THE BRAVERY OF BELIEVERS.

Mufti Mackoujee: Bismihi Ta`ala
*THE BRAVERY OF BELIEVERS.*
Bravery is one of the noble qualities of the prophets. When the need arise,
they use to take the vest of bravery, put faith in Allah and step forward
during life endangering circumstances. Nowadays, cowardice has swamped our
hearts. That is why a 1% probability of death makes us panic as if we are
100% in front of the death angels. A single infection make millions stay
inside. This is the ugly facet of the modern world.
You see, in the past, the leaders would go on the battlefield with the
army. But nowadays, they hide underground and then let the army fend for
their own leadership in wars.
Allah Ta`ala describe the cowardice of the jews in the Qur-aan:
They told hazrat Moossa a.s. to go forward and fight alone with his Lord
and that they would sit back and wait for the news(5:24):
فَاذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ  [المائدة
: 24]
‘’They would not confront you even if they unite. Rather they would take
refuge in their fortresses or behind walls.’’(59:14)
لَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعًا إِلَّا فِي قُرًى مُحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِنْ
وَرَاءِ جُدُرٍ [الحشر : 14]
Drones, war planes and missiles. No army decent in the battle field. No
direct confrontation. Cowardice has drowned the humanity.
The beloved prophet Muhammad Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam showed the world
the bravery standard. When the call of war was announced, he would
immediately be ready to lead his companions in the battle field. He was
with them, he fell in a pitfall(a hole trap), his head was bloodily injured
and he lost his teeth mubarak in the path of Allah.
When he would have worn his armour for a war, he would not step back until
the war was over. In the preparation for Uhud, some sahabahs suggested that
we come to the original opinion of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi
Wasallam of no confrontation and await the enemies in Madinah. But
Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi wasallam already wore his armour and said:
‘’It is not dignified for a prophet to step down from war when he has
already worn his armour until Allah Ta`ala finalize between him and the
enemy.’’(Baihaqi)
السنن الكبرى - البيهقي - (7 / 41)
قالوا امرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ان نمكث بالمدينة فان دخل علينا
العدو قاتلناهم في الازقة وهو اعلم بالله وبما يريد ويأتيه الوحى من السماء ثم
أشخصناه فقالوا يا نبى الله انمكث كما امرتنا قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه
وسلم لا ينبغى لنبى إذا أخذ لامة الحرب وأذن في الناس بالخروج إلى العدو أن
يرجع حتى يقاتل وقد دعوتكم إلى هذا الحديث فأبيتم الا الخروج فعليكم بتقوى
الله والصبر إذا لقيتم العدو وانظروا ما (2) أمرتكم به فافعلوه فخرج رسول الله
صلى الله عليه وسلم والمسلمون معه.
فقال له ناس لم يكونوا شهدوا بدرا تخرج بنا يا رسول الله إليهم نقاتلهم باحد
ورجوا ان يصيبوا من الفضيلة ما اصاب اهل بدر فما زالوا به حتى لبس اداته ثم
ندموا وقالوا يا رسول الله أقم فالرأى رأيك فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
ما ينبغى لنبى ان يضع اداته بعد أن لبسها حتى يحكم الله بينه وبين عدوه

During Uhud, Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam wore two
armours.(Abu Dawood)
سنن أبى داود - (7 / 156)
أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ يَزِيدَ بْنَ خُصَيْفَةَ يَذْكُرُ عَنْ السَّائِبِ بْنِ
يَزِيدَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَدْ سَمَّاهُ
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ظَاهَرَ يَوْمَ
أُحُدٍ بَيْنَ دِرْعَيْنِ أَوْ لَبِسَ دِرْعَيْنِ

So it is not against tawakkul to use protective means and move forward in
the arena of bravery.
صحيح البخاري - (9 / 401)
حدثنا حماد بن زيد عن ثابت عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أحسن الناس وأشجع الناس وأجود الناس ولقد فزع
أهل المدينة فكان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم سبقهم على فرس وقال وجدناه بحرا
The companions that lived and saw the beloved prophet Muhammad Swalallahou
`Alaihi Wasallam described him as : ‘’The prophet peace be upon him was the
most handsome person ever, he was the most courageous person ever and he
was the most generous person ever. Once there was a panic in Madinah(due to
some dreadful sound of the wind), so before the sahabahs could reach there,
they found Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam already there on a
horse alone.’’(Bukhari)
As if, had there been an army, he was there first to affront them.
In the battle of Hunain when everyone was hiding against the arrows of the
enemy, Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam stepped forward alone in
the battle field chanting ‘’I am the Prophet, there is no lie about it. I
am the grand son of Abdul Muttalib.’’(Bukhari)
صحيح البخاري - (9 / 491)
قال حدثني أبو إسحاق عن البراء رضي الله عنه
قال له رجل يا أبا عمارة وليتم يوم حنين قال لا والله ما ولى النبي صلى الله
عليه وسلم ولكن ولى سرعان الناس فلقيهم هوازن بالنبل والنبي صلى الله عليه
وسلم على بغلته البيضاء وأبو سفيان بن الحارث آخذ بلجامها والنبي صلى الله
عليه وسلم يقول أنا النبي لا كذب
أنا ابن عبد المطلب
Reported in Bukhari that a non muslim bedouin take the opportunity when the
companions scattered away from the prophet Muhammad Swalallahou `Alaihi
Wasallam in a resting time of a journey, and he successfully found himself
alone and lift the sword of Rasouloullah Swalallahou ‘Alaihi Wasallam over
His neck Mubarak:’’Who will save you from me?’’ The beloved prophet
Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam opened his eyes and said:’’Allah! Allah!
Allah!’’ And the sword fell miraculously from the bedouin. Rasouloullah
Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam took the sword now asking him the same
question. So he pleaded for pity of Rasouloullah SAW. Rasouloullah SAW left
him unharmed.
صحيح البخاري - (10 / 46)
قال حدثني سنان بن أبي سنان الدؤلي وأبو سلمة بن عبد الرحمن أن جابر بن عبد
الله رضي الله عنهما أخبر
أنه غزا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قبل نجد فلما قفل رسول الله صلى الله
عليه وسلم قفل معه فأدركتهم القائلة في واد كثير العضاه فنزل رسول الله صلى
الله عليه وسلم وتفرق الناس يستظلون بالشجر فنزل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
تحت سمرة وعلق بها سيفه ونمنا نومة فإذا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يدعونا
وإذا عنده أعرابي فقال إن هذا اخترط علي سيفي وأنا نائم فاستيقظت وهو في يده
صلتا فقال من يمنعك مني فقلت الله ثلاثا ولم يعاقبه وجلس
Know that the poverty that surrounded Rasouloullah SAW was his preferred
choice. His death also was his preferred choice. Reported in Bukhari that
Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘’A servant of Allah has
been given the choice to stay in this world or to join Allah, then he has
chosen to join Allah Ta`ala.’’ On that Hazrat Abu Bakr r.a. cried
profusedly, knowing that the servant of Allah was none but the beloved
prophet Muhammad Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam. So the beloved prophet
Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam was brave to confront death with his choice.
صحيح البخاري - (12 / 293)
عن عبيد يعني ابن حنين عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جلس على المنبر فقال إن عبدا خيره الله بين
أن يؤتيه من زهرة الدنيا ما شاء وبين ما عنده فاختار ما عنده فبكى أبو بكر
وقال فديناك بآبائنا وأمهاتنا فعجبنا له وقال الناس انظروا إلى هذا الشيخ يخبر
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن عبد خيره الله بين أن يؤتيه من زهرة الدنيا
وبين ما عنده وهو يقول فديناك بآبائنا وأمهاتنا فكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه
وسلم هو المخير وكان أبو بكر هو أعلمنا به وقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
إن من أمن الناس علي في صحبته وماله أبا بكر ولو كنت متخذا خليلا من أمتي
لاتخذت أبا بكر إلا خلة الإسلام لا يبقين في المسجد خوخة إلا خوخة أبي بكر

I remember when someone pointed a gun to my teacher Hazrat Mowlana Shabir
sahab, may Allah Ta`ala prolonge his life with health, he said without
panicking: ‘’Bhai! We can only die once!’’ and he turned it away.
Another occasion he told us: ‘’Be man enough to endure the punishment that
was given to you.’’
Once, on a raid by the burglars during the night, he would get in the car
and go directly to the door of the madrassah.
The more yaqeen you have, the more courage you will develop. Not negating
the precautions to be taken. Note that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi
Wasallam found it necessary to keep self defence of arms at home. He had
many arms at home when he left this world.
In fact Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam used to supplicate Allah
Ta`ala after salaahs protection against cowardice:’’O Allah! I seek refuge
from You against cowardice. And I seek refuge from You against returning in
an age of handicapped dependence. And I seek refuge in You against the
tribulations of this world and that of punishment of the grave.’’(Bukhari)
صحيح البخاري - (9 / 404)
عبد الملك بن عمير سمعت عمرو بن ميمون الأودي قال كان سعد
يعلم بنيه هؤلاء الكلمات كما يعلم المعلم الغلمان الكتابة ويقول إن رسول الله
صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يتعوذ منهن دبر الصلاة اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الجبن
وأعوذ بك أن أرد إلى أرذل العمر وأعوذ بك من فتنة الدنيا وأعوذ بك من عذاب
القبر
So, talk a lot about the greatness of Allah, build faith in Allah by
distancing for a few days from the family to go in the path of Allah and
prepare the mind and means to confront the enemy, the trials of life
including deadly sickness and also be brave to confront our death.
The truth is that it is our cowardice that has exaggerated a lot the issue
of the pandemic. The fear of death, to dislike the meeting to Allah and the
love and lust for the worldly life have created a vacuum in our hearts such
that we suffer easily from depression and the mindset of powerlessness. The
only way to fill this vacuum and gain internal bravery is fill our hearts
with imaan, reading lots of Qur-aan, keeping steady with salaah and do
tawakkul with sabr.
Mufti Mackoojee