The Prophet's Clemency
The Prophet said: 'The most clement of the people is he who flees from the ignorant people.' 200 He also said: 'There are three things which if not found in a person that person's actions will not be complete: abstinence which protects him from disobedience to God, morals with which he interacts with the people, and clemency with which he repels the ignorance of the ignorant.' 201 One day the Prophet asked his companions: 'Who amongst you is considered to be a champion?'
They said: 'The severe and powerful person who never compromises.'
The Prophet replied: 'On the contrary, the true champion is a man who is struck by Satan in his heart until his anger intensifies and his blood boils but then he remembers God and by his clemency defeats his anger.' 202 On another occasion the Apostle of God said to his companions: 'Shall I inform you of the one amongst you who is most like me?' They said: 'Yes, O Apostle of God.'
He said: ' ... the most patient of you in the way of the truth and the one most in control of his anger.' 203 The Prophet used to say: 'There are two draughts which are two of the most beloved ways to Almighty God: a draught of anger which is repelled by clemency and a draught of calamity which is repelled by patience.' 204
It is related that Imam Ali said: 'The Apostle of God said:
'My Lord has ordered me to act civilly with the people just as he has ordered me to perform the obligatory prayers.' 205
He also said: 'I have been sent as a centre for clemency and as a mine for knowledge and as an abode for patience.' 206 Once a young man came to the Apostle of God and said to him: 'Do you give me permission to fornicate?' The Apostle of God's companions rebuked him and were rough with him; but the Prophet brought him near and said: 'Would you like it if others fornicated with your mother and your sisters and your aunts?' He said: 'No, O Apostle of God.' He said to him:
'All people feel the same way.' Then he put his blessed hand on his chest and said: 'O God, forgive his sin and purify his heart and protect his private parts.' 207 He also said: 'God favoured the prophets over the rest of his creation due to their extensive affability towards the enemies of the religion of God and for their excellent prudence for the sake of their brothers in God.' 208 On Being Conscious of Almighty God The Apostle of God said: 'Whoever fears God will live as a powerful person and may travel in the land of his enemy in safety.' 209
He also said: 'Act according to what God has made obligatory and you will be the most God-conscious of the people.' 210 The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, related: 'The Apostle of God said: 'The most pious of the people is he who speaks the truth whether it be in his favour or to his detriment.' 211
The Apostle of God also said: 'Whoever wishes to be the most pious of people then let him rely upon God.' 212
He also said: 'There are ten parts to worship nine of which are in lawful means of earning.' 213
He also said: 'Looking to your brother who you love for the sake of God is an act of worship.' 214
It is related that Im"m Ja!far al-Sadiq said: 'Whenever the Apostle of God awoke from sleep he would fall down and prostrate to God.' 215 In a tradition it is said that the Prophet when praying it was as if he was a discarded robe.' 216 The Prophet for ten years stood [in prayer] on his tiptoes until his feet became raw and bloodied. His face became yellow from keeping vigil at night until he was chided for doing so when God said: e ?"h", We did not send down the Qur'an upon you so that you may become distressed. 217 218
In the advice of the Prophet to AbY Dharr he said: 'I enjoin upon you consciousness of God for it is the summit of all of your affairs.' 219 He also said: 'There is a trait which if adopted by a person the whole of this world and the next will obey him and he will profit by attaining Paradise.' He was asked: 'And what is that O Apostle of God?' He said: 'God consciousness (taqw"), for whoever wishes to be the mightiest of people then let him develop consciousness of God.' Then he recited God's words: eAnd whoever fears God, He will make for him a solution and will provide for him from where he does not expect.220 221
Notes:
200. al-am"l: of al-£udYq; Lecture 6, p.28.
201. al-k"f:; vol.2, p.116, 9ad:th 1.
202. tu9af al-!uqYl; p.33.
203. al-k"f:; vol.2, p.240, 9ad:th 35.
204. al-k"f:; vol.2, p.110, 9ad:th 9.
205. bihar al-anwar; vol.2, chap.13, p.69, 9ad:th 23.
206. ibid. vol. 67, chap. 93, p. 423.
207. muntah" al-"m"l of al-Qumm:; vol.1, p.68.
208. bihar al-anwar; vol.72, chap.87, p.401. 9ad:th 42.
209. ibid. vol.67, chap.56, p.283, 9ad:th 5.
210. ibid; vol.66, chap.38, p.368, 9ad:th 4.
211. ibid; vol.67, chap.56, p.288, 9ad:th 15.
212. ma!"n: al-akhb"r; p.196. Beirut edition.
213. bihar al-anwar; vol.100, chap.1, p.17, 9ad:th 81.
214. ibid; vol.71, chap.18, p.278, 9ad:th 1.
215. ibid; vol.73, chap.44, p.219, 9ad:th 26.
216. ibid; vol.81, chap.38, p.248.
217. The Holy Qur'an: ?"h" (20): 1-2.
218. tafs:r nYr al-thaqalayn; vol.3, p.367, 9ad:th 11. Qum edn.
219. al-am"l: of al-?Ys:; vol.2, p.154.
220. The Holy Qur'an: Divorce (65): 2-3.
221. bihar al-anwar; vol.67, chap.56, p.275, 9ad:th 7.
Adopted from the book : "The Prophet Muhammad; a Mercy to the World" by : "Ayatullah Muhammad Sadiq al-Shirazi"