Stories of the Scholar Mohammad Amin Sheikho - Part Seven: His Life, His Deeds, His Way to Al'lah

By Mohammad Amin Sheikho and A. K. John Alias Al-Dayrani

CONTENTS:

• The True Benefits of Almsgiving
• The Haunted House
• A Vow Should Never Be Broken
• Talking with the Dead
• The Bus Conductor Is Caught Out
• The Distinctive Man
• The Quarrel between the Leaders of Two Districts Is Resolved
• The Prime Minister
• The Magician and the Needle
• A Wealthy Man Suffers for His Sin
• The Young Housemaid
• Do not Steal and It Will Be Given
• The Magician Is Thwarted in His Plans
• Almsgiving Can Work Miracles
• A Miraculous Feat of Strength
• The Wisdom behind the Marriage Contract

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: May 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9783748705765

Mohammad Amin Sheikho

Mohammad Amin Sheikho (1890-1964 A.D / 1308-1384 A.H)Early YearsM. Amin Sheikho was born in al-Ward district in Sarouja Quarter, one of the historical districts of Damascus, in Syria which was called mini-Istanbul during the period of the Ottoman rule. He was raised in an Arab style house situated opposite the famous public al-Ward Bathhouse. This house stands there to the present day.M. Amin Sheikho was still young when his father, the merchant Ismael Sheikho, departed this world. Mohammad Saleem, the only and elder brother of Mohammad Amin, was assigned as a director of the Military School during the Ottoman rule.EducationAt the age of twelve the boy who was to become the great scholar was enrolled at al-Rashidiya School, he then went on to complete his studies in Amber, the Royal Ottoman Faculty in Damascus. He received many certificates of praise and commendation during the Ottoman rule and then under the reign of King Faisal in Syria. There are many copies of these certificates still preserved in trustworthy hands.AchievementsDuring the period of the Turkish rule, he was head of many police-stations in Damascus and its dependent counties. He was a shining example to all for his unfailing attention to duty, the vitality with which he approached every task, and the high level of achievement in many varied deeds which were of great benefit to mankind.During the French mandate he was appointed a director of the prisons of the citadel of Damascus.When the great Syrian uprising took place against the French forces, he helped the revolutionaries in every conceivable way until they placed the seal of the revolution in his trustworthy hands. Due to his subversive activities he fell foul of the French governor of Syria resulting in an order being issued for his execution; but the Almighty God saved him. During this period he was compliant in many attempts to overthrow French rule.He was the companion of Sheikh Amin Kuftaro for almost twenty years and following his death M. Amin Sheikho followed his footsteps and became the next in succession to guide and teach the disciples of the eminent sheikh.His assemblies were distinguished by the profound level of wisdom with which he imparted his teaching and guidance.He took great care to draw the attention of his followers to beware of the tales of the Israelites which defame the biography of the noble persons, the Envoys of God (pth), and of anything ascribed to them which conflicts their perfection and impeccability.In 1953, the famous coeval philosopher, Sir John Godolphin Bennett came from Britain to visit him. He remained in his company for three weeks that were filled with lengthy dialogues about the religion of Islam and its actuality.Sir John asked M. Amin Sheikho many questions about the exact definition of the ‘spirit’ and the difference between that and the ‘soul’, as well as asking for clarification about Godly Justice, a topic which he found difficult to comprehend. As a result of this visit, Sir John practised Islamic legislation and performed the prayers along with the followers of the scholar.This visit was referred to briefly in the autobiography of Sir John Bennett in his book Witness; but after his death, a book containing special personal recollections written by Sir John was published in 1975 under the title Journeys in Islamic Countries, wherein he spoke in detail about this meeting. In this book he gave a detailed account of the personality and character of M. Amin Sheikho, and of his lectures and disciples. He also mentioned the great benefits he had derived from his life-changing meeting with him.During his lectures M. Amin Mohammad Amin Sheikho pointed frequently to the belief in the return of Jesus Christ (pth), from the Islamic perspective. He also indicated the near advent of this significant world event as, according to his explanations, most of the conditions for this momentous Hour had been fulfilled.This was disclosed in his book: The Envoy of Peace Looms on the Horizon: the Return of Jesus Christ.In referring to his meeting with M. Amin Sheikho, Sir John made mention of this issue in his two books: Witness and Journeys in Islamic Countries.Professor Abdul-Kadir John, alias al-Dayrani, published the book Stories of M. Amin Sheikho wherein he writes in detail about many deeds performed by his teacher, Mohammad Amin Sheikho.One of His PupilsProfessor Abdul-Kadir John, alias al-Dayrani is the best known and most distinguished among the pupils of M. Amin Sheikho. He received a certificate of General Education (a Syrian certificate which included the study of nine different sciences). Prof. al-Dayrani collected and verified more than fifty books which were dictated by M. Amin Sheikho and written on his behalf. Therefore his name is always mentioned in association with the name of Mohammad Amin Sheikho.PublicationsM. Amin Sheikho dictated to his pupils many books about Islam in the Arabic language, some of which have been translated into English and French. The following are just some of these:1- Interpretation of the Great Qur’an (Lights of Descending & Realities of Meaning)2- Interpretation of Am’ma Section of the Qur’an3- Impeccability of Prophets4- Am’ma Encyclopedia (The Compassionate’s Gifts in Interpreting the Qur’an)5- Al-Amin Interpretation of the Great Qur’an (The Previous Nations)6- Visiting the Prophet (cpth) and the Effect of His Love in Elevating the Believing Spirit7- High Grades of Al-Taqwa (Seeing by Al’lah’s Light)—The Jewels of Rules in Explaining the Pillars of Islam8- The Sources of Spring Water in the World9- The Reality of Our Master Mohammad (cpth) Appearing in the Twentieth Century10- Proclaiming God’s Love (The Scientific and Qur’anic Motivations for Halal Slaughter)11- Islam... What is the Veil for? What is Divorce for? What is Polygamy for?12- The West has Liberated Man from Slavery—Did Islam not do the same?13- The Great Scientific Discovery—the Astonishing Reality of the Six Days and the Seven Heavens14- The Amazing Miracle of the Fundamental Verses of the Book in the Twenty-first Century15- Cupping: the Marvelous Medicine that Cures Heart Disease, Paralysis, Haemophilia, Migraine, Sterility and Cancer—A Prophetic Medical Science in its New Perspective16- The Reality of Tamerlane the Great Appears in the Twenty-first Century17- The Envoy of Peace Looms on the Horizon: The Return of Jesus Christ18- Secrets of the Seven Praising Verses19- Goodbye to the Doctor of al-Muqawqis (Cyrus, Patriarch of Alexandria)Radio and TV Programmes- Illuminative Speculations: al-Quds Radio Station broadcasting from Syria- Lights for Humankind: the Lebanese Radio Station al-Tawheed- Cupping, an Arabic Discovery Spreads All over the World and Cupping, a Prophetic Medical Science in Its New Scientific Perspective: Two documentary films which have been broadcast on many world satellite stations such as Iqraa TV, Sharjah, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and others- Proclaiming God’s Love (The Scientific and Qur’anic Motivations for Halal Slaughter): A documentary film that has been broadcast on Iqraa TV, and satellite stations in Al-Sharjah, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and others- The Descent of the Prophets: A computer programmeA Glimpse of his distinguished thoughts and viewsHe disclosed the true meaning of the letters (acronyms) that are reported at the beginning of the Fortresses of the Holy Qur’an, which was not understood by previous Muslim scholars and said that, “Al’lah knows best His Purpose behind them.”He disproved the stories which are ascribed wrongly to the noble Envoy Mohammad (cpth), such as the story of his being affected by the action of magic, the story of cutting his noble chest (cpth), and all that would put him (cpth) in the wrong.He elucidated that the noble Prophets are impeccable in all of their words, actions and deeds.- He was the first in the world to reveal the source of fresh spring and river water, which is the ice of the North and South Poles.- He gave an exact definition of the ‘human spirit’ and clarified the difference between that and the ‘soul’.- He differentiated between the ‘mind’ and ‘thought’.- He talked about al-Azal world, the very beginning of creation in the world of immaterial spirits, and demonstrated the Godly Justice in that world and the reason for the coming of mankind to this world.- He elucidated the wisdom in turning towards al-ka’ba when communicating with God (praying); he explained the reason for fasting and the meaning of the Night of al-Qadr (Evaluation) and how to attain it.- He interpreted from the noble Qur’an how to derive the proportion of Zakat (almsgiving), and determined it as 2.5%.- He revealed the wisdom folded in each ritual of the rites of pilgrimage.- He clarified the benefits of the medical Prophetic commandments about using an enema of amylum suspension, medicinal castor oil, and the application of leeches for medical purposes.- He called attention to certain eminent personalities who had been wronged by history. Specifically he spoke of Tamerlane the famous conqueror who is known to be a blood-thirsty warrior conqueror in the Middle East, while Asian peoples revere him and regard him as a holy man who had spread the religion of Islam in their countries. In this respect, a book was issued by M. Amin Sheikho under the title: The Reality of Tamerlane the Great.Mohammad Amin Sheikho and CuppingThe name of Mohammad Amin Sheikho is always referred to whenever ‘cupping’ is mentioned, for it is he who disclosed its correct rules. Following the death of M. Amin Sheikho his pupil, Prof. Abdul-Kadir al-Dayrani undertook scientific research about this operation with the participation of a large medical team composed of many professors and doctors specialised in various medical ailments. When the results of the analysis of the blood extracted by the cupping operation were declared and many patients were healed completely after being cupped, the procedure soon spread widely and had a wide following in many societies. The results were published in many magazines and journals, and as a result, many medical people began to apply the procedure according to the exact and correct conditions that had been laid down.Mohammad Amin Sheikho and the reason for Mentioning the Name of Al’lah over a CarcassHe emphasised the necessity of mentioning Al’lah’s Name aloud over animals as they are being slaughtered, for when they hear Al’lah’s Name their meat becomes pure and free of any microbes.Prof. al-Dayrani also subjected the ideas of his teacher, M. Amin Sheikho, in this field, to a scientific study. A great number of doctors and university professors carried out scientific research, the like of which had never been attempted before. They took many samples of the meat of cattle, some of which were slaughtered while mentioning Al’lah’s Name aloud over them, while others were slaughtered without the benefit of this blessing. A comparative analysis of the outcome was then carried out. The results of this study were also published in a book issued on behalf of M. Amin Sheikho, entitled, Proclaiming God’s Love (The Scientific and Qur’anic Motivations for Halal Slaughter.Mrs. Salma Estwani, the BBC correspondent in Syria at that time, announced the scientific results of this study and interviewed the doctors and researchers who carried it out.Also, after revealing these results, many signboards were posted in Damascus streets on which it was written, ‘How terrible! Is it true that we Syrians eat microbes through our food?’ And on the front of the citadel of Damascus, a large sign was displayed on which was printed: ‘The Great Syrian Humane Scholar Mohammad Amin Sheikho.’

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Title Page

Stories of the Scholar Mohammad Amin Sheikho

Part Seven

His Life, His Deeds, His Way to Al’lah

(1890-1964)

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The Great Humane Eminent Scholar

Mohammad Amin Sheikho

(God has sanctified his soul)

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Checked and Introduced by

Prof. A. K. John Alias Al-Dayrani

§§§§§

English Language Editing by

Jackie Feehan

Introduction

You may wonder, as do I, and as do people everywhere: how could this great scholar have gained access to such truth, when all of the earlier scholars and the great guides and imams failed to do so? I would reply to you: a person has nothing except what they strive for.

Indeed, people are differentiated through their actions. This is true even for the Envoys (Messengers) and noble Prophets… and there will be a different level for everyone according to their deeds in this world.

Our own great scholar Mohammad Amin Sheikho was given awareness and understanding by Al’lah, and he was distinguished by his outstanding deeds and his great and humane sacrifices. Al’lah did not give him anything except that which he deserved.

God says, And We sent it down deservedly, and with righteousness it came down.1

The True Benefits of Almsgiving

A timely plan of the Wise Arranger brought this story to mind long after it had been forgotten by most people.

We were most fortunate to hear the details from the man who was central to this story. And as we learnt a great lesson and understood the high purpose behind it, we wanted to relate it to our dear readers so that they too might learn from it and be relieved from the hardship they face in this life.

Master Salah al-Din Sheikho, a son of the eminent scholar, Mohammad Amin Sheikho, recalled this story when he was afflicted with an apparently incurable disease and spent four long days suffering excruciating pain. During this time he remembered the recommendation of God’s Envoy (cpth)2 which states, Help your patients to be cured by almsgiving, and how his father had educated him to resort to this solution whenever troubles assailed him.

Salah had personal experience of the great effect and benefits of almsgiving whenever he offered it, so there and then, he gave a considerable amount of alms to poor and needy families and thus he was healed of his illness and restored to good health.

His recent recovery was still fresh in the mind of Master Salah when we, a few days later and by God’s Arrangement, met with him. He was happy and expressed his gratitude for the high education his father had given him in this respect and the refinement he had received by his instruction on adopting the methods of God’s Envoy (cpth) in treatment and in all other fields.

This difficult situation had allowed him to bring to mind a story from his past when he was still a child and how, by almsgiving, his father saved him from suffering permanent deformity of his hand.

As Salah began to recite his story, we saw his eyes alight with gratitude to God, the High Benefactor, and full of joy at its memory.

Two young boys were playing together happily in the courtyard of their large Arabian-style house, following one another and filling the house with innocent laughter. Salah, the younger boy, liked to sit on the shoulders of his elder brother Fathi; so Fathi helped him to climb up, then he held his hands and began walking around and turning right and left in order to frighten his little brother, but which only served to increase the child’s pleasure and laughter. In this light-hearted, playful manner the little boy was sometimes carried on his brother’s shoulders, and other times he jumped down and ran off to be chased by Fathi; these were always enjoyable happy moments for both boys.

This is how it was when, suddenly, a sad event interrupted their play and wiped out their pleasure. This happened when Salah was riding on his brother’s shoulders and within an instant he lost his balance and fell to the ground. The little boy fell without warning, so Fathi was unable to grab him to break his fall.

The little boy cried out sharply in pain… but Mohammad Amin, the boys’ father had heard the cry, and soon came from his room to see what the matter was. He saw his son lying on the floor crying, so he rushed towards him and asked what had happened and where, exactly, he was hurt.

‘Oh… Daddy,’ the boy answered, moaning, ‘it’s my hand… it hurts… I fell on it.’

The merciful father examined the area of pain on his son’s hand and found swelling and discolouration of the skin at the forearm, near to the elbow. It seemed that the fall had resulted in a hairline fracture or a break in the arm.

Without delay, the noble master put on his outdoor clothes and took his son to a physician to examine his hand. Indeed, when the physician finished the examination, he confirmed the father’s guess that the arm was broken and decided that it should be splinted. This was attended to in the proper way and he told the noble master to visit him again with his son after two months, the length of time needed for the break to mend.

The little boy could hardly wait for the time to pass and the day that he would be able to use his hand normally once again. But when his father took him back to the physician to remove the splint, he was shocked to see that the child was unable to extend his hand normally. Worse still, it had developed an alarming tremor.

The situation, as viewed, could not be considered as normal articular calcination that would need a short time to correct itself and then the joint would function naturally once again. The case certainly seemed to be more serious than that.

The doctor carefully examined the boy’s hand and found that the tendons had atrophied, causing the hand to become fixed, and that he would not be able to use it any more.

Faced with this distressing situation, the noble master wasted no time and took his beloved son by the hand and headed off in search of the surgeon-general of Syria, Dr. Nazmi al-Qabbani. The doctor was also the head of the National Hospital3 in Damascus, and this is where the worried father went seeking advice for the treatment of his beloved son.

Because of their old friendship which stretched back to childhood days when they lived in the same quarter, the head of the hospital welcomed his guest warmly and was extremely interested in the critical case of his friend’s little son. He immediately sent for all the neurologists working in the hospital for them to examine the boy’s damaged hand and to advise him of their joint diagnosis.

But, unfortunately, they were unable to add anything to the diagnosis of the first doctor who was consulted.

They said to their director that the nerves in the child’s hand had shortened through lack of use while it was held immobile in a splint and they thought that, in their opinion, the case was incurable.

However, Dr al-Qabbani was not prepared to let the mater rest there. He picked up the telephone and made the first of many calls to famous hospitals all over the world. He had decided to send the boy by the first plane leaving Damascus to whichever hospital might provide an effective treatment for the boy’s case.

He phoned to the American Hospital in Lebanon which was equal in levels of technology and experience to the hospitals of America. He also phoned many hospitals in Turkey, Europe and other countries. But these hospitals also gave him the same negative response he had received from the doctors in the National Hospital. They were all agreed that the case looked hopeless and there was not even the slightest possibility that the child’s hand could make any improvement. Thus, this physical disability would remain with the boy for the rest of his life.

The crushing news came as a disaster to the ears of the loving father, as his thoughts travelled to the wretched future that awaited his beloved son; so he asked his friend Dr. Nazmi in a sad voice, ‘Are you sure of what you say, doctor? Will my son’s condition stay like this for the rest of his life?’

Being affected by the heart breaking situation of the merciful father, the doctor replied, ‘I’m sorry, Bey! But it is a fact, and I am sure of what I say. I have telephoned medical experts in many hospitals around the world and, as you have heard, they have all agreed that this case is incurable. I am really sorry, but we can do nothing for your son.’

On hearing this affirmation from the head doctor, the noble master felt as if the world had grown dark before his eyes and a heavy weight had settled on his chest. An overwhelming feeling of great sorrow and discomfort had pervaded his heart when he looked at his son and thought about his future. He imagined him as a young man, standing handicapped among his healthy friends. Every time he looked at the child this distressing picture returned to his mind causing his grief and pain to increase even further, creating such pain in his heart because he felt unable to help his child and relieve him of this severe difficulty.

Silence reigned in the doctor’s office as he shared his friend’s sorrow and grief. Alas, modern medicine had only offered disappointment to both the father and his son! Without uttering another word, the tender-hearted father stretched his hand towards his son’s healthy hand and they left the room calmly, hand in hand.

All during the way home, the father remained silent, but his deep sadness was clearly etched on his face. When they eventually reached the house they found the mother impatiently waiting for their return. She was shocked by the sight of her little son, but she hid her feelings from the child and followed her husband to his own room so as to ask him about the matter. When the husband saw his wife coming he quickly concealed the signs of sadness that the heart-rending news had imposed on his face.

‘Oh, Abu Fathi…’ she said to her husband, ‘what did the doctor say about Salah’s hand? I hope you have brought me good news’… and she stood silently, but on tenterhooks, looking at the eyes of her husband as she waited for the answer.

To avoid her suffering what he was suffering, the noble master preferred to keep the true condition of their son’s hand to himself for a while, therefore he replied, ‘No, no… Um Fathi, do not worry. The case is simple; it only needs two or maybe three months to be healed and return to its normal condition.’

The compassionate mother could hardly curb her tears, and she said in a choking voice, ‘Oh, thank God… Praise be to God that it needs only two or three months to be cured, and not more.’ By his merciful conduct, Mohammad Amin made his wife believe that the case was not serious and so he relieved her of her anxiety and spared her the terrible feelings of extreme grief that she had not suffered so far.

Mohammad Amin’s wife then resumed her daily chores in the house leaving the noble master standing and looking around him in confusion.

A series of questions struck his mind that ignited even further flames of grief and pain in his heart, ‘What can I do about this terrible situation? Is there nothing I might resort to in order to save my son from living this permanent, difficult situation? Can’t I help him? Will he have to live with this deformity for the rest of his life?’

Faced with the reality of this bitter fact, the merciful father was consumed by sorrow for his son, and the earth, for all its vastness, seemed to close in upon him. So, he grabbed a chair and, opening the door of his room, he rushed out to the street where he banged the chair down beside the main door and plopped on to the seat.

It was acustom of the men of Damascus at that time to sit on wooden chairs in front of their houses during the afternoon