By Sheikh Saleh ibn Abdullah ibn Humaid – 07 Rabiul Awwal 1437

His Eminence Sheikh Saleh ibn Abdullah ibn Humaid –May Allah protect him– delivered this Friday khutbah entitled “The Prophet’s Biography: The Way out of Ordeals.” He talked about the biography of the Prophet –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– as a way of life which every Muslim should seek to understand and adhere to. He also explained that the way out of the ordeals and crises engulfing the Ummah resides in studying this redolent biography and using it as a source of inspiration. The Sheikh also commended the large Islamic Coalition set up for cementing the ranks of the Ummah in the face of the perils surrounding it from all directions as well as the terrorist groups, regardless of their affiliation.

Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Allah Who has vanquishing power and splendid wisdom! There is no deity except Him. To Him be praise in the Herein and the Hereafter! I praise Him –May He be extolled– and show Him gratitude for His incessant blessings and His countless overt and covert graces! I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah alone with no partner –a testimony in proclamation of truth and certitude without the least doubt or uncertainty– and I bear witness that our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, is the Servant and Messenger of Allah. He elevated high the torch of religion and united estranged hearts. May Allah send His unceasing Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy), Peace and Blessing upon him, his family, immaculate and chaste progeny, Companions whose radiance is like dazzling stars, the tabi’een (the contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet [May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him] after his death), and all those who righteously follow in their footsteps as long as planets remain in orbit!

Now then!

O People! I exhort you, as well as myself, to adhere to taqwa vis-à-vis Allah (i.e. fear of disobeying His commands). Observe taqwa ‒May Allah have mercy on you! Surely, that which you are promised will verily come to pass.1 So, make up for your faults before it is too late, perform a maximum of good deeds, and be in control of your own actions in privacy before the abrupt advent of death –the annihilator of pleasures, the disgracer of proud powerful people, and the invader of all avid egos. When death’s sharp daggers get into its prey and its mortal blow strikes it, eyes will be staring aghast, and neither solutions nor tricks will be of any avail. May Allah, then, have mercy on those who rush to use their time in performing good deeds:

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” [Al Imran: 185]

O Muslims!

A large number of Muslims feel that they have for long been bound to endure an insupportable burden. Enemies’ deceitful double-dealing and hegemony have recently escalated, for they have been trying hard to drive Muslims away from their religion. As a result, weakness and humiliation have emerged in many areas, and Muslims have been reduced to a flagrant ignorance of the truths inherent in their faith and Sharia. Accordingly, they have lost their status and autonomy to feed themselves on the crumbs of other civilisations. Muslims have ended up subjugated to nations which are no match to them neither in number nor in any other respect.

O Muslims!

When ordeals multiply and calamities, afflictions, and startling crises follow in succession, people tend to grope for a way out. They seek shelter and refuge. If we admit that this might be an arduous task for certain nations and countries, how can that apply to Muslims who are shown the Right Path and given the divine light and guidance? Their pioneer, leader, and commendable exemplar in such a process is the guide, the bearer of good tidings, and the radiant lamp of guidance, Muhammad –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him and his family. He is the one who is reported to have said: “I left amongst you two things; you will never go astray after my departure as long as you hold fast to them: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”

In the hadith narrated by al-Irbadh ibn Sariyah –May Allah be pleased with him– he reported that: “The Messenger of Allah –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– gave us a piece of advice which made our hearts palpitate with fear and moved us to tears. ‘Oh, Messenger of Allah, your advice sounds as though you were bidding us farewell; please counsel us as to what to do,’ we said. The following is excerpted from what he –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him‒ said: ‘Those who outlive me will witness great divergence. So, do stick to my tradition and the tradition of the righteous and rightly-guided Caliphs after me. Cling stubbornly to them. Beware of innovations (in religion).”

Yes indeed, dear brothers and sisters!
Any virtuous life requires a pioneer and any successful journey needs a leader. Who on earth, except the Messenger of Allah –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– can be a pioneer of life and a leader of all humans, bearing in mind that he is the trustworthy pioneer and the trustworthy messenger who conveyed the Message? May Allah’s noblest and most perfect Salat and Peace be upon him! Notice how the resonance of the noble name of the Prophet ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– in the air during the call to prayer five times a day (including night time) is essentially meant to make minds and souls live in close communion with him without any interruption, neither for one day or even a part of a day.

O Servants of Allah!

Because of all the above-stated considerations, his Sunnah and biography have been preserved. For, the life of this noble Prophet –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him‒ this distinguished biography of our Prophet Muhammad –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– which is characterised by perfection and comprehensiveness, is the ever-living source and the fountain flowing with the values of Islamic lifestyle and the straight Islamic approach to life. In a nutshell, it is the way out (from current ordeals); it is the unmistakable straight path.

It is the most authentic biography ever recorded in the history of the sent prophets and messengers. The biography of Muhammad –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– is therefore not sheer narrated history, a recounted story, or a chronicled event. It is rather a precise record of the life of a man who was specially selected by Allah to convey His Message. Allah did take special care of him and endowed him with inborn traits not shared by anybody else:

“…Allâh knows best with whom to place His Message…” [Al-An’am: 124]

For further clarification ‒dear brothers and sisters‒ consider the big difference between the course of history, on the one hand, and the course of the Prophet’s biography, on the other. Whereas history is founded on human reason, habits, conditions, and the nature of populousness, the biography of Prophet Muhammad –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– is not governed by habits, nor is it subject to abstract reasoning. Rather, the Select Prophet –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– is a human receiving divine revelation:

“Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired.” [Al-Najm: 3-4]

Hence, many orientalists and occidentalists –along with those (amongst us) who are following their approach– have committed an error while studying the biography and life style of Muhammad –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– because they see it as sheer human history writing. They have failed to understand that sheer history is restricted to the study of human nature and social life and that conversely the Prophet’s biography has its own divine standards and prophethood features. For its source is divine revelation, its mystery is Allah’s selection, and its ultimate purpose is to improve human conditions.

“…Allâh knows best with whom to place His Message…” [Al-An’am: 124]

“Or is it that they did not recognize their Messenger (Muhammad SAW) so they deny him?” [Al-Mu’minoon: 69]

“Allâh chose Adam, Nûh (Noah), the family of Ibrâhim (Abraham) and the family of ‘Imrân above the ‘Alamîn (mankind and jinns) (of their times).” [Al Imran: 33]

Prophets are infallible. They are guiding and guided reformers. They teach people peculiarities about religion and give them some knowledge about the invisible world. They have their miracles and special Allah-given aptitudes which are not shared with anybody else. For this reason, any study of his biography which ignores or neglects its prophetic characteristics and consequently approaches it as sheer chronicling of human history will necessarily commit errors in methodology, interpretation and results. Worse still, such studies might fall into confusion, contradiction, ignorance, and misguidance.

As to those who intentionally adopt deviant approaches in order to foster scepticism, twist truth, or spread falsehood, their deeds shall eventually be thwarted by Allah and their plotting will be reversed against them. This is –thank Allah– noticeable nowadays:

“Allâh will protect you from mankind.” [Al-Maedah: 67]

“Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers.” [Al-Hijr: 95]

“…they were plotting and Allâh too was planning, and Allâh is the Best of the planners… ” [Al-Anfal: 30]

O Muslims!

Allah –May He be glorified– commanded mankind to follow His Messenger as an exemplar, adhere to his Sunnah, and hold fast to his guidance and path. He –Blessed be He and raised far above– said in a number of Qur’anic verses:

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much.” [Al-Ahzab: 21]

“…And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it),…” [Al-Hashr: 7]

“Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): “If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Say (O Muhammad SAW): “Obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW).” But if they turn away, then Allâh does not like the disbelievers.” [Al Imran: 31-32]

There are other similar verses in the Holy Qur’an.

Allah has preserved the biography of the Prophet –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– in an unprecedented way, unlike that of the biographies of his predecessors and successors. Allah predisposed, from among scholars in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), text editing, and documentation, an elite whose performance dazzles human minds, delights spirits, and prove (everything) with strong evidence. Thus, the Prophet’s biography was recorded in writing according to the principle of multiple rather than restricted narration chains. It was doubly documented: both in the Holy Qur’an and in the Sunnah. It is not only recorded in manuscripts but also engraved in human hearts. Its storage in scripted form has been associated with feelings of veneration and reverence, combined with sentiments of sincere love and admiration.

Its recording and documentation are manifest in the efforts exerted by successive generations of great scholars who undertook the mission of documenting its narration chains and respective events (namely, actions, speeches, and teachings), observing in all that maximum precision and exactitude. Perhaps, the preservation of the Prophet’s biography is implied in the assertion by Allah –Sublime be He– that His Holy Word will be immune from corruption:

“Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’ân) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).” [Al-Hijr: 9]

It has truly been preserved by trustworthy, scrupulous and meticulous people. To Allah be our praise and gratitude!
O Muslims!

The biography of our Prophet –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– is not the sheer narration of hadith and the tracking of his life –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him. In its all-embracing definition, his biography means his life, path, guidance, features, the model of his religiosity and his call to Islam, in addition to whatever was authentically narrated as his hadith in connection with faith, tawheed (monotheism), rulings, and moral standards involving all walks of life. This is because the life and biography of the Prophet ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– are the dynamic interpretation of the texts of religion: the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah.

In fact, his biography is not restricted only to the explanation of lexical items. It means tawheed in opposition to shirk (polytheism), paganism and myths; it is unity in opposition to disunity and dispersal; it is allegiance to the state in opposition to tribalism and kinsfolk allegiance; it is legal provision and legislation in opposition to customs and traditions; it is a nation in opposition to zealous partisanship and bigotry; it is reform and reconstruction in opposition to sabotage and corruption; it is knowledge in opposition to ignorance and illiteracy.

It is a sturdy biography of the Prophet which organises all the Muslim’s course of life. Only through contemplating the Prophet’s biography and its collateral incidents can one discern the delicate balance between rights and duties, justice and strength, compassion and benevolence, consolation and equality, shoorah (i.e. mutual consultation) and administration, and also between ornamenting the world and inhabiting the earth in such perfection, beneficence, integration, cooperation, dutifulness, and altruism.

Cleanliness is half of the faith; prayer (salat) is light; charity is proof (in one’s favour); patience is brightness, and seeking knowledge is a (religious) duty. When Allah ordains that someone shall be accorded good destiny, He will bestow upon him/her the faculty of comprehending religion. In reality, what is the real meaning of fully understanding religion but the comprehension of life, the rationale behind it and its ultimate purpose so as to proceed to the performance of righteous deeds?

Soufiane ibn Oyaynah –May Allah bless his soul– says: “The Messenger of Allah ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– is the ultimate ‘balance’, indeed. He is the ‘criterion’ against whom matters are measured; that is his character, his way of life and his guidance. If such things prove to be consonant therewith, then they are right, otherwise they are false.”

O Muslim brothers and sisters!

As a role model, the biography of the Select Prophet provides the human with identity, rational mind, and spiritual essence. It nurtures within the believer dignity short of vanity, high aspiration short of arrogance, confidence short of self-conceit and assurance short of indifference.

It is a biography and a model that stimulates a sense of responsibility, integrity, rectitude and insightful call to (the Message of) Allah.

Now then ‒May Allah have mercy on you!

Imam al-Hafedh ibn Al-Qayyim –May Allah bless his soul– says: “The need for the Messenger of Allah –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– among people is by far the most pressing of all needs. Achieving happiness and success in the Herein and the Hereafter, being able to tell good from evil, and the attainment of Allah’s satisfaction may only be carried out through the messengers. In fact, benevolence in deeds, words and manners make but part of their teachings and mission where their own words, deeds and manners constitute the most preponderant balance in this regard. It is through adherence to their ways and means that one may tell the righteous from the aberrant. Since man’s happiness in the Herein and the Hereafter is so dependent on the guidance of the Prophet –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– then it is incumbent upon those who wish deliverance and happiness for themselves to know his guidance, biography and early life.”

We seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan:

“And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) Ruh (a Revelation, and a Mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Qur’ân) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will. And verily, you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allâh’s Religion of Islâmic Monotheism). The Path of Allâh to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Verily, all matters at the end go to Allâh (for decision).” [Al-Shuraa: 52-53]

May Allah make the Great Qur’an and the guidance of Prophet Muhammad –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– beneficial to me and to you! I say this, and I ask Allah to forgive me and you, so ask Him for forgiveness as He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.