The Most Odious Men

Aisha (may God be pleased with her) related the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said the most odious of men to God is the one who is most quarrelsome.

Bukhari Book 8:H.367

Beauty: A Proof of Existence of God?

An interesting Q&A I found on the AskPhilosophers website:

Question:

Are there any interesting arguments for the existence of God from the existence of beauty? i.e., because there is beauty, we know there is God?

Answer:

by Richard Heck

My understanding is that Kant argued in something like this fashion. Or, at least, that Kant thought that it was through the contemplation of beauty that we could experience the divine. I don’t myself see that any sort of real argument will be forthcoming along these lines, but I do understand the sentiment. Certainly there is music that makes me particularly conscious of God: Plenty of Coltrane, for example. But for myself, I think my deepest sense of the divine emerges from contemplation of the men and women who have made great contributions towards the emergence of justice in the world. To me, that is, the best argument for the existence of God is the existence of people like Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. I don’t expect that to be convincing to anyone else, though.

As Muslims, for us one of the best arguments for the existence of God is the existence of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The epitome of beauty in every human faculty. The more we learn and know about him (peace be upon him) the more our belief in Allah increases.

In the perfection of the Messenger of God, Muhammad (upon him peace and unending blessings) are signs that point to the existence of the Almighty and Merciful Allah subhan Allah wa ta’ala.

Something to ponder about.

The Deen is Ease

The Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, once recited two short chapters (al-Falaq and al-Nas)  in the dawn prayer.  When he finished his companions asked him, “You have shortened the prayer?” He (peace be upon him) said, “I heard the crying of a baby and was afraid that his mother would face difficulty.  Recorded by Bukhari (706, 710,868), Abu Dawud (789), Nasa’i (826) and ibn Maja (989-991).

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was so concerned about the difficulties of a single person that he (peace be upon him) shortened the prayer for the whole congregation. 

The Most Praised Name (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

There was a programme on in the weekend with Lenny Henry talking about the most memorable moments in his life. One of which was the Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman fight in Zaire.  He said an amazing thing about Muhammad Ali is that you could put him anywhere in the world and he would be recognised by pretty much everyone, his name would be known by almost every person on the planet!  He is arguably the most famous person to have ever lived.  Isn’t it amazing the most famous person of our time is named after the beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم)? 

Even in these times of celebrity worship, where sometimes the scum of the Earth are world famous, it’s as if Allah has made His beloved’s name (صلى الله عليه و سلم) above them all, the most famous. 

There is also the book by Michael Hart of the most influential people in History in which he places the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) number 1 in the list.  The most recited and memorised poem in the world is Imam al-Busiri’s Burdah, a poem in praise of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
 
The name ‘Muhammad’ itself means often praised, it is derived from the root verb “ha-mi-da” (to be praised).  ‘Muhammad’ is the passive participle (ism maf’ul), the derived noun from the 2nd form of “ha-mi-da” - “hammada”.  This verb form usually intensifies the original verb, so hammada could mean ‘intensely praised’ (I say could because I didn’t find this verb form in the dictionary). The passive participle indicates on the entity upon whom the meaning coming from the root verb is enacted.  In this case upon whom this intense praise is lauded (صلى الله عليه و سلم). 

Other meanings derived from the root verb include -

حمد (Hamd) - Commendation, laudation.
محمود (Mahmud) - Praised, able, laudable.
احمد (Ahmad) - More lauded, most lauded.
حميد (Hamid) - Praiseworthy.

His blessed name (صلى الله عليه و سلم) is filled with praise, all the meanings derived from his name is linked to praise.

So why does his blessed name (صلى الله عليه و سلم) evoke a completely different response from non-Muslims?  Some insult him (a minority I would say) but most would admit they know very little about him (صلى الله عليه و سلم) .

Why?  Is it because we Muslims have failed to convey his message and his life (صلى الله عليه و سلم)? Misrepresentation of Islam in the media?

It’s tragic that the best of creation, the mercy of mankind, the beloved of God (may blessings and peace be upon him) is hidden, his reality veiled from a lot of people. 

Muhammad,
the Messenger of God,
the Beloved of God.
all good traits combined,
Mercy to mankind.
(صلى الله عليه و سلم)

The Final Khutba of the Messenger of God

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don’t know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

Reflecting on sending Salawat on the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

Allah subhana wa ta’ala says in the Quran:

“Surely Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet.  O you who believe!  Call for divine blessings on him and salute him a with a becoming salutation“

Surah al-Ahzab 33:56.

I heard from a Ba Alawi Shaykh, an Ashiq of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that the word ‘malaikatuhu’ (angels) is not specific to any particular group of angels, ie the ayah refers to all the angels in existence and that will ever exist.  Subhan Allah, just reflecting on that is amazing.  An innumerable number of these heavenly beings are sending blessings upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as well as doing the task they were created to do.

What is truly amazing though is that Allah subhana wa ta’ala is saying He himself sends blessings upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).  It’s a form of worship that we are commanded to perform (it’s fard upon every Muslim to do at least once in their life) but it is also an act of worship that Allah Himself does (obviously it’s not an act of worship the way it apllies to us).

How would our salawat compare to the salawat that Allah sends upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?  In reality we don’t send blessings upon the Prophet, we ask Allah to send blessings upon him (صلى الله عليه وسلم) because only He can truly bless al-Habib with a worthy blessing.

Do we appreciate how Allah is honouring and raising the rank of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in this ayah?  If we use the logic the Shaykh applied with the angels, Allah does not specify a time when He sends salawat (Allah subhana wa ta’ala is not constrained by an aspect of creation like time).  Therefore Allah is always sending blessings upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).  As we believe Allah will never cease to exist the salawat upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) will never end. We also believe Allah is Pre-eternal (attribute of being beginning less) so salawat have always been sent…….. even before He created him (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?   Allahu a’lam.

Do we appreciate how Allah is honouring and raising the rank of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in this ayah?  - Is it even possible for us to conceive of the magnitude of what Allah is saying in this ayah?

May Allah make us from amongst those who send abundant blessings upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and may He accept them and grant us the shifa of His al-Habib al-Mustafa (صلى الله عليه وسلم) .

Amin