Rearing, O youth of awakening

The Muslim nation passes by times of crises followed by times of awakening, and times of distress followed by times of gladness and so forth.

These stages alternate according to its closeness or farness to the straight method: The book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet.

In all times the cure is almost the same which is an educational Salafi method that is extracted from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) according to the understanding of the Pious Predecessors. It is a method ready for application in reality not in educational sessions, founding theorization, or press articles.

This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do with his Companions. He used to rear, guide, and rectify their behavior in the time of distress and in the time of prosperity, in the time of defeat and victory.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) placed a complete balanced rearing system to achieve the main goal which is ascertaining slavery to Allah (Glory be to Him) at individual and collective levels in different times, customs, places, and environments.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) placed that system because rearing is a human necessity, a pressing need, and a moral value for good communities.

That was the beginning of the Prophet's call in the house of Al Arqam ibn Abu Al Arqam and we had seen it during the thirteen years which the Prophet (peace be upon him) spent in Makkah. Then we saw it in the Prophet's Masjid after migration and we had seen it during the ten years which the Prophet (peace be upon him) spent in Medina until he passed away.

Khabbab ibn Al Arat complained to him saying: "Would you ask Allah to provide us victory? Would you invoke Allah for us?" Then the answer comes: "Among the nations before you a (believing) man would be put in a ditch that was dug for him, and a saw would be put over his head and he would be cut into two pieces; yet that (torture) would not make him give up his religion. His body would be combed with iron combs that would remove his flesh from the bones and nerves, yet that would not make him abandon his religion. By Allah, this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a traveler from San'a' (in Yemen) to Hadrarmaut will fear none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty."[1]

Abu Dhar insulted someone by his mother, and the rearing comes fast: "O Abu Dhar! Did you abuse him by calling his mother with bad names? You still have some characteristics of ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers and Allah has put them under your command. So, whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of what he eats and dress him of what he wears. Do not ask them (slaves) to do things beyond their capacity (power) and if you do so, then help them."[2]

A young man came to him saying: "O Messenger of Allah, please grant me permission to commit adultery, then the people cried out against him, saying no. The Messenger said to him: Come near, and he went near him. The messenger said: Do you like to do that to your mother? He replied: No. By Allah, May Allah make me your ransom, and people do not like to do that to their mothers. Then he asked: Do you like to do that to your daughter? He replied: No by God, people do not like to do that to their daughters. The Messenger said: Do you like to do that to your sister? He replied: No, by God, may Allah make me your ransom, people all of them do not like to do that to their sisters…(finally) the Messenger placed his hand on the young man's hand and prayed: O Allah, forgive him his sins, purify his heart, and guard his private parts; and thereafter the youth did not like such acts( again)."[3]

Usamah ibn Zayd came to him to intercede for a women from the tribe of Makhzum, and the rectification comes: "Do you try to intercede for somebody in a case connected with Allah's Prescribed Punishments? Then he got up and delivered a sermon saying: What destroyed the nations preceding you, was that if a noble amongst them stole, they would forgive him, and if a poor person amongst them stole, they would inflict Allah's Legal punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad (peace be upon him) stole, I would cut off her hand."[4]

That what we saw and learnt from the Prophet, the teacher.

If we had lost the features of this rearing, there would not be a pure Muslim society, no Islam, and no Muslims, and you will not find but a scattered generation due to factionalism, fanaticism, and barbarism.

You will find a generation that speaks more than working, argues more than learning, and commits sins more than doing good.

You will find a generation that picks up mistakes, underestimates scholars, and accuses others' views of ignorance.

Rearing is a must so as not to waste the efforts of awakening, the efforts of leaders, and the efforts of young Muslims.

Rearing is a must so as knowledge be useful, Da`wah (the call) be successful, and advice be acceptable.

We have to simulate the Prophetic rearing system which generated that unique generation that has never been preceded in history, powerful in faith, detesting from desires, seeking the world, and dedicating for the sake of Allah.

A generation that the Prophet's rearing changed them from camel shepherds to leaders of nations.

We need this rearing to build the powerful Muslim personality which is integrated in its scientific, practical, call, psychological, bodily, and mental structure.

We have to be brought for truthfulness of expression.

We have to be brought for the culture of change.

We have to be brought for justice.

We have to be brought for good-thinking of Allah.

We have to be brought for bearing responsibility.

We have to be brought for respecting others' opinions.

We have to be brought for reckoning ourselves.

We have to be brought for understanding priorities and appreciating time.

One of the Pious Predecessors said to his son: O son, to learn one chapter of manners is better to me than learning seventy chapters of knowledge.

Everything has a decoration and the decoration of a person is good manners. Good manners may cause a person to be in high rank even if he is low in lineage.