Difference Between Sahabah And You & Me (#1)

Of course the huge gap between the Sahabah (r.a.a.) and us someone like me and you will never be able to cross: They were pleased with Allah Ta'ala and Allah Ta'ala was pleased with them. But still this series is an attempt to enlighten some spots of this dark ravine, because the Messanger of Allah (s.a.w.) told us, that his Sahabi are like the stars and if you follow a single one of them you'll be successful.

Let me ask you: Don't we see the same sun, moon, sky, universe and stars which they saw? Don't we walk on the same earth, that they walked on? Don't we read and study the same Ahadeeth and Qur'an, which they read and studied? Don't we make Hajj to the same sacred place, they made Hajj to? Don't we worship the same Lord they worshipped? Everyone who claims a little intellect will have to answer all these questions in the affirmative. But what makes the difference then? Well, neither our Iman nor our Amaal can be compared to the Iman or Amaal of our pious predecessors.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) taught his companions in one day how to offer their Salah, in one day how to fast and in five days how to perform Hajj. But in the 13 year long life in Makkah he strengthened their Iman in "La Ilaha Illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah". They were 100% convinced, that Allah is the only Creator and everything else are His creation. That creation can't do anything without the permission and help of Allah. That Allah can do anything and everything without help of creation. And that Success in this world (before death) and Akhirat (life after death) is only in following the Orders of Allah according to the way shown by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).

We are not allowed to harbour any doubt in this Kalimah Tayyibah. All aspiring parents on the world hope that their children come to this world without anything missing. But is there any child that comes to the world with one eye, arm, hand, finger, foot or ear missing and can say, "Hey, I jump back into my mother's womb and complete my body"? Probably not. Just like that Allah Ta'ala expects us to complete our Iman in Allah Ta'ala himself, all the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them), the Books sent by Allah Ta'ala, the Angels, the Day of Judgement/Resurrection and Destiny before death hits us. After the Angel of Death has taken our soul there is no chance to go back and complete our belief or book of deeds.

"The wandering Arabs say: We believe. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye believe not, but rather say "We submit," for the faith hath not yet entered into your hearts. Yet, if ye obey Allah and His messenger, He will not withhold from you aught of (the reward of) your deeds. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (49:14)

In this ayaat Allah Ta'ala clarifies that there are different stages of Iman. Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Yousuf Kandhalvi Sahab (r.a.) writes, "Beautification of life with Islam is interpreted as, the heart be enlightened with Noor of Iman and the body, be subjected to obey the command of Allah." The Iman of the Sahabi definitely reached such a stage, that they obeyed Allah's commands in every aspect of life. They didn't just recite the Kalimah from their tongue, but further more their mind was always attached to the thought of how to obey to Allah's command and how to make Muhammad (s.a.w.)'s Sunnah alive.

Once a Sahabi entered the mosque with his left foot and immediately after realizing, that he acted against a Sunnah of Muhammad (s.a.w.) he fell unconscious. Now, we today say it's just a small Sunnah. But the Sahabi saw their success of this world and the hereafter in every single Sunnah. There are tons of traditions supporting the view, that the Sahabi followed Rasulallah (s.a.w.) blindly.

Talha ibn Ubaidullah (r.a.a.) narrates from Rasulallah (s.a.w.) that he said, "I know a Kalimah, if a person recites it at the time of death, surely his soul would get relief till it departs the body and the Kalimah would turn a light (for him) on the Day of Resurrection." (That Kalimah is Lailaaha illallah). (Majma-al-Zawaid: 67/3)

The problem is that at the time of death, what's in your mind will not leave your mouth, but instead what is in your heart will leave your mouth. So, if the love for Makhluq (creations) and this Dunya are in your heart, then your family, your money, your vehicle, your house etc. will be on your lips, but if the inhabitant of your heart is the love for the Khaliq (creator) of the whole universe, than the Kalimah Tayyibah will relief your soul just as the Hadith above states.

We all should aim to increase our Iman, but unfortunately this won't happen in front of the computer or by learning Sahih Bukhari by heart. Our Ulemma say that Iman increases only through Mujahida. Put the sword down young warrior, I'm talking about Mujahida in the sense of doing good deeds, that the Nafs doesn't like, and participating in the gatherings, which refresh your Iman, just like the Sahabi did.

Hadhrat Ataa bin Yasaar narrates that Hadhrat Abdullah bin Rawaaha (r.a.a.) once said to one of his companions, "Come here so that we may believe for a while." "Are we not already believers?" the other asked. "Certainly," Hadhrat Abdullah bin Rawaaha (r.a.a.) replied, "but let us talk about Allah so that our Iman can be increased."

I know this is very brief and I could write way more, but the purpose is to convey a message, that reminds first off all myself, and not to win the award '06 in the novel's category. If I left out any important points tell me and Insha'Allah I can complete this subject in the second article of this series. May Allah grant us the Iman, which makes us recite the Kalimah at our time of death and which makes it possible to obey Allah and his Rasul in every aspect of life, too.