CHAPTER TWO: GRANDCHILDREN – PART 3
One of his grandchildren urinated in his lap and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not become angry:
Lubaabah bint Al-Haarith narrated that Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali was sitting in the lap of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and then urinated. She told the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “Change your garment, and give me yours so that I can wash it.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Only the urine of a baby girl should be washed, but the urine of a boy should have water sprinkled on it.” (Reported by Abu Dawood (375) and Ibn Maajah (522).)
Abu Layla said: “I was with the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and Al-Hasan or Al-Husayn was lying on his chest or stomach. I noticed that he began to urinate, so we stood up to take him. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Leave my son, do not scare him [and leave him] until he finishes urinating.” Then he followed it with washing with water (Reported by Ahmad (18580).) and I saw his urine gushing out fast uninterrupted.”
These narrations show the extent of the gentleness of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his love for his grandchildren.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took his grandchildren with him to the mosque:
Abu Bakrah (a Companion) said: “I saw the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, standing on the minbar (pulpit) and Al-Hasan was by his side, and he would go back and forth between the people and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “This son of mine is a leader and Allah will reconcile between two great factions of Muslims because of him.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2714).)
Buraydah ibn Al-Husayb (a Companion) said that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was giving a sermon and Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn came wearing red garments, stumbling and falling over themselves and getting up. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came down (from the pulpit) and picked them up, then climbed the pulpit again and said: “Allah has told the truth [which means]: «Your wealth and children are only a trial.» [Quran: 64:15] I saw these two so I was not
able to have patience.” Then he returned to his sermon. (Reported by Abu Dawood (1109), At-Tirmidhi (3774), An-Nasa’i (1413) and Ibn Maajah (3600).)
This reaction from the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, reflects the perfect mercy Allah had instilled in his heart.
The saying of Allah (which means): «Your wealth and children are only a trial» [Quran: 64:15] means that they distract a person from performing acts of obedience. This narration shows that cutting off his sermon and picking them up is considered a trial which was caused by his love for them. The trials caused by children are of different levels, this being from the least of them, but one must be careful not to allow it to increase. (Fat-h Al-Baari (254/11).) The narration also shows the Prophet’s love and mercy for his grandchildren.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, carried some of them in prayer:
Abu Qataadah Al-Ansari (a Companion) narrated that he saw the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, leading prayer while his granddaughter from Zaynab, Umamah bint Abu Al-‘Aas was on his shoulder. When he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would bow down he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would put her down, and when he would rise up from the prostration he would lift her up. (Reported by Al-Bukhari (516) and Muslim (543). The wording is by Muslim.)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, tolerated the playful actions of children during prayer:
Shaddad ibn Al-Haad (a Companion) narrated:
“The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came out for Maghrib (sunset) prayer or ‘Ishaa’ (night) prayer and he was carrying Al-Hasan or Al-Husayn. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stepped forward, put him down and then began the prayer. In the middle of the prayer, he made one of the prostrations very long. I raised myself from prostration and looked up and saw the child on the Prophet’s back while he was prostrating, so I put my head back down. When the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, finished the prayer the people said: “O Messenger of Allah, you made
one of the prostrations long in the middle of the prayer, until we thought that something was wrong (like a sudden death or illness), or that revelation was coming down upon you.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “None of that happened, rather my son [referring to his grandchild] rode on my back, so I hated to make him move until he finished.”” (Reported by An-Nasa’i (1141).)
Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn would jump on his back and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would not get angry:
Abu Hurayrah (a Companion) said: “We were praying ‘Ishaa’ behind the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and when he would prostrate Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn would jump on his back. When he raised his head, he gently moved them and put them on the ground. Then when he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would go back down, they would climb on his back again, until he finished the prayer and sat them in his lap. I went to him and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I will return them.” Then
lightning struck in the sky, and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told them: “You two go back to your mother.” The light in the sky remained until they entered upon her.”(Reported by Ahmad (10281).)
Abu Bakrah (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was praying, and when he prostrated Al-Hasan would jump on his back and shoulders. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would move him gently so that he would not fall over. He did that more than once, so when he finished praying they asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, we saw you do something with Al-Hasan we have not seen you do before.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “He is my Rayhaan [a good smelling plant] in this life, and indeed this son of mine is a leader, and Allah will reconcile between two factions of Muslims because of him.” (Reported by Ahmad (19994).)
Thus, we see that the Prophet’s dealings with his grandchildren were based on kindness and mercy, for a small child needs love and care from his parents just as he needs food and drink. This “emotional sustenance” is essential to raising a child with a balanced personality, free from complexes.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved them very much:
Abu Hurayrah narrated: “I went out with the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, during the day and we were both silent, and he went to the market of Banu Qaynuqaa’ and then left, then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went to the house of Faatimah. He called out: “Is Luka‘ [the small child, referring to Al-Hasan] there?” We thought that she was keeping Al-Hasan so she could bathe him and put a necklace on him. Then Al-Hasan came out to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and they hugged each other. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O Allah, I love him, so love him, and love whoever loves him.” Abu Hurayrah said: “No one was more beloved to me than Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali after the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, made this statement.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (5884) and Muslim (2421).)
An-Nawawi said: “‘Then Al-Hasan came out to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and they hugged each other’. This shows the virtue of being gentle and playing with a child and being humble with them.” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (193/15).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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