Muhammad Ibn Sirin [1] is one of the imam of Ahl Sunnah/Sunni, who was very famous for his toughness in clinging to the guidance of Allah’s messenger -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, and he is very trustworthy in narrating it. But do you know, O Brother, that he too, was attributed by the scholars of his time as a very cautious man regarding legal and illegal affairs, and very devoted man in worshipping.
Imam Adz Dzahabi cited from Abu ‘Awanah Al Yasykuri, he said, “I saw Muhammad Ibn Sirin on the market, and no one saw him but would remember Allah [2].”
Subhanallah, how noble his character was. He was very devoted in worshipping and remembering Allah the Holy and Exalted thus when he was trading on the market, that quality of him was seen by others.
Isn’t it normal for one to see a man who prayed in a mosque, and that sight caused him to remember Allah, the Holy and Exalted? But to see a man who was busily trading in a hectic market, and his attitudes reminded us of Allah, the Holy and Exalted? Isn’t it show to us that the pious men are always busying themselves with remembrances and prayers to Allah, wherever they are?
It is true, the saying of the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, “The devoted men to Allah are those, whom, if being saw, are reminding people of Allah.” [3]
Our next example is Imam Ibrahim Ibn Maimun Ash Shaigh, a Sunni Imam, from the generation of the students of tabeen. Imam Ibn Hajar al ‘Asqalani cited from his biography that his was a blacksmith, but when he heard the calling of prayer (adhan), even if he had lifted his hammer, he wouldn’t be able to use it and he would immediately left his work to pray. [4]
Look how great the fear and glorification of the pious men to Allah the Holy and Exalted, hence any kind of activities they did, never made them neglected the calling to pray to Allah.
Allah the Holy and Exalted decreed:
{ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ}
“Such is the fact. And whoso venerates the sanctity of all that have been ordained as symbols of Allah surely does so because it is part of the true piety of the hearts.” (QS. Al-Hajj/The Pilgrimage: 32).
Several wisdoms to take from the stories above are:
– A pious believer is one who are not neglecting prayers and remembrance of Allah the Holy and Exalted due to his business and activities. And Allah The Holy and Exalted praised this quality in His decree:
{رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ}
“people whom neither commerce nor striving after profit diverts them from remembering Allah, from establishing Prayer, and from paying Zakat; people who dread the Day on which all hearts will be overturned and eyes will be petrified;” (QS. An-Nuur/The Light: 37).
Imam Ibn Katsir said, “Those are people who are not being fooled by riches and wordly adornments, and joys of trading and obtaining great profits, (being neglected from) remembering (praying to) their Lord (Allah the Holy and Exalted) Who is The Creator and The Bestower of their sustenances, and they are people who know (believe) that (the reward) from Allah the Holy and Exalted is better and more excellent than their possessions, since whatever they possess will be gone whereas the rewards of Allah are eternal. [5]”
– Working and trading places are very potential in neglecting people from remembering Allah the Holy and Exalted, thus, mentioning and remembering Allah the Holy and Exalted on such places are of great excellence in the side of Allah the Holy and Exalted.
Imam Ath Thiibi said, “Whoever remembering Allah (when he was) in the market, then he is among the men of whom Allah the Holy and Exalted declared about their excellence (in the verse above) [6].”
– Taking good examples from the stories of the past time scholars is one of the best way to motivate oneself to increase his devotion to Allah the Holy and Exalted. It is because man’s soul is easier to take example from the real story and (it will) causes him to be more enthusiast in performing righteous deeds and being haste in doing goodness [7].
Therefore, Allah the Holy and Exalted declared to His messenger -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- :
وَكُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ وَجَاءَكَ فِي هَٰذِهِ الْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“(O Muhammad), We narrate these anecdotes of Messengers to you that We may strengthen your heart through them. In these anecdotes come to you the Truth, and an Exhortation, and a Reminder for the believers.” (QS. Hud: 120).
Imam Abu Hanifah said, “I am more fond of the stories (of exemplary) of the scholars and sit together in their forum, than most of the jurisprudence (affairs), since the stories contain their manners and attitudes (to emulate)[8].”
وصلى الله وسلم وبارك على نبينا محمد وآله وصحبه أجمعين، وآخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين
Peace and prayer of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all of his companions. And the end of our prayer (is that) all prayers be to Allah, Lord of universe.
City of Kendari, 1 Rabi’ul akhir 1432 H.
Author: Abdullah Ibn Taslim Al-Buthani, M.A.
Article of www.whatisquran.com
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Footnotes:
[1] He is a great Imam from generation of tabe’en (a generation after the generation if the Prophet and his companion, -ed), very trustworthy, and scrupulous in narrating hadith of Allah’s messenger -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him (died in year of 110 H). His biography is in book titled ‘Tahdzibul Kamal’ (25/344), and ‘Siyaru A’laamin Nubala’ (4/606).
[2] See: ‘Siyaru A’laamin Nubalaa’ (4/610).
[3] Narrated by Ath Thabrani in his work ‘Al-Mu’jamul Kabiir’ (no. 12325), by Dhiya’uddin Al-Maqdisi in ‘Al-Ahaaditsul Mukhtaarah’ (2/212) and others. Al Albani said that it is a good hadith in his work ‘Ash-Shahiihah’ (no. 1733) because it is narrated from various chains that are supporting one another.
[4] See: ‘Tahdziibut Tahdziib’ (1/150).
[5] See: ‘Tafseer Ibn Katsir’ (3/390).
[6] Cited by Al Mubarakfuri in his book ‘Tuhfatul Ahwadzi’, (9/273).
[7] See an explanation of Sheikh Abdurrahman As Sa’di in his book (a tafseer/Qur’an interpretation) , page 271.
[8] Cited with narration by Imam Ibn ‘Abdil Barr in his book ‘Jaami’u Bayaanil ‘Ilmi wa Fadhlihi’ (no. 595).