Class 4
CONDITIONS OF THE TESTIMONY
MOHAMMADUR RASOOL ALLAH
In our previous class we read about the Conditions of La Ilaaha Ill Allah today InshaAllah we will learn about the second part of the Kalimah and the conditions of the Confession Muhammad-ur-Rasul-Allah.
The meaning of [the confession]: Muhammad-ur-Rasul-Allah (The second confession of a Muslim, which means: Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah).
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, deserves special rights, which are due only to the final Prophet and Messenger. These rights have been enjoined upon us by Allah and are part of safeguarding the perfect religion of Islam. Unfortunately many Muslims today have become confused with regard to these rights and have innovated practices that have no basis in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ himself knew that such practices would happen and warned against them, "Beware of newly invented matters [in religion, that is] for every invented matter [in religion] in a cursed innovation which leads astray." (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood) So as Muslims we must stick to giving our Prophet ﷺ his rights as commanded by Allah and stay away from the innovations that either ignore these rights or take them to extremes.
However, this is a mere submission to the orders of Allah, who sent him to all people as a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, and as one who invites to Allah (Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone) by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light (through his instructions from the Qur’an and the Sunnah- the Legal ways of the Prophet)
OUR DUTY TOWARDS THE PROPHET OF ALLAH ﷺ.
Believing him.
Believe that the Prophet ﷺ was the Messenger of Allah. That whatever he ﷺ conveyed was the truth and was from Allah. Allah said, “Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire”.
Patterning after him. (Follow his Sunnah)
Allah s.w.t said,
“Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): “If you do love Allah, then follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins’”
“You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah s.w.t a beautiful pattern (of conduct)”,
“Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): “O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah, to whom the dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs: there is no worthy god to be worshipped but He: it is He who gives both life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believed in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) you may be guided”.
It is common for most Muslims to utter their love for their Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but yet when it comes to following his guidance, they hesitate and choose to follow anything other than it. Oh muslim! Indeed the Prophet’s guidance is the best of mankind for you to follow as he used to say in his khutbah’s:
“For verily the best speech is the Book of Allaah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad.” (Saheeh Muslim)
Our beloved Prophet ﷺ would repeat these words over and over again in his speeches so as to teach his followers the importance of following his Sunnah.
Please join our free online certificate course “FORGOTTEN SUNNAHS”, to learn more about Sunnah fasts and also other forgotten Sunnahs of various aspects of a Muslim’s life. https://learn-islam.org/forgotten-sunnahs (available online now, register and learn).
Note these are not part of the ongoing course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
Decreeing his love.
Allah s.w.t said, “Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your 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 than Allah, Or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause – then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious.” (At-Tawbah: 24)
Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “Loving Allaah and His Messenger is the greatest action that faith obligates, it is the greatest tenet of faith itself and the most glorified fundamental of it. Indeed loving Allaah and his Messenger is the foundation for all deeds”.
The strength of love for the Messenger ﷺ is connected to the Muslim’s faith. When his faith increases, his love for the Prophet ﷺ increases. Loving the Prophet ﷺ is an act of obedience to Allaah and a means of drawing closer to Him. Loving the Prophet ﷺ is one of the obligatory duties in Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all the people.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 15; Muslim, 44)
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Hishaam said: We were with the Prophet ﷺ when he was holding the hand of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab. ‘Umar said to him: “O Messenger of Allaah, you are dearer to me than everything except my own self.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “No, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, not until I am dearer to you than your own self.” ‘Umar said to him: “Now, by Allaah, you are dearer to me than my own self.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “Now (you are a true believer), O ‘Umar.” (Bukhaari).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The reason why it is obligatory to love the Prophet ﷺ and venerate him more than any other person is that we cannot attain the greatest good in this world or in the Hereafter except at the hands of the Prophet ﷺ, by believing in him and following him. That is because no one can be saved from the punishment of Allaah, and the mercy of Allaah cannot reach him except by means of the Prophet, by believing in him, loving him, being loyal to him and following him. This is the means by which Allaah will save him from punishment in this world and in the Hereafter. This is the means by which he will attain what is good in this world and in the Hereafter. The greatest blessing is the blessing of faith, which can only be attained through him, and which is more beneficial than his own self and his wealth. He is the one by means of whom Allaah brings people forth from darkness into light, and there is no other way to Allaah. As for a person’s self and family, they will not avail him anything before Allaah… Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 27/246.
Please join our free online certificate course “LOVE THE PROPHET ﷺ”, to learn more about Sunnah fasts and also other forgotten Sunnahs of various aspects of a Muslim’s life. https://learn-islam.org/love-the-prophet (available online now, register and learn).
Note these are not part of the ongoing course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
Adoration of Allah the way he decreed.
This means love Allah and follow His deen the way the Prophet ﷺ showed us and not to innovate. The Prophet ﷺ said,
“He who innovates things in these affairs of ours, for which there is no valid (reason), his innovation are to be rejected.” (Sahih Bukhari)
“Every newly-invented thing is a bid’ah (innovation), every bid’ah is a going astray, and every going astray will be in the Fire.” (Reported by al-Nisaa’I, Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Maajah).
The Prophet ﷺ used to say, when beginning a khutbah (sermon): “…The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation is a going astray…” (Sahih Muslim)
Avoiding cause harm to him.
Allah s.w.t said, “Among them are men who molest the Prophet and say. “He is (all) ear.” Say (O Muhammad ﷺ), “He listens to what is best for you: he believes in Allah, has faith in the Believers and is a Mercy to those of you who believe.” But those who abuse the Prophet will have a grievance punishment.” (Surah Tawbah, 61)
In fact, the phrase ‘abuse the Prophet’ here includes: his honorable body, what he has sent by from Allah, his Sunnah, his family, his wives – the mothers of believers – and his honorable companions.
Say Salam whenever you hear the name
It is prescribed for the Muslim when hearing the name of the Prophet ﷺ is to venerate him and show respect by sending blessings and salaams upon him. This can be done by saying, “Sall Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (may Allah send blessings and peace upon him)” when we hear the name of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
“May his nose be rubbed in the dust, a man in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send blessings upon me.” (al-Tirmidhi, 3545; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
“The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send blessings upon me.” (al-Tirmidhi, 3546; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
Note: Kissing the thumb and rubbing the eyes is something that was never said by the Prophet ﷺ nor was done by any of his companions or the ones who followed them in the first three generations.
As mentioned above one of the rights of the Prophet ﷺ is to know and believe that what he ﷺ left us with, is complete and perfect and hence a what Muslim should do is to avoid innovations and beware of them; he should strive to follow the Qur’aan and Sunnah, without adding anything or taking anything away.
Durood
Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ is one of the greatest acts of worship encouraged in Islam, and it is one of the most beneficial supplications for a person in this world and the hereafter, and it is one of the requirements of loving, venerating and respecting the Prophet ﷺ and giving him his rights. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet and also His angels (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allah to bless him), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As¬Salâmu 'Alaikum)” (al-Ahzaab 33:56).
The Prophet ﷺ also urged us to do that and explained that it brings a multiple reward and that it is a means of attaining forgiveness of sins and having one’s needs met. He ﷺ said: “Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold and will erase from him ten misdeeds and raise him ten degrees in status.” Narrated by an-Nasaa’i (1297); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan an-Nasaa’i.
The virtue of sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ does not benefit the Prophet ﷺ only; rather it also benefits the one who sends blessings on him. The virtue mentioned in the hadiths quoted above and in other hadiths benefits the one who sends blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.
With regard to the ideal way of sending blessings upon the master of mankind ﷺ, there are a number of ways of doing that. Among the soundest and most well-known of these ways are the two ways to be recited during prayer.
~1~
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ،
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
“Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama salayta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed. Allaahumma baarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed
(O Allaah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibraaheem and upon the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allaah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibraaheem and upon the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory).”
(Bukhaari and Muslim).
~2~
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
“Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala azwaajihi wa dhurriyyatihi kama salayta ‘ala Ibraaheem, wa baarik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala azwaajihi wa dhurriyyatihi kama baarakta ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed
(O Allaah, send Your salaah (grace, honour and mercy) upon Muhammad and upon his wives and offspring, as You sent Your salaah upon Ibraaheem, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon his wives and offspring, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibraaheem. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious).”
(Bukhaari & Muslim).
It is better to vary the phrases used, switching between the versions that have been narrated, sometimes reciting one and sometimes reciting another, so as to follow the Sunnah and sharee‘ah and it helps keep your heart alive in prayer.
But we should point out that it is not prescribed to combine and mix these phrases so as to produce a combination of all of them in one; rather that is contrary to the Sunnah, as was stated by a number of scholars.
Shortening Durood
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar stated in Fath al-Baari (11/166) that the majority of scholars think that any wording that fulfills the purpose of sending blessings upon him is acceptable, but in the prayer one should keep to the wording that has been narrated and not omit any part of it, so as to be sure of following the Sunnah and what is narrated from the Prophet ﷺ.
So for example as part of the Morning & Evening we read a smaller version:-
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ
Allaahumma salli wa sallim 'alaa Nabiyyinaa Muhammadin.
O Allah, we ask for your peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad.
Some innovated Salaams have phrases that are prohibited
These days people have gone over board and came up with various types of Salams which has all sorts of prohibited phrases some even leading towards Shirk. For example, “ALLAHUMA SALL-E-WASALLIM ‘ALAA SAYEDINA MOHAMMADIN QAD DAQAT HEELATI ADRIKNI YA RASOOL ALLAH “ and/or like “Allahumma salli salaatan kaamilatan wasallim salaaman taamman ‘ala sayyidina muhammadin alladhi(allathi in some prose) tan’hil bihi il uq’ad· watatafarrij bih il karb· wataq’dhi bih il hawaa’ij· wa tanaal bih ir raghaa’ib· wa hasan al khawaayitam wa yastasq il ghamaam bi wajhih il kareem wa ‘ala ‘aalihi wa sah’bihi fee kulli lamhatin wa nafs”
These counts as shirk, because it is seeking the help of the Messenger ﷺ and complaining about one’s situation to him. They contain phrases which go against Islam, it attributes to him actions which cannot be attributed to anyone other than Allaah, such as meeting people’s needs, relieving distress, fulfilling their desires and granting a good end. These implies that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) can hear the call of those who call upon him in any place, and that he helps those who seek his help, and that he can relieve their distress. The Messenger ﷺ was not able to do this when he was alive, so how about after his death? He does not know the unseen, and he does not possess the power to cause harm or bring benefits to himself or to others. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings): “Say (O Muhammad): “I possess no power over benefit or hurt to myself except as Allaah wills. If I had the knowledge of the Ghayb (Unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth” (al-A’raaf 7:188)
To conclude we reiterate that lets stick to the Sunnah and what was done by the honourable companions of the prophet and we will be successful. May Allah make us all fulfil the rights of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ in a way that is accepted by Allah and is pleasing to Him and which gets us the intercession of the Prophet ﷺ on the day of Judgement.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the conditions.
Remember the Durood
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Recite atleast 3 of the Adhkaar at their recommended times as taught in Class 2. (5 Marks)
IV. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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