TEACHER OF GOODNESS

TEACHER OF GOODNESS

Sent by: Br Tanwir Ahmed Siddiqui

Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Almighty, has sent His Prophets to take human beings out of the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge and guide them to all that is good in
this life and the next. He says:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ [النحل: 43]

“We did not send (messengers) before you other than men whom We inspired with revelation. So, ask the people (having the knowledge) of the Reminder (the earlier Scriptures), if you do not know.” (An-Nahl 16:43)

The Prophet Hadhrat Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) was the seal of all Prophets and Messengers. As humanity was in a state of ignorance and manifest error, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) sent him as a teacher and a guide to the truth and the straight path. With knowledge and faith, he watered the seed of goodness instilled in society and abolished the concepts and convictions that led it to ignorance and backwardness. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Almighty, says:

هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ [الجمعة: 2]

“He is the One who raised amidst the unlettered people a messenger from among themselves who recites to them His Aayaat (Verses), and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the wisdom, while they were earlier in open error.” (Al-Jumu`ah 62:2)

He was the best to carry the message to educate and work for building a new Ummah (Nation) guided by the light of ‘Ilm (Knowledge) and insight of the good and evil as prescribed by Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa). His efforts have paid off for he managed to make it Islamically literate. This is reflected in the fact that first Aayaat (Verses) of Soorah Al-Alaq (Chapter: The Clot) that were revealed to Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) in Makkah al Mukarramah at cave of Hira located at Mountain Jabal al-Noor, which reads as follows:

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ oخَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ oاقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ oالَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ oعَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ [العلق: 1-5]

“Read with the name of your Lord who created (everything). He created man from a clot of blood. Read, and your Lord is the most gracious. who imparted knowledge by means of the pen. He taught man what he did not know.” (Al-‘Alaq 96:1-5)

It wasn`t easy for him to accomplish this difficult mission for life isn`t a bed of roses. It is difficult to raise a generation equipped with knowledge guided by Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) and faith on Him, particularly when ignorance is driven by personal interest and tribalism, which dominated that society. As a result, he was exposed to many forms of materialistic and non-materialistic resistance embodied in carrot-stick practices. His response to people of Quraish Tribe was decisive where he said to his uncle Abu Taalib: "O my uncle! By Allah! If they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandon this course, until Allah has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it.”

He has elevated the status of Ilm and the Ulamaa (Learned ones). He said: "The Ulamaa are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of Ilm; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion.” (At-Tirmizi)

This is because the Ulamaa are the corner stone for the advancement of the Ummah. They understand clearly the true teachings of the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) and its details, which lead to reforming self by believing in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Almighty, and belief that He will bless it with success. It also leads to building Islamic civilization and achieving progress in light of Sunnah adhering to the injunctions of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Almighty, in every walk of life. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) says:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ [فاطر: 28]

“Only those of His slaves fear Allah who are knowledgeable. Surely Allah is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.” (Faatir 35:28)

He was and is the role model in teaching goodness. He was and is a source of guidance and inspiration. His character is whatever the Quraan describes. He practiced everything that he preached. He was an embodiment of the message; all of the Aayaat of grace, ethics, and beauty were embodied in his example. He also established the values of truth and justice. His whole life was a practical valuable lesson to humanity. He was merciful, truthful, honest, polite and kind. He passed advice with wisdom and fair exhortation. He said: "Allah did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He has sent me to teach and make things easy.” (Muslim)

Moreover, Hadhrat Mu’aawiyah bin al-Hakam narrated that while he was offering Salaah (Prayers) with Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam), a man in the Jamaa’ah (Congregation) sneezed. He said: “Allah have mercy on you!”

The people stared at me with disapproving looks, so he said: “Woe be upon me, why is it that you stare at me?”

They began to strike their hands on their thighs, and when he saw them urging him to observe silence (he became angry) but he said nothing. When Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) completed his Salaah, He affirmed that he did not scold, beat or revile him but said: “Talking to persons is not permissible during the Salaah, for it consists of glorifying Allah, declaring his Greatness and recitation of the Quraan or words to that effect…..”

He declared that neither before him nor after him have he had seen a leader who gave better instruction than he for whom he would give my father and mother as ransom. (Muslim)

He also taught us the manners of giving rights and claiming them. This is reflected in the story of the infuriated man who took the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) by the shirt and said to him: "Give me my right, O Mohammad!”

Hadhrat Omar wanted to kill him for that, but the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) told him: "O Omar! You should have ordered him to collect well and requested me to pay back well.”

Finally, his message has paid off. It produced a generation of his Ummah that managed to elevate the Muslims to the vanguard of international procession. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Almighty says:

قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ [الزمر: 9]

“Say: ‘Can those who know and those who do not know become equal?’” (Az-Zumar 39:9)

Our Ummah used the intellect to conquer hearts and minds. Its kind treatment to people from different races, backgrounds and affiliations constitutes a valuable lesson to humanity. It didn`t celebrate oppressing others or transgressing against them. Rather, it is all about collecting well and paying back well. Moreover, the Muslim Ummah has the capacity to continue the message of the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam), adhering to his guidance and methodology as well as preserve his legacy. We are proud to have millions of Ulamaa who pave the way for a brighter future to our present and future generation.