Download PDF: [S] Holy Prophet’s Concern for his Ummah (Islamic story)

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with them – narrates that once the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – recited the verse:

 

رَبِّ اِنَّہُنَّ اَضْلَلْنَ کَثِیۡرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ ۚ فَمَنۡ تَبِعَنِیۡ فَاِنَّہٗ مِنِّیۡ ۚ وَمَنْ عَصَانِیۡ فَاِنَّکَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۳۶﴾

“O my Lord! The idols have led many people astray; so whoever followed me, is indeed mine; and whoever disobeyed me – then indeed You are Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Ebrahim, 36]

 

He then recited:

 

اِنۡ تُعَذِّبْہُمْ فَاِنَّہُمْ عِبَادُکَ ۚ وَ اِنۡ تَغْفِرْ لَہُمْ فَاِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الْعَزِیۡزُ الْحَکِیۡمُ ﴿۱۱۸﴾

“If you punish them, then indeed they are Your slaves; and if you forgive

them, then indeed You only are the Allah Almighty, the Wise.” [Maidah, 118]

 

Thereafter the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – raised his blessed hands and cried out, “O Allah! My Ummah, O Allah! My Ummah, O Allah! My Ummah.” And he also began to weep.

 

At that moment, Allah Almighty commands Jibra’eel, “O Jibra’eel, go to Muhammad and ask him what it is it that is making him weep?” (Although Allah Almighty knows everthing).

 

Jibra’eel Ameen then approached the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and inquired, “and whatever concerns the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has for his Ummah, he mentions to Jibra’eel Ameen who conveys this message to the Allah Almighty.

 

The Allah Almighty declared, “O Jibra’eel! Go back to Muhammad and say to him that I will indeed make him well pleased about his Ummah and will not allow him to become sad.” (In regard to his Ummah entering Jannah). (Tafseer ibn Katheer)

 

It is also mentioned that one night, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – spent the entire night weeping and reciting the verse in Surah Maidah all the time. (Fadaa’il ‘Amal)

 

There is no doubt that the tears shed by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was for his Ummah and not personally for himself. After all, he is the beloved of Allah Almighty. Whatever we receive from the Divine Court of Allah Almighty, all this is received through the blessing of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

 

In like manner, it is said that Imam A’zam, Imam Abu Hanifah – may Allah be pleased with him – used to spent the entire night weeping. In fact, the great Imam used to weep when he used to read the verses in the Qur’an which describes that the disobedient will certainly be held accountable on the Day of Judgement. In other words, here is one of the greatest Imams of his era whose followers are some of the greatest Awliyah and scholars of Islam, and he is still displaying humility and fear about what will happen to him on the Day of Judgement. And on the other hand, when we look at the ordinary Muslims, they display no such fear.

 

It is mentioned that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – used to always display such concern for his Ummah at every moment. At one time, he made Du’a for his blessed wife and asked her whether she was pleased with this. She replied that why should she not be pleased with his DU’A. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him –then stated, “I swear by Allah, that this is the same Du’a I make for my Ummah after every Salaah.” (Al Majmu’a Bazaaz)