SPIRIT OF ISLAM JUNE 2O18

27 Spirit of Islam Issue 66 June 2018 ISLAMIC VIRTUES To Emulate F OR centuries the lives of the Prophet and his Companions have served as models of a truly God-fearing existence for all humankind, and will continue to do so. Hence God's preservation of this page of history with such exactitude that anyone, who is sincere about learning from their example can know, even today, every detail of how they lived and died. The following are a few of the examples worth emulating. What those who sit with leaders should be like Abdullah Ibn Abbas tells of how his father once said to him: “My boy, I see how the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattab, invites you to his meetings and takes you into his confidence. He also turns to you as well as to the other Companions for advice. I am going to give you three pieces of advice which are worth remembering: firstly, fear God, and never let it be said of you by Umar that you told a lie; secondly, keep his secrets well, and thirdly, never speak ill of anyone in his presence.” Amir says that each one of those pieces of advice was better than a thousand. “Better than ten thousand,” rejoined Abbas. (Al-Tabarani) Lip service is not a proof of real attachment Jubair ibn Nufair relates how, as his father was sitting with Miqdad ibn Aswad one day, a passerby, on seeing a Companion of the Prophet said: “How fortunate are those two eyes that have seen the Prophet! By God, if only we could have seen what you saw and shared in your experiences!” Nufair said that he was impressed by the man’s words; he seemed to have spoken well. But Miqdad looked towards the man and said: “No one whom God has saved from being present at those hours should desire to have been there. Who knows how they would have acted in those circumstances? By God, many of whom God cast into Hell came to see the Prophet, such as did not accept what he said, or believe in his mission.” On hearing the Hereafter mentioned, he waived his claim Umm Salamah tells of how two of the Ansar brought a dispute before the Prophet about a long-standing issue of inheritance for which neither party could produce a witness. “You bring me your disputes,” the Prophet said to them, “and, when no proper evidence is brought