Prophet Muhammad's teachings

On cave of death, lawful earnings, hoarding, rebuking, liquor and greeting:

Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH) said that " Three men from among those who were before you, set out together till they reached a cave at night and entered it. A big rock rolled down the mountain and closed the mouth of the cave.

They said (to each other), 'Nothing can save you from this rock but to invoke Allah by giving reference to the righteous deed which you have done (for Allah's sake only).'So, one of them said, 'O Allah! I had old parents and I never provided my family (wife, children etc.) with milk before them. One day, by chance I was delayed, and I came late (at night) while they had fallen asleep. I milked the sheep for them and took the milk to them, but I found them sleeping.

I disliked to provide my family with the milk before them. I waited for them and the bowl of milk was in my hand and I kept on waiting for them to get up till the day dawned. Then they got up and drank the milk. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from our critical situation caused by this rock.' So, the rock shifted a little but they could not get out."Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) added, "The second man said, 'O Allah! I had a cousin who was the dearest of all people to me and I wanted to have sexual relations with her but she refused.

Later she had a hard time in a famine year and she came to me and I gave her one-hundred-and-twenty Dinars on the condition that she would not resist my desire, and she agreed. When I was about to fulfill my desire she said, 'It is illegal for you to outrage my chastity except by legitimate marriage.' So, I thought it a sin to have sexual intercourse with her and left her though she was the dearest of all the people to me, and also I left the gold I had given her.

O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from the present calamity.' So, the rock shifted a little more but still they could not get out from there."Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) added, "Then the third man said, 'O Allah! I employed a few laborers and I paid them their wages with the exception of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages and I got much property thereby. After sometimes he came and said to me, 'O Allah's slave! Pay me my wages.' I said to him, 'All the camels, cows, sheep and slaves you see, are yours.' He said, 'O Allah's slave! Don't mock at me.' I said, 'I am not mocking at you.' So, he took the entire herd and drove them away and left nothing.

O Allah! If I did that for Your Sakeonly, please relieve us from the present suffering.' So, that rock shifted completely and they got out walking." [Sahih Bukhari]From the example of the first man we see that there is no limit to kind treatment of parents as long as one does not commit sins in order to please them. Allah tremendously rewards those who are kind and considerate to their parents.From the example of the second man we learn the value of Piety.

Piety is that a man refrain from sin only because he fears Allah although he has the means and ability to sin, is surrounded by a sinful atmosphere, and is not afraid of being caught or punished in this world. This man was able to put a check on his desire, although he longed for that woman only because of being reminded of Allah. This is how Believers are: "When Allah is mentioned their hearts are filled with fear." [Quran 8:2] As a result of this man's piety Allah removed the rock from the mouth of the cave a little to make an opening.

Allah says: "And whosoever fears Allah, He appoints a way out for him." [Quran 65:2]Of the third man we learn that those people are very dear to Allah who recognize the rights of their fellow men and give them their rights faithfully.

As an employer, the man not only kept the wages of his employee safely but also invested them profitably although it was not binding on him to do so. He gave to his employee many times over the principal amount, an example of excellent dealings with a fellow-man.

Can the greedy world present an example of such a character today? It is an example for those who suck the blood of others to build for themselves palatial houses andamass wealth.This tells us that man should turn to Allah when he is faced with difficulty, anxiety and trial. If he does this, the difficulty becomes a blessing for him. Some people do not turn to Allah even in times of great distress. This is a very dangerous trend and a sign that their hearts have become hardened. "Allah has sealed their hearts." [Quran 2:7]

Lawful Earnings

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "He who lived on lawful earnings, observed my Sunnah, and did not cause mischief to the people will be admitted to paradise." The people submitted: "O Prophet There is a great number of such people at the present time."

The Prophet said: "Such people will exist even after me." [Tirmidhi]One must not under-estimate the importance of earning a Halaal livelihood.

It is not always easy to keep away from all forms of Haraam (Allah's forbidden) ways of earning money. It becomes especially trying when one has dependents to take care of.

That is why the reward is no less than paradise for the one who is mindful of Allah's defined boundaries and stays within them while trying to feed himself and his family.

The Hoarder is Wicked

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The hoarder is a sinner." On another occasion he said: "How wicked is the hoarder! When Allah makes goods cheap, the hoarder is afflicted with sorrow, and when the prices go up he rejoices." [Mishkat Al-Masabih]If you are a shop-keeper/retailer/businessman do not hoard food stuffs anticipating a rise in prices. Strictly avoid causing distress to people by such a vicious act.

Liquor the source of many social evils. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Drink no intoxicant, for truly, it is at the head of all filthy actions; and beware of sinning; for truly, with sin alights the vengeance of Allah." [Ahmed]"Many social evils start with the use of liquor. Never serve, nor let anyone bring alcohol to your house.

One family recently became a victim of this evil. The woman told me that her husband never used to drink although many of his friends did. One night at a party at their house, his friends got him to drink as well and after consuming a large quantity, her husband and two of his friends dozed off in the drawing room.

At about three in the morning she woke up to prepare milk for her three year old son, when one of her husband's friends (who was drunk) made an attempt to attack her - but she got away. When her husband woke up, the friend narrated a completely different story to him and from that day on the trust and hence peace between husband and wife began to diminish.

He also began to regularly indulge in alcohol." [Together Forever by Faiez H. Seyal]When everything in our life seems to be going wrong, we wonder why Allah doesn't listen to our duas any more. Did you stop to think about what sins you are committing that have brought Allah's wrath upon you and made your prayers ineffective?

Greetings

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "greetings are one of the attributes of Allah. It has been sent to the world for the benefit of the people. Hence, make the use of As-Salaam common among yourselves." [Al-Adab-ul-Mufrad]When you greet you in fact invoke the blessings of Allah to protect him or her: you invoke the blessings of Him who is the fountain of all good and Whose Being is synonymous with peace and salvation. As-Salaam is one of the attributes of Allah and a person can attain peace and salvation only at the will of Allah and whomsoever He denies salvation is deprived of it in both worlds.