Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
When Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was sending Hazrat Mu’aaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to Yemen to teach the people deen and to govern over them, then while seeing him off, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) walked with him till the outskirts of Madinah Munawwarah while giving him parting advice.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) commanded him to carry out certain righteous deeds, and he commanded him to refrain from doing certain actions. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to him:
“O Mu’aaz! I advise you like how a sincere, compassionate brother advises his brother. I advise you to always fear Allah, to speak the truth, to fulfil your promises, to discharge the trust given to you, to refrain from treachery and deception, to show mercy to the orphans, to safeguard the rights of the neighbour, to restrain your anger, to always be humble, to spread salaam (to those whom you meet), to speak politely, to remain steadfast upon Imaan, to deeply ponder over the Quraan (and follow it correctly), to inculcate the love of the Hereafter (within your heart), to fear the reckoning and accountability (before Allah on the Day of Qiyaamah), to curb your worldly hopes and desires, and to increase doing good deeds.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also said to him, “I forbid you from insulting a Muslim, belying a truthful person, believing the information of a liar, and disobeying a just leader who is appointed over you (i.e. at any time in your life, if someone is appointed over you by the khalifah, then you should obey him).
“O Mu’aaz! Remember Allah at every stone and every tree (i.e. while walking on the face of this earth, when you pass by a stone or tree, always remember Allah Ta’ala at every moment). If you commit a sin (out of human weakness), then immediately make amends by making tawbah. If the sin is committed in private, then make tawbah in private, and if the sin is committed in public, then make tawbah in public.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) added, “Always visit the sick, hasten in fulfilling the needs of widows and the weak muslims, remain in the company of the poor and needy, treat people with justice even if it pertains with yourself (i.e. even if it relates to your own rights), always speak the truth, and in the cause of Allah, do not be worried about the criticism of any person.” (Hilyatul Awliyaa 1/240)
According to another narration, before bidding Hazrat Mu’aaz (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) farewell, Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to him, “Perhaps you will not meet me after this year (in other words, this is our last meeting). Perhaps (when you return to Madinah,) you will pass by my musjid or my grave.”
Hazrat Mu’aaz (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) understood this to be a clear indication that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is going to pass away and that there will not be another opportunity for him to see and meet Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) after this. Hearing this, Hazrat Mu’aaz (radhiyallahu anhu) broke down and began weeping out of grief upon the separation of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not want to look at his face while he wept, and thus he turned his mubaarak countenance towards the direction of Madinah Munawwarah. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) then consoled him saying, “Indeed, the people who are closest to me are those who have taqwa (i.e. the fear of Allah in their lives), whomsoever they may be and wherever they may be.” (Musnad Ahmad #22052)
In other words, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained to him that if you hold onto taqwa and my sunnah, then despite living far from me in another land, you will be close to me. On the contrary, if you live close to me (e.g. in Madinah Munawwarah), but you do not bring taqwa and the sunnah in your life, then though you are physically living close to me, in reality, you are distant from me.
