Sahaba

Another important gem we learn from the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) and the early generations is that power comes with conciseness. During the time of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم), he received a letter from a man named Musaylimah, who claimed prophethood as well, and wished to divide up the area. In response, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) wrote: “From Muhammad the Messenger of Allah to Musaylimah the liar.

During the battle of Yarmuk, Az-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) tried to incite the mujahideen to fight against the Romans. (You can read the entire incident here.) From this incident, we learn some important leadership lessons: When nobody steps up to the task, the leader must take the initiative to get the job done. Because, one way or another, the task must be completed. Leaders also work in the trenches, when circumstances require it of them.

The Muslims were forced out of their land because of the persecution of the polytheist Arabs, who tortured them because they said, “our Lord is one”. The Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم) commanded the Muslims to migrate to Abysynnia, to live under the Negus, a just ruler. The Polytheists refused to let them leave peacefully, and confronted the king to demand the return of the Muslims. Jafar was chosen as the spokesperson for the Muslims to the king.

When you seek knowledge, seek from the best sources–the most authentic, and those closest to the source. The companion Abdullah ibn Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) was 10 years old when the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) went on his farewell Hajj. Abdullah ibn Zubayr went, too, and witnessed the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam)’s hajj first-hand. After the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) passed away, Abdullah ibn Zubayr became the definitive source of the fiqh of Hajj–starting at age 10–until he passed away at 73.

During a year of difficulty–during the reign of Abu Bakr as-Siddique (radiAllahu ‘an), when the Muslims needed food–this HUGE caravan rolls into town. Everyone clamers around, they want to buy stuff, and it goes straight to the house of ‘Uthman (radiAllahu ‘an). He owned the caravans. So they went to ‘Uthman and said “We want to buy it from you, we’ll give you double the price”–that is, double the cost, for food.

In the battle of Yamamah (against Musaylimah. Muslims: 11k. Enemy: narrations vary, 20k-60k), Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) ended up wounded and in the nursing docks. He saw this one Ansar (may Allah be pleased with him, whoever he was) critically injured–he couldn’t walk–out of commission, being nursed. To create motivation, outside on the battlefield, someone shouted “ya ahlil ansar” (o people of Ansar), like called them to group.

During the time of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), Amr ibn al-‘As was in Egypt, and requested fighters. ‘Umar (radiallahu ‘an) sent a letter saying “I’ll send you 8000 fighters.” He sent 4000 fighters. ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (radiallahu ‘an) replied and said (to the meaning of) “you said you sent 8000 and you sent 4000,” and ‘Umar (radiallahu ‘an) said “I sent 4000, and at the head of each thousand is a man worth 1000 himself.

Before the battle of Uhud, when the Muslims were preparing and such, the Prophet, peace be upon him, lifted up his sword and said “who will fight with my sword?” And all the sahaba were like “me, me”, like “pick me”. The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) put down his sword. Their emotions were raised. The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) raised it again and said “who will take my sword and give it the haq (right) due to the sword?

Imagine you are a boat, and the dunya is the sea. Far off in the distance, is land — the akhira. “You are a boat. You sail the waters of the dunya towards the lands of Jannah.” –Abdur-Rahman What happens if the sea floods into the boat? You sink. So be like the best Muslim leaders: they ditched the dunya for the akhira. In particular, I refer to the governers in the time of the Khulafa Rashideen (i.

In Surah Nisaa, Allah says: وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقاً Translation: And who-so-ever obeys Allah and the Messenger, shall be with those whom Allah has blessed-the Prophets, the truthful (siddiyqin) and the martyrs (shuhada) and the righteous (saliheen). What excellent companions these are that one may get! [Surah An-Nisaa, verse 69] Prophets are those Allah blessed with divine revelation.