As you read, try to find the information you listed above in the text.

II. Reading.

Before reading the text, look at the title of this unit and answer the questions.

I. Pre-Reading Tasks.

Unit 14 ABDURRAHMAN bin AUF (RAA).

V. Critical Thinking.

Fill the gaps in the passage below.

E) Grammar Cloze Task.

Sa’d spent many years fighting for Islam. Not only did he fight in all (1)……….. great battles, he also carried one of the banners when the Muslims marched (2)……….. Makkah. He became well known (3)………..one of the toughest of the Prophet’s (SAAS) companions. (4)………. every battle, he was the Prophet’s (SAAS) bodyguard. (5)………. one especially dark night, ‘Ai’shah was afraid (6) ………… the life of the Prophet (SAAS), (7) ……….. when the Prophet (SAAS) heard that Sa’d was (8)……….. the tent, he felt (9)………. and slept peacefully (10)………… the night.

Sa’d refused to give up Islam because of his great faith in the religion. He decided to go against his mother’s wishes and Surat Luqman, ayah 15, explains that he was right to do so.

However, all decisions in life are not as clear as the young Sa’d’s. Consider the following situation: You are a good student and have just completed your high school studies. Your father has passed away, and your mother has just enough money to look after her family of five. You are the eldest child. You get an offer to do a degree at a university abroad. You are keen to go, but your mother is very much against it.

a. In groups, try to think of all the reasons your mother might have for not wanting you to go and your reasons for wanting to go. List them below.

2. Considering the two points of view, decide whether you should go abroad or not.

3. Explain your decision to the other groups in the class. Be prepared to defend your point of view. When you hear the decisions of other groups, be ready to question them on anything you disagree with.

4. Try to come to an agreement with the other groups in the class.

1. You will read about a successful trader who did not like luxury. What do you know about this person? What people or events do you think of when you hear this person’s name?

2. Work in groups. List your pieces of information about Abdurrahman bin Auf in order of importance.

3. Compare your list with other groups. How are they similar or different?

Abdurrahman (RAA) immigrated to Medina to escape persecution in Makkah. The Prophet (SAAS) told him to go to the house of Sa’ad bin Al Rabi’a of the Khazraj tribe.

He arrived at a very large house. “Welcome!” cried Sa’ad. He was very excited. “You shall be my adopted brother in Medina.”

“Thank you for your warm welcome,” replied Abdurrahman gratefully. “My dear brother, continued Sa’ad, "I am very wealthy. Please take half of my wealth. I have two wives. If you like one of them, I will divorce her so that you can marry her!”

“May Allah (SWT) bless you, your family, and your wealth,” replied Abdurrahman. “I only want to know one thing. Where is the market?”

Sa’ad did not know that Abdurrahman was already a rich man. He was a trader. He loved to work. He was also very good at it. He found it easy to make money. He once said, “If I lift a stone, I will definitely find gold and silver under it.” He did not need another man’s money or wife.

The Humble Man.

Although Abdurrahman was rich, he did not like luxury. He admired many poor people. One day he was breaking fast. When the food arrived, he began to cry. He suddenly remembered a poor Muslim who died in the cause of Allah (SWT). ”Mus’ab bin Umair was martyred. He had only a rag to cover his body at his funeral. If the rag was pulled up to cover his face, his feet would show. He is a better man than I.” On another occasion he spoke of Hamzah, the Prophet’s (SAAS) uncle. “He was martyred at Uhud. They found nothing to cover him except a cloak. Yet he is a better man than I”. Abdurrahman believed that those Muslims who were brave and poor were closer to God. He believed that they would go to Heaven. He was afraid that he would not go to Heaven because he was rich.

Abdurrahman wanted to be like an ordinary man. He never believed he was better than any other. He would sit and talk with his servants. If a stranger saw them, he would not know who of them was the employer.

When the caliph Umar was dying, the people asked Abdurrahman to be the next caliph. He refused. He said, “By God, if a dagger were to be stuck into one side of my throat and go out of the other side, it would be more pleasant than becoming caliph”.

Later when the caliph Uthman was dying, he sent a messenger to the mosque to speak to Abdurrahman. The messenger said, “Good news. The caliph has decided to make you caliph after him”. Abdurrahman stood between a grave and the minbar and called out to Allah (SWT). He said, “Oh Allah (SWT), if this is true, please strike me down now!”

The Generous Man.

Abdurrahman was a successful trader. His caravans traveled from Medina to Egypt and Greater Syria. However, trade always took second place to his faith. He used his money to help Islam. One day, he sold some land for 40,000 dinars. He distributed all the money among the poor. Once, he bought 500 horses for the Muslim army. On another occasion, he gave 1,500 camels to the army. Abdurrahman divided his money in three ways. He used one-third of his money to give loans, one-third to pay people’s debts, and one-third to buy food for the people.

Abdurrahman promised the Prophet (SAAS) that he would look after his wives when he died. The Prophet (SAAS) told his wife, Um Salamah (RAA), about Abdurrahman promise. He said, “You will be looked after, when I am dead, by the honest one. May Allah (SWT) quench the thirst of bin Auf from the water of Paradise” Consequently, Abdurrahman gave the Prophet’s (SAAS) wives a piece of land worth 400 000 dinars.

When Abdurrahman died, he left a will. In his will, he left 50 000 dinars for the cause of Allah (SWT) and 400 dinars for every Muslim who fought at Badr. The caliph Uthman, who was a rich man, accepted the money. He said, “The wealth of Abdurrahman is completely hala”.

Abdurrahman’s Death.

Before Abdurrahman died, ‘A’ishah (RAA), the Prophet’s (SAAS) wife, said that she would bury him next to the Prophet (SAAS), Abu Bakr, and Umar. He refused the honor, saying that he was not good enough to be with them. He asked to be buried next to his old friend, Uthman bin Madh’un.

He began to cry. He said, “I am afraid I will not join my companions in Paradise because I am rich!” However, he died with a smile on his face. Perhaps he heard the voice of the Prophet (SAAS) calling him to Paradise.

Дата добавления: 2017-02-01; Просмотров: 43; Нарушение авторских прав?; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы!