NOBLE PROPHET'S GLORIOUS MISSION:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom They find mentioned In their own (scriptures),- In the Torah and the Gospel;- for He commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; He allows them As lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe In him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is They who will prosper." (The Holy Qur'an: 7: 157)
Showing posts with label What is Seerah? Why is it important?. Show all posts
Why is the Seerah (the life) of the Prophet Muhammad the actual example to follow for leading a successful life?
Monday, March 01, 2010By Waleed Ahmed Najmeddine
As you may know, there are some Muslims who believe that, since the Qur'an is the word of Allah, there is no requirement for Muslims to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). After all, they say, whose words can be better than Allah's words? They say that Allah's word is above all else and that Prophet Muhammad was sent only to his own people to guide them back to the straight path.
Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the word of Allah. But if we only follow our own understanding of this Noble Book, without considering how Prophet Muhammad applied it in his daily life, we would be losing out on a huge opportunity to understand the Qur'an's true meaning and Allah's message to mankind. Who better to interpret the meaning of Allah's words than His beloved Messenger?
As Muslims, we understand that unlike us, Prophet Muhammad was infallible, inerrant, meaning that he was not subject to committing sins. This was the case for all prophets and messengers of Allah, from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon all of them).
Whose example is better to follow than one who is not subject to sinning? In the Qur'an we read the verses that say what mean:
*{What kept men back from belief when Guidance came to them, was nothing but this: they said, "Has Allah sent a man (like us) to be (His) Messenger?" Say, "Ifthere were settled, on earth, angels walking about in peace and quiet, We should certainly have sent them down from the heavens an angel for a messenger.}* (Al-Israa' 17:94-95)
In Allah's infinite wisdom, He sent a human being, like us, for us to follow as an example so that we would have a practical and realistic role model: one who laughs and cries as we do, one who feels pain and joy as we do. This verse reminds us that we should be careful not to fall into the mindset of those before us who went astray.
If we read the Qur'an carefully, we find many reasons to follow the Prophet's example in our daily lives:
*{You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.}* (Al-Ahzab33:21)
*{And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it. And whatsoever he forbids, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal}* (Al-Hashr59:7)
Prophet Muhammad is a source of fully understanding Allah's commands found in the Qur'an.
If we look at the most important pillar of Islam, declaring the Shahadah (Testimony of Faith), for example, we see that in it we testify not only that Allah is One, but also that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Why not merely testify to Allah's oneness? The reason the Prophet is mentioned in the Shahadah is the importance of Muhammad as a guide for mankind.
Another reason for following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is related to the five daily prayers. We find commands from Allah to perform them at different times of the day and night:
*{Andkeep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the first hours of the night; surely good deeds take away evil deeds this is a reminder to the mindful.}* (Hud11:114)
*{Establish regular prayers — at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and themorning prayerand reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony.}* (Al-Israa' 17:78)
How will we know, for example, what it means by the prayers "in the two parts of the day and in the first hours of the night"? How should these prayers be performed? How long are they?
It is only by the sound guidance of the beloved Prophet that we can perform these duties to Allah in the way that pleases Allah best. We cannot perform prayers at times that are unacceptable to Allah, and we cannot perform them in ways that are not in accordance with what Allah deserves. Being a messenger and receiving revelation from Allah makes Muhammad the best source of this information.
Another simple example highlighting the importance of following the Prophet's example is the requirement we have as Muslims to perform ablution before prayers. In the Qur'an we find the following verse that says what means:
*{O you who believe!When you prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If you are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from offices of nature, or you have been in contact with women, and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands, Allah does not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete His favor upon you, that you may be grateful.}* (Al-Ma'idah5:6)
Here, we are commanded to wash our faces, hands, forearms, etc. How many times should we wash them? How much water is enough? If there is no water available, how do we "wash" with sand or earth and still be clean? This of course can only be explained by following the example of Prophet Muhammad.
So as we can clearly see that to follow Prophet Muhammad's example is to followAllah's commands.
Allah Himself has described Prophet Muhammad as the best role model for us to follow. Allah and His angels send praises upon him, and He commands us to do the same:
*{Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe! Call for Divine blessings on him and salute him with a becoming salutation.}* (Al-Ahzab33:56)
Prophet Muhammad's life experiences are full of lessons for us in dealing with the many trials we face on a daily basis. Muslims faced oppression in the Prophet's time and this continues today. Muslims were betrayed from within their ranks and this continues today.
We do business in much the same way as it was done in Muhammad's time. Personal relationships also have not changed much.
People are still people and are affected by the same weaknesses. If we stick close to the Prophet's example and follow his guidance in all matters, we will have the best chances for success in this life and, more importantly, in the life to come in the hereafter.
Courtesy:http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam/AskAboutIslamE/AskAboutIslamE&cid=1158658383337
What is Seerah?
Monday, February 15, 2010
By Yasir Qadhi
(Note: This is a part of a lecture which the author delivered on the aspect of seerah)
Before we go any further in this topic of seerah we have to take a very important thing into consideration. The importance of this is related to us in the following hadith of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam):
The Prophet(Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “Do you know who the most miserly and stingy person?” The Sahaaba replied saying, “Allah and his Prophet know best.” So The Prophet(Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied, “The most stingy and the most miserly person is the one whom when my name is mentioned does not send the salawat(Saying May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) upon me.”
This tells us that it is a duty upon us to send peace and blessing upon the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) if we want to refrain from being the most stingy and miserly of people. By doing this we have nothing to lose, but by not doing it we will be the most miserly and stingy of people. Nobody likes to be referred to as that and especially through the lips of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). So when ever we mention the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) by his name or refer to him we should make it a habit to follow it up by sending peace and blessings upon him.
And Allah Knows Best
Coming to the question, 'what is Seerah'?......
In the Arabic language the word seerah comes from saara, yaseeru. Linguistically it means to travel or to be on a journey. When we’re talking about someone’s seerah we’re talking about that person’s journey through life. You are talking about the person’s birth, the events surrounding it, his life and his death, and you are also studying the manners and characteristics of that person. In modern times we still call it seerah, like a resume is called a seerah or seerah dhaatihi in the Arabic language.
In Islamic sciences or the Sharee’ah, seerah means the study of the life of the Prophet Mohammed (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), the last and final prophet and the messenger of Allah. It is the study of his life and all that is related to him. The information related to him would be like the events and aspects surrounding his biography. This would include knowledge of events that preceded his birth, his interactions and dealings with his companions, his family, the people around him, and also the events that occurred shortly after his death. No book of seerah stops at the death of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), it goes a little further in time or a few events further. And any seerah book usually talks about the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)’s birth, his parents, his lineage, his tribe, and people that lived before him and the major events that took place around his (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) birth. Usually when a book on someone’s biography is written it is imperative that a little information about the people that the subject interacted and dealth with. The seerah of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) is no exception, it includes knowing about his companions, the disbelievers, the hypocrites, and the People of the Book tha the interacted with.
May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), his family, his companions, and those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.
Source : http://ibnalhyderabadee.wordpress.com/
(Note: This is a part of a lecture which the author delivered on the aspect of seerah)
Before we go any further in this topic of seerah we have to take a very important thing into consideration. The importance of this is related to us in the following hadith of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam):
The Prophet(Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “Do you know who the most miserly and stingy person?” The Sahaaba replied saying, “Allah and his Prophet know best.” So The Prophet(Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied, “The most stingy and the most miserly person is the one whom when my name is mentioned does not send the salawat(Saying May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) upon me.”
This tells us that it is a duty upon us to send peace and blessing upon the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) if we want to refrain from being the most stingy and miserly of people. By doing this we have nothing to lose, but by not doing it we will be the most miserly and stingy of people. Nobody likes to be referred to as that and especially through the lips of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). So when ever we mention the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) by his name or refer to him we should make it a habit to follow it up by sending peace and blessings upon him.
And Allah Knows Best
Coming to the question, 'what is Seerah'?......
In the Arabic language the word seerah comes from saara, yaseeru. Linguistically it means to travel or to be on a journey. When we’re talking about someone’s seerah we’re talking about that person’s journey through life. You are talking about the person’s birth, the events surrounding it, his life and his death, and you are also studying the manners and characteristics of that person. In modern times we still call it seerah, like a resume is called a seerah or seerah dhaatihi in the Arabic language.
In Islamic sciences or the Sharee’ah, seerah means the study of the life of the Prophet Mohammed (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), the last and final prophet and the messenger of Allah. It is the study of his life and all that is related to him. The information related to him would be like the events and aspects surrounding his biography. This would include knowledge of events that preceded his birth, his interactions and dealings with his companions, his family, the people around him, and also the events that occurred shortly after his death. No book of seerah stops at the death of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), it goes a little further in time or a few events further. And any seerah book usually talks about the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)’s birth, his parents, his lineage, his tribe, and people that lived before him and the major events that took place around his (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) birth. Usually when a book on someone’s biography is written it is imperative that a little information about the people that the subject interacted and dealth with. The seerah of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) is no exception, it includes knowing about his companions, the disbelievers, the hypocrites, and the People of the Book tha the interacted with.
May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), his family, his companions, and those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.
Source : http://ibnalhyderabadee.wordpress.com/
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