#brotherhood

هل ندمت يومًا على قراءة كتاب؟ أي كتاب، ولماذا؟

We should be gentle when dealing with one who is ignorant and teach him what he needs to know without rebuking him, so long as he is not acting out of stubbornness, especially if he is one who needs to be won over.

The Prophet’s way in correcting people’s mistakes

Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him said: “Whilst we were in the Mosque with the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) a Bedouin came and stood urinating in the Mosque. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah sallallaahualayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said, ‘Stop it! Stop it!’ and were about to attack him. But the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said, 'Do not interrupt him; leave him alone.' So they left him until he had finished urinating, then the Messenger of Allah sallallaahualayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) called him and said to him, ‘In these Mosques it is not right to do anything like urinating or defecating; they are only for remembering Allah, praying and reading Qur’an,’ or words to that effect. Then he commanded a man who was there to bring a bucket of water and throw it over the (urine), and he did so.” (Muslim)

The principle which the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, followed in dealing with this mistake was to treat the man gently, not to be harsh with him.

The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was thinking of the likely consequences of the two options - stopping him or leaving him alone. If they tried to stop him, forcing a man to suppress his urination could do him harm, and if he was unable to stop but moved away because he was afraid of them, the impurity would be spread over a wider area of the Mosque and on the man's body and clothing. The Prophet sallallaahualayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) had the farsightedness to see that leaving the man alone until he had finished urinating was the lesser of two evils, especially since the man had already started doing it, and it was a problem that they would be able to do something about by cleaning it afterwards. So he told his companions to leave him alone and not to interrupt him.

Ibn Hajar may Allah be pleased with him mentioned in his commentary a number of things we learn from the hadith about the Bedouin, among which are the following:

We should be gentle when dealing with one who is ignorant and teach him what he needs to know without rebuking him, so long as he is not acting out of stubbornness, especially if he is one who needs to be won over.

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was kind and he dealt nicely with him.

The idea of taking precautions against impurity was established well in the minds of the Sahabah (Prophet’s companions), which is why they hastened to denounce it in the presence of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, without first asking his permission. The idea of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil was also well established in their minds.

We should also hasten to remove anything objectionable when there is nothing to stop us from doing so, because when the man had finished urinating, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) issued instructions that the place should be cleaned with water.

Explaining the seriousness of the mistake

Ibn ‘Umar, Muhammad Ibn Ka’b, Zayd Ibn Aslam and Qutadah may Allah be pleased with them reported (the following is compiled from their reports) that during the campaign of Tabook, a man said, “We have never seen anyone who loves food and tells lies more than our rectors, or anyone who is more cowardly in the battlefield” – referring to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions.

Awf Ibn Malik said, ‘You are lying! You are a hypocrite, and I am going to tell the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. ‘ Awf went to the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) to tell him, but found that Qur'an had already been revealed concerning it. That man came to the Prophet sallallaahualayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) who was riding his camel, and said, “O Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) we were only talking idly and joking, just to pass time in the journey." Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "It is as if I saw him hanging onto the reins of the Prophet's camel, with the stones hitting his feet, saying, "We were only talking idly and joking," whilst the Messenger of Allah sallallaahualayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was reciting (what means):

”Say: ‘Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?’” (Qur’an 9: 65)

We see that the prophet’s reply to these abominable remarks was by reciting some verses of the Qur’an by which this man was told that Allah and His Messenger are far above mocking. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, didn’t become enraged or order that the man should be punished severely. Any one else may do that, but the Prophet was sent as a mercy to all creation and to be an example of how people should behave.

The Prophet’s way in correcting people’s mistakes

Prophet Muhammad’s manners and disposition

The Prophet’s Justice

ما أكثر فكرة نمطية مكررة تزعجك في الكتب أو الأفلام؟

Resilience in the Face of Adversity
The Qur’an encourages Muslims to develop strong, resilient characters that do not waver in the face of trials.

Building Human Character in the Qur’an: A Path to Resilience and Strength
Building Human Character in the Qur’an: The Qur’an’s teachings emphasize the internal development of a person—his heart, emotions, and will. When a person is upright, balanced, and guided by Allah, he can confront life’s difficulties, whether in wealth, poverty, health, or illness.

Balanced Character in the Qur’an
The character that the Qur’an seeks to cultivate does not become arrogantly joyful when it obtains worldly desires, like Qarun with his amassed wealth, nor does it fall into despair over losses. This balanced approach allows a person to manage both success and failure without succumbing to pride or grief. As Allah says:

“And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us, then withdraw it from him, indeed he is despairing, ungrateful. But if We give him a taste of favor after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, ‘Evils have departed from me.’ Indeed, he is exultant and boastful. Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.” (Hud: 9-11)

Human Nature and Divine Guidance
These verses highlight the natural tendencies of human beings, which can only be overcome by those who are patient and do good deeds. Such individuals, nurtured by the teachings of Islam, develop the ability to endure hardships and express gratitude for blessings, driven by their love for Allah and belief in the Hereafter.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity
The Qur’an encourages Muslims to develop strong, resilient characters that do not waver in the face of trials. As Allah says:

“Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then remained steadfast—the angels will descend upon them, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.’” (Fussilat: 30)

This verse reassures believers that negative emotions like fear and grief do not solve problems and should not hinder progress.

Scholarly Insights on Patience and Strength
Ibn Taymiyyah emphasized the importance of patience and trust in Allah, even when witnessing wrong or changes in the state of Islam. He stated that despair and mourning over the condition of Islam are discouraged, advocating instead for perseverance and steadfastness. Reflecting on this, the poet Iqbal expressed:

“Believers rely on their Lord’s care
Neither fear troubles nor grieve in despair
The noble’s confidence elevates him above time
While sorrow is a deadly poison—do not drink the poison of sorrow.”

Positive Sorrow and Responsibility
While Islam discourages debilitating sorrow, it recognizes the value of positive sorrow—a deep reflection that fosters a sense of responsibility and drives believers to protect sacred boundaries. This mindset leads to inner peace and divine rewards. Allah says:

“And do not turn your cheek in contempt toward people nor walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.” (Luqman: 18)

Conclusion: Building Strong Character through Qur’anic Guidance
The Qur’anic guidance on building a balanced and strong human character is unparalleled. It teaches Muslims to face life’s challenges with resilience, without complaint or fatigue, and to remain strong at all times. This balance and moderation foster a society capable of enduring life’s trials with strength and dignity, as envisioned by the Qur’an.

By Mohammed Al-Abda