Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Wishing Well for Others
From the entire value-system of Islam, every value which Islam advocates is full of attraction and radiates beauty. Whether it be showing respect to the elderly, or compassion to the young, or fulfilling the rights of parents and one’s kith and kin – all reflect the unique splendor of Islam. However, the soul of all these sublime qualities is contained in one Hadith. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said that Deen is to wish well for one and all.
As Muslims, we are taught that just as we wish well for ourselves – we should also wish well for others. Just as we wish for others to show us kindness and compassion, we should also ensure that we deal with them in the same manner. In another Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Love for others what you love for yourself.” (Sunan Tirmizi #2305)
Wishing well for people and showing them compassion is part of the core values of Imaan. On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saying, “You will never acquire perfect Imaan until you show kindness and mercy to the creation.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) responded, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! We all show kindness when dealing among people.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “I am not referring to you showing special kindness and mercy to your close friends or those whom you dearly love. Rather, I wish that you show the same level of special kindness and mercy to the entire creation which you show to your close friends or those whom you dearly love.” (Majma’uz Zawaa’id #12731)
The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) took the advice of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to heart and followed it so passionately that they made this the cornerstone of their lives. Hence, we find that some of them even pledged allegiance at the hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to always wish well for others and keep their interest at heart at all times. (Saheeh Bukhaari #57)
Among the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who pledged allegiance at the hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to wish well for the entire ummah and to deal with them in the best manner at all times was Hazrat Jareer bin Abdillah Al-Bajali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Below are a few incidents of the life of this illustrious Sahaabi which sheds light on this beautiful quality of Islam which was a hallmark in his life and which shone out to the world.
Purchasing a Horse
Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once went to the market to purchase a horse with his freed slave. When Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saw a horse that he liked, he sent his freed slave to the owner to purchase it for him. The freed slave thus went to the owner and offered to pay him 300 dirhams, but the owner refused as he felt that the horse was worth more than that. The freed slave then began to bargain with him, and when they could not agree on a price, he brought the owner to speak to Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
On coming to Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the slave explained that he had offered to purchase the horse for 300 dirhams, but the owner refused to accept the price as he felt that the horse was worth more. The seller then asked Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Do you think the horse is worth 300 dirhams?” Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “No, your horse is worth more than that.” Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then asked him how much the horse was worth, after which he agreed to pay him 700 or 800 dirhams for the horse. After the sale was concluded, Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reprimanded his freed slave for trying to purchase the item for less than it was worth, saying, “Why do you bring him to me, complaining about the price you offer, when I had pledged to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that I would wish well for every Muslim?” (Al-Mu’jamul Kabeer #2395)
Giving an Option to the One who Transacted with him
Imaam Abu Zur’ah (rahimahullah), the grandson of Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), narrates the following incident regarding his grandfather, Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and the importance he showed to the pledge he took at the blessed hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), to wish well for every Muslim:
“Whenever Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would sell something or purchase something, then after concluding the transaction, he would address the person whom he was dealing with and would say, ‘What we have taken from you is better in our sight than what we have given you, hence we give you the option that if you wish to cancel this transaction, then you may do so.” (Sunan Abu Dawood #4945)
Taking part in Jihaad and Remembering the Pledge of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)
During the era of the rule of Hazrat Mu’aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), an army was once dispatched to a certain place. At that time, Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was suffering from ill health. Hence, when dispatching the army, Hazrat Mu’aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) wrote a letter to Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) informing him that he had exempted him and his children from participating in future expeditions of jihaad on account of his ill health.
On receiving the letter, Hazrat Jareer (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) wrote the following reply to Hazrat Mu’aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu): “I pledged at the mubaarak hand of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that I would listen and obey (the leader of the Muslims), and that I would always wish well for all Muslims. Hence, if I recover from my illness and I feel well, then I will personally join the expedition and participate in the jihaad. However, if I am still weak and sick, then I will find someone to join the expedition in my place, and I will personally provide him with the funds, weapons and equipment that he requires to go out in jihaad.” (Musannaf Ibnu Abi Shaybah #19878)
May Allah Ta‘ala grant us the same quality of wishing well for the ummah and showing all people kindness and compassion, in the same manner the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) wished well for all people and showed them kindness and compassion.
