Calling to Allah (The One & Only God) by Helping Others

 

 

 

 

Calling to Allah (The One & Only God) by Helping Others

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) returned from the Cave of Hira after his first-ever encounter with the angel Gabriel (Jibrael). His mission had just been proclaimed to him and he had received his first revelation from his Lord.

 

 

He was, to say the least, frightened and bewildered. It was Allah’s (The One God's) blessing to him that the person he turned to at this time was his very intelligent and sensible wife Khadîjah. No sooner did he tell her what had happened and told her of his fear then she replied to him with resolve and assurance that he had nothing to worry about. She could make this claim with confidence, on the strength of her intellect, maturity, sense of history, and her deep personal knowledge she had acquired of Muhammad’s noble character over the course of fifteen years of marriage.

 

She answered him without hesitation: “Do not worry,” she said, “for by Him who has dominion over Khadîjah’s soul, Allah (The One God) would never humiliate you, for you uphold close ties with your relatives, you bear other's burdens, you provide for the destitute, you show hospitality to the guest, and you help those with a just claim to secure their rights.”

 

 

Khadîjah here testified to a pattern of life: which is that Allah (The One & Only God) protects His servants who are engaged in the service and benefit of their fellow human beings. He does not humiliate them or bring them to grief. Indeed, it is Allah (The One God) who blessed them with their natures so that they would bring forth good in the world.

 

 

She also testified to the Holy Prophet’s noble character, which tells us that he had always possessed the generosity and nobility of purpose that he would renowned for after becoming Allah’s (The One God's)Messenger. He had a beautiful nature long before he began receiving divine revelation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If we consider the qualities that Khadîjah mentioned, we notice that they all relate in some way to helping others. Relatives are cared for. Weak people are relieved of their burdens. The destitute are provided for. Guests are made comfortable. People who have been wronged are helped in securing their rights.

 

All of these qualities were part and parcel of Holy Prophet Muhammad’s innate nature. Khadîjah attested to the Holy Prophet’s noble character long before the Holy Qur’an came with such descriptions about him. This is because she knew him better than anyone else in the world.

 

We have in Moses (peace be upon him) another prophetic example of helping others. When he arrived at the wells of Midyan, he found the men folk busy providing water for their flocks. He also saw two young women waiting at a distance with their sheep, unable to approach the wells.
Moses (peace be upon him) was appalled by this situation. The Qur’an relates the following [Sûrah al-Qasas: 23]
And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?"
They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks): And our father is a very old man."

 

 

What was it that made Moses (Prophet Musa) take such offence at this situation? It was his upright character that made him concerned for the rights of the weak. Those who are weak and vulnerable should be cared for and given priority. They should not be sidelined and neglected
“So he watered (their flocks) for them” [Sûrah al-Qasas: 24]
His immediate response was to help them. His courageous, noble, and generous nature would allow for nothing else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are right to be impressed when we consider Moses’s circumstances. He was a man on the run, far away from his home where he had the status of a wanted criminal. He was among strange people, none of whom he knew, and he had no provisions even for himself. He had enough problems of his own to worry about. Nevertheless, it went against his nature to stand by and see such helpless people being neglected.
These two prophetic examples show us something very important. Allah (The One & Only God) chose people with big hearts to entrust with His Message; people who were naturally inclined to help others. It takes such people to shoulder the burden of guiding others from the darkness into the light. Only those with compassion, mercy, and a gentle disposition can carry out such a task.

 

 

This truth is evident from the lives of the Prophets. Those who wish to be the inheritors of the Prophets should keep it in mind. The more we reflect the character of the Prophets in our own conduct, the more successful we will be in carrying out their mission. Scholars and Islamic workers need to have a strong social consciousness. They need to be people others can turn to in need. They need to be able to address the problems of society with understanding and compassion.
This is why Allah (The One God) says, addressing the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him): “It is due to Allah’s mercy that you deal gently with them, and had you been rough, hard-hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you.” [Sûrah Âl `Imrân: 159]

If our social consciousness is not fully awakened, our success in calling others to Allah’s (The One God's) Message will be limited. Our efforts might even yield negative results.

 

 

| by Dr. `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî |

 

 

 

 

 

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Mu'aadh bin Jabal reported from the Messenger of Allaah [sall'Allahu aleihi wa salam] that he said, "Fear Allaah (The One & Only God) wheresoever you may be, and follow up if you commit bad deed with a good one, it (good deed) will efface it (the evil deed). And deal with mankind with good manners." [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and he said that it was a Hasan hadeeth]

 

 

 

 

 

The Holy Prophet [sall'Allahu aleihi wa salam] also said: The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah (The One God) than a weak believer, though both are good; work hard for that which is beneficial for you and seek Allah's help, and do not give up. If you are stricken by misfortune do not say: 'If only I had done differently …", rather say: 'That is what Allah (The One God) decreed, He does as He wills." the words 'If only' opens the door to Satan's works." (Agreed upon).

 

 

 

The Holy Prophet (sall'Allahu aleihi wa salam) said, "By the One beside whom there is no other God, one of you perform the deeds of Paradise until there is just a handspan between him and Paradise and then the book [preordainment] overtakes him and he does the actions of the people of Hell and he enters into it." (al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

 

 

 

"O believers, observe your duty to Allaah (The One & Only God) with right observance, and die not save as believers [(Muslims) surrendering yourselves to Allaah]" (al-Imran: 102).