THE HADITH ON CONSISTENCY

Aisha bint Abu Bakr (may God be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked, “Which deeds are most beloved to Allah?” He replied, “The most consistent of them, even if they are small.” He further said, “Commit yourselves only to what you are capable of.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 6465)

This Hadith is often applied to acts of remembrance (adhkar) and worship. However, the truth is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) in this statement outlined a general principle of life. While it certainly applies to remembrance and worship, it is equally relevant to other aspects of life.

The preference for consistent actions, even if small, is not a mystery. This is because significant and lasting results can only be achieved when an action is sustained over a long period. Results and sustained effort are closely linked. Since only result-oriented actions are valued by God, temporary and unproductive disturbances are not favoured by Him.

This is why God values actions that embody consistency. The educational movement of the scholars was a positive and non-violent movement, and it developed the quality of consistency. Due to this characteristic, it became a movement beloved to God and, as a result, brought about numerous benefits.

The distinctive feature of the work carried out by scholars through the Madrasa Movement lies in its enduring and self-sustaining nature. Once initiated, it continued without interruption. As a result, the movement has remained active in the Indian subcontinent for nearly a century and a half, steadily expanding over time. During this period, the movement has not only flourished within the subcontinent but has also reached beyond its borders, as individuals trained under this system have established numerous madrasas—both large and small—around the world.

There has been an increase not only in their number, but also in terms of their nature and development. For example, alongside boys’ madrasas, large madrasas for girls have also been established. Madrasas have been modernized, with the addition of computers and other new facilities. Various academic departments have also been added, such as Dar al-Ifta (legal verdict departments), writing and publishing, religious guidance and understanding, journalism, and more.

One significant aspect of the scholars’ work is that they established a healthy tradition that continued after them, with countless people advancing this tradition over the years. In this regard, it is appropriate to say that the madrasa movement initiated by these scholars exemplifies the saying of the Prophet Muhammad:

“Whenever a servant initiates a good tradition that is followed after him, he will receive a reward equal to those who follow it, without diminishing their rewards in the slightest.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1017)

In this Hadith, “good tradition” refers to a healthy tradition. I believe the madrasa movement initiated by these scholars exemplifies precisely such a commendable tradition. Therefore, the rewards earned by those who have followed this tradition so far, or who will follow it in the future, will also be credited to its original pioneers. This will happen without reducing the rewards of those who act upon this tradition in any way.