The Ideal Muslim: Characteristics of the Ideal Muslim According to the Qur’an
and the Sunnah
The IDEAL MUSLIM
The True Islamic Personality of the Muslim Man
as Defined in the Qur'an and Sunnah
By Dr. Muhammad ‘Ali Al-Hashimi
Translated by Nasiruddin Al-Khattab and Revised by Ibrahim M. Kunna and Abu Aya
Sulaiman Abdus-Sabur
Copyright and published by the International Islâmic Publishing House (IIPH),
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1999.
The Ideal Muslim is a man of the highest moral character. In his relationship
with his Rabb, himself, family, parents, relatives, friends and the community
at large, he has a most excellent example in the prophet of Islam (pbuh). His
idealism is further strengthened by the characters of the first generations of
Muslims who excelled in all the various fields of human endeavor. He is
reassured by the teachings of Islam that he also can reach these noble heights
by working to improve his character daily.
Chapter 6: The Muslim and His Relatives (Arham)
The Muslim upholds the ties of kinship according to the teachings of Islam
The true Muslim upholds the ties of kinship and does not let his worldly
concerns, wealth, wife or children distract him from keeping in touch with his
relatives, honoring them and helping them. In doing so, he is following Islamic
teaching, which regulates these relationships and ranks them in order of
priority and degree of closeness, starting with the mother, then moving on to
the father, then other relatives, from the most closely-related to others who
are more distantly related. A man came to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and asked, “O
Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my good company?” He (s.a.w.s.)
said, “Your mother, your mother, your mother, then your father, then those who
are most closely related to you.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
The Muslim earns two rewards when he treats his relatives with kindness and
respect: one reward for maintaining the relationship, and another reward for
giving charity. This gives him a greater incentive to give to his relatives, if
they are in need. By doing so, he will earn two rewards from Allah (S.W.T.),
and will also win the affection of his relatives. This is what the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) encouraged Muslims to do, in the hadith narrated by Zaynab
al-Thaqafiyyah, the wife of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (r.a.), who said:
“The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: ‘O women, give in charity even if it is some of
your jewelry.’ She said, I went back to ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud and told him, ‘You
are a man of little wealth, and the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has commanded us to give
charity, so go and ask him whether it is permissible for me to give you
charity. If it is, I will do so; if not, I will give charity to someone else.’
‘Abdullah said, ‘No, you go and ask.’ So I went, and I found a woman of the
Ansar at the Prophet’s door, who also had the same question. We felt too shy to
go in, out of respect, so Bilal came out and we asked him, ‘Go and tell the
Messenger of Allah that there are two women at the door asking you: Is it
permissible for them to give sadaqah to their husbands and the orphans in their
care? But do not tell him who we are.’ So Bilal went in and conveyed this
message to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), who asked, ‘Who are they?’ Bilal said, ‘One
of the
women of the Ansar, and Zaynab.’ The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) asked, ‘Which Zaynab
is it?’ Bilal said, ‘The wife of Abdullah.’ The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, ‘They
will have two rewards, the reward for upholding the relationship, and the
reward for giving charity.’” (Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to reaffirm the priority given to kind treatment of
relatives at every opportunity. When the ayah: “By no means shall you attain
righteousness unless you give “freely” of that which you love…” (Qur’an 3:92)
was revealed, Abu Talhah went to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and said, “O Messenger
of Allah, Allah (S.W.T.) says: “By no means shall you attain righteousness
unless you give (freely) of that which you love.” The most beloved of my
properties is Bayraha’ (a date orchard), which I now give up as Sadaqah to
Allah (S.W.T.), hoping to store up reward with Him. O Messenger of Allah,
dispose of it as you will.” The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “Bravo! You have got
the best deal for your property. I have heard what you said, and I think that
you should divide it among your relatives.” Abu Talhah said, “I will do so, O
Messenger of Allah.” He divided it among his relatives and (paternal) cousins.
(Bukhari
and Muslim)
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) looked far back into history and evoked ties of kinship
going back centuries, when he enjoined good treatment of the people of Egypt,
as is recorded in the hadith narrated by Muslim:
“You will conquer Egypt, so when you conquer it, treat its people well, for
they have protection (dhimmah) and the ties of kinship (rahm).” Or he said:
“... protection and the relationship by marriage (sihr).”
The ‘ulama’ explained that rahm here referred to Hajar the mother of Isma‘il,
and sihr referred to Maryah, the mother of the Prophet’s son Ibrahim - both of
who came from Egypt.
What a display of loyalty and faithfulness and good treatment, which extends to
the kinsfolk and countrymen of these two noble women down throughout the ages!
It is no surprise, then, that the true Muslim willingly recognizes the rights
of his relatives and eagerly fulfils his duty of treating them kindly and
maintaining the relationship.
___________
[1] Narrated by Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad.
[2] Reported by Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad and by Ahmad in al-Musnad.
[3] Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, with a sahih
isnad.
[4] The connection is clearer in Arabic, where rahm and al-Rahman are derived
from the same root. (Translator)
[5] A hadith qudsi reported by Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, and by Ahmad, Abu
Dawud and al-Tirmidhi.
