[IslamCity] The paragon of virtue and us

Thu, 21 Apr 2005 15:45:06 -0700

The paragon of virtue and us

Glimmering bulbs, fluttering flags and models and images of Prophet’s mausoleum have come to mark the beginning of Rabbi-ul-Awal in this part of the world. Now, a lot of things would be done in the name of love for the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). The feeling of love and affection that had been asleep throughout the year would suddenly wake up. Our love could not prevent us from indulging in extravagancies, singing and dancing on occasions of wedding, nor could it stop us from performing self-imposed rites on occasions of sorrow. It could bring a change neither on our face nor in our deeds. It could neither show us the way to mosque nor could it make us bow before the Lord.

Now, the feeling of love is going to rise from sleep, and a lot of things would be done in the name of it. Day-in-day-out, there would be congregations resounding with bombastic oratories and processions with frantic slogans. At the end of programs, sweets would be distributed to the unruly participants. For sweets and other arrangements, alms would be collected or extorted. Street corners would be provided with arched gates. Devotees including unveiled women would be making rounds of resumed mausoleums. Streets and roads would be illuminated without hesitation to use public electricity. Tents and poles would be erected on roads regardless of inconvenience to people. Those sweet-voiced would be booked for many programs each day. There would be lighting, orations and slogans but the only thing missing would be self-searching. There would be countless souls raising slogans at the virtues of Prophet’s life but very seldom would be ready to mend themselves in the light of those virtues.

On one hand is the greatest of prophets who was declared to be the paragon of virtue no other than the Creator Himself, and on the other are us who are known in the world for evildoings. The matchless certificate was awarded by the Lord to the Prophet and it was his goodness that despite holding such a position he remained unswerving and never asserted his superiority. He remained as humble as he was. No doubt, he was entitled to that honour. Is there any virtue that is not found in his noble personality?

Modesty – the highest and most important of all virtues – was personified in the Holy Prophet’s life to such a degree that Hazrat Ayesha (radhiallahu ta`ala `anha) says the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was more modest than a chaste unmarried girl in her veil. Holding back one’s anger is a trait that is acquired after years of exercise. To describe the merits of restraining anger is easy but practicing it is very hard. The life of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is full of episodes when he was defamed, socially boycotted, stoned, banished from hometown, his daughters were divorced, his companions were dragged on streets of Makkah, but he restrained. The hardest day in his life was the one in Taif. His shoes were full of blood and his body riddled with wounds. At that moment, angel appeared before him asking permission to crush the enemies between two mountains. “No, I don’t want their annihilation. Rather, I hope that Allah would create such people in their offspring who would worship Allah alone without assigning partners to Him,” the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied.

Poverty and starvation are so horrific that even most enduring ones cannot stand it much longer. People sell of even their faith to satisfy their hunger. And there are many people whose hunger is always too ferocious to be quenched. If one is devoid of the trait of self-contentment, he will remain in distress all his life. Contrarily, one who is blessed with the wealth of self-contentment is grateful to Allah even when he has not a single morsel to eat. That is why, the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would admonish his companions, “Acquire self-contentment so you would become the most grateful.” This admonition was not mere rhetoric but his own practice.

Hazrat Ayesha (radhiallahu ta`ala `anha) once said to her nephew, “Sometimes, fire was not lit in the Prophet’s house for as long as two months.”

“Then, what did you subsist on?” her nephew asked.

“Two black things, that is, water and dates. Sometimes, some Ansar living in the
neighborhood would send milk to us. We would drink it.”

Without doubt, a real love is the life of hearts and food of souls. The supremest love is that of Allah and thereafter comes the love of all others. A heart without love of Allah is always inciting one to commit sins. Our Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would love Allah and people of Allah very much. His recitation, charity, prayers, supplications, preaching and jihad were the forms of his love of Allah. He loved his wives, relatives, the poor, the orphans and common Muslims. His love and affection was so extreme and unbiased that everyone would think that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) loved him most. His entire life is the epitome of love. There is no trace of hatred in his life.

Keeping one’s words or promises is a noble characteristic representing one’s Faith. Breaching promises is a trait of Jews. Our Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would fulfill his promises without fail. A Sahabi, Hazrat Abu Rafey (radhiallahu ta`ala `anhu) narrates, “Once my tribe Quraish sent me to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for some work. When I saw the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I got inspired by Islam. So, I vowed not to go back to my tribe. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, ’I do not breach my promise. Go back to your tribe at this time. However, if you have the same spirit as you have now, come to me again.’ So, I went back at that time but I went again to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) after some days and embraced Islam.

The Holy Qur’an condemns haughtiness and commands to be humble. Humbleness is seen in every sphere of the Prophet’s life. His way of talking, walking, sitting, eating and every aspect of his life reflected humbleness.

Spending money at times of need and helping the needy at one’s capacity is called generosity. The highest degree of generosity is to give money to a needy suppressing one’s own needs. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was most generous of all. A needy person never returned empty-handed from his door. Sometimes, he had to take loan to help the needy people. In last years of his life, there were masses of booty. He would not come home until all the goods were distributed to the deserving, whereas he and his family were starving at that very time.

Speaking the truth is a noble feature of one’s character. Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Qur’an that truthful people would benefit from their truth on the Day of Judgment. As we study the life of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), we get to know that truthfulness had become his nature and habit. That’s why, he was given the title of Sadiq (truthful) and Ameen (trustworthy) even before prophethood was bestowed on him.

He was the paragon of virtue. If we do a self-searching and review our actions and behavior in the mirror of Prophet’’ life, we will find our face awfully ugly. Though we are going downhill in every department, our moral corruption is far more blatant. Is there any kind of immorality not found in us? Falsehood, hypocrisy, breach of promise, selfishness, dishonesty, grudge, haughtiness, embezzlement, ostentation, and immodesty have undermined the fabric of our society. Everybody is seen complaining of poverty because greed and covetousness has deprived us of self-contentment. Modesty seems to have departed from our homes. Patience and tolerance have become extinct.

Love and affection has ceased to exist. Hatred and grudge has alienated the close relatives. We have lost credibility and no one trusts us in the international market but we consider lying and deceit part of the game. Humbleness and humility has been taken over by pride and haughtiness.

Some of us hypocritically show humbleness and sincerity to achieve our own end but turn our eyes someone seeks our help. Generosity has been replaced by cheapness. There a lot of people spending money for showoff and publicity but those who spend money for helping the poor Muslims and promoting Islam are to be found rarely. Lying is a vice that has become a fashion and we are enshrouded by lies all over.

Without questioning the legitimacy of rites performed in the month of Rabi-ul-Awal in this part of the world, we would only stress that we must mend our actions in the light of the Holy Prophet’s life. Let’s analyze our practical life as this analysis gives new life to the nations and guides them towards new destinations.


 
 
 
 
 

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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)

{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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