Loving the Final Messenger of Allah (pbuh)

By Shaykh Omar Subedar

Claiming to love a person is very easy however proving that love can sometimes be a
challenge. Today, as Muslims, it is very easy for us to declare our love for the Prophet pbuh yet
this declaration is sometimes put to question when analyzing our way of life and our daily
practices. When we observe a total contradiction between our lifestyle and the lifestyle of Allah’s
final Messenger we should ask ourselves: Am I really true to my word?  Is love just expressed
by fixing a day to celebrate the birthday of the beloved, sing a few songs in his praise and
discuss a couple of events in his life or is there more to it? The worldly renowned scholar, Qadhi
Iyaadh writes in his acclaimed book ‘Ash- Shifa’:

You should know that when a person loves someone, he gives preference to him (over all
things) and prefers what he likes. Otherwise, he is untrue in his love and is simply a claimant.

A person who has true love for the Prophet, pbuh, is he upon whom the signs of love manifest.

     The first sign of love is that he will follow him, adopt his practices, adhere to his words and
deeds, obey his commands, refrain from his prohibitions and follow his example in ease and
hardship, prosperity and adversity. Allah’s statement is testimony this, "Say: if you love Allah,
then follow me then Allah will love you
."
(3:31)

     He will prefer what the Prophet pbuh has laid down as law and encouraged, over his own
desires. Allah said, "Those who were already settled in the abode, and in belief, before
they came, love those who have emigrated to them and do not find in their breasts any
need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they
themselves are in need ." (59:9) 

     His anger against people will only be for the sake of Allah’s pleasure. Anas ibn Malik related,
"Allah’s Messenger pbuh said to me, 'My son, if you are capable of waking in the morning and
sleeping at night without having any grudge in your heart for anyone then be like this.' He then

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added, 'My son, this is part of my practice and whoever revives my practice loves me and
whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise.'" (At-Tirmidhi: 2678)

     Anyone who possesses this particular quality has perfect love for Allah and His Messenger.
Anyone slightly lacking in it is imperfect in his love, while not entirely devoid of it.

     Qadhi Iyaadh further writes: Another sign of love for the Prophet is to mention him
excessively. Whoever loves something discusses it a lot.  Another sign is to yearn meeting him
for every lover yearns to meet their beloved. When the Ash'arite clan came to Madinah, they
chanted, "Tomorrow we will meet those we love, Muhammad and his Companions!” (
Al-Bayhaqi)

      One of the signs, along with remembering him often, is to exalt him and respect him when
he is mentioned and to display humility and abasement when hearing his name. Ishaq at-Tujibi
said, "Never would the Companions of the Prophet pbuh remember him after he passed away
except that would become humble, their body would tremble and they would cry. Similar was
the state of the Tabi’een. Some of them would act like that out of love and yearning for him,
others out of respect and esteem." 

     Another sign is to love those who love the Prophet pbuh, his household and his
Companions, i.e. the Muhajireen and Ansär and to be hostile to those who show hostility
towards them and to hate those who hate them and curse them. Whoever loves anyone, loves
those he loves.

The Prophet said about Hasan and Hussein, "O Allah, I love them, so love them." In another
narration he expressed about Hasan, "O Allah, I love him, so love the one who loves him." He
also said, "Whoever loves them loves me. Whoever loves me loves Allah. Whoever hates them
hates me. Whoever hates me hates Allah." (Ibn Majah: 134)

He said, "Allah! Allah! My Companions! Do not make them targets after me! Whoever loves
them loves them due to loving me. Whoever hates them hates them due to hating me. Whoever
harms them has harmed me. Whoever harms me has annoyed Allah. Whoever annoys Allah is
about to be seized." (At-Tirmithi: 3862)

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He said about Fatima, "She is a part of me. Whoever hates her hates me." (Al-Bukhari: 3714)

He said to 'A'isha about Usama ibn Zayd, "Love him for I love him." (At-Tirmithi: 3818)

He said, "The sign of true faith is to love the Ansär and the sign of hypocrisy is have hatred for
them." (Al-Bukhari: 17 and Muslim: 74)

In a hadith related by Ibn 'Umar we find, "Whoever loves the Arabs, loves them because he
loves me. Whoever hates them hates them because he hates me." (Al-Bayhaqë). In reality,
whoever loves someone loves everything he loves. This was certainly the case with our pious
predecessors even in permissible things and personal desires.

Anas once saw the Prophet reaching for some pumpkin in the plate. He expressed, "I have
loved pumpkin ever since that day." (Al-Bukhari: 2092)

Hasan bin 'Ali, 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas and Abdullah bin Ja'far approached Salma [a servant of the
Prophet] and asked her to prepare some food for them which the Prophet liked. (Shama’il ut
Tirmithi: 179)

Ibn 'Umar began to wear leather sandals and use yellow dye when he saw the Prophet pbuh
doing so (Al-Bukhari: 5851).

     Another sign is to hate those who hate Allah and His Messenger, having enmity towards
those have enmity towards him, avoid those who oppose his practices and introduce
innovations in his Deen, and finding every matter contrary to his Shari'ah burdensome. Allah
says, "You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day who love those
who oppose Allah and His Messenger ." (58:22)

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     Qadhi Iyaadh also writes: Another sign is to have love for the Qur’än which the Prophet
brought and guided (people) with while he was guided, and whose traits he adopted to the
extent that 'Äishah said, "His character was the Qur’än." Loving the Qur’än means to recite it, to
act upon it, to understand it, to love its Sunnah and to keep within its limits.

     Sahl ibn 'Abdullah said, "The sign of loving Allah is to love the Qur’än. The sign of loving
Allah and the Qur’än is to love the Prophet. The sign of loving the Prophet is to love the
Sunnah. The sign of love of the Sunnah is to love the Next World. The sign of loving the Next
World is to have hatred for this world. The sign of having hatred for this world is that avoid
stocking any of it up except for provisions and what you need to arrive safely in the Next World."

     Ibn Mas'ud said, "No one needs to ask anything about himself except for the Qur’än. If he
loves the Qur’än, he loves Allah and His Messenger." (Al-Bayhaqë)

     One of the signs of having love for the Prophet is to be affectionate with his nation, giving
them good counsel, striving for their best interests and removing all harm from them just as the
Prophet was "compassionate, merciful with the believers." (9:128) 

       May Allah enable us to love the Prophet pbuh the way he should be loved. Ameen.

TIMELINE OF THE PROPHET’S LIFE

- 570 CE Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is born in Makkah, Arabia. His
father, Abdullah, passes away before his birth.
- 577 CE The Prophet’s pbuh mother, Aminah, passes away. He is looked after by his
grandfather, Abdul Muttalib
- 579CE The Prophet’s pbuh grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, passes away. He is then taken in
the custody of his uncle, Abu Talib, a leader of the Quraish and a merchant.
- 583CE The Prophet pbuh accompanies his uncle, Abu Talib, on a business trip to Syria.
- 595CE The Prophet pbuh marries Khadijah, a 40 year old widow
- 600CE Ali, cousin of The Prophet pbuh is born.
- 605CE Rebuilding of the Kaabah is completed by the Quraish. Fatimah, daughter of The
Prophet pbuh is born.
- 610 CE Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, receives first revelation at
Mount Hira during Ramadhan

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- 610CE - 612CE First phase of the Islamic Movement. The Prophet pbuh preaches to
friends and closest relatives. The Prophet pbuh's wife Khadejah and cousin Ali are among the
first to embrace Islam.
- 613CE The Prophet pbuh receives the command, from Allah, to preach openly to the
public, and does so from Mount Safa. This marks the beginning of the second phase of the
Islamic Movement.
- 613CE - 615CE The Makkans, who up to now, had not taken any serious notice, become
very hostile. Muslims are harassed and persecuted. Attempts are even made on the Prophet's
life. Hamzah, a brave man, and the Prophet's uncle becomes a Muslim, adding great strength to
the Islamic Movement.
- 615CE  A party of Muslims leaves for Abyssinia. (First Hijrah to Abysinnia).
- 616 CE Umar, a strong and tough person, in his late twenties, becomes a Muslim adding
greater strength to the Islamic Movement.. Second Hijrah to Abysinnia.
- 617CE The Quraish are seething at the increase in the strength of the Muslims. They plot
another assault and decide on a total boycott of the Muslims. The Muslims along with the
Prophet’s clan are then exiled to the ‘Valley of Abu Talib’.
- 620CE The boycott is terminated and everyone returns home. Year of Sorrow. Both the
Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib and wife, Khadijah, die.
The Most Difficult Day. Visit to Ta'if. Visits three important people to invite them to Islam. All
three refuse, insult him and incite street urchins to drive him out of the city.
Al-Mi'raj, on the night of 27th Rajab. The Prophet is taken to Jerusalem where he leads the
other prophets (May Allah Be Pleased With Them) in prayer, and from there ascends to the
heavens. He is then shown Paradise and hell. The five times daily prayers are ordained.

- 621 CE First Covenant of Al-Aqabah. 12 people from Madinah accept the Prophet's call
to Islam and sign a pledge in which they agree to obey Allah, not commit murder, adultery or
steal.
- 622 CE Second Covenant of Al-Aqabah. This time 73 people take up the pledge,
including 2 women.
Hijrah.The Prophet pbuh commands the Makkan Muslims to migrate to Madinah, and after
they are safely there migrates himself to establish the first Islamic state. The Islamic Calendar
begins from this date.
Treaty with the Jews is signed. The Jews, however, did not live up to it and later betrayed
it.
Masjidun Nabi (The Prophet's Mosque) is constructed.
Retaliation against enemies is permitted after years of tolerance and patience.
Athan and Zakah introduced.
- 624 CE, 2 A.H The Qiblah is changed from Bait ul-Maqdis to Al-Kaabah.
Sawm (fasting) prescribed. Ramadhan set as the month of fasting.          Battle of
Badr.
Muslims come out triumphant, even though the Muslims were outnumbered 3 to 1, and were not
as well equipped as the Makkans.
Marriage of Ali and Fatimah. 1st restriction on drinking wine revealed.
- 625 CE, 3 A.H Battle of Uhud. Makkans plan revenge on the Muslims. Muslims are
initially victorious however the tables turn because of the disobedience of some archers who left
their posts to collect some of the booty.

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Revelations about Riba (interest) and laws concerning orphans, inheritance, marriage and
rights of wives. Revelations about Hijab (veil) for women and the prohibiton of drinking wine.

- 627 CE, 5 A.H

Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq.
Revelations about laws of adultery and slander.
Battle of AhzabThe Prophet on hearing that the Makkans are launching an offensive
against Madinah, orders trenches to be dug around the city. The enemy force, when it arrives at
Madinah, cannot gain entrance and waits for 4 weeks and then leaves..
- 628 CE, 6 A.H The Hudaibiyah Agreement is signed in which the Muslims are allowed
into Makkah the following year and ten years of peace is agreed.
Khalaid Bin Walid and Amr Ibnul As, two great generals, become Muslims.
- 629 CE, 7 A.H The Prophet Muhammad sends emissaries to the Roman Emperor, the
Persian Emperor, the Ruler of Egypt, the King of Abyssinia, the Chiefs of Syria and other
leaders, inviting them to Islam.
Battle of Khaibar.
The Prophet performs the postponed Umrah.
Revelation about laws concerning marriage and divorce.
- 630 CE, 8 A.H Conquest of Makkah. The Hudaibiyah Agreement invalidated by the
Makkans. The Quraish do not have enough power to stop the Muslims, as all the top generals
are on the Muslims side. The Muslim army enters Makkah without incident.
Abu Sufyän embraces Islam and is granted an unconditional pardon.
The Prophet pbuh declares general amnesty for the entire community of Makka.
Battle of Hunain.
Siege of Ta'if.
- 631 CE, 9 A.H
                                                                            
                                                                 Battle
of Tabuk
.
Revelation ordering Jiziah (protection tax on minorities).
Hajj prescribed. 
- 632 CE, 10 A.H The Prophet pbuh delivers his farewell speech at Arafat before about
120,000 Muslims.
The Prophet pbuh passes away, in Madinah.

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