The Unique Birth

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Prophet Jesus (as) was sent in this world in a very unique way.  He did not come through the usual process of conception as a normal human being.  Allah sent the soul of Jesus (as) in Maryam and gradually the body was formed.  That is why he was formed and fashioned without a male agent.

Prophet Muhammad (pboh) also came into this world in a special way, albeit not like Jesus (as).  He came into this world as a normal human being.  Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Allah says;

Say (O Muhammad): “I am a man like you”.  (18:110)

 

However every human being upon conception, the foetus grows and forms, and it is only after four months then Allah unites the soul with the body.  Only then will it be regarded as a perfect human being.  In the interim it is not a human being in the true sense of the word; it is a creature. 

This was not the case with Prophet Muhammad (pboh).  He was a perfect, complete human being from the time of conception because of the special light that was there on the forehead of Abdullah before he got married to Amina, and after marriage, the light went into Amina.

We find evidence of this of when his father, Abdullah was going to marry Aminah.    As the record shows that when the wedding was going to take place a woman by the name of Qutaylah saw him approaching and was struck by the radiance which lit his face and which seemed to her to shine from beyond this world. 

When he was passing by her she said “O Abdullah take me now as thy wife and thou shalt have as many camels as those that were sacrificed in thystead”.  To this Abdullah replied “I am with my father; I cannot act against his wishes, and I cannot leave him”!  The marriage eventually took place at the home of Aminah.  Sometime after, Abdullah went to fetch something from his own house, and again he met Qutaylah.  Her eyes searched his face with such earnestness that he stopped beside her expecting her to speak.  When she remained silent, he asked her why she did not say to him what she had said the day before.  She answered him, saying: “The light hath left thee that was with thee yesterday”.  (Muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources – Martin Lings)

I believe that the light spoken about was the soul of Prophet Muhammad (pboh).  And what we gather is that the soul of Prophet Muhammad (pboh) and his blessed body began growing together.  We can further substantiate this with the fact that while Aminah was carrying the child in her womb she saw a light issue from her which illuminated even the castles of Busra in Syria.  (Life of Muhammad: Translated by Michael Edwards)

And even after his birth and throughout his life the light never separated from him.  For example when he was young and in the care of Halima he went missing one day.  When they searched for him they saw a bright light on a tree, unlike any they ever saw.  Upon further investigation that light was where young Muhammad (pboh) was.

And we know of the popular narrations where his Companions swore that at times his personality was brighter and more beautiful than the full moon.  This can possibly by why the children of Madinah once sung Tala al badru alayna - Oh the full moon has risen over us.

We are very fortunate that this perfect person is our guide and model.  And not only that, part of his job is to share that light with us; Sirajum Munirah – a lamp that gives light.  Perhaps that is why Allah says;

Indeed, there has come to You from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad) and a plain Book (this Qur'an).  (5:15)

The Prophet’s mission can be identified as two dimensions; one is to invite to Allah and the next is to share the light.  Allah is constantly sending the light on him.  The night of the Mi’aj, which we recently marked, was the occasion when he was invited by his Lord to make that connection.  And from then onwards he is distributing the light that Allah is sending on him.  And if we connect with him we can also share and benefit from it.  

Ask yourself this question; why do we send darood on Prophet (pboh)?  Allah has already blessed him.  He is already Khatamul Nabi; Rahmatul Alameen etc.  When we engage in darood we share in the blessings that Allah is constantly sending on him.  If you want your light to grow connect to him by reciting darood abundantly.

And remember if you are pure and clean you can see Allah.  That’s why one Masheikh once said ‘I saw my Lord in my dream’.  If you purify yourself you can see your Lord.  How you will see Him, Allah knows.

Why say this?  What is my proof?  It is recorded that Prophet Muhammad (pboh) said: “When the people of Paradise enter in Paradise it will be asked of them, ‘Do you need something more’?  They will say ‘have you not whitened our faces? Have you not entered us in Paradise and protected us from Hell’?  Then Allah will remove the veil.  Looking to their Lord will be more lovely to them than anything else given to them.  And then Prophet (pboh) recited this verse: For those who have done good is the best (reward, i.e. Paradise) and even more (i.e. having the honour of glancing at the Countenance of Allah.  (10:26)

The more you purify yourself, the nearer you will get to your Lord.  That is the recipe for ascent.  Remove all the blemishes from your personality and brighten your countenance.  Allah says of those servants some faces that Day will be bright (80:38).

We beg Allah to help us, guide us and give us something of His vision in this life so we will be blessed to get more in the next.  May He take care of us, guide us and take us closer to Him insha Allah.

Transcript of discourse delivered by
Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed 

The video presentation of this discourse can be accessed at
http://www.youtube.com/markazalihsaan

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed's lecture 'The Ascension of Prophet Muhammad (pboh)'

Why was the Holy Prophet (pboh) shadowless

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Today insha Allah, we will deal with an unusual topic which is why Prophet Muhammad (pboh) was shadowless. 

Firstly we need to understand that Prophet Muhammad (pboh) was a human being.  Allah says;

Say (O Muhammad): "I am only a human being like you.  It is inspired in me that Your God is one God.  (41:6)

One of the possible reasons why Allah gave us this info in the Holy Qur’an is because of the birth of Prophet Jesus (as).  Jesus (as) was the second-to-last Messenger and he came into this world in a very miraculous way.  His ruh was placed in his mother and then the physical aspect of his personality was formed.  After the coming of Jesus (as) came Prophet Muhammad (pboh) and Allah is telling us that this Messenger is normal human just like everyone else.  The difference lies in the fact that he is the recipient of Divine revelations.

The next thing important point of reference is that although Prophet Muhammad (pboh) was a normal human being he was indeed special.  His soul existed long before Hazrat Adam (as) was created.  Allah says in Surah Maa-idah;

There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book.  (5:15)

A lot of scholars opine that a (new) light is a reference to Prophet Muhammad (pboh).  He contained a special light that was radiating from his personality.  And there are a lot of narrations from his Companions that stated that his countenance was physically brighter than the full moon.  For example when he was 3½ years old and was in the care of Halima he went missing one day and when Halima and her family went looking for him they saw from a far a bright light perched on a tree.  Upon closer observations they found that the light they saw was in fact Muhammad (pboh) sitting on one of the branches.

Allah says in Ayat an-Nur light upon light.  In other words Prophet Muhammad (pboh) was a reflection of pure and refined light.  Thus emanating from his personality was only light.

Now with all this in mind to answer the initial question, i.e. why was Prophet Muhammad (pboh) shadowless we need to understand that a weaker source of light cannot cast a shadow on a brighter and more refined source of light.  For example you cannot see the shadow of the stars because of the brightness of the sun.

This was the case with Prophet Muhammad (pboh).  The light emanated from his personality was so refined and bright that the sun or other sources of light could not have cast a shadow from his blessed personality.  There are other matters pertaining to his status and relationship with his Lord such as a cloud shaded him whenever he was in the open.  But that is as a result of his exalted status. 

What is the implication of this?  There must been a reason and lesson in all of this for us.  After all, he is our model.  Prophet Muhammad (pboh) came to remove darkness from the earth.  And what is a shadow?  Something dark.  So Allah has caused it to be that not even a dark shadow came from him.  All that came from him was light.  His personality was so bright and beautiful that whenever Hazrat Aisha (ra) wanted to mend a piece of clothing late in the afternoon she never lit a lamp but instead sat next to the beloved Messenger (pboh) and was able to use the light that emanated from him to see.

Can you imagine this blessed personality?  He is so special and because of this we should acquaint ourselves with these nice and remarkable things about him.  And if we can connect ourselves to him we can also benefit and share in his light. 

May Allah enable us to connect to this magnificent source of light and through our effort may it be a means of eradicating the darkness and blemishes from our personality.

Honouring Prophet Muhammad

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

We are in the blessed month of Rabi-ul-Awwal and we pray that Allah’s blessings be upon all the believers and upon those who are aspiring to get close to Prophet Muhammad (pboh).

We are required as Muslims to honour and praise Prophet (pboh). Some people say we should only praise Allah. However whenever we praise Prophet Muhammad (pboh)we don’t do it in the same manner that we praise Allah . We praise Prophet (pboh) for the good that he has done and for the status that Allah has given him.

We have to show the greatest amount of love and respect for Prophet (pboh). The only being that we are to love and respect more is Allah, but Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is that material personality that we are to love. Love him, honour him and try to attach yourself to him. The closer you get to him the better it will be for you.

We can express love through our words, deeds and our attitude (i.e. following his Sunnah). A lot of people emphasise on the latter. But honouring him is more than just following his Sunnah. Even Allah expresses fondness of Prophet Muhammad (pboh) by calling him beautiful names in the Qur’an. For example a lot of scholars and even in some English translations of the Qur’an you will see that the words Ya-seen and Ta-Ha are pet names that Allah uses to address Prophet Muhammad (pboh).

Allah also warns us about our attitude towards His Habeed .

‘O ye who believe! raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk, as ye may speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds become vain and ye perceive not’. (49:2)

One little form of disrespect towards him can cause all your deeds to become null and void. So our attitude towards him is unique.

We even remember him in our salaat. Whenever we are worshipping Allah we do not ‘sidestep’ Prophet Muhammad (pboh). For example in salaat after we praise and glorify Allah we send salutations upon Prophet (pboh). Why do we do this? We are keeping in mind that if it wasn’t for him we would not be in this honourable position.

Nowadays we hear a lot talk of ‘haram, bid’ah, shirk’; criticizing and condemning those who chose to honour Prophet by holding gatherings and singing his praises. Firstly, those who hold gatherings misrepresent it by calling it Prophet’s (pboh) birthday celebrations. We remember and honour him throughout the year and not specifically in Rabi-ul-Awwal, so calling it his birthday celebration may not be a true representation.

Some people ‘celebrate’ his birthday ritually. This is wrong as their intention may not be to learn about him and get closer to him; but rather, to show others who hold a different theological view that ‘this is what we were taught and are accustomed to doing’.

Singing poems or qaseedas, as it is known in these parts, is something that is also condemned. This isn’t wrong as we see from his Seerah there were Companions who composed beautiful poems about him. From the very beginning of his mission in Madinah, the young girls of the Ansars stood up and sang for him. Kab recited a beautiful poem when he accepted Islam. No one objected, and there are numerous other examples too lengthy to mention here.

The principle of reciting poems isn’t a bid’ah. But to gather only for events like these and no other time is what those who disagree with it have some reservations.

Tazeem is another controversial issue. Those against it argue that standing and praising the Prophet (pboh) is equivalent to worshipping him. When Allah says that He and His angels are sending salaams on Prophet(pboh) are they standing or sitting? No one knows, so why make it an issue and divide the Muslim community. Tazeem is a form of darood and Hazrat Umar (ra) narrated ‘Verily, the Dua remains suspended between the skies and the earth, and does not help in any way until Darood is sent to the Prophet (pboh). (Tirmizi)

The reason for mentioning and clarifying all these age old issues is that in this particular month you will find a lot of Masjids holding their Melad un Nabi functions. If you choose to attend there is no problem because you will in no way bring any sin on yourselves. And you will be hearing sermons expounding on the greatness of Prophet Muhammad (pboh). These functions are means by which you can attain closeness to Prophet and also interact with your fellow Muslims.

It is indeed unfortunate that those who criticize and condemn our functions has never come up with an alternative. So where do they expect Muslims, especially the youths, to interact in a halal environment? This is why we see unfortunately, so many youths getting mixed up in un-Islamic environments.

Develop love for Prophet (pboh) and show your love for him by following his teachings. Do not get involve in of the arguments that are out there. These arguments have been going on for decades and sadly it appears that it would continue.

The past scholars demonstrated great love and admiration for Prophet (pboh). And they were scholars of the highest order. Do you think that they would have misled the people of their time?

If you want to attain success in this world and the next, cultivate love for Prophet Muhammad (pboh). Learn to love him and insha Allah you will better off.

The Mercy to the Worlds

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

As we have said on numerous occasions before, the personality of Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is indeed very special. There will never be anyone or anything like him in this universe. Allah created him unique and special for many reasons. One such quality that makes him absolutely unique is recorded in Surah Anbiyaa;

‘We sent thee not (O Muhammad), but as a mercy to the worlds’. (21:107)

Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is the only personality about whom Allah mentions in the Qur’an as Rahmatul Lil Alameen – a mercy to the worlds.

We know that our universe contains many worlds and there are multiple galaxies that contain many planets. What then does Allah mean when He says that Muhammad is a mercy to the worlds? In order to understand this we must first look at the very source of mercy. Allah says about Himself;

Say: “To Allah. He hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy”. (6:12)

So it means then that the quality of mercy and compassion is something very special. And if Prophet Muhammad (pboh) was sent to be the recipient and the physical representation of the manifestation of mercy then there must also be something special about him. Of course Allah knows why He sent him, but we can deduce something from events, incidents and matters to demonstrate his greatness.

We know that Allah says that if He was to cause the Qur’an to descend on a mountain top the mountain would be reduced to rubble. So, no creature in this universe was capable of receiving the Qur’an except Prophet (pboh). This was evident when Allah took the Qur’an out of Lawh Mahfuz and caused it to be placed in the heart of Prophet (pboh). His heart was the recipient of this great Book.

Before his physical coming, only Allah knew the Qur’an. Only after it came to Prophet it became known by all; even the angels and jinns. This is possibly why the angels and jinns gather wherever the Qur’an is being recited to listen to it.

So part of Prophet’s (pboh) mission was to receive this great Book. And this is one of the reasons why he is a mercy to the worlds.

Through him all other creatures have access to the Words of Allah; whether they choose to read it or listen. Allah gave previous revelations but not in the context and layout as He has made the Qur’an. It is only when Prophet (pboh) came we gained true knowledge such as the beginning of the universe and the events surrounding the end.

So the coming of Prophet Muhammad (pboh) marked a new era where all the creatures in the universe could become enlighten. And all the while he maintained the perfection and purity of the Qur’an.

Another factor that makes him a mercy to all worlds is the specific area that Allah sent him to; i.e. Makkah. We know that the Kaba is the center of the universe. And directly above the Kaba (in paradise) there situates Baitul-Mamur (The Frequented House); where angles also pray and perform tawaf. Thus the Kaba is like an axis where the universe spins around. And it is from the Holy Kaba that the Divine Mercy spreads throughout the universe. And Prophet (pboh) began his mission from this blessed land.

The beautiful poem entitled Falak Bola highlights the greatness of Prophet Muhammad (pboh). In it the sky and earth argues which of them is greater. After a few exchanges the earth won the argument by saying ‘I am greater because the Greatest creature that has ever been created is on me’.

Prophet Muhammad was sent as a mercy to all the worlds and his personality is such that even today he continuously receives blessing from Allah .

“Verily Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute Him with all respect.” (33:56)

Yusallunaa - is a verb in present / future tense. Therefore the blessings being sent are sent constantly and continuously. And he distributes these blessings to those who connect themselves to him via the institution of darood. If you are able to connect to him you will also be connecting to some measure of Divine Mercy.

May Allah makes us amongst those who would connect ourselves to His Habeeb (pboh) and may he enable us to understand the greatness of his personality and the mission that he still engages in today.

Following the way of Abraham

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Allah instructs us to follow the Sunnah of Hazrat Abraham (as). This doesn’t mean that Prophet Muhammad (saw) didn’t perfect his Sunnah while he was here. It is as though Abraham’s way was a tree and Prophet Muhammad was that one that pruned it; nurtured it and made it fruitful and beautiful.

Allah says in Surah Nahl;

‘So We have taught thee the inspired (Message), follow the ways of Abraham the true in faith, and he joined not gods with Allah’. (16:123)

Allah out of His Wisdom connected Islam with Abraham.

Again He says in Surah An'am

‘Say: "Verily, My Lord hath guided me to a way that is straight- a Religion of right- the path (trod) by Abraham the true In Faith, and He (certainly) joined not gods with Allah’.

What is the reason for adhering to the ways of Father Abraham? In order to fully explain this let us look at some of those things that made him special and blessed;

• Abraham was neither a Jew nor Christian. Both of these religions started with the advent of his son Isaac.
• He is to this day recognised by Judaism, Christianity and Islam as a righteous person. For example in Luke 16:22 it says ‘Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom’.
• Abraham never joined Gods with Allah . History shows where he destroyed idols on more than one occasion in an attempt to show his people that their idols were just mere carvings on stones.
• He never had a Sabbath day.
• He recognised that everything he had was a gift from Allah
• He recognised that the Kaba is the Qibla (direction of worship). When he left his wife and newborn in the barren desert he prayed ‘"O Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy sacred House; in order, O Our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer’.
• He is considered the Father of the now known revealed religions.
• He was not sent to a particular people or nation. In fact wherever he traversed he gave the message of the monotheistic way.
• He invited mankind to believe in only One God.
• He united mankind as ‘one family’. For example his first wife was Sarah who was from amongst his people and thereafter he got married to Hajar who was not from amongst them; (uniting two separate tribes).
• He physically demonstrated that idols cannot be ‘gods’. For example his father gave him one of the idols he made to clean by the river, instead young Abraham threw it into the water and said if it is God let it save itself.

All of these and more made Abraham such a blessed personality. So much so that even today he is still greatly remembered, especially around this time when millions make their way to Makkah to rehearse some of the activities that Abraham and his family engaged in so many centuries ago.

And even those who are not on route to perform the Hajj, they still remember Father Abraham when they engage in the sacrifice on Eid ul Adha.

Prophet (saw) refined all of this through his blessed personality and left it as a guide for us all. And Allah commands us to go back to this, establish it and strengthen Abraham’s Sunnah. And insha Allah, if we adhere to it, we will be amongst those who will be considered righteous.

In direct relation to this one sensible argument that Maulana Dr. Waffie has employed in the past while conversing with Christians is the following;

Dr. Waffie asked the following questions & The Christian replied

1. Was Abraham a righteous person? (Yes)
2. Will he go to heaven because of his righteousness? (Yes)
3. If I follow Abraham’s teachings will I be considered righteous? (Yes)
4. Then it’s safe to say that I would also be blessed to go to heaven? (Yes)
5. Therefore if by following Abraham’s teaching will guarantee me entrance to heaven why do I have to follow Jesus (as) (????)

May Allah bless us with the ability of establishing and strengthening the Sunnah of Hazrat Abraham (as), and may we be steadfast upon it. May He forgive us, have mercy on us and take care of our affairs in this world and the next.