The caring Prophet, and a community so unmoved!

Every Friday, for more than one thousand four hundred years, it has been the practice of thousands of Muslims the world over to recite the Surah al Kahf.

This Surah, like other suwar of the Qur’an, has in its fold an ocean depth of meanings that gives Muslims a purpose to live, a sense of direction.

Today I would like to highlight an important aspect about the personality of the glorious Prophet, Muhammad sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam, which this amazing Surah brings into limelight.

This aspect of our Prophet’s personality is often ignored by most of the Muslims in the world. Those who talk a lot about the fiqhi or jurisprudential  aspects of religious matters seldom get time even to ponder over this aspect of the Messenger of Allah.

Hardly we find Muslims in the world today observing this sunnah. 

Even if we adopt one percent of what our Benefactor use to feel, we would be doing a great service to our own selves in our day to day life. And those who have dedicated their life – such fortunate ones are unfortunately less in the world – to care and share the treasure of Islam to humanity, are really worthy of being called true followers of Prophet Muhammad sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam. May Allah make us one among those fortunate few. Aameen.

Well, what is that thing that was in the person of the Prophet which is badly lacking in most of us? 

Allah who sent His last and final guidance to mankind vividly describes His last and final Messenger in the most spectacular way in this ayah:

“Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.” (Surah al Kahf 18: 6) Click this for audio

Similar scene is presented in Surah Ash-Shu’araa:

“Perhaps, [O Muhammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be believers.”(Surah Ash-shu’araa 26:3)

The word باخع means tormenting, killing oneself with sorrow or worry. 

أسف means sadness, sorrow, grief.

Addressing His concerned Messenger sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam, Allah is telling, “O Muhammad! It seems you will go to the extent of killing yourself with sorrow and grief because some of them are not accepting your message!”

The sorrow and the deep grief Prophet Muhammad sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam had in him was not due to any personal loss. There is nothing evenly remotely connected to his selfishness here.

He did his duty perfectly well. He meticulously executed his responsibilities as a Prophet of Allah. If people do not believe in or follow his message, it was not his problem. He did his job. That’s it. Yet, we see how grievous he use to become because some people were not believing in his message.

The caring attitude of our glorious Prophet sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam is also depicted in this ayah:

 

“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9: 128)

The Messenger of Allah says about himself:

“My parable and that of yours is like a man who kindled a fire. When it has illuminated all around him, the moths and grasshoppers began to fall therein. He tried to push them away, but they overcame him and jumped into it. I am catching hold of your waists ties (to save you) from fire, but you slip away from my hands”. Sahih Muslim, Riyadhus Saliheen

Now, I should look at myself. And, you should look at yourself.

How grieved you are at the sight of people living a life of kufr and shirk? How worried you are about doing da’wah?

Our leader was tormenting himself after calling people to Islam.  Where do you and me, stand?

Are we doing da’wah in the first place?

On the contrary, there are enormous Muslims in the world who have a kind of hatred towards non-Muslims. We have taken things for granted that non-Muslims will go Jahannum. Oh…he is a Kafir, he will go to Jahannum. I am a Muslim, I will go Jannah. As if Judgement has been pronounced and one is having a gate-pass to Jannah!!

Do you know that there are countless number of human beings in today’s world who do not know what right guidance is!

Prophet Muhammad sal-lal-laahu-alahi-wa-sallam was the last and final Messenger of Allah. No further guidance is going to come from Allah.

Who has to call people to Islam? Who has to do da’wah?

Only when we do da’wah, we will feel the pinch, right?

Many of us are so unmoved.

We don’t have time to take care of our family even, we are so busy making our livelihood. Where we will bother about non-Muslims and do dawah on them!!

Look at the Rasoolullah how caring he was, and look at yourself. You call yourself his follower!!

May Allah guide us all. Aameen.

Jazakallahu Khayra for reading this post.

Baarakallaahu Feekum.

Sa-lal-laahu ‘Ala Muhammad, Sal-lal-laahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam.