Honoring the Messenger

27. A Thematic Overview

Summary (2g)

Honoring the Messenger (continued):

Surah Al Kawthar (108)

“Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar.” (Sahih International) (108:1)  In response to Abu Lahab rejoicing at the loss of the Prophet’s (S) son

1. 1. Even among warring generals, there was an honor between them. So when one general heard the other general lost a newborn child, they would send a letter of condolence and halt fighting for a day...yet Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Prophet (S) was such a terrible person that he rejoiced at the passing of the Prophet’s (S) son loss (بتر محمد, Muhammad has been cut off!)

2. 2. The pain inflicted by family members is exponentially greater than pain inflicted by strangers...so the Prophet (S) is dealing not only with the pain of loss, but also the pain inflicted by Abu Lahab’s words.

3. ”to make the Prophet (S) feel better, He gave the Prophet (S) “a whole lot : الكوثر .3 and a حوض or river/pond in Jannah

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“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone],” (Sahih International) (108:2)

4. You pray and sacrifice on Eid...Prophet (S) is told to celebrate and be grateful for all the things he’s been given, and for the fact that his son is waiting for him in Jannah

“Indeed your enemy, he in fact is the most cut-off!” (108:3)

5. بتر is the comparative form of the word Abu Lahab used الأبتر .5

6. 6. When we are grateful to Allah, when we pray & sacrifice, Allah takes care of the people that cause us problems himself

Surah Al Ahzab

“Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.” (Sahih International) (33:56)

 We have the unique opportunity to follow Allah’s Sunnah when we send Salawaat on the Prophet (S)...every time we say “صلى الله عليه و سلم” , Allah (swt) and all of the angels also send salawaat on the Prophet (S)!

Prophetic Preference

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, ”يا آدم ... يا عيسى... يا موسى“ When Allah (swt) wants to get the attention of a prophet, He says “Adam! Jesus! Moses!”...he just calls them by name. But when Allah (swt) refers to the ”يا ايها النبي ... يا ايها الرسول ... يا ايها المدثر“ :Prophet (S), He uses his title or loving nicknames like “Esteemed Prophet! Esteemed Messenger! Noble One Covered in a Blanket!”

Check out this beautiful Hadith illustrating the Prophet (S) high rank, and his immeasurable love for humanity:

ِإذِاِكانِِيِِومِِاِلقِيامِةِِماجِِالناسِِبِعِضِهِمِِفِيِبِعِضِ،ِ ِ

When the Day of Judgment occurs, people will gather in large crowds like waves.

فِِيِأِتونِِآدِمِِفِيِقِوِلونِ:ِِاشِفِعِِِلِناِِإلىِِرِبكِ،

Then they will come to Adam and say: intercede for us to your lord.

ِ ف ِ ي ِ ق ِ و ل ِ : ِ ِ ل س ِ ت ِ ِ ِ ل ه ا ِ ِو ل ك ِ ن ِ ِ ع ِ ِ ل ِ ي ك ِ م ِ ِ ِ ب ِ إ ِ ب ر ا ه ِ ي م ِ ِ ف ِ ِ إ ِ ن ه ِ ِ خ ِ ِ ل ي ل ِ ِ ا ل ِ ر ح ِ م ِ ن ِ ، ِفِِيِأِتونِِِإِبراهِيمِ،ِفِيِقِولِ:ِِلسِتِِِلهاِ ِوِلكِنِِعِلِِيكِمِِِبمِوسِىِفِِإِنهِِكِلِيمِِاللِ،

ِفِِيِأِتونِِمِوسِىِفِيِقِولِ:ِِلسِتِِِلهاِ ِوِلكِنِِعِِلِيكِمِِِبعِيسِىِفِِإِنهِِِروحِِاللِِِوكِلِمِِتهِ،

He says: I am not fit for it, (intercession), however you must go to Ibrahim, because he

is the friend of Allah.

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Then they will come to Musa, and he will say: I am not befitting of it, however go to Isa

because he is the Allah’s Ruh and His word.

ِ ف ِ ِ ي ِ أ ِ ت و ن ِ ِ ع ِ ي س ِ ى ِ ف ِ ي ِ ق ِ و ل ِ : ِ ِ ل س ِ ت ِ ِ ِ ل ه ا ِ ِو ِ ل ك ِ ن ِ ِ ع ِ ِ ل ِ ي ك ِ م ِ ِ ِ ب م ِ ح ِ م ِ د ِ ِ ِ ص ِ ل ى ِ ا لل ِ ِ ع ِ ِ ل ِ ي ه ِ ِ ِو س ِ ِ ل م ِ ِ ،

ِفِِيِأِتوِنيِفِِأقِولِ:ِِأناِِلها،ِفِِأسِِتِأذِنِِعِلِىِِرِبيِفِيِ ِؤذِنِِِلي،ِ ِويِِلهِمِِنيِمحِامِدِِِأحِمِدِهِِِبهاِ لاِِتحِضِِرِنيِالآنِ،

ِفِِأحِمِدِهِِِبِتِلكِِاِلمِحامِدِِ ِوِأخِرِِِلهِِسِاجِدِا،ِفِِيقالِ:ِياِمِحِمِدِِاِرفِعِِِرِأسِكِِ ِوقِلِِِيسِمِعِِ ِل كِ ، ِ ِو سِ لِ ِ تِ عِ طِ ، ِ ِوِا شِ فِ عِ ِ ِت شِ فِ عِ ،

ِفِِأقِولِ:ِِياِِربِِِأمِِتي،ِِأمِِتي،

Then I will say: Master! My nation, My nation...

ِفِِيقالِ:ِِاِنطِلِقِِفِِأخِِرجِِمِنِِكانِِفِيِقِلِِبهِِمِِثقالِِشِعِيِرةِِمِنِِِإيمانِ،

Then they will come to Isa, then he will say: I am not the one for it, however go to

Muhammad PBUH.

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Then it will be said: Go ahead, and take out from the hell fire whoever had in his heart a

bead’s worth of faith

ِفِِأِنطِِلقِِفِِأفِعِلِِِثمِِِأعِودِِفِِأحِمِدِهِِِبِتلِكِِاِلمِحامِدِِ ِوِأخِرِِِلهِِسِاجِدِا،ِفِِيقالِ:ِياِمِحِمِدِِ ا ِر فِ عِ ِ ِر ِ أ سِ كِ ِ ِو قِ لِ ِ ِ ي سِ مِ عِ ِ ِ ل كِ ، ِ ِو سِ لِ ِ ت ِ عِ طِ ، ِ ِو ِ ا شِ فِ عِ ِ ِ ت شِ فِ عِ ، ِ

فِِأقِولِ:ِِياِِربِِِأمِِتي،ِِأمِِتي فِِيقالِ:ِِاِنطِِلقِِفِِأخِِرجِِمِنِِكانِِفِيِقِلِِبهِِمِِثقالِِذِِرةِِِأوِِخِِردِِلةِِمِنِِِإيمِانِ،ِ

فِِأِنطِلِقِِفِِأفِعِلِ،ِثمِِِأعِودِِفِِأحِمِدِهِِِبِتلِكِِاِلمِحامِدِِ ِوِأخِرِِِلهِِسِاجِدِا،ِفِِيقالِ:ِياِمِحِمِدِِ ا ِر فِ عِ ِ ِر ِ أ سِ كِ ِ ِو قِ لِ ِ ِ ي سِ مِ عِ ِ ِ ل كِ ، ِ ِو سِ لِ ِ ت ِ عِ طِ ، ِ ِو ِ ا شِ فِ عِ ِ ِ ت شِ فِ عِ ، ِ

فِِأقِولِ:ِِياِِربِِِأمِِتي،ِِأمِِتي،ِ Day 13 │Qur’an for Young Adults │5

Then I will say: Lord! My nation, my nation...

Then it will be said: Go ahead, and take out from the hell fire whoever had in his heart a

seed’s worth of faith

Then I will say: Lord! My nation, my nation...

فِِيقالِ:ِِاِنطِِلقِِفِِأخِِرجِِمِنِِكانِِفِيِقِلِِبهِِِأدِِنىِِأدِِنىِِأدِِنىِمِِثقالِِحِِبةِِخِِردِلِِمِنِِِإِيمِانِِ فِِأخِِرجِهِِمِنِِالِنارِ

ِفِِأِنطِلِقِِفِِأفِعِلِ،ِثمِِِأعِودِِفِِأحِمِدِهِِِبِتلِكِِاِلمِحامِدِِ ِوِأخِرِِِلهِِسِاجِدِا، ِ ف ِ ِ ي ق ا ل ِ : ِ ي ا ِ م ِ ح ِ م ِ د ِ ِ ا ِ ر ف ِ ع ِ ِ ِ ر ِ أ س ِ ك ِ ِ ِو ق ِ ل ِ ِ ِ ي س ِ م ِ ع ِ ِ ِ ل ك ِ ، ِ ِو س ِ ل ِ ِ ت ِ ع ِ ط ِ ، ِ ِو ِ ا ش ِ ف ِ ع ِ ِ ِ ت ش ِ ف ِ ع ِ ، ِ

فأقول:ِياِِربِِِاِئذِنِِِليِفِيمِنِِقِالِِلاِِِإِلهِِِإلاِِاللِ، ِ ف ِ ي ِ ق ِ و ل ِ : ِ ِو ع ِ ِ ز ِ ت ي ِ ِ و ج ِ لا ِ ل ي ِ ِ و ك ِ ِ ب ِ ر ِ ي ا ِ ئ ي ِ ِو ع ِ ظ ِ م ِ ِ ت ي ِ ل ِ خ ِ ِ ر ج ِ ن ِ ِ م ِ ِ ن ه ا ِ م ِ ن ِ ِ ق ِ ا ل ِ لا ِ ِ ِ إ ِ ل ه ِ ِ ِ إ لا ِ ِ ا لل ِ

(Sahih Bukhari)

Then it will be said: Go ahead, and take out from the hell fire whoever had in his heart

the smallest seed of faith

Then I say, Master, Please give me permission to take out who ever said “There is no

god but Allah” from the Hell fire.

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Muhammad: A Beautiful Name

The Prophet (S) is referred to by two names in the Qur’an : Muhammad (محمد) and Ahmad )أحمد(

 Muhammad

1. 1. Someone Praised and Thanked

2. 2. Continuously and “a lot” – in terms of quality and quantity...beautiful because this means that between the angels, mankind and Allah, the Prophet (S) is constantly raising in status from our duas!

 Ahmad

1. 1. Praised & Thanked (not continuous)

2. 2. “more” – the Prophet praised and thanked more, AND the Prophet is praised and thanked more... beautiful because Jesus, the prophet the Christians praise and thank like God, is the one to foretell the coming of a prophet who will praise and thank God more, and be praised and thanked more than Jesus himself!

“And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic." (Sahih International) (61:6)

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A Higher Standard

The Prophet (S) is the greatest of all creation, but he is still human, which means even he can make “mistakes”... which is why Allah will allow the Prophet (S) to make a decision, and then immediately correct him. But the things Allah would correct the Prophet (S) for are not things you and I would consider mistakes!

 The Lamest Excuse: The Muslims were about to go to war with the Roman empire, and an open draft was declared that all able-Muslim men were obligated to fight in the war. A hypocrite came to the Prophet (S) and said that he will not be able to control himself around the Syrian border where all the pretty women are because he was such a player...he then asked to be excused from fighting. The Prophet (S) figured that this guy wouldn’t be of much use on the battlefield if he was dumb enough to say something that stupid, so the Prophet (S) pardoned him. Allah then revealed:

“Allah has forgiven you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.” (9:43)

1) Allah wanted the Prophet (S) to expose the hypocrisy of this person, because had the Prophet (S) said “You have to come...” the hypocrite still wouldn’t have come, thus exposing his disloyalty publicly.

 His forehead bulged: The Prophet (S) once had the rare opportunity to give da’wah to the governor of Makkah. As he was talking to him, the blind man Abdullah ibn umm Maktoum came and interrupted the Prophet (S) multiple times with questions. The Prophet (S) didn’t want to hurt Abdullah’s feelings, but also was in the middle of talking to the governor of Makkah. As he felt perplexed, a bulge formed on his forehead and he turned slightly away from Abdullah (who couldn’t notice these movements because he is blind), yet immediate Allah revealed the verses:

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“He frowned and turned away, that the blind one came to him, “

“But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified” (Sahih International) (80:1-3)

1. 1)  The Prophet (S) didn’t offend anyone, but Allah corrected him because Allah holds him to a higher standard!

2. 2)  The first two ayaat talk about the Prophet (S) in the 3rd person, while the third ayah refers to him in the 2nd person because the 3rd person is used to show distance and anger, while the 2nd person is used to show nearness and love...Allah right away assures the Prophet (S) that Allah loves him.

Harsh Lessons

Allah loves the Prophet (S) more than any of His other creation. But even for his Rasool (S), Allah sometimes corrected him in very harsh language to remind the Prophet (S) not to be complacent. For example, one time when the Prophet (S) was giving da’wah, the disbelievers said things like (THESE ARE EXAMPLES/PARAPHRASING, not the exact wording...) “you always talk about Musa’s staff and splitting the sea, why don’t you show us a miracle! Why don’t you do something with a stick or make that mountain turn into gold? So the Prophet (S) for a split- second thought to himself “Allah why don’t you show them something so they’ll believe?” So Allah revealed:

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“And if their evasion is difficult for you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a stairway into the sky to bring them a sign, [then do so]. But if Allah had willed, He would have united them upon guidance. So never be of the ignorant.” (Sahih International) (6:35)

 جاهلين would better be translated as “get emotional” because ignorance in Arabic is defined as the inability to control your emotions...Allah reminds the Prophet (S) that he is a prophet, and it is up to Allah to reveal what HE wants to reveal, when HE wants to reveal it...HIS wisdom is beyond human comprehension... it is also a mercy from Allah that he didn’t show a miracle like turning a mountain into gold because if people disbelieved after seeing a miracle like that, they would be obliterated.

“I believe in Qur’an but not the Hadith...”

The two most common reasons why people feel it is okay to disregard the ahaadith are:

1. 1) Allah swears he’ll preserve the Qur’an, but how do we know the ahaadith are protected too?

2. 2) Even if the ahaadith are preserved accurately, we don’t have to apply them because it’s not like Qur’an or Allah’s speech, especially because we life in different times than the Prophet (S)...

“And you for sure are at the pinnacle of excellent character” (68:4)
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 At the very least, we need the ahaadith to learn the etiquette of the Prophet (S), to love the Prophet (S)

“But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.” (Sahih International) (4:65)

•  Allah swears by many things: Sun, Moon, Angels...but in this case Allah swears by Himself because this is such an important concept...the Prophet (S) should be the decision maker in everything

•  شجر بينهم : proves that hadith is meant for contemporary times, because it means “when new things come up”

•  حرج : As Muslims we can’t feel any discomfort about the decision that the Sunnah points us towards

•  و يسلم تسليما : “and they fully submit”... we can’t feel upset when we submit to the way of the Sunnah. If we do what we were supposed to, but we do it with the wrong attitude, then Allah has sworn by Himself that we aren’t Believers

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