May 4, 2008...10:23 am
What to believe about Muhammad SAW (PBUH)
BELIEF THAT HE (SAAW) WAS SENT TO ALL OF MANKIND AND THE JINN
Verily, Allah, azza wa jall, has said in the Qur’an (what means): “Say (O Muhammad SAAW): O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the dominion of the Heavens and the Earth. La illaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger (SAAW), the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in Allah and His Words, and follow him so that you may be guided.” [Al-A'raf: 158].
The prophet (SAAW) said (what means): “And the Prophets were formerly sent to their people only, whereas I have been sent to all mankind.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Therefore, recognizing that he (SAAW) was sent as a mercy to all of mankind will, Inshallah, help kindle the proper love for him which will be manifested through obedience to his rulings. FINALITY OF HIS PROPHETHOOD Indeed, there is no Messenger/Prophet after Muhammd ibnu ‘Abd Allah (SAAW) as Allah, Ta ‘Ala, says in His Book (what means): “Muhammad (SAAW) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah, and the last (end) of the Prophets. Allah is Ever All-Aware of everything.” [Al-Ahzab: 40].
The Prophet (SAAW) has said (what means): “And the line of the Prophets is closed with me.” [Muslim]. Believing that Muhammad (SAAW) is the final Messenger of Allah confirms Allah’s statement (what means): “…This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed my Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” [Al-Ma'idah:3 (in part)]. Thus, if Islam were not a complete way of life, then this religion would need to be constantly updated. In order to update this religion, there would have to be another Prophet after Muhammad (SAAW). However, this is not so as Allah completed this Diyn and it can never be changed from its true form.
BELIEVING THAT HE (SAAW) HAS BEEN GIVEN TWO (2) REVELATIONS
Al-Hamdulilah, Allah, azza wa jall, has give the Prophet (SAAW) two revelations as understood by the Minhaj of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Juma’ah. These are, of course, the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah. Allah confirms this with His saying (what means): “Nor does he (Muhammad SAAW) speak of his own desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired.” [An-Najm: 3-4]. “
Indeed, Allah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad SAAW) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Qur’an), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur’an) and Al-Hikmah (the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet SAAW - i.e. his legal ways, statements, actions, etc.), while before that they had been in manifest error.” [Al-'Imran: 164].
The Prophet (SAAW) has also said (what means): “I have, indeed, been given the Qur’an and something like it along with it (i.e. his Sunnah).” [Abu Dawud].
Thus, there is no mere choice between following the Sunnah and not following it. It has been sent down as part of revelation; thus, it must be adhered to in full. It is adhered to the way the Prophet (SAAW) explained it and the way the Sahabah understood it. Allah confirms this with His saying (what means): “We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by the permission of Allah.” “Obey Allah, and the Messenger (SAAW). But if they turn away (then know), that Allah loves not the infidels.” [Al-'Imran: 31-32].
THE PROPHET HAS RIGHTS UPON HIS FOLLOWERS
These rights are: 1. We believe in what the Prophet Muhammad (SAAW) has said.
2. We obey him in what has been commanded and forsake what he has forbidden or discouraged.
3. We worship Allah according to the Shar’iah of His Messenger (SAAW), not by whims and Bid’ah (innovations).
4. We judge ourselves by the Shar’iah of Prophet Muhammad (SAAW), and not by any other law.
5. We love Allah’s Messenger (SAAW) more than our parents, children, all of mankind, indeed our very selves. Allah has confirmed the above with His statement (what means): “Say (to them O Muhammad SAAW): If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins; Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful. Say: Obey Allah, and the Messenger (SAAW), but if they turn away (then know), that Allah loves not the infidels.” [Al-'Imran: 31-32]. “
And let those who oppose his (Muhammad’s SAAW) command beware, lest a trail befall them (that will lead them to Kuffur) or a painful punishment be inflicted on them.” [An-Nur: 63].
“You have indeed a good example in the Messenger of Allah (SAAW) for whosoever hopes for Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.” [Al-Ahzab: 21].
“It is not for any believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger (SAAW) have decreed a matter, to have the choice in their affair. And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (SAAW) he has gone astray into manifest error.” [Al-Ahzab: 36].
”But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad SAAW) judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept (them) fully with submission.” [An-Nisa: 65].
Thus, we see in this last Ayah that Allah negates that a person can have Imaan unless that person makes the Prophet (SAAW) judge in *all* affairs and that we accept his (SAAW) decisions with submission. This Ayah is indeed serious as Allah swears to this negation with His saying (what means), “But no, by your Lord…”. The Prophet (SAAW) stressed the importance of obeying and following his Sunnah with his saying (what means): “All of my people will enter Jennah except those who refuse.”
When asked about those who refuse, he said: “He who obeys me will enter Jennah, while he who disobeys me has refused.” [Al-Bukhari]. He (SAAW) also said (what means): “If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
And: “None of you believes untill I am dearer to him than his father, his child, and all of mankind.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. And: “There are qualities for which anyone who is characterized by them will experiece the sweetness of Imaan: he to whom Allah and His Messenger (SAAW) are dearer than all else; he who loves a human being for Allah’s Sake alone; and who has as great an abhorrence of returning to Kuffur (disbelief) after Allah has rescued him from it as he has being cast into the Hell Fire.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Although the Prophet (SAAW) is the best of examples and following his Sunnah is obligatory, we must remember that it is not right to overpraise him (SAAW) as he was not divine, but a man. Some deviant sects of Islam direct their ‘Ibaadah to the Prophet (SAAW); however, this is Shirk Al-Akbar (association in the highest degree) which will not be forgiven unless that person makes sincere Tawbah before his/her death.
A MAN AND NOT DIVINE Allah says (what means): “Say (O Muhammad SAAW): I am only a man like you: it is revealed to me that your God is One God: So, let him who hopes for the meeting with his Lord, do righteousness, and not associate anything in the worship of hsi Lord.” [Al-Kahf: 111].
The Prophet (SAAW) said (what means): “Do not overpraise me as the Christians overpraised the son of Mary (i.e. ‘Isa AS). I am His slave, so say: Allah’s slave and Messenger.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
SENDING SALAAT AND SALAAM UPON THE NABEE (SAAW)
This is an action which the believer are commanded to do as Allah says in the Qur’an (what means): “Indeed, Allah and His angels send Salaat (i.e. Allah mentions the Prophet’s SAAW name in the presence of the angels) upon the Prophet (SAAW). O you who believe! Send your Salaat and your Salaam upon him (ie. by saying Salla Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, etc.).” [Al-Ahzab: 56].
Allah Knows Best
Alkhilafah
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