Luton Muslim Journal Safar 1438 | November 2016
Luton Muslim Journal Safar 1438 | November 2016
6
Family Building Exercise An experiment you won’ t regret
By Malwana Thaqib Mahmood
It is common in our day to day lives to overlook the positive contributions people give to our lives. Especially those who are in our close circles like our family. What tends to happen is that we highlight each other’ s weaknesses with one of two intentions. Either we are sincere in improving them but usually they end up taking it the wrong way, or we are trying to prove a point and are seeking to win a quarrel. I believe in a theory of continuous positive feedback. We must reinforce the reasons why we appreciate each other. The Messenger( May Allah bless him) would always boost the morale of his close associates by positive comments about them. These comments are an example of the unique style of leadership the Messenger( May Allah bless him) showed. Many of these praises are recorded in the books of Hadith under the heading Manaaqibus Sahaabah( merits of the companions). Below are some of those examples.
Narrated `Imran bin Husain: " Allah ' s Messenger( May Allah bless him) said, ' The best of my followers are those living in my generation( i. e. my contemporaries). And then those who will follow the latter "( Bukhari Book 62, Hadith 2) Narrated Abu Bakr: I said to the Prophet
( May Allah bless him) while I was in the Cave. " If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us." He said, " O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two( persons) the third of whom is Allah?" Bukhari Book 62, Hadith 5)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet( May Allah bless him) said, " Among the nation of Bani Israel who lived before you, there were men who used to be inspired with guidance though they were not prophets, and if there is any of such persons amongst my followers, it is ' Umar."( Bukhari Book 62, Hadith 40)
Narrated Anas: The Prophet( May Allah bless him) ascended the mountain of Uhud and Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman were accompanying him. The mountain gave a shake( i. e. trembled underneath them). The Prophet( May Allah bless him) said, " O Uhud! Be calm." I think that the Prophet( May Allah bless him) hit it with his foot, adding, " For upon you there are none but a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs."( Bukhari Book 62, Hadith 50)
And narrated Sa’ d that the Prophet( May Allah bless him) said to ' Ali, " Will you not be pleased from this that you are to me like Aaron was to Moses?"( Bukhari Book 62, Hadith 57)
What makes these statements and the ones like these so powerful is that it is spoken from the paragon of Allahs creation. The Messenger( May Allah bless him) could have been critical towards his companions and rightfully so as there is no one who is better placed to do so. However, he chose to positively enforce the goodness within his companions to encourage them to strive further. History has demonstrated that these positive remarks did not fuel pride in the companions, but rather it made them more humble than ever. The reason for this is that the companions were nurtured well enough to