Prophetic Empowerment | Mufti Abdul Wahab Waheed | ISNA Convention

Prophetic Empowerment

Whoever wrote that bio should get a raise. When I grow older I want to become like that person — I don't know who that was. It's an honor to be with you all.

Allah says in His noble Book — after seeking refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, in the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful:

And the Prophet ﷺ said:

(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 9187; also reported by al-Tabarani — or as the Prophet ﷺ said)

Impact Is Not About What You Possess

My dear brothers, sisters, elders and youngsters — it is commonly perceived, it is commonly misunderstood, that the impact of an individual, that the impact of a person, is based upon the talent that they possess; that the impact of a person is based upon the degree that they hold; that the impact of an individual or a society is based upon the wealth that they possess. We commonly understand that impact is contained and confined based upon what we possess.

But the prophetic model was quite the contrary — that impact was not based upon the talent of an individual, but rather impact was based upon how that person's talent was able to uplift others. Impact was based upon how that person's psychological reserve was used to uplift a community. Impact was based upon how that person's wealth was able to enrich others. Impact was not based upon talent alone — impact was when talent was used for others.

Imam Suyuti rahimahullah says in this ayah that a talent that is there, that is not used to benefit the ummah, is no talent indeed — because it is merely used to benefit an individual. We are not a community that focuses on an individual. We are a community of:

We stand strong because we are together. Impact was not through an individual's strength — impact was:

(Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by al-Tabarani, Hadith 5787; also reported by al-Quda'i in Musnad al-Shihab)

That the greatest person is a person who can bring benefit to others. Impact wasn't simply based on talent — it was based on how a person was able to use their talent to make others feel accepted.

The Prophet ﷺ Made the Worthless Feel Worthy

And the epitome of this was the presence of our Prophet ﷺ — that though he had nothing physically, though he possessed nothing monetarily, he was able to convince the nation that the world thought to be worthless that they were worthy of changing the world. He was able to convince the nation that the Persians and the Romans had written off — that these are people not worth ruling — he was able to convince them to become the rulers of the world.

Did he give them something physically? Did he gift them wealth? Did he gift them commodities? Absolutely not. He gifted them the ability of feeling valued — the ability of feeling that they belong.

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَخْمًا مُفَخَّمًا — the Prophet of Allah ﷺ was a person who was naturally honorable, but he allowed his talent and honor to be used to help those around him. So a group of people who the world saw to have no honor — disgrace left aside, left on the side of the road — he allowed them to become the conquerors of the world because of how he made them feel.

The prophetic model is an inclusive model. It wasn't inclusive because of pressure. It wasn't inclusive because there was a check mark that we had to mark off. It was inclusive by design — not because of who those people were, it was simply because they were. It was simply because they existed. It was simply because they were a part of that community.

The condition and prerequisite of benefiting from the Prophet's presence was not something that you had — it was that you were there. You were present.

Empowerment for the Youngsters

And this ability of his was not limited to the adults and the elders, or the brothers and the sisters — it was inclusive of everyone, and specifically the youngsters. Those young individuals that the world told them: you don't have to worry about life, you don't have to think about it yet.

In life, empowerment is felt most when given from the greatest authority. If I'm working a desk job and my manager empowers me, that's great. But if I'm working a desk job and the CEO empowers me, that's lovely. My dear youngsters — the empowerment that you are searching for does not need to be given to you by anybody. It was already given to you by the Prophet ﷺ.

Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr: The First Ambassador

The moment he decided that the first ambassador that will represent this deen will not be Abu Bakr, will not be the great 'Umar — but the first ambassador of the deen will be an 18-year-old youngster by the name of Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr, who became the bedrock and the foundation of Islam spreading all across the world through Madinah al-Munawwarah. This youngster was chosen — that is your empowerment.

Don't look for empowerment through people who are flawed like us. Don't look for empowerment from the uncle in the masjid or from the aunt that is looking down upon you. Look for empowerment from the authority — which is the Prophet ﷺ. He told Mus'ab: you will be the first ambassador. Mus'ab was the one who went to Madinah al-Munawwarah.

We hear about the stories of the Prophet entering into Madinah — and the youngsters, the brothers, the sisters, the entire community flocking and flourishing and coming towards the Prophet and chanting:

That the white moon has risen above us. We hear the statement of Anas ibn Malik: لَمَّا دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ أَضَاءَ مِنْهَا كُلُّ شَيْءٍ — when the Prophet of Allah entered Madinah, he lit up the entire city. We hear about these narrations — but behind those narrations there was a youngster who worked hard. There was a youngster that many people didn't notice. There was a youngster that two years later left this world.

Empowerment Is Not Synonymous with Recognition

We're not looking for recognition in this world. Empowerment is not synonymous to recognition. Empowerment is not synonymous to being known. We feel that we're not empowered because we haven't been given a title. Titles are for those who look for appreciation in this world. We want the title of رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ. We want the title of ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ. We want the title of Allah saying to us: I am pleased with you and I will never be angry with you again.

Empowerment is not synonymous to recognition. Mus'ab — in the Battle of Uhud, two years later, left this world. And when they covered his head, his feet would be exposed. And when they would cover his feet, his head would be exposed — because there was not enough clothing and cloth to cover his body.

My dear youngsters — empowerment was already given to us. Where are we looking? Who are we searching for that they can empower us? Let it not be a chase, let it not be a pursuit that we are just searching for it — it's already been given to us.

Zayd ibn Harithah: Choosing the Prophet ﷺ

Empowerment was given through how the Prophet made these people feel. Empowerment was given when Zayd ibn Harithah — a youngster who was gifted to the Prophet by Khadijah radiyallahu anha — when his father came to take him back, the Prophet said to the father: call him and let him choose who he wants to be with. Empowerment was when Zayd ibn Harithah said to his father: I've seen something from this person that he has made me forget about everyone else.

This was the prophetic model of da'wah — this was the process, this was the system.

Our Masajid Must Reflect the Prophetic Model

If the Prophet's da'wah was empowering and inclusive, our masajid must be the same. Our presence must do the same. No one wants an employee that can only do their work and leave — we want an employee that can do their work and make others become better at their jobs. We don't simply want Muslims that can come, clock in and clock out, as if they're being paid to do what they're doing. We need Muslims that when they enter the masjid they become a source of ease and comfort — that the greatest deed and the greatest act of goodness is to bring happiness to your brother or sister, especially a person who is perhaps struggling. And this was the prophetic model.

Inclusive in People, Exclusive in Values

And I'll end by saying this — because often times inclusivity is seen to be something which it isn't. The Prophet's community was the most inclusive community when it came to how someone looked, when it came to their ethnic backgrounds, when it came to their cultural backgrounds, when it came to their economical backgrounds. But let us not be deceived, let us not be deluded — it was the most exclusive community when it came to ideals and values. We allow people in not because of how they look, but because of what they believe in. Our community is not strong because of who we leave out — our community is strong because everyone is allowed in.

May Allah make us amongst those people that can make others feel comfortable — brothers, sisters, youngsters, elders — and allow us to be amongst those that the deen can benefit because of our talent, not just ourselves and our families.