True Love - Reviving the Sunnah

[Source courtesy of Islamic Media, AU]

Subhan Allah. A truly beautiful sermon by Sheikh Shady Al-Suleiman that will tug at your heartstring and set your mind thinking, rather introspecting where you are in the scheme of things... Are we deserving to be called his Ummati Ummati? For the love of RasululLah SAW, may the Ummah remain united in reviving his Sunnah on a daily basis, ameen Allahuma ameen!

Quality of Ummah

[Source courtesy of Al Maghrib Institute]

Sheikh Navaid Aziz, as he unfolds the sirah of the last few days of our beloved Prophet's life, he outlined the legacy of Prophet SAW, so that we keep them in mind as we go about our daily lives:
- do not worship the Prophet SAW the way the Christians worship Jesus AS i.e. grave worship (tawhid)
- fear the day every individual willl return to Allah SWT i.e. reinstate honour, purify self on earth
- honour convenant (agreement) by holding on to al-Quran and Sunnah (straight path in era of fitan)
- hold on to your solat and that which your right hand posses i.e. zakah (consistency to purify oneself)
- die in the hope to meet Allah SWT (have hope in the mercy of Allah SWT)

Commemoration

“Say (O Muhammad): If you truly love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins” [Sural al-E-Imran: 31]

[Video courtesy of Huda TV of Sheikh Assim al-Hakeem]

A friend shared this article with me. Honestly, this is not a new problem - Some celebrate it with great devotion while some reject it with an equally great vengeance. Such differing opinions split up families, divide friendships as a result of unnecessary hurt. More importantly, it divides the Ummah. Sad isn't it?

So what is it that I'm talking about? It is Mawlid - commemorating (instead of celebrating) the birthday of our beloved Prophet SAW.

It is our prerogative to examine the facts, return to the Quran and Hadeeth about the reality regarding this. What is the history of Mawlid? If it is permissible, as mentioned by another article, what are the boundaries of Adab? If it is not persmissible, what are the justifications? Seek both perspectives fully and justly from authoritative ulama' before one speaks with wisdom about his or her position about this matter.

Read these as well and make an informed decision from there:
- Reprehensible innovations
- Abstinence from celebrations
- Yusuf al Qardhawi approves Mawlid
- Permissibility of Mawlid
- Fatwa on Celebrating Mawlid
- Commemorating Mawlid

To conclude, there is a great need to revive the Sunnah in this age of heedlessness and decadence. The birth of RasululLah SAW is a great blessing and we should express our joy by following his lifestyle perpetually.

Afternote: I appreciate the perspective of both sides. It is always with good intentions that the Ummah debate about this. It shows that we care (maslahat vs. mudarat). Personally, I'm perpetually trying to fully practice TRUE love for our beloved Prophet SAW by following closely the guidance that he brought to his Ummah. May our beloved Prophet SAW be a constant in our hearts and minds as we go about our daily deeds, insya Allah. The good comes from Allah SWT and the bad comes from me.

Bedtime Storytelling

I've always envisioned that one fine day in the near future, loving Muslim parents will read stories of our beloved Prophets at bedtime to their kids (instead of the Western Fairy Tales which does not add much value to the spiritual development of our young Ummah).

I believe every parent whose amanah is nurturing the Ummah of tomorrow hopes that his or her kids will grow up acknowledging the beautiful traits of Allah's Messengers from Prophet Adam AS to Prophet Muhammad SAW.

More importantly, instill those traits and values such that they strengthen their Adab, Islamic identity and Tawheed. Truly everything in the heavens and the earth belong to the Almighty Azza wa Jall, ameen.

Afternote: Parents can read the version by Ibnu Kathir and then simplify it according to the age of the kid and his or her level of curiosity and maturity. Or listen to these podcasts by Sacred Knowledge for inspiration :)