{"id":3196,"date":"2023-10-08T16:45:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/?p=3196"},"modified":"2023-10-08T16:45:01","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T16:45:01","slug":"yahya-ibrahim-the-sunnah-of-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/2023\/10\/08\/yahya-ibrahim-the-sunnah-of-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Yahya Ibrahim | The Sunnah of Love"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Source: https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2011\/10\/28\/yahya-ibrahim-the-sunnah-of-love\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published October 28, 2011<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\u00a0Shaykh Yahya Ibrahim\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Ali ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu<\/em> came home one day from a journey that he had been dispatched on by the Prophet Muhammed \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em>, to find his wife, Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet, radiya Allahu \u2018anha<\/em> brushing her teeth with a siwak<\/em> \u2013 twig of an Arak (Salvadora persica) tree used for brushing teeth.  Spontaneously, he, ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu<\/em>, spouted out poetic endearment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0647\u0646\u0626\u062a \u064a\u0627 \u0639\u0648\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0631\u0627\u0643 \u0628\u062b\u063a\u0631\u0647\u0627 \u2026 \u0623\u0645\u0627 \u062e\u0634\u064a\u062a \u064a\u0627 \u0623\u0631\u0627\u0643\u064f \u0623\u0631\u0627\u0643\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0644\u0648 \u0643\u0627\u0646 \u063a\u064a\u0631\u0643 \u064a\u0627 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0643 \u0642\u062a\u0644\u062a\u0647 \u2026 \u0645\u0627 \u0641\u0627\u0632 \u0645\u0646\u0649 \u064a\u0627 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0643\u064f \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0643<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunate are you O twig of the Arak tree,\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you no fear of me observing you in this embrace<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it were other than you\u2026O Siwak! I would have killed you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None found this fortune of embrace before me, but you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I get emailed and Facebooked\u00a0often from couples trying to salvage and mend broken trust and exponentially inhospitable relationships. I usually respond within a couple of weeks, detailing my unwillingness to \u201ccounsel\u201d from a virtual distance that begets unilateralism. Horror stories of infidelity, violence, and arrogance abound.\u00a0 Naturally, there is no greater issue facing the Muslim communities of the West that is more pressing and multidimensional than that of family relations.\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statistics are frightening, imams are untrained in effective counseling methods, mosques are under pressure, Islamically-oriented marital counselors are unheard of and professionalism in terms of confidentiality seem non-existent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An important dimension of domestic marital problems, as I see, is that the Sunnah of Love and Gallantry <\/strong>seems to be overlooked or dismissed as a long-gone era. The Sunnah, that is taught at times, seems to overlook amazing instances of passion, valor, fidelity and sacrifice in the name of true love. Instances from the life of the Prophet sala Allahu \u2018alihi wasSalaam<\/em> and his companions builds a comprehensive system of devotion \u2013 a Sunnah of Love.\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love. The real kind<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 the genuine love between a man and his wife that stems from a seed of love that is planted by Allah in the hearts of those who are true in submission to the Dispenser of Love and Comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A seed, literally and figuratively, in Arabic symbolizes love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houb<\/em> in Arabic is derived from the same root for the word Haab<\/em> \u2013 seed. The nature of the two words is functionally similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love begins as a tiny speck \u2013 a seed that is buried deep in the folds of a receptive heart, carrying the potential of stunning beauty, nourishing sustenance, exotic delicacy, wealth of commodity, shading shelter, and resurgent growth that is stabilized through deep roots that withstand trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amr ibn al-\u2018As ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu<\/em> was appointed by the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> to command an important mission. He was handpicked from many capable individuals who were in fact better than him.  Feeling a sense of pride in being selected, he <\/em>ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu<\/em> asks the Prophet, in front of a congregation of Sahabah about who he \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em><\/em>, loves? The Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> responds in the way that all of our wives would hope we would respond, by naming his wife, Aisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider that the Prophet would teach, \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em>, that if we love a friend, we need to let them know it. It was with this hope that \u2018Amr thought to ask that question after the favorable appointment was given to him.\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking that his question has been misunderstood he clarifies, saying that he meant from amongst the companions who did the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> love? The Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> responds, \u201cHer Father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

He does not respond, \u201cAbu Bakr ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu<\/em>.\u201d His response alludes to \u2018Aisha ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anh<\/em>a as she was still on his mind and in his heart. \"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Aisha ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anh<\/em>a, al-Humayra \u2013 The Rosy Cheeked one, as the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> affectionately called her; Umm al-Mu\u2019mineen<\/em> \u2013 the Mother of the Faithful was loved and loved in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sunnah of Love is not whimsical or outrageously simplistic as you find depicted often in multibillion-dollar literary\/theatrical sagas. No vampires competing with werewolves here.  It is not ambivalent and shifty. It is built on mutual acceptance of the decree of the Divine in search of comfort, repose and peace of mind.  It flourishes, paradoxically, in the mundanity of life. Finding fleeting moments of intimacy between stacks of dishes, soiled diapers, mounds of work emails, grocery lists and infinite commitments are its hallmark. A look that you receive as you rush out the door, a quick phone call itemizing how the day is going or an SMS that contains a list of groceries to buy on the way home punctuated with an I love You, are all indicators.\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Aisha ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anh<\/em>a and the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> would use code language with each other denoting their love. She asked the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> how he would describe his love for her. The Prophet Muhammad answered, saying: \u201cLike a strong binding knot.\u201d The more you tug, the stronger it gets, in other words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every so often \u2018Aisha would playfully ask, \u201cHow is the knot?\u201d The Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> would answer, \u201cAs strong as the first day (you asked).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I begin to wonder, as should you, about what has happened to our community?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is it so hard to speak frankly of one\u2019s love for his wife? Why is it \u201csoft\u201d for a brother to praise his spouse?\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> can kiss his wife, as he exits to leave his home to lead the faithful in prayer and some in our community find it difficult to just smile?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it that the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> can stop a whole army, in times of hostility in a region of the desert that had no water to camp near, to look for his wife\u2019s misplaced bead necklace and some find it difficult to give a deserved compliment every now and again?\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since when is sternness considered leadership and harshness associated with married life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it that the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> can mend his clothes and look after the domestic affairs of his household, and a brother can\u2019t put away a plate, let alone wash it unless the wife is sick?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it that the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> can forbid upon himself milk infused with honey so as to please his wives, who complained of its scent, culminating in Allah revealing a chapter in the Qur\u2019an forbidding the Prophet from forbidding the lawful upon himself, \u201cBecause you seek to please your wives (66:1).\u201d  Yet, some in our community will not even give the rightfully due to their wife?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it that the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> teaches not to boycott a person for more than three days, and a brother can be out all day at work and feel apprehensive at the thought of returning home to a disgruntled partner who will give them the silent treatment over a petty squabble that has extended into weeks of dreary, isolating depression?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it that the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> forbids a person to lead another man in prayer in his home without permission, yet some brothers due to constant bickering and negative criticism feel more like the help than the king of the castle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misreading the Sunnah, and not linking it to all matters of our life, including the mundane aspects is a justified criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of us learn through the course of our elementary studies of Islam that if you have no water, or if it is scarce, that you can perform Tayamum<\/em> \u2013 ritual purification for prayer using sand or dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you probably were not taught, and what was glossed over, was the fact that the permissibility and the legislation of that enormously important function were revealed because of the lost bead necklace.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

You were not told that the love of the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> for \u2018Aisha resulted in him ordering a marching army to stop at a location without water and camp out at night with a dwindling supply of water for their consumption. Her father, Abu Bakr ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu<\/em>, was furious with her for mentioning what, to him, seemed to be a trivial matter.\"Ezoic\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You were not told how the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> ordered the troops to look for a necklace in the sands of the Arabian Desert, all for the comfort of \u2018Aisha.  You were, probably, not informed how verses in the Qur\u2019an descended upon the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> at such an occasion resulting in the joyous celebration of the Sahabah for the ease that Allah has provided for our Ummah<\/em> as a result of this occurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is the Sunnah of Love.  You look after the near, even if it may inconvenience the far.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You would have heard that the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> mended his own shoes at times. What you may not have heard was how once as he was sitting in a room with \u2018Aisha ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anha<\/em> fixing his shoes, \u2018Aisha happened to look to his blessed forehead and noticed that there were beads of sweat on it. Mesmerized by the majesty of that sight she remained transfixed staring at him long enough for him to notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> said, \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d She replied, \u201cIf Abu Bukair Al-Huthali, the poet, saw you, he would know that his poem was written for you.\u201d The Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> asked, \u201cWhat did he say?\u201d She replied,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAbu Bukair said that if you looked to the majesty of the moon, it twinkles and lights up the world for everybody to see.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

So the Prophet \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em> got up, walked to Aisha, kissed her between the eyes, and said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWallahi<\/em> ya Aisha, you are like that to me and more.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

That is the Sunnah of Love<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the earliest days of Islam, \u2018Ali radiya Allahu \u2018anhu was a continuous witness of the life habits of Rasool-ul-Allah \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em>. He was a witness to Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Ali, ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu<\/em>, arrived home to find the love of his life relaxing at home. No foreshadowing asserts anything special about the occasion or day. No fancy marketing to fleece customers of hard earned money. No gimmicks or convoluted infatuations promising a happily ever after proportional to carat size. It is just a man coming home after a long day at work.  What he finds there is the greatest attainment any man could dream to possess, and hopefully retain \u2013 a wife whose presence fills him with joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prophet Muhammad, \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em>, said: \u201cThe world and all things in the world are precious but the most precious thing in the world is a virtuous woman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virtuous, not, exclusively, in terms of the length of prostration or in devotion to religious obligations but rather as he, \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em>, once informed \u2018Umar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cShall I not inform you about the best treasure a man can hoard? It is a virtuous wife who fills him with joy whenever he looks towards her.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It is not love at first sight, rather exponential love with every glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ya Allah, put love between our spouse and us and allow us comfort and mercy in our home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ya Allah, spread love and peace throughout the Ummah<\/em> of Muhammed \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

O Allah grant us Your Divine Love<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O Allah grant us the love of those who Love You<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O Allah grant us the love of doing the things that earn Your Divine Love<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yahya Adel Ibrahim.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2011\/10\/28\/yahya-ibrahim-the-sunnah-of-love\/ Published October 28, 2011 By\u00a0Shaykh Yahya Ibrahim\u00a0 \u2018Ali ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu came home one day from a journey that he had been dispatched on by the Prophet Muhammed \u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam, to find his wife, Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet, radiya Allahu \u2018anha brushing her teeth with a siwak \u2013 twig of an Arak (Salvadora persica) tree used for brushing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3198,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1103,564,1120,322],"tags":[608,1152,1151,1147],"class_list":["post-3196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beyondchai","category-featured-posts","category-healthy-relationships","category-for-married","tag-marriage-advice","tag-muslim-website-for-marriage","tag-online-dating-service-for-muslims","tag-single-muslims"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3196"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3343,"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3196\/revisions\/3343"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}