قال الله تبارك و تعالى في محكم كتابه المجيد، بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم "فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ"
This Aya, which is in Surat Al-Imran Aya number 159, Allah (S.W.T) mentions the way of communicating with people to the last messenger Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.W). First of all, Allah says (فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ) “It was as a result of Allah’s mercy that you Mohammed have been lenient to people. Had you been hard, had you been treating them in a harsh way they would definitely disperse from around you”. After that, Allah addresses the Prophet, saying (فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ) “forgive them” (وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ) “and consult them regarding the daily matters or affairs”. Here we are talking about the significance of consultation, how it is important. First of all, what is consultation? When you seek advice from others, from experts, you will have the benefit of getting the most appropriate way to deal with the issue. For example, if you are not familiar with the requirements for Hajj, pilgrimage which is incumbent, it is obligatory on all Muslims once in their lifetime. You don’t know who and which group are more helpful and offer the best of services to you. It is obvious that you consult others, those who have been to Hajj and say that in your opinion, if I join this group, is it better for me? Or do you suggest something else? When you need a treatment, of course you don’t know who is the most expert in the field of what ailment or the surgery that you need go under. Those who are experts, those who can give you the right advice, you seek their advice and consult them about the best way to deal with the subject. And this goes to every aspect of life. One of the advantages of consulting the experts, or those who had this experience before is that you can see the negative sides or whatever was beneficiary and in the same way which was a good experience. So, you gain, and you become more familiar with the advantages or disadvantages of what you are trying to do. One of the requirements of our time, in every society, someone who asks the hand of your daughter or your sister for marriage. Because you don’t know about the background of that person, so you try to ask, and this is very normal and even reasonable and logical because you don’t know about the background of the person who is asking the hand of your daughter or sister, to ask about his history and now we ask about the character reference for any type of business or partnership or even marriage. Here Imam Ali (A.S) tells us (من شاور الرجال شاركهم في عقولهم) which means that when you consult people and seek their advice, it is as if you share with them that wisdom they have which means that they can give you better advice for you which you will be protected from disadvantages that might happen. In the same context Allah (S.W.T) in Surat Al-Imran, Sura number three, Aya 159 tells us that how it is better and recommended to treat people in a lenient way, in a smooth way, in a method of respect and patience or you be tough and you treat them with a severe language or even in a hard hearted way. Here, Allah (S.W.T) says that it was as a result of Allah’s mercy that you treated them well, you were lenient, why? Had you been tough on them, they would definitely disperse, leave you. It happened immediately after an Aya which describes some of the Muslims who were discouraging those who attended the battlefield, to say, have they been joining us and they wouldn’t go to the battlefield, they would remain alive, now they lost their lives. In this way they were complaining or blaming those who want to defend Islam, defend their dignity, defend their religion and faith. Allah (S.W.T) says that “Oh Mohammed, peace be upon you and your progeny, don’t try to criticise them heavily. You try to be patient and talk to them in this way” (فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ) “forgive them then ask Allah (S.W.T) a pardon for them and in a way to tell them how you are kind to them” (شَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ) “discuss and consult them about what is the better thing to do”.
History tells us that during the Battle of Khandaq (خندق) or Ahzaab (أحزاب) where all parties, all idol worshippers with the Jews and some others who were atheist decided to uproot Islam, and this is Ahzaab which means parties, all allied forces gathered to put an end to Islam. Allah (S.W.T) describes that as it was very, very difficult time, the hardship was unbearable, then the Prophet (S.A.W.W) consulted Salman, a companion, how to deal with this warrior Amr ibn Abdil Wad Al A’meri (عمر بن عبد الود العامري) whose equal according to history, equalled to 1000 warriors, so brave and courageous according to them. So, Salman suggested that “let’s dig a trench that stops them from coming to our camp”. In some other occasions, we see that although the Prophet (S.A.W.W) was supported and protected by Allah with a divine revelation, but although him being the head of state, a messenger, the one who is receiving the revelation of Allah (S.W.T), but to consult people and ask them about how to do this way of defending the country or the people, or the land it would add more wisdom to people and to the one who is seeking advice from them. Of course, the youth are the most needing people to seek the advice of those who are older in the community and they have more experience. These are the experiences that tells you how to handle the cases and deal with them. Because of lack of experience you may decide for something wrong but those who have examined this way, they can tell you about the disadvantages or negative points that might face you in the journey, position, partnership or any other way of handling the cases. So, the youth need the advice of those who are more experienced. The other Aya, which we read in Surat Al-Shura, Aya number 38, Allah (S.W.T) describes Muslims, the believers as (وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ) which means that “to run their affairs, the state, the administration, they rely heavily on consultation”. And that is why the parliaments in many Muslim countries are called Majlis Asshura, because it is assembly or gathering for consultation. They consult one another. Instead of, or as a replacement of democracy or democratic system in the Western countries, we see the Shura which is the basis for consultation there (وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ). Again Allah (S.W.T) in Surat Al-Zumar, Aya number 18, describes those believers who have a real understanding about life, and know how to act in the best manner, Allah (S.W.T) says that (الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ) “those who listen to the variety of opinions, but they choose the best out of them” (الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ) for example, in every subject there are two different opinions, different ways of solving it. So, you examine all of them, try to approach them, then (فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَه) “they try to choose the best off those opinions” so it is similar to the consultation or the whole objectives of this type of seeking advice from others.
Brothers and sisters, to stick to your opinion and reject and deny or even don’t think that you are in need to consult others, it is a type of arrogance that you think you are always right and you don’t need to seek advice from others but, Imam Ali (A.S) says (وَمَنِ اسْتَبَدَّ بِرَأْيِهِ هَلَكَ) “those who stick to their own opinion and think that they are in no need to learn from others, they cause the maximum damage to themselves”.
May Allah guide us on the right path and help us to learn from the Quranic teachings.