All praise is for Allah. We praise Him and seek His help and His forgiveness and we believe in Him and rely on Him. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our selves and the vices of our deeds. There is none to let go astray whom Allah guides and there is none to guide whom Allah lets go astray. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah Alone. He has no partner. I also bear witness that our sire, and our Prophet and our Master, Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. May Almighty Allah send on him on his household and on his Companions his mercy and bless them and send them peace in abundance.
In the messenger of Allah there is a beautiful model for such of you who hopes in Allah and Last Day and remembers Allah a great deal. (33:21)
The Discourse about the Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] is a means to great Blessing
The twelfth of Rabi’ul-Awwal of the Islamic month has assumed the status of regular celebration and festival in our society, in our country and in the Indo-Pak sub-continent. No sooner does the month of Rabi’ul-aw-wal arrive than an endless chain of Seerat (Biography of the Prophet ) and his Birth-Day celebrations commence. Discourses held on the subject of the biography of the Holy Prophet are obviously, the highest source of blessings for the believers. The difficulty however, in our society is that we confine these blessed and enlightening discourses and speeches only to the month of Rabi’ul-Awwal, rather, only to the twelfth day of this month. This practice is justified by saying that these celebrations are held on this date because this is the date of the blessed arrival of the Holy Prophet in this world.
While doing all this we forget to consider what are the teachings of the revered personality of the Prophet on whose sacred biography seminars are being held and whose sacred birth-day is being celebrated. Do the Prophet’s teachings contain any hint at the desirability of following such practices?
A Great Event of Human History
No Muslim can have a doubt that the event of the birth of the Holy Prophet is the most splendid, blissful and blessed of all the phenomena that ever occurred on the surface of the earth. It was due to this unprecedented phenomenon that the humanity received the light of the Holy Prophet’s teachings and the blessings of his unique personality. If Islam had allowed the celebration of the birth-day of any person, then the birth-day of the Holy Prophet would have been the greatest celebration and the fittest occasion to be declared as an Eid (a joyous festival). The fact, however, is that after having been graced with the Prophetic mission, the Holy Prophet lived in this world for twenty three years and witnessed the day of his blessed birth every year but he never thought of celebrating this day as a festival, as people do nowadays It also never occurred in the mind of any of his Noble Companions ii that they should celebrate the birthday of the Holy Prophet with any zeal and fervor.
The Twelfth of Rabi’ui Awwal and the Companions [radhiallaahu anhum]
After leaving behind about one and a quarter Lakh (1,25,000) loyal Companions, the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] left this world. The Noble Companions were so faithful, loving, true and devoted that they were ready to sacrifice even their lives for every breath of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. You will however, not find a single Companion who ever took care to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday by holding meetings, taking out processions, burning candles or decorating places with flags and doing such other acts of merriment. Why did the Noble Companions not care to do so? This is only because Islam is not, like other religions a religion of customs and festivals. The very existence of other religions depends on observing some rites, customs and formal traditions. On the other hand, Islam is a practical religion in which every Muslim is called upon to live his entire life up to the principles of Islam, reform in his conduct, guarding himself against sins and follow in the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. It is his life long duty from birth till death.
The Origin of Christmas
The idea of celebrating birthdays has crept into our society from the Christians. The birthday of Hazrat Eesa (Jesus Christ) is celebrated in the name of Christmas every year on 25th of December. If you go into the records of history you will find that none thought of celebrating the birthday of Hazrat Eesa (alayhimus salaam) at least for about three hundred years since the date of his ascension. None of his helpers and companions ever celebrated his birthday. This Bidah (Innovation) was started three hundred years after his leaving the world, by a section of the Christians. Even at that time the true Christians objected to this innovation on the ground that there was no hint in the teachings of Prophet Jesus (alayhimus salaam) at such celebration. The innovators replied by asserting that there was no harm in this, as during such celebrations and gatherings the Prophet (alayhimus salaam) would be remembered along with his teachings and this would induce the people to follow them. On the basis of such flimsy arguments this Bidah started.
The present Condition of Christmas
In the beginning the Christians used to assemble in a Church and a priest addressed them on the topic of the life and teachings of Hazrat Eesa (alayhimus salaam) and then the assembly would disperse. This innovation started in a harmless and innocent way. Later on they felt that it lacked the colour and glamour. To give it colour and jubilation they added to these innocent celebrations music and recitations of poems and with the passage of time merry-making musical concerts, dancing, even drinking gambling, etc., became the hail mark of this celebration. Thus, all immoral activities and festivities came to the foreground driving into the background the teachings of Hazrat Eesa (alayhimus salaam).
The Fate of Christmas
You may be unaware of the havoc played by this so-called Christmas in the western countries. The wine consumed on this one day exceeds the quantity consumed during full one year. Fatal accidents, rape cases and other evils that occur on this day far surpass the number of casualties and such crimes during the entire year.
The Beginning of the Meeladun Nabi
Almighty Allah is well-Aware of the psychology and weaknesses of man. He knew that if the slightest hint was given to him about celebrating someone’s birthday, he would make a great fuss out of it. So He left no hint for man in this regard. It is very unfortunate that what happened to “Christmas” also happened to the twelfth day of the Rabi’ul-Awwal. This Bidah was originated by some king in imitation of “Christmas” celebrations to commemorate the birthday of Hazrat Eesa (alayhimus salaam). In the beginning the celebrations of the twelfth Rabi’ul-aw-wal were simple. They contained only some speeches on the Prophet’s biography and the recitation of a few eulogistic poems (Naat). Now think for yourself how formidable form this Bidah has assumed.
This is like a Hindu Festival
It must be admitted that as a miracle of the Holy Prophet even after the passage of fourteen centuries, matters concerning the celebrations of his birth-day, have not yet reached the level of the unbridled festivities of the “Christmas”. Despite this, paper and wooden structures of the Prophet’s mausoleum and of the Ka’bah are set up on the roads and people are seen going round this artificial Ka’bah. Look also at the extensive recordings, expensive illumination of houses and mosques with multi-coloured flags. In all respects these resemble the Hindu and Christian celebrations and have nothing to do with the prophet’s birth-day and biography.
This is not an Islamic practice
The worst of this Bidah is being done in the name of Deen (Faith) and in the sacred name of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. This is being done in the hope that these activities will bring great credit and reward from Allah. They think that by lighting their streets, their houses and mosques on this day they have paid their due homage to the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. If you complain to them about their apathy to Deen they will reply that they celebrate the Prophets birthday, decorate every nook and corner with illuminations and take out processions on this occasion in order to pay tributes to the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. This is not the way of Islam, nor that of the Holy Prophet nor of his Noble Companions [radhiallaahu anhu]. If there had been any good in such celebration then Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hazrat Umar Farooq Hazrat Usman Ghani and Hazrat Ali Murtaza would never have missed these virtues if they were of any notice.
What was the objective of Prophetic Mission?
The Noble Companions did not believe in assemblies and processions, illuminations, flags and decorations. The distinctive feature of their lives was that they had moulded their lives on the pattern of the Holy Prophet’s life and had fully imbibed the essence and spirit of his beautiful teachings. Every day that dawned on them and every moment of their lives was for them a day or moment of the Prophet’s Seerah (the Prophet’s biography). Every thing they did, reflected the Prophet’s Sunnah. They knew full well that the Holy Prophet had not been sent to this world to popularise the celebration of his birthday, nor to have his own praise sung in eulogistic poems (Naat) composed and recited in his praise – no nothing of this sort. It is well known that the unbelievers of Makkah offered to make him their richest man, to give him in marriage the hand of the most beautiful damsel of Arabia or even to appoint him their king on the only condition that he [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] relinquished the preaching of his new faith. If the Holy Prophet had the slightest inclination towards these offers he would have readily accepted them for the sake of worldly power, fame and authority. What was the Prophet’s reaction to these attractive offers? His famous reply was:
“I am not going to relinquish my divine mission of preaching Allah’s Deen even if you place the sun on my one hand and the moon on the other.”
Was it the aim of his mission to enforce the celebration of his birthday? The aim of his mission has been mentioned in the Qur’an in the following words: “in the messenger of Allah there is a beautiful model for such of you as looks for Allah and the last Day and remembers Allah a great deal.” (3321)
Thus this verse makes quite clear the divine intention of the Prophetic mission.
Man needs a model to follow
What is the need of a model when Almighty Allah has revealed His Book (the Qur’an) which we can study and follow its injunctions? It is because man, by his very nature, is incompetent to reform himself or to learn some art or trade only by reading books. Almighty Allah has so constituted man’s nature that he must have before his eyes the practical demonstration of a teacher and a model to follow for learning any art or trade.
The “House Job” is compulsory for a new Doctor
If a man commits the folly of taking up the medical profession only by studying books on the medical subject he is doomed to fail in his practice: he can but cause only death and casualties to humanity.
It has, therefore, been prescribed as an international law that a man who passes the M.B.B.S. examination cannot practice as a physician, unless he undergoes a practical training in some hospital for a prescribed period, and observes during this period the practical medication and operations performed on patients under the guidance and supervision of some expert and experienced medical professors or surgeons. This is necessary because he has so far studied the medical science only in books and through class lectures, but he has not yet learnt how to put into practice his book knowledge. He must, therefore, undergo a thorough practical training before he can be given license to practice as a physician or a surgeon.
One cannot prepare stew by reading a book n cookery
Books are available in the market on the art of cooking with detailed recipes for preparing various dishes. If there is a man who has never cooked but wants to cook a dish, say of “stew”, by reading the relevant recipe in the book lying open before him, he cannot succeed in preparing the desired dish. He can, however, prepare his desired dish under the instructions and practical demonstration of an expert cook.
The Book alone is not sufficient
Thus, it seems that Almighty Allah has so devised and moulded man’s disposition that he cannot take the right course without the practical model of an experienced guide, nor can he learn or practice any art or trade without guidance. That is exactly why Almighty Allah evolved the system of sending to the world Prophets and Messengers (alayhimus salaam) to provide practical demonstration as to how to put into practice the divine injunctions, as this could not be possible only by reading the divine scriptures. Thus Allah sent the last Prophet Muhammad to serve as a perfect model for complying with the Qur’anic injunctions.
The Light of the Prophet’s teachings is needed
How nicely has the Holy Qur’an expressed this idea in another place! “A light and a clear Book has come to you from Allah”. (5:15)
There is an indication in this verse that if a man has a book, but has no light, whether sunlight, electricity or candle light, he cannot benefit from the contents of the book. If a man has sources of natural or artificial lights but is blind, he too, cannot receive any benefit from books. In the same way Allah sent along with the Qur’an, the guiding light of the Holy Prophet Muhammad without which you can neither fully understand the injunctions contained in the Qur’an, nor can you comply with them according to Allah’s will.
The teachings of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] are themselves light
Some ignorant and inconsiderate people interpret the above quoted Qur’anic verse to mean that the Holy Prophet was not a man in his personal capacity but was a “Light”. Just think, what is the worth of these electric and other artificial lights as compared with the light of the teachings of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]? This verse is telling us that the teachings of the Holy Prophet are a kind of light in which you can understand and follow rightly the injunctions of the “Clear Book”, that is the Qur’an. Allah sent His Messenger [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] to this world that the light of his teachings may provide a practical explanation and demonstration of the Book of Allah before you. For this pulpose Allah has made the Prophet’s life a complete model, the like of which humanity is unable to produce. You have been commanded to see and follow this model.
The Prophet’s life provides a model for every walk of life
If you are a father, then see how Hazrat Fatimah’s father behaved. If you are a husband, be like the husband of Hazrat ‘Ayesha and if you are a Ruler, then see how the ruler of Madinah ruled over his territory. If you are a labourer, see how the shepherd of Makkah tended his goats on the hills of Makkah. If you are a trader see how the Holy Prophet carried on his trade in Syria. The Prophet was a businessman, a farmer, a labourer, a politician a ruler and a social being. There is no walk of life for which the Prophet’s life does not serve as a perfect model. It is the will of Almighty Allah that men should observe that model and follow it. Allah did not send the Holy Prophet that the people should celebrate his birthday by means of joyous gatherings and processions and then think that they have paid thJr dues to Allah and His Prophet by indulging in these activities. The Holy Prophet was sent to the world that he should be followed and obeyed as did his Noble Companions
An etiquette for Assemblies
The Noble Companions [radhiallaahu anhu] always remained in search of ways and means of following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. It was not a joke to become a Companion of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. Once the Holy Prophet was delivering a sermon in his mosque. He saw that some men were standing on the sides of the mosque, as persons generally do on such occasions in our times also. This is against the etiquettes of an assembly not to take their seats in the assembly nor leave the place. Such behaviour distracts the attention of the speaker.
An Example of Obedience
The Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] asked the people to sit down. At that moment, Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood [radhiallaahu anhu] was at the door and had not yet entered the mosque. Hearing the Prophet’s words he a sat down at the door. When he met the Holy Prophet he told Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood [radhiallaahu anhu] that he had asked those to sit down who were standing on the sides of the mosque and not him, as he was at the door. Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood replied saying: When the Prophet’s order to sit reached my ears I had no courage to take a step forward.
It is not that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood did not understand the real aim of the Prophet’s order to sit. He knew it very well but his fondness and love to obey the Prophet were so deep rooted that he dared not ignore the order. It is one thing to make empty claims of love and loyalty and quite another thing to have in the heart true love and loyalty for the Holy Prophet . (Ahu Dawud. Book of Friday)
Maintenance of Etiquette on the Battlefield
In the battlefield of Uhud, Hazrat Abu Dujanah [radhiallaahu anhu] saw that arrows were being shot at the Holy Prophet. Hazrat Abu Dujanah wanted to become a protecting shield for the Holy Prophet against those arrows. His difficulty was that if he turned his chest against the arrows he would have to turn his back towards the Holy Prophet which he did not like. So he stopped the bunch of arrows on his back, keeping his chest towards the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. He took care to ensure that he did not commit the slightest disrespect towards the Holy Prophet even in a battlefield.
An incident of Hazrat Umar Farooq
Once Hazrat Umar Farooq [radhiallaahu anhu] took up residence in a house quite far off from the Prophet’s mosque. On account of distance he could not visit the Prophet’s mosque for prayer frequently. He, therefore, arranged with one of his neighbours that each of them would go to the Prophet’s mosque on alternate days and relate to his companion what he heard from the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam], so that each would, by this arrangement, remain fully informed of the Holy Prophet’s sayings. Thus did the Noble Companions devote themselves even to the smallest items of the Prophet’s directions and teachings.
I cannot relinquish my master’s sunnah
On the occasion of the Treaty of Hudaiybiah Hazrat Usman Ghani [radhiallaahu anhu] went to Makkah as an emissary of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. In Makkah, he stayed at the house of his cousin. When he left his place in the morning for the place of the conference with the leaders of Makkah, his trousers were above his ankles reaching up to the half of his shins. The Holy Prophets order about this is that it is unlawful to hang the trousers below the ankles. The Prophet’s own practice was to keep the trousers up to half of his shins; not lower than that. The cousin of Hazrat Usman Ghani told him that it was a mark of honour and dignity among the Arab dignitaries to let their trousers or loin clothes hang down below the ankles. He, therefore, suggested to Hazrat Usman Ghani to lower his trousers below the ankles, otherwise the leaders of Makkah would look down upon him and the result of the conference might be affected adversely. On hearing this advice of his cousin Hazrat Usman Ghani gave this decisive reply:
“No, I cannot lower my trousers, because the trousers of my master remain like that.”
He did not care at all how the leaders of Makkah would behave with him. He would under no circumstances give up the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. That was not possible for him.
Should I give up the Sunnah of Holy Prophet for the sake of these fools
Hazrat Huzaifah ibn Yaman is the conqueror of Iran. When Iran was attacked its Ruler, khosroe, invited him to his court for negotiations. When he entered the court, food was served to him as a mark of entertainment, which he began to eat. During eating a morsel of the food fell down on the ground. It is the teaching of the Holy Prophet that on such occasions the morsel should be picked up, cleansed and eaten, as it is God’s gift of sustenance and none knows which part of the food contains Allah’s blessing. When Hazrat Huzaifah intended to take up the fallen morsel from the ground, a man sitting by his side tried to stop him from that act, as it might degrade him in the eyes of the King and his courtiers. In reply Hazrat Huzaifah uttered this wonderful sentence: “Should I give up the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet for the sake of these fools?”
I cannot do that, irrespective of what the Iranians thought of him.
He reduced Khosroe’s Pride to dust
Now consider! Did this Noble Companion attain honour by following the Prophet’s Sunnah or are we attaining honour by giving up this sacred Sunnah? He picked up the fallen morsel from the ground and ate it in compliance with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and at the same time by bending with disgrace the proud head of Khosroe, he realised this prophecy of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]: “The day Khusroe perishes there will be no Khosroe after him.”
We all know how Khosroe’s name was effaced from the surface of the earth. (sahih Bukhari. signs of Prophet food )
I shall not give up my usual dress
It happened prior to this event that when Hazrat Huzaifah bin Yaman and Hazrat Rub’i bin ‘Amir proceeded for the negotiations and entered Khosroe’s palace, they were in their usual flowing robes which might have possibly become soiled during their long journey. Seeing them in this unworthy dress the gatekeeper stopped them from entering the Court and gave them official cloaks to put on before appearing before the Emperor. Hazrat Rub’i bin ‘Amir [radhiallaahu anhu] refused to change his dress and said if the Emperor could not tolerate to give him an audience in his own dress he too was not anxious to see the Emperor and would prefer to go back.
A Dialogue with a Courtier
The gatekeeper sent words inside the palace telling that strange persons had arrived who were not prepared to accept a better cloak. In the mean time Hazrat Rub’i bin ‘Amir was repairing the broken part of his sword which was wrapped up with pieces of cloth. The gatekeeper desired to see the sword which was handed over to him. On looking at it the gatekeeper said tauntingly Are you going to conquer Iran with such a sword? Hazrat Rub’i bin ‘Amir [radhiallaahu anhu] replied: “So far you have seen only the sword; you have not yet seen the hand that will use this sword”. The gatekeeper desired to see the hand also. Hazrat Rub’i bin ‘Amir asked him to procure the strongest shield available. The strongest iron shield was prought which, it was believed, no sword could cut or break. A man stood with that shield before Hazrat Rub’i bin Amr. He struck the shield with his sword with such force that it was broken into two pieces. The people present there to see the test were amazed at the strength of Hazrat Rub’i bin ‘Amir’s arm and wondered what kind of men they were.
It is they who conquered Iran
Thereafter, the gatekeeper sent words to the Emperor, telling him that a strange people had arrived who refused to put on the Emperor’s official robe and one of them had cut in two the strongest shield with a broken sword. At last they were called in.
It was the custom of Khosroe’s court that he was sitting on his throne, while his courtiers remained standing before him. Hazrat Rubi bin Amir told Khosroe that they followed the teachings of the Holy Prophet, Muhammad who disliked the custom of one man sitting, while the rest were standing before him. They could, therefore, not take part in the negotiations, unless arrangements were made for all to sit or Khosroe too stood up like others.
When Khosroe saw that they were insulting him he ordered them to be sent away with a basket full of dust placed on the head of the leader. The Emperor’s order was obeyed at once. While leaving Khosroe’s court with the basket of dust on his head, Hazrat Rub’i bin ‘Amir spoke these words: O Khosroe! Remember that you have gifted to us the dust of Iran. The people present there who heard those words thought that it was a very bad omen. They, therefore, sent their men to get back the basket of dust, but Hazrat Rub’i bin ‘Amir could not be overtaken. This is because Almighty Allah had ordained that those people with broken swords were the custodians of Iran’s soil.
Why are the Muslims humiliated today?
It is the Noble Companions of the HolyProphet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] who subjugated the world as a result of their unflinching compliance with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. Today we feel ashamed in acting upon the Sunnah of the Prophet, and we think that if we comply with Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, the people of the world, including the English, the French, etc. will laugh at us. The obvious result is that we Muslims have lost our prestige and are being ridiculed and humiliated everywhere.
Today, the Muslims make one-third of the world population and they are larger in number and richer in material resources than they were ever before. The Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] had, however, prophesied that a time would come when the Muslims would be in a large number, yet they would be like straws floating on the surface of flood water, Today we have gone down to a position in which we have sacrificed everything to please our enemies. We have given up our characterour good deeds and have altered our appearances and form, in fact everything from head to feet to show that we are their slaves. Even then they are not pleased with us. How disgraceful it is for the Muslims that they are being constantly smitten by one nation or another! It must be borne in mind that when a Muslim turns his back on the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet he should expect nothing except humiliation and disgrace.
Do not be afraid of being laughed at
Asad Multani [ra] was a good poet who has composed very good poems full of wisdom and wise morals.
The meaning of these lines, in a nut shell, is that the more you feel afraid of being laughed at by the people, the more they will laugh at you. On the other hand, if you will place your head at a highly raised threshold of someone high your head will, in spite of being lowered down, remain at a higher level.
Thus, if you place your head at the feet of the Holy Prophet and follow his sunnah you will achieve honour, dignity and authority.
A believer is bound to follow the Sunnah
A question is frequently asked. It is alleged that we have been doomed to disgrace and humiliation for having abandoned the Sunnah. As against this, the unbelievers of the advanced countries of America, Europe and also some eastern countries are enjoying-honour, peace and power and worldly gifts of life. Whose Sunnah are these unbelievers following?
The answer to this question is not far to seek. Almighty Allah has granted you, by His mercy, the wealth of Iman and you have pronounced the Kalimah (Article of Faith) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. So, you will not be safe from being smitten and disgraced, unless you surrender yourself completely to Allah and follow sincerely and submissively His Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. As for the unbelievers, they have no share in the bounties and blessings of the Hereafter. If they are placed in authority, wealth, honour and progress in this world, you should not apply their analogy to yourself. Just go through the pages of history encompassing these fourteen centuries. You will surely find that as long as the Muslims complied with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam], they enjoyed, Power, Authority, Honour and Grandeur. They however, went down the abyss of humiliation want and poverty when they relinquished the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam].
Review your own life
We all take part in religious gatherings and listen to sermons, yet it hardly brings any change in our lives. Let us resolve today to review what are the Sunnah acts which we are doing and those which we are ignoring. Which are those acts of the Sunnah which we can start immediately and those which call for a little time. The acts which we can start immediately must be started from today. As for acts which call for time, we should give them that time so as to be able to start them as early as possible.
Become a Beloved of Allah
Our Dr. Abdul Hayi Sahib used to advise us that, while going to the toilet, we should enter it first with the left foot and recite this Du (supplication): “O Allah I seek refuge with you from wickedness and wicked spirits.”
While reciting this, form the intention in your heart that you are doing this in compliance with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. By so doing you will become a beloved of Allah because Allah has said in the Holy Qur’an:
“(O Prophet! [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] say): If you follow me Allah will love you”. (3:31)
Thus, if man forms the habit of doing small acts of Sunnah he will be taken into the attribute of belovedness and when he becomes a perfect follower of the Sunnah he will become a perfect beloved of Allah.
Dr. Abdul Hayi Sahib related to us a practice of his in this way: When food was brought before him, he liked the food and was also feeling hungry, but he reframed for a moment from taking that food. The next moment he remembered the sacred Sunnah of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] that when, delicious food was placed before him [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam], he would thank Allah then take the food. Following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet 4, Dr. Sahib also took the food placed before him. By taking his food in this way he comp1ied with the Sunnah, satisfied his hunger and, what is more he became a beloved of Allah.
Follow this practice
While entering your house. You see that a child is playing and you feel inclined to take it up in your lap, but you refrain for a moment from taking the child up. The next moment you remember that the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] was very fond of, and kind to, children and he used to pick them up in his lap. Thinking all this you too take up the child in your lap in compliance with the Prophets’ practice. This act of yours will make you beloved of Allah. There is no act in this world in which one cannot make the intention to follow the Prophet’s sunnah. A book named uswa-e-rasool-e-akram has been published and is readily available. Get a copy of it, keep it before you and with its help introduce the Sunnah in your life gradually and one by one. In a few days you will be able to realize the light of the Sunnah. In this way every day of your life will become a seerah Day of the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam].
May Allah help us all to act on these lines. Aameen.
