4.37. WAY OF THE PROPHET (To be continued)

                         

God says

Say (O Prophet to mankind): “If you love God, follow me and God will love you” and forgive you your sins.\; for God is much forgiving, and most gracious. Q.3:31

…those who shall follow the (last) apostle, the unlettered Prophet whom they shall find described in Torah that is with them, and (later on) in the Gospel: (the Prophet) who will enjoin upon them the doing of what is right and forbid them the doing of what is wrong, and make lawful to them the good things of life and forbid them the bad things, and lift from them their burdens and the shackles that were upon them [aforetime]*
Those, therefore, who shall believe in him, and honour him, and succour him, and follow the light that he has been bestowed from on high through him – it is they who shall attain to a happy state. -- Q7: 157   
 *A reference to the many severe rituals and obligations laid down in Mosaic law, and to the tendency towards asceticism evident in the teachings of the Gospels.

…and follow him [i.e., the Prophet], so that you might find guidance! -- Q7: 158


Prophet said

 ‘Whoever loves my way loves me, and whoever loves me will be in paradise with me’ -- H: Tirmizi. N: Anas.

 “Two attributes though easy for man (to adopt) will be very heavy, (indeed), in God’s scale on the Resurrection Day: To remain mostly silent (of frivolous talk) and (to be of) good conduct. By Him who holds my life, as for actions, these attributes have no parallel for mankind.” – H: Baihaqi. N: Anas.

4.36. STATUS OF THE PROPHET(Concluded)

God says

O Prophet – behold, We have sent thee as a witness [to the truth], and as a herald of glad tidings and a warner, and as one who summons [all] to God at His behest, and as a light-giving beacon. – Q.33:45,46 

Indeed, God and His angles bless the Prophet: [hence,] O you who have attained to faith, bless him and give yourselves up [to his guidance] in utter self-surrender! *
-- Q.33:56
*Allahum salle ‘ala habeebika sayyadana Muhammadiun wa ‘ala aalehi wassalam
…And [have We not] raised thee high in dignity*-- Q.94:5
  * Or: “raised high thy renown or fame”. The primary meaning of the term dhikr  (zikr) is ”reminder” or “remembrance”; and, secondarily, “that by which something (or “someone”) is remembered”, i.e., with praise. 
In the calls for prayer (azaan) Prophet’s name is raised high, all the time, due to progression of the time across the world.                          
He is blessed by Muslims of the world in unthinkable numbers, day and night.


Prophet said
     
People asked: O Prophet of God when was prophethood confirmed on you? The Prophet answered: “When Adam was still in the midst of body and the soul” -- H: Tirmizi.  N: Abu Hurairah.

“Five things bestowed to me were not given to anyone (i.e., to any prophet) before me: (1) awe (in the enemy) from a distance of a month’s journey; (2) the earth is declared praying place, and pure (i.e., means of purification), hence whenever (and wherever) there is time for prayer my followers can pray; (3) spoils of war are made lawful; (4) the right of intercession (on the Day of Judgement); (5) and previously every  prophet came for a people in particular, (while) I am sent for the whole of mankind”-- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Jabir-b-Abdullah. (“I am bestowed with collective revelation” & “the prophethood ends with me” adds Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah.)

4.36. STATUS OF THE PROPHET (To be continued)

God says

God has been truly gracious to the believers in sending them a Messenger from among their own to recite His revelations to them, to make them grow in purity, and teach  the Scripture and wisdom, ---before that they were clearly astray --- Q.3:164

God will admit those who obey Him and His Messenger to gardens graced with flowing streams, and there they will stay --- that is the triumph supreme! – Q.4:13

We have sent you (O Muhammad) as an Apostle unto all mankind… Q.4:79

Limitless in his glory is He who transported His servant (Muhammad) by night from the Sacred House of Worship [at Mecca] to the Remote House of Worship [at Jerusalem]* -- the environs of which We had blessed-- so that We might show him some of Our symbols: … Q.17:1
 *Reference to the Prophet’s experience of the “Night Journey”(al-isra’) to Jerusalem and the subsequent “Asccension” (mi’raaj) to heavens.


Prophet said

“He who obeyed me obeyed God, and he who disobeyed me disobeyed God.” –H: Bukhari. Narrator: Abu Hurairah.

“Such is the parable of mine and yourselves--: I am catching you by your waist, holding you back from the fire, in order to save you from the fire -- (repeats). But you try to overcome me that you may jump into it.” —Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Huraira.
This refers to the difficult task the Prophet had to accomplish: uniting the fighting tribes. Quran reminds the believers of this in 3:103: “…And remember the blessings which God has bestowed upon you: when you were enemies, He brought your hearts together, so that through His blessing you became brethren; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire* He saved you from it…”
*A metaphor of the sufferings which are the consequence of spiritual ignorance.