The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 70
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 70 ‘Auf ra were also present, and a young Anṣārī presented himself before the Holy Prophet sa and inquired, “O Messenger of Allāh! Who is most superior among the believers?” The Holy Prophet sa responded, “He who is most superior in his character. ” Then he asked, “Then O Messenger of Allāh! Who is the most righteous?” The Holy Prophet sa responded, “He who remembers death much and prepares for it in advance. ” Upon this, the Anṣārī companion become silent and the Holy Prophet sa looked towards us and said: “O Ye Party of the Muhājirīn! There are five evils, for which I seek Allāh’s protection that they never take root in my Ummah, because any nation wherein they develop, is destroyed by them. Firstly, indecency and fornication do not spread in any nation to the extent that they begin to carry it out in public, and as a result such diseases and epidemics do not begin to manifest themselves as in the people before them. Secondly, the evil of dishonesty in weight and measure has never taken root in any nation and as a result the affliction of famine, hardship, adversity, and tyrannous and unjust rule were not sent down upon them. Thirdly, no nation has ever exhibited indolence and negligence in the offering of Zakāt and charity and as a result suffered a shortage of rain, to the extent that if God did not care for the animals and cattle among His creation, that rainfall would be permanently withheld from such a nation. Fourthly, no nation has ever broken the covenant of God and His Messenger, and as a result another nation from among their enemies was not made to rule over them, who began to usurp their rights. Fifthly, never have the scholars and leaders of any nation issued religious verdicts in an attempt to deform the Shari‘ah for their objectives and as a result a series of internal violence and conflicts were not spurred. ” 1 This golden address of the Holy Prophet sa is an excellent insight into the causes underlying the rise and decline of nations. Moreover, if the Muslims so desire, this can serve as an excellent lesson even in current times. After this, the Holy Prophet sa addressed his intimate companion ‘ Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf ra and said, “Ibni ‘Auf! Be prepared, for I desire to send you on a Sariyyah as a commander. ” Therefore, the next day, ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf ra presented himself before the Holy Prophet sa , and the Prophet sa tied 1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, pp. 883-884, Ghazwatu ‘Abdir-Raḥmān-ibni ‘Aufin Ilā Dūmatil-Jandal , Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)