The Second Pledge of the Helpers (RA) –
During another pilgrimage season to Mecca, which used to occur before the coming of Islam even though the correct practices had become corrupted, the people of Medina, the Helpers, may Allah be pleased with them, once again visited the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and took another pledge with him. The pledge involved hearing and obeying the teachings of Islam, sharing the worldly things they were granted with the needy in both times of ease and difficulty, to command good and forbid evil, to object to evil things and not fear any criticism while doing so and to defend the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the same way they would help and defend their own relatives. This has been discussed in Imam Ibn Kathir’s, the Life of the Prophet, Volume 2, Page 132.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, told them that they would have Paradise in exchange for this pledge. Abdullah Bin Rawahah, may Allah be pleased with him, then commented that this was a prosperous transaction and they would never revoke or resign it. In this regard, Allah, the Exalted, revealed chapter 9 At Tawbah, verse 111:
“Indeed, Allāh has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allāh, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’ān. And who is truer to his covenant than Allāh? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.”
This has been discussed in Imam Wahidi’s, Asbab Al Nuzul, 9:111, Page 94.
This first part of the pledge involved hearing and obeying the teachings of Islam. It is important to note that hearing correctly is when one concentrates on what has been said, reflects on it, tries to connect the statement to their own life experiences, determines how to implement what has been said into their lives and then practically strives to do so. This process and outcome has been indicated in verse 285. Whereas, merely listening to what has been said without this step by step process will never lead to a positive effect on one’s behaviour. Instead, the words will pass through their ears without affecting their thinking or future actions. Sadly, many believe that simply listening to Islamic teachings in this way is good enough to achieve peace of mind and success in both worlds. As clearly stated in verse 285, a person must listen correctly, which in turn leads to the obedience of Allah, the Exalted. This obedience involves using the blessings one has been granted correctly according to Islamic teachings. In addition, in respect to the Holy Quran, this verse makes it clear that one must hear the Holy Quran and then act on it. But acting on it is not possible when one does not understand it. Therefore, reciting or listening to the Holy Quran in a language one does not understand is not good enough to achieve peace of mind and success in both worlds. Muslims must strive to listen, recite, understand and then act on the teachings of the Holy Quran. As there is plenty of media content available in different languages which discuss the teachings of the Holy Quran, muslims are left with no excuses if they fail to understand and act on the Holy Quran and by extension, the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
“Say, “This is my way; I invite to Allāh with insight, I and those who follow me….””
And chapter 34 Saba, verse 46:
“Say, “I only advise you of one [thing] – that you stand for Allāh, [seeking truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought.” There is not in your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.”
Therefore, muslims must use the common sense and intellect they have been granted to determine the truthfulness of Islam for themself and therefore act on its teachings with conviction. This will ensure one remains firm on the sincere obedience of Allah, the Exalted, at all times, whether times of ease or difficulty. This in turn leads to a balanced mental and physical state and ensures one correctly places everything and everyone within their life. This in turn leads to peace of mind in both worlds. Whereas, blindly following others in Islam only leads to weak faith. This person will easily misuse the blessings they have been granted whenever their desires are contradicted, such as when they are facing times of difficulty. This will prevent them from achieving peace of mind in both worlds.
“O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you…”
This behaviour also protects one from destroying their good deed of charity through pride. Pride makes a person believe they are doing Allah, the Exalted, and the needy a favor by donating charity. But the same way one returns a bank loan without pride Muslims need to realize their charity is a way of repaying the loan given by Allah, the Exalted. In addition, the needy are doing the donor a favor by taking their charity. The needy are a means for them to obtain reward from Allah, the Exalted, and without them this would be impossible. If one believes that their wealth was accumulated through their intelligence and strength they must understand that these things were also given by Allah, the Exalted. Therefore, this loan in the form of blessings such as wealth must be returned to Allah, the Exalted, otherwise they may face a penalty that will begin in this world and continue into the hereafter.
When one donates charity their transaction is not with a needy person in fact it is with Allah, the Exalted. When a person sincerely does business with Allah, the Exalted, they can be confident of an unimaginable profit which will benefit them in this world and in the next. This has been indicated in the main verses under discussion. Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verse 245:
“Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over?…”
In addition, aiding others when oneself is facing difficult times is a sign of one’s strong faith, as it is easy to aid others when one is facing times of ease. To achieve this right behaviour one must avoid adopting a self-absorbed attitude whereby they only concentrate on their own issues. The one who behaves in this manner will fail to aid others whenever they themself are facing times of difficulty. It is important to remember that the one who is busy aiding others for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, will obtain the constant support of Allah, the Exalted. This divine support will aid the donor in any problem they are facing. This has been confirmed in a Hadith found in Sahih Muslim, number 6853.
In a Hadith found in Sahih Bukhari, number 2686, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, warned that failing to fulfill the important duty of commanding good and forbidding evil can be understood with the example of a boat with two levels full of people. The people on the lower level keep disturbing the people on the upper level whenever they desire to access water, so they decide to drill a hole in the lower level so that they can access water directly. If the people on the upper level fail to stop them they will all surely drown.
It is important for muslims to never give up commanding good and forbidding evil according to Islamic knowledge, in a gentle way. A muslim should never believe that as long as they obey Allah, the Exalted, other misguided people will not be able to affect them in a negative way. A good apple will eventually get affected when placed with rotten apples. Similarly, the muslim who fails to command others to do good will eventually be affected by their negative behavior whether it is subtle or apparent. Even if the wider society has become heedless, one should never give up advising their dependents, such as their family, as not only will their negative behavior affect them more but this is also a duty on all muslims, according to a Hadith found in Sunan Abu Dawud, number 2928. Even if a muslim is ignored by others they should discharge their duty by persistently advising them in a gentle way which is supported by strong evidence and knowledge. Commanding good and forbidding evil while ignorant and with bad manners will only push people further away from the truth and right guidance, which in turn will affect the whole community negatively.
Only when one commands good and forbids evil correctly will they be protected from the negative effects of society and pardoned on the Day of Judgment. Chapter 7 Al A’raf, verse 164:
“And when a community among them said, “Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allāh is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?” they [the advisors] said, “To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him.””
But if they only care about themself and ignore the actions of others, it is feared that the negative effects of others may well lead to their eventual misguidance.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, has advised the importance of objecting to evil things in a Hadith found in Sunan Abu Dawud, number 4340. This Hadith clearly shows that it is a duty on all muslims to object to all forms of evil according to their strength and means. The lowest level, as mentioned in this Hadith, is rejecting the evil with one’s heart.
This shows internally approving evil actions is one of the ugliest of those things which are forbidden. In fact, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, warned in a Hadith found in Sunan Abu Dawud, number 4345, that the one who is present when an evil is committed and denounces it, is like the one who was not present. But the one who was absent and approved the evil deed is like the one who was present and silent when it was committed.
The first two aspects of objecting to evil, mentioned in the main Hadith under discussion, are through one’s physical actions and speech. This is only a duty on a muslim who has the strength to do so, for example, they will not be harmed by their actions or words.
It is important to note, objecting to evil with one’s hand does not refer to fighting. It refers to correcting the evil actions of others, such as returning the rights of someone which have been unlawfully violated. The one who is in a position to do so yet, refrains from doing so has been warned of a punishment in a Hadith found in Sunan Abu Dawud, number 4338.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, has advised muslims in a Hadith found in Jami At Tirmidhi, number 2191, that they should not fear the creation in respect to speaking the truth. In fact, the one who allows the fear of the creation to prevent them from objecting to evil things has been described as the one who hates themself and will be criticized by Allah, the Exalted, on Judgment Day. This is confirmed in a Hadith found in Sunan Ibn Majah, number 4008. It is important to note, this does not refer to the one who remains silent out of fear of being harmed as this is an acceptable excuse. It instead refers to the person who remains silent because of the status people hold in their eyes, even though they have nothing to fear if they speak against the evil which is occurring.
A Hadith found in Sunan Abu Dawud, number 4341, advises that a person can give up objecting to evil things through their actions and speech when others obey their greed, follow their incorrect opinions and desires and when they prefer the material world over the hereafter. It does not take a scholar to conclude this time has arrived. Chapter 5 Al Ma’idah, verse 105.
“O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided…”
But it is important to note, a muslim should continue with this important duty in respect to their dependents as this is a duty on them according to a Hadith found in Sunan Abu Dawud, number 2928, and in respect to those they feel physically and verbally safe from, as this is the superior attitude.
Objecting to evil things which are apparent is what the main Hadith under discussion refers to. Meaning, it does not grant permission to muslims to spy on others in order to find evil things to object to. Spying and anything associated with it in this respect are forbidden. Chapter 49 Al Hujurat, verse 12:
“O you who have believed…do not spy…”
It is important to note, that a muslim must object to evil according to the teachings of Islam and not their on desires. A muslim may believe they are acting for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, when they are not. This is proven when they object to evil in a way which contradicts the teachings of Islam. In fact, what is considered a good deed may well become a sin because of this negative attitude.
A muslim must object to evil in a gentle way, preferably in private according to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. This is not possible to achieve without learning and acting on Islamic knowledge. The opposite of these characteristics will only push people away from sincerely repenting and may lead to further sins as a result of angering others. Finally, one must object to evil at the right time, as constructively criticising someone at the wrong time, such as when they are angry, is unlikely to be effective in positively influencing them.
The next part of the pledge the people of Medina, the Helpers, may Allah be pleased with them, made with the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was that they would help and defend the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the same way they would help and defend their own relatives.
In this day and age, this is achieved when one learns and acts on the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. This includes learning and acting on the Holy Quran. This will ensure one correctly uses the blessings they have been granted and correctly places everything and everyone within their life. This lead to peace of mind in both worlds. In addition, behaving in this manner will ensure one correctly represents Allah, the Exalted, and the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to the outside world. This is a duty on every muslim and they therefore will be held accountable for it. One must therefore ensure they do not misrepresent Islam to the outside world so that non-muslims and other muslims are not put off from Islam because of their actions.
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