Factors inspiring patience and perseverance: Examples from the companions of the Prophet.

1. Factors inspiring patience and perseverance: Examples from the companions of the Prophet.

2. The Factors • Unshakeable belief in Allah SWT • Belief in the truth of the Hereafter. • Devotion and love for the leadership of the Prophet PBUH • Sense of responsibility • The role of the Quran

3. Unshakeable belief In Allah and the truth of the Hereafter • They had an unshakeable belief in Allah SWT coupled with a wonderful degree of perception of his attributes as described in Surah Hadid (Ayah 1 – 6). In the name of Allah the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate. سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ • All that is in the heavens and the Earth extols the glory of Allah. He is the most Mighty the most Wise لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ • His is the dominion of the heavens and the Earth. He gives life and causes death, and He has power over everything. هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ • He is the First and the Last, and the Manifest and the Hidden, and He has knowledge over everything…

4. هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاء وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ • He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself on the throne. He knows all that enters the earth and all that comes forth from it. And all that comes down from the heaven and all that goes up to it. He is with you wherever you are. Allah sees all that you do. لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الأمُور • His is the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And to him are all matters referred to for Judgment. يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَهُوَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ • He causes the night to pass in to the day and the day to pass into the night. And he fully knows all that is hidden in the breast of people.

5. الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَاناً وَقَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا اللّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ • Allah appreciates their Iman in Surah Ale Imran; 173 When people said to them; behold a host has gathered around you and you should fear them – It only increased their faith and they answered; Allah is sufficient for us, and what an excellent Guardian He is. • The second pledge of Aqabah is another example of their belief in the truth of Hereafter.

6. Principles of the Pledge • To listen and obey in all sets of circumstances. • To spend in plenty as well as in scarcity • To enjoin good and forbid evil • In Allah's service you will fear the censure of none • To defend Me (Prophet PBUH) in case I seek your help, and prevent me from anything you prevent yourself, your spouses, and your children. • If you observe these precepts Paradise is in store for you

7. They had already known that life with all of its amenities and pain was worthless when compared with the hereafter • Such deep convictions brought about in them, a sense of indifference to all troubles and hardships that attended their life. • Allah SWT talks about their fear of Akhirah in Surah al Muminoon Ayah 57 – 60 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِرَبِّهِمْ لَا يُشْرِكُونَ وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ Surely those who stand in awe for fear of their lord. Who have full faith in the signs of their lord Who associate none with their Lord and His Divinity Who give whatever they give in charity with their hearts trembling in thought that they are destined to return to their Lord.”

8. Devotion and love for the leadership of Prophet PBUH • Prophet PBUH was an exemplary man in his perfect manners and noble attributes, unanimously acknowledged, even by his enemies. • Certain exemplary qualities of Prophet PBUH are as follows: • Forbearance and endurance; the more he was hurt or injured the more clement and patient he became. • The more insolence an ignorant person exercised against him the more enduring he became.

9. Hadith narrated by Aisha (RA) “…He has never avenged himself but when the sanctity of Allah SWT is violated he would, but that would be for Allah and not for himself. He will be the last one to get angry, and the first to be satisfied. His hospitality and generosity were matchless. His gifts and endowments manifest a man who doesn’t fear poverty.” Al Bukhari • He was the most generous of people. Ibn Abbas narrated. “ Verily the Messenger of Allah s more generous at giving bounty or charity than the blowing wind.”

10. His courage and succor were most distinguishable. • Hazrat Ali (RA) narrated “Whenever the fight grew fierce and the eyes of fighters went red we used to resort to the Prophet PBUH for succor. He was always the closest to the enemy.”

11. He was the most modest • Said Al Qudri narrated “He was shier than a virgin in her boudoir. When he hates a thing we read it on his face. He does not stare at anybody’s face. He always casts his eyes down. He looks at the ground more than he looks skywards. His utmost looks at people are glances, he is willingly and modestly obeyed by everybody. He would never name a person whom he had heard ill news about – which he hated. Instead he would say “why do certain people do so…” Al Bukhari

12. Love for Prophet PBUH • With his friends and companions he occupied the innermost cells of their hearts. • When Abu Bakr (RA) was severely beaten by Uthba bin Rabia his whole body was bleeding and he was at the verge of his death, yet he swore he would never eat or drink anything until they told him about the well being of the Prophet PBUH • Bay’ at Ar-Ridwan; the Muslims took a solemn pledge at the hand of Prophet PBUH that they would sacrifice their life to avenge the death of their companion Uthamn (RA). And stand firmly by their master Prophet PBUH under all conditions. • This is a perfect example of the love and devotion for the leadership of the Prophet PBUH

13. The Sense of Responsibility • They were aware of the horrible impact humanity would suffer incase they shirked their responsibility • Musab bin Umayr (RA) presents a shining example in this context • He was sent as the first Muslim ambassador to teach the people the doctrines of Islam, give them practical guidance and propagate Islam in Medina. • Never in History has an individual ambassador had such a huge impact in the span of just one year. • The first pledge of Aqabah was a promise to act; Musab helped facilitate action and the practical application of that pledge. • His efforts led to the second pledge of Aqabah which paved the way for the historical and eventful Hijrah leading to the establishment of the first Islamic State in Medina.

14. Tabook Expedition • The general situation in Medina at that time was severe hot weather, drought in crops and agriculture. And there was a rugged terrain of mountains and desert extending from Medina to Tabook a distance of over 700 miles. • There was a sever shortage of provisions, mounts were so few that 18 people altered over one camel. They had to eat leaves at times to fill their stomach, water was so scarce that they had to slaughter camels to obtain water • The army was called the army of distress • In spite of the hardships and paucity of provisions the Prophet PBUH decided to challenge the Roman army at the border of the Islamic State and the Byzantine Empire at Tabook. • By this account we could understand the sense of commitment and responsibilities of the companions. They understood the far reaching consequences of their actions and knew very well that they were making history in the civilization of mankind

15. The role of the Quran • The Quran constituted the immune basis upon which the most wonderful divinely decreed society was to be established. إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا • “Surely we have made all that is on the Earth and embellishment for it in order to test people as to which among them is better in conduct. In the ultimate we shall reduce all that is on the Earth to a barren plain.” Surah Kahf Ayahs 7-8 الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ • “Who created Death and life that he might try you as to which of you is better in deed. He is the most Mighty and the Most Forgiving.” Surah Mulk ayah 2

16. اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ • Know well that the life of this world is merely sport and diversion and adornment and an object of your boasting with another. And a rivalry in the multiplication of riches and children. Its likeness is that of rain; when it produces vegetation it delight s the tillers. But then it withers and you see it turn yellow and then it crumbles away. In the hereafter there is either grievous chastisement or forgiveness from Allah and good pleasure.The life of this world is nothing but delusion.” Surah Hadid Ayah 20

17. The Quranic verses serve also to strengthen their selves on their course of patience and endurance. أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَزُلْزِلُواْ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللّهِ أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ • “ Or think you that you will enter paradise without such trials as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the messenger and those who believed along with him said “ when will come the help of Allah? Yes certainly the help of Allah is near.” Surah Baqara ayah 214

18. Glad tidings of success were revealed in the Quran time and again to encourage the Muslims to stay on the path to face the adversities. وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّـكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّـكُمُ الأَرْضَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِي وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ • “ Then the unbelievers told their messengers “ you will have to return to the fold of our faith or else we shall banish you from our land.” Their upon their Lord revealed to them: we will most certainly destroy these wrong doers and we will then cause you to settle in this land as successors. That is the reward for him who fears to stand for reckoning and holds my threat in awe.” Surah Ibrahim Ayahs 13-14.

19. وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنصُورُونَ وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّى حِينٍ وَأَبْصِرْهُمْ فَسَوْفَ يُبْصِرُونَ أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ • “We have already given our promise to Our messengers that they shall certainly be triumphant and that Our hosts shall triumph, so O Prophet leave them alone for a while and see, they too shall see. Do they seek to hasten our chastisement?” Surah Al Saffat Ayahs 171-176

20. إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ نُزُلًا مِّنْ غَفُورٍ رَّحِيمٍ • “ Those who say Allah is our Lord and then remain steadfast upon them descend Angels and say do not fear nor grief, and receive good tidings of paradise which you were promised. We are your companions in this world and in the hereafter. There you shall have all that you desire and all what you ask for. This is by way of hospitality from Him, Who is Most forgiving, Most merciful.” Surah Al Fussilat Ayahs 30-32

21. Goal of the Islamic call was made clear through the Ayahs of the Quran that is extermination of pre-Islamic traditions or Jahiliya. And make Islam the predominant way of life. يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ • “They seek to extinguish Allah’s light by blowing with their mouths. But Allah shall spread His light in all its fullness howsoever the unbelievers may abhor this. He it is Who has sent forth the Messenger with the guidance and the true religion that he may make it prevail over all religions, however the Mushriks might dislike this.” Surah Al Saff Ayahs 8-9

22. مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا • Among the believers are men who have [always] been true to what they have vowed before God; and among them are such as have [already] redeemed their pledge by death, and such as yet await [its fulfillment] without having changed [their resolve] in the least. Al-Ahzab 33:23