Tranquility: A characteristic of the Prophets and the righteous – II

Tranquility is a characteristic of the Prophets
-Tranquility was a characteristic of Ibraaheem )Abraham(, may Allaah
exalt his mention, in his confrontation with his father, his people
and An-Namrooth )Nimrod( the tyrant. Tranquility was also his
characteristic when he left his wife Haajar, may Allaah be pleased
with her, and his only son Ismaa'eel )Ishmael(, may Allaah exalt his
mention, in Makkah. It was also his characteristic when he was about
to slaughter Ismaa'eel, may Allaah exalt his mention. Ibraaheem, may
Allaah exalt his mention, was indeed composed and assured during all
incidents and affairs in his life.
-Tranquility was also the characteristic of Moosa )Moses(, may Allaah
exalt his mention, in his confrontation with Pharaoh. Likewise, he
showed tranquility when he was encouraging the children of Israel to
be firm. He said )what means(:}"Seek help through Allaah and be
patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allaah. He causes to inherit it
whom He wills of His servants. And the ]best[ outcome is for the
righteous."{]Quran 7:128[ He was also tranquil when he was facing
certain destruction; the sea was before him and Pharaoh was behind
him. Thereupon, the Children of Israel said what is mentioned in the
verse )what means(:}Indeed, we are to be overtaken.{]Quran 26:61[
However, Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, replied saying what is
mentioned in the verse )what means(:}No! Indeed, with me is my Lord;
He will guide me.{]Quran 26:62[
-Tranquility was the characteristic of Yoosuf )Joseph(, may Allaah
exalt his mention, in his confrontation with his brothers and the
woman who tried to seduce him. He was also tranquil when he was
imprisoned, and after assuming a position of leadership in Egypt and
when he supplicated to Allaah The Exalted saying what is mentioned in
the verse )what means(:}"My Lord, You have given me ]something[ of
sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of
the heavens and earth, You are my Protector in this world and in the
Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the
righteous."{]Quran 12:101[
-Tranquility was one of the attributes of the Prophet,sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, that were mentioned in the previous scriptures,
such as where it is stated:"I ]Allaah The Almighty[ will send an
illiterate messenger; he will be neither impolite, rough nor noisy in
the markets. He will not be obscene or vulgar. I will make him
tranquil and good."
Assurance of the heart and consoling those who are distressed
Tranquility is a delicate feeling created by Allaah The Almighty. It
descended upon the heart of the Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
and the hearts of the believers. Tranquility implies spirit and power;
hence, it reassures those who are frightened and consoles those who
are distressed. Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said,"We
would say that tranquility was materialized in 'Umar's, may Allaah be
pleased with him, tongue ]speech[ and heart."
Ibn Mas'ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, said,"Tranquility is
gain, and forsaking it is loss."
Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said,"Every occurrence of
the word Sakeenah in the Quran refers to tranquility, except the one
that is in Soorat Al-Baqarah."He was referring to the Quranic verse
where Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And their prophet said to
them, "Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to
you in which is Sakeenah ]assurance[ from your Lord and a remnant of
what the family of Moosa ]Moses[ and the family of Haaroon ]Aaron[ had
left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you
are believers."{]Quran 2:248[
Sharee'ahtexts enjoin us to adopt tranquility
-In aHadeethon the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased
with him, he said,"Iheard the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
saying:'When the Iqaamah is pronounced, do not go to prayer running;
you should walk calmly with tranquility. Pray what you catch in
congregation and complete what you miss."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
-The Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also said:"When the
Iqaamah is pronounced, do not get up until you see me. Then get up
with tranquility."]Al-Bukhaari[
-The Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also said:"Make things
easy for people, and do not make things difficult for them, and make
them tranquil ]with glad tidings[ and do not repulse
]them[."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
-The Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said to the people on the
evening of 'Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage:"O people! Proceed
with tranquility."
-Tranquility is from Allaah The Almighty, and like all the blessings
of Allaah The Almighty, it can never be obtained except though our
obedience to Him. Supplication is one the greatest causes of being
endowed with tranquility. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
·}But Allaah sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the
believers and imposed upon them the word of righteousness, and they
were more deserving of it and worthy of it. And ever is Allaah, of all
things, Knowing.{]Quran 48:26[
·}It is He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers
that they would increase in faith along with their ]present[ faith.
And to Allaah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and
ever is Allaah Knowing and Wise.{]Quran 48:4[
-The Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:"That was
tranquility, which descended as a result of the recitation of the
Quran."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
-The Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also said:"Any group of
people who assemble in one of the Houses of Allaah to recite and study
the Quran, tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will overwhelm
them, angels will surround them, and Allaah will make mention of them
]to the angels[."]Muslim[
-In aHadeethon the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased
with him, the Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:"Pride and
arrogance are the characteristics of camel owners, whereas,
tranquility and dignity are characteristics of sheep
owners."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Some of the most revered scholars would recite the Quranic verses that
speak about tranquility during times of disturbance, and this proved
to have a great effect. Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him,
said in his bookMadaarij As-Saalikeen,"Whenever Shaykhul-Islam Ibn
Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, found things difficult, he
would recite the verses mentioning tranquility. I heard him say about
a difficult situation that happened to him during his sickness, 'When
I got very sick, I asked those who were around me to recite on me the
verses that speak about tranquility. Once they did, I recovered
completely.'"
Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, also said,"I read these
verses and I found that they had a great influence on the assurance
and tranquility of the heart."
Finally, we supplicate Allaah The Exalted to bless us with tranquility
and make our feet firm when we meet our enemies. We also ask You, O
Allaah, for everything that is good in this world and in the
Hereafter, whether or not we know it; and we seek Your protection from
everything that is evil, both in this world and in the Hereafter,
whether or not we know it.