And We Exalted Thy Praise…

A love that is ingrained in the heart, an ideology that is inscribed on the mind. Apparently how easy it should be to write it down with a pen. But then why is it so much difficult to describe the glory of the Beloved Prophet (SAAW) of Allah (SWT). Probably because of the uncontrollable deluge of emotions emanating from the depth of heart or may be for the reason that the rumbling which flashes the brain of the writer who finds it difficult to connect and arrange his thoughts. He is left wandering at what he should write and what should he leave? What to make as a starting point and where to stop? Whether to praise his (SAAW) justice or to commend his (SAAW) unmatched wisdom? Should I pay homage to his (SAAW) valor or describe the pinnacle of servitude. The fact is that the tree has not yet been born from the womb of the earth, from the branch of which a pen can be carved which can fulfill the merit to write the attributes and perfections of the Sunnah, Uswah and Seerah of the Holy Prophet (SAAW). In the style of a poetic supplication a poet pleads with the Creator (SWT) that if such a unique personality was destined to guide us in this world, then we too would have been favored with such a gift (tongue) that we would have found the style of praising the Mercy for All Creations (Rehmat-ul-Lil-Aalameen) (SAAW). A poet of the stature of Ghalib, a great linguist and an eloquent poet, expressing his helplessness, kneels down and admits:

“Ghalib has surrendered to Allah (SWT) for the praise of Muhammad (SAAW). For Allah (SWT) alone rightfully knows his (SAAW) lofty station.”

Recall the day when at the behest of the chieftains in Taif, the obscene boys threw stones so hard at him (SAAW) that it was difficult for Prophet (SAAW) to separate his (SAAW) holy feet from the blood-stained shoes, but even then, the angel's (AS) request was rejected to destroy the settlement between the mountains in the hope that a servant of Islam might be born there. Visiting to enquire about the health of the garbage thrower to find out why she could not repeat her action that day. On the occasion of the conquest of Makkah, he (SAAW) bowed his (SAAW) honorable head in humbleness so much that it almost touched the camel's neck.

The first thing to do as a conqueror of Makkah was to declare a general amnesty for his (SAAW) ardent enemies. The Holy Prophet (SAAW) is the only one in history from the decedents of Adam (AS) and Eve (AS) whose entire life is fully preserved. The style of his (SAAW) eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, watching, listening, living and wearing… In fact, his (SAAW) station is such before which the angels (AS) had no choice but to prostrate, on the command of Almighty Allah (SWT), the Lord (SWT) of the Worlds. Allah (SWT), the Exalted, sends blessings and peace on Muhammad (SAAW) Himself (SWT). It reflects the fact that no book on the Seerah of the Prophet (SAAW) is more than a droplet of water in the ocean, before the exalted attributes of perfection of the Prophet (SAAW).

Just pause here for a moment and ponder. Muhammad (SAAW) received this honor, reverence and veneration because he (SAAW) was the final Prophet and Messenger of Allah (SWT) send in the world as His (SWT) representative for the guidance of all human beings. Muhammad (SAAW) was not only the final prophet (SAAW) and messenger (SAAW), but also the bearer of the perfected “Deen” of Allah (SWT) – Islam, and for the whole of mankind for all times. From Adam (AS) through Jesus (AS), all the prophets (AS) and messengers (AS) continued to carry out the intermediate stages for the completion of this Deen. Although they were given their respective Shari'ah, but the Deen was the same for all. The mission was the same for all, that was, to implement this system – The Deen of Allah (SWT) – both in the individual and collective spheres of life.

The Holy Prophet (SAAW) did not have the staff of Moses (AS) to break asunder the chest of a sea or become a python swallowing snakes. Neither he (SAAW) nor his (SAAW) companions (RA) were sent down with divine food from the heavens. Nor did he (SAAW) raise the dead, with the leave of Allah (SWT), like the Prophet Jesus (AS), to convince the Quraysh. The fire was not turned into a blissful garden for him (SAAW), like the prophet Abraham (AS). On the contrary, when stones were thrown at him (SAAW), he (SAAW) bled. His (SAAW) cheek bone got injured in a battle. He (SAAW) came even under a magical spell cast by the Jews of Madinah. Yet he (SAAW) continued the work of preaching the Word of Allah (SWT) day and night and with an effort on a purely human level; he (SAAW) carried out the daunting task of making prevalent and enforcing the true Deen (Islam) in the Arabian Peninsula. And ultimately, the Deen became established in the whole of Arabia. This is the Sunnah and Uswah of the Prophet (SAAW) that needs to be grasped firmly by the Muslims of today in their clutches.

Before proceeding any further, one thing needs to be understood. Was it impossible for Allah (SWT) to not allow even a thorn bite His (SWT) beloved Prophet (SAAW)? When Allah (SWT) says "Kun" (Be), the mountains collapse to nothingness, the seas dry up and the rivers stop flowing. He (SWT) could have made His (SWT) beloved prophet (SAAW) sit on a throne decorated with diamonds and jewels, and the pieces would have fell into place themselves. For Allah (SWT) this is possible with ease. And the miracle bestowed on him (SAAW) in the form of the Qur'an, unlike the miracles of the other prophets (AS), was not confined to time and space. That is to say, it will last forever and its text has been preserved for eternity. It is not possible to corrupt it. However, Allah (SWT) chose for His (SWT) final messenger (SAAW) the method of revolution that could be followed till the end of time. This facility exists today. Angels (AS) would descend in rows even today if we recreate the atmosphere of Badr. This is not just poetry, nor is it hearsay, but a reality that we have seen with our own eyes. Didn't the Afghan Taliban in our neighboring Afghanistan, despite meager resources, bring the most powerful military alliance on its knees? The Afghan Taliban's military strength, weapons and financial resources were no match to those possessed by the US and its allies, but still the Afghan Taliban defeated the US with the prowess of their faith and with the succor of Allah (SWT). There is lesson to be learnt here by the rest of the Muslim world, including Pakistan!

In order to be prosperous in the Hereafter and to attain a place of honor and dignity in this world, we must acquire enlightenment from the Seerah and Uswah of the Prophet (SAAW). The role of his (SAAW) companions (RA) has to be repeated. Whenever the companions (RA) saw the Prophet (SAAW) in danger, they came to his (SAAW) rescue even if it required sacrificing their (RA) lives for the cause of the Deen. They (RA) were eagerly ready to lay their (RA) lives for the Prophet’s (SAAW) honor. This was the reason why these inhabitants of the barren land of Makkah and Madinah came to dominate the super powers of that time. Holding the Qur'an in one hand and the sword in the other, they (RA) trampled under their feet land and oceans alike. The desert, the forest, the mountains, nothing could stand in their way. Even though they (RA) had two hands and two feet like us, yet their (RA) hearts were adorned with the jewelry of the Qur'an – Sublime Faith... They (RA) followed the Seerah, the Uswah, the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAAW) and that became their real weapon. Even today, the solution to our problems is that we remove the contradiction between our words and deeds. Our tongues ought to be wet with the praise of the Holy Prophet (SAAW) and our actions ought to be in accordance with the instructions of the Prophet (SAAW). Let us make the Sunnah and Uswah our way of life not just in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, but every day and every night of the year. In no case should the commandments of Allah (SWT) be violated and the footsteps of the Prophet (SAAW) be digressed.

Praise must be offered in devotion to the Holy Prophet (SAAW). More importantly, we must sincerely strive our utmost for establishing the Deen – The mission for which the Holy Prophet (SAAW) shed his (SAAW) blessed blood in the streets of Taif and on the battlefield of Uhud. We must strive to make Pakistan a practical example of “La Ilaha Ill Allah, Muhammadur Rasoolullah”. Otherwise, we will not be able to escape our doom by merely taking out processions on Rabi-ul-Awwal or just by chanting slogans of praise for the Holy Prophet (SAAW). The real work to be done is that we ought to sincerely and resolutely follow the illuminating teachings of the Holy Prophet (SAAW). That is the only path for our salvation! That, indeed, is the key to success in this world and in the Hereafter! May Allah (SWT) help us observe every Sunnah of the Prophet (SAAW). Aameen!

Courtesy: Sadiq Ur Rahman (A Rafiq of Tanzeem-e-Islami from Malakand); edited by Raza ul Haq