Requirements for Devotion to Prophet

The firmness of a Muslim’s Iman lies in the devotion to the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and Iman depends on this devotion. It is stated in the blessed Hadees, ‘None of you can become a (perfect) believer until I become more beloved to him than his father, children and all people.’ (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 17, Hadees 15) There are many requirements for devotion. One of the main requirements is that when we love someone, we follow him, adopt every style of his and obey every order of his.

One day, when the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed Wudu, blessed companions عَلَیْھِمُ الرِّضْوَان started rubbing the used water of the Wudu on their bodies. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, ‘What motivates you to do it?’ They said, ‘The devotion to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم’. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘One who likes to love Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم or wants Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to love him should speak the truth when he speaks and should return Amanat (the thing which has been entrusted) when it is entrusted to him and should be kind to his neighbour.’(Shu’ab-ul-Iman lil-Bayhaqi, vol. 2, pp. 201, Hadees 1533)

All that the respected Islamic scholars who have explained this blessed Hadees have said, has been summarised below: It is a very good deed to rub the water used by the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم during Wudu on the body for getting blessings, but this is not sufficient for the claim to have devotion to the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as this deed is not difficult for Nafs, even common people can perform such a deed. In addition to it, it is also necessary to obey Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as this is something difficult for Nafs.’(Sharh-ul-Mishkat lit-Tayyibi, vol. 9, pp. 224, Taht-al-Hadees 4990, Mirqat-ul-Mafatih, vol. 8, pp. 724, Taht-al-Hadees 4990, Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 576)

Dear Islamic sisters! It cannot happen that a person stops performing the acts which his/her beloved like and gets busy with the acts which displease his/her beloved. Devotion to Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the spirit that encourages and motivates a Muslim to do more and more virtuous deeds and protects him from sins. Devotion to Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is something that makes a Muslim act upon Sunnahs. Devotion to Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the spirit that develops deep love for Salah in the heart of a Muslim, motivates him/her to observe fast regularly, motivates him/her to get rid of non-observance of purdah, motivates him/her to give upbringing to children according to Islam, prevents him/her from forwarding rumours and prevents him/her from un-Islamic ways. Therefore, following the commandments of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم we should have devotion to the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as it will wipe out our sins all at once.

Ay ishq tayray jalnay say chhutay sastay

Jo aag bujha daygi, woh aag laga’ie hay

(Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish, pp. 193)

Dear Islamic sisters! Associate yourself with the Madani environment of Dawat-e-Islami to gain devotion to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and to act upon its requirements.