Love of the Prophet (s.a.w.) & Following His Example

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is adapted from “Love of the Prophet (s.a.w.) & Following His Example” by Dr. Jibril Fu’ad Haddad, 25^th January 2011. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Commands the Prophet (s.a.w.) to remind his ummah that it is essential for those who claim to love God, to love His Prophet (s.a.w.): 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

قُلۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (٣١) 

Say: “If you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will Love you and Forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran:31) 

This obligation to love the Prophet (s.a.w.) means to obey him, to remember him, to follow his example, and to be proud of him as Allah (s.w.t.) is Proud of him, since Allah (s.w.t.) has Boasted about him in His Book, Saying: 

سُوۡرَةُ القَلَم

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ۬ (٤) 

And you (stand) on an exalted standard of character. (Surah al-Qalam:4) 

Love of the Prophet (s.a.w.) is what differentiates the believers in the perfection of their iman.  In an authentic hadits, related in Swahih al-Bukhari and Swahih Muslim, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “None of you believes until he loves me more than he loves his children, his parents, and all people.”  In another hadits, in Swahih al-Bukhari, he said, “None of you believes until he loves me more than he loves himself.”  Perfection of faith is dependent on love of the Prophet (s.a.w.) because Allah (s.w.t.) and His angels are constantly Raising his honour, as is meant in the verse: 

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) 

The Divine Order that immediately follows, in the verse, makes it clear that the quality of being a believer is dependent on and manifested by praying on the Prophet (s.a.w.).  We are encouraged to pray on the Prophet (s.a.w.) and to praise him, which is an obligation on us through Allah’s (s.w.t.) Order in the verse above. 

To express happiness for the Prophet (s.a.w.) coming to us is an obligation Given by Allah (s.w.t.) through the Qur’an, as Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ یُونس

قُلۡ بِفَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحۡمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَٲلِكَ فَلۡيَفۡرَحُواْ ... (٥٨) 

Say: “In the Bounty of Allah and in His Mercy ― in that let them rejoice …” (Surah Yunus:58) 

This Order came because joy makes the heart grateful for the Mercy of Allah (s.w.t.).  And what greater Mercy did Allah (s.w.t.) Give than the Prophet (s.a.w.) himself, of whom Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنبیَاء

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةً۬ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (١٠٧) 

We Sent you not, but as a mercy for all creatures. (Surah al-Anbiya’:107) 

Because the Prophet (s.a.w.) was Sent as a Mercy to all mankind, it is incumbent not only upon Muslims, but upon all human beings to rejoice in his person.  Unfortunately, today too, there are some people who reject Allah’s (s.w.t.) Order to rejoice in His Prophet (s.a.w.).  We are asked to know about our Prophet (s.a.w.), about his life, about his miracles, about his birth, about his manners, about his faith, about his signs, ayat wa dala’il, about his seclusions, about his worship, and is not this knowledge an obligation for every Muslim?  What is better than acquiring knowledge of his life?  This will make Allah (s.w.t.) Pleased with us because then we will be able to know the Prophet (s.a.w.) better, and be better placed to take him as an example for ourselves, to correct ourselves, and to imitate him and thus gain Salvation in this life and in the next. 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) was neither tall nor was he short; he was of medium stature.  In complexion, he was neither very white like lime, nor very dark, nor brown which results in darkness.  He was illuminant, more luminous than even the full Moon on the 14^th night.  The hair of Rasulullah (s.a.w.) was neither very straight nor very curly but slightly wavy.  When he attained the age of forty, Allah (s.w.t.) Granted him nubuwwah, prophethood.  He lived for ten years in Makkah and in Madina for ten years.  He passed away at the age of sixty years.  At that time, there were not more than twenty white hair on his mubarak head and beard.  This was reported by Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (r.a.). 

Opposing his command and changing his sunnah is misguidance and innovation.  It is Threatened by Allah (s.w.t.) with utter privation and punishment.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعۡ غَيۡرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصۡلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرًا (١١٥) 

If anyone contends with the Messenger even after Guidance has been plainly Conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men to faith, We shall Leave him in the path he has chosen, and Land him in Hell, what an evil refuge! (Surah an-Nisa’:115) 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Anyone who dislikes my sunnah is not of me.”  This is recorded in Swahih al-Bukhari and Swahih Muslim. 

The mathematician, Imam Abu al-’Abbas Ahmad ibn al-Khathib ibn Qunfudz al-Qusantini al-Maliki  (r.a.), in his Wasilat al-Islam bi an-Nabi ‘Alayhi asw-Swalat wa as-Salam, “The Means to Islam through the Prophet (s.a.w.)”, wrote that the community of Muslim scholars is unanimous concerning the obligation to magnify and exalt the Prophet (s.a.w.), his family, and his companions.  It was the practice of the pious predecessors and the a’immah of the past that whenever the Prophet (s.a.w.) was mentioned in their presence they were seized by reverence, humility, stillness, and dignity. 

Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad asw-Swadiq (q.s.) would turn pale whenever he heard the Prophet (s.a.w.) mentioned.  Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Malik ibn Anas (r.a.) would not mention a hadits except in a state of ritual purity.  Shaykh ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr asw-Swiddiq (r.a.) would turn red and stammer whenever he heard the Prophet (s.a.w.) mentioned.  As for Shaykh ‘Amir ibn ‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr ibn al-’Awwam al-Asadi (q.s.), one of the early Sufis, he would weep until his eyes had no tears left in them.  When a hadits was mentioned in their presence they would lower their voices.  Imam Malik (r.a.) said, “His sacredness in death is as his inviolability in life.” 

Another hadits which shows that even love of the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.) such as Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (r.a.) is a sign of belief, according to the exact wording of the Prophet (s.a.w.) that Allah (s.w.t.) Make Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) beloved to the believers.  Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) gave the following account of his mother’s conversion: “I came to the Prophet (s.a.w.) weeping one day and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have been inviting my mother to Islam and she has been refusing.  Today I asked her again, and she said something about you which I hated to hear.  Ask Allah (s.w.t.) to Guide my mother.’ 

Whereupon the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, ‘O Allah!  Guide Abu Hurayrah’s mother.’ 

Then I returned home, cheered up by the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) supplication.  When I arrived at the door of the house I found it closed.  Hearing my footsteps, my mother said, ‘Abu Hurayrah, do not come in yet.’  I could hear the sound of water.  She washed herself and wore her robe and head cover, then she opened the door and said, ‘Abu Hurayrah, I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s servant and messenger!’ 

I returned at once to the Prophet (s.a.w.), weeping for joy, and said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, good news!  Allah has Answered your request and Guided my mother!’ 

He glorified and praised Allah (s.w.t.), thanking Him and saying good things.  I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah!  Ask Allah (s.w.t.) that He Make me and my mother beloved to his believing servants and that He Make them beloved to us.’ 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, ‘O Allah!  Make Your little servant here and his mother beloved to Your believing servants, and Make the believers beloved to the two of them.’  Not one believer is brought into existence who hears about me without seeing me except he loves me.” 

This hadits is narrated by Imam ‘Asakir ad-Din Abu al-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (r.a.) and Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.).  It is also narrated by Imam Shihab ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hajr al-‘Asqalani (r.a.), amongst others.  This hadits is similar to another sound hadits of the Prophet (s.a.w.) addressing Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abi Thalib (k.w.): “None loves you except a believer, and none hates you except a hypocrite.”  This was narrated by Imam Muslim (r.a.), Imam Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu’ayb an-Nasa’i (r.a.), and Imam Ahmad (r.a.). 

Sayyidina Anas (r.a.) narrated that a man asked the Prophet (s.a.w.) about the Hour, saying, “When will the Hour be?” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) asked, “What have you prepared for it?” 

The man replied, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Apostle.” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “You will be with those whom you love.” 

Sayyidina Anas (r.a.) said, “We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet (s.a.w.).  Therefore, I love the Prophet (s.a.w.), Abu Bakr (r.a.) and ‘Umar (r.a.), and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs.” 

Imam Muslim (r.a.) narrated it in his swahih, that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Among those of my ummah who love me most intensely are certain people who will come after me and who would give away their family and property in exchange for seeing me.” 

A man came to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and said, “Messenger of Allah, I love you more than my family and my possessions.  I remember you and I cannot wait until I can come and look at you.  I remember that I will die, and you will die and I know that when you enter the Garden, you will be Raised up high with the prophets.  When I enter it, I will not see you.” 

Allah (s.w.t.) then Revealed: 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡہِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّہَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ‌ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ رَفِيقً۬ا (٦٩) 

All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah ― of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the righteous (who do good): Ah!  How a beautiful fellowship! (Surah an-Nisa’:69) 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) called the man and recited the verse to him. 

Imam Abu al-Qasim Sulayman ibn Ayyub ath-Thabarani (r.a.), and Imam ‘Ala ad-Din Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Mardawi (r.a.) narrated this hadits from Sayyidatina ‘Aishah bint Abu Bakr (r.a.), and Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (r.a.); and Qadhi Abu al-Fadhl ‘Iyadh ibn ‘Amr al-Yahsubi (r.a.) cited it, in ash-Shifa’ bi Ta’rif Huquq al-Muswthafa; as did Hafizh ‘Imad ad-Din Abu al-Fida’ Isma’il ibn ‘Umar ibn Katsir (r.a.), in his Tafsir; and Imam Abu Muhammad al-Husayn ibn Mas’ud al-Baghawi (r.a.) in his. 

It is further elucidated, by the hadits of Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (r.a.), whereby a man was punished by the Prophet (s.a.w.) for drinking wine.  One day when he was brought to him and he gave orders and had him beaten, one of those present said, “O Allah, curse him.  How often he is brought!” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Do not curse him.  I swear by Allah that I know he loves Allah and His Messenger.”  And this is recorded in Swahih al-Bukhari.