47. The Humbleness Of Sayyidina Rasoolullah

'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: ''Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'Do not exceed in praising me as the Christians over-praised 'Esa 'Alayhis Salaam. (That they made him the son of God.) I am a bondsman of Allah, therefore, call me the bondsman of Allah and His Rasul'". Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: A woman came to Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam and said: I would like to speak to you in private'. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam replied: 'Sit on any street of Madinah and I will come there and listen to you'". Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam visited the sick, attended funerals, rode on donkeys, accepted the invitations of slaves. On the day of the battle of Banu Qurayzah, he rode on a donkey, the reigns of which were made of date palm leaves. On it was also a saddle made of date palm leaves". Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: ''Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam accepted and attended invitations where bread made of barley, and stale fat a few days old was served (Without hesitation he accepted these invitations). Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam had pawned his armour to a Jew. Till the end of his life Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam did not possess a sufficient amount to release that armour'". Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports : ''Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam performed haj on an old pack saddle. On it was a piece of cloth, the value of which was less than four Dirhams. (It may be possible that by 'on it' Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam himself is meant here. i.e. He covered himself with an ordinary sheet. The value of which did not reach four Dirhams. This explanation is most accepted by the respected teachers. The eleventh hadith in this chapter strengthens this). Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was reciting this du'aa: 'Allah make this haj one that has no show or fame'". Anas bin Maalik Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "No one was more beloved to the Sahaabah than Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. When they saw him they did not stand up, knowing that he did not approve of it". Imaam Hasan bin 'Ali Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports that I asked my (maternal) uncle Hind bin Abi Haalab, who usually described particulars and conditions of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. I was longing to hear something about it. On my asking, he described the mubaarak features of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. He said: 'Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam had great qualities and attributes in him, others also held him in high esteem. His face glittered like the full moon'. He then described the complete features of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam (as has been mentioned in the first chapter under hadith number seven). Imaam Hasan Radiyallahu 'Anhu says. 'I did not mention this hadith (due to some reason) to Husayn (Radiyallahu 'Anhu) for some time. Then I once narrated it to him whereupon I found that he had heard it before me. He had asked him (our uncle) already what I had asked. I also found that he had asked our father ('Ali Radiyallahu 'Anhu) about Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi 'Wasallam entering and coming out of the house. He did not leave out anything about the ways and manners of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. Imaam Husayn Radiyallahu 'Anhu said: 'I asked my father regarding the manner in which Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam entered the house?' He replied: 'When Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam entered the house he distributed his time into three portions; He spent a portion for Allah. (In devotion, performing salaah etc.); A portion towards his family (fulfilling their duties. i.e. laughing, speaking, enquiring about their welfare etc.); and a portion for himself (resting etc.). He distributed his personal portion in two, one for himself and one for the people, in such a manner that the near one's among the Sahaabah Radiyallahu 'Anhum came to visit him. Through these Sahaabah Radiyallahu 'Anhum he conveyed messages to the people. He did not conceal anything from them. From the portion of the unimah he adopted this method, that he gave preference to the Ahlul-Fadl (i.e. people of 'ilm and 'amal). He distributed this time according to their religious fadl. From among those who came, some had one requirement, some had two requirements, and some had many requirements. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam fulfilled all their requirements. He busied them in things that benefited them and the entire ummah. When they questioned Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam on religious matters, he replied to them in a manner that benefited them. He used to say: 'Those that are present, should inform those that are not present regarding these beneficial and necessary matters'. He also used to say: 'Those people who for some reason (purdah, distance, shyness or awe) cannot put forward their requirements, you should inform me about their requirements, because, that person who informs a king of the need of another, who is unable to put forward that need, Allah Ta'aala will keep that person stead fast on the day of qiyaamah'. Only important and beneficial matters were discussed in his gathering. He happily listened to these matters from the Sahaabah Radiyallahu 'Anhum. Besides this there was no wasteful or non-beneficial talks in his assemblies. The Sahaabah Radiyallahu 'Anhum came to the assemblies of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam for their religious needs, they did not depart before tasting something (by tasting, may be meant the acquiring of religious knowledge. It could mean 'Hissi' tasting too. Whatever Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam possessed, he offered it in humbleness. Whenever close friends gather, whatever is available is presented to them). The Sahaabah Radiyallahu 'Anhum returned from his assemblies as torch bearers of hidayah and goodness. (They spread. these teachings amongst others). Imaam Husayn Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: 'I asked (my father) regarding the coming out of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam from the house'. He replied: 'Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam controlled his tongue and only spoke that which was necessary. He did not waste his time in useless conversations. He made those who came to visit him feel at home he did not make them feel scared or ill at ease. (i.e. When advising them, he did not scold them in a manner that they become scared, or tell them such things that would keep them away from the deen). He respected and honoured the respected ones of every nation. He also chose a leader for them. He warned the people of Allah's punishment (or he emphasised that the people be cautious). He also protected himself from troubling or harming people. Besides being cautious and commanding others to be cautious, he never lacked in courtesy towards others. He was concerned for the affairs of his friends, made himself aware about the relationships between them and rectified their faults. He praised good deeds and encouraged them. He explained the harmful effects of bad things and removed and stopped these. He followed the middle path in all matters. (He did not at times say this and at other times that). He did not neglect the guiding of people, it is possible that they became unmindful of their religious duties, or exceeded in a matter resulting in them becoming disheartened. For everything there was a special arrangement. He did not fall back in the truth, nor did he exceed the limits in this. Those who attended his gatherings were the best of people. The best person in the eyes of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was the one who wished everybody well. The one with the highest status in the eyes of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was that person who considered, comforted and helped the creation the most'. Sayyidina Imaam Husayn Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: 'I then enquired from him regarding the assemblies of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu Wasallam'. He replied: 'He began and ended all his sitting with the dhikr of Allah. When he went to a place, he sat where he found a place, and also instructed the people to do so. They should not leap over peoples heads and go ahead. It is a different matter, that where Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam sat, that place became the focal point of the gathering. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam fulfilled the rights of every person present. That means, whatever right was due in talking and showing happiness, was fulfilled by him, so much so, that every person present would think that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam is honouring me the most. The person that came to sit by Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam or came to him for some purpose, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam would remain seated till that person began to stand up. Whenever one asked him for something, he kindly fulfilled that request, and did not refuse it, (if he did not possess the thing) he would give a soft and humble answer. His cheerfulness and pleasant manner were for everybody. He was like a father to them. The whole creation was equal before him as far as rights were concerned. His gatherings were the gatherings of knowledge, modesty, patience and honesty. (i.e. These four things were attained there or are a description of his gatherings). Voices were not raised therein, nor was anyone degraded or disgraced. If anyone committed a fault, it was not made known publicly. All were regarded as equals amongst themselves. (A person was not regarded according to his lineage or genealogy). The virtues of one over the other was according to the taqwa (piety) possessed. The small ones were loved. The needy were given preference. Strangers and travellers were cared for" Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: "Even if I am given a foot of a goat as a present, I will accept it, and if I am invited to partake of it, I will surely accept that invitation". Jaabir Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam came to visit me (while I was ill). He did not come on the back of a mule, or on a Turkish horse". (i.e. He did not come on defective or an expensive conveyance, but came on foot). Yusuf bin 'Abdullah bin Salaam Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Rasulullah Sallallah 'Alayhi Wasallam chose for me the name Yusuf. He put me in his lap and passed his mibaarak hand on my head'". Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam performed haj on a saddled camel on which was a cloth, the value of which we think was four Dirhams. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was reciting this du'aa: 'O Allah, keep this haj free from show and fame'". Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports that a tailor invited Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. Thareed was served, in which dubbaa (dodhi -gourd) was added. As Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam loved dubbaa (dodhi-gourd) he began eating it. Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: "After that no food was prepared for me, wherein if gourd could be added, it was added" 'Amrah Radiyallahu 'Anha reports that someone asked 'Aayeshah Radiyallahu 'Anha. "What was the usual practice of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam at home?" She replied: "He was a human from among other humans. He himself removed the lice from his clothing, milked his goats, and did all his work himself".