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The
supreme importance of the sayings of Muhammad (salallahu
alayhi wasalam), apart from their
general ethical value, can be fully realized only when one becomes
aware that the whole religious, moral, social, and political
fabric of a vast section of humanity rests on the Book (the Qur’an),
the sayings and acts (the Sunnah) of the Prophet, and the
analogical deductions there from.
Of
Christians and Jews:
Muhammad
once referred to strife, and said, "It will appear at the
time of knowledge leaving the world". Zaid said, "O
Messenger of God, how will knowledge go from the world, since we
read the Qur’an, and teach it to our children, and our children
to theirs; and so on till the last day?" Then Muhammad said,
"O Zaid, I supposed you the most learned man of Medina, do
the Jews and Christians who read the Bible and the Evangel act on
them?"
Of
Compassion:
When
the child (of Zainab) was brought to Muhammad, dying, its body
trembling and moving, the eyes of the Apostle of God shed many
tears. And S’ad said, "O Messenger of God! What is this
weeping and shedding of tears?" Muhammad
replied, "This is an expression
of the tenderness and compassion, which the Lord hath put into the
hearts of His servants; the Lord doth not have compassion on and
commiserate with His servants, except such as are tender and full
of feeling."
Muhammad
asked, "Do you think this woman will cast her own child into
the fire?" Those present said, "No". Muhammad said,
"Verily God is more compassionate on His creatures, than this
woman on her own child."
Of
Conscience:
A man asked
Muhammad what was the mark whereby he might know the reality of
his faith. Muhammad said: "If thou derive pleasure from the
good which thou hast performed and thou be grieved for the evil
which thou hast committed, thou art a true believer."
The man said: "In what doth a fault really consist?"
Muhammad said: "When
anything pricketh thy conscience, forsake it."
Of
Control Of Self:
The
most excellent Jihad (Holy War) is that for the conquest of self.
A
Man cannot be a Muslim till his heart and tongue are so.
Whoever
suppresseth his anger. When he hath in his power to show it. God
will give him a great reward.
That
person is wise and sensible who subdueth his carnal desires and
hopeth for rewards from God; and he is an ignorant man who
followeth his lustful appetites, and with all this asketh god’s
forgiveness.
Of
the Duty of Believers:
Adore
God as thou wouldst if thou sawest Him; for if thou seest Him not,
He seeth thee.
It
is better to sit alone than in company of the bad; and it is
better to sit with the good than alone. And it is better to speak
words to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; and silence
is better than bad words.
Do
not say, that if people do good to us, we will do good to them;
and if people oppress us, we will oppress them; but determine,
that if people do you good, you will do good to them; and if they
oppress you, you will not oppress them.
"Teach
me a work, such that when I perform it God and men will love
me." Muhammad (salallahu alayhi
wasalam) said: "Desire not the world, and God will
love you; and desire not what men have, and they will love
you."
Of
God’s kindness:
If
you put your whole trust in God, as you ought, He most certainly
will give you sustenance, as He doth the birds; they come out
hungry in the morning, but return full to their nests.
Of
the Heart:
Beware!
Verily there is a piece of flesh in the body of man, which, when
good, the whole body is good; and, when bad, the whole body is
bad, and that is the heart.
Muhammad said,
"O Wabisah! Are you come to ask what is goodness and what is
badness?" Wabisah said, "Yes, I am come for that."
Then he joined his fingers and struck them upon Wabisah’s
breast, that is, made a sign towards his heart, and said,
"Ask the question from thine own heart." This he
repeated three times and said,
"Good-ness
is a thing from which thy heart findeth firmness and rest; and
badness is a thing which throweth thee into double, although men
may acquit thee".
Of
Learning:
Acquire knowledge.
It enableth its possessor to distinguish right from wrong; it
lighteth the way to Heaven; it is our friend in the desert, our
society in solitude, our companion when friendless; it guideth us
to happiness; it sustaineth us in misery; it is an ornament
amongst friends, and an armour against enemies.
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