THE PERFECT EXAMPLE

Praise be to Allah, the lord of the worlds, the sustainer of the heavens and earth, the disposer of the affairs of all creation who honoured man with the best prophet. I praise and thank Him for His grace and honour and beseech Him for more. I testify there is no god but Allah alone, the compassionate, the merciful, the generous, the Perpetual Forgiver. I testify that our leader- Muhammad (pbuh) is his servant and messenger, his beloved and chosen one among his creation, the leader of the children of Adam. He is the leader of the messengers, the seal of prophets, the mercy offered to the universe, the illuminating lamp. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his household, companions and whoever follows them till the day of recompense. Having said that, Dear Muslims, I enjoin you and I to adorn the fear of Allah and obedience to the sunnah- ways of the Prophet. Allah commanded these, without confinement to time or season or occasion. Allah says: { لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً } (الأحزاب:21). " There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. " (33: 21) . Allah says: Sheikh Yusuf Qardawi mentioned in one of his Friday sermons in Rabiul-Awwal that anytime the month of Rabiul- Awwal sets in people remembers the anniversary of the birth of the greatest being- Prophet Muhammad … people are of different disposition towards the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh). Our disposition to the birthday anniversary is not like the attitude of the ignorant persons, not the placement of embellishments, or the hanging of decorative banners, or distribution of sweets, rather our commemoration is that to remember the Prophet, live in his remembrance, remember his history, message, …” The Personality of the Prophet The talk about the Prophet (pbuh) gives a beautiful feeling, it creates an atmosphere of sweet-scentedness for the hearts to taste. The commissioning of the Prophet (pbuh) took humanity from darkness to light, from loss to guidance, and from grief to tranquility. The perfect model for humanity We are under constrains to enlist in details the personality of the Prophet (pbuh) except the excerpt. The Prophet (pbuh) was a leader, a king, a merchant, an admonisher, a giver of glad tiding, a judge, a governor, an orator, an arbiter, a reformer, a refuge of the orphans, a protector of the slaves, a liberator of women, a faithful husband, an affectionate father, a generous neighbour, a devoted worshipper, an ascetic. The Prophet combined all these qualities in every field of humanity in balanced proportion. An illustration of the reality of an orphan The state of an orphan depicts the zenith of weakness and loss of solution. The Prophet began his life as an orphan, the father died when his pregnancy was just two month old and the mother gave up the ghost when he attained age six. He tasted the bitterness in detachment from fatherly and motherly affection. Allah says: ({الم يجدك يتيما فئاوى }( الضحى 6)) “Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?” (93:6) From the state of orphan, he was thrown in to the life of an oppressed refugee in the household of Abu Talib. He weathered the storm of challenges of life and survived as an everlasting model for humanity in all stages of life. The level of barbarism, relegation, behavioural savageness that ravaged the Arab world was purified by this great personality with outstanding efficiency, resourcefulness, ability turning them to vanguards of beneficial civilization, culture and education. He further strengthen the link of brotherhood after the hitherto discordant segregation, and conflicting tribalism. He purified them from the corrosive ideologies and repugnant attitudes. He spread lofty characters and his adversaries testified to his honesty and truthfulness. The Prophet (pbuh) commenced his life as a feeble, unpopular orphan who rose to become a force to be reckoned with, whose empire dominated the last fourteen centuries. Judging by the love of his millions of followers till today, the mention of his name ignites a domineering passion in the hearts of his faithfuls worldwide. The unlettered Prophet Despite being an illiterate, he was able to teach the world most complex realities and knowledge which credibility is eternal. He possessed an oratory prowess that could sense men to tears. He possessed the military intelligence to organize, discharge and detail an army without any attendance at the military academy. It is a rare possibility to find talented men with superior ability to preach and make eloquence speech. Descartes was considered a skilled orator among the rarest varieties in the world. Hitler bare his view in his book "Mein Kampf” thus: "It is rare to have the author of theories as a great leader.” But a social or political motivator who possesses those qualities is most likely to gain support for his candidacy as a leader. He is always a better leader. Leadership means the ability to move the masses. Ability to be eloquent and provide ideas has no relationship with being a leader." But, he added: "The combination of the qualities of postulation of theories and organization and leadership in one person is a phenomenon of very rare occurrence in this world. And there lies the greatness" ... The world witnessed this rare phenomenon embodied in one person who lived on earth and that is the prophet of Islam. Carlyle Thomas said in his book "Heroes and Hero worship": "He (Muhammad) was a poor man, who toiled severely, unable to support his dependants, he did not attach importance to what the riffraff and the common people run after. As I see it, he was not a bad person, he was not given to lust of any kind, otherwise, the Bedouin Arabs who were engaged in bloody fight would not have accorded him respect, and submitted to his obedience within twenty-three years, while they were closely in relationship with always, all this reverence! "They were men, brutal, who sporadically get engaged in fierce conflicts and all kinds of violence. No man could control them without possessing the moral value and courage. Or did he not stand openly in their midst, they faced him, addressed him, without a barrier between him and them, he was not surrounded by any religious secret or ambiguity. He was seen patching his clothes and sandal, he was fighting, making consults and issuing orders while in their midst. Without doubt, they must have realized his kind of man among men. Acronyms apart, there has been no emperor obeyed as this man who patched his dress himself. And I surely find in his twenty-three years of engagement critical and difficult experiments which necessarily require some sort of true heroism." What Bosworth Smith said was even more amazing: “He was a leader of a nation and a group who believe in same ideology. He combined rulership, position of Caesar and the pope altogether. But his papacy was without the pride and deception of the pope, a Caesar without a corps or men, without a working army, or personal guard, and without a police force, or an established wage. If there is any man who deserves to be called a just divine leader, that man is Muhammad, he had every power without having a support or protector, his personal life agrees with his general life. Muhammad: the Virtuous, the modest, the ascetic, the humble: After the conquest of Makkah, an area of about one million square miles was at its disposal. The Prophet humility drove him to personally repair his sandals, mend his woolen dress, milk the sheep, sweep the house, make the fire, and take up the domestic chore which ordinarily is destined for the maids. In his last days, the city of where he was staying had become richer; gold and silver were in abundance. In spite of the economic prosperity witnessed in the city in those days, many weeks were spent without the making of fire for food in the house of the king of the Arabian Peninsula (Muhammad). His meal was limited to dates and water. His family went to bed hungry many nights successively because there was just no food to eat. Muhammad did not sleep on a soft mattress but his mattress was mats made of raffia. After a long hard day, he spent most of the night in prayer, bursting into tears before his Creator, beseeching Him for strength to carry out his duties. When he died, he had only a few dirhams, of which his debt was paid and the rest was given to some poor people who came to his house asking for charity. When he died, the dress he wore had many patches, and his house which also beamed light to the world was dark because there was no oil in the lamp. Firmness on principle till death, and preference for the eternal gains: The Prophet was firm and steadfast despite the changing tides. He was the same in time of victory or defeat, in strength or trials, and in hour of convenience or hardship. The French historian Lamartine says in his book: "The history of Turkey," the second volume p 276 and 277: “If the greatness of the goal, but little means and resources, and amazing results. These are the three criteria of human genius. Who dare compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad? Most famous men made weapons, formulate laws, postulate theories and establish empires alone. They did not establish - if we consider that they found a little - more than material powers or authorities which, most times collapse before their one eyes. As for this man, Muhammad peace be upon him, he did not motivate and affect the armies, legislations, empires, peoples and dynasties, but he motivated and influenced millions of men, beyond that, he displaced idols, altars and false gods, he influenced the religions, changed the thoughts, ideologies, and minds. Based on the book each character became a law, he (peace be upon him) founded a spiritual nationality (or religious nationality) where he blended together in harmony peoples of every tongue and race The idea of oneness of God he proclaimed and advocated amidst boring theological theories was in itself a miracle, such that at the pronouncement of this ideology, it destroyed all the old superstitious beliefs. His prayers and supplications, and his metaphysical speeches or communion with God, his death, success and victory after his death, all of these never attest to that he was an impostor claiming prophecy, rather they testify to a firm belief which endowed him the strength to revive and reform aqeedah- ideology. This ideology has two twofold: Oneness of God and that nothing is like God. The first part establishes “What is for God” (the names and attributes of God) and second part denounces “What is not of God” A Sage, a preacher, an apostle, a legislator, a fighter, a master of ideas, a reformer of reasonable beliefs, with a religion without statues or images, and the founder of a spiritual or religious empire. This is Muhammad, peace be upon him. According to all measures that can be used to measure human greatness, it is justifiable to ask: “Is there any man greater than he (Peace be upon him)?" Islamic judgement on Mawlid Nabiyy celebration All scholars agree that Mawlid Nabiyy celebration is an innovation which was not known by the Prophet (pbuh) or the companions, or those after them, they disagree over the issue before and now into three categories: 1- Those who view it as a good innovation. 2- Those who dislike it and categorize it among the forbidden innovations referred to in the hadith: “Beware of every new things, for every new things are innovation, and every innovation is path to loss”. He never did or ordered it, the companions and those after them never did it, and none of the glorious centuries. In the practice is an imitation of the Christians who celebrate Christmas. The Prophet warned against imitating them: “Whoever imitates a people is of them”. There is even disagreement over his birthday how then can such act of worship be subjected to ambiguity without clear declaration. Also that the celebration entails some great sins in which men of desires thrive and enjoy through drum, music, free mixing between the sexes, and so on. 3- Those who align with its permissibility of Mawlid and defined some guiding conditions: 1 – The celebration should be on a single day 2 – To be free from time wasting, prayer neglect and wasteful spending 3 – It should be devoid of freely mixing between the two sexes. 4 – The Praises of the messenger should not contain flattery and excesses SECOND KHUTBAH All praises are due to Allah who says: " اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ (1) خَلَقَ الْإِنْسانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ (2) اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ (3) الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ(4)عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسانَ ما لَمْ يَعْلَمْ (5) “ Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]. (30:41). We praise and thank Him, believe and depend on Him. I testify there is no god but Allah alone and I testify that our leader- Muhammad (pbuh) is his servant and messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his household, companions and whoever follows them till the day of recompense. Sheikh Wahbah Zuhailiy said in the commentary to this verse thus: “The emergence of corruption is the cause of destruction and doom in the world, and punishment in the hereafter. The punishment of this world for those sins perpetrated by men on land and sea could be lack of rain, high cost of living, frequent wars, strife and unrest. It may be a propeller to repentance, and an incentive to return to God and righteousness on obedience, and avoidance of sins and evil. Brothers in faith, it is no secret to any sane person that corruption has appeared evident all over the world as mentioned in the afore-mentioned verse, however corruption in our country Nigeria seems most evident and gigantic. On the first page of The Nation Newspaper of Saturday, 4th January 2014, there is a pathetic story which could make one cry for this nation especially those whose thinks and fear consequences of trials. What is the news? The news’ detail is on page 5, that there are baby factories in the south-eastern states of Nigeria, where teenagers of ages between 13-19 years were arrested. At least 2500 teenagers have been rescued from ‘baby factories’ across the South-East states in the past 1 year, most of them were pregnant and would sell their babies after childbirth. Abia and Imo states had the highest number of teenagers involved in the infamous trade. In Abia and Imo states, about 1,800 pregnant teenagers and babies were rescued from ‘baby factories’ in the last 12 months with the help of the police from detention and slavery. Allah says: "وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ( الأنفال :25) . “And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty.” (8: 25) Oh Allah descend peace; flowing with continuous tranquility and security upon Nigeria and all other Muslim nations. O Allah accept the worship of the pilgrims of hajj and Umrah, and grant us all Your pleasure, And the last of our call will be, "Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!"