The True Joy: The Sunna

This is the third in a series of articles on true happiness, joy, and commitment according to the Quran and Sunna from the seminar The True Joy with Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Kharsa and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) rejoiced in Allah’s Mercy when the Quran was revealed. For example, on the occasion of the revelation of one set of verses, he said to his Companions (may Allah be well pleased with them), “Tonight, a set of verses has been revealed by Allah. It is more beloved to me than all that the sun rises upon.” Which means the world and all it contains. 

What was this Sura? 

إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًۭا مُّبِينًۭا

“Verily have We given you a most signal victory!” [Quran, 48:1; tr. Keller, Quran Beheld]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) rejoiced in this Sura and other revealed Suras to the utmost limits of rejoicing. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)  used to rejoice in the Islam of those who entered Islam. If someone came to him entering Islam, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would rejoice expressively. The traces of his joy would be manifest on his cheerful disposition because this person left disbelief for Islam. He left the disobedience of Allah to the obedience of Allah. And went from the displeasure of Allah to the good pleasure of Allah.

He Never Said No 

Likewise, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to rejoice in fulfilling the needs of people. He used to be very happy with that. If a person came to him with a need and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was able to fulfill it. He also used to be very happy with that. This is from the living joy of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) which is by living purposefully. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) never used to say no to anybody. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) never said no to anybody who came to him with a need. 

One of the poets actually said that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did not say no except in his Tashahhud. A hadith tells us that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) never refused when asked for anything. Other hadiths explain that if someone came to him with a need, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would either fulfill the need himself, or he found someone who could fulfill that person’s need. Or he would encourage the fulfillment of that person’s need or assist the person in fulfilling it. Or give the person facilitating words, telling them what they could do to fulfill their needs. He never just refused. That is a prophetic character trait.

Some people may teach to learn the art of saying no but that is not the way of the believer. Our master Jarir describes that when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) fulfilled someone’s need, he used to be expressively happy with that, out of contentment and gratitude to Allah.

Living Islam 

Similarly, regarding the incident of our master Ka’b. Ka‘b was one of the Companions who fell behind during a military expedition when everyone who was able was commanded to go out. He got distracted by different matters until he realized he could no longer catch the caravan. He was ostracized by Divine command, by the Believers, in the Masjid. Ka‘b and the others who fell behind were boycotted in the Mosque. They had to remain in the Masjid. And nobody including the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was to greet them, talk to them, deal with them, anything. 

It was very difficult for our master Ka’b. It was also very difficult for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). They were deeply repentant. When the verses came forgiving and relenting upon Ka’b, he himself relates that when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) told him that Allah has now relented on to you and forgiven you, Ka‘b himself described, “I looked at the face of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and his face was dazzlingly radiant from joy.” Dazzling, as if by lightning, out of joy. These are emanations of faith, that is how we should cultivate our faith. 

We should be living Islam. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to rejoice in that because it was from the bounty of Allah and from the mercy of Allah.