Our Responsibilities as a Muslim – Akhlaq – Part 3
Shaytaan is Hard at Work to Create Discord amongst the Ummah:
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ – قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ: أَخْبَرَنَا، وقَالَ عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا – جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ قَدْ أَيِسَ أَنْ يَعْبُدَهُ الْمُصَلُّونَ فِي جَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِ، وَلَكِنْ فِي التَّحْرِيشِ بَيْنَهُمْ»
Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه reported that the Holy Prophet – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم has stated:
Shaytaan lost hope that he would ever be worshipped in the Arab peninsula, but he has not lost hope about sowing the seed of discord between them.
(Sahih Muslim Hadeeth No. 2812)
Islam and Good Akhlaq Compliment each other and are Attracted to Each Other:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَان قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ حَكِيمَ بْنَ حِزَامٍ أَخْبَرَهُ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَرَأَيْتَ أُمُورًا كُنْتُ أَتَحَنَّثُ بِهَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، مِنْ صِلَةٍ، وَعَتَاقَةٍ، وَصَدَقَةٍ، فَهَلْ لِي فِيهَا أَجْرٌ قَالَ حَكِيمٌ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَسْلَمْتَ عَلَى مَا سَلَفَ مِنْ خَيْرٍ»
Sayyiduna Hakeem ibn Hizam رضي الله عنه – narrates that he asked the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم, “As you are aware that I used to join ties (between families and loved ones) and free slaves and give charity during the age of darkness (prior to Islam, after Sayyiduna ‘Isa – peace be upon him – was raised into heavens). Do I get any reward for those actions?
The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم replied, “Your embracing Islam is the result of whatever good you have been doing.”
(Al-Adab al-Mufrad Hadeeth No. 70)
Beautiful Character of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم
Sayyidyna Abdullah ibn Salam رضي الله عنه may Allah be pleased with him – narrates:
It is regarding the time when Allah Almighty ordained the guidance of Sayyiduna Zaid ibn Su’unnah رضي الله عنه (to embrace Islam).
(In the words of Sayyiduna Zaid ibn Su’unnah رضي الله عنه
He said: I recognized every sign of the Prophethood in Sayyiduna Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم (as mentioned in Torah shareef) the moment I saw him except for two signs which I had not yet realized.
- His tolerance will precede his anger
- One’s ignorance and difficulty only increase in his mercy.
I was on the lookout for a window of opportunity to examine the two signs.
One day, the Holy Prophet – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم – came out of his room. Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه accompanied him.
A villager met him and said, “The people of a certain tribe embraced Islam. I used to tell them that if they embrace Islam, their sustenance will increase in abundance. They now suffer in drought. I fear that they might lose hope in Islam due to hardship. So please give me something.”
Hearing this the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم looked at Sayyiduna ‘Ali رضي الله عنه
He said, “There is nothing.”
After witnessing this situation, I advanced and offered 80 Mithqal gold for the dates that will be owed to me on a certain day. He handed the 80 Mithqal to the villager to distribute it among the people of that tribe.
While there remained still three days before the due date, I approached him and grabbed his shirt and sheet and staring at him, I said, “O Muhammad, will you not give me what is due to me? O family of Abdul Muttalib, you always delay in giving people their due.”
Sayyiduna ‘Umar رضي الله عنه went into a state of fury when he heard this but when he looked at the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم, he was smiling. He said to Sayyiduna ‘Umar رضي الله عنه, “Take him and give him his due, and give him 20 extra sa (containers of measure) of dates.”
Sayyiduna ‘Umar رضي الله عنه took me with him and gave me what was due to me plus 20 containers of extra dates.
I said to Sayyiduna ‘Umar, “Do you recognize me?”
He replied, “No.”
I said, “I am Zaid ibn Su’unnah.”
He asked, “The jewish rabbi Zaid ibn Su’unnah?”
“Yes.” I replied.
He then asked, “Why did you treat the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم like that?”
I responded, “O ‘Umar, I recognized every sign of the Prophethood in Sayyiduna Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم (as mentioned in Torah shareef) the moment I saw him, except for two signs which I had not yet realized.
O ‘Umar, I make you my witness that I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion and with Sayyiduna Muhammad رضي الله عنه as my Prophet.
O ‘Umar, I am very wealthy, and I make you my witness that I hereby donate half of my wealth on the Ummah of Sayyiduna Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم.”
Thereafter, both Sayyiduna Zaid and Sayyiduna ‘Umar رضي الله عنه returned to the Holy Prophet – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم – and Sayyiduna Zaid said, “I testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and indeed Muhammad is Allah’s servant and Messenger, and he took the pledge of allegiance at his blessed hand and brought Imaan in him.
(Al-Aahaad wal-Mathaani Hadeeth No. 2082)
