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Habitual practice of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Date published: 13 December 2021
Topic: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

HABITUAL PRACTICE (SUNNAH) OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD

Sunnah refers to the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. After The Quran, sunnah is the second source of knowledge for the Muslims.

Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:

 

'Please declare (O Beloved): 'If you love Allah, you should follow me. (Only then) Allah will love you and forgive you your faults. And Allah is Most Forgiving, the Merciful'.'

(Surah Ale-Imran. verse 31)

 

From this verse, we learn that the obedience of Prophet Muhammad should be of inner love, not of mere show, fear or for the desire for material possessions. Whatever degree of obedience one shows to Prophet Muhammad , the same will be the type of love achieved. None should come to him by assuming the equality of a brother, but learn to serve him like a slave. It is compulsory upon everyone to obey Prophet . Those who are obedient to Prophet Muhammad , Allah Ta'ala makes them His beloved, the loved ones.

Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:

 

'Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and He loves those who purify themselves'

(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 222)

 

'Surely, Allah loves the pious ones'

(Surah At-Tauba. verse 7) (Surah Ale-Imran. verse 76)

 

'And Allah loves the steadfast'

(Surah Ale-Imran. verse 146)

 

'And Allah loves not any ungrateful big sinner'

(Surah Al-Baqara, verse 276)

 

'Surely, Allah does not love the transgressors'

(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 190) (Surah Al-Ma'ida. Verse 87)

(Surah Al-A'Raaf. verse 55)

 

'And seek not mischief in the land. Undoubtedly Allah loves not the mischief makers'

(Surah Al-Qasas. verse 77) (Surah Al-Ma'ida. verse 64)

 

'In fact Allah knows what they hide and what they declare. Certainly He does not like the arrogant'

(Surah Nahal. verse 23)

 

Obedience is gratitude and the obedient is grateful.

 

Every devotee wishes that Allah Ta'ala be pleased with him or her. The best approach to get the pleasure and love of Allah Ta'ala is to please the beloved Prophet 'of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. One should have utmost respect and deep love for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. One should love, accept and act upon the practices and sayings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Every devotee should sincerely follow the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. 'Allah Ta'ala bestows honour, rewards, kindness and benefaction upon those who wholeheartedly follow the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

 

Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:

 

'And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, Allah will admit them into Paradise, underneath which streams flow. But whosoever will turn away, he will suffer a painful doom'

(Surah Al-Fatha. verse 17)

 

Hence, to be successful in this world and in the hereafter, the ummah have to follow the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad with sincerity.

 

In a hadith, Abdullah bin Masud(Radi Allaahu Anhu) said that: 'We were with Prophet , and he drew a line (in the sand), then he drew two lines to its right and two to its left. Then, he put his hand on the middle line and said: 'this is the path of Allah. Then he recited the verse: {verily, this (i.e. Allah's commandments) is My straight path}, so follow it and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you from His path''.' (Muslim)

 

In another hadith, Hazrat Abu Hurairah(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet said: 'All of my ummati will enter jannat except those who refuse'. The companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) asked Prophet , 'who are those who refused'. Prophet replied 'those who were disobedient to me'. (Bukhari)

 

The companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) always followed the teachings of The Quran and pursued the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. They were always in search of a sunnah of Prophet ﷺ.

 

After the demise of Prophet Muhammad , Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) was appointed the first Caliph (khalifah). In his inaugural address, Hazrat Siddiq e Akbar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) said: 'when you see that I am steadfast and obey Allah and His Prophet , then obey me. When you see that I turn aside from the right path, do not obey me'.

 

Close to his demise, Hazrat Abu Bakr(Radi Allaahu Anhu) asked Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) as to how many pieces shroud (kaffan) was used for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

 

In another narration, shortly before his demise, HazratAbu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) asked what day it was. He was told that it was Monday and then he announced that he should be laid to rest on the same day (Monday) after his demise, even if it was late at night. Prophet Muhammad also passed away and was laid to rest on Monday.

 

Because of his respect, deep love and obedience of Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) lived a life of sixty-three years, the same as Prophet ; He passed away on Monday, the same as Prophet ﷺ. And he is resting beside Prophet

Muhammad , under the green dome (Gumbad e Khazra) in Masjid Nabawi in the city of Madina.

 

It is incumbent upon a Muslim to live a life according to the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad .

 

Following the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad is the way to freeing oneself from the torment of the Hell.

 

 

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This article is an abridged English translation of an Urdu sermon delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada

If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.