Enjoy Your Life

Hold the stick from the middle

"Thank you very much for deciding to teach as a career. Allah has gifted you with a flair for teaching.Your students love you very much. However, I wish that you would not turn up late for work in the morning."

"You are beautiful. Your house is in order. I don't deny that the children are tiring you out. However, if only you could look after their clothes more."

This is how a righteous person behaves with the people. He mentions the good points first and then brings his attention to the faults, in order to be balanced in his approach.

When you criticise, try to mention where the person is right before mentioning where he is wrong. Always try to give the impression that you have a positive view of him.

When you caution him over his errors, this does not mean that you are belittling him, or that you have forgotten his good deeds, or that you should only mention his wrongs.

On the contrary, you should make him realise that your criticisms of him are insignificant in comparison to his good deeds.

The Prophet peace be upon him was very beloved amongst his Companions. He would employ great techniques whilst dealing with them. Once he stood with his Companions and gazed at the sky, as if he was contemplating or looking for something. He then said, "This is the season where knowledge will be snatched away from people, until they would not possess any of it"; meaning, the people would turn away from the Qur'an, its teachings and the Sacred Knowledge. They would not show any eagerness to attain it, nor would they understand it.

"...snatched away from them..." meaning it would be taken away from them.

Upon hearing this, a noble Companion stood up – he was Ziyad bin Labid al-Ansari – and said with all zeal, "O Messenger of Allah, how can it be snatched away from us? We have read the Qur'an! By Allah, we will continue to read it! We will make our wives and children read it!"

The Prophet looked at him and found him to be a young man full of zeal and enthusiasm for religion. He then decided to correct his understanding, thus he said, "May your mother be bereaved, O Ziyad! Even though, I surely consider you from the jurists of the people of Madinah!" This was a praise of Ziyad, for the Messenger of Allah peace be upon himto say to him in front of people that he was from the jurists of Madinah. This is from the positive and bright pages from Ziyad's life.

He then said, 'The Jews and the Christians have the Torah and the Gospel. How has it benefited them?" (Sahih – narrated by al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim)

Meaning, it is not the presence of the Qur'an that matters. What matters is its recitation, the knowledge of its meanings, and then acting on its rulings. This is how great the way the Prophet peace be upon himdealt with the people was.

On another occasion, the Prophet peace be upon himwent to some of the Arab tribes calling them to Islam. He would choose the most beautiful words to encourage them to respond to his call and enter the fold of Islam.

One of the tribes he went to was known as Banu 'Abdullah. When the Prophet peace be upon himcalled them to Allah and presented his message to them, he said, "O Banu 'Abdullah! Allah has chosen a beautiful name for your father!"; meaning, you are not Banu 'Abd al-Izza, or Banu 'Abd al-Laat. Rather, you are Banu 'Abdullah. Thankfully, there is no paganism involved in your name, and therefore, you should enter into Islam.

In fact, he was so proficient in his ways that he would send indirect messages to people, showing his amazement with them, and that he wanted good for them. When such indirect messages reach those intended, then perhaps they may affect them more than direct messages.

Khalid bin al-Walid – may Allah be pleased with him – was a hero. He was not just any hero, but a courageous one. The Prophet peace be upon himwould wish that he embrace Islam. But how could he? For he was eager to take part in every battle against the Muslims. In fact, he was the greatest reason for the Muslim defeat in the battle of Uhud.