WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.139 In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. 00:00:07.139 --> 00:00:09.199 With pens of longing 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:11.740 and ink of love, 00:00:11.740 --> 00:00:15.869 we compose words more precious than gold 00:00:15.869 --> 00:00:17.870 in describing the master of creation, 00:00:17.870 --> 00:00:20.870 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:00:20.870 --> 00:00:30.949 The Prophetic Characteristics (Shama'il). 00:00:30.949 --> 00:00:34.200 Conclusion. 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:36.200 Dear respected brothers, 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.200 we have reached the conclusion of this enjoyable journey 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:43.200 through the characteristics of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:47.259 Perhaps a soul has grown eager to attain the sight 00:00:47.259 --> 00:00:49.259 of the possessor of these noble traits, 00:00:49.259 --> 00:00:51.259 yearned for his meeting, 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:54.259 and stood ready to offer all it possesses 00:00:54.259 --> 00:00:58.259 to gain the privilege of seeing him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:00:58.259 --> 00:01:01.390 For Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated 00:01:01.390 --> 00:01:04.390 that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:01:04.390 --> 00:01:07.390 "Among those of my Ummah who love me most severely 00:01:07.390 --> 00:01:10.390 are people who will come after me; 00:01:10.390 --> 00:01:14.390 one of them would wish to see me even at the cost of his family and wealth." 00:01:14.390 --> 00:01:19.840 There is no doubt that a Muslim ought to harbor this desire in his heart, 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:24.840 and that this longing to see him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, should dwell within his soul, 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:28.840 as well as the aspiration to be reunited with him in the Gardens of Delight. 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:32.969 One of the Companions said to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: 00:01:32.969 --> 00:01:34.969 "O Messenger of Allah, 00:01:34.969 --> 00:01:37.969 I ask you for your companionship in Paradise." 00:01:37.969 --> 00:01:42.969 He replied: "Then assist me regarding yourself by prostrating abundantly." 00:01:42.969 --> 00:01:46.129 The matter is not one of mere wishful thinking, 00:01:46.129 --> 00:01:50.129 for faith is neither by passive wishing nor by superficial adornment; 00:01:50.129 --> 00:01:53.129 rather, faith is that which settles firmly in the heart 00:01:53.129 --> 00:01:55.379 and is verified by righteous deeds. 00:01:55.379 --> 00:01:58.379 Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:01:58.379 --> 00:02:01.379 "Whenever the servant increases his remembrance of the beloved, 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:03.379 bringing him to mind in his heart 00:02:03.379 --> 00:02:07.379 and recalling his virtues and qualities that evoke love for him, 00:02:07.379 --> 00:02:11.379 his love multiplies, his longing for him increases, 00:02:11.379 --> 00:02:14.419 and it takes total possession of his heart. 00:02:14.419 --> 00:02:18.419 But if he turns away from remembering him and recalling his virtues in his heart, 00:02:18.419 --> 00:02:21.479 his love in his heart diminishes. 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:26.479 Nothing brings greater delight to the lover's eye than seeing his beloved, 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:30.479 nor brings greater solace to his heart than remembering him and evoking his virtues. 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:33.479 Thus, when this grows strong in his heart, 00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:38.479 his tongue naturally flows with his praise, commendation, and mention of his virtues, 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.479 and the increase or decrease of this speech 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:45.539 corresponds directly to the increase or decrease of love in his heart." 00:02:45.539 --> 00:02:47.860 End of his words. 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:50.860 Remembering the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:02:50.860 --> 00:02:54.860 is accomplished by mentioning his virtues, noble characteristics, 00:02:54.860 --> 00:02:56.860 commendable attributes, 00:02:56.860 --> 00:02:58.860 morals, and manners. 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:05.090 The servant must adhere to the methodology of the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, 00:03:05.090 --> 00:03:08.090 who were the people of moderation and balance. 00:03:08.090 --> 00:03:13.090 He should accept what has been authentically transmitted from them regarding the description of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:13.090 --> 00:03:17.090 without exceeding it through excess or abandonment, 00:03:17.090 --> 00:03:20.090 nor through exaggeration or neglect. 00:03:20.090 --> 00:03:23.120 Indeed, many people have stumbled in this domain, 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:28.120 and their feet have slipped into mistreating and estranging the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:31.120 whether they realized it or not. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:37.310 We shall mention here various forms of mistreatment toward the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:37.310 --> 00:03:39.310 and of neglecting his rightful due. 00:03:39.310 --> 00:03:42.539 Among the manifestations and forms of such mistreatment 00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:46.539 is the weakness of love for him, peace be upon him, in people's hearts, 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:49.539 and prioritizing the love of a fleeting world, 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:51.539 passing desires, 00:03:51.539 --> 00:03:56.539 and perishable pleasures over love for him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:03:56.539 --> 00:03:59.539 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:03:59.539 --> 00:04:01.539 "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:07.539 none of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his parent and his child." 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:10.569 It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 00:04:10.569 --> 00:04:13.569 on the authority of 'Abdullah ibn Hisham, who said: 00:04:13.569 --> 00:04:16.569 "We were with the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:04:16.569 --> 00:04:19.569 while he was holding the hand of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab. 00:04:19.569 --> 00:04:21.569 'Umar said to him: 00:04:21.569 --> 00:04:23.569 'O Messenger of Allah, 00:04:23.569 --> 00:04:26.569 you are indeed more beloved to me than everything 00:04:26.569 --> 00:04:29.569 except my own self.' 00:04:29.569 --> 00:04:32.569 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:04:32.569 --> 00:04:34.569 'No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, 00:04:34.569 --> 00:04:38.569 not until I am more beloved to you than your own self.' 00:04:38.569 --> 00:04:40.629 'Umar then said to him: 00:04:40.629 --> 00:04:42.629 'By Allah, right now 00:04:42.629 --> 00:04:45.629 you are more beloved to me than my own self.' 00:04:45.629 --> 00:04:48.629 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:04:48.629 --> 00:04:52.269 'Now, O 'Umar.'" 00:04:52.269 --> 00:04:55.269 For a person to recognize this weakness within his own heart, 00:04:55.269 --> 00:05:00.269 he must measure himself against the statement of Allah, Blessed and Exalted: 00:05:00.269 --> 00:05:03.269 “Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (3:31) 00:05:03.269 --> 00:05:06.269 ﴿Say, [O Prophet], "If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you"﴾ [Aal 'Imran: 31]. 00:05:06.269 --> 00:05:12.269 Let him examine his standing in following the guidance of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in all his affairs, 00:05:12.269 --> 00:05:15.269 so that he may know the true reality of his love. 00:05:15.269 --> 00:05:18.620 Another manifestation of mistreatment 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:21.620 is turning away from his radiant Sunnah, 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:23.620 his clear path, 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:27.620 and his upright guidance, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:33.620 and diverting oneself by obsessing over false opinions, corrupt desires, 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:40.879 and similar matters that have turned people away from the Sunnah of the noble Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:43.879 Yet another manifestation of mistreatment 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:47.879 is the failure to venerate the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:53.879 Thus, his sublime hadiths and noble words are cited in certain gatherings, 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:55.879 yet they command no reverence, 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:57.879 no head is raised in respect for them, 00:05:57.879 --> 00:05:59.879 and their esteemed status is unrecognized; 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:04.879 rather, they pass by just like the speech of anyone else, 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:07.879 and are even objected to! 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:12.879 Where, then, is the veneration for this noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him? 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:14.879 Where is the recognition of his true worth, 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:17.879 when his hadith, peace be upon him, 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:21.879 is treated by people as though it were the speech of ordinary men? 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:24.879 Allah Almighty has said: 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:27.879 ﴿Nor does he speak from his own desire﴾ [An-Najm: 3]. 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:30.879 “It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,” (53:4) 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.980 Another form of mistreatment 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:35.980 is turning away from reading his blessed biography 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:39.980 and his noble accounts, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:43.980 For his biography is absolutely the purest of all biographies; 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:48.980 it is the biography of the master of the children of Adam, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:54.980 Yet you see among people those who turn away from this glorious, fragrant biography, 00:06:54.980 --> 00:06:57.980 preoccupied instead with reading the biographies of trivial individuals 00:06:57.980 --> 00:07:02.980 who possess no value or weight in the honor and advancement of the Ummah. 00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:06.230 Among the hideous manifestations of mistreatment 00:07:06.230 --> 00:07:08.230 is embracing newly invented innovations 00:07:08.230 --> 00:07:10.230 and fabricated desires, 00:07:10.230 --> 00:07:13.230 venerating them, defending them, 00:07:13.230 --> 00:07:15.230 and seeking arguments to justify them, 00:07:15.230 --> 00:07:20.230 while simultaneously turning away from what has been reported from the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:07:20.230 --> 00:07:25.230 It is authentically reported from him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he said: 00:07:25.230 --> 00:07:28.230 "Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me." 00:07:28.230 --> 00:07:34.230 And he said: "Whoever performs an action that is not in accordance with our matter, it will be rejected." 00:07:34.230 --> 00:07:39.490 Another form of mistreatment regarding the right of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:07:39.490 --> 00:07:42.490 is failing to send blessings and peace upon him, 00:07:42.490 --> 00:07:46.490 especially when he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is mentioned. 00:07:46.490 --> 00:07:51.490 It is authentically reported in a hadith that he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:07:51.490 --> 00:07:55.490 "The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send blessings upon me." 00:07:55.490 --> 00:07:58.490 And Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has said: 00:07:58.490 --> 00:08:04.490 “Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.” (33:56) 00:08:04.490 --> 00:08:10.490 “Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.” (33:56) 00:08:10.490 --> 00:08:15.939 ﴿Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessings upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.﴾ [Al-Ahzab: 56]. 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:20.939 Another form of mistreatment regarding the right of our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:24.939 is disparaging the status of his noble Companions, those who followed them in goodness, 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:27.939 and the leaders of truth and guidance among the bearers of the Sunnah. 00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:31.939 For belittling the worth of these individuals 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:36.159 constitutes mistreatment toward the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:40.159 Likewise, a Muslim must beware of excess, 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:45.159 taking care not to exaggerate concerning his right, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:48.159 by attributing to him any of the exclusive rights of the Lord, 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:53.159 His attributes, or His divine rights, Exalted and Majestic is He. 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:57.159 All of this is something that he, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, does not approve of. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:09:02.159 Exaggeration and excessive praise are entirely blameworthy, 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:05.190 forbidden by the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in numerous hadiths. 00:09:05.190 --> 00:09:09.190 He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:09:09.190 --> 00:09:11.190 "Do not extol me as the Christians extolled the son of Mary. 00:09:11.190 --> 00:09:15.190 I am merely His servant, 00:09:15.190 --> 00:09:18.220 so say: The servant of Allah and His Messenger." 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:21.220 And he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:25.220 "Beware of excess in religion, 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:28.220 for those before you were destroyed only by excess in religion." 00:09:28.220 --> 00:09:31.220 And when he heard a group of people saying: 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:35.220 "You are our master and the son of our master," 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:40.350 he said: "Do not let Satan entice you." 00:09:40.350 --> 00:09:43.350 Thus, extolling him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and exaggerating in his praise 00:09:43.350 --> 00:09:46.350 is a forbidden matter; 00:09:46.350 --> 00:09:49.350 in fact, the one who indulges in it will have his deeds rejected 00:09:49.350 --> 00:09:52.350 and will bear the sin of disobedience. 00:09:52.350 --> 00:09:55.350 For within the domain of praise and commendation, 00:09:55.350 --> 00:09:57.350 a person might initially offer valid and authentic praises, 00:09:57.350 --> 00:10:01.350 but if he exceeds proper bounds, 00:10:01.350 --> 00:10:04.350 Satan may entice him to utter praises that contain 00:10:04.350 --> 00:10:07.350 exaggeration, undue extolment, and transgression of limits. 00:10:07.350 --> 00:10:10.350 The underlying motive for this might well be 00:10:10.350 --> 00:10:13.350 love and a desire for good, 00:10:13.350 --> 00:10:16.929 yet not everyone who desires good attains it. 00:10:16.929 --> 00:10:19.929 Therefore, alongside the intense love 00:10:19.929 --> 00:10:22.929 that resides in the servant's heart for the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:10:22.929 --> 00:10:25.929 and the good to which he aspires 00:10:25.929 --> 00:10:28.929 and seeks to achieve, 00:10:28.929 --> 00:10:31.929 he must align his path by adhering strictly to the Sunnah, 00:10:31.929 --> 00:10:34.929 following the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:10:34.929 --> 00:10:37.929 and living in light of his biography. 00:10:37.929 --> 00:10:39.929 For it is reported in the Sahih from the hadith of Abu Hurairah, 00:10:39.929 --> 00:10:42.929 may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:10:42.929 --> 00:10:44.929 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, 00:10:44.929 --> 00:10:47.929 addressing the Companions: 00:10:47.929 --> 00:10:50.929 "By Him in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, 00:10:50.929 --> 00:10:53.929 a day will surely come upon one of you when he will not see me, 00:10:53.929 --> 00:10:56.929 and then, to see me 00:10:56.929 --> 00:11:00.120 would be more beloved to him than his family and wealth along with them." 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:03.120 Al-Nawawi said, commenting on this with a beneficial remark: 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:06.120 "The purpose of the hadith 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:09.120 is to urge them to constantly remain in his noble gathering 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:12.120 and observe him whether residing or traveling, 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:15.120 in order to adopt his manners, 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:18.120 learn the sacred laws, and memorize them so as to convey them; 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:21.120 and to inform them that they would regret 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:24.539 any shortcoming on their part in seeking more 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:27.539 of observing him and remaining in his company." 00:11:27.539 --> 00:11:30.539 The key point is that this longing to see him, 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:33.539 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:36.539 ought to be backed by serious effort 00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:39.539 in learning his guidance, manners, 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:42.539 character, and interpersonal dealings, 00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:45.539 so that one may emulate him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:48.539 And upon the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:51.539 and adhering to his etiquette and noble character, 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:54.539 one becomes the closest of people to him in station. 00:11:54.539 --> 00:11:57.539 For he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:11:57.539 --> 00:12:00.539 "Indeed, the most beloved of you to me, and the closest of you 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:03.539 to me in seat on the Day of Resurrection, 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:06.539 are those of you with the best character." 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:09.539 Thus, the more eager a servant is regarding faith, 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:12.539 adherence to the Sunnah, following guidance, and staying far removed 00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:15.539 from religious innovations and desires, 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:18.539 the more fitting and worthy he becomes 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:22.539 to be blessed with his companionship in the Gardens of Delight. 00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:25.950 In conclusion of this work, 00:12:25.950 --> 00:12:28.950 I would like to note that in its preparation I have drawn upon 00:12:28.950 --> 00:12:31.950 the commentaries of several classical and contemporary scholars. 00:12:31.950 --> 00:12:34.950 In particular, 00:12:34.950 --> 00:12:37.950 I benefited greatly from the commentary of his eminence Shaykh 00:12:37.950 --> 00:12:40.950 'Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr 00:12:40.950 --> 00:12:43.950 and his eminence Shaykh Muhammad al-Munajjid, 00:12:43.950 --> 00:12:46.950 may Allah Almighty preserve them. 00:12:47.950 --> 00:12:51.299 With that said, 00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:54.299 we praise Allah, Mighty and Majestic, for His grace, enabling grace, and facilitation. 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:57.299 To Him belongs praise first and last, 00:12:57.299 --> 00:13:00.299 and to Him belongs thanks inwardly and outwardly. 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:03.299 We ask Him, Exalted and Glorified be He, 00:13:03.299 --> 00:13:06.299 to benefit us all through what He has taught us, 00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:09.299 to make what we have learned a proof for us and not against us, 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:12.299 to flourish our hearts with faith, 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:15.299 to rectify all our affairs, 00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:18.299 to guide us to Him along a straight path, 00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:21.299 to grant us success in following the Sunnah of our noble Prophet, 00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:24.299 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:27.299 to resurrect us alongside him and under his banner, 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:30.299 to gather us with him in the Gardens of Delight, 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:33.299 and to forgive us, our parents, 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:36.299 Imam al-Tirmidhi, 00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:39.299 our teachers, and the scholars of the Ummah, the earlier ones 00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:42.299 among them and the later. 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:45.299 Indeed, He, Blessed and Exalted, is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful, 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:48.299 Generous, and Bountiful. 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:51.299 And our final supplication is that all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:54.299 And may Allah send blessings, peace, grace, and honor 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:57.299 upon His servant and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, 00:13:57.299 --> 00:14:00.299 and upon all his family and Companions.