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The Messenger of Allah 
commanded his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to have self-control and to adorn themselves with patience. He raised his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, under his eye, and directed them to strengthen their relationship with Allah The Almighty and become close to Him through worship.
During the period spent in Makkah, the following verses were revealed in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who wraps himself [in clothing]. Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little. Half of it - or subtract from it a little. Or add to it, and recite the Quran with measured recitation.} [Quran 73:1-4] Soorat Al-Muzzammil guided the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to the need of the callers to Islam to perform supererogatory prayers at night, to remember and mention Allah regularly, to put one’s trust in Allah The Almighty in all affairs, to adhere to patience coupled with gracious avoidance, and to ask for forgiveness after doing righteous deeds.
In the opening verses Soorat Al-Muzzammil, Allah The Almighty commands the Messenger to assign nearly half the night to performing supererogatory prayers. Allah The Almighty gave him the freedom to choose to stand half the night, or slightly more or less, and the Messenger of Allah along with his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, continued standing at night for prayer for nearly a year such that their feet were swollen. Then, the alleviation was revealed after Allah The Almighty knew how diligent they were to attain His pleasure, and how assiduous they were in implementing His commands and seeking their goals. Upon that, their Lord bestowed His mercy upon them and alleviated their suffering; He Says (what means): {Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Quran. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give Zakah [obligatory charity] and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 73:20]
to assign nearly half the night to performing supererogatory prayers. Allah The Almighty gave him the freedom to choose to stand half the night, or slightly more or less, and the Messenger of Allah along with his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, continued standing at night for prayer for nearly a year such that their feet were swollen. Then, the alleviation was revealed after Allah The Almighty knew how diligent they were to attain His pleasure, and how assiduous they were in implementing His commands and seeking their goals. Upon that, their Lord bestowed His mercy upon them and alleviated their suffering; He Says (what means): {Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Quran. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give Zakah [obligatory charity] and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 73:20]By way of testing, they were commanded to leave their beds, resist slumber, and forsake the things to which they were accustomed in order to nurture them in exercising self-control and liberate them from self-inclinations and fancies in preparation for carrying the reins of management and leadership of the world. Indeed, they had to receive an exalted spiritual preparation as Allah The Almighty chose them to carry His Message and entrusted His Da‘wah (call) to them and made them witnesses over mankind.
During this historical stage, tens of the faithful believers had to do many great tasks in order to invite the people to Tawheed (monotheism), and liberate them from Shirk (polytheism), and no one could have been able to undertake such a great task except those whose limbs forsook their beds and invoked their Lord in fear and aspiration. Allah The Almighty describes the way of standing at night, offering prayer therein, and reciting the Quran with measured recitation - articulately and with deliberation. He Says (what means): {Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.} [Quran 73:6] This implies that it becomes more influential and impressive with the silence of the night and the tranquility of the people, as souls are disengaged from all occupations and wholeheartedly devoted to the celebration and private contact (with Allah) which requires them to free themselves from all worldly bonds and daily work. In this way, they would become well-prepared to receive the Divine Revelation: {Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.} [Quran 73:5] This heavy word stands for the Noble Quran. However, the fine preparation of the first generation of Muslims created in them a great power and energy to carry the burdens of Jihaad and establish the Islamic state in Madeenah, and made them deeply sincere to Islam and ready to sacrifice their lives for it so that it would prevail in the world over mankind and spread throughout the different parts of the globe.
The Prophet was mainly concerned with his internal front, and eager to fill the hearts of his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, with a strong creed which should neither shaken nor weaken. It is that which created among them strong high spirits to defend the religion and endure punishment and harm in the way of Da‘wah. This first group of Muslims thus became a firmly connected entity and too steadfast to break by their enemy’s psychological campaigns, through holding the bond of brotherhood between the Muslims. The bond of brotherhood in the religion of Allah The Almighty became stronger and more superior than any blood relations.
was mainly concerned with his internal front, and eager to fill the hearts of his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, with a strong creed which should neither shaken nor weaken. It is that which created among them strong high spirits to defend the religion and endure punishment and harm in the way of Da‘wah. This first group of Muslims thus became a firmly connected entity and too steadfast to break by their enemy’s psychological campaigns, through holding the bond of brotherhood between the Muslims. The bond of brotherhood in the religion of Allah The Almighty became stronger and more superior than any blood relations.This first generation co-existed under the shade of the lofty concepts of brotherhood based on mutual love, affection and altruism - favoring others over oneself. The sayings of the Messenger of Allah had a magical effect on the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. The Messenger of Allah urged the Muslims to maintain brotherhood, collaboration and co-operation, and to relieve the difficulties of each other simply to please Allah The Almighty and not in return for recompense for any service or favor, as a Muslim should do so for the sake of the pleasure of Allah alone. It is these principles that sustain the Islamic brotherhood and the consistency of the Muslim society.
had a magical effect on the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. The Messenger of Allah urged the Muslims to maintain brotherhood, collaboration and co-operation, and to relieve the difficulties of each other simply to please Allah The Almighty and not in return for recompense for any service or favor, as a Muslim should do so for the sake of the pleasure of Allah alone. It is these principles that sustain the Islamic brotherhood and the consistency of the Muslim society.In the following Qudsi (Sacred) Hadeeth which the Messenger of Allah related from his Lord The Exalted, he showed to them that: “Those who love each other for [the sake of] My glory will have pulpits of light, which the prophets and martyrs will envy them for.” [At-Tirmithi] In this way, faithful brotherhood came to be a scale on which all deeds should be measured, and the love for the sake of the religion of Allah The Almighty came to be among the best deeds, for which one will have the highest degree with Allah The Almighty. Also, the Messenger of Allah warned the Muslims about regarding with slightness that bond of brotherhood. He laid for them the foundations by which they could maintain it, as was shown from his statement: “Do not hate one another. Do not envy one another. Do not desert one another, and be, O slaves of Allah, brothers [in Islam].” [Al-Bukhari]
related from his Lord The Exalted, he showed to them that: “Those who love each other for [the sake of] My glory will have pulpits of light, which the prophets and martyrs will envy them for.” [At-Tirmithi] In this way, faithful brotherhood came to be a scale on which all deeds should be measured, and the love for the sake of the religion of Allah The Almighty came to be among the best deeds, for which one will have the highest degree with Allah The Almighty. Also, the Messenger of Allah warned the Muslims about regarding with slightness that bond of brotherhood. He laid for them the foundations by which they could maintain it, as was shown from his statement: “Do not hate one another. Do not envy one another. Do not desert one another, and be, O slaves of Allah, brothers [in Islam].” [Al-Bukhari]In his attempt to link the inner community and unite its front in order to be strong enough to resist the psychological war wagedagainst it, the Prophet resorted to holding the principle of equality between the members of that front and giving them freedom: they entered that society only by free will. They also had, inside that society, freedom of opinion, and freedom of expression and consultation. Muhammad brought about the principle of equality between all people: the ruler and the ruled, the rich and the poor, and also between all social groups. This great principle had the strongest impact upon the followers of the Prophet which caused them to love each other, be consistent with each other, sacrifice their lives for the sake of Allah The Almighty, and strive their utmost to defend him .
resorted to holding the principle of equality between the members of that front and giving them freedom: they entered that society only by free will. They also had, inside that society, freedom of opinion, and freedom of expression and consultation. Muhammad brought about the principle of equality between all people: the ruler and the ruled, the rich and the poor, and also between all social groups. This great principle had the strongest impact upon the followers of the Prophet which caused them to love each other, be consistent with each other, sacrifice their lives for the sake of Allah The Almighty, and strive their utmost to defend him .In the statement of the Prophet there was no disparity between the people on the basis of birth or origin, noble ancestry or lineage, heredity or color. Differences in ancestry, race and color should not lead to differences in rights and duties, or acts of worship. All people are to be equal in the sight of Allah The Almighty. When the nobles of Makkah asked the Messenger of Allah to fix a gathering other than that which involved the slaves and the weak in order that they could not meet with them in the same gathering, he clarified that all people are equal in receiving the Divine revelation and guidance. At that time, the disbelievers and chiefs of Makkah refused to gather with the slaves and those whom they regarded as weak and humble among the followers of Muhammad . On this occasion, the following verses of the Quran were revealed:
there was no disparity between the people on the basis of birth or origin, noble ancestry or lineage, heredity or color. Differences in ancestry, race and color should not lead to differences in rights and duties, or acts of worship. All people are to be equal in the sight of Allah The Almighty. When the nobles of Makkah asked the Messenger of Allah to fix a gathering other than that which involved the slaves and the weak in order that they could not meet with them in the same gathering, he clarified that all people are equal in receiving the Divine revelation and guidance. At that time, the disbelievers and chiefs of Makkah refused to gather with the slaves and those whom they regarded as weak and humble among the followers of Muhammad . On this occasion, the following verses of the Quran were revealed:{And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect. And say, “The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve.” Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.} [Quran 18:28-29]
Moreover, when the Prophet turned away from Ibn Umm Maktoom, who was blind, may Allah be pleased with him, because he was engaged in a conversation with one of the nobles of Makkah, Allah The Almighty admonished him in strong words.
turned away from Ibn Umm Maktoom, who was blind, may Allah be pleased with him, because he was engaged in a conversation with one of the nobles of Makkah, Allah The Almighty admonished him in strong words.The financial and spiritual joint liability among the Muslims which the Messenger of Allah called for, was one of the greatest ways he used to link the Islamic society, and unify and strengthen its internal front to be firmly consistent and well-structured. According to it, the strong should aid the weak among them, and the rich should give to the poor among them. The Messenger of Allah thereby left no gap for psychological warfare to break through into the first row of Muslims. In this way, the first group of Muslims became as strong and steady as a huge rock, on which all efforts and plans laid out by the chiefs of Makkah - with the intention to exterminate the Da‘wah - crashed.
called for, was one of the greatest ways he used to link the Islamic society, and unify and strengthen its internal front to be firmly consistent and well-structured. According to it, the strong should aid the weak among them, and the rich should give to the poor among them. The Messenger of Allah thereby left no gap for psychological warfare to break through into the first row of Muslims. In this way, the first group of Muslims became as strong and steady as a huge rock, on which all efforts and plans laid out by the chiefs of Makkah - with the intention to exterminate the Da‘wah - crashed.
