بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
It’s a long post but do read it in shaa Allah.
Importance of observing the rights of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
Before the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was sent, the people were in clear cut misguidance.
Allah says in Surah Al Jumuah verse 2,
He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching them the Book (this Qur’ân, Islâmic laws and Islâmic jurisprudence) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). And verily, they had been before in manifest error;
Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) sent the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم with beneficial knowledge and righteous actions. And through that he took the people out of the darkness of shirk and doubt. And brought them to the light of certainty and faith.
In Surah Al Maaidah in verse 15-16, Allah says
Indeed, there has come to you from Allâh a light (Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) and a plain Book (this Qur’ân)..
Wherewith Allâh guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to the Straight Way (Islâmic Monotheism).
By making the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم our role model, we will be upon light and upon the straight path. The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is a blessing from Allah.
Allah says in [3:164]
Indeed Allâh conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Qur’ân), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur’ân) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (i.e. his legal ways, statements, acts of worship)], while before that they had been in manifest error.
Rights that the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم has upon us.
1. It is upon us that we love the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم more than our families, more than ourselves and more than anyone else.
عن أنس قال : قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى أكون أحب إليه من والده وولده والناس أجمعين ) رواه البخاري ( 15 ) ومسلم ( 44 ) .
It was narrated that Anas said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one of you truly believes until I am dearer to him than his father, his son, his own self and all the people.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 15; Muslim, 44.
وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ»
Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “None of you believes till I am dearer to him than his father, his child, and all mankind.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
وعن عبد الله بن هشام قال : كنا مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو آخذ بيد عمر بن الخطاب ، فقال له عمر: يا رسول الله ، لأنت أحب إلي من كل شيء ، إلا من نفسي . فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( لا والذي نفسي بيده حتى أكون أحب إليك من نفسك ) فقال له عمر : فإنه الآن والله لأنت أحب إلي من نفسي . فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( الآن يا عمر ) رواه البخاري ( 625) .
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Hishaam said: We were with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he was holding the hand of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab. ‘Umar said to him: “O Messenger of Allaah, you are dearer to me than everything except my own self.” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “No, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, not until I am dearer to you than your own self.” ‘Umar said to him: “Now, by Allaah, you are dearer to me than my own self.” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Now (you are a true believer), O ‘Umar.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6257.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ ثَلاَثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ وَجَدَ حَلاَوَةَ الإِيمَانِ أَنْ يَكُونَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا سِوَاهُمَا، وَأَنْ يُحِبَّ الْمَرْءَ لاَ يُحِبُّهُ إِلاَّ لِلَّهِ، وَأَنْ يَكْرَهَ أَنْ يَعُودَ فِي الْكُفْرِ كَمَا يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُقْذَفَ فِي النَّارِ ”.
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith:
1. The one to whom Allah and His Apostle becomes dearer than anything else.
2. Who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah’s sake.
3. Who hates to revert to Atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the fire.”
Allah says in Surah At Tawbah in verse 24:
Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allâh and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allâh brings about His Decision (torment). And Allâh guides not the people who are Al-Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
The sahaba has shown the best example of loving the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. They heard these verses and the Hadith, and all the evidence regarding loving the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, and once they understood the importance of loving the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, it changed their life.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النَّضْرِ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ خَطَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ” إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ، فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ”. فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي مَا يُبْكِي هَذَا الشَّيْخَ إِنْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ الْعَبْدَ، وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَنَا. قَالَ ” يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ لاَ تَبْكِ، إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَوَدَّتُهُ، لاَ يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ باب إِلاَّ سُدَّ إِلاَّ باب أَبِي بَكْرٍ ”.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:
The Prophet (ﷺ) delivered a sermon and said, “Allah gave a choice to one of (His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Hereafter. He chose the latter.” Abu Bakr wept. I said to myself, “Why is this Sheikh weeping, if Allah gave choice to one (of His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Here after and he chose the latter?” And that slave was Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) himself. Abu Bakr knew more than us. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “O Abu Bakr! Don’t weep. The Prophet (ﷺ) added: Abu- Bakr has favored me much with his property and company. If I were to take a Khalil from mankind I would certainly have taken Abu Bakr but the Islamic brotherhood and friendship is sufficient. Close all the gates in the mosque except that of Abu Bakr.
The story of Urwa Ibn Masood At Thaqafi
He was non Muslim at that time. The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم wanted to go from Madinah to Makkah to do umrah. The quraish heard this. So the quraish tried to stop him صلى الله عليه وسلم from that. In order for that message to be conveyed, Urwa ibn Masood was sent to Madinah as a representitive for the Quraish. So they would speak to each other and, Urwa would touch the beard of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Next to Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was Al Mugheera Ibn shu’bah and he was armored, and had a sword. So anytime Urwa would approach his hand, Mugheerah would hit him with the handle of the sword. He said “remove your hand from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم beard!” Urwa went back to Makkah and was asked what he saw. He said “for behalf of you, I’ve been a representative for you in different places, in Abyssinia, Rome and Persia, by Allah I haven’t seen from those people I’ve been respecting their leader the way the sahaba were respecting and honouring the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم” what do you see? “I swear by Allah if he Muhammad spat a spit it would fall on the hand of one of his companions and he would use that saliva to put it on his body. If Muhammad said do this, the companions would haste to do to. If they spoke in his presence they would not raise their voice. They would put their eyes down in respect.”
Hadith:
“………..Urwa kept on talking to the Prophet (ﷺ) and seizing the Prophet’s beard as he was talking while Al-Mughira bin Shu`ba was standing near the head of the Prophet, holding a sword and wearing a helmet. Whenever `Urwa stretched his hand towards the beard of the Prophet, Al-Mughira would hit his hand with the handle of the sword and say (to `Urwa), “Remove your hand from the beard of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ).” `Urwa raised his head and asked, “Who is that?” The people said, “He is Al-Mughira bin Shu`ba.”……………………..`Urwa then started looking at the Companions of the Prophet. By Allah, whenever Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) spat, the spittle would fall in the hand of one of them (i.e. the Prophet’s companions) who would rub it on his face and skin; if he ordered them they would carry his orders immediately; if he performed ablution, they would struggle to take the remaining water; and when they spoke to him, they would lower their voices and would not look at his face constantly out of respect. `Urwa returned to his people and said, “O people! By Allah, I have been to the kings and to Caesar, Khosrau and An- Najashi, yet I have never seen any of them respected by his courtiers as much as Muhammad is respected by his companions. By Allah, if he spat, the spittle would fall in the hand of one of them (i.e. the Prophet’s companions) who would rub it on his face and skin; if he ordered them, they would carry out his order immediately; if he performed ablution, they would struggle to take the remaining water; and when they spoke, they would lower their voices and would not look at his face constantly out of respect.” ……………..”
Full Hadith: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2731
A story of another companion
The Kuffar took this companion to Makkah, after the Battle of Badr, when the Kuffar lost. And punished and tortured him severely. Whilst they were torturing him they said, would you want Muhammad ﷺ to be in your place and you be in a good state at home? The companion said, “by Allah I do not love the idea that I stay with my family and children and my wealth, and someone comes and punishes the prophet ﷺ with even a thorn”
The poet said:
أسرت قريش مسلما في غزوة … فمضى بلا وجل إلى السياف
سألوه هل يرضيك أنك سالم … ولك النبي فدى من الإتلاف
فأجاب كلا لا سلمت من الردى … ويصاب أنف محمد برعاف
Quraish took a Muslim
They took him to the man who had the sword
They asked him, would you like be in a good state
And Muhammad will be in your place instead?
No, that I become safe from hardship and pain and the Prophet صلى الله عليه is hurt and put through hardship!
This is how much the Sahaba loved the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ السَّاعَةِ، فَقَالَ مَتَى السَّاعَةُ قَالَ ” وَمَاذَا أَعْدَدْتَ لَهَا ”. قَالَ لاَ شَىْءَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقَالَ ” أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ”. قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَمَا فَرِحْنَا بِشَىْءٍ فَرَحَنَا بِقَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ”. قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَأَنَا أُحِبُّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ مَعَهُمْ بِحُبِّي إِيَّاهُمْ، وَإِنْ لَمْ أَعْمَلْ بِمِثْلِ أَعْمَالِهِمْ.
Narrated Anas:
A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment) saying, “When will the Hour be?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “What have you prepared for it?” The man said, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Apostle.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “You will be with those whom you love.” We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet (i.e., “You will be with those whom you love.”) Therefore, I love the Prophet, Abu Bakr and `Umar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3688
And Allah knows best
(Couldn’t put the Arabic Quran (only translation) verses because it makes blocks for some of the letters)