Muhammad (peace be upon him) paid attention to good names, optimistic ones, changing the ones with unsuitable connotations. He changed the name of a woman from Asiya (disobedient) to Jamila (beautiful one). Once a man came to the Prophet who asked,
“What’s your name?”
The man answered, “Hazen, meaning ‘difficult'”.
The messenger named him Sahl meaning ‘easy’.
In another situation, a man called Asram was among the group that came to the Messenger of Allah who changed his name into Zurah.
Abdullah bin Harith bin Abzi said that Raetah bint Musallam narrated on behalf of her father who said, “I witnessed the battle of Hunayn with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
He asked me, ‘What’s your name?’
I answered,’Gurab (raven), He said no, you’re Musallam.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) changed the names of Al-As, Auzair, Atalah, Satan, Al-Hukm, Gurah, Shehab and Habbab into Hashim.
He also named Harb (war) Salaam (peace), Al-Muttajae, Al-Munbaeth.
He also changed the names of places: a piece of land called Afrah, into Khudrah (green one) Shua’b Addalaleh (paths of astray) into Shua’b Al-Huda (those of guidance). He also changed the names of tribes like those of Bani Zeinah into Al-Rushadh, and Bani Mughwiyyah into Buni Rushadh.
During the Day of Al-Hudaibiyah, when the people of Makkah prevented Muhammad (peace be upon him) and His companions from performing Umrah, They sent a delegation to negotiate the matter but they failed to reach an agreement, then they sent a man called Suhail (easy one) bin Amr, the Prophet said, “, Allah made it easy for you,” in optimism about the name.
Optimism accompanied Muhammad (peace be upon him) in worship
Muhammad was close to Allah, resorting to Him with prayers and supplication everywhere. Among the examples He set, were prayers during the delay of rain, while people were in dire need.
This prayer is called (Al-Estiskaa). It was a congregational prayer where He made supplications to Allah Almighty and turned His coat in optimism of the change of situation from drought into rain.
Abdullah bin Zayd narrated that, The Prophet (peace be upon him) came to the prayer place seeking rain, directing Himself towards the Kaaba, turning His coat and prayed two rak’as.
Optimism in Distress
When we see optimism is somebody’s eyes due to success, we consider it natural, but in a distressed eye we deem it odd.
In distress, man is upset driven into despair. Muhammad (peace be upon him) was but a human being prone to distress like others. Did He despair or expect evil and disasters? Or was He optimistic?
His wife, Aisha (may Allah bless her), narrated that, “She asked Him once about the severest hardship He received from His people. He mentioned that it was during the trip to Taif during which He did not invoke Allah’s torture but rather wished that Allah might give them the posterity to worship Him alone without associates.
During the Hijra, the Quraysh plotted against Muhammad (peace be upon him) to expel Him from His home, kill or arrest Him.
It was necessary for Him to take precautions to avoid the situation, thus in a cave in Makkah till the He and His companion Abu Bakr resorted to hiding Quraysh gave up, and then they proceeded to Medina. Upon failure to find Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Quraysh tried with all their might to track Him.
When they reached the cave, they paused to confer, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) told Muhammad that if any of them looked beneath his feet, he would view us; but Muhammad had another view as told by the Glorious Qur’an, “If you do not aid the Prophet, Allah has already aided Him when those who disbelieved had driven Him out (of Makkah) as one of two, when they were in the cave and He said to His companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us”‘ (AI-Tawbah: 40)
As recounted by the Qur’an, this attribute is not limited to Muhammad (peace be upon him), as the prophet Moses lived in optimism in a similar situation. Standing on one shore of the sea, while not seeing the other, with an inexperienced faction in front of an irresistible army, Moses, with trust in Allah, even optimistic, despite despairing calls that “Indeed, we are to be overtaken!” (Al-Shura: 61)
But he, as the Qur’an narrated, did not collapse nor get upset; rather, he remained optimistic saying,”(Moses) said,’No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me:” (Al-Shura: 62)
Thus Muhammad (peace be upon him) followed in the steps of His fellow prophets.
The task shouldered by Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a great one that necessitated a change (in both individual and society) — and a change in religious, social and political reality; this change, in itself, necessitated on enormous effort.
However, it was not merely change, as there were several powers in Arabia whose interests were in keeping the situation the way it was.
These powers lost much of their influence and potential in any success achieved by Muhammad (peace be upon him); therefore, they reacted with aggression and resistance to change. Those with much pessimistic mutterings do not manage to change themselves, let alone their societies.
He Taught His Companions Optimism
Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not stop at being optimistic Himself, but rather taught and brought up His companions on optimism. Uday bin Hatem Attai, one of Muhammad’s companions, said, “While I was there at Muhammad’s, there came a man complaining about poverty, and another wayfarer.
The Prophet said,’O Uday, did you see Al-Heyarah?’
I said I did not, but I was informed of (Al-Heyarah, a city in Iraq).
He said, ‘If you lived longer, you would see a woman traveling from Al-Heyarah to circle the Kaaba, fearing none but Allah.
Uday said, muttering to himself, ‘Where are the robbers of Douaar who caused havoc everywhere?’
The Prophet continued, saying,’Were you to live longer, Kisra’s treasures will be captured.
Uday said, ‘Is it Kisra bin Hormoz?’
The Prophet said, ‘Yes, Kisra bin Hormoz, and if you live more, you will see a man offering a handful of gold and silver but nobody accepts:”
Aoda bin Hatem witnessed the realization of everything mentioned above, as he said, “I saw the woman traveling from AI-Heyarah to circle the Kaaba fearing none but Allah, and I was among those who captured Kisra’s treasure and if you live, you will see what Abu Al-Qasim (the Prophet) said.”
In another situation, while being feeble in Makkah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught His companions to be optimistic and hopeful for a bright future.
Khabbab bin Aratt (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “We complained to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as He was lying on His coat in the shadow of the Kaaba.
He said in previous times, a hole was dug for the man to be split in two, his body combed with steel penetrating to the bone without being diverted from religion.
By Allah, this religion will be victorious, till a pilgrim sets from Sana’a to Hadramout fearing none but Allah and the bear for his sheep, but you are in a hurry.”
Years past and the pilgrim did so safely as Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated.
The Muslim state has expanded being safe, because of justice and security as well as integrity and sovereignty.
While taking pains to teach His companions to be optimistic, Muhammad (peace be upon him) struggled against any pessimistic outlook that saw no hope in reform. He warned His companions against such behavior, as He said, “If one says people are ruined, one is the most ruined of all.”
One of the Bedouin fell, ill and the Prophet (peace he upon him) visited him saying, “No harm, it is purification, Allah willing.”
The Bedouin replied, “Purification? No, it is fever that rages for an old dying man.”
The Prophet said, “It is all right.”
