The Merits of the Prophet Mohammad peace and blessings upon him
By the Eminent Sheikh Ali Bin Abdurrahman Alhodhaifi

 
First Sermon (Khutbah)
In what is to follow: O Muslims, when the rubble of sedition increases in the nation and the clouds of sorrow loom on its clear sky, the truth gets confused with falsehood, the features of truth get confusingly concealed for many of the children of the doctrine, and passions get mingled with guidance, it is the fear of Allah [exalted be his name] that enlightens the path of guidance, and its light dispels the darkness of ignorance and debauchery. To whomsoever Allah gave the gift of piety, has the gift of light, walking on the path of salvation in safety from the influences of doctrine and methodology, away from intellectual and behavioural pollution. Truly there is a dire need for the ummah today that the hearts of its children to be filled with piety and certainty; in order to achieve, Allah willing, victory and empowerment.

O Muslims, our great cause, must not be forgotten in the face of new challenges and the momentum of incidents and plots, due to the fact that is the basis upon which to build the great glories and civilizations, and indeed a means to realise aspirations and triumphs, and an exit of the nation from the cycle of conflict. Our cause is that we are a nation of pure faith and a high universal message, a nation of sincere monotheism to Allah, and an absolute following of the dear Prophet of Allah.

This major issue is the talk of this occasion and every appropriate occasion, and to recall it, is the topic of the hour and every hour to the day of resurrection. The best topics for Muslims to occupy themselves with, which formed lecture themes by reformers, were the doctrine of faith, Tradition and Conduct of the Prophet. Together they form the best educator and discipliner for the generations. This is true since the Prophet is the best teacher and instructor for the nation. There is nothing more enjoyable for a person than to talk about the one he loves, especially that the loved one is the beloved of the Lord of the worlds and the master of the formers and the latters. He is a bestowment by Allah on humanity, a mercy to mankind and a grace to the Islamic nation. It is by Allah, then by Mohammed the son of Abdullah, that a constitution was drawn, a civilization came into being and an enlightening doctrine from among the doctrines of guidance was founded.

[Poetry verse]

Built on the monotheistic dogma, and a truth it is.

A fact advocated by the intellectuals and the wise.

No single soul among mankind received the love and appreciation like that bestowed upon the chosen Prophet; his name vibrates on millions of tongues, and the hearts of millions are shaken by his remembrance. But the lesson resides in turning this love into a pure and unadulterated way of following in all that which he (peace be upon him) came up with. As the Almighty, blessed and exalted be His name, said in showing the standard of true love: Say (O, Mohammed): “If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”. [Al-Imran: 31].

Brothers in faith, no time has past in any given era were the ummah's  need to follow the light of Prophethood and blessed Sunnah as well as knowledge of his noble Conduct for guidance and following- more dire than the present era. They need it as the ummah is being shaken by the waves of adversities, the rings of sedition and defeat by the whims of desires got intertwined. Allegations and opinions gained a foothold in peoples beliefs. The ummah faces the colours of blatant confrontation, insidious challenges and unjust conspiracy by the enemies of Islam, who shot at it from the same bow. Thus, for the one amongst them who played the greatest part in it “...those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil... “. [Al Maida: 60], from the aggressor Jews and the ruthless Zionists, and those that allies themselves to their campaign like the advocates of trinity and worshipers of the cross, and lend them support like the seditionists who are affected by their rotten thoughts and poisoned cultures, from among the advocates of secularism and westernisation.

And the sorrow increases, when many of the people of Islam ignore the realities and the essence of their religion and the substance of their faith, and walk with the sweeping currents uncritical of scrutiny and investigation, or freeze in the face of heretical legacies without audit nor check, and it expires that a verifiable narration from the infallible (Prophet) that he said: “Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected”. Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh.

Brothers in Allah, O lovers of the Messenger of Allah, these are stances with an extract from the most important aspects of the noble Tradition and blessed Conduct; that is an aspect of the Prophet Mohammad's merits and graceful qualities, and noble etiquettes. It is certainly a clear flowing and swift gushing stream, whom drink from its wholesome quality (Numeir) all those wanting safety from the contaminants of idolatry and salvation from pagan ignorance. In fact it can be described as a brilliant composition, a glittering constellation, a sun shining bright, a bright radiance and radiant torch which dispels the rubble of oppression and darkness. Even though a lot of people missed seeing him with their sights, there is in pondering upon his merits a consolation and a comfort. If the implementers of his merits did not accompany him personally, then they surely did follow his traditions to every breath he took.

[poetry verses]:

 If you missed the chance to see him with your eyes

miss not his description through his merits

A wholesome being in creation and moral standing

in qualities and countless virtues

Brothers in doctrine, we are in need of rejuvenation upon the path in the light of the pure Sunnah, correcting the views and opinions in the light of the noble Conduct and to ponder deeply about the reckoning and accountancy our deeds. We want from reviewing the Sunnah and noble Conduct that which increases belief, bears testimony to the conscience, uplifts the morals and rectifies conditions

Many people make mistakes when they look to the chosen Prophet and his life as others do to their great ones in short-measured ways, limited by knowledge, skill or genius. Our Prophet has collected all aspects of human greatness in himself, his merits and all his conditions. Despite this, he is no Lord to be invoked nor a deity to be worshiped, but a Prophet to be obeyed and a Messenger to be followed. Bukhari in his Saheeh selectively narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: (Do not unduly praise me like the Christians exaggerated over Jesus, the son of Mary. Verily, I am only a servant, so say, `Allah's servant and His Messenger.').

It is indeed unfortunate that some people of Islam did not appreciate their Messenger as he should be, even when they go to him with love and veneration, because it is a negative love with no resonance in real life, nor impact on behaviour and compliance.

Ummah of Islam, ponder upon his guidance and merits – may my father and mother be ransomed for him [an expression of allegiance], blessings and peace be upon him- in the aspects of religion and the world as a whole.

In the field of his Monotheism to his Lord, he proclaimed monotheism and called for it for thirteen years in Makkah and ten in Medina, how not, and unto him the word of the Lord was revealed: Say, “All my duties to the Divine System, the ways to discharge them, my living and my dying are for Allah alone, the Lord of the Worlds. He has no partner. This is what I have been commanded and I am the foremost of those who surrender to Him”. [Al An’aam: 162, 163]. The first duty of his fans is that they take care of the call to the oneness of Allah, upon which his message - peace be upon him- was based. Also, it's important to be aware of all that taints the dogma and the unmodified following of the Prophet from amongst all forms of polytheisms, newly introduced matters and innovations.

In the area of his servitude to his Lord, he stood in night prayers to the point that his feet cracked. It is said to him: do you do this and Allah has forgiven your present and future sins?! He says: (Would I not be a thankful servant?!).

Hadeeth narrated by the two Sheikhs from the statement of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).

O nation of Mohammad, in the area of ethics you will find him an example of perfection in soft heartedness, generosity of hand, harm-removing, assistance-giving, self-restraint and integrity of attitude. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was, easy going, soft-sided, not harsh-hearted nor severe, nor noisy in the marketplace, would not repel an evil act by another, but forgives and pardons.

[Poetry verse]

Outweighed him, in the great creation, merits

tempted by them and are fascinated the generous


 

Greater than that, and more eloquent, is his praise by his Lord saying: "And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality”. [The Pen: 4].

“Thus it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hard hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you”. [Al-Imran: 159].

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, says: I have never touched brocade nor silk softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah, and never smelled anything better than the smell of the Messenger of Allah. I served the Messenger of Allah for ten years yet he never told me: a word of disrespect, nor to something I did: why did you do it? Nor for something I did not do: shouldn’t you do this or that.

By Allah! These are noble and deep-rooted high qualities, the best of merits and great virtues. Exalted be His name that raised the Prophet's status, expanded his chest, and lifted high in the worlds his remembrance.

[poetry verse]

He derived a name, for him [i.e: Mohammed], from His [the Almighty] to revere him

The Lord of the throne is the Praised and that one is the praiseworthy

Do those who chant today his Conduct follow his footsteps in his guidance and merits?!
There is yet another side, may Allah watch over you, in his dealings with his companions, his family and his wives, he says:

(the most complete of the believers in faith is the best mannered, and the best of you are those best to their women). Narrated by Ahmad and Members of Al-Sunan.

Similar can be said about policy of the Islamic State and in his worship of his Lord, in his expenditures and seeking provision, in his sustenance and struggle, his eagerness to carry out the message of Allah and communicate the call of his Lord, blessed and exalted He be.

There you have, may Allah protect you, a model to follow through his wisdom, compassion and mercy towards the people, Muslims and non-Muslims, when calling them to Islam and Allah.

“We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures”. [Al Anbiya: 107],

This is also seen regarding his observance of human rights, and even his compassion to animals, at a time when civilization today boasts about trampling on human dignity and while caring for the most vulnerable animal, may Allah help us.

This pattern is reflected in the wonderful story of the Bedouin who urinated on a spot in the mosque. When the companions [may Allah be pleased with them] rebuked him, he said: (let him finish, do not press him), i.e: do not stop him. He said to them: (verily you were sent as facilitators, and not as creators of difficulty) and advised him [the Bedouin] gently and wisely, and the result was that the Bedouin said: O Allah have mercy on me and Mohammed, and do not extend your mercy to anyone else with us.
Authentic hadeeth.

In the story of Thumaamah bin Athaal, when he was taken captive and tied up to a pillar of the mosque, he was a gentile and master of his people, the Messenger of Allah passes by and says: (What do you have O Thumaamah?). He replies: I have goodness O Mohammed, if you kill you kill a blood relative, and if you give grace you give grace to a thankful, and if you seek fortune ask and you will be given as much as you want. He goes on saying [the Prophet], after he honoured him and treated him kindly: (release Thumaamah). Thumaamah performed a ritual ablution, then entered the mosque and said: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Mohammed is His slave and Messenger. By Allah, O Mohammed, there was no face on the face of the earth more hateful to me than yours, but now your face has become the most beloved face to me among all faces, and no religion was more hateful to me than your religion, but today your religion has become the most beloved of all religions to me, and by Allah no country was more hateful to me than your country, but it became the most beloved to me among all the countries. Narrated selectively by the two Sheikhs.

Allah is the greatest! These indeed are the implications of advocacy towads gentleness, compassion and kindness, far from the courses of violence, roughness and vulgarity, and a strong lesson to the advocates of the call to Allah until the end of time.

[Poetry verses]

You built for them from morality a pillar

They betrayed it so it came crumbling down anarchically

Their esteem in it was prestigious

and ethics are worthy to be prestigious

And when he was told, peace and prayers be upon him: should you not call for a curse to befall the disbelievers?! He said: (I was not sent as a curser, but sent as a mercy to the worlds) Narrated by Muslim.

He also said to them: (What do you think I am going to do with you?), they said: that which is good; as a kind brother and nephew of a kind brother, he then said: (Oh Allah, forgive my folk since they do not know! Go you are free.)

Let the whole humanity and all mankind be informed of these bright pages from the mercy of Islam and the Prophet of peace and Islam, peace and blessings be upon him. Surely, his merits they find mentioned in the Torah of Moses and the Gospel of Jesus. Also, let those behind the malicious campaign against Islam, the Prophet of Islam and Muslims know what Islam offers of nobility and virtues. Then let them realize the wide gap between Islam's honourable universality compared to their ill-minded globalization in the waste of human values and the degradation of ethical morals.

Is the Islamic nation today aware of the best way to call for the revival of its religion and the Tradition of its Messenger, in a real and practical fashion, not just superficially?!

It is indeed a must on the followers of Islam, who are entrusted with the legacy of Prophecy, that current events should strengthen them and tests educate them, because temptations and gloomy adversities still keep on befalling this nation. Since the ummah, is in these critical conditions it is going through, talks about the merits of the Prophet, then how pleasurable is the conversation and enjoyable is the talk going to be while the sanctities of Muslims are wreaked by the enemies of Islam from the aggressor Jews. For here they are stepping up their attacks and intimidation. They are increasingly kindling the fire of sedition, in arrogance and recklessness, for the ears and eyes of the world to witness.

Challenging the emotions of Muslims by way of what they do at the place of the ascension of Prophet and master of humans and jinn, the third of the holy mosques, may Allah gladden the eyes of the faithful by delivering it from the usurper Jews, and make it proudly standing until the Day of Judgment.

How is it possible to agree to mere conversation and the enemies of Muslims from among the atheists insist on their arrogance and aggression against our brothers and sanctities in struggling Chechnya?! How can speech be made enjoyable and pagan Hindus carry on with their open hatred against our brothers and our religion in Muslim Kashmir?! Certainly this warns of an imminent danger and a devastating war in the Indian continent as a whole. This situation requires self-restraint, and to listen to the language of dialogue, the voice of reason and logic, and the restitution of rights to their owners. How and how..., and many of our Islamic issues are still overdue and the conditions of our nation deteriorating, except those whom Allah had mercy on, there's no power nor strength save in Allah.

The ummah is in dire need in these crucial moments of history to uphold the correct teachings of Islam and its Messenger’s Traditions, in love, coexistence and steadfastness, and in harmony. They need to do so with unity and tolerance, thus bringing about unity of ranks, reunification and unity of word following the approach of the Quran and Sunnah with the understanding of the pious predecessors  of the ummah, may Allah have mercy on them. Truly, the affairs of the last remnant of this ummah will not be reconciled except by that which those of the beginning did. This is the way distress will be removed from this nation, and that is not that difficult for Allah.

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan: “You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah”. [Al-Ahzab: 21].

May Allah bless you and me by the Quran and Sunnah, and benefit us from what is therein of verses and wisdom.

This is what I have to say and I ask forgiveness from Allah for me and you and all Muslims from every sin and transgression. So seek forgiveness and repent to him, He is Oft-Forgiving, Oft-Merciful.

The Second Sermon (Khutbah)
 
In what is to follow: Praise be to Allah Who has shown the way and made clear the path of guidance.  I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone with not a partner. He sent forth his Messengers as missionaries of good tidings and as warners, so that people have no argument against Allah. I also bear witness that our Prophet and our beloved Mohammed is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, He clothed him with the decorations of the prophecy which gave him solemnity and joy, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, his family and his companions.

They sacrificed for Allah's sake to the Prophet all that they had of their selves and the essences of their hearts, and the followers and those who followed them in sincerity. So may numerous prayers for peace and blessings be on them as numerous as the numbers of those who come to the Ka'aba as guests, visitors and pilgrims.

After: So fear Allah O servants of Allah, and quench the thirst of your hearts and your souls with the merits of your Prophet. Allow yours to ponder upon his great qualities and noble merits. Discipline yourselves and your families securely and tightly to it's teachings them with unwavering discipline. A discipline that isn't specific to certain times or designated only for occasions. Truly that was not of the path of the pious predecessors.

And know, may Allah bless you, that these graceful merits and prophetic traits should have a practical impact in the development of the approach. Likewise should carry a similar practical impact in setting the course for development of a sound society, in age of increasing variables and accelerating events through many kinds of channels and networks. Thus the sunnah of the Prophet is the best shield from these shattering evils.

The nation needs today, more than at any time before, to unite following the approach of the Quran and Sunnah. This way efforts can converge to a single field towards the noble goal sought of every Muslim. Thereafter, in order to command the ship of the Ummah to safety and the shore of salvation. To lead it far away from all that which may disturb it's docking. Every Muslim is on a borderland servicing Islam, its doctrine and Sunnah the Messenger according to one's location and responsibility.

Show to Allah, O Muslims, from among yourselves goodness. Walk in balanced and coherent paces culminating in Juristic knowledge, through which real awareness is built. Let this nation take its leadership role and prominent place again at the forefront of the Caravan. To lead the wandering humanity once more to the prominent ranks of pride and honour, “And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.”  [Yusuf: 21].

Having said this, go on praising and blessing, may Allah bless you, the beloved Prophet and chosen Messenger to be the owner of the site leading to the holy basin, the fastened banner and the highest rank.

 

(poetry)
He who reached a high status to his majesty

the darkness shone up to his beauty

All of his qualities reached improvement

so praise and bless him and his family


 

Bless him with the prayer of that who follows him, loves him and sticks to his path, holds to his Sunnah which means to do so with no laxity or exaggeration as your Lord commanded you thus glorified and exalted, He says a noble talk, in the well balanced and most truthful of sayings: “Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe, invoke blessings on him and salute him with the salutation of peace”. [Al Ahzab: 56].

 

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