THE WAY OF THE FAITHFUL
Action not Diction
OF the many traditions of the Quran recorded in the Kitab-alTafsir of Sahih al-Bukhari, the following concerns an incident which explains the revelation of a few verses in chapter forty nine of the Quran.
Once a delegation of the Banu Tamim tribe had come to Madinah to seek guidance on selection of their leader. Abu Bakr, a Companion of the Prophet proposed the name of Qaq’a bin Mabad for being their leader, whereas Umar, another Companion of the Prophet was of the view that Alaq’ra bin Habis was a better choice. Abu Bakr then accused Umar of having said this just to oppose his proposal. But Umar said, “It is not my intention to oppose”. Whereupon they began to argue and, in the process, raised their voices. In consequence, a verse of the Quran was revealed:
Believers, do not push yourselves forward in the presence of God and His Messenger. Fear God. God hears all and knows all. Believers, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet...lest your actions come to nothing without your realizing it. (49: 1-2)
After this, Umar changed his attitude completely. He would always speak in a low voice in the Prophet’s presence, so much that he could hardly be heard, and the Prophet would often have to ask him to repeat what he had said. This is the way of the faithful. A believer may unknowingly raise his voice above that of God and His messenger, but as soon as he is made aware of it, he immediately lowers it.
This is applicable not only to the period of the Prophet but also to the present day, when it is still required of the faithful that they should not raise their voice. The only difference is that in the time of the Prophet people received such instructions directly from him, whereas nowadays people must instruct themselves by making reference to the Quran and the Hadith, Even today, when listening to the commands of God and His messenger, one must lower one’s voice like the early Islamic believers.
What is the attitude which can inculcate such behaviour in the present day Muslims? It is to do with making Islam an integral part of one’s life as opposed to following it just as a form devoid of spirit. The following analogy will bring out this aspect. When a stone is dropped into a glass of water, it descends to the bottom and settles to one side. It is in the water but separate from it. On the other hand, if dye is put into the same glass, the dye and water combine. Now the water is no longer separate from the dye. Both have intermingled in such a way that no one can detect any difference between the two.
The relationship between Islam and a Muslim should be like that of dye and water, not of the stone and water. Islam should not just be an accessory to a Muslim’s life: it should merge with his whole being. It should enter into his thoughts, moulding his intellect in its own fashion. Islam should become the eye with which he sees, the tongue with which he speaks, the hands and feet with which he performs his day-to-day functions. Islam should so take possession of a person that it excludes all else. Every statement should bear the stamp of Islam and every action should be dyed in Islamic colours.
Islam should not just be an accessory to a Muslim’s life: it should merge with his whole being. It should enter into his thoughts, moulding his intellect in its own fashion.
If Islam is like a stone in water, then it is not Islam at all. Faith should be absorbed in a person like dye dissolved in water. Just as the emotions of love and hate are felt by the whole body, so when one adopts Islam in the real sense of the word, it should become an issue affecting one’s whole existence. The Muslim and Islam should become inseparably attached and only this will enable a believer to truly follow the Prophet and his Companions.