Love Thy Prophet....

“We once had a Teacher
The Teacher of teachers,
He changed the world for the better
And made us better creatures,
Oh Allah we’ve shamed ourselves
We’ve strayed from Al-Mu'allim,
Surely we’ve wronged ourselves
What will we say in front him?
Oh Mu'allim...”

-Sami Yusuf

The Wise Owl always says that we are not qualified to speak about Prophet Muhammad SAW because of his status in the eyes of God AlMighty. I must say that I agree with the Wise Owl and I’m the least qualified person to talk about him but I feel that I need to share on how I came to know about this wonderful person named Muhammad SAW and how I see him through my eyes..

When I was small, I remember studying about Prophet Muhammad SAW as one of the Prophets in Islam. I knew He was an orphan, he married khadijah r.a.and he was the last Prophet. That was all that I knew. After that, I never did give Prophet pubh much thought. I didn’t see the importance of it.

A couple years ago, the Wise Owl asked me, ‘sister, do you know our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW?” . I looked at him and thought, what an odd question to ask! Of course I know Prophet Muhammad SAW. All Muslims know him. So, I told the Wise Owl what I know about our Prophet pbuh. The Wise Owl then said, “ sister, you do not know our beloved Prophet pbuh but you only know of him. There is a difference. If you know him, you would know everything about him. The way he eats, sleep, talk, laugh, treat people, pray, treat his wives, how many children did he have and so on”

Ouch!!! The Wise Owl did have point. I was quite ignorant about the life of Prophet Muhammad SAW so how I can say I know him? I can’t say I know Brad Pitt or Colin Firth just because I read about them in the magazines. Both of them definitely don’t have a clue who am I, but, did you know that our beloved Prophet pbuh will recognise us as his ummah on judgment day?

“Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam went to the (Baqi`) cemetery and said, “May you be secured from punishment, O dwellers of abode of the believers! We, if Allah wills, will follow you. I wish we see my brothers.” The Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah! Are not we your brothers?” He said, “You are my Companions, but my brothers are those who have not come into the world yet.” They said; “O Messenger of Allah! How will you recognize those of your Ummah who are not born yet?” He said, “Say, if a man has white-footed horses with white foreheads among horses which are pure black, will he not recognize his own horses?” They said; “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah!” He said, “They (my followers) will come with bright faces and white limbs because of Wudu’; and I will arrive at the Haud (Al-Kauthar) ahead of them.” [Muslim]

There is a catch though. If we want him to recognise us, we must really know him inside out and follow his teachings. Only then are we qualified to declare ourselves as Muhammad’s ummah.

So, I made the decision to start anew and get to know my beloved Prophet pbuh all over again. I started with reading his biography. SubhanAllah!!! After reading about his life, character and attitude, I fell, heads over heels in love with him! He is more romantic than any Prince Charming that I have read about! At least Prophet Muhammad SAW is real whereas Prince Charming is a figment of imagination of an old man named,  Disney!

To me, Prophet pbuh was truly the most magnificent man ever created. He was gentle and kind. I become choked up with emotion when I read about his trials and the obstacles he faced whilst trying to preach about Islam. I admire his patience and steadfastness. His faith in God Almighty was unshakeable. He was truly one of a kind. I remember crying my heart out when I came to the part when death was approaching him.

“Suddenly, there was a person, he said salaam.

'May I come in?' he asked.

But Fatimah did not allow him enter the room.

'I'm sorry, my father is ill,' said Fatimah, turned her body back and closed the door.

She went back to her father who had opened his eyes and asked Fatimah,


'Who was he, my daughter?'


'I don't know, my father. It was the first time for me to see him,'Fatimah said gently.

Then, Rasulullah looked at his daughter with trembled look, as if he wanted to reminisce about every part of her daughter's face.

'Know one thing! He is who erases the temporary pleasure; he is who separates the companionship in the world.

He is the death angel,' said Rasulullah .

Fatimah bore the bomb of her cry. The death angel came toward him,

But Rasulullah asked why Jibril did not come along with him.

Then, Jibril was called. Jibril was ready in the sky to welcome the soul of Habibullah and the leader of the earth.

'O Jibril, explain me about my rights in front of ALLAH?' Rasulullah

asked with a weakest voice.

'The doors of sky have opened, the angels are waiting for your soul.'

'All jannats open widely waiting for you,' Jibril said.


But, in fact, all this did not make Rasulullah relieved, his eyes were still full of worry.

'You are not happy to hear this news?' asked Jibril.

'Tell me about the destiny of my people in future?'

'Don't worry, O Rasul ALLAH. I heard ALLAH tell me: 'I make jannat

haram for every one, except the people of Muhammad who are inside it,' Jibril said.

It became closer and closer, the time for Malaekat Izrail to do his work.

Slowly, Rasulullah's soul was pulled. It was seemed that the body of

Rasulullah was full of sweat; the nerves of his neck became tight.

'Jibril, how painful this sakaratul maut is!'

Rasulullah uttered a groan slowly. Fatimah closed her eyes, Ali sat beside her bowed deeply and Jibril turned his face back.

'Am I repugnant to you that you turn your face back o Jibril?'

Rasulullah asked the Deliverer of Wahy.

'Who is the one who could see the Habibullah in his condition of sakaratul maut,' Jibril said.

Not for a while, Rasulullah uttered a groan because of unbearable pain.

'O ALLAH, how great is this sakaratul maut. Give me all these pains, don't give it to my people.'


The body of Rasulullah became cold, his feet and chest did not move anymore..


His lips vibrated as if he wanted to say something, Ali took his ear close to Rasulullah.


'Uushiikum bis shalati, wa maa malakat aimanuku - take care of the saalat and take care the weak people among you.'

Outside the room, there were cries shouted each other, sahabah held each other. Fatimah closed her face with her hands and, again, Ali took his ear close to Rasulullah's mouth which became bluish.

'Ummatii, ummatii, ummatii?' - 'My people, my people, my people.'

And the life of the noble man ended.”
(excerpt from www.ummah.com).

Even as I’m writing this, I couldn’t stop the tears from coursing down my cheeks. The pain of longing is so acute and I feel that I have indeed lost someone very dear to me.

This Thursday, 12 Rabi Al-Awaal 1434 ( 24^th January, 2013), marks the day Prophet Muhammad SAW was born into this world. Many Islamic scholars have discourage us from celebrating the birthday of the Prophet pbuh as his Companions never did. I can understand why they do that because Prophet pbuh himself had never asked us to celebrate his birthday but I think, on his birthday, we should remember him as a great man and remind others of the history of his life. There is no need for huge celebration or a feast, but, honor him by getting to know who Prophet Muhammad SAW really was and follow his teachings. By following his teaching, only then we can claim to be part of his ummah and plead for him intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.

For those who only know of our beloved Prophet pbuh, perhaps the time has come for you to get to know him better. Till his dying breath we were on his mind so why can’t we remember him till our last?

“Say (O beloved Prophet, to the people): If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 3:31)