The Supreme Example
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: A questioner from Riyadh says: A question that is always repeated in press interviews and the like is: Who is your supreme example? The answer varies from person to person; some say: Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and some say: my father, and so on.
What is your opinion, may Allah preserve you, regarding this question and its relation to verse 60 of Surat al-Nahl, which is the saying of the Exalted:[An-Nahl 16:60] And also verse 27 of Surat al-Rum, which is the saying of the Exalted: [Ar-Rum 30:27]? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
A: The meaning differs in what you pointed to. If the intention is to clarify who is most deserving of the description of the supreme example, the answer is Allah alone; for He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One who has the supreme example in everything, and its meaning is the supreme description. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is perfect in His Essence, His Names, His Attributes, and His Actions; there is no one like Him, no one equal to Him, and no one comparable to Him. This is the meaning intended in the two noble verses mentioned in your question. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :[Al-Ikhlas 112:1] Allah, the Self-Sufficient. He did not beget nor was He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him. [Al-Ikhlas: 1 - 4] And He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [Al-Shura: 11].
As for the one who is the highest example in methodology and biography, it is interpreted as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), for he is the most perfect of people in guidance, biography, speech, and action. He is the highest example for the believers in their biographies, their actions, their struggle, their patience, and other noble morals, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ahzab: 21]. And He said describing His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): [Al-Qalam: 4]. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “His character was the Qur'an.” The meaning is that he (peace and blessings be upon him) acted in accordance with the commands of the Qur'an, refrained from its prohibitions, adopted the morals for which the Qur'an praised its people, and avoided the morals for which the Qur'an criticized its people. And success is from Allah.
What is your opinion, may Allah preserve you, regarding this question and its relation to verse 60 of Surat al-Nahl, which is the saying of the Exalted:
For those who do not believe in the Hereafter is the description of evil; and for Allah is the highest attribute. And He is Exalted in Might, the Wise.
لِلَّذِينَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِ وَلِلَّهِ الْمَثَلُ الْأَعْلَى وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُAnd it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest attribute in the heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَهُ الْمَثَلُ الْأَعْلَى فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الحكيمA: The meaning differs in what you pointed to. If the intention is to clarify who is most deserving of the description of the supreme example, the answer is Allah alone; for He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One who has the supreme example in everything, and its meaning is the supreme description. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is perfect in His Essence, His Names, His Attributes, and His Actions; there is no one like Him, no one equal to Him, and no one comparable to Him. This is the meaning intended in the two noble verses mentioned in your question. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُAs for the one who is the highest example in methodology and biography, it is interpreted as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), for he is the most perfect of people in guidance, biography, speech, and action. He is the highest example for the believers in their biographies, their actions, their struggle, their patience, and other noble morals, as Allah the Exalted said:
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًاAnd indeed, you are of a great moral character.
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.