Adapted from: Monthly Al-Hadith, Hazro
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٦٥﴾
(An-Nisa: 65)
"But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad ﷺ], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission."
In this noble verse, Allah mentions three essential characteristics of a true believer:
➊ In any matter of dispute, they should refer only to the judgment of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
➋ They must not feel any unease regarding his judgment.
➌ They should submit entirely and wholeheartedly to his decision.
The primary focus of this brief article is on the third characteristic: full and unquestioning submission.
"Paint that picture where the command of Mustafa ﷺ is issued, and necks bow instantly."
Here are a few illustrative examples from the lives of the noble Companions:
إِنَّ اللهَ يَنْهَاكُمْ أَنْ تَحْلِفُوا بابائكُمْ
قَالَ عُمَرُ : فَوَاللَّهِ مَا حَلَفْتُ بِهَا مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ذَاكِرًا وَلا آثِرًا
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6647, Sahih Muslim 1646)
"Allah forbids you from swearing by your forefathers."
Sayyiduna Umar (رضي الله عنه) stated:
"By Allah, ever since I heard this from the Prophet ﷺ, I have never sworn by my forefathers, neither during my speech nor while narrating someone else's words."
✦ A single directive from the Prophet ﷺ was enough for Sayyiduna Umar to firmly adhere to it for his entire life.
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلا
(Sahih Muslim 601)
Upon hearing someone recite these words during prayer, the Prophet ﷺ praised them, saying:
"The gates of the heavens have been opened for these words."
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"Since hearing this from the Prophet ﷺ, I have never ceased reciting them."
Another narration:
مَا حَقٌّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ، لَهُ شَيْءٌ يُوصِي فِيهِ، يَبِيتُ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ، إِلَّا وَوَصِيَّتُهُ عِندَهُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ
(Sahih Muslim 1627)
"No Muslim who possesses anything worthy of bequeathing should sleep three nights except that his will should be written and kept with him."
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"Since hearing this, not a single night has passed without my will being written and kept with me."
فَإِنَّ الْخَلَّ نِعْمَ الْأُدُمُ
(Sahih Muslim 2052)
"Indeed, vinegar is an excellent condiment."
Sayyiduna Jabir (رضي الله عنه) said:
"Since hearing this from the Prophet ﷺ, I have always loved vinegar."
Even his student, Talha ibn Nafi', stated:
"Since hearing it from Jabir (رضي الله عنه), I too have loved vinegar."
أرضُوا مُصَدِّقِيكُمْ
(Sahih Muslim 989)
"Please your Zakah collectors."
Sayyiduna Jarir (رضي الله عنه) declared:
"Since hearing this, no Zakah collector has left my presence except that he was pleased with me."
Moreover, he narrated:
أَبايِعُكَ عَلَى الإِسْلَامِ فَشَرَطَ عَلَيَّ: وَالنَّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
(Sahih al-Bukhari 58)
"When I pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ, he placed the condition that I must sincerely advise every Muslim, and I have abided by this ever since."
✦ May Allah grant us the ability to sincerely follow the footsteps of the beloved Companions and our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ!
Divine Command for Complete Submission
Allah Almighty states:فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٦٥﴾
(An-Nisa: 65)
"But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad ﷺ], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission."
In this noble verse, Allah mentions three essential characteristics of a true believer:
➊ In any matter of dispute, they should refer only to the judgment of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
➋ They must not feel any unease regarding his judgment.
➌ They should submit entirely and wholeheartedly to his decision.
The primary focus of this brief article is on the third characteristic: full and unquestioning submission.
The Companions’ Exemplary Submission
The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ fully embodied these traits. Whatever they heard from the Prophet ﷺ, they immediately accepted and implemented without hesitation."Paint that picture where the command of Mustafa ﷺ is issued, and necks bow instantly."
Here are a few illustrative examples from the lives of the noble Companions:
❀ Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه)
Sayyiduna Umar (رضي الله عنه) narrates:إِنَّ اللهَ يَنْهَاكُمْ أَنْ تَحْلِفُوا بابائكُمْ
قَالَ عُمَرُ : فَوَاللَّهِ مَا حَلَفْتُ بِهَا مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ذَاكِرًا وَلا آثِرًا
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6647, Sahih Muslim 1646)
"Allah forbids you from swearing by your forefathers."
Sayyiduna Umar (رضي الله عنه) stated:
"By Allah, ever since I heard this from the Prophet ﷺ, I have never sworn by my forefathers, neither during my speech nor while narrating someone else's words."
✦ A single directive from the Prophet ﷺ was enough for Sayyiduna Umar to firmly adhere to it for his entire life.
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما)
It is narrated:اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلا
(Sahih Muslim 601)
Upon hearing someone recite these words during prayer, the Prophet ﷺ praised them, saying:
"The gates of the heavens have been opened for these words."
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"Since hearing this from the Prophet ﷺ, I have never ceased reciting them."
Another narration:
مَا حَقٌّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ، لَهُ شَيْءٌ يُوصِي فِيهِ، يَبِيتُ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ، إِلَّا وَوَصِيَّتُهُ عِندَهُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ
(Sahih Muslim 1627)
"No Muslim who possesses anything worthy of bequeathing should sleep three nights except that his will should be written and kept with him."
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"Since hearing this, not a single night has passed without my will being written and kept with me."
❀ Sayyiduna Jabir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنهما)
He narrates:فَإِنَّ الْخَلَّ نِعْمَ الْأُدُمُ
(Sahih Muslim 2052)
"Indeed, vinegar is an excellent condiment."
Sayyiduna Jabir (رضي الله عنه) said:
"Since hearing this from the Prophet ﷺ, I have always loved vinegar."
Even his student, Talha ibn Nafi', stated:
"Since hearing it from Jabir (رضي الله عنه), I too have loved vinegar."
❀ Sayyiduna Jarir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه)
Regarding collectors of Zakah, the Prophet ﷺ instructed:أرضُوا مُصَدِّقِيكُمْ
(Sahih Muslim 989)
"Please your Zakah collectors."
Sayyiduna Jarir (رضي الله عنه) declared:
"Since hearing this, no Zakah collector has left my presence except that he was pleased with me."
Moreover, he narrated:
أَبايِعُكَ عَلَى الإِسْلَامِ فَشَرَطَ عَلَيَّ: وَالنَّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
(Sahih al-Bukhari 58)
"When I pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ, he placed the condition that I must sincerely advise every Muslim, and I have abided by this ever since."
Conclusion
The examples of these noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم) show that upon hearing a single directive from the Prophet ﷺ, they not only accepted it but dedicated their lives to it. Their unparalleled zeal for following the Sunnah remains a shining example for all Muslims.✦ May Allah grant us the ability to sincerely follow the footsteps of the beloved Companions and our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ!
