Islam As It Is
Islamic Society
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Rahman Auf ibn Malik recounts how one day when
there were about nine of the Prophet’s com-
panions with him, he had a conversation with them
which set their feet on the right course of hard work
and independence: “Are you not going to swear
allegiance to the Prophet of God?” Since they had
already sworn their allegiance not so very long
beforehand, they replied: “We have just sworn
allegiance, O Messenger of God.” But the Prophet
said to them again, “Are you not going to swear al-
legiance to the Prophet of God?”
So they all
extended their hands and said: “We swear
allegiance at your hand, O Messenger of God. What
is that oath that we must swear?” the Prophet
replied, “That you will worship God, not
associating any partner with him: that you will pray
five times a day and follow God’s commandments,”
then the Prophet added: “And do not ask anything
of men.” Struck by the earnestness of these words,
some of those present on this occasion became so
scrupulous in following the Prophet’s advice, that
they would take the trouble to dismount from the
horses to pick up a whip which they had let fall to
the ground, rather than ask anyone to pick it up for
them. This simply means that in an Islamic society
