Author: aal-e-qutub

Section 8 Praiseworthy qualities – Some praiseworthy qualities and noble manners that are acquirable: the consensus of scholars is that the person who has them is virtuous and even someone who has just one of them is highly respected. Some of these qualities have been described as being part of the qualities of Prophethood, but are more

commonly known as being “of good character”. A good character is comprised of having a balanced attitude, and the qualities of the self which is that of moderation not extremism.

The perfect example of being well balanced is exemplified by the Prophet,
praise
and peace be upon him, Allah praises him for this quality saying, “Surely, you (Prophet Muhammad) are of a great morality.” 68:4

Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, Mother of Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, described him saying, “His character was that of the Koran, He was pleased by that which it finds pleasing and angered by that which it finds hateful.”

The Prophet, praise and peace be upon us, informs us “I was sent to perfect the code of finest ethics.”

Anas observed and described him saying, “Of all people, the Messenger of Allah had the best character.”

The scholars of Islam concur that these noble qualities were within him from the instant of his creation. He neither acquired nor learned them, rather he received them through the generosity of His Lord as a special gift.

Similar qualities are found Jesus, Moses, John and Solomon and all the other prophets of Allah. When one reflects upon their life from the time of their childhood and continuing throughout their Prophethood they are easily recognizable. These qualities were inherent within them and when they were created they were given both knowledge and wisdom.

Allah speaks of Prophet John saying, “O John, hold fast to the Book’ and We bestowed on him judgment while yet a child.” 19:12. Scholars of Islam tell us that when Prophet John was a child Allah gave him knowledge of His Book. Mamar tells us that when John was only two or three years old the children asked him why he didn’t play with them, he politely replied, “Was I created for playing games?”

Allah also says to Prophet Zachariah, “Allah gives you glad tidings of John, who shall confirm a word from Allah.” 3:39. When Prophet Jesus was three years old,

Prophet John bore witness that Jesus was the word of Allah and His created spirit.

As Lady Mary was about to give birth Allah tells us, “He (Jesus) called to her from below: ‘Do not sorrow, look, your Lord has provided a rivulet below you.’ 19:24. Scholars have said the “he” refers to Prophet Jesus. Prophet Jesus spoke

when He was still in the cradle saying, “I am the worshiper of Allah. Allah has given me the Book and made me a prophet.” 19:30.

Allah says of Prophet Solomon, “We made Solomon to understand it, and to both (David and Solomon) We gave judgement and knowledge.” 21:79. Solomon was given judgment when he was still a child. Reflect for a moment upon the well known stories of the woman who was about to be stoned, and the story of the disputed infant – Prophet David concurred with his judgement. At-Tabari said that he was twelve years of age when he became king. There is a similar story of Prophet Moses who, when he was an infant grabbed the beard of pharaoh. The scholars of Islam explained the words of Allah “Before this We gave Abraham his virtue, for We knew him.” 21:51. Allah guided him when he was young. Ata’s son said that Allah chose him before He created him. It is also said
that at the time of Abraham’s birth, Allah sent an angel to him with the

to bear witness to Allah in his heart and to remember Allah with his tongue. Prophet Abraham replied, “I have done so.” Note, he did not say “I will do so.” This is the virtue given to him.
command

It has been reported that Prophet Abraham sought proof in the planet, the moon and the sun when he was fifteen months old. Later at the age of sixteen Allah tested his faith as he was cast into the fire by the unbelievers. And that his son Prophet Ishmael was tested by his willingness to be sacrificed when he was seven years old and praise be to Allah (Al Hamdulillah), he, despite his young age was strong in faith.

It has been transmitted that when, as a child, Prophet Joseph was cast into the well by his brothers Allah revealed to him, “You shall tell them of what they did when they are not aware (it is you). 12:15.

The preceding are but a few examples, there are many others.

Lady Amina, peace be upon her, daughter of Wahb, mother of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said that when she gave birth to him he spread his tiny hands out to the earth and lifted is head heavenwards.

The Prophet, himself, praise and peace be upon him, tells us, “As I was growing up Allah made idols and poetry loathsome to me. I was not tempted by any of the practices of the ‘Time of Ignorance’ except on two occasions and Allah protected me from both, and I was never tempted by them again.”

All the prophets had complete mastery over their affairs and the blessings of Allah encompassed them and the light of faith shone within their hearts enabling them to achieve their goal. They were able to achieve their goal because Allah had chosen them to be His prophets and endowed them with noble qualities, none of which were attained through either learning or discipline. Allah says, “And when he was full grown, and reached the perfection of his strength, We gave him judgment and knowledge.” 28:14.

There are people who have been created with some of these qualities, but not all of them. A person may be born with some of them and by the Favor of Allah it is made easy for him to complete them. No doubt you have seen children gifted by Allah with excellent manners, cleverness, honesty,
truthfulness or generosity, and then there are others who have the reverse.

It is understood that people can acquire and complete the qualities they lack. This achievement is acquired through self-discipline, hard work and by balancing elements that need to be balanced. There is a difference of opinion regarding the aforesaid. Each of us is eased to that for which he has been created. The early generations of Muslims differ whether or not the qualities of one’s character are inherent or acquired. Al Hasan Al Basri said, “In a worshiper
of Allah a good character is inherent and a natural disposition.”

The Companion, Saad Abi Waqqas’ son reported that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, “The nature of a believer can have every kind of imperfection except that of treachery and lying.”

The Caliph, Omar said, “Courage and cowardice are natural qualities which Allah places wherever He wills.”

Praiseworthy qualities and noble attributes are numerous. However, it is our intention not to mention their basic principals but indicate to them, and if Allah wills, we will verify and establish the fact that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, had all of these qualities.

Muhammad Sibghatullah

Muhammad Sibghatullah was the son of Shaykh Muhammad Mousouf. Once a beggar came to the Shaykh. The Shaykh had nothing to give so he glanced towards a stone that was lying nearby which immediately turned to gold. Shaykh then gave the gold to the beggar. (Jame’ Karamaatul Auliya)

Muhammad Sadr Udeen Mubakri

When Muhammad Sadr Udeen Mubakri was blessed with performing the pilgrimage to Makkah, the people of the time heard that Nabi (saw) had returned salaam upon Mubakri when he had paid salutations to the Prophet. (Jame’ Karamaatul Auliya)

Muhammad Ibn Daud Al Matarladi

On occasions guests would arrive to see Muhammad Ibn Daud Matarladi after the Esha prayer. If he had nothing to place before them, he would take a pot filling it with water place it upon the stove letting it cook. The pot would then miraculously produce milk rice or sugar/rice, or meat or chicken. (Jame’ Karamaatul Auliya)

A Paragon of Virtue
Ali, as a man was a paragon of virtue. The fame of his piety had spread far and wide, in particular of his attitude to prayers, when his fear in the presence of God and the sense that he had so many responsibilities towards his fellow-men still unfulfilled caused him to fall into a deep trance.

Ali at his Prayers

Abu Durda, who had hitherto been accounted the most perfect saint of that time used to say, “None in this world has excelled Ali in prayer and meditation”. Often Ali would weep and, shedding tears of remorse while he bowed humbly before the Majesty of God, would say thus:-

“O thou Lord, Who art the refuge and shelter of all. Often hast thou saved me from many a pitfall and showered thy blessing on me. Having hid my sins under the cover of thy benevolence, thou hast saved me from many a temptation. O Almighty Lord! Although my sins have exceeded (all bounds) and my evil deeds have multiplied enormously, yet there is none else save thy Mercy which can save me.”

“O Lord! When I look upon thy clemency (and compare it with my sins) I find that my faults are minor. When I think of your punishments (that await the sinner in hell) I think that the multiplication of my sins has

passed all limits. Alas! What will become of me, when I will be informed of those sins which I have forgotten but of which you are well aware. Neither my tribesmen, nor the members of my family will save me at that juncture. O the fire of hell which will roast me alive! O the flaring up of that fire which burns everything!”

So saying, Ali would fall into a swoon. Abu Durda, recalls how, on one such occasions, he found Ali lying rigid on his prayer-mat and, touching his cold body, decided that he must have breathed his last. On breaking to Fatima the sad news, he was told by her, “My husband (Ali) frequently becomes unconscious when praying, from fear of God. He must have fallen. into a usual swoon.” Abu Durda goes on to relate how, himself weeping profusely, he then took some water which he sprinkled over Ali’s face, whereupon Ali regained consciousness.

Secing the tears in Abu Durda’s eyes, Ali said to him, “Why are you crying? You shed tears when you see me in this state, imagine then, what will happen to me when the Angels drag me into the presence of God and I am forced to render an account of my deeds. They will bind me with fetters of iron and present me before God and those of my friends who will be witnesses will be powerless to help me. They will lament my unhappy plight but none save God will be able to help me on that day.”

Imam Zayn-ul-Abidin (literary “the adornment of the Pious) who was likewise renowned amongst the believers for his chastity and piety, used to say, “Is there any one, who ever prayed like Ali ?”

Some traditions say that while absorbed in meditation, Ali would forget his bodily self entirely. During the battle of Uhud, Ali is said to have received an arrow in his foot, which could not be extracted without a painful operation. The Holy Prophet’ is reported to have said, “Leave the arrow alone. Wait until Ali has

1. According to another account the arrow emerged out from Ali’s body when offering prayers in a state of trance without any operation.

lost himself in prayer, it is then that the surgeon should

draw it out.” This the surgeon did, the prayer-mat becoming a pool of blood, but Ali was so absorbed in prayer that he did not notice what was happening. Even during the thick of battle, Ali would spread his prayer-mat and offer prayers as if nothing was happening around him. The arrow of the enemies might pass close to his face but undaunted and heedless. of the consequences, he would still carry on with his prayers.

Ali’s Observance of the Fasts

As Ali had no parallel in the performance of prayers, so too he had no equal in the observance of fasts. He. would refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset suspending all bodily animation and becoming a living spirit. Because of his constant fasting he earned the epithets of “Qaimu’l Lail” (the keeper of nights) and “Saimu’l Nahar” (the observor of days). When participating in the wars of Jihad, he would fast even when fighting, putting up with the hardship of battles on an empty stomach; he used also to exhort his soldiers to observe the sanctity of the fasts, arguing that fasting was the easiest and surest means of redeeming their sins. It often happened that at the time of sunset, when he

might be expected to break his fast, he would find himself without provisions and after drinking a little water he would then observe the fast until the next day, losing himself once again in prayer.

The Daily Routine of Ali’s Life

Ali’s daily routine consisted of getting up early in the morning, before the break of dawn, and then repairing to the mosque, where he offered his prayers. During the ministry of the Holy Prophet, after his morning prayers, Ali occupied himself in writing out the Qur’an or in delivering sermons to the people whothronged round his door. It was in these addresses that he expounded the doctrines and dogmas of Islam. He also assisted the Holy Prophet in the disposal of Secretarial routine, working as his amanuensis until the break for the noon or “Zuhur” prayers. From the noon break until the “Usur” prayers (mid-afternoon) he remained busy with administrative work, issuing orders to the provincial governors and other officials. From mid-afternoon prayers till sunset prayers, he heard judicial cases and pronounced judgement on them. In the absence of these cases he delivered lectures and enlightened the congregation on matters of religion, discussing canons of “Sharia” (Islamic law) and the exposition of dogmas and doctrines. He remained busy uptil the time of night prayers, after the performance of which he went home, there to spend the greater part of the night in prayer and meditation. After a few hours sleep on a mat, the break of dawn heralded the repeat of this routine for the next day. As Ali fasted on all days the question of breakfast and lunch did not arise.