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This content has been automatically translated. View original in Arabic
I performed the Isha prayer the day before yesterday in a mosque in the area. The imam of the mosque—may God honor him—delivered a lesson after the prayer in which he mentioned a Prophetic stance I had known before, but this time it affected me deeply. So let us journey with our hearts to the Prophetic era to hear this hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from the Mother of the Believers, Aisha, may God be pleased with her, who said:
The Messenger of God peace be upon him heard the voices of two disputing men at the door, their voices raised. One of them was asking the other for a loan and seeking his leniency, saying, "By God, I will not do it." So the Messenger of God peace be upon him came out to them and said, "Where is the one who swears by God that he will not do what is good?" The man replied, "It is I, O Messenger of God, and whatever you love, I will do."
This means two men were disputing—why? One had a debt owed by the other, and the debtor was saying to him, "Relieve me of the debt, show me leniency, grant me respite," while the other said, "By God, I will not do it." The time had come. The Messenger of God peace be upon him heard them and came out to them, saying, "Where is the one who swears by God that he will not do what is good?"
Where is this man who swears by God that he will not do what God loves? Of course, the Companion could have said, "It is I, O Messenger of God, and that’s it—I won’t swear anymore—but give me my debt." But what was the Companion’s stance? He said, "It is I, O Messenger of God, and whatever you love, I will do." This means, as long as you, O Messenger of God, love that I show this kindness to my brother, then it is as you wish—present on my head and eyes. "Whatever you love, I will do" means if you love that I reduce part of the debt for him, I am present; if you love that I show him leniency or delay it, I am present.
Know that the Prophet peace be upon him did not command or explicitly request anything from him. Rather, he gave only a hint, a mere gesture from the Prophet peace be upon him, which was sufficient to resolve the issue.
In another hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Ka’b ibn Malik, may God be pleased with him, he demanded a debt owed to him by Ibn Abi Hadrad during the time of the Messenger of God peace be upon him in the mosque. Their voices rose until the Messenger of God peace be upon him heard them from his home. He came out to them and called, "O Ka’b ibn Malik!" Ka’b replied, "At your service, O Messenger of God!" The Prophet peace be upon him gestured with his hand, saying, "Reduce it by half" (meaning he gestured to him to reduce the debt by half). Ka’b said, "I have done so, O Messenger of God." The Prophet peace be upon him then said to Ibn Abi Hadrad, "Stand up and pay him."
Imagine, my brothers and sisters, the Messenger of God peace be upon him did not explicitly command either of the two men—neither the one mentioned in the first hadith nor Ka’b ibn Malik—to be lenient with the debt. Rather, he gave only a hint, a mere gesture. Had they not reduced the debt, they would not have been sinful, because the Prophet peace be upon him came to them with "leniency," meaning, "It’s alright, I’m easing things for you."
Imagine, my brothers and sisters, how beautiful life would be when people have a "leader," when that leader is the person of the Messenger of God peace be upon him, who shows leniency with a word, with a gesture, and all listen and obey. Imagine the love, reverence, and respect the Companions had for the Prophet peace be upon him and their esteem for his status.
Now, you might say, "If only I had been in that era! If only I could see the Messenger of God peace be upon him smile at me and gesture to me with that movement, by God, I would give up all my wealth."
Well, my brother, we have that! The hadiths reach you about the Messenger of God peace be upon him, and you are addressed by them regarding good conduct between a man and his wife, a wife and her husband, and avoiding immorality in disputes. Imagine that the Prophet peace be upon him himself is the one commanding you with this matter. Do you think you would say to him, "Present, O Messenger of God! I hear and obey, honored upon my head and eyes"?
This is the true test of love. Perhaps God the Exalted will gather us under His banner, quench our thirst from His Basin, and admit us to Paradise without reckoning or punishment. O God, accept our supplication. Amen.