In the Morning with the Prophet (1/2)

When the Prophet and his companions have completed their prayers and said their glorifications, the ends of their rows move closer. The Prophet looks all around at his companions while still seated at the spot where he has offered his prayers. As he is facing them, the morning light reveals the brightness of his face. He had a beaming white face, as if the sun was reflected in his face. Anyone looking at him saw truth in his face, just like ' Abdullah ibn Sallam said: "When I examined his face, I realized that his was not the face of a liar."

He might start with an admonition, as reported by al- 'lrbad ibn Sariyah: "One day after the Fajr prayer, the Prophet gave us a passionate admonition that caused tears to spring to people's eyes who felt very apprehensive. One person said: "Messenger of God, this sounds like the admonition of someone bidding farewell. What would you urge us to do?" He said: "I urge you to remain God-fearing, and to listen and obey even if your leader is a black slave. Those of you who live long shall see much controversy. Beware of deviant things, as they lead astray. Whoever of you lives till then should stick to my way [i.e. Sunnah] and the way followed by my rightly-guided successors. Hold on tight to it." The Prophet's admonition was not very frequent. He made it only sparingly, so that they would not get bored.

When his companions were gathered around him, he might turn to them and ask: "Is there anyone ill so that I would go and visit him?" If their answer was in the negative, he might ask: "Is there any funeral I might attend?"

He might enquire about anyone he missed. A black woman used to clean the mosque. The Prophet missed her one day and enquired about her. He was told that she died. He remonstrated with them, saying: "Why did you not inform me?" It appears that they thought she was of little concern. They said: "Messenger of God, she died at night and was buried. We did not wish to wake you up." The Prophet asked them to indicate her grave, and he went to her grave, offered the prayer for the deceased, praying for her.

One day, the Prophet noticed that his companion Thabit ibn Qays ibn Shammas was missing. He asked: "Why have not we seen Thabit ibn Qays? Is he ill?" Sa'd ibn Mu'adh said: "He is my neighbour and I have not heard anything about him being ill. Sa'd went to see him and he found him at home, having closed his door and sat there weeping. He asked him what was the matter. Thabit said: "It is too bad for me. God says: 'Believers! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak loudly to him as you would speak loudly to one another, lest all your deeds should come to nothing without your perceiving it.' (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49: 2) I am a man with loud voice. I fear that all my work is undone and I would be destined to hell. On learning this, the Prophet said to Thabit: "You are not one of them. You shall live well and die well. You belong to the people of heaven."

We thus see how he used to enquire about his companions, forgetting none of them. Indeed they all had their special positions. Whoever attended received his share of welcome and care. Those who were absent were not forgotten. Enquiries were made to confirm that they were well. Needless to say, this is extremely important in strengthening social ties and consolidating the feeling of belonging to the community.

In this early morning session, the Prophet might ask his companions about their dreams. He would say: "Anyone who saw a dream may wish to relate to me, and I with interpret it for him."

They related their dreams, and he interpreted them or said to his companions whatever was of benefit. One example of this is reported by 'Abdullah ibn Sallam: "I saw a dream during the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him). In my dream I saw myself in a very spacious and splendid garden, with an iron pillar in the middle of it. The pillar went deep into the earth and reached up to the sky. At the top of the pillar there was a loop at the top. I was told to climb up the pillar. I said: 'I cannot'. A servant came forward and he lifted the back of my robes. I climbed up to the top and took hold of the loop. I was told to hold tight to it. I then woke up, feeling as if the loop is in my hand. I related this dream to the Prophet. He said to me: 'That garden is Islam, and the pillar is the main pillar of Islam. The loop represents a most firm support. It means that you will hold on to Islam until you die. '"

A former Jewish rabbi who embraced Islam soon after the Prophet's arrival in Madinah, 'Abdullah ibn Sallam, lived 35 years after the Prophet had passed away. During these years certain groups of people turned away from I slam and fought the Muslim state i n what i s known as 'the wars against the apostates'. 'Abdullah ibn Sallam remained firm, holding on to the bond of I slam, as the Prophet told him he would do. He remained so until his death. The Prophet's interpretation of his dream may implicitly suggest that a wave of apostasy would take place, but 'Abdullah would not join those apostates. This may be taken as a sign confirming his status as a prophet.

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