Islam

Prophet Muhammad's Human Charter

NALEEFA Mukthar

How I yearn to write about the Prophet, his greatness, his immortal deeds and his uniqueness. Such immense generosity and love for all beings astounds me. It is a difficult task for my pen to elaborate his mission, which he delicately preached and bestowed with the quality of timelessness. It embraced social, economical, political, educational and spiritual systems which has become immortal. What was the Prophet's basic teaching which lifted man to lofty heights? He declared amidst such persecution that his universe has One God, who creates, sustains and controls it. To realise this you have to discover God. Discovering God means arriving at the source of strength and wisdom of His. When person who understands the Kalima 'La-ilahah Illallah' - there is no deity who is worthy of worship but Allah to the core of his being. It is the meeting point of his soul with his Creator. The Prophet taught that this is the moral basis of Islam. It's no wonder that this principles of Islam has produced and still produces men of highest calibre, faith and integrity.

Messenger

The Prophet was sent as a Messenger to guide humanity for the purpose of spreading the message of Peace. In the Qur'aan, Allah emphasised "we sent thee not but as a Mercy for all creatures (21/107).

Globally when violence and intolerance seem to be the rule of the day, I think it is pertinent to bring to the readers, the Prophet's last Sermon. In the 10th year after Hirjah to Madinah Allah's last Messenger Hazarath Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu Alaihai wa Sallam) went on a pilgrimage to Makkah for the last time and delivered his last Sermon (Khutbah Hajjatul Wida'a) to a huge gathering of Muslims. In fact, it is a Human Charter far excelling any that has so far been drafted by the collective effort of all the nations of the world.

Mount Arafat

Standing on Mount Arafat he said: "O people, listen to me. All praise is for Allah. We praise Him, and seek His pardon and we return to Him. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and from the evil consequences of our deeds. Whom Allah guides there is none to lead astray, and there is none to guide him right whom Allah leads astray.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Only One. He fulfilled His promise and granted victory to His Believers, and He alone routed the enemies of Islam.

"O people! Listen to my words for I do not know whether we shall ever meet again and perform Haj after this year. O people, Allah says, "We created you from one male and one female and made you into tribes and nations so as to be known to one another. Verily in the sight of Allah, the most honoured amongst you is the one who is most righteous. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for a white over a black, nor for a black over a white except in good deeds and righteousness. O people, therefore do not appear on the Day of Judgement before Allah with the burden of evils of this world around your necks, where as other people on that day will appear happy expecting the rewards of Paradise. In that case none would be able to help you."

You are all the progeny of Adam who was created from clay. Behold, all practices of the days of ignorance are now under my feet.

The blood revenges of the days of ignorance are remitted.

Blood

The first claim on blood I abolish is that of Ibn-Rabi'ah b. Harris who was from the tribe of Sa'ad and whom the Hundhayls killed. All claims of interest and usuries accruing from the times of ignorance stand wiped out. And the first amount of interest that I pardon is that which Abbas B. Abd-al-Muttalib had to receive. And now it is remitted entirely."

"O people! Verily your blood, your property and your honour are sacred and inviolable. And this sacred inviolability comes into force right from this day, from this month and from this very town of yours. Verily you will soon meet your Rabb and you will be held answerable for your actions." To be continued

Following Islam correctly

RIAZ Ismail

Continued from 13-03-09

It is stated as clear as daylight in the Holy Quran that the Beloved Rasul (Sal) is Allah's grace and mercy unto us as He says "and believers that for them is great grace of Allah" (Q5) the Holy Prophet and his mercy also as He declares "and we sent not you, but as a mercy unto all worlds".

The Holy Quraan clearly proves the following:

1. We must be thankful to Allah the Almighty for all the blessings which He bestowed upon us.

2. The Holy Prophet (Sal) is Allah's supreme gift unto mankind.

3. The Holy Prophet (Sal) is the greatest grace and mercy unto mankind.

4. Therefore it is our duty to express gratitude to Allah for His grace and mercy in the form of cheerfulness and enjoyment.

Should we not then celebrate Meelad Un Nabi? (Sal) in the spirit of joy to express our gratitude and thanks to Allah.

Gratitude

The significance and degree of gratitude or shukr is explained by the following Quran verse "If you will be grateful then I shall give you more and if you are thankless then my punishment is severe." Every single moment of time belongs to Allah Taala.

However certain rules should be set aside and attributed to Allah as Allah says to the Holy Prophet "and remind them of the days of Allah." These days have been highlighted because of the dignity and magnificence of the bounty which Allah has blessed us with on those days. The birthday of our Beloved Rasul (Sal) is one of those exceptional days that we must highlight, remember and celebrate.

On closer examinations as the Holy Quran provides more information about the Birthdays of Prophets.

With respect to the birthday of Nabi Yahyah as Allah says "and peace be upon Him the day He was born". If Allah Ta'ala relates to us in the Holy Quran that Nabi Isa said: and peace on me that may I was born". If Allah sends salaams on the birthdays of Nabi Yahyth (as) and Nabi Isa (as) then imagine the extent of virtue of the birthday (Milad) of our beloved Rasul (sal). Beyond the elements of reasonable doubts the reality of the birthday of our beloved Rasul (Sal) is like a day of Eid for all Muslims.

Holy Quran

Proof of this is found in the Holy Quran when Nabi Isa requests Allah Almighty "O Allah, our Lord send down to us a tray (of food) from the heavens so that it may be an occasion for rejoicing (Eid) for us for the first and the last of us Logically, if Hazart Isa receives only a tray of food with seven bread and seven fish and he celebrates that day as an Eid, then it is not incumbent upon us to celebrate that day as an Eid on which Allah Ta'ala has bestowed us with His Noor (Light) Fadhal (Grace) and Rahma (Mercy).

Hadith: every Monday our beloved Rasul (Sal) use to observe fast. Upon questioning by his companions on the wisdom of this fast the Prophet (Sal) explained that he was born on a Monday and he received the 1st revelation on a Monday (H1).

Thus Rasulullah (Sal) himself celebrated his Meelad Mubarak note: the Prophet (Sal) did so not once a year, but every week by fasting on Monday celebrating Meelad is therefore actually the Sunnah of our Beloved Rasul (Sal)

On the occasion of returning from the battle of Tabook, Hazart Abbas the uncle of Nabi (Sal) asked his permission to render a Qaseedah which he had composed in honour of the Holy Prophet (Sal).

He was granted permission. This Qaseedah was about Meelad in which Hazrath Abbas (RA) described the miracle that appeared on the birth of the Holy Prophet (Sal) Rasulullah (Sal) liked this Qaseedah so much that be blessed Harza Abbas (RA) with special dua. This Meelad was commemorated in Masjid Un Nabawi in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sal)

Hazrath Hassan Bin Thabit who is known as the poet of the Prophet (Sal) "had the honour to stand on the shawl spread by the Holy Prophet (Sal) and sing a Na'at (Praise) of Rasulullah Prophet (Sal). He composed a beautiful poem. Let us highlight only two verse of that poem. He says "O Prophet of Allah my eyes have never beheld someone as handsome as you and certainly a woman has never given birth to someone as attractive as you. You have been created without any defect as if this is the manner in which you wanted to be created (H3).

Meelad remembrance

This Meelad remembrance was made in the presence of (Sal) who blessed him with the Dua "May Jibreel be with you". Abu Lahab the uncle of Rasul (Sal) who was his bitter enemy when he received the good news from his female slave Thuwiba that a child has been born to his late brother Hazar Abdullah he out of happiness set Thuwiba free (H4). It is a fact that Abu Lahab was a rigid Mushrik (Polytheist) and he was the first one who refused the call of the Holy Prophet (Sal) to Islam on the hill of SAFA.

Surah Lahab was then revealed in reply to his contempt of Islam. But what happened when this rigid mushik and great enemy of the Holy Prophet died? Hazrat Abbas (RA) saw him in a dream, in a very bad state and asked him, how are you? He replied "I am in severe torture since I am separated from all of you, but from my finger of Shahaadah, I receive little bit of water because with this finger I set free my female slave Thuwaiba when she gave me the good news of the birth of my nephew Muhammad (Sal).

Monday

In another narration he says that on every Monday his punishment is blessed because the Holy Prophet (Sal) was born on Monday and he set his female slave free that day .

Let us ponder over this story.

A. Abu Lahab was the deadly enemy of Rasulullah (Sal).

B.Abu Lahab was the deadly enemy of Rasulullah (Sal).

C. Abu Lahab was happy just because he received a nephew, but we rejoice that almighty Allah bestowed us with his beloved last messenger Muhammadun Rasulullah (Sal).

Thus if a polytheist can get benefit from Meelad Rasul (Sal) can't we Muslims seek the pleasure of Allah and His Rasul (Sal) by commemorating Meelad Un Nabi (Sal) at least annually.

Let us go back in time to the Meelad programmes which were held in the time of the Holy Prophet (Sal).

1. Hazrat Abbas (RA) reports that one day as he was relating noble stories of Meelad Un Nabi (Sal) to the people at his place the people were rejoicing the wondrous bounty of Allah Ta'ala that were granted to them. The Holy Prophet (Sal) appeared there and he said "My intersession has become due for you on the Day of judgement."

2. Hazrat Abu Darda reports that once in the auspicious company of Rasulullah (Sal) they passed the house of Hazarh Al Ansari (Ral) and found him busy examining the miracle of Meelad and the virtues of Monday to his family. On listening to this Rasoli Akrum (Sal) said to him "Allah Almighty has opened the doors of mercy for you and the angles are asking the Almighty Allah to pardon you not only you but whosoever follows our practice will enjoy the same reward.

Spirit of nobility

These were the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sal.) who celebrated Meelad in the spirit of nobility, joy and good intention. They learnt Islam directly from the Holy Prophet (Sal). They acknowledge Islam was greater and more profound than modern intellectuals. Thus the Muslim Ummah has commemorated Meelad Un Nabi (Sal) since the dawn of Islam and it is definitely not an innovation as some uninformed Muslims think.

Allamah Ibn Juze a great Imam of Hadith writes "the people in Makkah, Madina, Egypt, Syria and all over the Muslim countries continuously commemorate Meelad Un Nabi (Sal) in Rab-ul-Awwal. They hold the remembrance of the Holy birth of Rasulullah (Sal) and attain glorious reward for it."

Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Quastlaani, Sheikh Qutubudin Al Hanafi, Allama Yousuf, Bin Ismail, Nib Haani, Immam Badrudeen Azmi, Immam Ibn Hajr Asqualaani, Hajee Indaadullah Mukki, Hazrath Shah, Wallullah, Allamah Ibu Jauze and other great scholars of Islam have confirmed the validity of Islam. They wrote books also on the proof of Meelad including Ibntymiya. It is however difficult to present all of their views in this short essay. Many opponents of Meelad celebrations use the argument of Tauheed. To firmly believe in Tauheed (Oneness of Allah). It's of utmost importance in the life of a Muslim.

A Meelad celebration is an action that infact affirms Tauheed. By celebrating the birthday of the Holy Prophet (Sal) we indeed clarify and confirm that he was born.

The one who is born can never become Allah for the quality of Allah is that "He begot none nor was He begotton.