Pearls Of The Blessed Messenger (10)
Pearls from the blessed Messenger of Allah
(صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيُّهَا
النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا
أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَقَالَ{ يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنْ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا
صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ } وَقَالَ { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
كُلُوامِنْطَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ } ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ
وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ.
(رواه مسلم)
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: Certainly Allah is pure, He does not accept except those things which are pure and good. Certainly Allah has commanded the believers with that which he has commanded the Prophets (upon them be peace). Allah has said in the Quran: “Oh Messengers! Eat/ Consume from the good and pure things and do good deeds for certainly I am most knowledgeable of those things which you do.” And Allah has also said: “Oh those who believe eat/consume from the pure and good things of what we have sustained you.” Then the Prophet (upon whom be peace) mentioned concerning a man who was on a very long journey, dishevelled, covered in dust, extending his hands to the heavens (saying) Oh my Master! Oh my Master! (Supplicating and begging from Allah in such a condition) and his food is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful and he is nourished with unlawful, so how then will he be answered on account of that.
Narrated by Imam Muslim # 1015, page 409, publisher: Darus Salam.
This narration highlights a few very fundamental and important guidelines for all Muslims.
The first point is that, all the Prophets who were sent on the face of the earth were men who walked the earth and ate from it. Thus, no one can say that the messengers were angels so one cannot do and fulfil what they did and were commanded to do.
The second point is that, we are all on some degree, representatives or inheritors of the Prophets (Upon them be peace and blessings). Whatever the Prophets were commanded, we have been commanded with the same. There are however very few things that were commanded to the Prophets only and not for us, which have been highlighted by the scholars of Islaam
The third and most fundamental point is the importance of halaal sustenance. Allah has placed nourishment in food for mankind and based on the source of nourishment will determine the outcome of what a person will do with this energy. If we eat from the good things (halaal and pure) then we will be strengthened to do good and righteous actions become easy for us. On the contrary, when a person is nourished with haraam and harmful things, then he will be strengthened to do wrong and sins will become easy for him.
The other lesson learned from the tradition is that Allah does not accept the supplication and worship of one who consumes/uses unlawful things.
The Prophet (May peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned a man who because of his state would have had his duas readily accepted. He was a traveller having travelled a long distance. The difficulties undertaken in the journey causes his hairs to be dishevelled and the body covered with dust. He looks like a beggar, deserving mercy and compassion and in this state he calls on his lord for help and goodness, saying ‘O my Lord’ ‘O my Lord’.
Notwithstanding this pitiable state his dua is rejected by Allah because he was nourished from haram (unlawful means) and his clothing was also unlawful.
This tells us that we must avoid every type of haram, whether it is food, drink or clothing and most importantly we must ensure that we do not have a haram source of income.