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One day the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – sat
with his companions when a Bedouin came. Immediately the man asked the
Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam, “When is the final hour?” A question
the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – disliked. The Prophet – Sal
Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – replied, “What have you prepared for it?” The
Bedouin said, “I have not prepared much Salah, or much Sawm, or much
Sadaqah, but one thing: I love Allah and His Messenger.” Then the Prophet –
Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “You shall be with whom you love!” Anas
– Radi Allahu Anhu – the narrator of the hadith said, “By Allah, nothing
brought us more happiness after our Islam than that statement: ‘you shall be
with whom you love.’ I love Allah and His Messenger, and Abu Bakr and Umar;
And I hope to be with them (on the final day) eventhough I have not done as
much as they did. – Muslim In the hadith of Jibraeel, when he came to the
Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – in front of the companions in the
form of a man and asked him – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – about Islam,
Iman, and Ihsan. He said when asked about Iman, “Iman is to believe in
Allah, His angels, His books, His Messenger, the Final Day and the divine
decree, the good and the bad thereof.” Today we shall talk about Iman in the
messengers. And specifically, Iman in the final Messenger, Muhammad ibn
Abdillah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam.
When the Messenger of Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – performed Hijra
from Makkah to Medinah, he and his companion Abu Bakr – Radi Allahu Anhu –
stopped at the home of Umm Ma’bad. They asked her for food/milk and she said
that there was none. Then, seeing a weak, frail calf in the corner, the
Messenger of Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – asked if he could milk
it. The Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – pet the calf on the back,
praying, until it opened it’s legs in preparation for milking. The milk
poured and poured as Umm Ma’bad watched in shock.
Later, when her husband came home with the frail flock he saw the blessing
shine from the walls and inquired, “What has happened here?” Umm Ma’bad then
described the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam. Her description of the
Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – is one of the most detailed.
Amongst the things she said was that his face was like a moon and his voice
was beautiful. His beard was long and full, his hair reached his shoulders.
Tranquility befell him when he was silent, and if he spoke he was
magnificent. From far he was the handsomest man, and from near he was the
greatest. Flanking him were men, if he spoke they listened, and if he
commanded, they hastily complied.
Abu Ma’bad knew who he was. He said, “Verily this is the man that Quraish is
looking for. I once thought of following him, and when I meet him I shall.”
He then called out poetry that all the inhabitants of Makkah heard on the
horizon:
Jaz Allahu Rabbin Naasi Khayra Jazaa’ihi / Rafeeqayn Qaala Khaymati Umma
Ma’badi
Huma Nazalaaha bil Huda, fah tadat bihi / Faqad Faza man Amsa Rafeeqa
Muhammadi
What can you say in only one Khutbah about a man that Encyclopedias were
written on only his character. I would like in these short moments however
to reflect on some of the things Allah blessed His Messenger – Sal Allaahu
Alayhi wa Sallam – with, in this world and the next.
1. The Final Messenger. Muhammad ibn Abdullah was the final Messenger of
Allah, There shall be no Prophets or Messengers after him. And whoever
claims such is a liar. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “The
example of myself and the prophets before me is that of a man who built a
house, beautifying it, except for a corner where a brick was missing. People
would go around admiring the structure but remarking, ‘if only it was
completed here.’ The Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – then said, “I
am that brick, I am the last of the Prophets.” - Muslim
2. Security for the Ummah. Rasul Allah - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam - – Sal
Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – was a protection for the Ummah. Allah would not
punish them so long as he was amongst them. Allah declared [And Allah would
not punish them (so long) as you are amongst them. Nor shall he punish them
so long as they seek forgiveness.] Anfal 8/34
3. His wives are our Mothers. Rasul Allah’s - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam -
wives are our mothers. Allah declared [The prophet is closer to the
believers (those of Eeman) than their ownselves and his wives are their
mothers.] Al-Ahzaab 33:6
4. Protected by Allah. No one could harm the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa
Sallam – because Allah was his protector. [And Allah will protect you from
the people…] Al ma’idah 5/67
5. The Greatest. He was the greatest human. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa
Sallam – told us, “I am the chief son of Adam, with no boast.”
6. The Greatest Followers. He lived amongst the greatest men and women, his
companions. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said , “The best generation
is my generation…”
7. A witness over us all. Rasul Allah - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam - – Sal
Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – shall be a witness over the entire Ummah of
Islam. Allah – Subhaanahu wa Ta ‘Aala – says [ How (will it then ) be, when
we bring from each nation a witness and we bring you ( O Muhammad – Sal
Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam –) as a witness against these people?] This is the
verse that made Him weep. Nisa 4:41
8. Allah Swore by Him. And Allah testified by his life in the Qur’an. [By
your life (O Muhammad – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam –) verily they are in
their intoxication wandering blindly] Al Hijr 15/72
9. The Most Followers. And he will have the most followers than any other
Prophet. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “Amongst the Prophets on
the day of resurrection I shall have the most followers.”
And on the day of judgement, Rasul Allah - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam -
will claim the highest position amongst creation: Al Maqaam Al Mahmood.
Allah will give him the fountain of Al-Kawthar. And He will be allowed to
intercede for his Ummah.
Mustafa Ar-Rifaee commented “It’s interesting how many Muslims have failed
to recognize the wisdom behind the name of the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi
wa Sallam – being called 5 times across the world: Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadur
Rasullullaah. Not only that, but in every Salaah and Nafilah, his name is
whispered all across the body: Allahumma Salli ala Muhammadin ... Could the
wisdom be nothing other than the Ummah not cutting off the remembrance of
their Prophet for not a single day of history, for not even a portion of the
day.” And Allah knows best.
Part II: The Prophet’s – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – Rights over Us
Some have exaggerated the status of Rasul Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa
Sallam – attributing to him things that are only befitting of Allah. Others
sought to show their love by holding bithday parties, what is known as
Mawlid An-Nabi for the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam. This is not
how someone should show his love, for it is a form of worship unauthorized
by the Sunnah or the practice of the early Muslim generations. And whatever
is not authorized by the Shariah is rejected by Allah.
Love can only be expressed by following the Messenger of Allah – Sal Allaahu
Alayhi wa Sallam – everyday of our lives.
Do you know why Allah – Subhaanahu wa Ta ‘Aala – sent Muhammad – Sal Allaahu
Alayhi wa Sallam? Allah sent him to be obeyed and imitated, a living example
of the Quran. Rasullualah has rights over us, and these rights include the
following.
· He must be loved more than our family, children, more than oneself. He –
Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “One of you shall not believe until I
am more beloved to him than his children, parents, and all of humanity.”
This was how the Companions, male and female were.
Ali ibn Abi Talib said, “By Allah, he was more beloved to us than our
wealth, more than our children and fathers and mothers, more than cold water
when dying of thirst.”
· Rasul Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – must be respected and
revered. Allah states [O you who believe, Do not put yourselves forward
before Allah and His Messenger And fear Allah. Verily Allah is All-Hearing,
All-Knowing.] al Hujarat 1. The Arabic La-tuqaddimu means do not walk ahead
of. This happens when someone is hasty in matters of religion, deciding
contrary to the decision of Allah and His Messenger.
· We must pray constantly for our Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam.
Everything we know in Islam came to us through him. Jibraeel came to Rasul
Allah - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam – as he was climbing the mimbar and
prayed, “Perished be he to whom you are mentioned to and he does not pray
for you. Say ameen.” And the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said,
“Ameen!”
Article by Muhammad Al-Shareef |
