Sunday, September 21, 2014

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET SERIES - PART 1

























We have started this series as an effort to awaken and help Muslims realize that the very peers they cheer and idealize for various "wisdom filled" quotations were preceded by someone they ought to adore and love more than their own selves. Prophet Muhammad may allah exalt his mention taught us innumerable pearls of wisdom , such that even if one-quarter of it were applied today, it would transform the society into an ideal one. 


Muslims should learn the blessed and wisdom filled teachings of their Prophet;  so not only would they cherish the gift Allah graced them with but also use it in daw`ah to help convey and illuminate the hearts of Non Muslims showing them the justice, the wisdom and much more which our Prophet came with. I personally believe and always say : " Let the article speak for itself" and with this in the Name of Allah i begin enlisting the Pearls of wisdom of our prophet which are not only vital for our society but also equally important for us to achieve inner peace and ultimate salvation. Bear in Mind all of this is 14 centuries old. 



Table of Contents for Pearls of Wisdom Series - Part 1 

PEARLS OF WISDOM # 1 : SPEAK CAREFULLY 

PEARLS OF WISDOM EPISODE # 2 - DO NOT BOAST ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS UNNECESSARILY 

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET # 3 - PROCEED WITH CARE 

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET NO. 4  - TABLE MANNERS

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 5 – NOT BREAKING UP FAMILIES 

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 6 – PREFER WORKING TO BEGGING 

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 7 – ENCOURAGING THE BUSINESSMEN TO BE TRUTHFUL FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF EVERYBODY INCLUDING THE SOCIETY 

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 8 – ETIQUETTES FOR ENTERING UPON SOMEONE 

PEARLS OF WISDOM 9 – DO NOT GO TO EXTREMES IN ANYTHING

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 10 – HYGIENE AND IT’S IMPORTANCE 


This article is available in French : http://islaminfrench.blogspot.com/2015/01/serie-perles-de-sagesses-partie-1.html

PEARLS OF WISDOM # 1 : SPEAK CAREFULLY 


Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) said :  

وَلَا تَكَلَّمْ بِكَلَامٍ تَعْتَذِرُ مِنْهُ غَدًا

”Do not speak with a statement for which you may have to apologize tomorrow.”

[Ref: Musnad Ahmad (23498); Sunan ibn-Maajah (4171) ; Saheeh]


PEARLS OF WISDOM EPISODE # 2 - DO NOT BOAST ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS UNNECESSARILY 


The prophet (s.a.w) said : 

“Seek help in meeting your needs by keeping quiet (and not boasting around), for everyone who is blessed is envied (by some or the other in some or the other way).” 

[Ref: Narrated by al-Tabaraani; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ 943. Shaikh Albaanee showed 5 different routes , out of which one is good]


PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET # 3 - PROCEED WITH CARE 


Question : Who invented the phrase prevention is better than cure? 

Ans: this is a flawed statement for prevention of something is not always the solution and neither is it always a cure. rather the appropriate term would be caution or deliberateness 

Did you know 14 centuries ago our prophet (s.a.w) said to one of his companions : 

إِنَّ فِيكَ خَصْلَتَيْنِ يُحِبُّهُمَا اللَّهُ الْحِلْمُ وَالأَنَاةُ

“Indeed there are two traits in you that Allah loves: Forbearance, and deliberateness.”
Imam nawawi r.h said : 

وأما الأناة فهي التثبيت [أو التثبت] وترك العجلة وهي مقصورة

And as for anaah (deliberateness), then it is proceeding with care and exactness and abandoning haste, and that is reigning oneself in

قال القاضي عياض : فالأناة تربصه حتى نظر في مصالحه ولم يعجل

al-Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh said: So al-anaah is to wait watchfully until one sees the benefits of a situation, and not to rush


PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET NO. 4  - TABLE MANNERS
Narrated Jabala:

"While at Medina we were struck with famine. Ibn Az-Zubair used to provide us with dates as our food. Ibn `Umar used to pass by us and say, "Don't eat two dates together at a time as the Prophet (ﷺ) has forbidden eating two dates together at a time (in a gathering) unless one takes the permission of one's companion brother."

[Ref: Sahih al-Bukhari 2490; Imaam bukhaari labelled this hadeeth under the chapter : A partner should not eat two dates at a time” thereby indicating that such a behaviour is to adopted as good manners even in situations when there is no famine] 


PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 5 – NOT BREAKING UP FAMILIES 


The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Anyone who incites a woman against her husband is not one of us. 

[Ref: Sunan Abi Dawud 2175l saheeh] 



PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 6 – PREFER WORKING TO BEGGING 


Narrated: Abu Huraira-

Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, it is better for anyone of you to take a rope and cut the wood (from the forest) and carry it over his back and sell it (as a means of earning his living) rather than to ask a person for something and that person may give him or not."

[Ref: Saheeh al-Bukhaari] 



PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 7 – ENCOURAGING THE BUSINESSMEN TO BE TRUTHFUL FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF EVERYBODY INCLUDING THE SOCIETY 




The prophet (s.a.w) said : 

التَّاجِرُ الصَّدُوقُ مَعَ السَّبْعَةِ فِي ظِلِّ عَرْشِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

“The trader who is truthful will be (among) those seven (categories of people) who will be under the shadow of the Throne of Allah the Most High on the Day of Resurrection”.

[Ref: Narrated in Al-Asmaa’ wa Sifaat (p. 371) and Ibn Hajar classed it Hasan in Fath al-Baari (2/144).]

Islam always takes a balance approach. A lot of sugar is harmful. 

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:  

“Merchants are the evildoers.” It was said: O Messenger of Allaah, has Allaah not permitted buying and selling? He said: “Yes, but they speak and tell lies, and they swear (false) oaths (to fool , betray customers and gain profit) and sin (as a result).” 

[Ref: Narrated by Ahmad (3/428); al-Haakim (2/8) – See -Silsilah al-Saheehah (366). ]


PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 8 – ETIQUETTES FOR ENTERING UPON SOMEONE 


Narrated Jabir Bin Abdillaah (radiyallaahu-anhuma): I came to the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) in order to consult him regarding my father’s debt. When I knocked at the door, he asked, ”Who is that?” I replied, ”I.” He said, ”I”, ”I?” He repeated it as if he disliked it. 

[Ref: Saheeh al-Bukhaari]

It is from good manners that when you knock upon a door, you don’t merely say : “I” but identify yourself properly.



PEARLS OF WISDOM 9 – DO NOT GO TO EXTREMES IN ANYTHING




Narrated Anas(Radiallah Anhu): The Prophet (ﷺ) saw an old man walking, supported by his two sons, and asked about him. The people informed him that he had vowed to go on foot (to the Ka`ba). He said, "Allah is not in need of this old man's torturing himself," and ordered him to ride.

[Ref: Sahih al-Bukhari » Book of Penalty of Hunting while on Pilgrimage » Hadith#1865]

Islam teaches to adopt a moderate path and this is explicitly narrated by the prophet (s.a.w) in a variety of sayings and actions [See Saheeh Muslim Number:2670 and Sharh Saheeh Muslim: Vol 16. Page:180 or page:220]



PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET 10 – HYGIENE AND IT’S IMPORTANCE 



The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Cleanliness is half the faith (Emaan).” 

[Ref: Sahih Muslim]

As a Muslim, one knows atleast to some extent the importance and magnitude of  what emaan (faith) has in the life of a Muslim. Everything revolves around it and here we see our prophet (s.a.w) urge us to be clean and tidy thereby including hygiene as a part of faith. There are more such  qur`anic verses and prophetic narrations which further illustrate different examples of hygiene and sanitization but this should suffice for now.