The Radiant Mercy that has Illuminated the World
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
233 |
| Khutbah Date: |
03/30/07 |
[b]قَدْ جَاءكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ[/b][i]There has indeed come to you the light and a clear book [/i][Qur’an 5:15] [b]The Prophet is Born[/b]Today 1481 years ago, a person was born in the desert of Arabia, in the city of Makkah; one who descended from the dynasty of Abraham the idol-breaker, Moses the pharaoh-fighter, and Jesus the benevolent; one whose superbly dynamic personality, one whose life example serves as the exemplary epitome of the ideal human being; one whom the Almighty himself refers to as [b]رحمة للعالمين [/b]“mercy unto the worlds”.[i]“Four years after the death of (Roman emperor) Justinian, in 569 A.D., was born at Makkah in Arabia, the man who of all men, who exercised the greatest influence upon the human race, Muhammad” [/i] - [Anglo-American historian and philosopher, Dr John William Draper, A History of the Intellectual Development of Europe; volume 1 page 329] [b]Inviter to Truth[/b]The Almighty Himself endorsed his mission [Q33:45-46] and as the young boys and girls of Madinah sang when they saw the Prophet safely enter Madinah for the first time from the Valley of Wada’
طلع البدر علينا من ثنيات الوداعو جب الشكر علينا ما دعا لله داعأيها المبعوث فينا جئت بالأمر المطاعجئت شرفت المدبنة مرحبا يا خير داعThe full moon has risen on us, from the Valley of Wada’;It is obligatory for us to be thankful, as long as we can offer prayer;O You who have been sent to us, coming with lofty commands,You have come to honor Madinah, Welcome O greatest Propagator of God’s Message.A Jewish scholar named al-Huşşayn testifies …
[b]قَالَُ ابْنُ سَّلامٍ : لَمَّا قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمَدِينَةَ انْجَفَلَ النَّاسُ قِبَلَهُ وَقِيلَ : قَدْ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ثَلَاثًا؛ فَجِئْتُ فِي النَّاسِ لأنْظُرَ ، فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنْتُ وَجْهَهُ عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ وَجْهَهُ لَيْسَ بِوَجْهِ كَذَّابٍ [/b]Al-Huşayn said that when the Prophet arrived in Madinah someone announced thrice;
“the Prophet has arrived!” I moved through the crowd till I saw his face. When I saw his face, I knew he was not a liar.
[b]فَكَانَ أَوَّلُ شَيْءٍ سَمِعْتُهُ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ أَنْ قَالَ : يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلامَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصِلُوا الارْحَامَ وَصَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ ... تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلامٍ (رواه الترمذي)[/b][i]The first thing I heard the Prophet say was; O People! Spread (the Greeting of) peace, feed the hungry, maintain your family relations, pray while others are asleep … and you will enter Paradise with peace [/i][b]His Status[/b]The revolutionary scholar and interpreter Sheikh ‘Abdul Hameed Kishk reminds us of the majesty of the Prophet …
[b]ما ذا أقول لك يا سيدي يا رسول الله ...أ أقول لك رفعك الله لقد رفعك ، لأن الله يقول و رفعنا لكذكركأ أقول لك نوّرك الله لقد نوّرك ، لأن الله يقول قد جاءكم من الله نور و كتاب مبينأ أقول لك حسّنك الله لقد حسّنك ، لأن الله يقول لقد كان لكم في رسول الله أسوة حسنةأ أقول لك عظَّمك الله لقد عظَّمك ، لأن الله يقول و انك لعلى خلق عظيم[i]What shall I say of you, O my Leader, O Prophet of Allah?If I were to say “O Allah! Elevate you”: Allah Says, “We have elevated the very memory of thee (O Muhammad)”;If I were to say “O Allah! Enlighten you”: Allah says, “We have sent from God ‘the light’ and the Book”;If I were to say “O Allah! Excel you”: Allah Says,“Surely in the Prophet of Allah you have the model of excellence.If I were to say “O Allah! Exalt you”: Allah Says,“Surely you are at an exalted standard of character. [/i]Following in the Footsteps of the Prophet[b]الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَآئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالأَغْلاَلَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُواْ النُّورَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ [/b][i]“Those who follow the Prophet, the unlettered Prophet who is mentioned in previous scripture; that Prophet who commands what is right, forbids what is wrong; declares permissible the good and the beneficial, prohibiting whatever is evil and the detrimental; who thus frees you from the shackles of bondage ... successful indeed are those who believe in him, who honor him and who assist his cause.” [/i] [Qur'an 7:157]We should truly be of ... [list][*]Those who follow the Prophet = those who not only proclaim to believe in his abiding mission, but also use his life example as a guide in their lives. [/*][*]the unlettered Prophet who is mentioned in previous scripture = who was not schooled in the traditional schools of learning but Divinely Guided [/*][*]that Prophet who commands what is right, forbid what is wrong = manifesting the universal principles of goodness and justice. [/*][*]declares permissible the good and the beneficial = nothing bad is declared halaal [/*][*]prohibiting whatever is evil and the detrimental = nothing good is considered haraam [/*][*]who thus frees you from the shackles of bondage = of backwardness, retrogression, superstition, falsehood and enslavement[/*][*]successful indeed are those who believe in him, who honor him and who assist his cause = those who model their lives according to that example, who genuinely identify with that way of life. [/*][/list] [i]" Surely, in the Prophet of Allah, you have the ideal example."(Q 33:21) [/i]~In the words of
Sheikh Sa’di Shirazi …
كريم السجايا جميل الشيم نبي البرايا شفيع الأممGenerous in disposition, beautiful in manners;Prophet to creation, intercessor for the nationsترا عزّ لولاك بست ثناى تو طه و يس بستچه و صفت كند سعدي نا تمام عليك الصلوة أي نبي السلامFor you (O Prophet) the glory of “only for you” is authority enoughSuffice it as praise that you are Taha and Yaseen;How can the imperfect Sa’di describe you justly,God’s Blessing on you, O Prophet of peace!بلغ العلى بكماله كشف الدجى بجمالهحسنت جميع خصاله صلو عليه و آلهThe Prophet reached the highest state by his sublime characterHe removed darkness by his beauty;Excellent are all his characteristics and achievements …Salutations upon him and his family. ~
Imam Sharafuddin al-Busayri wrote in his Qasidah Burdah …
فمبلغ العلم فيه أنه بشر و أنه خير خلق الله كلهملما دعى الله داعينا لطاعته بأكرم الرسل كنا أكرم الأمم ...The depth of our understanding acknowledges him as the best human;In reality, he is the best of all creation,When the Prophet invites, he calls us to obedience of the Creator;By the honorability of the Prophet, have we become the honorable Ummah~
Mufti Shah Abdul ‘Aziz Muhaddith ad-Dehlawi wrote in his Tafseer ‘Azizi…
يا صاحب الجمال و يا سيد البشرمن وجهك المنير لقد نوّر القمرلا يمكن الثناء كما كان حقهبعد أز ُخدا توﮰبزرﮜ قصہ مختصرO possessor of beauty! O leader of creation!The moon lightened at the light of your countenance;It is not possible to praise thee befittingly,In essence, after God, thou art the most significant. ~
Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi wrote …
در دل مسلم مقام مصطفٰى است آبروى ما زنام مصطفٰى استطور موجى ازغبار خانه اش كعبة را بيت الحرم كاشانه اشThe heart of the Muslim is the abode of MustafaThe greatness we had gained is due to his name;Mount Sinai is but dust that arose from his homeHis station is more sacred then the Ka;bah ~
Moulana Altaf Husayn Hali wrote in his Musaddas
وه نبيون ميں رحمت لقب پانے واﻼ مراديں غريبوں كا بر لا نے واﻼ مصيبت ميں غيروں كے كام آنے واﻼ وه اﭙني ﭙراﮰ كا غم كهانے واﻼفقيروںكا ملجا ضعيفوں كا ماۈے يتيموں كا والي غلاموں مولى The Prophet bore the title of “ the merciful one” among Prophets,Who realized the aspirations of the distressed,Helped those in adversity,Showed compassion to the unfortunate despite his own difficulties;Helper of the needy, supporter of the weak,Guardian of orphans and the refuge of slaves. ~The poet-philosopher
‘Allama Muhammad Iqbal said;
قوّت ِ عِشق سے ﮩر ﭙست كو با ﻼ كر دےدﮩر ميں اسم ِ محمد سے اجا ﻼ كردےLighten every part of the world with love,Let the age be radiant with the name of Muhammadكي محمد سے و فا تو نے تو ﮩم تيرے ﮩيںيے جهاں ﭼيز ﮩيں كيا لوح و قلم تيرے ﮩيںDevote yourself to Muhammad, and be assured of God’s Grace;Not only the world and all it contains,but you’ll have the pen of destiny at your disposal. [b]Model of Excellence[/b]A study of the Prophet’s illustrious life reveals immense suffering, principled dedication, unwavering faith and exemplary character. From the early Makkan period he championed the cause of the oppressed and the needy. A humble shepherd in his youth who gained fame as as-saadiq (truthful) and al-amin (trustworthy) eventually had to discharge duties in Madinah as supreme-court judge, commander of the armed forces and head of state of a volatile heterogeneous society; and he executed all this with exemplary style and prophetic excellence. [i]“Head of the State as well as of the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope's pretensions, Caesar without the legion of Caesar. Without a standing army, without a body-guard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue, if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammad.”[/i][Reverend Bosworth Smith -Mohammad and Mohammadanism - ] The birth of the Prophet (pbuh) is indeed worthy of rejoicing. If any occasion that is significant is worth remembering; it would be more so on the occasion of the commemoration of the arrival of the [i]the best of creation, the ideal exemplar, the noblest of character … the Final Messenger [/i](peace be upon him). Allah commands us in the Qur’an [10:58] to [i]rejoice in the favor and mercy of Allah [/i]and He re-affirms that Prophet Muhammad [Q 21:107] was sent as a manifestation of that[i]mercy unto all the worlds. [/i]And after 14 centuries, we still echo the sentiments of Hassan bin Thabit, a dear companion of the Prophet, who expressed his respect for the Prophet (pbuh) in these poetic words …
و احسن منك لم ترى قط عين و اجمل منك لم تلد النساءخلقت مبرأ من كل عيب كأنك قد خلقت كما تشاء Better than you, no eye has ever seen;More beautiful than you, no woman has given birth to;You are free from any defects of character,As if you were designed according to your own specification. قيامي للعزيز علي فرض و ترك الفرض ما هو مستقيمعجبت لمن له عقل و فهم يرٰى هذا الجمال و لا يقومIt is necessary for me to stand for my dear friendRefusing to stand is not the right way;I am surprised at those who possess intellect and understanding,Who witness such splendor and yet do not stand. We have inherited his glorious mission and it is our duty to manifest his noble tradition. In the words of 'Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal,
كي محمد سے و فا تو نے تو ﮩم تيرے ﮩيںيے جهاں ﭼيز ﮩيں كيا لوح و قلم تيرے ﮩيںDevote yourself to Muhammad, and be assured of God’s Grace;Not only the world and all it contains,but you’ll have the pen of destiny at your disposal. So, on the occasion of the commemoration of the noble birth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), we rejoice (as we ought to throughout the year) in the acknowledgement of the selflessness, piety, wisdom and compassion of this Last Prophet; whose mission to humanity was the teaching of submission to the Supreme, of globally applicable values, of adherence to the Straight Path; the combating of immorality, impropriety, injustice, ignorance and oppression; and who conveyed the divinely revealed Final Testament as a universally relevant text, a testimony to his abiding mission. In commemorating the birth of the Prophet, we celebrate his life, appreciate his sacrifices, and consider his impact; while we commit ourselves to implement and manifest his noble life example in our times.
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