All praise is due to Allaah, Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of all the worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his family and companions.
Fellow Muslims! In the days that tribulations and crisis have overwhelmed the Muslims, that sorrow has clouded its pure sky and guidance has become confused with error and falsehood with truth, the only way out is the fear of Allaah. Fear of Allaah illuminates the way to guidance and removes the darkness of ignorance and error. Whoever Allaah endows with piety has been endowed with a light by which he can march to salvation and has been saved from erroneous beliefs, thoughts and manners, for Muslims are in need of piety and certainty of faith more than ever before in order to attain victory by the permission of Allaah.
The Muslims have never been in need of piety and certainty of faith as they are to attain victory by the permission of Allah.
Fellow Muslims! There is an important factor that we must not forget in spite of the challenges that we are facing today; a factor upon which the victory, glory and civilization of Islaam are built and that can rescue us from the abyss of dissention. The factor is that we are a nation of pure faith, universal message and Tawheed (Islaamic Monotheism) that is based on sincerity to Allaah and following the way of Muhammad –peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him. This factor is an all important one that must be an topic of every place and time till the Day of Resurrection. The best thing that Muslims can be concerned about and which the reformers can talk of is the matter of Islaamic belief, the Sunnah of the Messenger and the Prophetic history. This is the best source of education for the Ummah; for nothing pleases man better than speaking about the one he loves, especially if the beloved is the Messenger of Allaah, the leader of all men and a mercy to mankind. It is through Allaah and then through Muhammad that this guided nation was built on the Islaamic belief of Monotheism. This is the truth that wise men called unto. There is not a single man in the history who attained what the Messenger of Allaah has attained in terms of honour and glory. His name is mentioned by millions of people and millions of hearts shake at the mention of his name. However, the important thing is to convert this love into pure and subtle following of him in all that he has brought from Allaah. Allaah says,
“If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:31)
Brethren in faith! Muslims are presently in need of deriving lessons from the light of the Prophet, the blessed Sunnah and outstanding history of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) more than ever before. Because it is in this age that the ummah faces waves of tribulations and overwhelmed by whims and different ideologies. It is in this age that the Muslims face most grievous challenges and conspiracies of their enemies whose leaders are those whom Allaah has caused and made of them monkeys and pigs and worshippers of false gods who are the Jews and the Zionists. They are supported in this unholy war by the worshippers of cross and most unfortunately, the secularists among those who claim to be Muslims. The matter however becomes worse when many Muslims are ignorant of their religion and only move along with the trends unquestionably or follow inherited innovations without any verification, though the Messenger of Allaah has said, “Whoever does a deed over which there is no command from us, it will be rejected.” (Muslim)
Brethren in Islaam! O lovers of the Prophet! The following are important aspects of the Prophet’s manners. They are sources of bliss and pure fountains for all those who want to free themselves from idolatry, ignorance and darkness. If many of those who love the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) have missed seeing him with their eyes, there is certainly consolation for them in reflecting over his manners and qualities.
Brethren in faith! We need to march strictly according to the Sunnah and we need to correct our stances according to the way the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had lived. We need to examine and review ourselves, and take from the Sunnah and the Prophet’s life history what can increase us in faith and purify our minds. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) of Islaam was not like any other great man as some may wrongly think. He rather possessed all aspects of human greatness. He should not be taken as a Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) but believed as only a Messenger and a Prophet. He himself said, “Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians have done of the son of Mary. I am only a slave of Allaah and His Messenger.” (Al-Bukhaaree)
It is however saddening that some Muslims do not properly esteem the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) when they have a negative love for him, a love that has no positive impacts on their lives or behavior.
Dear Muslims! Reflect over his guidance in all aspects of religion and life. In area of Tawheed (Islaamic Monotheism), he called unto belief in the Oneness of Allaah for thirteen years in Makkah and ten years in Al-Madeenah. He was the one whom Allaah commanded thus,
“Say: Verily, my Salaah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allaah, the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the worlds. He has no partners. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” (Al-An ‘aam 6:162-163)
The first obligation of the Muslim who love the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is to emulate him in calling to Islaamic Monotheism and beware of all acts of innovation and shirk that could negate that. He should also emulate him in his manners of worship. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) would stand up in prayer during the night so long that his feet would become swollen and when he was asked, ‘Has Allaah not forgiven you your past and future sins?’ He would say, “Shouldn’t I be a grateful slave of Allaah?”
In the area of good conduct, you will find the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) as the exemplar par excellence in generosity, good nature and uprightness. He was always good-tempered, gentle, lenient and never took revenge for himself. That was why Allaah praised him thus,
“And verily, you are on and exalted (standard of) character.” (Al-Qalam 68:41)
He also addressed him saying,
“And by the Mercy of Allaah you dealt with them gently. Had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:159)
Anas (the Messenger of Allaah’s house help) said, “I have never touched a brocade nor a silk softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allaah, neither had I smelt anything more pleasant than the Prophet’s odour. I have served him for ten years and he never rebuked me once, or told me about something I had done, ‘Why have you done this’, or something I had not done, ‘Why have you not done this’. ” These are the great characters and sublime manners! Would Muslims then not follow his example?
In aspects of dealing with his companions and family members he said, “The most-perfect believers in faith are the best among them in morals. And the best among you are those who treat their women in the most perfect manner.”
Also, in his administration of Islaamic state, in his acts of worship, in his jihaad and in his endeavour to convey the message of his Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) , he is the best example for all Muslims.
An example of his wisdom in calling to the truth and his gentleness with people vividly shows in the story of the Bedouin man who urinated in a corner of the mosque. When his companions shouted at him he said, “Leave him alone and do not shout at him” . He then told his companions, “You are sent as bearers of glad tidings and not as those who make things difficult for people.” He then gently directed the man and corrected him with wisdom. The Bedouin was so impressed by this act that he said, “O My Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer)! Have mercy on me and Muhammad and do not have mercy on anyone besides us.” (Al-Bukhaaree & Muslim)
Another example was the story of Thumaamah bin Uthaal who was captured in a battle and tied to a pillar in the mosque while he was still a polytheist and the leader of his people. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) passed by him and said, “What do you have, O Thumaamah?” He said, “I have good. If you kill me, you would kill a distinguished person and if you would show mercy on me, you would show mercy to a thankful person. And if you need money, ask for whatever you want, it would be given to you.” The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) then said, -after having honoured him and dealt with him in the best form- ‘Release Thumaamah!’ Thumaamah then went away, took a bath and came back to the Mosque and said, ‘I testify that there is no Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) worthy of worship but Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. O Muhammad! By Allaah, there was nothing on the face of the earth that was more detestable to me than your face but now your face is the most beloved face to me on the earth. There was no religion on the face of the earth more detestable to me than your religion but now, your religion is the most beloved to me. There was no land more detestable to me than your land but now your land is the most beloved land to me.’
When the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was asked to curse the polytheists, he said, “I am not sent as a curser, I am only sent as a mercy to mankind.” When he conquered Makkah, he told the disbelieving inhabitants of that city who had been his tormentors, “How do you think I am going to treat you?” He said, “Well, for you are a generous brother and a son of a generous brother.” He then said, “O Allaah, forgive my people for they know not what they are doing. ” He then faced the Makkans and said, “Go home, you are free.”
Let the whole humanity therefore know this bright pages of the history of the mercy of Islaam and that of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) of Islaam which can be found in the Torah and Injeel (of Prophet (s.a.w.s.) Eesaa). Let this be known, to all those who attack Islaam and its Prophet, that Islaam is full of good and noble traits. Let the whole world recognize the difference between the noble universality of Islaam and their own globalisation that is based on the destruction of all human values. Would the Muslims then not recognise the best way to practically revive their religion and the Sunnah of their Prophet? They should learn lessons from past events and their own experiences especially in these days that the Ummah is undergoing crises. Also, they should not only speak of the qualities of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) but act positively through these qualities to stop those Zionist Jews who desecrate their holy places and commit all kinds of vicious crimes against the rightful owners of Palestine, under the nose of the whole world.
Brethren in Islaam! How can we be speaking about the virtues of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) only when the enemies of Islaam among the atheists insist on their aggression against the Muslims of Chechnya and the idolater Hindus commit their heinous crimes against our Kashmir brothers and other Muslims of sub-Indian continent?
How can we feel satisfied while our situations are becoming worse day in day out. Muslims therefore, should hold fast unto their religion and the Sunnah of their Prophet (s.a.w.s.) with all love, sincerity, cooperation and mutual magnanimity. It is then that they can be united under the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. For the latter part of his ummah cannot be put aright except by that which put their predecessors right. Allaah says,
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allaah, you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day and remembers Allaah much.” (Al-Ahzaab 38:21)
Brethren in Faith! Fill your hearts with the qualities of the Prophet, reflect over them and teach it to your children and households. It should not only be recited at occasions, it should rather be put into practice in reforming your ways and your lives. In these days that there are many new inventions, the Sunnah is the best protection against the evil effect of this inventions. You are in need – more than ever before – of unity under the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah so that the goal of the Ummah can be attained. Every Muslim is manning a strategic position for Islaam according to his ability. So let him take care of his duty as it is due. Show Allaah the best of you and move forward in a balanced way through sure knowledge upon which awareness is based, so that the Ummah can take up her leading role among mankind.
By Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sudays
Khutbah (Friday Sermon) in Makkah Al Mukkaramah
Rabee ‘ul awwal 19, 1423 (May 31, 2002)
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