NOBLE PROPHET'S GLORIOUS MISSION:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom They find mentioned In their own (scriptures),- In the Torah and the Gospel;- for He commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; He allows them As lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe In him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is They who will prosper." (The Holy Qur'an: 7: 157)
Showing posts with label Loving the Prophet Sal-lal-lahu-alaii-wa-sallam. Show all posts
Love for Prophet Muhammad (Sal-lal-lahu-alaihi-wa-sallam) - Part 2
Sunday, March 21, 2010
By Dr. Mahmudul Hasan
Love for Prophet Muhammad is an obligation for all Muslims. This may sound oxymoronic, as obligatory love may not be considered true love. However, this love is still a moral obligation that arises from an intrinsic deep connection between us; the believers and him; our beloved one. This obligation is, thus, embraced — it is not imposed on Muslims.
Love for Prophet Muhammad is an obligation for all Muslims. This may sound oxymoronic, as obligatory love may not be considered true love. However, this love is still a moral obligation that arises from an intrinsic deep connection between us; the believers and him; our beloved one. This obligation is, thus, embraced — it is not imposed on Muslims.
In fact, this obligation is slightly different from other forms of religious duties. Many Muslims are negligent in carrying out their religious duties and rituals, yet there is a deep-seated love for the Prophet in their hearts. In fact, Muslims' love for him is unique; it is more than a mere obligation. However, the Prophet never allowed Muslims to exceed their limits when they show their love for him. One example can be mentioned here.
The Prophet had a beautiful child whose name was Ibrahim. The child's mother was the Prophet's wife Mariyyah Al-Qibtiyyah, who came from Egypt. Ibrahim died in AH 10 (632 CE) when he was only one year and a half. The Prophet wept over the death of his son and said,
"Allah knows, Ibrahim, how far we feel sorrow for your departure. The eyes tear and the heart grieves, but we say nothing except what pleases Allah." (Al-Bukhari)
Incidentally, Ibrahim's death coincided with a solar eclipse. People from ancient times believed that solar and lunar eclipses might be caused by the death of some important person. Hence, the people of Madinah began to attribute the eclipse to the death of the Prophet's son. Greatly displeased by this, the Prophet gathered the people and addressed them, saying,
"Eclipses of the sun and the moon are not caused by the death of any human being; they are two of Allah's signs. When you see the eclipse, you should show gratefulness to Almighty Allah and offer Prayer to Him."(Al-Bukhari)
True Muslims are aware of their limits. They never exaggerate their great love for the great Prophet. They never confuse between their worship of Almighty Allah and their love for His Prophet.
However, this love remains very special. If one delves into the deep recesses of Muslims' hearts and their conscious and subconscious minds, one will see the scars caused by the Prophet-defaming cartoons. These infamous drawings were published as a means to hurt the Muslim hearts already lacerated by oppression worldwide.
Many Muslims exploded with wrath in the aftermath of the publication of these drawings. Many more silently bore their anger, shock, and horror. In our present time, Muslims are the primary target of neocolonial powers and their racist slurs and prejudices, yet it was not expected that the Prophet of Islam would be targeted.
In fact, both the Prophet and his loving followers were targeted by these drawings. Throughout history, Muslims have been the target of evil forces aiming to eliminate Islam. Right from the beginning of Muhammad's prophetic mission through the heyday of Orientalism and until now, Islamophobes have used their propaganda machines to spread wrong notions about the supreme character of Prophet Muhammad.
British social reformer Annie Besant (1847–1933) mentioned one such wrong notion only to refute it:
But do you mean to tell me that the man who in the full flush of youthful vigour, a young man of four and twenty (24), married a woman much his senior, and remained faithful to her for six and twenty years (26), at fifty years of age when the passions are dying married for lust and sexual passion? Not thus are men's lives to be judged. And you look at the women whom he married, you will find that by every one of them an alliance was made for his people, or something was gained for his followers, or the woman was in sore need of protection.
Muslims cannot establish a dialogue with the diehard Islamophobes and deaf monologists in the West and the East. However, they can converse with the conscientious non-Muslims worldwide and urge them to appreciate the fact that approximately 1.5 billion are the followers of Prophet Muhammad. They love him and hold him in very high esteem. He is dearer to them than their children, parents, and even their own selves. In other words, more than a billion people try heart and soul to emulate him in all their activities, mundane and spiritual.
Sublime Manners, Deep Compassion
Indeed, the Prophet's heart was filled with intense love for all humans, irrespective of race, creed, and color. He advised his Companions to regard all people as their brothers and sisters:
"You are all Adam's offspring, and Adam was born of clay." (Abu Dawud)
On another occasion, a funeral procession passed by. On seeing this, the Prophet stood up. One of his Companions remarked that the funeral was a Jew's. Upon that, the Prophet replied, "Was he not a human being?" (Al-Bukhari).
Furthermore, he commanded his Companions to refrain from disrupting ants' busy activities and to stay away from anthills. Indeed, this noble Prophet was sent as a mercy for all creatures. Almighty Allah says,
(And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.) (Al-Anbiyaa' 21:107)
How merciful he was to humanity! Although he never did any wrong to anyone, he prayed to his Lord, saying, "O Allah, for whomever I insulted or cursed, turn this into a charity, mercy, Prayer, purity, and immolation with which you bring him or her closer to You on the Day of Judgment" (Muslim).
When the Prophet's people refused to believe him and treated him rudely, Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) visited him with a message from Almighty Allah. He said, "Indeed, Almighty Allah has heard the sayings of your people and [seen] how they responded to you, and He — exalted be He — has commanded the angel of the mountains to obey any order from you against them."
The angel of the mountains called Prophet Muhammad and said, "Ask for whatever you want; I would, if you wish, crush them with theakhshabain [surrounding mountains]." Prophet Muhammad said, "No, I hope that Allah will bring out of their offspring people who worship Allah alone with no associates" (Muslim).
Even at that point, when he was utterly exhausted and wounded head to toe, all he said was "O my Lord, guide my people along the true path, as they are ignorant of the truth."
Another sign of his sublime manners and deep compassion is the kind way in which he used to treat orphans. He used to command people to sponsor them and treat them with excellence. Announcing the consequent virtues of that, he said, "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him or her will be in Paradise like these" (Al-Bukhari). He then put his index and middle fingers together.
Although we are required to follow the example of the Prophet with regard to his treatment of orphans and those in need, we lag far behind the required standard. About the domestic workers, the Prophet said,
"The domestic workers are your brothers and sisters. Allah placed you as guardians over them. Let them eat of what you eat and be dressed of what you wear. Do not burden them with work beyond their capacity. Yet, in case you burden them with a difficult task, assist them in carrying it out." (Muslim)
Muslims' love for Prophet Muhammad is not based on any deception or false ideas about him. It is a logical consequence of his infinite yearning for the well-being of the entire human race, other creatures, and the whole environment. As mentioned earlier, this love is completely reciprocal: Muslims' love for him is a reflection of his love for them and for all humans.
Furthermore, Muslims' love for this noble Prophet inspires them to emulate his character, to become good humans, and to establish justice in society. If Muslims fail to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet in all walks of life, then this may suggest that their love for him is not rightly guided. So, let us celebrate this unique love by establishing justice on earth and by calling people to the right path.
Love for Prophet Muhammad (Sal-lal-lahu-alaihi-wa-sallam) Part 1
Sunday, March 21, 2010
By Dr. Mahmudul Hasan
Love is defined as a feeling or disposition of deep affection or fondness for someone, typically arising from a recognition of attractive qualities, from natural affinity, or from sympathy, and manifesting itself in concern for the other's welfare and pleasure in his or her presence (Oxford English Dictionary).
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) had a profound love for humanity. Throughout centuries, Muslims have had a deep, passionate love for him. The love harbored in the hearts of Muslims remains a source of inspiration, a factor of unity, and a leveler of differences among them. Indeed, this love is based on the love of Almighty Allah and on the supreme message of Islam.
Varieties of Love
However, there are other varieties of love that do not have the same intensity of feeling or the same ramifications of relationship. Ordinary love among humans is relative, not absolute or pure.
Love between a lover and a beloved one remains an interesting theme in all ages, especially for the litterateurs. Such a bond of love has remained an unsolved subject of research. It is difficult to guarantee it.
Some love-based relationships last long, while many others tend to be transitory, like a mirage in the desert that fades away, causing immense suffering for the individuals involved. In a nutshell, this love remains an enigma — an elusive topic.
For many, stability in love remains an impossible dream. Love between a husband and wife is generally sweet. It is Allah's given gift to the humankind, where loyalty takes root and sympathy finds its way to the hearts. Yet, unfortunately, this relationship can sometimes take a different course.
In many cases, some husbands and wives refuse to talk about or even think of the very topic of love, as if love was inexistent in their relationship. The relationship may begin with a promise that they will always be together in this world, but in many cases it ends with an "agreement" that they will not meet or see the faces of each other for the rest of their lives. It turns out that no glorious affinity remained.
Love between parents and children and that between siblings are understandable. Naturally, a strong bond, domiciliary intimacy, and closeness are developed in such relationships. Again, this love is also subject to change; it sometimes ends up marred by anger and acrimony, especially when worldly interests rise to the surface, giving a space for Satan to interfere and pour his poison unto the relationship.
Even if the above-mentioned relationships do not suffer any tensions, conflicts, misunderstandings, or grievances, there is still a danger that they may prevent people from doing justice to others. Many people fail to strike a balance between their love for their beloved ones and their kindness, justice, and responsibility toward other members of the society. Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an,
However, they are largely predicated on humans' natural fondness and predilection, but they are not always purely based on any strong ideological foundations or ethical standards. Hence, these love-based relationships suffer turns and twists, rises and falls, and intensity and indifference.
Conflict–Free Love
Conversely, love for Prophet Muhammad neither suffers any decline or indifference nor deprives Muslims from doing justice to one another and to the society at large. During the Prophet's time, this love instilled justice, love, and dignity in all those around him. Now, it is doing the same, and it will continue to do so until the end of the world.
Love for the Prophet is free from all drawbacks of worldly interests, which generally disappoint and embitter ordinary relationships. Muslims' love for him is due to his immaculate and perfect character and his kind concern for all humanity. This love-based relationship is absolutely reciprocal.
Halimah As-Sa`diyah (the Prophet's wet nurse) reported that he always suckled from one nipple and left the other for his foster brother, as if he was divinely inclined toward justice. Such considerateness and kind concern for other human beings at such an early age! Also, this love impelled him to call people to the right path for the sake of their meaningful existence in this world and for their emancipation in the life to come. Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an,
On the other hand, the biographies of Prophet Muhammad and his blessed Companions are replete with numerous examples of his love for the humanity, as well as examples of Muslims' love for him.
In one of the military engagements of the Prophet, a Muslim woman from Madinah was successively informed about the martyrdom of her son, father, and husband. However, her main concern was the safety of the Prophet; she was repeatedly asking the people around her about his condition. She remained restless until she saw him with her own eyes. Having seen the Prophet returning from the battle unharmed, she said, "After this [the Prophet's safety], everything else [the death of family members] is easy for me to bear."
The very basis of Muslims' love for the Prophet is their conscious choice of accepting Islam as their way of life. Their love for Islam and their love for the Prophet of Islam overlap each other. They are intertwined and indistinguishable. Furthermore, their love for Almighty Allah and their love for His Messenger are inseparable.
The governing spirit of Muslims' love for the Prophet is tackled in different verses of the Qur'an. Almighty Allah says,
Also, Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Prophet said, "None of you can have (real) faith until I become dearer to them than their own fathers and children and all humans."
Courtesy: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1224089103285&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah/LSELayout
Love is defined as a feeling or disposition of deep affection or fondness for someone, typically arising from a recognition of attractive qualities, from natural affinity, or from sympathy, and manifesting itself in concern for the other's welfare and pleasure in his or her presence (Oxford English Dictionary).
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) had a profound love for humanity. Throughout centuries, Muslims have had a deep, passionate love for him. The love harbored in the hearts of Muslims remains a source of inspiration, a factor of unity, and a leveler of differences among them. Indeed, this love is based on the love of Almighty Allah and on the supreme message of Islam.
Varieties of Love
However, there are other varieties of love that do not have the same intensity of feeling or the same ramifications of relationship. Ordinary love among humans is relative, not absolute or pure.
Love between a lover and a beloved one remains an interesting theme in all ages, especially for the litterateurs. Such a bond of love has remained an unsolved subject of research. It is difficult to guarantee it.
Some love-based relationships last long, while many others tend to be transitory, like a mirage in the desert that fades away, causing immense suffering for the individuals involved. In a nutshell, this love remains an enigma — an elusive topic.
For many, stability in love remains an impossible dream. Love between a husband and wife is generally sweet. It is Allah's given gift to the humankind, where loyalty takes root and sympathy finds its way to the hearts. Yet, unfortunately, this relationship can sometimes take a different course.
In many cases, some husbands and wives refuse to talk about or even think of the very topic of love, as if love was inexistent in their relationship. The relationship may begin with a promise that they will always be together in this world, but in many cases it ends with an "agreement" that they will not meet or see the faces of each other for the rest of their lives. It turns out that no glorious affinity remained.
Love between parents and children and that between siblings are understandable. Naturally, a strong bond, domiciliary intimacy, and closeness are developed in such relationships. Again, this love is also subject to change; it sometimes ends up marred by anger and acrimony, especially when worldly interests rise to the surface, giving a space for Satan to interfere and pour his poison unto the relationship.
Even if the above-mentioned relationships do not suffer any tensions, conflicts, misunderstandings, or grievances, there is still a danger that they may prevent people from doing justice to others. Many people fail to strike a balance between their love for their beloved ones and their kindness, justice, and responsibility toward other members of the society. Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an,
(Your riches and your children are only a trial, and Allah — it is with Whom is a great reward.)(At-Taghabun 64:15)The above-mentioned forms of love are natural and instinctive. They work as cement that holds our families and society together. They are both religious and secular; they are present among both the believers and the unbelievers and among both the religious life and the unreligious life. Religious precepts encourage people to respect these love-based relationships and keep them lively and vivid all the time.
(Beautified for humankind is love of the joys (that come) from women and offspring and stored-up heaps of gold and silver and horses branded (with their mark) and cattle and land. That is comfort of the life of the world, and Allah — with Him is a more excellent abode.)(Aal `Imran 3:14)
However, they are largely predicated on humans' natural fondness and predilection, but they are not always purely based on any strong ideological foundations or ethical standards. Hence, these love-based relationships suffer turns and twists, rises and falls, and intensity and indifference.
Conflict–Free Love
Conversely, love for Prophet Muhammad neither suffers any decline or indifference nor deprives Muslims from doing justice to one another and to the society at large. During the Prophet's time, this love instilled justice, love, and dignity in all those around him. Now, it is doing the same, and it will continue to do so until the end of the world.
Love for the Prophet is free from all drawbacks of worldly interests, which generally disappoint and embitter ordinary relationships. Muslims' love for him is due to his immaculate and perfect character and his kind concern for all humanity. This love-based relationship is absolutely reciprocal.
Halimah As-Sa`diyah (the Prophet's wet nurse) reported that he always suckled from one nipple and left the other for his foster brother, as if he was divinely inclined toward justice. Such considerateness and kind concern for other human beings at such an early age! Also, this love impelled him to call people to the right path for the sake of their meaningful existence in this world and for their emancipation in the life to come. Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an,
(There has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves; grievous to him is your falling into distress; (he is) excessively solicitous respecting you; to the believers (he is) compassionate.)(At-Tawbah 9:128)If one asks any Muslim who has an iota of faith about his or her love for the Prophet, one will not miss the selflessness, devotion, and intensity of that love. Muslims' love for the Prophet surpasses their love for their parents and their beloved ones. Nevertheless, Muslims have an even greater love for Almighty Allah.
On the other hand, the biographies of Prophet Muhammad and his blessed Companions are replete with numerous examples of his love for the humanity, as well as examples of Muslims' love for him.
In one of the military engagements of the Prophet, a Muslim woman from Madinah was successively informed about the martyrdom of her son, father, and husband. However, her main concern was the safety of the Prophet; she was repeatedly asking the people around her about his condition. She remained restless until she saw him with her own eyes. Having seen the Prophet returning from the battle unharmed, she said, "After this [the Prophet's safety], everything else [the death of family members] is easy for me to bear."
The very basis of Muslims' love for the Prophet is their conscious choice of accepting Islam as their way of life. Their love for Islam and their love for the Prophet of Islam overlap each other. They are intertwined and indistinguishable. Furthermore, their love for Almighty Allah and their love for His Messenger are inseparable.
The governing spirit of Muslims' love for the Prophet is tackled in different verses of the Qur'an. Almighty Allah says,
(Say, "If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinsfolk and the property you have acquired and the trade in which you fear a decline and the dwellings you like are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command," and Allah does not guide the transgressing people.)(At-Tawbah 9:24)
(Say, "If you do love Allah, then follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." Say, "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But, if they turn back, then surely Allah does not love the unbelievers.)(Aal `Imran 3:31–32)
(Thus, it is due to mercy from Allah that you were lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if you had been stern and fierce of heart, they would certainly have dispersed from around you. So, pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. Then, when you have decided, put your trust in Allah; surely Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).)(Aal `Imran 3:159)
(But nay, by your Lord, they cannot have (real) faith until they make you judge of what is in dispute between them and then find within themselves no dislike of that which you decide, and submit with full submission.)(An-Nisaa' 4:65)
(Verily, you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for anyone who hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.)(Al-Ahzab 33:21)
(And, verily, you [O Muhammad] are on an exalted standard of character.)(Al-Qalam 68:4)Thus, the supreme perfection of luminous character of Prophet Muhammad is certified by Almighty Allah Himself in the Glorious Qur'an. We also receive the same testimony from the Prophet's Companions: Describing Prophet Muhammad, `Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
Anyone who suddenly saw Prophet Muhammad would stand in respect of him, and anyone who got to know him through spending time with him came to love him. Those who described him said that they had never seen anyone like him. (At-Tirmidhi)Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
I served the Prophet for 10 years, and he never said to me, "Uff" [harsh interjection denoting impatience], and never blamed me by saying, "Why did you do so or why didn't you do so" (Al-Bukhari)The Prophet is reported to have said, "Whoever loves my way of life loves me, and whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise" (At-Tirmidhi).
Also, Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Prophet said, "None of you can have (real) faith until I become dearer to them than their own fathers and children and all humans."
Courtesy: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1224089103285&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah/LSELayout
Merits of Following the Prophet and Obeying His Orders
Saturday, March 20, 2010
By Sheikh `Abdul-Khaliq Ash-Sharif
In fact, following the Prophet’s guidance and obeying his commands is itself an important obligation.
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In fact, following the Prophet’s guidance and obeying his commands is itself an important obligation.
- Obeying the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) involves obedience to Allah, Who says: “Whoso obeys the Messenger obeys Allah” (An-Nisaa’: 80). Almighty Allah also says: “We sent no messenger save that he should be obeyed by Allah’s leave” (An-Nisaa’: 64).
- Obeying the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is one of the articles of faith. Almighty Allah says: ”But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission” (An-Nisaa’: 65)
- Obeying him brings guidance. Almighty Allah says: “If ye obey him, ye will go aright” (An-Nur: 54). We also read in the Qur’an, “So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believeth in Allah and in His words and follow him that haply ye may be led aright” (Al-A`raf: 158).
- Obeying him is the fountain of mercy. Almighty Allah says: “And obey Allah and the Messenger, that ye may find mercy” (Aal `Imran: 132).
- Obeying the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) qualifies one to be among the gathering of prophets, saints, martyrs, and devout servants of Allah. A Qur’anic verse reads: “Whoso obeyeth Allah and the Messenger, they are with those unto whom Allah hath shown favor, of the Prophets and the saints and the martyrs and the righteous. The best of company are they! Such is the bounty of Allah, and Allah sufficeth as Knower” (An-Nisaa’: 69–70).
- Obeying the Prophet is a ticket to Paradise. Allah the Almighty says: “Whoso obeyeth Allah and His Messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow, where such will dwell for ever. That will be the great success” (An-Nisaa’: 13).
- Obeying him makes the person victorious. Almighty Allah says: “He who obeyeth Allah and His Messenger, and feareth Allah, and keepeth duty (unto Him): such indeed are the victorious” (An-Nur: 52).
- Following in the Prophet’s footsteps is an expression of love for Allah and a sign and a way of gaining Allah’s love. Almighty Allah says: “Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you” (Aal `Imran: 52).
- Following him is the way to gain Allah’s forgiveness. Almighty Allah says: “Allah will love you and forgive you your sins” (Aal `Imran: 52).
- The above-mentioned Qur’anic verses stress the necessity of obeying the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and following his guidance. Also, many hadiths give the same indication that it is necessary to obey the Prophet and that those who do not follow his footsteps place themselves at risk. Following are some of these hadiths:
- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying, “All my nation will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” The Companions asked, “Who dare to refuse, O Prophet?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) answered, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise; and whoever disobeys me is showing refusal” (Al-Bukhari).
- Abu Musa reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The similitude of mine and the message I have been sent with is that of a man who came to a people saying, ‘I have seen the enemies’ armies with my own eyes. I am just a warner, so run away.’ Thereupon some of his people obeyed and left the place and thus could survive. Whereas the rest disobeyed and stood still until the enemy came at them and slaughtered them all. The former (group) is like those who obey me and follow my guidance, and the latter is like those who deny the truth and disobey me” (Al-Bukhari).
- The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “Stick to my Sunnah and the practice of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Adhere to it and stick firmly. Beware of innovation, for innovation (in matters of religion) is no more than heresy, which is a form of straying” (Abu Dawud).
- The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever commits an act of heresy in matters of religion will have it rejected” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
- `A’ishah said, “Once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did something and gave concession regarding it. Then some people did not resort to the concession (and went to extremes). When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was informed of that, he delivered a sermon in which he praised Allah and said, ‘What about those people who keep aloof from things I myself do! By Allah! I am the most knowledgeable and Allah-fearing among them.’”
Courtesy:http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658487994&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah/LSELayout
Please Stop Abusing the Prophet
Sunday, March 14, 2010By Abdul Malik Mujahid
It is abusive to partially quote the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, thus distorting what he said. How many times have you heard the Hadith "Paradise is under the shadow of the swords?" I have read and heard this so many times that I assumed that the Prophet, surrounded by enemies and a small Muslim community, must have said this to encourage fellow believers. Well, that's only partly true.
Here is the full text of what he actually said:
"Do not look for a fight with the enemy. Beg God for peace and security. But if you do end up facing the enemy, then show endurance and remember that Paradise is under the shadow of the swords." This is recorded by Sahih al-Muslim.
The full Hadith pretty much fits with the historical context and the character of the Prophet, who was sent as a mercy to humanity, and cared so deeply about not just human beings, but animals and other creatures as well. He would go out of his way to maintain peace and avoid a war, unless the enemy forced him to it. That is why there is no word in Islam similar to "holy war". War is never holy. It was always a last resort forced upon the Muslims.
But it is the earlier, partial reading of the Hadith that is oft repeated by firebrand speakers, since it fits into their theology of anger, while the full Hadith negates that culture.
On one occasion, I heard a Muslim argue with the help of another partial Hadith: "help your brother whether he is a wronged or is a wrong doer." The person was using it to justify political support of Muslims, regardless of if they are right or wrong. This behavior goes against the Quran, which asks Muslims to be just even towards their enemies, even at the risk of hurting their self-interest. (Quran 4:135). The Prophet cannot go against the Quran. What he said in a lengthy statement included the explanation that "the way you support your wrong doer brother is by stopping him from that bad action" (as reported by Sahih al-Muslim).
This above-mentioned selective use of Hadith to support nationalistic behavior is contrary to Islamic principles. Muslims must never subscribe to the "My Country Right Or Wrong" theory.
Here are some of the conclusions which I would like to draw from the above two incidents. These are in no way isolated cases:
1) This is abuse of the Prophet, God's peace and blessings be upon him. Please seek forgiveness from your Creator.
2) Lying is a major sin in Islam. It is more so when you distort a teaching of the Prophet.
3) God criticizes the People of the Book for this behavior in the Quran as a warning to Muslims to avoid taking things out of context.
4) This careless attribution to the Prophet can land a person in the Hellfire: "A person who intentionally attributes a false statement towards me will find a place for himself in Hellfire." (Sahih al Bukhari). In another Hadith, the Prophet said: "Do tell others about me. There is nothing wrong about it. But a person who knowingly attributes a false thing to me, he will make his abode in the Hellfire." (Sahih al Muslim).
5) Remember the etiquettes of narrating a Hadith. Based on the above explanation, it will be good to adopt the following Adab (etiquette):
- Avoid stating a Hadith if you do not know the accurate wording.
- Avoid sharing a partial Hadith, since you risk losing the sense of what the Prophet was saying.
- Don't draw big conclusions from a small statement unless you study the context.
- Remember that the first principle of Hadith authenticity test is that it must not contradict Quran.
6) Scholars' Wisdom: This abuse of the Hadith was probably the major reason why in my Islamic seminary, my teachers which included one of the grand muftis of Pakistan, wanted us to first study all other aspects of Islamic knowledge, including the Arabic language, grammar, literature, Quran, fiqh, usoolul fiqh, usoolul hadith, rhetoric, etc. And only at the end would we begin reading Hadith textbooks.
7) There are two disciplines that scholars employ before determining the proper use of a Hadith. One is called Riwayah and the other is called Dirayah. The scholars of Hadith focus essentially on Riwayah, which helps determine the authenticity of the chain of narrators of a Hadith. The scholars of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) use the tools of Dirayah to determine how a Hadith will be used in reaching a conclusion, taking into account the whole spectrum of Islamic knowledge.
If you are serious about reading Sahih Al Bukhari and other classic Hadith collections, you should spend some time learning how a Hadith should be used and understood. The relevant disciplines of Islamic knowledge which deal with this topic are Usoolul Hadith, Usoolul Fiqh, and Ilm al Maqasid. Until then, it is a good idea to stick to the collections compiled for the laypersons, like Riyadhus Saliheen of Imam Nawawi, instead of heavy- duty classic Hadith books.
Conclusions:
What the Prophet left for us is essential. Without the Quran and his Sunnah we are lost. My request for us to be careful is not to be confused with seeking daily guidance from his teachings. Rather, I am advising that we avoid the tendency to issue a Fatwa equipped only with a partial Hadith, ignoring the whole teaching of the Prophet. God's Mercy and Blessings be upon him.
What the Prophet left for us is essential. Without the Quran and his Sunnah we are lost. My request for us to be careful is not to be confused with seeking daily guidance from his teachings. Rather, I am advising that we avoid the tendency to issue a Fatwa equipped only with a partial Hadith, ignoring the whole teaching of the Prophet. God's Mercy and Blessings be upon him.
May God forgive us for not being careful with our tongues. He is indeed Merciful and Mercy-Giving.
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