Listening and Obeying Allah and the Prophet (PBUH)

During the Battle of Badr, the Prophet (PBUH) wanted to get advice from his companions before agreeing to enter a war. Three of these companions from Muhajireen included Abu Bakr, Omar, and Al McDad, and they provided him with useful advice and good support. The Prophet then asked the Ansar for their opinion, who were the major part of the army. The leader of the Ansar, Saad Ibn Muaz, gave his famous speech that gave full support, understanding, and obedience towards the Prophet (PBUH). Al Muhajireen and Ansar provided the best examples of following and obeying the orders of Allah and the Prophet (PBUH).

In the Quran, Allah said {to whom that believe will accept the orders of Allah whenever they are initiated to maintain a good life. Remember that Allah knows your heart’s intentions, and you will all go back to him. (Al Anfal 240)}.

One of the most significant events that exemplifies the act of obeying was the Prophet’s trip to the sky. The people of Mecca rejected and disbelieved the Prophet's (PBUH) story. However, Abu Bakr, his most honest companion, instantly believed and supported the Prophet's claim.

The Prophet (PBUH) asked one of the Ansar’s if one of his friends, Galibeeb, could marry his daughter. The Ansar agreed and told the Prophet (PBUH) that it would be an honor. However, a misunderstanding had occurred and the Ansar had thought that the Prophet wanted to marry his daughter. The Prophet (PBUH) then explained that he wasn’t asking for the daughter’s hand, but was asking if his friend Galibeeb could have her hand in marriage. The Ansar had then planned to discuss the situation with his wife before, but she was not pleased with the decision. When the Ansar returned to the Prophet (PBUH) to inform him with the news, his daughter had overheard the conversation and asked her father if he was rejecting the Prophet's offer to her. She insisted on obeying the Prophet’s (PBUH) request, and knew that any decision that he would make for her would be for her own good. So, she married Galibeeb.

Later on, Galibeeb and the Prophet (PBUH) fought alongside each other during an Islamic Battle. At the end of the battle, the Prophet (PBUH) asked his companions to go find Galibeeb, who was missing. He asked them to search amongst the dead bodies for him, where they found him dead. He was a brave soldier who had killed many enemies during the battle. The Prophet (PBUH) had then said, “He is part of me, and I am part of him.” Overall, he was proud of his work and braveness, but was saddened by the loss of his close companion. The Prophet (PBUH) carried him throughout the battle and dug up his grave, where he peacefully laid him to rest. The Prophet (PBUH) made a dua for Galibeeb’s wife, and she ended up being a rich yet generous woman in Medina who gave continuously to charity.

Despite this, there were several groups who refused to obey the Prophet (PBUH). They had commanded that he was to stop pursuing Islam and teaching /encouraging it to his followers. They began to bribe him with their riches, wives, and kingdom as long as he was to stop his passion for Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) was very patient when Abu Waleed, a high-ranked leader and disbeliever in Mecca, begged him to stop his actions of pursuing Islam by bribing him in many ways. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him if he had finished his rant, and Abu Waleed responded with yes. The Prophet (PBUH) then carried on with reciting the Quran, which impressed Abu Waleed and led him to understand that the Prophet (PBUH) was honest and true with his words that came from Allah. He ran back home and coped with his mistakes, until the rest of the disbelievers in his group questioned him over his behavior and whether or not he began to believe in Islam. Even though Abu Waleed had acknowledged that what the Prophet (PBUH) was saying was sincere and true, he reassured the disbelievers in Mecca that he will never listen to the Prophet (PBUH) again. Later on, he was killed during the Battle of Badr, the first battle in Islam.

The final example of a time someone had disobeyed the Prophet (PBUh), was when a man was sitting in his presence and eating with his left hand. The Prophet (PBUH) had kindly told him to eat with his right hand, and the guy replied to him that he was unable to. He was arrogant and refused to listen to the orders of the Prophet (PBUH), and continued to eat with his left hand. As a result, his hand became paralyzed as a punishment for disobeying the Prophet (PBUH).

In conclusion, it is important to remember when Allah or the Prophet (PBUH) gives us orders, it is best to obey them. By obeying them both, we will be guaranteed happiness during this life and the next.