RAMADAN: THE MONTH OF MERCY TO MUSLIMS 2. Mercy further requires from the imam that he should not make worship difficult for his followers or cause them harm. On the contrary, he should be merciful, kind and wise. The Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said: Whoever from you leads the people in prayer must make it easy because among them are the old, the sick, the young and the needy. It was narrated that when Muadh once extended the prayer the Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said to him: Are you a troublemaker O Muadh? Are you a troublemaker O Muadh? Are you a troublemaker O Muadh? In the same manner, when Uthman ibn Abi al As al Thaqafi requested: O Messenger of Allah, make me an imam of my people. The Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said: You are their imam so lead the prayer according to the weakest of them and take a caller to prayer who would seek no payment for doing so. Mercy dictates that the one who calls to Islam must advise those whom he is inviting with tenderness. That he should, moreover, clarify issues to them with concern. He should not hurt, defame people or even revile the disobedient in public. Allah advised Moses and Aaron to employ the following methods in their call to the tyrant Pharaoh: But speak unto him in a mild manner, so that he might bethink himself or [at least] be filled with apprehension (Quran 20:44). He also says: Call thou [all mankind] unto thy Sustainers path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the most kindly manner (Quran 16:125). The eminent jurist and Islamic scholar, Imam al Shafee wrote: Support me with your advice in private, and avoid advising me in public. Surely giving advice among the people is a kind of reproach, which I would rather not listen to. If you disobey and ignore my wish, dont be saddened if you are not obeyed. Mercy is required from a father to his children. The mercy of the father or mother toward her children has the greatest effect on their integrity, well-being and obedience. Self-praise and harshness only open the door to despair. The Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said: Kindness was never bestowed upon something except that it beautified it, and it was never removed from that thing except that it made it ugly. O you who fast and cause hunger to your stomach, there are thousands of stomachs more awaiting a meal. Will there not arise from among you those who would feed them? O you who fast and cause thirst to your liver, there are thousands more who await a mouthful of water. Will there not arise from among you those who would quench their thirst? O you who fast and wear the finest garments, there are naked people out there awaiting only a piece of cloth to cover their bodies. Will there not then come forth from among you those who would clothe them? O Allah! We implore your extended mercy that will forgive our sins and erase our misdeeds and errors.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 08:59:37 +0000
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