By: Abida Rahmani
لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ
فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَة
(33-21) Indeed you have in the messenger of
Allah the most beautiful Conduct.
“The Ultimate Leader ship, Unparallel
leader of Dawah, Training, Organization and the great Commander-in-chief”
In Quran
one of the numerous verses that praise prophet (saws) it is said in surah Ahzab) “O Prophet (Muhammad SAW)! Verily, we have sent you as
witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a Warner, (45) and as one who
invites to Allâh [Islâmic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allâh (Alone)]
by His permission, and as a lamp spreading light (through your instructions
from the Qur'ân and the Sunnah the legal ways of the Prophet SAW [])”.
Prophet Muhammad SAW was the best
person, possessed the best qualities among his tribe Qurraish before Islam. His
honesty and trust worthiness was honored as Saadiq and Ameen. But when he came
from the cave of Hira Arabia had accepted his message
of Islam.
This was only because of his Ultimate leadership, unparallel
leader of Dawah, Training, Organization and the great Commander- in – chief.
Prophet
(SAW)’s Basic Qualities
1. Ability
to command with respect
2. Trusted
on sincerity of purpose
3. Confidence
on ability
4. Approachable
for suggestion
5. Acceptability
as a leader
6. Ready
to sacrifice
7. Open-minded
8. Understanding
of responsibilities
9. Optimism
Practical Qualities
1. Utmost
trust in Allah(swt) for help and guidance
2. No
difference in morals and acts
3. His
Ability to help understand efficiently
4. His
Ability to answer questions adequately
5. His
Ability to acquire love and affection of the companions and followers
6. Habit
of making decisions after consultation
7. Courage
to encourage criticism
8. Dynamic,
Keen perception and Serious
Acknowledgment
by a staunch enemy:
After the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, Allah's Messenger
sent letters to the rulers of neighboring countries. The Emperor of Byzantine (Rome ) received it in Syria
at a time when a trade caravan from Makkah headed by Abu Sufyan was in Damascus
Emperor:Do the elite or the weak mostly follow him?
Abu Sufyan:The weak.
Emperor:Do his followers increase or decrease?
Abu Sufyan:They increase.
Emperor:Has anyone apostatized after converting to Islam?
Abu Sufyan:No.
Emperor:Have you ever heard him tell a lie?
Abu Sufyan:No, never.
Struck by the answers of Abu Sufyan, who was at
that time one of the bitterest enemies of Islam, the Emperor acknowledged
Muhammad's position, "It is inconceivable for one who has never told a lie
during his whole life to invent lies against Allah" (Al-Bukhari).
This was just because of his steadfastness on his
mission and on his vision. That was to save astray people from hell fire and to
succeed them in the hereafter with the gardens of Jannah.
He always encouraged truthfulness, as can be seen
in the following hadiths:
"Promise me six things, and I will promise you
Paradise : Speak the truth, keep your promises,
fulfill your trusts, remain (sexually) chaste, do not look at what is unlawful,
and avoid what is forbidden." (Authenticated by Al-Albani)
"Abandon what arouses your suspicions, and
follow what is certain. Truthfulness gives satisfaction; lying causes
suspicion."(At-Tirmidhi and Ahmad)
"Always be truthful, for truthfulness leads to
righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise .
If you are always truthful and seek truthfulness, Allah records you as such.
Never lie, for lying leads to shamefulness and shamefulness leads to Hell. If
you insist on lying and seek deceit, Allah records you as such." (Al-Bukhari
and Muslim)
Long suffering and
forgiveness in the path of Dawah:
The patience, long sufferings and
forgiveness of the Holy Prophet (SAW) are the highest qualities of his prophet
hood. He never revenged for any personal or financial matter. The hardest day
for him was in the battle of Uhud, when his own people disobeyed and the
unbelievers caused him severe grief and affliction to the great instinct. But
he contented himself to suffer and prayed for their forgiveness. He Prayed “O
Allah! Show my people the right path for they do not know and forgive them.”
The companions out of grief asked, “O messenger of Allah, you would have cursed
them, so that they were annihilated.” He replied, “I have not been sent to
curse, but to call people to the truth and as a mercy for the creation.”
Prophet SAW Suffered a lot in spreading
Allah’s message that was given to him. Anas (Allah be pleased with him)
narrated from prophet (saw) “In the path of Allah I have been daunted and threatened
more than anyone else. Once I had to pass thirty days and nights in such a
dreadful condition that Bilal and I had nothing that any living being would
eat, except what little Bilal had kept under his arm.”(Maariful Hadith, Shamail
Tarmizi)
Taif’s Incident
Once when Aisha (may Allah be pleased
with her) asked Propht SAW that did he suffer more than the battle of Uhud?
Which he replied that the hardest day was when Holy Prophet SAW accompanied
with Zaid bin Haritha went to Taif to preach oneness of Allah and to invite
them to Islam. The chiefs instigated the local rowdies for mischief while he
was preaching. They pelted him with stones so heavily that he began to bleed
profusely. The blood clotted in his shoes, after receiving so many injuries he
fainted and fell down. Zaid (ra) lifted him on his back and brought him out
side of town in a canyon and sprinkled some water on him. Allah (swt) send
Angeles of Torment who asked prophet SAW “if you say then these bad people will
be crushed between these two hills.”
Prophet saw replied “do not do this, I pray
for their guidance and I believe that they will accept Allah’s message. (Bukhari,
Muslim)
The unbelievers persecuted the Holy
Prophet (SAW), his companions and followers incessantly for twenty one years.
They harassed, tortured and compelled them to move out from Mekkah to Madina.
In Madina they attacked and fought several battles with them. But when Mekkah
was conquered and these worst enemies of Islam were completely at the mercy of
Prophet (SAW). At this moment just a nod from him would have rolled their heads
to dust, instead he asked them, “Do you know how I am going to deal with you
today?” They replied in a suppressed tone, “O truthful and trustworthy one! You
are a noble brother and the son of a noble brother. We never found you
merciless.” The Prophet(SAW)said, “ I say the same words to you today which
Yusaf(AS) Said to his brother- no reproach is on you this day: Go, I set you
all free.”
Prophet (saw) preached the message of
Allah to every one, every where, day and night with all his abilities and
strength. He was the greatest preacher, leader, Commander-in –chief, statesman,
companion, friend, caretaker, father, relative and husband.
Leadership
Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him)
told on the authority of his father Ali(RA) that Prophet(saw) divided his time
in three parts in his home.
- For
Ibadah
- Social
obligations to his family
- Taking
some rest
Then he would further divide his own
share of time between himself and for other people utilizing most of it in the
matters related to Ummah. During this time he discussed matters of common
interest with chosen companions. Those companions would spread out his words to
other believers. He did not hold back any thing from the people; neither the
religious commands of Allah (swt) nor his own deeds (sunnah). During these
hours he would receive different type of people, try to solve their problems,
answer their questions, sometimes ambassadors from rulers and believers of
other faiths such as Jews and Christians. We may call it a Grand or General
Assembly of Mohammad (SAW) with all the simplicity and grandeur of Allah (SWT).
In these assemblies strategies were finalized for battles, donations collected,
believers were inspired for sacrifices of life and wealth, Quran’s commands
delivered and envoys send to other rulers for accepting Islam.
He would ask the people who were
present there to pass on what they have learnt to those who were not present.
The
Greatest commander-in-chief
وَأَعِدُّواْ
لَهُم مَّا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ۬ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلۡخَيۡلِ تُرۡهِبُونَ
بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّڪُمۡ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمۡ لَا
تَعۡلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُهُمۡۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَىۡءٍ۬ فِى سَبِيلِ
ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تُظۡلَمُونَ
And make ready against them all you can
of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to
threaten the enemy of Allâh and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may
not know but whom Allâh does know. And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of
Allâh shall be repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.
(Al-Anfaal 60)
Holy Prophet (saw) planned with minimum
resources available at that time to fight the battles against the enemies of Islam.
Anas(RA) narrated from Prophet (saw )”I
have been favored with superiority in four things, generosity, valor, manly
vigour and victory over opponents.”
On the occasion of battle of Hunain
companions were greatly disturbed with limited arson and number against the
enemy.But Prophet(SAW) was calm and composed on his position riding on a horse.
Abu Sufyan tried to attack him. He calmly got down prayed to Allah for his help
and victory,”O Allah, if this small group of your believer is defeated and
killed. Then there would be no one to uphold your name. O Allah we need your
help and victory”. With Allah’s guidance he picked up a handful of dust and
threw it to enemy and chanted,” I am prophet of Allah, it is true. I am a
descendant of Abdul Muttalib”. On that day no one was as fearless, brave and
daring as he was.
Ibn Umar(RA) I have seen no one more
courageous, energetic, generous and possessing highest merits than the Holy
Prophet(SAW) on the day of battle of Badar. We regularly took refuge by his
side and any one who kept close to him was considered to be brave, since he was
so close to enemy.
The Companions (RA) contributed
generously all their belongings in the way of Allah when the call was made.
This generosity occurred at every battle and the greatest example is battle of
Tabook. Abu baker (RA) brought all his belongings, Omar (RA) half, Osman(RA)
brought 100 camels loaded with belongings and a companion worked whole night in
a Jew’s field and earned a few dates. He was standing quiet at a corner, when
Prophet SAW noticed him; he asked him to come forward and asked him to put his
hard earned dates over all the belongings.
During the battle of Ahzab the whole
battle was so strategically planned with minimum resources that the Prophet
(saw) ‘s army contained the enemies for so many days. Later on the enemies got
frustrated and went away. In that battle when a companion showed that due to
food shortage he had tied a brick to press his stomach, Prophet SAW showed him
that he has tied two bricks against his stomach. During all the battles he was
always at the fore front, fighting with valor, planning, courage and bravery.
Here, I will discuss in detail the
treaty of Hudaiybia which proved a turning point in establishing deen of Allah
(swt). Which is the greatest example of Prophet ( SAW) encompassed leadership
and his planning as a greatest Commander-in –chief.
Treaty
of Hudaibiyah
The
Muslims and the Ka'abah
Six whole years had passed since the Hijrah, during which the
Muslims longed to visit the Ka'bah and perform the pilgrimage and `umrah. One
day, while they congregated in the mosque in the morning, the Prophet informed
them of a vision he had seen that they should enter the holy sanctuary of
Makkah secure, shaven, and unarmed, and without fear for their safety. As soon
as the Muslims heard of the news, they praised God for His grace and spread the
tidings all over Madinah. No one, however, could imagine how this was going to
be accomplished. No! There was to be neither war nor fighting. Muhammad (SAW)
proclaimed to the people that pilgrimage to Makkah would take place in the holy
month of Dhu al Qi'dah. He invited other tribes too to join them on this trip
for Haj. During the holy month was intended purely for pilgrimage and not for
conquest, as well as to proclaim the fact that Islam had imposed pilgrimage to
Makkah just as preIslamic Arab religion had done and, finally, that he had
actually invited even the Arabs who were not Muslims to join in the performance
of this sacred duty. , despite all this, the Qurraish insisted on fighting him
during the holy month and stop them from entering Makaah at whatever cost.
Quickly, they
mobilized an army, including a cavalry force of two hundred. They gave the
command to Khalid ibn al Walid and 'Ikrimah ibn Abu Jahl. This army advanced to
Dhu Tuwa and took up position to prevent the Muslims' religious march to Makkah.
Muhammad (saw) and
the Muslims continued their march. At 'Usfan, they met a tribesman of Banu Ka'b
whom the Prophet questioned regarding the Qurraish. The man answered:
"They heard about your march; so they marched too, pledging that they will
never let you enter Makkah. Their general, Khalid ibn al Walid, set up camp for
his cavalry at Kara' al Ghamim." Upon learning this, Muhammad said:
"Woe to Qurraish ! If the Arab tribes destroy me, that will be the
realization of their objective. If, on the other hand, Allah gives me victory,
then they can enter into Islam with dignity; and if they resist, they can then
fight with good cause. What does the Qurraish think? By God, I shall continue
to serve that for which Allah has commissioned me until the divine message has
become supreme or I lose my neck in the process." The Muslims were not
afraid of battle. With the high morale they enjoyed, their swords alone would be
sufficient to stop this new aggression of the Makkans. But if they did fight
the Makkans, the peaceful purpose of the whole affair would not be realized.
Prpohet(saw) and his followers took a
more tough route through the valley which brought them to the locality of al
Hudaybiyah, south of Makkah. Upon arrival at the plain of al Hudaybiyah, al
Qaswa', the she-camel of the Prophet, stopped. The Muslims thought that she-camel
was exhausted; but the Prophet (saw) explained that it was stopped by the same
power which stopped the elephant from entering Makkah.
He then called upon
the Muslims to encamp. When they complained that the place was waterless, he
sent a man with a stick to one of the wells of the area and asked him to verify
the existence of water. When the man plunged his stick into the bottom of the
well, water sprang up; the people felt reassured, and they put up camp. The
Makkans had resolved to prevent the Muslims by force from entering their city.
To them, this was a clear and final commitment. Both sides preferred a
settlement by the sword. The Muslims who approved of this course thought their
victory would bring about a final destruction of the Qurraish.
In this way,
negotiations between Muhammad (SAW) and the Qurraish lasted a long time.
The Prophet (SAW) tested
the patience of the Qurraish once more by sending a delegate from his camp to
negotiate with them. He called 'Umar ibn al Khattab for the job of conveying
his message He counselled the Prophet to send another man, 'Osman ibn 'Affan,
who was far more protected among the Qurraish than he. The Prophet called 'Osman
ibn 'Affan, his son-in-law, and sent him to Abu Sufyan and the noblemen of
Quraysh. 'Uthman proceeded to Makkah, and on its outskirts was met by Aban ibn
Said who extended to him his protection for the duration of time that it would
take him to convey his message. 'Osman approached the noblemen of Quraysh and
handed over the Prophet's message. The Qurraish pleaded that they had already
sworn defiantly that Muhammad would not be allowed to enter Makkah this year.
The negotiations lasted a long time during which 'Osman (RA) was forced to stay
in Makkah. Soon the Muslims began to suspect that he had been treacherously put
to death. Muslims were greatly disturbed and prophet (saw) called his
companions to him under a large tree in the middle of that valley, and there
they covenanted with him to fight to the last man. Their faith was certain,
their conviction was strong, and their will was determined to avenge. This
covenant was called the Covenant of al Ridwan. Allah (swt) was so pleased with
this that he sent these verse "Allah is pleased with the believers who
have covenanted with you under the tree. God knows what is in their hearts and,
therefore, He has granted them His peace and will soon give them great victory.
[Qur'an,
48:18].
While in this state, the news reached them that `Uthman had not been murdered,
and soon the man himself returned safe and sound.
The Qurraish sent
Suhayl ibn `Amr to reconcile Muhammad and to ask him to return for the same
purpose the following year. They argued that in such an arrangement the tribes
would not claim that Muhammad had entered Makkah in defiance of the Qurraish.
Suhayl began his negotiations with the Prophet, and these lasted a long time.
In the Muslim camp
the Muslims listened these negotiations and often lost patience at their
involvement and length, the obstinacy with which Suhayl refused to make any
concessions, and the leniency with which the Prophet made his. If it was not an
absolute confidence the Muslims had in their Prophet, they would have never
accepted the terms reached by those negotiations. They would have fought with
the Makkans and either entered Makkah victorious or perished in the process.
Even such a great man as `Umar ibn al Khattab lost patience and said to Abu
Bakr, "O Abu Bakr, isn't Muhammad the Prophet of Allah and aren't we
Muslims?" Abu Bakr answered in the affirmative. 'Umar then said, "Why
then we are receding non believers.” Abu Bakr replied, "O 'Umar, do not
trespass one inch where you ought not to go. Remember that I witness that our
leader is the Prophet of Allah." Angrily, 'Umar quickly said: "I,
too, witness that our leader is the Prophet of Allah."
It is reported, for
instance; that Muhammad called 'Ali ibn Abu Talib and said to him: "Write,
'In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.'" Suhayl, the
non-Muslim delegate of Quraysh interrupted. "Stop," he said, "I
do not know either 'the Merciful' or 'the Compassionate.' Write, 'In your name,
0 God.'" The Prophet of God 'Following is the text of a pact reached by
Muhammad, the Prophet of God and Suhayl ibn 'Amr.' " Suhayl again
interrupted. "Stop it. If I accepted you as a Prophet of God I would not
have been hostile to you. You should write only your name and the name of your
father." The Prophet of God instructed 'Ali to write accordingly,
referring to himself as Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah.
The text of the
treaty was agreed upon. In the opinion of most biographers, the treaty
specified that the peace was to last for ten years. The pact also specified
that any person from Qurraish emigrating to Muhammad's camp without permission
from his guardian would have to be returned to Makkah, whereas any Muslim
emigrating from Muhammad's camp to Makkah would not have to be returned. It
also specified that any tribe was free to ally itself to Muhammad, and
likewise, any tribe seeking an alliance with Qurraish could do so without let
or hindrance from the Muslims. The pact stipulated that Muhammad and his
companions would leave the area of Makkah that year without fulfilling their
religious function but that they might return the next year, enter the city and
stay therein three days for this purpose while carrying no more than swords in
their scabbards.
As soon as this pact
was solemnly concluded by the parties concerned, the tribe of Khuza`ah entered
into an alliance with Muhammad and that of Band Bakr with Quraysh. Soon after,
Abu Jandal ibn Suhayl ibn 'Amr left Makkah forever and came to the Muslim camp
seeking to join the Muslims. When Suhayl, the delegate of Qurraish to the
Muslim camp, saw his son change loyalties, he struck him in the face and pulled
him by the hair to return to the Qurraish. Abu Jandal was calling upon the
Muslims to save him from the fate of being returned to the unbelievers who
would persecute him for his faith. This greatly increased the Muslims'
resentment and their dissatisfaction with the pact the Prophet had just
concluded with Suhayl. But Muhammad spoke to Abu Jandal. "0 Abu
Jandal," he said, "have patience and be disciplined; for Allah will
soon provide for you and your other persecuted colleagues a way out of your
suffering. We have entered with the Qurraish into a treaty of peace and we have
exchanged with them a solemn pledge that none will cheat the other." Abu
Jandal returned to Qurraish in compliance with the demand of this treaty and
Suhayl returned to Makkah. Muhammad (SAW),
was fully aware with the resentment and dissatisfaction of the Muslims
around him. After reciting his prayers he reassured, sought his sacrificial
animal, and slaughtered it. Then, he sat down and shaved his head, thus
declaring the `umrah, or lesser pilgrimage, complete. His soul was
satisfied and his heart full of contentment, as if the peace of God had come
upon him. When the people saw what he did and observed the peace of soul
shining through his face, they began to slaughter their animals and to shave
off their hair. Some of them shaved off their hair completely.
Muslims returned to
Madinah and there await the arrival of the coming season for another trip to
Makkah, Most of them accepted this idea grudgingly, and consoled themselves
purely on the grounds that the unwelcome compliance therewith was only the
command of the Prophet(SAW) himself. They were not accustomed to defeat or to
surrender without a fight. On their way home between Makkah and Madinah, the surah
"al Fath" was revealed to the Prophet, and he recited it to his
companions.
"We have
granted to you a clear victory that God may forgive you your past and future
shortcomings, grant you His blessings, and guide you to the straight
path." [Qur'an, 48:1-30]
There was hence no
reason to doubt that the Hudaybiyah Treaty was a victory for the Muslims.
History has shown that this pact was the product of profound political wisdom
and farsightedness and that it brought about consequences of great advantage to
Islam and indeed to Arabia as a whole. It was
the first time that Qurraish acknowledged that Muhammad was an equal rather
than a mere rebel and runaway tribesman. It was the first time that Makkah
acknowledged the Islamic state that was rising in Arabia; to perform the
pilgrimage was equally recognition on her part that Islam was an established
and approved religion in the Peninsula .
Furthermore, the peace of the following two or ten years gave the Muslims the
peace and security they needed on Qurraish. The peace also contributed to the
spread of Islam. Indeed, Islam spread after this treaty more widely and quickly
than it had ever spread before. While those who accompanied Muhammad to Hudaibiyah
counted one thousand and four hundred, those who accompanied him on his
conquest of Makkah two years later counted well over ten thousand. The greatest
objection to those who doubted the wisdom of the Hudaibiyah pact was directed
to the provision that any Qurraish member joining the Muslims without the
permission of his guardian would have to be returned to Qurraish, and that any
apostate from Islam would not have to be returned to Madinah. Muhammad's
opinion in this matter centered on the consideration that the apostate from
Islam who seeks the shelter of Qurraish is not really worthy of readmission to
the Muslim community; that for the convert who wished to join that community
but who was not allowed to at present, Allah would soon find an outlet. Events
have confirmed this judgment of Muhammad far more quickly than his companions
anticipated, and given evidence that Islam had actually drawn great advantages.
Indeed, the treaty even made it possible two months later for Muhammad to begin
to address himself to the kings and chiefs of foreign states and invite them to
join Islam
A full year had
passed since the Treaty of al Hudaybiyah. Muhammad (saw) and his companions
were accordingly free to enter Makkah and to visit the Ka'bah under the terms
of that treaty. The Prophet, therefore, proclaimed to the people that they
might now prepare themselves to go to Makkah for performance Umrah. Many among
them, the Muhajirun, were emigrants from Makkah who had left their hometown
seven years ago. Others, the Ansar, conducted wide trade with Makkah and felt
great love and loyalty to Kaaba which they longed to visit. They exceeded two
thousand in number. Hence, there were six hundred or more than in the previous
year. In compliance with the terms of the Hudaybiyah Treaty, none of them
carried any arms except his sword which he kept in its scabbard. Muhammad
feared treachery. He therefore equipped a hundred cavalrymen and assigned them
to Muhammad ibn Maslamah. The Muslims herded before them the sacrificial
animals; the entire procession was led by Muhammad9SAW) riding his she-camel,
al Qaswa. They set out from Madinah in the direction of Makkah moved by the
strongest emotion to circle the House of Allah and to see the places where they
were born.
Muslims performed
Umra, while Holy Prophet (SAW) leading them with Tawaaf, Saai and all other
rituals. They performed this all in the dynamic leadership of their leader,
Muhammad (SAW). Under this un parallel leadership, Makkah was conquered after a
couple of years, Kaaba was cleaned from idols and staunch enemies embraced
Islam.
After the great
Battle of Tabook which was not actually fought later on but it was a great call
to fight with a big power of that time Roman Empire .
Next year Prophet
(SAW) planned for performing Hajj with his whole family. Whole of Arabian Peninsula has embraced Islam now.
His Last sermon is
the summary of his teachings and commands from Allah (swt). It is a by- laws
for Islamic jurisprudence. Prophet(SAW) emphasized all the rights over each
other.
The
Prophet's Last Sermon
While sitting on his
camel, on the mount of Rehamt in Arafat on the day of Arafaa, he delivered his
sermon in a loud voice to his people. Rabi'ah ibn Umayyah ibn Khalaf repeated
the sermon after him sentence by sentence. He began by praising God and
thanking Him, and then turning to the people, he said:
"O Men, listen
well to my words, for I do not know whether I shall meet you again on such an
occasion in the future. O Men, your lives and your property are sacred for each
other as on this holy day and holy month. Remember that you will indeed meet
your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Thus I warn you. Whoever
of you is keeping a trust of someone else shall return that trust to its
rightful owner. All interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your
capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer
inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the
interest due to `Abbas ibn `Abd al Muttalib shall henceforth be waived. Every
right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived. And the
first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabi'ah ibn al
Harith ibn `Abd al Muttalib. It is your right that they not fraternize with any
one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery. But if
they do, then God has permitted you to isolate them within their homes and to
chastise them without cruelty. But if they abide by your right, then to them
belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well
and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers. Remember
that you have taken them as your wives and enjoyed their flesh only under God's
trust and with His permission. Reason well, therefore, O Men, and ponder my
words which I now convey to you. I am leaving you with the Book of God and the
Sunnah of His Prophet. If you follow them, you will never go astray. O Men, Listen
well to my words. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that
the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim
which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do
not, therefore, do injustice to your own selves. O God, have I conveyed
Your message?"
As the Prophet
delivered his speech, Rabi'ah repeated it sentence by sentence and asked the
people every now and then whether or not they had understood the Prophet's
words and committed them to memory. In order to make sure that the people
understood and remembered, the Prophet used to ask his crier to say: "The
Prophet of Allah asks, `Do you know which day is this?" The
audience would answer, "Today is the day of the greater pilgrimage."
The Prophet then would say, "Tell them that Allah has declared inviolate
your lives and your property until the day you will meet your Lord; that he has
made the safety of your property and of your lives as inviolate as this
day." At the end of his speech, the Prophet asked, "O Allah, have I
conveyed your message?" And the people answered from all corners,
"Indeed so! Allah is witness."
When the Prophet
finished his sermon, he dismounted and waited until noon, at which time he
performed both the noon and the midafternoon prayers. He recited to the people
the concluding divine revelation: "Today I have completed for you your
religion, and granted you the last of my blessings. Today I have accepted for
you Islam as the religion." [Qur'an, 5:4] When Abu Bakr heard this verse he realized that with the
completion of the divine message, the Prophet's life was soon to come to a
close.
Today, if we ponder
about the life of Prophet (SAW), we can realize his most amazing personality
with greatest leadership qualities in all spheres of life. ISLAM calls for equality between people. Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "An Arab has no superiority to a
non-Arab and a white man has no superiority to a black one except through
piety and good deeds."
Abu Dharr of the Ghifar tribe somehow got angry with the freed slave of
Abu Bakr, Bilal of Abyssinia. Both of them were the companions of the Prophet
(peace be upon him).
The altercation became prolonged and Abu Dharr in his fury called Bilal,
the son of a black-skinned mother.
Bilal complained to
the Prophet, who addressed Abu Dharr saying, "Did you call him a name
reviling his mother? It appears you still retain vestiges of Jahiliyyah (Period
of Ignorance before Islam)." The Prophet also said in reply, "You are
his brother (and should be considerate and kind to him)."
Abu Dharr was ashamed
and repentant and out of extreme repentance and humility requested Bilal to
trample his face with his feet.
Another example is
when, during the lifetime of the Prophet, a woman of the Bani Makhzoom tribe,
Fatimah, was found guilty of theft. She was brought to the Prophet so that she
might receive her punishment according to the Shari
'ah (Islamic Law).
The Quraish tribe very much
resented it since it involved their tribal prestige and dignity. So they
thought of intercession by somebody for the remission of her punishment.
It was therefore
decided after deliberation to send Osamah Bin Zaid for such intercession since
he was very much in favour with the Prophet. So he was approached, prompted to
intercede and he talked to the Prophet on this issue.
The Prophet was very angry
and said to Osamah, "You intercede in the matter of the limits prescribed
by God?"
Then he called a big
gathering of the believers and, in a touching manner, said, "The people
before you who met their doom, discriminated between the autocrats and the
common people in the dispensation of justice for crimes like theft. The
high-placed were spared while the weaker sections of society were readily
punished. By God, if Fatimah Bint Muhammad had committed theft, I would have
amputated her hand also. A third example involves Adi Bin Hatim(one
of the elite of his time) who came to Madinah before embracing Islam and found
the companions sitting around the Prophet.
They had just
returned from some battle and some of them still had the armoury and helmets
on. 'Adi, witnessing the awe of the Prophet and their reverence for him, himself
fell in awe.
Meanwhile, a humble woman
of Madinah came to the Prophet and requested to see him in private.
The Prophet readily
agreed to talk to her. He got up and at some distance from the gathering talked
to her for a sufficiently long time, and having finished with her came back to
the gathering.
When 'Adi witnessed
this state of affairs, he was very much touched by this inconceivable concept
of generosity in action and embraced Islam.
A fourth example was
offered when, after 21 years of hard struggle, the Prophet conquered Makkah.
Those who had rejected him, had driven him out of his home and had been waging
wars with him were brought before him vanquished. But even then, he called them
to the Faith and kept in view those lofty principles that he had preached in the
vales of Makkah or had enforced in Madinah as a ruler when he was laying the
foundations of a new civilization in the Islamic history.
The Prophet (saw) asked
them, “what do you think, how I am going to deal with you?” They replied, “You
are an honoured and noble brother and son of an honoured and noble brother.” On
which he replied, “All right all of you are forgiven and he repeated the verses
of sura al Yousaf قَالَ لَا تَثۡرِيبَ
عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَۖ يَغۡفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ
ٱلرَّٲحِمِينَ He said:
Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of
those who show mercy. (92
That day he
proclaimed those principles that he had been preaching while he had not yet
gained his final victory.
Standing at the gate
of the Ka'aba he said, "O you people of Quraish! Allah has, this day, put
an end to your pride of the Jahiliyyah (Days of Ignorance) and also the pride
of your ancestry. Keep in mind! All men are the offspring of Adam, and Adam was
fashioned out of clay". The Quraish who held an exalted position in the
Arab society, and had a high opinion of themselves, listened to him in silence
with bowed heads. On this occasion he recited the following Qur 'anic verse
which he had been reciting off and on: "O Mankind! We created you from a
single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes,
that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily, the
most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of
you."
The same rules were
followed by the caliphs after Prophet (saw). During the period of the caliphate of Abu
Bakr. He set the example of a ruler whose heart was full of sympathy for his
subjects without distinction of rank or class. Notwithstanding his position as
the head of the Muslim state, he would visit the girls of the locality whose
fathers had fallen martyrs in wars.
He milked their goats
for them and assured them that his new responsibilities would not stand between
him and his routine of benevolent acts such as that.
Salallahu taalaa alaa khairi
khalqihi Muhammadun wa Alihi wa Ashabihi Ajmaiin.
From: Abida Rahmani:
Refrences:
-The ways of Holy
Prophet by Dr. Abdul Hai
-Adaab –i-zindagi by
Maulana Yusaf Islahi
-The Life of
Muhammad by Husyn Haikal
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