إِنَّ اللَّـهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا 

‘Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet, O you who believe, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask (Allah to grant him) peace.’ [33:56]

Rabiul Awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar. This is the month in which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born. It is important we read the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the sacrifices he made, how he lived his life and his status. By reading the seerah (biography), we will be able to understand who he was. There are multiple benefits in this. To remember a few, remember the mnemonic: CHILD

Comfort – Reading the seerah will bring comfort to the heart. The struggles we go through, the hardship, the pain and the difficulties were all faced by Rasulullah ﷺ. When reading the level of hardships our Prophet ﷺ went through, it makes us realise our hardship is nothing in comparison to his difficulties. When we are labelled, slandered, accused and harmed remember this was the pain our Prophet ﷺ went through too.

Hope – Our hope and spirit will be raised that the help of Allah of peace and tranquillity in this world, is not so far. Difficult phases are temporary, and success is not long left. Rasulullah ﷺ gained victory after challenges and so can we.

Imaan – Reading the seerah will increase our imaan. It would leave you in no doubt that he was, the Prophet of Allah Almighty. He was a person of integrity and honour. He is the perfect model for us to follow.

Love – It will create love for Rasulullah ﷺ. By reading the seerah we will understand the sacrifices that were made for us and the immense love he has for us. When the ayah in Surah Ad-Duha was revealed; And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied. Rasulullah ﷺ replied: ‘Oh Allah I am not happy until every individual of my ummah is admitted in Jannah’.How then can we not have love for such person.

Defend – By reading the seerah, it will give you something whereby you are able to defend the honour of Rasulullah ﷺ. A person who is fair minded cannot deny the greatness and influence of Rasulullah ﷺ. Even many disbelievers have had to attest to this. Michael Hart in his ‘The 100: A ranking of the most influential persons in history’ put the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at number one. He said; My choice may be agreed by some and disagreed by others, but I felt this was the right choice.”

The fundamental rights of Rasulullah ﷺ:

  1. Muhabbat (Love) – loving him more than anyone else.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَلَدِهِ وَوَالِدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “None of you has faith until I am more beloved to him than his children, his farther, and all of the people.” [Muslim]

2) Azmat (Respect) – We are to respect the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his sunnah, his teaching and his words. We believe there is no man greater to walk on the surface of this earth than Rasulullah ﷺ, who deserves respect and honour.

3) Ittiba’ (Follow) – When you have love and respect for him, then naturally you will follow him.

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّـهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّـهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“Say; If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Commonly available seerah books:

1. Qassasul Quran by Allamah Hifzur Rahman Sehewrari. This book contains stories of 25 prophets who have been mentioned in the Quran.
2. Seeratul Mustafa by Allamah Idris Khandalwi r.a. This book is specifically on seerah. There is abridged in 1 volume and complete set in 3 volumes. PDF copy is also available online.
3. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Source by Martin Lings.
4. The sealed nectar by Allama Mubarakpuri

The above is an edited summary of a Jumuah speech by Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Nawab delivered on 18/10/19. Link to the full speech https://saleemnawab.com/jumuah-bayans/ (audio no.53). Other Jumuah audios on the same topic: audio no. 8, 9, 54)