The Best of Peoples

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is extracted from a transcript of a discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

كُنتُمۡ خَيۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ تَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَتَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ‌ۗ … (١١٠) 

You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. … (Surah Ali ‘Imran:110) 

After Allah (s.w.t.) sent 124,000 Messengers, after He Gave so much Tangible Care and Blessings to the previous nations, He then Sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  With his coming, we no longer see any such visible favours.  Of course, generosity flowed from his personality; but compared to how Allah (s.w.t.) Treated the Israelites, for example, He did not treat the Muslims like that.  The Muslims were subjected to a lot of trials in the early stage of Islam. 

In spite of it all, Allah (s.w.t.) Says we are the best of people that emerge from mankind.  There are many reasons; but today we will just touch a few.  Firstly, one tangible reason is that Muslims are the only people that have been given a piece of Paradise on Earth.  No other nation has this Great Blessing.  Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is reported to have said, “The area between my house and my minbar is one of the gardens of Paradise.” 

Another important reason is that Allah (s.w.t.) Created Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) Specially.  He was Invited to the Presence of the Lord, on the Blessed night of the Mi’raj, and on our behalf, he was able to witness all of the unseen verities.  He is our witness to those things that we cannot experience through our senses.  We cannot get surety of this through our five senses.  But we are sure that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was Invited to witness all of these.  Because he never told a lie, we accept his testimony with full conviction.  When Moses (a.s.) delivered the Message to his people they use to question him. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ … (١٨) 

There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels and those endued with knowledge, ... (Surah Ali ‘Imran:18) 

We know that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) never told a lie nor said anything out of his personal desires.  So if he says there is no God but Allah (s.w.t.), we take it.  This is another reason why we are the best of people.  We have been Given first-hand knowledge of the unseen verities through the witness of Prophet (s.a.w.). 

Another reason, is that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was Invited in the presence of Allah (s.w.t.), and he was Given a Special Blessing that night which we call “swalah”.  Allah (s.w.t.) Gave him a Special Gift, and Sent him back to Earth.  He continues to bestow this Special Blessing upon him because Allah (s.w.t.) never changes His Nature: 

سُوۡرَةُ الرُّوم

… لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِخَلۡقِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (٣٠) 

… no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard religion: but most among mankind understand not. (Surah ar-Rum:30) 

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is a Real Gift to humanity because he is receiving a Special Gift from Allah (s.w.t.) that he distributes to mankind.  This Special Blessing is received on behalf of human beings, and anyone who attaches themselves to him shares in it, even up to today.  No other Messenger was given this Special Blessing. 

When Allah (s.w.t.) Says we are the best; this is one of the reasons why.  Regardless of the time period, so long you are one of his followers and engage in swalawat, we continue to get that Special Blessings that will coming to us, because of our recitation of the dzikr.  Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the Prophet (s.a.w.) is reported to have said, “He who reads a single swalawat upon me, Almighty Allah Blesses him ten times, ten of his sins are Forgiven, and he is increased ten times in stages.” 

We must understand that we are special in the Sight of Allah (s.w.t.), and it is important for us to remain at our best, in this world, and in the next.  One way of doing this is to send abundant swalawat on the Messenger (s.a.w.), a simple formula that has great returns.  May Allah (s.w.t.) Bless us, Guide us and Take Care of our affairs.