Celebrating the Prophet's Life

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We all know that every nation remembers the birth or death of their leaders through celebration of some sort so that successive generations of their people become aware of their leader and benefit from his life, personal traits and achievements. Such occasions help people in many ways, particularly in doing good deeds, strengthen ties, and remain united.

The 12th of Rabi'al Awwal (this Tuesday), marked the birth of our beloved Prophet (صلي الله علية وسلم) and many Muslim communities traditionally take this opportunity to celebrate the Prophet's life.

Most Muslims know the Prophet (صلي الله علية وسلم), by many names. And there is his longer name, which many Muslims too, know of - which traces his name way back to Adam, the first man on Earth.

We are encouraged to memorized the Prophet's lineage (صلي الله علية وسلم): Muhammad Ibn 'Abd Allah Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib Ibn Hashim Ibn 'Abd Manaf Ibn Qusay Ibn Kilaab Ibn Mur'ah Ibn Ka'ab Ibn Lu'ayy Ibn Ghalib Ibn Fa'hr Ibn Malik Ibn Al'Nadar Ibn Kinana Ibn Khuzaymah Ibn Mudrakah Ibn Elias Ibn Mudhar Ibn Nizaar Ibn Ma'ad Ibn 'Adnaan.

Most renowned Muslim scholars and ulamaa agree with the Prophet's name (صلي الله علية وسلم), tracing his family lineage up to 'Adnaan. But after 'Adnaan, there are many doubts and controversies. That's why most Muslims - even scholars, when asked to name him through his family lineage, they would only prefer to give names up to 'Adnaan.

When the slave girl of Abu Lahab gave the good news of Prophet's birth to him, he freed her with the gesture of his right finger. Therefore, every Monday night the torment of Hellfire to him is reduced to a certain extent. This is out of the Divine Mercy and Generosity.

[Abu Lahab was one of the the Prophet's paternal uncle, son of Abdul Muttalib. Among the Quraysh he was one of the strongest enemies of Islam. Abu Lahab was a rich, proud man who boasted about his wealth and used it against Islam. So much so that a surah of the Qur'an was dedicated to him and his wife, a lesson for us. This Surah Al-Masad 111, was revealed about 10 years before Abu Lahab died as a disbeliever.]

Be merciful to others. Remember, the Merciful One shows mercy to those who are themselves merciful (to His creation).

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the guiding light to the straight path--the path that will take us to Allah, the Lord of Bounty and Majesty. If we don't want to be lost, we should follow his guidance. His guidance are meant to be practiced, not just information stored in our heads or become part of archives in our library and computers. We should always remember that knowledge and practice go hand in hand in Islam. On the Day of Judgment, we are not going to be asked about how much we knew, but rather about how much of our knowledge we put into practice.

Be a lover of the Prophet's sunnah and hadith. Encourage your family to learn the Prophetic tradition and make it a family tradition. Encourage your friends and relatives to do the same.

Hadith at your fingertips.

First step is to learn the forty hadith of Imam Nawawi. Plan to learn a new hadith every day or every week. Be consistent. Read a hadith several times until it is memorized. Recite the hadith after each obligatory prayer until you are comfortable with it. Once you have learned several ahadith, make it a habit of reciting one different hadith after every obligatory prayer. Whenever you recite a hadith, it is only appropriate that you invoke blessings upon the Prophet: "Allahummu salli 'ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad."

Remember, this place is only a brief stop and we will have to move on. "Be in the world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer." Don't waste time and don't look back. Take account of yourself at every moment. Don't procrastinate; tomorrow may not be there for you. Make this world a means to attain the pleasure of Allah and His Divine Mercy.

May Allah increase us in our love for His beloved Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and resurrect us with him and enter us into the highest Paradise with Him.

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا , وفي لساني نورا ، وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا , وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا , وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا , وَعَنْ شِمَالِي نُورًا , وَ في أَمَامِي نُورًا, وَ في خَلْفِي نُورًا , وَفَوْقِي نُورًا , وَتَحْتِي نُورًا , وَاجْعَلْ لِي نُورًا أَوْ قَالَ : وَاجْعَلْنِي نُورًا

O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light on my right, light on my left, light in front of me, light behind me, light above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me light. [Muslim]

O Allah, shower Your mercy upon my parents as they cared for me when I was small.

Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Hadith at your fingertips

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