The Noble Character & Habits of Rasulullah SAW 4708

Aishah RA reports:

"A person asked permission to present himself before Rasulullah SAW while I was with him. Rasulullah SAW said: 'What a bad person is he among his community'. After saying this, he gave him permission to enter. After the person entered, he spoke very softly to him. When the person left I said: 'O Rasulullah, you said what you said before he entered, then you spoke so softly to him. Rasulullah SAW said: 'O Aishah, the worst person is that who stops speaking to one because of his indecency'."


COMMENTARY

Most of the Ulama have written that this person's name was Uyainah. It is said that till then he had not sincerely accepted Islam, but only hypocritically and his Islam was only seen outwardly. Up to that time Rasulullah SAW treated the hyprocrites in the same manner as he had treated the Muslims. Therefore he treated this person in the same manner. After the death of Rasulullah SAW when some people began turning away from Islam (irtidaad), he also became a murtad, and openly declared the kufr that was in his heart. When he was brought before Abu Bakr RA, the children of Madinah began jeering him that this person has also become a murtad (turned apostate). He replied: "Since when have I been a Muslim that it may be said that I have become a murtad."

Nevertheless, he later did became a Muslim, and took part in Jihad during the time of Saiyidina Umar RA.

It is for this reason that Rasulullah SAW pointed out this fact before he entered. Since this was intended to rectify (Islaah) and to save others from harm, therefore this saying of Rasulullah SAW cannot be termed according to the Shari'ah as Ghibat (backbiting). To mention a bad deed of a person with the intention that others may not fall into it, or be tricked into it, is not classed as those prohibited in Ghibat. Some of the Ulama have stated that this person was an open Fasiq. It is permissible to make such comments of the one who openly indulges in fisq and fujur.

When he arrived in the presence of Rasulullah SAW, to make him feel at ease and captivate his heart, Rasulullah SAW spoke softly to him, as was his (SAW) noble habit. It was also the noble habit of Rasulullah SAW to speak softly to everyone. It is for this reason that Rasulullah SAW made this clear to Aishah RA and others, so they may not feel that by the courtesy shown by Rasulullah SAW to this person, that this person is honest and a well wisher, and due to this one may be deceived and fall into some, calamity, or a secret may be said before him. It is the habit of hyprocrites to discuss the secrets of others so that they obtain special status and one's inner secrets.

In the last sentence of the hadith the words 'worst person' could have two meanings. This may be referring to the person that presented himself. In order to keep away from his rudeness, he was treated in this manner; or this may be referring to the noble personage of Rasulullah SAW that, 'When did you find me to be a rude person, that you were waiting for such a thing. He is an indecent person, and due to his indecency people will refrain from coming to him, and if I also speak like this, people must also stop coming to me'. As a result of which only he shall be a loser, but how could Sayyidina Rasulullah SAW tolerate him being a loser.