Overview (Verse 21)

The Opposite Image
 
Such severely testing times did not make all people look about in such an ugly way. Indeed, there was a totally different scenario going on, one casting light within all this darkness, one that remained stable despite the hardship, one that trusted to God, accepted His will, was reassured that His help would be forthcoming, and one that remained unshaken despite all the fear and confusion. The Qur’ān begins drawing this delightful image by citing the example given by the Prophet: “In God’s Messenger you have a good model for everyone who looks with hope to God and the Last Day, and always remembers God.” (Verse 21)
 
In the midst of all the worry, stress and fear, the Prophet provided shelter for the Muslims: he was the source of their hope, confidence and reassurance. Studying his attitude during the unfolding events of this period is necessary for leaders of Muslim communities and revivalist organizations today so that they can chart the way ahead. His attitude provides a good example for those who hope to earn God’s pleasure on the Day of Judgement, and for those who always remember God. We should perhaps look at some aspects of his attitude, by way of example, though we cannot discuss this at any great length in this commentary.
 
The Prophet went out to work with the Muslims in digging the moat, using the axe and removing the earth and carrying the dust in a basket. As his Companions worked, they sang some rhymes, which they composed on the spot, deriving the same from whatever was taking place. The Prophet repeated their rhyming words at the end of the lines. For example, one of his Companions was called Ju`ayl, but the Prophet did not like his name as it meant ‘a small dung beetle’, so he renamed him `Amr. So the people around composed a rhyming couplet about this very thing of giving a man a better name. The Prophet repeated with them the two rhyming words. We can imagine the atmosphere the Prophet’s participation gave them and how it could fill them with reassurance and enthusiasm.
 
Zayd ibn Thābit, a young Muslim, was carrying the dust away, and the Prophet said of him: ‘He is certainly a good lad.’ At one point Zayd was too tired and he fell asleep. It was very cold, but as he was sleeping another person, `Imārah ibn Ĥazm, took Zayd’s sword away. When he woke up, he was upset. The Prophet said to Zayd: ‘Father of sleep! You slept and your weapon is gone!’ Then the Prophet asked his Companions: ‘Who of you knows where the sword belonging to this young man is?’ `Imārah said: ‘It is with me.’ The Prophet told him to return it to Zayd and prohibited anyone from taking the weapon of a sleeping man even in jest.
 
This little episode shows how the Prophet was aware of all those who were with him, young and old, and that he cared for them all. We see him ready to joke with everyone in a pleasant way: ‘Father of sleep! You slept and your weapon is gone!’ This also tells us much about the general atmosphere in which the Muslims lived as the Prophet took care of them, even during the hardest of circumstances.
 
The Prophet’s pure soul looked forward to assured victory, distant as it might have been. He could see it as axes hit hard rocks to produce rays of light. He speaks about this to his Companions giving them reassurance. Ibn Isĥāq reports: “Salmon mentioned that as he was digging in his area, a rock was too hard for him. The Prophet was nearby and when he saw Salmon’s difficulty he took the axe from him and struck the rock three times, with each strike producing a flash of light. Salmān asked him: ‘Messenger of God! What is this I have just seen: a flash of light from under the axe?’ The Prophet said to him: ‘Have you seen that? At the first strike, God opened to me the land of Yemen; at the second, He opened Syria and the west for me; and at the third, He opened the land to the east for me.’“ In Imtā` al-Asmā`, al- Maqrīzī mentions that this happened to `Umar in front of Salmān. We can imagine what effect these words from the Prophet would have had on his Companions’ hearts at the time when they felt danger approaching.
 
We should add to these delightful scenes the report we mentioned earlier when Ĥudhayfah returned from his dangerous night mission, gathering intelligence about the enemy and what they were doing. The night was exceedingly cold, and on his return the Prophet was in prayer. Yet on seeing Ĥudhayfah he realized how he felt, and he drew him to himself so that he was sitting by his side, near his feet, and then the Prophet covered him with his robe to let him warm himself a little while lie continued his prayer. After he had finished his prayer, he sat listening to Ĥudhayfah’s report confirming the good news he had anticipated.
 
As for the Prophet’s courage, perseverance and unshaken belief throughout this severely testing time, this is evident at every point in the story. We do not need to give details here, as they can be easily and clearly recognized: “In God’s Messenger you have a good model for everyone who looks with hope to God and the Last Day, and always remembers God.” (Verse 21)