Sunday, February 5, is the 12th of Rabi-ul-awwal, the third Islamic month — the day Prophet Mohammad was born. Muslims celebrate this day and view it as a great blessing that God has conferred on humanity, for the Quran declares him as rahmat al alameen, mercy for the all the worlds.
All over the world, Muslim communities celebrate the occasion with milads, gatherings that honour the Prophet by reflecting on his life and teachings. It is a way of reconnecting with the Prophet’s message, turning away from oneself and towards the Lord.
The Quran confirms his role as both bashar, the harbinger of glad tidings, and nadhir, one who warns. “O Prophet! Truly We have sent thee as a Witness, a Bearer of Glad Tidings, and Warner.” (33:45) He is then called siraj un munir, a lamp of divine radiance. “And as one who invites to Allah’s (grace) by His leave, and as a lamp spreading light.” (33:46)
The Prophet emerged as an Arabic voice denouncing Arab ways, enduring extreme persecution from his own people. By endangering himself he gave them one of the great monotheistic gifts, the duty of collective self-criticism. “Speak the truth,” he said, “though it be against yourselves.” God will only restore the believers “fortunes” when they put themselves right.
The principle of divine justice should compel those who believe in God to blame themselves for their own misfortunes, rather than looking for external culprits.
Prophet Mohammad said: “None of you believes until he loves me more than he loves his children, his parents, himself and all people.” Devout Muslims will never utter the name of Prophet Mohammad without following it with a durood, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, (May peace be upon him). The tradition is based upon a Prophetic saying, “Whoever utters a blessing for me is blessed by the angels as often as he recites the blessing, be it often or rarely.”
When Muslims read the durood o salaam (blessings and salutations to the Prophet), they believe it to be the sole action that they share with God and the celestial beings. “Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.” (33:56)
Unfortunately, stereotyping of Muslims and negative writings on Islam has resulted in a lack of appreciation of its history and culture; particularly in the understanding of the passion and veneration Muslims have for their Prophet. Some writers write derogatorily of the Prophet with an arrogant indifference. Such writers present dramatic examples of the extremes to which an image can be destroyed, corrupted and then popularised globally. Instead of confrontationist attitudes, we need to work towards developing mutual respect amongst people of different faiths.
Sadia Dehlvi is a Delhi-based writer and author of Sufism: The Heart of Islam. She can be contacted at
sadiafeedback@gmail.com
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/sadia-dehlvi-624
