SECOND REMINDER. Saturday. PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLALLAHU ALAIYHI WASSALLAM, A MERCY TO ALL THAT EXISTS continues. BismilLaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Frankly, Our failure to properly describe the greatness of the Messenger of Allah stems from our own incapacity to grasp the different aspects of it, and properly express what we believe about his character. The following are glimpses of his character and preaching that show how he was a mercy for all existences, sent by their Lord, the Most Merciful. Can we ever say enough about the greatest of Allah’s creations and the most noble of His servants? Certainly, we can’t. That is not because we attribute to him divinity, for that would be the greatest betrayal to his legacy, which was all about the worship of the one true Allah (exalted be He), who is distinct from His creations and who didn’t share His divinity with any of HIS CREATION. HIS BIRTH Our most beloved Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and give him peace), the last Prophet and Messenger, was born in the Bani Hashim neighborhood in Makkah on Monday, in Rabeeul Al-Awwal, in the year of the Elephant Event. There is nothing authentic about the date as I mentioned in the first Reminder. HIS CHARACTER: Our mother, his beloved with ‘Aaishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: “Whenever Allah’s Apostle was given the choice of one of two matters he would choose the easier of the two as long as it was not sinful to do so, but if it was sinful, he would not approach it. Allah’s Apostle never took revenge over anybody for his own sake but (he did) only when Allah’s legal bindings were outraged, in which case he would take revenge for Allah’s sake.” (Bukhari.) ‘Aaishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said that he used to repair his own shoes, sew or mend his dress and to do what ordinary men did in their houses. Milking the she-sheep and catering for himself were some of his normal jobs. He would pray: “O Allah, grant me life as a poor man, cause me to die as a poor man, and resurrect me in the company of the poor.” (Tirmidhi, Baihaqi). HIS MESSAGE AND HOW IT CHANGED THE WORLD. The Prophet taught good conduct towards ones parents, saying, “The Lord’s good pleasure results from a father’s good pleasure, and the Lord’s displeasure results from a father’s displeasure.” (Tirmidhi.) Mu’awiyah ibn Jahimah reported, Jahimah came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I intend that I should enlist in the fighting force and I have come to consult thee. He said “Hast thou a mother?” He said, “Yes.” He said: “Then stick to her, for Paradise is beneath her two feet.” (Nisai.) He was once asked: “O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of friendly care from me?” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “Your mother.” The questioner asked who came next, and he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “Your mother.” He was asked again who came next and he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “Your mother.” And when He asked who came next, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “Your father.” (Bukhari, Muslim). MERCY WITH THE WIFE He enjoined compassion towards ones wife, saying, “The believer should not harbor hatred towards his wife. If he dislikes something in her, then surely he will be pleased with another quality in her.” (Muslim.) MERCY WITH THE FAMILY About the importance of good conduct towards ones family, he said, “Among the believers who show most perfect faith are those who have best disposition and are kindest to their families.” (Tirmidhi). He emphasized maintaining good relations with the family. “One who cuts ties of relationship will not enter Paradise.” (Bukhari, Muslim) MERCY WITH THE CHILDREN “If anyone cares for two girls till they grow up, he and I will come on the Day of Resurrection thus,” and he joined fingers. (Muslim). This was within the same culture and generation that daughters were so devalued that they had frequently been buried alive by their own parents. MERCY WITH THE ORPHANS “I and the one who takes responsibility for an orphan, whether his own kin or of others, will be in Paradise thus,” and he pointed his forefinger and the middle finger with a slight space between them. (Bukhari). MERCY WITH THE WOMEN “Act kindly towards women, for they were created from a rib and the most crooked part of the rib is its top. If you attempt to straighten it you will break it, if you leave it alone it will remain crooked: so act kindly towards women.” In this hadeeth the Prophet forbids men from forcing women to be like themselves. The bent they have is most suitable for the functions of motherhood which requires emotions to be put in front of reason. (Bukhari, Muslim.) He also said, “Verily women are the full sisters of men” (Abu Dawood & al-Tirmidhi: Saheeh al-Jame’ 2333). There is no stronger statement that can further affirm gender equity. In delivering Allah’s message, he also gave women the right to inheritance, choosing their husbands, getting separations from them, owning and managing their property and many more that were not given to them during his time by any nation. TO be continued in shaa Allah. May Allah keep guiding us all and protect us from any satanic influences. Aameen.