Before the morning is out, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) often pays a visit to a relative or one of his Companions.
\nToday he goes to visit his daughter Fatimah in hopes of seeing his little grandson al-Hasan.
\nAbu Hurayrah recalls to us a visit like this one:
\n\u201cThe Prophet was out one morning and found me in the mosque. He took me by the hand and we went together, him leaning somewhat on my hand.
\nWe headed to the Qaynuqa` market, not speaking a word to each other. We strolled through the market, looking around, and then we left. We went to the outer courtyard of Fatimah\u2019s house, where he sat down. He called out for al-Hasan:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is the little one? Where is he? Call al-Hasan ibn `Ali to me.\u201d
\nNo one answered. Fatimah was detaining him, so we assumed she was bathing and dressing him, and preparing for him a little perfumed necklace he used to wear.
\nSo the Prophet got up to leave and I followed him until we came to the mosque. He sat down and drew up his legs. Then he said:
\n\u201cNow where is the little one? Call him to me.\u201d
\nJust as soon as he said that, al-Hasan bounded up to him, wearing his perfumed necklace. The Prophet made a sign with his hand and then held it out to al-Hasan.
\nThen al-Hasan grabbed his hand and jumped into his lap. They hugged each other, and the Prophet kissed him and drew him close. Al-hasan began running his fingers through the Prophet\u2019s beard. The prophet drew al-Hasan face close to his and said:<\/p>\n
\u201cO Allah! Truly I love him, so love him too, and bestow your love on everyone else who loves him.\u201d
\nHe repeated this prayer three times. I can never forget the sight of them together. Even years later, it was impossible for me to look at al-Hasan without my eyes filling up with tears.
\nOn another occasion, the Prophet (peace be upon him) visited Fatimah\u2019s house inquiring after her husband: `Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was also his nephew. She told him:
\n\u201cWe had a bit of an argument and he went out.\u201d
\nThe Prophet called on some people to enquire as to his whereabouts, and one of them told him that `Ali was sleeping in the mosque. The Prophet went off and found him there, lying on his side. His cloak had fallen off his shoulder, and his side was covered in dirt. The Prophet (peace be upon him) began gently wiping the dirt off of him, saying:<\/p>\n
\u201cGet up, Abu Turab, get up.\u201d
\nThe Prophet also likes to visit his old nurse, Umm Ayman, who took care of him when he was a small child. Their relationship is very close and familiar.
\nOne time, when he went to see her, she served him some refreshments and for some reason he declined to eat, possibly because he was fasting. She turned and shouted at him, scolding him about his behavior. She insisted that he must eat. She loved him so much, she could not help herself. He was in every way like her very own son.
\nThe Prophet took her scolding graciously and with good cheer.
\nThe Prophet regularly visits his Companions. He pays special attention to those who are poor, weak, or infirm. He accepts the invitations of people who invite him to their homes. When he accepts an invitation, he sometimes comes alone, and sometimes with company.
\nFor instance, when he accepted the invitation of Anas ibn Malik\u2019s elderly mother Mulaykah to eat at her home, he went by himself. He was received by Mulaykah, her son Anas, and an orphan who was in their care. He ate with them. Afterwards, he said:<\/p>\n
\u201cGet ready and I will lead you in prayer.\u201d
\nAnas got up and readied a mat which had grown dark due to its lying out on the floor for so long. He freshened it with water, and the prophet stood upon it. Anas and the orphan boy stood in a row behind him, and Mulaykah stood in a row on her own. The Prophet led them all in two units of prayer, then he took his leave.
\nSometimes, the Prophet takes a member of his family with him when he accepts an invitation. For instance, once a Persian neighbor of his called on him at home to invite him over for a meal. This man was known to have the best gravy in town with the most delicious aroma. He had especially prepared the meal for the Prophet. The Prophet replied to the invitation:<\/p>\n
\u201cCan (my wife) Aisha come with me.\u201d
\nThe man said no, so the Prophet informed him that he will not be able to make it. A little later, the neighbor called upon him a second time, beseeching him to come over and eat. The Prophet again asked if his wife could come along.
\nWhen the man said no, the Prophet again declined the invitation. He came back a third time to invite him to come saying that Aisha was also welcome. So he accepted the invitation and they went off together. At other times, the Prophet takes some of his Companions with him. This was the case when `Itban ibn Malik invited the Prophet over to pray at his house. `Itban had said:
\n\u201cMy eyes have grown weak, and I am the one who leads the prayers for the people in my locality. When heavy rains make the valley between my home and theirs flow with water, I cannot get to the community mosque to lead them in prayer. Therefore, I would like you, O Messenger of Allah, to visit me and pray at my house, to inaugurate it as a prayer area.\u201d The Prophet agreed, and the next morning he came to `Itban\u2019s house along with Abu Bakr, `Umar, and some others. He asked `Itban:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere would you like me to pray?\u201d
\n`Itban indicated a corner of his house, and laid out a mat for him, which he cleaned off with water. The Prophet (peace be upon him) went over and offered two units of prayer. Afterwards, `Itban insisted that everyone stay for lunch, so they all sat down to eat together.
\nThe Prophet (peace be upon him) is always very sociable with his hosts, showing everyone in the household special attention, even the small children. Mahmud ibn Rabi\u2019 would later recall that when he was five, the Prophet visited his house, and played with him at the household well by splashing water at him with his fingers. Anas recalls another such occasion:
\n\u201cThe Prophet had the best of manners. He would mix with us and mingle freely. My little brother was three years old. His name was Abu `Umayr. Whenever the Prophet came to visit us, he would joke with him and make him laugh. Once, when he was visiting, he noticed that my little brother was sad. He turned to his mother and asked: \u201cUmm Sulaym, why is it I see your son so sad and gloomy?\u201d
\nShe said: \u201cHis bird Nughayr died, that he used to play with.\u201d The Prophet turned to the boy and began stroking his head, saying:<\/p>\n
\u201cO Abu `Umayr, what has Nughayr done? What has Nughayr done?\u201d
\nThe Prophet wins the hearts of the children and parents alike in the way he makes the children laugh, and in the way he takes their concerns as seriously as he does those of adults. Whenever he eats at someone\u2019s house, he always offers prayers for his hosts. For instance, when Sa\u2019d ibn `Ubadah served him bread and oil at his home, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ate with him and then concluded with the following prayer:
\n\u201cMay fasting people conclude their fasts with your food, may righteous people partake of it, and may the angels beseech Allah\u2019s blessings for you.\u201d
\nOn another occasion, the Prophet (peace be upon him) visited Busr ibn Abi Busr. When he approached his home, Busr and his wife came out to greet him and welcome him inside. They offered him a cushion to sit on. Then Busr\u2019s wife brought him a large bowl of thick porridge made of wheat flour mixed with water and salt. They all ate from it together, and there was still some to spare when they were done. Then the prophet (peace be upon him) said:
\n\u201cO Allah! Grant them Your forgiveness and mercy, bless them, and give them abundance in their livelihood.\u201d His visits are not only to enjoy good company and cultivate love between the members of the community. His conduct \u2013 how he interacts with his hosts and other guests, young and old \u2013 is an education for them. Sometimes his lessons are more explicit. \u2018Abd Allah ibn `Amir recalls the following:
\n\u201cAllah\u2019s Messenger (peace be upon him) visited us at our home when I was a small boy. I wanted to go out and play, but my mother called me back saying: \u201c`Abd Allah, come here and I will give you something.\u201d Allah\u2019s Messenger turned to her and asked: \u201cWhat did you intend to give him?\u201d She answered that she was going to give him dates. The Prophet then said: \u201cIf you do not give them to him, it will be written into your reckoning that you had told a lie.\u201d
\nConsider this important lesson in child rearing. It is wrong for parents to coax children into doing things by making false promises, though many parents do this unthinkingly. It is important to instill in our children the value of honesty.
\nOn another occasion, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was at `Itban ibn Malik\u2019s house among a large number of other guests. Someone said: \u201cWhat\u2019s up with Malik ibn al-Dukhsham? I don\u2019t see him.\u201d Someone else said: \u201cThat man is a hypocrite. He has no love for Allah and His Messenger.\u201d Upon hearing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) spoke up:
\n\u201cDo not say that! Can\u2019t you see that he has declared \u2018There is no God but Allah\u2019 seeking by doing so Allah\u2019s pleasure?\u201d The man who made the accusation replied:
\n\u201cAllah and His Messenger know best, but we can see that all of his affection and conversation is with the hypocrites.\u201d The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded:
\n\u201cAllah has prohibited the Fire from those who declare \u2018There is no God but Allah\u2019 seeking His pleasure when they do so.\u201d
\nLook at this lesson in how we should protect people\u2019s honor and reputation. Look at how the Prophet mentioned something positive about the man as soon as someone spoke ill of him. Indeed, he brought their attention to the most positive quality of all, faith in Allah.
\nThink of how much backbiting and gossip would be avoided among Muslims if we refused to speak badly of anyone who declares their faith in Allah.<\/p>\n
Source: Islam Today<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Before the morning is out, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) often pays a visit to a relative or one of his Companions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4969,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-c71-introduction-to-islam-muslims"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n