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Uphold the Value of Honesty

Wasilah bin Iqsa, Friend who Upholds the Value of Honesty.Sahabat is a person who had met the Prophet in a state of faith in him and died in a state of Islam.

There is a stricter definition that considers that only those who are closely related to the Prophet Muhammad alone are worthy of being called as companions of the Prophet. In the book “Muqaddimah” by Ibn ash-Shalah (w. 643 H/1245 M). It was said to Anas, “You are the Messenger's friend and the last surviving”. Anas replied, “Arab Kaum (badui) is still left, as for his friend, then I am the last person alive.”

It is impossible to be certain about the number of companions of the Prophet Muhammad SAW precisely, because of various factors such as differences in definition and the extent of their distribution area during life. If referring to the number of friends of the Prophet of the Holy Ghost recorded in various biographies written by scholars who discussed them, such as the book of Thabaqat Al-Kabir by Ibn Sa’ad, the Book of Al-Isti’ab by Ibn Abdil Barr and Mu’jam as-Shahabah by Ibn Qani’, then we will only find about 2700s male friends and 380s female friends. While Imam Al-Qasthalani in his al-Mawahib stated that the number of friends of the Prophet Muhammad when the Fathu Makkah event was around 7000 people, then in the event of the war Tabuk increased to 70,000, then in the event of the war Tabuk increased to 70,000, and the last on the events of Haji Wada’ their number reached about 124,000 people, wallahu a’lam.

There are many verses of al-Qur’an and the hadith of the Prophet of the SAW which records the primacy of the Companions because they are people who defend the Prophet of the SAW, both in a happy and difficult situation, even among them there has been a guarantee of heaven through the mouth of the Prophet when he was alive.

Because a friend of the Prophet is always known for his good behavior and nature, both in word and deed. Friends uphold honesty more than the luxury of the world. These friends are famous for their adultery. They always apply the teachings of the Prophet SAW both in the form of direct revelation from Allah SWT and the behavior of the Prophet SAW in daily personal life. One of the traits that are highly respected by friends is honesty.

Honesty itself is one of the noble behaviors as a mirror of human personality, by applying this honest behavior of life to be peaceful, peaceful. But when on the contrary how restless this life is. There is an interesting story of a friend of the Prophet named Wasilah ibn Iqsa.

One day, a friend of Prophet Muhammad named Wasilah bin Iqsa was in the livestock market. He saw two men bargaining for a camel. When he was caught off guard, the buyer bought the camel for 300 dirhams and led it home.

Wasilah rushed to intercept the buyer and asked, “Is the camel you bought for slaughter or as a mount?” The buyer replied, “This camel is for vehicle.” Wasilah then told him, the camel will not last long because his legs are broken because of a defect. The buyer rushed back to the market to meet the camel seller and sued him. Finally, the seller returned 100 dirhams as a new camel price deal.

This story teaches us a few lessons. First, obey and respect the Prophet Muhammad SAW. When the Companions of the Prophet heard his words recited by other companions, they immediately submitted, obeyed and did as commanded by the Prophet SAW.

Second, as good Muslims, we should counsel one another because sometimes someone is negligent or at a very low level of faith that makes him slip from the right path.

Prophet SAW once said, Advice is a lost item from a believer. So it must be sought.

Third, as the party who gives advice we must dare to voice the truth, hatta to close people, friends, relatives or family, even to our families. However, as counselors we must also consider the time and place, when and where the advice should be expressed.

Fourth, we must be honest with anyone, especially when it is being sold, let us be honest with the condition of the goods we have, explaining the speciality of the goods, and so on, and also explain the shortcomings if there are any. This is where honesty requires courage because it can harm our business. Therefore, people who trade and dare to be honest will get blessings from Allah SWT

Wasilah ibn Iqsa also narrated a hadith from the Prophet of Allah, “Do not show joy for the distress that befell your brother, otherwise Allah will have mercy on your brother and will give you a trial.” (CHR. Turmudzy)