FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S DESK

Prof Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Islam’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various publications. Prof Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary on the Quran into English. She can be reached at [email protected]

SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT
OF THE COMPANIONS

God has given man families and has set some duties to be done to them. But it so happens that man becomes so obsessed with his family, their wellbeing, that he dedicates all his time, wealth and resources to them. Where he was supposed to make God his supreme concern and involve himself in tasks such as that please his Creator, he is excessively attached to his children. Where he should have given his time, energy and wealth in the cause of God, he focuses his energy on amassing more wealth to pass onto the next generation. Such a person will find himself empty handed with God. And as per a Hadith, it equates to sacrificing one’s Hereafter to build the world of others.

I have seen people among the Prophet’s Companions to whom the world meant less than the dust under their feet. Thus spoke Hasan Basri, the great 8th century religious scholar, to his awed contemporaries. He was well qualified to judge, for he had met a large number of them, seventy of whom had fought at Badr. He told them of how they wore simple homespun camel hair garments and were so preoccupied with righteous living that they seemed lost to the world. “Were they to see the best among you, they would think: ‘These people have no connection with Islam.’ And if they saw the worst among you, they would say, ‘These people do not believe in the Day of Judgement.”

The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad displayed unparalleled commitment to the faith. Their lives were a testament to the Quranic verses and Prophetic teachings that emphasize the transient nature of this world and the importance of the Hereafter.

The Quran frequently reminds believers of the fleeting nature of worldly life and the importance of focusing on the Hereafter. The Quran says: Never forget that the life of this world is only a game and a passing delight, a show, and mutual boasting and trying to outrival each other in riches and children. It is like the growth of vegetation after the rain, which delights the planter, but which then withers away, turns yellow and becomes worthless stubble. In the life to come there will be a terrible punishment, or God’s forgiveness and approval: the life of this world is nothing but means of deception. (57: 20)

The Companions exemplified this verse through their simple living and their focus on righteous deeds. Hasan Basri’s observations highlight how they prioritized their spiritual duties over material comforts, demonstrating their understanding that true success lies in the Hereafter, not in the accumulation of wealth.

The simplicity of the Companions is further illustrated by their clothing and lifestyle. The Prophet himself lived a life of modesty and simplicity, as narrated in several Hadiths. For instance, he said: Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler along a path.

This Hadith encapsulates the worldview of the Companions, who viewed their time on earth as temporary and focused on their ultimate journey to the Hereafter. They wore simple garments, often made from camel hair, and lived frugally, not out of necessity but out of choice, to avoid the distractions of material wealth.

Hasan Basri’s remarks also serve as a stark reminder of the drift from the original Islamic ideals. He observed that if the Companions were to witness the best among the later generations, they would consider them disconnected from the true spirit of Islam. Conversely, the worst among them would appear as if they did not believe in the Day of Judgement.

The Companions of the Prophet serve as timeless exemplars of detachment from worldly pleasures and commitment to a righteous life. Their legacy continues to inspire believers to prioritize their faith over material pursuits.