ISLAMIC SOCIETY

Islamic Society ~ 155 ~ Rahman Auf ibn Malik recounts how one day when there were about nine of the Prophet’s companions with him, he had a conversation with them which set their feet on the right course of hard work and independence: “Are you not going to swear allegiance to the Prophet of God?” Since they had already sworn their allegiance not so very long beforehand, they replied: “We have just sworn allegiance, O Messenger of God.” But the Prophet said to them again, “Are you not going to swear allegiance to the Prophet of God?” So they all extended their hands and said: “We swear allegiance at your hand, O Messenger of God. What is that oath that we must swear?” the Prophet replied, “That you will worship God, not associating any partner with him: that you will pray five times a day and follow God’s commandments,” then the Prophet added: “And do not ask anything of men.” Struck by the earnestness of these words, some of those present on this occasion became so scrupulous in following the Prophet’s advice, that they would take the trouble to dismount from the horses to pick up a whip which they had let fall to the ground, rather than ask anyone to pick it up for them. This simply means that in an Islamic society