TO EARN THE PLEASURE OF ALLAAH
Ali Bin Abi Taalib: ''To Earn the Pleasure of Allah''
Topic: Manners of the Sahaba
A father and a son were once guests of Imam Ali Bin Abi Taalib. As they arrived, the Imam received them warmly and arranged for their comfortable accommodation. In a room where they were seated, Ali sat opposite to them, engaging them in a friendly conversation.
After the food had been served and eaten, the Imam's servant brought a basin and a pitcher full of water for washing the guest's hands. Ali took the pitcher himself and asked the father to extend his hands so that he could pour the water…
"How is it possible that my Imam serves me? It should be the other way," the guest said.
Imam Ali said: "Here is your brother in faith, eager to serve his brother and to earn the pleasure of Allah. Why do you prevent him?"
But the guest hesitated. Finally Ali said: "As your Imam, I request that you allow me the honor of this service."
And when the guest complied, Ali said: "Let your hands be washed thoroughly. Do not hasten, thinking that I should be relieved of this duty early."
When it was the son's turn, Ali instructed his own son Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah, to hold the pitcher and wash the guest's hands. Looking at the guests son, the Imam said:
"I washed your father's hands and my son washed your hands. If your father had not been my guest today, I would have washed your hands myself. But Allah loves to see that when a father and a son are present in a place, the father enjoys a privilege and a priority.
"Glimpses From the Lives of the Sahaba and Tabi'een, Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib."
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He who stirs enmity among people, by quoting their words to each other, will not enter Paradise.” ]Bukhari]
Unfortunately, this is a common social evil these days. Rather than mend relations among people, Shaytaan has us excited about carrying tales to each other. “You won’t believe what he did!...Can you imagine what she said?...”
Refuse to listen to what other people have said or done. It is backbiting, just to hear it. If what you are being told about is not true, it is an even bigger sin, both for the person telling it and the person listening to it. If you tell yourself not to believe everything you hear, your heart will nevertheless be tainted by it. That is why the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told his companions not to say things about each other to him, since he didn't want to meet them with disquiet in his heart. If Rasul Allah's feelings for people had the possibility of getting soured by hearing tales about them, despite his being rehmat-ul-lil- alameen, then we are certainly not above being corrupted by listening to tales.
The people who carry tales from one person to another, do it in the guise of well wishers. First they sympathize with one party. Then they take what they have gleaned to other people and sow discord, ruining relations between people, by repeating things. A person who behaves in such a manner is being two faced. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “You find that among the worst people is someone who is two-faced, showing one face to some and another face to others.” [Bukhari]
Ali Bin Abi Taalib: ''To Earn the Pleasure of Allah''
Topic: Manners of the Sahaba
A father and a son were once guests of Imam Ali Bin Abi Taalib. As they arrived, the Imam received them warmly and arranged for their comfortable accommodation. In a room where they were seated, Ali sat opposite to them, engaging them in a friendly conversation.
After the food had been served and eaten, the Imam's servant brought a basin and a pitcher full of water for washing the guest's hands. Ali took the pitcher himself and asked the father to extend his hands so that he could pour the water…
"How is it possible that my Imam serves me? It should be the other way," the guest said.
Imam Ali said: "Here is your brother in faith, eager to serve his brother and to earn the pleasure of Allah. Why do you prevent him?"
But the guest hesitated. Finally Ali said: "As your Imam, I request that you allow me the honor of this service."
And when the guest complied, Ali said: "Let your hands be washed thoroughly. Do not hasten, thinking that I should be relieved of this duty early."
When it was the son's turn, Ali instructed his own son Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah, to hold the pitcher and wash the guest's hands. Looking at the guests son, the Imam said:
"I washed your father's hands and my son washed your hands. If your father had not been my guest today, I would have washed your hands myself. But Allah loves to see that when a father and a son are present in a place, the father enjoys a privilege and a priority.
"Glimpses From the Lives of the Sahaba and Tabi'een, Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib."
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He who stirs enmity among people, by quoting their words to each other, will not enter Paradise.” ]Bukhari]
Unfortunately, this is a common social evil these days. Rather than mend relations among people, Shaytaan has us excited about carrying tales to each other. “You won’t believe what he did!...Can you imagine what she said?...”
Refuse to listen to what other people have said or done. It is backbiting, just to hear it. If what you are being told about is not true, it is an even bigger sin, both for the person telling it and the person listening to it. If you tell yourself not to believe everything you hear, your heart will nevertheless be tainted by it. That is why the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told his companions not to say things about each other to him, since he didn't want to meet them with disquiet in his heart. If Rasul Allah's feelings for people had the possibility of getting soured by hearing tales about them, despite his being rehmat-ul-lil- alameen, then we are certainly not above being corrupted by listening to tales.
The people who carry tales from one person to another, do it in the guise of well wishers. First they sympathize with one party. Then they take what they have gleaned to other people and sow discord, ruining relations between people, by repeating things. A person who behaves in such a manner is being two faced. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “You find that among the worst people is someone who is two-faced, showing one face to some and another face to others.” [Bukhari]