[Abu_Hind]

We also have an incident mentioned by al-Nawawî:

We have many reports authenticated by the judicial authorities about a man who lived in the year 66 AH who had an evil opinion of righteous people. He even took a tooth stick and stuck it in his anus to show his disrespect for it and for the Sunnah as a whole. After a period of time, a fish-like organism came out of his anus. He killed it. Soon thereafter the man died. May Allah save us from his affliction and grant us success in keeping the Sunnah pure and in giving it our full respect.

In our present time, we have the following incident mentioned by Sheikh Ahmad al-Shâkir about a sermon-giver in Egypt:

He was a very eloquent and able speaker. This sermon-giver wanted to praise one of Egypt's governors for honoring the Taha Hussein (who was blind and also quite deviant), so he said: "The blind man came unto him, but he did not frown and turn away." Sheikh Muhammad Shâkir stood up after prayer and declared to the congregation that their prayers were invalid and had to be repeated because they had been led in prayer by a man who, by insulting Allah's Messenger, had become an unbeliever.

Yet, Allah did not postpone this man's punishment for the Hereafter and leave his crime unpunished in this world. I saw him with my own eyes a few years later. Now, I remembered him as having been high-handed, proud, and smug in the company of prominent and powerful people. But when I saw him, he was a pitiful wretch, a servant at the door of a mosque in Cairo who would take the shoes of the worshippers from them for safekeeping. He was so pitiful and humiliated that I felt embarrassed to have him see me, since we knew each other from before. I did not feel sorry for him, since he did not deserve my pity, nor was I happy with his plight, for a respectable person never feels joy on the occasion of another's misfortune. However, I took it as an example and a lesson to be learned.

I wish to conclude this article by mentioning that we can increase our love for Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) and his Sunnah by taking account of ourselves and recognizing our mistakes and shortcomings. When we face our own faults, we will then find the cure for them in the guidance that the Prophet (peace be upon him) brought. For instance, one of us might be lax in performing voluntary acts of worship. It would behoove this person to reflect upon the fact that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to stand in prayer so long his feet would become swollen. He worshipped Allah in this manner despite the fact that all of his past and future sins were already forgiven.

A person who might sometimes be afflicted with cowardice should recall that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the bravest of men. `Alî said: "When our courage failed us, we would take our resolve from Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)."

If one of us becomes overly enamored of worldly gain, he should consider that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was among the most ascetic of people. `Â'ishah relates to us: "Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) never satiated his hunger for three days in a row - even on bread - up to the time of his death."

If one of us is prone to ill-treating others, he should recall the words of Anas:

I was the servant of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) for ten years. He never once said to me a harsh word. No matter what I did, he never said: "Now why did you do that?" No matter what I failed to do, he never said: "Now, why didn't you do that?"

Allah says: "It is from Allah's mercy that you are gentle with them. Had you been severe or harsh-hearted, they would have dispersed from about you." [Sûrah Âl `Imrân: 159]

If one of us becomes too self-centered and worries only about himself, he should remember the following words of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."

Jarîr relates an incident that shows us just how loyal, merciful, and compassionate the Prophet (peace be upon him) was to the believers. He says:

We were with Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) at the early hours of the morning when a group of people came to him. They were barefoot and destitute and carrying their swords. Most of them - nay, all of them - were from Mudar. The expression of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) changed when he saw the extent of their poverty. He went inside and came out again and ordered Bilâl to make the call to prayer. Then he stood and led us in prayer. Then he addressed us, saying: "O humanity! Reverence your Lord, who created you from a single person, then created from it its mate, and from them both spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Reverence Allah, through whom - and through your ties of kinship - you demand your mutual rights. For Allah ever watches over you." [Sûrah al-Nisâ': 1]

Then he recited: "O you who believe! Observe your duty to Allah. And let every soul look to that which it sends forth for tomorrow." [Sûrah al-Hashr: 18]

The people began to vie with one another in giving charity. Some gave from their gold and silver coins, others from their clothing, others a quantity of grain or dates. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Give… even if only a half of a date."

Then a person from among the Ansâr came with a money bag which his hands could scarcely lift. Nay, he could not lift it at all. Then the people followed continuously, until I saw two great heaps form, one of food and the other of clothing. I saw the face of the Messenger (peace be upon him) shine like gold.

Then Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "He who sets a good precedent in Islam will receive his reward and the reward of that also who acted according to his example without their reward being reduced in the least."


I ask Allah to bless us to follow most perfectly the example of our Prophet (peace be upon him) and to gather us in his company on the Day of Resurrection. Allah is the giver of success.

(End of article)