Islam is a complete code of conduct.It has guidelines for Muslims in every aspect of life; be it going to the toilet or performing prayers.Islam does not concentrate only on prayers. It urges the Muslims to behave themselves and act strictly as directed.If a Muslim goes to the toilet as directed by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w ), he would be rewarded for it.Similarly, if Muslims hold a gathering strictly in accordance with the way (Sunnah) of the Prophet (s.a.w) , it will be an act of virtue for them.How should Muslims sit together for a discussion? Most of the Muslims do not know. Being unaware of the Sunnah, they invite the wrath of Allah the almighty. Contemporary Muslims often start a conversation by anything ranging from cricket talk to a film.People who get up from a gathering in which they did not make a mention of Allah the almighty, will be just as if they had got up from an ass’s corpse, and it will be a cause of grief to them……(Abu Dawud, Page 4855). An assembly where no mention of Allah the almighty was made has been equaled to mourning the death of an ass. The concluding part of the hadith “…and it will be a cause of grief to them ” must be taken very seriously.How easy it is to invoke the blessings of the Master of the day of judgment? And, how easy it is to invite His wrath? Why has the Prophet (s.a.w) stressed the need for making mention of Allah the almighty during a gathering?The wisdom in this saying needs to be appreciated. Normally when people sit together, they resort to backbiting, they use abusive language, they crack crude jokes, they discuss women, they find fault with others and so on. All of these acts are major sins and Muslims have been repeatedly told to refrain from such detested acts.When a mention of Allah the almighty and the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is made during a gathering, it automatically enforces discipline and all the participants refrain from the above mentioned vices and thus save themselves. Further when people involved in a discussion make mention of Allah the almighty, Allah directs His angels to send salutations on them.But does this mean that the Muslims cannot discuss worldly affairs? Does it mean they cannot entertain themselves?On the contrary, the Prophet (s.a.w) used to entertain Himself and His pious companions. All this was done without causing inconvenience to others, without indulging into backbiting, and without transgressing the limits prescribed by Allah the almighty.And as far as worldly affairs are concerned, Islam is always there to guide the Muslims. Everything is now in writing, if only the Muslims find time to go through the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet (s.a.w).If a group of Muslims wants to discuss international politics, it can be done by mentioning the name of Allah the almighty in the beginning, and by sending salutations to the Prophet Muhammad ( s.a.w ).Islam tells the Muslims how to go to the market, how to do business, how to take a bath, how to sleep, how to deal with the neighbors, how to eat, how to drink and what to drink and so on. This does not only make the life of the Muslims easy but also entitles them to the blessings of Allah the almighty as well.
