Worship (4/4)

The Corrupting Influence Of Power  

The Prophet once sent Miqdad ibn Aswad off on a mission. When he returned a few days later, the Prophet asked him how things had gone. “People kept on putting me on a pedestal, to the point where I began to think of myself as superior to them,” replied Miqdad. “That is the way with leadership. You can either take it or leave it.” said the Prophet. “By the one who has sent you with the truth,” replied Miqdad, “I will never again accept leadership – not even of two people.”  (Al-Bazzar)

Those Who Do Not Fear God Cannot Understand The State Of Mind Of Those Who Do 

The expedition of Tabuk was conducted under extremely difficult conditions. Abdullah ibn Abbas tells of how the Prophet exhorted the Muslims to make contributions towards it, and people started giving what they could. It was Abdul Rahman ibn Auf, with his donation of 200 ounces of silver, who made the largest contribution. When the Prophet asked him if he had left anything for his family, he said that he had. The Prophet then asked him what he had left for them and he said, “Something of greater value and more excellent than what I have donated.” The Prophet then enquired as to the exact value. “Whatever provision and good fortune God and His Prophet have promised” was Abdul Rahman ibn Auf’s reply. Abu Aqeel Ansari, however, had brought only one sa‘as of dates. He told of how he had spent the whole night hauling water for a Jew, for which he earned two sa’as of dates. One sa‘a he had left for his household. The other he had brought with him. He felt ashamed of his paltry contribution and excused himself on the grounds that he had nothing else to give. Such was the open-hearted sincerity of the true Muslims. There were hypocrites of Madinah, however, who used to decry the contributors of substantial sums as being ostentatious. They scoffed likewise at those who donated small amounts: “They are more in need of their sa‘as than anybody.”  (Kanz Al-Ummal) 

Sometimes The Obscure Are More Amply Rewarded Than The Famous 

One day when Umar was sitting with a group of people, he asked them, “Who will gain the greatest reward?” Some said it would be those who fasted, while others thought it would be those who prayed. Some said that the reward of the Commander of the Faithful would be the greatest. Everyone made different suggestions, but Umar dismissed them all. “Shall I tell you who will have the greater even than that of the Commander of the Faithful?” They all asked him to explain who he meant. “It is one who, clinging on to the reins of his horse, and watching over the Muslim army in the far off land of Syria, has no idea whether he will be devoured by some wild beast, bitten by some poisonous insect or attacked by some foe. Such a man will receive a greater reward than any of those you mentioned, greater even than the Commander of the Faithful.  (Ibn ‘Asakir) 

Preferring To Be Unostentatious 

At the end of a long journey on camel back, Umar arrived in Palestine along with a group of emigrants and helpers. The long garment, which he had been wearing for so many days, had torn at the back, and he gave it to the Bishop to be washed and mended. The Bishop did as he was told and when he brought the garment back mended, he brought along another one made out of fine cloth. Umar looked at it and asked him what this was that he had brought. “Your garment,” replied the Bishop. “I have washed and patched it. The other one is a gift from me.” Umar examined it, running his hand over it. Then he put on his own garment and gave the other one back to the Bishop. He explained that the old one absorbed sweat better.  (Reported by Al-Tabari) 

Living In Fear Of Doomsday 

Abu Bakr, seeing a bird sitting on a tree, exclaimed, “Oh bird, how fortunate you are. If only I could be like you-sitting on trees eating their fruit, then flying away. No reckoning or doom awaits you. By God, I would like to be a tree by the wayside, and have a passing camel take in its mouth, chew me, swallow me and then dispose me as dung.”  (Reported by Al-Baihaqi, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra) 

Setting No Special Value Upon One Sown Actions 

Umar once asked Abu Musa al-Ashari if he would like to have only those actions attributed to him which he had performed in the presence of the Prophet, with everything else that he had done to be completely nullified, so that neither his good nor his bad deeds were of any account and he would be neither punished nor rewarded. Abu Musa said that he would not. “When I came to Basra,” he explained, “oppression was rife among the people. I taught them the Qur’an and acquainted them with the teachings of the Prophet. I undertook campaigns for the cause of God along with them. This being so, I hope for the grace of God.” “For my part,” said Umar, “I should like my actions to be disassociated from me in such a way that neither good nor evil deeds were of any importance. Neither sin nor good deed would then stand to my account. All that would stand to my credit would be what I An Islamic Treasury of Virtues had done in the presence of the Prophet.”  (Ibn ‘Asakir) 

The Worth Of Honest Earnings 

According to Hasan, a certain individual once said to Uthman: You rich people far surpass others in righteousness. You are able to give charity, go on pilgrimages and spend for God’s cause.” “Are you envious of us?” enquired Uthman. “Indeed, we are,” said the man. “By God,” Uthman told him, “One dirham spent from money made through honest endeavour is better than ten thousand dirhams spent out of a great mass of wealth.”  (Reported by Al-Baikhaqi, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra)