Reviving the Values of Humanity with Love

3. Reviving the Values of Humanity with Love

The Prophet Muhammad was successful in fulfilling his prophetic mission in a short period of time, about 23 years. Within this short span of time, he raised the humanity long buried in the valley of immorality, enslavement, and social inequality, t o a much better position. It was initiated by one paramount cause, that is, that he led with love. Love is capable to change hearts, arid becomes cool, wild temperament become tame, even death into life. Jalaluddin al-Rumi, a poet and great sufi, illustrates the power of love as follows:

Because of love, thorns become roses Because of love, vinegar incarnates into fresh wine Because of love, a blow becomes a crown to offer Because of love, misfortune incarnates to luck Because of love, jail becomes tavern full of roses Because of love, a pile of dust like a garden Because of love, blazing fire becomes soothing light Because of love, an ogre turns into a fairy Because of love, a hard rock becomes soft as cheese Because of love, grief becomes joyous Because of love, ghosts turn into angels Because of love, lions are not as scary as rats Because of love, pain becomes so healing Because of love, anger turns into hospitality. 34

The Prophet Muhammad was a great example of a leader who loved his people, even though they were notoriously wild, mischievous, and practicing idolatry. He does not want his people in misery and hardship, socially, economically, or religiously. He also did not want his people humiliated before the dignity of humanity. Therefore, he struggled against slavery and pursued to eliminate it from the face of the earth. Prophet also did not want shame and nakedness of his people open to public. Therefore, he worked hard to do all possible in his reach so that all dismercys of his people be covered by their own repentance or prayer of forgiveness. His love as a leader is not only uttered in words, but also with real action. He was obeyed not because of his power and influence, nor because of the ability to determine the fate of his people, but because his love is evident in all aspects he led. This is narrated in a Hadith as follows:

One day, after returning from the battle of Tabuk, the Prophet met Sa’ad bin Mu’adh al-Ansari. At that time, he saw the hand of Sa’ad blackened

34 Budhi Munawar, Islam Pluralis, p. 223.

and blistered. “What happened to your hands?” asked the Prophet. Sa’ad replied, “Because of the hammer and shovel I use to slice and drill down stone for my family to feed. That is my duty.” Upon hearing the answer, the Prophet immediately took Sa’ad’s hands and kissed them, saying, “These are

the hands that will never be touched by the fire of the Hell. 35 ” The Prophet was a great figure, a leader much respected by his fellow

people. Nevertheless, he did not hesitate to kiss the blackened, blistered, and rough hands of one working as a stone crusher. He gave an example of how to lead the people with love, instead of arrogance, anger, hate and revenge. Such leadership is also demonstrated in all of his law verdict and decisions including, and not solely, Hudūd and qishas. The Prophet was more than happy to forgive than to punish, as he was more pleased if his people asked to repent to God rather than reveal the guilt in front of the others.

In some books of Hadith compilation, a story about the magnanimity of the Prophet was narrated as follows:

One day, Ma’iz bin Malik came to the Prophet and claimed that he had committed adultery. Hearing this confession, the Prophet tried to avoid Ma’iz. He turned his face away to the four wind directions one by one to avoid the gaze of Mu’iz in order that he did not confess and withdrew its recognition. However, Ma’iz insisted on confessing to adultery. After clarification, he commanded all Sahabah (companions of the Prophet) to pelt him. After some moment since the stoning began, Ma’iz did not seem to be able to bear more pain. Finally, he fled. When escaping, he met another sahabah who brought a piece of stick and struck him

35 Jamaluddin Abdurrahman al-Jauzi, al-Maudlu’at (Madinah: Maktabah Salafiyyah, t.th.), vol.2, p. 251, Jalaluddin as-Suyuti, al-Laly’i al-Mashnu’ah fi al-Ahadis al-Maudlu’ah (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah), vol. 2, p. 130. According to al-Albani, this hadis is not very weak in transmission (dla’if jiddan) and not fabricated (maudlu’) hadith, only weak (dla’if). Views by scholars disrespecting this hadis and categorizing it as fabricated (maudlu’) based on the information that Sa’ad bin Mu’ad al-Anshari died before war on Tabuk. So it is unlikely that the Prophet kissed his hands after Tabuk. This informatian is, however, denied by al-Hafidz Ibnu Hajar saying that Sa’ad that was mentioned in the hadist is not that Sa’ad proclaimed dead before Tabuk. Citing Ibnu Hajar, Syaikh Abdul Hayyi al-Kattani saying that in this hadis lies a remarkable story, that is, a kiss by the Prophet to the one working hard by his own hands to sustain the lives of his family. See as-Silsilah adl-Dla’ifah, vol. 1, p. 468.

drop dead. The news reached the Prophet. He rebuked, “Fahala taraktumuhu, ila ‘Allâh yatubullaha wa yatubu Allâh” (why don’t you let him run, then he repents

to Allâh and then Allâh accepts his repentance). 36 ”

The Prophet continued to show his love to his people even when they were found guilty. He wanted Ma’iz to get chance for repentance. This Hadith also signals that repentance to adultery can thwart Hudūd to be executed, though the court has decided, even after half-run penalty. Leaders with this spirit of love are the ones we all currently need, not the ones filled with hatred and vengeance, whose spirit to master and punish, nor leaders who save for themselves happiness and prosperity, while their people stay miserable.

When the Prophet was asked about how the best leader can be found, the Prophet answered as follows:

The best leaders are those whom you love and who love you, and you always pray for them and they always pray for you. As for the worst leaders are those who hate you and you hate them, they curse you and you curse them. 37

36 Abu Bakar ibn Abi Syaibah, Musnad Ibn Abi Syaibah (Riyad: Dar al-Wathan, 1997), vol.2, p. 161

37 Muslim bin Hajjaj bin Muslimal-Qusyairi, Shahih Muslim (Beirut: Dar Ihya’ Turats Al- ‘Arabi, t.th), vol.3, p. 1481.

This Hadith confirms that the main stock a good leader has in his pocket is love. The leaders needed today are not only the tough and trustworthy, but also the ones loved by their people and ready to pay back their love as well. Love does not mean letting people behave as they please as this could actually endanger their own life and the life of society as a whole. To love is to lead with compassion; gentle, humble, fair and prepared in heart to give everything to the benefit of the people, not only here and now but also there and later.