Likewise, in another verse of the Holy Qur’aan, Allah Ta‘ala declares, “They shall never be believers until they make you the judge in all their affairs wherein they dispute among themselves, and they find no resistance in their hearts against your decision, but accept your decision with full submission.” (Surah Nisaa v.65) In this verse of the Holy Qur’aan, Allah Ta‘ala informs the ummah that in order for one to be a believer, he has to wholeheartedly accept Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and make him the deciding factor in all aspects of life.
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the greatest of Allah’s Ta‘ala creation, it is undoubtedly the greatest honour for every ummati of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to be linked to him. Furthermore, Allah Ta‘ala has made Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) the source of hidaayat (guidance) for humanity at large, for it was none other than Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) who had shown us the path of guidance and conveyed the entire deen of Islam to us, through which we can earn success in this world and eternal bliss and salvation in the Hereafter.
When one studies the mubaarak life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he will realize the deep and intense love which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had for not only his family and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), but for each and every ummati. The perpetual concern and overwhelming anxiety that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had for the hidaayat of every ummati is inconceivable.
Generally, a person will honour and show importance to people according to their positions and the favours that he enjoys from them. Hence, one will show utmost respect and honour to his parents on account of their love for him and the favours which he enjoys through them. However, the ultimate favour and bounty that every ummati enjoys is that of Deen, as Deen is the basis of eternal success and salvation, and it is only through Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that we have gained this bounty. Therefore, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had the greatest love for us, and he is our greatest benefactor, then the greatest love, obedience and submission ought to be shown to him.
Among the rights that we owe to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is that we love him the most, believe and accept everything that he has brought to us, and we lead our lives in total obedience and conformity to his mubaarak Sunnah.
Through his mubaarak sunnah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) taught us how to transform our worldly affairs and activities into acts of ibaadah which will be a means of pleasing Allah Ta‘ala and a source of mercy to mankind. Every person needs to eat, drink, sleep, conduct business, socialize and fulfil other needs in order to exist in the world. However, through carrying out these mundane activities in accordance to the sunnah, one will gain reward and the proximity of Allah Ta‘ala and His beloved Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
In these times of fitnah, where deen is under constant attack, through holding onto the mubaarak sunnah, one will safeguard one’s deen and receive the reward of one hundred martyrs. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who holds onto my sunnah, at the time of fitnah and fasaad, will receive the reward of one hundred martyrs.” (Al Targheeb wat Tarheeb #65)
Through the grace and fadhl of Allah Ta‘ala, we have decided to commence a series on the Shamaa’il (the noble character and sublime conduct) of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) from the Shamaa’il of Imaam Tirmizi (rahimahullah) and the other similar compilations of Hadith that deal with this topic. The purpose of discussing the Shamaa’il is to increase our love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), to emulate every aspect of his Mubaarak life and to give preference to his sunnah over every other way in all worldly and deeni matters.
We make du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala to accept this effort and crown it with success.