Training individuals is essential for the development and reform of any society, as the society is made up of individuals. In a society where individuals are not trained properly, the collective condition, both morally and economically, remains in a deteriorated state. When the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) trained individuals in the Arabian society, which was immersed in disbelief, polytheism, and immorality, by the grace of Allah, many great and priceless gems emerged. The Prophet (ﷺ) continuously trained the common people and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) on various occasions. He possessed a remarkable understanding of people's temperaments, habits, and psychology. He interacted with everyone according to their status and trained them in a manner that would deeply resonate with them. This article outlines some incidents that highlight the Prophet's (ﷺ) method of training, as well as the results and outcomes of his prophetic guidance.
The method of training employed by our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) was filled with wisdom and insight. Whenever news of someone's shortcomings reached him, he would often correct such improper thoughts and actions in a collective manner. The benefit of this approach was that it provided guidance to others as well. As Ummahat al-Mu'minin, Sayyidatuna Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: "When the noble Prophet (ﷺ) heard something from someone, he would not say, 'What is the matter with so-and-so who says this?' Instead, he would say, 'What is the condition of those who say such things?'" [1]
The practical preaching and training of Rasulullah (ﷺ) is evident in many instances. Once, the Prophet (ﷺ) saw a companion wearing a gold ring, so he took it off and threw it away, saying: "Would any one of you want to wear a piece of hellfire on his hand?" The effect of this training on the companion was so profound that, after the Prophet (ﷺ) left, others suggested that he could take back the ring and use it for some other purpose. However, he replied, "No! By Allah, I will never pick up the ring that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) threw away." [2]
Had that companion of the Prophet (ﷺ) desired, he could have sold the ring and benefited from its price, or given it as a gift to someone, or even passed it on to someone for whom wearing it would have been permissible, such as a woman in his household. However, he chose not to do any of these things, because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had discarded it.
The Blessing of Avoiding Lies: Once, a person came to the court of the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "I want to embrace Islam, but I love drinking alcohol, committing adultery, stealing, and lying. People have told me that you declare these things forbidden. I don't have the strength to leave all of them. If you forbid just one of these things, I will accept Islam." The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Stop lying!" The man accepted this and became a Muslim.
After leaving the court of the Prophet (ﷺ), when people offered him alcohol, he said, "If I drink and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asks me about it, I will either lie, breaking my promise to him, or confess and face the punishment (of the law). Therefore, he refrained from drinking alcohol. The same thought crossed his mind when faced with adultery and theft, and he abstained from those wrongdoings as well. Later, when he came back to the Prophet’s court, he said, "You did me a great favor by preventing me from lying, for in doing so, the doors to other sins also closed for me. And thus, this person repented for all his sins."[3]
The Insight of the Prophet (ﷺ): Bravo! Through his divine wisdom, the Prophet (ﷺ) recognized that by guiding this person to stop lying, he would also be saved from other sins. Therefore, he specifically instructed him to abandon lying, and as a result, that person repented for all his sins.
A Lesson in Eating Etiquette: Another example of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) guidance in training and reforming individuals can be seen in the way he taught manners while eating. The mother of the believers, Ummul-Mu'minin, Sayyidatina Ummu Salma (may Allah be pleased with her), narrates that her son, Sayyidina Umar ibn Abi Salama (may Allah be pleased with him), was under the care of the Prophet (ﷺ). He was eating with his hand and moving it aimlessly in the dish. The Prophet (ﷺ) gently instructed him: "O young man! Mention the name of Allah (Bismillah), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near to you."
Sayyidina Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says, "From that moment on, I always followed this way of eating."[4]
How beautiful is the Prophet’s (ﷺ) method of teaching! He started with the essential etiquettes of eating, so the child would not feel reprimanded. Then, at the end, he taught him the final etiquette in such a way that it felt like a natural addition to the other pieces of guidance, leaving no sense of correction or rebuke, just a loving and gentle instruction.
Dear Islamic brothers! If we want to train people in the correct way, we must study the biography of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to understand how he trained people with wisdom, keeping in mind their personalities and psychology. In the Tafseer of Aziz, it is stated that there are 100 parts of intellect, 99 of which were granted to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Whoever wants to understand the intellect of the Prophet (ﷺ) should study the books of his biography with deep attention. [5]
I appeal to all the lovers of the Prophet (ﷺ) that regardless of which sector of practical life you belong to, if you wish to train yourself and your loved ones in the correct manner, then study the biography of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). By doing so, you will learn how he ﷺ trained people with wisdom, keeping in mind their personalities and psychology. Contribute to the training of society's individuals, and adopt a strategy and individual effort for it.
May Allah grant us the ability to improve ourselves and, in accordance with Sharia, adopt a strategy while making efforts to reform others.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن ﷺ
[1] Abu Dawood, 4/328, Hadith: 4788
[2] Muslim, p. 891, Hadith: 2090
[3] Tafseer al-Kabeer, p. 11, At-Tawbah, under Ayah: 119, 6/167
[4] Bukhari, 3/521, Hadith: 5376
[5] Tafseer Azizi, translated, 3/61
Written by:
Sheikh Haji Imran Attari (Head of the Executive Committee of Dawat-e-Islami)
Allah’s Name to commence with, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. ,” is a declaration of faith, an invocation of Allah’s presence in whatever you’re about to undertake.
