إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

In few days, Ramadan will start, and we pray to Allah that all of us will be in good health to witness this month and complete its requirements.    Ramadan is known as the moth of patience and in reflecting in the seerah of the Prophet (PBUH), we note that Patience was a key part of the teachings of Islam.   

There are several accounts that are reported in the books of hadeath that clearly demonstrate that patience under the most difficult conditions is something that the Prophet (PBUH) was demanding from his companions to make them special men.  Without recognizing this key element, you may interpret some of the actions of the Prophet (PBUH) as not merciful while we all know that he (PBUH) Is the most merciful human being and that his whole mission is to bring mercy to all creations, as Allah said:

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةً۬ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (١٠٧)

“We have not sent you except as a mercy for the worlds (all that exists, mankind, animals, plants, etc.).” (Al-Anbia 21:107)

 Responses that are intended to promote patience may appear to contradict with mercy.  But the Prophet (PBUH) was very keen to instill patience in His followers because patience is critical to achieve support of Allah, love of Allah and to also cleanse the Muslim ranks form the weak and the untruthful.

Allah will always be with the believers as long as they are patient, as Allah said in many verses such as:  

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٥٣)

“O you who believe! Seek help through patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with those who are patient.” (Al-Baqara 2:153)

 The Prophet (PBUH) also wanted to emphasize to the companions that the hardships that they are facing are in the plan of Allah to filter them, as Allah said:

وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ نَعۡلَمَ ٱلۡمُجَـٰهِدِينَ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَنَبۡلُوَاْ أَخۡبَارَكُمۡ (٣١)

“And surely, We will test you till We know those who strive hard (for the Cause of Allah) and the patient, and till we verify your records (i.e. the one who is a liar, and the one who is truthful).” (Muhammad 47:31)

 Also, Allah wants to raise the level of patience in the companions because this is a prerequisite for them to attain the love of Allah, as Allah said:

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِىٍّ۬ قَـٰتَلَ مَعَهُ ۥ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ۬ فَمَا وَهَنُواْ لِمَآ أَصَابَہُمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُواْ وَمَا ٱسۡتَكَانُواْ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٤٦)

“There have been with every Prophet righteous men who fought along with him. But they never lost heart for what they suffered in the way of Allah, nor did they become weak, nor did they degrade themselves. And Allah loves the patient.” (Al-Imran 3:146)

 Allah reward those who area patient without any limit

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ‌ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةٌ۬‌ۗ وَأَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٲسِعَةٌ‌ۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ۬ (١٠)

“Say: “O My slaves who believe, be conscious of your Lord. Those who do good in this world will have good return, and Allah’s earth is vast. Certainly, those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without limit.” (Al-Zumur 39:10)

Therefore, some actions of the Prophet (PBUH) must be interpreted in terms of his keen desire to engrave the principle of patience in them. Demonstrating patience is the way to differentiate between the true believers from the hypocrites.  This cleansing process can only be achieved by subjecting the believers to severe hardships for no other reason than to test their belief in Allah and then see their response.  Are they going to renege and recoil, or will they remain steadfast on their belief in spite of the major suffering they face?

This point is made clear in verses as those in surat Al-Ankaboot in which Allah says:

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ فَإِذَآ أُوذِىَ فِى ٱللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتۡنَةَ ٱلنَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَٮِٕن جَآءَ نَصۡرٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا ڪُنَّا مَعَكُمۡ‌ۚ أَوَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعۡلَمَ بِمَا فِى صُدُورِ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (١٠) وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ (١١)

Of mankind are some who say: “We believe in Allah,” but if they are made to suffer affliction for the sake of Allah, they consider the persecution of mankind as Allah’s punishment, and if victory comes from your Lord, they will say: ” We have always been with you.” Does not Allah know best what is in the hearts of the Creations.  (10) Certainly, Allah knows those who believe, and certainly He knows the hypocrites.  (Al-Ankaboot 29:10-11)

 To know the difference between Muslims today and the companions of the Prophet, you need to assess their stand against all levels of prosecution form major physical suffering to loss of life to forfeiture of all their wealth with our stand not even to protect ourselves from prosecution but to merely avoid some materialistic benefits to be consistent with Allah’s commands.

 Let us look at real examples from the Seerah to know how the Prophet (PBUH) engraved patience in the heart of the companions and this is done on what may appear to be on the expense of Mercy.   The account I want to mention is that of the companion Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt (خَبَّاب ٱبْن ٱلْأَرَتّ‎) who was master swordsmith.  His trade was to work with iron to make swords and he was considered the best in Mecca.

Before giving some elements of the history of Khabbab, I want to focus on an account that he mentioned and reported in Bukhari.  Khabb was a slave to a woman called Umm Anmaar (أم أنمار) from the Khuza’a tribe.  After she discovered that Khabbab became Muslim, she sought the support of her tribe to force him to change his belief.   When he refused, they started inflicting on him the most painful punishment.  They would torture him by burning the coal that he used to soften iron to make swords and placed it on his back to burn his flesh. 

Despite this unbearable pain, he continued to refuse to say any word against the Prophet to make them stop.   As you realize that the pain from such burning does not stop by the removal of the coal, but it continues.  After many times without making any statement suggesting that he is changing his belief, they left him for a while.  

When he was able to leave, he went to see the Prophet (PBUH).  Kabbab said when I came to the Prophet (PBUH), he was leaning on a cushion in the shade of the Kabbab. I said to him:

روى البخاري بسنده عن خباب t قال: أتيت النبي r وهو متوسد بُرْدَةً وهو في ظل الكعبة، وقد لقينا من المشركين شدة، فقلت: يا رسول الله، ألا تدعو الله. فقعد وهو محمر وجهه، فقال: “لَقَدْ كَانَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ لَيُمْشَطُ بِمِشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا دُونَ عِظَامِهِ مِنْ لَحْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ، مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَيُوضَعُ الْمِنْشَارُ عَلَى مَفْرِقِ رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَيْنِ، مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَلَيُتِمَّنَّ اللَّهُ هَذَا الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ، مَا يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَالذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ”

“O, Messenger of Allah, will you invoke Allah (to help us)?”

(I want to stop here and give you few seconds to think what will your response be, if made this request to you?

When kabbah made this request to the Prophet (PBUH), The Prophet (PBUH) sat down with his face getting red and said:

“People before you would be tortured with combs of iron that their flesh and nerves come out of the bones and yet that would never make them abandon their religion.   The saw will be brought and put on the parting of their head and they would be sawed in two parts, yet that would not make them abandon their religion.   Allah will surely make this religion triumphant that the rider will travel from Sana to Hadra Maut, having no fear of anybody except from Allah, and having no fear on his flock of sheep except from the wolf.  But you are hasty.”  (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Frankly, until I understood the absolute criticality of patience in making true men, I was perplexed with the Prophet’s response.  This response of the Prophet (PBUH) to Khabbab that the believer must always be patient, hopeful and confident in Allah’s plan and help. He told him that the victory of this religion will come but not on our desired schedule but on His, so be patience and don’t be hasty.  

Also reported in Bukhari, the companion of the Prophet Qays said:   We went to check on khabbab after his back was burnt seven times and he said to us:

وفي البخاري أيضًا عن قيس قال: أتينا خباب بن الأرت t نعوده وقد اكتوى سبعًا، فقال: لولا أن رسول الله r نهانا أن ندعو بالموت لدعوت به.

“If it was not for the messenger of Allah prohibiting us to pray seeking death, I would have prayed for it.”

This is not the only account for the response of the Prophet (PBUH) to the suffering of his companions.  Yasir, his wife Somayeh (سمية) and their son Ammar were being subjected to the worst form of punishment.  The idolators would wait until the heat in the desert is the worst and torture them by dragging Yasir, Somayeh and Ammar on the extremely hot sand and ask them to condemn Mohammad but they continue to refuse.  The Prophet (PBUH) would pass by them and the prophet would say to them while they are being tortured:

( صبراً آل ياسر، فإنَّ موعدَكم الجنة )

“Patience, the family of Yasir. Certainly, your meeting place will be in Paradise.”

The torture continued and their commitment to belief got Abu Jahl so mad that he subjected Sumayya to the most terrible torment that ended by slitting her in two to fall as the first martyr in Islam.

Allah says that among the believers there are some who are real men while there are others who cannot be described this way: 

مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ۬ صَدَقُواْ مَا عَـٰهَدُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحۡبَهُ ۥ وَمِنۡہُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ‌ۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُواْ تَبۡدِيلاً۬ (٢٣)

“Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have completed their vow until death, and some (still) wait but they have never changed (their determination) in the least.” (Al-Ahzab 33:23)

While Somayeh was a woman, in the sight of Allah she was a true man, she never waivered in her covenant with Allah until she was martyred.

This religion was built on the shoulders of real men and women who suffered greatly to prove that they are worthy of Allah’s victory.  The question is: are we willing to suffer a little to fulfill the covenant of Allah by just managing our money according to Allah’s commands or even in this trivial test we compromise in our covenant.  

Why I am mentioning money here because we are approaching Ramadan, and this is the month of generosity.  The question is how many Muslims will carefully assess their total assets and calculate their zakat to ensure that it is paid in full.  And how many will look for ways to justify minimizing what they pay.  We need to keep in mind that the Zakat is the absolute minimum a Muslim should pay but there is no limit to the maximum.

Let us look at another example and focus on the response of the Prophet (PBUH).  The example is of Suhaib Al-Rumi (صُهَيْب ٱلرُّومِيّ‎,).  When Suhaib wanted to immigrate from Mecca to Al-Madina to Join the Prophet (PBUH), the People of Quraysh refused to allow him to leave unless he leaves for them all his wealth and leave with nothing.   Without hesitation, he agreed and when he arrived to A-Madina, the Prophet (PBUH) told him:  “Successful is the sale, Abu Yahia ( ربح البيع أبا يحيى ).  It is reported that Allah revealed the following verses after this event:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ }( البقرة)

“And among men is he who would sell his life to earn the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is full of kindness to (His) slaves.” (Al-Baqara 2:207)

We see from these examples and others in the seerah how early Muslim demonstrated their patience against all forms of physical torture, inhumane killing of family members and loss of all their wealth.  They have passed the test that Allah imposed on them and have proven without doubt that they are rightly guided as Allah said:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ

“We shall surely test you with some fear and hunger, and some loss in wealth, lives and the fruits of your labor. But give glad tidings to those who are patient.  Who say when misfortune strikes them: We belong to Allah and to Him is our return; they are those on whom Allah grants blessing and mercy, and they are the rightly guided.” (Al-Baqara 2:155-157).

It is from Allah’s mercy upon us that He is not subjecting us to the same tests, but this does not mean that are not being tested.  Therefore, we should look at our conditions and ask what is the type of test that we are being subjected to and ensure that we are successful through the demonstration of real patience and sacrifices. 

Back to Khabbab, upon seeing him speaking with Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Um Anmar (أم أنمار) tortured him by running a red-hot iron comb through his scalp and burning his skin. He endured all this torture for the sake of Allah. Eventually Abu Bakr (ra) purchases him and set him free.

Because of Khabbab’s intelligence, the Prophet (PBUH) entrusted him to teach the Quran to others.  He was the one teaching the Quran to the sister of Omar ibn Al-Khatab, Fatima bnt Al-Khattab and her husband Saeed ibn Zayd (سعيد بن زيد) the Quran when Omar came to them.  He was the one who took Omar to the Prophet (PBUH) to declare his Islam. He was also assigned to teach Omar the Quran. 

In the last phase of his life, Khabbab was blessed with great wealth. However, he was well-known for his generosity. It is even said that he placed all his money in a part of his house that was known to the poor and the needy. He did not secure this money in any way and made it clear that anyone who is in need should come and take what they needed without seeking any permission or asking any question.

وقد اغتنى خباب t في الشطر الأخير من حياته بعد فقر، وملك ما لم يكن يحلم به من الذهب والفضة، غير أنه تصرف في ماله على وجه لا يخطر ببال أحد؛ فقد وضع دراهمه ودنانيره في موضع بيته، يعرفه ذوو الحاجات من الفقراء والمساكين، ولم يشدد عليه رباطًا، ولم يحكم عليه قفلاً، فكانوا يأتون داره ويأخذون منه ما يشاءون دون سؤال أو استئذان. ومع ذلك فقد كان يخشى أن يحاسب على ذلك المال وأن يعذب بسببه.

In spite of this, he was always afraid of his accountability to Allah for the way he disposed of this wealth. A group of companions related that they visited Khabbab when he was sick, and he said: “In this place there are eighty thousand dirhams. By Allah, I have never secured it any way and I have not barred anyone in need from it.”

Then, he wept, and they asked why he was weeping.

He said: “I weep because my companions have passed away and they did not obtain any such reward in this world. I have lived on and have acquired this wealth and I fear that this will be the only reward for my deeds.”

Soon after he passed away in the year 37 H at the age of 73. The Khalifah Ali ibn Abu Talib (ra) stood at his grave and said:

رحم الله خبابًا، فلقد أسلم راغبًا، وهاجر طائعًا، وعاش مجاهدًا. ولن يضيع اللَّه أجر من أحسن عملًا

“May God have mercy on Khabbab. He accepted Islam wholeheartedly. He performed the Hijrah willingly; and he spent his whole life striving in the way of Allah and Allah will never withhold the reward of one who has done good.”

May Allah grant Khabbab the Ferdous Al-Ala and may Allah make us join with the prophet (PBUH) and all his righteous companions in the Ferdous Al-Ala.

DUA