Al Minah Al `Aliyyah (2)

Prelude

The meaning of Sunnah

Sunnah means what is recommended and preferred So, Sunnah is that which is commanded in the Shari ’ah but is not obligatory. The fruit of which is, the one who applies it will be rewarded and the one who neglects it will not be punished .

Examples of the eagerness of the Salaf (pious predecessors) to apply the Sunnah :

Imam Muslim reported through An-Nu`man Ibn Salim from ‘Amr Ibn Aws that he said, ‘Anbasa Ibn Abu Sufian told me in his illness by which he died about a Hadith so that he might be relieved by it. He said: I heard Umm Habibah saying: I heard the Messenger of Allah r saying, “He who prays twelve rak’ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in paradise because of them.”

Umm Habibah said: “I have never abandoned observing them since I heard about them from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.” ‘Anbasa said: “I have never abandoned observing them since I heard them from Umm Habibah.” ‘Amr Ibn Aws said: “I have never abandoned observing them since I heard them from ‘Anbasa.” An-Nu’man Ibn Salim said: “I have never abandoned observing them since I heard them from ‘Amr Ibn Aws.” ^[1]

‘Ali t narrated that Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) went to the Prophet r complaining about the bad effects on her hands due to working the stone hand-mill. She heard that the Prophet had received a few slave girls. But (when she came there) she did not find him, so she mentioned her problem to ‘Aishah. When the Prophet came, ‘Aishah informed the Prophet about that. ‘Ali added, “So the Prophet came to us when we had gone to bed. We wanted to get up (on his arrival) but he said, ‘Stay where you are.’ Then he came and sat between me and her and I felt the coldness of his feet on my abdomen. He said, ‘Shall I direct you to something better than what you have requested? When you go to bed say “Subhan Allah” thirty-three times, “Alhamdulillah” thirty three times, and “Allahu Akbar” thirty four times, for that is far better for you than a servant.’”^[2]

In another narration, ‘Ali said: “I have never left them since I heard them from the Prophet r.” He was asked, “Even on the night of the Battle of Siffin?” He said: “Even on the night of the Battle of Siffin.”^[3] It is known that ‘Ali t was one of the leaders in the Battle of Siffin and despite him being occupied with his role in it, he did not abandon this particular Sunnah.

Ibn ‘Umar t used to lead people in the funeral prayer and then afterwards would get up and leave. He would not follow the funeral procession to the grave as he did not know about the virtues of it. When he was told about the hadith of Abu Hurairah t, he regretted it. So, imagine what he said? ‘Amir Ibn Sa’d Ibn Abu Waqqas reported on the authority of his father that while he was sitting along with ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar, Khabbab, the owner of Maqsura, said: “Ibn ‘Umar, do you hear what Abu Hurairah says that he heard the Messenger of Allah r say? He who goes out with the funeral bier when taken out from its residence and offers prayer for it and he then follows it till the person is buried, he would have two qirats of reward, each qirat being equivalent to (Mount) Uhud; and he who, after having offered the prayer, (directly) came back, would have his reward (as great) as Uhud.”

Ibn ‘Umar sent Khabbab to ‘Aishah in order to ask her about the words of Abu Hurairah (and also told him) to come back to him (Ibn ‘Umar) and inform him what ‘Aishah said. (In the meanwhile) Ibn ‘Umar took up a handful of pebbles and turned them over in his hand till the messenger (Khabbab) came back and informed him that ‘Aishah testified to (the statement of) Abu Hurairah. Ibn ‘Umar threw the pebbles he had in his hand on the ground and then said: “We missed a large number of qirats.”^[4]

An-Nawawi said, “This hadith reveals the condition of the Companions, as they were eager to increase acts of worship. They also used to regret what they missed of the Sunnah, as they were unaware of its virtues.” ^[5]

The hadith of Sa’id Ibn Jubair  that ‘Abdullah Ibn Mughaffal t saw a man throwing stones with two fingers (at something) and said to him, “Do not throw stones, for Allah’s Messenger r has forbidden throwing stones, or he used to dislike it.” ‘Abdullah added: “Throwing stones will neither hunt the game, nor kill (or hurt) an enemy, but it may break a tooth or gouge out an eye.” ^[6]

Examples of maintaining the Sunnah and respecting it are numerous; and there is no wonder here, as the Companions were eager to do goodness.  Thus, later generations were affected by them. History recorded the examples of those who stuck to the Sunnah - and of course - this enabled the people to follow the Sunnah.

Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy upon him) collected nearly forty thousand ahadith in his Musnad, and he followed all of them. He said, “I never learned a hadith without applying it.” When he read that the Prophet r had himself cupped and paid Abu Taibah, the cupper, one Dinar of gold, he (Ahmad) said, “I had myself cupped and I also paid the cupper one Dinar too.” Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy upon him) did so in order to apply the hadith, and there are many other similar examples of this. We ask Allah – glorified be He – to revive the Sunnah in our hearts so that we may attain part of these blessings and favors and be close to Allah through the Sunnah that He entrusted to Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. 

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “Unlike others, you will find the one who follows the Sunnah to be showered with spirituality, glory, greatness and the approval (of the people).”

Al-Hassan al-Basri said, “The real believer is the one who is given sweetness (of faith) and respect.” ^[7]