Hence, let us also consider the following parable: A son most eloquently expresses his love and affection for his learned and wise father. "My most beloved father," he says. "There is nobody dearer to me on the face of this earth than you. I love you more than myself. I will do anything for you. I will even give my life for you. To make you happy is my greatest joy. When I see you in pain, it is as though I have been struck by a thousand arrows!!!"
I LOVE YOU, BUT...
When the son is finally hoarse from singing the praises of his father, the father affectionately addresses him and says: "My dear child, I love you millions of times more than you can even imagine. I always wish the very best for you. Therefore my greatest grief is when I see you doing something that will harm you." The father then explains in detail to his son what will benefit him and what he should refrain from because it will harm him. The son replies: "My dear father, I love you, but what you have asked me to do is a little difficult for me. I also cannot give up the habits you have asked me to leave out. Just be content that I love you." The son then blatantly does all the things his father has prohibited him from. He totally disregards his father's instructions. But he does not stop singing his father's praises.
HOLLOW
In the above example, nobody can ever claim that the son's claims of loving his father are entirely false. He is sure to have some love for his father. However, his claims do sound hollow. His actions prove that he has very little love. His love is not yet deep enough to make him truly feel as if "a thousand arrows have pierced him" when he sees his father in pain and grief. Had he possessed the reality of love, he would not have caused pain and grief to his father by means of his actions.
Keeping the above parable in mind, let us consider our own condition. We profess to have the greatest love for Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) . We claim that we would do anything for him. We also claim that to see him pained or grieved would be as if a billion arrows have struck us.
These are our claims of love. While the reality will only be known on the day of Qiyamah (Judgement), our actions will nevertheless give some indication of the truth of what we claim. However the love that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has for us is a million times more than we can ever imagine. Allah Ta'ala himself testifies to the love that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has for his ummah in the words "…..it grieves him that you (the believers) suffer, he is very anxious over you (for your welfare and good) (Sura Tauba: 128)."
COMPASSION
Rasulullah's (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) compassion for his Ummah knew no bounds. Once he raised his hands in dua for his Ummah and while weeping he pleaded: "O my Lord, my ummah, my ummah (what will become of them? Forgive them!) . " The heavens were moved and Allah Ta'ala sent Hazrat Jibraeel (A.S.) to enquire from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as to what made him weep? Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied that his weeping was due to concern for his Ummah. Allah Ta'ala then consoled him that 'We will please you with regard to your Ummah.' (Sahih Muslim)." Here is the beloved Rasul of Allah Ta'ala weeping due to love for us. What have we done to please the one who loves us so deeply and whom we also claim to love dearly? We take great pains to please those whom we love in this world. What about pleasing Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)?
Our most compassionate RasulAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was shown what bounties await the true Believers in Jannah and what torments are in Jahannum for the disobedient. Hence he pleaded to us to do those actions that lead to Jannah and to refrain from those that lead to the fire of hell. How have we responded to his pleas???
LAST PLEA
Take the aspect of salaah, for example. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is in the last moments of life in this world. He has a bandage tied tightly around his head to ease the severe headache he is experiencing. In this pitiful condition the greatest of Allah Ta'ala's creation pleads to us: "Be careful about (the punctual performance of) your salaah and the treatment of your slaves (servants)!" What a passionate plea in the last moments of life! Have we responded positively? Are we punctual with our five daily salaah? Or by our actions have we said: "I love you, but salaah is difficult for me!" Also, do we treat our servants correctly?
In another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) describes his pain over those (adult men) who perform their salaah at home without a valid excuse and do not attend the musjid. "Had it not been for the women and children in the homes, I would have set fire to their houses," he exclaims. How much has his deep pain moved us to action? Are we concerned about performing salaah with jama'ah (the congregation).
SHAMELESS
There are numerous other aspects which displease Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and bring grief to his blessed heart. For instance he stressed the fundamental importance of hayaa (modesty) and warned against shamelessness. Have we obeyed? Is our dressing, for example, pleasing his heart or is it causing him immense grief due to it becoming more shameless by the day?
Some sins are so severe that with regard to its perpetrators Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) declared: "They are not of me." Others have been cursed by him. It thus follows that the perpetrators of these sins cause him severe grief. Some of these sins are:
* To cheat, deceive or breach trust (amaanat)
* To imitate the Yahood (Jews) and Nasara (Christians)
* Men imitating women and women imitating men (in their dressing, ways, etc.)
* Not having mercy on the young and not respecting the elders
* Not enjoining the right and forbidding the evil
* To harbour jealousy or carry tales
* To take or pay interest
* To cast lustful glances
* To disobey one's parents in permissible things, etc., etc.
Are we prepared to give up these sins in order to save Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) from the pain and grief?
OUR CHOICE
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: "Your actions will be presented to me (Majmauz Zawaaid, vol.9;pg.24)." This means that the actions of the Ummah, our actions, are presented by the angels to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in his Rawdah Mubarak. Our good actions would surely please him. The sins of the Ummah , our sins, are sure to grieve and hurt him. The choice is now ours. Do we obey him and bring great joy to his heart, or do we disobey him and cause him pain and grief???
May Allah Tal'ala guide us to those actions that will earn us His love and the love of His beloved Rasul (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Aameen.
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