Indicators for Love of the Prophet

[AbuMubarak]

‘Abdul-‘Azeez Al-Qaari



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First Khutbah

Among the most important indicators of ones sincere love of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam is to hate those who hate him and to become an enemy against those who set him as their enemy. Also, it is to stay far away from innovators and those who are enemies and opponents of his Sunnah and to reject all matters that oppose Islamic Law.

He who truly loves somebody, whoever they may be, will love all that they love and hate all that they hate. The most worthy person for this type of love must be our Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, as he was the most honourable person that ever lived. He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam loved his wife Khadeejah, (a mother of the believers) may Allaah be pleased with her, deeply. When she believed in him, supported him in his mission, and stood by him at times of hardship, all this increased his love of her - so much so that after the death of Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to regularly check on her friends and send them gifts out of his love and loyalty to her. This example was narrated by ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her. (Bukhaari &; Muslim).

This is just how true and sincere love should be; to honour and revere all that the beloved cherishes. It is impossible that somebody's love is sincere if they do not consider the enemy of their beloved as their enemy. How can someone love somebody and his enemy simultaneously? How can two matters which are diametrically opposed ever unite? True and sincere love renders the enemy of your beloved as your enemy. This is precisely why the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who truly loved him, fought their own fathers, brothers and relatives for his sake. They only did so due to the sincere love that they had for him and for the sake of pleasing him.

Listen to the following illuminating examples that reflect this true and sincere love which the companions had for the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. They loved him to the extent that they favoured him over the dearest of people to themselves. Indeed they favoured loving the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam over loving any other person. On the way back to Madeenah when the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam finished from the battle of Bani Al-Mustaliq, ‘Abdullaah Ibn Salool (the chief hypocrite) uttered the following poisonous and treacherous statement: "When we return to Madeenah, the more honourable and worthier for power (meaning himself) will surely expel from there the more humble (meaning the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)" Zayd Ibn Al-Arqam, may Allaah be pleased with him, heard this and informed the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam who was saddened and angered by these words. When ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, who was the son of this hypocrite and a believer despite his fathers hypocrisy, heard about this, he went straight to the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and apologised to him for what his father had said. Furthermore, 'Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said to the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam: "If you wish, I can go and behead him (i.e., his father) for you and bring you back his head’. Upon hearing this, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam supplicated to Allaah for goodness for Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, but forbade him from killing his father.

‘Abdullaah unsheathed his sword and rushed with the rest of the believers to the approach of Madeenah. As his father neared, he pointed his sword at him and said: "I swear by Allaah that it is you who are the more humble and you will not enter Madeenah until the Prophet of Allaah permits you to enter. Then you will realise that it is you who are the more humble and that he is the more honourable and worthier for power." When news of this encounter reached the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, he sent a messenger to Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, saying: “I have given permission to your father so allow him to enter.” It was only then that the believing son allowed his hypocrite father to enter Madeenah (Ahmad, Tirmidhi and others). This is just how true and sincere love of our Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam must be.

* ‘The trustee of the Ummah’ was the nickname given by the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam to Abu ‘Ubaydah Ibn Al-Jarraah and who could ever set a greater and a more astonishing example than him when he killed his own father on the day of the battle of Badr? Also, on that day, ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, killed his maternal uncle Al-‘Aas and Mus’ab, may Allaah be pleased with him, killed his brother. These people were killed because they had come to fight the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and because they hated him; they were killed despite the blood relationship between themselves and their killers. This is because these relationships were severed when they began to hate the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. These people hated the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and it was this hatred which resulted in the severing of the strongest bonds and relationships between them and their believing relatives, who set the most wonderful examples for true and sincere love of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.

* Prior to him accepting Islaam, Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb, may Allaah be pleased with him, set out for Madeenah to negotiate with the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Therefore, he initially stopped off at the house of his daughter Umm Habeebah, may Allaah be pleased with her, who was the wife of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, in order to visit her. As he was about to sit down on a rug which belonged to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, she rolled it up and moved it away. Thereupon he remarked: "My daughter! I do not know if you think that the rug is too good for me or that I am too good for the rug!" She replied: "This rug belongs to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and you are a filthy polytheist." (Abu Ishaaq, At-Tabari).

Indeed this was true and sincere love. Although this man was her father, he was still a polytheist who hated the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and was his enemy, therefore she did not even allow him to sit on his rug, as he was impure. These are the fruits of true and sincere love; the kind of love that overwhelms the heart and dominates it until all that it cherishes or despises are based on this love.

As for those who claim love yet their hearts are inclined towards the enemies of their beloved or who hate and fight their beloved, their claim is nothing but an utter lie. Allaah says that which translates as: “You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and The Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred” (Al-Mujaadilah: 22).

Second Khutbah

The contemporary enemies of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam are those who oppose his Sunnah or the Sharee’ah (Islamic Law) that he was sent with. The enemies of his Sunnah are the ones who fight against it by innovating new matters into the religion of Islaam, while the enemies of the Sharee’ah are those who attempt to replace it with man-made legislation.

We must be aware that the enemies of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam are of three types:

Firstly: Those who openly reject the Sunnah in its entirety, such as those who say 'The Qur’aan on its own is sufficient.' These are the most evil enemies of the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and are just as wicked as those who openly reject the Prophethood of Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam warned against this type when he said: “Let none of you, when he receives any of my commands say (indifferently): ‘This is not in The Book of Allaah (i.e., I do not accept it)’” (Ahmad, Tirmidhi and others).

Secondly: Those who do not openly reject the Sunnah in general, but cast doubts regarding its authenticity and claim that in general, the Sunnah contradicts and even opposes the Qur’aan. These people are also evil enemies of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam even if they do not openly express their rejection of the Sunnah. Casting doubts about the soundness of the Sunnah is akin to rejecting and eradicating it. I am of course referring to those who cast doubts regarding the Sunnah as a whole and not those who regard individual Ahaadeeth as inauthentic due to the specialist knowledge that they have in this field.

I repeat; this type of people, who cast doubts on the authenticity and applicability of the Sunnah in general are one of the most evil types of enemies of the Sunnah. This is because Allaah has promised to preserve the Qur’aan and this necessitates that He preserves the Sunnah as well, because the Sunnah is the explanation and clarification of the Qur’aan. Therefore, preserving the Sunnah is an implication of preserving the Qur’aan.

Thirdly: Those who oppose the Sunnah by innovating in the religion of Islaam. Anybody who does this is in effect accusing the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam of failing to convey the entire message of Islaam from his Lord, whether they realise this fact or not. An innovation in matters of religion is to believe that a certain act of worship, which has no basis in the Qur'aan or Sunnah, is actually a part of the religion of Islaam and that by performing such an act, one is worshipping Allaah and becoming closer to him.

We must know that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam completely conveyed the Message from his Lord in the most perfect manner. He did not leave any matter, even the most minor, undelivered or unaddressed. The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam delivered his Lords message perfectly and fulfilled his trust. Allaah actually attests to this when he says that which translates as: “…This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islaam as a religion…” (Al-Maa’idah: 3).

In this verse our Lord informs us that His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam completely and perfectly conveyed His religion. Therefore, by the grace of Allaah, His bounty upon us has been completed.

O you who love the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam! Beware of innovations and stay far away from the innovators, for they are the enemies of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.

I do not know how much belief if any is left in those who willingly insist on fighting the Sharee’ah of Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and have taken it as their enemy. They have bombarded it with man-made laws and legislation and exerted all possible efforts in doing so. They even stoop to using deception, lies and trickery in order to achieve their objectives. This is despite the fact that Allaah revealed the following verse about a man who refused and rejected just one judgement of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (which translates as): “But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.” (An-Nisaa’: 65).

Therefore, if Allaah disaffirmed the belief of this man due to his rejection of a single judgment of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, what is the situation of those who reject and refuse everything that Prophet conveyed in terms of legislation? Indeed they are far from being believers.

Summary

1) Hating those who hate or oppose the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam is an indication of love of him.

2) Examples of this type of love from the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam:

a. ‘Abdullaah with his father ‘Abdullaah Ibn Salool (the chief hypocrite).

b. Abu ‘Ubaydah with his father.

c. ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab with his maternal uncle Khaalid Al-‘Aas.

d. Mus’ab Ibn ‘Umayr with his brother.

e. Umm Habeebah with her father Abu Sufyaan, before he became Muslim.

3) The three types of enemies of the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam:

a. Those who openly reject the Sunnah.

b. Those who doubt the Sunnah without openly rejecting it.

c. The innovators.

4) The definition of Bid’ah (innovation).

5) The obligation of ruling according to the Sunnah and the ruling of those who reject it.


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http://www.alminbar.net/english/khutbaheng/848.htm

[haideriam]

dear brother raafi

asa

and this is what the shias keep begging of you re ali(as) and muawiya, for here again the love of the ahlulbayt is compulsory in the quran. loving him and his friends becomes compulsory and hating his enemies becomes compulsory too

and all those that wronged him at various times

ws
h

[Ayah]

Love for the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam
Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

Al-Istinshaq
Quoted in
(Transl. J. Zarabozo; © Dar as-Salaam, 1996)

It is related in the Sahihain of al-Bukhari and Muslim, rahimahumallaah, from Anas, radhiallahu `anhu, that the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: "None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all of mankind."

And in the same sources we find that `Umar ibn al Khattab, radhiallahu `anhu, said to Allah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, "O Rasoolullah, you are more beloved to me than anything except my own self." Allah's Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, then told him, "No, by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, not until I am more beloved to you than your own soul." `Umar then told him, "By Allah, now you are more beloved to me than my own soul." Allah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, then told him that now he had the complete and correct faith.


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Ibn Rajab says about love of the Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam:

Love for the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam is at two levels.

The first level is obligatory. This is the love that requires one to accept whatever the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam brought from Allah and to receive it with love, pleasure, esteem and submission, without seeking guidance from any other source whatsoever. This is then followed by excellent following of him in whatever he conveyed from his Lord and to affirm whatever he has reported of obligations, to remain away from anything he has prohibited of forbidden acts, to give support for his religion and to strive against those who oppose him according to one's ability. All of this are necessary components that one must possess and a person's Faith is not complete without them.

The second level is superior [and not an absolutely necessary component of Faith]. This type of love requires following his example in an excellent way and fulfilling the following of his Sunnah with respect to his behavior, manners, voluntary deeds, superogatory actions, eating, drinking, dressing, excellent behaviour with his wives and other aspects of his perfect manners and pure behavior. It also includes learning about his life and days. It also includes the heart trembling when mentioning him, saying prayers and blessings upon him often out of what resides in the heart of love for him, esteem for him and respect for him. It also includes loving to listen to his words and preferring them over the words of others of the creation. And one of the greatest aspects of this love is to follow him in his abstinence of this world, his being suffices with a little and his turning to and desiring of the everlasting Hereafter.

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[abaleada]

40 durud of salawat on rasulullah salla Allahu `alahi wa aale sallam (http://www.inter-islam.org/DuroodSalaam/Salat-Salam.html)

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Sending Salutations on the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
upon him)

When a believer sends salutations and praise on his
beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah
upon him), there are various ways in which his
salutations reach the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace
and Blessings of Allah upon him). I will mention only
six different ways in which our praise reaches the
beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah
upon him).

1. The Almighty Lord has appointed an Angel in the
presence of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and
Blessings of Allah upon him) whose sense of hearing is
so vast that it hears all the voices of all creatures.
This Angel is besides the beloved Prophet Muhammad
(Peace and Blessings of Allah upon him) and it will
remain there until the Final Hour. It is the duty of
this Angel to present to the Prophet the salutations
of all believers who send praise.

2. Every believer has an Angel with him whose duty is
to present the salutations of this believer to the
beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah
upon him).

3. There are some Angels who stroll al around the
earth, and it is their responsibility to present to
the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of
Allah upon him) the salutations of the believers.

4. Every day the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and
Blessings of Allah upon him) is informed about the
entire actions of all his followers, salutations is
also including in this information. And therefore the
beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah
upon him) is well aware of all the actions of all His
devotees and followers.

5. Every Friday the entire salutations of all devotees
is collected and presented to the beloved Prophet
Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah upon him).
Whosoever has recited the most salutation becomes the
closest to the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and
Blessings of Allah upon him).

6. Almighty Allah (the Glorified) has granted beloved
Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah upon
him) an outstanding ability to hear the salutations of
all his devotees, wherever they may be. But there
still remains wisdom why he has also appointed Angels
to convey the salutations to the beloved Prophet
Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah upon him), just
like the Almighty Allah (the Glorified) is well aware
of all the actions of all his creatures, but Angels
still present it in his elevated presence. He (the
Glorified) has arranged this system and He is truly
well aware of the wisdom behind it.

[abaleada]

Recitation of poetry in the Prophet’s (s) honor is one of the meritorious acts recommended by the Sunna. Thus, we find it is one of the primary means of observing the Mawlid in almost all Muslim nations. Here we cite a few examples from sirah and hadith in which the Prophet (s) listened to poetry in his praise.

The Prophet’s uncle al-`Abbas composed poetry praising the birth of the Prophet r, in which are found the following lines: "When you were born, the earth was shining, and the firmament barely contained your light, and we can pierce through, thanks to that radiance and light and path of guidance." [Suyuti’s, Husn al-maqsid, Ibn Kathir’s Mawlid, Ibn Hajar’s Fath al-Bari.]

Ibn Kathir mentions the fact that according to the Sahaba, the Prophet (s) praised his own name and recited poetry about himself in the middle of the battle of Hunayn in order to encourage the companions and scare the enemies. That day he said:

"I am the Prophet! This is no lie. I am the son of `Abd al-Muttalib!" [Ibn Kathir, Dhikra Mawlid an-Nabi]

The Prophet (s) was therefore happy with those who praised him because it is Allah’s (swt) order, and he rewarded them from what Allah (swt) was providing him by praying for them and giving them gifts. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya relates that the Prophet (s) prayed that Allah (swt) support Hassan ibn Thabit with ruh al-qudus (the Divine spirit) as long as he would support the Prophet (s) with his poetry. Similarly, the Prophet (s) rewarded Ka`b ibn Zuhayr’s (r) poem of praise with a robe (burda).

Hasan ibn Thabit (r) recited this poetry about the Prophet (s) on the day of his death saying:

I say, and none can find fault with me

But one lost to all sense:

I shall never cease to praise him.

It may be for so doing I shall be
forever in Paradise,

With the Chosen One for whose
support in that I hope,

And to attain to that day I devote
all my efforts.

[Ibn Hisham, notes to his Seerah, p. 797, Karachi, Oxford Press.]

As mentioned in the Dubai Fatwa, Al-Hafiz Shamsuddin Muhammad ibn Nasruddin ad-Dimashqi in reference to the Prophet’s (s) uncle, Abu Lahab, noted in his book, Mawlid as-sa`adi, that his punishment in Hell is lessened every Monday because upon hearing the good news of his nephew, the Prophet’s (s) birth, he released his handmaiden Thuayyba out of joy. For his celebration of the Prophet’s (s) birth his punishment is reduced on the day of his birth. "What then" he asks, "of the believer who all his life was joyful for the existence of the Prophet rand died believing in the Oneness of God?"

With these hadith in mind, people constantly relate the Prophet’s (s) sirah, speak to their children about the importance of the Prophet (s) in their lives, offer food, help people, recite poetry in his praise and recite salawat (darood) excessively. Alhamdulillah according to the principles of the Qur’an and Sunna, this is considered an acceptable and effective approach to revive the love of the Prophet (s) and his message, in our ears and in our lives.

[abaleada]

The Creation of His Blessed Soul
When Allah made the Divine decree to bring Creation into existence, He brought forth the Muhammadan Reality from His Lights. He then pulled away from this Reality all the worlds, upper and lower. Allah then informed Muhammad of his Prophethood, while Adam was nothing but soul and body. Then from him gushed forth the springs of the souls, making him superior to all created things, and the greater father to all things in existence. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said that Allah wrote the Destinies of the Creation fifty thousands years before He created the Heavens and Earth, and His Throne was on the Water, and among the things that have been written in the Dhikr, which is the Mother of the Book, is that Muhammad salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam is the Seal of Prophets. Al Irbadh ibn Sariya, said that the Prophet salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "According to Allah, I am the Seal of the Prophets, while Adam was still in clay."

Maysara Al Dhabbi said he asked the Prophet salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, "Oh, Messenger of Allah, when did you become a prophet?" He salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam answered, "While Adam was still between the soul and the body."

Suhail bin Salih Al Hamadani said, "I asked Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ali, 'How did Prophet Muhammad salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam precede the other prophets when he is the last to be sent?' Abu Ja'far answered that when Allah drew forth the children of Adam and made them testify concerning Himself (answering His question, 'Am I not your Lord?'), Muhammad salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was the first to answer 'Yes!' Therefore, he preceded all the prophets, even though he is the last to be sent."

Al Shaykh Taqiy al Deen Al Subki comments on this hadith saying that since Allah created souls before bodies, Muhammad's salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam saying, "I was a prophet," is a reference to his sanctified soul, to his reality; and our minds fall short of understanding these realities. No one can understand them except the One who created them, and those whom Allah has supported with divine light.

So, Allah has bestowed prophethood upon the soul of the Prophet salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam before even the creation of Adam; for He created it thus, and He blessed immeasurably this creation, writing Muhammad's salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam name on the Heavenly Throne, and informing the angels and others of His high esteem for him. Thus, Prophet Muhammad's salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam reality has existed ever since, even though his body came later. Al Shi'bi related that a man said: "O, Messenger of Allah, when did you became a prophet?" He said: "when Adam was between the soul and the body, when the covenant was taken from me". Thus he salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam is the first of the prophets to be created, and the last to be sent.

It was narrated that the Prophet salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was the only one to be drawn forth from the loins of Adam before his soul was blown into him, because he salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, is the cause for the creation of mankind, he salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam is their master, their substance, their extraction, and the diadem of their necklace.

Ali ibn Abi Talib and Ibn Abbas both narrated that the Prophet salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "Allah has never sent a prophet, from Adam onward, unless he took from Him the covenant regarding Muhammad salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam: if Muhammad salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam is sent in that prophet's lifetime, he was to believe in him and support him, and that prophet was to take this covenant to his people as well.

It has been narrated that when Allah created the light of our Prophet Muhammad salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, He ordered him to look at the lights of the other prophets. His light covered them, and Allah had them talk and they said, "Oh, our Lord, who is covering us with his light?" Allah replied, "This is the light of Muhammad Ibn Abdullah; if you believe in him I will make you prophets." They said, "We believe in him and in his prophethood." Allah said, "Shall I be your witness?" They said, "Yes." Allah said, "Do you agree, and take this My covenant as binding on you?" They said, "We agree." He said, "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses" (3-81). This is the meaning of Allah's saying. "Behold, Allah took the covenant of the prophets, saying, 'I give you a book and wisdom, then comes to you a Messenger, confirming what is with you; believe in him and render him help.'"

Shaykh Takiy Deen Al Subki said, "In this noble verse the tribute to the Prophet salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam and the veneration of his high prestige is evident. It also indicates that if he had been sent in the other prophets' lifetimes, that his message would have been for them to follow, too. Therefore, his prophethood and message is general to all creation from the time of Adam until the day of Judgment, and all the prophets and their nations are from among his nation. So, Muhammad's salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam saying, "I have been send to all the people," is not only for people in his time and until the day of Judgment, but also includes those before them. This further explains his saying, "I was a Prophet salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam when Adam was still between the soul and the body." Knowing this, Muhammad salla Alahu `alayhi wa aale sallam is the Prophet of prophets, as was made clear on the night of his Ascension, when all the prophets prayed in congregation behind him. His pre-eminence will be further evident in the Hereafter, when all the Prophets will be under his banner.

[abaleada]

The Creation of His Sacred Body
Ka'b al Ahbaar said, "When Allah wanted to create Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, he ordered the Angel Gabriel to bring him the clay which is the heart of the earth, its splendor and light. Then Gabriel descended, accompanied by the angels from the Highest Part of Paradise. He took a handful for the creation of the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam from the spot where his hallowed grave is; it was shining brightly white. Then he kneaded the clay with the most superior water of creation from the Heavenly Fountain Tasneem, in the clear flowing rivers of Paradise, until it became like a white pearl with a tremendous white radiance. The angels carried it, circling the Heavenly Throne and the mountains and the oceans. In this way the angels and all creation came to know our Master Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam and his prestige, before they knew Adam."

Ibn Abbas said, "The origin of the clay of Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam is from the navel of the earth, in Mecca, at the spot where the Ka'aba is located. Therefore, Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam became the origin of creation, and all created things are his followers."

The author of Awarif Al Ma'arif [al-Suhrawardi], said that when the Flood, surged, sending foam in every direction, the essence of the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, ended up near his burial ground in Medina, so he salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam became someone of both Makkah and Madina.

It has been narrated that when Allah created Adam (as), He (swt) inspired him to say, "Oh, Lord, why did you give me the nickname, Abu Muhammad (the father of Muhammad)?" Allah replied, "Oh, Adam, raise your head." He raised his head and saw the light of Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam in the canopy of the Throne. Adam then asked, "Oh, Lord, what is this light?" Allah replied, "This is the light of a prophet from your progeny. His name in the heavens is Ahmad, and on Earth it is Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam. If it were not for him, I would not have created you, nor heaven, nor the Earth."

Abd Al Razzaq narrates, from Jabir bin Abdullah, that he said, "Oh, Messenger of Allah, may my father and my mother be sacrificed to you, tell me about the first thing that Allah created, before all other things." He said, "Oh, Jabir, Allah created, before anything else, the light of your prophet from His Light. That light started to move about by Allah's Divine Power to wherever Allah wished. At that time there was neither Tablet nor Pen; neither Paradise nor Fire, no angels; neither Heaven, nor Earth; neither Sun nor Moon; neither Jinn nor humankind. When Allah wanted to create His Creation, He divided that light into four parts. From the first part he created the Pen, from the second, the Tablet, and from the third, the Throne. Then He divided the fourth part into four parts: the first part formed the bearers of the Throne, the second part became the Footstool, and from the third He created the rest of the angels. He then divided the fourth part into four parts: He created the heavens from the first part, the earths from the second, the Paradise and Fire from the third. Then he divided the fourth part into four parts: creating the light of the vision of the believers from the first part, the light of their hearts (that is knowing Allah) from the second, and from the third the light of their pleasure and joy (Uns, which is La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadun Rasoolullah).

Another narration from Ali ibn Al Husain, from his father, from his grandfather, from the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam who said, "I was a light in front of my Lord, fourteen thousand years before the creation of Adam." It has been narrated that when Allah created Adam (as), He (swt) put that light in his back, and it used to glow from his front overwhelming all the rest of his light. Then Allah raised it to the Throne of His Sovereignty, and had it carried on the shoulders of His angels, and ordered them to take Adam around the heavens and show him the wonders of His Kingdom.

Ibn Abbas said, "Adam's (as) creation was on Friday in the afternoon. Allah then created for him Eve, his wife, from one of his left ribs while he was asleep. When he woke up and saw her, he felt at ease with her, and he stretched his hand out to her. The angels said, 'Stop, Adam.' He said, 'Why, didn't Allah create her for me?' They said, 'Not until you pay her dowry.' He asked, 'What is her dowry?' They answered, 'To recite praises on Muhammad three times.'" [and in another narration, twenty times].

It has also been narrated that when Adam (as) left Paradise, he saw written on the leg of the Throne and on every spot in Paradise, the name of Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam beside the name of Allah. He asked, "Oh, Lord, who is Muhammad?" Allah answered, "He is your son, who, were it not for him, I wouldn't have created you." Then Adam said, "Oh, Lord, for the sake of this son, have mercy on this father." Allah called out, "Oh, Adam, if you were to intercede through Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam for the inhabitants of Heaven and Earth, We would grant you intercession."

Omar Ibn Al Khattab said that our Master Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "When Adam committed the sin, he said, 'Oh, Allah, I ask you for the sake of Muhammad to forgive me.' Allah said to him, 'How did you know Muhammad when I haven't created him yet.' Adam answered, 'Because, O My Lord, when You created me with Your Hand, and blew into me from Your Spirit, I looked up and saw written on the legs of the Throne, La ilaha illallah, Muhammadun Rasoolullah. I knew that You did not attach any name to Yours except that of the most beloved of Your creation.' Allah said, 'Oh, Adam, you have spoken the truth: he is the most beloved of My creation. And since you asked Me for his sake, you are forgiven. Were it not for Muhammad, I would not have created you. He is the seal of the prophets from your progeny.'"

In the Hadith of Salman it is related that: Gabriel (as) descended on the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam and said, "Your Lord says, 'If I have taken Abraham as a beloved, intimate friend, I have taken you for the same. I have never created any creation more precious to Me than you, and I have created this world and its inhabitants for the purpose of letting them know your honor and what you mean to Me; and if it were not for you I would not have created this world.'"

Eve (as) gave birth to forty sons from Adam (as), in twenty births; but she gave birth to Seth (as) separately, out of respect to Our Master Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, whose light moved from Adam to Seth. Before Adam's death, he gave Seth custody over his children, and he, in turn, entrusted the children with the testament of Adam: to put this light only into pure women. This testament continued, century after century, until Allah gave this light to Abdul Muttalib and his son Abdullah. In this way, Allah kept pure the impeccable lineage of Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam from the fornication of the ignorant.

Ibn Abbas said, "Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, 'Nothing of the fornication of ignorance has touched my birth. I was born by no other than the marriage of Islam.'"

Hisham ibn Muhammad Al Kalbi narrated that his father said, "I counted for Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam five hundred mothers, and I never found in any of them a trace of fornication, or any of the ignorant one's affairs."

Ali said that the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "I came forth from marriage, I did not come from fornication; from Adam until I was born to my father and mother, nothing of the fornication of ignorance has touched me."

Ibn Abbas said Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "My parents never committed fornication. Allah kept moving me from the good loins to the pure wombs, purified and refined; whenever there were two ways to go, I was in the best of them."

Anas said Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam recited, "La qad ja'akum Rasoolun min Anfasikum, and said, I am the best among you in my lineage, in my relations, and ancestry: there is no fornication in my fathers all the way back to Adam."

A'isha related from the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam that Gabriel (as) said, "I have searched the Earth east to west, and I have never found a man better than Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, and have never seen any father's sons better than the sons of Hashim."

In Sahih Al Bukhari, Abu Huraira relates that the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "I have been sent from the best generations of the sons of Adam, one after the other, until I reached the one I am in."

In Sahih Muslim, Wathila ibn al Aska' narrated that Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "Allah has chosen Kinana from the sons of Isma'il, and Quraish from Kinana, and from Quraish the sons of Hashim, and finally chose me from the sons of Hashim."

Al Abbas said Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "Allah created the creation, and put me in the best groups, and the best of the two groups; then He chose the tribes, and put me in the best of their families. Therefore, I have the best personality, the best soul and nature, and possess the best origin among them."

Ibn Umar said Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "Allah examined His creation and chose the children of Adam from among them; He examined the children of Adam and selected the Arabs from among them; He examined the Arabs and chose me from among them, so I was always the choicest of choices. Behold, people who love the Arabs, it is out of love for me that they love them, and those who hate the Arabs, it is out of hatred for me that they hate them."

Know that Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was not directly related to any brothers or sisters from his parents; he was their only child and their lineage stops at him. In this way, he exclusively enjoyed a lineage which Allah (swt)ntended as the highest that prophethood can reach, and which holds the ultimate honor.

If you examine the status of his lineage salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam and know the purity of his birth, you will be certain that his is a progeny of honorable fathers, for he is Al Nabi salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, Al Arabi salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, Al Abtahi(s), Al Harami(s), Al Hashimi(s), Al Quraishi(s), the elite of the Sons of Hashim(s), the one who had been chosen from the superlative tribes of the Arabs, from the best lineage, the most noble descent, the most flourishing branch, the highest pillar, the best origin, the strongest roots, possessing the most eloquent tongue, the most articulate diction, the most outweighing scale, the most perfect faith, the most powerful company, the most honorable kinfolk from both parents, and from the most honorable of Allah's land. He salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam has many names and the foremost of which Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam the son of Abdullah. He is also the son of Abdul Muttalib, whose name is Shaybat-ul Hamd, the son of Hashim, whose name is Amr, the son of Abd Manaaf, whose name is Al Mugheera, the son of Qusai, whose name is Mujammi', the son of Kilaab, whose name is Hakeem, the son of Murra, the son of Ka`b (of the tribe of Quraish), the son of Lu'ai, the son of Ghalib, the son of Fihr, whose name is Quraish, the son of Maalik, the son of Al Nazhir, whose name is Qais, the son of Kinana, the son of Khuzaima, the son of Mudrika, the son of Ilias, the son of Mudhar, the son of Nizar, the son of Ma'add, the son of Adnan.

Ibn Dihia said, "The scholars agree and the scholarly consensus is proof that Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam has mentioned his lineage back to Adnan, and did not go beyond that."

Ibn Abbas related that whenever Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam mentioned his genealogy, he never went beyond Ma'add, the son of Adnan, and would stop, saying, "The genealogists have lied." He would repeat that twice or thrice. Ibn Abbas also said, "Between Adnan and Isma'il there are thirty fathers who are not known."

Ka'b Al Ahbaar said, "When the light of Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam arrived at Abdul Muttalib, and he had reached the age of maturity, he slept one day in the courtyard of the Ka'ba; when he woke up his eyes were blackened with antimony (kohl), his hair was oiled, and he was adorned with the robe of gorgeousness and beauty. He was amazed, not knowing who had done this to him. His father took him by the hand and hastened to the soothsayers of Quraish; they advised him to get him married, and he did. The smell of the finest musk used to exude from him, with the light of Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam glowing from his forehead. Whenever there was a drought, Quraish used to take him to Mount Thabeer, and call on Allah through him asking for Allah to send rain. Allah would answer their call and send them rain because of the blessings of the light of Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam."

When Abraha, the king of the Yemen came to destroy the sanctified house and news of this came to Quraish, Abd Al Muttalib told them, "He will not get to this House, for it is under the protection of its Lord." On the way to Mecca Abraha plundered Quraish's camels and sheep, among them four hundred she-camels that belonged to Abd Al Muttalib. He and many of the Quraish rode to Mount Thabeer. After climbing the mountain the light of Allah's Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam appeared in the form of a circle on his forehead like a crescent, and this beam reflected on the Sanctified House. When Abd Al Muttalib saw that, he said, "Oh, people of Quraish, you may return now, it is safe. By Allah, now that this light has formed a circle on me, there is no doubt that victory belongs to us."

They returned to Mecca where they met a man sent from Abraha. Upon looking at the face of Abd Al Muttalib the man was overwhelmed; his tongue stuttering. The man fainted, all the while bellowing like an ox being slaughtered. When he regained his senses, he fell in prostration to Abd Al Muttalib, saying, "I bear witness that you are truly the Master of Quraish."

It has been narrated that when Abd Al Muttalib appeared before Abraha, the huge white elephant in his army looked at Abd Al Muttalib's face and kneeled down like a camel does, and fell into prostration. Allah caused the elephant to speak, saying, "Peace be upon the light in your loins, Abd Al Muttalib." When, the army of Abraha approached to destroy the Holy Ka'ba, the elephant kneeled down again. They beat him severely on his head to make him stand up, which he refused to do. But, when they turned him around toward Yemen, he stood. Then Allah sent against them flights of birds from the ocean, every one of them carrying three stones: one in its beak, and one in each claw. The stones were the size of lentils, and when one hit a soldier, it killed him. They fled in chaos. Abraha was stricken with a disease. His fingertips began to fall off, one by one. His body poured out blood and pus, and eventually his heart split and he died.

It is this event that Allah was referring to when He addressed His Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam saying, "Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant..." This event is an indication of the prestige of our Master, Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, and a sign of his prophethood, and its establishment. It also points out the honor given to his people, and how they were protected, which caused the Arabs to submit to them and believe in their nobility and distinction, because of Allah's protection of them and defending them against the plots of the seemingly invincible Abraha.

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The Conception of the Beloved Prophet
Once while sleeping in the courtyard of the Ka'ba after Allah had saved Abd Al Muttalib from Abraha's wrath, he saw an amazing dream. He woke up frightened, and came to the soothsayers of Quraish, to whom he related his dream. They told him, "If it is a true vision, then from your loins someone will come whom all the inhabitants of Heaven and Earth will believe in, and who will be very well known. At that time he married Fatima, and she conceived Abdullah, Al Zabeeh, whose story is well known.

Years later, when they were returning home after having sacrificed a hundred camels as a ransom to save his life, Abdullah and his father passed by a Jewish soothsayer named Fatima. When she looked at the face of Abdullah, who was then the most handsome man in Quraish, she said, "I will give you the same number of camels which were sacrificed for you if you have intercourse with me now." She said this because of the light of prophethood that she saw in his face, and she was hoping that she would conceive this honorable prophet. Abdullah replied,

"Regarding haram, death is better,
And I don't see any halal in sight,
And about what you are asking for,
An honorable one must protect his honor and religion."

The next day, Abd Al Muttalib brought him to meet Wahab ibn Abd Manaaf, who was the chief of Bani Zuhra, their master in lineage and origin. Abd Al Muttalib married Abdullah to Wahab's daughter, Aamina, who was then the best woman in Quraish, both in lineage and birth. They became husband and wife on Monday, one of the days of Mina, at the mountain pass of Abu Talib, and she conceived the Prophet.

The next day, Abdullah went out and passed by the woman who proposed to him earlier. He asked her, "Why don't you offer me what you offered me yesterday?" She replied, "The light that you were carrying yesterday has left you; therefore I have no need for you today. I was hoping to have that light in me, but Allah willed it to be put elsewhere."

As early as the Prophet's conception, many wonders began to happen to Aamina. Sahl Ibn Abdullah Al Tustari said, "When Allah created Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam in his mother's womb, on a Friday night during the month of Rajab, he ordered Ridwan, the Keeper of Paradises, to open the Highest Paradise. A caller announced in the Heavens and Earth that the concealed light which would form the guiding prophet would settle on that very night in his mother's womb where his creation would be completed. It was also revealed that he would come out as a bearer of glad tidings and as warner.

It is narrated by Ka'b Al Ahbaar, that on the night of the Prophet's conception it was announced in Heaven and each of its divisions, and on Earth and all its corners, that the concealed light, from which the Prophet of Allah salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was made, would settle in Aamina's womb.

Also, on that day all the idols on Earth turned upside down. Quraish was suffering from a severe drought and great distress, but through this blessed event the earth turned green and the trees bore fruit, and blessing came to them from every direction. Because of these blessed signs, the year when Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was conceived was called the Year of Triumph and Joy.

Ibn Ishaq narrated that Aamina used to say how she had been visited by angels while she was pregnant with the Prophet, and she was told, "You are pregnant with the master of this nation." She also said, "I never felt that I was pregnant with him, and I never experienced any difficulties or food cravings like other women do; I only noticed that my menstruation had stopped. Once, an angel came to me while I was in between sleeping and wakefulness, and said, 'Do you feel that you are pregnant with the Master of people?', then he left me. When the time of birth approached, he came again and said. 'Say: I seek refuge for him with The One from the evil of every envious one. and name him Muhammad.'"

Ibn Abbas said, "One of the miracles of the Prophet's conception was that on that night, every one of Quraish's animals spoke and said, 'By the Lord of the Ka'ba, the Messenger of Allah has been conceived. He is the leader of the world and the light of its inhabitants. There is no throne belonging to any king of this world which hasn't been turned upside down tonight.' The beasts of the east rushed to the beasts of the west carrying the good news, and likewise the inhabitants of the oceans greeted each other. Every day of the month of his conception there was a call in Heaven and a call on Earth: Rejoice, the time is near when Abul Qasim will appear, blessed and fortunate."

Another narration indicates that on that night, each and every home was illuminated, and the light reached everywhere and each and every beast spoke.

Abu Zakariya Yahia ibn Aa'ith said, "Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam remained in his mother's womb the entire nine months, during which she never had any complaints of pain or anything that pregnant women often experience. She used to say, 'I have never seen an easier pregnancy than this one, or a more blessed one.'"

When Aamina was in her second month of pregnancy, Abdullah died in Medina amongst his uncles of the Bani Al Najjar, and was buried in Al Abwa'. It has been mentioned that when Abdullah died, the angels said, "Oh, our Lord and Master, your prophet has become an orphan." Allah said, "I am his protector and supporter."

[abaleada]

The Miraculous Birth of Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam
Amr ibn Qutaiba heard his father, who was very knowledgeable, say, "When it was time for Aamina to give birth, Allah said to the angels, 'Open all the gates of Heaven, and the gates of Paradise.' The sun on that day was dressed with a great light, and in that year Allah allowed all the women on Earth to conceive boys, for the sake of Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam."

Ibn Abbas said Aamina used to relate, "An angel came to me in a dream during my sixth month of pregnancy and said to me, 'Oh, Aamina, you are pregnant with the best of the worlds. When you give birth to him name him Muhammad, and keep it secret.' When I started to experience the pains of labor no one knew that I was home alone, including Abd Al Muttalib who was doing his circumambulation of the Ka'ba. I heard a loud bang that scared me. Then I saw what looked like the wing of a white bird, rubbing my heart, causing all fear to subside, and every pain I was feeling disappeared. Before me appeared a white drink which I drank, after which a bright light fell upon me and I was surrounded by some women, tall as palm trees, who looked like the women of Abd Manaaf. I was amazed, thinking, 'Oh, how did they find out about me?' They said to me, 'We are Asia, pharaoh's wife, and Maryam, the daughter of Imran.' My condition continued to intensify, and I could hear the banging getting louder and more frightening hour after hour. While I was still going through this I suddenly saw a piece of white silk stretched between Heaven and Earth, and heard someone say, 'Hide him so people can not see him.' I saw men standing in the air with silver jugs in their hands. I saw a group of birds filling my room, each possessing emerald beaks and ruby wings. Then Allah removed the veil from my sight, and I witnessed the whole Earth east and west, and three banners erected; one in the east, one in the west and one on top of the Ka'ba. Then I gave birth to Muhammad. Immediately he was prostrating, raising his two hands to Heaven as if in humble supplication. Then I saw a white cloud coming from Heaven which covered him causing him to disappear from my sight, and I heard a voice calling, 'Take him around to all the corners of earth, east and west, and into the oceans, so all will know him by his name, his attributes, and his form.' Then the cloud quickly disappeared."

Al Khateeb Al Baghdadi narrates that Aamina said, "When I gave birth to Muhammad I saw a large illumined cloud, wherein I heard horses neighing, wings flapping, and men talking. It covered him and he disappeared from my sight. Then I heard a voice calling, 'Take Muhammad all over the Earth. Show him to every spiritual being; the Jinn, human beings, angels, birds, and wild beasts. Give to him the shape of Adam, the knowledge of Seth, the courage of Noah, the intimacy of Abraham, the tongue of Ismail, the contentment of Isaac, the eloquence of Salih, the wisdom of Lot, the glad tidings of Jacob, the strength of Moses, the patience of Job, the obedience of Jonah, the strife of Joshua, the protection of David, the love of Daniel, the reverence of Ilias, the impeccability of John the Baptist, and the asceticism of Jesus, and immerse him in the qualities of the prophets.' Then the cloud cleared and Muhammad was grabbing a piece of green silk, folded tightly, with water gushing forth from it, and someone was saying, 'Great, great, Muhammad has grasped the whole world; all the creation in it has entered into his grasp, with none left out.' Then I looked at him and he looked like a moon on the night when it is full. His fragrance spread like the finest musk and suddenly, there were three individuals, one held a silver jug, the second, an emerald washtub, and the third, a piece of white silk, which he unfolded. He then took out a dazzling looking ring and washed it from the jug seven times, then he made a seal between his shoulders with the ring, wrapped him with the silk, and finally carried him under his wings and gave him back to me."

Ibn Abbas related, "When Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was born, Ridwan, the keeper of Paradises, spoke in his ear saying, 'Rejoice, oh, Muhammad, whatever knowledge any other prophet has, you have been given that knowledge. Therefore, you are the most knowledgeable and the most courageous of heart, among them."

Ibn Abbas also said that Aamina said, "When I gave birth to the Prophet, with him came out a light that lit the space between the east and west. He then fell on the ground, and leaning on his hands, took a handful of soil, grasped it, then raised his head toward Heaven."

Al Tabarani narrates that when he fell to the ground, he had his fingers drawn together, with the index finger pointing, testifying to the oneness of Allah.

Uthman ibn Abi il Aas narrated that his mother Fatima said, "At the time of Muhammad's salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam birth I saw the house filled with lights and the stars drew so near that I thought they were going to fall on me."

Al Irbadh Ibn Sariya related that Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "I am the slave of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets, from the time when Adam was thrown from clay. I will explain this to you: I am the answer to the prayer of my father Abraham, the glad tidings of Jesus, and the vision that my mother saw. Mothers of prophet's often see visions." When the Prophet's mother gave birth to him she saw a light which lit the palaces of Syria. This is what his uncle Al Abbas was referring to when he said in his poem, "When you were born, the earth shone and the horizon was illuminated with your light. We are traveling in that light and in the paths of righteousness."

Ibn Sa'd narrated that when Aamina gave birth to the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam he had no meconium (fetal fecal matter) in him.

Regarding the light which illuminated the palaces of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, there is a reference being made here to the benefit that these kingdoms received from the light of Muhammad's salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam prophethood, as these are the places of his dominion. It has been he said, "Prophethood is no longer with the Children of Israel, oh, people of Quraish. By Allah, Muhammad will lead you to have such influence that it will be spoken of from east to west."

Some of the wonders of the Prophet's birth have been narrated by Ya'qoob ibn Sufian, with a fair chain of narrators, in Fath Al Bari. He said that the Palace of Kisra of the emperor of Persia shook and fourteen of its balconies collapsed; the water of Lake Tiberias abated; the fire of Persia was extinguished (according to numerous narrations this fire had burned non-stop for a thousand years); and in the Heavens security was increased, being filled with more guards and shooting stars which prevented the devils hiding there from their evil eavesdropping.

According to narrations by Ibn Umar and others Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was born circumcised and with his umbilical cord already cut off. Anas related that the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "One of the signs of the honor I have been given by my Lord is that I was born circumcised, and no one saw my private parts."

There are different opinions regarding the year of Prophet Muhammad's salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam birth. The majority agree that he was born in the Year of the Elephant, and that it was fifty days after the incident with Abraha's elephant, and it was at dawn of the twelfth night of the month of Rabi' Al Awwal. Ibn Abbas said, "Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was born on a Monday, given the prophecy on a Monday, immigrated from Mecca to Medina on Monday, arrived in Medina on a Monday, and carried the black stone on a Monday; moreover, the opening of Mecca and the revelation of Surat Al Ma'ida were both on a Mondays."

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al Aas said, "There was a monk in Marr Al Zhahran, of the people of Syria, whose name was Easa. He used to say, 'It is about time that among the people of Mecca a child will be born whom the Arabs will submit to, and whose dominion the non-Arabs will also be under. This is his time.' Whenever there was a newborn boy, he used to inquire about him. On the day of the birth of Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam, Abd Al Muttalib went out and visited Easa. He came out and said to him, 'May you be the father of the blessed newborn I told you about. I said he would be born on a Monday, receive prophethood on a Monday, and die on a Monday.' Abd Al Muttalib replied, 'Tonight, at dawn, I had a newborn.' The monk asked, 'What did you name him.?' He answered, 'Muhammad.' Easa said, 'I was anticipating that this newborn would be from among your kinfolk. I had three signs: his star appeared yesterday, he was born today, and his name is Muhammad.' On the solar calendar it was the 20th of April and it is said that he was born at night.

A'isha said, "There was a Jewish merchant in Mecca on the night that the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was born. He inquired, 'Oh, people of Quraish, was there any newborn among you?' They replied, 'We don't know.' He said, 'Tonight, the Prophet of this last nation was born. Between his shoulders there is a mark containing a few hairs on it like a horse's mane.' They accompanied the Jew and went to the Prophet's mother, and asked her if they could see her son. She brought him to them and they uncovered his back and saw the birth mark, whereupon the Jew fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, they asked him, 'Woe to you. What is the matter with you?' He answered, 'By Allah, prophethood has gone away from the children of Israel.'"

Al Hakim narrated that the Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was born in Mecca in the house of Muhammad bin Yousif. He was breast fed by Thuwaiba, the freed female slave of Abu Lahab. He freed her upon her bringing him the good news of the Prophet's birth. After his death, Abu Lahab was seen in a dream, when he was asked, "How are you faring?" He answered, "I am in the fire. However, I get a break every Monday, when I am able to suck water from this spot between my fingers," and he gestured with two of his finger tips. "This miracle is due to my freeing Thuwaiba when she brought me the good news of the birth of the Prophet."

Ibn al Jazri said, "If Abu Lahab, the infidel, who was dispraised in a Qur'anic revelation, was nevertheless rewarded because of his rejoicing at the birth of the Prophet, how about Muslims from among his nation who rejoices in his birth and do the best they can out of love for him? By my life, their reward from Allah, the Generous, will be entry into the paradises of bliss with Allah's abundant bounties."

The people of Islam always celebrate the month of our holy Prophet's birth by having feasts, giving all kinds of charity, expressing their joy, increasing their good deeds, and carefully reading the story of Muhammad's salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam birth. In return, Allah fills believers with the abundant blessings of this month. It has been proven that one of the qualities of the Prophet's birthday, which is called the Mawlid, is that it brings safety throughout the year and the good news that all wishes and desires will be fulfilled. May Allah shower his mercy on everyone who turns the nights of this month of Muhammad's salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam blessed birth into festivities.

[abaleada]

An Infancy of Wonders

Halima said, "I came to Mecca with some other wetnurses from the tribe of the Bani Sa'd ibn Bakr, looking for newborn babies. It was a bad year for prospective nurslings. I and my child arrived riding a she-donkey and my husband led an old she-camel that didn't have a drop of milk. Throughout the journey the three of us could not sleep at night and I could find nothing in my breast to feed our son.

"When we came to Mecca every woman of our group was offered Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam as a nursling, but each turned down the offer after finding that he was a fatherless orphan. Literally, none of my women friends left Mecca without taking an infant, but no one would accept Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam. When I could find no other nursling, I told my husband that I hated to be the only one in the group to go back without an infant, and that I wanted to pick up that orphan.

"When I went to get him he was wearing a wool dress, whiter than milk. The fragrance of musk spread from him. Under him was a piece of green silk, as he lay on his back in a deep sleep. I was careful not to wake him, because of his beauty and grace. I carefully came close to him, and putting my hand on his chest, he smiled and opened his eyes. From his eyes came a light which went all the way to Heaven while I was looking. I kissed him between his eyes and gave him my right breast, which gave him all the milk he wanted. Then I switched him to the left, but he refused. That was the way he always was. After he was satisfied, I gave my son his fill. As soon as I brought him to my camp, both my breasts started pouring milk. By Allah's grace, Muhammad drank until he was satisfied, as did his brother. My husband went to our old camel for milk for us, and lo, it was full. He milked enough for us both to drink until we were satisfied, and we spent a wonderful night. Later my husband remarked, 'Oh, Halima, it looks like you have picked a blessed soul. We spent the first night in blessings and bounties, and Allah continues to give us more and more ever since we chose him.'

"I bid farewell to the Prophet's mother, and mounted my she-donkey, holding Muhammad in my hands. My donkey outstripped all the animals of the others who were with me, who were watching it in amazement. When we arrived at the dwellings of Bani Sa'd, which is one of the most barren parts of the land, we found that our sheep were full of milk. We milked and drank plentifully in a time where no one else could find a drop of milk in an udder. Others began to tell each other, 'Go to pasture wherever the shepherd of the daughter of Abu Thu'aib goes.' Still their sheep used to return hungry, with no milk to be found in them, while mine would return full of milk."

The Prophet's uncle, Al Abbas said, "Oh, Messenger of Allah, what made me enter into your religion was my witnessing a sign of your prophethood. I saw you in your cradle talking tenderly to the Moon and pointing at it with your finger. It moved across the sky to wherever you pointed." Muhammad said, "I was talking to it, and it talked to me, which distracted me from crying. I could hear the sound of its prostration under the throne."

In Fath Al Bari it is narrated that Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam spoke when he first was born.

Ibn Sab' mentioned that Prophet Muhammad's salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam cradle was rocked by the angels.

Ibn Abbas said that Halima used to narrate that when she first weaned Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam he spoke, saying, "Allah (swt)s most Great in His Greatness, and much praise be to Allah, and glory be to Allah (swt)n the beginning and end." (Allahu Akbar kabira, wal hamdu Lillahi katheera, wa subhana allahi bukratan wa aseela.) When he grew older he used to go out, and when he saw other children playing, he would avoid them.

Ibn Abbas said that al Shayma'a, the Prophet's foster sister, witnessed that as a boy a cloud shaded the Prophet. It stopped when he stopped, and moved when he moved. He grew up like no other boy. Halima said, "When I weaned him, we brought him to his mother, even though we longed for him to stay with us for all the blessings that we saw in him. We asked his mother to let him stay with us until he grew stronger, for we were worried about him being in the unhealthy environment of Mecca. We continued asking until she agreed to send him back with us.

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Early Childhood Marvels
"By Allah, two or three months after our return, while we were taking care of some of our animals behind our home, the Prophet's foster-brother came running, shouting, 'It is my Qurashi brother. Two men came to him wearing white clothes. They laid him down and cut his abdomen open.' His father and I ran to him. He was standing and his color was changed. His father hugged him and asked, 'Oh, son, what happened to you?' Muhammadsalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam answered, 'Two men wearing white clothes came to me. They made me lay down and cut my abdomen open. They took something out and threw it, then put my abdomen back together the way it was.' We took him home and his father said, 'Oh, Halima, I am afraid that something might have happened to this son of mine. Let's return him to his family before it get worse.'

"We took him back to his mother in Mecca. She said, 'What made you bring him back after you were so anxious to keep him?' We told her that we were worried that something bad might happen to him. She said, 'It is not that, so, tell me the truth.' She insisted until we told her his story. She asked, 'Were you afraid that the Devil might do something to him? No. By Allah, there is no way that the Devil can get to him. This son of mine will be of great standing. You may leave him now.'"

In the hadith of Shaddad ibn Aws it is related that Prophet Muhammadsalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "I was a suckling at Bani Sa'd ibn Bakr. One day while I was in the valley with young boys my age, when suddenly three individuals appeared. They possessed a golden washtub filled with ice and took me from my friends, who ran back to the quarter. One of the three made me lay down gently on the ground and cut open my abdomen from my chest to my pubic bone. I was able to watch and felt no pain. He took out my intestines and washed them thoroughly with the ice, then returned them to my body. The second one rose and told his partner to move aside. He put his hand inside me, removing my heart while I watched him. He cut it, took out a black clot and threw it away, and moved his hands right and left, as if receiving something. Suddenly, there was a ring made of dazzling light in his hand. He stamped my heart with the ring, whereupon it was filled with light. It was the light of prophethood and wisdom. He then returned the organ to my chest and I felt the coolness of that ring in my heart for a long time. The third one told his partner to move aside. He passed his hand over the area which had been cut and it was instantly healed with the permission of Allah. He then took my hand and gently helped me up and said to the first one, 'Weigh him against ten of his nation.' I outweighed them. Then he said, 'Weigh him against a hundred of his nation.' I outweighed them. Then he said, 'Weigh him against a thousand of his nation.' I outweighed them. Then he said, 'If you weigh him against his entire nation, he would outweigh them.' They all hugged me, kissed my forehead and between the eyes and said, 'Oh, beloved, if you only knew what goodness is waiting for you, you would be delighted.'" The weighing means a moral weighing. The Prophet, therefore, outweighs all in merit.

The cleansing of his holy chest happened another time when Gabriel brought him the revelation in the cave of Hira' and one more time on the night of his Ascension. Abu Nu'aim narrated in Al Dala'il, the cutting of his chest also when he was twenty years old. The wisdom of cutting his holy chest open in his childhood and removing the black clot, was to cleanse him from childish traits so he would have manly attributes. His upbringing was therefore perfectly immaculate. He was sealed with the seal of prophethood between his shoulders which smelled of musk and looked like a partridge egg.

Ibn Abbas and others narrated that when Muhammadsalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was six years old his mother and Um Aiman took him on a month long visit to his maternal uncles of the Bani Adiy ibn al Najjar in dar al tabi'a in Yathrib. Later, he recalled events that happened when he stayed there. Looking at a certain house, he said, "This is where my mother and I stayed. I learned how to swim in the well belonging to Bani Adiy ibn Al Najjar. A group of Jews used to frequent this place to look at me." Um Aiman said, "I heard one of the Jews saying that Muhammad was the Prophet of this nation, and this is the abode of his immigration. I understood everything they said."

He and his mother set out to return to Mecca, but when they arrived at Al Abua', not far from Yathrib, she fell gravely ill. Al Zuhri narrated from Asma' bint Rahm, from her mother, "I was present with Aamina, the Prophet's mother, during the ailment that led to her death. At this time Muhammadsalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was a five-year-old boy. As he sat by his mother's head she was reciting some poems, and looked into his face and said, 'Every living thing must eventually die, everything new must eventually get old, and every abundance must eventually get less. I am dying, but my memory shall remain, I have left behind abundant goodness, and gave birth to purity,' then she died. We were able to hear the Jinn crying over her."

It has been narrated that Aamina testified to Muhammad'ssalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam prophethood after her death. Al Tabarani narrated in a chain of narration from A'isha that when the Prophetsalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam arrived at al Hajoon he was sad and grieved. He stayed there for as long as Allah willed him to stay. Upon his return, he was happy and said, "I asked my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, to bring my mother back to life. Allah did that and then took her back." Also it has been narrated by both Al Suhaili and Al Khateen that A'isha, said that Allah revived both of Prophet Muhammad'ssalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam parents and they both testified to Muhammad'ssalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam prophethood.

Al Qurtubi, in Al Tadhkira, said, "Prophet Muhammad'ssalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam merits and attributes never ceased to occur all his life. Bringing his parents to life so that they could believe in him is not impossible. There is nothing in the Islamic religious laws or logic against it." It is mentioned in the Holy Qu'ran that the one who was murdered in Bani Isra'el was brought back to life to have his murderer revealed to him. Moreover, our Master Jesus used to bring the dead back to life. Likewise, Allah brought a number of dead people back to life at the hands of our Prophet. Why is it not possible that his parents testified to his prophethood after they were brought back to life, since this occurrence only enhances his merit and virtue?

Al Imam Fakhruddin Al Razi said that all the fathers of Muhammadsalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam are Muslims, which is proven by Muhammad'ssalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam saying, "I was transferred from the loins of pure men to the wombs of pure women." And since Allah has said "Truly, the pagans are unclean," we see that none of his ancestors were infidels.

Al Hafiz Shams Al Din Al Dimashqi addressed this subject so well when he wrote:

"Allah bestowed upon the Prophet more bounties

And more yet, and unto him He was most kind

He brought his mother back to life, and also his father

So that they could believe in him.

That was a subtle bounty

So believe these miracles, for He is capable of doing that

Even if the creature is weak."

Um Aiman was Muhammad'ssalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam nurse and nanny after his mother's death. He used to say about her, "Um Aiman is my mother after my mother." When Muhammadsalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam was eight years old, his grandfather and custodian, Abdul Muttalib died. He was one hundred and ten years old (in another narration, he was one hundred and forty). At that time Muhammad'ssalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam uncle Abu Talib became responsible for him at the request of Abd Al Muttalib, because he was the full brother of Muhammad'ssalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam father, Abdullah.

Ibn Asakir narrated from Jalhama ibn Urfuta that Muhammadsalla Allahu `alayhi wa aale sallam said, "I came to Mecca during a drought. Some men of Quraish came to Abu Talib and said, 'Oh, Abu Talib, the valley is barren and the families are suffering. Let us go and pray for rain.' Abu Talib came out, and with him was a young boy who looked like the Sun after the clouds have cleared. He was surrounded by other young children. Abu Talib led him to the Ka'ba and had him stand with his back against it. There wasn't even a tiny cloud in the sky, but as soon as the young boy rose his hands, clouds started to arrive from every direction and it started raining, then pouring. The valley blossomed and both in Mecca and out in the desert became fertile. About this miracle, Abu Talib wrote the following verses:

'To the one of bright complexion,
rain is sent for the sake of his countenance,
He is a refuge for the orphans,
and support for the widows.'"

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Some of the Miracles and Blessings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and the Love of the People for him
A number of miracles were bestowed upon and performed by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to establish the proof of his prophethood. The greatest miracle bestowed upon him was the revelation of the Qur'an. The Qur'an is miraculous in a number of aspects: Its linguistic perfection and inimitability, its validation by recent historical, archaeological, and scientific discoveries, its prophecies and so on. Unlike the miracles of other prophets before him, the miracle of the Qur'an is eternal. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) also provided us with a number of true prophecies.

Below are accounts of the some of the other miracles of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) . Before reading these, it helps to know something about the Science of Traditions (Arabic: Ahadith), an exacting and comprehensive system developed by early Muslim scholars to verify the chain of transmission of these accounts, as well as investigating the trustworthiness and capability of every narrator at every level of the chain. This thorough authentication process ensures that these accounts are real, validated narrations of the sayings, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Traditions mentioned below are all from Sahih al-Bukhari.

Splitting of the Moon
"The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder" [Qur'an 54:1]

Volume 6, Book 60, Number 388:
Narrated Abdullah: The moon was cleft asunder while we were in the company of the Prophet, and it became two parts. The Prophet said, Witness, witness (this miracle)."

Food Multiplication
Volume 4, Book 56, Number 780:
Narrated Jabir: My father had died in debt. So I came to the Prophet and said, "My father (died) leaving unpaid debts, and I have nothing except the yield of his date palms; and their yield for many years will not cover his debts. So please come with me, so that the creditors may not misbehave with me." The Prophet went round one of the heaps of dates and invoked (Allah), and then did the same with another heap and sat on it and said, "Measure (for them)." He paid them their rights and what remained was as much as had been paid to them.

Water Multiplication
Volume 4, Book 56, Number 779:
Narrated 'Abdullah: We used to consider miracles as Allah's Blessings, but you people consider them to be a warning. Once we were with Allah's Apostle on a journey, and we ran short of water. He said, "Bring the water remaining with you." The people brought a utensil containing a little water. He placed his hand in it and said, "Come to the blessed water, and the Blessing is from Allah." I saw the water flowing from among the fingers of Allah's Apostle , and no doubt, we heard the meal glorifying Allah, when it was being eaten (by him).

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 777:
Narrated Al-Bara: We were one-thousand-and-four-hundred persons on the day of Al-Hudaibiya (Treaty), and (at) Al-Hudaibiya (there) was a well. We drew out its water not leaving even a single drop. The Prophet sat at the edge of the well and asked for some water with which he rinsed his mouth and then he threw it out into the well. We stayed for a short while and then drew water from the well and quenched our thirst, and even our riding animals drank water to their satisfaction.

Volume 1, Book 7, Number 340:
Narrated 'Imran: Once we were traveling with the Prophet and we carried on traveling till the last part of the night and then we (halted at a place) and slept (deeply). There is nothing sweeter than sleep for a traveler in the last part of the night. So it was only the heat of the sun that made us to wake up and the first to wake up was so and so, then so and so and then so and so (the narrator 'Auf said that Abu Raja' had told him their names but he had forgotten them) and the fourth person to wake up was 'Umar bin Al-Khattab. And whenever the Prophet used to sleep, nobody would wake him up till he himself used to get up as we did not know what was happening (being revealed) to him in his sleep. So, 'Umar got up and saw the condition of the people, and he was a strict man, so he said, "Allahu Akbar" and raised his voice with Takbir, and kept on saying it loudly till the Prophet got up because of it. When he got up, the people informed him about what had happened to them. He said, "There is no harm (or it will not be harmful). Depart!" So they departed from that place, and after covering some distance the Prophet stopped and asked for some water to perform the ablution. So he performed the ablution and the call for the prayer was pronounced and he led the people in prayer. After he finished from the prayer, he saw a man sitting aloof who had not prayed with the people. He asked, "O so and so! What has prevented you from praying with us?" He replied, "I am junub and there is no water. " The Prophet said, "Perform tayammum with (clean) earth and that is sufficient for you."

Then the Prophet proceeded on and the people complained to him of thirst. Thereupon he got down and called a person (the narrator 'Auf added that Abu Raja' had named him but he had forgotten) and 'Ali, and ordered them to go and bring water. So they went in search of water and met a woman who was sitting on her camel between two bags of water. They asked, "Where can we find water?" She replied, "I was there (at the place of water) this hour yesterday and my people are behind me." They requested her to accompany them. She asked, "Where?" They said, "To Allah's Apostle ." She said, "Do you mean the man who is called the Sabi', (with a new religion)?" They replied, "Yes, the same person. So come along." They brought her to the Prophet and narrated the whole story. He said, "Help her to dismount." The Prophet asked for a pot, then he opened the mouths of the bags and poured some water into the pot. Then he closed the big openings of the bags and opened the small ones and the people were called upon to drink and water their animals. So they all watered their animals and they (too) all quenched their thirst and also gave water to others and last of all the Prophet gave a pot full of water to the person who was junub and told him to pour it over his body. The woman was standing and watching all that which they were doing with her water. By Allah, when her water bags were returned the looked like as if they were more full (of water) than they had been before (Miracle of Allah's Apostle) Then the Prophet ordered us to collect something for her; so dates, flour and sawiq were collected which amounted to a good meal that was put in a piece of cloth. She was helped to ride on her camel and that cloth full of food-stuff was also placed in front of her and then the Prophet said to her, "We have not taken your water but Allah has given water to us." She returned home late. Her relatives asked her: "O so and so what has delayed you?" She said, "A strange thing! Two men met me and took me to the man who is called the Sabi' and he did such and such a thing. By Allah, he is either the greatest magician between this and this (gesturing with her index and middle fingers raising them towards the sky indicating the heaven and the earth) or he is Allah's true Apostle."

Afterwards the Muslims used to attack the pagans around her abode but never touched her village. One day she said to her people, "I think that these people leave you purposely. Have you got any inclination to Islam?" They obeyed her and all of them embraced Islam.

Abu 'Abdultah said: The word saba'a means "The one who has deserted his old religion and embraced a new religion." Abul 'Ailya said, "The Sabis are a sect of people of the Scripture who recite the Book of Psalms."

Supplication for Rain
Volume 8, Book 73, Number 115:
Narrated Anas: A man came to the Prophet on a Friday while he (the Prophet) was delivering a sermon at Medina, and said, "There is lack of rain, so please invoke your Lord to bless us with the rain." The Prophet looked at the sky when no cloud could be detected. Then he invoked Allah for rain. Clouds started gathering together and it rained till the Medina valleys started flowing with water. It continued raining till the next Friday. Then that man (or some other man) stood up while the Prophet was delivering the Friday sermon, and said, "We are drowned; Please invoke your Lord to withhold it (rain) from us" The Prophet smiled and said twice or thrice, "O Allah! Please let it rain round about us and not upon us." The clouds started dispersing over Medina to the right and to the left, and it rained round about Medina and not upon Medina. Allah showed them (the people) the miracle of His Prophet and His response to his invocation.

Crying of the stem of the Date-palm Tree
Volume 4, Book 56, Number 783:
Narrated Ibn Umar: The Prophet used to deliver his sermons while standing beside a trunk of a datepalm. When he had the pulpit made, he used it instead. The trunk started crying and the Prophet went to it, rubbing his hand over it (to stop its crying).

Bukhari narrates in his Sahih in the Book of Clothing, under the chapter entitled "What is mentioned about gray hair," that `Usman ibn `Abd Allah ibn Mawhab said: "My family sent me to Umm Salama with a cup of water. Umm Salama brought out a silver bottle which contained one of the hairs of the Prophet, and it used to be that if anyone came under the evil eye or ill health they used to send her a cup of water through which she would pass this hair (for drinking). We used to look into the silver bottle: I saw some reddish hairs."

Hafiz Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari, Volume 10, page 353, said: "They used to call the silver bottle in which the hair of the Prophet was kept jiljalan and that bottle was in the home of Umm Salama." Hafiz al-`Ayni said in `Umdat al-Qari, Volume 18, page 79: "Umm Salama had some of the hairs of the Prophet in a silver bottle. When some people got ill, they would go and obtain blessings from these hairs and they would be healed by means of their blessings. If a person were struck by the evil eye or any sickness, he would send his wife to Umm Salama with a mikhdaba or water-pail, and she would pass the hair through that water and then drink the water and he would be healed, after which they would return the hair to the jiljal."

Anas said: "When the Prophet shaved his head in Mina, he gave me the hair from the right side and he said: Anas! take it to Umm Sulaym [his mother]. When the Companions saw what the Prophet gave us, they began to compete to take the hair from the left side, and everyone was getting a share from that." Ahmad narrated it.

Ibn al-Sakan narrated through Safwan ibn Hubayra from the latter's father: Thabit al-Bunani said: Anas ibn Malik said to me (on his death-bed): "This is one of the hairs of Allah's Messenger, Allah's blessings and peace upon him. I want you to place it under my tongue." Thabit continued: I placed it under his tongue, and he was buried with it under his tongue."

Anas said: "The Prophet stayed with us, and as he slept my mother began to collect his sweat in a flask. The Prophet awoke and said: O Umm Sulaym, what are you doing? She said: This is your sweat which we place in our perfume and it is the best perfume." Muslim, Ahmad.

When Anas was on his deathbed he instructed that some of this flask be used on his body before his funeral and it was done. Bukhari.

In Bukhari and Muslim: The Companions would compete for whoever would get the remnant of the Prophet't ablution water in order to put it on their faces. Nawawi in Sharh Sahih Muslim said: "In these narrations is evidence for seeking blessings with the relics of the saints" (fihi al-tabarruk bi athar al-salihin).

Many chains of transmission: `Utban ibn Malik was one of the Companions of the battle of Badr. After he became blind he said to the Prophet: "I would like you to pray in my house so that I can pray where you prayed." The Prophet went to his house and asked where exactly he would like him to pray. He indicated a spot to him and the Prophet prayed there. Bukhari and Muslim. The version in Muslim has: I (`Utban) sent for the Prophet the message: "Come and lay for me a place for worship [khutta li masjidan]." Imam Nawawi in Sharh Sahih Muslim said: "It means: "Mark for me a spot that I can take as a place for worship by obtaining blessing from your having been there [mutabarrikan bi aathaarika]... In this hadith is evidence for obtaining blessings through the relics of saints (al-tabarruk bi aathaar al-salihin)."

Dawud ibn Salih says: "[The Caliph] Marwan [ibn al-Hakam] one day saw a man placing his face on top of the grave of the Prophet. He said: "Do you know what you are doing?" When he came near him, he realized it was Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. The latter said: "Yes; I came to the Prophet, not to a stone." Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, Ahmad (5:422), Tabarani in his Mu`jam al-kabir (4:189) and his Awsat according to Haythami in al-Zawa'id (5:245), al-Hakim in his Mustadrak (4:515); both the latter and al-Dhahabi said it was sahih. It is also cited by al-Subki in Shifa' al-siqam (p. 126), Ibn Taymiyya in al-Muntaqa (2:261f.), and Haythami in al-Zawa'id (4:2).

Mu`adh ibn Jabal and Bilal also came to the grave of the Prophet and sat weeping, and Bilal rubbed his face against it. Ibn Maja 2:1320, Ahmad, Tabarani, Subki, Ibn `Asakir and Ibn Taymiyya.

Narrated Usayd ibn Hudayr: AbdurRahman ibn Abu Layla, quoting Usayd ibn Hudayr, a man of the Ansar, said that while he was given to jesting and was talking to the people and making them laugh, the Prophet poked him under the ribs with a stick. He said: Let me take retaliation. He said: Take retaliation. He said: You are wearing a shirt but I am not. The Prophet then raised his shirt and the man embraced him and began to kiss his side. Then he said: This is what I wanted, Apostle of Allah! (Abu Dawud, Book 41, Number 5205.)

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http://www.iqra.net/Hadith/salute.php
Salutations on Prophet Muhammad
(may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him)

Salutations on the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and on his decendants
Hadrat Abdur Rahman bin Abi Laila (may Allah be pleased with him) said that once he paid a visit to Hadrat Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him), who asked him if he should present to him a gift which he had heard from the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). On this, Hadrat Abdur Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) requested him to do so. Hadrat Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Once we asked the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him), O Apostle of Allah! we have already been taught by Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted) how to offer Salaam (salutation) upon you, but we do not know the correct way to ask blessings upon you and your family.' The Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) replied, 'Ask in the following way:

"O Allah! shower Thy blessings upon our leader Muhammad and on his descendants as Thou showered Thy blessings upon our leader Ibrahim and his descendants; verily Thou art the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah! Bestow favours on our leader Muhammad and on his descendants as Thou Bestowed favours on our leader Ibrahim and on his descendants; verily Thou art the Praiseworthy, the Glorious." (Bukhari)

Mountains and trees saluted the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him)
Sayyidina Ali bin Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Once when I was with the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) in Makkah and we went out into one of its districts in the neighbourhood, not a mountain or tree which confronted him failed to say, "Peace be upon you, Messenger of Allah." (Tirmidhi and Darimi).

The Reward of Invoking Blessings in him
Hadrat Abdullah Ibn-e-Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said, "The person who asks blessings upon me abundantly, will be nearest to me on the Day of Judgment." (Tirmidhi)

Hadrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said, "If somebody hears my name, he should ask blessings upon me. When a person asks one blessing upon me, Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted) sends ten blessings upon him, forgives his ten sins, and raises him ten degrees (in Paradise)." (Ahmad, an-Nasai)

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http://www.themodernreligion.com/prophet/prophet_lastsermon.htm
Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon
Date delivered: 632 A.C., 9th day of Dhul al Hijjah, 10 A.H. in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat.
After praising, and thanking God, he said: "O People, listen well to my words, for I do not know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Treat others justly so that no one would be unjust to you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds. God has forbidden you to take usury (riba), therefore all riba obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital , however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer inequity. God has judged that there shall be no riba and that all the riba due to `Abbas ibn `Abd al Muttalib shall henceforth be waived.

Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabi`ah ibn al Harith ibn `Abd al Muttalib.

O Men, the Unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in order to make permissible that which God forbade, and to forbid that which God has made permissible. With God the months are twelve in number. Four of them are sacred, three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Sha`ban. Beware of the devil, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights over your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under God's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Treat your women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers. It is your right and they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste...

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship God (The One Creator of the Universe), perform your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your financial obligation (zakah) of your wealth. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before God (The Creator) and you will answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, NO PROPHET OR MESSENGER WILL COME AFTER ME AND NO NEW FAITH WILL BE BORN. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I am leaving you with the Book of God (the QUR'AN*) and my SUNNAH (the life style and the behavioral mode of the Prophet), if you follow them you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people.

*The Qur'an: Revealed to Prophet Muhammad during the period from 610-632 AC. The first five verses revealed are: (1) Read in the name of your Lord, Who created. (2) Created man out of a clot that clings (in the womb). (3) Read and your Lord is the Most Bountiful. (4) Who taught by the pen. (5) Taught man that which he knew not.

[abaleada]

http://www.themodernreligion.com/prophet/prophet_lastsermon.htm
The Last Sermon Confirms the Main Points from the Quran
by Shahid Athar, M. D.

"Oh Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, news bearer and a warner and as someone who invites people to God by His permission and a shining Lamp" (33:45-46).
Prophet Muhanimad (PBUH) who was sent to mankind as a news bearer and a wamer for he spoke the truth and did not invent something of his own. The purpose of this article is to confirm the statements made by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during his farewell address during the last pilgrimage (10 AH).

After praising and thanking God, the Messenger said, "Oh people, listen to my words carefully for I know not whether I will meet you on such an occasion again."

TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Sermon: "Oh people, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Remember that you will indeed appear before God and answer for your actions."

Quran: "If anyone killed a person unless it is for a murder or spreading mischief on earth it would be as it he killed the whole mankind, and if anyone who saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of whole mankind" (5:32). "Then on that day not a soul will be wronged in the least and you shall but be prepaid in the needs of your past deeds" (36:54).

FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

Sermon: "Return the things kept with you as trust (amanah) to their rightful owners."

Quran: "If one of you entrusts (something) the one who has been entrusted with it should hand over his security and he should heed God and not hide any testimony. Anyone who hides it-has a sinfull heart" (2:283).

INTEREST (RIBAH)

Sermon: "All dues of interest shall stand cancelled and you will have only your capital back. Allah has forbidden interest, and I cancel the dues of interest payable to may uncle Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib."

Quran: "You who believe fear God and write off anything that remains outstanding from lending at interest if you are (true) God and His Messenger If you repent you may retail your principal do not wrong and you will not be wronged" (2:278).

TREATMENT OF WIFE (SPOUSE)

Sermon: "Oh people, your wives have a certain right over you and you have a certain right over them. Treat them well and be kind to them for they are your committed partners and commited helpers.

Quran: "Provide for them the rich according to his income and the poor according to his means, a provision according to the custom. This is an obligation for those who act kindly" (2:236). "Treat them politely even if you dislike them,. Perhaps you dislike something in which God has placed much good" (4:19).

WARNING ABOUT SATAN

Sermon: "Beware of Satan, he is desperate to divert you from the worship of God so beware of him in matters of your way of life."

Quran: "Verily Satan is an enemy to you so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his followers that they may become companions of the blazing fire" (35:6).

BROTHERHOOD

Sermon: "Oh you people listen carefully. All the believers are brothers. You are not allowed to the things belonging to another Muslim unless he give it to you willingly."

Quran: "Believers are but brothers so set things right between your brothers and fear God so that you may find mercy" (49: 1 0).

SUPERIORITY IS ONLY IN PIETY AND SUBMISSION

Sermon: "Oh people, no one is higher than the other unless he is higher in obedience to God. No Arab is superior to a non-Arab except in piety."

Quran:"The most honored among you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you and God has full knowledge and is will acquainted (with all things)" (49:134). "Who can be better in religion than he who submits his whose self to God, does good and follows the ways of abraham for God did take Abraham for a friend" (4:125).

IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE MUST OBEY BOTH GOD AND HIS MESSENGER

Sermon: "Oh people, reflect on my words. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example and if you follow these, you will not fail."

Quran: "And obey God and the Messenger so that you may receive mercy" (3:132).

OBSERVE THE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Sermon: "Listen to me carefully. Worship God and offer prescribed prayer, observe fasting in the month of Ramadan and pay the poor-due."

Quran: "And establish the prescribed prayer, practice regular charity and bow down with those who bow down" (2:43). "Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may learn self-restraint" (2:183).

DUTIES REGARDING THOSE WORKING UNDER US

Sermon: "Oh people, be mindful of those who work under you. Feed and clothe them as you feed and clothe yourselves."

Quran: "Act kindly just as God treated you kindly" (28:77). "God has favored some of you over their provisions to those whom their right hand controls so that they become equal (partners) in it. Would they thus disclaim God's favor" (16:71).

MUHAMMAD WAS THE LAST PROPHET

Sermon: "Oh people, no prophet or messenger will come after me and no new faith will emerge."

Quran: "Muhammad is not the father of any of you men but he is God's Messenger and the Seal of Prophets. God is aware of everything" (33:40).

OUR DUTY IS TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET (QURAN)

Sermon: "All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again (and people did).

Quran: "Oh Messenger, communicate whatever has been sent down to you by your Lord. If you do not do so, you will not have conveyed his message" (5:67).

Sermon: Have I conveyed the Message of God to you? asked the Prophet facing towards the heavens. The audience answered in one voice, "You have, God is the witness."

Quran: As the Messenger finished the following revelation came to him, "Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favors upon you and have chosen for you Islam as the way of life for you" (5:3).

[abaleada]

Ar-Raheeq Al-Maktoom (The Sealed Nectar)
by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/

[*IslamicGirl*]

Assalamu alakum yaa Ummati

JazakhAllah Khair sis/bro abaleada ... may Allah (SWT) reward u and cause us all to love Muhammad (SAW). Ameen

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

['Inayah']

Originally posted by abaleada
Ar-Raheeq Al-Maktoom (The Sealed Nectar)
by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/

Alhamdulillah! I've read that ... and I was weeping so much when I read about the Prophet(SAW)'s death ... that he touches our hearts despite being separated by 1400 odd years is a mercy of Allah (SWT)!

I just wanted to add that when our son tells us he loves us he almost always adds that he loves Allah(SWT) the most and then the Prophet(SAW) and then us.:)

[mohabdul]

TRUE LOVE OF THE PROPHET (SAAW) ACCORDING TO THE BOOK AND THE SUNNAH.

From: Bernard@City-Net.Com Newsgroups: alt.religion.islam,soc.religion.islam
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Indeed, all praises are due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His Aid, and beg for His Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in ourselves and from the evil outcomes of our deeds. Whomsoever, Allah, Ta 'Ala, guides, no one and nothing can take that person astray. Whomsoever, Allah, Ta 'Ala, takes astray, no one or nothing can guide that person. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah who is alone without any associates. I bear witness that Muhammad ibnu 'Abd Allah (SAAW) is Allah's 'Abd (slave) and Messenger. To proceed:

Allah has commanded in the Qur'an (what means): "O you who believe! Have Taqwah (true fear of Allah) according to His right and die not except that you are a Muslim. O Mankind! Have Taqwah of your Lord. The One Who created you from a single soul and from him He created his mate and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual rights and do not cut off the ties of kinship; surely Allah is ever a Raqeeb (All-Watcher) over you. O you who believe! Have Taqwah of Allah and always speak the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (SAAW) he has indeed achieved a great achievement."

Verily, the best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ibnu 'Abd Allah (SAAW). The worst of all affairs in this Diyn are innovations. Every innovation is a Bid'ah and every Bid'ah is a going astray and every going astray is in the Hell Fire.

DEVELOPING TRUE LOVE FOR ALLAH'S MESSENGER (SAAW):

Having the proper love for Allah's Messenger (SAAW) is a must for any Muslim who is striving to please his/her Lord and who seeks his/her Lord's Forgiveness. Learning how to properly apply this love for the last Nabee (SAAW) is to properly implement the testimony: wa ash hadu ana Muhammadan rusulu Allah (SAAW). Indeed, one cannot just say he/she loves the Prophet (SAAW) while his/her actions and 'Aqeedah are fundamentaly against what the Prophet (SAAW) brought (i.e. the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah). Hence, the first step in the process of developing this love is to acknowledge that the Prophet (SAAW) has a claim over the believers.

Allah has said in the Qur'an (what means): "The Prophet (SAAW) is closer to the believers than their ownselves..." [Al-Ahzab: 6].

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (Rahimullah), one of the great scholars of this Ummah, relates that this Ayah means the Prophet (SAAW) has a "higher claim" on the believers than they have on themselves. This claim involves two important matters:

1. WE CONSIDER ALLAH'S MESSENGER (SAAW) TO BE DEARER THAN ONE'S OWN SELF.

This is so because this claim is based on love. One has the most claim to oneself for one loves oneself more than anything. Thus, a person knows what types of foods, clothing, etc. he/she likes to eat, drink, etc. more than all others. However, when it comes to Islam, we know that Allah knows us better than we know ourselves; thus, we submit to Him and His Orders. We it comes to the Prophet (SAAW), we are to love him more than our own selves; thus, we too put his commandments above our own opinions, logic, etc.

Once this true love is established, compliance, obedience, satisfication with his (SAAW) jugdements, and other matters related to true love will follow. This is confirmed in the following authentic Haadith found in Sahih Al-Bukhari:

Narrated 'Abd Allah bin Hisham: 'We were with the Prophet (SAAW) and he was holding the hand of 'Umar ibnu Al-Khattab (RAA). 'Umar said to him, "O Allah's Messenger (SAAW)! You are dearer to me than everything except my ownself." Allah's Messenger (SAAW) said: "No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete Faith) untill I am dearer to you than your ownself." Then 'Umar (RAA) said: "However, now, by Allah, you are dearer to me than my ownself." He (SAAW) then said: "Now, O 'Umar, (now you are a believer)."

LESSONS FROM THIS HAADITH:

A. The Negation and Affirmation:

The Prophet (SAAW) negates (i.e. rejects, denies) that a person can have complete Imaan with his statement, "No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is...". Thus, the affirmation, or condition of having complete Imaan, follows: "...until I am dearer to you than your ownself...". Therefore, the Muslim will never attain true Imaan unless he/she considers the Prophet (SAAW) to be dearer to him/her than everything including one's ownself.

B. Character of the Sahabah:

Upon hearing that true Imaan can only be achieved through loving the Messenger (SAAW) more than everything, including one's self, 'Umar (RAA) quickly complied with the commandment of the Prophet (SAAW). The Sahabah wasted no time in doing those acts which were pleasing to Allah and His Messeger (SAAW).

2. SECOND IMPORTANT MATTER:

The Messenger (SAAW) has more rule over an individual than that individual has over his/herself. This means that a person only does those actions which are in accordance with the Book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah of His Messenger (SAAW).

Therefore, three critical conditions must be fulfilled in order for a deed to be accepted:

a. One must confess his/her belief in Islam (i.e. one must be a Muslim). b. One must have Ikhlaas of the Niyah (i.e. purity of the intention). c. One must do that deed in accordance with the Book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah of His Messenger (SAAW).

If one of these conditions are not meet, that person's deed will not benefit him/her in the least. Of course, absence of knowledge is always an exception (eg. a person may make Wudhu but does not know the specific parts of the body that are to be washed; thus, he/she washes those parts which he/she thinks to be significant. His/her Wudhu was not done in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah; however, he/she did not know the way to make Wudhu according to the Book and the Sunnah; hence, their Wudhu would be accepted for a and b were fulfilled, wa Allahu 'alam). These are the conditions which the Salaaf As-Salih (Pious Predecessors) understood with regards to the acceptance and rejection of a deed.

Another implications of the testimony: Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (SAAW).

BELIEF THAT HE (SAAW) WAS SENT TO ALL OF MANKIND AND THE JINN

Verily, Allah, azza wa jall, has said in the Qur'an (what means): "Say (O Muhammad SAAW): O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the dominion of the Heavens and the Earth. La illaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger (SAAW), the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in Allah and His Words, and follow him so that you may be guided." [Al-A'raf: 158].

The prophet (SAAW) said (what means): "And the Prophets were formerly sent to their people only, whereas I have been sent to all mankind." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Therefore, recognizing that he (SAAW) was sent as a mercy to all of mankind will, Inshallah, help kindle the proper love for him which will be manifested through obedience to his rulings.

FINALITY OF HIS PROPHETHOOD

Indeed, there is no Messenger/Prophet after Muhammd ibnu 'Abd Allah (SAAW) as Allah, Ta 'Ala, says in His Book (what means):

"Muhammad (SAAW) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah, and the last (end) of the Prophets. Allah is Ever All-Aware of everything." [Al-Ahzab: 40].

The Prophet (SAAW) has said (what means): "And the line of the Prophets is closed with me." [Muslim].

Believing that Muhammad (SAAW) is the final Messenger of Allah confirms Allah's statement (what means): "...This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed my Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion..." [Al-Ma'idah:3 (in part)]. Thus, if Islam were not a complete way of life, then this religion would need to be constantly updated. In order to update this religion, there would have to be another Prophet after Muhammad (SAAW). However, this is not so as Allah completed this Diyn and it can never be changed from its true form.

BELIEVING THAT HE (SAAW) HAS BEEN GIVEN TWO (2) RELELATIONS

Al-Hamdulilah, Allah, azza wa jall, has give the Prophet (SAAW) two revelations as understood by the Minhaj of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Juma'ah. These are, of course, the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah. Allah confirms this with His saying (what means):

"Nor does he (Muhammad SAAW) speak of his own desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired." [An-Najm: 3-4].

"Indeed, Allah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad SAAW) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Qur'an), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur'an) and Al-Hikmah (the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet SAAW - i.e. his legal ways, statements, actions, etc.), while before that they had been in manifest error." [Al-'Imran: 164].

The Prophet (SAAW) has also said (what means): "I have, indeed, been given the Qur'an and something like it along with it (i.e. his Sunnah)." [Abu Dawud].

Thus, there is no mere choice between following the Sunnah and not following it. It has been sent down as part of revelation; thus, it must be adhered to in full. It is adhered to the way the Prophet (SAAW) explained it and the way the Sahabah understood it. Allah confirms this with His saying (what means):

"We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by the permission of Allah."

"Obey Allah, and the Messenger (SAAW). But if they turn away (then know), that Allah loves not the infidels." [Al-'Imran: 31-32].

THE PROPHET HAS RIGHTS UPON HIS FOLLOWERS

These rights are: 1. We believe in what the Prophet Muhammad (SAAW) has said. 2. We obey him in what has been commanded and forsake what he has forbidden or discouraged. 3. We worship Allah according to the Shar'iah of His Messenger (SAAW), not by whims and Bid'ah (innovations). 4. We judge ourselves by the Shar'iah of Prophet Muhammad (SAAW), and not by any other law. 5. We love Allah's Messenger (SAAW) more than our parents, children, all of mankind, indeed our very selves.

Allah has confirmed the above with His statement (what means):

"Say (to them O Muhammad SAAW): If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins; Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful. Say: Obey Allah, and the Messenger (SAAW), but if they turn away (then know), that Allah loves not the infidels." [Al-'Imran: 31-32].

"And let those who oppose his (Muhammad's SAAW) command beware, lest a trail befall them (that will lead them to Kuffur) or a painful punishment be inflicted on them." [An-Nur: 63].

"You have indeed a good example in the Messenger of Allah (SAAW) for whosoever hopes for Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much." [Al-Ahzab: 21].

"It is not for any believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger (SAAW) have decreed a matter, to have the choice in their affair. And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (SAAW) he has gone astray into manifest error." [Al-Ahzab: 36].

"But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad SAAW) judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept (them) fully with submission." [An-Nisa: 65].

Thus, we see in this last Ayah that Allah negates that a person can have Imaan unless that person makes the Prophet (SAAW) judge in *all* affairs and that we accept his (SAAW) decisions with submission. This Ayah is indeed serious as Allah swears to this negation with His saying (what means), "But no, by your Lord...".

The Prophet (SAAW) stressed the importance of obeying and following his Sunnah with his saying (what means):

"All of my people will enter Jennah except those who refuse." When asked about those who refuse, he said: "He who obeys me will enter Jennah, while he who disobeys me has refused." [Al-Bukhari].

He (SAAW) also said (what means): "If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

And: "None of you believes untill I am dearer to him than his father, his child, and all of mankind." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

And: "There are qualities for which anyone who is characterized by them will experiece the sweetness of Imaan: he to whom Allah and His Messenger (SAAW) are dearer than all else; he who loves a human being for Allah's Sake alone; and who has as great an abhorrence of returning to Kuffur (disbelief) after Allah has rescued him from it as he has being cast into the Hell Fire." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Although the Prophet (SAAW) is the best of examples and following his Sunnah is obligatory, we must remember that it is not right to overpraise him (SAAW) as he was not divine, but a man. Some deviant sects of Islam direct their 'Ibaadah to the Prophet (SAAW); however, this is Shirk Al-Akbar (association in the highest degree) which will not be forgiven unless that person makes sincere Tawbah before his/her death.

A MAN AND NOT DIVINE

Allah says (what means):

"Say (O Muhammad SAAW): I am only a man like you: it is revealed to me that your God is One God: So, let him who hopes for the meeting with his Lord, do righteousness, and not associate anything in the worship of hsi Lord." [Al-Kahf: 111].

The Prophet (SAAW) said (what means): "Do not overpraise me as the Christians overpraised the son of Mary (i.e. 'Isa AS). I am His slave, so say: Allah's slave and Messenger." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

SENDING SALAAT AND SALAAM UPON THE NABEE (SAAW)

This is an action which the believer are commanded to do as Allah says in the Qur'an (what means):

"Indeed, Allah and His angels send Salaat (i.e. Allah mentions the Prophet's SAAW name in the presence of the angels) upon the Prophet (SAAW). O you who believe! Send your Salaat and your Salaam upon him (ie. by saying Salla Allahu 'alaihi wa sallam, etc.)." [Al-Ahzab: 56].



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[*IslamicGirl*]

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind

Assalamu alaikum Wa Rahmutallahi Wa Barakhatu Yaa Ummati :)

"Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet (saw). O you who believe! Send your prayers on him (i.e. ask Allah to bless him) and (you should) salute him with all respect," (s.33:56).

"Say (O Muhammad): ‘if you (truly) love Allaah, follow me! Allaah will then love you and forgive your sins.’ And Allaah is All Forgiving, All Merciful."} (Al Imraan 3:31)

]"Say: If it be your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, your kindred, the wealth you have gained, the commerce in which you fear decline, or the dwellings in which you delight – are dearer to you than Allaah or His Messenger and striving in His cause – then wait until Allaah brings about His decision. And Allaah guides not the rebellious."


"The Prophet has a higher claim on the believers than [they have on] their own selves." (Surah Al-Ahzaab33: 6)


"Whoever possesses three qualities will taste the sweetness of Imaan (Faith)

1. That Allaah and His Messenger, Allah's blessings and salautations on him are dearer to him than anything else.
2. To love a person only for Allaah sake.
3. And To hate to revert to disbelief, after Allaah had saved him from it, as he would hate to be thrown into the fire."] (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

[*IslamicGirl*]

Assalamu alaikum Wa Rahmutallahi Wa Barakhatu Yaa Ummati :)

Obey Allaah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with each other), lest you fail and your strength depart; and be patient – surely, Allaah is with those who are patient

"Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever evil befalls you, is from