The Rights Of Allaahs
Messenger
Author: Imaam Muhammad
Ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen
Source: Huqooq Da'at Ilayhal-Fitrah wa Qarrarathash-Sharee'ah (pp.6-7)
This right is the greatest right of any of the creation. None of the
creation have a right greater than the rights of Allaah's Messenger
sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam. Allaah - the Most High - said:
"Indeed We have sent you as a witness rind a bringer of
good-tidings and a warner, in order that mankind may believe in Allaah
and His Messenger, and that you may assist and honour the Messenger."
[Soorah al-Fath (48):89]
Therefore it is obligatory to love the Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam over and above any of mankind - even above one's love for
himself, his parents and his children. The Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam said:
"None of you will truly believes until he loves me more then
his parents, his children and the whole of mankind." [1]
And from the rights that are due to the Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam are: that he should be honoured, loved and respected - but
without any ghuloo (exaggeration) or any falling short in the matter.
Honouring the Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam during his lifetime
implied honouring his Sunnah (guidance and example) and his noble character
and conduct. As for honouring him after his death, then this implies
honouring his Sunnah and the Sharee'ah (the Prescribed laws) that he
was sent with. Whosoever reflects upon the lives of the Sahaabah (Companions
of the Prophet) will come to know how these great and virtuous people
established the obligation of honouring the Messenger sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam.
'Urwah Ibn Mas'ood said to the Quraysh:
"O my people! I have seen kings. I have seen Caeser, Chosroes
and Negus. But by Allaah! I have never seen a king whose companions
respect and honor him in the way that the Companions of Muhammad honour
Muhammad sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam. By Allaah! When he spits, the
spittle would fall into the hands of one of them, who would then rub
his face and skin with it; when he orders them with something, they
promptly fulfill it; when he performs wudhoo' (ablution), they vie with
each other for the remains of the water; and when they speak in his
presence, they lower their voices and do not look directly at his face,
due to their respect and honour for him." [2]
So this is how the Companions radi-Allaahu 'anhum loved and honoured
him, for Allaah had endowed and blessed the Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam with a generous and noble character and a mild and easy-going
nature. Had he been harsh and hard-hearted, people would not have been
able to gather around him and be with him as they did.
Also from the rights that are due to the Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam is to believe in all that he informed us of with regards to
the accounts of previous people and nations, to do that which he has
commanded and leave that which he has prohibited, and to have eemaan
(faith) that his guidance and example is the best and most perfect guidance
and example, and that the Sharee'ah (Prescribed Laws) that he was sent
with is perfect and complete - no human laws nor systems are to be given
precedence or priority over his Sharee'ah. Allaah - the Most High -
said:
"But no by your Lord! They will not truly be Believers,
until they make you (O Muhammad sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) a judge
in all their disputes, and then find in their souls no resistance against
his decision, but rather accept it with the utmost submission."
[Soorah an-Nisaa' (4):65]
"Say (O Muhammad sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam to mankind):
'If you (really) love Allaah then follow me (i.e. accept Islaamic Monotheism,
follow the Qur'aan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive
you of your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.'"
[Soorah Aal-'Imraan (3):31]
And from the rights of the Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam is
to defend his Sharee'ah and his guidance with the strength and capacity
at one's disposal, and also in proportion to the attack that it is under.
Thus, if the enemies ore attacking it with false proofs and doubts,
then his guidance and Sharee'ah should be defended with sound knowledge
which refutes such false arguments and clarifies the doubts. If, however,
the attack is made by any other types of weapons, then the defence should
be made in a similar manner. It is not possible for any Believer to
hear of some attack upon the Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam's
Sharee'ah or his noble personality, and then to keep silent about it
- especially when one has the power to counter such on attack.
Footnotes
[1] Related by al-Bukhaaree (1/57) and Muslim (no.44), from Anas radi-Allaahu
'anhu.
[2] Related by al-Bukhaaree (no.2731) and Ahmad (3/324), from the lengthy
narration of Miswar Ibn Makhramah radi-Allaahu 'anhu.