Day: November 26, 2024

Section 3 – The kindness and gentleness of Allah towards the Prophet

Allah said, “Allah has pardoned you. Why did you give them leave (to stay behind) until it was clear to you which of them was truthful and knew those who lied?” 9:43. The kindness and gentleness of Allah is demonstrated in this verse. Awn, Abdullah’s son draws our attention to the gentleness of Allah who tells His Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, that He had pardoned him by referring to his status of continuous pardon before He mentions his minor mistake if any.

As-Samarkandi reported that he had heard it explained that Allah protected His Prophet, and made his heart sound. If he had first been addressed with the words “why did you give them leave” then his heart would have been so stricken that it might almost have burst from the terror of these words. But

instead, Allah first told him that he had been pardoned, and thereby caused the soothing of his heart.

It is easy for all to understand and recognize that this is yet another demonstration of the high rank and honor in which the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, is held by Allah that he is the subject of His kindness, and if the depth of this kindness were to be known to us our hearts would most surely burst.

Naftoyah discredited the claim that some people were of the opinion that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was rebuked in this verse. The opposite is the case, he was in fact preferred by it. When he gave them leave, Allah informed him that if it had not been so then they would have still remained in their state of hypocrisy, therefore no objection can be raised as to their having been given leave.

In an effort to follow the Islamic code of life, Muslims should strive hard and try to achieve the ethics outlined in the Koran, not only in words, but in action, search and communication. This is the accurate foundation of knowledge and the arena of acceptable behavior in both religion and in one’s everyday affairs. This superb kindness should not be neglected when one supplicates to the Lord of all lords, the One from whom all blessings flow, the One who is not in need of a single thing. The benefits of this verse should not be overlooked, they should be well heeded. Notice how Allah begins by first honoring him, then gently draws attention to the mistake, and there is pleasure in granting pardon before even the mention of the mistake if in fact there was a mistake.

Allah says, “And if We had not fortified you, you would have been very slightly inclining towards them.” 12:74. This verse demonstrates the greatest possible concern Allah has for His Prophet, praise and peace be upon him. Previously prophets were admonished, in the case of Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, he was gently advised, thereby the gentle advice was more effective and a greater indication of His love becomes apparent.

Pay attention to they way in which Allah begins by expressing His fortification and security, before mentioning His gentle advice to the very slight inclination so that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, did not dwell on it. His innocence remained intact whilst being gently advised so that he was not vulnerable on account of the gentle advising, his honor and security remained untarnished.

This is applicable to the verse “We know what they say saddens you. It is not you that they belie; but the harmdoers deny the verses of Allah.” 6:33. This verse was sent down when Abu Jahl denied the authenticity of the Message when he said to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, “We do not call you a liar. We say that what you have brought is a lie.”

It has also been narrated that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was saddened when his tribesmen belied him whereupon the Archangel Gabriel, peace be upon him, visited him and asked, “What saddens you?” to which he replied, ‘My tribesmen belie me.” Gabriel then informed him “They know you are telling the truth.” It was soon after Allah sent down this verse.

This verse is full of kindness and gently consoles the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him. It also affirms that he is indeed held to be truthful by all and they are not denying him personally. Even before he was called to the Prophethood, all and sundry knew him to be trustworthy. With the sending down of this verse his sadness that others now thought him to be a liar was removed.

After this consolation, Allah censures those who belie by referring to them as harmdoers saying “but the harmdoers belie the verses of Allah.” Allah removes His Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, from dishonor and then classifies the deniers on account of their denial of His signs as being arrogant. One should realize that belying arises when a person has knowledge of something but chooses to deny it. Allah makes this very clear in the verse, “They denied them unjustly out of pride, though their souls acknowledged them.” 27:14.

In another verse Allah further consoles His beloved Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, saying, “Messengers indeed were belied before you, yet they became patient with that which they were belied and were hurt until Our help I came to them.” 6:34.

It is also of note that Allah addresses all His other prophets and messengers by their name, for example “O Adam”, “O Noah” “O Abraham”, “O Moses” “O David,” “O Jesus”. “O Zachariah”, and “O John” however, from His kindness and honoring His last Prophet, He addresses Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, with a title such as “O Messenger” 5:67, “O Prophet” 33:45, “O Wrapped” 73:1, “O Cloaked” 74:1.

Ibrahim Ibn Adham

A pauper was passing on the way heavily drunk, his face covered with dust. On seeing him. Ibrahim began cleaning the man’s mouth remarking, “The mouth that is used in repeating the name of the Lord must always remain clean”. Upon becoming sober the man was ashamed of his deeds, he repented and gave up drinking. That night Ibrahim saw in his dream that angels came with news to him that since he had washed the mouth of the pauper, the Lord had cleansed his heart of evil thoughts in return for the good done by him.

Once Ibrahim was crossing the river by boat and a storm set in. The people were terrified. Ibrahim took out the Quran from his pocket and said, “If the boat sinks then this book will be lost, but this cannot be”. Instantly, the Divine Voice was heard, “We shall not let the boat sink”.

Miracles of the Saints

One day a person inquired of Ibrahim what he gained by leaving the kingdom of Balkh. Ibrahim at the time was seated by the bank of a river. He threw his needle in to the water and commanded the fish to bring it to him. Thousands of fish came back to him with gold needles; however Ibrahim said that he wanted his own. In response to this a small fish brought the one that belonged to Ibrahim. Thereupon Ibrahim told the man, “This is the smallest grade that has been conferred upon me as a result of my renouncing the kingdom of Balkh”. (Tadhkeratul Auliya)