A series of moral, doctrinal, and social statements from the esteemed religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, may his shadow remain (Words of Wisdom, episode number 7)
"Model of Virtues"
Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says in the Holy Quran:
"Certainly, you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example." (Quran, Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:21)
In the Arabic language, the emphatic "La" of laqad is used for making an oath. Of course, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, does not need to swear to emphasize a point, and this oath is only for emphasis. The word qad is also used for certainty and emphasis. The verb kan (was) indicates continuity, which itself adds an element of emphasis. Altogether, all of these emphases in the words of this verse stress the fact that Allah has made His beloved Messenger a model for His servants and has instructed them to follow Him. Therefore, the sayings and actions (both words and deeds) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and even his tacit approval (taqrir) serve as proof for us; we are to follow them in our own behavior and actions. The concept of words and deeds is clear, but what does tacit approval mean?
Tacit approval means that whenever someone speaks or acts in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the Prophet does not object or prevent that speech or action, it is considered correct or at least permissible. Of course, tacit approval has conditions that are discussed in detail in scholarly texts.
Role Model
In this verse, Allah refers to the Prophet (peace be upon him) as an "example" or "role model" (uswa), so that people from all walks of life—rich or poor, learned or uneducated, men or women—may learn from him and make him their model in all aspects of life. This encompasses religious, political, social, economic matters, and personal aspects of human life. A person, in their interactions with themselves, others, and Allah, inevitably needs a successful model, and Allah has appointed the Prophet (peace be upon him) to this role. It is, therefore, appropriate for people to follow the sayings, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to the best of their ability, which requires a serious will and intention.
By studying the traditions left behind by the infallibles (peace be upon them), many models of the Prophet’s life can be extracted. One of these social examples is a narration found in many major Hadith collections. This narration is transmitted through reliable chains of narrators and is reported in the Uṣūl al-Kāfī and other major Shiite texts. The great scholar, Shaykh Saduq (may Allah have mercy on him), mentioned it in his valuable work Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqīh, which is his most important book.
This narration, which is attributed to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) and in some chains to Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), goes as follows:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting among his companions when a man came to him and asked for help. The Prophet (peace be upon him), who appeared to have nothing of his own, turned to his companions and said, "Who will lend me something?" One of the Ansar (helpers of Medina) said, "I will lend you." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him to give the man four wasq of dates. The word tamr refers to dried dates, which last for a long time, unlike fresh dates (rutab), which spoil quickly. Dried dates were commonly stored as a staple food.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Give him four sa', which is about 800 kilograms, of dates." Some narrations suggest that this was the entire wealth of the man who lent the dates, and he was left with very little. After some time, the man came back to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what about the debt you owe me, which I lent to that beggar?" The Prophet replied, "It will be, insha'Allah" (meaning, I do not have it now, but when I receive it, I will pay it back). The man returned several times, each time asking for the repayment, and each time the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave the same response: "It will be, insha'Allah."
The man eventually asked, "When will it be?" In another version, it is mentioned that his child complained of hunger, and so the man had to ask again. The Prophet (peace be upon him) again said, "It will be, insha'Allah." The man then asked, "When will it be?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) turned to his companions and asked, "Is there anyone who can lend me something?" One of his companions said, "Yes." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him to give him eight wasq of dates. The companion replied, "I have already lent you four wasq." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Lend me another four wasq." And so, the companion gave the man eight wasq of dates.
While it is not clear when the Prophet (peace be upon him) repaid the eight wasq of dates, the core lesson from this narration, as the Quran advises, is that the actions and behaviors of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are examples for us to follow in our own lives.
Several Lessons from This Narration
First Lesson: Lending to Others
Just as we borrow when we are in need, we should also be willing to lend to others in their time of need. Unfortunately, in this world, only a few people act this way. However, even if the number is small, we should strive to be among those who are willing to help. The Quran encourages us to learn from the Prophet (peace be upon him). As much as a person is capable, they should make the Prophet (peace be upon him) their role model.
In Islamic jurisprudence, there is a general principle that "the dislike of borrowing" (karahat al-dayn) exists, but this principle is not absolute. In some cases, borrowing becomes a necessary or even recommended action, particularly when the need outweighs the dislike. Thus, at times, what is normally disliked becomes recommended, and the dislike disappears when there is a greater benefit, such as helping others.
Second Lesson: The Prophet's Example of Generosity
It is evident from the narration that the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave a significant amount—nearly 800 kilograms of dates—to the poor man. This amount likely provided for the person’s needs for an entire year or a significant portion of it. One might have expected the Prophet to give just a small amount—perhaps ten or twenty kilograms—to satisfy the person's immediate need for a few days. However, the Prophet's example shows that helping the poor is not just about fulfilling their immediate, short-term needs but also about empowering them to sustain themselves over a longer period. The message here is that we should aim to help others to the point where they are no longer dependent on charity and are able to support themselves.
In a narration from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), it was asked how much zakat (almsgiving) should be given to the poor. He replied, quoting his father, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him): "When you give, make them independent." This is the principle that when helping someone, the goal should be to make them self-sufficient, not just to fulfill their immediate needs.
Third Lesson: The Importance of Charity Beyond Basic Needs
The third lesson from this story concerns the issue of interest (usury) in Islam. While interest-based lending is forbidden, paying back a loan with an extra amount (i.e., giving more than what was borrowed) is highly encouraged and recommended in Islam. In the case of the Prophet (peace be upon him), when he repaid the companion, he gave him twice the amount of the loan.
This shows that the practice of giving extra, even when not required, is a virtuous act in Islam. It is encouraged to go beyond the basic requirement when repaying debts or helping others. This behavior was also mirrored by the imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), who were known for their kindness, generosity, and commitment to supporting those in need.
The Example of the Scholars
It is worth mentioning that there are examples of contemporary scholars and figures who, like the Prophet (peace be upon him), passed away in debt, having borrowed to help others. This is a reflection of the selflessness and dedication to others that the Prophet (peace be upon him) exemplified. For instance, some scholars did not own their homes and lived in rented accommodations, yet they helped those in need and were sometimes in debt as a result of their generosity. Their lives serve as a testament to the Prophet’s example, demonstrating that one can live humbly and dedicate one's resources to helping others.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the Prophet's (peace be upon him) behavior teaches us the virtues of generosity, humility, and self-sacrifice. His actions remind us that the true measure of success in life is not how much one can accumulate for oneself, but how much one can give to others. By following his example, we can strive to build a more compassionate, caring, and just society.
Islamic Society
Every action, word, and approval of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is worthy of reflection and emulation. To achieve the divine statement in the Quran, "Indeed, you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example" (Al-Ahzab, 33:21), we must promote the culture of following the Prophet (peace be upon him) in society. This means that the exemplary lessons and guiding principles from the Prophet's life need to be actively taught and encouraged. It is a collective responsibility to spread these teachings.
Preaching the obligatory and prohibited matters holds the status of wajib kifa’i (a communal duty), while promoting the recommended and disliked actions has an istihbab (commendable) aspect. Regardless, spreading the moral culture of the Prophet in society will, at the very least, result in a small group of individuals—perhaps only ten out of thousands—adopting and applying these values. The reward for their actions will be recorded in the books of those who have conveyed these teachings. Conversely, those who turn away from the Prophet’s example will have the message conveyed to them, and they will have no excuse in the sight of Allah.
Promoting the Prophetic culture and his exemplary way of life is a pressing need in today's world, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself foretold: "A time will come upon the people when... nothing will remain of faith except its name, and nothing will remain of Islam except its outward form." (Hadith).
Islamic behavior has two aspects: first, practicing it oneself, and second, persevering in that practice so it becomes widespread. Thus, a person should commit to reviving true Islam by introducing the path and method of the Prophet (peace be upon him), which is the embodiment of real Islam, to all.
May Allah send blessings upon our Master Muhammad and his pure family.
