‘Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much.’ (33:22)

 

‘Say, ‘If you love Allah, follow me: then will Allah love you and forgive you your faults. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.’ (3:32)

 

In order to become the recipient of Divine grace, favours and blessings, God has taught to become His Abd (servant), those who follow His commandments. Last Friday sermon mentioned that by following God’s commandments one comes into the category of true Abd. For this purpose God has sent numerous instructions so that we can become corroborators of ‘…So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me…’ (2:187) and gain the pleasure of being a true Abd and experience acceptance of prayers. Although there are numerous Quranic commandments to attain this objective, but human nature is such that it is more influenced by practical example. When one claims to love someone, one tries to adopt every practice of the beloved. When faith is included in this love one wishes to please the beloved as well as secure one’s faith.

 

We are fortunate to be included in the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who was an exemplar of all the Quranic commandments, presenting a perfect and blessed model. The aforementioned verses draw attention to this subject and command that a Muslim claiming to have faith will accomplish faith and will gain nearness to God when he or she will follow the blessed model of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Without following his blessed model it is pointless to hope for the Hereafter, without it piety cannot be called piety, worship is not worship. Without following his blessed model, Dikhr (remembrance of God) cannot reach that stage from which one gains nearness to God, salvation from sin is not possible without it and one cannot partake of God’s Raheemiyyat (Divine quality of being Merciful) and one cannot attain God’s love. He was the most beloved person of God and if he is not followed, one cannot attain God’s love either.

 

Fortunately, we are Muslims but we will only derive the beneficence of being a part of the Ummah when we will try to walk in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He made is very clear that God’s nearness and love cannot be attained by following steps which he did not practice. In the current age, it is the favour of his true and ardent devotee, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he has guided us to understand and indeed practice the true example of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He informed us that some new innovations of worship which are not to be seen in the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) cannot attain nearness to God because in order to attain nearness to God it is essential to follow the Prophet’s blessed model.

 

Before presenting examples of the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) which is guidance in becoming a true Abd, here is what the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote about the status of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He wrote:

 

‘Say: O my servants who have committed excesses against your own selves despair not of the mercy of Allah, surely Allah will forgive all sins. [39:54] In this verse instead of: O servants of Allah; the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] was commanded to say: O my servants. This verse was revealed in this form so that God Almighty might convey the good news of limitless mercies and might comfort those who are broken-hearted in consequence of their sins. Thus, Allah the Glorious desired to exhibit a sample of His mercies and to make it manifest to what extent He honours His faithful servant with special favours. By adopting the form: Say: O my servants; God in effect said: Look at My beloved Messenger and see at what high rank he has arrived through his perfect obedience to Me that now all that is Mine is his. He who desires salvation should become his servant. That is to say, he should obey him so perfectly as if he was his slave. Then whatever sins he might have committed will be forgiven him. The word ‘abd in Arabic idiom also means slave as it is said: ‘…even a believing slave is better than an idolater…’ [2:222]