عَنْ عَبْدِ اﷲِ بْنِ سَرْجِسَ اَنَّ النَّبِیَّ صَلَّی اﷲُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : ’’اَلسَّمْتُ الْحَسَنُ وَ التَّوْدَۃُ وَ الاِقْتِصَادُ جُزْئٌ مِنْ اَرْبَعٍ وَّ عِشْرِیْنَ جُزْئً امِّنَ النُّبُوَّۃِ‘‘(ترمذی)
Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Sarjis Muzani ؓ reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Good habits, being gentle and steady, and moderation in affairs are part of the twenty four parts of prophet-hood.” (Tirmizi)
Explanation:
In the tradition mentioned above, there are three important characteristics pointed out to be a part of the twenty four parts of prophet-hood. They are as follows:
- Good conducts
- Being gentle and steady
- Moderation in affairs.
Through the prophetic tradition appearing above, we come to know that these characteristics are not an ordinary ones, rather these are the ones which are considered to be the salient features of the lives of all the messengers. Hence, after them, the more one appreciates them and make them an integral part of his nature, to the same proportion he will be benefited from the beneficence of prophet-hood. However, when it comes to the moderation in affairs, it encompasses all the three characteristics and it is something which is required in every walk of our life. In fact, the only wise is one who adopts a moderate lifestyle in all affairs without going to extremes.
Moderation in affairs:
Hazrat Sahl bin Saidi ؓ narrates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
الْأَنَاةُ مِن اللّٰهِ وَالْعَجَلَةُ مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ
“Deliberation is from Allah, but haste is from the devil.” (Tirmizi)
Moderation in religion:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ وَلَنْ يُشَادَّ الدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا غَلَبَهُ فَسَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالْغَدْوَةِ وَالرَّوْحَةِ وَشَيْئٍ مِنْ الدُّلْجَةِ۔ (رواہ البخاری)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights.” (Bukhari)
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ اکْلَفُوا مِنْ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَمَلُّ حَتَّی تَمَلُّوا وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ الْعَمَلِ إِلَی اللَّهِ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ وَکَانَ إِذَا عَمِلَ عَمَلًا أَثْبَتَهُ۔
Hazrat Ayisha ؓ relates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few.” He added, ‘Don’t take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability.” (Abu Dawood)
In another tradition it appears: Hazrat Ayisha ؓ narrates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, “The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few.”
Through both the traditions mentioned above, we come to know that a man is entrusted with only that is in his ability. In case a man starts to do something enthusiastically but not constantly, it is not favourable in the sight of Allah, the Almighty, rather it should be regular constant though may be a little. Hence, the act should be only of such kind that we could be done constantly and it is something that is required by the moderation.
Moderation in speech:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ کَانَ يُحَدِّثُ حَدِيثًا لَوْ عَدَّهُ الْعَادُّ لَأَحْصَاهُ (بخاری ومسلم)
Hazrat Ayishah ؓ narrates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, Allah’s Apostle talked in such manner that if anyone wanted to count his words he could do it easily.”
According to a tradition recorded in Trimizi, the Holy Prophet ﷺ talked so slowly that anyone who was sitting beside him could remember it easily.
In fact, being not rather cautious while speaking results in bad result as we come to know through the following tradition:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَکَلَّمُ بِالْکَلِمَةِ مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ لَا يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالًا يَرْفَعُهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَاتٍ وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَکَلَّمُ بِالْکَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللَّهِ لَا يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالًا يَهْوِي بِهَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ۔
Narrated Hazrat Abu Hurairah ؓ: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, “A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire.”
Moderation in Salah:
We should also be utmost calm and be not much hasty when it comes to performing Salah.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا تَفْعَلُوا إِذَا أَتَيْتُمْ الصَّلَاةَ فَعَلَيْکُمْ بِالسَّکِينَةِ فَمَا أَدْرَکْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وَمَا فَاتَکُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا۔
It is related on the authority of Hazrat Abu Hurairah ؓ that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not make haste for the prayer, and whenever you come for the prayer, you should come with calmness, and pray whatever you get (with the people) and complete the rest which you have missed.”
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ کُنْتُ أُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَکَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ قَصْدًا وَخُطْبَتُهُ قَصْدًا۔
Hazrat Jabir b. Samurah ؓ reported: I used to pray with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and both his prayer and sermon were of moderate length.
In fact, the moderation is required in all affairs of our life, be these are with regard to worship, mutual dealings, domestic, social, individual and collective affairs. Though during the age of the Holy Prophet ﷺ some differences between his blessed companions took place, but both of the parties were regarded on the right side by him. For taking instance, when it came to combining between two Salah, some of them performed it first while the rest of them preferred to perform it later. It was then that the Holy Prophet ﷺ declared both of them on the right side and the same moderate way is required in all affairs of our life.