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In numerous
places in the Qur'aan, Allaah praises and
shows His pleasure for the Companions of the
Prophet (SAWS) and also for those who follow
in their footsteps. For example, Allaah
says,
"And the first to
embrace Islaam of the Muhaajirun and the
Ansaar and also those who followed them
exactly (in faith)! Allaah is
well-pleased with them as they are
well-pleased with Him. He has prepared
for them Gardens under which rivers flow
(Paradise) to dwell therein forever.
That is the supreme success".
(at-Tawbah, 100)
Furthermore,
the following verse of the Qur'aan was first
and foremost directed to the Companions of
the Prophet (SAWS);
"You are the best
of peoples ever raised for mankind, you
enjoin good and forbid evil, and you
believe in Allaah" (al-'Imraan,
110)
In addition
there are numerous hadith in which the
Prophet (SAWS) told us about the special
place and superiority of his Companions, and
also of those who came after them. Imraan
ibn Hussain narrated that the Prophet (SAWS)
said,
"The best people are
my generation, then the people who come
after them, then the people who come after
them" (al-Bukhaari, and Muslim).
In another
very important hadith, the Prophet (SAWS)
said,
"The tribes of Israel
broke up into seventy-two sects. My ummah
shall break up into seventy-three sects.
All of them will be in the Fire except for
one: [That group] which follows what I and
my Companions are following." (at-Tirmidhi)
The behaviour
and actions of the Companions of the Prophet
(ra) were witnessed by the Prophet (SAWS)
himself and approved by him. This means
that their behaviour was also approved by
Allaah as it is an accepted principle that
the Prophet (SAWS) is not allowed to approve
of something which is essentially wrong.
These verses
and these hadith - as well as many others -
demonstrate to us that the Companions were
on the Straight Path. This is, in fact, the
only true path as the hadith concerning the
dividing into sects demonstrates. Indeed,
Allaah makes it clear that the path to Him
is only one when He says:
"And verily this
is My Straight Path, so follow it, and
follow not other paths, for they will
separate you away from His Path. This
He has ordained for you that you may
become pious". (al-Anaam,
153)
Ibn Mas'ud
stated that the Prophet (SAWS) drew a
straight line with other lines to the left
and right of it. He stated that the
straight line was the Straight Path and upon
all other lines were Satans calling the
people to those paths. Then he recited the
above verse from Surah al-Anaam.
Therefore, we
should look to the Companions and the others
of the first three generations - those who
followed in their footsteps and who learned
directly from them -- and we should try to
emulate them as we know that their lives
were pleasing to Allaah.
However, in
what matters should we emulate them? In
matters of the deen, in matters related to
following the Straight Path. And what is
the deen? It is one's matters of belief,
one's matter of law, one's matter of
behaviour and ethics -- all of these form
part of the deen and all are essential
aspects of the deen.
We should look
to the Companions and try to learn from them
and be like them. But not just with respect
to matters of 'aqeedah or beliefs - as some
people today seem to think. It is true that
aqeedah or faith is the foundation of life -
but there is no such thing as 'aqeedah by
itself without it being translated into
actions and behaviour.
There are many
people nowadays who are stressing that we
have to follow the way of the pious
forefathers or the salaf in Islaam. They
talk, in particular, about matters of 'aqeedah.
However, following in their footsteps is not
simply a matter of believing some articles
of faith and being able to repeat them like
a parrot! So many people can rattle off
the principles related to the names and
attributes of Allaah but that does not
necessarily make them true followers of the
way of our pious forefathers.
Many times
when it comes to behaviour and ethics, the
same people who are "calling to the way of
the Salaf" seem to forget that we have to
follow their example in these areas as
well. It does not make any sense - in fact,
it is not possible - that we have the same
beliefs as our Salaf but our actions are
quite to the contrary. This means that we
don't have their beliefs at all. If we had
their beliefs, they would be represented in
our actions. It is inconceivable that we
call ourselves followers of those pious
people yet our behaviour is not like their
behaviour whatsoever. How can we truly call
ourselves their followers when we lie,
cheat, don't mind to live off of other
people, spread false rumours about each
other, are not willing to sacrifice for the
sake of Allaah, and so forth. Indeed, some
who claim to be following those pious
individuals are actually the furthest away
in their behaviour from the pattern and
example that those pious souls set.
In this
khutbah - after making the above point and
advising us all to follow the way of the
Prophet (SAWS) and his Companions in order to
be among the saved sect - I would like to
remind us of some of the behaviours and
characteristics of those early generations.
In this way, we can take a good look at
their lives and we can also look at our own
lives and behaviour, and truly ask ourselves
if we are actually following their example
and having their deen which was so pleasing
to Allaah.
One of their
characteristics that we can note in their
speech and action is that they would weight
every action according to the scales of the
shariah.
We can see
clear examples of how Abu Bakr and Umar
would not take any action until they were
certain that such an action was correct
according to the Shariah. We must be
cautious and not tread into doubtful matters
- which was another one of the beautiful and
noble characteristics. Many times we do
things without first asking or searching to
make sure those things are lawful and
pleasing to Allaah. After we actually
engage in the act, we may then ask, "Is this
act halaal or haraam?" It is one of the
characteristics of the Salaf that they would
ask this question before acting.
Second, they
used to remember and think a lot about
death. This remembrance of death would have
a strong effect on their actions and their
attachment to this world. The Prophet
(SAWS)
advised them to remember death often -- the
thing that brings an end to the pleasures of
this world. They implemented this teaching
of the Prophet (SAWS).
Thabit once
said, "Whenever we
attended a funeral, we would be crying".
We can see from other reports of the same
nature that they were not actually crying
for the deceased. Instead, they were crying
for themselves. They realized that they
would also have to face that same day in
which their deeds would come to an end.
They would think to themselves: Are we
prepared for that day when the two angels
will come and question us? Are we prepared
for that day when our deeds will come to an
end and there will be no more opportunity to
repent from our sins??
How often do
we who claim to be following in their
footsteps remember death. Do we every cry
when thinking about that day in which our
deeds will be sealed and the angels will
come to question us? If we are truly
following their way, we must remember death
often and this remembrance should have a
profound effect on us. This is all part of
following the way of the Companions.
A third
characteristic that we find about them is
that they were very forgiving to those who
did them wrong in any way. They implemented
Allaah's description
"[Those] who
repress anger and who pardon men, verily
Allaah loves the good-doers"
(al-'Imraan, 134)
They would
forgive people in hopes that Allaah would
forgive them. Recompense comes in a form
similar to the deed that is being
recompensed. Hence, those who are forgiving
to others for the sake of Allaah, Allaah
willing, may look forward to Allaah treating
them in the same way. How many of us today
possess that characteristic? On the other
hand, how many of us hold a grudge forever
and are never willing to forgive some wrong
that may have been done to us many years
ago?
Another
important characteristic was the great
respect that they had for the honour of
other Muslims and how they always desired
good for their brethren Muslim. The Prophet
(SAWS) explicitly told them,
"Every Muslim is inviolable to another
Muslim - his blood, his wealth and his
honour"
Abu Bakr once
said, "Do not belittle
any Muslim for the most insignificant Muslim
is great in the eyes of Allaah".
'Umar ibn al-Khattab declared that to save a
life of a Muslim was more important to him
than all of the lands of Iraaq. In fact,
the Prophet (SAWS) said,
"The killing of a
believer is greater in Allaah's sight than
the perishing of this world."
(an-Nasai, sahih, al-Albaani in Sahih
al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, vol.2, p.804, hadith
no. 4361)
That has
happened to this beautiful characteristic of
our Salaf. Do we treat each other with the
respect and honour that they used to treat
each other? Nowadays it is not uncommon to
see Muslims cheating other Muslims. It is
not uncommon to see Muslims breaking their
promises to other Muslims. Indeed we can
even see Muslims killing one another.
In fact,
nowadays, it is not uncommon to see Muslims
treat, honour and respect non-Muslims in a
much better fashion that they treat their
own brethren Muslims. As long as we behave
in this manner, we cannot possibly claim to
be following in the footsteps of our pious
predecessors.
Another very
important aspect of their lives was their
continued performance of the late night
prayers, known as the tahajjud prayers. We
know the place of those prayers in the
Qur'aan. For example, Allaah says:
"Verily, the pious
will be in the midst of Gardens and
Springs (in Paradise), taking joy in the
things which their Lord has given them.
Verily, there were before this doers of
good. They used to sleep but little at
night (invoking their Lord and praying)
and in the hours before dawn, they were
found asking (Allaah) for forgiveness"
(al-Dhaariyat 15-18)
The Prophet
(SAWS) also said about the late-night prayers
"Stick to the
late-night prayers for it [their
performance] was the custom of the pious
people before you; it is also a means of
getting closer to your Lord; it wipes away
your evil deeds; and it keeps one from
committing sins". (Ahmad,
at-Tirmidhi, Al-Haakim and others, sahih,
see Sahih al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, vol.2, p.
752, hadith no. 4079)
The
performance of this prayer was something
very dear to our pious predecessors. They
would not be happy when they missed its
performance. In addition, they understood
the cause of their missing it. al-Hasan
al-Basri said, "No one
leaves the night prayer except due to a sin
that he performed". On another
occasion he said, "The
late night prayer is only heavy upon a
person who is weighed down by sins".
In our desire
to be their true followers, we have to
revive this sunnah and important practice.
In this day and age we find many excuses not
to perform this very important act.
However, we must struggle and overcome those
excuses and do our best to have this
characteristic that was so common and so
important to those whom we wish to emulate.
One thing that
comes out very clearly in the different
statements of the Muslims of the early
generations is their attitude toward this
world. They always put the Hereafter
first. They preferred the deeds that would
benefit them in the Hereafter over those
deeds that would merely benefit them in this
world. In fact, this world meant very
little to them except as a means of
attaining salvation in the Hereafter.
Allaah makes
it very clear in the Qur'aan that if someone
desires this world, Allaah will give it to
him. This is very easy for Allaah and the
things of this world are not that important
to Allaah, so He will even give its pleasure
to the disbelievers. Allaah says in the
Qur'aan:
"Whoever wishes
for the quick-passing [transitory
enjoyment of this world], We readily
grant him what We will for whom We will.
Then, afterwards we have appointed for
him Hell, he will burn therein disgraced
and rejected [far from Allaah's Mercy].
And whoever desires the Hereafter and
strives for it, with the necessary
effort due it, while he is a believer,
then such are the ones who striving
shall be appreciated, thanked and
rewarded [by Allaah]"
(al-Israa 18-19)
A true
believer should be "above" this world. His
aspirations and goals are not of this
world. He should not be spending all of his
time just for the sake of this dunya. As I
stated, this characteristic was very clear
in those people whom Allaah has stated that
He is pleased with.
One of those
early pious souls, Malik ibn Dinar, once
said, "Whoever
proposes to this world, it will seek from
him his entire religion as its dower and it
will not be pleased with anything other than
that".
There is no
question that chasing after this world is
one of the greatest trials that Muslims are
afflicted with today. Many who have
education or wealth are chasing after more
and more wealth. Many of our youth do not
know and understand anything except getting
the latest clothing, best pair of sneakers
and so forth. We have lost that proper
balance in our lives between this life and
the Hereafer. The proper balance is wherein
the Hereafter comes first in our lives and
this world is only a stepping stone to
Allaah's Forgiveness in the Hereafter. That
was the understanding of our Salaf and that
is the understanding we must have if we are
truly following in their footsteps.
Another aspect
that we can see in some of their statements
is that they realised that they had never
given Allaah even the smallest amount of
thanks. In fact, to them, the act of
thanking Allaah was yet another blessing
that Allaah had guided them to, such that
Allaah was once again deserving of thanks
for guiding them to thanking Him. The only
result is to realise all of the great
blessings that Allaah has given you and to
realise that all of your praises of Allaah,
thankfulness to Allaah, sacrifices for
Allaah's sake are actually nothing compared
to all that Allaah has so graciously done
for you.
Another
characteristic we find among them is that
they were more concerned with their own
shortcomings than with the shortcomings of
others. It is reported that 'Umar once
said, "May Allaah have mercy on the one who
points out my shortcomings". In fact
finding the faults of others will not be of
much avail to you in the Hereafter.
Instead, recognising your own faults and
changing them, this will be of great benefit
to you in both this life and the Hereafter.
We should be very concerned with correcting
our own faults. In fact, we should be happy
when other people point out our shortcomings
so that we may realise them and correct
them. This was the way of our pious
Forefathers and this must be our way too.
The Salaf
would also remain away from sinful people
and their gatherings. Indeed, as we find in
the example of 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ud, even
if they were invited to a wedding feast,
they would leave that feast if they found
something forbidden therein. They would
stay away from the people of sin and
innovations. In this way, their hearts
would remain pure and clean. They would not
be infected or infiltrated by the doubts and
desirs of such evil people. By mixing only
with good people and attending only settings
in which the forbidden aspects are absent,
they were able to increase their faith and
keep their faith strong.
Nowadays, we
find our situation many times to be quite
different. We might take as friends not the
pious but the people who commit many sins.
We take them as friends for very
inconsequential reasons, such as we like
their sense of humour or they have the same
nationality that we have and so forth. We
fail to realise how much harm they may be
causing our own religion. We fail to realise
that by mixing with them and being in places
in which Allaah's law is being transgressed,
we are harming ourselves and we are clearly
straying from the way and practice of those
first generations whom the Prophet (SAWS)
described as the best generations.
There is one
final characteristic of our noble
forefathers that I would like to mention.
However, this is one of the most important
of their characteristics. This is the
attending the daily prayers in congregation
in the masjid. During the time of the
Prophet (SAWS) this was one of the signs that
differentiated a true Muslim from a
hypocrite. 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ud once said,
"Whoever wishes to
meet Allaah tomorrow as a Muslim should
guard the prayers whenever he is called to
them. The Messenger of Allaah taught us the
sunnah of guidance. Part of this sunnah is
to perform the prayer in the masaajid in
which the call to prayer in given. If you
pray in your houses, like those people who
stayed behind and prayed in their houses,
you have left the sunnah of the Prophet
(SAWS). If you leave the sunnah of your
Prophet (SAWS), you'll be misguided... in our
view, no one would no attend the prayers
accept for someone who was well known for
his hypocrisy" (Muslim).
In our society
here, it is sometimes difficult to make it
to the prayers. However, we have to do our
best. We have to sacrifice for the sake of
the prayers. We have to arrange our time in
such a way that we can make it to the
prayers. If we do so, we will be actually
following in the footsteps of the Companions
of the Prophet (SAWS), who were from the best
generation ever raised for mankind.
These are just
some of the important characteristics of our
pious forefathers. When we recognise that
their path is the correct path - the path of
the Saved Sect - we must realise that we are
not simply talking about believing in some
doctrines that we can rattle off with our
tongues. Instead, we are talking about their
deen - and deen encompasses every aspect of
our lives. If we are truly their followers,
this must be exhibited by our behaviour, our
actions, our ethics, our worship and
obviously, our beliefs. However, if we drop
any of those aspects, then we are not truly
following their path, no matter how much we
may claim to with our tongues. |
