Seerah of Muhammad (s.a.w)

Episode 1 (part 1)

Introduction

Based on the lecture series from Ramadhan 2012, by Mufti Ismail Menk. 

In this month of Ramadhan, the reward of a Fardh act gets multiplied, and the reward of a Sunnah act gets right up to a Fardh and beyond, depending on our intentions. This may be our last Ramadhan, so we pray to Allah to make this the best Ramadhan for us.

Being the Ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w), it is important for us to take time to learn about the life of the best of Allahs creation, Muhammad (s.a.w). What will learning about the life of the Prophet (s.a.w) do for you, you may ask?

1.It increases our love for him (s.a.w)

2.It increases our love for his Maker, who has made us as well

3.Take lesson from his life. i.e how to react when someone corrects your mistake

4.Makes us proper Muslims

5.Makes us able to surrender after learning, reading, listening and understanding the life of the prophet (s.a.w)

6.Help us be regular in our duties towards Allah as we will see how the Companions gained success by following the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)

7.Softens our hearts towards our own people

8.Through the Seerah, we come to learn the beauty of the Quran and the reasons for revelations, as we know that the Quran was revealed separately, over 23 years. As the incidence occurred, the verses came down. Through the Seerah we learn when the verse came down, and then when we're reciting the verse, we will understand it better as we will know why it was revealed and who all were involved.

We see and hear about people dying in the most blessed positions in Salah, and we wish for the same, but do we even read our Salah? What are the chances of us dying in sujood when we dont even make the sajdah?

We have been blessed in every single way, we have the Seerah of Muhammad (s.a.w), the month of Ramadhan, and if we dont make use of this, then we are the ones missing out.

Today we have superheroes, and we know all about them, their personal life details, their history and for football stars, the children even wear t-shirts with devils on them and cut their hair (even if it looks like baboons), just to look like them and follow them. But when they are asked about the companions of Muhammad (s.a.w), very rarely do the know the answer to that.

We should follow his example, as a husband, as a father, as a leader, as a caller to Islam, as a judge, and as a man at times of war. He was very just and merciful, even at times of war! When the people of Quraish were at his disposal, at the conquest of Makkah, he let them go without retribution, even though they had persecuted and harmed him and his companions.

Prophet Yusuf forgave his brothers after all they had done, without at any retribution. How many of us can forgive our family members for their mistakes?

Very importantly, how did Muhammad (s.a.w) deal with his enemies, the ones who pretended to be of his people but werent really of his people (the Munafiqoon, the hypocrites). How did he deal with their leader, Abdullah ibn Ubay ibn Salool (the head of the hypocrites)? He was put in one corner where he couldnt move this way or that way. Even the politicians have a page to take from this Seerah.

Being unlettered, in the middle of a dessert, without Internet and all the technology we have today, he changed the globe in a matter of few years, such that today, more than 2 billion people follow the message of Muhammad (s.a.w).

Another point we learn from the Seerah is from when he went to Taif and was prosecuted so much- anytime you are in distress or in a difficulty, pick up the pages of the Seerah, read what happened to him, and you will find that he suffered much more than any one of us could suffer.

Hadeeth:

1.Those who will be tested the most are those who are loved most by Allah.

2.Prophets of Allah are tested the most, and then those who are closest to them in example, and then those who are next.

His character, his conduct, his belief, his acts of worship.

Aisha (r.a) asked him, O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), you stand is Salah at night until your feet are swollen, and yet you have no sin, you have been forgiven, you are going to be entering Paradise, so cant you rest a little bit? and he replied O Aisha, should I not be a slave who is thankful to Allah? I know the rank, I know the status, Ive already got Jannah, but I want to thank Allah (s.w.t)

Yes, we read our Salah, Alhamdulillah, but sometimes we do so lazily. Especially in cold places where doing wudhu is a challenge. But look at Muhammad (s.a.w), he was already told about his rank, he knew it, he was a messenger, Jibreel (a.s) used to come to him and he used to be in Salah till his feet were swollen. Our feet only swell when we take long journeys by air, and then we have to rest for a while with our feet up. Have our feet ever swollen due to Salah? Honestly, no, and yet we complain about it.

His love, his purity of the heart, his love for sacrifice. If you look at the companions, 99 of them would give their lives to build the life of one of them. Theres an event during the battle, when one person needed water, but when he saw his brother needed it, he passed it. And when the next one saw that his brother needed it he passed it. Till they all died without having it. We see how they sacrificed to save the life of the next man! Today 99 of us would gather around one man to destroy him; and that is the total opposite of what the companions used to do.

We become a little bit stingy when calculating our Zakah, and what about our Sadaqah (voluntary charity)? Yes, little is better than nothing, but we need to open our hearts and spend in the path of Allah. The best dirham that is spent in the path of Allah is that which is spent while you are fearing poverty, but you're still spending. When you're fearing that you'll need it, but you understand that your brother needs it more.

*In the media is the video lecture, if you want to watch:)*

*I have divided this episode into 2 parts, so it doesnt feel too long, and to make it more convenient for you*