Adh-Dhahabi's
"Siyer A`laam an-Nubalaa" is twenty volumes long. It
contains the biographies of scholars, kings, ministers, rulers, and
poets. We derive two very important facts of life after reading the
history of these men:
1. Whoever places his hopes or trust in something or someone other
than Allah, then Allah will abandon him and make that thing or
person the cause of his ruin.
"And
verily, they [Satans/devils] hinder them from the Path [of
Allah], but they think that they are guided aright!" Surah Az-Zukhruf – Ayah 37.
For Fir'aun (Pharoah) it was status, for Qaaroon (Korah) it was
wealth; for Umayyah it was business; for Waleed it was his son:
"Leave
Me Alone [to deal] with whom I created lonely [without any
means, i.e. Al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah al-Makhzumi]." Surah Al-Muddaththir – Ayah 11.
For Abu Jahl it was status for Abu Lahab it was lineage; for Abu
Muslim it was the throne; for Al-Mutanabbi it was fame; and for Al-
Hajjaj it was power and authority.
2. Whoever seeks Honour with Allah and does righteous deeds, Allah
will honour him and give him ranking even if he has no wealth,
status, or noble lineage.
For Bilal it was the call to prayer; for Salmaan it was the
Hereafter; for Suhayb it was his sacrifice; and for `Ata it was
knowledge:
"And
made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while it
was the Word of Allah that became the uppermost, and Allah is All-
Mighty, All-Wise." Surah A-Taubah – Ayah 40.
