We take a look at other aspects and angles that show the great undiluted love which the Prophet ﷺ had for Allah, Almighty.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ was most forgiving and forbearing in respect of personal wrongs or injuries against him. His judgements were always tempered with mercy. But when it came to the discharge of binding obligations and the demands of justice imposed upon him by his duty, his love for Allah would not allow him to fail to exercise sternness when the occasion required it of him. Once a daughter of a prominent Arab chieftain was caught stealing; her name was Fatimah, the same as that of the Holy Prophet ﷺ’s daughter. Some people were asking for mercy as she was the daughter of a powerful chief. They prevailed upon Usamah bin Zaid RA whom the Holy Prophet ﷺ loved dearly to intercede on her behalf. He proceeded to do so, but this annoyed the Holy Prophet ﷺ so much that the vein on his forehead darkened.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا، أَهَمَّتْهُمُ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمَخْزُومِيَّةُ الَّتِي سَرَقَتْ فَقَالُوا مَنْ يُكَلِّمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَنْ يَجْتَرِئُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُسَامَةُ حِبُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَكَلَّمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ” أَتَشْفَعُ فِي حَدٍّ مِنْ حُدُودِ اللَّهِ ”. ثُمَّ قَامَ فَخَطَبَ قَالَ ” يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا ضَلَّ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا سَرَقَ الشَّرِيفُ تَرَكُوهُ، وَإِذَا سَرَقَ الضَّعِيفُ فِيهِمْ أَقَامُوا عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ، وَايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ سَرَقَتْ لَقَطَعَ مُحَمَّدٌ يَدَهَا ”.
Narrated `Aisha RA: The Quraish people became very worried about the Makhzumiya lady who had committed theft. They said, “Nobody can speak (in favour of the lady) to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and nobody dares do that except Usama who is the favourite of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. “When Usama spoke to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ about that matter, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Do you intercede (with me) to violate one of the legal punishment of Allah?” Then he got up and addressed the people, saying, “O people! The nations before you went astray because if a noble person committed theft, they used to leave him, but if a weak person among them committed theft, they used to inflict the legal punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad committed theft, Muhammad will cut off her hand!” [Sahih al-Bukhari 6788]
Such was the Holy Prophet of Allah ﷺ!
Little wonder then that we find his love for Allah reciprocated manifold by Allah, his beloved. Little wonder that he is assured by the Holy Qur’an of blessings from Allah and His angels. Little wonder that the believers are commanded in the Holy Qur’an to invoke blessings upon him when it enjoins:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا
Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! You also should invoke blessings on him and salute him with the salutation of peace. [Ahzab 33: 57]
When the time of his departure from this life was near, he was given a choice by Allah either to return to Him or to spend some more years in this earthly existence. His response was:
‘To the companionship of my Exalted Lord. To the companionship of my Exalted Lord.’
These were the last words he uttered before passing unto life eternal. The Holy Prophet ﷺ chose death so that he could live forever in the love of Allah.
He indeed proved himself to be a loving, faithful, loyal, steadfast, humble, obedient servant of Allah. His every thought, every movement, every action, his very being was devoted to Allah in the effort to seek closer communion with Him. This is affirmed by divine testimony. He was directed by the Holy Qur’an to say:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
‘My Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. And so am I commanded, and I am the first of those who submit.’ [Al An`am 6: 163, 164].
One indisputable truth emerges from all this and that is whatever view might be taken of the Holy Prophet’s claim to prophethood, he certainly was no impostor. His devotion to Allah and his love of Allah affirm sincerity and truth. May light perpetually shine upon him!
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