Sunni Muslim Youth - London

The 33rd annual Milaad March will commence from Jamia Masjid Islamic centre, 103 Townsend road, Southall on Sunday the 25th of November under the leadership of the renowned scholar
Peer Noor ul Arfeen Siddiqui.

Brothers and sisters are both welcome.

Please invite your friends and families.

The Night of Power – Laylat al-Qadar

I. Hadrat Anas ibn Malik reported that when Ramadan came, the Holy Prophet said, “Indeed this month has come to you, and in it is a night more virtuous than a thousand months. So, whosoever is deprived of its blessings is deprived of all blessings. No one is kept deprived of its blessings, but only those who are unfortunate.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Page 119]

II. Hadrat ‘Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah has said, “Seek Lailatul Qadr on an odd numbered night (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and the 29th) among the last ten (nights) of Ramadan.” [Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 270]

III. Hadrat ‘Aishah reported: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: tell me what should I say (pray) on Lailatul Qadr if I know which night it is?” He said: say,



اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّى
“O Allah, You are forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me.” [Sunan Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Page 191]

IV. Hadrat ‘Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah used to strive hard in devotion in the last ten nights more than at any other time. [Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Page 372]

V. Hadrat Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah has said, “When Lailatul Qadr comes, Gabriel comes down with a company of angels who invoke blessings on everyone who is standing or sitting remembering Allah the Great and Glorious. Then when their festival day comes, i.e. the Eid day, He (Allah) speaks proudly of them to his angels saying, “O My angels, what is the reward of a hired servant who has fully accomplished his work?” They say, “Our Lord, his reward is that he should be paid his wages in full.” He says, “O My angels! My male and female servants have fulfilled what I have made obligatory for them, and then have come out raising their voices in supplication. By My Might, Glory, Honour, High dignity and Exalted Station, I will certainly answer them.” Then He says, “Return, I have forgiven you and changed your evil deeds into good deeds.” The Messenger of Allah said, “Then they return having received forgiveness.” [Mishkat, Vol. 1, Page 182]

VI. Hadrat ‘Aishah reported that when the last ten days began, the Messenger of Allah used to prepare himself rigorously for devotion; remain awake at night and (also) keep his family awake. [Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 271]

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Haq “Muhaddith-e-Dehlwi” states under the commentary of the above Hadith that:



“Shadda Mizarahu” (tied his lower garment) is a metaphor that the Messenger of Allah used to devote himself completely for the worship of Allah, more than usually in the last ten days of Ramadan. Or, this is metaphor that the Messenger of Allah isolated and secluded himself from his blessed wives. [Ashi’ah al-Lam’at – Vol. 2, Page 115]

—
Extracted From
Anwaar al-Hadith, Page 162 / 163
by Hadrat Allama M***i Jalal al-Din Qadiri al-Amjadi

Ramadan Roza / Fasting

Order and encouragement to fast

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you might learn piety . . . . The month of Ramadan is that wherein was revealed the Qur’an, as a guidance to mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion. So, whoever among you witnesses the month should fast.” [Al-Qur’an 2:183, 185]

“Every deed of the Son of Adam is for himself, except fasting – it is for Me, and I shall reward it.” [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

“There is not any believer who remains hungry, and abstains from the forbidden things, and does not wrongfully consume the wealth of Muslims, except that Allah will feed him from the fruits of Heaven.” [Musnad Abu Hanifah]

“Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and expectation [of reward], his previous sins are forgiven him.” [Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i]

Rewards of fasting in general

“Fasting is a shield.” [Ahmad]

“There is not any servant who fasts a day in the path of Allah, except that Allah will distance him from the Fire by a distance of seventy years.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

“Fasting the month of patience and three days of each month remove rancor of the heart.” [Ahmad, Bazzar]

Warning against abandoning fasting in Ramadan

“Whoever breaks his fast in Ramadan without a [valid] concession or illness, he cannot repay it, even if he were to fast the rest of his life.” [Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah]

A Glimpse of Prophetic Beauty

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate the Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May prayers and salutations be upon the master of the two worlds, our liege lord Muhammad, and upon his pure family, noble Companions, and all who follow his exemplary way.
The Companions described the Prophet’s SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam beautiful form that dazzled all who saw him. They said: “The Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam had the most beautiful face, and the best form. He was neither excessively tall nor short. His face was like the moon when it is full. No one before or after him has been seen like him, and if you were to see him you would say, ‘The sun has risen.’ And when he would speak, a radiant light would be seen emitting from between his teeth.”

[And from the other reports:] “The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam had a black beard and a beautiful mouth. He had long hair and a thick beard.” “The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam had broad shoulders. He was the greatest of people and the best of them. His hair reached his ears. Never have I seen anything more beautiful than him!”“It was as if the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was fashioned of silver and his sweat was pearl drops.” “The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was of medium height compared to others; he was neither tall nor short. He had the most beautiful face of all people and was the best of them in character. He was neither excessively tall nor short, but was closer to being tall. Never did a tall person walk with him save that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam appeared taller. Sometimes the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam would walk in between two tall men yet he would seem taller then them, and when they would part ways he would appear once again of medium height.”

Sayyiduna Anas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “I have never smelled ambergris or musk or anything sweeter than the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam.” Once, the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was brought a bucket of water. He drank from it and dipped it back into the well, which caused the well to emit the fragrance of musk. The Prophet’s SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam sweat was more fragrant than the finest scent. Sayyiduna Anas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam came to take a nap at our house and had perspired, so my mother came with a bottle and began to soak up the sweat. The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam woke up and said, ‘What are you doing, Umm Sulaym?’ She replied, ‘We mix this sweat in our perfumes, and it is the finest scent.’” Sayyiduna Anas also said, “He was the most beautiful of Allah’s creation I had seen, and his scent was the most fragrant, and his hands the softest.”

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was the best and most beautiful of people in his qualities. He was of medium height, with broad shoulders. His cheeks were smooth and his hair was black. His eyes were large, as if lined with antimony (kohl), with arched eyebrows. When he would place his over garment over his shoulders it would look like an ingot of silver. When he would laugh his teeth shone like pearls. I saw neither before him nor after him anyone like him SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam.”

“When the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam would open his beautiful mouth it was mostly smiles, revealing something like hailstones. Of Allah’s servants, he had the most beautiful lips and the corners of his mouth were the softest.”

His complexion was fair (azhar). This means that the Prophet’s complexion was fair without an admixture of redness, yellowness, or any other color. Inside the Prophet’s Mosque, Sayyiduna Ibn 'Umar would frequently recite the verses of his uncle Abu Talib in description of the Prophet’s SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam complexion:



A fair one, by virtue of whose face the rain is sought
A caretaker of the orphans, a guardian of the widows

Those who would hear him would say, “That is how the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was.”

Some have described him a fair complexioned with a bit of redness. They spoke the truth; however, this slight redness would appear when the sun would shine and when the wind would blow during the forenoon. The fairness of his complexion would take on a reddish tint during that time; all the while the skin color under his garments retained a fair white complexion. No one has any doubts about this. Those who described the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam as fair complexioned meant his skin color under his garments, and they were correct; and those who described him as fair with a bit of redness meant his appearance in the sun during the forenoon, and they were also correct. The Prophet’s SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam complexion was undoubtedly fair, and the rosiness or redness associated with it was on account of the sun and wind.

The beads of the Prophet’s sweat SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam were like pearls, and his scent was more fragrant than the finest perfumes. His hair was natural without a part ; it was beautiful, and was neither curly nor straight...

The Prophet’s SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam hair was above his ears. Some say that it would fall upon his shoulders, and most say that it reached his ear lobes. The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam would occasionally plait his hair into four braids; his right ear would come out between the two braids surrounding it, and the left ear would come out between the two braids surrounding it, and the two ears would appear with their whiteness between these braids as if they were two resplendent stars lit up in the midst of the blackness of his hair. The Prophet’s SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam gray hair appeared around his temples... and most of his gray hairs were in his beard above his chin. The Prophet’s SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam gray hairs appeared as if they were strands of silver that shone in the midst of the blackness of his hair. And when he would rub the yellowish gray hairs — which he did frequently — they would appear as if they were strands of gold that shone in the midst of the blackness of his hair.

The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was the handsomest of men, the most resplendent of them in light. Nobody would describe him without comparing his face to the full moon. Those among them would say, “Perhaps we would look upon the moon when it is full and say, ‘Indeed, the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam is more beautiful in our eyes than the moon!’ He was of fair complexion, with a bright face that would shine like the full moon.”

“The Prophet’s SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam pleasure and displeasure and happiness could be seen from his face: when he was pleased with something or something made him happy, his face was like a mirror and its brilliant light would shine upon the walls, and when he was angry his face would change color and his eyes would redden.”

The Companions used to say he is as his companion Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu described him:



Honest, the Chosen One, calling unto good
Like the light of the full moon that cleaves darkness
They would say, “He was like that SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam.” Sayyiduna Umar Ibn al-Khattab would frequently recite the verses of Zuhayr bin Abi Salma:



Were you to be anything other than human
You would have been the brilliance of the full moon

The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam had a broad forehead and perfectly arched eyebrows. His eyebrows were of medium thickness and no hair in them was out of place. There was a space between them that appeared as if it were pure silver, as well as a vein that would expand when he would become angry. When not angry, this vein would not be seen.

“The Prophet’s eyes were large with dark pupils, showing a slight reddishness, and he had long, lush eyelashes. His nose was aquiline. Between his teeth there was a slight space,” a separation like the teeth of a comb, except that his blessed teeth were straight all around... “When he would smile it would appear as something like hailstones in clouds, and when he would laugh it would shine like the radiance of lightning...” “His face was neither elongated nor completely circular. His beard was thick, his chest broad...” His limbs were well proportioned, as if his fingers were rods of silver. The palms of his hands were softer than silk and were fragrant, as if they were the hands of a perfumist, whether he applied scent to them or not. “When someone would shake his blessed hand it would leave a fragrance that stayed with him for the remainder of his day. And when he would pat the head of a child that child would stand out among the other children due to the fragrance on his head... ”

And yet, despite all of this, Imam al-Qurtubi says:



The Prophet’s complete beauty has not been fully manifested, for if it was disclosed to us in full, our eyes would be unable to behold him SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. The similes, therefore, that are used to describe him SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam are only for the sake of approximating and drawing similitudes, for the Prophet’s essence SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam is far too exquisite and his honor is far loftier.

— — —
Taken from
Surat al-Habib SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam

Friday Jumah Prayer

Hadrat Salman Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah has said,

لا يغتسل رجل يوم الجمعة ، ويتطهر ما استطاع من طهر ، ويدهن من دهنه ، أو يمس من طيب بيته ثم يخرج ، فلا يفرق بين اثنين ، ثم يصلى ما كتب له ، ثم ينصت إذا تكلم الإمام ، إلا غفر له ما بينه وبين الجمعة الأخرى
“If a man takes bath on Friday; purifies himself as much as he can with ablution, applies oil from his oils, or uses any available perfume in his house, then goes out and, without squeezing between two men, prays what is prescribed for him, then remains silent when the Imam speaks (delivers sermon) his (minor) sins between that time and the next Friday will be forgiven.” [Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 121, Book on the Friday Prayer]
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah has said,

إذا كان يوم الجمعة ، وقفت الملائكة على باب المسجد يكتبون الأول فالأول ، ومثل المهجر كمثل الذى يهدى بدنة ، ثم كالذى يهدى بقرة ، ثم كبشا ، ثم دجاجة ، ثم بيضة ، فإذا خرج الإمام طووا صحفهم ، ويستمعون الذكر
“When Friday comes, the angels stand at the door of the mosque recording the people in the order of their arrival. The parable of the first comer is like the parable of one who sends (to Makkah) a she-camel for sacrifice; the man who comes next is like the one who sends a cow for sacrifice, next a sheep, next like the one who sends a hen, next like the one who sends an egg. Then when the Imam stand up (on the Minbar/Pulpit) to deliver the sermon, they close their sheets and listen to the remembrance (sermon).” [Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 127, Book on the Friday Prayer / Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Page 282, Book on the Friday Prayer]

Things that Loved the Beloved Prophet

All Praise is due to Allah Azza wa Jal, Salutations upon His most Perfect, unique, and cream of creations, the Intercessor of the Sinners, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaahu Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, upon his family, upon his companions and the righteous servants till Doomsday.

Sayyiduna Anas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu narrated that the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said,



لا يؤمن ‏أحدكم حتى أكون أحب إليه من والده وولده والناس أجمعين
“None of you truly believes (has Imaan) until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all of mankind.”


Loving the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam is a part of Imaan, and Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala has made it obligatory for us to love the Messenger Alaihis Salat wa as-Salam. Why? It is because loving the Prophet shows that you love Allah. It is because Allah sent him SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam that we are Muslims. There should be no one in this world more beloved to us than Allah and His Messenger.



We all claim to love the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam with our tongues, but do our actions show this?

When we love someone, how do we act? We want to be just like them. We think about them a lot. Whenever we remember them, we become happy. Their words comfort us. Their actions teach us. We love to hear about them all the time.

Do we really love the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam? Do we practice his Sunnah? Do we read his words? Do we learn from his teachings? Do we read about his life? Do we defend him? Do we spread his message? Alaihis Salaatu Rabbuna wa as-Salaam!

There are so many stories displaying the love of the Sahaba for the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam that we can regurgitate them all, because we have memorized them and not internalized them.

Here are some stories of non-human living beings that loved him Alaihis Salaatu Rabbuna wa as-Salaam more than we do!


.:: The Tree Stump ::..

Narrated Sayyiduna Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu: The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday. Then an Ansari woman or man said. “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall we make a pulpit for you?” He replied, “If you wish.” So they made a pulpit for him and when it was Friday, he proceeded towards the pulpit (for delivering the sermon). The date-palm cried like a child! The Prophet descended (the pulpit) and embraced it while it continued moaning like a child being quietened.

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhuma narrated: The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam used to deliver his sermons while standing beside a trunk of a date-palm. When he had the pulpit made, he used it instead. The trunk started crying and the Prophet went to it, rubbing his hand over it (to stop its crying).

Narrated Sayyiduna Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu: The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam used to stand by a stem of a date-palm tree (while delivering a sermon). When the pulpit was placed for him we heard that stem crying like a pregnant she-camel till the Prophet got down from the pulpit and placed his hand over it.

These Ahadith are classified as Mutawaatir, meaning so many Sahaba narrated it that it cannot be fabricated. The different narrations show that they all witnessed it in the masjid. This is a miracle of the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, and the narrations of the Sahaba are all authentic, found in Bukhari and Muslim. This tree trunk, which seems like a lifeless being to us, is actually alive and was so affected by the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. Allah ta’ala says the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam is a “raHmatan lil ‘Aalameen”, a Mercy for all that exists, and we see this in how he comforted this stump. Imagine the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam soothing and hugging this tree stump!!

Illustrating this in very beautiful poetry, Hadrat Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi Alaihir raHmah says:



اُستن حنّانه از هجر رسول *** ناله میزد همچو ارباب عقول
The pillar of Hannanah due to Prophet’s separation, lamented like those endowed with intellect;

گفت پيغمبر: چه خواهى اى ستون *** گفت: جانم از فراقت گشت خون
The Prophet asked the pillar: what do you want? The pillar said: Due to your separation my soul has turned into blood;

مسندت من بودم از من تاختى *** بر سر منبر تومسند ساختى
I was your support; now you are away from me; you have devised a place to lean against upon the pulpit


… In the end Rumi hits in the center of our hearts and says:



بشنواى غافل كم از چوبى مباش
“Hearken, O heedless one! Be not thou less than a piece of wood!


Indeed such phenomena are utter realities for those endowed with insight!!


.:: Mount Uhud ::..


Narrated Sayyiduna Anas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu: Allah’s Apostle SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam ascended the (mountain) of Uhud with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Sayyiduna Umar al-Farooq and Sayyiduna ‘Uthman al-Ghani Radi Allahu Anhum Ajma'een and it shook. Allah’s Apostle said, “Be calm, O Uhud!” He stroked it with his foot and added, “There is none on you but a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs.”

The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam was traveling once: “and when Uhud was within sight, he said: This is the mountain which loves us and we love it.”

This is a mountain, made up of rocks and stones, yet we are made of flesh and have been given hearts that beat… do we love the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam as this mountain? Do we shake like this mountain out of love for him?

.:: A Stone ::..


The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “I know a stone in Makkah that used to salute (give salaams) me before I received the revelation, I still know it now.”

How often do we salute/send salawaat on the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam? The Prophet knew this stone, and if we send salawaat on him, especially on Fridays, they will be presented to him from us in sha Allah and not only this, The Messenger of Allah said, "No-one greets me except Allah has returned my soul to me so that I can return his Salam.

.:: A Tree ::..


Narrated by Ya’la ibn Murrah ath-Thaqafi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu: “Once we were walking with the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam and he stopped at a place to spend the night. When the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam went to sleep, a tree uprooted itself and came to the Prophet and enveloped him. When the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam woke up, he said: ‘this is a tree that when it saw the Prophet, it asked Allah to give salaams to the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, and Allah gave it permission.’” [Musnad Ahmad, Tabarani and Bayhaqi: Sahih]

Do we ask to see the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam in our dreams? Yet a tree is asking to send Salaams on the Prophet Alaihis Salaatu wa as-Salam.

These are not the only stories mentioned in the sacred traditions and witnessed by the Companions. Let us strive more to love the Prophet Alaihis Salaatu wa as-Salam: learn about his life, read about his companions, act upon his authentic statements and teachings, send Salawaat upon him and defend him, Alaihis Salaatu wa as-Salam.


May Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala shower His peace and blessings upon our beloved Prophet, and fill our hearts with love for Him and His Messenger, bless us to see him in our dreams and to grant us his companionship in Jannat al-Firdaws... Ameen!!

The Necessity to Love the Beloved Prophet

Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'an


قل إن كان آباؤكم وأبناؤكم وإخوانكم وأزواجكم وعشيرتكم وأموال اقترفتموها وتجارة تخشون كسادها ومساكن ترضونها أحب إليكم من الله ورسوله وجهاد في سبيله فتربصوا حتى يأتي الله بأمره والله لا يهدي القوم الفاسقين
Say, "If your fathers, and your sons, and your brothers, and your wives, and your tribe, and your acquired wealth, and the trade in which you fear a loss, and the houses of your liking - if all these are dearer to you than Allah and His Noble Messenger and fighting in His way, then wait until Allah brings about His command; and Allah does not guide the sinful." [Surah Tauba : 24]


This verse demonstrate encouragement, advice, proof and indication of the necessity to love Prophet Muhammad SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. It is also sufficient to demonstrate that this duty is of tremendous proportion. It is an obligation and the right of the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam.

You will have observed how Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala reprimands those whose love of relatives and property are dearer to them than Allah and His Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala concludes His warning with the threatening words "then wait until Allah shall bring His command." And from this it is understood that those whose love is other than for Allah and His Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, are astray and are not guided by Allah.


Sayyiduna Anas Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho tells us that one day the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, told his Companions,



لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى أكون أحب إليه من ولده و والده و الناس أجمعين
"None of you will believe until I am more beloved to him than his children, his father and all people."


Sayyiduna Anas Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho also reported,



ثلاث من كن فيه وجد حلاوة الإيمان : أن يكون الله ورسوله أحب إليه مما سواهما . و أن يحب المرء لا يحبه إلا لله ، و أن يكره أن يعود في الكفر كما يكره أن يقذف في النار
"There are three things that if someone were to seek refuge in them they would experience the sweetness of belief. They are that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else; that he loves a person only for the sake of Allah, and he loathes the notion of reverting to disbelief as much as he would loathe to be cast into the Fire."


Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al Iman, Vol 1, Page 9
Sahih Muslim, Kitab al Iman, Vo1 1, Page 66/67

One day Sayyiduna Umar Ibn al-Khattab Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho went to the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, and told him,



لأنت أحب إلي من شيء إلا نفسي التي بين جنبي
"I love you more than anything except my soul which is between my two sides."

The Prophet replied,

لن يؤمن أحدكم حتى أكون أحب إليه من نفسه
"None of you will believe until I am dearer to him than his own soul."

Sayyiduna Umar Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho immediately replied,

و الذي أنزل عليك الكتاب لأنت أحب إلي من نفسي التي بين جنبي
"By the One who sent down the Book to you, I love you more than my soul which is between my two sides."

The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, replied,

الآن يا عمر
"Umar, you have reached it." [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman, Vol 11, Page 522]


Sayyiduna Sahl Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho warned,



من لم ير ولاية الرسول عليه في جميع الأحوال ، و يرى نفسه في ملكه صلى الله عليه و سلم لا يذوق حلاوة سنته ، لأن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى يكون أحب إليه من نفسه
If someone does not think that the Messenger of Allah is his master in all matters or should think that he does not fall under the his jurisdiction he does not taste the sweetness of his prophetic way, because he said, "None of you will believe until I am dearer to him than himself." [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al Iman, Vol 1, Page 9]


The reward for Loving the Prophet

Sayyiduna Anas Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho tells us of the occasion when a man came to the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam and asked,



متى الساعة يا رسول الله ؟
"When will the Last Hour come, O Messenger of Allah?"

Whereupon the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, inquired,

ما أعددت لها
"What have you prepared for it?"

The man replied,

ما أعددت لها من كثير صلاة و لا صوم و لا صدقة ، و لكني أحب الله و رسوله
"I have neither prepared an abundance of prayer, fasting or charity for it, but I love Allah and His Messenger."

The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, told him,

أنت مع من أحببت
"You will be with the one you love."


Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib Umar, Vol 5, Page 11
Sahih Muslim, Kitab al Birr, Vol 4, Page 2033

Sayyiduna Safwan Ibn Qudama Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho was told the same when he declared his love for the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. [Sunan Tirmidhi, Kitab az-Zuhd, Vol 4, Page 23]

Sayyiduna Ali al-Mutardha Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho narrates that the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, took hold of the hands of his grandsons Sayyiduna Al Hasan and Sayydina Al Hussain Radi ALLAHu Anhum Ajma'een and said,



من أحبني و أحب هذين و أباهما و أمهما كان معي في درجتي يوم القيامة
"Whosoever loves me and loves these two, their father and mother, will receive the same degree as myself on the Day of Resurrection." [Sunan Tirmidhi, Kitab Manaqib Ali, Vol 5, Page 305]


One day a man came to the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, and told him,



يا رسول الله ، لأنت أحب إلي من أهلي و مالي ، و إني لأذكرك فما أصبرحتى أجيء فأنظر إليك ، و إني ذكرت موتي و موتك تعالى فعرفت أنك إذا دخلت الجنة رفعت مع النبيين ، و إن دخلتها لا أراك
"O Messenger of Allah, I love you more than my family and possessions. I always remember you and could not wait to come just to look at you. I bear in mind that I will die and you will die, and I know that when you enter the Garden you will be raised up with the Prophets, but when I enter it I will not see you."


Shortly after Allah sent down the verse,



ومن يطع الله والرسول فأولئك مع الذين أنعم الله عليهم من النبيين والصديقين والشهداء والصالحين وحسن أولئك رفيقا
"And whoever obeys Allah and His Noble Messenger, will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed grace - that is, the Prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the virtuous; and what excellent companions they are!" [Surah al-Nisa, Verse 69]


Having received this verse the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, called the man back and recited it to him. [Tafseer Durr al-Manthoor, Vol 2, Page 588]

A man came to visit the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, and could not stop gazing at him. The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, gently inquired the reason why, whereupon the man replied,



بأبي و أمي ! أتمتع من النظر إليك ، فإذا كان يوم القيامة رفعك الله بتفضيله
"May my father and mother be sacrificed on you! I enjoy gazing at you and on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will exalt you on account of the high esteem in which He holds you!"


It is also said that it was then that Allah sent down the verse mentioned above.

We are given the good news transmitted by Anas that the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, said,



من أحبني كان معي في الجنة
"Whosoever loves me will be with me in the Garden." [Manabil as-Safa lil Suyooti, Page 182]


O Allah, We ask You and turn our face to You, by Your Beloved, the chosen, with You: O our beloved, O (our Master) Muhammad, we ask you to intercede with Your Lord us, so intercede for us with the greatest Lord. O best, pure messenger. O Allah accept his intercession by his honor with You. And make us the best of those who praise and call for peace upon him. And make us the best of those who are near to him and who are received by him. And the best of those who are in love with him, and are loved in his presence... Aameen!!


--
Extracted from
Ash-Shifa bi Ta'rifi Huqooq al-Mustafa
by Imam Qadhi Iyad al-Maliki Alaihir raHmah