Shia Strength: [MahdiUniteMuslims] He puts up with his neighbor’s mistakes and bad treatment and does not give tit-for-tat

Friday, December 4, 2009

[MahdiUniteMuslims] He puts up with his neighbor’s mistakes and bad treatment and does not give tit-for-tat

--- On Fri, 4/12/09, The Ideal Muslim <forthemuslim@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: The Ideal Muslim <forthemuslim@yahoo.com>
Subject: [the_best_ummah] He puts up with his neighbor's mistakes and bad treatment and does not give tit-for-tat
Date: Friday, 4 December, 2009, 8:02 AM

The Ideal Muslim: Characteristics of the Ideal Muslim According to the Qur'an and the Sunnah

The IDEAL MUSLIM
The True Islamic Personality of the Muslim Man
as Defined in the Qur'an and Sunnah

By Dr. Muhammad 'Ali Al-Hashimi

Translated by Nasiruddin Al-Khattab and Revised by Ibrahim M. Kunna and Abu Aya Sulaiman Abdus-Sabur

Copyright and published by the International Islâmic Publishing House (IIPH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1999.

The Ideal Muslim is a man of the highest moral character. In his relationship with his Rabb, himself, family, parents, relatives, friends and the community at large, he has a most excellent example in the prophet of Islam (pbuh). His idealism is further strengthened by the characters of the first generations of Muslims who excelled in all the various fields of human endeavor. He is reassured by the teachings of Islam that he also can reach these noble heights by working to improve his character daily.

Chapter 7: The Muslim and His Neighbors

He puts up with his neighbor's mistakes and bad treatment

The Muslim who is guided by Islam is patient with his neighbor and does not get angry or bear a grudge if he makes a mistake or has some shortcomings. He is tolerant and forgiving towards him, thus hoping to earn reward from Allah (S.W.T.) and to attain His love and pleasure. This is proven by the hadith of Abu Dharr: when Mutarrif ibn 'Abdullah met him, he said, "O Abu Dharr, I heard about what you said and I wanted to meet you." Abu Dharr said, "Your father was a great man! Now you have met me." Mutarrif said: "I heard that you have said that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: 'Allah loves three and hates three.'" Abu Dharr said, "I do not think that I will tell lies about the Messenger of Allah." Mutarrif said, "Then who are the three whom Allah (S.W.T.) loves?" Abu Dharr (quoting the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: "A man who fights for the sake of Allah (S.W.T.), with perseverance and hoping for reward from Him, and fights until he is killed, and you find this in the Book of Allah (S.W.T.)." Then he recited: "Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure." (Qur'an 61:4) Mutarrif asked: "Then who?" He said, "A man who has a bad neighbor who annoys and disturbs him, but he bears it with patience and forbearance until Allah (S.W.T.) ends the matter either during his lifetime or upon the death of either of them."[15]

He does not give tit-for-tat

One element of the teachings of this religion which the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) explained to his Companions is not to repay a bad neighbor with bad deeds, but to bear his disturbance with patience, in so far as he is able, hoping that the one who is doing wrong may stop his bad behavior when he sees that his neighbor is not responding in kind. This is one of the noblest characteristics and one of the most effective ways of uprooting the evil that exists in some souls.

Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah ibn Sallam (r.a.) came to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and said, "My neighbor is disturbing me." He said, "Have patience." He came back a second time and said, "My neighbor is disturbing me," And the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) again told him, "Have patience." He came back a third time and said, "My neighbor is disturbing me." The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) told him: "Go back and put all your goods and chattels out in the street. If anyone comes along and asks you, tell him, 'My neighbor is disturbing me.' Then he will truly incur curses. Whoever believes in Allah (S.W.T.) and the Last Day, let him honour his neighbor...'" [16]

[15] Reported by Ahmad and al-Tabarani with a sahih isnad.

[16] Hayat al-Sahabah, 3/50.