The Rights of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)

Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (Daamat Barakaatuhu)

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur`aan Sharief: 

 

“And We have not sent you but as mercy for all the worlds.”

[Surah Ambiyaa  21 : 107]

Rasulullah’s Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam Ihsaan (favour) upon us is so great that we cannot ever truly express our appreciation adequately. His kindness, compassion, mercy and benevolence upon each one of us cannot be repaid even in many lifetimes. If it had not been for his concern, sacrifice and duas, we would not be the reciters of the Kalima today.  

Despite our shortcomings and failings, we are still required – in fact, we are commanded, to fulfil his rights to the best of our ability.  

Some of these rights are:

 

1.)       IMAAN BIR RASULULLAH (SALLALLAAHU ‘ALAIHI WASALLAM)

This Imaan in Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam is a condition of Tauheed. The Imaan of a person is not complete without, ‘Muhammadur Rasulullah'. Without this, a person will not be able to gain any kind of salvation in the aakhirah. 

There are 3 aspects of this Imaan:

 

a.  As Believers, we are to have full faith that Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam brought and conveyed the Message of Allah Ta’ala of how we should live and how we should die.

 

b.    We should also have firm Belief that Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam is the Last and Final Messenger. Allah Ta'ala clearly highlights this: 

 

“Muhammad is not a father of any of your men, but he is a Messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets. And Allah has the Knowledge of everything.”

[Surah Ahzaab 33  : 40]

 

…We believe that Hazrat Isa (Alaihis Salaam) is a Nabi of Allah Ta’ala and we believe that he will return to this world and will be an Ummati of our Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. He will not be a new Nabi. 

 

c.   We should also have firm Imaan that the only way of salvation is following the mubarak pattern of life of Nabi Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam. Allah Ta’ala states: 

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.”

[Surah Ahzaab 33 : 21]

2.)       MUHABBAT-E RASUL SALLAAHU ALAIHI WA SALLAM (LOVE) 

We should nurture within our hearts true and sincere love; more than any other after Allah Ta’ala. The proof of this love is obedience to Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam.

Our Imaan will not be perfected until the love of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam takes precedence over the love of all creation.

Rasulullah Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam said: ‘A man cannot be perfect of Imaan as long as his love for me is not more than his love for his whole family and for all people.’ (Muslim)

It is recorded that on one occasion Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) said: ‘O Rasulullah! Most assuredly, I love you more than all things, but my own life.’

Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: ‘I swear by The Being in whose Power is my life! One is not a perfect believer until one loves me more than one's own life.’

Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) then reflected and exclaimed: 'I now love you more than my own life.'

Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam replied: ‘Now you are a perfect Muslim.’

Upon reflection, Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) realized that he would, without any hesitation, sacrifice his own life for his Beloved Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, which thus made evident that he loved Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam more than himself.  

 

Similarly, every believer should have this kind of love that supersedes the love of his own life. 

3.)       AZMAT-E-RASUL SALLAAHU ALAIHI WA SALLAM

The love of Rasulullah Sallalaahu alaihi wasallam must be accompanied with azmat (great honour) and utmost respect.  It should not be like the love between husband and wife, or brothers and friends, who take one another for granted and speak to and treat one another in any informal way. 

For Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam, there is a Command from Allah Ta’ala that we should have the utmost respect, so much so that the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu anhum) were instructed not to even raise their voices in the presence of Rasulullah Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam because in the Court of Allah Ta’ala, that is counted as disrespect - which can be a means of loss in one’s good deeds. 

 

“O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Nabi or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.”

[Surah Al-Hujuraat 49 : 2]

We find in these days there are many matters and issues which are joked about, which are made the brunt of jesting and fun. However, we should never ever make a joke about any single thing relating to our Beloved Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam or joke about any aspect of the pure Dien of Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu. This can lead one out of the fold of Islam.

4.)       ITA`AT-E-RASUL SALLALLAAHU ‘ALAIHI WASALLAM (OBEDIENCE): 

This necessitates complete obedience and conformity to the beautiful way of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam on every occasion, practising on his Sunnah, together with complementing our actions with the respective masnoon duas.

Following the Sunnah is the easiest way to reach Allah Ta’ala. It is the road of success in both the worlds. Allah Ta’ala directs us to this great achievement:

 

“Say (O Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)): If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins; And Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.”

[Surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 31]

 

5.)       ZIKR-E-RASULULLAH SALLALLAAHU ‘ALAYHI WASALLAM (REMEMBRANCE) 

We should remember Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam daily with Durood Sharief - which is that special capsule containing the ibaadat of thinking of Rasulullah Sallaahu alaihi wasallam, expressing shukr (appreciation and thankfulness), Thana (praise) and Dua, and a means of us becoming the beneficiaries to great rewards and favours. SubhanAllah.

And we should also bring in this remembrance, the recitation of the beautiful Duas Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam taught us on awakening, sleeping, eating, drinking, etc. as well as follow his every action in regards to living life. 

Added to this, we should remember Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam with talking about or writing or reading kitaabs about his Seerah, his nobility, beauty and greatness, whereby love is created in the hearts. 

6.)       FIKR-E-RASUL SALLAAHU ALAIHI WA SALLAM (CONCERN)

As Ummatis of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam, we should develop within us the concern that Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam had for the Ummah, for accountability and for preparation of the aakhirah. 

We too should follow in his noble footsteps, making an earnest effort in spreading the message of Islam, sacrificing for the Dien of Allah Ta’ala and being desirous of all and everyone coming into this beautiful Dien and gaining najaat (salvation) in the hereafter.

 

 

7.)       ZIYARAT-E-RASUL SALLALLAAHU ‘ALAIHI WASALLAM: VISITING HIM IN MADINA MUNAWWARAH 

Visiting Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam is one of the most superior forms of Ibaadah, securing the most enviable of rewards. Thus, when a person has the means, it is greatly encouraged that he undertakes this journey to Madina Munawwarah, presents himself at the Raudha-e-Mubarak and offers his Salaam to Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam, who is alive, listening and responding to the Salaams which are offered and conveyed to him. 

Rasulullah Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam said: “He who visits me, after I have left the world is just like the person who visits me in my lifetime.”

Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: “My intercession becomes necessary for the one who visits my grave.”

May Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu grant us the taufeeq of fulfilling the rights of our Beloved Nabi Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam with deep and sincere love, and may it be a means of our acceptance and najaat in the hereafter.

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Ghaflat

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

ALLAH TA’ALA STATES IN THE QUR`AAN SHARIEF:

 “AND DO NOT BE AMONG THE HEEDLESS.”

[Surah Al-A'raaf 7:205]

Living in this world, it is not proper for any person to be unmindful and negligent of the objective and purpose of his existence. Allah Ta’ala informs us:

 “AND I CREATED NOT THE JINN AND MANKIND EXCEPT THAT THEY SHOULD WORSHIP ME.”

[Surah Az-Zaariyaat 51 : 56]

And Allah Ta’ala reminds us:

“DID YOU THINK THAT WE CREATED YOU FOR NOTHING, AND THAT YOU WILL NOT BE BROUGHT BACK TO US?”

[Surah Al-Mu`minoon 23 : 115]

Ghaflat is heedlessness … negligence … being unaware. It is diversion. It is thinking or doing something when one should have been thinking or doing something else. Being distracted in any work is ghaflat, and ghaflat is extremely dangerous.

I usually give the example, that if a family is receiving special guests, then normally, the ladies of the house are busy in their preparations. If the ladies decide to serve hot, hot samoosas, they keep the frying pan on the stove, with the hot oil in it, ready for frying. When they hear the visitors arrive, the exchange of Salaam, etc. and are about to put the samoosas into the hot oil, a two year old child, playing nearby, pulls down the handle of the frying pan and all that boiling hot oil falls onto the child. May Allah Ta’ala protect all.

What was the cause of that terrible accident? …It was a little unmindfulness; a moment of Ghaflat; a moment of distraction. The ghaflat of not being watchful over the child and leaving the handle easy for reach, leads to such a frightening situation and such extensive harm! A person is driving and talking on his cell-phone. He is distracted. This is Ghaflat, which can result in a serious accident.

In worldly matters, we find that negligence and inattentiveness have resulted in tremendous loss, harm, damage and regret. However, the unmindfulness of Dien is worse than the unmindfulness of Dunya. Ghaflat of Dien has worse consequences by far. Unfortunately this is widespread and it is a grave weakness and failing, which we need to remedy.

We pass our lives, spending days and nights, unmindful and heedless of Allah Ta’ala, of Allah Ta’ala’s Commands, of our purpose in this world, of death, of Aakhirah and of accountability. This results in futility and sins. …Many wander through life, aimlessly. Although Allah Ta’ala’s signs are everywhere, no effort is made to find out why we are here.

 “… AND VERILY, MANY AMONG MANKIND ARE HEEDLESS OF OUR SIGNS.”

[Surah Yunus 10 : 92]

The repercussions of heedlessness are most severe and grave. When a person is ghaafil, he makes no effort for his Aakhirah. No effort is made to accumulate the provisions for the journey ahead – the journey to the Hereafter. …Ghaflat makes us forget Allah Ta’ala. And Allah Ta’ala says in regard to those who forget Him:

 “AND BE NOT LIKE THOSE WHO FORGOT ALLAH; AND HE MADE THEM FORGET THEIR OWN SOULS; SUCH ARE THE TRANSGRESSORS.”

[Surah Al-Hashr 59 : 19]

Heedlessness leads us far away from Dien and practising on Dien; far away from Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure and far away from Jannah, with all its never-ending bounties. A heedless heart falls into sin. Shaytaan becomes the companion of one who is ghaafil, and shaytaan invites to all those actions which satisfy the nafs and which leads us to the doorstep of Jahannum.

Allah Ta’ala mentions those who have sound knowledge and skill when it comes to the affairs of the world, business, trade, etc. but they do not consider beyond this temporary world. Despite their worldly acumen and expertise, they are heedless in preparing for the life to come. Let us not be counted as one of them.

 “THEY KNOW WHAT IS APPARENT OF THE WORLDLY LIFE; AND OF THE HEREAFTER, THEY ARE GHAFILOON (HEEDLESS).”

[Surah Ar-Rum 30 : 7]

Ghaflat is also found in our Ibaadah. While engaged in Salaah, we are pre-occupied with everything besides Salaah. We are careless, inattentive and read just for the sake of reading. We fulfil the postures of Salaah without thought that we are standing in the Court of Allah Ta’ala, before Allah Ta’ala, and that we are communicating with Allah Ta’ala. We give no attention to the required etiquettes. There is no concentration and no humility. Allah Ta’ala describes this kind of Salaah as the Salaah of the Munafiqeen (hypocrites).

      

 “SO WOE TO THOSE PERFORMERS OF SALAAH, WHO ARE HEEDLESS OF THEIR SALAAH…”

[Surah Al-Ma`oon 107 : 4 / 5]

…Very, very sadly, the Ummah, at large, has fallen deep into this misfortune and catastrophe of Ghaflat, and the consequences are seen today, throughout the world – in the form of oppression, suppression and destruction of the Ummah.

From amongst the remedies for the sickness of heedlessness, is keeping before us, our death – our return to Allah Ta’ala, as well as consciously remembering Allah Ta’ala. Unfortunately, we are so consumed in our worldly matters, we forget that we are going to die, and we pass our days care-free; or worse, in the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala says:

“THE RECKONING OF THE PEOPLE HAS DRAWN NEAR TO THEM, WHILE THEY ARE IN NEGLIGENCE, TURNING AWAY.”

[Surah Al-Ambiyaa 21:1]

Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Frequently remember the destroyer of life’s pleasures; death.”[1] …If death is brought into the equation, the chain of thoughts, which will come to mind, whenever nafs and shaytaan encourage and tempt us towards Haraam, will be: What if I have to die in this action? What will happen in my grave? What will happen on the Day of Qiyamah? …This chain of thoughts will protect us from committing sin. This train of thoughts will encourage us towards righteousness.

How long is the enjoyment of this world? A few days and it is all over; yet, we are so immersed and involved in Dunya that we rarely think about our Maut (death) and Aakhirah.

“Whoever comes into this world, death says to him:

‘I am following you closely!’”

We are distracted and side-tracked by the toys of the world – whether in the forms of our homes, businesses, cars, cell-phones, etc. – all of which we will have to leave behind very soon.

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziya رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ had encapsulated these spiritual weaknesses and their remedies, saying: “The heart is tarnished by two things: heedlessness and sin. It is polished by two things: remembrance and asking forgiveness.”

Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Everything has a cleaner, and the cleaner of the hearts is the remembrance of Allah.”^[2]

In various Aayaat of the Qur’aan Shareef and in many Ahadith as well, we are enjoined to remember Allah Ta’ala. Very fortunate are those who constantly do so. …Allah Ta’ala praises those who remember Him in all situations, in all conditions; at all times:

 “…THOSE WHO REMEMBER ALLAH STANDING, SITTING AND LYING DOWN ON THEIR SIDES…”

[Surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 190/1]

As mentioned, the heart is also polished by seeking forgiveness. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam explained: “When a Mu’min (believer) sins, a black dot appears on his heart. If he repents and seeks Allah’s forgiveness, his heart becomes cleansed and polished. If he continues to commit more and more sins (without repenting), the spot continues to spread and ultimately covers all of his heart.”^[3]

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding and the concern. May Allah Ta’ala cure us of all our spiritual ailments, awaken our sleeping hearts and grant us the Taufeeq of spending our lives, constructively occupied in noble deeds, which will earn us His Pleasure and Najaat (salvation).

---

[1] An-Nasaa’i

[2] Shu'abul Iman (This has also been recorded as the statement of Hazrat Abu Darda رَضِىَ الله عَنْه)

[3] Tirmidhi