The Most Sublime Pattern Of Conduct
Now I would like to
draw your attention to the events which took place in the life of the Holy
Prophet (SAW) immediately after his call to prophethood. By doing this,
firstly, the real fundamental principle and method of Da’wah will be
elucidated; and secondly, it will become clear as to what type of hardships and
frustrations the Prophet experienced in the early stages of his preaching.
Indeed these hardships and difficulties were not different from those which are
met with by any pioneering leader of an ideological movement. And he adopted
those very natural methods for disseminating his message which any human
initiator of a movement is obliged to adopt.
We all know very well
that even before prophethood the life of Muhammad (SAW) was a perfect model of moral
excellence and his character was a spotless one. He won the epithets of ‘As-Sadiq’ (the
most truthful) and
‘AI-Amin’ (the most
trustworthy and honest)
from his community by dint of his
probity and fair dealings. It is important to note here that he won these
laudatory titles while fully participating in the everyday life and its
engagements. He was not at all a hermit who withdraws himself away from the
humdrum of life. He always took active part in the affairs of his society, so
mush so that he even carried on business and trade at the highest level of his
time. And as a matter of fact it was in this very trade and commercial
transactions that his
real moral qualities
of honesty and
truthfulness were displayed.
Afterwards when he received the revelation from Allah and called people to Islam the penetration and effectiveness of his call depended both on the fact that his teaching was in conformity with the dictates of human nature, familiar to sound discernment and right disposition as well as on the fact that the Prophet (SAW) was himself already known as the most truthful and the most trustworthy.
Afterwards when he received the revelation from Allah and called people to Islam the penetration and effectiveness of his call depended both on the fact that his teaching was in conformity with the dictates of human nature, familiar to sound discernment and right disposition as well as on the fact that the Prophet (SAW) was himself already known as the most truthful and the most trustworthy.
During the period
prior to his being commissioned as the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (SAW)
took to reflection
and meditation and
he became more
and more dissatisfied with the
ephemeral and transitory character of temporal objects and sought more
earnestly for the Really Real and the Truth. Accordingly Hadhrat Ayesha (RAA)
is reported to have said:
“Then he (SAW)
gradually became a lover of seclusion and he started to retire to cave ‘Hira’
for meditation and prayer”
The commentaries of
Hadith literature (sayings of the Holy Prophet ) explain the Arabic
word “tahannus” the activity in which Muhammad (SAW) engaged in the cave “Hira”
contemplating and getting revelation. God knows better how long this practice
of his persisted. However the time at last came when the seeker of truth did
receive the guidance, the word of Allah was brought to him by Gabrael, reality
was exposed, and he was summoned to call people to the way of Allah. In the
words of Qur’an:
“0 prophet! Truly we
have sent thee as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, and a
summoner unto Allah, by his command, and as a lamp that gives bright light.”
(33:45-46)
Immediately after he
was commissioned as the Divine messenger, Muhammad (SAW) commenced the
disseminating and preaching work. Quite naturally, the persons first approached
were those who were closest to him, the family members and the people who knew
him and his conduct intimately, viz, his wife Hadhrat Khadija, his cousin -
Hadhrat Ali, his freed servant Hadhrat Zaid, his close associate Hadhrat Abu
Bakr Siddique (RAAA). They all testified
Muhammad’s claim of
Divine apostleship without
the slightest hesitation
and embraced Islam on the very first day. This fact also shows very vividly
the most legitimate starting point from where an Islamic da’wah worker should
start his campaign that is, da’wah should start from one’s own household and
family members and then gradually extend to closest relatives, companions and
friends.
Again, amongst
these ‘first converts
to Islam’, Hadhrat
Abu Bakr was
the most magnificent example of
really understanding and earnestly following the Prophet’s practice of
preaching and calling people to Allah. In compliance with the Prophet’s
teachings, immediately after embracing Islam, Abu Bakr himself became an ardent
advocate and preacher of that faith. And it was on account of his preaching and
propagating work that the ‘foremost in faith’ - Hadhrat Usman, Abdur Rahman Bin
Auaf, Talha, Zubair, Saad bin Abi Waqqas, Abu Ubaida bin aI-Jarrah, Usman bin
Mazoon and many others (RAAA) - came in the fold of Islam and became members of
Muhammad’s (SAW) Ummah.
These historical facts prove beyond any doubt that the premier demand of the claim of love for the Prophet is to follow his Sunnah of Islamic preaching and calling people to the way of Allah. It is to be noted here that Abu Bakr (Siddique-i-Akbar) was no hermit or recluse. Rather he was a man of wealth and social influence, and a well-established trader. The Holy Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said on one occasion: ‘I have paid for the benefaction of every one except that of Abu Bakr. Only Allah can repay the good which he has done to me'. The fact is that the whole of the Ummah is greatly indebted to Abu Bakr for the great service rendered to it by winning over to Islam a large number of highly devoted persons at the very early stage of his preaching and thus strengthening the ranks of the nascent Muslim community.
Indeed this is true about all other companions of the Prophet (SAW). As a matter of historical fact, whosoever embraced Islam, instantly became himself a preacher and daaee (one who calls and invites people to Allah) of that faith.
These historical facts prove beyond any doubt that the premier demand of the claim of love for the Prophet is to follow his Sunnah of Islamic preaching and calling people to the way of Allah. It is to be noted here that Abu Bakr (Siddique-i-Akbar) was no hermit or recluse. Rather he was a man of wealth and social influence, and a well-established trader. The Holy Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said on one occasion: ‘I have paid for the benefaction of every one except that of Abu Bakr. Only Allah can repay the good which he has done to me'. The fact is that the whole of the Ummah is greatly indebted to Abu Bakr for the great service rendered to it by winning over to Islam a large number of highly devoted persons at the very early stage of his preaching and thus strengthening the ranks of the nascent Muslim community.
Indeed this is true about all other companions of the Prophet (SAW). As a matter of historical fact, whosoever embraced Islam, instantly became himself a preacher and daaee (one who calls and invites people to Allah) of that faith.
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