Article Surah 80 · Ayah 1

Islaam’s emphasis on soothing souls

Islaam cares for creation and has ordained for it many rulings: The Sunnah recommends offering condolences to the family of a deceased person to make them feel better, comfort them and soothe them for the loss of the dead person. Islam has given the woman divorced before entering, half her dowry, to appease her and repair her broken soul.1 Blood money has been approved for manslaughter, to remedy the hearts of the victim’s family and to appease them.2

In order to emphasize the importance of this creation and to show its value, one of the first divine guidance’s revealed to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam in the beginning of his message, was consoling those in need and appeasing them. Allah the Almighty Says: 1. Reported by As-Sarkhasi in his book Al Mabsoot (66) and Abu Shujaa’ in his book Matn abi Shujaa’ (1/221).
2. Reported by Ibn Qudaamah in his book Al-Mughni (9/488).
فَأَمَّا ٱلْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ--وَأَمَّا ٱلسَّآئِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ
So as for the orphan, do not oppress(him) and as for the petitioner, do not repel(him) [QUR’AAN 93: 9-10]

“So just as you were an orphan, O Muhammad, and Allah took care of you, do not oppress the orphan, nor humiliate him. Instead, soothe him, do good for him and be kind to him and treat him as you would like your children to be treated after you.”3

So, Allah has forbidden, repelling and rebuking the petitioner. He advised His Prophet to be kind and gentle and to soothe him so he does not experience the humiliation of rebuking in addition to the humiliation of begging. This is a sublime Islamic manner.

Allaah, the Almighty admonished His Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam when he turned away from the blind Companion, ‘Abdullaah ibn Um Maktoum, may Allah be pleased with him, and went out to call the chiefs of Quraysh to Islam. He went to invite them to Islam hoping for others to enter Islam [along with them].

Ibn Um Maktoum, may Allah be pleased with him, said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, teach me from what Allah has taught you." The Messenger of Allah disliked it when he interrupted his speech and turned away from him. Allah The Almighty revealed this verse admonishing him in which He Says:
3. Tafseer Ibn Katheer (18/427) and Tafseer As-Sa'di (1/928).

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ- أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ-وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ-أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ
He {i.e. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa salaam] frowned and turned away, because there came to him the blind man,[interrupting] but what would make you perceive [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be punished or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him? [QURAN 80:1-4]

“So Allah the Almighty admonished him, so as not to break the hearts of the people of faith.”4 So much so that it was reported that he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to honor him by addressing him saying: “Welcome to the one for whom Allah the Almighty admonished me.”5 It was clear how the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was keen to implement good manners amongst his Companions. He used to comfort them when they lost their loved ones or when they were in debt: Jabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: "The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, met me and said to me: 'O Jaabir! Why do I see you disturbed?' I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! My father was martyred (on the day of Uhud) leaving my family and debt behind.’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Shall I give you news of what your father met Allah with?' He said:
4. Reported by Al-Qurtubi in his book Tafseer Al Qurtubi (19/213).
5. Reported by Al-Qurtubi in his book Tafseer Al Qurtubi (19/213), Al-Baghawi (8/332) and by Muhammad ibn Yoosuf As-Saalihi in his book Subul Al Huda wa Ar-Rashaad (2/42).

"But of course, O Messenger of Allah!" He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Allah does not speak to anyone except from behind a veil, but he brought your father to speak to him directly. He said: '[O my slave!] do you wish that I give you anything? He said: ’O lord! Give me life so that I might fight for you a second time’. So the Lord [blessed and most high] said: ‘It has been decreed by me that they shall not return.'”6

He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would also help the ones who were in debt to resolve it. One day, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, entered the mosque. There, he saw a man from the Ansaar called Abu Umamah. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What is the matter, that I am seeing you sitting in the mosque when it is not the time of prayer?” He said: “I am entangled in cares and debts, O Messenger of Allah.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “Shall I not teach you words by which, when you say them, Allah will remove your care and settle your debt?” He said: “Why not, Messenger of Allah?” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Say in the morning and evening: ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in thee from care and grief, I seek refuge in thee from incapacity and slackness, I seek refuge in thee from cowardice and niggardliness, and I seek in thee from being overcome by debt and being put in subjection by men.” He (Abu Umamah) said: “When I did that, Allah removed my care and settled my debt.”7

He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would also soothe the souls of those who were depressed and oppressed. When ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy [leader of the hypocrites] said to his friend: “If we return to Madinah, surely the most honorable [referring to his men] will expel from there the humble [meaning the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions].” Zayd ibn Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him, heard him and he reported what he had said to his uncle. Then his uncle reported that to the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then saw Ibn Ubayy, and the latter swore that he had never said anything of the sort.

Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
“The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not believe my statement and believed his. At that, I became distressed as I have never been before, while I was a walking with my head bowed down , the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to me and rubbed my ear and smiled in my face. I would never give up his smile (in my face) even if I was given the choice to live eternally in this worldly life in return for his smile.”8
6.Reported by At-Tirmidhi (3010) and Al-Albaani ruled it as sound (Hasan).
7.Reported by Abu Dawood (1555).
8.Reported by At-Tirmidhi (3313) and Al-Albaani ruled it as authentic.