Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Development of the Moral Structure of a Child – Part Three
One of the most effective ways for parents to mould their children and steer them towards deen is to educate them regarding the beautiful qualities of the sunnah that were found in the lives of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and the pious predecessors of the ummah.
Islam is a religion which does not relate to words alone, but also relates to action and intention. Hence, when incidents illustrating the beautiful qualities of the pious are discussed with the children, their hearts and minds will open and they will be able to understand the true application and practical dimension of Islam.
In essence, mentioning incidents which illustrate and depict the beautiful qualities of the pious will be a means of four positive effects being created in the children:
- the correct mindset of Islam will be created within them
- they will understand how to practice deen correctly
- they will appreciate the beauty and perfection of Islam
- their love for Islam and the blessed sunnah will increase
Once they have the correct mindset and the true love and understanding of Islam, they will possess loyalty and allegiance for the deen of Islam. They will give preference to the command of Allah Ta‘ala and the way of Islam over everything else in the world. Everything of Islam will be so near and dear to their hearts that they will become sensitive to anything that is said or done in opposition to Islam or the sunnah.
The Quality of Having Love for Deen and Hating the Ways of the Kuffaar
Among the salient qualities of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) was their deep love and devotion for deen. They afforded deen the greatest honour and respect and they could not tolerate anything that was spoken against deen or the people of deen.
If at any time, something was spoken against deen or the people of deen, then their deep loyalty and strong attachment with deen caused them to stand up in the defence of deen. Below are two examples to illustrate the true love in the hearts of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) for deen:
Incident of Hazrat Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwiz (radhiyallahu ‘anha)
Hazrat Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwiz (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was a Sahaabiyyah from the Ansaar of Madinah Munawwarah. She accepted Islam before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made hijrah, and it was her father, Hazrat Mu’awwiz bin Afraa (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was blessed with the honour of being among the people responsible for killing Abu Jahl in the Battle of Badr.
It is reported that there was a kaafir woman named Asmaa who would sell perfume to the womenfolk. When Hazrat Rubayyi’ (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was introduced to her as being the daughter of Hazrat Mu’awwiz (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), she remarked, “So you are the daughter of the person who killed his chief and leader!”
On account of her deep love and loyalty for Islam, and hatred for kufr and the people of kufr, Hazrat Rubayyi’ (radhiyallahu ‘anha) could not tolerate a wretched disbeliever such as Abu Jahl being referred to as her father’s chief and leader. Hence, she addressed Asmaa and retorted saying, “No! I am the daughter of the one who killed his slave!”
Hearing Abu Jahl being referred to as a slave, Asmaa became angry and declared, “It is haraam for me to sell perfume to you!”
Hazrat Rubayyi’ (radhiyallahu ‘anha) replied in the same strain, “It is haraam for me to buy perfume from you! In fact, I have never found stink in any perfume except yours!”
Hazrat Rubayyi’ (radhiyallahu ‘anha) later mentioned, “I had simply mentioned those last words in order to provoke her.” (Usdul Ghaabah 7/108, Tabaqaat Ibnu Sa’d 8/233)
In this incident, we see that Hazrat Rubayyi’ (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was so sensitive towards Abu Jahl – the arch enemy of Islam – being praised in her presence that she could not tolerate it and responded in this manner. In reality, this was on account of the deep love, loyalty and allegiance that she possessed in her heart for Islam.
Incident of Hazrat Ummu Habeebah (radhiyallahu ‘anha)
Hazrat Ummu Habeebah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was one of the respected wives of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and was also the daughter of Hazrat Abu Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who accepted Islam on the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah Mukarramah.
Prior to accepting Islam, during the period of the truce, Abu Sufyaan once came to Madinah Munawwarah in order to negotiate with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding the peace treaty. On arriving in Madinah Munawwarah, he came to the home of his daughter, Hazrat Ummu Habeebah (radhiyallahu ‘anha).
After entering the home, Abu Sufyaan went to sit on the bed, but as he was about to sit, Hazrat Ummu Habeebah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) removed the bedding from under him. Abu Sufyaan was surprised and asked, “Was the bedding unfit for me, or am I unfit for the bedding?”
His daughter replied, “This is the bedding of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and you are a disbeliever, and hence you are impure. Therefore, I do not want you to sit on the bedding of Rasullullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)” Hearing this response, Abu Sufyaan was disappointed and said, “O my daughter, evil has afflicted you after me (i.e. after you left me and accepted Islam)!”
From this incident, we see that the love of Hazrat Ummu Habeebah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was so deep and great that she could not tolerate a disbeliever – even if it was her own father – sitting on the bedding of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). (Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 8, pg. 99, Sharhuz Zarqaani vol. 3, pg. 385 and Seeratul Musatafaa [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam] vol. 3, pg. 1-6)
