Participating in Spirit

Participating in Spirit

1987 7 July 23 Participating in Spirit (409) sIn the year 9AH, the Prophet led an expedition to Tabuk. Some Muslims had valid excuses precluding their participation in this expedition. With regard to them, this veJ1se of the Quran was revealed:

It shall be no offence for the disabled, the sick, and those lacking the means to spend, to stay behind, if they are true to Allah and His Apostle. The righteous shall not be blamed: Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Nor shall those be blamed who, when they came to you demanding conveyances t the battle-front and you said: ‘I can find none to carry you,’ went away in tears grieving that they could not find the means to spend (9:91-92).

According to the Prophet’s seventh century biographer, Ibn Ishaq, these were seven individuals belonging to the Ansar. After the Prophet had set out on the expedition, the Prophet referred to them in the presence of his companions. “Do you know,” he said to them, “you have left some people behind in Medina who will share with you the reward of everything you have spent, every valley you have crossed and every victory you have gained over the enemy.” “Even though they remain in Medina?” asked the companions. “Yes,” replied the Prophet. “They had valid excuses for staying behind.”

This goes to show that a person, without doing anything, can gain a share in the reward of those who have. While appearing to have achieved nothing, he can join the ranks of those who have achieved much. How can this be? The way to accomplish this is for us to participate in spirit in those actions in which we are unable to take an active, physical part. For example, if we behold another person greater than ourselves, rather than being jealous of him, we should acknowledge his superiority; that way we shall have a share in the reward for anything that he does, which it is beyond us to accomplish. If someone is wealthier than ourselves it should be our heart’s wish that God grant him the grace to be truly thankful for his wealth, and spend it rightly; then, when he does so, we shall have a share in his reward. And if we see someone in an influential position, while we remain among the anonymous masses, we can pray for him: “Lord, may he use his influence in service of truth, not in service of falsehood”; thus we may gain a share of his reward.