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Meelad-un-Nabi (SAW) By Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi (The Speech delivered on 30th March, 1942, from All India
Radio Station, at Lahore). Today is the day of great bounties for the world, because on this
date, the trailblazer of this planet, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) had arrived in this world. Though, Islamic law has not declared the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) as EID,
nor has it established any customary practice for its celebration, but
if people consider it as EID, due to this being the day of arrival of the
greatest Prophet (P.B.U.H) of Allah and the peerless saviour of the world, and observe it
as a day on which the biggest blessing of Allah for mankind came into
existence, then there is no harm either. However, the manner in which it should be
celebrated is not all about eating and drinking, electrification of private and
public premises, taking out processions and parades, and undertakes wasteful and
exhibitory activities for mere entertainment and self satisfaction. If you do
this, then there will be no distinction between you and the ignorant communities.
They too celebrate distinguished events of their history through fun, fete and
frolicking and if you also ape their style of celebration, then you will meet
their consequences only. Islam has evolved a noble style for commemorating
remembrance. The most remarkable of which is the sacrifice of Prophet Ibraheem
(P.B.U.H) , to commemorate which, Allah has laid down the criterion of
prayers and Sacrifice of Eid-ul-Azha and Haj. After considering this, you can
assess as to how Muslims should celebrate the memory of great historical events. You
should also ascertain that how this date of 12th of Rabi-ul-awwal does
holds any significance for you. It was not because a baby boy was
born in the family of an Arab individual, but because that day the greatest prophet
was sent down on the earth and through whom humanity received guidance of
Allah, and through whom man literally learnt to be human, whose individuality
was the blessing for the entire humanity and who spread the light of faith
and noble deeds across the earth. Thus, if these are the reasons for the
significance of this date, then it should be observed by extending the same
message of Prophet Muhammad, more on this day than any other day. Take some
lessons from his character and from his teachings, and at least his message
should be resonated in such a manner that it remains effective for coming one
year. If you commemorate like this, then it will truly demonstrate that
you sincerely consider the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) as EID.
But if it is confined to fun, food and frolicking then it will not be an
Islamic EID but it will only be an ignorant celebration that has no significance. In line with today’s pertinence, I shall deliver the
sermon, relevant to the occasion. Allah has stated in His Holy Book that the
Prophet, whom I have sent, has been sent so that he is followed. This is also the
reason why it is mandatory for every Muslim to follow him, because he was also Prophet
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) of Allah. Besides this generic
instruction, Allah has also issued specific commands to Muslims pertinent to the status
of Prophet Muhammad, which are given below: Say : “If you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you
and forgive your sins: For Allah is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” (3:31) The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His
Messenger, in order that he may judge between them, is no other than
this: They say, “We hear and we obey.” (24:51) Is it not fitting for a believer, man or woman, When a
matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option, about their
decision: If anyone disobeys Allah and His messenger, he is indeed on a clearly
wrong path. (33:36) But no by the Lord, they can have no (real) faith. Until
they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls
no resistance against the decisions but accept them with the fullest
conviction. (4:65) Deem not the summons of Messenger among yourselves like the
summons of one of you to another. (24:63) Nor it is right for you that you should annoy Allah’s
Messenger. (33:53) Those who annoy Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed
them in this world and the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a
humiliating punishment. (33:57) Let those beware who withstands the Messenger’s order, lest
some trial befall them. (24:63) O you who believe ! Raise not your voices above the voice
of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk, as you may speak aloud to one
another, lest your deeds become vain and you perceive not.(49:2) You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the
Last Day, (but) loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even
though they are their fathers or their sons, or their brother or their
kindred. (58:22) Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your
brothers, your mates, or you kindred: the wealth that you have gained; the
commerce in which you fear a decline or the dwellings in which you delight
are dearer to you then Allah or His Messenger, or the striving in his
cause; then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah
guides not the rebellious. (9:24) It is difficult to state all relevant verses here. My sole
objective is to make you understand as Muslim that what is the nature of your
relationship with Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H). This fact
is highlighted by few verses that I have stated above. It is evident from
them that an individual ceases to be Muslim unless he is obedient to Prophet
Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H). if Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu
Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) gives some instructions and in turn if some one
says that I do not accept this, then it shows that his heart is free from
Faith. The demand of Faith is to bow down after hearing the command. Faith can
not co-exist with ifs and buts. Now please listen carefully, the instructions Prophet
Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) has given on behalf of Allah.
Thereafter every individual should go on assessing the level of faith in his
or her heart and how sincere Muslim he or she is. 1. Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand Muslims are
safe. Means who does not trouble his fellow brothers-in-Islam either
through his tongue or his hands. 2. None of you can be Faithful unless he prefers the same
path for others, which he chooses for himself. Means that way you want your
own well being, similarly you should desire it for your
brothers-in-Islam and the way you do not want to harm yourself, do not wish the same
for your brother. Hazrat Abuzar Ghafari Razi Allahu Anhu narrates that one I
had picked up fight with some one and I abused him. Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) heard it and said, “You still have
shades of ignorance left in you and Islam has not completely entered your life.” Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
states that here are four attributes of hypocrisy and the one who has all of
them is an accomplished hypocrite and the one who has one them, he too has one part
of duplicity. First sign is that when some thing is handed over to him in good
faith, he swindles it; secondly, when he converses, he certainly misrepresents ;
thirdly when he promises or enters into a contract with someone, he invariably
backtracks; and finally, when he has a brawl with somebody, he turn abusive
and gets down to humiliate his opponent, through wrongful means. Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
stated: a Muslim is the brother of another Muslim, he himself will not suppress
him nor will he hand him over to a cruel. One who is busy fulfilling the
needs of his brother, Allah does the same for him; and the one who saves fellow
Muslims from inconvenience, Allah will curtail one of his pains of the Day
of Judgement; and the one who conceals the deficiencies of a fellow Muslim,
will receive the same treatment from Allah on the Day of Judgement.” Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
says: “Help your brother, whether he is tyrant or aggrieved.” When his
companion sought clarification that we shall certainly aid the oppressed but
how should we help the cruel? He replied, “The aid of an oppressor is to hold
his hand so that he does not commit atrocities.” On another occasion he said: “Beware of the curse of an
oppressed, because there is nothing between him and Allah, means it directly
flies to the thorn of Allah.” Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
stated: the one who deprived his Muslim brother from his rights or has caused
damage to his respect, wealth or any other thing, he should compensate
him in this life only or else if it is carried forward to the day when money or
other material objects would not exist, rather he will have to pay out of his good
deeds or a part of a tyrant’s burden will be shifted to his account.” Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
enumerates: “If someone has grabbed even an inch of land, he will have to
wear a collar in his neck, seven times that weight of that land.” Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
said that three sins are the gravest: (1) Sharing the Unity of Allah with some one (2) Disobedience of parents and recklessness towards their
rights and (3) Lying and false testimony. He further stated that Gabriel (Jibra’eil) told me so
repeatedly about treating the neighbour decently, that I began to wonder
whether they would be entitled to share the inheritance as well. On another occasion, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H) said, “That person is absolutely apostate,
completely faithless whose neighbour is scared of his mischief.” One more tradition of Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H) is : The one who is faithful should not cause
pain to his neighbour, treats his guest with respect; and when speaks, it should
be with kindness or else remain quiet. Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
stated that one of worst persons, on the Day of Judgement, would be the one
who has dual face , means if he meets one of the two rivals, he speaks
in his favour while meeting the other rival, takes his side; speaks one thing
on the face and another behind the back. Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
said: Abdication of prayers (Salat) lies between man and
infidelity. It means that there is one stage in between approaching infidelity from
Islam and that is forsaking prayers. If you have renounced prayers that means
you are hanging between Faithlessness and Islam, one step more and
you will enter the boundary of apostasy. On one occasion, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H) enumerated: those who stay at home, even after hearing
azaan, I feel like torching their homes. There are numerous traditions for the
reiteration of prayers, but I have talked about these two only, from which
you can assess that how strong is this instruction, and what is the
meaning of this defiance. This is with regard to that farz from which Muslims are
becoming usually oblivious these days. Secondly, you must also know about the sin which is proving
most disastrous for Muslims, meaning interest based financing. Prophet
Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) has categorically
stated that taking interest, paying interest, keeping record of and being
witness to it are all prohibited, and men committing any of these acts will be
punished in hell. Brothers, you celebrate EID-E-MEELAD UN NABI, it is very
nice, but I would only say that at the time of entering the darbar of
our chief, just think what face are taking to that pious spirit. If a
servant lapses, then he fears in facing his employer and tries to hide away.
Then how should we face someone whose one or two instructions are not
defied every day but numerous. O Allah! Guide me to comply with the instructions
of my Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
and to my brothers as well. Second Speech Today is the anniversary of the birth of an incredible
personality, who arrived as a boon for the entire humanity and brought with
him a set of principles, pursuing which guarantees even triumph and
well-being for every individual, every nation and country and the whole
mankind. Though this day comes every year, but this year it has come at
such a crucial time when inhabitants of the earth are more indigent of the
guidance of that sagacious person, than ever before. It is difficult to say
whether Mr. Bernard Shaw made this statement consciously or not, but whatever
he stated was absolutely fitting that “Had Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H) been the dictator of the world, at present, then
peace would have been prevailing in the world.” I would go one step
further and say that, though Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) is not present in this world, yet the doctrine presented by
him are available hook line and sinker. If we sincerely presume his tenets as
Dictator, then all the evils can be rid, the fire of which has turned the
abode of humanity into hell. Over fourteen hundred years back, when Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) set his foot on the earth, that
time his own nation had reached the nadir of moral ebb, chaos and
turmoil. Qur'an has explained the situation of that, in these words: you were
standing on the edge of fire-filled pit, from which Allah rescued you.
Other countries of the world had no better condition than this. Persian and Roman
empires were, then, the biggest cradle of human civilization, and both of
them were engulfed in mutual hostilities on the one hand and domestic
economic inequality, economic distinctions and religious rifts on
the other hand. Under these circumstances, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu
Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) got up and within a span of 23 years, not only
did he change the shape of Arabian peninsula, but the movement which set off
under his command from Arab, within a quarter of a century, reformed
a large portion of the earth, from the borders of India to North
Africa, in culture & civilization, economics & politics, and all other
sphere of life. How this revamping was achieved? It is difficult to spell
out the details in one brief talk, but I shall present you its broad
principles: The very first point which he stressed upon was that all
human beings should recognize only Allah as their real King, real Owner,
the Most Wise and the Sovereign. Do not accept to the subject of anyone
else other than Allah, should bow down to the highest authority of Allah,
not only within the limited confines of religious matters, but in every
sphere of life. Besides, second important aspect of his preaching was that
human sovereignty and recklessness should come to a grinding
halt. Every person, individually, considers himself to be accountable to Allah,
and similarly human organizations too, whether they are in the form of
families and clans or sections; in the form of nations or governments and
states. Nevertheless, all of them should consider themselves responsible and
accountable before Allah. The very image of men, which Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) presented, was that of a representative
or deputy of Allah on the earth. In whatever and which ever capacity he
is empowered, that is essentially not his own rights, rather they have
been entrusted by Allah and in its dispensation he is answerable to Allah. On the basis of supreme sovereignty of Allah and every
human being his deputy, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) established the relationship of equitable unity and
cooperation among human beings which could not have been achieved otherwise.
Race and lineage, language and colour, national and economic
interests and all other elements forming the genesis of the society, necessarily
divide human beings into various groups and make them rival of one
another. Even if they find unanimity among themselves, that compatibility is
temporary and purely on selfish motives. Conflicts and hostilities are
the natural outcome of this division and injustice is its mandatory
consequence. There is no way to avert this, except having the entire humanity united on
the allegiance of Allah and by making them aware of their accountability
before Allah, they should be persuaded to do justice. Instead of nationalism and socialism, Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) laid the foundation of universal social
life on the basis of obedience of Allah and Kilafah. He moulded every aspect
of that life into durable moral principles. His morality were not meant for
reclusive saints, but for very people who run the show on the earth like
farmers, landlords, labourers, industrialists, traders, customers, cops,
jurists, administrators, governors, soldiers, supreme commanders, ministers, and
diplomats. Each of these functionaries were made to adhere to moral code
within its precincts, the bolting and unbolting of which and the
making and breaking of its principles would not rest on the desires of any
individual or masses. He disciplined. All facets of human life on the basis of
rectitude, whether it is social or interpersonal relation, are or culture, trade
or commerce, politics or administration, international relations or war
and peace. Everything that is linked to human life was denied the
right to bloom and prosper independent of moral restrictions. These are the broader principles depended on which the
reforms program of Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H).
The strategy he adopted to implement this program commenced from individual
reform. He did not overlook the fact that every map of collective
reforms eventually depends upon the success of individual reform. Even the
best of programs can not be successfully implemented with having people of
loose character and questionable standing along. Flaws in the character of
individuals may cause serious damage in the implementation of a noble
system, which can not be averted by merely theoretical remedies.
Theoretically, whatever imaginary precautions one can take for the prevention of
deficiencies. But practically, if the people who are responsible for
executing the conceptual plan are vulnerable to desires, vested interests and
partisan; if they lack true piety and character, then despite your utmost caution,
there would be impediments for your plans and that too from quarters which
you never expected. On the contrary, by looking at the black board,
you can prove the possibility of a number of loopholes. But if a reliable
team is available for executing this plan, then their correct actions will plug
the holes, which you think can pop up in your hypothetical simulation. This is why Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) expended all his energy on the grooming of such human
capital that could put his plan of transforming the world into action in the
best manner. He produced people who were God-fearing and pious under every
situation. Who held themselves accountable to Allah in every sphere of
their lives? Who restrained themselves from every single deed which they
suspected could make Allah furious with them and who were willing to
dedicate themselves to a cause which they felt would please Allah.
Who could sacrifice everything which could win them favour of Allah?
In whose heart there was no fear, no greed of favours or desires of awards
from anyone other than Allah. For whom there was no distinction between
their private and public lives. Who were as pious, decent, and virtuous
behind the veil as they appeared in front of the whole world? Who could prove
to be trustworthy, if they were entrusted with the responsibility
of protecting the life, property and honour of the servants of Allah? If they
took oath on behalf of their self, nation or government, they would not
back track. If they were made jurist, they would not be held cruel. If
they undertook commercial transaction then they would not be declared as
crooks. They might be slow in claiming their rights, but will be quick
in dispensing others. They used their intelligence, prudence, diligence and
qualifications for truth and justice and for the welfare and prosperity of
humanity and not for deceiving and depriving others from their rights because of
individual and national gains. After spending full 15 years for the development of such
people, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam raised a task force
of handful of true believers which was not committed to the reforms of
only Arabian Peninsula but for the mankind of the whole world, and which
was comprised of people other than Arab nationals also. Having raised this team, he moved on to make large scale
efforts to bring about social reforms and in merely eight years, brought
comprehensive social economic, cultural and political revolution on the
land of Arabian peninsula, spreading over 15,00,000 square miles. Then, the
same team, which was integrated by him, accomplished its task of
reforming Arabs, proceeded further and showered the grace of this
revolution, which was initiated in Arab, over a large part of the then civilized
world. These days we hear the idea of new world order everywhere, but we fail
to understand that how the very fundamental flaws which have ultimately
turned the old system into turmoil, if still exist in the new system, with
a different face, can be considered a new order? It would essentially be the
same system whose bites and stings have pushed us to the deathbed for
which we are seeking antidote of he new system. Fearlessness and apathy
towards Supreme authority of Allah by human beings, national and
racial distinction, political and economic self-interest of nations and regions
an don-Godfearing people ruling the roost are the real drawbacks which have
been destroying the humanity till date and will continue to do
so if our life style remains the victim of the same evils. If reforms are to be
brought about, then only on those principles through which one of the
greatest well-wisher of humanity not only guided us, centuries back, but
practically showed us reforms. http://www.prophetmuhammadforall.org/webfiles/downloads/meelad.pdf |
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