The reality of love for the Prophet peace be upon him
By Sheikh: Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh – Riyadh.
Date of the Sermon: 5/3/1423 (A.H)

    First Sermon
    In what is to follow: O you people, fear Almighty Allah as He should be feared.
Servants of Allah, Almighty Allah reminded His servants, the believers, of His favour and grace bestowed on them in sending Mohammed. So that they know the importance of this grace, thank Him for it, glorify him for it and abide by what Mohammed brought, in knowledge and practice:
    “Allah did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error.” [Al-Imran: 164].
    Indeed, it is a major favour and a great grace to those who meditate and use their minds.
Allah did confer a great favour on the believers; the believers who believed in Allah and His Messenger are the ones who sense this favour, and know the magnitude of this blessing very well. Allah did confer a great favour on the believers, when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves. They know his worth, lineage and sincerity. He was not known to lie, betray or was found [in him] to have an ill against a creation. Rather he is safeguarded from all evil by Allah’s protection from his conception to his death. He never worshiped an idol, nor took an intoxicant, nor committed a crime, but was known to them as the truthful and trustworthy. His Lord took care of his discipline, thus refined his discipline, chose him for this great matter; this grand mission. Your Lord knows best where to place His message.
    Rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah; reciting to them this Quran, containing information about those that came before them, a judge for matters between them, and reports about what will come after them. He recites to them the Quran, which is a means to leading them forth from the depths of darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge and guidance:
“A Book which We have revealed unto you, in order that you might lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light - by the leave of their Lord - to the Way of (Him) the Exalted in power, worthy of all praise” [Ibrahim: 1].
    Sanctifying them: sanctifying the ethics in them, their souls, their minds by cleansing them from polytheism, little or much it and from the vices of ethics and trivial deeds. Instructing them in Scripture and wisdom; teaching them the Quran, the Wisdom, while before his mission, they had been in manifest error. Indeed, they were before the coming of Mohammed in extreme error. They do not acknowledge good deeds, nor deny an evil; in utter ignorance and blind misguidance. Allah looked down upon the people of earth. He abhorred (them) Arabs and foreigners, except remnants from the people of the book. Ja’far bin Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with him, informed Negus when he asked him, saying: We used to be idol worshipers, eat carrion, drink alcohol, break our ties of kith and kin and engage in vice, until Allah sent Mohammed among us, so Allah lead us forth from darkness to light ^[1]. They were before his mission in extreme misguidance, the banners of guidance had been treaded on in a way that truth became unknown. But Allah saved this nation by the mission of Mohammed.
    His sending was a mercy to the worlds “We sent you not, but as a Mercy for all creatures” [Al-Anbiya’: 107], and His book a warning to all creatures “Blessed is He who sent down the criterion to His servant, that it may be an admonition to all creatures” [Al-Furqan: 1]. Allah sent him with a message to all creation, both Arabs and non-Arabs Allah says:
“We have not sent you but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not.” [Saba’: 28],
    “Say: O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah” [Al-A’Raf: 158].
Allah Has superseded, through his legislation, all previous legislations committed the creation to obey him, and condemned those who deviate from his Legislation to a loss in this life and the Hereafter: “If anyone desires a religion other than Islam as a religion, never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost” [Al-Imran: 85], and the Prophet says: ‘neither a Jew nor a Christian hears of me, then does not believe in me, except that he will enter Hell’ ^[2], because Allah, Owner of Greatness and Exaltation, sealed by his message all previous messages “Mohammed is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets.” [Al-Ahzab: 40].

    O Muslim, the rights of Mohammed on us are manifold. Among his greatest rights is that we believe in him, his message and that he is the servant and Messenger of Allah, sent by Allah to all of creation. It is his right upon us that we hear and obey him, as his obedience is an obedience to Allah “He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah” [An-Nisa’: 80], and his is obedience a means to guidance “If you obey him, you shall be on right guidance” [An-Nur: 54]. Among his right on us is that we judge by his Sunnah, and arbitrate with it, accept it such that we are content with it, our souls feel tranquillity in it and our chests expand as a result “But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction” [An-Nisa’: 65].
    If he had issued an order or passed a judgment, we would accept without having an option in that “It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path” [Al-Ahzab: 36].
    His obedience is a means to entering Paradise; he says: ‘All of my nation will enter Paradise except those who refuse. They said: and who refuses, O Messenger of Allah? He said: Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me has refused’ ^[3].
    O Muslim, loving the Messenger of Allah is an expression of faith. The love of the Messenger of Allah truly is to love him more than your spirit which is inside of you. Omar said: O Messenger of Allah, by Allah you are the most beloved of people to me, apart from my own self. He said: ‘No, by Allah, until I am dearer to you than your own self’, he said: "you are now dearer to me than my own self, he said: now, o Omar’ ^[4]. And he informed that his love is one above that of his son and father; he said: ‘none of you is a believer until I am dearer to him than his son and his father’ ^[5].
    He informed that, a person does not attain completeness of faith, until he loves this Prophet above the love for a kin, and all of the people. He says: ‘a servant is no believer until I am more beloved to him than his family and all the people’ ^[6].
O Muslim, the fruit of this love, firstly: obedience to Allah and love for Allah. The Almighty said: "Say: If you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you” [Al-Imran: 31], no servant gains the love of Allah until he loves this Noble Prophet a sincere love from the depth of his heart. From the fruits of his love that he who loves him will be raised up with him on the day of resurrection, and will join him.
A man asked the Prophet, saying: O Messenger of Allah, when’s the time for the Hour of Reckoning? He said: ‘and what have you prepared for it?’ He said: the love for Allah and His Messenger, he said: ‘The person (will be raised up) with whom he loves’. Anas said: ""The Muslims did not feel a joy, following Islam, as they did with what the Prophet said: ‘The person (will be raised up) with whom he loves’. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: verily, I love the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr and Omar, and I hope that Allah joins me to them, even though my deeds are belittled. ^[7].
O Muslim, the love of the Messenger of Allah has got signs, which indicate the completeness of the Muslim’s love to Mohammed. Love of him is not a mere claim rather it is real facts proved by following his Sunnah and applying it, enquiring about it and loving it. Also, it's seen through a Muslim implementing the Tradition of the Messenger of Allah, in all his acts of worship and situations. Thus, he does not come to know about anything of the Sunnah except that he adopts it, enacts it, applies it and feels joy in it. Loving him is not to be by the extravagance of the exaggerators in him, nor disaffection of the disaffected. Loving him is by following what he came with and referring to his Code of legislation, the greatest of which is to worship Allah alone with no partners to him, dedicate all kinds of worship to the Lord of the Worlds and that none of it is dedicated to other than Allah. Allah has commanded him to say: “Say: it is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to right conduct. Say: No one can deliver me from Allah (If I were to disobey Him), nor should I find refuge except in Him.” [Al-Jinn: 21, 22], and told him: “Say: I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good deed, and no evil should have touched me.” [Al-A’raf: 188]. The Prophet warned us of exaggeration in him, he said: ‘Beware of exaggeration, for it was exaggeration that destroyed those before you.’ ^[8], and told us: ‘Do not praise me excessivel as the Christians did with the son of Mary, I am but the servant of Allah, so just say: the servant of Allah and His Messenger’ ^[9]. Towards the end of his life he cursed the Jews and Christians who took the graves of their Prophets as mosques, and said: ‘“and do not take my grave as a place of festivity. Send blessings upon me for your greeting will reach me no matter where you are.” ^[10].
Thus, the Prophet instructed us. He is an emissary for the establishment of Allah's Law, to call for the unification of Allah and devote the religion to Him. The Prophet has absolutely no right to be worshipped nor to anybody else. Rather, worship is sincerely due to our Lord, Owner of Majesty and Most High Status. When a man said to him (the Prophet): What Allah Wills and you will, he said: ‘Have you made me an equal to Allah?! Rather, what Allah alone Wills’ ^[11].
O Muslim, the signs of love for the Prophet are, as previously elucidated, by following his Sunnah, applying his Code and following it as detailed as possible: “You have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.” [Al-Ahzab: 21]. The devotee that loves him is the one who upholds his Sunnah in honour and applies it whenever he is made aware of it, whether in worship, treatment or in any other matter, traces his Tradition, seeks it, asks about it, gives it importance and consideration, thus is the believer who devotes his love to him.
O Muslim, his honourable companions have shown their devout love for him, and their eagerness about his Tradition, a fact that is not unknown. They have shown through their love and affection towrds him, and their eagerness to be guided by him, that which made them the most virtuous and best ever of creation after the Prophets peace be upon them. Listen, brother, to some forms of their love for him, which indicate strength in believe in him and love for him; may Allah be pleased with them and content them.
The day he intended migration from Makkah to Medina, Al-Siddeeq (i.e Abu Bakr the sincere one) came in the afternoon. When he was told: this is the Messenger of Allah, he said: by my father and my mother, nothing brought him but a sublime matter. When he entered on him, he said: ‘I have been authorized to emigrate’. Al-Siddeeq said: companionship, O Messenger of Allah? He said: ‘yes’. They said: Al-Siddeeq, may Allah be pleased with him, wept out of joy. Aisha says: I never thought that joy would induce weeping, following what I had witnessed from my father, may Allah be pleased with him and content him. ^[12].
Among such examples, was that Al-Siddeeq, may Allah be pleased with him, when he had a realized from a speech delivered by the Prophet, that it was a farewell to them and information about the approach of his term, Al-Siddeeq, may Allah be pleased with him, wept. He (the Prophet) addressed (the believers) towards the end of his life, saying: ‘Allah gave a choice to His servant that he may opt the beauties of the world or that which is with Him, and the servant chose that which was with Him’. Thereupon Abu Bakr wept. They said: It was Allah's Messenger who had been given the choice and Abu Bakr knew it better than us, may Allah be pleased with him and content him. ^[13].
And when he addressed (the believers) one year after the death of the Prophet, and wanted to say: The Messenger of Allah addressed us on this same day last year, he wept, may Allah be pleased with him, and was overtaken by weeping repeatedly, then said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘no better thing anyone can be given, after Islam, than well-being, so ask Allah for well-being’. ^[14].
When death came to Abu Bakr, he said to them: What day is this one? They said: Monday, he said: "If I passed away this afternoon, do not leave me till morning, for the favourite morning or evening, for me, is when I join Mohammed ^[15], may Allah be pleased with him and content him.
And this is his successor, Omar, may Allah be pleased with him, when he was stabbed and learned that his term was near, he said to his son: O my son, the most important matter, for me, is that I be buried next to Mohammed and his companion Abu Bakr, go to Aisha and tell her: Omar sends his greetings of peace, and seeks your permission to be buried next to Mohammed and his companion. Abdullah went to her, and found her already weeping out of grief over Omar. He said: Omar sends his greetings of peace and says: I seek permission from you to be buried next to Mohammed and his companion.
She said: I had been preparing it for myself, but I prefer him to myself. Abdullah went back to Omar, and it was announced: this is Abdullah!
He said: help me up, what's behind you? (i.e. what news have you come with) He said: that which pleases you, O leader of the faithful; she consented that you be buried next to Mohammed and his companion, he said: Praise be to Allah, it is indeed a matter that used to worry me, then said: "O Abdullah, once you have offered funeral prayers for me, proceed with my funeral cortege to Aisha; she may have said it out of shyness from me. If she gives permission, then bury me (there), but if she does not, then lay me to rest with the Muslims. When then were done, they passed by Aisha, she said: I would not have authorized him when alive and deny him when dead ^[16], may Allah be pleased with them and content them all.
And those are Al-Ansar (the supporters) of Islam, Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj, their love for the Messenger of Allah was indeed sincere. The Prophet distributed the spoils of war from the expedition Hunayn, and specified it for those new to Islam without giving any to Al-Muhajiroon nor to al-Ansar (the Helpers), with the spoils. Some of them felt dismay in their hearts. He called Al-Ansar and said to them: ‘O assembly of Al-Ansar, Have I not come to you while you were astray, and Allah guided you by me, poor and Allah enriched you by me and scattered and Allah united you through me?!’. Whenever he said something, they said: Allah and His Messenger are most gracious. He said: ‘O assembly of Al-Ansar, would you be satisfied if people returned with a sheep or a camel and you returned with the Prophet to your saddle-bags?!’ they said: Yes. He said: ‘Life is your life and death is your death. Al-Ansar: the inner garment and people the outer one, O Allah, forgive Al-Ansar, the sons of Al-Ansar and their sons' sons.’ ^[17], may Allah be pleased with them and content them.
Rabi’ah Al-Aslami gave to the Prophet his ablution water. He said: ‘O Rabi’ah, ask of me’, he said: I ask your accompaniment in Paradise. He said: ‘Other than that?!’ He said: that’s it. He said: ‘O Rabi’ah, I mean: help me over your own self by abundant prostration’. ^[18].
Another companion came to the Prophet, saying: gave neither of them a thing, but singled out those whose hearts have been O Messenger of Allah, whenever I recall you, while I am at home, my soul appeases not until I come out and look at you, but when I recall my death and yours, the elevation of your status while mine is below that, I feel deep sadness over that, so Allah revealed: “All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom Allah bestowed Grace, among the Prophets, the sincere, the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous: how perfect they are as fellows!” [An-Nisa’: 69] ^[19].
O Muslims, the love of a Muslim for the Messenger of Allah cannot be by exaggeration about him, praising him excessively, lifting him from his status, celebration of a birthday, or such like from what was invented by inventors and created by the misguided, but by following his Tradition, applying his Code and be contented with it. The relationship of the Muslim with his Prophet is a permanent, continuous and uninterrupted one, in all his states, at every twist and turn. He is in a relationship with his Prophet; if he prayed, his relationship with the Messenger of Allah is to follow and emulate him, to confirm his saying: ‘Pray as you have seen me pray’ ^[20]. When performing pilgrimage, his relationship with His Prophet: ‘Take from me your rites’ ^[21]. When he fasts or gives the alms, his relationship is always with his Prophet. In the acts of eating, drinking, sleeping, weeping, laughing, anger and satisfaction, in all states and conditions, he follows and emulates Mohammed, seeks his fellowship and emulates him in the major issues and minor ones.
Thus is the Muslim, who loves him, while the revellers of this night: the night of birth and the like, their [relationship] is the severed one. A night among nights, where myths, fads and delusions are done, of which Allah is all knowing. They claim that by doing so, they are holding high the Tradition of the Prophet, while they are far away from it.
His righteous companions, his successors, then the rest of his companions know the eve of his birth, that of his emigration, days of his victories, the eve of his death as well as other things. But, nothing was transmitted from their part about this, while he is the most beloved of people to them, and they are the devotees to him in truth and perfection. Yet, we did not hear of anything they invented; but they are followers, imitators and followers of his pattern of conduct; let the Muslims do so. This is the fact of love, the reality of faith and following; to trace his steps and those of his companions, their followers and those who follow them, the ones who conform to his straight path and unbent way, and in the Statement: ‘He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected’. ^[22], and in it (the Statement): ‘He who did any act for which there is no sanction on our behalf, it is to be rejected’. ^[23].
I say this speech of mine, and ask forgiveness from Allah, Owner of Greatness and Majesty, for me, you, and the rest of Muslims, from all kinds of sin, so ask forgiveness of Him and repent to Him, He is Oft-Forgiving, Oft-Merciful.

 

^[1] Narrated by Ibn Ishaaq as in the As-Seira An-Nabawiyya (2/177-180), and by the same way, Ahmad (1 / 202, 5 / 291) from Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, and classed as authentic by Ibn Khuzaymah (2260), Al Haithami said in the Majma’ (6 / 27): "his chain of narrators are those of the authentic, apart from Ibn Ishaaq who declared hearing it."
^[2] Narrated by Muslim in Kitab Al-Iman (153) from the Statement of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, with the same chain of transmitters.

^[3] Narrated by Bukhari in Kitab Al-I’tisam (7280) from the Statement of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him.
^[4] Narrated by Bukhari in Kitab Al-Iman wal-Nudhoor (6632) from the Statement of Abdullah bin Hisham, he said: "We were with the Prophet, while holding Omar bin Al-Khattab’s hand, Omar said to him ... and related the story.
^[5] Narrated by Bukhari in Al-Iman (14) from the Statement of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, with the same chain of transmitters.
^[6] Narrated by Bukhari in Kitab Al-Iman (15) and Muslim in Kitab Al-Iman (44) from the Statement of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, with the same chain of transmitters.
^[7] Narrated by Bukhari in Al-Manaaqib (3688), and Muslim in Al-Birr was-Silah (2639) from the Statement of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, with the same chain of transmitters.
^[8] Narrated by Ahmad (1 / 215), and An-Nisaaee in Al-Manaasik (3057), and Ibn Majah in Al-Manaasik (3029) from the Statement of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and classed as authentic by Ibn Khuzaymah (4 / 274), and Ibn Hibbaan (3871), and Al-Haakim ( 1 / 466), Al-Dhahabi agreed with him, and also narrated by Ibn Al-Jarood in Al-Muntaqaa (473), and Al-Dhayya’ in Al-Mukhtaarah (10 / 30-31), and narrated by Al-Albani in As-Silsila As-sahiha (1283), and copy of An-Nawawi’s and Ibn Taymiyya’s authentications.
^[9] Narrated by Bukhari in the Ahaadeeth Al-Anbiya’ (3445) from the Statement of Omar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him.
^[10] Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad (2 / 367), Abu Dawood in Al-Manaasik (2042), and Tabaraani in Al-Awsat (8 / 81) from the Statement of Abu Hurayrah may Allah be pleased with him, and classed as sound by Al-Albani in Tahdheer As-Saajid (p. 96, 97).
^[11] Narrated by Ahmad (1/214) with the same chain of transmitters, as well as Ibn Majah in Al-Kaffaaraat, Chapter: prevention from saying: what Allah wills and you will (2117) without the story, and Tabaraani in Al-Kabeer (12/244-6-130) and the enunciation is his from the Statement of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with tem, and authenticated by Al-Albani in As-Silsila As-Sahiha (139, 1093).
^[12] Narrated by Bukhari in Al-Buyu’ (2138) from the Statement of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, according to her, with the same chain of transmitters.
^[13] Narrated by Bukhaari in Al-Manaaqib (3904), and Muslim in Fadhaa-il As-Sahaabah (2382) according to Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudaree, may Allah be pleased with him, with the same chain of transmitters.
^[14] Narrated by Tayaalisi (5), Ahmad (1 / 3, 5, 7, 8), Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad (724), Ibn Majah (3849) and others such as Awsat Al-Bajalee according to Abu Bakr, as authenticated by Al-Haakim (1/529), Al-Albani in Saheeh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad (557). Also narrated by Al-Tirmidhi in Kitab Ad-Da’awaat (3558) by way of Rifa’ah according to Abu Bakr, and said: "sound Statement, but somehow strange on this side from Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him." The wording they have is: (following conviction), and not (following Islam).
^[15] Narrated by Ahmad (1/8) according to Aisha, she said: Abu Bakr, when death attended to him, he said: "what day is this? ... She stated a similar story, Al-Haithami said in Al-Majma’ (3/20): " in it said the Tutor of Ahmad, Mohammed bin Muyassar Abu Sa’d: classed as weak by a large group, and Ahmad said: veracious."
^[16] Narrated by Bukhari in Kitab Al-Janaa’iz (1392) with the same chain of transmitters.
^[17] Narrated by Bukhari in Al-Maghaazi (4330), and Muslim in Al-Zakat (1061) from the Statement of Abdullah Bin Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, with the same chain of transmitters.
^[18] Narrated by Muslim in Kitab As-Salat (489) according to Rabi’ah, may Allah be pleased with him.
^[19] Cited by Ibn Katheer in At-Tafseer (2/310-311) to Ibn Mardawayh in his interpretation, Al-Hafiz Abu Abdullah Al-Maqdisi in Sifat Al-Jannah, and quoted from him as saying: "I do not see anything wrong with its attribution." Al-Tabari narrated a similar one in his Tafseer (8/534-535) Mursal from Sa'eed ibn Jubayr, Masrooq, Qatada, Al-Saddi and Ar-Rabee’ ibn Anas, Ibn Katheer (2 /310) Mursal said of Al-Rabee’: "It is among the best in attribution."
^[20] Narrated by Bukhari in Kitab Al-Aadhan, chapter: the call (to prayer) for the passengers, if they were a group, and the establishment (of the prayer) (631) according to the Statement of Malik bin Al-Huwayrith, may Allah be pleased with him.
^[21] Narrated by Muslim in Al-Hajj (1297) from the Statement of Jabir, may Allah be pleased with them, with the wording: ‘take (from me) your rites, for I do not know, I might not perform Hajj after this instance’.
^[22] Narrated by Bukhari in As-Sulh (2697), and Muslim in Al-Aqdhiyah (1718) according to the Statement of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.
^[23] Narrated by Muslim in Al-Aqdhiyah (1718) according to the Statement of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, classed as discontinuous by Bukhari in Al-I’tisaam, chapter: When an officer tries his best to decide correctly, but erred, in contravention of the Prophet without knowledge, his judgment is rejected.





    The Second Sermon
    Praise be to Allah, an abundant beautiful blessed praise as our Lord loves and is pleased with, and I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone with no partner to him, and I bear witness that Mohammed is His servant and His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah may be upon him, his family and his companions, to the day of judgment.
In what is to follow: O you people, fear Almighty Allah as He should be feared.
    Servants of Allah, the core tenet in our worships is that they be exclusive to Allah, and be in accordance with what is indicated by the Quran and the Sunnah; all forms of worship we perform which has no basis in the Sunnah of Mohammed, is a invalid worship; because it does not conform to the Sunnah of Mohammed. His honourable companions are the closest to him, lived with him, knew his teachings and his worship, so all form of worship they did not practice, we should know that it is a worship devoid of guidance, since if it were really a form of worship, they would have been more worthy of it than the rest of the people: “The vanguard (of Islam)- the first of those who forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid, and (also) those who follow them in (all) good deeds,- well-pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him.” [At-Taubah : 100], they are our example and our ideal, what they transmitted to us from Mohammed is the accepted truth. What they did not transmit, the basic principle is that any worship not practiced by the companions of the Messenger of Allah, we know that it is innovated, due to the fact that it does not have credibility, but rather, the truth is what conforms to his teaching, and every innovation created and established necessitates the offsetting of a sunnah from among the different types of sunnah.

    The revelers celebrating the eve of the Prophet's birthday some of them might have good intentions. Nonetheless they were unsuccessful in being guided to the right. Often, it is celebrated with invocations, poems and invalid supplications, such as the supplication to the Prophet, imploring him, exaggerating about him and associating him with Allah. He hates this, refuses it and does not accept it. The most beloved of people to him, from his nation, is the one who is a follower of his Tradition, walking in its path, away from such innovations and superstitions, for which Allah has sent down no authority whatsoever: “Or, do they have partners (in godhead), who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah?” [Ash-Shura: 21]. Some forebearers said: follow and do not innovate, for that you have done enough ^[1]. The truth is found in that which his honourable companions and those who follow them in all good deeds had, and it is they who have applied his Sunnah and acted upon it, may Allah make us and you from their followers, He has power over all things.
    And know –may Allah bless you- that the best of speech is the book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Mohammed, and the most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is misguidance, and keep to the group of Muslims, for the hand of Allah is with the group, and who deviates from it deviates into the Hell fire.
    Send you blessings –may Allah bless you- on Mohammed the son of Abdullah, as your Lord commanded you with that, the Almighty said: “Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe, send your blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.” [Al-Ahzab: 56].

    O Allah, send your blessings, salutation and grace on your Servant and Messenger Mohammed, and may You be pleased, O Allah, with the righteous Caliphs and guided Imams...
 

^[1] This is from the words of Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated by Ad-Daarimi from him at the forefront of his Sunan (205), Ibn Nasr al-Marwazi in As-Sunnah (78), Tabaraani in Al-Kabeer (9 / 154), and Al-Bayhaqi in Ash-Sha’b(2216), Al-Haithami said in Al-Majma’ (1 / 181): "his chain of narration are those of the authentic."

 

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