The Essence of Faith: Love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ

Iman cannot enter or be completed in a heart unless it encompasses intense devotion to Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, his family, and his companions. Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Madani al-Qadri

A believer is truly not a believer until I (the Holy Prophet ﷺ) am more beloved to him than his own self. Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Qadri

Introduction:

The core of Islamic belief is not merely the performance of rituals but the profound emotional and spiritual connection a believer maintains with Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. In a soul-stirring discourse, Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Madani al-Qadri explores how love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ is the ultimate preparation for the Hereafter and the very foundation upon which the building of Iman (faith) stands.

The Ultimate Preparation for the Day of Judgment:

When a companion once asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ about the timing of the Day of Judgment, he was met with a transformative question; and the Holy Prophet said:

مَاذَا أَعْدَدْتَ لَـهَا؟

“What have you prepared for it?”

The companion admitted that while he didn't have an abundance of extra prayers or charity, he possessed a deep love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

The Prophet's ﷺ response serves as a beacon of hope for every believer:

فَأَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ.

“You shall be with the one you love on the Day of Judgment”.

1-Tabarani, al-mu’jam al-auwsat, Vol:1, P:40, Hadith: 107

2- Baihaqi, al-sunan al-kubra’, Vol:3, P: 221, Hadith: 5628

This highlights that our companionship in the afterlife depends entirely on our heart's attachments in this world.

The Heart's Constant Remembrance:

True love is not a passive feeling but a continuous state of being. Believers are encouraged to establish a connection where their hearts remain in the remembrance of the Holy Prophet ﷺ day and night. This devotion involves shedding tears in the seclusion of the night and ensuring that not a single moment of life is spent in the absence of his love. Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Madani emphasizes that our hearts must be firmly connected to the Holy Prophet ﷺ through reverence and constant spiritual presence.

The Criterion for Complete Iman:

The perfection of faith is intrinsically linked to the hierarchy of our love. According to the prophetic tradition, a person is not a true believer until the Holy Prophet ﷺ is dearer to them than their own life, family, and kin. Furthermore, this love extends to the Prophet's ﷺ family and tribe. The Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Madani explains that Iman cannot enter or be completed in a heart unless it encompasses intense devotion to Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, his family, and his companions. Love, respect, and veneration are the very foundations of faith.

Divine Recognition and the Righteous Servants:

When a servant dedicates their life to the remembrance of Allah and the service of humanity, they become beloved to the Almighty Allah.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ says:

إِذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ الْعَبْدَ نَادَى جِبْرِيلَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحْبِبْهُ فَيُحِبُّهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَيُنَادِي جِبْرِيلُ فِي أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحِبُّوهُ فَيُحِبُّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ يُوضَعُ لَهُ الْقَبُولُ فِي الْأَرْضِ.

(Bukhari, al-sahih, Vol:3, P: 1175, Hadith: 3037)

“When Allah loves a person, He calls Gabriel saying: Allah loves so and so; O Gabriel, love him. Gabriel would love him, and then Gabriel would make an announcement among the residents of the Heaven, Allah loves so-and-so, therefore, you should love him also. So, all the residents of the Heavens would love him and then he is granted the pleasure of the people of the earth.”

Consequently, Allah reveals this love in the hearts of common people on earth, leading the world to revere and respect those whom Allah loves. Our respect for the righteous is, therefore, a reflection of Allah's own grace and favor.

Conclusion:

In summary, the path to spiritual perfection begins and ends with love. It is the bridge that connects a believer to the companionship of the Holy Prophet ﷺ in the Hereafter. Without establishing the Prophet's ﷺ reverence and the love of his family in our hearts, our faith remains incomplete. Ultimately, true success lies in devoting our days and nights to the service of the Deen and the remembrance of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, seeking the pleasure of Allah through the love of those He loves.

Blogger: Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chishti (Research Scholar, Social Media Live updated Cell)