Fiqh of Prophet Muhammad's peace be upon him biography, lesson 50.  13/1/2007

The importance of Prophet Muhammad's PBUH biography and treats in our daily life, by his eminence Dr. Muhammad Rateb Al-Nabulsi.

Translated by : Hazar Sakbani

Country : Syria

City : Damascus

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful

         All praise and thanks be to Allah, Lord of all worlds; and blessings and peace of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad, the honest and trustworthy. Oh Allah! We have no knowledge except that you taught us; verily you are the All-Knowing the All Wise. Oh Allah! Teach us what is beneficial for us, and let us benefit with what you taught us, and increase our knowledge. Show us the truth as it really is, and help us follow it, and show us falsehood as it really is, and help us to avoid it. Moreover, make us of those who listen to the good speech and follow its best, and let us enter into your Mercy among your righteous worshippers.

Oh. Allah let us get out of the darkness of ignorance and illusions, to the lights of knowledge and science, and from the mud of lust to heavens.

Dear respectful brothers, we go on with a new lesson of the Prophet’s noble traits lessons. As Prophet Muhammad PBUH treats "Sunnah" is his words, deeds, characteristics, and as long as Prophet Muhammad PBUH is infallible by his own, so his words are Sunnah, his deeds are Sunnah, his acknowledgment is Sunnah, which means method and Allah the all mighty said:

"Neither did you (O Muhammad) read any book before it (This Quran) nor did you write any book (whatsoever) with your right hand. In that case, indeed, the followers of falsehood might have doubted"

Al-Ankabut. Ayah 48.  

This means every word said by Prophet Muhammad PBUH is a revelation; revealed to him, not his own, because Allah the All- mighty said:

"Nor dose he speaks of his (own) desire, it is only a Revelation revealed"

An-Najm. Ayah 3, 4.

His words are legislation. Therefore, there are two revelations; one was conveyed to him by Gabriel and anther one that was not conveyed. His honest traditions "Hadeath" are revelation not conveyed, his conduct is revelation not conveyed, and his acknowledgment is revelation not conveyed.

Therefore, dear brothers, the enemies of Muslims cannot cancel this religion because it is like a high mountain. But, they are trying to destroy its pillars from inside and Sunnah is one of Islam pillars

(You were given Quran and its resemblance with it) narrated by: Yazeed Ibn Haroon from Al-Mikdam Ibn Maad Yakreb Al-Kindi.   

In addition, we have what is enough for us, The Holy Quran. Although the Holy Quran says:

 "And whatsoever the messenger (Muhammad PBUH) gives you. Take it, and                                                                                          whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)"

Surat Al-Hashr. Ayah 7.

So, those people who would say the Holy Quran is enough for us; they are canceling the Holy Quran. Because the Holy Quran Orders you to take what the Prophet PBUH gives you and abstain from what he forbids you, so the Holy Quran shows that the prophet's PBUH mission is to clarify it. As if the Holy Quran is a law and Al-Sunnah is an explanation for this law, so if we cancel this explanation we will be canceling the law itself.

Therefore, dear brothers, we should take the prophet PBUH Sunnah, in words, deeds, acknowledgment and characteristics.

I ensure you; if we do have nothing but Sunnah; it will be enough to be your method, as his deed are logistics.

As you know, each one of us has a personality he established for himself, a personality he hates to be like, and a personality he wishes to be like. This lesson and these treats are for those people who are looking for an ideal personality, as Allah the sublime said,

"In Deed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad PBUH) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the last Day, and remembers Allah much"

Surat Al-Ahzab. Ayah 21.

Then, we should observe Prophet Muhammad's PBUH attitudes, his humanity, his fairness, his modesty, his justice, and we should have the ambition to follow his steps, this means we are believer. Whereas if you do not mind about his Sunnah then you do not want Allah and the last day, because Allah the all mighty said,   

"In Deed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad PBUH) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the last Day, and remembers Allah much"

In this lesson, I want to pause a little bit at the importance of his essential and true line of conduct. In the books we read, we may find ideality, but it is not enough to invoke us enough to practice it. So, what does invoke us to apply the Prophet Muhammad PBUH line of conduct? When you look at yourself, you will find out that you are human being.

(I am no more than a human being, pleased as a human being pleased, and get angry, as a human being gets angry)

Narrated by Al-Muslem form Anas from Abi-Huraira

Prophet Muhammad PBUH says ( I was harmed  in Allah's sake ,and no body was harmed, and I was frightened  in Allah's sake and no body was frightened, thirty day and night had passed and neither me nor Bilal had  something to eat except what can be hidden by Bilals armpit )

Narrated by Ahamd and At-Termthi and Ibn majah and Ibn Hayan from Anas

Then, he is a human being and because he is a human being what applies to human being applies to him, thus he is the Master of all human beings.

So, if your ambition and your desires were not directed to follow his steps then there is a trouble in your faith, and there is weakness in your faith.

And the following Ayah is enough for you,

"In Deed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad PBUH) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the last Day, and remembers Allah much"

Moreover, Allah the great and all mighty will not accept the claim of his love without a proof .Allah the sublime said

"Oh Muhammad to mankind (if you really love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah) Allah will love you and forgive your sins,"

Surat Aal Imran. Ayah31. 

This means the one who does not think of pursuing the practical Sunnah, and do not make Prophet Muhammad PBUH his ideal, then he does not love Allah ( if you really love Allah then follow me) More even scholars said Prophet Muhammad's PBUH love is the core of  Allah's love, and this is the meaning of Allah's words in,

"But it is more filling that they should please Allah and his messenger Muhammad if they are believers" 

Surat Al-Taubah. Ayah 62.

According to Arabic language both Allah and Muhammad were mentioned as one that means Prophet Muhammad's PBUH love is the core of Allah's love. So, Prophet Muhammad's PBUH love is a branch of Allah's love. In other words, the one who does not love Prophet Muhammad PBUH does not love Allah, and who loves Allah must loves Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

(Now Omar how do you become. - I swear by Allah that I  love you more than my folks, my children, and the whole people ,except myself …-  then Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, Oh Omar your faith will not be completed . After a while, Omar came back and said, - Now Allah's Messenger I love you more than my folks, my children, my money, and even myself. Then, Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, Now Omar.)

Dear brothers, our master Saad Ibn Abi Wakkas - one of the honest companions- says (Three things through out them I am a Man, and whatsoever I am I normal person) and the word "Man" does not mean male in Quran neither in Sunnah, it means a "Hero"

"Men whom neither trade nor sale (Business) diverts from remembrance of Allah (with heart and tongue) nor from performing prays (Iqamat-as-Salat) nor from giving the Zakat they fear a day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror of the torment of the day of Resurrection)"

Surat An-Nur. Ayah 37.

"In it are men who love to clean and to purify themselves. And Allah love those who make themselves clean and pure"

Surat Al-Taubah. Ayah 108.

So, the word "Man" does not mean male, it means a "Hero", and our master Saad Ibn Abi Wakkas says: (Three things through out them I am a Man, and whatsoever    I am  I normal person.- What are the three things?- The lofty companion says, I have never prayed AL-Ishaa prayers and thought of anything else until I finished it)

(The Prayer is the pillar of religion) 

Narrated by Al- bouhayki from faith branches from Omar

(Who performed it, constructed his religion and who destroyed it, destroyed his religion, as the prayer is the ascent of the believer)

(The prayer is a scale and the one who performed it and fulfilled its due, will get its fruits)

Narrated by Ibn Al-Moubarak in Al-Zohd from Ibn Abbas

That means who gives prayer's performance its due in full, will get the fruits of the prayer.

In other words, to watch T.V soaps all night and then you go to pray Al-Ishaa, although you stand up and say Allah Akkbar – Allah is the greatest-, next you read Al-Fatiha and  any Surah, you kneel and prostrate, but you can not approach to Allah. As it had been said,

I complained to Wakee about my bad memory. He led me to leave sins, and told me that learning is light and Allah's light will not be given to a sinner.

Prayer is light, delight, purity, scale, reason, ascent of the believer, approach, glorifying Allah, and the pillar of religion.

It had been mentioned in the holy Traditions;

"Not every man praying really prays. I only accept it from the one who carries modesty to my greatness, resists his desires, which I forbid, does not insist on doing sins, feeds a hungry person, gives a dress to a wanted, and be lenient with the distressed person, and gives shelter to a stranger. All these things to me, by my glory and my loftiness the light of his face will be to me brighter than the sun. I will turn his recklessness to patience and darkness to light, he supplicates to me and I answer him, asks me... and I give him, he swears by my name…and I respond to him, keep him close to me and let my angels protect him, to me, he is like paradise which its fruits do not lack or change"

Narrated by Al- Dulaimi from harithah Ibn Wahab

Thus our Master Saad Said, Three things through out them I am a Man  and whatsoever I am I normal person .I have never prayed AL-Ishaa prayers and thought about something else until I finished it, and never walked in a funeral and talked to myself with something else).

(Before we started this lesson, we had prayed for a one of the Muslims dead. Did any one of us thought about the day were he is going to be in a coffin, and he will enter the mosque not to pray but to be prayed for, and then the funeral goes to the cemetery where he will go into the grave and will be asked about all his deeds.)

 And never walked in a funeral and talked to myself with something else till I leave it.

In traditions it had been mentioned that, the dead man's soul flies over his coffin saying: Oh my folks my children, do not let life fools you like it did to me; I gathered money from what is allowed and forbidden, and spend it in what is allowed and forbidden. So, enjoy it, and I am the one who will be responsible.

Also, in hadeath:

"By the one who has Muhammad's soul in his hand, in every home the Angel of Death will stand five times every day, once he sees a man ceased from livelihood, and his time is up. He will throw death sorrow upon him, and then let him go through the agony of death. After that, you will see his folks, one slapping her face, other screaming with wretchedness, third tearing her cloths. Then the Angel of Death will say why you are so concerned? Why you are scared? I did not take your livelihood, or made your death's time close. I will come back more and more. Moreover, I will not leave any one of you. By the one who has Muhammad's soul in his hand, if they heard his speech or saw his place they will forget all about the dead man and cried for themselves"

In addition, it had been mentioned in traditions,

"If you only know what you will face after death, you would never had food or drink with appetite, and you would never entered a house for shelter. You would rather go to highlands… hit your chests and cry for yourselves".

Narrated by Ibn Assaker from Abi Ad-Dardaa

- And never walked in a funeral and talked to myself with something else until I leave it. <The proof of applying Sunnah in the following> and never heard a talk from Prophet Muhammad PBUH and doubted it, I know it is truly from Allah.

"And whatsoever the messenger (Muhammad PBUH) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)"

If the honest believer read Prophet Muhammad's PBUH biography and line of conduct, how he will meet his family? He will say peace be upon you to them, and smiles.

How he will treat women?

(Be honorable with women, I swear by Allah, the one who honored them is a noble man, and who insulted them is a mean man. As they defeat the noble and defeated by the mean. And I like to defeated noble than mean triumphant.)

- At his home, Prophet Muhammad PBUH used to do what his family is doing, fixing his show, sewing up his cloth, and sweeping his house.

Prophet Muhammad PBUH used to say

(Teach but do not reproach, because the teacher is better than the one who reproaches all the time)

Narrated by Al-hareth Ibn Adi and Al Bayhaki from Abi Horayrah

He used to greet boys, play with them, kiss them, and carry them. Once, he was at the rostrum and saw his daughter's son Al-Housain stumbling he went down, carried him and climbed the stairs with him …. That is how he was with children.

As well as with women, once Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, got angry, and she broke a plate she had got from Safia, may Allah be pleased with her, she was jealous. Prophet Muhammad PBUH said,

(Your mother got Angry, your mother got Angry)

Narrated by AL –Boukhari

He was a successful husband, a successful father, an honest friend, and a good neighbor.

Dear brothers, by this lesson I want you to know that if Prophet Muhammad PBUH was not our ideal as he was in his biography, at his home, with his brothers, and at his mosque. Then we are not as we should be.

Once, a Bedouin prayed behind Prophet Muhammad PBUH, and one of the men who were praying next to the Bedouin sneezed, so he said to him - may Allah have mercy upon you- (while praying) .That made the noble companions strike their legs as a sign to tell this man you should not do that. So, the Bedouin was afraid to be reproached or hit by them after prayer. Thus Prophet Muhammad PBUH after he finished his prayers he called him (Allah's worshiper, come over here, talking is not allowed during prayer)

The Bedouin said I redeem him by my mother and father, I swear by Allah; he never reproached or scolded me. Then he said, Oh Allah, have mercy upon us also upon Muhammad, and no one else but us.

 So, Prophet Muhammad PBUH said (brother you have narrowed your prayers)

Narrated by Al –Boukhari

He was kind and modest.

A man came to him trembling, Prophet Muhammad PBUH said to him (take it easy,   I am only a son of a woman who was used to eat jerky in Makkah)

Narrated by Al-Termithi

- Once Prophet Muhammad PBUH was traveling with his companions, and they wanted to deal with a sheep, one of them said I will slaughter it , other said I will skin it, third said I will cook it .and PBUH said, then I will gather wood.

They said - we will do that for you, - he said I know you will do but
Allah would hate a distinctive worshipper among his mates.

I want from this good meeting to clarify a crucial truth; if you do not make Prophet Muhammad PBUH your ideal in your life then you are not pursuing him.  

Once, as mentioned in his biography, PBUH entered his home and said (do you have any food? – Nothing at all- they said: no, then he said I am fasting)

Narrated by Mouslem from Aisha

- A chief of a tribe saw a valley full of sheep belong to Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

The chief said to Prophet Muhammad PBUH, to whom those belong? PBUH said they are yours, the chief said, are you making fun of me? PBUH said, No, I swear by God, they are yours. Then the chief said I swear that you Allah's messenger, giving like a person who does not fear poverty.

It had been mentioned in traditions,

He is an ideal for us in his poverty and in his richness. Also in his subjugate. Once he had been subjugated in At-Taayff, and now Muslims all around the world are subjugated. He said (oh, Allah if you are not angry with me I do not care, but I am in due to you till you are pleased, but your forgiveness is better for me)

Narrated by Al-Tabarani from Abdullah Ibn Jafar.

- Then Allah allowed him to have revenge, after that, the king of the mountains came to him and said, - Allah ordered me to be at your service, if you want, I can let two mountains fall down on them-. But Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, (no brother, Oh Allah, please show my people the right way because they do not know it)

- He had been tested in poverty and he passed, tested in richness and passed, tested by subjugation and passed, by victory and passed.

- He entered Makka a conqueror, ten thousands men at his service, waiting a word from his mouth. Therefore, he was able to do whatever he wants with those valiant who had been his enemies for twenty years, killed his companions, and fought with him three times, he as the strong triumphant, could let his army confiscate their lands, and cancel them. Instead, PBUH said:

 (What do you think I will do to you? They replied an honorable man and son of honorable brother. He said. Then go, you are free.)

 (Prophetic biography)

He was triumphant, conqueror, yet when he entered Makka he was bending his head till the edge of his tiara was about to touch the neck of his camel, as a way of modesty to Allah.

His son Ibrahim had died and his eyes were full of tears. They said are you crying Allah's messenger. He said,

(Eyes might be full of tears, heart might be sad, but we have nothing to say, except what please Allah, and we are sad for you death Ibrahim)

Agreed on

- He was tested by the death of his son and he passed, two of his daughters were divorced, the hypocrites -in Al-Ifk Hadeath -, had accused his wife with adultery but he was patient. A revelation from the seventh heaven has acquitted her from that. When that happened Al-Siddique was with him, so he said to his daughter you should thank Allah's messenger. She said, by Allah I do not thank anyone, but Allah, PBUH said; she is telling the truth – Allah is the one whom should be thanked as he is the one who acquitted her-.

Once, a disgusting unmannerly Bedouin held his cloth until his hand left marks on his neck, and he said oh Muhammad this money is not yours nor you fathers, give it to me. Prophet Muhammad PBUH said he is honest it is Allah's.     

"In Deed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad PBUH) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the last Day, and remembers Allah much"

Lady Aisha once asked him, how is your love to me? - Nowadays most ignorant husbands would say, you are short, and would not leave a bad thing about her not telling her about-. While, when Lady Aisha asks him, how is your love to me? He says to her, it is like a knot in rope. Every now and then, she asks him, how is the knot?  He replies tight as ever.

Another time Aisha was talking to him about an example couples Abo Zar and Om Zar. Abou zar used to be noble, courageous, generous….etc, but unfortunately, he divorced her. PBUH said to her, I am to you like Abo Zar to Om Zar, but I will not divorce you. (He secured her.)

If we do not keep in our minds his biography, and if we do not consider this outstanding personality, -Prophet Muhammad PBUH personality as our ideal-, with his manners, characteristics, modesty, mercy, justice, and fairness. Then there is weakness and trouble in our belief.

Dear brother, when he prays Dawn he used to recites long verses, once he had heard a boy crying so he summed up the prayer and end it quickly. His companion were astonished, he said to them, (I heard a boy crying calling his mother, so I was merciful with her.)

(The one who do not gratify our elderly, have mercy on our children, and give our scholars their due, he is not one of us.)

Narrated by Ahmad and Al-Hakem from Obadah Ibn As-Samet

That is what PBUH said. Thus, dear brother we should not only listen to these tales about Prophet Muhammad PBUH but we turn should turn it to reality and live with it.

Knowing Prophet Muhammad PBUH biography is a duty on each Muslim.

Thus, this point is very crucial, be accurate. There in no rule, that says a duty cannot be done without a duty, for example, can we pray without ablution?

So, prayer is a duty and ablution is a duty.

Allah said to his believing worshippers         

"In Deed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad PBUH) you have a good example to follow"

Honestly, we cannot make Prophet Muhammad PBUH our ideal if we do not know his biography.

How would you treat your high blood pressure, - which is the known as the silent killer - if you do not know that you have high blood pressure?

The same as before, how can you make Prophet Muhammad PBUH your ideal if you do not know his biography. That is why it is a duty to every Muslim.

"In Deed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad PBUH) you have a good example to follow"

How he can be an example if we do not know how he eats, sleeps, treats his wives, companions, and children.

Thus, Knowing Prophet Muhammad PBUH biography is a duty on each Muslim also knowing his oral treats is a duty. The proof is

"And whatsoever the messenger (Muhammad PBUH) gives you take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)"

So, how we would take whatsoever he gave us and abstain from what he forbids if we do not know his biography.

- Attending the biography lessons is important.

It is important to know his manners at his home,

sometimes when a man talk to a person with high rank he talks, to him in bad way like calling him with his name without the title considering this as a part of  faith. No. While Prophet Muhammad PBUH when he sent a letter to Caesar the Roman king, he said to him (from Muhammad Ibn Abd Allah to Roman Grandiose)     

Therefore, he was not grandiose but that was a title.

When you are close to Prophet Muhammad PBUH biography, you will follow it .

I want to say, you can learn every thing from his biography, the manners of eating and drinking. Nobody at all saw him spreading his legs, he who is the master of all human beings , the dearest to Allah the true, - Nobody at all saw him spreading his legs – unless someone has an excuse, otherwise, its not good manner.

He never dispraised food,- if someone invited you to have a meal at his place and worked hard while preparing it you should not say its not tasty, -this really rudeness,- Prophet Muhammad PBUH never dispraised food.

Anyone of his companions, who dealt with him, thought he is the closest person to him PBUH. - This is heroic. - As he used to give them titles, - Abu Baker is like my sight and hearing, nothing would harm Othman after now, khaled Allah's sword, Abo Obaida the prince of this nation, Al-Zoubair Ibn Al-Awam the Houri of this nation.

(You Throw Saad... I redeem you by my father and my mother)

(That is my uncle show me one like him)

Narrated by muslim from ali

He used to be a very successful husband with his pure wives; he used to be fair and honest with them.

Lady Aisha used to say to him when he praises Khadija a lot, who is dead, did not Allah gave you a better one. He replied, by Allah no, and repeated, no, no.

Dear brother, I want you to turn this into reality; a way of living, his privacy at home, the way he sells and bys, how he deals with his brothers, companions, in war and in peace.

Finally, I want to end up this lesson with those two verses, which tell us why Muslims are being torched nowadays.

"But God was not going to send them a penalty (torches) whilst thou amongst them;"

Al- Anfal. Ayah 32.

The meaning of this Ayah is very clear. However, what does it mean after Prophet Muhammad's PBUH Death? That means as long as your way of conduct Sunnah      –To Muhammad PBUH- is with them in their lives, at their homes, in their mosque, in selling and buying, their way of earning and spending money, in their celebrations, happy and bad times, then they are released from Allah's torment.    

"But God was not going to send them a penalty (torches) whilst thou amongst them; nor was he going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon"

So when we do not apply his way of conduct all the time, but we ask for pardon, we will be released from Allah's torment, so if we apply his way of conduct we will be prosperous. Moreover, the way of Muslims salvation is to apply his way of conduct in their lives. Then Allah might be compassionate with them.

Praise be to Allah.