Sources:
- The Book of Tawheed (by Shaikh Saleh al-Fozan)
- The Pillars of Islam (by sheikh Abdullah bin Abdul-Rahman bin Jibrin)
1- To believe in him.
2- To love him.
3- To honor him.
4- To obey him
5- To support and guard his law (Shari’ah).
6- To hold fast to the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)
7- To respect his companions and love them.
8- To love his household
9- To send prayers upon him.
1- To believe in him:
To believe in the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) is a part of the testimony, which is the first pillar of Islam. ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah (Azza Wa Jall), and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ Believing the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) in all what he as conveyed. Those who reject any part of what he was sent with or deny it are disbelievers, whether they were following their desires, and earlier overruled law, a philosophy or a man made methodology. Allah (Azza Wa Jall) said:
“And he [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)] who has brought the truth and (those who) believed therein (i.e. the true believers of Islamic Monotheism), those are al-Muttaqun.” (Surat az-Zumar 39:33)
Further Allah said in Surat at-Taghabun (64:8):
“There fore, believe in Allah and His Messenger [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)] and in the light (Qur’an) which We have sent down. And Allah is All Aware of what you do.”
Also Allah said in Surat an-Najm (53:3-4):
“Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a revelation revealed.”
Further Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, there is no Jew or Christian who hears of me and does not believe in me, but will be among the people of the fire.” [Muslim]
The statement in the Hadith applies even more concerning to other than the people of the Scripture i.e. to the Muslims.
2- To Love him (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam):
To ac quire love for Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), which is a great pillar of faith without which one cannot attain faith. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “None of you believes till I am dearer to him than his father, his child and all mankind.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Hence those who believe that any person is allowed to disobey Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) or is able to draw closer to Allah without obeying the Prophet’s way, have committed disbelief. Allah (Azza Wa Jall) said in Surat an Nisa’ (4:64):
“We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by Allah’s leave. If they (hypocrites), when they had been unjust to themselves, had come to you [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)] and begged Allah’s forgiveness and the Messenger had begged forgiveness for them; indeed, they would have found Allah All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
3- To honor him:
“In order that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), and you assist and honor him (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam).” (Surat al- Fath 48:9)
“O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, and speak not aloud to one another, lest your good deeds become void without being aware of it. Verily, those who lower their voices in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) are the ones whose hearts Allah has purified for righteousness. For them is Forgiveness and a great reward. Those who call outside your apartments; most of them do not understand. And had they waited patiently until you came out to them, it would have been better for them. But Allah is most forgiving, Merciful.” (Surat al-Hujarat 49:2-5)
Allah (Azza Wa Jall) says:
“Indeed, Allah sends His Salat (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)] and also His angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). And His angels praise the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam). O you believe! Ask (Allah to confer) blessings upon him and ask (Alllah to grant him) peace.” (Surat al-Ahzab 33:56)
However, no particular time should be designated in order to praise the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), or a particular manner unless such a manner is substantiated by the Book and the Sunnah. Designating a particular day as those who celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), allege it to be the day he was born, for adulating him, their function is objectionable Bid’ah.
4- To obey him:
To acquire the righteous habits and traditions of following and obeying the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), which are the most important implications of loving the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) and believing in him Allah (Azza Wa Jall) said in Surat al-Imaran (3:31-32)
“Say [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) to mankind]: ‘If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept the Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ Say [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)]: ‘Obey Allah and the Messenger [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)].’ But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers.”
Hence, those who believe that any person is allowed to disobey Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) or is able to draw closer to Allah without obeying the Prophet’s way will have committed disbelief. The obedience to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) is incumbent on every Muslim by fulfilling his commands and refraining from his prohibitions as required by the second segment of the Testimony of faith (Muhammad –ar-Rasul Allah) or Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. At times, Allah combines the obedience which is due to Him with the obedience which is due to His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) saying:
“O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey His Messenger.” (Surat an-Nisa’ 4:59)
He also made his obedience a means of guidance and his opposition and disobedience as means of deviation. Allah, the Exalted, says in Surat an-Nur (24:54):
“And if you obey him you will be rigtly guided.”
“Verily you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much.” (Surat al-Ahzab 33:21)
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “He who turns away from my Sunnah, does not belong to me.” [Muslim]
5- To support and guard his law (Shari’ah):
To refer to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) for judgment in every matter, so no statement, opinion or judgment of any person, whoever he was, is ever passed or preferred to the judgement of Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam). Allah (Azza Wa Jall) said in Surat an-Nisa’ (4:65):
“But no, by your Lord, they have no Faith, until they make you [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)] judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.”
Allah (Azza Wa Jall) further says in Surat al –Hujarat (49:1):
“O you who believe! Make not (a decision) in advance before Allah and His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”
Also Allah (Azza Wa Jall) said in Surat al-Ahzab (33:36):
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an opinion in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error.”
Hence, those who refer to man made laws or disbelieving ideas for judgment will have contradicting the testimony that Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) is Allah’s Messenger.
6- To hold fast to the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam):
Allah is only worshipped through what Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) has legislated. Hence, the people are required to hold fast to the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) and obey his guidance in all matters. They are also required to refrain from what the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) has forbidden and from the innovations in the religion, even when one thinks that these innovations in the religion draw him closer to Allah. The believers are required to follow the guidance of Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) in all religious matters, as Allah (Azza Wa Jall) said in Surat al-Ahzab (33:21):
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)] you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah Much.”
He (Azza Wa Jall) further said in Surat an-Nisa’ (4:115):
“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)]after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell and what an evil destination!”
Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) said “If someone innovates whatever is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that innovation is rejected.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
He (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) also stated that: ‘I have left you with what is similar to the sun (meaning white and pure) whose nights are as bright as its days, none will be led away from it except the destroyed ones.” [Ibn Abu Asim, in his book As-Sunnah]
May Allah (Azza Wa Jall) bestow His Peace and Blessings on the Prophet, his house hold, his companions and all those who fellow his guidance and Sunnah until the Day of Judgment, Ameen.
7- To Respect his companions and love them:
Sahabi (companion), a person who met the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), believed in him, and died as a believer. It must be believed that the companions are the best of the Muslim Ummah, and the best of its generations for being the first to accept Islam, and for having the honor of accompanying the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), participating in Jihad with him, and conveying the Shari’ah from him to those who succeeded them. Allah, the Exalted, said in Surat at-Tauba (9:100):
“And as for the foremost among the believers, the first of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in the best possible manner, Allah is well pleased with Him; and He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever. This is the great success.”
And Allah (Azza Wa Jall) said in Surat al-Fath (48:29):
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the believers, kind to each other. You see them bowing and prostrating themselves (in prayer), seeking grace from Allah and His Pleasure. Their mark is upon their faces, being the traces of prostration. That is their description in the Torah and their description in the Gospel is like unto a seed produce that sends forth it sprout, then makes it strong; it then makes becomes think, and stands firm on its stem, delighting the ones who sowed them that He may cause disbelievers to burn with rage at the sight of them. Allah (Azza Wa Jall) has promised, unto those of them who believe and do good works forgiveness and a great reward.”
And He (Azza Wa Jall) said in Surat al- Hashr (59:8-9):
“The spoils are for the poor Muhajirron (immigrants) who were driven out from their homes leaving behind their possessions, while seeking bounty from Allah and His Pleasure, and supporting the cause of Allah, and His Messenger. It is they who are the veracious. And those who had occupied the home (Madina) and faith before them, love those who emigrated to them, and fine no desire in themselves for what they gave, but prefer the immigrants to themselves, even though poverty is their own lot. And he who is rid of his own niggardliness; it is these who will be successful.”
In the above verse Allah, the Exalted, praises the Muhajireen (Emigrants) and the Ansars (Supporters) the residents of Madinah. He (Azza Wa Jall) describes them as people, who are contending for good deeds. He asserts that He is pleased with them, and has prepared for them heavenly gardens. Allah describes them as being merciful to each other, harsh against the infidels. He also describes them as people who often bow and prostrate (performing Salat), and describe their hearts as sound, and that they are recognized by their signs of obedience and Iman (Faith). The above verses also signify that Allah (Azza Wa Jall) has chosen them to accompany his Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) to enrage with them his enemies, the infidels.
Allah (Azza Wa Jall) also commands the Muhajireen from relinquishing their homes and properties for the sake of Allah and the support of His Deen (religion), seeking His Bounty and Pleasure, and that they were veracious and sincere in doing so. While on the other hand, Allah (Azza Wa Jall) describes the Ansar as people of the Hijrah abode (Madinah), support and true Iman. He characterized them with love they extended to their emigrant brothers, by favoring them over their own sleves, and woth freedom from miserliness for what they attained success.
Such are some of their general merits, while there are particular merits and ranks that distinguished some of them above the others, may Allah be pleased with them, in accordance to their seniority in early acceptance of Islam, Jihad and Hijrah (immigration from Makkah to Madinah).
The best of the companions are the four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, followed by the rest of the ten who were given the good news of being among the People of Jannah (Paradise), who are Talhah bin Ubaid-Allah, Az-Zubair bin al-Awwam, Abdurrahman bin Auf, Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah, Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas and Sa’eed bin zaid.
8- To love his household:
The Ahl-ul-Bait is the house hold of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) to whom charity is not lawful. They are the family of Ali, the family of Ja’far, the family of Aqil, the family of Al-Abbas, the children of al-Harith, the wives of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) and his daughters, as Allah, the Exalted, said in Surat al-Ahzab (33:32):
“O wives of the Prophet: You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner.”
“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and offer prayers perfectly (Iqamat us- Salat), and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove Ar-Rijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you. Surely Allah wants to remove impurity away from you, Ahl al- Bait, and purify you completely.” (Surat al-Ahzab 33:33)
Imam Ibn Kathir, (Rahimahullaah), said: “He who comprehends the Qur’an will doubtlessly recognize that the wives of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) are included in the above verse.
As indicated by the context of the preceding verse in which the wives of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) are addressed.
That is why Allah (Azza Wa Jall) says after this:
“And apply what is recited in your homes of the Ayaat of Allah and of the Sunnah.” Surat al-Ahzab (33:34)
This means, apply whatever Allah, the Blessing Granter, the Exalted, sent down to His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) in your homes from the Book and the Sunnah. Qatadah and others commented on the above verse saying: “And speak about this grace with which you are distinguished out of all people, that the revelation comes down in your homes out of all people.”
A’isha as Siddiqah, the daughter of as-Siddiq, with whom Allah is pleased, was most deserving of this grace, and the most distinguished by it. She was the only woman to receive the honor that the revelation came down while the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) was in her bed, as stated by the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam). Some Scholars elaborated saying: “This honor which she received was due to the fact that she was the only virgin wife the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) married. Hence, it befitted her to be distinguished by this high rank out of all his wives. Ibn Kathir went on to say : “if his wives are included in his household, then his blood relatives are more deserving to be included.”
We love Ahl-ul-Bait [the household of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)], relate to them and observe the recommendation of the Messenger of Allah (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) when he said in his Farewell Pilgrimage: “I adjure you by Allah with regards to my household.” [Muslim]
9- To send prayers upon him:
It is the right of the Messenger of Allah (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) upon his Ummah to supplicate Allah to exalt him, and render him safe from evil as Allah, the Exalted, said in Surat al-Ahzab (33:56):
“Indeed, Allah sends His Salat (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)] and also His angels praise the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam). O you who believe! Ask (Allah to confer) blessing upon him and Sallimu Taslima [i.e. ask (Allah to grant him) peace].
The meaning of the Salat of Allah for him (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) is Allah praising him in the angelic sphere, and the salt of the angles for him means the angels supplicate Allah t praise him, while Salat of the humans is the request for forgiveness. Allah, the Exalted, announces in the above verses the rank and the status of his slave and Prophet, in His supreme sphere, by praising him in the presence of the angels who are in His Proximity.
The angels supplicate Allah to praise him (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), and Allah, the Exalted, commands the inhabitants of the lower world (this world) to supplicate Allah to praise him (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) and render him safe from evil. Thus, the praise for the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) is combined from both the inhabitants of the upper and the lower worlds.
The meaning of “Sallimu Taslima” is to greet him (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) with the greeting of Islam ‘Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi’ that is, when one concludes his salat by reciting As salat ibrahimmiyah (supplication that follows ‘At tahiyyat’), he combines between the salat and the Taslim, rather than to be satisfied with just one. That is, you should not just say sallallahu alaihi or alaihi as-Salam, but combine both as As-Salat and As- salam.
Supplicating Allah for the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) is legitimate on many occasions; either a must in some, or emphasized in others. It is emphasized to supplicate during the Salat at the end of the Tashahud. Also to be added at the end of Qunoot, in the Khutba of Jumu’ah, the two Eid prayers, Istisqaa (a prayer for rain), and upon responding to the Adhan and at the end of any supplication, upon entering and exiting the Masjid, and upon mentioning his name, Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam
Ibn al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah), enumerated forty benefits that can be accrued from reciting the Salat for the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam). Among such benefits are responding to the command of Allah, Glory be to Him (Azza Wa Jall), gaining tenfold reward for reciting it, the hope of having one’s supplication answered by Allah when preceding it by supplicating the Salat, a means for attaining the intercession of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), when combining it with asking Allah to grant the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) al-Waseelah (A means of nearness or access to Allah).It is also a means of effacing sins, and a cause for the Prophet’s (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) response to return it as a greeting to one of who recites it. May Allah exalt the mention of our gracious Prophet and render him safe from evil.
Narrated Abu Hazim: I heard Sahl bin Sa’ad saying, “A woman brought a Burda (i.e. a square piece of cloth having edging.) I asked, ‘Do you know what Burda is?’ ‘They replied in the affirmative and said, ‘It is a cloth sheet with woven margins.'” Sahl went on, “She addressed the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) and said, ‘I have woven it with my hands for you to wear.’ The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) took it as he was in need of it, and came to us wearing it as a waist sheet. One of us said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Give me to wear.’ The Prophet sat with the people for a while and then returned (home), wrapped that waist sheet and sent it to him. The people said to that man, ‘You haven’t done well by asking him for it when you know that he never turns down anybody’s request.’ The man replied,’By Allah, I have not asked him except to use it as my shroud when I die.'” Sahl added; “later it (i.e. that sheet was his shroud.” [Sahih al-Bukhari,volume 3, Hadiith #306]
The person wanted to have the sheet for his shroud because he hoped that Allah would show mercy towards him after death as he is covered in a sheet that was worn by the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam).We can also hope for the same by dressing ourselves with the lifestyle of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) as his simple lifestyle is the most beloved to Allah.
Always feel free to share the khair!
