Fatwa ID: 06187
Answered by: Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Question:
Did the Prophet PBUH have any scars from the hardship that he endured during is Prophethood? Is it ok to feel scarred?
Will Allah relieve us of our scars in the dunya, or do we have to wait to enter Jannah for all of the pain to go away?
For example, the messenger PBUH lost a loved one, Khadijah, no doubt that pain I assume he lived with that for the rest of his stay in the dunya, will the afterlife be the only relief in this case?
I remember this one Sahabi, I can’t remember his name, maybe you know. But in the jahiliyyah, he threw his daughter head first in the well, pretty much he murdered her.
I mean you know the reason why is because during the jahiliyyah, they looked down upon women and they used to bury their daughters alive. Until Islam came and then they changed. But that one Sahabi, even though he accepted Islam and had sins forgiven, he still felt scarred for what he done and he even told the messenger PBUH about it. How did that Sahabi move on?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was scarred from the hardship that he endured during His Prophethood.
He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) went through uncountable physical and mental tests due to the people neglecting his message.
The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) went through so many trials and tribulations in Makkah, such as the non-Muslims calling him many names, as well as physically assaulting him.
The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and His saw noble companions and the entourage were ostracized and were compelled to stay in the Valley of Abu Talib for three consecutive years.
Even in Madinah, although there was no physical persecution like in Makkah, the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) suffered due to the hypocrites, as well as the Jews who many times broke the treaty.
The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did his utmost best to make people accept Islam and the denial by his people and the people of Makkah, left him scarred. Yet, worse was to come in Madinah, when the same people from whom he fled were now attacking the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his people and waging wars against Him (صلى الله عليه وسلم)
When Sayyidatuna Khadijah passed away, the wife of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and then His (صلى الله عليه وسلم) uncle, Abu Talib within a few weeks of each other, it really weighed down upon the (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as they were the closest people to him (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and also the ones to guard him (صلى الله عليه وسلم) from the evil and the atrocities of the non-Muslims.
This is a temporary life and it is a test from Allah (سبحانه و تعالى)
Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) said in the Quran:
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ ﴿٢﴾
˹He is the One˺ Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving. (Surah Mulk, Verse 2).
Likewise, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says,
أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾
Do people think that they will say we have faith and they will be left alone and not tested?’ (Surah Ankabut, Verse 2)
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾
And Certainly We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits. But give glad tidings to the As-Sabireen (the patient ones) who: when afflicted with calamities say, Truly: To Allah, we belong and truly to Him we shall return.’ ( Surah Baqarah, Verse 155).
وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ ﴿٣٠﴾
And whatever misfortunes befalls you, it is because of what your hands have
earned.’ (Surah Shura, Verse 30).
Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Amr ( رضى الله عنهما ) narrated that Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
تُحْفَةُ المُؤْمِنِ المَوْتُ
The gift of the believer is death.1
From the abovementioned verses, it is understood that adverse conditions that come upon man are a test for some and a punishment for others. Patience should be exercised by those having firm faith when faced with difficulty.
For most definitely, it is test which in turn will be a means of attaining reward and closeness to Allah.
In an event where a person has made a mistake by violating the laws of Allah, then trials and tribulations are a punishment in order that he regresses to Allah through the medium of repentance.
It was narrated from the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that once there was a man from the Sahaba who was always depressed when he came to the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked him, ‘Why are you always sad?’
He replied, ‘O Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) of Allah (عز و جل).! I committed such a sin during the days of ignorance, I fear that Allah will not forgive me even after accepting Islam!’.
So, the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) of Allah (عز و جل) said, “inform me of this sin”, to which he replied:
“I was amongst those who would kill their daughters. My wife gave birth to a daughter. So, she interceded to me to leave her, so I left her until she grew and she became amongst the prettiest of women and hence the people sent proposals to her.
So an urge took over me and my heart could not bear to marry her off or leave her at home without a husband.
Hence, I said to my wife, “indeed I will take her towards such and such tribe in visiting my close relatives, so send her with me. Then I became happy due to it, she dressed her up with clothes and ornaments.
She took promises from me to not deceive her.
So, I went with her towards the peak of the well and then I looked with her towards the head of the well. Then the girl realised that I intended to throw her in the well.
Thus, she grabbed hold of me and started to cry
She said, “Oh my father what do you intend to do with me?!”.
So, then, I had mercy on to her. So, I looked onto the well and then the urge overtook me and then she grabbed hold of me and she started saying, “Oh my father! Do not break your trust in my mother!”
Then once more I started to look towards the well and once towards her and I started to have pity towards her until the Shaitan became prevalent over me. Consequently, I took her and I placed her in the well upturned while she was saying in the well, “oh my father, you are killing me!”.
So, I remained until her voice ended, then I returned.”
Then the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his companions ( رضى الله عنهم ) cried and He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “If I was to be commanded to punish someone for what they did in the days of ignorance, then surely I would punish you for what you have done”.2
We know that tests are from Allah (عز و جل) and when Allah (عز و جل) loves someone, He tests them in various ways.
Even the most beloved of creation to Allah, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), went through many hard trials.
As Muslims, we have to practice being content and pleased with His decree and not be displeased or ungrateful.
We must acknowledge with firm confidence that the assistance of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى)is ever near, and after every hardship, comes ease.
During times of tribulations, we should focus on Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), as He is our Creator, and He is the one who brings all conditions and only Allah can change adverse conditions to advantageous ones.
Hence, we have to seek Allah’s help through patience and Salah.
May Allah (عز و جل) make it easy for us all, and for all the Muslims suffering in the world. Ameen.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 Musnadush Shihab, Hadith 150, 120/1, Muassisatur Risalah, Beirut, Lebanon.1407 H.
2 قوله تعالى: قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُوا أوْلادَهُمْ يعنوا: دفنوا بناتهم أحياء وقتلوهن سَفَهًا صار نصبًا لنزع الخافض يعني: جهلًا منهم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ يعني: بغير حجة منهم في قتلهن وهم ربيعة ومضر كانوا يقتلون بناتهم لأجل الحمية.
وروي عن رسول الله ﷺ أن رجلًا من أصحابه كان لا يزال مغتمًا بين يديه فقال له رسول الله ﷺ «ما لَكَ تَكن مَحْزُونًا» ؟ فقال: يا رسول الله إني قد أذنبت في الجاهلية ذنبًا، فأخاف أن لا يغفر لي وإني أسلمت فقال له: أخْبِرْنِي عَنْ ذَنْبِكَ» فقال: يا رسول الله: إني كنت من الذين يقتلون بناتهم فولدت لي بنت، فتشفعت إليَّ امرأتي بأن أتركها فتركتها حتى كبرت، وأدركت فصارت من أجمل النساء فخطبوها، فدخلت عليَّ الحمية ولم يحتمل قلبي أن أزوجها أو أتركها في البيت بغير زوج. فقلت للمرأة: إني أريد أن أذهب بها إلى قبيلة كذا وكذا في زيارة أقربائي فابعثيها معي فسرت بذلك وزيّنتها بالثياب والحلي، وأخذت عليَّ المواثيق بأن لا أخونها فذهبت بها إلى رأس بئر، فنظرت إلى البئر ففطنت الجارية أني أريد أن ألقيها في البئر، فالتزمت بي وجعلت تبكي
وتقول: يا أبت أي شيء تريد أن تفعل بي فرحمتها، ثم نظرت في البئر فدخلت عليّ الحمية، ثم التزمتني وجعلت تقول: يا أبت لا تضيع أمانة أمي فجعلت مرة أنظر في البئر، ومرة أنظر إليها، وأرحمها حتى غلبني الشيطان فأخذتها وألقيتها في البئر منكوسة وهي تنادي في البئر يا أبت قتلتني. فمكثت هناك حتى انقطع صوتها. فرجعت فبكى رسول الله ﷺ وأصحابه وقال «لَوْ أُمِرْتُ أنْ أعاقِبَ أحَدًا بِما فَعَلَ فِي الجاهِلِيَّةِ لَعاقَبْتُكَ بِما فَعَلْتَ.
Tafseer Samarqandi, Abul Layth, 487-488/1.
Ruhul Bayan, Ismail Haqqee, 111/3, Darul Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon.
Tafseer Qurtubi, Shamsud Deen, 96-97/7, Darul Kutub Misriyyah, Cairo, Egypt, 1384 H.
