Belief in the Prophet (saw)

One day the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – sat with his companions when a Bedouin came. Immediately the man asked the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam, “When is the final hour?” A question the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – disliked. The Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – replied, “What have you prepared for it?” The Bedouin said, “I have not prepared much Salah, or much Sawm, or much Sadaqah, but one thing: I love Allah and His Messenger.” Then the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “You shall be with whom you love!” Anas – Radi Allahu Anhu – the narrator of the hadith said, “By Allah, nothing brought us more happiness after our Islam than that statement: ‘you shall be with whom you love.’ I love Allah and His Messenger, and Abu Bakr and Umar; And I hope to be with them (on the final day) eventhough I have not done as much as they did. – Muslim

In the hadith of Jibraeel, when he came to the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – in front of the companions in the form of a man and asked him – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan. He said when asked about Iman, “Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messenger, the Final Day and the divine decree, the good and the bad thereof.” Today we shall talk about Iman in the messengers. And specifically, Iman in the final Messenger, Muhammad ibn Abdillah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

When the Messenger of Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – performed Hijra from Makkah to Medinah, he and his companion Abu Bakr – Radi Allahu Anhu – stopped at the home of Umm Ma’bad. They asked her for food/milk and she said that there was none. Then, seeing a weak, frail calf in the corner, the Messenger of Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – asked if he could milk it. The Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – pet the calf on the back, praying, until it opened it’s legs in preparation for milking. The milk poured and poured as Umm Ma’bad watched in shock.

Later, when her husband came home with the frail flock he saw the blessing shine from the walls and inquired, “What has happened here?” Umm Ma’bad then described the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam. Her description of the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – is one of the most detailed. Amongst the things she said was that his face was like a moon and his voice was beautiful. His beard was long and full, his hair reached his shoulders. Tranquility befell him when he was silent, and if he spoke he was magnificent. From far he was the handsomest man, and from near he was the greatest. Flanking him were men, if he spoke they listened, and if he commanded, they hastily complied.

Abu Ma’bad knew who he was. He said, “Verily this is the man that Quraish is looking for. I once thought of following him, and when I meet him I shall.” He then called out poetry that all the inhabitants of Makkah heard on the horizon:

Jaz Allahu Rabbin Naasi Khayra Jazaa’ihi / Rafeeqayn Qaala Khaymati Umma Ma’badi
Huma Nazalaaha bil Huda, fah tadat bihi / Faqad Faza man Amsa Rafeeqa Muhammadi
What can you say in only one Khutbah about a man that Encyclopedias were written on only his character. I would like in these short moments however to reflect on some of the things Allah blessed His Messenger – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – with, in this world and the next.

1. The Final Messenger. Muhammad ibn Abdullah was the final Messenger of Allah, There shall be no Prophets or Messengers after him. And whoever claims such is a liar. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “The example of myself and the prophets before me is that of a man who built a house, beautifying it, except for a corner where a brick was missing. People would go around admiring the structure but remarking, ‘if only it was completed here.’ The Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – then said, “I am that brick, I am the last of the Prophets.” - Muslim

2. Security for the Ummah. Rasul Allah - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam - – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – was a protection for the Ummah. Allah would not punish them so long as he was amongst them. Allah declared [And Allah would not punish them (so long) as you are amongst them. Nor shall he punish them so long as they seek forgiveness.] Anfal 8/34

3. His wives are our Mothers. Rasul Allah’s - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam - wives are our mothers. Allah declared [The prophet is closer to the believers (those of Eeman) than their ownselves and his wives are their mothers.] Al-Ahzaab 33:6

4. Protected by Allah. No one could harm the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – because Allah was his protector. [And Allah will protect you from the people…] Al ma’idah 5/67

5. The Greatest. He was the greatest human. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – told us, “I am the chief son of Adam, with no boast.”

6. The Greatest Followers. He lived amongst the greatest men and women, his companions. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said , “The best generation is my generation…”

7. A witness over us all. Rasul Allah - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam - – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – shall be a witness over the entire Ummah of Islam. Allah – Subhaanahu wa Ta ‘Aala – says [ How (will it then ) be, when we bring from each nation a witness and we bring you ( O Muhammad – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam –) as a witness against these people?] This is the verse that made Him weep. Nisa 4:41

8. Allah Swore by Him. And Allah testified by his life in the Qur’an. [By your life (O Muhammad – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam –) verily they are in their intoxication wandering blindly] Al Hijr 15/72

9. The Most Followers. And he will have the most followers than any other Prophet. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “Amongst the Prophets on the day of resurrection I shall have the most followers.”

And on the day of judgement, Rasul Allah - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam - will claim the highest position amongst creation: Al Maqaam Al Mahmood. Allah will give him the fountain of Al-Kawthar. And He will be allowed to intercede for his Ummah.

Mustafa Ar-Rifaee commented “It’s interesting how many Muslims have failed to recognize the wisdom behind the name of the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – being called 5 times across the world: Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadur Rasullullaah. Not only that, but in every Salaah and Nafilah, his name is whispered all across the body: Allahumma Salli ala Muhammadin ... Could the wisdom be nothing other than the Ummah not cutting off the remembrance of their Prophet for not a single day of history, for not even a portion of the day.” And Allah knows best.

Part II: The Prophet’s – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – Rights over Us

Some have exaggerated the status of Rasul Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – attributing to him things that are only befitting of Allah. Others sought to show their love by holding bithday parties, what is known as Mawlid An-Nabi for the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam. This is not how someone should show his love, for it is a form of worship unauthorized by the Sunnah or the practice of the early Muslim generations. And whatever is not authorized by the Shariah is rejected by Allah.

Love can only be expressed by following the Messenger of Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – everyday of our lives.

Do you know why Allah – Subhaanahu wa Ta ‘Aala – sent Muhammad – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam? Allah sent him to be obeyed and imitated, a living example of the Quran. Rasullualah has rights over us, and these rights include the following.

He must be loved more than our family, children, more than oneself. He – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “One of you shall not believe until I am more beloved to him than his children, parents, and all of humanity.” This was how the Companions, male and female were.

Ali ibn Abi Talib said, “By Allah, he was more beloved to us than our wealth, more than our children and fathers and mothers, more than cold water when dying of thirst.”

Rasul Allah – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – must be respected and revered. Allah states [O you who believe, Do not put yourselves forward before Allah and His Messenger And fear Allah. Verily Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.] al Hujarat 1. The Arabic La-tuqaddimu means do not walk ahead of. This happens when someone is hasty in matters of religion, deciding contrary to the decision of Allah and His Messenger.

We must pray constantly for our Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam. Everything we know in Islam came to us through him. Jibraeel came to Rasul Allah - Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam – as he was climbing the mimbar and prayed, “Perished be he to whom you are mentioned to and he does not pray for you. Say ameen.” And the Prophet – Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam – said, “Ameen!”