Reformation of the Self

            The rules of life instituted by Islam were gradually being erased by the continuous rule of the Umayyad and Abbasid kings who loved splendor and glory; and expected undue respect and special treatment from other human beings. The noble fraternal and simple interactive lifestyle of the Holy Prophet {S} and his noble companions was a thing of the past, except for glimpses found in his noble Household {S}. The most sorrowful part was that the people had become so used to the despotic attitude of the kings that they had begun to accept it as the rightful conduct of rulers. One day, Imam Jafar al-Sadiq {R} wished to bathe in the public bath. He sent a messenger to enquire when it would be convenient for the owner of the bath system. The owner replied with utmost respect, as he was accustomed to show all respectable citizens: “Should I forbid anyone else from the entire bath system while you occupy one...

                     Once, a knowledgeable man happened to be passing by a locality when he noticed a large crowd.  In the midst of the people stood a strong and powerful man, who was exhibiting his strength by lifting a gigantic stone, which the people referred to as “stone of the strong ones” and “weight of the champions.”  The spectators, visibly impressed over his display of strength, were seen complimenting and praising him. The knowledgeable man questioned: Why have these people gathered here? Some people, informing him of the weight-lifting acts of the champion, said: A person is displaying his strength. Hearing this, the man of knowledge said: Should I inform you, who {in reality} is a strong person and a champion? Then he said: "A champion is one, who, when someone abuses him …. … does not get enraged… …exhibits tolerance…. …prevails...

If you can’t answer a resounding yes, then try to learn from the following story.  Here it goes… An Imam had sent his servant out to perform a task for him. When a long time had passed and he had not returned, the Imam set out in search for him. After searching for a while, the Imam found him asleep… Without slightest provocation of anger, the Imam sat down near his head and began to fan him till he woke from his sleep. {Incredible!} After he had woken up, the Imam said to him: By God! It does not befit you that you sleep during the night as well as during the day. You ought to sleep during the night but work for us during the day. I hope you and me can emulate this level of kindness towards our dependants we they do wrong. By being merciful to them, maybe AllahSWT will be merciful to us too. PS: The story was adapted from the book, Muntahal Aa’maal.

         In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, the following are the proofs from God of the moral excellence of our dear Prophet {SAW}.  These are just a few of countless jewels of his attributes that I choose to compile for the purpose of this post.  Please go ahead and study them thoroughly for maximum impact in your life and the lives of others. They are as follows: From Al-Qur’an "And We have sent thee not but as a mercy for all peoples." {Al-Quran Chapter 21:108 }              "Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much." {Al-Qur'an Chapter 33:22 } From Hadith “The messenger of Allah {SAW} is the best of human, the most generous, and the bravest.” {Ahmad} “Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, when she was asked about the morals...