Today is the last day of Rabi al-Awwal—the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Both the birth and the death of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) are supposed to have taken place during this month. Insha’Allah, in my khutba today, I intend to share some thoughts with you on an important aspect of the many aspects of the blessed life of the Prophet (SAW), and that is his role as a murabbi. Murabbi means a counselor, a teacher, a guide, an educator, or a mentor.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the universal murabbi, brought the comprehensive universal message of Allah that suits all classes and professions. To keep the wheels of life moving, the world has to have the leaders and the led, the poor and the rich, the professionals and the lay people. It is also a fact that the life of man consists of a wide range of moods and inclinations governing his actions in different situations and circumstances. We stand and sit, we walk and talk, we eat and sleep, we laugh and weep, we give and take; in short, we act in different ways on different occasions. Sometimes we are praying to God, at others we are engaged in our business; sometimes we are guests and sometimes we are hosts, and, for all these occasions we need an example or a standard to know the correct way of behavior suited for that occasion.
Besides the actions involving physical exertions, there are also those which relate to the mind and heart of man, which we call sentiments. Our sentiments are ever-changing. Often we are pleased and at times we get angry. We experience feelings of hope and dejection, of pleasure and pain, and of success and failure. These are different states of mind which take hold of us and influence our actions. Moderation in these emotions holds the key to the best and correct behavior in all circumstances. Therefore, we require a practical model to discipline our emotions and feelings. We need a practical example to regulate our behavior in each of these varied conditions. But, where are we to look for them except in Muhammad (SAW). He is a model which can serve as a standard for every class of people acting under different circumstances and states of human emotions.
Islam stands as the most rational and precise religion that Allah (SWT) has given to mankind. It gives importance to education, which is the process of teaching and acquiring knowledge which includes beliefs, values, attitudes, manners and skills. In fact, Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (SAW) not only as His final messenger and the seal of the prophets, but also as the greatest murabbi or teacher to mankind.
It is learnt from a hadith that the Prophet (SAW) stressed that he was sent as a teacher. There is an incident related to this claim. Once the Prophet (SAW) entered the mosque before it was time for prayers. He found two groups in the mosque. The people in one group were busy with their own acts of worship. Some were reading the Qur’an while others were supplicating. Another group was in a corner. People of this group were learning how to read and write and were discussing the teachings of Islam, and their application to their daily lives. Looking at both, the Prophet (SAW) said: “They are both engaged in useful pursuits. But I am a teacher. I shall join the group assembled to learn.” So he sat with the group of students.
To understand the Prophet’s role as a murabbi, let me share with you the some of the principles deduced from the teachings of the Prophet (SAW), which a murabbi should adopt during the process of educating people. In order to gain a following, most leaders and educators make tempting promises to their followers of things like power, wealth, position or bright future. However, the Prophet (SAW) made no such promises to his students and followers. He conquered their minds and hearts and promised them Allah’s good pleasure and Paradise, and to gain that, his followers sacrificed themselves in his way willingly. He always sought to prepare them for the eternal peace and permanent bliss while himself setting for them a good example of that peace and bliss.
The Prophet (SAW) practiced what he preached and guided people in every aspect of life. He practiced with utmost sincerity and honesty what he communicated to others. History has witnessed many leading persons who, since they themselves did not practice what they preached or propagated, did not have a large devoted following. Their ideas did not have an enduring effect on people and the systems they established did not last long. However, the Prophet (SAW) for no reason other than conveying Allah’s message to people endured all kinds of hardships and persecutions, such as sleeping on earth, suffering hunger for several consecutive days, being expelled from his homeland, becoming subject to mockeries and insults, and so on. A murabbi must possess a high moral conduct. Addressing His beloved Prophet, Allah says in Surat al-Qalam:
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And you are surely on an exalted standard of character” (al-Qalam, 68:4).
The Prophet (SAW) appeared in the heart of a desert which was one of the most uncivilized part of the then inhabited world and where people were immersed in the worst kinds of immorality. Then, who do you think brought him up as the most virtuous human being with the highest morality and best conduct. His teacher was God, as the Prophet (SAW) himself said: “My Lord educated me and taught me good manners, and how well he educated me and how beautifully He taught me good manners!” On another occasion he said: إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الْأَخْلَاقِ “Indeed I was sent to make perfect the moral conduct.”
A murabbi must know his people very well in order to educate them and urge them to the realization of a cause. The Prophet (SAW) knew everyone to whom he would convey his message. He knew the person’s character, his abilities, shortcomings, feelings, bent of mind, and level of understanding. Besides, he also knew very well how to act in certain conditions and gave the best decision in times of crises. He succeeded in bringing the most refined, well-mannered and civilized society out of an extremely backward, uncivilized and rough people of the seventh-century Arabian Peninsula. He made them teachers, and masters, especially, to the civilized nations. He conquered their minds, spirits, hearts, and souls, and became the beloved of hearts, the teacher of minds, the trainer of souls, and the ruler of spirits. Through his limitless love, compassion, forgiveness and tolerance, he made extremely cruel, warmongering people into the best community in human history. May Allah give us the tawfiq to follow in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
When correcting people’s mistakes, there is another cardinal rule, and that is to remain calm when dealing with their mistakes, especially when being too harsh could make matters worse and do more harm than good. Let me narrate to you two stories from the sirah.
Anas ibn Malik, said: “While we were in the mosque with the Messenger of Allah, a Bedouin came and stood urinating in the mosque. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Stop it! Stop it!’ But the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Do not interrupt him; leave him alone.’ So they left him until he had finished urinating, then the Messenger of Allah (SAW) called him and explained to him that in mosques, it was not right to do anything like urinating or defecating; mosques are only for remembering Allah, praying, reading the Qur’an, and so on. Then he commanded a man who was there to bring a bucket of water and the place was cleaned” The principle which the Prophet (SAW) followed in dealing with this mistake was to treat the man gently, and not to be harsh with him.
In another story, Imam Ahmad recorded Abu Umamah saying that a young man came to the Prophet (SAW) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Give me permission to commit zina (unlawful sex).” The people surrounded him and rebuked him, saying, “Stop! Stop!” But the Prophet said, “Come close”. The young man came to him, and he said, “Sit down).” So he sat down. The Prophet said, “Would you like it (i.e., the act of zina) for your mother?” He said, “No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither do the people like it for their mothers!” The Prophet said, “Would you like it for your daughter?” He said, “No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither do the people like it for their daughters!” The Prophet said, “Would you like it for your sister?” He said, “No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither do the people like it for their sisters!” The Prophet said, “Would you like it for your paternal aunt?” He said, “No, by Allah, O Allah’s Messenger! May I be ransomed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither do the people like it for their paternal aunts!” The Prophet said, “Would you like it for your maternal aunt?” He said, “No, by Allah, O Allah’s Messenger! May I be ransomed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither do the people like it for their maternal aunts!” Then the Prophet (SAW) put his hand on him and said, “O Allah, forgive his sin, purify his heart and guard his chastity.” After that the young man never paid attention to anything of that nature.
In the process of teaching and guiding, Muhammad (SAW) explained the truth to the people. Convincing people of the truth of what we teach to them and making it approved by them wholeheartedly is of vital importance in good education. This is what the Prophet (SAW) did.
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الآَخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
“You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much.” (al-Ahzab 33:21).
Understanding the Prophet’s methodology in guiding human beings is of great importance for every murabbi, because the Prophet (SAW) was guided by his Lord, and his words and deeds were supported by revelation. His methods are wiser and more effective, and using his approach is the best way to get people to respond positively.
