samen

1

The Prophet ﷺ never did anything...

without consulting Allah and the Sahaba [his companions].

It is sunnah for us to do likewise. Our Grandshaykh tells us that no matter how clever a man may be, he is still in need of consultation.

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Once, according to our Grandshaykh, a certain king was speaking with his grand vizier. “Tell me,” asked the king, “Why does a man need to consult with another? Doesn’t he have eyes to see with, and a mind with which to decide what to do?”

“O my king,” replied the vizier, “While it is true that a man has eyes, it is also true that he can never use them to see himself. On that point, each of us is blind!”

2

We learn correctness quickly, with consultation.

Everyone must have a consultant, or ‘mustashar.’

We must also know that if a man wishes to follow on the footsteps of the Prophet ﷺ , he must have a shaykh. He must ask Allah to send him a teacher.

3

“What are the good characters of a consultant?”

asks our Grandshaykh.

“You must be satisfied in your heart with his adab, his manners and mentality, and his ‘deen,’ his religious actions. The Prophet ﷺ , for example, consulted with his wives.”

His was the way of gentleness.

4

His manner for asking for help...

would be to initiate the action himself.

For instance, he might say to his wife, “May I put that jar [pot] over there?” Quickly she would understand, and pick it up herself. This is good manners, you can’t find this anywhere. Or, perhaps Rasulullah ﷺ would place the jar himself, thus showing respect for his wife and raising her to his level.

If a wife was listening closely enough to place the jar herself, it would be better for her than forty years of nafl [voluntary, or supererogatory] prayers. His giving her this chance increases domestic pleasure.

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His was the way of consultation.

When men consult each other, love and respect grow. “You have the best character,” Allah Almighty says of Muhammad ﷺ. People would reply to the Prophet ﷺ, “O Muhammad! You know best,” whenever he would ask them a question.

Thus, social harmony is completed by consultation. Through commanding comes hatred, disrespect, and wildness. If all people practiced consultation, there would be the highest form of civilization and perfection.


~bron~
p.32