الهَدْيُ النَّبَوِيُّ فِي بِنَاءِ المُجْتَمَعِ القِيَمِيّ : The Prophet's Guidance for building an Islamic Society

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

الهَدْيُ النَّبَوِيُّ فِي بِنَاءِ المُجْتَمَعِ القِيَمِيّ

The Prophet's guidance in building a value-based society.

Praise be to Allah, who has commanded us to gather in goodness with family and loved ones. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, having no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and Messenger—the best of those who sat with people and spoke with excellence, and the finest of those who offered counsel and guidance with wisdom. May the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, his family, and his companions. These are the recited verses from Surah Al Nahl and their translation:

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فاعوذ باللہ من الشیطان الرجیم- بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِ‌ۖ وَجَـٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۖ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ (١٢٥) وَإِنۡ عَاقَبۡتُمۡ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثۡلِ مَا عُوقِبۡتُم بِهِۦ‌ۖ وَلَٮِٕن صَبَرۡتُمۡ لَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لِّلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٢٦) وَٱصۡبِرۡ وَمَا صَبۡرُكَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَلَا تَحۡزَنۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا تَكُ فِى ضَيۡقٍ۬ مِّمَّا يَمۡڪُرُونَ (١٢٧) إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّٱلَّذِينَ هُم مُّحۡسِنُونَ

Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided. (125) And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allâh), then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sâbirun (the patient)[]. (126) And endure you patiently (O Muhammad SAW), your patience is not but from Allâh. And grieve not over them (polytheists and pagans), and be not distressed because of what they plot. (127) Truly, Allâh is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him)[], and those who are Muhsinûn (good-doers, - see the footnote of V.9:120). (128)

Surah Al Nahl – 125-128

O servants of ALLAH: Fear ALLAH and Adopt piety and obey ALLAH. And know that human interactions are among the greatest means of building society, the most fruitful way to cultivate goodness within it, and a safeguard for preserving morals. Indeed, our Lord—Glorified be His Majesty—commanded His Prophet to keep the company of the virtuous and righteous, saying in Surah Al Kahf:

وَٱصۡبِرۡ نَفۡسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّہُم بِٱلۡغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلۡعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَلَا تَعۡدُ عَيۡنَاكَ عَنۡہُمۡ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ وَلَا تُطِعۡ مَنۡ أَغۡفَلۡنَا قَلۡبَهُ ۥ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَٮٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمۡرُهُ ۥ فُرُطً۬ا

And keep yourself (O Muhammad SAW) patiently with those who call on their Lord (i.e. your companions who remember their Lord with glorification, praising in prayers, and other righteous deeds) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, and who follows his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost.

Surah Al Kahaf – 28

O believers, the Prophet, peace be upon him, attached great importance to his meetings with people, recognizing the good they held for both this world and the Hereafter. These gatherings served as a school where the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—acquired knowledge, refined their conduct, and deepened their faith. They never missed an opportunity to meet the Messenger of Allah, making the very best use of every such occasion, whether sitting with him in the mosque, in their homes, or elsewhere. The noble Prophet—upon whom be the best of prayers and honor—would remind them of Allah, teach them the Book and wisdom, and cultivate in them noble character traits. It is no wonder, then, that such circles of faith became a cause for Allah’s mercy and the descent of His tranquility upon the believers; for it is narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "No group of people gathers in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, but that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those in His presence."

O Muslims: Islam has urged us to ensure that our gatherings are filled with the remembrance of Allah and free from anything that incurs His displeasure. Allah the Almighty says in Surah Al.Anaam:

وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡہُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُواْ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيۡرِهِۦ‌ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ فَلَا تَقۡعُدۡ بَعۡدَ ٱلذِّڪۡرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

And when you (Muhammad SAW) see those who engage in a false conversation about Our Verses (of the Qur'ân) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaitân (Satan) causes you to forget, then after the remembrance sit not you in the company of those people who are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).

Surah Al Anaam – 68

A Muslim must exercise self-restraint in both word and deed, for he is accountable for everything that proceeds from him; and Allah—Glorified be His Majesty—says in Surah Al Isra:

وَلَا تَقۡفُ مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡبَصَرَ وَٱلۡفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَانَ عَنۡهُ مَسۡـُٔولاً۬

And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those one will be questioned (by Allâh).

Surah Al Isra – 36

Here, the true and upright Sharia warns Muslims against falling into behaviors they ought to avoid during their gatherings—such as harboring ill thoughts about others, backbiting, and tale-bearing—for Allah—Glorified be His Majesty—says, in Surah Al Hujrat:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱجۡتَنِبُواْ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعۡضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثۡمٌ۬‌ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُواْ وَلَا يَغۡتَب بَّعۡضُكُم بَعۡضًا‌ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُڪُمۡ أَن يَأۡڪُلَ لَحۡمَ أَخِيهِ مَيۡتً۬ا فَكَرِهۡتُمُوهُ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬

O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting)[] . And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.

Surah Al Hujraat – 12

Backbiting is a scourge upon relationships and a destroyer of bonds of affection; it is among the swiftest ways to dismantle brotherhood and incite enmity.

Servants of Allah: When emulating the Prophet, peace be upon him, in his dealings with others, a person ought to commit to truthfulness in dialogue and avoid lying, idle talk, and the spreading of rumors. Seyyedina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "It is sufficient of a lie for a person to speak of everything he hears." Furthermore, a believer is adorned by humility before his brethren; he does not act superior nor walk among them with arrogance. When he speaks, he lowers his voice, converses well, and uses gentle language—practices commanded by our Lord, Exalted be He, who says in Surah Luqman:

وَلَا تُصَعِّرۡ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًا‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٍ۬ فَخُورٍ۬ (١٨) وَٱقۡصِدۡ فِى مَشۡيِكَ وَٱغۡضُضۡ مِن صَوۡتِكَ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلۡأَصۡوَٲتِ لَصَوۡتُ ٱلۡحَمِيرِ

"And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allâh likes not any arrogant boaster[] (18) "And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of the ass." (19)

Surah Luqman – 18-19

So fear Allah, O servants of Allah, and remember that proper conduct in dealings elevates the status of those who practice it, whereas clamor and quarreling strip away all blessing; and Allah—Glorified be He—says in Surah Al Anfal:

وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُواْ فَتَفۡشَلُواْ وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡ‌ۖ وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ

And obey Allâh and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allâh is with those who are As-Sâbirûn (the patient).

Surah Al Anfal – 46

أقولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُالرَّحِيمُ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ البَرُّ الكَرِيمُ

I say what you hear, and I ask forgiveness from ALLAH Almighty for me and for you, so ask forgiveness from Him and He will forgive you, for He is the Forgiving and Merciful, and pray to Him and He will answer you, for He is The noble righteousness.

الحَمْدُ للَّهِ عَلَى إِحْسَانِهِ، وَالشُّكْرُ لَهُ عَلَى تَوْفِيقِهِ وَامْتِنَانِهِ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ الشَّاكِرُ لإِحْسَانِهِ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ

Praise be to Allah for His benevolence, and thanks be to Him for His guidance and grace. We bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, with no partner, and we bear witness that our master Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant who is grateful for His benevolence; and [peace and blessings be] upon his family and his companions.

To proceed, O servants of Allah: The guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in his interactions with people was a supreme example of proper conduct and etiquette. When sitting with his Companions, he would turn his face toward them and involve everyone in the conversation, listening to both young and old alike, and nurturing his Companions in manners and wisdom. He was neither harsh in speech nor rough in nature; indeed, Allah the Almighty says to him in Surah Aal E Imran:

فَبِمَا رَحۡمَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمۡ‌ۖ وَلَوۡ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلۡقَلۡبِ لَٱنفَضُّواْ مِنۡ حَوۡلِكَ‌ۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

And by the Mercy of Allâh, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh¬hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allâh's) Forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allâh, certainly, Allâh loves those who put their trust (in Him).

Surah Aal E Imran – 159

It was his practice to teach them without overburdening them, and to tend to them with words of counsel that fostered a longing for knowledge; his Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—followed this same path. Thus, we see ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud engaging the people in the study of knowledge every Thursday. One of his companions said to him, "I wish you would remind us every day." He replied, "What holds me back from doing so is that I dislike wearying you; rather, I choose specific times to offer counsel—just as the Prophet used to do with us—for fear that we might become bored." He would sit with his companions with gentleness and modesty, cultivating in them tranquility and dignity, free from clamor or raised voices. Allah—Glorified be His Majesty—says in Surah Al Hujraat:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصۡوَٲتَهُمۡ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱمۡتَحَنَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَہُمۡ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰ‌ۚ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ عَظِيمٌ

Verily, those who lower their voices in the presence of Allâh's Messenger (SAW), they are the ones whose hearts Allâh has tested for piety. For them is forgiveness and a great reward.

Surah Al Hujraat – 03

So fear Allah, O servants of Allah; let us follow the example of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and make our gatherings forums for remembrance, arenas for knowledge, and incubators for values. Let us avoid anything that corrupts them—such as idle talk or acts of disobedience—and let our motto be the words of our noble Messenger: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not harm his neighbor; whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent."

O servants of ALLAH, remember this command of ALLAH:

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

کہہ دو اے میرے بندو جنہوں نے اپنی جانوں پر ظلم کیا ہے الله کی رحمت سے مایوس نہ ہو بے شک

الله سب گناہ بخش دے گا بے شک وہ بخشنے والا رحم والا ہے

Say: "O 'Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh, verily Allâh forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Surah Az Zumr – 53