Spirits are Conscripted Soldiers

By Muhammad Sâlih al-Munajjid



Praise be to Allâh.

Imâm al-Bukhârî (may Allâh have mercy on him) reported in his Sahîh that ‘Ā’ishah (May Allâh be pleased with her) said: “I heard the Prophet saying: ‘Spirits are like conscripted soldiers; those whom they recognize, they get along with, and those whom they do not recognize, they will not get along with.’” (Sahîh al-Bukhârî, Kitâb Ahâdîth al-Anbiyâ’, Bâb al-Arwâh junûd mujannadah).

Ibn Hajar (May Allâh have mercy on him) said in his commentary on the hadîth: “Concerning the phrase ‘Spirits are like conscripted soldiers…’ al-Khattâbî said: ‘This may refer to their similarity as regards good or evil, righteousness or corruption. Good people are inclined towards other good people, and evil people are similarly inclined towards other evil people. Spirits feel affinity with others according to the nature in which they were created, good or evil. If spirits’ natures are similar, they will get along, otherwise they will not be on good terms with one another. It could be that what is being referred to is the beginning of creation in the realm of the unseen when, it is reported, souls were created before bodies, and used to meet one another and express their pessimism about the future. When spirits have entered bodies (come to the physical realm) they may recognize one another from the past, and may be on friendly terms or otherwise based on that past experience.”

Someone else said: “What it means is that when spirits are created, they are made in two parts, and when the bodies in which the spirits reside meet in this world, they either get along together or do not, based on the way in which these spirits are created in this world.”

I say that this is not contradicted by the fact that some people who do not like one another at first may get along well later on, because the hadîth is probably speaking about the moment of first meeting, which has to do with the original creation and nothing else. If they dislike one another at first but later come to like one another, it is because of something new, a new quality that makes them love one another after the initial dislike, such as a kâfir becoming a Muslim or a sinner being reformed.

The phrase “conscripted soldiers” refers to different types or classifications, or groups brought together. Ibn al-Jawzî said: “What we learn from this hadîth is that when a person finds that he feels dislike towards someone who is known to be virtuous or righteous, he should try to find out the reason for that so that he can make the effort to rid himself of something undesirable. The opposite (if a person finds himself liking someone who is known to be evil) also applies.” Al-Qurtubî said: “Although they are all spirits, they differ in different ways, so a person will feel an affinity with spirits of one kind, and will get along with them because of the special quality that they have in common. So we notice that people of all types will get along with those with whom they share an affinity, and will keep away from those who are of other types. [“Birds of a feather flock together” – Translator]. We may also note that within any given group or type, people may get along with some and dislike others, and this is in accordance with issues or qualities that form the basis of love or hate.”

We have narrated a mawsûl report in Sunan Abî Ya’lâ, at the beginning of which is the story narrated from ‘Amrah bint ‘Abd al-Rahmân, who said: “There was a woman in Makkah who liked to joke, and she came and stayed with a woman in Madînah who was like her. When ‘Ā’ishah heard about this, she said, ‘My beloved spoke the truth. I heard the Messenger of Allâh saying…’ and mentioned a similar hadîth.”

The hadîth was also narrated by Muslim in his Sahîh, 4773. Al-Nawawî said: “With regard to the words of the Prophet , ‘Spirits are like conscripted soldiers; those whom they recognize, they get along with, and those whom they do not recognize, they will not get along with’, the scholars said that the meaning is groups gathered together, or different types. As for them getting along, this happens because of something in common between them that Allâh has created. It was said that they are similar attributes that Allâh has created in them, or that they were created in a group and then dispersed in their bodies, so people who have similar characteristics will like one another, and those who do not have similar characteristics will not like one another. Al-Khattâbî and others said: this getting along with one another has to do with what Allâh decreed from the outset about the ultimate destiny of spirits, whether they will be among the blessed [in Paradise] or the doomed [in Hell]. Spirits are of two opposing kinds, and when they meet in this physical world, they will either love or hate one another depending on the way they were created. Good spirits will be inclined towards other good spirits, and evil spirits will be inclined towards other evil spirits. And Allâh knows best.

عن أبـي رقــيـة تمـيم بن أوس الـداري رضي الله عنه ، أن النبي صلى الله عـليه وسـلم قـال :" الـديـن النصيحة" قلنا : لمن ؟ قال : " الله ، ولـكـتـابـه ، ولـرسـولـه ، ولأ ئـمـة الـمـسـلـمـيـن وعــامـتهم" رواه مسلم


As for the detailed explanation of Naseehah then al-Khattaabee (rahimhu Allaah) and others from amongst the 'ulemaa have said:
Naseehah to Allaah ta'aalaa refers to belief in Him and the negation of all shirk, and leaving heresy and disbelief in His Attributes, rather describing Him with the Perfect and Complete Attributes, all of them, and freeing Him of all deficiencies. And it further implies being firm upon His obedience and keeping away from sin, and loving for His sake and hating for His sake, and waging Jihaad against those who disbelieve in Him. And recognising His favours and thanking Him for that, and having sincerity for Him in all our affairs, and supplicating to Him with all of His Names and Attributes that He has mentioned, and encouraging others upon that, and courteous behaviour with the people.

Punishment For Not Offering the Prayers

Hadith of the Prophet Peace And Blessings of Allah be upon him



The one who disdains the prayers will receive fifteen punishments from Allah.Six punishments in lifetime, three while dying, three in grave and three on the Day of Judgement.



THE SIX PUNISHMENTS OF LIFE:

1. Allah takes away blessings from his age(makes his life misfortunate)

2. Allah does not accept his plea (Du'aa)

3. Allah erases the features of good people from his face.

4. He will be detested by all creatures on earth.

5. Allah does not award him for his good deeds. (No thawab)

6. He will not be included in the Du'aa of good people.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS WHILE DYING:

1. He dies humiliated.

2. He dies hungry.

3. He dies thirsty. Even if he drinks the water of all seas he will still be thirsty.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS IN THE GRAVE:

1. Allah tightens his grave until his chest ribs come over each other.

2. Allah pours on him fire with embers.

3. Allah sets on him a snake called "the brave","the bold" which hits him from morning until afternoon for leaving Fajr prayer,from the afternoon until Asr for leaving Dhuhr prayer and so on.With each strike he sinks 70 yards under the ground.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT:

1. Allah sends who would accompany him to hell pulling him on the face.

2. Allah gives him an angry look that makes the flesh of his face fall down.

3. Allah judges him strictly and orders him to be thrown in hell

Sahih Bukhari 3:573, Narrated Abu Huraira radiyallahuanhu The Prophet 'alayhi salatu wassalaam said, "When Allah ordains something on the Heaven the angels beat with their wings in obedience to His Statement which sounds like that of a chain dragged over a rock. His Statement: 'Until when the fear is banished from their hearts, the Angels say, 'What was it that your Lord said?' They reply, 'He has said the Truth. And He is the Most High, The Great.' " (34.23)

The Prophet said: There are seven whom Allah ill shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: a just ruler; a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah's sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but be says: 'I fear Allah', a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.' Narrated by Abu Hurairah & collected in Sahih al-Bukhari (english trans.) vol.1, p.356, no.629 & Sahih Muslim english trans.) vol.2, p.493, no.2248

Then he placed his hand on him and said: "O Allaah, forgive his sins and cleanse his heart, and protect his chastity." And after that the young man never thought of any such thing again.
Musnad Ahmad, 21705; al-Albaani classed its isnaad as saheeh in al-Saheehah, 370.

"O ummah of Muhammad, there is none more jealous than Allaah when His male or female slave commits zina. O ummah of Muhammad, by Allaah, if you knew what I know you would laugh little and weep much." Al-Bukhaari, 1044; Muslim, 901.

abdullah b. Amr al- As said: " The prophet sal Allah u alayhi was sallam said, ' the souls of two believers meet in the course of a day even if they have not actually seen each other." adab al mufrad chapter 132 frienhip no 261

On the authority of Abdullah bin Abbas, who said : One day I was behind the prophet and he said to me: "Young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."narrated by Termithi, who said it is true and fine hadithIn a version other than that of Tirmithi it reads:"..Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.

It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah {radiya Allaahu 'anhu}that he said: "Allaah's Messenger {sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam} said:umm_A7med: "Do not make your homes into graves, nor make my grave into a place of celebration. Send your prayers and blessings upon me, for they will be conveyed to me wherever you may be." Narrated by Abu Dawuud with a good sanad, and all of its narrators are trustworthy

8.29: Narrated Abu Hurayra {radiya Allaahu 'anhu}:I heard Allaah's Messenger {sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam} saying, Allaah divided Mercy into one-hundred parts and He kept its ninety-nine parts with Him and sent down its one part on the earth, and because of that, its one single part, His creations are Merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoofs away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it."bukhari

Anas b. Malik reported that a desert Arab said to Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam): When would be the Last Hour? Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: What preparation have you made for that? Thereupon he said: The love of Allaah and of His Messenger (that is my preparation for the Last Hour) (for the Day of Resurrection) . Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: You would be along with one whom you love. Sahih Muslim

when a person uses siwak and then stands for night prayer an angel comes and stands behind him. the angel listens to the quranic recitation and slowly moves closer. He continues to listen and move closer until he finally places his mouth against the mouth of the person. Every ayah the person recites therafter would go into the angel. Thus clean your mouth when reciting quran ....recorded by al Bayhaqee, al Bazzaar, and others. varified to be authentic by al albani 9as saheehah no.1213 and saheeh ut Targheeb no,215)