(ألسبع ألمثاني)
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{ وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعاً مِّنَ ٱلْمَثَانِي وَٱلْقُرْآنَ ٱلْعَظِيمَ }

(And, verily, We have bestowed upon thee seven of the (Mathani), and have given thee the Grand Quran) (15:87)


Now what is meant by the seven Mathani?

 The plural form Mathani is from the singular noun (Thanaa’) which

means: Praise, Admiration, and Commendation.

 

The root of (Thanaa’) is (Thani) which means: to bend, to fold.


ثَنَى الشيءَ ثَنْياً: ردَّ بعضه على بعض

لسان العرب

To bend over: to fold


ويقال للرجل الذي يُبْدَأُ بذكره في مَسْعاةٍ أو مَحْمَدة أَو عِلْمٍ: فلان به تُثْنَى الخناصر أَي تُحْنَى في أَوَّل من يُعَدّ ويُذْكر، وأَثْنَى عليه خيراً، والاسم الثَّناء.

لسان العرب 

A person to whom people always fold little fingers into the palm of the hand (in the process of counting): The first to be mentioned among people of good manners and deeds)

The plural form (Mathani) would mean courage and capabilities of some (one/thing).


ألمَثَانِي :[ بصيغة الجمع] من الشَّيْءِ: قواه وطاقاته. (ألقاموس ألمحيط)

( وأثناء الشيء ومثانيه: قواه وطاقاته واحدها ثني بالكسر) ( تاج العروس)



When both singular and plural definitions are combined, the real meaning of Mathani will thus become clearer: Admirable Character Traits: Qualities.


Seven of the Mathani, therefore, are:

Seven Admirable Character Traits:

Seven Qualities.


What were the qualities of Prophet Muhammad?

We shall find them in the Quran. We must, however, be careful to distinguish between the character (personal traits whether inherited or developed) of

Muhammad (PBUH) and his status as God’s Messenger

The following are what I have extracted from the Quran:

 
1. Grace: (An excellence or power granted by God): Personal charm.

وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَهَمَّتْ طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُضِلُّوكَ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَضُرُّونَكَ مِن شَيْءٍ وَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَابَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيماً

]But for the Grace of God to thee and his Mercy, a party of them would certainly have plotted to lead thee astray. But (in fact) they will only Lead their own souls astray, and to thee they can do no harm in the least. For God hath sent down to thee the Book and wisdom and taught thee what thou Knewest not (before): And great is the Grace of God unto thee. (4:113)



لَقَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولاً مِّنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَابَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلالٍ مُّبِينٍ

God did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of God, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error. (3:164)

وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَٰوتَك سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

…and pray for them: behold, thy prayer will be [a source of] comfort to them – for God is all-hearing, all-knowing.(9:103)

فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظّاً غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لاَنْفَضُّواْ مِنْ حَوْلِك...


And it was by God’s grace that thou [O Prophet] didst deal gently with thy followers: for if thou hadst been harsh and hard of heart, they would indeed have broken away from thee. (3:159)



2. Authenticity:

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفاً

Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message (18:6)


إِن تَحْرِصْ عَلَىٰ هُدَاهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي مَن يُضِلُّ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ

[As for those who are bent on denying the truth] though thou be ever so eager to show them the right way, [know that,] verily, God does not bestow His guidance upon any whom He judges to have gone astray; and such shall have none to succour them [on Resurrection Day] (16:37)

وَلاَ يَحْزُنكَ قَوْلُهُمْ إِنَّ ٱلْعِزَّةَ للَّهِ جَمِيعاً هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

Let not their speech grieve thee: for all power and honour belong to God: It is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things). (10:65)

وَلاَ تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ تَكُن فِي ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ

But grieve not over them, nor distress thyself because of their plots. (27:70)

3. Sympathy:

The sense of propriety and consideration for others, disposition to kindness and compassion:

ٱلنَّبِيُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ

The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves... (33:6)


لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Now hath come unto you an Apostle from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful. (9:128).

إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُواْ فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَٱنْتَشِرُواْ وَلاَ مُسْتَأْنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِي ٱلنَّبِيَّ فَيَسْتَحْيِي مِنكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ لاَ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ

…and, when your meal is ended, then disperse. Linger not for conversation. Lo! that would cause annoyance to the Prophet, and he would be shy of (asking) you (to go); but Allah is not shy of the truth..(33:53)

(َ لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ ٱلأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ ظَالِمُون)

It is no concern at all of yours, whether He relents to them or chastises them; for they are indeed evildoers. (3:128)


4. Exemplar:

- Ideal:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيم

And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character. (68:4)


-Model:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيراً

Verily, in the Apostle of God you have a good example for everyone who looks forward [with hope and awe] to God and the Last Day, and remember God unceasingly. (33:21)


5. Composure :

-Confidence:

إِلاَّ تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثَانِيَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِيَ ٱلْعُلْيَا وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيم

If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for God did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion; they were only two in the cave, and he said to his companion, "Have no fear, for God is with us": then God sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of God is exalted to the heights: for God is Exalted in might, Wise. (9:40)

- Braveness:

( وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّىءُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَاعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ )

And when thou settedst forth at daybreak from thy house folk to assign to the believers their positions for the battle, God was Hearer, Knower (3:121)

6. Righteousness: Mediator, final judge and arbiter:

خُذِ ٱلْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَاهِلِينَ


Make due allowance for man’s nature, and enjoin the doing of what is right; and leave alone all those who choose to remain ignorant. (7:199)

NB: the Prophet here is given the authority to apply his own ethical standards on various matters concern his community.

مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَامَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَاكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَيْ لاَ يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ ٱلأَغْنِيَآءِ مِنكُمْ وَمَآ آتَاكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُواْ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

What God has bestowed on His Apostle (and taken away) from the people of the townships,- belongs to God,- to His Apostle and to kindred and orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; In order that it may not (merely) make a circuit between the wealthy among you. So take what the Apostle assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear God; for God is strict in Punishment. (59:7)

فَإِذَا ٱسْتَأْذَنُوكَ لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأْذَن لِّمَن شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Hence, when they ask leave of thee for some [valid] reason of their own, grant thou this leave to whomsoever of them thou choose [to grant it], and ask God to forgive them: for, behold, God is much-forgiving a dispenser of grace! (24:62)

فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِيۤ أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً

But no, by your Lord! They will not believe until they make you judge over what has broken out between them and find in themselves no inhibition regarding what you decide, but submit in full submission. (4:65)

NB: It should be noted here that the Prophet is a mediator and arbiter in conflicts occurred among his community on matters that are not necessarily related to the divine message.

...)وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي ٱلأَمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ(

And take counsel with them in all matters of public concern; then, when thou hast decided upon a course of action, place thy trust in God. (3:159)

NB: The Prophet here is given full authority to make final decisions on major matters of public concern (as the leader). He, however, is instructed to take counsel with the community of the faithful.

7. Patience:

وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلاَّ ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَآ إِلاَّ ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ

And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint,- none but persons of the greatest good fortune.(41:35)

فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ ٱلْغُرُوبِ

 
Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting. (50:39)

وَٱصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلاَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَلاَ تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ تَكُ فِي ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ

And do thou be patient, for thy patience is but from God; nor grieve over them: and distress not thyself because of their plots. (16:127)

The above mentioned traits are (in my opinion) the seven (Mathani) God the
Almighty bestowed upon Muhammad (PBUH).

It is worthful to mention here that modern sociologists suggest that these traits,or at least most of them, are what a highly charismatic person must have.

Therfor, we may conclude that (The Seven Mathani) refer to the Personal Charisma of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

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Awni Ahmad