The frankness of the Prophet (peace be upon him) (2)

Wisdom and politics

Hypocrites were a big hindrance before the call to Islam and did every possible thing to destroy the religion from inside, unfasten the Muslim society, and weaken their power. However, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) managed to avoid clash by his wisdom and policy, guarded the security of Medina and its people, and overpassed this hindrance by patience, forbearance, and good word. He faced their mockery with tolerance and good treatment to the extent that he was seeking forgiveness for them until he was forbidden to do so.

However, some Companions could not stand that situation, particularly when `Abdullah ibn Ubay ibn Salul declared that the honorable shall come out humiliated from Medina [He meant the Messenger of Allah and the believers]. Upon that `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Let me strike the neck of that hypocrite, O Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Leave him alone so as the people would not say that Muhammad is killing his Companions. [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim according to the wordings of Muslim (2584)].

People in charge, particularly the local authorities, know what may reform the society and what may not as they know the classes of the society and know that if sedition spreads inside the society, it will become difficult to put it off, and souls do not go back to their nature but after a period of time. So, the solution lies in politics, forbearance, and peace, then killing takes place after the end of reconciliation efforts.

There is no hesitation after making up one's mind

The Prophet (peace be upon him) consulted his Companions before the battle of Uhud whether to stay in Medina or come out to meet the enemy. They held the view of going out to meet the enemy, but when he wore the clothes of war and made up his mind, they said: Stay, but he refused to listen to them after determination, and said: It is not proper for a prophet to take off the clothes of war after he had put them on until Allah judges between him and his enemy. [Reported by Al Bukhari: 28].

Hesitation leads to separation and weakness because after consultation and agreement comes determination then execution. As for retreating after agreement, it is not acceptable but it will lead to the destruction of determination and wasting the chance for uniting the word.

This is another lesson for the people in charge to be determined and have a strong will, and words should not affect their decisions after making up their minds.

Admitting the separation of the Muslim nation

Muhammad's nation is like other previous nations which were hit by weakness, separation, and disparity because of being away from their religion. "Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allah's Reminder (this Quran), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)." [Surat Al Hadid: 16].

It is not hidden from callers to Islam the conditions of those who embrace Islam willingly, however some of them are psychologically beaten when they see the disputes and differences among religious people, thinkers, jurists, imams, and writers.

They must hear the full truth which is: There are two pure reliable sources upon which we depend in regard to religion which are the book of Allah which cannot be altered or distorted and the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) declared that this nation shall be hit by disagreement, and the solution to that is adhering to the Straight Path and be with the Muslim public opinion as Ibn Majah reported in his Sunan (3992) and is graded as authentic in Al Jami` As-Saghir (1082) with the following wordings: "The Jews split into seventy-one sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy in Hell. The Christians split into seventy-two sects, seventy-one of which will be in Hell and one in Paradise. I swear by the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, my nation will split into seventy-three sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy-two in Hell." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, who are they?" He said: The main Muslim body."

As if it is a devil!

Islam exhorts people to cleanliness and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was clean and elegant. What will happen if a Muslim comes out with unkempt hair and dusty as if he is coming out from a grave?

It was reported in a Mursal Hadith (the link between the Successor and the Prophet (peace be upon him) is missing) reported by Imam Malik in his Muwatta' (1702) and others on the authority of `Ata' ibn Yasar that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was in the masjid when a man with unkempt hair and beard entered the masjid. The Prophet (peace be upon him) pointed to him to go out [as if he meant fix your hair and beard]. The man did so then came back. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Is not it better than a person who enters the masjid with unkempt hair as if he is a devil?

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was a good instructor and used to teach his nation things to reform them in regard to the world and the Hereafter.

Beware of things which you eat

Abu Juhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I ate meat and bread to the full then came and sat beside the Prophet (peace be upon him). I started to belch, then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Decrease your belch, for the people who eat to their full in the world are the most hungry in the Hereafter. [Reported by Al Hakim in Al Mustadrak (7864) and graded it as good in Sahih Al Jami` (1179)].

This is a lesson for all of us to pay attention when we eat and to keep away from greed and extravagance so as not to care much for food because eating to the full leads to hard reckoning. How beautiful is the speech of Imam Al Hasan Al Basry who said: The sin of your father Adam was a meal and it will be your affliction to the Day of Recompense.

Mother `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: When the people eat to their full, their souls incline to the world.

These were pauses with the Sunnah and the Sirah to show the Prophet's openness in situations, speech, and actions. They do not need philosophy or lengthy explanation, and if you follow them in the books of the Sunnah and Sirah, you shall find them numerous. Praise be to Allah alone.