Following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) - A proof of one's love for Almighty Allah

O you who claim to love Allah Most High!  If you oppose Almighty Allah and His Prophet by your deeds and still claim love, then keep in mind that you are being deceived.  Take heed and follow the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and walk on His path.  Only then will you be counted among the true lovers.

 

Follow the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and revive those Sunnah which have been forgotten by the people.  Without it, you will never get peace.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Whoever revives a Sunnah revives me and whoever revives me in fact loves and whoever loves me will be with me in paradise.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also said: On the one who safeguards my Sunnah, Almighty Allah will grant him (or her) dignity in 4 ways:

 

1.    Love in the hearts of the virtuous

 

2.    Awe in the hearts of the sinners

 

3.    Increase in sustenance

 

4.    People will trust that person in matters of religion

 

Following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is a sign of true love for the Prophet of Allah.  This is because lovers love every action of the beloved.  But following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is something that requires a great deal of courage.  Doing so in this age is like clutching fire in one’s hand.  Thus, follow the Sunnah no matter what the difficulties.

 

The desire to follow the Sunnah is most sensible.  Sulook (the path to Almighty Allah) is traversed fast due to this.  The greatest Sunnah is to become aware of the diseases of the heart and to treat them every now and then.

 

Son!  Make the Sunnah a beacon of guidance in every walk of life.  To follow the Sunnah is to fulfill the rights of fellow human beings and busy oneself in the obedience of Almighty Allah.

 

When the ruler desired to assassinate Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (May Allah shower His mercy on him), he hid for 3 days and came out into the open on the 4^th day.  People told him:  O Shaykh!  The oppressors are still searching for you.  Your coming out in such a time is not judicious.  The Imam replied:  What to do brother?  I desire the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He remained in the Cave of Thaur for only 3 days.  How can I remain in hiding for more than 3 days and go against the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Don’t fall into the trap of Satan.  Indeed the mercy of Almighty Allah is very expansive, but for them who commit good deeds and obey the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  For this reason, only faith is not enough.  Good deeds and following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are also highly necessary.

 

If you desire the mercy of Almighty Allah, then come to the door of the Mercy of the Universe.  The mercy of Allah is distributed from this very door.  Who is the Mercy of the Universe?  He is Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  All the divine books are full of whose praise.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The one who befriends my Sunnah befriends me and my friend will enter paradise with me.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The one who acts upon my Sunnah is among those who are successful and the one who abandons it is from those who are bereft and my intercession is forbidden on those who abandon my Sunnah.

 

If you have the desire to remain along with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), then put up with difficulties for a few days.  Then you can be with Him for ever.  Obey the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and follow His Sunnah.  Recite Durood profusely.

 

If you have the desire to behold the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), it is a sign of perfection of faith.  Son!  Following the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to the letter and being regular in following His Sunnah is to behold the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in wakefulness.  Seeing Him in wakefulness is better than seeing Him in dreams.

 

O you who respect and revere the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  Mere respect is not enough.  Obedience is also necessary along with reverence.  Thus, all the rights of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) should be fulfilled.  What can we love and revere Him!  At least we must imitate Him.

 

O you who claim to love Allah Most High!  If you are opposing the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with your deeds then remember that you are being deceived.  Set yourself right as soon as you can and follow Him in word and deed, in manners and etiquette and you will be counted among those who truly love Allah Most High.

 [Excerpted from Mawaaiz-e-Hasana, Vol. 1]