Meelad
Un Nabi
by
Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi
(The Speech
delivered on 30th March, 1942, from All India Radio Station, at
Lahore).
Today
is the day of great
bounties for the world, because on this
date, the
trailblazer of this planet, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
had arrived in this world. Though, Islamic law has not
declared the
birthday of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) as EID, nor has it
established any
customary practice for its celebration, but if people consider
it
as EID, due to
this being the day of arrival of the greatest Prophet (P.B.U.H)
of
Allah and the
peerless saviour of the world, and observe it as a day on which
the biggest
blessing of Allah for mankind came into existence, then there is
no
harm either.
However, the manner in which it should be celebrated is not all
about eating and
drinking, electrification of private and public premises, taking
out processions
and parades, and undertakes wasteful and exhibitory activities
for mere
entertainment and self satisfaction. If you do this, then there
will be
no distinction
between you and the ignorant communities. They too celebrate
distinguished
events of their history through fun, fete and frolicking and if
you
also ape their
style of celebration, then you will meet their consequences
only.
Islam has evolved
a noble style for commemorating remembrance. The most
remarkable of
which is the sacrifice of Prophet Ibraheem (P.B.U.H) , to
commemorate which,
Allah has laid down the criterion of prayers and Sacrifice
of Eid-ul-Azha and
Haj. After considering this, you can assess as to how Muslims
should celebrate
the memory of great historical events. You should also
ascertain that how
this date of 12th of Rabi-ul-awwal does holds any
significance for
you. It was not because a baby boy was born in the family of an
Arab individual,
but because that day the greatest prophet was sent down on
the earth and
through whom humanity received guidance of Allah, and through
whom man literally
learnt to be human, whose individuality was the blessing
for the entire
humanity and who spread the light of faith and noble deeds
across the earth.
Thus, if these are the reasons for the significance of this
date, then it
should be observed by extending the same message of Prophet
Muhammad, more on
this day than any other day. Take some lessons from his
character and from
his teachings, and at least his message should be resonated
in such a manner
that it remains effective for coming one year. If you
commemorate like
this, then it will truly demonstrate that you sincerely
consider the
birthday of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) as EID. But if it is
confined to fun,
food and frolicking then it will not be an Islamic EID but it
will
only be an
ignorant celebration that has no significance.
In line with today’s
pertinence, I shall deliver the sermon, relevant to the
occasion. Allah
has stated in His Holy Book that the Prophet, whom I have sent,
has been sent so
that he is followed. This is also the reason why it is mandatory
for every Muslim
to follow him, because he was also Prophet Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
of Allah. Besides this generic instruction, Allah has also
issued specific
commands to Muslims pertinent to the status of Prophet
Muhammad, which
are given below:
Say : “If
you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive
your
sins:
For Allah is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” (3:31)
The answer of the
Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in
order that he may
judge between them, is no other than this: They say, “We
hear and we obey.”
(24:51)
Is it not fitting
for a believer, man or woman, When a matter has been decided
by Allah and His
Messenger, to have any option, about their decision: If anyone
disobeys Allah and
His messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path. (33:36)
But
no by the Lord, they can have no (real) faith. Until they make
you
judge
in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no
resistance
against
the decisions but accept them with the fullest conviction.
(4:65)
Deem
not the summons of Messenger among yourselves like the summons
of
one of you to another. (24:63)
Nor it is right
for you that you should annoy Allah’s Messenger. (33:53)
Those
who annoy Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this
world
and the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating
punishment.
(33:57)
Let
those beware who withstands the Messenger’s order, lest some
trial
befall
them. (24:63)
O
you who believe ! Raise not your voices above the voice of the
Prophet, nor
speak
aloud to him in talk, as you may speak aloud to one another,
lest your
deeds
become vain and you perceive not.(49:2)
You
will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day,
(but)
loving
those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they are
their
fathers or their sons, or their brother or their kindred.
(58:22)
Say:
If it be
that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates,
or
you kindred: the wealth that you have gained; the commerce in
which
you
fear a decline or the dwellings in which you delight are dearer
to
you
then Allah or His Messenger, or the striving in his cause; then
wait
until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the
rebellious.
(9:24)
It is difficult to
state all relevant verses here. My sole objective is to make you
understand as
Muslim that what is the nature of your relationship with Prophet
Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H). This fact is highlighted
by
few verses that I
have stated above. It is evident from them that an individual
ceases to be
Muslim unless he is obedient to Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu
Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H).
if Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) gives
some instructions and in turn if some one says that I do not
accept this, then
it shows that his heart is free from Faith. The demand of
Faith is to bow
down after hearing the command. Faith can not co-exist with ifs
and buts.
Now please listen
carefully, the instructions Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu
Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
has given on behalf of Allah. Thereafter every
individual should
go on assessing the level of faith in his or her heart and how
sincere Muslim he
or she is.
1. Muslim is one
from whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe. Means who
does not trouble
his fellow brothers-in-Islam either through his tongue or
his hands.
2. None of you can
be Faithful unless he prefers the same path for others,
which he chooses
for himself. Means that way you want your own well
being, similarly
you should desire it for your brothers-in-Islam and the
way you do not
want to harm yourself, do not wish the same for your
brother.
Hazrat Abuzar
Ghafari Razi Allahu Anhu narrates that one I had picked up fight
with some one and
I abused him. Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
heard it and said, “You still have shades of ignorance left
in you and Islam
has not completely entered your life.”
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) states that here are
four attributes of
hypocrisy and the one who has all of them is an accomplished
hypocrite and the
one who has one them, he too has one part of duplicity. First
sign is that when
some thing is handed over to him in good faith, he swindles it;
secondly, when he
converses, he certainly misrepresents ; thirdly when he
promises or enters
into a contract with someone, he invariably backtracks; and
finally, when he
has a brawl with somebody, he turn abusive and gets down to
humiliate his
opponent, through wrongful means.
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) stated: a Muslim is
the brother of
another Muslim, he himself will not suppress him nor will he
hand him over to a
cruel. One who is busy fulfilling the needs of his brother,
Allah does the
same for him; and the one who saves fellow Muslims from
inconvenience,
Allah will curtail one of his pains of the Day of Judgement; and
the one who
conceals the deficiencies of a fellow Muslim, will receive the
same
treatment from
Allah on the Day of Judgement.”
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) says: “Help your
brother, whether
he is tyrant or aggrieved.” When his companion sought
clarification that
we shall certainly aid the oppressed but how should we help
the cruel? He
replied, “The aid of an oppressor is to hold his hand so that
he
does not commit
atrocities.”
On another
occasion he said: “Beware of the curse of an oppressed,
because
there is nothing
between him and Allah, means it directly flies to the thorn of
Allah.”
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) stated: the one who
deprived his
Muslim brother from his rights or has caused damage to his
respect, wealth or
any other thing, he should compensate him in this life only
or else if it is
carried forward to the day when money or other material objects
would not exist,
rather he will have to pay out of his good deeds or a part of a
tyrant’s burden
will be shifted to his account.”
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) enumerates: “If
someone has
grabbed even an inch of land, he will have to wear a collar in
his
neck, seven times
that weight of that land.”
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) said that three sins
are the gravest:
(1) Sharing the
Unity of Allah with some one
(2) Disobedience
of parents and recklessness towards their rights and
(3) Lying and
false testimony.
He further stated
that Gabriel (Jibra’eil) told me so repeatedly about
treating the
neighbour decently, that I began to wonder whether they
would be entitled
to share the inheritance as well.
On another
occasion, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) said,
“That person is absolutely apostate, completely faithless
whose neighbour is
scared of his mischief.”
One more tradition
of Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) is : The
one who is faithful should not cause pain to his neighbour,
treats his guest
with respect; and when speaks, it should be with kindness
or else remain
quiet.
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) stated that one of
worst persons, on
the Day of Judgement, would be the one who has dual
face , means if he
meets one of the two rivals, he speaks in his favour while
meeting the other
rival, takes his side; speaks one thing on the face and
another behind the
back.
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) said:
Abdication of
prayers (Salat) lies between man and infidelity. It means that
there is one stage
in between approaching infidelity from Islam and that is
forsaking prayers.
If you have renounced prayers that means you are
hanging between
Faithlessness and Islam, one step more and you will enter
the boundary of
apostasy.
On one occasion,
Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
enumerated: those
who stay at home, even after hearing azaan, I feel like
torching their
homes. There are numerous traditions for the reiteration of
prayers, but I
have talked about these two only, from which you can assess
that how strong is
this instruction, and what is the meaning of this defiance.
This is with
regard to that farz from which Muslims are becoming usually
oblivious these
days.
Secondly, you must
also know about the sin which is proving most disastrous
for Muslims,
meaning interest based financing. Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu
Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) has categorically stated that taking
interest, paying
interest, keeping record of and being witness to it are all
prohibited, and
men committing any of these acts will be punished in hell.
Brothers,
you celebrate EID-E-MEELAD UN NABI,
it is very nice, but I
would
only say that at the time of entering the darbar
of our chief, just
think
what face are taking to that pious spirit. If a servant lapses,
then
he
fears in facing his employer and tries to hide away. Then how
should
we
face someone whose one or two instructions are not defied every
day
but numerous. O Allah! Guide me to comply with the instructions
of
my
Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) and to
my
brothers
as well.
Second
Speech
Today is the
anniversary of the birth of an incredible personality, who
arrived as a boon
for the entire humanity and brought with him a set of
principles,
pursuing which guarantees even triumph and well-being for
every individual,
every nation and country and the whole mankind. Though
this day comes
every year, but this year it has come at such a crucial time
when inhabitants
of the earth are more indigent of the guidance of that
sagacious person,
than ever before. It is difficult to say whether Mr. Bernard
Shaw made this
statement consciously or not, but whatever he stated was
absolutely fitting
that “Had Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) been the
dictator of the world, at present, then peace would
have been
prevailing in the world.” I would go one step further and say
that, though
Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H) is
not present in
this world, yet the doctrine presented by him are available
hook line and
sinker. If we sincerely presume his tenets as Dictator, then all
the evils can be
rid, the fire of which has turned the abode of humanity into
hell.
Over fourteen
hundred years back, when Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu
Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
set his foot on the earth, that time his own
nation had reached
the nadir of moral ebb, chaos and turmoil. Qur'an has
explained the
situation of that, in these words: you were standing on the
edge of
fire-filled pit, from which Allah rescued you. Other countries
of the
world had no
better condition than this. Persian and Roman empires were,
then, the biggest
cradle of human civilization, and both of them were
engulfed in mutual
hostilities on the one hand and domestic economic
inequality,
economic distinctions and religious rifts on the other hand.
Under these
circumstances, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam
(P.B.U.H) got up
and within a span of 23 years, not only did he change the
shape of Arabian
peninsula, but the movement which set off under his
command from Arab,
within a quarter of a century, reformed a large
portion of the
earth, from the borders of India to North Africa, in culture
&
civilization,
economics & politics, and all other sphere of life.
How this revamping
was achieved? It is difficult to spell out the details in
one brief talk,
but I shall present you its broad principles:
The very first
point which he stressed upon was that all human beings
should recognize
only Allah as their real King, real Owner, the Most Wise
and the Sovereign.
Do not accept to the subject of anyone else other than
Allah, should bow
down to the highest authority of Allah, not only within
the limited
confines of religious matters, but in every sphere of life.
Besides, second
important aspect of his preaching was that human
sovereignty and
recklessness should come to a grinding halt. Every person,
individually,
considers himself to be accountable to Allah, and similarly
human
organizations too, whether they are in the form of families and
clans
or sections; in
the form of nations or governments and states. Nevertheless,
all of them should
consider themselves responsible and accountable before
Allah. The very
image of men, which Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
presented, was that of a representative or deputy of
Allah on the
earth. In whatever and which ever capacity he is empowered,
that is
essentially not his own rights, rather they have been entrusted
by
Allah and in its
dispensation he is answerable to Allah.
On the basis of
supreme sovereignty of Allah and every human being his
deputy, Prophet
Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
established the
relationship of equitable unity and cooperation among
human beings which
could not have been achieved otherwise. Race and
lineage, language
and colour, national and economic interests and all other
elements forming
the genesis of the society, necessarily divide human
beings into
various groups and make them rival of one another. Even if they
find unanimity
among themselves, that compatibility is temporary and
purely on selfish
motives. Conflicts and hostilities are the natural outcome
of this division
and injustice is its mandatory consequence. There is no way
to avert this,
except having the entire humanity united on the allegiance of
Allah and by
making them aware of their accountability before Allah, they
should be
persuaded to do justice.
Instead of
nationalism and socialism, Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi
Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
laid the foundation of universal social life on the basis
of obedience of
Allah and Kilafah. He moulded every aspect of that life into
durable moral
principles. His morality were not meant for reclusive saints,
but for very
people who run the show on the earth like farmers, landlords,
labourers,
industrialists, traders, customers, cops, jurists,
administrators,
governors,
soldiers, supreme commanders, ministers, and diplomats. Each
of these
functionaries were made to adhere to moral code within its
precincts, the
bolting and unbolting of which and the making and breaking
of its principles
would not rest on the desires of any individual or masses.
He disciplined.
All facets of human life on the basis of rectitude, whether it
is social or
interpersonal relation, are or culture, trade or commerce,
politics or
administration, international relations or war and peace.
Everything that is
linked to human life was denied the right to bloom and
prosper
independent of moral restrictions.
These are the
broader principles depended on which the reforms program of
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H). The strategy he
adopted to
implement this program commenced from individual reform. He
did not overlook
the fact that every map of collective reforms eventually
depends upon the
success of individual reform. Even the best of programs
can not be
successfully implemented with having people of loose character
and questionable
standing along. Flaws in the character of individuals may
cause serious
damage in the implementation of a noble system, which can
not be averted by
merely theoretical remedies. Theoretically, whatever
imaginary
precautions one can take for the prevention of deficiencies. But
practically, if
the people who are responsible for executing the conceptual
plan are
vulnerable to desires, vested interests and partisan; if they
lack
true piety and
character, then despite your utmost caution, there would be
impediments for
your plans and that too from quarters which you never
expected. On the
contrary, by looking at the black board, you can prove the
possibility of a
number of loopholes. But if a reliable team is available for
executing this
plan, then their correct actions will plug the holes, which you
think can pop up
in your hypothetical simulation.
This is why
Prophet Muhammad Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam (P.B.U.H)
expended all his
energy on the grooming of such human capital that could
put his plan of
transforming the world into action in the best manner. He
produced people
who were God-fearing and pious under every situation.
Who held
themselves accountable to Allah in every sphere of their lives?
Who restrained
themselves from every single deed which they suspected
could make Allah
furious with them and who were willing to dedicate
themselves to a
cause which they felt would please Allah. Who could
sacrifice
everything which could win them favour of Allah? In whose heart
there was no fear,
no greed of favours or desires of awards from anyone
other than Allah.
For whom there was no distinction between their private
and public lives.
Who were as pious, decent, and virtuous behind the veil as
they appeared in
front of the whole world? Who could prove to be
trustworthy, if
they were entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the
life, property and
honour of the servants of Allah? If they took oath on
behalf of their
self, nation or government, they would not back track. If
they were made
jurist, they would not be held cruel. If they undertook
commercial
transaction then they would not be declared as crooks. They
might be slow in
claiming their rights, but will be quick in dispensing others.
They used their
intelligence, prudence, diligence and qualifications for
truth and justice
and for the welfare and prosperity of humanity and not for
deceiving and
depriving others from their rights because of individual and
national gains.
After spending
full 15 years for the development of such people, Prophet
Muhammad
Sallallallhu Alaihi Wasallam raised a task force of handful of
true believers
which was not committed to the reforms of only Arabian
Peninsula but for
the mankind of the whole world, and which was comprised
of people other
than Arab nationals also.
Having raised this
team, he moved on to make large scale efforts to bring
about social
reforms and in merely eight years, brought comprehensive
social economic,
cultural and political revolution on the land of Arabian
peninsula,
spreading over 15,00,000 square miles. Then, the same team,
which was
integrated by him, accomplished its task of reforming Arabs,
proceeded further
and showered the grace of this revolution, which was
initiated in Arab,
over a large part of the then civilized world. These days
we hear the idea
of new world order everywhere, but we fail to understand
that how the very
fundamental flaws which have ultimately turned the old
system into
turmoil, if still exist in the new system, with a different
face,
can be considered
a new order? It would essentially be the same system
whose bites and
stings have pushed us to the deathbed for which we are
seeking antidote
of he new system. Fearlessness and apathy towards
Supreme authority
of Allah by human beings, national and racial distinction,
political and
economic self-interest of nations and regions an don-Godfearing
people ruling the
roost are the real drawbacks which have been
destroying the
humanity till date and will continue to do so if our life style
remains the victim
of the same evils. If reforms are to be brought about,
then only on those
principles through which one of the greatest well-wisher
of humanity not
only guided us, centuries back, but practically showed us
reforms.
