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173

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Qualities of Al-Mustafa

Written by: Sk Subhi Al-Kattaf

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

09 Al-Muharram 1436.

23 October 2015

Dear Muslims,

The advice given to you; slaves of Allah; and I is to be God fearing people. Being so is the honour on the day of shame. And it is safety on the day of demise. Anyone who holds on to this advice or to being God fearing will lose, and no one who leaves it will win. Allah says: {Be God fearing you who have thinking minds just so you may be winners}. Remember each day you spend in your life you are one day closer to meeting your Lord. Allah says: {and you should know that you shall meet Him, and give good tidings to the believers}.

This who knows Allah more shall be more loving to Allah and more obedient to Allah. This who knows the prophet ppbu more shall be more loving to the prophet and a better follower to his teachings. This; my beloved; is a reminder of our prophet Muhammad ppbu at a time when temptations are plenty, and the hearts of the believers wished if they could get a chance to see him may ppbu. Why not when he is the best in the entire humanity. He is the Master of all sons of Adam and their pride in this life and the next, Muhammad the son of Abdulla, the son of Abd-Muttalib ppbu. He is the one who said: {A time shall come upon one of you when it would more loved for him to see me than to have twice as many family and riches}. He also said: {Out of my nation who love me the most are people who shall come after me who would love to swap their families and riches for seeing me}.

Knowing our prophet Muhammad ppbu is one of the three roots, which must be known by each one of us. For each and everyone shall be asked in the grave: {the individual is told: who is your God? And what is your religion? And who is your prophet? Two angels approach the dead person, set him up, and say to him who is your God? He says my God is Allah. They say: What is your religion? He says Islam is my religion. They say: who is the man who was sent to you? He says: He is the messenger of Allah ppbu. They say: How did you get to know that? He says: I read the book of Allah and I had faith in it and I believed it}. Ebn-el-Qayem said: “the slaves need above everything else to get to know the messenger, and to know what he came up with, and believing in what he said, and obeying him in what he commanded”

Allah has selected him from all of the clan of Hashim, and he selected the clan of Hashim from the tribe of Quraish. They are descendants of prophet Abrahim pbu. The messenger ppbu said: {I am Muhammad the son of Abdullah, the son of Abdul-Muttalib. Allah has made the creation and He made me in the best of them. Then he split them into two groups and made me in the better group. Then he split the groups into tribes and He made me in the best of tribes. Then He split the tribe into clans and he made me in the best clan. I come from the best clan of all of you, and I am the best individual}.

He grew up an orphan of the two parents without their love and care. He moved through a number of foster homes under the care and watchful eye of Allah. Dislike and hate for idols and statues was placed into his heart. Before he became a messenger he married a noble woman who was intelligent and honourable. She is one of the greatest women in honour, and the most blessed with wisdom. She was Khadija daughter of Khwailed may God be pleased with her. He was sent with his message when the land was full of idols, bloodshed, break up and severing of blood relations. The messenger ppbu said: {Allah looked at the people of the earth and disliked them, Arabs and non-Arabs except for a few remaining people of the book and said: I sent you in order to test you and test others through you}. He preached for the worship of Allah alone, in patience against what he met of denial and opposition and harshness.

Allah has elevated his reputation and boosted his status. His miracles are brilliant, and his evidence is so clear. He was kept victorious by a reputation, which generated fear in his enemies. His sins are forgiven. He will be the first to come out of the grave on the day of resurrection. In addition, he will be the first person to be given preemption or the power to intercede or plea for others. He will be the prophet with most followers, and the first to knock on the gates of paradise. He shall be the first to cross the path or bridge over hellfire. He was a thankful, grateful and worshipping slave to Allah. He used to stay in a prayer at night until his feet split or cracked. The most satisfying thing to him was doing prayers. He used to pray in such sincerity, submission, and obedience.

He said about himself: {By the Allmighty Allah, I am the most God fearing amongst you}. He glorified His Lord and had much respect for his creator. He never claimed to hold control over anything which he did not except for Allah. Allah says: {Say I have no control to benefit or harm myself except as Allah so wishes. Moreover, if I could tell the future or the unknown then I would have reached for the good and I would never be touched by any harm. I am just someone who brings warning and brings glad tiding to people who have faith}.

A man once said to him: as long as God and you are welling. The messenger ppbu was angry said to him: {Have you made me an equal to Allah? Just say: God welling alone}.

He used to be the most humble and down to earth person towards people, and the best person in all of them. He sat with the poor, and ate with the impoverished. He used to stitch his sandals, and he served his wife and people. He drank out of old worn out water skin, and he carried the bricks with his companions when building the walls of the mosque. He never abused servants and never gave out to them. He respected the elder and humbled with the young. If he passed children he greeted them with peace, he was playful and kind with them. He was as far as can be from vanity and arrogance. He used to say: {I am only a slave, so say (about me): Slave and messenger of Allah}.

He was generous with the soul and generous with the hand. He was liberal with his generosity. The daughter of the once pre-Islamic most generous person in the Arab history Hatim Ta-ee, His daughter said that the messenger ppbu was more generous than her father was.

He never ever said “no” to any request for anything he owned, ever. He never got upset over anything belonging to this life. He relinquished and shunned this life and worked for the next life. He once said: {What have I got to do with this life? This life and I are just like a rider who went for the shade of a tree; then went on and left it}

Months used to pass without fire being lit in his houses. And he used to spend many successive nights with him and his family can’t find a meal. Omar ebn Kuttab said: “I saw the prophet ppbu curling from hunger who couldn’t find even the worst type of dates to fill his stomach”. Coming out of his house tying a stone onto his stomach from the pain of hunger. Yet He; if he so wished; Allah would make mountains of gold and silver move towards him.

He used to be so God fearing to the point that when he was in hunger and used to find dates at his house then he used to say: {I would have eaten it if not for thinking that it might be a donation for the poor}.

He met the toughest of life, and the worst of problems. He grew up as an orphan without a motherly love. His people harmed him in words and actions. They beat him once until he lost conscience. They accused him of lunacy, accused him of practicing magic, and described him as a liar. In the cave, there was chasing and agony, fear and sadness. On the battle of Ohod they broke his premolar tooth. And cut his face until it bled. They poisoned his food, and magic was done against him by the Jew Labid ben Asem. Continuous sequences of consecutive disasters and calamities befell him. The order came from Allah the most gentle the most expert who said: {be patient just as patient as were those with great resolve of the messengers}.

Six of his children died in his lifetime. Yet he had a big heart, full of mercy. He used to minimize the prayer if he heard a child crying; in sympathy with the intense feelings of the mother from her baby’s cries.

He was complete with his wisdom, high with his morals. He never had beaten anyone with his own hand ever, Not a servant, not a child, not a woman. Only in a war in the line of Allah.

He was virtuous, pure, and full of gallantry. He was sincere to his family and companions in their life and in their memory. When he slaughtered a lamb, he sent parts of it to Khadija’s friends out of respect of her memory. He made a prayer for those killed in the battle of Ohod eight years after their death as a good-bye gesture before his departure. His morals made him inclusive to everyone. He was lenient, forgiving, and never responded with harm to a harm that was made against him. He used to forgive and pardon. Moreover, never got angry for something personal, and never made a personal revenge. He forgave those who practised magic against him. He did not reprimand or rebuke who poisoned his food. In addition, he pardoned who fought to kill him. He said to them after he conquered Mekka: {go, you are the unrestricted and the released and free}.

He was ever so easy and smiley. He always looked after his friends and checked over them. He was beautiful to live with and good to accompany or interact with. He kept in touch with his kin, and he never shunned or turned away anyone. His words always came out with respect. He never used bad language. Right through his character is natural without any pretence or put on. He commended against pretence when interacting with people. He did not like to be the target of praise or being eulogised. He offered the food he had, and he never asked anyone who couldn’t afford to give. His companions loved him tremendously. When he spoke, they listened, and when he ordered, they responded. Not one lie had ever said by him, or been recorded or reported or attributed to him. In addition, he never wronged anyone, or betrayed anyone. On the contrary, he was the most truthful of all people, and the most just, and the most fulfilling of his promises; at all stages of life, at security and fear and strength or weakness.

He praised and respected and well-treated members of his family at all times. He always stood up, welcomed his visiting daughter, and well seated her. Albaraa said: I never saw anything better than the face of the messenger of Allah ppbu. He always smelled lovely. He was always aliquant and used great and clear expressions. He ppbu said: {O people, I was given the summing of all words and their conclusions. It was summarised for me and condensed. I have come with it to you in its pure white form, do not twist the words, and do not fall for the temptation of the twisters of words}

For twenty three years he preached to worship God without laziness or boredom. He warned his nation against falling into Sherk or having partners with Allah. He guided his nation to everything good he knew. In addition, warned his nation against everything evil he knew. So, keep up his teachings, and hold on to his life style. And be warned against disobeying him, in order to be a winners in this life and life after.

Second talk

Dear Muslims, Our prophet Muhammad ppbu was a human from mankind. He felt sickness and hunger. He experienced anger and he slept. He did not have a Godly character, or anything to do with God. He was a mere messenger who delivered the message of his God. A messenger who was obeyed and not to be disobeyed. He was a slave who worshiped Allah and he was not to be worshiped. He was not to be given a Godly status. But he was not to be reduced of his high status either. Following him is a must, and obey his commands is necessary. Allah had inspired him with a religion and commanded him to follow it, and warned him from disobeying it.

Glorifying him is an obligation for each Muslim. Glorifying him is achieved by glorifying his commands and his warnings and by following his guidance and Sunnah. Obeying him brings down God’s mercies and bounties. Loving him and obeying him is given preference over the love of the parent or a child.

The happiness of a slave in both present and next lives is conditioned by sticking to his guidance. In addition, the honour or status received is in accordance to the level of following him. Success is achieved by tracing his track. Allah Himself has warned us against disobeying the commands of his messenger.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.