Marwan Part 1

Alhamdulillah, dars was excellent masha'Allah (as always). I'll post the hadeeth that we covered (again) and some notes.

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[Lesson 123, Hadeeth 531, Book of the Two Eids (كتاب العيدين)]

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (رضى الله عنه):

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha; the first thing to begin with was the prayer and after that he would stand in front of the people and the people would keep sitting in their rows. Then he would preach to them, advise them and give them orders, (i.e. Khutba). And after that if he wished to send an army for an expedition, he would do so; or if he wanted to give and order, he would do so, and then depart. The people followed this tradition till I went out with Marwan, the Governor of Medina, for the prayer of Eid-ul-Adha or Eid-ul-Fitr. When we reached the Musalla, there was a pulpit made by Kathir bin As-Salt. Marwan wanted to get up on that pulpit before the prayer. I got hold of his clothes but he pulled them and ascended the pulpit and delivered the Khutba before the prayer. I said to him, "By Allah, you have changed (the Prophet's tradition)." He replied, "O Abu Sa'id! Gone is that which you know." I said, "By Allah! What I know is better than what I do not know." Marwan said, "People do not sit to listen to our Khutba after the prayer, so I delivered the Khutba before the prayer." [Hadeeth 531, al Tajrid al Sarih]

- this hadeeth is under Chapter 4 of 'The Book of Two Eids', "Chapter of going out to the musalla without the pulpit"

- musalla simply means a place of prayer. It is a large open area reserved for Eid salah and other similar functions. In Madinah, the musalla was about 1000 ft away from the Masjid of Rasullulah (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

On Eid, after salah the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would immediately turn around and face the congregation whilst people were still seated. After delivering the khutbah, instructing people and preparing any delegations, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would then depart. There was no minbar (pulpit) at the musalla - the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would address people whilst standing. This practice of delivering the khutbah on Eid after salah and without a pulpit remained until the time of Marwan.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (رضى الله عنه) went out for Eid salah with Marwan who was an Ummayid prince and the governor of Madinah (appointed by Muawiyah (رضى الله عنه). Shaykh mentioned that originally in Islam the khalifah was chosen due to their piety and not due to any political achievements. The role of the khalifah was to lead the Muslims in all branches of life, and hence the khalifah led Jumu'ah and Eid salah. The khulafah were based in Madinah until the time of Ali (رضى الله عنه). Ali (رضى الله عنه) moved the capital of the Islamic empire to Kufa in Iraq, which was a powerful city originally established by Umar (رضى الله عنه). After Ali (رضى الله عنه), the capital was moved to Damascus by Muawiyah (رضى الله عنه), and the khalifah would appoint a governor in each city of the Islamic empire. Hence, Marwan was appointed as the governor of Madinah. He was from amongst the tabi'een not a sahabi. However, as he was appointed as the governor, the sahabah would pray Eid and Jumu'ah behind him.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (رضى الله عنه) noticed changes from the time of Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) when he went with Marwan to the musalla. There was a minbar (pulpit) built from mud and clay. Also, he noticed that instead of standing on a prayer mat Marwan began to ascend the pulpit instead of leading salah. Marwan led salah after the khutbah contrary to the sunnah. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (رضى الله عنه) pointed out to Marwan that he was going contrary to the sunnah. Marwan replied that times have changed. Marwan replied by saying that "Gone is that which you knew". In other words, Marwan was saying that times had changed, gone with the old, time to adapt...Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (رضى الله عنه) replied "What I know is far better than that which I don't know"...SubhanAllah i.e. referring to the sunnah of our noble messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

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It's rather late and I should be sleeping...I'll post the remainder of my notes from today's dars later today insha'Allah. These will include more about the Ummayids including about the tyrant Hajaj ibn Yusuf as well as all the ruling that are derived from this hadeeth.

May Allah forgive me if I have made any mistakes in these notes.

Please pray for me.

Wasalaam.