Jumu’ah Khubah – Muhammad Rasulullah (SAW)- The Only Approved Role Model for Humankind
17th Rabi-al-Awwal 1446AH
Assalamu alaykum warahmatullah wabarakaatuh
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ الْآمِرِ بِالْبِرِّ وَالْإِحْسَانِ، النَّاهِي عَنِ الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ، أَحْمَدُهُ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْ هَدَانَا لِلْإِيمَانِ، وَعَلَّمَنَا الْبَيَانَ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَلَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
All praises are for Allah Who commands piety and goodness and prohibits evil and envy. I uphold the praise of Him, the Most Sublime, for guiding us to Imaan and taught us to make clear distinction between things. I testify that none deserves to be worshipped besides Allah and Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
O Allah! Send Your Blessed Salutation on him and his companions and all those who follow them in good deeds till the end of time.
O servants of Allah! We cannot fully thank Allah who, in His Unquantifiable Wisdom, chose and sent Muhammad (SAW) as a Prophet and Messenger to the two heavy worlds {worlds of Men & Jinn) as carrier of glad tidings and a Warner. This great prophet ranks topmost in the ranks of messengers of Allah and by his greatness, his followers attained the rank unattained by previous communities regardless of the length and sincerity of their worship of Allah. In this regard, Allah gave the Ummah of Rasulullah the gift of the ‘best of community’ title: كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ (You are indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind – Q3:110).
O servants of Allah! The only assured way of achieving the goal of Jannah in the Aakhirah is by attaching yourself to the ideals propagated by the Noble Prophet (SAW) because Allah says: لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ “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 …” (Q33:21).
To underlie the need to comply with His directive in Q33:21 cited above, Allah spoke of the outstandingly 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 (the Trustworthy) as He (SWT) said: لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ “Verily, you are upon (have been blessed with) an exalted (flaw less) character (which no sane person can possess) Q68:4).
O servants of Allah! Allah has also facilitated compliance by the Ummah of Rasulullah with the directive in Q33:21 by ensuring that every minute detail about the actions and statements of this Noble Prophet is recorded and preserved for generations after him (SAW) to benefit from. In the history of Humankind, no one has been so meticulously been followed and documented from his religious to political activities, from social to domestic, from hygiene to nutrition, etc.
The estrangement of Islam from the Muslims created so much gap that you find the Muslims taking people who are completely off their route as Role Models. When I say, people who are off their route, I mean fellow journey men on different destination not concerned about the hereafter or even those who have distorted view about Allah and His Commandments. There amongst us today are those whose role models, for instance, are footballers and they are doing everything they can to emulate and also propagate the ‘ideas’ of their legends.
O servants of Allah! Know that the only role model who can be of help towards meeting the aspirations of this world and the hereafter and whom Allah has mandated us all to copy and imitate in all our dealings is the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) alone who has no equal among all that Allah has created. The Prophet (SAW) said:
1. بُعِثْتُ لأُتَمِّمَ حُسْنَ الأَخْلاَقِ ” and إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الأَخْلاقِ. “Allah has sent me as an apostle so that I may demonstrate perfection of character, refinement of manners and loftiness of deportment.” [Malik and Ahmad].
2. قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمْ يَكُنْ فَاحِشًا وَلاَ مُتَفَحِّشًا وَقَالَ ” إِنَّ مِنْ أَحَبِّكُمْ إِلَىَّ أَحْسَنَكُمْ أَخْلاَقًا ” “Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) neither talked in an insulting manner nor did he ever speak evil intentionally. He used to say, “The most beloved to me amongst you is the one who has the best character and manners.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3759).
3. “ لِكُلِّ دِينٍ خُلُقٌ وَخُلُقُ الإِسْلاَمِ الْحَيَاءُ ” . ‘Every deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.’ (Malik; Book 47, Hadith 1644)
O brethren! Know that the excellent qualities possessed by Rasulullah (SAW) were not acquired by him through training but by Allah’s special design. For this reason, he is excellent in every sphere of human endeavours to the extent that even before his call to Messengership, he was recognized by all and sundry and distinguished as Al-Ameen, The Trustworthy one, in a society that is terribly corrupt and full of oppression. Allah came to the rescue of His Prophet, who was disturbed at the rejection of his message of Islam as He (SWT) said: قَدْ نَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيَحْزُنُكَ ٱلَّذِى يَقُولُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ (O Muhammad! SAW) “We know well that their talks (the rejection of the Kuffaar) grieve you. Indeed, they do not reject you (they do not regard you asa liar because they know that you are not one), but these oppressors deny the Aayaat of Allah (Q6:33).
My beloved brethren! Know that whatever role you are playing today in life has been played by the Prophet (SAW) and he left behind landmark examples for all to be guided. In comparison to others that may appear attractive, they may not have played in all fields of life and certainly will not be of any help to provide practical life solutions to your problems. A man who remained celibate all his life giving marriage counselling is similar to a man who is naked offering you a shirt. You just have to be wise.
O servants of Allah! It is our duty to study the sterling qualities of this Great Personality and try to imitate him as much as you can. What Allah has given to His Beloved Prophet cannot be explained fully by man. Imam Busairi, in his Burdah, eulogised the Prophet (SAW) thus:
فَهْوَ الذِّي تَمَّ مَعْنَاهُ وَصُورَتُهُ [FA HUWAL-LADHI TAMMA MA’NAAHU WA SURATUHU (For he is the one with whom ended all outward and inward perfection)]
ثُمَّ اصْطَفَاهُ حَبِيبًا بَارِئُ النَّسَمِ [THUMMA-S- TAFAAHU HABEEBAN BAARI’UN NASAMI (And the Creator of all creations chose him as His most Beloved)]
مُنَزَّهٌ عَنْ شَرِيكٍ فِي مَحَاسِنِهِ [MUNAZZAHUN AN SHAREEKIN FEE MAHASINIHI (He has no equal in his magnificence)]
فَجَوْهَرُ الحُسْنِ فِيهِ غَيْرُ مُنْقَسِمِ [FA JAWHARUL HUSNI FEEHI GHAIRU MUNQASAMI (The jewel of excellence in him is indivisible {i.e. not shared with any creature})]
May Allah (SWT) place us among those who will be granted the love of Rasulullah (SAW) and be among those who will spread his enduring love to humanity. May we be among those who spread love and not hate, spread peace and not conflict, spread unity and not division. Amin.
PART 2
الحمد لله ربّ العالمين ، والصلاة والسلام على أفصح العرب قاطبةً،، منْ آتاه الله جوامع الكَلِم،، وعلى آله وأصحابه،، وعلى كُلّ مَنْ إِهْتَدَى بِهَدْيِه، واسْتَنَّ بِسُنَّتِه،، واقتَفَى أثَرَهُ،، إلى يومِ الدِّين.
All praises are due to Allah, Lord of all that exist where they exist. O Allah bestow Your Salutation and Peace upon the most eloquent of all Arabs whom Allah has given the most comprehensive words and upon everyone who follow his guidance, his examples and footsteps until the Day of Judgement.
O servants of Allah! Know that Allah sent Rasulullah as a manifestation of His mercy upon all creation. Allah said: وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ “And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to all the worlds” (21:107). Through him (SAW), Allah gave us the gift of His revelation, His clear path for those striving for righteousness. With him, Allah has sent the religion of truth, هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِ “… so that He may exalt it above all religions …” (61:9).
The monumental challenges facing post-modern society emanate from the loss of love and the emergence of self-centredness and individuality as against the group-centredness and communalism. We need to spread the values of love and mercy taught by Rasulullah (SAW) so as to escape the impending doom. The amplification of hate today needs to be challenged by radiating love and mercy to humanity. We should seek to build bridges with others and not walls. We should manifest our faith through the prism of love and mercy.
O servants of Allah! We call on one another to emulate the character and wisdom of the Prophet(SAW) was epitomized love and mercy; he (SAW) was the kindest of men in the same way as he excelled all others in courage and valour. Being extremely kind-hearted, his eyes brimmed with tears at the slightest sign of inhumanity. A Companion, Shaddaad bin ‘Aws reported the Apostle as saying: “Allah has commanded you to show kindness to everyone, so if you have to kill, kill in a good manner, and if you slaughter an animal, slaughter it gently. If anyone of you has to slay an animal, he should sharpen the blade first and treat the animal well.” Ibn ‘Abbas relates that a man threw a goat on its side and then started sharpening his knife. When the Prophet saw him he said: “Do you want to kill it twice? Why did you not sharpen the knife before throwing it on the ground?”
Rasulullah (SAW) showed the various realms of mercy. This includes:
1. A Mercy for the Believers – The Messenger’s compassion towards the believers was of the utmost degree. Allah’s statement attests thus: “There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance] and to the believers is kind (Ra’ufun) and merciful (Raheem).” [Q9:128]
Sa‘d bin ‘Ubaadah once became ill, so Allah’s Messenger visited him in his house. On seeing his faithful Companion in a pitiful state, he was moved to tears. Then, he said: “Allah does not punish because of tears, nor because of grief, but he punishes because of this.”- and he pointed to his tongue. [Al-Bukhari]
2. A Mercy Towards his Enemies – The prisoners of war taken captive at the battle of Badr were amongst his bitterest enemies. Nevertheless, he made sure that they were given the best of treatment. Among them was Suhayl bin ‘Amr who was a fiery speaker and was denouncing the Prophet. Sayyidina Umar (RA) suggested that two of his lower teeth be pulled out so that he might not be so vile in his speeches. The Prophet replied: “Were I to do this, Allah would disfigure me on the Day of Judgement, despite the fact that I am His messenger.”
In Makkah, his people inflicted him with every kind of suffering, eventually forcing him to emigrate to Madeenah, and then waged war on him for five years. However, when he conquered Makkah without bloodshed in the twenty-first year of his Prophethood, he asked the Makkan unbelievers who were awaiting his decision about them: “How do you expect me to treat you?” They responded unanimously: “You are a noble one, the son of a noble one.” He announced to them his decision: “You may go free! No reproach this day shall be on you; may God forgive you.”
3. A Mercy for Women: The Noble Prophet gave women honour and dignity at par with men in the community at a time when women were treated like items of no value. ‘Umar (RA) reported: “We did not have much regard for women while we were at Makkah, but they were better treated in Madeenah. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) established women’s rights through his sayings and commandments, which improved their position and status.”
4. A Mercy for Children: Allah’s Messenger was particularly compassionate towards children. When he saw a child crying, he sat beside him or her and shared his or her feelings. He felt the pain of a mother for her child more than the mother herself. Once he said: “I stand in prayer and wish to prolong it. However, I hear the cry of a child and cut the prayer short for the anxiety which the mother is feeling.” [Al-Bukhaari]
5. A Mercy for Slaves: The Prophet strongly enjoined the duty of kind and generous treatment upon slaves, servants and labourers engaged in manual work. Jaabir (RA) related the Apostle of Allah as saying: “Feed them with the food which you eat, clothe them with such clothing as you wear, and do not cause trouble to Allah’s creatures.” The Apostle is further stated to have said: “Those whom Allah has made your dependents are your brothers, servants and helpmates. Anybody whose brother has been made subservient to him ought to feed him with the food he eats and clothe him with the clothes he wears; command him not to do that which he is unable to do and if it becomes necessary to do so then he should help him in doing the job.”
6. A Mercy for Animals: The Prophet (SAW) forbade his companions to keep the unintelligent creatures hungry or thirsty, to disturb or to overburden them. He commended that kindness and putting them at ease were meritorious acts tending to bring man nearer to Allah. Abu Hurayrah reports the Prophet as saying: “A traveller who was thirsty saw a well in the way. He got inside the well and when he came out he saw a dog licking mud due to thirst. The man realised that the dog was as thirsty as him, so he got into the well again, filled his leather sock with water and carried it out holding it with his teeth. Thus, he quenched the thirst of the dog. Allah was pleased with this act of kindness and pardoned his sins.” The Companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah, is there reward in the matter of beasts and wild animals also?” The Prophet replied: “There is reward in regard to every creature that has a living heart.”
‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar(RA) related that the Prophet said: “A woman was cast away to hell only because she had withheld food and water from her cat and refused to set it free so that the cat might satisfy its hunger by eating worms and insects.”
O servants of Allah! Adopting the Prophet (SAW) as your role model requires that you love him above every other creatures including your parents and yourself. In the discussion he had with Sayyidina Umar (RA), the Prophet (SAW) said that “ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ”. “none of you is a true believer until he loves him more than he loves himself, his parents and all of humanity.” This was exactly the way the Sahabahs took him and respected him and give up their personal preferences for whatever he urges them. If we follow the footsteps of the Sahabah in following this Great Apostle, we would have complied what Allah’s directive when He said ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا “The Prophet is closer to the believers than they themselves are …” (Q33:6)
· مَّن يُطِعِ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ ٱللَّهَ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا “Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah …” (Q4:80). Obedience to Rasulullah in all matters is obedience to Allah; anything otherwise is disobedience to Allah and His Rasool; and
· قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ “If you love Allah, then follow me and Allah will love you” (Q3:31).
O servants of Allah! The Islam that Rasulullah brought taught love and peaceful co-existence between all people regardless of religion; war was a last resort in the fight to establish love, peace and communal living to serve Allah without compromise. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, SAW, said,
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ مَنْ ضَارَّ ضَرَّهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ شَاقَّ شَقَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ
السنن الكبرى كتاب الصلح باب لا ضرر ولا ضرار “Do not cause harm or return harm. Whoever harms others, Allah will harm him. Whoever is harsh with others, Allah will be harsh with him.” [Source: al-Sunan al-Kubrá lil-Bayhaqī 11384]
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.
O Allah! Make firm our hearts in Islam! Make our faith true and deep, and bestow upon us real love for Your Prophet!
O Allah! Do not leave me a sin without forgiving it, an error without covering it, a debt without repaying it, or a worldly need that meets Your Pleasure and our righteousness without providing for it. O Most Merciful of the merciful. Aaamiiin.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace (Q33:56). So, we entreat Allah for salawaat on our beloved Rasool and other messengers thus:
اَللّهُمَ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمّدٍ عَبدِكَ ونَبِيِّكَ ورَسُولِكَ الْنَبِىّ الْأُمِّىّ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلِّمْ تَسلِيمَاً. بِقَدرِ عَظَظَمَةِ ذَاتِكَ فِى كُلِّ وَقتٍ وَحِين O Allah, please send prayers upon Sayyidina Muhammad, Your Servant and Your Prophet and Your Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, and send peace and greetings as plenty as Your Greatness, in all times and moments.
يَا اللَّهُ وَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُ وَ لَوْ عَلِمْتُهُ سَأَلْتُكَ بِهِ وَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ And I ask You by what I do not know and would still ask if I knew. I ask You by all the Names which You possess by Your Secret Knowledge أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَ رَسُولِكَ وَ أَمِينِكَ عَلَى وَحْيِكَ to, please, bestow Your Blessings upon Your Prophet Muhammad (SAW)– the one entrusted with Your Revelations – وَ أَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي جَمِيعَ ذُنُوبِي وَ تَقْضِيَ لِي جَممِيعَ حَوَائِجِي وَ تُبَلِّغَنِي آمَالِي وَ تُسَهِّلَ لِي مَحَابِّي وَ تُيَسِّرَ لِي مُرَادِي وَ تُوصِلَنِي إِلَى بُغْيَتِي سَرِيعاً عَاجِلًا وَ تَرْزُقَنِي رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً وَ تُفَرِّجَ عَنِّي هَمِّي وَ غَمِّي وَ كَرْبِي يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. I ask You to forgive all my sins, fulfill all my needs, to realize all my hopes, to quickly get what I want. Please bestow upon me abundant sustenance. Please relieve me from my worries, grief and sorrow. O’ the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful!”
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنا فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنا فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنا فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لنا فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنا شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.
عِبَادَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Servants of Allah. Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِررْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا
Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favors – He will increase you therein. And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters.
Wa akhiru da’waana anil hamdu lillahi rabbil aalameen
Suleiman Zubair