The prophet (PBUH) used to praise the people of truth

Under category: How He treated them?

Jaabir (a Companion) narrated that Mu’aath (another Companion) used to pray ‘Ishaa’ (the night prayer) with the Prophet of Allah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and then he would go back to his companions and lead them in prayer. One night Mu’aath led them in prayer and a young man from his people prayed behind him. When Mu’aath lengthened the prayer the young man finished his prayer (by himself), took his camel and left. When Mu’aath finished praying he was informed of this, so he said: “This is hypocrisy, I will tell the
Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about this.” Mu’aath told the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, what the young man had done but the young man said: “O Messenger of Allah, he stays with you until late, and then he comes to us and makes the prayer long!” The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Are you causing trials (for people), O Mu’aath?” The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then asked the young man: “O nephew, what do you do when you pray?” He replied: “I read the Chapter Faatihah, and I ask Allah for Paradise and I seek refuge from the Hellfire. I do not know what you or Mu’aath say quietly (in your prayer).” The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘

alayhi wa sallam, said

“Mu’aath and I ask for about the same thing (as you).” The young man said: “But Mu’aath will know (the truth about me) when we go forward (in battle).” So when they heard that the enemy was near, they went to confront them and the young man was martyred. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said after that to Mu’aath: “What happened to the one you and I debated?” He said: “O Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he was truthful to Allah, and I was wrong, and he was martyred.”1

المراجع

  1. Reported by Ibn Khuzaymah (1634). It was also reported by Al-Bukhaari (705) and Muslim (465)in a summarized wording