4th Rabi’ al-Awwal 1444AH
Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi
wabarakaatuhu
All Praises belong to Allah whose Name is unique and is Most High. He solely owns all things, the Most Dignified and is the Most Protective. More praises and glory upon Him who said: “He it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad-SAW) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam) superior to all other religions. And Allah is sufficient as a Witness.” [Q48:28]. He also said: ‘… Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed” (Q63:1). I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah without partners and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
Oh Allah! Our Creator, to whom we are ever obligated to submit ourselves in servitude, we humbly beseech You to shower Your Benedictions alongside with Your Peaceful Salutations onto the Essence of The Truth which distinctively is manifest and from which the Realms of Realities proceed, the Principal Source of The Most Profound Perception and Divine Knowledge. For indeed Your Way (Oh Allah) is perfectly explicit.
O servants of Allah! There has come to you the blessed month of Rabi’al Awwal in which the blessed Prophet Muhammad was born. This is the month of joy in which all creatures were filled with joy at his emergence. This is the blessed Prophet that all nations before him had been foretold and eagerly awaiting his appearance. However, when he did appear with the message, only those guided by Allah accepted the message.
O servants of Allah! I urge you all to rejoice on the special month of Rabi-al-Awwal in which the best of creation was delivered to this earth. “Not only did the angels, trees and the mountains rejoice at the birth of Rasulullah (SAW) but the entire universe rejoiced” (Ahsanul Muwa’iz, pg 14).
The personality and character of the Holy Prophet (SAW) is so special to the extent that everyone who come into contact with him immediately recognize his superiority. Even his enemies could not but attest to his excellent manners which turned enemies into friends and even defenders. Allah (SWT) said about him:
I. And verily, you (O Muhammad, SAW) are on the exalted standard of Character (Q68:4).
II. Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad, SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much (Q33:21).
This exemplary manner and the high quality of the Prophet’s (SAW) character which stood him out of the multitudes right from his childhood and which earned him the appellation al-Ameen, is clearly what Allah has praised His Prophet (SAW) with in the two verses quoted above. This is the very essence of the Prophet and his mission on earth.
The first primary mission of this great Prophet is to redirect man back to Allah after man lost its bearing. He is a Light of Allah and a Lamp-Bearer whom Allah has charged with the responsibility of bringing humanity out of darkness into the Light of Guidance. “O Nabi We have certainly sent you as a witness (who will bear testimony against the Kuffaar of all nations on the Day of Qiyaamah), a carrier of good news (to the Mu’mineen that they will enjoy Jannah), a Warner (to the Kuffaar that they will suffer the punishment ofJahannam if they do not accept Imaan) and as a caller to Allah by His command and an illuminating lantern (who lit up the world filled with the darkness of kufr and Shirk with the light of Imaan and who also prepared the Sahabah as guiding stars to lead people after him). [Q33:45-46]
There is a clear instruction to all those who desire to meet Allah, our Creator and Sustainer, on the day of assembly (judgement) to make the Prophet’s (SAW) character and manners as his benchmark/standard. Even though you cannot meet his standards perfectly, striving for them creates a quality of excellence in you. He is Allah’s symbol of excellence to be copied so that we can succeed to please Allah.
O servants of Allah! All others who are followed or emulated aside this great Prophet are not perfect and cannot lead to perfection. Therefore, it is instructive that if our goal is to strive for perfection that will meet the acceptance of Allah, then the real role model is Muhammad Rasulullah (SAW). He (SAW) is the natural choice as the leader of humanity and the role model because he has played in all the fields/departments that we can possibly think of in this world. Those whom others have chosen instead of him are deficient because of limited roles they have played while on this earth. For instance, if you want to know what is called humility and position of authority, it is from Rasulullah (SAW) that you can have a complete guidance. He was an orphan, a father, a husband, a leader, an Army General and Strategist, Head of Government, etc. That is him – Sayyidina Rasulullah! Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam.
O servants of Allah! The reason why Allah sent this mighty Rasul to humanity is so that he will teach us all that we need to succeed in the life of this world and the world hereafter. Rasulullah (SAW) is the Insaan al-Kaamil (the Perfect Man) who has played in all the fields of human endeavours. On the family front, he married, had children and administered the home. If you want guidance in your family matters, there is no better guide than Rasulullah (SAW). He has done business to make a living; so, when he speaks about business and ethics, they aren’t theories. There is Mohammad Rasulullah (SAW)! The General; the King; the husband; the father; the Warrior; Businessman; the Preacher; the Philosopher; the Statesman; the Orator; the reformer; the Refuge of orphans; the Protector of slaves; the Emancipator of women; the Law-giver; the Judge; the Saint. And in all these magnificent roles, in all these departments of human endeavours, he remains unsurpassed. Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wasallam!
O servants of Allah! This Great Messenger of Allah (SAW) has the following distinctions:
1. A man of Ease – The Islam preached by him is a religion of ease and glad tidings [تيسيروتبشير] not a religion of difficulty and chastisement [ وتعذيب تعسير ]. This Prophet (SAW) preaches peace and love yet Islam and the Muslims are now seen as intolerants and terrorists. Where did this corruption of the Muslims come from when Rasulullah said:
• “This way of life is indeed easy (to understand and simple to implement), if anyone is severe/harsh regarding it, it will overwhelm him. So, reach out, seek means of approachability, give glad tidings and make things easy” (al-Bukhari).
• “Make things easy, not difficult, be positive through conveying glad tiding rather than through harshness that drives people away.”
• “Show mercy upon those on earth and those in the heavens will shower mercy upon you.”
2. A man of high self-discipline – As a military commander in the wars that were fought to make Islam reach humanity, the Prophet of Islam taught self-control and discipline to the extent of praying even on the battlefield (Salat Khawf). In an age of barbarism (jahiliyya), the Battlefield itself was humanized and strict instructions were issued not to cheat, not to break trust, not to mutilate, not to kill a child or woman or an old man, not to hew down date palm (economic trees) nor burn it, not to cut a fruit tree, not to molest any person engaged in worship. His own treatment with his bitterest enemies is the noblest example for his followers. The misguided Muslim, who claims to be doing Jihad, contravenes all of these rules and even kill fellow Muslims who do not agree with their positions. Who are these misguided people following? Certainly not Rasulullah!
3. A man of magnanimity – When Rasulullah achieved victory over Makkah, by the laws of war he could have justly avenged all the cruelties inflicted on him and his people. But what treatment did he accord to them? To prove true that Allah sent him as a “mercy to all the worlds of existence”, Rasulullah’s heart flowed with affection and he declared, “This day, there is no REPROOF against you and you are all free.” “This day” he proclaimed, “I trample under my feet all distinctions between man and man, all hatred between man and man.” Such is Rasulullah! Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wassalam!
4. Rasulullah (SAW) was the unifier of humanity; a social crusader preaching the equality of humanity before Allah with the only distinguishing factor being taqwa (God-consciousness). The principles of universal brotherhood and doctrine of the equality of mankind which he proclaimed represents one very great contribution of Islam to the social uplift of humanity which has remained unrivaled up till today. On this score, in the days of apartheid, Mahatma Gandhi in his inimitable style, says “Someone has said that Europeans in South Africa dread the advent of Islam – Islam, that civilized Spain, Islam that took the torch light to Morocco and preached to the world the Gospel of brotherhood. The Europeans of South Africa dread the advent of Islam. They may claim equality with the white races. They may well dread it, if brotherhood is a sin. If it is equality of colored races then their dread is well founded.”
Even today when the so-called civilized world has jettisoned racism officially, we all know how the blacks are treated in the US and Europe; white Police shooting and killing blacks at will. Consider the state of BILAL, an African Slave, in the days of the Prophet (SAW) 14 centuries ago. The office of the Muadhdhin ((Caller to Salat) which was considered to be of status in the early days of Islam was offered to this man. Clearly, the Prophet (SAW) gave Bilal a high office which was envied by the Arabs.
Ibn Abi Mulaykah said: “On the day Makkah was conquered, Bilal climbed on the roof of the Ka’bah and proclaimed the call to prayer. One person said: ‘O servants of Allah! How can this black slave be allowed to perform the call to prayer on top of the Ka’bah?’ Another man said: ‘If Allah is displeased, He will change him’. Allah, exalted is He, then revealed this verse (O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has taqwa (most righteous) among you. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, Fully Aware (of all things)” (Q49:13).
5. Rasulullah (SAW) is the emancipator of the women – Before him, the Arabs kill their newly born children if they are females for they believe that the female child will bring shame to them. Through the teachings of Rasulullah, humanity came to appreciate that a male and a female child are equal, and in some cases, the female are actually better. One of the teachings of Rasulullah is the need to educate the female child for her education is an education given to whole of humanity while that of the male is just one individual. A non-Muslim, Edward Archibald Hamilton, observed and rightly so that “Islam teaches the inherent sinlessness of man. It teaches that man and woman have come from the same essence, possess the same soul and have been equipped with equal capabilities for intellectual, spiritual and moral attainments.” Before the coming of Sayyidina Rasulullah (SAW) the woman was despised as the one who gave Adam (AS) the forbidden fruit to eat which is still the doctrine of the Christians today. On this false premise, the woman is considered inherently evil and therefore does not and should not stand on the same platform as man. Our Noble Prophet (SAW) exposed the falsity of this doctrine and dignified womanhood.
Other areas of intervention on behalf of the womenfolk by Rasulullah are inheritance – of parents, husbands, children and siblings – and ownership of properties. The Arabs had a very strong tradition that one who can smite with the spear and can wield the sword would inherit, technically disallowing women who do not traditionally play in this field. But Islam came as the defender of the weaker sex and entitled women to share the inheritance of their parents, husbands, children and siblings as the case may permit.
O servants of Allah! It is an irony to hear that somebody is called a Muslim and is constituting a threat to the existence of other people. Rasulullah was sent to be followed and obeyed and “Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah” (Q4:80) and such a person should pattern his life after this Great Messenger.
PART 2
All praise is due to Allah, Whom we praise and seek help, guidance and forgiveness from. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils within ourselves and from the burden of our evil deeds. He, whom Allah guides, will never be misled; and he whom He allows to stray no one can guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah without partners and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
O servants of Allah! “Abu Dhar al-Ghifaari (RA) related that Rasulullah (SAW) had said to him, “I advise you to fear Allah, as this is the root of all virtues; remain engaged in the recitation of Holy Qur’an and in Dhikr of Almighty Allah, which will earn you an appreciation in the heaven and serve you as light in this world; keep silent for most part of the time, so that you speak nothing but good, as this will keep the devil away from you and make it easy for you to perform your religious duties; abstain also from too much laughing, for laughing weakens the heart and deprives the face of its spiritual glow (radiance), always take part in Jihad as this is the sign of piety for my Ummah; like the poor and keep their company; compare your lot with the persons lower than you, and never look up to those higher than you, otherwise you will forget the bounties of Almighty Allah and become ungrateful to Him; try to retain ties with your relatives though they may try to break them; do not hesitate to speak out the truth, though it may be bitter for others, always obey Almighty Allah in spite of adverse criticism, find fault with your own self, and never with others; do not criticise others for the shortcomings that you suffer from. O! Abu Dhar (RA), there is no wisdom better than farsightedness, abstinence from the unlawful is the best act of piety, and good manners constitute true nobility.”
O servants of Allah! Know that it serves no use arguing here and there about the validity or otherwise of celebrating the Mawlid. The Prophet (SAW) is profoundly far greater than all the petty accusations of bid’ah (i.e., innovations) and blame trading. What is most critical is the intention and methodology of celebration adopted.
The quality of people who celebrate Mawlid and do so4 conscientiously should be as follows:
1. Love of Rasulullah – The primary reason for celebrating the Mawlid should be for the love of Rasulullah. This love emanates from the appreciation of the guidance that he (SAW) brought to us which makes us know Allah and made us Muslims. All activities should revolve around this pivot. “Those who obey Allah and the Rasool (SAW) will be (in the Aakhirah) with those Ambiyaa (those who received divine revelation), Siddeeqeen (those who testify immediately to the truth), martyrs (those prepared to die for Allah and for Rasulullah. (Q4:68).
2. Bringing the Sweet Memory of the Prophet afresh – The celebrants do not view the absence of their Prophet; they keep him constant in their psyche and following his guidance. They are guided by what Allah reveals that: “Never! By the oath of your Rabb, they cannot have Imaan until they make you (O Muhammad – SAW) judge their disputes and (until) they do not find any dissatisfaction in that which you decide and (until) they accept (your decision) with complete submission (with happiness). [Q4:65].
3. The Obedience to Rasul dominates their affairs: “We have sent every Rasool so that he should be obeyed by the order (permission) of Allah. If only it were that when they (the hypocrites) oppress (wrong) their souls (by referring their disputes to others), where should come to you (O Muhammad), seeking Allah’s forgiveness; and then the Rasool (Muhammad- SAW) seeks forgiveness on their behalf, they will then surely find that Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful (Allah will forgive them if they obey Him and realise that the judgement of Rasulullah is absolute). [Q4:64]
4. Fulfill your Pledge to Allah: “From among the believers there are some men who fulfilled their pledge with Allah” [Q33:23] Among them was Sayyidna Sa’d ibn Mu’adh, RA, the leader of the Ansar. The Ansar had provided hospitality and protection to the Prophet, SAW and the Makkan Muslims, but soon they faced a bigger challenge. Would they be ready to fight against the much larger and better equipped Makkan army? His powerful words in the meeting before Badr captured the spirit of their commitment. “O Rasulullah, we have believed in you, affirmed your Prophethood, and pledged obedience. By Allah, who has sent you as a Messenger, if you were to command us to jump into the ocean we will do that. Not one soul among us will remain behind. Insha-Allah you will find us steadfast in the battle.”
We also have Sayyidna Jareer ibn Abdullah, RA. Once he sent his servant for buying a horse. The servant made a deal for three hundred dirhams and brought the seller with him so he could be paid. Sayyidna Jareer ibn Abdullah, RA, looked at the horse and realized that the seller had undervalued it. “Would you sell it for four hundred?” he asked. The seller agreed. “How about five hundred?” he continued his unusual “bargaining” and finally bought the horse for eight hundred dirhams. He was later asked why he did so. “The seller was not aware of the true value of this horse, ” he explained. “I have simply given him a fair price because I had promised to Prophet Muhammad, SAW, to always be sincere and well-wisher for every Muslim.”
O servants of Allah! “Follow the straight path as has been ordained on you. Do not follow the vain doctrines of those without faith. Say, I believe in the scripture that has been sent down. He has ordered me to deal fairly with you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord, the recompense of our deeds is for us, and the recompense for your deeds is for you. Let there be no argument between us and you: Allah will decide between us, and to Him we are returning” (Q42:15). The meaning of these verses is clear, no person or society can misunderstand them.
May Allah put the love of His Habeeb in our hearts so we can love him more than our parents and even more than ourselves for this was the test that the sahabahs passed that gave them the lofty position they occupy in history and with Allah.
We ask Allah to accept our good deeds, forgive us all our evil deeds and gather us in the company of Prophet on the Day of Judgment for acceptance into Paradise. Aaamiin.
We ask Allah’s blessings upon Muhammad (SAW) from which He will open the gates of His acceptance and ease unto us and block all avenues of incurring His wrath, evil deeds and hardship from us and render his His awliya’a (protected and accepted servant) and one under His Help. Aaamiin.
Aquulu qawliy hadha wastagfirullah liy walakum innahu huwal ghafurun Raheem.
Suleiman Zubair
