Sahaba

CHAPTER SIX

WHAT DID THE MEN AROUND HIM SAY?

O Allah (The Exalted) bless our master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Your slave Your Messenger.

Seventy-three sects

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “The Banu Isra’il split into seventy-two sects. My Ummah will split into seventy-three. All of them will be in the Fire except for one.” the companions asked, “Who are they, Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Those who base themselves on what I and my Companions are doing today.”i

With The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)

Rabee’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I was with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and when I bought him his water for ablution and what he required, he asked me to make a request. I said, ‘I ask to accompany you in paradise.’ He said, “If I had any other request to make and I replied that-that was all.”” ii

The companions could not bear separation from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in this world nor did they want to be separate in the hereafter, such was their love for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). May Allah (The Exalted) give us such love too.

Thouban (may Allah be pleased with him) was such a zealous devotee of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) who could not bear the separation from the Master. One day he came in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) extremely sad and dejected. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked the reason for this he replied, “When I cannot bear your separation in this worldly life, how will I gaze your beloved vision in the hereafter. My beloved master would be in the highest abodes of Paradise while I would be wondering elsewhere. For me paradise will become a place of fear without you.” In response to this the verse was revealed:

“He who obeys the messenger of Allah he indeed obeys Allah. And he who obeys the command of Allah and His Messenger and remains in the company of those who are blessed by Allah including Ambia (Prophets of Allah) the Siddiqeen (truthful), the Shuhada (the Martyrs) and the Saliheen (the righteous) how excellent they are as company.” iii

It is because of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) we are shown the way to paradise. Such was the love of the companions (may Allah be pleased with them all).

Love For The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)

Ibn Ishaq (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the father, brother and husband of one of the women of the Ansar were killed in the Battle of ‘Uhud fighting for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). She asked, “What has happened to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)?” They said, “He is as well as you would like, praise be to Allah (The Exalted)!” She said, “Show him to me so I can look at him.” When she saw him, she said, “Every affliction is as nothing now that you are safe.” iv

Respected brothers/sisters! This was the true love for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) even when the close members of her family died she asked about the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Now let’s picture ourselves on the Day of Resurrection. If we have followed the Qur’an and the Sunnah, then the following hadith of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) will suffice, “My intercession is for those who have unshakable faith in Islam and whose heart confirms their tongues.” v 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

One of the benefits of following the Sunnah is that our problems and difficulties will be no more, as we have now become slaves1 of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is the beloved of Allah (The Exalted) with this in mind, ask us who can come in our way?

1 “Slave of the Prophet” is an unusual but not a forbidden name to bear. It does not signify worship nor is it an expression of shirk. It refers to a bond of allegiance and respect that is required of every Muslim.

True Believer

‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) once said to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) “I love you more than anything except my soul which is between my two sides.” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, “None of you will believe until I am dearer to him than his own soul.” ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with) said, “By the One who sent down the Book to you, I love you more than my soul which is between my two sides.” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “’Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) now you have it!” vi

Respected brother/sister! ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with) sacrificed his life for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). If we were asked today to sacrifice some time we would be ready, but when the time comes to practice the deed then we take a few steps back. Let’s make our faith stronger by reciting the Qur’an and reading about the sacrifices given by our predecessors, Insha-Allah.

Love of Allah (The Exalted) And The Sunnah

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) saying, “When will the Last Hour come, Messenger of Allah?’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘What have you prepared for it?” The person replied, “I have not prepared a lot of (voltentry) prayer or (voltentry) Fast or (voltentry) Charity for it, but I love Allah (The Exalted) and his Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘You will be with the one you love.’ vii

Who Would You Like to be Raised With?

Respected Brothers/sisters of Islam! Do we want to be raised with the football stars, the actors and pop stars on the Day of Resurrection? Let us stop dressing like them, copying the latest hairstyle, talking and walking like them. We are Muslims, and Muslims should not have idols, no one to look up to except the beloved of Allah, mercy onto the worlds, leader of all leaders, Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and those who followed the Prophet!

How Much Love?

Someone asked ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him “How was your love for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)?” He replied, ‘By Allah (The Exalted) we loved him more than our wealth, our sons, our fathers and our mothers, and more than cold water in a time of great thirst.’ viii

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was seen making his she-camel turn round in a particular place and was asked why. He said, “I don’t know. I once saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) doing it, so I do it.” ix

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) once saw the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) following the pumpkin around the plate. He said, “I have loved pumpkin from that day.” x

When a person truly learns who the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was, about his qualities, his attributes, his life, we will find that there is no-one on this earth like the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). A prominent and common name attributed to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is Mustafa and it means ‘the Chosen one’. The fact of the matter is that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is the most excellent and chosen creation of Allah (The Exalted).

When looking at the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) from any perspective we find that he is ‘the Chosen one’ since Allah (The Exalted) has created him in such a way. He is the most excellent in linage, his birth place, his Prophethood, the city of Madinah, things associated with him, his attributes, the place he is buried, etc. in all he is exalted and elevated. For example the family of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

i At-Tirmidhi

ii Muslim and Mishkat.

peace) is superior then the family of the other Prophets (upon them be peace), the companions of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) are superior than the companions of other Prophets (upon them be peace) and the followers of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) are superior to the followers of other Prophets (upon them be peace), hence, Allah (The Exalted) states in the Qur’an:

“You are the best among all those nations appeared unto mankind.” xi

It is narrated by ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that “Allah (The Exalted) has made the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) the Chosen one for himself.” xii

He was from the best of the Banu Hashim, and the stock and core of the Quraysh. He was from the noblest and mightiest of the Arabs, both on his paternal and maternal side. He was from the people of Makkah, from the noblest of lands in the reckoning of Allah (The Exalted) and of His slaves.

The Best of Each Generation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that ‘The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “I was sent from the best of each generation of the children of Adam (upon whom be peace),generation after generation, until I was in the generation from which I came.’” xiii

‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that ‘the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Allah created Creation and He placed me among the best of them from the best of their generations. Then He selected the families, and He put me among the best tribe. Then He selected the families, and He put me among the best of their families. I am the best of them in person and the best of them in family.’” xiv

‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that ‘the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Jibrail (upon whom be peace) came to me and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)! I have been to all the places on earth but have not seen anyone greater than Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and not seen any tribe greater than Banu Hashim.’” xv

Noblest Man

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was more handsome, courageous and generous than anyone else because he was the noblest of all men, and he was the most good natured.” xvi

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was therefore, the collection of all qualities of bodily and spiritual perfection. The acts and deeds of one possessing these merits will be a model of the best deeds; he will be of the highest standard.

Shining Like The Sun

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) has related that “I have never seen a more handsome person than the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). It seemed as if his blessed face was shining like the sun. When he smiled the walls seemed to flash.” xvii

Praised by a Companion

My eyes have never seen anyone; More handsome than you.

No woman has ever given birth To anyone more beautiful than you.

You have been created free from All faults,

As if, you have been created in accordance With your own wishes.

By Hassan Bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him).

O Allah! (The Exalted) give us the ability to learn about Your beloved Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), to love him, to love his family, to love his companions, to love those who loved him and who love him, and give us a place with him in Paradise, Ameen. 4 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

iii Surah Nisa, Surah No: 4, Verse 69

iv Ash-Shifa: Part Two, Chapter one, Section three, On what is related from the Salaf… p. 223.

v Bukhari, Muslim, Hakim and Bayhaqi.

vi Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Ash-Shifa: Part Two, Chapter Two, Section one, On the necessity of loving the Prophet, p. 225.

vii Al-Bukhari. Ash-Shifa: Part Two, Chapter one; Section two: On the reward for loving the Prophet… p.224

viii Ash-Shifa: Part Two, Chapter one; Section three: On what is related from the Salaf… p.225

ix Ash-Shifa. Part Two, Chapter one, Section four, what is related by the Salaf… p221.

x Ibid, p.228

xi Surah Ale-Imran. Surah No: 3. Verse: 110

xii Musnad of Imam Ahmad, Bazar, Majma Kabir al-Tabarani.

xiii Bukhari.

xiv Bayhaqi and Tirmidhi.

xv Sharah Shifa. 1:263 with reference to Bayhaqi, Abu Na’eem and Tabarni.

xvi Bukhari & Muslim

xvii Madarij-un-Nubuwah