Mercy of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam
Transcribed from the Islaahi Majlis conducted on 28/09/2023
During the Khilaafat of Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu and Hadrat Uthmaan Radiallahu Anhu, Hadrat Huzaifah Radiallahu Anhu was appointed as the governor of Madaa’in. It was a huge city situated on the banks of the Tigress River. Hadrat Huzaifah Radiallahu Anhu once asked a non-Muslim to bring him some water. He brought the water in a silver utensil and gave it to Hadrat Huzaifah Radiallahu Anhu. Hadrat Huzaifah Radiallahu Anhu threw it in his face and explained, “Many times I have told you not to bring water to me in a silver utensil but you have continued to do so.” Then Hadrat Huzaifah Radiallahu Anhu narrated, “Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam has prohibited us from drinking out of utensils made of gold and silver.” [Tuhfatul Alma’ee Pg.221/222]
In a narration of Musnad-e-Ahmad, it is mentioned that it is prohibited to eat from utensils made of gold and silver as well. Hadrat Huzaifah Radiallahu Anhu then explained the reason behind the prohibition, “Eating from these utensils is for the Kuffaar in the world, whilst this privilege is reserved for us in the Aakhirah.”
For women, they are permitted to wear gold and silver jewellery to adorn themselves, but in eating and drinking, there is no need for adornment. Nowadays, people buy these utensils and if not to eat or drink out of it, it is put on display in their homes. This is tantamount to Israaf (extravagance/wastage). The Quraan Sharif states, “Without doubt, the extravagant ones are the brothers of the Shayateen, And Shaytaan was ever ungrateful unto his Rabb.” [Surah Bani Isra’eel, Verse 27]
Hadrat Mufti Mahmood Sahib Rahimahullah once visited a home and saw a big pot in the lounge. He enquired about the pot and they told him it was for decoration purposes. Hadrat Muftisahib said that this was the first time that he heard that a pot is used as an ornament; a pot is usually bought for cooking hence this is wastage of money.
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam prohibited us in a Hadith from standing and drinking. There are some narrations where it is mentioned that Sahaaba would sometimes eat while walking, or drink while standing. The Muhadditheen have reconciled between these narrations by stating that those narrations where Sahaabah stood while eating or drinking was before the prohibition. There are some circumstances which would allow a person to stand while drinking, for example, on the battlefield, or drinking Zam Zam water, or drinking the leftover water after Wudhu if one utilized the Mudd (container used to make Wudhu).
We should have great love for the Sunnah of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Come 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, people claim their love for Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam but the actual love for Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is found in how much of the Sunnah we emulate.
On a recent Safr, every home we visited, meals were wet at a table. Only one house observed the Sunnah of eating on the floor.
Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was a mercy unto mankind. Every action that Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam brought has mercy in it. In a Hadith, Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam has mentioned, “I am only Rahmah; I am an embodiment of mercy and I have been sent as a gift to the entire creation of Allah Ta’ala.” To the extent that the lifespan of the Dunya expanded with the coming of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. It is mentioned in a Hadith, “Qiyaamah will not come for.as long as there is a person saying, ‘Allah! Allah!’.” So, when Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam preached Tauheed, how many people started saying Kalimah, hence the lifespan of Dunya increased.
It is mentioned in a Hadith, “One mountain addresses another mountain, ‘Did someone pass upon you today taking the Name of Allah?’ The other mountain replies, ‘Yes someone passed by and took the Name of Allah.’ So the first mountain rejoices that through this action, the system of the world will continue.” We learn from this that the system of Allah Ta’ala continues due to the friends of Allah Ta’ala, the people engaged in Zikrullah. It has been scientifically proven that due to the people making Tawaaf of Baitullah, which is the centre of the earth, the system of the earth is preserved.
The Dunya is surviving because of Deen. When the previous Ambiya Alaihimus Salaam gave Dawat to Tauheed, their people rejected them. In the time of the Nabi, while he was alive, Adhaab came and everyone was destroyed. However, such was the mercy that came with Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam that the Kuffaar in his time were not destroyed at once. Even up to now, the Kuffaar are still living and enjoying. It is mentioned that Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was asked to curse the Kuffaar. Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam responded, “I was not sent to curse people, I was sent as a Mercy to people.”
The teachings of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam were a form of Mercy
Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam mentioned, “If a person goes to sleep without washing his hands whilst there was some stickiness on the hand and he is bitten by some insect then he has no one to blame but himself.” This is because Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam taught us cleanliness to protect us from injury.
Another Hadith states, “If a person wakes up at night, he should not put his hand in any utensil because a person doesn’t know where his hand spent the night.” The commentators say a person is unaware of any Najaasat or poison from insects going on the hand that might spoil the water if the hand is placed in the utensil. This was the Rahmah of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam teaching us these Masaa’il.
Another Hadith teaches us that a person should try to wear his shoes at all times. Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said just like a person mounted on a horse is safeguarded from harmful objects on the ground, if one wear shoes, it will be a means of protection from injury. Another Hadith teaches us that if a person’s shoe breaks and he is unable to wear it, he should not walk with one shoe on without the other. Remove the both of them and when the broken one is repaired, then wear both at the same time. Another narration mentions in regard to the Khuffain-don’t wear one without the other because this will create an imbalance and a person might fall. This shows the Rahmah of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. How advanced was the foresight of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam?!
Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam mentioned, “When you relieve yourself, do not face the Qiblah nor turn your back to the Qiblah.” Then Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam added, “Take three stones with you to make Istinja – which is todqay substituted with the toilet paper.” He also said, “If you relieve yourself in the jungle look for soft ground so that the urine absorbs into the ground, otherwise, if the ground is hard, the urine will splash and cause your clothes to become Napaak.” Then Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Do not urinate in a hole. Perhaps a creature resides therein and it might emerge and cause harm to you.” In another narration it is mentioned that the Jinn live in holes as well.
Perhaps we make light of these advices or prohibitions because they do not affect our current lifestyle, but it seems that we are slowly moving back in time-no electricity, no water etc. which is an indication that these Masaa’il will become pertinent again.
Practicing on what the Sunnah teaches us
Once, while on Safr with our Sheikh, we stopped at a place where there was no water in the bathroom. After I emerged, I saw Hadrat enter and I told Hadrat there is no water so I will fill some from the drum for him. Now I was faced with dilemma of extracting the water from the drum into the jug. I couldn’t put the jug into the drum because it might make all the water in the drum Najis. So Hadrat advised to tilt the drum and it will fill the jug. I learnt then that we learn all the Masaa’il but we are unaware of the practical implementation.
On a Safr to Tanzania, we stopped in a rural area needing to make Wudhu. In these areas they still access wells for their water. Using a long utensil, they scoop out the water and we made Wudhu with it. As I was making Wudhu, I realized that the water was going back into the well. They then explained to me I wasn’t supposed to use it like that. There was a drainage system nearby which was purpose-built for it. So, we need to understand the Masaa’il practically. If we only have enough water in a Mudd for Wudhu, we need to understand how to use it.
Attracting the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala
May Allah Ta’ala grant us true understanding of how great a mercy Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was to us. Allah Ta’ala says in the Quraan, “It is because of the Rahmah of Allah that you are lenient towards the Sahaaba; if you were an ill-tempered person, a hard-hearted person, Sahaaba would have ran away from you.” [Surah 3, Verse 159]
Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam mentioned that a person who has no softness in his heart, is a wretched person. Another Hadith states that person who doesn’t have softness is deprived of all goodness. Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, ” That person is not from us who shows no mercy to the young, nor honour to the elders, and he doesn’t command us to good nor prohibit us from evil.” Another Hadith states, “Allah does not show mercy to one who is not Merciful to others.”
There were some Mashaaikh who were so merciful that they couldn’t bring harm to even a poisonous creature. Hadrat Maulana Maseehullah Khan Sahib wrote to Hadrat Maulana Thanwi Rahimahullah and told him that his temperament had become such that if he had to see a scorpion, he couldn’t bring himself to harm it. Maulana Thanwi wrote back saying that if his temperament doesn’t allow him to kill the scorpion, that it is fine. But, he should show the scorpion to someone else so that they may kill it before it causes harm to others. May Allah Ta’ala bless us with these beautiful qualities, Aameen!