Alhamdulillah… All thanks and praises are due to the Almighty Allah, the Eternal Living. May His Peace and Blessings be upon Habibi Muhammad, his household, his companions, and upon all those who follow his guided path till the Day of Judgement.
I first read the bad news on the passing of Nelson Mandela through a Facebook update of Dr. Sh. Yassir Qadhi, which initiated with, “Nelson Mandela has returned to his Creator.” I scrolled down my newsfeed page of Facebook, to get more related information. I came across Nicole Seah’s update, which also started with, “RIP, Nelson Mandela. You are now forever free.” Later, the entire social networking sites (SNSs) were flooded with condolences to the loved ones of Mandela.
Nelson Mandela is one of the greatest man history has ever produced. According to Wikipedia, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in 1918 and died on 5 December 2013. He was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who was imprisoned (for 29 years). After his release, he became a politician and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically, he was an African nationalist and a democratic socialist. He served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.
The passing of Nelson Mandela is another lost for the world. It’s a big lost for Africa. It’s indeed, a great lost for South Africa. Likewise all great men, the time has come for Nelson Mandela, who lived 95 years, to pass on, to the next life.
Nelson Mandela is among the few, whose health progress had made broader headlines, across cable TVs and the Internet. That certainly reflected the due respect, and love (if I can call it so) which people from all over the world had for the man.
In late June, this year (2013) many anticipated (I assume), the last time the anti-apartheid was admitted to hospital to be his last. This was so, due to the level of secrecy his family members surrounded him with, at the time that, world leaders showed their concern, and asked for prayers for the man.
The whole world was on its toes, either genuinely out of love, respect and appreciation, or pretentiously; just to gain political credits. I remember, the South African president Jacob Zuma, cut his visits abroad to return home, as Mandela's condition worsened. Mandela's daughter, who is South African ambassador to Argentina, returned home, to attend to her father. Barack Obama, included South Africa in his second African trip, but didn't manage to see his hero, Nelson Mandela.
I paid a close attention to how the media, on one hand and those surrounding me on the other hand, reacted. I spent quiet some time pondering on “Mandela remains critical but stable condition”, Reuters.
Later on, it was announced, that the man was on life support machines. This particular rumour inspired me to update my Facebook status with the following:
Everyone is certain about death. And the circumstances of Mandela's condition, and how the media was kept out of the happenings, was a clear indication that the man was fighting for his life. Yet, people were not psychologically prepared for the moment they will be told, that Nelson Mandela is no longer. I mean, nobody wanted to hear the man was going.
Those thoughts took me back to the era of our beloved Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wasallam. I thought of how the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, salla Allah ‘alaihi wasallam, reacted, and dealt with the sickness and the death of the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam.
The Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam hinted to the Muslims, who attended the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjatul Wada') that he might not be with them, the following year. Prior to that, the revelation of Surah Al-Nasr, which when the Prophet recited it to the companions, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu wept bitterly. When he was asked, he said, I understand that the Prophet will be leaving us soon.
Back in Madinah, after Hajjatul Wada', the Prophet deployed Sayyidina Muazh Ibn Jabal, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, to Yemen, as a ruler (judge) and teacher. In his final words to Muazh, the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, hinted to Muazh, that he may not meet him, when he returns. Muazh wept. I, too, would have wept, if I was in that noble position of Sayyidina Muazh, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu.
A few months later, the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wasallam, fell sick. His sickness started to worsen. There were no clinics and hospitals then, so he was nursed at home (in fact the availability of clinics and hospitals never prolongs any one’s life). When he became weaker, he excused his wives, to allow him, to be nursed in the house of Sayyidatina ‘Aishah, radhiya Allahu ‘anha. They agreed, genuinely.
Gradually, the Prophet couldn't lead the normal obligatory prayers with his companions, anymore. Although he asked Sayyidina Abu Bakr, to relief him, the companions started to worry. Yes, they became more worried and more concerned.
They were delighted, when they saw the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, joined them in Fajr prayer. In fact, that was the last time he joined them in the mosque.
The Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, was not exempted from the Qur’anic verse, which reads:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ
“Every soul shall taste death”, [Surah Al-Ankabout, 29:57].
That’s why, when the Angels brought him the option of staying longer in this world or meeting his Beloved, Allah, he chose what is with Allah.
إِنَّ عَبْدًا مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ ، فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ
“Allah opts His Servant between this world, and what's with Him, and he (the servant) chooses what's with Allah.”
Despite the death throes, the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, did not neglect his utmost duty towards his Ummah. He said, in a Hadeeth narrated by Sayyidina Ali, radhiya Allahu ‘anha, and reported by Abu Dawud:
الصَّلاةَ الصَّلاةَ.. اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِيمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ
“Be mindful of your Solat… Fear Allah in what your right hands possess.”
These were the words, that the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, emphasized on, as he experienced the throes of death, which every creature is set to experience, when the time comes for them meet the Creator.
Finally, it was Monday. Madinah went into asudden total silence. That was the immediate effect of the incredible shock; the Prophet was no longer.
As expected, the prevalence of reality was denied, as emotions escalated very high. Sayyiduna Umar, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, denied the death of the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, and had threaten to take strict action against anyone who spreads the news that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wasallam, had passed on.
Emotions continued to prevail, “OK… The Prophet is not dead”, some hidden voices rang in minds of most of the companions. Why? Because Sayyiduna Umar says so or believes so.
The truth is, Sayyiduna Umar, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, lost control of his emotions. He couldn't imagine life without the Prophet! Furthermore, he had never loved anyone on this surface, as much as he loved the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam.
In fact, he was just one of hundreds (if not thousands), who were in that state. The only ones who were happy, and eagerly waiting to hear confirmation of the Prophet’s death were (and are) two groups, The Hypocrites, and the Jews (including some other non-Muslims).
We love the Prophet dearly, but the truth had come. Why do we have to reject the truth? By doing so, we are actually nullifying the entire mission of the Prophet. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu stepped in. He went up the Minbar, and reminded the confused (unconscious) audience of what they all knew. He said and quoted:
أَلَا مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ وَمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ
It means, “Whoever was worshiping Muhammad (should note that), Muhammad is now dead. And whoever was worshiping Allah [should note] that Allah is Eternal-Living, Who does not die.”
And he recited from the Qur’an, Surah Aali Imran, 3:144:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ
It means, “Muhammad is only a messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. If he should die, or be killed, will you turn back on your heels? Those who turn on their heels do not harm Allah in the least. Allah will reward the grateful.”
Sayyiduna Umar, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, started to gain his consciousness. The above verse seemed to him, to have been revealed for the first time.
With that, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, has saved the Ummah, one of the greatest confusion, after the Prophet salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam.
Now, the reality is realized and accepted. What next? Life goes on. And the challenges every individual Muslim will face are his responsibilities.
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِنَفْسِهِ، وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ فَعَلَيْهَا، ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ
It means, “Whoever does what is just and right, does so for his own good; and whoever does evil, does so to his own detriment, and you shall all return to your Lord.”
In conclusion, this article is not a comparison between the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, and Nelson Mandela. In fact, it's an honour for Mandela, for any writer, be it a Muslim or non-Muslim, to remember the Prophet Muhammad, while writing a tribute article about him. I did not desire to write about Mandela, as much as I desire to write about the Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam.
What I know for sure, is that, Mandela has been a source of inspirations, for many in humanity; for the oppressed, for freedom fighters regardless of their religious affiliations. In fact, has also been a great inspiration for aspired politicians, scholars, and not to say every single African.
If the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, was physically amongst us today, he would have commended the good cause for which Nelson Mandela strived. He would have praised his deeds (not necessarily his faith), just as he commended some non-Muslims of his time, who stood up against oppression and injustice.
The most significant worldly rewards one can attain in this life is nothing more that fame and respect. Nelson Mandela has consensually achieved that. To achieve that, it takes a greater selfless sacrifice and genuine patriotism.
I like some words, which Shaykh Abdullah Hakim Quick posted on his Facebook. He said, “People should not just praise Nelson Mandela but follow his example. He was humble but strong, committed but tolerant. He forgave his enemies but stuck to his principles.”
Nelson Mandela will remain an inspiration for all, including us, Muslims. But, it’s important to constant pray to Allah that we die as Muslims. Only then, great achievement can favour us before Allah, in the Hereafter.
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
Well-articulated Coach, but hhmmm