Abu Bakr an-Nabulsi: The Flayed Martyr

He was Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Sahl bin Nasr ar-Ramli, the martyr commonly known as an-Nabulsi. He was a devout and pious worshipper who was not attached to the pleasures of this world. He always stood for the truth. He would fast every other day, and was an influence on all people around him.

He was a scholar of Fiqh and Hadith. He was considered to be one of the greatest scholars of Hadith of his time, as he narrated from the likes of at-Tabarani and Ibn Qutaybah. Also, he taught the likes of ad-Daraqutni, al-Midani, and ‘Ali bin ‘Umar al-Halabi.

‘Ubaydillah al-Mahdi established the Fatimid state, and took the city of al-Mahdiyyah – after which he is named – as its capital. This city is located on the coast of Tunisia, and it is about 16 miles from the southeast section of the city of Qayrawan. Then, the sons of ‘Ubaydillah al-Mahdi continued his expansionist policy until Abu Tamim bin Isma’il – also known as al-Mu’iz li-Dinillah – conquered Egypt. He entered it on Friday, on the 8th of Ramadan in the year 362 H, and established the city of Cairo . The rulers of this Fatimid state ascribed themselves to the Shiite ideology, while the people of Egypt and Palestine were Sunnis.

The tribulations presented by the Fatimid dynasty were a great trial for the Muslims. When they colonized Palestine, the righteous and poor people escaped from Jerusalem because the Fatimids would force the scholars of the Muslims to curse all of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) during their speeches and sermons. From these scholars who escaped the Fatimids was al-Imam an-Nabulsi, who escaped to Damascus. When al-Mu’iz li-Dinillah arrived in Syria and conquered it, he began to personally call to his heretical ideology, forbidding people from praying the Tarawih and Duha prayers, and forcing them to make Qunut during the Dhuhr prayers.

As for an-Nabulsi, he was from Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, and he considered it an obligation to fight these Fatimids. He said in regards to these Fatimid rulers: “If I had ten spears in my possession, I would throw one of them at the Romans, and I would throw the other nine at these tyrannical Fatimids.”

When the ruler of Damascus – Abu Mahmud al-Kitami – was able to defeat the Qaramitah (who were the enemies of the Fatimids), he arrested al-Imam an-Nabulsi and put him in prison in Ramadan. When the commander of the army of al-Mu’iz li-Dinillah arrived in Damascus, an-Nabulsi was handed over to them and taken to Egypt. When he arrived in Egypt, he was taken to al-Mu’iz li-Dinillah, who said to him: “I have been informed that you said that if a man has ten spears, then he should throw one of them at the Romans, and nine of them at us!”

So, an-Nabulsi said: “I did not say this!!”

The Fatimid ruler smiled, and assumed that the Imam would retract his statement. So, he asked him: “What did you say, then?”

So, an-Nabulsi responded to him – with strength and boldness – “If a man has ten spears, then he should throw nine of them at you, then he should throw the tenth one at you as well!!!”

So, al-Mu’iz asked him, in shock: “And why is that?”

So, the Imam answered him back with the same boldness: “Because you changed the religion of the Ummah, and you killed the righteous people, and you put out the divine light of guidance, and you usurped that which did not belong to you!”

So, the Fatimid ruler ordered for him to be brought out in front of the public. The next day, he was whipped severely. On the third day, an-Nabulsi was nailed to a cross, and a Jewish butcher was brought out to peel off his flesh after the Muslim butchers had refused to do so. By the time the flesh was peeled from the top of his head down to his face, he was still patiently engaging in the remembrance of Allah and repeating the verse from the Qur’an: {“…and that is written in the Book of Our Decrees.”} [al-Isra'; 58]. When the butcher had finally gotten to an-Nabulsi’s arms, he decided to put him out of his misery, and took a knife of his and stabbed it into an-Nabulsi’s heart, after which he died.

It was later reported by eyewitnesses that while an-Nabulsi was on the cross, the recitation of the Qur’an could be heard coming from his dead body.

Also, Ibn ash-Sha’sha’ al-Misri narrated that he saw an-Nabulsi in a dream after he had been killed, looking very beautiful and joyous. So, he asked him: “What has Allah done with you?”

So, an-Nabulsi replied:
My Lord Loved me in eternal honor * And He Promised me closeness and friendship to Him

And He brought me close to Him * And Said: “Rejoice in an everlasting life next to Me.”

I am Not Crying Because...

A man reached 70 years of age and he faced a disease; he could not urinate. The doctors informed him that he was in need of an operation to cure this disease. He agreed to have the operation done as the problem was giving him much pain for days.

When the operation was completed, his doctor gave him the bill which covered all the costs. The old man looked at the bill and started to cry. Upon seeing this the doctor told him that if the cost was too high then they could make some other arrangements. The old man said "I am not crying because of the money but I am crying because Allah let me urinate for 70 years and He never sent me a bill."

...and if you try to count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them... {Surah Ibrahim}

Allah states that the servants are never able to count His blessings, let alone thank Him duly for them.

In Sahih Al-Bukhari it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah( Peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate;

«اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ غَيْرَ مَكْفِيَ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا»
O Allah ! All praise is due to You, without being able to sufficiently thank You, nor ever wish to be cutoff from You, nor ever feeling rich from relying on You; our Lord!

It was reported that Prophet Dawud peace be upon him, used to say in his supplication, 
"O Lord! How can I ever truly thank You, when my thanking You is also a favor from You to me''

Allah the Exalted answered him, "Now, you have thanked Me sufficiently, O Dawud,''
meaning, `when you admitted that you will never be able to duly thank Me.'

A Special Book (beautiful true story)

Walking down the streets of my neighborhood in the early morning and making my way towards the ’taxi stop’ (Muslim-majority country), I expected to routinely make it to my class. I soon found out that there was an enlightening twist awaiting me today.
I entered the taxi, which would usually be filled with passengers later on in the day, and it was just me and the driver. Taking a look at the driver, he just seemed like a ‘regular’ old man, cigarette in hand, and the effects of poverty were quite apparent in his attire and his facial expressions. I tried to block those digressive thoughts out of my mind and tried to focus on the Qur’an I was preparing for my class. To my surprise, the man somberly told me: “Read Qur’an for me ya Shaikh”. To me, this was a bit awkward. I was never accustomed to having conversations with taxi drivers, let alone recite Qur’an for them. But Allah blessed me to accept his request, and I only asked him if he could please put out the cigarette.

After litteraly a minute of recitation, I look at the poor, old man, and I see him crying!! I was baffled by the situation!! It didn’t make any sense! I said to myself: How could this be?! Wasn’t this guy just smoking a minute ago?! How could the tears flow down his cheeks so instantaneously just by hearing a few verses?! Isn’t this man one of the taxi drivers who are known for their poor character, lack of education and belligerent attitudes?! But I just continued to recite, and after a few minutes we both went our separate ways, and I will most likely never see him again. He continued his very low-paying job, and I went on to tend to my responsibilities. Little did that old man know the heavy impact he had on my day.


What is it about this grand book, the Qur’an, that enables it to breach the conscience of seemingly heartless individuals and make them weep like babies? It happened to the mighty Umar ibn Al-Khattaab when he read the first few verses of Surah Ta-Ha. It shook the heart  of Al-Waleed ibn Al-Mugheera, a noble of Quraish, when Prophet Muhammad recited to him the opening verses of Surah Fussilat. When he returned to the ruthless leaders of Quraish they saw the impact that the verses of the All-Mighty and All-Wise on his face. Sadly, they could not recognize the divine experience that had occured in the presence of Al-Waleed. ”Had We sent down this Qur’ân on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allâh. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect”.

Allah, the All-Capable, has revealed His verses in a way befitting the needs of every human being. That is one of the reasons why the Qur’an is so powerful! It contains clear concepts conveyed in a way perfectly geared towards human nature! Since it is the words of our Creator, it is no wonder that the Qur’an contains the power of changing the most wicked people into happy, productive individuals. “Should not He Who has created know?! And He is the Most Kind and the All-Aware.“

It addresses the most sensitive aspects of our existence, and it arrouses our emotions along with directing us to the best course of action in all affairs. To those who open their hearts and mind to its guidance, it will not fail to revive the spirit and grant the believer the comfort and confidence of knowing his/her true purpose in life. ”A guidance for those who are pious”.

May Allah grant us the pleasure of living and understanding His revelation, the pleasure of this life and the hereafter. May He grant us a clear vision as a movement and in our personal lives.

And [it is] a Qur’an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively. Say, “Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it – when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration, And they say, “Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled.” And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Qur’an increases them in humble submission.” (Al- Israa)
story by: Osamah Salhia