Hamza Yusuf – Allah & His Messenger in our Lives

In this lecture, Sh. Hamza says something that really resonates with me.  He speaks about how for those of us who are not native arabic speakers, it is the character of the Prophet (saws) rather than the Qur’an that draws us to Islam.  If we don’t speak arabic, we miss so much of the beauty and miracles of Allah’s (swt) words, but the character of the Prophet (saws) is readily accessable to us.

I totally agree.  While I struggle and strive to learn arabic to better understand the book of Allah (swt), I can easily open a biography of the Prophet (saws) and learn about his life.  And every time I do this, I grow to love him more.

Allah (swt) says “The Prophet is preferable for the believers even to their own selves” (33:6).

The Prophet (saws) said: “None of you becomes a believer until I am dearer to him than his children, his parents and all mankind.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

I was browsing through the catholic answers forum yesterday, masochist that I am, and came upon this thread that accuses the Prophet (saws) of commiting shirk. 

Is our love for the Prophet (saws) shirk?  Only if one does not understand what this love entails.  The Prophet (saws) was sent as a mercy to the worlds (21:107).  Notice the key word in this verse – sent.  He was sent.  He did not come on his own power.  Someone who is far greater than the Prophet (saws) sent him.  And it is only through the power of the Most Merciful (swt) that the Prophet’s (saws) mercy was given to us.  Without Allah (swt), the Prophet (saws) would be nothing.  And without Allah (swt), we would not be able to love the Prophet (saws).

So when you love the Prophet (saws), also love He (swt) who sent him, and thank Him (swt) for sending the Prophet (saws) to us, for providing us with the best teacher we could ever hope for.

Thank you Allah (swt) for giving us the greatest example, the best of mankind in the Prophet Muhammad (saws).  Without You we are nothing and without him we would be lost.