zainab bala
Allah is sufficient.
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.
One day, close to noontime, while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was
sitting and conferring with his Companions, a group of desert dwellers
approached. Their purpose was none other than to represent their
people to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and declare their faith in
Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) regarded them. It was obvious
from their appearance that they were from a log way off and that their
journey had been a hard one. They had no shoes on their feet. Their
clothes were scant and threadbare, and amounted to nothing more than
scraps of bound cloth. They had no possessions with them and were
starving.
The Prophet's face became strained with sorrow and concern. He looked
at them with compassion. Then he stood up, turned and went into his
house. After a while, he returned and instructed Bilâl to call the
people to prayer. Then the Prophet led the Muslims in the Noon Prayer.
Afterwards, he stood at the pulpit and recited verses of the Qur'ân
which exhort to goodwill and charity. Then he said: "A man should
donate some of his gold or silver, or a container of flour, or a
container of dates…" until he finally appealed "…or even if but half a
date." In this way, he encouraged all the Muslims to give what they
could.
He then took his seat and waited for his Companions to help out their
brothers who had come to them in such straitened circumstances. No one
acted immediately. The minutes of inaction seemed long and heavy. The
Prophet's displeasure with such a response could be seen on his face.
Then a man from the natives of Madinah came forward with a large purse
full of silver so big he was barely able to carry it in both his
hands. He said: "Messenger of Allah! This is for the sake of Allah."
By taking the initiative, he broke the heavy spell of silence and
inactivity, for right then, Abû Bakr stood up and made a donation.
Then `Umar came forward with charity. Then everyone came forward with
what they could give of food, clothing, and money. The Prophet's face
shone with joy as looked at the pile of food and clothing that had
been placed before him.
However, his attention was drawn more strongly to that man who had
been the first to give and in doing so broke the impasse of
hesitation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said: "Whoever sets a
good precedent in Islam will have the blessing for doing so as well as
the blessing for everyone who acts upon it thereafter, without their
blessings being diminished in the least. And whoever sets an evil
precedent in Islam will have the sin for doing so as well as the sin
of everyone who acts upon it thereafter, without their sin being
diminished in the least." [Sahîh Muslim: (1017)]
From this event, we can draw valuable lessons regarding the
importance, in Islamic work, of taking initiative and of setting
practical and conspicuous examples.
We can see the effect the native of Madinah had on everyone else by
his taking the initiative and bringing that bag of silver to the
Prophet (peace be upon him). The people had been hesitating. However,
after the people saw someone make a conspicuous donation, they all
rushed to follow suit. It may be true that some of them may have given
substantially more than he did, but it was his setting the precedent
that got them to do so. This is the reason why the Prophet (peace be
upon him) informed him that those who set a good precedent receive the
blessings of all those who follow suit. He was, in effect,
congratulating that man for taking the initiative.
We also learn from the story that we do not have to be famous
celebrities or prominent people for our initiative to count. We do not
even know the name of the man who brought the first bag of silver. All
we know is that he was a native of Madinah. Nevertheless, he set a
precedent that was immediately followed by the two most eminent
citizens of the Muslim community – Abû Bakr and `Umar.
Therefore, we should never feel that we are too unimportant or
insignificant to set a public example. That unnamed man did not get
intimidated by the presence of those community leaders. He was not shy
to be the first person to do something good. By being bold, he
received the blessings of Abû Bakr, `Umar, and all the other important
– and sometimes extremely wealthy – people who gave their donations
after him.
In fact, taking the initiative is often what makes people successful.
If we look at the lives of great leaders, people of influence, and
reformers, we find that those lives are a series of positive
initiatives. This is how they became so influential, and this is why
they were able to have an enduring legacy.
Doing a good deed in public to set a good precedent is not the same as
doing it for personal fame. It is something we do purely for Allah's
sake. It is not showing off to do a good deed conspicuously with the
sincere intention of teaching people what is right, or for setting a
good example, or for publicizing a public welfare program to make it a
success. It is, in fact, a good way of calling people to Allah.
Sometimes, the worst thing we can do is fail to do a good deed out of
shyness or fear of being seen by others. Al-Fudayl b. `Iyâd said:
"Abandoning good deeds because of the people is showing off."
--
The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and
reconciliation between your two brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may
receive Mercy. (49:10)
Oh mankind! We created you from a single of a male and a female, and
made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. Verily
the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous
of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted. (49:13)
By:
Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî, former professor at al-Imâm
University in Riyadh.
One day, close to noontime, while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was
sitting and conferring with his Companions, a group of desert dwellers
approached. Their purpose was none other than to represent their
people to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and declare their faith in
Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) regarded them. It was obvious
from their appearance that they were from a log way off and that their
journey had been a hard one. They had no shoes on their feet. Their
clothes were scant and threadbare, and amounted to nothing more than
scraps of bound cloth. They had no possessions with them and were
starving.
The Prophet's face became strained with sorrow and concern. He looked
at them with compassion. Then he stood up, turned and went into his
house. After a while, he returned and instructed Bilâl to call the
people to prayer. Then the Prophet led the Muslims in the Noon Prayer.
Afterwards, he stood at the pulpit and recited verses of the Qur'ân
which exhort to goodwill and charity. Then he said: "A man should
donate some of his gold or silver, or a container of flour, or a
container of dates…" until he finally appealed "…or even if but half a
date." In this way, he encouraged all the Muslims to give what they
could.
He then took his seat and waited for his Companions to help out their
brothers who had come to them in such straitened circumstances. No one
acted immediately. The minutes of inaction seemed long and heavy. The
Prophet's displeasure with such a response could be seen on his face.
Then a man from the natives of Madinah came forward with a large purse
full of silver so big he was barely able to carry it in both his
hands. He said: "Messenger of Allah! This is for the sake of Allah."
By taking the initiative, he broke the heavy spell of silence and
inactivity, for right then, Abû Bakr stood up and made a donation.
Then `Umar came forward with charity. Then everyone came forward with
what they could give of food, clothing, and money. The Prophet's face
shone with joy as looked at the pile of food and clothing that had
been placed before him.
However, his attention was drawn more strongly to that man who had
been the first to give and in doing so broke the impasse of
hesitation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said: "Whoever sets a
good precedent in Islam will have the blessing for doing so as well as
the blessing for everyone who acts upon it thereafter, without their
blessings being diminished in the least. And whoever sets an evil
precedent in Islam will have the sin for doing so as well as the sin
of everyone who acts upon it thereafter, without their sin being
diminished in the least." [Sahîh Muslim: (1017)]
From this event, we can draw valuable lessons regarding the
importance, in Islamic work, of taking initiative and of setting
practical and conspicuous examples.
We can see the effect the native of Madinah had on everyone else by
his taking the initiative and bringing that bag of silver to the
Prophet (peace be upon him). The people had been hesitating. However,
after the people saw someone make a conspicuous donation, they all
rushed to follow suit. It may be true that some of them may have given
substantially more than he did, but it was his setting the precedent
that got them to do so. This is the reason why the Prophet (peace be
upon him) informed him that those who set a good precedent receive the
blessings of all those who follow suit. He was, in effect,
congratulating that man for taking the initiative.
We also learn from the story that we do not have to be famous
celebrities or prominent people for our initiative to count. We do not
even know the name of the man who brought the first bag of silver. All
we know is that he was a native of Madinah. Nevertheless, he set a
precedent that was immediately followed by the two most eminent
citizens of the Muslim community – Abû Bakr and `Umar.
Therefore, we should never feel that we are too unimportant or
insignificant to set a public example. That unnamed man did not get
intimidated by the presence of those community leaders. He was not shy
to be the first person to do something good. By being bold, he
received the blessings of Abû Bakr, `Umar, and all the other important
– and sometimes extremely wealthy – people who gave their donations
after him.
In fact, taking the initiative is often what makes people successful.
If we look at the lives of great leaders, people of influence, and
reformers, we find that those lives are a series of positive
initiatives. This is how they became so influential, and this is why
they were able to have an enduring legacy.
Doing a good deed in public to set a good precedent is not the same as
doing it for personal fame. It is something we do purely for Allah's
sake. It is not showing off to do a good deed conspicuously with the
sincere intention of teaching people what is right, or for setting a
good example, or for publicizing a public welfare program to make it a
success. It is, in fact, a good way of calling people to Allah.
Sometimes, the worst thing we can do is fail to do a good deed out of
shyness or fear of being seen by others. Al-Fudayl b. `Iyâd said:
"Abandoning good deeds because of the people is showing off."
--
The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and
reconciliation between your two brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may
receive Mercy. (49:10)
Oh mankind! We created you from a single of a male and a female, and
made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. Verily
the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous
of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted. (49:13)
By:
Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî, former professor at al-Imâm
University in Riyadh.
