“The reason for not being able to achieve goals is due to the lack of methodology.”
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was perfectly disciplined by his Lord Almighty as stated in the verse: “And you most surely stand on an exalted character.” (al-Kalam 68; 4)
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was a matchless teacher and trainer with the magnificence of his morality, the sensitivity of his heart, eloquence and clarity of his speech, politeness of his warnings, his patience and wisdom even in times of anger, his utmost attention and watchfulness, the level of his intelligence and his love for and interest in people.
Our Prophet (pbuh) tried hard to convey goodness everywhere and at all times. He did everything he could to teach those who wanted to learn, and he wanted his Companions in particular to gain the necessary knowledge about Islam. Yet he would never give them hardships and force them. He always liked to facilitate things for them. Allah the Almighty remarks in the Qur’an that:
لَقَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“Certainly a Messenger has come to you from among yourselves; grievous to him is your falling into distress, excessively solicitous respecting you; to the believers (he is) compassionate.” (al-Tawba 9; 128)
Gatherings for conversation were the most frequent method the Prophet (pbuh) used for training his Companions. His gatherings were like gardens of Paradise and there his Companions found the best circumstances for their education. Qa’b b. Zuhair (r.a.), who came to the mosque in order to convert to Islam, personally witnessed how the Prophet’s method of education was. According to Qa’b’s report, Allah’s Messenger sat among his Companions and was sometimes chatted with one group and sometimes with the other. (Hakim, III, 671) This was the most significant method of teaching in the Prophet’s lifetime.
The Prophet’s gatherings were so exuted and special in nature that this era was referred to as the age of happiness in human history. The Companions’ previously harsh souls were molded in the blessings and spiritual atmosphere of the Prophet’s gatherings. Therefore, once veiled seeds of virtue and vision flourished. Through the reflexion of love and spirituality from one chest to another, unique characters developed. People of the age of ignorance, who at times were merciless and harsh enough to bury their own daughters alive, transformed into altruistic, softhearted, and sensitive Companions. In fact, the Arabic word for Companion, or sahabi, comes from the same verbal root as the word for gatherings of friendly conversation, or suhbah.
The Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) paid so much attention to such gatherings that, so as not to miss the blessings of these gatherings they would alternately attend them and later exchange what they had learned. The following incident that occurred between Umar and his Medinan brother (r. anhum) is very remarkable in this respect. Umar (r.a.) narrated:
“I and an Ansari neighbor of mine from Bani Umaiya bin Zaid who used to live in Awali Al-Medina and used to visit the Prophet in turns. He used to go one day, and I would go on the following day. When I went, I would bring him the news of what had happened that day regarding the instructions and orders and when he went, he used to do the same for me.” (Bukhari, Mazalim, 25)
The distinguished Companions depicted their state in the gatherings of the Prophet (pbuh) as follows: “We used to sit down around the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) as if birds were over our heads.” (Abu Dawud, Sunnah, 23-24)
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) regarded the education of female Companions just as significant as that of the male Companions. He taught about matter regarding women in particular through his pure wives. He also had gatherings reserved for women. One day, some women came and asked the Prophet:
“O Messenger of Allah! Only men benefit from your gatherings. Would you arrange a day for us and teach us what you have learned from Allah the Almighty?” Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) told them to get together on certain day and in a certain place. Women gathered on that day and the Prophet (pbuh) taught them religious lessons and commandments from the revelations of Allah the Almighty.” (Bukhari, ‘Ilm, 36)
Ibn Ishaq reported another narration:
“When a new revelation came to the Prophet (pbuh) he would first recite it to the men and then to the women.” (Ibn Ishaq, p. 128)
Female Companions would reprimand their children who did not visit and attend Prophet’s gatherings for a long time. (Tirmidhi, Manaqib, 30; Ibn Hanbal, V, 391-2)
All the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) fervently attended his gatherings and benefited from them. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was similarly encouraged his Companions. Abu Waqid al-Laythi (r.a.) narrated:
“One day we were in the mosque with the Messenger of Allah. Just then three men appeared at the door. One of them left before entering and the other two went in and approached the Prophet (pbuh). One of them sat where he found a free space in the circle. The other could not find an empty spot and sat behind them not to disturb anybody. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said during his sermon:
“…Shall I tell you about these three people? One of them be-took himself to Allah, so Allah took him into His grace and mercy and accommodated him, the second felt shy of Allah, so Allah sheltered Him in His mercy (and did not punish him), while the third turned his face from Allah and went away, so Allah turned His face from him likewise.” (Bukhari, ‘Ilm, 8)
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) employed the most effective and elaborate methods of education when teaching people something. Now we would like to present these methods along with examples from the Prophet’s life.