ICICE AL-NOOR KHUTBAH FOR 12/4/2019

THE TRUE LOVE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD

All praise due to Allah Who has chosen us with the Best of the messengers, and revealed to us the best book, given us the most perfect laws. We praise Him and thank Him abundantly. He completed his religion and showered us with his bounties. He the Exalted said: “This Day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” Al’maidah, v:3. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone without a partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad (S.A.W) is His servant and Messenger. May the Peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, his household and companions till the Day of Judgement.

The prestige and dignity of our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is so great, and our love for him is not like our love to anyone, whomsoever. Allah has perfected his personal creation and chosen him as the last messenger and sent him to the entire creations with Mercy and Guidance. The love of the Prophet is a great act of worship. It draws us close to Allah. It is among the pillars of Eeman. Allah the Almighty said: “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves”. Al;ahzaab, V;6.The Messenger of Allah said: “By Allah! None truly believes until I am beloved to him more than his self, his son, wealth, and all the people”. Albukhary. And he also reported that Umar bn alkattaab (R.) said “O Messenger of Allah! By Allah! You are beloved to me more than everything except myself. The Messenger said: “No! O Umar, until I am beloved to you more than yourself. Then He said: “O messenger of Allah! By Allah! You are beloved to me more than everything even myself, the messenger of Allah said: “It is indeed Now! O Umar”. Accordingly, the love of the Prophet is mandatory upon all Muslims, and it is a stronghold of Iman. It must be more than every kind of love to any human being.

O servants of Allah! How will he not be our most beloved, but He is most beloved to Allah The Almighty. He took him as a close friend. He praised him more than anyone in the entire world. Why not? This is so because his love is a source of our faith in Allah. He is the most honoured and purest of the people in everything, He loves and sympathizes with us by choosing intercession of his Ummah as the best wish of His in the Hereafter. Allah the Most High said: “Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad s.a.w) from amongst yourselves. It grieves Him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allah, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins in order that may enter Paradise and be saved from the Punishment of the Hell-fire); towards the believers, he is full of pity, kindness, and mercy”. Attaubah, V:128. Why won’t he be beloved to us, after doing his best in calling His Ummah and dislodging people from the darkness to the light.

O servants of Allah! Are there signs of loving the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), which must be actualized and fulfilled in ourselves, homes and communities?

Yes there are signs as follow :

• Giving him preference (S.A.W) over everybody in the world. Allah (S.W.T) said: “O you who believe! Make not (a decision) in advance before Allah and His Messenger (S.A.W) and fear Allah. Verily ! Allah is All-hearing, All-knowing”.
• Our manners and conduct towards him should include the following: 1- Praising and sending blessings to him. Allah (S.W.T) said: “Allah Sends His Salat (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad) and also his angels (ask Allah to bless and forgive Him) O you who believe! Send your Salat on Him, and greet Him with the Islamic way of greeting”. Al’ahzaab,V:56. 2- Displaying good manners in calling his name.. This is so because his name mentioning comes with the title of Prophethood or Messengership. Allah Said: “Make not the calling of the Messenger (Muhammad) among you as your calling one of another”.Al-noor,V:63. Saeed bn Jubair and Mujaheed further said: “That means to say: O Messenger of Allah! in soft manner, do not call Him Saying: O Muhammad gloweringly”. Qatadah said: “Allah has commended them to respect and honour Him”. 3- Part of of the above is respecting his sayings and sunnah (way of life) while hearing or studying it as the Salaf and Scholars used to do. The Prophet (S.A.W.) does not speak of (his own) desire, it’s only a Revelation revealed. His Sunnah (hadith) is very significant in explanation of the religion. He said: “Beware! I have been given the Qur’an and something like it”.Al’imam Ahmad.
• Believing in whatever He narrated without doubt and this is a big Pillar of Imaan, He only narrated what was revealed to him.
• Adopting his teaching and obeying his command. So, obedience of the Prophet is a clear-cut sign of his love and love of Allah The almighty, He Said: “Say (O Muhammad s.a.w to mankind): “If you really love Allah then follow me (i.e accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love and forgive your sins”. Ali;Imran,v:31. Adopting his Sunnah is a great sign of his love. Allah the exalted Said: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad s.a.w) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for the meeting with Allah and the Last day, and remembers Allah much”. Al’ahzaab V:21.The believer who truly loves the Prophet (s.a.w) would model after him in every aspect of his life. For that; whosoever celebrate The Prophet’s Birthday,(Maulud) or migration, or Israa and Mi’raj (Prophet’s night travel and ascension to heavens) do not prove their love to Him, instead they disobey and contradict his way and teachings and innovate in the religion. His true love is hinged on following his teachings and His Sunnah revealed by Allah.
• Not reducing and exceeding the bounds in his love, as he said: “Do not unduly praise me like the Christians exaggerated over Isa son of Maryam. Verily, I am Allah’s servant and His Messenger”.Albukhary.
• Defending him and backing, as the companions did with lives, their wealth and families. These can be done now that the Prophet is no more by: 1- Backing his Sunnah and his message with any means. 2- Memorizing and reviewing his Sunnah and repulsing obscurities against it.3- Spreading his teachings and conveying them. He said: “May Allah beautify a man who hears a saying of mine, so, he understands it, remembers it, and conveys it as he heard. And He also said; “If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him in righteousness.” Muslim. No doubt that the best guidance is the guidance of our beloved Muhammad (s.a.w).

Al’imamul Bukhary narrated in Hadith of Abu Hurairah that “A Bedouin came and asked Him: “When will the last Day be? The Messenger of Allah Said: “What Preparation have you made for it? He said;” Only the love of Allah and His Messenger” Then the Messenger (s.a.w) said “You will be with those whom you love.” Anas Said: I did not see the Happiness of the Muslims after Islam like the happiness of that day. We love the Prophet even if we cannot do as he did, being with us in hereafter is sufficient for us.

O Servant of Allah! If we could not live with Him as His Companions, nor strive in his battles, or defend his Personal and His Sunnah. There are a lot to offer: the Faith in Him, true love in Him, and following His Sunnah, learning and teaching it and adapting it in all aspects of life. By these we will gain His accompany ship in Aljannah.

O Allah enrich us with true love of our beloved Muhammad (s.a.w) and following his teachings, O Allah grant us his intercession  and His basin, irrigate us with His own honoured hands.