We mentioned last week that when the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) companions gave him a pledge, they were always keen to fulfill its terms. It is important to realize what this meant in practice. Awf ibn Malik, a companion of the Prophet, reports that he was with a group of people, between seven and nine, attending the Prophet when the Prophet asked them to give him their pledges. “He repeated this three times. We, therefore, put out our hands and he accepted our pledges. We then asked him: ‘Messenger of God! We have given you our pledges, but what are we pledged to do in fulfillment?’ He said: ‘You must worship God alone, associating no partners with Him, and attend to your five daily prayers.’ He added somewhat secretly, ‘and you pledge not to request anything from other people.’ I saw some of those people who gave this pledge riding when a whip falling from their hands, but they would not ask anyone to hand it back to them.” (Related by Al-Tabari and Ibn Asakir).
There are other reports of pledges given to the Prophet by individuals among his companions specifying this condition of not asking anyone for anything. Al-Tabarani relates on the authority of Abu Umamah: “The Prophet asked us who was willing to give him a pledge. Thawban, the Prophet’s servant, requested the Prophet to accept his pledge. The Prophet said to him: ‘You pledge not to ask anyone anything.’ Thawban asked him what reward would a person get for honoring such a pledge, and the Prophet answered: ‘Paradise.’ I saw Thawban in Makkah when it was overcrowded with people. He was on his mount when it happened that his whip fell from his hand over someone’s shoulder. The man handed him the whip back, but he would not take it from him until he dismounted to pick it up himself.” (Also related in a shorter version by Ahmad and Al-Nassaie.)
Another Hadith mentioning the same condition is reported by Abu Dharr who says: “God’s Messenger accepted my pledge on five days, and reconfirmed it in seven and then made God a witness to this pledge of mine in seven days. He made it clear to me that when it comes to a question of Islam I must state the truth fearing nothing that other people may say. He said to me: ‘Would you like to give me your pledge and you will be admitted into heaven?’ I accepted and put my hand out to given him my pledge. The Prophet made it a condition that I would never ask anyone for anything, adding, ‘not even if your whip falls off your hand. You better dismount and pick it up yourself.’” Another version adds that on the seventh day, the Prophet said to Abu Dharr: “I strongly recommend you to fear God in all matters, private or public. If you do something bad, follow it with doing something good, and do not ask anyone anything, not even to hand you your whip if it falls from your hand, and do not take anything for safekeeping.” (Related by Ahmad).
The fact that the Prophet took pains to emphasize the seriousness of the pledge to Abu Dharr, taking it over five days and reconfirming it before stating that God was the witness to it over another period of two weeks makes it a very solemn pledge. The Prophet knew what sort of person Abu Dharr was, as he gave him some important advice on what to do in certain situations. His conduct after the Prophet had passed away confirms that Abu Dharr learned well whatever the Prophet taught him and implemented it to the best of his ability, whatever it required of him. But the pledge itself is very serious, as its reward explains. When the reward is nothing less than paradise, then it must affect a person’s life in all its aspects. In another Hadith, the Prophet describes paradise as “God’s merchandise” which he offers to us to buy, and he tells us that it carries a high price tag. In this case, it requires the conscientious implementation of a pledge one undertakes in all seriousness.
The central point in Abu Dharr’s pledge was that he must not care what anyone may think when he stated the truth, as he knew it, in any situation. We learn from the history of Islam and Abu Dharr’s attitude in various situations that he would carefully consider any matter of importance and formulate a view on the basis of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. If he felt that there was need for advice he should give, he would state it without hesitation. He was indeed outspoken, serving as the man with most sensitive conscience on matters that relate to religion, state or community. His approach was in line with the Prophet’s advice to him as he was taking his pledge: “Reflect for six days on what will be said to you.” Hence, he was always keen to understand fully whatever was at issue before voicing an opinion, and his opinions were always consistent, seeking to maintain a very high standard of purity in faith and conduct.
We note here that the Prophet was the one mentioning the whip and not asking another person to hand it back. It may be that the Prophet mentioned this to others as he took their pledges since it occurs in several Hadiths. What he meant was that if a person is riding a horse or a camel and drops his whip, then he should be the one to pick it up. If he were to ask someone to hand it back, there is the aspect of superiority as the one who is riding appears physically to be above those who are walking. Although he might not entertain any thought of superiority, the position and the action itself suggest that a lower person is serving a higher one. By requiring the rider to dismount in order to pick up his whip, the Prophet lays much emphasis on the virtue of humility within the Muslim community.
When Abu Dharr sealed his pledge to the Prophet, he received further advice. The first point was to be diligent in observing Islamic rules, which is the essence of fearing God. It is not the sort of fear we feel when we are terrified or facing danger or expecting a calamity. It is the fear of doing wrong and the keenness to do what is right. This diligence must remain with us in all situations, particularly in private when we are sure that our secret is safe.
The Prophet also advised Abu Dharr to follow any bad action with a good one. This is an advice the Prophet repeated several times to many of his companions. It applies to us all. When we slip or do something bad, then it should be followed with a good one to erase its bad effect.
The last point warns against any lax attitude in whatever we hold that belongs to others. There could always be the temptation to take it for us. It applies to an employee who is responsible for his employer’s property, including government property. He must never yield to the temptation of making any gain that does not legitimately belong to him.