لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِىْ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ اُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُوا اللّٰهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْاٰخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيْرًا (21)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:33, Ayah:21 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:33 Ayah:21
“There is indeed a good model foryou in the Messenger of Allah -for theone who has hope in Allah and theLast Day, and remembers Allahprofusely.”
In fact, practice carries more importance than mere words, since putting words into real practice makes things rather clear and proves the fact of the possibility of putting something into real practice easily. Taking for instance, giving instructions o how to swim does not work while demonstrating it practically eases the procedure to a great extent. Hence, one must do it practically whatever one desires to preach. In other words, better if he represents its practical model for one’s convenience. It is for this reason that in these days’ teachings particularly in science teachings, practical experiences are given profound value. A poet has really woven out the same fact very beautifully.
آدمی نہیں سنتا آدمی کی باتوں کو
پیکر عمل بن کر غیب کی صدا ہو جا
Meaning, a man is never ready to believe in what one says, hence, do turn into the echo of the unseen being the embodiment of action.
Seeing the same inherent demand of a man, Allah, the Almighty did not lay the responsibility on His Apostles only to communicate His message to mankind, rather it made obligatory on them to prove themselves to be a perfect model for others. Hence, the commandment of following into the footprints of Prophets also aims at allowing the people benefit from them as a perfect model and practical demonstration.
The same fact has been laid out in the verse appearing in Surah Al-Ahzab mentioned above. Actually, the verse was revealed in the background of battle of Ahzab. It so happened that on this occasion, the hypocrites had demonstrated their bad nature of safeguarding one’s soul and interests while they professed to be the Muslims and followers of Prophet ﷺ. it was the time when they were admonished through this verse that rather than following the Prophet in his practice at that time like digging the trench, tying the stones on his stomach and taking a firm stand against enemies, they fled away from there which is totally in contrary to their claim of faith and following the Prophet ﷺ.
حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُوا اللّٰهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْاٰخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيْرًا
It is through this verse that the same type of their nature has been pointed out. The reason that this kind of their conduct came into the public notice is that they desired their every dream being materialized in this very mortal world and became neglectful of Allah, the Almighty. Only if they were the mindful of Allah and expected the reward to be bestowed upon them in the world Hereafter, they would not have been afraid of any possible danger.
In other words, a fact has been revealed in this verse that only one can fulfill the right of Propeht’s obedience who is utmost mindful of Allah and hopes his reward in the world Hereafter.
It is worth-considering here that though this verse had been revealed in a specific background but its addressee is common which clearly indicates that the Prophet ﷺ is not a best model only in this particular affair, rather he is a perfect model in all affairs of worldly life adopting which is must for each and everyone. In this regard, the words of the verse as ‘فِىْ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ’ contains some important points of guidance a few of them are as follows
(1) As for Prophet’s personal life, each and everyone regarded him to be Turthful and Trustworthy, but when he pronounced his prophethood and demanded the people to believe in his apostleship and follow into his footprints, the same people turned against him – so to speak –the main conflict took place after his commissioning of prophethood while a demand has been made to believe in him and adapting him as a perfect model only as a Prophet. No one is excluded from it even if he professes to be follower of all previous prophets or the teachings of all other previous scriptures.
Hazrat Abdullah Ibne Abbas (R.T.A.) relates that a man came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah! What do you say about a Nazarene (Christian) who follows the the teachings of the Bible and Jew who follows the teachings of the Torah and professes his faith in all the previous messengers except you?” The Holy Prophet ﷺ replied, “Any Christian or Jew who was informed about my Prophethood and despite it he does not follow into my footprints, he will surely find his abode in the Hell.” (Dar-e-Qutni)
- The words فِىْ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ point out the fact that whatever the Holy Prophet ﷺ did as a Prophet proves to be a model for us. However, whatever took place as result of his human nature is excluding of it such as speaking Arabic language and getting married with Arab women. It does not necessarily mean that we should also practice the same thing and only then we would be considered a true follower of him as a model. The reason is that all these things took place as a natural urge of a man. However, the usage of Arabic language and fulfilling the women’s rights is something which demands following into Prophet’s footprints and acting upon which is possible each and everywhere.
In a nutshell, the wrong notion as following the teachings of the Holy Qura’nis sufficient for guidance is totally rejected through this verse because it amounts to regard the commandment of adapting Prophet as a perfect model senseless and insubstantial.