Building Trust the Prophetic Way
By Miriam Mohamed
Chicago, IL

 

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, exemplified virtue and noble conduct from a young age, abstaining from prevalent immoral practices such as idolatry, intoxication, oppression, and dishonesty. His impeccable honesty and fair arbitration earned him the title Al-Saddiq Al-Amin, "the truthful and trustworthy," recognized even before receiving revelation. This integrity extended beyond personal interactions to encompass his roles in business and governance, setting a standard of ethical leadership that remains unparalleled in history.

Central to Prophet Muhammad's, peace and blessings be upon him, approach was his unwavering commitment to truthfulness, earned through a lifetime of consistent honesty in word and action, and his reliability in fulfilling agreements. Once, the Prophet Muhammad assembled the people of the Quraysh near Mount Safa. He asked them, “O Quraysh! If I were to tell you that an army is approaching from behind the mountains, would you believe me?” Without hesitation, they all responded affirmatively, saying, “Yes, because we have always known you to be truthful.” For forty years, the people of Makkah had known him as a man of impeccable honesty and piety. Despite this, many of them still refused to accept him as the Messenger of Allah.

One notable example of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, keeping his promise involves the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. In 628 CE, the Prophet and his followers set out to perform Umrah (a pilgrimage to Makkah) but were stopped by the Quraysh tribe at Hudaybiyyah, outside Makkah. After negotiations, a treaty was agreed upon which included several terms, such as the postponement of the pilgrimage to the following year and terms for peaceful relations.

Despite the seemingly unfavorable conditions of the treaty, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, adhered to every clause faithfully. For instance, when the Quraysh violated the terms of the treaty by supporting a tribe hostile to the Muslims, the Prophet did not retaliate immediately. Instead, he honored the treaty’s terms and waited for the appropriate time to address the issue diplomatically.

Eventually, the treaty led to a period of peace that allowed many people to observe Islam and led to the subsequent peaceful conquest of Makkah in 630 CE. The Prophet’s commitment to honoring the treaty demonstrated his dedication to his promises and his strategic patience in furthering his mission.

His impartial arbitration in disputes earned him widespread trust within the community. One notable instance of his credibility and fairness, even before receiving divine revelation, occurred when the tribes of Quraysh decided to rebuild the Kaaba. When it came time to place the Black Stone in its proper position, the Quraysh nobles began to argue over which tribe should be honored with this task. They eventually agreed that the next person to enter the area would be the one to arbitrate the matter. When Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, entered, the nobles rejoiced. After hearing all sides of the debate, Muhammad proposed that the Black Stone be placed on a cloak and that representatives from each tribe lift it together. Once the stone reached its designated spot, he would position it himself. The nobles agreed with this solution and supported his decision.

Moreover, his empathy and kindness toward all, regardless of background, fostered unity and trust within society, echoing today’s need for empathy in developing and nurturing harmonious relationships. 

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, emphasized confidentiality and discretion, respecting privacy and instilling a sense of security among his companions. The Prophet placed significant emphasis on confidentiality, discretion, and respecting privacy throughout his life. A notable example of this can be found in his interactions with his companions and followers, particularly in the context of personal matters.

One specific instance involves the Prophet's, peace and blessings be upon him, treatment of a person who had committed a sin and confessed it to him. The Prophet was approached by a man who admitted to committing a sin and sought repentance. Instead of publicly disclosing the man's wrongdoing or humiliating him, the Prophet responded with discretion and compassion. He maintained the confidentiality of the individual's confession, he did not expose the man's sin to others, demonstrating respect for his privacy and providing him with a chance to seek forgiveness from Allah without facing public shame. This approach reinforced the importance of safeguarding personal dignity and maintaining confidentiality.

This incident reflects the broader principle in Islamic teachings that emphasizes the protection of individual's privacy and the importance of handling personal matters with discretion. It underscores the value of maintaining trust and security within the community, in alignment with the Prophet's, peace and blessings be upon him, teachings on ethical behavior and respect for others' privacy.

His forgiveness and efforts at reconciliation exemplified the transformative power of trust in healing relationships and communities. A profound example of this is the Amnesty for the People of Makkah after the Conquest of Makkah. After years of conflict and a treaty that had been violated by the Quraysh tribe, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims, now a sizable and powerful force, marched towards Makkah to reclaim the city. As the Muslim army approached, the city was in a state of fear and anticipation. The Prophet's entry into Makkah was marked by a remarkable act of forgiveness and reconciliation. Despite having faced years of persecution, opposition, and warfare from the Quraysh tribe, Prophet Muhammad chose to offer amnesty to those who had opposed him. 

Prophet Muhammad's, peace and blessings be upon him, life provides profound insights into cultivating trust through truthfulness, reliability, empathy, confidentiality, and forgiveness. By embodying these qualities, we honor his legacy and contribute to a more just, compassionate, and trustworthy world. His emphasis on justice, compassion, and equality shaped the moral foundation of Islamic akhlaq or virtrue and manners, emphasizing respect for all people regardless of their background or beliefs. Prophet Muhammad's teachings continue to inspire millions worldwide, guiding them towards a life of righteousness and integrity.

Let us follow in the footsteps of Al-Saddiq Al-Amin, peace and blessings be upon him, and be trustworthy in our words and actions, fair in our decision-making and arbitration, honest in our affairs, and morally upright and noble in our character.

(  Miriam Mohamed is a mother to seven children and a granny to two cats!  She loves trying new things and learning cool facts. She has taught in an Islamic school setting, has experience assisting children with special needs, and enjoys volunteering and being a part of the community. Miriam lives in Chicago with her beautiful flowering cherry tree and big family. https://www.soundvision.com/article/building-trust-the-prophetic-way )