubḥānAllah!

*Sunnah of Istinjā'*

The same goes with the sunnah of Istinjā' (thoroughly cleaning one's self after relieving one's self), which is a very important aspect of our beautiful Religion. Without it, our ṣalāh is not accepted. When cleaning oneself, it is necessary to use both water as well as tissue. During the time of the Messenger ﷺ, they would use stones in place of tissue. The Messenger ﷺ taught and emphasized on cleaning one's self properly to ensure there are no traces of impurity left. We should not shy away from the truth and instead learn the rules of physical hygiene and purity for the benefit of our Dīn.

Allah ﷻ loves the pure people and praised the people of Qubā' in the Qur'ān due to the fact that they would clean themselves properly after relieving themselves. Allah ﷻ says:

*فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُطَّهِّرِينَ)*

_Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves. (At-Tawbah, 108)_

Sometimes we rush and don’t realise there are a few drops of urine which are not washed properly. This makes the clothes impure. (Note: one cannot perform ṣalāh with these clothes) and also leads to punishments in the grave. One of the pious predecessors would prepare half an hour before ṣalāh, ensuring 100% cleanliness before ṣalāh.

We usually ask doctors how to live the best healthy life. We should also make an effort to ask the scholars about Dīn so we can live the best spiritual life.

```May Allah ﷻ grant us the ability to practice on everything that has been said. Āmīn```