Here is a picture of what is considered (to date) the oldest dated Islamic inscription, from 24H, when the Rightly Guided Caliph ‘Umar b. Al-Khattâb – Allâh be pleased with him – was assassinated. It is located at Al-’Ulâ in present day Saudi Arabia. It is one of a number of ‘graffiti’ inscriptions made by travelers and pilgrims from the first few centuries of Islâm.

UNESCO included this amazing archaeological find in its Memory of the World Register of Documentary Collections. An update entry states:

Saudi Arabia – Earliest Islamic (Kufic) Inscription. This very well preserved inscription is located on a red sandstone block of rock south of Qa’a al Muatadil, north of Sharma in al-Ula, northwest of Saudi Arabia on the ancient trade and pilgrimage route connecting the early Islamic city of al-Mabiyat with Madain Saleh. It is the oldest Islamic inscription found so far. It mentions the date of the death of the second Caliph of Islam, Omar bin al-Khattab and reads as follows: “In the name of God, I Zuhair wrote the date of the death of Omar the year four and twenty (Hegrah)”. Caliph Omar bin al-Khattab died on the last night of the month of Dul-Hajj of the year 23 Hegrah, and was buried next day on the first day of Muharram of the new year 24 Hegrah (corresponding to 644 AD).

Note: The discoverers and local experts say the script is Hijâzî, not Kufic.

Here’s a trace of the text:



What it says

The inscription can be translated as follows:

In the Name of Allah

I, Zuhayr, wrote [this] at the time ‘Umar died, in the year four

and twenty [24H]

Next to this inscription, it reads:

I am Zuhayr, Mawlâ of the Bani Salamah [tribe]



Source: http://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/www.sayingsofthesalaf.net#ixzz1gZYT3xPq

Mothers come before spouse!

At the time of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), there was a young man named Alqamah. He was very diligent in obeying Allah by engaging in prayer and fasting and spending in charity.
Then one day, he fell ill and his illness became serious. His wife went to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and said, "My husband, Alqamah, is on his deathbed. I therefore came to tell you, Messenger of Allah, about his condition."
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) (then) sent for Ammar or Suhaib and Bilal (radiAllahu anhum), and told them to go to him (Alqamah) and have him repeat the Shahadah. Thereupon they went to him and found him in the agony of death. They asked him to say, "La illaha illa Allah," but his tongue was unable to pronounce it. At that, they came and told the Messenger of Allah that he was unable to repeat the Shahadah.
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) asked, "Is either of his parents alive?"
He was told, "Messenger of Allah, his mother is, but she is very old." The Prophet sent her a message that if it was convenient for her (that is, is she was able to go out), she should come to him; otherwise she should stay in her house and the Prophet would come to her.
The Prophet's messenger came to her and informed her of the Prophet's message.
She said, "May my life be a ransom for him, it is my pleasure to go to him!"
She then stood up, leaning on her walking stick, and came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and greeted him. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) returned her greeting and said to her, "Umm Alqamah, tell me the truth, for otherwise Allah Most High will reveal the truth to me! What is the situation concerning your son, Alqamah?"
She replied, "Messenger of Allah, he prays much, fasts a great deal, and spends a great amount in charity."
"And what about yourself?," asked the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)
"Messenger of Allah, I am angry with him," she said
"Why?," asked the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)
"Messenger of Allah, he has preferred his wife to me and has disobeyed me." Then Allah's Messenger said, "Umm Alqamah, surely your anger has prevented Alqamah's tongue from pronouncing the Shahadah."
He then turned to Bilal and said, "Bilal, go out and collect a quantity of firewood." "Messenger of Allah, what do you plan to do?, asked Umm Alqamah
He replied, "I will burn him in front of your eyes."
"Messenger of Allah, he is my son! My heart cannot bear your burning him in front of me!," exclaimed Umm Alqamah "Umm Alqamah, Allah's punishment is more severe and more lasting! Therefore, if you want Allah to forgive him, be reconciled to him. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the prayer, fasting, and spending in charity (which he has done) are of no benefit to Alqamah as long as you are angry with him!," replied the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam).
Thereupon she said, "Messenger of Allah, I call upon Allah Most High and His angels and the Muslims who are present to be my witnesses that I am pleased with my son Alqamah."
Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, "Bilal, go to him and see whether he is now able to say, "La illaha illa Allah" or not. It may be that Umm Alqamah is saying something for my sake which is not in her heart."
Thereupon Bilal went, and while entering the door he heard Alqamah saying, "La illaha illa Allah." (Concerning this), Bilal remarked, "It is surely true that while Alqamah's mother was angry with him his tongue was tied, and now that she is pleased with him his tongue is freed."

Alqamah died the same day. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) came to him and gave the order for his washing and shrouding, and then prayed the funeral prayer for him and buried him.
He then stood by the side of his grave and said, "You company of Muhajireen and Helpers, if anyone favors his wife over his mother, Allah and His angels and all the people curse him! Allah does not accept his spending (in charity) and his uprightness unless he repents toward Allah, the Glorious and Majestic, and reconciles with her and attains her pleasure, because Allah's pleasure consists in her pleasure and Allah's anger consists in her anger."
Source: Reported in Tabarani and Ahmed.

Had 2 share masha allah =)

'Urwah Ibn Mas'ood said to the Quraysh: "O my people! I have seen kings. I have seen Caeser, Chosroes and Negus. But by Allaah! I have never seen a king whose companions respect and honor him in the way that the Companions of Muhammad honour Muhammad sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam. By Allaah! When he spits, the spittle would fall into the hands of one of them, who would then rub his face and skin with it; when he orders them with something, they promptly fulfill it; when he performs wudhoo' (ablution), they vie with each other for the remains of the water; and when they speak in his presence, they lower their voices and do not look directly at his face, due to their respect and honour for him."

Related by al-Bukhaaree (no.2731) and Ahmad (3/324), from the lengthy narration of Miswar Ibn Makhramah radi-Allaahu 'anhu.