In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
RASULULLAH (S) IN THE SIGHT OF OTHERS
[Shamim A Siddiqi,
INTRODUCTION: When my grandson Asim was only six years old, one day I
asked him a question while returning from mosque after Maghrib prayers: “How
you would know that you are a good boy?” His response was quick. He said: “when
others will say – how nice I am”. It surprised me a lot at that time but later
on I realized the importance of his spontaneous response.
In fact, man on earth has two obligations to fulfill: 1.Cementing
his/her relations with his/her Creator and Sustainer with total obedience to
His will and live as He ordains; 2. Cementing his/her relations with His best creature, the humans living on earth.
All the “Ebadah” lead to fulfill the first obligation whereas the rendering
selfless services to humanity, irrespective of cast, creed, color, race
geographical and language differences and worldly position, accomplish the
second obligation. One who can fulfill these paramount obligations, he gets the
“Falah” [success] and who ignores or side tracks, he encounters “Khusran”
[failure] in both the worlds. The magnitude of scope in both directions is
limitless. Man can attain the “Nafse Mutmayinnah” [the contented soul], the
peak of human zenith in getting closer to Allah by becoming His Abd [The
most obedient servant for twenty four hours, round the clock and round the year
for the whole of his life] through total obedience to Allah and rendering selfless
services to humanity.
MUHAMMAD (S) IN HIS PEOPLE: The life pattern of Rasulullah (S) confirms
it in its totality. He (S) was the living embodiment on earth on both the
counts. He (S) was the most beloved Messenger of Allah but equally he (S) was
loved and extremely respected by all the fellow citizens of his (S) time at
least till he reached the age of 40 when Allah appointed him to be His
Messenger and a Warner to his (S) people. He was universally recognized as Sa’diq
[Truthful] and Ameen [Trustworthy] amongst his (S) native people. History
stands to this testimony.
* At the age of 35, the tribe of Quraish decided to build in Makkah,
the “Baitullah” [Haram – the House of Allah] which was in a very dilapidated
condition and was likely to fell down soon. They started building it with
honest means of earnings on the foundations build by Abraham and Ishmael (AS)
about two thousand years ago. When they reached to the point where the “Black
Stone” [Hajr-e-Aswad] was to be put at its place, the dispute arose: “Who will
get the honor of putting the stone at its place?” Every tribe was eager to do this
job by itself and there was no solution in sight as none was prepared to forgo
this honor. Five days passed in this
suspense and there was every possibility that the tribes would come to clash in
the Haram. At that moment, the tribal chief Walid bin Mughirah Makhzoomi suggested
that one who enters first in Haram tomorrow will be our arbitrator in this
dispute. All accepted his proposal. In the morning they saw the first person
entering into Haram was Muhammad Bin Abdullah. They all cried jointly with joy:
“Haza Al-Ameen. Razainahu. Haza Muhammad (S)” [He is Al-Ameen. We agreed
upon him. He is Muhammad (S)]
It was the most vociferous recognition of his (S) position by his
people, his own society: acknowledging the integrity of his character, the
humanitarian services that he (S) was rendering to that tribal society day in
and day out, and the trustworthy character he (S) was demonstrating all around.
He was taking care of the poor, the needy, the deprived, the way farers, the
orphans, the widows, the old and the oppressed through whatever means was
possible on his (S) part in terms of physical, moral and material help.
* One day Rasulullah (S) returned to home too much downcast and
depressed. His beloved wife Khadijah (RA) asked him (S), “What’s the matter?”
He (S) said, “A caravan had come in the vicinity of Makkah and I could not help
the people as I had nothing”. Hearing this, she asked him (S) to call for all
the tribal chiefs of Quraish at home. Rasulullah (S) went out. Meanwhile, she
collected all her cash wealth at a place in the house. When the tribal chiefs
gathered, she told them that, “Today I am giving all my wealth to Muhammad (S)
to spend the way he (S) likes and you all are the witness”.
* A little while afterwards, Arch Angel Gabriel (AS) came to Rasulullah
(S) and informed that Khadijah (RA) is coming to you with a glass of milk, tell
her: “Allah has sent His Salaam to her and tell her that He had built a house
of pearls for her in the heaven”. What a marvelous tribute was paid to her by
Allah in recognition of the services of both the husband and the wife in the way
of Allah for His deprived humanity. [May Allah bless both of them] Later on, this
aspect of his (S) public life was eloquently confirmed by Khadijah (RA) when
the first Wahi came to him (S) in the Cave of Hera and he (S) expressed
apprehension that he (S), might be destroyed. Khadijah (RA) recounted his (S)
humanitarian services one by one and said: “Allah will never destroy you as you
are doing this and this for the oppressed and the deprived selflessly.”
* Quraish were traders and Makkah was the “clearing house”. Rasulullah
(S) himself was recognized as a trader with honest dealings. He traveled to
* Abdullah Ibne Abi Al-Hamsah narrates that before his becoming Prophet
of Allah, I had a business deal with him partially resolved and some partly
undecided and promised to him to return later on, Just by chance I forgot my
promise to see him (S). Third day when I recollected my promise, I went to the
promised spot, Muhammad (S) was still in waiting for me but he said nothing for
this breach except this so much, “You just gave me some trouble, I am waiting for
you at this place for the last three days” [Abu Da’wood]
* When a person named Sa’yeb (RA) became Muslim and came to meet
Rasulullah (S), people tried to introduced Rasulullah (S) to him, Sa’yeb told
them, “I know him (S) better than you. He (S) was my trade partner and what a
marvelous honest partner he (S) was, no quarreling and no unfair deal at all”
[Abu Da’wood] Qais bin Sa’yeb Makhzoomi (RA) was also his (S) trade partner. He
eloquently confirmed his (S) honest trade dealings.
* Bukhari in “Kitabul Ada’b” narrates under the heading
“Fulfillment of commitment”: An old
woman visited Rasulullah (S). He (S) entertained her very nicely, enquired
about her health and whereabouts - how you have been and how you feel now? After her departure, A’yeshah (RA)
inquisitively asked Rasulullah (S), “You paid so much attention to this old
lady”. Rasulullah said, “She used to visit us during the time of Khadijah (RA).
Courtesy and politeness are the integral part of Iman. Treating your
acquaintances always with good behavior is the proof of Iman”.
* Fulfillment of commitment: Anas (RA) narrates that Rasulullah
(S) used to emphasize in almost all of his (S) Khutbah (lectures): “He has no Iman who does not keep his
promise” When after the Treaty of Hudaibiah in the sixth year of Hijrah, the
Roman Emperor got the letter of Dawah Ilallah from Rasulullah (S), he wanted to
ascertain the character of Rasulullah (S). Among so many questions, the Emperor
asked Abu Sufyan, the Chief of Quraish who by chance was present in the capital
leading his trade caravan, “Had Muhammad (S) ever breached his (S) commitment”.
Abu Sufyan had no choice but to say: “Never”. Hearing the responses of Abu
Sufyan, the Emperor said, “If what you have all said about him (S) is correct,
he (S) will reach to the land, pointing to his feet where he was sitting at
that time”. That was the open confession of the greatness of the Character of
Rasulullah (S) in the sight of others. [Bukhari]
* When Abu Ra’fey, a slave came to Madinah representing Quraish in some
matter, he saw the enlightened face of Rasulullah (S) , he acknowledged the
truth of Islam and immediately became Muslim and refused to return to Makkah to
live with idolaters. Rasulullah said, “I cannot commit the breach of the
established norms of emissaries. You go back and if you find the state of your
heart the same as it is now, then come back”, Later on he returned to Madinah
in the sate of Islam.
* Abu Jahal, the arch enemy of Rasulullah (S) used to say,” O Muhammad,
I cannot say you are lying but what you say I don’t buy it”
* When the three years period of Secret Dawah terminated with the
revelation of Verse # 94 of Surah # 15 Al-Hijr, Rasulullah (S) called all the
tribal chiefs of Quraish through the tradition of Jahiliyah from the top of
Faran hill. All came and he (S) addressed them by saying, “If I tell you that
there is an army behind this mountain, will you all believe me”, they all said
unanimously, “Yes, we have never seen you speaking lies”.
This was the clear public acknowledgment of the unblemished character
of Rasulullah (S). It was confirmed and acknowledged even by his (S) enemies
inside and outside
“My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential
persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was
the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and
secular levels.
Of humble origins, Muhammad founded and promulgated one of world’s
great religions, and became an immensely effective political leader. Today,
thirteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and
pervasive”.
May Allah bless his (S) soul and make us his (S) worthy followers in
each and every walk of life!. Amen!
Shamim Siddiqi
September 18, 2007