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