Almighty Allah desires the praise and extolment of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

Allah Most High says in the Holy Quran:

 

Indeed, We have sent you as an eyewitness (of the actions and the state of affairs of Umma [community] to bear testimony on the Day of Reckoning) and as a Bearer of good news and as a Warner,

 

So that, (O people,) you may believe in Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) and may help his (Din [Religion]), and revere and venerate him heart and soul, and (with that) glorify him morning and evening.

 

(O Beloved!) Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you in fact pledge allegiance to Allah alone. Allah’s hand is over their hands (in the form of your hand).  Surah Fath (48:8-10)

 

In this verse, Allah Most High addresses the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and says:  meaning that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is a witness over His own Ummah and over all the past Prophets.  Then Almighty Allah says that He gives glad tidings to the believers and admonishes the disbelievers

 

Up till here, the address was to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Then Almighty Allah addresses the Muslims and says:  We have sent Him so that you believe in Allah and His Prophet and respect and revere Him and extol His sublimity day and night.

 

O Prophet!  Those people who give their allegiance to you, they are not giving their allegiance to you, but are giving it to Allah Himself.

 

Here, we are learning something entirely new.  Almighty Allah is removing separation from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Not only is this distinction is being described, but the Muslims are ordered to respect and revere Him.  Now if somebody says that it means respect and reverence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), it is correct.  If somebody says that this is respect and reverence of Almighty Allah, this is also correct.  After this, if someone disrespects the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), it will amount to disrespect of Almighty Allah.  Thus, this is what is mentioned explicitly in the Hadith as well.

 

“The one who abuses me, abuses Allah.”

 

An abuse doesn’t mean something which people recognize as an abuse.  The aim of an abuse is to insult someone.  For this reason, anything which is said to lower the status of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is an abuse.

 

In Durre Manthoor, it is mentioned under the aforementioned verse of the Holy Quran that Hadhrat Qatadah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that Almighty Allah has ordered us to accept the leadership of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and to respect and revere Him and to reserve every kind of honor for Him and to consider Him as most noble.

 

Now think!  Allah Most High orders us to accept the leadership of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and to revere Him and in this age, some people disrespect the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) by taking the meaning of the word “Rasool” i.e. Prophet to be just a servant (!).  How much are they disobeying Almighty Allah!  Now, it becomes obligatory on Muslims to answer them and establish the excellence and superiority of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Hafidh Ibn Abdul Barr (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has written in Isti’yaab that the polytheists of Quraish would insult the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Someone told Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) that he should answer them on their behalf and insult them.  Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  If the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) permits me, I will do it.  People requested the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to permit Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Ali is not the best man for this.  Otherwise, for those who help the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with weapons, what is stopping them for using their tongue?  Hadhrat Hassaan bin Thabit (May Allah be well pleased with him) expressed his willingness.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked him:  How will you taunt them?  I am also from among them.  How will you taunt Abu Sufyan?  He is my uncle’s son.  Hadhrat Hassaan (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  I will separate you from them the way a stray hair is removed from dough.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Meet Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him).  He knows the lineages better than you.  Thus, he would go to Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) and make himself aware of the lineages (of different people).

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would have the pulpit placed in the mosque for Hassaan bin Thabit (May Allah be well pleased with him).  He would stand on it and describe the superiority and excellence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Whatever insult the disbelievers would utter, he would also answer to it.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would say:  As long as Hassaan answers the disbelievers and describes the excellence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Almighty Allah will help him through Jibreel (May peace be upon him).

 

Just see, what preparations were made by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to describe the superiority and excellence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  They way, the pulpit was placed to describe the rules of the Shariah, in the same way it was placed for this purpose.  Hassaan bin Thabit (May Allah be well pleased with him) who was the best person for this work would stand on it and would recite poetry in praise of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) like a sermon.  He would also answer the insults directed at the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and insult them in return and as long as he would busy in this, Almighty Allah would help him through Jibreel (May peace be upon him).

 

Although the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had extreme humility and magnanimity and no signs of pride could be seen in His talk and His mannerisms as is given in the books of Hadith.  But when somebody spoke ill of Him, He would be under divine decree that He shouldn’t answer it but make some other Muslim answer them.

 

Now Muslims should consider whether it is obligatory or not to answer disrespect and describe the superiority and excellence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?  Will this be considered a Sunnah or not?  Now whatever people say that the speakers instead of instructing people are only describing the excellence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and this should be changed, how can it be correct?  These Hadith tell us that as long as the speakers and authors are busy in this work, Almighty Allah will help them through Jibreel (May peace be upon him).