Morals in the Life and Da‘wah of the Prophets

The Prophet, , was commanded to maintain the same methodology that had been adopted by all the previous prophets and messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Those are the ones whom Allaah has guided, so from their guidance take an example.} [Quran 6:90] Allaah the Almighty granted the prophets perfection of morals and character so that people would not turn away from them with the excuse that they were repulsive or ill-natured. All prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, only spoke what was revealed to them by Allaah the Almighty. Their message was not something that they fabricated or that was due to the surrounding social conditions of their age. Their message was a revelation from Allaah the Almighty, as each and every prophet testified: {I only follow what is revealed to me.}[Quran 6:50] The prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, did not have the right to change, replace, add, or cancel anything that had been revealed to them. Concerning Prophet Muhammad, , Allaah the Almighty Says (what means):

·        {Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed.} [Quran 53:3,4]

·        {Say, [O Muhammad]: “It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed, I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.”} [Quran 10:15]

In their mission, the prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, did not ask for a reward from their people, as they only sought the reward of Allaah the Almighty. Prophet Hoode said to his people (what means): {O my people, I do not ask you for it any reward. My reward is only from The One who created me. Then will you not reason?}[Quran 11:51] Prophet Muhammad, , confirmed the same meaning by saying (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad]: “I do not ask you for the Quran any payment, and I am not of the pretentious.”} [Quran 38:86]

Allaah the Almighty made the method of Da’wah (propagation) clear to His prophets, as He gave an order to His Prophet, , by Saying (what means):

Allaah the Almighty Says to His Prophet, , (what means): {And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.} [Quran 20:131]

Throughout their Da‘wah, the prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, not only confirmed the idea of servitude to Allaah by telling their people (what means): {worship Allaah; you have no deity other than Him} [Quran 7:59] but they also treated the faults that were widespread during their time and urged their people to be virtuous. For instance, Prophet Shu‘ayb tried to reform the faults of his people, the people of Madyan, and advised them not to give less in measure and weight and decrease the rights of others. Also, Prophet Loote said to his people: {“Do you approach males among the worlds. And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing.”} [Quran 26:165-166] He also criticized them for obstructing roads and committing every evil in their meetings. The biography of the Prophet, , also proves that he continuously tried to treat the faults of his people, as will be clarified later.

1- Adhering to Tawheed (monotheism): Tawheed is purity as it is acknowledgement of the truth, while Shirk (polytheism) is an impurity as Allaah the Almighty Says (what means): {indeed the polytheists are unclean.}[Quran 9:28]This is because Shirk is the denial of truth, and even if the polytheists superficially bathed, adorned and perfumed themselves their inner impurity would still not be removed. Sins and evil deeds are considered impurities, as the Prophet, , said: “Whoever commits any of these sins should conceal them and make use of the concealment granted to him by Allaah. Whoever openly admits to his sins [to other people] will be punished with what is prescribed in the Quran.”

In order to perfect morality and obtain the desired objectives, we should be careful in matters pertaining to Tawheed and legislation and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet, , in this regard. The Prophet, , implanted two crucial principles in his Companions: the first was to worship Allaah the Almighty without associating any other deity with Him, while the second principle was to worship Allaah the Almighty according to His Legislation and no other. The Prophet, , did not allow any of his Companions to break either of these two principles. Once the Prophet, , saw ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab holding a piece of paper from the Torah as he had admired what was written on it. Thereupon, the Prophet, , was very angry and said to him: “You do this while I am amongst you? I have conveyed to you the message white and pure. By Allaah, if Moosa [Moses] had been alive now, he would have had no choice but to follow me.”[Ahmad, Al-Albaani – Hasan] This Hadeeth shows the universal nature of the Da‘wah of the Prophet, , and that it is impermissible to follow anything except the Quran and Sunnah. Therefore, how can people leave these protected principles and seek guidance in things that have been distorted and changed?

Once, the Prophet, , heard an Imaam delivering a Khutbah (sermon) on the pulpit, and saying,“Whoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger will be rightly guided, while whoever disobeys them, will be misguided.”The Prophet, , said:“What a bad Imaam you are! Say: ‘The one who disobeys Allaah and His Messenger will be misguided’.”[Ahmad, Muslim] In the abovementioned Hadeeth, the Prophet, , criticized the Imaam for saying “disobeying them” when referring to Allaah and His Prophet, , as the use of this pronoun entails that both Allaah the Almighty and His Prophet, , are on the same level. The Prophet, , also saw that it was appropriate to mention and clarify this point in during the Khutbah.

When ‘Uthmaan ibn Math‘oon died, Umm Al-‘Alaa’ said,“O Abu As-Saa’ib! I testify that Allaah has honored you.”The Prophet, , said to her:“How do you know that Allaah has honored Him?”She replied, “Who would be honored if not him?” The Prophet, said to her:“By Allaah, though I am the Messenger of Allaah, I do not know what Allaah will do with me tomorrow.” Umm Al-‘Alaa’ said,“By Allaah, I will never attest the piety of anybody after this.” [Ahmad and Al-Bukhaari]

Among the examples that illustrate adherence to Tawheed is when a man came to the Prophet, , and said to him, “Allaah and you willing.” The Prophet, , said:“Are you making me an equal to Allaah? You should say, ‘What Allaah alone, wills.”[Ahmad, Al-Albaani – Hasan]

Adhering to Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) does not only apply to deeds but also to words. Some of the Companions asked the Prophet, , to make a tree for them that was known as “Thaat Anwaat”  so that they could hang their weapons on it in order to seek its blessings as the disbelievers used to do. The Prophet, , responded:“By Allaah, you have said to me the same as the Children of Israel said to Moosa; they said:{O Moosa make for us a god just as they have gods}.” [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi – Hasan Saheeh]  

The Prophet, , was asked about soothsayers, and he said:“They know nothing.” [Muslim] Even if soothsayers tell the truth once, they add to it a hundred lies.

 

The Prophet, , warned us many times about using graves as Masjids (mosques). Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [He Revealed] that the masjids are for Allaah, so do not invoke with Allaah anyone.}[Quran 72:18] Therefore, it is the duty of all people to return in repentance to Allaah The Almighty, submit themselves to Him, abandon any form of Shirk, Kufr (disbelief) or devoting any acts of worship to anything other than Allaah and to believe in Him Alone. People must also know that Tawheed comes first, as one must give precedence to what is most important, whether in matters concerning seeking knowledge, work or Da‘wah.

 

The claims that the disbelievers, polytheists and philosophers have set the measures and foundations for good morals and that they have good manners is vain, as what is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. Also, those disbelievers and polytheists will only benefit from their good deeds in this worldly life, but in the Hereafter they would embody the verse (what means):

·       {And We will regard what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.}[Quran 25:23]

·       {But those who disbelieved – their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allaah before Him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allaah is swift in account.} [Quran 24:39]

 

2- Adhering to Legislation: All ways are blocked except that of the Prophet, , and it is not permissible, or indeed possible, to become firmly established with good morals first, then try to interpret Islamic texts in a way that would suit these morals. Allaah the Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not put [yourselves] before Allaah and His Messenger, but fear Allaah.} [Quran 49:1] In fact, we are required to derive our methodology, principles, and morals from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, , without permitting ourselves or others to neglect any of the Sharee’ah texts. In this regard, we have to follow the example of the Prophet, , where we have many proofs. The Prophet, , saw a man walking during pilgrimage supported by two men, so he asked about him. The people informed him that he had vowed to go on foot to perform pilgrimage. He said:“Allaah is not in need of this old man’s torturing himself.” Then he told the people: “Order him to ride.”[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

 

Also, when the Prophet, , saw Abu Israel standing in the sun and not speaking, he asked the people about him. They said, “He has vowed that on this day he will keep standing, remain in the sun and keep silent.”’The Prophet, , said:“Let him end his fast, speak, come in the shade and sit down.” [Al-Bukhaari] Sitting in the sun is a burden that does not bring the person closer to Allaah the Almighty, and abstaining from speaking is how the previous nations used to fast, which is not a part of our Sharee‘ah. The proof of this is what the Prophet, , said: “The one who believes in Allaah and the Day of Judgment should say something good or remain silent.” 

Further proof is that when the Prophet, , knew that ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr was fasting during the daytime and performing voluntary prayers throughout the night, which made him neglect the rights of his wife, he said to him:“Fast like my brother, Daawood, [Prophet David ], who would fast every other day and never fled from his enemies.”[Muslim] It was also narrated that the Prophet, , said: “Your Lord has a right over you, and your wife has a right over you, so give each one his right.” [Al-Bukhaari]

 

Thus, a person must be just, moderate and careful regarding the different benefits in life and should maintain a good balance between them, without excessiveness or negligence. One must also take the requirements of the body and soul into consideration, without aloofness or committing excess, and should have a comprehensive view of giving every person his due right.

 

Another example is when three men went to the houses of the Prophet, , asking about his acts of worship. When they were informed about it, it seemed as if they thought it was insufficient. Therefore, they said, “How can we compare ourselves to the Prophet when his past and future sins have been forgiven.”Thereupon, one of them said, “I will offer voluntary prayers throughout the night and never sleep.”Another said, “I will fast throughout the year and will not break my fast.”The third said,“I will keep away from women and will never marry.” When the Prophet, , was told about them, he mounted the pulpit and gathered the people, then he said:“Why are some people saying such and such? I am the most knowledgeable and most fearful of Allaah among you, yet I fast and break my fast, I offer voluntary night prayers and I sleep, and I marry women. Therefore, the one who does not follow my Sunnah, is not of my Ummah.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

 

The path that leads to Allaah the Almighty and the Gardens of Pleasure is the way of the Prophet, , that should not be exceeded. This way should be followed without innovations as the most perfect human is the Prophet, , and his Sunnah is the praised way that was followed by his Companions . The Sunnah is every thing that the Prophet, , did, said or approved of. It also includes any characteristic that was intended as a means of legislation for the Ummah. The one who turns away from the Sunnah of the Prophet, , should be told as the Prophet, , said: “The one who refrains from my Sunnah, is not of my Ummah.” The Prophet, , would say: “If someone innovates something that is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] It was narrated that the Prophet, , said: “Every innovation is deviation, and every deviation is in Hell.”

 

According to Ash-Shaatibi an innovation is an invented way in the religion that is falsely attributed to the Sharee‘ah, even though it is done with the intention of worshipping Allaah The Almighty. Innovations are more preferable to Iblees (Satan) than sins, and the one who does them is among those to whom the evil of their deeds has been made attractive, so he considers them good. ‘Umar would say, “Every innovation is a deviation, even if people consider it to be good.” Ibn Mas‘ood would say, “Follow and do not innovate as you have what suffices you. Adhere to the way of the early generations [the Companions of the Prophet].”

 

 

The Companions followed this clear methodology and did not allow any one to ruin Tawheed or Legislation. ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab for instance, would kiss the Black Stone and say, “By Allaah, I know that you are just a stone that can neither harm nor benefit, and I would have never kissed you if I had not seen the Prophet kissing you.” ‘Ali dismissed all the people from the mosque who would tell imaginary and unreal stories under the pretext of reminding the people and softening their hearts. Also, when Ibn ‘Umar heard a man saying after sneezing, “Praise be to Allaah and peace and blessing be upon the Prophet ” he told him, “This is not what the Prophet taught us. The Prophet said:‘When anyone of you sneezes, he should praise Allaah’ but he did not mention that we should ask for blessings upon him.”

 

When Ibn Mas‘ood entered the mosque of Al-Koofah, he saw groups of people sitting in circles and in the middle of each circle there was a pile of stones and a man standing by each group ordering them to exalt Allaah The Almighty a hundred times, then to praise Him a hundred times, and then to glorify Him a hundred times, and the people responded. Ibn Mas‘ood said to them, “O people! By Allaah you are either more guided than the Prophet or you are approaching a deviation!” They said, “O Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmaan! We only meant to do good deeds.” He said, “There are many who want to do good deeds but never do [as they do not follow the Sunnah of the Prophet ].” [Ad-Daarimi]

 

Any addition or deletion in acts of worship or behavior that is done with the intention of drawing closer to Allaah The Almighty, is a rejected innovation even if the intention was good as long as this act does not coincide with the Sharee‘ah of Allaah The Almighty.

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