Paying one’s respects to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the greatest bounty for a believer and the means of eternal felicity. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has promised His intercession for those who visit Him. In Surah Nisa, verse no. 64, Almighty Allah has declared presenting ourselves to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) an essential means for forgiveness of sins. Allah Most High says:
If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come unto thee and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful. Surah Nisa (4:64)
These are the words of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi, Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia, Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center, in the weekly lecture conducted under the aegis of AHIRC in Masjid Abul Hasanaat.
The revered Mufti said that in this verse 3 things have been mentioned for gaining the forgiveness of Allah Most High. The first and second have to be done by the believer i.e. a believer should present himself (or herself) before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and seek the forgiveness of Allah Most High. The third is that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) will intercede on behalf of that believer. This is the prerogative of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). If He intercedes on behalf of that believer, Allah Most High promises that such a person will surely find Allah Most High forgiving and beneficent.
The revered Mufti said that this command was not limited to the earthly life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), but is for all time until the Day of Judgment. This is because the aforementioned verse does not have any categorization of time and the command is a general one. No one has the authority to change a general command of the Holy Quran and put any kind of limits on it.
The revered Mufti described some of the subtleties of the aforementioned verse of the Holy Quran. He said that Shaykh Ibn Katheer has written in the exegesis of this verse: Through this verse, Allah Most High is guiding the sinners that when they sin, they should present themselves before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and there, seek Allah’s forgiveness and request the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to intercede on his (or her) behalf. When they do this, they will find Allah Most High accepting of their repentance and most Merciful.
The revered Mufti said that Shaykh Ibn Katheer also narrated an anecdote in support of this exegesis. Hadhrat ‘Utbi says: I was present near the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). An Bedouin came and presented salutations to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). He then said: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)! I have heard Allah Most High say in the Holy Quran: If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come unto thee and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful.
Indeed, I have come to You to make You the Wasila for my forgiveness before Allah Most High.
After this, the Bedouin recited some couplets.
Hadhrat ‘Utbi says: After that Bedouin went away, I dozed off. I had the honor of seeing the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in a dream. He said: O ‘Utbi! Meet the Bedouin and tell him that Allah Most High has surely forgiven him. (Tafseer Al Quran Al Azeem Ibn Katheer).
The revered Mufti quoted from Mawahib Al Ladunniya of Imam Qustullani and its commentaryZurqani that Hadhrat Hatim Asamm (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), was a saintly person. He busied himself in worship and remembrance of Allah Most High for 30 years and didn’t speak to anyone without a pressing need. Hadhrat Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) says: He came to the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and supplicated thus: O Allah! I have come to the door of Your Beloved. Please don’t return us empty-handed.
An unseen voice was heard: If we had not decided to accept you, we would not have given you any chance to come here.
It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The person who comes to Me in Madina sincerely, he (or she) will be My neighbor.
The revered Mufti said that desisting from paying one’s respects to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is a sign of rejection. The Holy Quran declares it to be the custom of the hypocrites.
The session ended with Salaam and Dua. Maulana Syed Ahmed Ghouri, Teacher, Jamia Nizamia, led the proceedings.
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