Love for " Prophet Muhammad SAW":
The love for Prophet Muhammad SAW is the cornerstone of a believer's faith, described as an intense, deep rooted affection that often surpasses love for one's own self, family and wealth. This love is not merely a verbal declaration, but a profound connection that drives a Muslim to follow his path, imitate his character, and desire for his company in the hereafter.
Reflection on that love:
A Mercy to mankind:
The foundation of this love lies in recognizing the Prophet Muhammad SAW as a gift from Allah SWT - a " mercy to all creation". He unwavering concern for his Ummah, often weeping for them and praying for their liberation.
Proof through action:
True love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW is obeying to his teachings and restoring his Sunnah . As the scholar Imam Shadi noted, if love is sincere, obedience to the beloved naturally follows.
The companions example:
The Sahaba set the standard, proving their love through total dedication, sacrificing their lives and wealth to protect him, and mirroring his actions in both public and private life.
Sending Salawaat:
A practical and constant expression of love is sending blessings and peace upon him, which strengthen the spiritual bond with him.
Yearning for recognition:
True lovers of the Prophet Muhammad SAW hope to the recognized by him at the fountain on the day of judgement and to be reunited with him with him in Jannah.
" None of you will have faith till he loves me more than hus father, his children and all mankind".
Prophet Muhammad SAW
May Allah SWT fill our hearts with the true love of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Prophet Muhammad SAW say about love:
Hazrat Muhammad SAW taught that love is central to faith, emphasizing compassion for all, loving for others what one loves for oneself, and fostering deep, respectful affection within marriage. He encouraged moderation in emotions, prioritized marital love as the best bond and modeled kindness towards family and animals.
Key aspects of love in the teachings of Prophet Muhammad SAW:
Love for others and humanity:
The Prophet Muhammad SAW defined faith through love for others, saying, " None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself".
Kindness to spouses:
He taught that the best among people are those who are best to their wives, modeling this through tenderness and by understanding their needs.
Love for creation:
He taught that compassion must extend to all living beings, including animals, stating that kindness to them is rewarded by Allah SWT.
Express your love for Prophet Muhammad SAW:
- Following his Sunnah: The most essential sign of love yo follow his teachings and traditions.
- Frequent remembrance and sending prayers: Whoever loves someone mentions them often.
- Yearning to see him: a true longs to see their beloved.
Love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW is the heart of Islam:
12 Rabi ul awal will mark the birthday of our beloved messenger, our teacher, our guide par excellence and the final Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW. Muslims have rejoiced at the coming of this great human being.
The Persian poet Saadi Sherazi felt shy and inadequate to praise the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
" Thousand times were to wash my mouth with rose water, still disrespectful it would be to say your beautiful name".
The Punjabi Saint Pir Meher Ali Shah also faced a similar dilemma when he said:
" How handsome, perfect and pretty you are, who is Mehar Ali to praise you, where have these arrogant eyes fallen on?"
The Quran Kareem describes Prophet Muhammad's SAW beautiful, caring and Charming character in glowing words,
" A noble messenger has come to you from among yourselves. He is grieved by your hardships and cares about your well-being, for the believers he is compassionate and kind".
He love us and the Muslims, in turn, love him. Love is an intense feeling of affection and admiration; here it is for the most magnificent man who ever lived. Human history has produced many great leaders who left their marks on all walks of life: philosophers, scholars, pious saints, conquers, poets, musicians, inventors and doctors. They changed the course of human history for the better.
The greatest model role in human history:
The life of Hazrat Muhammad SAW is unique, it's outstanding feature, which set him apart from the rest, William Draper, in his book titled " History of intellectual development of Europe said:
" Four years after the death of Justinian AD 569, was born in Makkah the man who of all men exercised the greatest influence on the human race Muhammad".
Similarly, Lamartine in " Histoire de la Turquie' said,
" Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, conquer of ideas, the restorer of rational dogmas id cult without images, the founder of 20 terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire that is Muhammad as regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured. We may well ask, is there any man greater than him?"
The Quran Kareem described him,
" You have an excellent role model in messenger of Allah SWT, particularly for anyone who long for Allah Paak, and the last day and remembers him abundantly".
So he is the role model. We recognize the need need for role models, children imitate their parents, students copy their teachers and those who yearn for perfection, Hazrat Muhammad SAW is the role model for all.
Love is an intense feeling of deep affection and admiration for someone. This transitive verb requires an object. So, you love someone you delight in them, you admire them and cherish them. Muslim poets have expressed their love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW in many ways. Allama Muhammad iqbal was a passionate lover of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, he said:
" The passionate gaze sees him as the first and the last, he is the Quran Kareem, the Furqan, Yaseen and Taha".
For a Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad SAW is the centre of life. So, if you imagine Islam as a tree then Hazrat Muhammad SAW is the spirit inside it, if you imagine Islam as a tree then Hazrat Muhammad SAW is its leaves and the fruit, than Hazrat Muhammad SAW is the fragrance, Hazrat Muhammad SAW is the pink colour of the rose. In brief, whatever image of Islam you imagine then Hazrat Muhammad SAW is the lifeblood of it. Loving the Prophet Muhammad SAW is the heart believer's life.
The early Muslims displayed this deep affection and intense love of the Prophet Muhammad SAW openly, here is a description of their passion for the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Urwa bin Masood Saqafia was the ambassador of the Quraish at the treaty of Hudabiyah. On this return to Makkah, he said to them.
" I witnessed some amazing scenes when Hazrat Muhammad SAW washed, hus disciples Did not let a drop of water fall in the ground they collected it in their hands, whatever he said they eagerly obeyed. I have visited the courts of Roman and Persian emperors, bur nowhere have I seen such scenes of loyalty and commitment to a leader".
Even the enemies knew that to turn the Muslims away from Islam, they must weaken this link with the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
The protective power of devotion to the Prophet Muhammad SAW:
Allah Muhammad Iqbal, the great poet of Islam, reveals this scheme, he says
" This starved man who does not fear a but, take away from him the spirit of Muhammad SAW, give him Western ideals, then Islam will be excelled from the Muslims"
Allah Muhammad Iqbal attributed his love and understanding of Islam to this Prophetic love. He said:
" The dazzling western world did not impress me at all, my eyes were filled with the dust of Madina Paak".
He believed that the love of the Prophet Muhammad SAW was a powerful shield against the influence of capitalism , Communism and materialism. The love of Messenger gives the energy that drives the believers on the straight path, it shields them from the evil influences of society, the manipulation of the ego, and the traps of Shatan.
A disciple's love of the Messenger:
Hazrat Aisha RA the mother of the believers reported that one day Sauban, a learner came to the Messenger Hazrat Muhammad SAW asked him why he was sad? He replied
" I love you more than myself and my family. Whenever I miss you, I visit you, but now my anxiety is increasing, in the hereafter, you will be in a lofty place near Allah Paak, but I don't know where I will be, this really worries me. The thought of being separated from you makes me unhappy ".
The Prophet Muhammad SAW was so touched and moved on hearing this but said nothing, then a verse was revealed, when Allah Paak says:
" Anyone who obeys Allah Paak and the messenger shall be with thisw Allah Paak favoured: the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. What a wonderful fellowship".
Love of the Prophet Muhammad SAW is a basic ingredient of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad SAW himself declared:
" None of you can be believer until I am more dearer to you than your parents, children and the rest of humanity ".
The love of the Prophet Muhammad SAW must be more extreme, deeper and stronger than love for anything else. Hazrat Anas RA reported a man came to the Messenger asked him, what have you prepared for it, but I do love Allah Paak and hua messenger. He replied, well if that's the case then remember, person will be with the one who he loves ".
Allah Muhammad Iqbal rephrased thus poetically when he said:
" The essence of Quran Kareem, the spirit of faith and the secrets of religion all lie in the love of the one who is the kindness to all the people ".
Another poet frequently makes this point when he said:
" Love of Muhammad SAW I the first requirement of religion, if this is lacking then everything is incomplete ".
Love the Prophet Muhammad SAW:
This is why we should love the Prophet Muhammad SAW:
Sheikh Ibrahim Abdullah explores into the importance of loving the messenger of Allah SWT, Hazrat Muhammad SAW. Loving the messenger of Allah SWT is, in fact, a reflection if one's perfection of faith, as recorded in the authentic Hadith: Hazrat Anas RA narrates that the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW said:
" None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind ".
In a world where Muslims find themselves struggling to perform good deeds to the extent of the companions and the righteous predecessors, it is reassuring to know that by simply loving the messenger of Allah SWT, we can be guaranteed his closeness on the day of resurrection. Hazrat Anas RA narrates that:
" A man once asked the Prophet Muhammad SAW about the hour saying, " When will the hour be?" The Prophet Muhammad SAW replied, " What have you prepared for it?" The man said, " Nothing, except that I love Allah SWT and his Apostle." The Prophet Muhammad SAW said," You will be with those whom you love". We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Therefore, I love the Prophet, Hazrat Abu Bakar and Hazrat Umar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs.
One of the strongest indications of one's love for the messenger of Allah SWT is found in one's obedience to the messenger. As Imam Shafiii would say:
If your love is sincere, you would have obeyed him.
For verily the lover for the one he loves, obeys him.
By following in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad SAW you will not only be proving your love for the Messenger but you will also attain the love of Allah SWT, as mentioned in the Quran Kareem.
Say, ( O Muhammad SAW), " if you should Love Allah SWT, then follow me, ( so) Allah SWT will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah SWT is forgiving and merciful".
The Holy Prophet's love of Allah SWT:
The Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW was a man of love! He was a loving husband, a loving father and a loving companion. He love humanity, he loved animals! He loved the poor, subjugated and the neglected and throughout his life, he struggled to enhance their depression plight. But it is the love of Allah SWT which dominated his heart. It is in his love of Allah SWT that the excelled every other creature and creation of Allah SWT. It is in his love of Allah that he remains an excellent exemplar for everyone else to imitate. This love found expression in his worship and in his honour of Allah SWT, this love found expression in his obedience, his faithfulness and in the discharge of his duty to Allah SWT. I will attempt to shed some light on these aspects to demonstrate the all- consuming love which the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW had for his Lord.
Even before he assumed the mantle of Prophethood, it is clearly obvious that the love of Allah SWT and the love of hua worship began to posses the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW. This is evident from the fact that even though his childhood boyhood and youth had been spent in the corrupt and debased society which Makkah was at the time, he never engaged in any of the evil practices or foolish activities of hua fellow citizens. He omage I homage to an idol nor did he share of any food presented to an idol as offering. Revolting against the many vices of the people of Makkah, he would repair, with provisions, to the solitary confines of Cave Hira, two or three miles our of town, where he would spend several days at a time in the worship, day and night, of Allah SWT. It is indeed on one such occasion while in this every Cave Hira, that he received the Divine call inviting him to the ministry - an event which changed the course if history!
That which inspired the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW first and last was his duty to God. After receiving the call, he showed his love of Allah SWT through his devotion to duty in the face of oppression and privations that were butter, harsh and sustained. Nothing and no one could affect his high resolve and no consideration could stand in the way of the performance of his duty. The people of Makkah Paak searched to place all sorts of temptations in his way to convince him to give up his opposition to idol - worship. When all this had failed, a delegation was sent to his uncle and guardian, Hazrat Abu Talib, with the message that if he did not persuade the new belief, on the pain of being disowned they would be compelled to disown Hazrat Abu Talib. Hazrat Abu Talib spoke to his nephew, conveying to him what the delegation had said but the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW replied strongly that while he mourned his uncle's crisis, he was under divine instructions which he could not disobey.
Conclusion:
Love for Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is an essential part of a Muslim’s faith. His kindness, honesty, mercy, and teachings guide Muslims toward a righteous life. By following his Sunnah, respecting others, and showing compassion, believers express their true love for him. Loving the Prophet (SAW) brings peace to the heart and helps build a better and more caring society.