The Command to Honour the Prophet (s.a.w.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is adapted from a swuhbah by Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.), on the 08^th December 2009. 

We begin with the recitation of a’udzu bi Allahi min ash-Shaythan ar-rajiim.  When a believer recites this, the shayathin accompanying him is pelted with heavenly arrows, and he flees from the believer.  When a believer seeks to come closer to Allah (s.w.t.), the door for him to do so is closed, as long as he is accompanied by Shaythan.  So, when we recite “a’udzu bi Allahi min ash-Shaythan ar-rajiim,” Shaythan flees and the Door to Allah (s.w.t.) Opens for us. 

It is very important for us to beseech Allah (s.w.t.), “Oh My Lord, I am seeking to come closer to You.  Help me against my sworn enemy, Shaythan, and Open the Way to Safety for me.” 

Similarly, when the adzan is said, Shaythan flees again, and when it is over, he returns to try to influence the believer to mix evil with his good ‘amal.  Hence, the recitation of a’udzu bi Allah and the adzan strikes fear in Shaythan’s evil heart.  That is our weapon against him so use it often.  That is why we are encouraged to start every activity with a’udzu bi Allah and to recite the adzan loudly before every prayer, even if we are praying at home alone. 

When the swalawat is recited at the end of the adzan, that is even more painful for Shaythan; he melts in agony, like iron in a furnace.  This is because Shaythan hates Rasulullah (s.a.w.) intensely.  Rasulullah (s.a.w.) is the most hated creation in the sight of Shaythan.

Iblis had yearned to be the most Honoured of Creation, and when Allah (s.w.t.) had Given that title to Rasulullah (s.a.w.), it had caused him to rebel against Allah (s.w.t.) and defy Him from that moment.  So many titles of honour have been heaped upon Rasulullah (s.a.w.) and that has only increased Iblis’ venomous hatred and envy for Rasulullah (s.a.w.). 

Iblis has worked hard to ensure that Muslims leave the act of performing swalawat upon Rasulullah (s.a.w.), especially after the adzan, as that is especially hurtful to him.  Many Muslims now believe that reciting swalawat upon Rasulullah (s.a.w.) is an act of shirk.  In their ignorance, they forbid others from doing so, whereas Rasulullah (s.a.w.) is the Beloved of Allah (s.w.t.), and Allah (s.w.t.) Himself Recites Swalawat upon Rasulullah (s.a.w.), together with all His angels.  Allah (s.w.t.) has Commanded in the Qur’an: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴحزَاب

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتَهُ ۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا (٥٦)  

Allah, and His angels, Send blessings on the Prophet: O you that believe!  Send you blessings on him and salute him, with all respect. (Surah al-Ahzab:56) 

In each moment that Iblis hates Rasulullah (s.a.w.), his face grows uglier and uglier.  Similarly, those who forbid others from loving Rasulullah (s.a.w.) and reciting swalawat upon him, will also show signs of such influences on their faces, they will grow progressively uglier by the day.  If we look closely at the faces of those who speak ill of Rasulullah (s.a.w.), even if they are Muslim, we will see they have an evil darkness and ugliness about their faces that cannot be hidden with make-up or medicine. 

In three passages in the Qur’an, it is Mentioned that the Jews were Commanded to respect Sabbath, and to spend that day in worship.  But Allah (s.w.t.) Tested them.  He Sent them multitudes of fish in their lakes, only on Sabbath, and they fell to temptation.  They dug pits beside the lake to push the fish into, so that they could then catch these fish the next day.  They incurred Allah’s (s.w.t.) Wrath by defying Him, and He Turned them into pigs and apes. 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعۡتَدَوۡاْ مِنكُمۡ فِى ٱلسَّبۡتِ فَقُلۡنَا لَهُمۡ كُونُواْ قِرَدَةً خَـٰسِـِٔينَ (٦٥) 

And well you knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath; We Said to them, “Be you apes despised and rejected.” (Surah al-Baqarah:65) 

سُوۡرَةُ المَائدة

قُلۡ هَلۡ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ۬ مِّن ذَٲلِكَ مَثُوبَةً عِندَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ مَن لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُ وَغَضِبَ عَلَيۡهِ وَجَعَلَ مِنۡہُمُ ٱلۡقِرَدَةَ وَٱلۡخَنَازِيرَ وَعَبَدَ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ شَرٌّ۬ مَّكَانً۬ا وَأَضَلُّ عَن سَوَآءِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ (٦٠) 

Say, “Shall I point out to you something much worse than this, (as judged) by the treatment it received from Allah?  Those who incurred the Curse of Allah and His Wrath, those of whom some He Transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil; - these are (many times) worse in rank and far more astray from the even Path! (Surah al-Ma’idah:60) 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴعرَاف

فَلَمَّا عَتَوۡاْ عَن مَّا نُہُواْ عَنۡهُ قُلۡنَا لَهُمۡ كُونُواْ قِرَدَةً خَـٰسِـِٔينَ (١٦٦) 

When in their insolence, they transgressed (all) prohibition, We Said to them, “Be you apes, despised and rejected.” (Surah al-A’araf:166) 

We have so much fear for a tiny virus such as pig-flu, but we have no fear for Allah (s.w.t.).  If we persist in defying Allah (s.w.t.), we may wake up one day, and look into the mirror, and see a pig or an ape instead.  Worse still, some people’s faces are Transformed only upon death, so that those burying you will see the face of a pig or an ape. 

In this life, the only act that matters, is to please Allah (s.w.t.).  And since Rasulullah (s.a.w.) is the Most Loved by Allah (s.w.t.), do not incur Allah's (s.w.t.) Wrath by defiling him, or speaking ill of Rasulullah (s.a.w.) or forbidding people to recite swalawat upon him.  For those upon whom Allah's (s.w.t.) Wrath Descends, they are utterly destroyed, in this world and in the hereafter. 

Give our greatest respect to Rasulullah (s.a.w.).  He is the Most Beloved One in the Divine Presence.  We must emulate, and love him too, for the Prophet (s.a.w.), lived only to please Allah (s.w.t.) and to love Him, in every moment of his blessed existence.