{"id":20239,"date":"2023-05-15T09:10:56","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T07:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alhaadi.org.za\/?p=20239"},"modified":"2023-06-17T09:21:49","modified_gmt":"2023-06-17T07:21:49","slug":"fervour-to-serve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alhaadi.org.za\/?p=20239","title":{"rendered":"Fervour to Serve"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) was a Sahaabi who either hailed from the land of Persia or belonged to a bedouin tribe.\u00a0(Al-Istee\u2018aab vol. 2, pg. 243)<\/em><\/p>\n

He was initially a slave belonging to Sayyidah Ummu Salamah (radhiyallahu \u2018anha), the honourable wife of Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam). When she decided to set him free, she said to him,\u00a0\u201cI am setting you free with the condition that you serve Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) for the rest of your life.\u201d\u00a0Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) remarked,\u00a0\u201cEven if you had not made this condition for me, I would have not left Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) for my entire life.\u201d\u00a0(Sunan Abi Dawood #3932)<\/em><\/p>\n

On one occasion, when the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhum) were on a journey with Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), their belongings became burdensome for them (to carry), since they were traveling on foot.\u00a0Hence, whenever one of them would become exhausted, he would hand over his sword, shield, spear, extra clothing, etc. to Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu).\u00a0In this manner, Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) had accumulated a great number of items for him to carry.\u00a0When Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) had witnessed this, he remarked, \u201cCarry (these items), for you are indeed a \u2018safeenah\u2019 (ship)!\u201d\u00a0He himself recounts that when these words emanated from the blessed lips of Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam),\u00a0carrying these items became so easy for him that he would have even managed to carry the heavy load of a camel.\u00a0From then onwards, he became known by this name. In fact, his actual name cannot be said with certainty since there are various opinions regarding it.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, he too would not like to be called by any other name. Once, Sa\u2018eed bin Jumhaan (rahimahullah), a Muhaddith, visited and stayed in the company of Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) for a period of eight nights in order to learn the ahaadeeth of Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) from him. During that period, he once enquired from him, \u201cWhat is your (actual) name?\u201d He responded,\u00a0\u201cI will not tell you, (since) Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) has named me \u2018Safeenah\u2019. And I do not desire (any other name) besides this.\u201d\u00a0(Usdul Ghaabah vol. 2, pg. 343, Al-Isaabah vol. 3, pg. 111, Al-Istee\u2018aab vol. 2, pg. 243 and Majma\u2018uz Zawaa-id #15944)<\/em><\/p>\n

Another remarkable incident that occurred in his life is that once they were at sea when their ship broke apart. He thus held onto one of the planks and eventually reached a jungle. Upon arriving there, a lion began approaching him. He called out,\u00a0\u201cO Abul Haarith (a title used for lions), I am Safeenah, the freed slave of Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam).\u201d The lion lowered its head and began nudging him with its side. It then walked in front of him and lead him onto the road.\u00a0Thereafter, it growled from which Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) understood that it was bidding him farewell.\u00a0(Majma\u2018uz Zawaa-id #15946 and Usdul Ghaabah vol. 2, pg. 343)<\/em><\/p>\n

Lessons:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. A very important characteristic of a believer is his desire and fervour to serve others.\u00a0This quality was found to a very high degree in the blessed life of Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), his honourable Sahaabah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhum) and our pious predecessors. Moreover, Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) highlighted its importance in many ahaadeeth.\u00a0Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) not only served Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), but also assisted and served others to such an extent that Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) named him accordingly.<\/p>\n

2. When a person loves someone dearly, then the desires and wishes of the beloved become dearer to him than his own likes and preferences.\u00a0Hence, Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) loved the name which Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) gave him more than his own name and did not want to even inform others of his actual name.\u00a0If we also gain true love for Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), it will not only become very easy, rather it will be extremely enjoyable to adopt and emulate his noble ways and beautiful lifestyle.\u00a0We will then be prepared to dedicate our lives to his mission, just as Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) did not want to leave Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) for his entire life.<\/p>\n

3. When a person becomes totally submissive to the commands of Allah Ta\u2018ala and His Rasul (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), Allah Ta\u2018ala makes the entire creation subservient to him.\u00a0Occasionally it may play out in a very dramatic manner as in the case of Sayyiduna Safeenah (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) with the lion. However, in most instances it happens by the divine system of Allah Ta\u2018ala working in his favour. Hence, in whichever difficulty he finds himself,\u00a0Allah Ta\u2018ala always makes a way out for him and he lives a content and peaceful life.<\/p>\n

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