The Pond of kausar, the bridge of sirat
and the scales of justice
Among the few things mentioned by name in the
Traditions pertaining to the Hereafter are the Pond of
Kausar, the Bridge of Sirat and the Scales of Justice.
Kausar, in some Traditions, is referred to as a Pond,
and, in others, as a River. Again, it appears from
some Traditions that it is located inside the Paradise
while from others that its location is on the outer
side of it, and, before entering Heaven, the Believers
will be admitted to the august presence of the Holy
Prophet and they will drink its extremely pure, sweet
and sparking water from his hand. Commentators,
however, are unanimously of the opinion that the
well-spring of Kausar is situated within Paradise and
canals flowing from it are spread throughout its
length and breadth, and what is called the Pond of
Kausar is a most beautiful tank, hundreds of miles
long and wide, which is located outside Heaven but
connected with the well-spring within it. Thus, the
water of the Pond will come through canals from the
fountain of Paradise.
Another thing is that from the word Pond one is
often led to think of the ponds that are generally
found in the world, but vastly different as the pond
of Kausar will be in splendour and inner significance
from the ponds we see on the earth in the same way
as everything belonging to Heaven should be -, the
Traditions, further, tell that it will be so extensive
that it will take a traveler a month to cover the
distance between its tow banks. In a Tradition the
distance is reported to be the same as between Amman
and Aden.
It is, indeed possible in this world to form a correct
idea of the things of the Hereafter even in the light
of what is stated about them in the Traditions. Their
real shape will be known only when we shall see them
in future existence. The same should be kept in the
mind in connection with Sirat and the Scales as well.
(94) It is related by Anas that the Apostle of God
said: While I was walking in Paradise I saw a
[strange] river on either bank of which there were
domes made of concave pearls. What is it? I inquired
from Gabriel. It is the Kausar the Lord has given to
you, Gabriel replied. I found that its soil was as
fragrant as musk.
-Bukhari
Commentary.-The incident related in the above saying,
probably, took place on the Night of Ascension and in
the reply of Gabriel that it is the Kausar the Lord
has given to you the allusion is to the Quranic verse
which reads: Lo! We have given thee Kausar. Kausar,
literally, means the Abundance of Good, and though all
the treasure-houses of goodness God has bestowed upon
the Prophet, like the Quran and the Shariat and the
sublime spiritual qualities and the dignity and
eminence of position in both the worlds are included
in it, it particularly denotes the river of Paradise
and the Pond connected with it which will be located
in the open field of concourse on the Day of Requital
[and at which people without number will drink]. In
other words, the priceless blessings conferred by God
upon the Holy Prophet pertaining to Faith, and which
have reached, through, him to innumerable persons,
will be made known in the form of the River and Pond
of Kausar in the Hereafter and countless bondmen of
God will quench their thirst at them.
(95) It is related by Abdullah bin Amr that the
Apostle of God said: The journey of my Pond is of one
month [i.e., the Pond of Kausar is so large that it
takes a month to go from one side of it to the other],
and its angles [i.e., corners] are equal [which,
apparently, means that it is square, having four equal
sides], and its water is whiter than milk and more
sweet-smelling than musk, and its drinking-vessels are
like the stars of the firmament [meaning, probably,
that they are as bright and innumerable as the stars].
Whoever drinks its water shall never be thirsty.
-Bukhari and Muslim
(96) It is related by Sahl bin Saad that the Apostle
of God said, I am your head-steward at the Pond of
Kausar [i.e., I will go there before you and arrange
for the slaking of your thirst]. Whoever will come to
me will drink the water of Kausar and whoever will
drink the water of Kausar will never feel thirsty, and
there will be some people who will neither recognise
me nor will I recognise them: they will come towards
me but a barrier will be set up between us. I will,
thereupon, say, But these people are mine. The reply
I will receive will be, Do you know what innovations
they introduced [and what difficulties they created]?
I will, then say, Let destruction and separation be
the lot of those who brought about dissension in Faith
after me and tampered with it.
-Bukhari and Muslim
Commentary.-It is difficult to say who will be
prevented from going to the Prophet at the Pond of
Kausar. Nor is it necessary. The chief lesson the
above saying imparts is that if we are desirous of
joining the Prophet at Kausar, we must remain
steadfast in Faith and detest from making changes and
innovations.
(97) Sauban related to us; he relates from the Prophet
that he said: The journey of my Pond [is as long as
that] from Aden to Amman el-Balqa, and its water is
whiter than milk and sweeter than honey, and its
drinking-vessels are [as numerous] as the stars. [Its
water is such] that whoever drinks it shall never feel
the pang of thirst again. The first to reach me at the
Pond will be the indigent emigrants the ruffled and
untidy of hair and dirty and unkempt of attire who
cannot marry wealthy and prosperous women and for whom
no doors open [i.e., who are not welcome anywhere].
-Ahmad,
Tirmidhi and Ibn-i-Maja
Commentary.-It shows that the distance between one
bank of the Pond of Kausar and the other is as much as
between Aden and Amman [which is situated near Balqa].
It, in fact, is another way of saying that the Pond
will be spread over hundreds of miles.
It also tells that the first to reach the Pond and to
drink from it will be the poor emigrants who, due to
indigence and detachment from worldly interests, live
in such a state that their hair is unclean and
disheveled and clothes torn and tattered. If they want
to marry girls belonging to well-to-do families they
will not be given to them in marriage, and if they go
to anyones house they will be refused admission on
account of their miserable appearance.
The above Tradition emphasises that those who live in
poverty and pay little attention to their dress or
appearance due to indifference to earthy pleasures and
anxiety for Futurity will be the first to obtain the
rewards of the Hereafter. Modern educated people who
mistakenly believe that such a conduct is a gross
misconception of Faith and an outcome of the cult of
self-mortification should ponder upon sayings like
these.
Every age has its own maladies. At one time erroneous
and un-Islamic forms of monasticism and life-denial
were regarded, in some circles, as the essence of
Islamic asceticism. Now perhaps as a reaction to it,
the inclination of some sections is to make the
teachings of Islam conform to modern materialistic
trends and lustful propensities.
(98) It is related by Samura that the Apostle of God
said: In the Hereafter every Prophet will have a pond
and he will take pride at the number of men who will
come to drink at his pond. I hope the largest number
of men will come to me [and drink at my pond].
-Tirmidhi
(99) Anas [personal attendant of the Prophet] narrates
that [once] he asked the Apostle of God if he would
intercede on his behalf on the Day of Judgement. I
will, the Prophet replied. So, where should I look
for you on the Judgement Day? inquired Anas. When
you need me, first of all look for me at Sirat (The
Bridge), said the Prophet. And if I do not find you
there? asked Anas. Look for me, then, at Mizan [the
Scales], replied the Prophet. Where may I seek you,
asked Anas, If you are not near Mizan as well? Then
look for me at the Hauz [Pond]. I will not go away
from these three places at that time, the Prophet
replied.
-Tirmidhi
Commentary.-It shows that intercession on the Last Day
is one of the things for which a request can be made
to the Prophet and though the Prophet has indicated to
Anas the three places for meeting him, it is meant for
all the seekers of intercession.
(100) It is related by Mughaira bin Shoba that the
Apostle of God said: The distinguishing mark of the
Believers on the Bridge will be the prayer: O Lord!
Keep us safe. Let us cross [it] with safety.
-Tirmidhi
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Home is just a click away. Make Yahoo! your home page now.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/DHchtC/3FxNAA/yQLSAA/TXWolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
***************************************************************************
{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy
Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended:
http://www.islamonline.net
http://www.islam-guide.com
http://www.prophetmuhammadforall.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in
any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved
otherwise.
If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily
digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your
mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the
title "change to daily digest".
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamcity/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
