Assalaamu alaykum,
The following is a summary of pearls and lessons from Season 2, Episode 7 of the series ‘Blast From The Past’ – Seerah in the 21st century.
10th year after prophethood
Points to note from the teachings of boycotting a Muslim brother or sister:
- Rasullulah (SAW) has warned against not speaking to a brother or sister for more than three days.
- The exception is if there is a greater benefit that can come about as a result of boycotting a particular person.
- For example: They are a person who practices bad habits or are a bad influence on their community, their neighbourhood etc and boycotting them would be a means of making them realize the error in their ways. The shariah allows the boycotting of such a person for more than three days. Caution: Such a boycott should be used akin to the taking of medication. an overdose runs the risk of abandoning the person to the extent that they feel isolated and become even worse than they already are. Similarly, an under dose runs the risk of that respective person developing an immunity to the boycott and the benefit sought will not be achieved.
Remember – in such situations we are all answerable to Allah and the shariah in permitting such an action to achieve a greater benefit makes it clear that if that benefit will not be achieved through boycotting, then boycotting should not be an option.
Lessons from the 3 year boycott continued:
Strive to become diligent with your hearts and the worship of the heart.
Become diligent with your imaan, the level of imaan, and the level of tawaqqul and hope you have in Allah. We learn this from the example of the sahabah who were the best of nations to have walked the face of this earth. The person who felt the boycott the most was the prophet as it was his message and the people’s acceptance of his message that had caused the boycott and the anxiety resulting from it, but the beauty of the Islam of the first generation is that their imaan in Allah was so strong that no matter what the circumstance their imaan never wavered and never doubted Allah.
Point of reflection – the sahabah were the best of nations not because of their abundant amounts of open acts of worship but as scholars say, because they are unmatchable when it comes to worship of the heart,in their fear of Allah and in their tawaqqul and hope in Allah.
Remember;
“Excellence is the minimum requirement” – motto of a believer.
Shaitaan is not strong but he is cunning. A Muslim is supposed to be great and live for Allah only and a Muslim who lives for Allah gives nothing but excellence.
– We do everything for Allah and because we are doing it for Allah it must be the best.
– We must develop ourselves both externally with our external worship and internally with our worship of the heart.
10th year after Hijra – Year of sorrow:
– Rasullulah (SAW) is tested with the death of his two strongest supporters and greatest defenders – Abu Talib and Khadija (RA).
– On the death bed of Abu Talib – the uncle, the father figure, the defender of rasullulah (SAW), the prophet rushes to him and pleads with him, begs him to say “there is no one worthy of worship besides one Allah and Mohammed (SAW) is his final messenger”, so that rasullulah (SAW) has something to defend Abu Talib in front of Allah.
– Upon his death bed Abu Talib was surrounded by the disbelievers; Abu Jahhal and Abdullah ibn Ummaiyyah, who questioned Abu Talib as to whether he will leave the religion of his father and forefathers.
– Abu Talib did not listen to rasullulah (SAW) who continued to plead with him and said he was upon the religion of Abdul Muttalib (his father).
Note: Rasullulah (SAW) was not only losing his greatest support system but he had to endure hearing Abu Talib say the one thing that would hurt rasullulah (SAW) the most.
“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (9:128)
The one thing that hurt rasullulah (SAW) the most was a person dying upon disbelief.
– Upon hearing this statement from Abu Talib rasullulah (SAW) said by Allah he would keep asking Allah’s forgiveness for Abu Talib until Allah stops him from asking forgiveness for Abu Talib.
– Allah then revealed an ayah pertaining to this.
“It is not fitting for the prophet Allah and those who believe that they should supplicate and ask Allah to forgive those who die upon disbelief” – Surah Tawbah.
– With regards to the death of Abu Talib, Allah revealed “O Muhammed (saw), indeed you do not guide whom you love but it is Allah who guides whom he wants…” thus effectively preventing rasullulah (SAW) from asking for the forgiveness of Abu Talib.
– 2 months after the death of Abu Talib, rasullulah (SAW) beloved wife Khadija (RA) passed away. In some narrations it is stated she died 3 days after the death of Abu Talib.
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