Respecting elderly people (2)

The second sermon

Praise be to Allah frequently as our Lord loves and satisfies. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger (peace be upon him), his family, and his Companions to the Day of Recompense.

O people, fear Allah as should.

O servants of Allah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the master of the former and the later in his dealings with his family and others. He was the model example who embodied the most perfect manners and the highest in morals, and the noblest in treatment, so (peace be upon him). Allah has said the truth when He says about him: "And verily, you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) are on an exalted standard of character." [Surat Al Qalam: 4].

`A'ishah, the mother of the believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned part of his manners saying: "I have not seen anyone resembling Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) more closely than Fatimah daughter of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) in habits, gait and characteristics, and in her getting up and her sitting down. When she came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) he would stand up for her, kiss her and make her sit in his place. And when he visited her, she stood up from her seat, kissed him and gave him her place to sit down."[1]

Our Prophet (peace be upon him) also teaches us something very important which is Salah: He said: "Let those of you who are mature and prudent be nearer to me, and then those who are next to them."[2]

One of the Companions was performing Salah and saw a Companion who brought his son then he made the boy go back to the second raw. When he saw that the face of the father turned into red, he said to him: O brother, this is the Sunnah of Muhammad (peace be upon him).[3]

This respect shown from Muslims toward one another is a proof to the goodness of their inner selves and their good upbringing. We are in dire need to this useful rearing to prevail in our societies and assemblies. We need our children respect elderly people, advance them in gatherings, start with them, consult them, listen to them, and appreciate them; these are the sublime manners of Islam if which we hold firm, we shall gain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.

Let it be known that the best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him). The most evil of all matters is the innovated and each novelty in religion is a heresy. Keep to the Muslim group, for the company of Allah is with the group, but whoever goes astray, he shall be cast in Hell.

Send peace and blessings upon your Prophet (peace be upon him) as Allah commanded them in His Saying: "Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad peace be upon him), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad peace be upon him), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu 'Alaikum)." [Surat Al Ahzab: 56].

May Allah send peace and blessing upon our Prophet Muhammad, and may Allah be pleased with his successors, the Rightly Guided.