The Significance of The Prophet Muhammad to the Muslim

Outline

• Background
• Introduction
• What the Prophet Muhammad Means to the True Muslim
• Muhammad; The Praised One
• Demonstration of True Love for the Prophet Muhammad
• How Should We Defend the Prophet Muhammad
• How Do We Defend The Prophet Muhammad When We Are Helpless
• One Last Thing…

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent

Background

In 1992, a 15-year-old boy developed an unlawful relationship with his drama teacher in high school. The teacher was 39 years old, 24 years older than him. She was married with three children. When the news about this unlawful and sinful relationship broke out. Disciplinary actions were taken against both the boy and his teacher.

The story didn’t end there, this immoral relationship continued, and eventually led the teacher to seek a divorce from her husband.

Fast forward to 25 years later, this high achiever boy has grown up and ranked high very fast in his professional and political career to become the president of of a prominent country of the world of humans.

Yes, he has grown in age. But hardly in manners and conduct. He remains the same rude and disrespectful boy. This high achiever seems to have taken his country to a deadlock corner of crisis, instead of moving it forward.

To divert the attention of his people away from his failure, he decided to show disrespect to the Prophet of Islam ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam and Islam as a whole.

Yes, the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.

Instead of responding to him, this episode is a brief visit to The Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, to strengthen our love for him, and to remind ourselves of the divine value Allah has honoured him with, and relearn his virtues that we might have forgotten or taken for granted.

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Introduction

There’s no mention of the name of the boy showing disrespect to the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam in this article because, he’s come to go. Whereby our Prophet has come to stay.

There’s no mention of the name of the boy showing disrespect to the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam in this article because, he is not the first to insult or disrespect Islam and the Prophet of Islam, nor will he be the last. However, the lessons we’re sharing in this article will remain relevant as long the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

There’s no mention of the name of the boy showing disrespect to the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam in this episode because, as much as we’re hurt and furious, there’s a hope of his possible turn around to embrace Islam.

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What the Prophet Muhammad Means to the True Muslim

What we have learnt by default is that the first pillar of Islam requires that one testifies that there’s no god worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, the sone of Abdullah is His chosen Messenger.

This means, one does not become Muslim as long as he worships other than Allah, even if he presents himself as a Muslim. And he does not also become Muslim, if Muhammad has no meaning or significance in his life.

One does not become Muslim until he submits to Islam. And one does not truly submit to Islam until the Prophet Muhammad become more important to him than the most beloved ones in his life, let alone his most treasured material possessions.

Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim report from the narration of Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik that the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam said:

لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ

“None of you believes till I am dearer to him than his father, his child, and all mankind.”

In other words, for someone who has chosen Islam sincerely, holding the Prophet Muhammad in the highest esteem (after Allah) is not a choice that he makes, nor does become a convenience that he substitutes according to circumstances and his personal interests.

Thus, as much as the Prophet Muhammad is an essential symbol in Islam for the Muslim, he is also a matter of dignity, that is not comprisable.  And this is the only way anyone who has ever heard of the Prophet Muhammad will attain salvation and eternal success.

وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

“[And] obey Allah and the Messenger, so that you may obtain mercy.” (Surah Āli ‘Imrān, 3:132)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ

“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger; and do not let your deeds go to waste.” (Surah Muhammad, 47:33)

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا

“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed achieved a great success.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:71)

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Muhammad; The Praised One

You may be watching this video in 2020, 2030, 2050, 2070 or 3000. It’s likely going to be when someone, somewhere, somehow has decided to throw rudeness and disrespect at The Propeht Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.

I can comfortably assure you, that such an irresponsible action will only lead to Muslims learning about him more, and non-Muslims seeking to know about who The Prophet Muhammad is. Many of them will end up embracing Islam. In fact, in some cases, the one who sparks this may end up embracing Islam.

Do you know why? It’s simply because, the name Muhammad means, the praised one. Whether one knows the meaning or not, it stands the same. So, when one mentions Muhammad and hails insults, you wonder how on earth, would someone who’s a praised one be insulted?

Imām al-Bukhāri reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu that the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam once said to his companions:

أَلاَ تَعْجَبُونَ كَيْفَ يَصْرِفُ اللَّهُ عَنِّي شَتْمَ قُرَيْشٍ وَلَعْنَهُمْ يَشْتِمُونَ مُذَمَّمًا وَيَلْعَنُونَ مُذَمَّمًا وَأَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ

“Doesn’t it astonish you how Allah protects me from the abuse and curse of Quraish’s? They abuse Mudhammam and curse Mudhammam while I am Muhammad (and not Mudhammam).

Mudhammam is a cursed one. And Muhammad is a praised one.

The things is, Allah Himself has taken charge of elevating and spreading the good name of the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.

أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ ﴿١﴾ وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ ﴿٣﴾ وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ ﴿٤﴾ـ

“Have We not lifted up your heart, and removed your burden that weighed so heavily on your back, and have We not given you high renown?” (Sūrah al-Sharh, 94:1-4).

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Demonstration of True Love for the Prophet Muhammad

During the Battle of Uḥud, that was 16 years after the arrival of Islam, 3 years after the migration of the Prophet to Madīnah, the war turned against the Muslims after some of the men in the Muslim camp failed to stick to the instructions of the Commander, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.

This enabled the camp of Quraysh to surround the Prophet in the battlefield, and storm with hysterically. Obviously, they had one aim, that was to kill Muhammad. Although the fight was not in favour of the Muslims, and although many of the companions had run for their lives, more than a dozen of the companions stood back to protect and shield the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.

Abū Ṭalḥah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu  stood in front of the Prophet, raising his chest to catch the arrows of the enemies. While doing that, he repeated, “I’ll die for you, O Messenger of Allah.”

On the back of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam was Abū Dujānah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu saving his back from the arrows of the enemies.

Mālik ibn Sinān raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu was cleaning the blood that flows on the noble face of the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.

At that point, the Prophet wanted to go up a rock but couldn’t. Ṭalḥah ibn ‘Ubaydillāh raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu laid himself for the Prophet to top him and climb the rock. While doing that, Talḥah saved arrows aiming at the Prophet until his right arm was paralysed.

That was in the battlefield.

Ibn Hishām reports in his Sīrah, and Ibn Kathīr reports in his al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, from Sa’d ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu that after the Battle of Uḥud ended, the Prophet passed by a lady, who happened to have lost her husband, brother and father during the battle. When she was informed of her losses, she calmly asked, “where’s the Prophet?” She was told he’s fine, but she insisted she wanted to see him. After seeing him and verifying he’s safe, she said: “Every calamity is insignificant, as long as the Messenger of Allah is safe.”

You may be surprised to know this. And some of us can’t imagine this to be true or real. This is achievable, after one succeeds in developing the faith and make the Prophet Muhammad more significant that anyone, other than Allah in his life.

Imām al-Bukhārī reports, from the narration of ‘Abdullāh ibn Hishām, raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu who said that they were once, with the Prophet and he was holding the hand of `Umar bin Al-Khattab. Umar said to Him, “O Allah’s Messenger! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self.” The Prophet said, “No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) till I am dearer to you than your own self.” Then Umar said to him, “However, now, by Allah, you are dearer to me than my own self.” The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam said:

الآن يَا عُمَر!ـ

“Now, O Umar, (now you are a complete believer).

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How Should We Defend the Prophet Muhammad

By now, we’re on the same page, that the Prophet Muhammad hold a position higher than our parents, our loved ones and our souls, in our hearts.

How does one defend the Prophet when someone disrespects him? There’s no ‘one answer fits all’ response to this question. Everyone reacts, and defends the Prophet, in other words, he saves his dignity depending on his circumstance and measuring the effectiveness of his reactions. Depending on his circumstance doesn’t mean convenience, but rather effectiveness.

The influential your position, the wider your defence for the Prophet is expected to cover and reach.

Remember, while we revolt for the Prophet, we showcase the peaceful side of his. We still want to win our enemies to Islam. Their opinions may change and they embrace Islam and even become closer to Allah than we are.

According to his page on Wikipedia, Joram van Klaveren, a former Dutch politician, he became well-known for his anti-Muslim comments. The hatred he had for the Prophet Muhammad and Islam instigated him to write an anti-Islam book. Half-way in his lifetime project, he was guided to Islam. Today, he’s among the strongest defenders of Islam in the world.

So, all means, we must defend the Prophet Muhammad. But in a way that sends clear, effective and fruitful message.

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How Do We Defend The Prophet Muhammad When We Are Helpless

While we must defend the Prophet Muhammad, there are times we find ourselves helpless. There’re times we’re oppressed, that we can’t even decide our food and clothes. Situations like that could make the offender believe that he’s winning. But no… it’s rather an avenue for him to dig his own grave. Because in that case, he’s in direct war with Allah, instead ob being faced by Muslims on the ground.

وَٱللَّـهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ

“Allah will defend you from mankind.“ (5:67).

فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّـهُ

“Allah will surely suffice to defend you against them.” (2:137).

أَلَيْسَ ٱللَّـهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ

“Is Allah not enough for His servant?” (39:36)

إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ ٱلْأَبْتَرُ ﴿٣﴾ـ

“It is the one who hates you who has been cut off.” (108:3)

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّـهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿٦١﴾ـ

“Those who annoy God’s Messenger shall have a painful punishment.” (9:61:)

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One Last Thing…

The Prophet Muhammad is the symbol of dignity for every Muslim. He’s our ultimate role model. And we must show him love. This is although showing him love comes in different forms. Thus, we have no excuses, whatsoever.

If you and I choose to not show love for the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, someone else will do. If no one on the earth among humans shows love for the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, others purer than humans will do.

إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٥٦﴾ـ

“Allah and His angels bestow blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you also should invoke blessings on him and give him greetings of peace.” (Sūrah al-Aḥzāb, 33:56).

If you have read to this point, the following articles may interest you:

• The Prophet Muhammad
• The Prophet, The Father
• The Wives of the Prophet
• The Prophet, The Husband
• Except The Prophets Of Allah, No One Is Equal To Islam
• How to Convert to Islam
• I am Full of Sins, But I Boycott in Defence of the Prophet Muhammad

Until we meet in another article for The Good News, I leave you in Allah’s protection.

Wassalamu ‘alaykum warahamtullah.

Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂

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