Once upon a time, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰـە عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was with his companions. He صَلَّى اللّٰـە عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked them, ‘There is a tree whose leaves do not fall off. It always bears fruit and resembles a Muslim man. Tell me which tree it is.’
Dear children, since there are several trees, so which tree could it be? The companions present there started to think about it. Sayyiduna Ibn-e-Umar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما states that I thought it was the date tree, but since superior companions were (also) present there, I remained quiet out of their respect.
A little while later, when the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰـە عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saw that no one was able to reply, he صَلَّى اللّٰـە عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said whilst replying himself, ‘It is the date tree.’
Sayyiduna Ibn-e-Umar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما states that I later said to my father, Sayyiduna Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰـەُ عَـنْهُ, ‘I did think that it is the date tree but remained quiet as the superior companions were also present there.’
Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰـەُ عَـنْهُ said, ‘If you had replied, it would have made me very happy.’ (Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 253, Hadees 4698)
Dear children, Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Umar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما is the son of Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰـەُ عَـنْهُ. He is considered amongst Sighar-e-Sahabah, i.e. the young-aged companions.
Dear children, we should also respect our elders. If we know the answer to any question, then there is no harm in replying to it in the presence of our elders whilst abiding by the manners and etiquette.
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