Equivalent to today’s technicoloured highlighting, fluorescent post-it notes, and fancy page marks, the scholars of the past made note-taking a literal art form.
Take a look at some of the writings in the margins of books dated not too long ago (1100-1300 AH). The writings in the hashiya are notes added on AFTER the book was authored.
It was still in the early stages of the Prophet’s Da’wah (salla Allahu alayhi wassalam); and the mockery and persecution was intensifying.
Our dear Prophet found comfort, solace, and support in the revelation (wahy) of Quran. But right at this moment, revelation ceased and days if not weeks passed without any visitation from Jibreel (alayhissalam). To add to his anxiety, the Makkans began taunting Rasoolullah claiming his Lord has abandoned and detested him (إن محمدا قد ودعه ربه وقلاه).
We’re in the middle third of Ramadan and most of us are beginning to feel that forewarned slump. Our bodies aren’t so much used to it but it’s that sore feeling after a good work out. So we know what to do next…. keep going.
So I think this word is one of the coolest sounding words in the Arabic dictionary and the effect it has on the Ummah is RESOUNDING!
So when you watch Makkah after the adhaan and you see the mass hysteria in the Haram (حرم) of people sitting, standing, walking, running, staring, gazing, crying, eating, waving at the camera, etc etc, on first glance and at first thought, the average person will say: “omg what hysteria, how in the world will there ever be order amongst these 2-3 million people (yes it’ll get that many in the upcoming weeks); there’s just no way to control such a crowd”.
Then you hear it… a deep overbearing voice resounding throughout the حرم : “Istawooooo”
And suddenly…. Read the rest of this entry »
When I was about 9 years old I got into a heated debate with some kid at school about how to recite:
I tell him it’s “maaaliki” silly (with the alif al-mad after the meem). He says no it’s “maliki” (with just a fatha, no alif). We go back and forth insisting between the meanings of “Owner” versus “King”. Boy I was ready to throw something at him … I knew I was right… and so did he.
It wasn’t until my 20s did I come to learn of these different Qiraa’aat, different authentic ways to recite the words of the Qur’aan, all packed with their own rules. “Maliki” and “Maaliki” were both right…. oops. Sorry for calling you silly, kid.
So how’d these 10 Qiraa’aat make the cut?
Here are some tips on the etiquette of the student of knowledge with their books.
A book will never shine until it gets darker
Your book will get darker the more you write in the Hashiya (the margin). If you give extra attention to your books, spending time extracting treasures and populating the margins with your thoughts and ideas, you will come to see how much your books will begin to shine with knowledge.
Always take notes!
You will lose what you don’t write down even though you know it. You’ll for sure forget it was even mentioned.
Al-Hashiya الحاشية 