God’s People
Those who show mercy will
be dealt with mercifully
“The Merciful One shows mercy to the merciful,” said the Prophet. “Be merciful with those on earth. The One in Heaven will be merciful with you.”
(AHMAD, ABU DAWUD, AL TIRMIDHI)
Whatever happens is the will of God
When certain people offered to guard Ali (The fourth Caliph), the son of Abu Talib, the latter replied, “Destiny is man’s guardian.” According to another tradition, he said, “No man will taste the joy of faith until he realizes that he could never have escaped what has befallen him, nor enjoyed what escaped him.”
(ABU DAWUD, SUNAN)
Remaining steadfast in
the face of persecution
During the Abbasid Caliphate the emergence of the Mutazilite creed1 stirred up controversy among Muslims, as a result of which Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal had severe punishments inflicted upon him. Yet he refused to alter the position he had adopted. Hafiz ibn Hajar tells us that he was beaten so severely as to make “even an elephant flee.”
The most worthwhile work is
preaching the word of God
The Prophet said: “That God should grant guidance, through you, to just one person is better for you than everything on which the sun rises.”
The preacher of God’s word
wishes people well, no matter
how they treat him
The Prophet besieged Taif for more than twenty days. When it became difficult for the Muslims to continue with the siege, he ordered them to withdraw. It was then suggested that the Prophet bring down a curse upon the heads of the Thaqeef tribe, but the Prophet merely raised both hands and prayed: “Lord, guide the Thaqeef, and bring them into the fold of Islam.” The Prophet was likewise told of the contumacy and disbelief of the Daus tribe, and again it was suggested that he should invoke a curse upon them, but the Prophet’s response was again to pray. “Lord, guide the Daus,” he begged, “and bring them into the fold of the faithful.”
A good deed is of no value if
it makes one proud
Ibn Ataullah As-Sikandari wrote in his book, Al-Hikam: “A sin which makes one meek and humble is better than a good deed which makes one proud and arrogant.”
Of all actions, the most sublime
is remembrance of God
Abu Darda reports the Prophet as asking his companions: “Should I not tell you of the action that is best and most pure in the presence of your Lord; the action which will raise you up in the sight of God, and is better for you than great expenditure of gold and silver; better too than that you should meet your enemies in battle, striking their necks and they striking yours?” “Do tell us,” the Companions replied, “It is remembrance of God,” said the Prophet.
(AL-TIRMIDHI, SHAMA’IL)
An able and righteous man
the most treasured asset
Zayd ibn Aslam reports, on the authority of his father, that Umar ibn Khattab asked some of his companions to tell him about their ambitions. “I would like to have this house full of money, so that I could spend it in the path of God,” volunteered one. Another said that he would like gold-yet another mentioned pearls-so that their wealth could be spent in the furtherance of God’s cause. “What I would like more than anything,” said Umar, “would be to have this house full of men like Abu Ubaidah ibn al Jarrah, Muadh ibn Jabal and Hudhaifah ibn al Yaman, so that I could use them for God’s work.”
(AL TARIKH AL-SAGHIR)
Qualities of leadership
In the context of his relationship with the Caliph Umar, Abdullah ibn Abbas says that he served him better even than the members of his own household, and that “he used to seat me next to him and showed me great respect.” He relates how one day when he was alone with him in his home, he suddenly heaved such a deep sigh that it was as if he was about to surrender his soul. Abdullah enquired. “Is it because of some apprehension that you heave this sigh?” “It is, indeed,” he replied, and asking Abdullah to come nearer, he told him that he did not know of anyone capable of taking on ‘this work’ by which he meant the caliphate. Abdullah ibn Abbas then mentioned six names, and asked the Caliph if he did not know them. Umar commented on each one of them in turn and then said: “One who is firm but not overbearing, soft but not weak, generous but not extravagant, thrifty but not miserly — only such a person is fit for this task.” According to Abdullah ibn Abbas, only Umar ibn al Khattab himself possessed all these qualities.
(KANZ AL-UMMAL)
What those who sit with
leaders should be like
Abdullah ibn Abbas tells of how his father once said to him: “My boy, I see how the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al Khattab, invites you to his meetings and takes you into his confidence. He also turns to you as well as to the other Companions for advice. I am going to give you three pieces of advice which are worth remembering: firstly, fear God, and never let it be said of you by Umar that you told a lie; secondly, keep his secrets well, and thirdly, never speak ill of anyone in his presence.” Amir says that each one of those pieces of advice was better than a thousand. “Better than ten thousand,” rejoined Abbas.
(AI-TABARANI)
Sycophantic subordinates
portend disaster
Aishah reports the Prophet as saying: “When God desires the good of someone in a position of power, he assigns to him an honest counsellor, one who reminds him of God’s word when he forgets it, and who assists him when he remembers it. And when he desires the opposite for anyone, He gives him an evil counsellor, one who does not remind him when he forgets and does not assist him when he remembers.”
(ABU DAWUD, SUNAN)
Lip service is not proof of real attachment
Jubair ibn Nufair relates how, as his father was sitting with Miqdad ibn Aswad one day, a passerby, on seeing a Companion of the Prophet said: “How fortunate are those two eyes that have seen the Prophet! By God, if only we could have seen what you saw and shared in your experiences!” Nufair said that he was impressed by the man’s words; he seemed to have spoken well. But Miqdad—may God be pleased with him looked towards the man and said: “No one whom God has saved from being present at those hours should desire to have been there. Who knows how they would have acted in those circumstances? By God, many of whom God cast into Hell came to see the Prophet, such as did not accept what he said, or believe in his mission.”
Even self-sacrifice is of no
value without total sincerity
A certain Muslim participated in the Battle of Uhud (3 A.H.) and died fighting. When his mother learnt of the death, she cried out for her “martyred” son. “Hold your peace,” the Prophet told her “How do you know that he has been martyred? He used to indulge in vain talk and was miserly with things that it would have done him no harm to give away.”
(Al-TlRMIDHI, SHAMA’IL)
It is wrong even to hint a
partnership with God
“That which God wishes, and you wish, will come to pass,” said a certain individual to the Prophet. The latter showed his intense displeasure at this remark. “Have you set me up as a compeer with God?” he asked. “Say, rather, that which God alone wishes will come to pass.”
Have trust in God
right up till the end
When the Prophet left Makkah on his emigration to Madinah, he spent the first three days in the Cave of Thur. The Quraysh, who were searching for him, eventually arrived at this cave. Abu Bakr, who was in hiding with the Prophet, said, “Prophet of God, look how close the enemy has come. If they were just to look at their feet, they would see us beneath them.” “Abu Bakr,” the Prophet replied, “What do you think of those two who have God as a third?”
(AL-BIDAYAH WA AL-NIHAYAH)
Thinking of God in
moments of crisis
‘Ali, the son of Abu Talib, related how Fatima, his wife and also daughter of the Prophet had to do all the housework herself. Her hands used to become blistered from working a millstone, her clothes became dirty from sweeping the floor, and having to bring water from outside in a large leather bag had left a mark on her neck. On one occasion when the Prophet had had an influx of servants, ‘Ali suggested to Fatima that she go and request her father to give her one of them to help her in her work. She duly went to see him, but there were many people gathered at his house, and she returned home, without having been able to meet him. The next day the Prophet came to the house of Ali and Fatima and asked what it was she had wanted to discuss with him, but Fatima remained silent. Then ‘Ali told the Prophet the whole story. The Prophet did not, however, accede to their request for a servant. “Fear God,” he said, “and fulfill your duty to the Lord. Continue to do your housework and, when you go to bed at night, glorify God 33 times, praise him the same number of times and exalt him 34 times. That makes 100 times altogether. That will do you more good than a servant will.”
(AL-TARGHEEB WA AL-TARHEEB)
On hearing the Hereafter mentioned,
he waived his claim
Umm Salamah tells of how two of the Ansar brought a dispute before the Prophet about a long-standing issue of inheritance for which neither party could produce a witness. “You bring me your disputes,” the Prophet said to them, “and, when no proper evidence is brought forward, I judge them according to my own way of thinking. I might, on the basis of partial evidence, make a settlement in favour of one of the parties, but in so doing, it may be that I take away from the other what is his rightful due. In that case, the one in whose favour I pass judgement should not accept what has been apportioned to him, for that would be like his accepting a firebrand which, on the Day of Resurrection, would stick on his neck.” At these words, both the Ansar broke down and wept. “Prophet of God!” they both cried out, “he can have my rightful share!” “The Prophet then told them that in view of their changed attitude they should go and, seeking to do what was just and right, should divide the inheritance into two parts. Then they should draw lots as to who should have which part. In this way, each would have the other’s approval of the share he received.
(KANZ AL-UMMAL)
Fear of God made the stick
fall from his hand
Abu Masud Ansari says that one day he became angry with his slave and began beating him with a stick. Just then he heard a voice from behind him “Abu Masud, realise ... ,” but, in his fury, he was unable to recognize the voice. When the speaker came nearer, he realized that it was the Prophet of God. “You should realize,” said the Prophet, “that God has more power over you than you have over this slave.” On hearing this, Abu Masud let the stick fall from his hand. “Never again will I beat a slave,” he vowed, “and seeking God’s good pleasure, I hereby give this slave his freedom.” “If you had not done this, you would have been touched by the flames of Hell,” said the Prophet.
(MUSLIM, SAHIH)
Fearing God’s punishment,
even when one is dealing
with the lowly
Once when the Prophet was at home with his wife, Umm Salamah, he summoned the maidservant for some errand, but she seemed to take a long time in coming. Seeing signs of anger on the Prophet’s face, Umm Salamah got up to see what had happened to the girl. She opened the curtain and saw her playing outside with the goat’s kids. She called to her once again, and this time she came. The Prophet was holding a tooth-stick at the time, “If I had not feared the retribution of Judgement Day,” he said to the girl, “I would have hit you with this tooth-stick”.
(AL-ADAB AL-MUFRAD)
The greatest favour to
seek from God is
forgiveness
According to Anas ibn Malik, the Helpers (Madinan Muslims) suffered from not having enough camels to irrigate their land. They came, therefore, to the Prophet, hoping that he would be able to provide them with camels, or arrange for a canal to be dug, which would bring them an abundant supply of water. The Prophet looked towards the Helpers and greeted them thrice. “Whatever you ask of me today, I shall certainly give you,” he said. “And whatever I ask of God on your behalf, He will surely grant.” At these words, the Helpers experienced a change of heart. “The greatest thing we can ask for is the Hereafter,” they thought. “Why waste such a precious opportunity by asking for the world?” Then they said to one another, “Let us take advantage of this opportunity and ask for forgiveness.” Addressing the Prophet they said, “Ask the Lord to forgive us.” “Lord, forgive the Helpers,” was the Prophet’s immediate response. “Forgive their children: forgive their wives.”
(AHMAD, MUSNAD)
Avoiding anger
Abu Hurayrah tells of how a man came before the Prophet and asked him for some advice. “Do not be angry,” said the Prophet. He asked for further advice, a second and a third time, and each time the Prophet repeated the words, “Do not be angry.”
(AL-BUKHARI, SAHIH)
Knowing the world,
but not the Hereafter
Abu Darda asked certain individuals, “How is it that I behold you full of food, but starved of knowledge?”
(JAMI‘ BAYAN AL-ILM)
They will be of good cheer
on meeting God
While still a young man, Talhah ibn Bara’ came to the Prophet to swear allegiance to him and to accept Islam. “I am at your behest,” he vowed to the Prophet. “I will do exactly as you command.” “Even if I tell you to sever your relations with your parents?” the Prophet asked. (Talha used to look after his mother with great affection.) Talha ibn Bara’ at once prepared himself to carry out the Prophet’s command. “Talha,” the Prophet said to him, “Our religion does not teach one to sever ties. I just wanted you to be absolutely certain of your faith.”
Talha ibn Bara’ came within the fold of Islam and remained a fine Muslim till the day he died. When he was suffering his final illness, the Prophet came to visit him and found him in a state of unconsciousness. “I think that Talha’ s soul will be taken up tonight,” he said. He departed then, asking to be informed when Talha regained consciousness.
It was midnight before he did so, and he said that the Prophet should not be disturbed at that late hour. “He might be bitten by some harmful creature, or some enemy might do him an injury if he comes out at night,” he protested. Talha passed away that very night and the Prophet was not informed until after the morning prayer. The Prophet prayed, “Lord, meet him in such a way that both he and You are of good cheer on meeting each other.”
(AL-TABARANI)
What really matters is the man within
A complaint was made to the Prophet about the behaviour of Abdullah ibn Hudhaifah. It was said that he joked and played the fool too much. “Let him be,” said the Prophet, “for, deep down, he has great love for God and His Prophet.”
(IBN ‘ASAKIR)
Extending unstinted support
Abu Bakr called together the Companions and told them of his intention to send an expedition to Syria. “God will surely grant the Muslims His succour,” he told them, “and exalt His word.” In the consultations that followed, some of the Companions opposed certain of Abu Bakr’s ideas. Even so, after brief discussions, all of them-without a single voice of dissent-urged Abu Bakr to do as he thought fit. “We shall neither oppose nor blame you,” they assured him.
(IBN ‘ASAKIR)
In between two possibilities
The Prophet often used to pray: “O turner of hearts, keep our hearts firm in faith.” Having heard him repeat this prayer on many occasions, Prophet’s wife, Aishah once asked him, “Prophet of God, why is it that you offer this prayer so often?” The Prophet then explained to her, “Everyone’s heart is in between two of God’s fingers. When He wishes to set a man’s heart straight, He does so, and when he wishes to set it awry, He does so.”
The heart and the tongue:
of all things the best and the worst
Luqman the Wise, an Abyssynian slave, was once asked by his master to slaughter a goat and bring him two pieces of its best meat. Luqman did as he was bid, then cooked the goat and brought his master its tongue and heart. A few days later, his master asked him to slaughter another goat and, this time, bring him two pieces of its worst meat. Luqman again did as he was bid, but presented his master with the same two parts of the animal-its tongue and its heart. His master then inquired as to why it was that he had brought him the same parts on both occasions. “If both these parts are sound,” replied Luqman, “then there is nothing to compare with them. But if they are both defective, there is nothing worse.”
Obedience to the Prophet,
come what may
When Mughirah ibn Shu’ba told the Prophet that he intended to marry the daughter of a certain person, the Prophet told him to go and see her first. He did as he was bade by the Prophet, informing the girl’s parents of his intentions and the Prophet’s injunction. The girl’s parents were nevertheless reluctant to let their daughter appear before a stranger. The girl, however, who was in the next room overheard the conversation and said, “If the Prophet has given this order, then come and see me. If he has not, I implore you in God’s name not to do so.”
(IBN MAJAH, SUNAN)
Sincerity and piety
the essence of Islam
Uthman ibn Affan tells of how the Prophet said that he knew which testimony would save one from the Fire, provided it was uttered from the depths of one’s heart. Umar offered to explain the nature of such an affirmation to the Companions. He said that it was the testimony of sincerity, which God had prescribed for the Prophet and his companions, and the testimony of piety, which the Prophet had pressed upon his uncle, Abu Talib, as the latter lay dying: it was, ultimately, the testimony that there is none worthy of being worshipped save God.
True faith brings visions
of unseen realities
Malik ibn Anas tells of how Muadh ibn Jabal came before the Prophet and was asked by him, “How is your morning?” “Full of faith in God,” replied Muadh. “Every statement applies to something in particular, just as every statement has an inner meaning. To what does your present statement apply?” asked the Prophet. Muadh then told the Prophet that he had never woken up in the morning thinking that he would live till the evening, and never gone to rest in the evening thinking that he would live till morning; nor did he even take one step without the thought crossing his mind that he might not be able to take another. “It is as though I see all those communities, down on their knees, being called to account for their actions. Along with them are their prophets, and their idols, too,—those to which they used to appeal, as well as to God. It is as if I see, with my very own eyes, how the people in Hell are being punished and the people in Paradise are being rewarded.” “You have attained true realization,” the Prophet told him. “Now let there be no falling away from it.”
(HILYAT AL-AULIYA)
The Quran is for admonition,
not just for recital
Aishah, hearing of certain individuals who read the Quran all night, reading it right through once, or even twice in a night, remarked, “what is there in mere recitation?” I used to stay up all night with the Prophet and, in his recitations of the chapters entitled ‘Cow’, ‘Family of Imran’, and ‘Women’, whenever he came to a verse which contained a warning, he would pray to God and seek refuge with Him, and whenever he came to a verse bearing good tidings, he would pray to God and express his longing for what was mentioned in the verse.
(AHMAD, MUSNAD)
Bear hardship with patience,
and one’s sins will be forgiven
in the next world
Abu Bakr once recited this verse of the Quran before the Prophet: “He that does evil shall be requited with it. There shall be none to protect or help him.” (4:123) “How,” he asked, “can things now turn out well for us, since we shall have to pay for the evil that we do?” “May God forgive you, Abu Bakr,” the Prophet said, “don’t you ever become ill, or feel fatigue or distress? Aren’t you sometimes afflicted with hardship? Don’t you fall into error now and then?” Abu Bakr said that he did indeed. “This then is the requital of your sins in this world,” said the Prophet.
(KANZ AL- UMMAL)
The eminent should grieve
for the lowly
It happened that a woman of Madinah, who used to clean the mosque, passed away. She was black-skinned and mentally deranged and there were few to perform her funeral. Those who came to it did not think it proper to inform the Prophet. When he finally heard about it, he asked to be informed of the death of any Muslim in future, irrespective of his or her status.
