In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Rabi'ul-Awwal is the most significant month in the Islamic history, because humanity has been blessed in this month by the birth of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassallam. Before the birth of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam, not only the Arabian peninsula, but also the so-called civilized nations of Rome and Persia were drowned in the darkness of ignorance, superstitions, oppression and unrest. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam, came with the eternal truth of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah), the only faith which provides a firm basis for the real concepts of knowledge, equity and peace. It was this faith which delivered humanity from ignorance and superstitions and spread the light of true knowledge all over the world.
Thus the birth of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam was the most significant and the most remarkable event in human history. Many Muslims around the world celebrate the birth of the Prophet of mercy.
The history of this celebration goes back to the early days of Islam when some of the Tabi`in (the successors of the Companions of the Prophet) began to hold sessions in which poetry and songs composed to honor the dignity and the righteous example of the Messenger of Allah were recited and sung to overflowing crowds in the major cities of Islamic Civilization. However, the Mawlid an-Nabi is more than poetry reading. It is a spiritual and social occasion for the Muslims who are so inclined to celebrate it. It is a memorial day when the Seerah (the life story of the Prophet) is revisited and scholars remind people about the teachings of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam and the successes and challenges of the young Muslim community in Makkah and Medina.
There are people who disagree with mawlid. If we are of those who disagree with mawlid, we shouldn't be criticizing people who do celebrate unless we are certain that they are doing something unlawful. Even in such cases, proper manners entails that we are being tactful and speak to others respectfully. Remember that our religion is sincere concern. We do things because we care and desire the best for others in this life and in the Hereafter. We don't do things to divide people. A lot of times, silence is better.
If we are of those who celebrate or attend mawlid, we should celebrate or attend it seeking the pleasure of the Creator through loving and venerating His Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam and mentioning his attributes. We should then think about how we can act upon what we hear, and improve our following of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam and making a firm resolve to strive to attain the attributes that we hear mentioned. If we do this in every mawlid we attend we will be connected to the spirit and aims of the mawlid.
Our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam is our guiding light to the straight path--the path that will take us to Allah, the All-Merciful, the Everlasting. 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. 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. Then, 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: "Allahmmu salli ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad."
Be in the world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer. This place is only a brief stop and we will have to move on. 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.
Be merciful to others. Remember, the Merciful One shows mercy to those who are themselves merciful (to others).
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.]
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٠٧﴾ قُلْ إِنَّمَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٨[Qur'an Al-Anbiya 21:107-108]
And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (107) Say, "It is only revealed to me that your god is but one God; so will you be Muslims [in submission to Him]?" (108)
Sayyida 'Aisha, the mother of the believers (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet's character is the Qur'an. Be an avid student of the Qur'an. Open the Qur'an every day and recite a few pages and read the meanings. If you reflect on a few verses each day, you are on the road to embrace beautiful and noble character, inshaAllah.
When Allah loves one of His slaves, He places in His heart veneration for Him and the people and things which are worthy of veneration. He saves him from venerating anything which is worthless and unworthy of veneration. The Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wassallam is, amongst all people, the most worthy of veneration. This veneration will be the most precious currency you possess on the Day of Judgement and it will be a cause of salvation on that day.
فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٥٧ ...
So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful. (157) [Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:157]
O Allah, You have blessed our hearts with belief in him, so make this belief firm and increase it. Once someone believes and venerates him, they will naturally support him.
O Allah, increase our belief in him, our veneration for him, our support for him and our following of the light that was sent down with him in every day and every night until we meet You in the best of states.
Ameen.
And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
Wassalaam
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