Author: Sayyed Musleh Uddin
The Love of Mohammad Mustafa [PBUH] (Part Four)
The Ruling on Loving the Holy Prophet (PBUH) (Continues…)
The sign that indicates the preference of loving the Prophet (PBUH) over other creatures is that if obeying the Prophet (PBUH) in his commands conflicts with a call to other beloved things and the individual prefers obeying the Prophet (PBUH), this serves as evidence that the individual has prioritized following the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) above all else. Conversely, if the individual chooses to obey something else, this indicates that their faith is not complete.
This can also be compared to the love of Allah and the love of oneself: if a person obeys the commands of Allah, it is a sign of the perfection of their faith and indicates that they have attained the rank of those close to Allah. If they have not reached that rank, they may still be among those whose love is complete.
In another hadith narrated by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (PBUH) said: “None of you will be a true believer until his desires follow what I have brought.”
Allama Ibn Hajar (MABH) narrates from Allama Khattabi (MABH) who stated that whatever a person loves, their soul follows it; if he loves something, that object of love influences his beloved’s affection in return. The Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) desired voluntary love because this love leaves a profound imprint on the heart and transforms what resides within it.
This is why Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) first answered according to his natural inclinations, but then he reflected and concluded, through evidence and contemplation, that the Prophet (PBUH) was more beloved to him than his own soul. The love of the Prophet (PBUH) is indeed a means of salvation from destruction in this world and the Hereafter. He then voluntarily declared that he loved the Prophet (PBUH) more than himself, and the Prophet (PBUH) confirmed his recognition, saying: “Now, O Umar, you have recognized the truth and expressed what was obligatory upon you.”
For this reason, scholars have classified the love of the Prophet (PBUH) into two types:
1. Obligatory Love: This is the love that necessitates a person to believe in the prophethood and mission of the Prophet (PBUH) and to accept everything necessary for the Prophet (PBUH), such as love, satisfaction, submission, etc. It involves adhering to religious prohibitions and commands only through the Prophet (PBUH), following no path other than that of the Prophet (PBUH), and being satisfied with his Shariah, while also adorning oneself with the morals of the Prophet (PBUH), such as forgiveness, sacrifice, patience, and humility.
2. Recommended Love: This love involves seeking to know the conditions of the beloved, following his path, method, and Sunnah, and striving to adopt his words and actions as much as possible.
Among the reasons emphasizing the necessity of loving the Prophet (PBUH) is a hadith from Hazrat Anas (MABH), which Imam Bukhari (MABH) cited in his book: “If there are three qualities in a person, they will experience the sweetness of faith: First, that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else. Second, that he loves others solely for the sake of Allah. Third, that he dislikes returning to disbelief as much as he dislikes falling into the Fire.”
Another hadith narrated by the servant of the Prophet (PBUH), Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), mentions that a person asked the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) when the resurrection would occur. The Prophet (PBUH) replied: “What have you prepared for the resurrection?” The man said: “I have not prepared anything except the love of Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet (PBUH) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, you will be with the one you love.” Hazrat Anas (RA) stated: “I have never been so happy for anything as I was when the Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘On the Day of Judgment, you will be with the one you love.’” Hazrat Anas (RA) then continued: “I love the Prophet (PBUH), Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), and Hazrat Umar (RA) and I hope to be with them on the Day of Judgment because of this love, even though I have not performed good deeds like them.”
A very beautiful and wise hadith that is particularly relevant to our times is narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), in which the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) said: “Among the most beloved people of the Ummah to me are those who come after me and are ready to sacrifice their family and wealth to see me.” In this hadith, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) informs us about the believers who will come after him and who are eager to meet the Holy Prophet (PBUH), preferring this meeting over their family and wealth.
Imam Minawi (MABH) remarks: “Each of them wishes to see the Prophet (PBUH), even if it means sacrificing their family and wealth. It is as if it were stated that each would love to sacrifice family and wealth in order to see me.”
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that he said: “Love Allah for the blessings He has bestowed upon you; love me for the love He has bestowed upon you; and love my family for the love I have for them.”
Minawi (MABH) explains: “This means to love Allah for the various sensory blessings He has bestowed upon you, such as providing ease in your food and drink, and for the spiritual blessings, such as the light of certainty He has instilled in your hearts, along with other spiritual sustenance He has granted you.”
Ibn Ataullah (MABH) states: “There is no moment in which a blessing is not bestowed upon a person, and these blessings make it obligatory to love Allah and remain grateful to Him continually. Whenever such moments pass without expressing gratitude, one can never fully compensate for the lost opportunity; for in the next moment, another blessing will descend, requiring further gratitude.”
The best course of action is for an individual to seek forgiveness and to ask Allah for pardon. Allah, the Almighty, has said: «وَإِن تَعُدُّواْ نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ لَا تَحْصُوهَا» Translation: “And if you wanted to count the blessings of Allah, you would not be able to count them.”
Some mystics say that the hadith on «احبوا الله» conveys an imperative message. The meaning is that you love Allah because He bestows blessings upon you; thus, you love Him, and in turn, He loves you.
We can see numerous verses and hadiths indicating that the love for the Prophet (PBUH) is obligatory, holds a high rank, and is considered comparable to the love of Allah, surpassing all forms of worldly love. This teaches us the immense importance of the love for the Prophet (PBUH) and its elevated status in Islam. Clear narrations have established this love as essential for the completeness of one’s faith, indicating that the love for the Prophet (PBUH) should surpass the love for one’s own soul—let alone that for one’s spouse, children, or parents. There is no greater love than that which is due to the head of creation, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH), and it is obligatory for all believers.
Continues…
By admin2