Men of all Men...
So I have been listening to the Madina Period cds by imam Anwar al Awlaki (may Allah preserve him) and subhan Allah, I am at the story of Badr, a story I know very well, but imam Anwar highlights some incidents that I had never heard, stories that as I hear them my face changes and my heart drops as I envy the Sahabah for being able to be in the company of the greatest man to ever live.The sahabah were standing in rows as they prepared for battle (as it is mentioned in Surah Saff) and Muhammed PBUH was walking in front of them and making sure they were lined up properly as if they were in salah. He PBUH was using an arrow to straighten them out and he came to one Sahabah who was a little further out than the rest so he pushed the Sahabah back with his PBUH's arrow. The Sahabah's name was Sawaad ra (not Safwan, i got two names confused).
After the Prophet PBUH pushed him back with the arrow, Sawaad ra said "Ya Rasulullah, you have injured me, and I want to retaliate."
Imagine that? This is not only a member of an army, but the leader of the army. He PBUH was not just a leader of any army but he is the leader of the army of the Muslimeen. He is not only the leader of the Muslimeen but he is the Prophet of Allah swt, peace and blessings be upon him. Imagine what a leader of an army would do to a common soldier who said something like this to them in front of the entire army? They would have him taken away and locked in a jail cell or something, but this is Rahmatal lil alameen, the Mercy to Mankind we are talking about.
Muhammed PBUH exposed his stomach and told Safwan ra to retaliate if that is what he wants to do. Safwan ra got down, kissed the stomach of Muhammed PBUH and hugged the Prophet PBUH.
Muhammed PBUH asked him why he did such a thing, and Safwan responded with a response that made my eyes well up.
He said "Ya Rasulullah, you see what is ahead of us (meaning the imminent battle), and I wanted the last thing I touch to be the skin of Rasulullah PBUH", and then Muhammed PBUH made dua for him.
Laa ilaaha illalla!
How beautiful was this relationship between this companion who we barely know anything about and Muhammed PBUH!? Every Sahabah felt that he was the closest to Muhammed PBUH and they loved him so much that they were ready to sacrifice their life for him.
My favorite Sahabah (abu Dujanah ra) at the battle of Uhud, when Muhammed PBUH was injured, stood in front of him PBUH and shielded him by turning and facing him and putting his arms up to the sides, and arrows were being fired at Muhammed PBUH and abu Dujanah ra caught the arrows in his back and didnt even turn around ensuring that Muhammed PBUH was safe.
I just try and imagine that moment before battle, the calm before the storm where anxiety is in the air, this Sahabah still doing something like this to express his love to Muhammed PBUH.
No leader has ever been loved more by his followers than Muhammed PBUH was loved by his Sahabah and is still loved by his followers who have never even met him.
Can you imagine him PBUH standing there on the day of Judgement, with the hawd there, recognizing you as his follower, and calling you over and giving you to drink from his very hand? If that does not make you get tingly inside then you need to check your pulse.
I was talking to my summer camp kids about how we are force fed the definitions for beauty and coolness, and we just take them and run with em. We think a beard is not cool and a shaved face is. We think that emulating some rapper or singer or actor is the way to success when all this will do is land us in deep deep trouble regarding our hearafter. I told them that the only people worth emulating for guys and girls is Muhammed PBUH and his companions. We gotta analyze everything that comes to us that is culture, analyze its ability to conform to the laws of Allah swt and the Sunnah of Muhammed PBUH, and then we accept it and reject it based on this criteria.
We can not allow ourselves to melt into this disgusting culture of lewdness, selfishness, arrogance and greed. We are Muslims and we are far superior to this type of lifestyle.
May Allah grant us the love of Muhammed PBUH which is expressed through action and not lip service. May Allah make us among those who Muhammed PBUH is their most beloved, and who Muhammed PBUH will give to drink from his blessed hands on the Day of Judgement. May Allah love us and forgive our sins for following Muhammed PBUH. May Allah swt protect our youth, keep them on the straight path, and make their Muslim Identity strong.
Ameen...ameen...ameen...
posted by Iboo LaL @ 8:45 PM
Comments: 5
