Classroom
New Student
Mawlana Haider Ali Madani
As he entered the classroom, Mr. Bilal’s gaze fell upon a new student. As per his routine, he greeted his students and asked about their well-being. Taking a seat in his chair, he looked at the new student and said, “Son, we all welcome you to this class.” The new student responded with a bashful smile.
Mr. Bilal requested, “Son, would you like to introduce yourself?”
“My name is Thawban Ali,” the new student began to say whilst seated, but upon the signalling of the class monitor Muhammad Muawiyah, he stood up.
“No matter, he is still new, he will learn slowly,” Mr. Bilal said to Muawiyah. He then turned to Thawban and explained, “In our classroom, whenever a student wants to speak to the teacher or the class, he stands up and speaks. This is so everyone knows who is speaking and lets them hear him properly. Another benefit of this is, students don’t interrupt each other like this. Also, you have a beautiful name ما شآءَ اللہ.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you. My mum told me my grandfather named me after a pious person,” Thawban said. Hearing this, many of the children began to look at each other in surprise. Yet, they remained silent out of respect for their teacher. “My dad works for the post office, and he was transferred to this city, so we had to get a home here.”
“Excellent. Your father works in the post office. Perhaps you can tell us what kind of things happen there. You can take a seat now,” Mr. Bilal smiled.
“Of course, sir”, Thawban said as he sat down.
A student in the middle of the class stood up, and with the permission of Mr. Bilal, began to say, “Sir, which righteous person had the name Thawban? We have never heard of anyone with this name.”
Mr. Bilal looked up at the clock. There was still some time left for class to finish and it was Friday. Earlier in the week, he had a discussion with the school principal. They decided that on Friday, they would not teach from books but pick a beneficial topic and discuss it with their classes. This would allow students to learn a profound life lesson without even realising.
Mr. Bilal then spoke at length:
There is no need to be surprised at what Thawban said. In fact, Thawbān رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was a Companion of Allah’s final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Let me tell you a story about him.
One day, Thawbān رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ went to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with a saddened and pale face. He appeared upset. Our Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, who was sent as a mercy for the entire universe, could not bear to see this sadness upon his Companion’s face. When asked what had happened, Thawbān رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ explained, “O Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم)! I do not have any physical pain. I feel anxious like this when I do not see you, and after I do, my heart is soothed.
Yet, I keep thinking about how you shall reside at an elevated station of Paradise, but I myself do not know where I will be therein. If I cannot see you there, all the joy of Paradise will be finished for me.”
Hearing this, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remained silent. Angel Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم then arrived with these glad tidings of the holy Quran: And the one who obeys Allah and His Messenger, so he will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favour i.e. the Prophets, and the (exceptionally) truthful ones, and the martyrs and the virtuous; and what excellent companions they really are.[1]
Now you know who the Companion Thawbān رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was. Also keep in mind the lesson we learn from this story. If we want to be close to the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Paradise, we must love him the most in this world and act upon his Sunna. By doing this, we will be successful both in this world and the next.
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