WITH the month of Rabiul Awwal, the third in the Hijrah calendar, comes a sense of joy that cannot be expressed in words. In this month, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born.
I was keen to spend the day of his birth, the 12th, in the vicinity of the Holy Kaaba. I made an attempt to reconstruct the sweet memory of that day which fills the universe with a serene light. The study of his life should be undertaken diligently throughout the year but particularly in this month so that our hearts reflect his light and good deeds.
The love for him is the distinguishing mark of the real believers because “Almighty God and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O you that believe, send blessings on him and salute him with all respect.” (Holy Qur’an, Al-Ahzab: 56.)
God, bless our master, Muhammad, and shower your mercy on him, the best of your creations. The greatest blessing of the most merciful on mankind was the birth of the Prophet, pbuh. He is mercy for all, seal of the prophets and the hope of the sinful. The Almighty said of him: “Now has come to you an Apostle from amongst yourselves: It grieves him that you should perish: Ardently anxious is he over you: To the believers, he is most kind and merciful.” (Holy Qur’an, Tauba: 128.)
God, the most merciful, has accorded the Prophet, pbuh, the highest position both in this world and in the life after death.
The visible form of sincere love for the Prophet, pbuh, is obedience to his commands. Almighty God ordered the Prophet, pbuh, to tell the people: “If you love God, follow me: God will love you and forgive your sins” (Holy Qur’an, Al-Imran: 31). So the love of the Prophet, pbuh, implies obedience to his commands and scrupulously copying his methods. Loving the Prophet, pbuh, also involves the recitation of the God’s book, understanding it and applying it in one’s life, and carefully following the Prophet’s words and copying his actions.
The love of the Holy Prophet, pbuh, also makes the believers love his noble companions, may the peace of God be upon them. Respect is higher than love. His companions respected him. Almighty God said: “O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you may speak aloud to one another” (Holy Qur’an, Al-Hujurat: 2).
God praised those who respected the Prophet. “Their hearts has God tested for piety” (Al-Hujurat, 3).
God censured people because they were “those who shout out to you from without the inner apartments — most of them lack understanding” (Holy Qur’an, Al-Hujurat: 4).
People do not raise their voices at his grave. Only matters befitting his exalted rank are discussed there. Never is a joke or falsehood uttered there nor are worldly matters discussed near his grave. All believers respect him by praying to God to bless him when his name, or matters related to him, are uttered or heard. As part of respecting the Holy Prophet, pbuh, his city, Madinah, is also regarded with respect. The residents of the city and visitors to his mosque are not put to harm or insulted.
God, shower Your mercy and blessings on Muhammad, Your slave, the foremost of the Messengers, leader of the pious and virtuous, seal of the prophets and the Messenger of mercy! Raise and place him at the loftiest position on the Day of Judgment! Bless our master and his family as You blessed our master Ibrahim and his family.
God, May you not deny us the joy of seeing Your Countenance as well as the companionship of our beloved Prophet, pbuh, in Paradise.